Jackson County Michigan History & Genealogy

Blackman Township
History

From "The History of Jackson County, Michigan"

    This township has been so identified with Jacksonburgh and Jackson city that very little remains to be written in its regard. The township was organized in 1857, and forms the northern, eastern and western boundaries of the north portion of the city. It comprises the mining and manufacturing village of Puddle Ford, Woodville, and Van Horn's Crossing. The mineral resources of the township are unrivaled. The coal and iron mines near Jackson have been thoroughly tested, and the supply of ore is thought to be sufficiently abundant to meet the demand for many years. The agricultural interests are also of much importance. Being so near the Jackson markets the agriculturists enjoy many advantages not bestowed on those of other townships.
    The title "Blackman" was given on account of a just desire existing to perpetuate and honor the name of the first pioneer of the county, the first settler north of the line dividing Summit and Blackman.
    A. W. Daniels, who came into the town in September, 1830, may be considered the first settler in the township proper; Henry Daniels and William JR. De Land, came shortly afterward, and within a very short period every acre was in the possession of earnest men, determined to carve out for themselves a home in the charming wilderness.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

    The following biographical sketches of early settlers and prominent citizens of Blackman township constitute a legitimate and interesting part of the history. Some of the residents of this township are classed as citizens of Jackson, and their sketches are therefore given under another heading:

    CHARLES H. BEEBE was born in this township, Jan. 20, 1842. His father, Elisha Beebe, was a native of New York, and was born about 1813; his mother, Diadama V., was born in New York about 1818. Her father was Major in the Revolution. Chas. H. Beebe has 1 brother and sister now living. He first purchased 40 acres of land in sec. 5, where he resided five years. He sold it and bought his present homestead of 120 acres in secs. 7 and 18, valued at $50 per acre. Politically he is identified with the National party. May 15, 1866, he married Caroline S. Mayo, of this township, who was born Jan; 30, 1844, the daughter of William and Sarah Mayo, both born in Quainton, England, respectively in 1810 and 1813. Mrs. Beebe has 6 brothers and 3 sisters now living. She has been the mother of 8 children, born as follows: Minnie M., Feb. 14, 1867; Fred W., Aug. 25, 1869; Cora B., Feb. 23, 1870, died Dec. 18, 1877; Roy, Feb. 18, 1872, died Dec. 28, 1877; Max, Nov. 10, 1874, died Dec. 28, 1877; Best, Feb. 14, 1875; Archie, March 30, 1876; Lee, Nov. 8, 1878. Three children died of diphtheria in December, 1877, two of them the same day.

    THOMAS COLE was born in Bath, Steuben County, N. Y., March 13, 1817, the son of James and Diana (Bennett) Cole. His father was born in Elizabeth, N. Y., in 1786, and died in 1850, in this township. His mother was born in Connecticut, in 1788, and died in this township in 1844. Thomas is the owner of 100 acres of land in sees. 15 and 16, valued at $5,000, also owns valuable property in the city of Jackson. He is a member of the National party. In 1838 he married Martha Knapp, of Jackson. They have been the parents of 6 children: Louisa was born March 3,1844, and died Nov. 4, 1848; an infant son, born May 23,1844, died on the day of birth; Eliza A.was born Aug. 20, 1849 and died March 6, 1866: Charles A. was born Oct. 19, 1850, and is a farmer in this township; Ruel T. was born March 5,1854, and is in the employ of the railroad company. Eunice was born March 23, 1856, and is the wife of Myron Raymond, of Blackman. Mrs. Cole was born in Freeman, Franklin Co., Me., June 31, 1824. Her father, John Knapp, was born in Maine, in 1792, and died there in March, 1878. Her mother, Pattie Knapp, was born in Maine, in 1796, and died in Michigan, September, 1854.

    SALMON Z. CRAWFORD was born Oct. 26,1835, in Cohocton, Steuben Co., N. Y. He was the son of Zebah and Asenath (Crouch) Crawford. Zebah Crawford was born in Steuben County, N. Y., in 1804, and died June 23, 1877. Mrs. Asenath Crawford was born in the same county, in 1807, and is now living in the city of Jackson. The father of Zebah was of English and Irish parentage, and was born in Connecticut in 1758; the mother was born about 1759. Zebah removed to Michigan in 1837, and located in Sandstone, where he bought 200 acres of land. His son, Salmon, first bought 80 acres, in Blackman, in 1858, and from time to time added to this purchase until he now owns 325 acres of choice land, valued at $60 per acre. Feb. 27, 1856, he married Catherine Jackson, of Blackman. They have 2 children—Wayne S., born Feb. 24, 1876, and Burr J., born July 1, 1878. Mrs. Crawford is the daughter of R. D., and Anna Mead, of Jackson. Her father was born in Clarence, Erie Co., N. Y., in 1817. Her mother was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1820. She has 1 brother, 1 half brother and 2 sisters living. Her maternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and died about the close of the war. Her grandmother died about 1860, at a very advanced age. Mrs. Crawford's mother died in June, 1848. Mr. Crawford is a Republican.

    HENRY DANIELS was born in Genesee County, N.Y, Feb. 26,1816. His father, John Daniels, was of Scotch descent, and was born in Connecticut in 1788. His mother, Zilpah, nee Wheeler, was born in Cayuga County, N.Y., in 1790, of New England parentage. In the fall of 1829 John Daniels came to Michigan to prospect for a future home. He was satisfied that great agricultural prosperity was assured in this State, and returned the following May (1830) and entered 480 acres in sec. 33, now near the west line of the city of Jackson. In the fall of that year he sent his oldest son, A. W. Daniels, to break up sufficient land to plant 500 apple-trees, the first orchard set out in Jackson county. He died here in 1847, and his wife also in 1852. This land is now owned by Geo. T. Daniels. In 1836 Henry Daniels took up 480 acres in the township of Rives, which he disposed of in lots at various times, until 1844, when he sold the last. In 1837 he bought his present estate in secs. 20 and 29, consisting of 335 acres. Nov. 26, 1840, he married Charlotte A. Denton, of Jackson, by whom he has had 3 children. The first of these died in infancy; the second, John J., born March 5,1845, lives with his parents; the only daughter, Florence A., was born Oct. 20, 1852, and died Aug. 30, l856. Mrs. Daniels was born April 26, 1819, in New York.   She was the daughter of John and Abigail (Woodward) Denton, and died March 10, 1859. Mr. Daniels married, April 9, 1862, Mrs. Calista Bronson, widow of William Bronson, of Jackson. She is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Daniels has held the office of County Superintendent of the Poor for 16 years, and has been elected to minor offices of the town and school district many times during a period of 36 years. Politically he is a Democrat. John J. Daniels, resident with his father, was married May 12, 1869, to Miss Lavina A. Crawford, daughter of S. C. and Sarah L. Crawford, of Sandstone. She was born March 28, 1851. Two children have been born to them, as follows:—Florence, Feb. 4, 1872, and Myron J., April 17, 1874.

    JOHN FELLOWS was born in Vermont, Sept. 8, 1830, 40 miles northwest of Burlington. His father, Reuben Fellows, was a farmer by occupation, and a pioneer of Blackman Township, having located his farm in 1837. He married Miss Hannah Weath, a native of Salisbury, N. H. Coming West at an early day, and being in destitute circumstances, they endured many privations, and the first several years of their pioneer experience were severe. John, being only seven years of age when they came to Michigan, received his schooling in Blackman, and July 4, 1853, married Miss Saediania Van Horn, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Mr. Smart, of Jackson city. She was born Sept. 28, 1832. In 1851 he made a trip to California via the Isthmus of Panama. He remained there until 1853, engaged in mining, with fair success. Upon his return he commenced farming, which occupation he has since pursued, and has accumulated a fine property. His family consists of 3 sons and 3 daughters.

    JONATHAN H. HENDEE was born in Vermont, Nov. 6, 1815. His father, David Hendee, was married to Miss Caroline Harrington about 1811, at Pittsford, Vt. They moved to Niagara County, N. Y., in 1831. Six years later they moved to Jackson County, Mich. David Hendee was an ordained minister of the Baptist Church, and about 1838 organized the first society of that denomination in Jackson. He and his wife both died at the residence of one of their children, in Hillsdale County, Mich. His death occurred Sunday, June 14, 1869, when he was 82 years old. His wife died some years before him. In his early manhood he served as Ensign under command of Capt. Pratt, as guard of the truce between Canada and the United States, where he was on duty three months, and afterward held a Captain's commission, and acted as aid to General Hendee, his brother. His son, Jonathan, married Charlotte Bond in June, 1839. They have been the parents of 5 children, 4 of whom are living. The youngest son is in the employ of R. D. Bullock, in his branch music store at Grand Rapids. The eldest daughter, Martha, married Rev. Mr. Parmenter, who now lives in Charlevoix, Mich., acting as State missionary. Julia L. married Albert Allen, who now lives in Jackson city. Tryphena A., the third daughter, married a brother of Rev. Mr. Palmer, and lives in Shiawasee County. Mrs. Hendee died in 1872. She was buried in Greenwood cemetery, March 13,1873. Mr. Hendee married the widow of Dr. J. A. Blanchard. She graduated at Cleveland Homeopathic College in 1852, at the same time with her husband. They practiced medicine in the city of Pittsburg, Pa., about six years, going from there to Louisville, Ky., in 1858, where they remained two years, removing to Rochester, N. Y., where they lived 12 years, and where Dr. Blanchard retired from practice. He died March 29, 1870, and his wife came to Jackson and entered into partnership with Dr. S. P. Town, her brother-in-law, and was in practice about a year before her marriage to Mr. Hendee. She has 1 daughter, Ada E. Blanchard, who was born in Rochester and now lives with her mother. She graduated at the high school in Jackson.

    JONATHAN L. HOYT was born Jane 27,1802, in Onondaga County, N. Y.; was the son of Louis and Elizabeth (Hoyt) Hoyt. Louis Hoyt was born in Connecticut, Dec. 3, 1786. He came to Michigan with his son and died in 1842. Elizabeth Hoyt was born in Connecticut, in August, 1788, and died in New York in 1819. Jonathan Hoyt married Oct. 20, 1842, Samantha L. Clark, of Otisco, Onondaga Count, N. Y. She was the daughter of Chester and Anna Clark, and was born Aug. 27, 1810, in Otisco, N. Y. She died March 23, 1881, leaving 6 children—Theodora M., born April 14, 1843; Lucien C, born Sept. 20, 1854; Nellie A., Feb. 12, 1846; Anna L., Sept. 6, 1848; Emma W., Aug. 24,1850; Lillie B., Oct. 20, 1854. Mr. Hoyt purchased, in 1837, 80 acres of valuable land, and seven years after he sold 15 acres, leaving him 65, which he values at about $6,000. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and politically is a Democrat.

    MAJOR ANSON WILLIAM JACKSON was born in New Hampshire, Oct. 3,1773; his wife, Hannah, nee Brooks, was born in Westmoreland, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Feb. 1,1780. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and the family lived in Great Barrington, Mass. At the close of the war he lived in Montgomery County, N. Y., then moved to Onondaga County, in the same State, in 1796. A. W. Jackson, in 1836, moved to Jacksonburgh, Jackson Co., Mich., locating on secs. 4 and 5 in what is now Blackman. In the war of 1812 he was Captain of a company of minute men, and went to Oswego, N. Y.; was a military officer till he resigned as Major. In 1833 there was a postoffice named Wyoming, six miles from Jackson, on the Clinton road, and Robert Jackson, second son of A. W. Jackson, was Postmaster, which office he held until he left the State in 1847. It was discontinued a few years afterward. He went to Illinois, where he still resides. Col. Jer. Jackson, the father of A. W. Jackson, was a native of Rhode Island born Aug. 13, 1739; his mother was Phebe Murray, of Connecticut, of the same age, a relative of Brig.-Gen. Murray, of Nova Scotia, who fought under Wolfe at the battle of Quebec in Canada. He enlisted as a Sergeant at Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia, in the English army; was at the taking of Quebec; served his time and was discharged; came to the States; enlisted in the Continental army with his three eldest sons—John, aged 18, Jeremiah, aged 16, and Matthew Murray, aged 14; continued with the army till the close of the war, and was with Washington at Valley Forge. His discharge from the English army, and his commission in the Continental army are still in possession of the family. He moved to Montgomery County, lived there some years, then went to Onondaga County, N. Y., where he died in 1809, and was buried on his farm, with military honors. His wife survived him a few years and was buried by his side. He owned the first grist and sawmill in Onondaga County, known as the Jackson Mills. Of a family of 9 children, 5 are still living—Robert and George Jackson live in Illinois; 3 daughters in Michigan; Marion Jackson, now Mrs. Perrin, lives in Hamlin, Eaton County; Phebe Jackson, now the Widow Godfrey, lives in Blackman on a part of the homestead; Diadama Jackson, now Mrs. Beebe, own 40 acres of the same, a gift from her father. A. W. Jackson died June 20, 1857, in the 83d year of his age. His wife died Jan. 4, 1842, aged 62 years. Sophia Jackson (Mrs. Wilson) died in 1842; Eudora Jackson (Mrs. Reed), in 1842, in New York State; Hannah Jackson died in Jackson, Michigan, in 1845, and Anson Jackson died in Mason, Ingham Co.. Mich., in 1853.

    CHAUNCEY B. LINDERMAN was born Aug. 20, 1836, in Newfield, Tompkins Co., N. Y.; was the son of David and Martha J. (Stanton) Linderman. His father was born in the State of New York, Aug. 31, 1813. His mother was born in New York, April 10, 1816, and died there Oct. 19, 1862. The father of David Linderman was born in New York in 1759, and died in 1840. His wife was born in Pennsylvania, in 1763, and died in 1856. Chauncey married Catherine Dunn, of Jackson, Dec. 30, 1867; she was the daughter of Martin and Ann (Keena) Dunn, and was born in Liverpool, England, Sept. 16, 1839, and came to this country with friends when 15 years of age, and settled in Chelsea, Mich. Mr. and Mrs. L. have 4 children living—Francis A., born Oct. 3, 1838; Charles H., Dec. 5, 1869; Martha A., June 10, 1872; James D., June 10, 1872. Mr. Linderman was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in Company A., 109th N. Y. Infantry, Aug. 11, ,1862, in Newfield, under Capt. J. W. Tibbetts. He was in the battle of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania C. H., and Petersburg. He was wounded in front of the latter place, and received his discharge June 4, 1865.

Jeremiah Marvin was born in Genesee County, N. Y., Oct. 22, 1805. His father, Nathan Marvin, was born in Granville, Hampden Co., Mass., in 1786, and died in Monroe County, Mich., in 1832. He was English by birth, and was a Captain of the war of 1812. In 1832 the family settled in Monroe County. The mother of Mr. Marvin, Judith, nee Gates, was born in Lyme, Conn., in 1788, and died in 1834. Mr. Marvin came to Jackson in 1832 and bought a half interest in the milldam property, and engaged in the lumber business. In 1833 he bought 80 acres of land, where he now lives, adding from time to time by purchase until the family estate is over 500 acres. In 1839 he married Emily French, who died in 1869, aged 64, leaving no children. In 1876 he married Jennie L. Savage, and they are the parents of 1 daughter—Emily E., born May 5, 1877. Mr. Marvin, while not an aggressive politician, has always acted with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. His residence is on Lansing Avenue.

William Mayo was born Aug. 17, 1810, in the village of Quanton, Buckinghamshire, England, and emigrated to America in 1833, bringing his wife and infant child. After a tedious passage of 47 days, they landed safely in New York city, and proceeded westward for Detroit via the Erie canal to Buffalo, thence by lake. From Detroit they proceeded westward to Dexter Township, Washtenaw County, and immediately found work on the farm of a Mr. Goodrich, and soon after on a farm near Ann Arbor. He afterward went to Sandstone, and worked a farm for Perrin Moe. They remained there only one year, but accumulated sufficient means to homestead a 40-acre lot of land, and started for Monroe to secure it. He made his journey on foot, and accomplished his purpose, but upon returning found his selection to be an unfortunate one, the land being of poor quality. He sold this newly acquired property, and invested his means in 160 acres two miles north of his former location, where he lived many years. He is now a resident of Jackson city, where he owns a comfortable home. He has had 14 children; 10 are still living. He is 70 years of age, and in October, 1881, will celebrate his golden wedding.

John Scott McConnel was born in this township in 1836, a son of John S. and Selicia McC., the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. Mr. McConnel, Sr., located in this township in 1830, on the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch, moving his family to the place the following spring. He died in 1865. The subject of this sketch was married in 1865; was in business with his brother, O. H., and other parties in Jackson for some years; in the spring of 1863 he moved upon the farm opposite the one he now owns; in 1868 he built the dwelling he now occupies. His farm consists of 80 acres, and lies three miles north of Main Street, in Jackson; it is worth $75 an acre, and 55 acres are under improvement. Mr. McConnel's principal business is raising grain, but he also deals some in stock. When his father first came here, the country was all a wilderness, and he boarded in Jackson (which then consisted of but one log house, occupied by Mr. Blackman) while he walked out to his farm every day to improve it, taking his dinner along with him. The subject of this sketch is raising an adopted daughter.

John B. Moffett. This gentleman's father was a native of "Thornship near Shap," Westmoreland Co., Eng. His grandfather was a man of great wealth, possessing an estate which had been entailed from the period of George III. He presented his grandsons each with 100 sovereigns, with which his descendant mentioned made his way to America in 1826, settling in Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., Mich. He was 14 years old. He afterward went to Fayette, Hillsdale Co., where he purchased 80 acres of land, and resided until the time of his death in February, 1863. He married Sarah English, in Lenawee County, where she was born in 1814. She still owns her husband's original purchase of 80 acres. John R. Moffett went to Missouri in 1858, where for four years he engaged in teaching, and dealing in live stock. He was an observer of the conflicts of opinion at the breaking out of the war, and was a sufferer from "butternut" raids under Gen. Price, to the extent of $8,000 worth of stock confiscated by the Confederates. In 1862, he returned to Michigan, attended school and taught three years. He purchased 120 acres in Gratiot County, and lived there three years. He built the first house in the vicinity of his farm, putting in puncheon floors, as there were no saw-mills accessible. He left there, purchasing 80 acres in sec. 18, Sandstone. He remained a resident of this seven years, removing thence to Hanover, where he lived one year, then purchased 80 acres of land in Blackman, where he now lives. He is Supervisor, and has held the position three years. He has acted as Township Clerk, School Superintendent, Justice, etc., in the various towns where he has lived. His politics in early life were Republican. In 1860 he voted for Douglas, acting with the Democrats until the organization of the Nationals. May 7, 1865, he married Emily E. Spink, of Hanover, Mich. She was born July 4, 1841. Her father, Paul Spink, was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., in 1802. He went when three years old to Hampton, N. Y., where he lived until 1835. Mrs. Roxy (Harlow) Spink was born in Whitehall, N. Y., in 1803, and died in Hanover, Mich., in May, 1843. Mrs. Moffett has 2 children living —Charles M., born Jan. 30, 1867, and Roxy W., Oct. 11, 1878.

Nathaniel Morrill, farmer, sec. 10, was born in New Hampshire in December 1807, son of Nathaniel, Sr., and Elizabeth (Eastman), both of Massachusetts. He was reared and educated in the place of his nativity until 23 years of age. He married Nancy Quimby June 14, 1829, and moved to Cayuga County, N. Y., and purchased 64 acres of land and engaged in farming. Moved to this township in 1833, where he now lives on a farm of 240 acres bought of the Government. He is the youngest child of a family of 10 children, all of whom are dead except 1 sister and 1 brother; both of these are living on and near the old homestead in New Hampshire. Nathaniel, Jr., is the father of 8 children by his first wife (Nancy Quimby), who died May 2, 1852, aged 41 years, two months. He married Miss Clara White, January 14, 1852, in Waukegan, Ill., and they have had 4 daughters, 3 of whom are living. His father was of English and his mother of Scotch descent, and were among the earliest settlers of Massachusetts. He has a clock bought by his grandfather as a wedding present for his father; it has ticked off the time over a century.

    JOHN W. POOL was born in the town of Stafford, Genesee County, N. Y., May 5, 1831. His father, David, was a native of Connecticut, and there married Maria Chapman. They soon moved to Western New York, and from there to Michigan in 1854, and located at Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., where they lived three years. In 1855 they removed to Berrien County and engaged in farming until 1878, when they came to Jackson County and engaged in the milling business with N. J. Elliot. His interest in this business he exchanged for a farm of 190 acres on sec. 10. He was married to Miss E. Sheppard May 16, 1852, with whom he lived until her death in 1857. Since her death he has been twice married. His present wife's maiden name was Fannie Riley. The wedding ceremony took place in 1864. They have 2 children.
Mrs. A. L. Relyea is the daughter of Harvey O. and Amanda M. (Weston) Wheeler. March 20, 1863, she was married to Samuel J. Somerville, at Mason, Ingham Co., Mich. He was born in Upper Canada, 10 miles north of Kingston, and moved to Jackson County, locating on the farm where his wife now lives. He died Sept. 18, 1873, leaving 5 sons and 1 daughter. Mrs. Somerville was married Sept. 2, 1875, to Adelbert Relyea, a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., who was born March 1, 1848. His parents, Jacob D. and Margaret (Van Horn) Relyea, were married in New York in 1839, and came to this county in 1854. By the second marriage Mrs. Relyea has 2 sons and 1 daughter. The family live on the Somerville farm, which is owned by the widow (Mrs. Relyea) and the heirs at law of Samuel Somerville. It comprises 240 acres, 175 of which are under cultivation, and valued at $75 per acre.

    ALFRED RUSSELL was born Dec. 22, 1827, in Covington, Wyoming Co., N. Y, the son of Solomon and Mary (Cole) Russell. Solomon Russell was born in New York in 1798. In February, 1836, he came and located in Eckford, Calhoun Co., where he remained about six months, and then bought a farm in Indiana, which he sold after some years, and purchased 100 acres in Columbia, retaining it till the time of his death, in 1871. His wife was born in New York in 1800, and died in Wethersfield, Genesee Co., N. Y. Alfred Russell, soon after coming West, worked four years for a farmer in Indiana, and returned to his father's. In 1857 he bought 120 acres of land in Columbia, where he lived about five years, when he sold and purchased 240 acres in Liberty. He remained on this seven years, selling again, and buying 352 acres in this (Blackman) Township, where he now resides. The premises are in fine condition, house new and large, and land valued at $75 per acre. He spent the years 1864-'5 mining for gold in Idaho. On his way back to civilization he had seven encounters with Indians. He made the route thence via Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, Lake Nicaragua and New York. He is a Democrat. Sept. 3, 1856, he married Ellen Dean, of Wright, Hillsdale Co., the daughter of Sether and Miranda Dean. She was born in West Almond, Allegany Co., N. Y. Her father was born Oct. 8, 1800, in Windham, Luzerne Co., Pa. Her paternal grandfather was born in 1772, in New Jersey, and died Sept. 7, 1813, in Bridgewater, Pa. He was a soldier in 1812. Her paternal grandmother was born in 1770, and died in Pennsylvania, April 16, 1835. Mrs. Russell's mother was bom May 11, 1800, in Orwell, Addison Co. (then Rutland). Thomas Stutson, the maternal grandfather, was born in Massachusetts, and died in Covington, N. Y., in 1844. Amelia Stutson, the maternal grandmother, was born in Salem, Mass., and died in 1835. Mrs. Russell lost two brothers May 12, 1864, at the battle of Spottsylvania C. H. The ancestors of Mrs. Russell were identified with the earliest history of Massachusetts. They settled at Bedford Harbor, now New Bedford, and they were constantly involved in the Indian conflicts which form so important a feature of the history of that period. A portrait of Mr. Russell appears in this work, on page 767.
John Satterthwaite was born Jan. 5, 1838, in Westmoreland County, England. His parents are still living in Lancashire, England, where his father was born in 1814. His mother was born in Westmoreland County, in 1817. John came to America in 1866, in the steamer City of Boston, and landed in New York, July 1. He came very soon afterward to this county, where he has pursued the occupation to which he was bred. He had charge of the Walker Mine, south of Jackson, two and one-half years. In 1872 he took out naturalization papers, and has since identified himself with the Republicans. He owns seven acres of land, valued at $200 per acre, and a substantial dwelling. Feb. 9,1868, he married Jane Carver in Spring Arbor. She was born April 25, 1840, in Somersetshire, England, and came to America in April, 1866. Her father, John Carver, came to this country in 1874, and is now engaged in farming in Iowa. Her mother died in England in 1860. Mrs. Satterthwaite has been the mother of 6 children—John T. was born Nov. 28, 1868, and died June 21, 1870; Jane E. was born Feb. 17, 1870, and died in April of the same year; Celia, born Oct. 4, 1871; Amelia A., born March 27, 1874; Charles P., born April 3, 1876; and Mary Jane, born May 18, 1878, are still living.

    ALVA TRUE, farmer, sec. 2, was born in New Hampshire, Oct. 29, 1827. His wife, Celestia Morrill, daughter of Nathaniel Morrill, was born Jan. 14, 1837. His father, John True, was born in New Hampshire in 1799, and he married Hannah Watson, of the same place, in 1823; moved to Michigan in 1834, and settled in Blackman on 120 acres of land; bought 80 acres of James Fifield, on which place he lived until the time of his death, which took place July 19, 1849. His wife lived until Sept. 3, 1880, and was buried beside her husband in the cemetery just south of their home, which is still owned by their heirs. Alva was elected Treasurer of Blackman Township, in 1856, which office he filled with credit; was afterward elected Highway Commissioner several terms, and more recently elected Justice of the Peace, which office he now holds. In his youth he learned the joiner's trade, at which he worked some years, and in 1865 returned to farming, at which business he has since continued, and lives on a part of the old homestead; he is a self-educated man, a great reader of history and the news of the day. P.O ., Jackson.

    WILLIAM VAN HORN was born Sept. 15, 1824, in Cato, Cayuga Co., N. Y. His parents were Philip and Margaret Van Horn, who were natives of New York. They came to Michigan in 1836 and settled in Rives, where they purchased 160 acres of land, and lived thereon until their death.   Philip Van Horn was born July 25, 1787, and died Dec. 31, 1841; his wife, Margaret, was born June 3, 1795, and died in January, J 860. William Van Horn bought 80 acres of land in this township, in sec. 16, and eight years ago he bought 40 more, making in all 120 acres, valued at $85 per acre. Mr. Van Horn politically is a Democrat. He is of Holland Dutch descent. Feb. 8, 1852, he married Sarah Elizabeth Hoyt, in the city of Jackson. She was the daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth Hoyt, and was born in the town of La Fayette, Onondaga Co., N. Y. Her father was born in Connecticut in 1784, and died in La Fayette, Sept. 23, 1842. Her mother was born in La Fayette, June 29, 1804, and is still living, with her daughter. Mrs. Hoyt's father was a Revolutionary soldier, and died in 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Van Horn have been the parents of 9 children, born as follows: Helen L., born Dec. 5, 1862; a son, Feb. 10, 1854, died Feb. 24; Ida E., Aug. 31, 1858; Alma D., March 17, 1860, died in April, 1861; Fred L., Nov. 8, 1862; Frank P., Sept. 10, 1864; John K, Aug. 10, 1866; William B., Aug. 31, 1871; Archie L., Jan. 23, 1876.

    CHARLES WOOD was born in New Hampshire, March 17, 1817, brother of the next mentioned. He married Sarah A. Dean, of Ingham County, Mich., March 16, 1848. She was the daughter of William B. and Sarah (McCormber) Dean. Her father was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1794, and died in Ingham County, September, 1867. Her mother was born in Peacham, Vt., in 1803, and is still living, in Michigan. Mrs. Wood was born in Penfield (now Webster), Monroe Co., N. Y. Her parents settled in Wayne County, Mich., in 1831, where they remained nine years, removing thence to Ingham County. Her father was a soldier of 1812; her grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have had 3 children—Charles D. was born Jan. 17,1849, and died May 10, 1870; Sarah A. was born Jan. 13, 1852; Frank W. was born Sept. 13, 1854, and died in the following January. Sarah is the wife of Newell Woodworth, of this township. Mr. Wood is a Republican, and both himself and wife attend the Congregational church. Mr. Wood came to this State in 1831. He lived at home until 22 years of age. He taught school two winters. He and his brother purchased 240 acres in Bunker Hill, Mich.; in 1848 they divided the land equally, and he eventually bought 120 more, which he sold in 1869, and purchased his present estate in this township, sec. 23, land valued at $85 per acre. He held the office of Supervisor in Bunker Hill one year, and served as Township Clerk eight years, and is now serving as Justice in the 2d term, in Blackman. Mrs. Wood taught school 16 terms.

    JONATHAN WOOD was born in Keene, N. C, Sept. 20, 1815. His father, Jotham Wood, was born in North Carolina, Nov. 7, 1786. His mother, Anna, nee Lincoln, was born in Vermont, Jan. 11, 1792. In 1830 Jotham Wood came to this township with his family, settling on a farm in sec. 31, where they bought 95 acres. The father died here Feb. 26, 1862; the mother in 1854. Of this family, 6 of 8 children are now living; they were born in the following order: Sennia, April 27, 1814, died March 14, 1876; Jonathan; Charles, March 17, 1817; Jotham, Feb. 28, 1819; Mary Ann, March 4, 1821, died Oct. 7, same year; Lincoln, April 17, 1823; George, Feb. 14, 1826; Joseph 0., Feb. 28, 1828. Mr. Wood, the subject of this sketch, married Olive J. Haight, Feb. 16, 1875, at the city of Jackson. She was the daughter of Samuel and Phebe Dickerman, and was born in Niagara County, N. Y., April 23, 1839. She has one brother, Isaiah, living in this township, born May 6, 1842. Jay J., only child of Mr. and Mrs. Wood, was born May 14, 1876. Mr. W. is Republican in politics and in religious belief a Universalist. His wife is a Baptist. Jotham Wood was a soldier, and pensioner of 1812, and built the first frame house in Blackman.

    LA RUE H. WOODWORTH is the fourth son of George and Elizabeth (Mcintosh) Woodworth, whose marriage took place in 1823. George was the son of Samuel Woodworth, who married Sybil Danforth, and moved to Genesee County, N. Y., where George was reared, educated and married. After a residence of about eight years the family came to Michigan, in 1831. The farm now held by the widow and heirs of George Woodworth was located by him in 1830. Five children were born to the latter in this township, and 3 born in New York, are all living and married. One son and 2 daughters live in Jackson; 2 sons and 1 daughter live in Leslie, Ingham Co.; 1 son lives in Onondaga, Ingham Co., where he practices medicine; 1 son in Leslie, is also a physician; La Rue is the only farmer, and lives on the old homestead. His brother George is a keeper in the State's prison. Thomas is an engineer at Leslie. The father of Mrs. Woodworth was a native of New York, Scotch by birth. Her mother, Marion, nee Wright, was of English descent. La Rue married Miss Diantha Sanders, of Mason, Ingham Co., in 1868, since which time he has lived on the farm. Previously he worked in the dry-goods house of Reed & Allen, and one year in the hardware house of Bennett & Rice, in Jackson. He is the father of 2 sons, both at home. The farm comprises 160 acres. At the time of its location there was no highway thence to Jackson, and a route was marked by drawing a "rail cut." The old Indian trail running northwest to Pontiac, Oakland Co., a trading post, passed in front of the house. The nearest mill was at Ann Arbor, and eight days were required to make the trip from Detroit. The Indians supplied the family with cranberries and wild meats. Fish were plenty in Gran river, which passes through the farm. Mr.Woodworth trades to some extent in stock, though the farm is best adapted to grain. He is a prominent member of the order of Patrons of Husbandry.