MICHAEL PLANT is a native of Canada, and was born at Fort Erie, near the Niagara Falls, January 16, 1818. He is a son of Edward and Elizabeth Plant; his father was a native of New Jersey, his mother of New York State. His father enlisted in the American Army in the war of 1812; was engaged in the battles of Chippewa. Little York (now Toronto), Fort Erie and Stony Creek, where he was taken prisoner, taken to Halifax, and kept in prison until the next spring, when he was exchanged. He again joined his regiment and served till the end of the war. Mr. Plant grew up and worked on his father's farm and attended school until he was nineteen years old. He being educated by his father in Democratic principles, and trained in the ranks of the Radical party, had said some imprudent things against the Tory party and was known to be a strong Radical. The MrKinzie rebellion had already broken out. A friend notified him that he would be arrested the next day. Not liking the idea of being incarcerated in a Canada prison, that night he started for Michigan. On the night of the 12th of December he was taken prisoner at a place called Warrick Village; next day taken back to Adelaide Village and had an examination before the civil and military authorities. Nothing being proved against him, he was released, and started again for Michigan. Considering it dangerous to travel the main road, he struck through the woods; slept in an old shanty the first night. The next day he struck the shore of Lake Huron about ten miles above Port Sarnia; followed the shore down near Sarnia; saw a man with a small skiff; hired the man to take him to Port Huron. He says when landed on the dock in Port Huron, December 14, 1837, he was the happiest boy in Michignn. He engaged in lumbering for a few years; then engaged in farming, and has lived on his present location for a third of a century; his home farm contains 345 acres. Mr. Plant has been actively identified with the interest of his town and county for forty-five years. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace since 1841, with the exception of four years; held the office of Supervisor two years, and also served as Commissioner of Highways ten years, and School Director nine years, and in other town offices. He has been a director of the Farmers' Mutual Fin, Insurance Company of Macomb and St. Clair counties for the past sixteen years. In 1839, he married Miss Mary Ann McCallum, a daughter of the late Capt. Hugh McCallum of Wallaceburg, and a native of Argvleshire, Scotland. Her mother was Lydia Ward, of Whitehall, N. Y. Mr. Plant was born in 1*20, Od the River Thames. Lewisville, Ontario. They have three daughters—Jane, Emma and Ellen. DANIEL ROBINS, farmer, Section 2, P. O. Atkins, is a native of Canada, and grew up and lived there until 1857, when he came to this county and located in the town of Clyde. When he bought the land where he now lives it was all woods. He cleared it off and made his farm, and since then has been engaged in farming. During the war, he enlisted in Company H, Third Michigan Infantry, and served one year and nine months. In May, 1854, he married Miss Angeline Letunno, a native of this county. They have nine children, seven daughters and two sons—Rachel, Martha, Sarah M., Abbie, Ellen, Grace A., Mary Jane, Alexander and Edward. He WILLIAM ROSS, farmer, Section 10, P. O. Atkins, is a native of Scotland, and was born in 1830. emigrated to the United States in 1840, and came to this county in 1850, and was here only a short time; then went to Sanilac County, and afterward removed to Canada, where he lived for some years. He returned to this county and bought the farm where he now lives, and since then has resided here. While living in Canada he held the office of Postmaster. In 1870, he married Miss Lizzie Powell, a native of London, Ont. They have five children—Lizzie, Maggie, Mary, Ida and Willie. A. J. SHOCKLEY. Abbotsford, Section 17, physician and surgeon, is a native of Ripley County, Ind., and was born June 23, 1850. He received his literary education in that State, and pursued his medical studies in Cincinnati, and graduated at the Ohio Medical College in 1874. After graduating, he practiced medicine in Indiana until 1877, when he came to this town, and since then has practiced his profession here. He owns a fruit farm of eighty acres; he has served as Town Superintendent of Schools, and has been Health Officer for the past five years. In 1878, he married Miss Ada Saville, a native of Prince Edward Island. They have two children—Grace and Nora. JACOB SHUFELT, farmer, Section 14, P. O. Atkins, is a native of New York State, and was born December 20, 1803. He grew up to manhood in that State and removed to Canada, and lived there until 1853, when he came to this county and bought land and cleared it, and made his farm, and since then, for the past thirty years, has lived in this town. His farm contains eighty acres. In 1831, he married Miss Polly Castor. She is a native of Canada, near Toronto. She died October 19, 1873. and left nine children—Alice. Susan, Elmira, Ruth, Melinda, Mary, William, Peter, Uriah, Philip. DAVID SIMS, farmer, Section 10, P. O. Atkins, is a native of Canada, and was born April 7, 1832. Upon reaching manhood, he came to this county and engaged in lumbering, and was connected with that business for twenty years. He then engaged in farming; he owns a farm of eighty acres. In 1866, he married Miss Amelia Hitchings, a native of New Brunswick. They have two children—Robert H. and Mary Agnes. WALTER J. SLINGERLAND, farmer, Section 25. P. O. Port Huron, was born in Niagara. Canada. January 26, 1818. He grew up and lived there until 1850, and during that time cleared up and made two farms. Then came to this county and settled on the place where he now lives, and cleared up and made his farm, and since then, for the past thirty-three years, one-third of a century, has lived here. He has held school offices. His first wife was Miss Fidelia Simmons, of Norwich, Canada. She died December 9, 1859, leaving three children—John, Alice and Wallace. In 1870, he married Mrs. A. J. Putnam, of Norwich, Canada. She has one daughter—Olivia. BENJAMIN SMITH, farmer, Section 14. P. O. Atkins, is a native of Warren County, N. Y., and was born December 22, 1814. He lived there until sixteen years of age, then removed to Canada, where he lived until 1852, when he came to St. Clair County and engaged in building railroad for John Baird and Elijah Haynes. He afterward bought the land where he now lives, and cleared it of timber and made his farm, and since then as resided here, and is one of the early settlers. During the war, he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-second Regiment Volunteer Infantry, and served about three years. After the war, returned and since then has resided here. JAMES SYMONGTON, owner and proprietor Montross Hotel, Section 28, P. O. Ruby, is a native of Scotland, and was born July 8, 1820. His parents emigrated to the United States in 1834, and he came to St. Clair County the same year. The following year he went over in Canada and engaged in lumbering there and here, but sold most of his lumber on this side, and since 1867 has resided here permanently. He held the office of Deputy Sheriff six years, and has held several general agencies, and has a good general knowledge of law, and has done considerable practice in Justice courts. He is a ready writer and has been a contributor to newspapers over thirty years. Has recently bought the Montross Hotel property. In 1849, he married Miss Hannah McNutt, a native of Canada. They have six children—Thomas, Grace, Eliza, Christina, Hannah, Isabel. EDWARD VINCENT, farmer, Section 7, P. O. Port Huron, is a native of Lower Canada, and was born October 31, 1825. His parents came to Michigan in 1836, when he was eleven years of age, and were among the early settlers. When he reached the age of twenty-one, his father died, and the care of the family devolved upon him. After reaching manhood, he engaged in farming and lumbering and carried on the business largely for a great many years, and is still interested in it, though for the past ten years he has not given his active attention to it as he did previous to that time. He lives on the same farm cleared by his father, containing 480 acres, and also owns other lands, and property in the city, and is one of the owners of the flouring mill in the city on Black River. In May, 1877, Mr. Vincent was appointed County Treasurer to fill the unexpired term of John Johnson, and at the following election was elected to the same office. He has held the office of Supervisor for twenty-two years, and is one of the oldest members of the board, and has held town and school offices. In the fall of 1882, he was elected Representative to the State Legislature, and is now a member of that body. Mr. Vincent married Miss Agnes G. Atkins, a native of Canada, March 21, 1853. They have six sons and three daughters—James I., Edward L., Charles S., Leonard M., Wesley R., Fred A.. Marcia E., Nellie M. and Blanche E. OLIVER WESTBROOK, farmer and attorney, Section 18, P. O. Ruby, is a son of Andrew and Sallie Hull Westbrook. His father was a native of New York, and his mother was born in New Jersey. Some years previous to the war of 1812, they moved to Canada, in which war Andrew Westbrook served. Being obliged to leave Canada, he lost 9,000 acres of land, on a portion of which the city of Toronto has since been built. In the year 1814, he came to Detroit, and the following year, up to the St. Clair River. In 1815, Mrs. Westbrook died, leaving her husband with six children. Oliver was born in Delaware County, Canada, November 22, 1808. When a little over seven years old, he was carried off by the Indians and was held by them three years, being well cared for during that time. When the Indians came to Maiden for their annuities, his father saw him and bought him of the chief. His education was limited to three months' attendance at a district school. He lived in the town of China until he was eighteen years old, when he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and engaged in lumbering there and in the vicinity. In May, 1828, he went to Rochester, N. Y., working on a farm until fall, threshing in the mean time 100 bushels of wheat with a flail, when he went to Geneseo and entered into the employ of Gen. Wadsworth, with whom he remained seven years. While with Gen. Wadsworth, he was married to Miss Eliza Crossett, of Geneseo, May 14, 1834. During the day there was a severe snow-storm, the snow falling to the depth of one foot and the ice freezing to the thickness of one inch. During this year he returned to St. Clair County and settled on land given him by his father, adjoining Port Huron, on the river. His father died during the year, and Oliver sold this place and bought land on Belle River, where he lived three years, when he came to Clyde, near which town he still resides. From the time of his arrival here, himself and brother were engaged In farming and lumbering for a period of about thirty years, though for the most of this time Oliver was engaged in lumbering and in hauling shingles and staves to Port Huron and selling them for the manufacturers. In 1867, he was elected magistrate, holding the office twelve years. He also held the office of Supervisor of this town. Since then he has been engaged in the practice of law in this and adjoining counties, and has also held school offices. He was appointed by the Governor, Paymaster of the State Militia. He owns the farm upon which he now resides and upon which he has lived since 1853. He is probably the oldest resident of the county and has a vivid recollection of the early days of Michigan Territory. At the time of his father's removal there, the territory was literally full of almost all kinds of game. His brother and himself, with their dog, named Patto, caught thirty raccoons in half of one night, and in one winter season they caught 150 foxes. Wolves, otter, mink, muskrats and sable abounded. The river was very full of white and other fish; it was no uncommon thing in the month of November to catch four or five barrels of white fish at a single haul. Blackbirds and pigeons flew over the country in innumerable myriads. Mr. Westbrook's father shot at one time ninety-nine pigeons as they rose from the wheat stubble. At this early time, most of the people living within the county were Frenchmen and Chippewa Indians. A few of their names are as follows: Charles Boumm, Peter Brandemore, Samuel Petit, Sambernor Duchane, Joseph Minney, Trombley Sharkey, Capt. William Thorn, Cottrell Harrow, William Brown, Robinson Hewson, Mr. Stewart and Mr. Little, the latter rive living on Harsen's Island. In those days Gov. Lewis Cass was accustomed to pass up the river each summer for a number of years, in a birch bark canoe, with about ten Frenchmen to paddle his canoe. Gov. Cass was usually dressed when on these expeditions in full Indian chief costume, and had along old James Conner for interpreter. Mr. Conner could speak seven languages fluently. Gov. Cass was in the habit of stopping at Mr. Westbrook's father's house when on these expeditions. For three or four years after moving to this county, Mr. Westbrook's family pounded corn in an Indian mortar for bread and samp. The first wheat they raised they boiled. There were no roads, no mills, no stores, no schools. The first milling was done at a windmill fifty miles distant down the river, opposite Detroit, and reached with a canoe. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Westbrook have five children. BURTCHVILLE TOWNSHIP. URTGHVILLE was an important lumber township during the great timber-making era in this county. Among the early permanent settlers were Jonathan Burtch, Andrew Facer, J. Y. Pettis and others mentioned among the early land buyers. The Farrand Mills, at Lakeport, must be considered the pioneer manufacturing industry of the district In early days these mills attracted much attention, and through them attention was drawn to the reso urces of the township. The settlers, too, were pioneer workers, and hold an important place in the history of the county's progress. The number of acres of land within the limits of Burchville is 10,050, and the equalised valuation for 1882 is $121,234. The population has increased, from 353 in 1845, to 752 in 1880. In 1854 there were 1,009 persons in the township, and in 1864 1,695 persons, the great number of whom were connected with the lumber industry. Since its decline, the population has fallen to 752. Geologically there is but little of interest connected with this township. It has not been made a field of very extensive explorations by the State geological corps. At about the same level are found about the same deposits, which indicate that this section has not suffered from any sudden disturbances. The district has not been the seat of any unhealthy exciternent over the discovery of minerals. Years ago it was reported that lead was found, but the re port was false. Occasionally a surveying party finds that their compasses are seriously disturbed in certain places, but neither of these caused any system of mining to be inaugurated. A man once claimed he found a piece of mineral coal on one of the bluffs, which, being put in the fire, burned as readily as the coal 01 commerce, but every geologist knows that this section is not the place to expect a coal-bed. At different places along the shores and the mouths of creeks are a few Indian mounds, but they have not pricked the ambition of curiosity-seekers, or, if they have, the fruits of the search have not been preserved. In the district, however, are a number of mounds, evidences of a prehistoric race, but no satisfactory account has ever been given concerning them. A mound on the lake shore was opened a few years ago, and was found to contain a skeleton of immense proportions. Further than this there is nothing of any public importance connected with these traces of former occupation, in this or neighboring townships. The original land buyers of Burtchville were George McDougal, Oliver W. Miller (1826), Eurotas Hastings, James C. Bettner, Jonathan Burtch, Ethan Burtch, Elon & Jacob Bacheller, John Desnoyer, Nancy Lewis, A. De Groates, Smith Titus, George P. McBride, Charles Butler, E. L. Hannah, F. P. Browning, Andrew Facer, Samuel Swift, A. D. Burdens, Abner Coburn, B. Crosier, Thomas Murphy, John W. Edmunds. Jonathan Burtch purchased lands in the township subsequent to 1836. A few years later, Bethuel C. Farrand made extensive purchases of pine lands. Lakeport, Burtchville Township, ten miles north of Port Huron, was settled in 1848. The village was platted in 1852, by David Ward, surveyor for B. C. Farrand. The first residents comprised Andrew Facer, Eber Lewis, Abram Hogan. William Conger had a water saw-mill on Milwaukee Creek in 1847. The village of Lakeport is on the plat of New Milwaukee, made in 1837 by Jonas H. Titus, and a number of lots sold. Among the early mill-owners and lumbermen were Jonathan Burtch, William Conger, Caspar Conger, James K. Lockwood, who died in July, 1882, at Alpena, Joseph Y. Pettis (water mill), B. C. Farrand. The Comstock brothers had water mills on Black River, in what is now Grant Township, then a portion of Burchville. The early settlers between Fort Gratiot and Lakeport, in 1852, were Lyman Whitford, Andrew Facer, Robert Holland and Daniel Coggswell, the Brown family, the Stevens family, and the Carrigan family. John Howard built a saw mill on Black River in 1839, in Fort Gratiot Township. SUPERVISORS. Jonathan Burch, 1842; Abram Hogan. 1843-44; H. Hollister, 1845-47; Nelson Potter, 1848-49; Nelson Potter, 1850-51; James Parlin, 1852-55; E. Raymond, 1856; George B. Whitman, 1857; James Parlin, 1858-61; Thomas Dawson, 1862-66; John Cole, 1867; Nelson Goule, 1868-70; J. Stevenson, 1871-72; Nelson Goule, 1873; J. B. C. Edwell, 1874; Whipple Wheeler, 1875-76; J. Stevenson, 1877; Whipple Wheeler, 1878; Samuel Dennison, 1879; Whipple Wheeler, 1880; James Stevenson, 1881-82. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. Obadiah Gardner, 1842; Lewis Chadwick, 1842; A. W Comstock, 1842; Abram Hogan, 1842; O. Gardner, 1843; P. H. Whiting, 1844; Ebenezer Raymond, 1844; Hannibal Hollister, 1845; Lewis Chadwick, 1845; Joseph Pettys, 1846; C. Wise, 1847; Obadiah Gardner, 1848; Eber Lewis, 1849; Silas Conger, 1850; Joseph Pettys, 1850; C. H. Wise, 1852; Nelson Porter, 1853; Obed Gardner, 1854; Edward Potter, 1857-61; James Parlin, 1858; H. McCollum, 1858; John McGill, 1859-66; William McDonald, 1860; John Lermont, 1862-66; A. P. Sexton, 1862; Isaac W. Farewell, 1863; John Farr, 1864; Nelson Gould, 1866; John Holt, 1867; W. Wheeler, 1867-72; Eber Lewis, 1867; Wilson Shaw, 1868; James Bingham, 1869; Joseph Y. Pettys, 1870; J. B. Cadwell, 1871; Hugh Fuller, 1872-74; Henry J. Olney, 1873; R. J. Tyrrell, 1875; W. Wheeler, 1876; James Bingham, 1876-77; Levi S. Wing, 1878; R. J. Tyrrell, 1879; Alexander McKenzie, 1880; Henry J. Olney, 1880; James Bingham, 1881: Lyman Windsor, 1882. The following ticket was elected in April, 1882: Supervisor James Stevenson. Clerk, Byron M. Green. Treasurer—William Dunning. Justice of the Peace (full term)--Lyman Windsor. Highway Commissioner—Thomas Warwick. School Inspectors—Benjamin Davis, full term; Hugh Fuller, one year. Constables—Crozier Rutledge, Levi Bigelow, Robert Bell, Charles Wells The earliest authentic history of this region testifies that about the eighteenth century the Otchipwes occupied this territory. Passing to about the middle of the nineteenth century, without detailing the various inter-tribal contests that occurred during the intervening period, when white settlements first advanced up the river, this was regarded as disputed territory by the tribes, the Wyandots claiming the land below, the Otchipwes the country north, and the British Indians occupying the opposite shore. This region was, therefore, the scene of many bloody battles between these three tribes. But they were all peaceably disposed toward the whites. The stimulus to early adventures up the river was the fur trade, some going to the head waters of Lake Huron, while others landed at intermediate points, as opportunity would afford or interest suggest. The special inducement offered to tarry within the present limits of this township was the trade of surrounding bands of Indians, and the knowledge that within the century the place would become a well-known trading station. During the Pine Age, the establishment of the Farrand Mills, at Lakeport, led to the permanent settlement of the township. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ISAAC COLE, farmer, Section 12, P. O. Lakeport, is a native of Canada, and was born in London November 24, 1835. He came here to this county with his parents, Adolphus and Almira Cole, in 1849. They settled at Lakeport, and he grew up here and went to work in the lumber woods. After reaching manhood he engaged in lumbering, and followed that business until 1876, and since then has been engaged in fanning. He owns 450 acres in this town, and has owned the place where he lives for twenty years and has made excellent improvements. He has held the office of Assessor since he came here. In 1872, Mr. Cole married Miss Emma Duncan, a native of Niagara County, N. Y. They have three children—Lester, Leon and Alta. JOSEPH STEVENSON, farmer, Section 25, P. O. Lakeport, is a native of the north of Ireland, and was born in County Down April 7, 1834. Upon reaching early manhood, the family emigrated to this coun HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. try in 1854, and came to this county the same year. Lived in St. Clair one year; then came to Lakeport and opened a boot and shoe shop and continued two years. Worked at the carpenter and joiner trade, and was afterward engaged in building for many years, until 1871. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Lakeport, the firm being McDonald, Caldwell & Stevenson. Then learned the sash, door and blind business. They also bought and shipped hay and grain. They carried on the business six years, and transacted a large and successful trade. In 1877, he sold his interest in the store and returned to his farm, and since then has been engaged in farming. He owns 460 acres of land. He has held the office of Supervisor three years, Town Treasurer, Town Clerk, and has held school offices. He held the office of Postmaster some years, and was manager of the office of the W. U. Telegraph. He was married September 10, 1861, to Miss Mary Lewis, of this county. They have eight children—John E., Nellie J., Isaac N., Maggie M., Willie, Frank H., Joseph L. and Samuel J. WHIPPLE WHEELER, farmer, Section 36, P. O. Lakeport, is a native of Vermont, and was born August 1, 1821. His parents removed to the State of New York when he was three years old. He grew up and lived in that State until 1859, when he came to this county and settled in the town of Burtchville, where he now lives. It was then all woods. He cleared the land and made his farm, and since then has been engaged in farming. Owns ninety acres of land. He has held town and school offices. In 1843, he married Miss Ruth Hill, a native of New York. She died in 1871, and left three children—Daniel, Emma, now Mrs. Capt. Merriman, of Port Huron, and Carrie. county. She has six children by her former husband—Maggie, Sarah, Minnie, Albert, Mattie and Bertie. In 1880, Mr. Wheeler married Mrs. Catharine Rutledge, of this GRANT GRANT TOWNSHIP. EANT Township was organized in 1867, with Thomas Dawson, Supervisor. Its area is 19,072 acres, watered by Black River, Silver and Plum Creeks. township in 1845, with Bnrchville, of which it formed a part, was 353. In 1880, the popula tion of the town, separately, was 1,357. The population of the permanent settlers were John McGill, Cyrus and Nelson Potter, H. Cadwell and William Bice. The equalized value is $412,240. Among the first Gratiot Centre and Jeddo are the only villages in the township. EARLY LAND BUYERS. Among the first land buyers in this district were Jonathan Burtch, James E. Bettney, Charles H. Carroll, Silas Dean, Joseph Granger, J. M. Geel, Lemuel Palmerly, T. Jones, F. Stephens, W. Truesdail, Hugh M. Moffat, C. M. Hayward, Arden H. Billard, Lorenzo M. Mason. Eben Batcheller, Nelson Potter, Horace Cadwell, Hiram Birch, Asa O. Robinson, C. L. Gage, Nathan Ward, Samuel Swift, Sheldon Thorp, Allen Fish, J. L. Kelsey, Hiram J. Witherell, Daniel B. Harrington, Cummings Sanborn, Timothy J. Wheaton, Alvah Sweetser, John Beard. Cyrus Moore, H. W. Delevan, William Steele, Elisha Dowd, L. A. Whitford, George Brown, Patrick Brady, Alonzo Crittenden, William J. Edson, John McDonald, James Smith, Allen R. Atkins, James Cooley, James Beard, Louis Thibault, B. White, George N. Bower, the Gagnion brothers, Charles Peltier, Ai Beard, Clift Comstock, William Atkins, Charles Farr, Abner Coburn, W. P. Barber, Owen Ransom, A. A. Bradley, William Hoffman, Hugh Robinson. SUPERVISORS. Thomas Dawson, 1867-69; John McGill, 1870-72; D. G. Finlayson, 1873-74; John McGill, 1875-80; Clark Strevel, 1881-82. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. John Hickey, 1874; Nelson Potter, 1875; John McGill, 1876; Michael Myron. 1877-81; The officers elected in April, 1882, were: |