Early History Of Pittsfield

The following paper was read at the late meeting of the Pioneer Society, held in this city on the 7th inst : Shakon, Wyandottr Co., Kansas, } September 17th, 1874, ) Mr. S. D. Noble :- DEAR SlR - Enclosed I send you the promised coinmunication respecting the immigration of 1825 into the Mallett's Creek Settlement. The settlers of the Spring, Sumuier, and Autumn of that year, were respectively, Mr. Buckwith, Roswell Paraons, Luke H. Whitmore, Thomas Fairbrother, David llardy, Ira Harrington, Lewis Barr, Conrad Kply, and their families, and several young men who obtained work in the neighborhood. Aiuong this latter number was the late Mr. Joaeph Crane. Of Mr. Beckwith and his family, I know but very little. He located the N. E. 1-4 of Sec. 4, built a log house upon it which Mr. "Wm. Anderson occupied for many years. He remained but a few years in the neighborhood, moving on further west into the Territory. Mr. Parsons and faruily were natives of Conn., and emigrated from the town of Enfield, in that State. They carne the Plyinouth road from Detroit, and arrived in the settlement on the llth day of May, the same day that Mr. Whitmore and Mr. Fairbrother arrived, and the same day that Elnathan Botsford reached hia place in Anu Arbor town. The children were : Harriet, Nehemiah P., Philo, Angeline, and Louiaa Terry, a niece, - adults ; and James, a child of five or six years. Harriet and Louisa, togethor with N. P. and Philo, walked the entire distance from Detroit ; while the balance of the family rode by turna, not all being allowed to ride at one time. They were nearly a week inaking the trip froru Detroit there. Mr. Parsons located the E. 1-2 of the S. E. 1-4 of Sac. 2, and N. P. the w. 1-2 of the N. E. 1-4 of tho same Beotion. Mr. Parsona kept the first public house opened in the town. It was opened to travelers in the fall of 1825 ; but there was no bar in it till some years later. Misa Harriet, aided by other young ladies of the place, organized and taught the first Sabbath school in the county that summer under some oalss a few rods east of Mallett's Creek, where the main barn of the Alpheus Collins' farm now stands. It was started about the first of June and continued until broken up by sickness in the latter part of August. Harriet was married to Mr. Lorin Mills of Ann Arbor village ; Louisa Terry to his brother Sylvester; and Angeline to Justus Carpenter, now of Sauk Eapids, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore were natives of Mass., but emigrated from the town of Séneca, Ontario County, N. Y. Their family consisted of Hannah Coning, a niece of Mrs. Whitmore, Emily, a grown daughtar, andEzra, Alfred, Egbert, Charlotte and Luke, aged respectively from nine down to two years. Mr. Whitmore located his land the year previous, hired a house built and seven acres of land plowed and fenced, so that he was ready to commeuce work immediately after hia arrival. His location was on the w. 1-2 of the s. E. 1-4 of Sec. 2, the w. 1-2 of the N. E. 1-4, and E. 1-2 of the n: w. 1-4, and the E. 1-2 of the s. w. 1-4 of Sec. 11. Emily died on the 12th of the following September, - the first death in the neighborhood. Hannah Coning was married the first day of Jan., 1829, to Bussel Parker, then and now, of Lima. Mr. Parker had moved hia personal effects into Mr. Whitmore's house, having entered into a cropping partnership with hiin for three yearsOn the 9th day of Jan., while Mr. Parker and his young wife were at a ball in Dexter village, and Mrs. Whitmore was in Detroit, the house took fire and burned to the ground, buruing a large portion of Mr. Whitmore's things, and the entire personal inventory of the newly married couple. Mr. Parker aaid that wa8 the first ball he ever attended, and he gaessed it would be the last, as he found them too expensive to be indulged in. This was the first house.burning in the vicinity. The way Hannah happened to come to Michigan, was as follows: She had come eight miles the week beforo Mr. Whitmore contemplated starting, to give them a goodby visit, as ahe called it. While talking over the subject of going, ehe 8aid, " O, how I wish I was going too." Mr. Whitmore replied : " Kow, Haunah, such talk from you, is all nonsense." She retorted energetically : - " It is no such a-thing, I do wish I was going ! I would jump at the chance to go." Mr. Whitmore said : " Why, Hannah ! I dare you to go." She replied : " You had better not daré me too hard, or I will pack myself along with you, yet !" He responded : " I will dare you just as hard as this : - I will bear your expenses there, and my house shall be your home as long as you have a mind to make it such." She quitö excitedly said : " Just say that again, f you please, XJncle." It was repeated, with the addition, - " I am in earuest, Hannah." She Bat, for several moments, perfectly silent ; then springing to her feet with a bound, exulaimed : " Uncle Luke, I am going to Michigan ; please to get me my horse ! I want to go home immediately." Mr. Whitmore had no idea that her courage would hold out ; but two days before the appointed time for starting, she catne fully prepared for the journey, having taken only five days to prepare for it. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbrother carne with Mr. Whitmore, and squatted on his land. Their family consisted of three daughters: Adaline and Elzada, young women, and Caroline, aged ten years. The parents were natives of Albany, N. Y. They must have been what we cali in Kansas, ' professional tramps," as they had li ved in various places in N. Y., Penn., N. J., Vt., and Canada. Iinmediately after getting settled, he made a foot-lathe between two oak trees, where he did the turning work for large spinning wheels which he manufactured, finding a ready sale for them in that and the surrounding neighborhoods. Some of his wheels were in use but a few years ago. He became dissatisfied with the Territory and returned to Buffalo the following October. Elzada taught th first week-day school in the place, and so f'ar as I could ever learn, the first in the caunty, under four stately oaks. A log flattened on the top was plaoed on each of three sides for seats, in front of which wore as many hewed planks, standing on stakes, for counters. A sun-dial in an open space a few steps off, was the timepiece, which answered very well when the sun shone, The scholars were Bquier, Eliza and Sylvanus Barney; William, Laura and Emily Barr ; Thurston, ia and Mary Hardy ; Jchn and Lncretia Maynard ; Ezra, Alfred, Egbert and Walstin Whitinore, and Caroline Fairbrother. I have the iuipression that Mr. Hardy and wife were natives of Maryland, but emigrated from Penn. They located the E. 1-2 of the N. E. 1-4 of Sec. 15. Thoir children were : Julia Ann, a young lady, and Fidelia, Thurstcn, Mary and Susan, aged respect i vel y from four to twelve years. Julia Ann was niarried in April, 1827, to Mr. Reading, of Ypsilanti village, the third couple married in the neighborhood. Reading and wife subsequently settled in Mississippi Hr. Hardy sold bis place in a few years and settled noar Oakville. I have been informed that Fidelia, the second daughter of Mr. Hardy, became the wife of Mr. Tyler, of Augusta, and ia the mother of Prof. Tylor, of the University of Mich., but do not know it to be so. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington camo with Mr. Hardy, and lived that summer in his house. They had an infant son who soon I after attaining his majority, married a daughter of Mr. Samuel Pettibone, and settled in Ann Arbor, where he shortly after died. Mr. Barr located the w. 1-2 of the N. w. 1-4 of Sec. 2., in the summer of 1824, and commenced building a house on it, and cut his foot very badly, on account of which he returned home, and did not again visit the Territory till he carne with his fftmily, in May, 1825. His children were, William, Laura, Einily, Lorenzo and Luther, aged respectively from nine years down to one year. William, Laura and Luther died in early youth. Mrs. Barr is still living near the old place in Ann Arbor township. Mr. Eply was the last arrival of that season. He locsted the E. 1-2 of the 8. E. 1-4 of 2. He had two grown daughters - Betsey and Catharine, - and several younger children. Betsey was married to Daniel Merrill, a brother of Mrs. McDowell, and settled in the neighborhood. Catharine was married to Mr Belcher, a young lawyer, of Ann Arbor village. Mrs. Eply lived but a very few years, and the family left the neighburhood shortly after herdeath. Andrew Cornisa located the 8. E. 1-4 of Sec. 11, and the W. 1-2 of the s. w. 1-4 of Sec. 12 ; Jacob Aray locatnd the N. w. 1-4 of Sec. 13 ; and Wm. Hardy, the W. 1-2 of the lï. E. 1-4 of Sec. 13, that summer, but did not move into the settlement till the following season. Kespectfully Yours, E. W.'WHITMOEE.