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History Of Bridgewater Township

History Of Bridgewater Township image
Parent Issue
Day
25
Month
June
Year
1875
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

iJndgewater is range tour east 01 tne nieridian line, and four south of the base line. The river Raisin flows through the Southwest part of the township, parallel to which is situated the Jack3on branch of the Michigan Southern and Lake Shore railroad. Iron creek, a tributary of the Raisin, enters it in thia town ; the face of the township is somewhat rolling, yet enibracing some plains of great beauty and fertility ; the southwestern portion is mostly sandy ; the southeasteru and northern are a clayey loam. A marsh, faniiliarly known as " the big inarsh," comuiences near the center of the township and extends eastward into the township of Saline. The tiinber was uioëtly oak on the upland, some of which was very heavy. The writer of this has Gounted the annular rings of a white oak that nuinbered some 900. The low portions ware timbered, as in most cases, with elm, white maple, black ash, willow, tamarack, or American brich, &c. (Jol. Daniel Hixson was the first settler in Bridgewater, having first made a home here in March, 1829. He tiaveled from Tecuinseh, on the Indian trail, a distance of five miles, through naturen solitude's. Tecumseth then had but two dwellings. George Lazalle, the second purchaser of land, arrived in Ann Arbor in June, 1825 ; was at the first celebration of the Fourth of July in Ann Arbor; cacue to Bridgewater in 1829 ; has resided on the sanie puruhase ever since. Among the first settlers were John Scott, Shove Miner, Alexauder Sergeant, Dennis Lancaster, James Crampton, Thomas Gilbert, George Howu, all of whom are deceased except Ueo. Lazelle. Bridgewater was originally, with many other lowns in Washteuaw county, as well as some portions of Jackson county, included in the township of Dexter. It was organized into a separate township in 1833. From 1833 to 1836 Manchester and Bridgewater were in one orgauization, at which time Manchester was set oö' as a separate organization. The first supervisor of the township was George Howe ; the first magisirate was H. B. Norton ; Robert H. Heggie the first towuship clerk ; Norman L Couklin, treasurer. The first township meeting was held at the residence ot Daniel C. Brooks, April lst, 1833. The Hon. Daniel Hixson was for niauyyears uiagistrate, subsequently he served two terms as a member of the Legislature, one as State senator, sat twice as a member of the constitutional convention, once in 1836 or '37- again in 1807. D. W. Palmer has been township clerk of this town for 26 years. The first marriage in this town was Denuis Lancaster and Miss Harriet Frederick. The first birth was Henrietta Hixson, now the wife of Rev. Mr. Kedzie of Dowagiac. First death was Henry Downs. It is probable that tho Chicago Cuatom House wall will be removed, and rebuilt on new foundations. The rejuoval alone will cost $300,000. The architects seein to agree thut it is folly to thiuk of coinpletiug the building as begun.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus