(P.8) In the month of May, 1835, James Sage and George L. Sage, with their families, moved from Salem, Washtenaw county, Michigan, to this town. They arrived on section thirty-five, in town three north, of range four east, on the 14th day of the month. On the first of June following, David Austin and family settled on the same section. In December, of the same year, (P.9) John D. Pinckney settled on section 36. They were farmers. James Sage died June 29th, 1839. George T. Sage died in the township of Marion, August 21st, 1852. John D. Pinckney died February 11th,1861. They were all men of respectability, and had the honor of being the first four men that settled in the township. The widow of George T. Sage is living, and is now the wife of Rev. Geo. W. Jenks. Mrs. James Sage and Mrs. John D. Pinckney are also alive. Mrs. David Austin is dead.

     The nearest inhabitants from the centre of the township, at the settlement of the place, were eighteen miles away. In a westerly direction, it was about forty miles to the nearest settlement. The nearest mills were eighteen miles distant. I give herewith a somewhat detailed statement of the geography of the first settlement:

The First of the Village

     The plat of the village of Howell was established in 1835, and located on section 36, by F. J. B. Crane, and Brooks, of Detroit. It was named (as well as the township,) in honor of Thomas Howell, a son of Judge Howell, of Canandaigua, N. Y. A few years after Crane and Brooks established the original plat, an addition was laid out by Mr. Cowdry, of the city of New York. Subsequently Edward Thompson, of Howell, made a further addition. In the autumn of 1835, Crane and Brooks erected a (P.10) two story frame building for a hotel, situated on the south side of Grand River street, and east of Walnut street. Amos L. Adams and his family, were its first occupants. The building was destroyed by fire September 28th, 1857.

     The first person born in the township was Geo. L. Sage, son of Geo. T. and Louisa Sage, January 23d, 1835.

     Rev. John Cosort, of the Methodist denomination, was the first person that preached in Howell. The meeting was at the house of James Sage, A. D. 1835.

     The first marriage that occurred in Howell, was at the house of David Austin, the bride's father. The nuptials celebrated were those of Merritt S. Havens and Sally T. Austin. The ceremonies and festivities were a la mode. This was on the l5th day of January, 1836. They were married by Kinsley S. Bingham, who afterwards became successively Governor of this State and member of the United States Senate.

Immigration of 1836

(P.11)

Immigrants that Settled In the Village in the Year Mentioned

Recurrence to Matters of the Township

     At the organization of the township of Howell 1836, it included the townships now named respectively, Handy, Conway, Cohoctah, Deerfield Oceola.

     The inhabitants at this time, and previous to establishment of a post-office in Howell, received their letters either at Ann Arbor, Plymouth, or Detroit. The post-office was assigned to Howell in March, 1836. F. J. B. Crane was appointed Post Master. About the 20th of the same month a mail route was established between Kensington, Oakland County, and Howell. Lewis Thompson was the mail contractor, and he carried the mail on horseback once per week. Soon after this another route was established between Howell and Grand Rapids. James R. Sage, of Howell, a lad of about 17 years of age, was the first person who carried the mail on this route. It then required six or seven days to perform the journey. On his first trip he missed his path and was obliged to stay in the woods over night. The mail was carried on horseback.

     The first election in the township was held at the house of Amos Adams. This was the only house in the village. The election was in April, 1836. Amos Adams, F. J. B. Crane, John W. Smith, Jonathan Austin, and Alvin Crittenden as clerk, constituted the board. For the want of suitable ballot boxes, sugar-bowls and tea-pots were borrowed of  (P.12) Mr. Adams' family to be used as depositories of the votes. There was no opposition at the election. The whole number of votes cast was 33. The election resulted in the choice of Philester Jessup for supervisor; F. J. B. Crane, town clerk; Amos Adams, Ezra Sanford, Harleigh H. Graves, and John W. Smith, justices of the peace; Francis Field, collector; Justin Durfee, David Austin and Geo. T. Sage, assessors; Joseph Porter, F. J. B. Crane and Jonathan Austin, school inspectors; John Sanford, Justin Durfee and Geo. T. Sage, highway commissioners; John D. Pinckney, F. J. B. Crane, Francis Field and Elisha H. Smith, constables. John W. Smith afterwards held the office of justice of the peace sixteen years in succession. On the same day of the above named election, one was held for the purpose of choosing county officers. Justus Bennett, of Hamburg, was elected sheriff, F. J. B. Crane, county clerk; Ely Barnard, of Genoa, register of deeds; Amos Adams, treasurer and surveyor.

     Some of the town officers were unacquainted with official proceedings, and consequently, business was improperly executed in the assessment of property. The names of persons owning property were not placed in alphabetical order--a matter which rendered the list very inconvenient when searching for names. The assessment was entered on half-sheets of paper. After it was completed these half-sheets were joined together with wafers. The list was 15 feet in length. Some persons who indulged somewhat in similes called it "Ezekiel's roll of a book."

     The first court held in the township was commenced before Amos Adams, Esq., and was (P.13) transferred to John W. Smith, Esq. The court was at the house of the author of this volume, on section twenty-one. The plaintiff in the case was George Rice; defendant, Henry Neff. The attorneys , Kinsley S. Bingham, of Green Oak, Livingston county, (afterwards Governor of the State,) and Dr. Curtis, of Kensington, Oakland county. The Dr. still lives at the village of Holly in this State. After having passed through formalities usual in law-suits and arguing points of law, the plaintiff withdrew his suit and paid the costs.

     The first records of the proceedings of the township and township board are destroyed or lost. A part of them were loaned to some person about year 1850, who was concerned in the Detroit, Howell and Lansing plank road. The Grand River turn-pike running through Howell, was established by the United States Government. That part of it which lay in the township was laid out by the highway commissioners for the purpose of legally applying highway labor thereon.

     In June, 1836, there was an extensive fall of rain. The water rose to the height of three feet on the marsh adjoining the channel of the Shiawassee river, and a rudely constructed log bridge across that stream was swept away. Shortly after this event Henry Lake and Garrett S. Lake arrived with their household furniture. Their teams swam the river and their wagons and goods were conveyed across on a raft.

     During the summer and autumn of 1836, Artemas Hosmer, of Wayne county, under contract with the United States Government, built a bridge over the Shiawassee river on the line of the Grand River (P.14) road. The plank and boards used in its construction were sawed with a pit-saw.

     In the autumn of 1836, a horse was stolen from Henry Pettingill. We are happy to say that larcenies have not been common in the township.

     The first school-house built in the township was erected in the fall of 1836. It was situated in the western part of the village. Justin Durfee was the first teacher who conducted a school there. The name of Durfee is rescued from entire oblivion by being associated with that of Benj. J. Spring, a wag of the very first water. Spring owned a farm adjoining Durfee, and the two men had been in the habit of what pioneers understand as "exchanging work." It so happened that finally Justin owed Spring for one day's labor, and being of rather a grasping turn of mind, he never came to pay it except on some day when it stormed so he could do nothing at home. Coming over to Spring's house one rainy morning, he found Ben. under a shed arranging some fishing tackle, and accosted him with the remark, "Well, Spring, I've come over to do that work, and if I can't do it to-day I shan't do it at all!" Spring coolly raised his eyes and looking over in the direction of a certain clay knoll, whereon there was some miserable, stunted blades of corn growing, said: "Mr. Durfee you can go over there and go to tasseling out that corn!" Tradition does not inform us that Justin went.

     On the first settlement of the place, provisions were scarce and difficult to be procured. Some of the inhabitants depended for their meat entirely on hunting and fishing. Gottleib Schraft and Jacob Schraft came near starving. They subsisted several
(P.15) days on boiled grass and other herbage. Afterwards, through the liberality of Moses Thompson, they were provided with food. It may be worthy of incidental remark that the Schrafts entrusted their money about this time to one Simon P. Shope, who pretended he was about to establish a village in the south-east corner of the town of Howell.

EVENTS OF 1837, &e.

The following named gentlemen settled in the township of Howell in the above year:

The following persons came into the village in the same year:

      F. J. B. Crane, of Howell, was elected a Representative in the State Legislature in 1837.

     The first Circuit Court for the county of Livingston, was held at the School House, in Howell, in same year. The jury room was in a small building situated on the north-east corner of the old public square.

     In the same year, Edward F. Gay erected a frame building for a dry goods and grocery store. Mr. Gay was the first merchant of the township. At one (P.16) time his building (although not large,) contained a store, post-office, lawyer's office, shoe shop and tailor's shop.

    In the spring of 1837, Samuel Waddell was taken sick and died. Cyrus Wells, M. D., of Oakland Co., father of Wm. L. Wells, M. D., of Howell, was sent for to attend upon him. He arrived at the house in the evening, and after examining him uttered the fatal words, "I cannot help him." Mr. Waddell ceased to live on the 30th day of May, and was the first person who died in the township. He was at first buried on his farm, and shortly after was disinterred and buried in the village cemetery. He was a man of integrity and respectability. His family shortly after removed to the State of New York. Andrew D. Waddell, Esq., a son of the deceased, now lives in our midst, an honored and respected citizen. In those days the friends of the sick were forced to go even into Oakland and Washtenaw counties after physicians.

     William McPherson, the first resident blacksmith, settled in the township in 1836. This we had omitted to state, together with the fact, that Merritt S. Havens, a carpenter, and Joseph Porter, a millwright, came in 1835. Richard Fishbeck established the first boot and shoe shop in the village, in 1837. James White started a cabinet shop in the same year. Moses Thompson erected the first frame house in the township, in 1837.

     Gardner Wheeler, M. D., settled in the township in 1838. He was the first resident physician of the place, and a man of intellectual ability, and skill in his profession. He died January 11th, 1859, and was interred according to the rites and ceremonies  (P.17) of the Masonic Fraternity, of which he had long been a member. John A. Wheeler, his son, was first medical student of the place. Wellington Glover, Esq., came in 1838, and was the first resident attorney.

     Garrett S. Lake manufactured the first brick in township, on section nine, in the same year. John R. Neely came in 1839, and was the first resident mason. Joseph Rowe opened a tailor's shop the same year. Henry Thornton commenced cooper work on sect 23, in 1842. Andrew Hill commenced wagon making in the village the same year. Eli Carpenter began the business of saddle and harness making the same year. Nicholas Frink established a gun shop in 1845. Loren K. Kewett started a tin shop in 1846. Sidney Hollister established a jewelry shop in 1847. James E. and Edwin A. Stedman started a marble manufactory in 1856.

Meteorological

     The winter of 1842-3 was very severe. On last days of March the snow was twenty-six inches in depth, and the winter did not begin to break up till the first Monday in April. Most of the hogs the township died in that rigorous season.

     Right here allow us to observe upon a most singular phenomenon. On an evening in January, 1837.  the snow appeared to be of a deep red color, and the night was as bright as though the moon had shone.

     The first building consumed by fire was the dwelling house of Michael Brennan, situated on section 25, in 1840. (P.18) All the household furniture was destroyed. Geo. T . Sage built the first house in the township in 1834.

     The first cattle, hogs and fowls owned in the township, were brought from Salem, Washtenaw county, by James and Geo. T. Sage, in the same year. In the summer of 1835, Moses Thompson brought three horses from the State of New York. The first colts were raised in 1843. Lewis Thompson is yet the owner of a horse that was a foal in that year. The first two sheep were brought by Ira Brayton, from the State of New York, in 1838. A few sheep were purchased of a drover in 1841, but no sheep were raised until 1842. To show, however, the progress made in stock growing, we have but to state that in 1846, Almon Whipple and William Dorrance, of Howell, collected a drove of cattle, in Livingston Co., for the Eastern market.

     In the fall of 1836, Moses Thompson built a saw mill on section 25. In 1850, Morris Thompson, George W. Lee, and Frederick J. Lee built a grist mill on the same section. The present proprietor is Thomas Birkett. In 1838, Amos Adams and Joseph Porter erected a saw mill on section 27. In 1854, Amos S. Adams and Enos B. Taylor became owners of the property. They built a new mill on the former site. Subsequently Joseph H. Gilbert became proprietor, and he established a carding machine and cloth factory in connection with it. In 1866, Ira Brayton purchased it. In 1844, Ezekiel Sabin, of Howell, and Luther Willard, of Detroit, erected a frame for a flouring mill on section 22., Benjamin Cardell bought it in 1848, built a saw mill near the former site in 1849, and in 1851 sold it to (P.19) James G. Hollis, who completed the flouring mill. Ira Brayton is the present proprietor. In1856, William, Albert, and Aaron Dorrence built a steam saw mill on section 17. William B. Smith and Franklin Kelly own it at present. In 1850, George W. Kneeland, S. B. Slyter and D. D. T. Chandler erected a steam saw mill in the village. In 1851 it was destroyed fire. In 1852 George W. Kneeland built another on its site. It is now owned by persons residing in Cohoctah. About 1840, Gardner Mason planted a nursery on section 35. Subsequently he removed it to the western part of the township. Mr. Mason died July 30th, 1853. A few years later, Dr. Gardner Wheeler established a nursery on section 35.

     The first foundry was established in the village by Nathan J. Hickey and John H. Galloway, in 1844 It was situated on East street north. They sold to Abijah W. Smith, who subsequently took Dexter Filkins as a partner. In about two months after, the foundry was burned. In 1857, Abijah W. Smith erected another foundry on East street south. In 1860, it also, was consumed by fire. William R. Melvin's wagon and blacksmith shops were burned at the same time. In 1860, Benjamin Curtis and Henry Curtis built a foundry on the site of the one destroyed. In 1863 they constructed a first class steam engine for propelling shop machinery. It was the first steam engine made in Howell. In 1864, Floyd Wykoff became proprietor of the foundry. In 1849, Stephen Clark built a foundry, situated on the north side of Grand River street and west of Centre street. In 1859, George W. Taylor and George L. Clark became proprietors of the property. In 1864, George W. Taylor sold his interest in the property, and (P.20) John H. Galloway became the partner of Clark. In the spring of 1867, Floyd Wykoff and Hudson B. Blackman were added to the firm. The Livingston Courier; the first newspaper published in the county, was removed by Nicholas Sullivan, its publisher, to Howell, on the 11th day of October, 1843. Lewis H. Hewitt was its first editor, and the first number was issued in 1846. Mr. Sullivan sold it to E. R. Powell. In December, 1848, Mr. Powell sold the paper to William B. Smith. Mr. Smith sold it to George P. Root, in April, 1856. Mr. Root published it one year and then suspended it. Nicholas Sullivan, of whom mention is made herein, died March 21st, 1857.

     The Livingston Democrat was established on the ruins of the Livingston Courier, August 5th, 1857, by Joseph T. Titus, its present editor and proprietor. Another paper, called the Livingston Republican, was started the last of April, 1855. It was conducted for some time by Harman and Lewis Smith, and finally sold by them to George L. Sage, who sold it in 1862 to Mr. James Bowers. Mr. Bowers died November 4th, 1866, and on the 1st of January, 1867, the paper became the property of Messrs. Andrew D. Waddell and Julius D. Smith.

     On the evening of September 28th, 1857, Howell was visited by a destructive fire. All the buildings on Grand River street, between Walnut and East streets, were consumed, including a large hotel owned by Wm. E. Huntley.

     In the month of March, 1855, about thirty ladies, who had become a good deal excited over the unrestrained sale of liquor, visited the Saloon of Samuel Balcom, and destroyed the liquor, and the casks (P.21) which contained it. A portion of them were afterwards sued in an action of trespass for the damages, and a verdict of five hundred and forty dollars was
rendered.

     In the month of October, 1856, an affray took place between Henry Hollis and George Obert. Hollis is said to have struck him with a neck-yoke. Obert lived but a few days, and Hollis was arrested for his murder. The jury on the first trial failed to agree, and he never was brought to a final one.

     On the 20th of July, 1857, another affray occured between John Lagrange, (when intoxicated,) and Sanford S. Moore, which resulted in the death of Lagrange. The result of a coroner's inquest was, however, that Mr. Moore was exculpated.

     In the summer of 1863, a circus and menagerie, in combination, was exhibited at Howell, and while there one of the lions died. The showmen buried it on the old public square.

     In an early day, John W. Smith shot a grey eagle in this township, which measured over nine feet from tip to tip of its Wings.

     Jesse Marr caught a pickerel with a spear, that weighed 21 pounds and 12 ounces.

     In the early settlement of the place, five elk were seen in the western part of the township.

     Two animals, known as Lynx, were caught in steel traps. Bears and wild cats were common game.

     In the autumn of 1834, a wolf pursued a deer into the door-yard of David Austin. On the wolf's discovering the inmates of the house, it made its retreat, but the deer remained and was shot. In the fall of 1837, Henry Lake and his wife, with a young child, were returning from a neighbor's in the evening, (P.22) and when within about thirty rods of their house, were attacked by wolves. One of them attempted to seize the child. It caught Mrs. Lake by her dress in making the effort, but finally through the exertions of Mr. Lake and his dog, the animals were driven off.

     As showing the wildness of the country at this period, and how full the country was of those "wild eyed wonders," the terror of the early settler, we have returned to transcribe a short narrative written for the Livingston Republican of the 19th of April, 1864 , by Miss Caroline Hitchcock, who formerly resided in Howell. It was related to her by a gentleman formerly of Oakland county, and now living in Tuscola. The house of which she speaks as one mile from Livingston Centre, was the residence of David Austin, and the hotel at the Centre was kept by Amos Adams. Howell was formerly called Livingston Centre.