HIGHWAYS

     Regarding the earliest roads, the records are not as explicit as might be, but from them we learn, what the early settlers state to have been the case, that the first regular highway in Cohoctah was the road running north through the Sanford settlement. We learn that this road was first surveyed by Amos Adams, county surveyor, on the 9th of July, 1836, and extended from Howell to the south quarter-post of section 27 in this town,--that is, to John Sanford's residence. In September, 1837, it was extended northward as far as the south quarter-post of section 10 and from that point to the north line of the town on the 12th of June, 1839. The second road was called the Howell and Fisher road, and ran from Howell to the northwest corner of section 36 in this town,--where Chauncey D. Fisher's farm lay. It was surveyed by the same party Dec. 10, 1836, and Sept. 11, 1837, was continued north a quarter of a mile, till it reached the terminus of a road surveyed east from the Sanford settlement some time that summer. A road running north two miles from the southwest corner of the town was surveyed Sept. 11, 1837, by A. S. Adams, acting for the county surveyor. Henry P. Adams surveyed, April 27, 1838, the "Calvin Hart road," running westward across sections 24, 23, and 22 till it joined the Sanford road at the south quarter-post of the last-named section. It connected the Sanford and Boutell settlements, and passed by the site of the Boutell burying-ground. During the years 1838-39 there were seventeen other roads surveyed through different parts of the town by A. S. Adams, acting for the regular county surveyor.

     A bridge was built across the Shiawassee near Preston and Gay's saw-mill in 1841, $100 being voted at the annual town-meeting to partially defray the expense.

     The first division of the town into road districts was made by the highway commissioner, April 11, 1838, and was as follows: District No. 1 consisted of sections 21, 22, 27, 34, and the west half of section 35, with Mason Phelps as overseer; District No. 2 was made up of sections 7, 17, 18, 20, 28, 29, and 33, Abraham Riker, overseer; District No. 3, sections 19, 30, 31, and 32, Lott Pratt, overseer; District No. 4, sections 2, 11, 14, 23, 26, and the east half of section 35, Nicholas F. Dunkle, overseer; District No. 5, sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 15, Michael Thatcher, overseer; District No. 6, sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25, and 36, Calvin W. Hart, overseer.

     In 1840 a more uniform division was made. The sections in the districts and the overseers of each were as follows: No. 1 sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, and 14, Isaac Pratt; No. 2, sections 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, and 16, Oren Stoddard; No. 3, sections 5,6, 7, 8, 17, and 18, Paul Coffin; No. 4, sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32, Chester Townsend; No. 5, sections 21, 22, 27, 28, 33, and 34, Benjamin Crawford; No. 6, sections 23 and 24, and the north half of sections 25 and 26, Alva Preston; No. 7, sections 35 and 36, and the south half of sections 25 and 26, Adam Fisher.

     The present division is into 38 districts, and the list of overseers is as follows:

No. 1 Harry Houghton; No. 2, Peter Rohrabacher; No. 3, Hubert Blodgett; No. 4, A. H. Jones; No. 5, H. Grant; No. 6, Asa Petteys; No. 7, George Houghtaling; No. 8, James R. Fisher; 455. No. 9, William C. Hosley; No. 10, John J. Barlow; No. 11 Samuel Slider; No. 12, Parmenio Adams; No. 13, George Soule; No.14, Isaac Teller; No. 15 William Dunkle; No. 16 Henry Stoner; No. 17, Joseph Lamoreaux; No. 18, Edward Antliff; No. 19 John Wiggins; No. 20, John D. Blank; No. 21, Edward Fisher; No. 22, James Gilland; No. 23, John Dunstan; No. 24, Alexander T. Frisbee; No. 25, Charles Dean; No. 26, Adam Shaler; No. 27, Lewis B. Boyd; No. 28, Henry Brigham; No. 29, Charles E. Dunstan; No. 30, Moses Jones; No. 31, Israel Ellsworth; No. 32, Thomas Goldsmith; No. 33, Jesse Morey; No. 34, Waterbury Ostrander; No. 35, Fred Steinacher; No. 36, Samuel G. Houghtaling; No. 37, F. L. Rohrabacher; No. 38, William Patterson. 

VILLAGES AND POST-OFFICES

     In the spring of 1849 two brothers, Guy N. and Abner Roberts, came from Chemung Co., N.Y., and bought a tract of 40 acres of land in the north part of section 36, in this town, with the intention of founding thereon a village. The first thing to which they turned their attention was the building of a grist-mill, to utilize the water-power furnished by the Bo-bish-e-nung Creek, which at this point had a fall of over thirteen feet, affording one of the finest powers, on a stream of its size, within the limits of the State. While getting out the timbers for the mill, a house was built on the north side of the present highway for the use of Guy N. Roberts, and another one on the opposite side of the way for the occupancy of Abner's family. The former building, which was the first in the place, is now a part of the residence of Isaac V. D. Cook, while the other is now the residence of Martin L. Davis. From this small beginning has sprung the pleasant little village of 

CHEMUNGVILLE

     The mill-frame was raised in July, and the dam was finished at about the same time. In September the mill was completed and ready to commence operations. During that summer the Roberts' built a small store, and offered a general stock of goods for sale therein. In a couple of years the village began to show signs of growth, and Messrs. Roberts decided to plat a village, and offer lots for sale, to attract mechanics and artisans to build up the place. The plat was surveyed by the county surveyor, Amos Adams, July 13, 1852,, and recorded on the 14th in the county register's office, in liber 18, pages 30, 31. It contained about 8 acres, and the lots were surveyed on either side of a street running first northeast and then east from the creek. It was platted by Guy N. and Susan and Abner and Priscilla Roberts, and called Chemungville, after the county they came from in New York. An addition was platted by Isaac V. D. and Abigail Cook, Nov. 2, 1871, and surveyed by E. N. Fairchild, county surveyor. It was on a street running north, at right angles with the main street, contained about 2¼ acres, and was recorded Dec. 14, 1871. The mill and store property was sold by the Roberts, some time about 1854---55, to Burton Durfee, who soon after sold to David Mason. After owning it two or three years he sold to John Weimeister. During his ownership he found the store too small for his use, and about 1865 built a larger one near it, which is now the store of Martin L. Davis. Soon after he built another building on the east side of the old store, which he rented for a billiard-room, and which is now occupied as a dwelling by William Kleckler. The third dwelling was the present Methodist parsonage, and was erected by Robert Souders.

     The first blacksmith-shop was a building put up for an ashery by the Roberts', and sold by them to a Mr. Zela, who worked there with Simon Dolph. In 1867, Messrs. J. & T. Pearce bought the mill property of John Weimeister, a saw-mill, built by William and Holland C. Hosley, having meantime been added, and began a successful business career as millers, lumbermen, and merchants.

     In 1869, Isaac V. D. Cook built a store on the corner near his residence, and his sons, William and Lorenzo, opened a grocery there. It was subsequently occupied by William Kleckler, and then, as a harness-shop, by Winthrop Cook, in 1875. Since August, 1879, it has been occupied by Myron Doolittle, as a wagon- repairing, and cabinet-shop.

     In 1871, David Bissell put up a small building, and started a shoe-shop. It was afterwards sold to a Mr. Angell, and is now occupied as a storeroom by Pearce Brothers. Messrs. Pearce built their present fine store in 1876. The school-house was built in 1861, and the church in 1872. The grist-mill is now in excellent condition and presents a fine appearance. It is called "Bogue Mill," and stands on the east side of the stream. Its size is 35 by 45 feet, two and a half stories above the level of the street, and one story and the wheel-pits below that. It is furnished with two runs of stones and the usual accompanying machinery; has a capacity for grinding 10 bushels of wheat and 20 bushels of corn per hour. It is run simply for custom work at present. The necessary power is furnished by two iron turbine wheels, each 42 inches in diameter. The saw-mill building is 20 by 50 feet in size, and furnished with one muley saw, with a cutting capacity of about 3500 feet of hard-wood lumber per day. Its product is used mostly for home consumption. The village is pleasantly situated on lightly rolling ground, and contains, at the present time, two stores, a gristmill and saw-mill, two blacksmith-shops) one cabinet- and wagon-shop, one shoe-shop, a school 456. house, a Methodist Church, and about twenty-five dwellings, six of them west of the stream, and consequently not in the platted part of the village. The population is about 125.

     The post-office at Chemungville is called Oak Grove, a name it has always borne. It was first established some thirty years ago, at the house of the first postmaster, a Mr. Fry, who resided near the northwest corner of the town of Oceola. He was succeeded, in 1833, by Arthur A. Field, who lived in the southeast part of section 36, in this town. His successor was Joel S. Stillson. From his possession, it was transferred to Holland C. Hosley, at the village where it has since remained, passing successively through the hands of Robert McMillan, Isaac V. D. Cook, John Weimeister, Martin L. Davis, and back to Isaac V. D. Cook, the present incumbent, who was last commissioned in 1874. It is now kept at J. & T. Pearce's store.

     The only other village in the town is the little hamlet in the western centre of section 9, called

COHOCTAH

     though the more common name applied to it is the less euphonious one of "SPRUNGTOWN." This last name is not, as some might suppose, a sarcastic fling at its origin, but was merely conferred upon it in honor of one of its most prominent citizens, Mr. Isaac Sprung. The first building erected here was a small log shanty which was put up by William G. Phares, for a dwelling, about thirty years ago. Its location was upon the corner of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 9, near the site of the present blacksmith-shop of Michael Meier. It was occupied by different parties, until it became too dilapidated for a dwelling, and was then allowed to go, quietly and undisturbed, to decay. The next house was not commenced, until war times. It was begun by James Gilland, and was finished by William G. Phares, in 1861-62. It is still standing opposite the post-office, and is used as a dwelling. Another small dwelling was soon after put up by Daniel Hoyt, Mr. Phares' son-in-law.

     These were the only buildings in the village previous to the real birth of the place, which may with justice be said to have occurred when, in 1868, the steam saw-mill was built by Messrs. Elias Sprague, William G. Phares, and Isaac Sprung. During that same year several dwellings were built, and a building was erected by Thomas White, in which he opened the first store in the place. In this building David Niles afterwards kept a wagon-shop. He sold to J. E. Phillips, who a second time started it as a store, sold to D. B. Harrington, bought it back a couple of years afterwards, and has since kept it himself. The second store was built by Jason McFail, who at the time owned an interest in the saw-mill, in 1874, and was occupied by him for a dwelling. In the spring of 1877, having been purchased by Cyrus G. Hayner, it was opened by him as a grocery-store. The first blacksmith-shop was a small one built about 1869-70 by David Niles, who occupied it for several years, when he built a larger shop a little farther north, the present shop of J. H. Bowden. Another larger shop was built near the site of William G. Phares' first home, in 1878, by Michael Meier. The mill is a steam mill, and was built for custom work. For a couple of years it was run pretty strong, and did a very good business. Then Mr. Sprung left the firm, and since that time it has done but a limited amount of. business. It has been owned by a number of different parties, and is now the property of Harrison Trowbridge, who operates it about four months in the year. The village once enjoyed a brief season of bright prospects, when the railroad through the town was being talked of, but since that project was (for the time, at least) abandoned has remained in statu quo. It now contains a saw-mill, two stores, two blacksmith-shops, and a dozen dwellings, and boasts a population of about fifty souls. One half-mile South is the church of the United Brethren, while the school-house of the district is three-eighths of a mile still farther south.

     The post-office, now located in Cohoctah, bears the name of the town. It was first called Tuscola, and was established some thirty years ago, at the house of Hiram L. Stoddard, who was the first postmaster. It was turned over at the time of his death (1857-58) to his brother Eliel. Then came other postmasters in the following order: Alva Jones, Marcus Burkhart, Robert Wrigglesworth; all of whom kept the office at their residences, in the northeast part of the town. At this time (1874) the office was moved to the village, and Jason McFail was appointed as postmaster. He was succeeded in 1876 by D. B. Harrington, and he by the present incumbent, Cyrus G. Hayner, in the spring of 1877. The name was changed from Tuscola to Cohoctah in the winter of 1857. Both this office and the one at Chemungville--the only offices in the town--are on the Howell and Linden route, and receive two mails per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

SCHOOLS

     The formation of school districts in this town was a work of time. No general division of the town was attempted, but as the interests of the people demanded, new districts were formed from 457. time to time, or the lines of the old districts were altered to suit the requirements of the case.

     District No. 1 was organized April 18, 1838, and contained six sections,--21, 22, 27, 28, 33, and 34, and three half-sections, west half of 23, 26, and 35. It now contains sections 22, 27, and 34, and parts of sections 21, 23, 26, 28, and 33. The school-house is a frame building, valued at $400, will accommodate 40 pupils, and stands a few rods south of Sanford's Corners, on the southwest quarter of section 27. The first school-house in this district was one built by the citizens on the northwest comer at Sanford's Corners. In it the first school in the town was kept by Laura Gardner, of Salem, Washtenaw Co., in the summer of 1837

     District No. 2 is fractional with the towns of Conway, Handy, and Howell. In this town it comprises section 32, and parts of sections 29, 31 and 33. The school-house stands on the southwest comer of section 32. It is a frame house that can accommodate 40 scholars, and is valued at $200. It was built in 1855, on a site donated for the purpose by Norman Boyd, under the form of a durable ease. The first school in this part of the town was kept in the summer of 1838, in the small shanty occupied by Ledyard S. Adams, while he was building his log house. The name of the teacher is not remembered. The first winter school was, taught by Hiram Rix, in a log house on section 31 near the present residence of L. B. Boyd. The next winter Homer Townsend taught, and before the term was finished the house burned down. The citizens then got together and organized a district, at a meeting held Jan. 23, 1840 at the residence of Elijah Gaston, in the town of Handy, and built a school-house (of logs) about eighty rods east of the southwest corner of the town, where the term was finished and school was kept up until the present house was built.

     District No. 3 was formed Jan. 11, 1840 and was made up of sections 14, 23, and 35; the west half of sections 13 and 24; the west quarter of sections 25 and 36; and the east half, southwest quarter, and southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 26. Alva Preston was appointed to notify the inhabitants that the first meeting would be held at Noah Ramsdell's, on the 18th of January, 1840 at six o'clock P.M. At the present time the district embraces sections 13 and 14, nearly all of section 23, and parts of sections 24, 25, and 26. The school-house stands near the north quarter-post of section 23, and is a frame building-of neat and tasty appearance, fitted to seat 50 pupils, and valued at $700.

District No. 4 is fractional with Burns, and contains section 5 and parts of sections 4 and 6 in this town. It was first organized at a meeting of the school inspectors of the two towns, held on Jan. 24, 1840 at the house of Thomas P. Green, in Burns. Frederick I. Provost, Gustavus Brown, Lott Pratt, and Jared L. Cook were present. The bounds of the district were fixed as including sections 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 in this town, and sections 31, 32, and 33 in Burns. At first the school-house was located on the West line of the northwest quarter of section 4, where the building, known as "the old red school-house" is still standing. It was built in 1840. It has been superseded by a very nice and well-designed frame building, valued at $1300. It was built in 1872, and will comfortably seat 60 scholars.

     District No. 5 is fractional with Deerfield and reports in that town. It embraces a little more than the east half of sections 24 and 25.

    District No. 6 was formed from fractional District No. 5 and part of District No. 3. It now contains sections 35 and 36, the southeast quarter of 26, and the southwest quarter of 25. The school-house is located at Chemungville, near the north centre of the section, and is a frame building, valued at $400 and fitted for 48 pupils.

     District No. 7 comprises sections 1 and 12, and the east half of sections 2 and 11. The school-house is a plain frame building, capable of seating 50 pupils, is valued at $400, and stands on the southeast corner of section 2.

     District No. 8 contains sections 3 and 10, the east three quarters of 15, the west half of 2 and 11 and parts of sections 4 and 9. The school-house, built in 1852, stands near the south quarter-post of section 3. It is a rather dilapidated frame building reported at $40 valuation, and will accommodate 40 scholars.

     District No. 9 was first formed April 16, 1846, and contained sections 7, 17, 18, and the south half of section 8 in this town, and some adjoining territory in Conway. The first meeting was appointed at the house of Joseph B. Jackson, Jr., April 23, 1848, at two o'clock P.M. It is still a fractional district, and comprises section 18 and parts of sections 7, 8, 17, and 19. The school-house is a frame building valued at $20, capable of seating 50 pupils, and located at the centre of section 18.

     District No. 10 containing parts of sections 19 29, 30 and 31 in this town, is fractional with Conway, and reports in that town.

     District No. 11 is the central district, and is made up from section 16 and parts of sections 8, 9, 15, 17, and 21. The school-house, on the northwest quarter of section 16, is a frame building accommodating 65 pupils, and is valued at $300. 458. 

     District No. 12 is fractional with Conway, and embraces in this town the south part of section 6 and the north half of sections 7 and 8. The school-house stands eighty rods west and twenty south from the northeast comer of section 7. It is a log house fitted for 40 pupils, and valued at $100,--a price at which, no doubt, the district would be very glad to sell it.

      District No. 13, the last one in Cohoctah, is formed from section 20 and parts of sections 17, 19, 21, 28, 29, and 30. The present school-house, which was the first one in the district, was built in the spring of 1874, and is located eighty rods east of the centre of section 20. It is a frame building, accommodating 40 pupils, and is valued at $400.
  
       Among the early teachers in the town previous to the year 1850, we find Horace L. Cook, H. C. Stoddard, David Bush, Elizabeth Goldsmith, Elizabeth Ramsdell, Hannah Boyd, Ruth A. Cook, Franklin Kelly, Oscar O. Stoddard, Sarah J. Head,  Eliza A. Stoughton, Reuben Huggins, Graham Barker, Margaret A. Chapman, Lucinda Tomlinson, Angeline Phelps, and Jared L. Cook.

       The first report of the school inspectors was made Oct. 12, 1839. It was very meagre in details. There were then two districts, but only one --No. 2 reported. In that district there were 24 scholars, of whom. 17 attended school. School was kept four months, and the following sums were expended: Teachers' wages, $90; school expenses, $12; for library, $10; for book-case, $3; and for collector's fees, $5.75; making a total of $120.75. The books then in use were Kirkham's Grammar, Olney's Geography, Daboll's Arithmetic, and Webster's Elementary Spelling-Book.

      We institute the following comparisons between the reports for 1850 and for 1879: the number of persons of school age in 1850 were 175; in 1879 were 438. The number in attendance at school in 1850 were 138; in 1879 were 412. The amounts expended in support of school in 1850 was $286.26; in 1879 was $1960.76

      In 1879, 5 male teachers taught an aggregate of eighteen months at an average compensation of $24.11 per month; and 20 female teachers taught    
sixty-four months for $13.12½ per month. 

CEMETERIES

     The burial-grounds of Cohoctah are two in number. The first one opened was the one on section 24, known as the Boutell burying-ground, where Mrs. William Northrup was buried, in 1837. It is located near the centre of the section on the north side of the road, a little east of the point where it crosses Bobishenung Creek, and contains about one acre of ground .

     The second one, the "Sanford Burial-Ground," which contains one acre of ground, is located on section 27, about fifty rods east of the centre of the section. At an early day John Sanford gave a   half-acre of ground to the town for a public burying-ground, deeding it to the board of health.

     About the year 1845 it became necessary to enlarge the ground, and he gave another half-acre, but deeded it to an association formed for the purpose of holding the title and caring for the grounds. In 1859 this organization became practically defunct, and remained so until 1873, when a reorganization was effected, under the name of the "Sanford Burial-Ground Association," which has since controlled the part of the ground that does not belong to the town. The officers elected were Joseph B. Brown, President; Thomas Goldsmith, Sexton; Michael Thatcher, Secretary; Alexander Peckins, Treasurer. Substituting the name of Marcenus Peckins as treasurer in place of the former incumbent, the same board of officers are now serving.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY

     The first religious service held in this town was at the house of Ezra Sanford, in September, 1835, about two months after his arrival there. Rev. Mr. Monett, a transient Methodist preacher, happened along, and was prevailed upon to hold a meeting. Word was sent to all the neighbors, and a congregation of about seventeen persons was got together to listen to the preaching of the gospel. A year later, in the summer of 1836, regular circuit preaching was established at the same place. The first class organized was known as the Boutell  class, and from it has grown 

THE OAK GROVE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

     at Chemungville. It was organized probably as early as 1837, with Alva Preston as class-leader.The principal members were the Boutell, Preston, Ramsdell, and Ellis families. The meetings were alternated between the Ramsdell and Boutell school-houses, and were maintained until the appointment was transferred to Chemungville, probably at the time the Oak Grove circuit was organized in September, 1855. From that time on the history of the church has been intimately connected with the history of the circuit of which it has been the headquarters, and it is therefore proper to treat more particularly of the circuit's history.

     Oak Grove circuit was formed at a meeting of Conference, held in the city of Flint, in September, 1855, and became a part of Flint District. When the Conference was divided it fell into Owosso District, of the Detroit Conference, a relation which it 459. still retains. In 1857 the circuit reported 130 members, 16 of them being probationers, and seven Sunday-schools with 18 scholars. In 1862 there were five appointments on the circuit, viz., Oak Grove, Green's, Boyd's, Deerfield Centre, and Topping's. In 1863, Topping's was discontinued, and Hetcheler's was added. In 1864, Rev. J. G. Horton, of Oceola, supplied the pulpit for two months, while the pastor was absent in Washington and in the Shenandoah Valley, working with the United States Christian Commission. Aug. 5, 1865, Recording Steward John D. Convis died in hospital, at Duvall's Bluff, Va., of disease contracted in the military service of his country. In 1868 the circuit was enlarged by the addition of appointments at Argentine, Deer Creek, and Graham's, and an assistant, Rev. J. G. Horton, of Hartland, was employed. Graham's was soon discontinued, and Linden was added, while Green's was transferred to Perry circuit. Then other changes were made, and the appointments continued were as follows: Oak Grove (every Sabbath), Hetcheler's, Deerfield Centre, Argentine, and Deer Creek. In 1869, Hetcheler's was discontinued, Parker's, in Oceola, added, and Argentine was attached to Linden. The membership of the circuit was then reported as follows: Oak Grove, 24; Parker's, 31 ; Deerfield Centre, 17; and Argentine, 16. In 1870, Green's was re-attached to this circuit. 

     The preachers on this circuit have been Revs. William Birdsall, 1855; Lyman H. Dean, 1856; L. P. Murch, 1857; James H..Caster, 1858-59; F. Brittan, 1860; Samuel P. Lee, 1861-62; James R. Cordon, 1863-64; D. O. Balls, 1865-66; Joseph W. Holt, 1867-68; Alexander Gee, 1869-70; James Balls, 1871-73; Alfred Allen, 1874; William Cook, 1875-76; William Birdsall, 1877-78; James E. Withey, 1879.

     The present parsonage was procured in 1868, at a cost of $1200. The old parsonage was sold at, the same time.

     In the winter of 1871-72 the need of a church at this point began to be seriously felt, and a subscription was circulated, material collected, and the necessary preliminary steps gone through with, and on the 17th of May work was actively begun. July 13th and 14th the building was inclosed, and the regular quarterly meeting was held there on those days. It was finished during the fall, at a Cost of $2000. Its size is 32 by 50 feet. It was dedicated Jan. 22, 1873, Rev. W. E. Bigelow preaching in the morning, and Rev. Orlando Sanborn in the evening. On this occasion the sum of $1000 was raised to clear the church from debt.

     The first trustees recorded, appointed March 15, 1859, were Lorenzo Boutell, Benjamin B. Durfee, Nicholas Braden, John D. Convis, Lavoris Gray, William R. Knapp, and Joseph L. Cook. The present trustees are Joseph A. Russell, George E. Houghtaling, David Moody, D. O. Taft, and George O. Austin. The present membership is 23, and 18 probationers. Joseph A. Russell is the present class-leader; and the stewards are David Moody and George E. Houghtaling.

THE GREEN CLASS

     is located in the north part of the town, and have always held their meetings at the school-house, in District No. 4. It was organized thirty years ago, with about a dozen members, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. William Jenks, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Braden, Mrs. O. Wolcott, and Miss Anna Green. William Jenks was the first class-leader, and Nicholas Braden the first steward. In 1856 the membership had become very much reduced, there then being but six female and two male members, but under the preaching of Rev, Lyman H. Dean, in the winter of 1856-57, a glorious revival was experienced, large numbers were converted, and about 30 new members joined the class. Since that time it has been generally prosperous, keeping its membership at from 30 to 50, the latter being about the present number.

     About 1864-65 an effort was made to build a church. A site was selected on the north side of the county line road, on lands of Thomas P. Green, but misfortune befell Mr. Green, in that his dwelling was destroyed by fire, preventing him from assisting, as he had intended, and others becoming dissatisfied, the project fell through, and has never been revived.

       This class was first on the Byron circuit, then on the Oak Grove circuit, then for one year on Perry circuit, and then was again re-attached to Oak Grove circuit. With the exception of the year 1867, when J. H. Caster was the minister, the pastors have been the same as those at the Chemungville Church.

The present officers are Giles Borden, Class-Leader; Judson Warner, Hiram Rathbun, Giles Borden, Stewards.

THE PROTESTANT METHODISTS

     formed a class at the Hayner school-house (District No. 9) in the winter of 1856-57, Rev. Mr. Nichols officiating. He, assisted by Rev. Isaac Morton, of Tyrone, had held a series of meetings for three or four weeks previous, at which a large number of converts had been made, and from these and a few older professors the class, numbering about 30, was formed. David Miller was chosen class-leader, and Cyrus G. Hayner, steward. For about three 460. years the class maintained an existence, holding fortnightly meetings, and then from removals and other causes it became so reduced in numbers that it was given up. The preachers during that time were Revs. Nichols and Hulbert, and another whose name is forgotten. About ten years ago another small class was organized at the same place, by Rev. Ashford Diamond, and preaching was again established and maintained for about three years, the ministers, after Mr. Ashford, being Revs. Parshall, Gillam, and Warren, with the close of whose pastorate the life of the appointment also came to an end. Among the most prominent of the early members of this denomination were the following persons: William G. Phares and wife, David Miller, Cyrus G. Hayner, Elsie Hayner, Waterbury Hendryx, Waterbury Hendryx, Jr., Amanda Smith, Lucinda Stowell, Matilda Miller, and Miss Sturgis.

FIRST CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION OF COHOCTAH

     There being a number of German families in the west central part of the town, many of whom had but a limited knowledge of the English tongue, and all of whom felt a desire to listen to the preaching of the gospel in the loved language of the fatherland, an effort was made to establish a German church. The Lutherans were the first in the field, in the person of Rev. Mr. Schmid, of Ann Arbor, who came and preached and went back, leaving matters in such a shape that if invited to do so, he would arrange to supply them with stated preaching. Before returning to Ann Arbor he organized a church, as will be seen by a perusal of the following copy of a document filed in the office of the clerk of this county:

     "On the 14th day of May, A.D. 1858 after the publication required by law, a publick meeting was held in the Town of Cohoctah, County of Livingston, State of Michigan, Rev. Schmid being elected President, and Mr. John Drosten, Secretary.

     "In said meeting an Evangelist Lutheran Congregation was organized under the name of Saint Bethlehem Congregation, and it was resolved to adopt the mode and rules of worship of the Lutheran Church.

      "The following members were chosen Trustees of said congregation, to wit, -- Johª Seiler, Hy. Zahn, John Drosten.

     With this organization the matter was dropped, and Mr. Schmid, not receiving encouragement, did not return. Then Rev. Joseph Raehm, of Cleveland, came as a missionary in the interest of the Evangelical Association, and held a series of meetings, mostly at the residence of John Shedel. As a result of his efforts, in the fall of that year this church was formed at the house of Mr. Shedel with 15 members. Their names were John and Catharine Shedel, John and Barbara Bohm, Henry and Anna Unbahonin, George and Mary Schepfer, Charles and Henrietta Greener, Henry and Hannah Zahn, John and Mary A. Drosten, and Margaret Stelzer. John Bohm was the first class-leader, and Henry Unbahonin was the first steward.

     From the time of organization until the church was built, in 1864, meetings were held every two weeks at Mr. Shedel's. The church, a plain, one story frame building, 20 by 30 feet dimensions, was commenced early in the spring and was finished in the early fall, having cost about $600. The site, containing one acre, was donated by George Schepfer, who retained the use of one-half of it until it should be needed for a parsonage site. It is located on the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 29. The church was dedicated in September, 1864, by Rev. John Miller, presiding elder of Owosso district.

       The first minister of the denomination who preached here was Rev. Freidrich Seller, who left an appointment for regular preaching, which was kept up until Conference met in the spring of 1859, when Rev. Joseph Raehm was put on the circuit. The pastors since that time have been Revs. John Houck, John Mack, John Fox, Christopher Dull, Stephen Hayner, Joseph, Raehm, John Fox, Schwitzer, John Fry, Joseph Pidner, ---- Hess. The latter is the present pastor.

       This was the first church of the denomination in Livingston County It has belonged to the following circuits: Flint, Owosso, Pierpont, and Howell. The present circuit embraces six appointments,--two in Lansing and one each in Genoa, Howell, Cohoctah, and Byron.

       The church has met with the usual ups and downs incident to the lives of all, but has maintained its membership at from 14 to 30 The present number is about 20. It was incorporated in 1864, with John Shedel, Louis Ketchum, and George Schepfer as Trustees. They also acted as a building committee. The   present officers are Samuel Sliter, Class-leader; John Shedel, Steward; Henry Zahn, Michael Meier, Wolf Stelzer, Trustees.

       The Sabbath-school in connection with this church was organized under Mr. Raehm's second preaching in 1860 with John Shedel as Superintendent. It is now running as a union school, with an average attendance of from 50 to 55 members, and the following officers: Superintendent, W. H. Brigham; Assistant Superintendent, Louis Ketchum; Secretary, John Faulk; Treasurer, George Witherell. 460a.

Image of Ezra Frisbee	Image of Mrs. Ezra Frisbee
Image of Alonzo T. Frisbee	Image of E. A. Frisbee
Image of Mrs. Margaret D. Van Dercook

461. FIRST CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST OF COHOCTAH

      commonly known as "the Sprague class," was the result of a revival meeting held by Rev. Benjamin Morgan, of Brighton, at the Sprague school-house (District No. 11) in the winter of 1863-64. Most of the first members were new converts brought out at these meetings. The organization was effected at the school-house by Rev. Mr. Morgan, and about 25 persons joined. Their names, as found on the class-book, were Dudley and Elizabeth Woodworth, William G., Harriet A., Milo, and Lucina Phares, Alonzo Keyser, Thomas White, Edwin Ackley, Benjamin and Margaret Sliter, Samuel and Melissa Houghtaling, Mrs. Merinda Chambers, Clarissa Allbright, Phoebe and Mary A. Palmer, Israel Ellsworth, Elias and Emily Sprague, Cyrus G. and Cynthia Hayner, Oliver, Nancy, and Truman Sprague. Elias Sprague was chosen as the first class-leader, and Oliver Sprague as the first steward.

       Preparatory to the building of a church, the society was incorporated, Nov. 16, 1872, under the general statutes, and the article of incorporation filed in the county clerk's office.

       The first trustees were G. G. Cook, Alonzo Gleason, Elias Sprague, Eli Tindall, and B. H. Mowers.

       A site of one-half acre on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 9, was donated by Elias Sprague, and in the spring of 1873 work was begun on the church. It was not completed until the fall of 1875, and is a frame building, size 30 by 40 feet, with a seating capacity of 200 and cost about $1200. The dedicatory service was held Jan. 12, 1876, Rev. B. Hamp, presiding elder, officiating, assisted by the pastor, Rev. William Duryea.

       The parsonage was built in the fall of 1879, on the west side of the church lot, at a cost of about $355. A separate board of trustees was appointed, Nov. 24, 1877, to have charge of the parsonage, who were Alonzo Gleason, Marcus Burkhart, and Martin Bennett. Substituting the names of M. H. Brigham for Marcus Burkhart, and Cyrus G. Hayner for B. H. Mowers, the two boards of trustees remain at the present writing the same as when first appointed.

       The church belongs to the Conway circuit, which has two appointments in this town, the other one being at the Gleason school-house, on section 7. The names of the pastors, as nearly as can be ascertained in the absence of any record, are Revs. Benjamin Morgan, Stephen Ferguson, ---- Davis, ---- Ross, William Duryea, W. N. Bridenstein, William P. Cool, B. H. Mowers, A. Shaffer, H. S. Elliott, William Duryea, R. W. Keeny, D. J. Holbrook, and Mr. Lower, the present pastor.

       The present membership is 47, the class-leader is Cyrus G. Haynes, and the steward is James Gilland.

       A Sabbath-school was organized in connection with this church in the summer of 1864, with Cyrus G. Hayner as superintendent. With the exception of three years, when he was living elsewhere, Mr. Hayner has been the superintendent of the school, and is the present incumbent of the office. The present membership is about 60 and the average attendance over 50. The other officers are as follows: Assistant Superintendent, Alonzo Gleason; Secretary, Ellery Gleason; Treasurer, Miss Clara Gilland; Collectors, Cora Meier and Charlie Johnson.

COHOCTAH SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

     This association was formed Aug. 11, 1878, for the purpose of begetting and fostering a spirit of union, harmony, and good-fellowship between the workers in the schools of the different denominations, and also to increase the interest felt in the prosecution of the Sunday-school work.

     But two schools have yet become actively connected with the association, though others are expected to join as they become conversant with the purpose and workings of the society. Meetings were held every four weeks during the first year, but now are held only once in eight weeks.

       The first officers were, Giles Borden, President; Cyrus G. Hayner, Vice-President; William Randall, Secretary; Martin Bennett, Treasurer; Henry Jackson, M. H. Brigham, Alonzo Gleason, Directors. Substituting, the name of Luther Pratt for that of Henry Jackson as a member of the Board of Directors, the present officers are the same as the first.

       To all the kind friends who have assisted the writer in his efforts to get a correct history of the town, and who did so much to render pleasant his brief sojourn amongst them, he returns his most heartfelt thanks; and only hopes this imperfect sketch will meet with as warm a welcome and as considerate treatment as was extended to him.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

EZRA FRISBEE

     was born in the town of Canaan, Columbia Co., N.Y., Aug. 14, 18I2. His father, Roswell Frisbee, died when Ezra was but five years old, leaving a wife and six children, and in destitute 462. circumstances. Ezra went to live with his uncle, Dr. Edward Dorr, of Chatham village, with whom he remained one year. Mr. Frisbee then went to live with another uncle, Ezra Frisbee, with whom he resided until he was of age. During the winter months he attended the district school of his neighborhood, studying nights by the light of the fireplace fire. In this way he obtained enough education to fit him for the successful business life he has since led. Arrived at his majority, his uncle gave him one hundred and eighty dollars, which was his start in life. This money he at once placed at interest, and then went to work to earn more; worked on a farm, in mills, and also taught school, each year adding to his small capital. In 1836 he came to Howell township, Livingston Co., and bought of the government one hundred and sixty acres of land, on section 2 in Howell, and section 35 in Cohoctah. May 23, 1839, he was  married to Miss Lucinda Thompson, who was born Nov. 5, 1815. She was the daughter of Moses and Margaret (Morris) Thompson. Mr. Thompson, one of the pioneers, had located a large tract of land in Livingston and Oakland Counties, and was then one of the most prominent and wealthy men in the county. The village of Howell now stands on part of Mr. Thompson's original purchase. His death, soon after his settlement, deprived the county of one of its most valuable citizens. After his marriage, Mr. Frisbee located on a quarter-section of land one and one-half miles west of Howell village, which was given to his wife by her father. On this farm he built the first frame house erected in the township outside the village. And, what was then of rare occurrence, his house was painted, which made Mr. Frisbee an aristocrat, and the wonder of the passers-by. This farm he cleared, improved, and added to, until he at one time owned three hundred and fifty acres, part of which he now owns. He lived on his farm or in the village of Howell twenty-two years, and has seen the village grow up from its infancy.

       Mr. Frisbee was a juryman in the first suit tried by the present Judge Turner, who was then a young lawyer in a new country, with limited means, and but few clients. And Mr. Frisbee gives a graphic description of the judge as he then appeared in his suit, made of the cloth then known as "hard times," and set off by a chip hat, all crown and hat-band. The young lawyer has become a judge, and is widely known, respected and honored, while the juror has become one of the most successful and wealthy farmers of his town, loved and respected for his many good qualities, and his rugged honesty of purpose. In 1860, Mr. Frisbee moved into Cohoctah, and bought the farm he now occupies. He now owns over five hundred acres of fine land, mostly under cultivation. In politics he has always been a Republican, and has filled different town offices, although he has never sought or cared for office.

       His oldest son, Alonzo T., graduated at the Union school in Howell, also at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in Detroit. He has been town clerk and supervisor, filling the latter office for six years. He has also been the candidate of the Republican party for the office of register of deeds, but, his party being in the minority was not elected. He now owns a fine farm of eight hundred acres in Isabella County, part of which is under cultivation. He was also supervisor of his township in Isabella County.

       To Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Frisbee there have been born three children,--Alonzo T., born Oct.. 12, 1840; Margaret E., born March 24, 1842; and Edward, born July 6, 1849,--all of them born in Howell township.