CIVIL AND POLITICAL

     By an act of the State Legislature, approved March 6, 1838, this township was formed from Howell. Section 3, of an act to organize certain townships, reads as follows:

    "All that portion of the county of Livingston designated by the United States survey as township number four north, of range number three east, be, and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township, by the name of Iena, and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the house of Levi Parsons, in said township."

     The inhabitants became dissatisfied with this name, because of its similarity to Ionia, and for other reasons, and by a special act, approved March 20, 1841, it was changed to Conway.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS

     The following is a nearly complete list of township officers elected during the years from 1838 to 1879, inclusive:

     As before mentioned, the first road opened for general travel was the Trail road, which passed over a portion of the, southwest part of the township. The opening of this route was a private enterprise, we believe, over which the township authorities of Howell exercised no authority.

     At the first meeting of the Board of Highway Commissioners of Iena, composed of Cecil D. Parsons, Amos Colborn, and Ledyard S. Adams, held May 17, 1838, they decided to establish four road districts, the boundaries of which were described as follows:

    "District No. 1. Beginning at the northeast comer or section one, and running west three miles; thence south three miles; thence east three miles; thence north three miles to the place of beginning.

     "District No. 2. Beginning at the northeast corner of section twenty-four, and running west three miles; south three miles; east three miles; and north three miles to the place of beginning.

     "District No. 3. Beginning at the northeast corner of section twenty-one, and running west three miles; south three miles; east three miles; and north three miles to the place of beginning.

     "District No. 4. Beginning at the northeast comer of section four, and running west three miles; south three miles; east three miles; and north three miles to the place of beginning. The districts to be within the said boundaries."

     On the 24th of the same month, at a meeting where the commissioners of the townships of Iena and Antrim were present, was projected the first highway wherein officers of lena used their authority as such. A joint road was laid out, described as "commencing at the section corners of 31 and 32 of Antrim, and 6 and 5 of Iena; thence east along the county line one-half mile."

     Alexander's, Parsons', Yaples', Ball's and several other roads were laid out prior to the spring election of 1839.

     At that time three additional road districts were established, making seven, of which Cecil D. Parsons, Robert Colborn, John Alexander, Bentley Sabin, Stephen Dailey, Chauncey Yaples, and Warren G. Grant were the respective pathmasters.

EDUCATIONAL

     Early in February, 1839, a majority of the first Board of School Inspectors met and organized School District No. I. The following notice explains their action:

     "To Frederick B. Parsons, a taxable inhabitant of School District No. 1, in the township of Iena.

     "Sir, you will hereby take notice that we, Lee Nutt and Timothy Wait, school inspectors of said township of Iena, have formed a school district in said township, numbered it, and bounded it as follows, to wit: sections number 12, 11, 10, 15, 14, 13, 24, 23, and 22 shall constitute School District No. 1, and the first meeting of said district will be held at the house of Levi Parsons, in said town of Iena, on Monday, the 18th day of February, at one o'clock of that day, A.D. 1839. And you will, in pursuance of the law, notify every qualified voter of said district, either personally or by leaving a written notice at his place of residence, of the time and place of said meeting, at least five days before said meeting, then and there to transact such business as the law requires."

    The first school-house, a small log shanty, was built on the south side of section 14, and in it Miss Abigail Ball, daughter of Samuel Ball, taught the first school,¥ for which she received $1 per week. But whether the house was built and a school taught, before the erection of the, district, as some claim, or later, as one would naturally suppose, we do not undertake to answer.

     Sections 33 and 36 were annexed to fractional School District No. 2, of the townships of Howell, Tuscola, Handy, and Iena, Jan. 23, 1840.

     In 1840 the people, at their spring election, voted to raise $25 for primary schools, which was the first money raised by tax for school purposes.

     Territory comprising sections 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, and 34 were organized into School District No. 3, Feb. 28, 1842. The first consolidated report of 342. township schools was made in October, 1843, and the number of school districts, number of children of school age then residing in the township, and the amount of primary-school fund apportioned, was as follows: District No. 1, 10 scholars, $3.95; District No. 2, 17 scholars, $6.69; District No. 2 (fractional), 10 scholars, $3.93; District No. 4, 10 scholars, $3.93.

     In May, 1847, the records first mention the granting of teachers' certificates, and we learn that Miss Jane Boardman, Miss Mary Meendy, and Mrs. Sarah Huggins received at that time certificates to teach primary school.

     Reports from Districts Nos. 1, 3, 4, in October, 1848, show that 78 children of school age then resided within their boundaries, and that the amount of primary-school money apportioned was $26.10.

     Teachers receiving certificates in 1850 were Elizabeth Boyd, Laura Ann Hardy, Charlotte A. Fay, Julia A. Jessup, Charles Adams, Almon Tucker, Edwin Hitchcock, and Clarissa Gould.

     In 1851, Mary Coder, Ellen Adams, Sophia A. Cook, Helen Stafford, Angeline Boyd, John S. Pitts, Graham N. Barker, and Hannah Boyd were licensed as teachers. Other early teachers are mentioned by years, viz.: 1852, Philinda E. Parsons, Isabella McPherson, Amos Pratt, Cynthia Wetherell.

     In 1853, Henry M. Case, Elisha W. Grant, Amos Pratt, Alvin Y. Jones, Clara Phillips, Emma Grover, Lucy Fowler, Almira Barker, Ellen Adams, and Cynthia Wetherell.

     Prior to 1856, Amanda M. Randall, Electa Hitchcock, Caroline E. Hitchcock, Joseph L. Cook, Adaline Hatch, Mr. Steadman, Miss Uhler, Miss Fraser, Philinda E. Parsons, William A. Sprout, L. C. York, John Leek, Emma Green, Abby Pond, Sarah E. Rumsey, Julia Brown, Miss Stafford, Mary A. Boothby, Mr. Barnes, Amos Pratt, Julia A. Gilbert, O. H. Benedict, Lewis E. Wright, Emma S. Hickey, Edwin Parsons, Adelia Grant, Angeline Boyd, Miss Briggs, Mary A. Cross.

     In 1858, Mrs. Coe, George Gooding, Obadiah Parsons, Sarah E. Rumsey.

     In 1859, Henrietta Bigelow, Laura Sabin, Laura Bogert, Miss Lyon, Miss Sowle, Sarah Winegar, Wm. P. Parsons, J. J. Hitchings, G. B. Chandler.

     In 1860, Nancy Locke, Eliza R. Grant, Mary A Pratt, Maria Randall, Eliza J. Randall, and Ellen Baker.

     The annual report for the year 1860 shows the following number of children of school age residing in the township, and the amount of public moneys apportioned: District No. 1, 54 scholars, $24.84; No. 3 (fractional), 34 scholars, $15.64; No. 5, 46 scholars, $21.16 No. 6, 59 scholars, $27.14; No.7, 37 scholars, $17.02; No. 8, 48 scholars, $22.08; No. 10, 22 scholars, $10.12.

     1870--District No. 1, 46 scholars; No. 2, 31; No. 3 (fractional), 48; No. 5, 52; No. 6, 57; No. 7 (fractional), 35; No. 8 (fractional), 65; No. 9 (fractional), 23; No. 10 (fractional), 37.

     Amount of primary-school funds apportioned during the year, $196.06.

     From the annual report of the township Board of Education for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879, are taken the following statistics:

PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY

CONWAY GRANGE
No. 114, P. OF H.

     received its dispensation from the National Grange, Oct. 30, 1873; its charter, March 1, 1874; and was duly incorporated in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan, Jan. 20, 1876.

     Those members named in the articles of incorporation were A. J. Wickman, Thomas Copeland, Harriet L. Wickman, Cecil D. Parsons, Jr., Thomas Stanfield, Charles L. Benjamin, Mary A. Benjamin, John G. Copeland, Joel A. Chapman, Henry Snyder, Robert Copeland, Etta J. Copeland, Dwight Gaston, Oren B. Green, C. Sherwood, James L. Gordon, and Wilbur F. Parsons.

     Their hall is situated on the southeast corner of section 22, and the society still continues in a flourishing condition.

RELIGIOUS

     In the fall of 1837, Rev. Washington Jackson, a circuit preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, visited those people residing in the 343. Parsons settlement, and held the first religious services, in the house of Levi Parsons. Before concluding his visit, a class of that denomination was formed, of which Frederick B. Parsons and wife and Cecil D. Parsons and wife composed the original members. Revs. Isaac Bennett and John Cosart were also very early preachers. Among other early members were Amasa G. House and wife, Levi H. Bigelow and wife, Thomas Stanfield and wife, and Mrs. Jacob Sherman.

     This society has continued its organization with varying success to the present time, and a flourishing Sabbath-school is maintained. Their meetings are held in school-houses.

     Among other religious denominations which have an existence and a following in the township are the Methodist, Protestants and United Brethren.

CEMETERIES

     The first place of burial in the township was the Coughran burying-ground, on the southeast quarter of section 25. Other places of interment have since been established on the northeast corner of section 27, the west side of section 29, and the Conway and Antrim burying-ground on the north side of section 2. Within recent years the township authorities have purchased a tract for cemetery purposes, containing nearly 20 acres, and situated on the west side of section 15; but as yet no improvements have been made upon it.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

BENJAMIN PORTER SHERMAN

     Among the representative men of Livingston County who have, by their own exertions, taken important positions and made the county what it is, should be mentioned him whose name stands at the head of this brief sketch.

Image of
B. P. Sherman
Photo by Brown, Howell

    Benjamin P. Sherman was born in Palmer, Mass., Dec. 22, 1811. His boyhood and early manhood was passed upon a farm. When twenty-three years of age he came to Michigan, and worked on a farm in Washtenaw County. While thus engaged he located some three hundred acres of land, where he now resides. He was married April 26, 1841, to Mary E. Dudley, 

Image of
Mrs. B. P. Sherman
(deceased)
Photo by Brown, Howell 

     and immediately proceeded to occupy his land, upon which he had built a log house, and partially cleared some twenty acres of land. The latter was sowed to wheat and oats, but was not a success, yielding only about double the amount of seed sown. Notwithstanding this discouraging beginning he did not retreat, nor rely upon his neighbors,--in fact, his nearest neighbor then was one and a half miles distant, -- but with a persistence which has characterized him throughout life, he kept steadily onward, year by year pushing back the forest and improving his land, until ease, comfort, and wealth have been secured. His wife died Nov. 15, 1872, leaving one son, Roger Sherman, who married Emma Swarthout, of Handy, and who resides on an adjoining farm. Mr. Sherman lost a daughter, Mary Augusta, who died in 1867, aged eighteen years. Mr. Sherman was again married Sept. 1, 1873, to Mrs. Rhoda L. Lowry, formerly Mrs. Comstock.

Image of
Mrs. B. P. Sherman
Photo by Brown, Howell

     Politically, Mr. Sherman is a Republican. He has held several town offices, among others that of supervisor during the first two years of the war. Mr. Sherman is ranked among the substantial citizens of Livingston County, and has justly earned that distinction.

LUTHER CHILD

     Charles T. Child, the father of the above, was a native of Woodstock, Conn., and the father of thirteen children. He was a farmer, and in comfortable circumstances.

Image of
Luther Child
Photo by Brown, Howell

      Luther Child who was born July 19, 1815, remained on the home-farm until he was twenty-two years of age, at which time be journeyed to the home of his brother-in-law, in Steuben Co., N.Y., and worked at various occupations about three years. Jan. 10, 1841, he was married to Miss A. Coates, of Steuben County, and for the following fifteen years carried on a farm and engaged in lumbering. In 1855 be removed to Michigan with 344. his wife and six children, and settled in Novi township, Oakland Co. For two and a half years he continued farming in that and Plymouth townships (the latter in Wayne County), and in 1858 came to Howell, in Livingston Co., where his wife died in 1863. For the past five years Mr. Child has attended to the affairs of a two-hundred acre farm belonging to his son, Marcus B. Child, who is engaged in the lumber business in Kent County. Mr. Child, Sr., who is in his sixty-fifth year, is yet as active as in middle age, and performs most of his own work.

WILLIAM P. STOW

     This gentleman, the son of a farmer, and one of a family of four children, was born in September, 1830, in Patterson township, Putnam Co., N.Y. His father, David L. Stow, moved in 1834 to Livingston Co., N.Y., where he purchased one hundred acres of land and lived for twenty-two years. In the spring of 1856 he removed, with his wife, son. and daughter, to Howell, Livingston Co., Mich., purchased a house and lot of L. D. Smith, and lived but one year afterwards.

     William P. Stow worked on the farm with his father until he was twenty-four years old, attending school winters. Before he left home, on March 1, 1855, he married Miss B. B. Hillman, daughter of Benjamin L. Hillman, an early settler in Livingston Co., N.Y. She was the youngest but one in a family of four children, and with her husband lived on the old farm until the fall of 1856, when they came to Michigan and located in Conway township, Livingston Co., moving into the log house which they still occupy. Their children are two in number,--George F., born in December, 1856; now married to Miss Nancy Bailey, and living half a mile south of his parents' old farm, on the place formerly owned by George W. Stone. Willie E., born in August, 1858, and now living at home. They have also an adopted daughter, Lizzie B. Stow.

    Mr. Stow, who is a Republican in politics, has held numerous township offices, among them that of supervisor one term, justice of the peace two terms, commissioner of highways, one term, and township clerk two terms. In 1860 he went to Fowlerville in company with his brother, George W. Stow, and the two opened a store, carrying a full line of dry goods, groceries, and drugs. William P. Stow was also postmaster. In January, 1863, he sold out his interest in the store, and in September returned to the farm.  Jan. 2, 1864, he enlisted in the 9th Michigan Infantry, and remained in the service until Sept. 27, 1865, leaving his wife and two small children on the farm. While in the army and acting as company clerk, he was detailed by Gen. Thomas as clerk in the Military Conductor's office, and assisted in making out muster-out rolls. After the war he was postmaster at Fowlerville for several years, finally resigning.

LEVI H. BIGELOW

     was born in Batavia, N.Y., July 2, 1817, at which time his father, Abel Bigelow, was sheriff of that county. He subsequently moved to Canada, and from thence to Michigan, settling in West

Image of
Levi H. Bigelow
Photo by Brown

     Bloomfield, Oakland Co., in 1825, where he died in 1866. Levi H. lived at home until he was eighteen years of age. He then worked on a farm for three years, at one hundred and fifty dollars per year, from which he saved three hundred dollars; with this he purchased eighty acres of land, where he now lives, in November, 1837. In November, 1840, he married Mary Capron, formerly of Niagara Co., N.Y. The next fall William Bigelow moved on to his land, where he has since resided. His wife died Aug. 16, 1876, leaving nine children, one son, Howard Bigelow, having previously died while in the army; he enlisted in the 12th New York Cavalry, and died of fever, Dec. 4, 1864.

     Mr. Bigelow was again married in May, 1878, to Mrs. Eliza Ann Mathews, formerly Miss Cornick, of Niagara, Canada. Other lands have been added to the original eighty, which halve been subdivided, leaving one hundred and twenty acres with the old home. The children are all married except the three youngest sons, who live at home. 345.

CECIL D. PARSONS

Image of
Cecil D. Parsons
Photos by Brown, Howell

     Cecil D. Parsons was born in Conway, Mass., March 12, 1808. His paternal grandfather, Joel Parsons, was one of the earliest settlers in that town. He was born in Somers, Conn., June 28, 1753, married Triphena Booth in July, 1775, and removed to Conway, Mass., in the summer of that year, making the journey on horseback, and carrying his wife on the horse behind him. Here he located on a farm, but for many years worked at blacksmithing, which was his trade. He raised a large family of children, of whom Levi, the father of Cecil D. Parsons, was one of the oldest.

     Levi raised a family of seven children, Cecil D. being the second son. The latter came to Michigan in 1831, and entered land in Washtenaw County, where he remained six years, when his father, Levi Parsons, came on with the family. Frederick B., Cecil D., and Julius F. were married. Samuel F. was the youngest. Ruth M. married Waterman B. Fay. They all came, to Webster, Washtenaw Co., where, Cecil D. was then living. Desirous of all being neighbors, he sold out, and they all went farther into the forest. They took up lands adjoining, in all about one thousand acres, in what is now the town of Conway. After securing their lands they returned to Webster. In the month of June, 1836, the young men went on to their land, 

Image of
Mrs. Cecil D. Parsons
Photos by Brown, Howell

     and built a log house for the old people. This was the first house in the town of Conway.

     In the fall of 1837, Cecil D. moved on to his land, one hundred and sixty acres,--where he has since resided. He was married while he lived in Webster, Oct. 21, 1834, to Elizabeth Munger, who was born in Claremont, N.Y., Feb. 14, 1816. Her father died when she was a child; her mother came to Oakland County, where she died in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have been the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are now living, viz.: William P. is a farmer in Shiawassee County; Cecil D. is a farmer, and has a part of the old farm; Charles L. is a farmer in Shiawassee County; Edward H. is a farmer in Orleans County, N.Y.; Elvira J. married Orin B. Green, a farmer in Kent County; Louis A., Joel F., and Frederick N., the three youngest, live at the old home.

     Mr. and Mrs. Parsons are the only surviving couple of the original colony. They have witnessed the entire growth of the town, and procured, the naming of it after the town they came from in Massachusetts. They are consistent members of the Methodist Church, and assisted to organize the first class in the town of Conway.