351. from Rockingham, Windham Co., Vt., in 1838. During the succeeding four years he was engaged as the village school-teacher. In October, 1842, he returned to Rockingham and married Miss Fanny Olcott, of the same place. Returning to Michigan soon after, he purchased Thomas Schoonhoven's farm, where he remained until his election as county clerk, in 1846. After serving two terms as county clerk, he retired to the pleasant premises now occupied by his widow and children Besides holding other township offices, he represented this township on the Board of Supervisors seven terms.

     Other settlers here prior to 1844 were James Abbott, Hiram Barton, Thomas Bush, Daniel S. Grosvenor, Loton Hiscock, Ezra Ingram, James Muir, Patrick McEaneany, David Parker, and Alfred Woodward.

     Robert Holland, from Lincolnshire, England, settled upon the north part of section 29 in 1847.

NOTEWORTHY EARLY EVENTS

     Among the first most notable events not already mentioned, we may here add that James Bavin built the first saw-mill, since known as the Drew mill, in 1838. Hiram Wing, in 1836, was the first shoemaker in the west half of the county, and made the first maple-sugar, in 1837.

     The first birth occurred during the last week of October, 1836, being a daughter of James Bavin.

     Mary F. Wing, daughter of Hiram Wing, and now Mrs. Clark, of California, was born Nov. 3, 1836, she being the second child born in the township.

     The first marriage, probably, was that of John L. Wing to Miss Olivia Smith, in 1837 or'38. The ceremony was performed by Elder Cosart.

     The Marion post-office was first established about 1837, and George W. Lee appointed postmaster. Hiram Wing succeeded him.

     Pierpont L. Smith owned the first mowing-machine, and has ever been noted as one of the first to introduce improved agricultural implements.

     David Dickerson burned the first lime, about 1842. Z. M. Drew was also engaged in burning lime in 1844.

     Edward F. Gay made the first brick, as shown by the following from an early number of the Livingston Courier.

     "The subscriber would inform all who are interested that, notwithstanding the unfavorable season, he has made and burnt 100,000 brick this season, which are now ready for delivery for cash or approved notes, at his kiln, half a mile south of the village of Howell.
 

     The following are the names of those appearing as resident tax-payers on the first assessment roll of the township of Marion, dated May 1, 1837, together with a description of their land, etc.:
 

     The total assessed valuation of real and personal estate, including resident and non-resident owners, amounted to $65,868, and the amount of tax levied upon the same was $213.66.

     Those denominated resident tax-payers in 1844, and their location by sections, were as follows:(re-alphabetized by webmaster)
 

LAND-ENTRIES

     The following is a complete list of those who purchased of the government lands situated in this township. Those marked with a star (*) became actual residents.
 

Image of
A. Van Patten Residence,
Marion, Michigan

CIVIL AND POLITICAL

     By an act of the State Legislature, approved March 23, 1836, the township of Putnam was formed, and included the present towns of Putnam and Marion. One year later, Marion was organized as a separate township by the same authority. The act of organization, approved March 11, 1837, provides as follows:

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

     Under the organizing act the legal voters of the township of Marion assembled, for their first township election, at the house of Hiram Wing, on the 3d day of April, 1837. Guy C. Lee was called to the chair, and Hiram Wing appointed clerk. On motion of Thomas Hoskins, William Younglove, Sardis Davis, and Thomas Hoskins were elected inspectors of the election, and the result of the balloting was the election of the following officers: Thomas Hoskins, Supervisor; Hiram Wing, Township Clerk; Price Morse, George W. Lee, William Younglove, Assessors; Samuel Lyon, Collector, Sylvester Rounds, William Hudson, Directors of the Poor; Guy C. Lee, Sardis Davis, Robt. Munns, Highway Commissioners; Sylvester Rounds, Edward F. Gay, Cornelius Potter, School Commissioners; Sardis Davis, William Younglove, George W. Lee, Hiram Wing, justices of the Peace; Aaron Younglove, Price Morse, George Sewell, Thomas Hoskins, William R. Marshall, School Inspectors; Samuel Lyon, Constable.

     354a.
 

Image of Geo. B. Wilkinson	Image of Mrs. Geo. B. Wilkinson
Image of Residence of Geo. B. Wilkinson, Marion, Livingston Co., Mich