Abraham HOLLENBECK had bought the northwest quarter of section 21 in 1836, in which year about three-fourths of the township had been bought up by speculators and those intending settlement, but he did not move in until the fall of 1837. Mr. H. was a pious man; in fact, his neighbors say he was for some years the only pious man in town. For a while public worship was conducted by him at his own house, and that of Mr. Andrew McARTHUR; and here also and under his care was organized and conducted the first Sunday-school. This was probably under the auspices of a Mr. MORSE, a Presbyterian minister located at Lapeer, in the fall of 1838. To this same denomination Mr. HOLLENBECK belonged. [HRP, pp. 137-8]

Mr. HOLLENBECK built the first barn, a log one, forty feet long, and it was raised by eight men. Verily, "there were giants in those days." He also built the first corn-crib of small logs, which is still standing in full view of the road, a very fine specimen of backwoods architecture, showing Mr. H. to have been a man of ingenuity and enterprise. [HRP, p. 138]

Jacob HOLLENBECK, who is one of the first settlers in Marathon, was born in Hudson, N. Y., in 1820. He came to Michigan with his father in 1837. His farms, which are in sections 83, 21 and 19, township 9 north, range 9 east, contain 325 acres. He held the office of supervisor for about twelve years, also was for a number of terms justice of the peace, highway commissioner, etc. He was married in 1842 to Miss Harriet CLUTE by whom he had seven children. After her demise he was married again in 1861 to Miss Emily VERMILYA. They have two daughters. [HRP, p. 145]