History of Tuscola County

Page 170

TOWN OF DAYTON

Dayton was organized by the board of supervisors at a meeting held January 6, 1957. It comprised territory taken from Vassar and described as follows, to wit: Township 11 north, of range 10 and 11 east. The first township meeting was ordered held at the house of G. W. Spencer, and James Weaver, G. W. Spencer and William Mead were inspectors of election.

The names of the freeholders in the above described townships are as follows: William Mead, G. W. Spencer, Joseph Crawford, J. P. Weaver, James Hiester, L. Hurd, Geo. Bellamy, Benjamin Docker, Daniel Lynch, M. Shay J. Lynch, Geo. Green, Joseph Green, William Hamilton, John R. Hamilton.

The first town meeting was held April 6, 1857, at the house of G. W. Spencer, in section 33. G. W. Spencer, J. P. Weaver and Wm. Mead constituted the board of inspectors. Fifteen votes were cast, and the following are the names of the officers elected and the number of votes given for each: Supervisor, Lorenzo Hurd, fifteen votes; clerk, Jonas P. Weaver, fifteen votes, clerk, Jonas P. Weaver, fifteen votes; treasurer, George W. Spencer, fifteen votes; justices of the peace, Wm. Mead, fifteen votes, David Clinesmith, fifteen votes; Lorenzo Hurd, fifteen votes, Joseph Crawford, fifteen votes; highway commissioners, Wm. Mead, fourteen votes, Dennis Harmon, thirteen votes, Geo. Bellamy, fifteen votes; school inspectors, Lorenzo Hurd, fifteen votes; John Hamilton, fifteen votes; constables, Dennis Harmon, thirteen votes, Geo. Bellamy, fifteen votes; directors of the poor, Dennis Harmon and Joseph Crawford, each, fifteen votes. $250 were voted for highway purposes.

In 1859, thirty-one votes were cast; $500 were voted for highways.

The total vote in 1860 was forty-six.

LAND ENTRIES PRIOR TO 1860

SECTION 1 Daniel D. Dewey, April 23, 1853
Walter O’Bryan, November 3, 1856
Stephen Clark, June 25, 1859
Joseph W. B. Clark, June 25, 1859

SECTION 2 Seth Mapes, June 24, 1852
John Forgerson, June 24, 1852
George Foote, October 27, 1856
Walter O’ Bryan, November 3, 1856
Henry Hack, May 2, 1857
Herman J. Curtis, June 11, 1857
James L. Hitchcock, October 7, 1858
B. A. Wightman, March 19, 1859

SECTION 3 Solomon Owen, June 24, 1852
James Mulford, June 24, 1852
Thomas Helm, June 24, 1852
Nathan Miers, June 24, 1852
Lorenzo Hurd, August 21, 1856
George Green, October 28, 1856
Lorenzo Hurd, August 24, 1857

SECTION 4 Isaac Ketchum, June 11, 1852
Henry P. Roberts et al., June 11, 1852
Allen Nichols, June 24, 1852
Lorenzo Hurd, August 21, 1856
Charles N. Beecher, August 25, 1856
James P. Weaver, September 25, 1856
William Sugden, September 25, 1856
William Putnam, February 11, 1857

SECTION 5 Barnabas Horton, June 24, 1852
Samuel Millspaugh, June 24, 1852
Ralza M. Cooley, June 20, 1856
Sarah Hyde, October 13, 1856
Dennis Harmon, October 16, 1856

SECTION 6 Benjamin C. Decker, November 3, 1856
James L. Ketchum, April 5, 1859

SECTION 7 James L. Ketchum, April 13, 1859

SECTION 8 Julia A. Beaks, June 24, 1852
Ralza M. Cooley, June 20, 1856
Hermon Camp, August 4, 1856
Amos Cartwright, June 1, 1858

SECTION 9 Henry P. Roberts, et al., June 11, 1852
Amzy Mapes, June 11, 1852
George McIlheny, December 24, 1855
Robert Garner, June 10, 1856
Alonzo Valentine, May 20, 1859

SECTION 10 Henry P. Roberts, et al., June 11, 1852
William Wallace, November 17, 1855
Charles H. Cohoon, November 29, 1855
Charles H. Cohoon, December 22, 1855
James Ripley, July 9, 1856

SECTION 11 Henry P. Roberts, et al., June 11, 1852
Robert Garner, June 19, 1856
James Ripley, July 9, 1856

SECTION 12 Robert Garner, June 2, 1856
Hermon Camp, August 4, 1856
Charles Merrill, October 30, 1856

SECTION 13 James Ripley, July 9, 1856
Hermon Camp, August 4, 1856

SECTION 14 David C. Smith, November 14, 1855
Andrew Hill, April 3, 1856
Joseph Green, June 2, 1856
Michael Shay, June 4, 1856

SECTION 15 George S. Goodell, October 30, 1855
Jesse Fox, November 30, 1855
William A. Cohoon, December 27, 1855
Samuel A. Axtell, January 2, 1856
James Ripley, July 9, 1856
Hugh McMillan, July 9, 1856

SECTION 16 Thomas Edsall, March 19, 1859

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SECTION 17 Abraham Vail, June 24, 1852
James L. Ketchum, November 30, 1853
Amos Cartwright, June 1858
Amos Cartwright, February 24, 1859

SECTION 18 James L. Ketchum, June 25, 1852
William J. Cornell, September 25, 1852
James L. Ketchum, November 30, 1853

SECTION 19 James L. Ketchum, December 5, 1853
William Hamilton, October 11, 1855
Ralza M. Cooley, June 20, 1856

SECTION 20 James L. Ketchum, June 25, 1852
Ralza M. Cooley, June 20, 1856
Hermon Camp, August 4, 1856

SECTION 21 James L. Ketchum, June 25, 1852
Jesse McQuigg, August 14, 1854
William McAlister, November 1, 1855

SECTION 22 Jesse McQuigg, August 14, 1855
Jefferson B. Clark, September 3, 1855
George Bellamy, October 24, 1855
George Howdin, October 24, 1855
Hiram Alesworth, September 25, 1856
Orrin Alesworth, September 25,1856

SECTION 23 Jefferson B. Clark, September 3, 1855
Vincent Whitney, September 3, 1855
Daniel C. Smith, November 14, 1855
Marcus S. Norris, December 20, 1856

SECTION 24 William M. Axford, October 24, 1854
Benjamin Hall, February 20, 1857
William Bailey, December 8, 1857

SECTION 25 William M. Axford, October 24, 1854
Edward H. Thomson, March 6, 1856
Edgar Sheldon, October 17, 1856

SECTION 26 Abraham Branchflower, July 3, 1855
William Branchflower, July 3, 1855
Vincent Whitney, September 3, 1855
John Beamish, December 14, 1857

SECTION 27 John A. Westervelt, January 28, 1854
Edward P. Branchflower, July 3, 1855
Jesse McQuigg, August 14, 1855
Ethan Brown, October 12, 1855
Foster A. Brown, October 17, 1855
Sault St. Marie Canal Co., May 25, 1855

SECTION 28 Martin Fox, April 2, 1855
Jesse McQuigg, August 14, 1855
Ethan Brown, October 12, 1855
Foster A; Brown, October 17, 1855

SECTION 29 Matthew Lewis, March 29, 1855
Martin Fox, April 2, 1855
John Hamilton, April 14, 1856
Hiram Allen, October 20, 1856
John Hamilton, October 14, 1856

SECTION 30 William Mead, October 21, 1854
Henry Rounds, May 16, 1855
William Hamilton, October 10, 1855
Henry Rounds, May 13, 1856
William Holmes, October 7, 1856

SECTION 31 Theodore E. Belding, June 16, 1853
Richard H. Clark, March 29, 1855

SECTION 32 Theodore E. Belding, June 16, 1853
Mark Morrison, October 16, 1854
Elias Streeter, Jr., January 4, 1855
Matthew Lewis, March 29, 1855

SECTION 33 Daniel Lynch, October 16, 1854
Joseph Crawford, March 20, 1855
George W. Spencer, April 12, 1855
Edmund McLees, April 16, 1855
Edmund McLees, June 14, 1855

SECTION 34 Daniel Lynch, October 12, 1854
Wilson Kitchen, July 28, 1855
George Washburn, September 4, 1855
Alpheus D. Stone and George Plumb, September 22, 1855
John M. Wright, October 7, 1885
William D. Oviatt, April 21, 1859

SECTION 35 John A. Westervelt, January 28, 1854
Aaron D. Emery, December 27, 1855
Edward H. Thomson, March 6, 1856
James Hiester, August 26, 1856
Wilson D. Oviatt, April 21, 1855

SECTION 36 Edward H. Thomson, March 6, 1856
Edward H. Thomson, May 7, 1856

The location of Dayton is on the south line of Tuscola County, with Koylton upon the east, Wells to the north, and Fremont to the west. The surface of the country is generally rolling, in places hilly, ad the soil varies from heavy clay to sandy loam, giving in different parts nearly every variety of soil. It is however, generally productive, portions very much so, and none entirely worthless.

The town was named in honor of the candidate for the vice-presidency, on the Free Soil ticket, in 1856. The town was organized the following year, and in the selection of a name the fact was commemorated that in the previous presidential election every vote in the town was cast for Fremont and Dayton; men walking in seventeen miles in some cases to deposit their votes.

The first settlers in the town were Geo. W. Spencer and Joseph Crawford, known as “Little Joe, “ who came in in the spring of 1856. Following them came Daniel Lynch and his sons, Michael and Jeremiah, Matthew Lewis, William Mead, Henry Rounds, Richard Clark, William and John R. Hamilton, George Bellamy, Benjamin W. Hall, Joseph Green, Michael Shay, Robinson, Rufus Gilham, David Clinesmith, Lorenzo Hurd, J. P. Weaver, Dennis Harmon, George Green, Stewart Goodell. Settlement commenced in the south part of the town.

The first sermon was preached by Rev. C. B. Mills in May 1856, at the house of William Mead, in section 30.

The first school was taught in a log school-house in the southwest corner of the town.

The year 1857 was known in Dayton and adjoining towns as the “year of famine.” In addition to other causes the woods and fields swarmed with chipmunks, mice and other vermin which destroyed the crops, devouring the corn, and even digging up, carrying away and destroying the potatoes. So great was the destitution among some of the settlers that even starvation would in some cases undoubtedly have resulted, had it not been for relief sent in from more favored localities.

As late as 1858 the country was yet but poorly supplied with roads, only the north and south center road being cut out through the town, though others had been surveyed. Most of the supplies came from Lapeer, it being impossible to reach Vassar by team, costing for bringing in about three times the first cost. N. D. Phelps, who came in the February, 1858, for three years packed all his supplies from Vassar, his usual load being fifty pounds. On one occasion, having worked five days twelve miles below Vassar, he walked to Vassar in the forenoon, ate his dinner, and taking fifty pounds of flour on his back, walked home through the woods, carrying his load sixteen miles, with but one or two rests. Now, few if any, towns in the county have better roads than Dayton.

CHURCHES

A class of the Methodist Episcopal Church holds services at the school-house in District No. 2, preaching being by Riv. Mr. Allman. Services are also held at the school-house at Hurd’s Corners. A church edifice was commenced several years ago near Hurd’s Corners, which however, has never been completed.

The Protestant Methodists also have services at the school-house in District No. 2, Rev. Mr. Robinson officiating.

The Free-will Baptists meet for religious services at the Smith school-house

SCHOOL MATTERS

From the annual school report of the town of Dayton for the year ending September 4, 1882, the following facts are obtained: Directors for the ensuing year, S. B. Perkins, Robert Wood, G. B. Felton, James Garner and Lyman Belknap; number of children of school age, 453; number attending school during the year, 314; number of whole districts, 4; of fractional districts, 1. There are five frame school-houses in the town.

STATISTICAL.

Census of 1860: Population, 129; families, 28; dwellings, 28; number of farms, 18; number of acres improved, 514; number of horses, 1; number of cows, 25; number of oxen, 25; bushels of wheat raised, 707; bushels of corn, 1,635; bushels of oats, 395; bushels of potatoes, 1340; pounds of butter made, 1,550; tons of hay, 25.

Census of 1864: Population, 326; number of acres of taxable land, 5,800; number of acres improved, 762; bushels of corn raised preceding year, 1,570; bushels of wheat, 1,608; bushels of potatoes, 1,618; tons of hay, 148; pounds of wool sheared, 182; pounds of butter made, 10,100; pounds of cheese made, 100.

Census of 1870: Population, 660; families, 129; dwellings 129; farms, 57; voters, 134; number of acres of improved land, 2,800; bushels of wheat raised, 6,384; bushels of rye, 103; bushels of corn, 5,121; bushels of oats, 4,685; bushels of potatoes, 8,093; tons of hay cut, 718; pounds of wool sheared, 2,396; pounds of butter made, 15,510.

Census of 1874: Population, 789; number of horses, 153; number of cows, 250; number of bushels of wheat 9,985; bushels of corn, 5,308; bushels of apples, 1,053; bushels of potatoes, 7,294; tons of hay, 812.

Population in 1880, 1,039. Total equalized valuation in 1882, $344,240; number of farms in 1881, 136; acres of improved land, 5,341; bushels of wheat in 1880, 29,455; of corn, 44,953; tons of hay, 653.