HISTORY OF TUSCOLA COUNTY
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TOWN OF KINGSTON
This town occupies the middle position in the
eastern tier of towns of Tuscola County, having Sanilac County as its eastern
boundary, the town of Novesta on the north, Wells on the west and Koylton on the
south. The Pontiac, Oxford & Port Austin R. R., passes through the
township from north to south. The town takes its name from Alanson K.
King, one of its first settlers.
At a meeting of the board of supervisors held October
10, 1860, a resolution was adopted, ordering that township 12 north, of range 11
east, be erected into a township to be known and designated by the name of
Kingston. The first township meeting saw held at the house of Alanson K.
King.
The petition was signed by the following freeholders in
the township: Jacob Shaw, Alvin Watson, Henry Hatherby, W. B. King, P.L.
King, Oscar Watson, Alexander G. Corbet, David Fuller, J. L. Hatherby, M. Vites,
G. Meidlein, Thomas Whitfield, A. K. King and G. R. Nelson.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Jacob
Shaw, April 1, 1861, when the following officers were elected: viz: supervisor,
A. W. King; clerk, Oscar Watson; treasurer, P.L. King; justices, George Nelson
and J. L. Hatherby; commissioners of highways, George Nelson, H. E Hatherby and
W. B.. King; school inspectors, A. K. King and George Nelson; constables, A. K.
King, H. E. Hatherby, W. B. King and Jacob Shaw.
ENTRIES OF LAND PRIOR TO 1861.
TOWNSHIP 12 NORTH, RANGE 11 EAST.
SECTION 1 Daniel F. Pickering, May 7, 1856
William Sanborn, April 15, 1857
John Bings, February 25, 1859
SECTION 4 Martin Watrous, June 9, 1860
SECTION 5 Jas. H. Bacon and Amasa Rust, May 24, 1859
Martin Watrous, June 9, 1860
SECTION 6 Henry Hayden, November 10, 1857
Robert H. Weidmann, November 10, 1857
J. H. Bacon and A. Rust, May 24, 1859
SECTION 7 Henry Hayden, December 8, 1857
SECTION 9 David G. Slafter, August 9, 1858
David G. Slafter, January 30, 1858
SECTION 10 Henry Hayden, December 8, 1857
James H. Bacon and Amasa Rust, May 24, 1859
David G. Slafter, Janaury 30, 1858
SECTION 11 Daniel F. Pickering, May 7, 1856
David G. Slafter, January 30, 1858
SECTION 12 Daniel F. Pickering, May 7, 1856
David G. Slafter, January 30, 1858
SECTION 13 Daniel F. Pickering, May 6, 1856
David G. Slafter, August 9, 1858
David G. Slafter, January 30, 1858
SECTION 14 Daniel F. Pickering, May 6, 1856
Martin Watrous, May 18, 1858
Martin Watrous, June 10, 1858
David G. Slafter, August 9, 1858
David G. Slafter, Janaury 30, 1858
SECTION 15 Daniel F. Pickering, May 6, 1856
Martin Watrous, August 2, 1858
Amasa Rust and James H. Bacon,, May 22, 1859
SECTION 17 Henry Hayden, November 10, 1859
Martin Watrous, January 30, 1858
SECTION 18 Valentine Reynolds, November 2, 1858
SECTION 19 Daniel D. Dewey, April 23, 1853
David G. Slafter, January 30, 1858
SECTION 21 Martin Watrous, May 5, 1854
James M. Edmunds, May 10, 1854
Thomas Constable, November 12, 1857
Thomas Constable, Deecember 22, 1857
Alexander G. Corbet, November 22, 1860
Sault Canal Co., May 25, 1855
SECTION 22 Martin Watrous, May 5, 1854
James M.. Edmunds, May 10, 1854
David G. Slafter, August 9, 1858
J. H. Bacon and A. Rust, May 24, 1859
David G. Slafter, May 30, 1858
Joseph Colman, January 15, 1859
Amasa Rust, March 19, 1860
SECTION 23 Martin Watrous, November 20, 1858
Martin Watrous, February 22, 1859
Stephen H. Farrington, May 7, 1859
Martin Watrous, November 16, 1858
George Wallace, February 22, 1859
SECTION 25 Martin Watrous, May 18, 1858
Martin Watrous, June 3, 1858
Joseph Colman, November 2, 1858
SECTION 26 Martin Watrous, May 21, 1858
Martin Watrous, June 3, 1858
Caroline Dunton, August 31, 1859
Royal C. Remick, August 6, 1852
SECTION 27 James M. Edmunds, May 10, 1854
Amasa Rust, June 3, 1859
SECTION 28 James M. Edmunds, May 10, 1854
Oscar Watson, September 17, 1860
SECTION 30 Nathan Raymond, April 28, 1858
SECTION 31 Daniel D. Dewey, May 2, 1853
Daniel D. Dewey, April 23, 1853
James Gillespie, September 12, 1860
Charles Featherly, September 12, 1860
SECTION 32 Alanson K. King, November 9, 1857
Rebeckah Shuman, May 15, 1858
SECTION 33 James M. Edmunds, May 10, 1854
Martin Watrous, July 8, 1857
George Meidlein, January 3, 1860
SECTION 34 Pembroke S. Chapel, September 5, 1857
John T. Clark, October 6, 1857
Silas Murch, March 13, 1858
Jacob Shaw, June 24, 1859
David Fuller, June 15, 1860
SECTION 35 John Deo, July 13, 1857
Silas Murch, March 13, 1858
William Walker, May 11, 1858
Caroline Dunton, August 31, 1859
SECTION 36 Samuel Barstow, June 17, 1854
Dennis Burch, February 2, 1858
Martin Watrous, May 18, 1858
Thomas H. Whitfield, March 7, 1859
EARLY SETTLEMENT
In the fall of 1857 William Walker settled in
section 35 and built a log house, and in December following moved his family in.
He came from Canada, and cut his road through the woods from a point on what is
now the Almont and Cass River State road, in Sanilac County, to his house, a
distance of about five miles. he remained until the following June, when
he returned to Canada, coming back again in 1871.
Alanson King, with his son, Philo L., took up the
south half of section 32, in the fall of 1857. In January, 1858, they came
in and built a log house, and on the 5th of March, following Mr. King moved in
his family. They came from Ohio and stayed with George Green in Dayton
from January until March. In coming in they cut their own road for four
miles to their home. They remained there until the winter of 1861-'62,
when they removed to Juniata, returning to Kingston in 1870.
In the fall of 1857 Thomas Constable bought the
southwest quarter of section 21. In the fall of 1858 he did some chopping
on his land, and in December, 1860, moved in with his family.
Jacob Shaw with his family settled on the west half of
the northwest quarter of section 34 in the fall of 1858.
In the spring of 1859 came Alvin Watson, and in
the fall of the same year his brother Oscar Watson.
Jospeh L. Hatherby took up the east half of northwest
quarter of section 34, in 1858, and in December of the same year, moved in.
Henry E. Hatherby moved into the
town in 1859, and in 1860 George Nelson and W. B. King. In the spring of
1860 came Elder Burgess; commenced preaching at once, and organized a class of
the Methodist Church. he continued preaching until the fall of 1861, when
he moved away. These were the first religious services in the town, and
the commencement of the Methodist Episcopal Church here. From the fall of
1861 to the spring of 1863 there was no preaching in the town. Then Elder
E. J. Doyle, a Free-will Baptist minister, commenced preaching here, and
continued to preach in the vicinity for ten years.
January 2, 1865, Rev. George Lee, preacher in charge of
North Branch Circuit, appointed the following trustees, viz.: Thomas
Constable, Samuel Youngs, Alvin Watson, Oscar Watson, and Henry Seaman, to be
described, known and incorporated as "The Kingston Board of Trustees of the
Methodist Episcopal Church."
The first white child born in the town was George Shaw,
the son of Jacob Shaw. His birth was on the 21st of February, 1860.
The first death in the town was the young daughter of
Joseph L. Hatherby. her death was in September, 1860.
October 6, 1862, Oscar Watson and Sarah Youngs were
married by the bride's father, Samuel Youngs, J.P., this being the first wedding
in the town.
The first school district was organized May 14, 1864,
and the first school was taught by Miss Crawford in the summer of 1865.
The first school-house was built in 1865, and the first
school taught in it was by C. Depew, in 1866.
The early settlers in this region had to go to
Wahjamega, Vassar, or Lapeer, to get their milling done, or else do their
grinding by hand. Many of the first settlers had to pack in their
provisions
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on a blazed trail from Wahjamega, Vassar, or some other point outside. Jacob Shaw was the great packer of the region. He packed fourteen bushels of potatoes from Dayton to his place, a distance of about ten miles. He would start with one bag on his shoulder and another under his arm, and carry them until he was tired; then drop one and carry the other some distance, returning for the first and bringing it up to the other; then carry the two for a while, and so on until he reached home. At one time he supplied a camp mega, a distance of ten miles, making the trip every day, and carrying fifty pounds of flour and fifty pounds of pork at a load. The only roads through then wer trails through the woods, impassable for a team much of the time.
FIRST MAIL ROUTE
The first mail route through this section of country was established in 1857, from Vassar to Port Sanilac, about seventy miles, and back once in two weeks. George Sorter, of Wells, was the first carrier; but in 1858 a. K. King took the route, and he and his two sons carried the mails for several years. it was a hard and lonesome route most of the way through the woods. In many places for a long way it was simply a blazed trail, without any settlers near; some of the way through swamps, where they would have to wade in water up to their arm pits, holding the mail bag above the head; and in some seasons breaking the ice before them. Mr. King carried the mail, and provisions for his family, from Vassar, twenty-six miles. Most of the supplies for his family were brought in, in this way, on his back. Mr. King died September 4, 1878, at the age of sixty-eight years. He left a family of seven children, all settled in comfortable homes. His wife preceded him in death nearly two years
THE VILLAGE OF NEWBURY
In the summer of 1866, John Kingsbury and sons
bought the southeast quarter of section 32, and made preparations to build a
saw-mill, which they got to running early in the spring of 1867. In the
fall of 1866 Elder Johnson put up a small bulding on this same tract, near the
section corner, and opened a store, with James Perry as clerk. This was
the beginning of the village of Newbury. Sometime the next winter P. L.
King bought the store.
In April, 1868, Joseph A. Pepoon, M.D., came to Newbury
form Ohio. Up to this time the people of this region had been obliged to
go to Watrousville or North Branch, when in need of medical aid.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Newbury, was
dedicated February 11, 1873, and is the only church building in the town.
The first and only grist-mill in the town was built in 1874.
The village of Newbury was described in the fall of 1867, as
follows:
"Newbury is the name given to a place, recently sprung
up in Kingston, a town that has improved as rapidly in the past two years as any
in the county. At Newbury, P.L. King has a store 24x20 feet, with a wing
24x16 feet, the latter doubtless furnishing a resdence for his family. The
store is two stories high, and at present contains a stock of boots and shoes,
groceries, dry goods, Yankee notions, etc., etc.
"J. Kingsbury & Son have a saw-mill which is doing a
good business. During the past six months it has sawed 600,000 feet of
pine lumber. The same firm will soon erect a grist-mill, to be run in
connection with the saw-mill. A part of the timber for the purpose is
already out. they have also a planing-mill, now on its way from Ohio, to
which they will attach a matcher, and run the whole in connection with their
other machinery.
"D. Fuller is putting up a blacksmith shop, and also a
swelling house. A man by the name of William Depew, a cabinet maker, is at
present prosecuting his trade at his dwelling, but will soon build a shop for
the purpose.
"The postoffice here bears the same name as the
place---Newbury, and is kept in King's store. The postmaster is John
Kingsbury.
The surrounding country is being very rapidly cleared
up, the woods giving place to fine farms, and the unregenerate wilds to pleasing
improvements. The population is increasing very rapidly, emigrants
arriving in no part of the county in greater numbers."
The village lies on both sides of the
line between the towns of Kingston and Koylton, in sections 32 and 33, of the
former, and sections 4 and 5, of the latter, It is the center of trade of
an excellent farming country, and being a station on the Pontiac, Oxford & Port
Austin Railroad, is destined to become an important point for shipment of grain
and other products. The population of the village is about 200. It
has three general stores, one hardware establishment, one drug store, one
harness shop, one meat market, one saw-mill, one grist-mill, an elevator under
construction, a millinery store, postoffice, two hotels and a livery stables.
There are two church organizations, the Methodist Episcopal, under the pastorate
of Rev. William Allman, and having a house of worship, and the Baptist, under
the care of Rev. Mr. Rogers, meeting at the school-house.
STATISTICAL
Census of 1864: Population, 47; number of
acres of taxable land, 5,832; number of acres improved, 97; bushels of
corn, raised preceding year, 165; bushels of wheat raised preceding year, 418;
bushels of potatoes, 395; pounds of butter made preceding year, 655.
Census of 1870: Population, 324; families,
53; dwellings, 63; farms, 33; voters, 56; pounds of butter made, 4,290; bushels
of wheat raised, 612; bushels of corn raised, 695; bushels of oats raised, 205;
bushels of potatoes raised, 2,676; tons of hay cut, 75.
Census of 1874: Population, 383; bushels of wheat
raised, 973; bushels of corn raised, 989; bushels of potatoes, 3,921; tons of
hay cut, 212.
In 1879 there were 87 farms, and 1,802 acres of
improved land. For the preceding year 4,742 bushels of wheat, 2,950
bushels of corn and 387 tons of hay.
Population in 1880, 649. In 1882 the number of
acres assessed was 22,890. Total equalized valuation of real and personal
property, $233,196.
SCHOOL MATTERS.
From the annual school report of the town of Kingston, for the year ending September 4, 1882, the following facts are obtained. Directors for the ensuing year: James B. Beverly, H.S. Youngs, Martin B. Luce, Andrew Osborn and George B. Rossman. There are four whole and one fractional districts, with five frame school-houses. Number of children of school age, 297; attending school during the year, 222.
BIOGRAPHICAL
JOSEPH A. PEPOON, M.D., was born in Ohio, in 1843, studied medicine at Ann Arbor, Mich., graduated from the medical department of the Western Reserve College, in Cleveland, Ohio, and came to Kingston village in 1868, where he has since practiced his profession. He was married in 1873, to Miss Louise L. Simmons, and has one son.
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J. A. TESKEY was born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1835, and came to Kingston in 1862, and located over 700 acres of land. He now owns 310 acres on sections 7, 8 and 17, and resides on section 7; has fifty acres improved. Mr. Teskey is the present county surveyor, which position he has held two terms, and was deputy two terms; has also been supervisor five years, and justice of the peace sixteen years. He was married in 1868, to Miss Eleanor Jeffrey, and has four children.