HISTORY OF TUSCOLA COUNTY

Page 153

TOWN OF ELLINGTON

     This town embraces township 18 north, of range 10 east, and is bounded on the north by Elmwood, east by Novesta, west by Almer and south by Wells.  It lies on both sides of the Cass River, which divides it into two nearly equal parts, running from the northeast to the southwest.  The character of the portion north and west of the river is generally rolling.  the soil, a clay loam, except near the river, where it is more sandy yet of an excellent quality and very productive.  The natural growth of this portion of the town is beech, oak maple, basswood, elm, etc. South and east of the river the land is more level and comprises more swamp, its timber being generally pine, hemlock and cedar; the soil, a sandy loam, with a clay subsoil.  The land having been generally entered for its pine, was of later settlement.

ENTRIES OF LAND PRIOR TO 1860

TOWNSHIP 18 NORTH, RANGE 10 EAST.

SECTION 1.             Martin Watrous, August 2, 1853
                                  George H. Sanford, October 21, 1858
                                 William C. Beach, September 16, 1858
                                 William C. Predmore, November 23, 1859
                                 James L. Travis, November 30, 1859
                                 Martin Watrous, January 30, 1858
                                George H. Sanford, October 25, 1858

SECTION 2            Samuel G. Hathaway, June 14, 1851
                                William H. Green, August 30, 1850
                                Stephen D. Sayer, January 28, 1854
                                Joseph H. Bugbee, April 16, 1854
                                Charles Pomeroy, June 6, 1854
                                Anson Rudd, October 29, 1855
                                Alexander C. Watrous, July 3, 1856
                                Martin Watrous, February 22, 1869
                                Martin Watrous, December 22, 1869
                                Martin Watrous, February 5, 1869

SECTION 3            William H. Green, August 30, 1850
                                William Winspear, June 26, 1852
                                William E. Shearman, March 24, 1854
                                Daniel D. Dewey, September 7, 1854
                                Samuel P. Sherman, October 4, 1854
                                Anson Rudd, October 29, 1855

SECTION 4            Hiram Beach, August 1, 154
                                Inman J. B. McKenney, October 12, 1854
                                Tristam Rogers, November 25, 1854
                                Riley Nash, February 20, 1855
                                Joseph White, June 12, 1855

SECTION 5            Washington O. Donoughue, July 9, 1853
                                Joseph Hartman, March 7, 1855
                                Henry Day, April 1, 1856
                                William C. Beach, April 10, 1856
                                Henry A. Frink, February 5, 1859
                                Sault St. Marie Canal Co., May 25, 1855

SECTION 6            Josiah Higley, June 28, 1853
                                Martin Watrous, April 18, 1854
                                 Martin Watrous, May 5, 1854
                                Seth Beeman (second), May 7, 1855
                                James Andrews, July 5, 1855

SECTION 7            Eliza Andrews, April 28, 1853
                                Rachel Andrews, April 28, 1853
                                William Metcalf, May 23, 1853
                                William Willcox, June 17, 1853
                                James Andrews, November 4, 1854
                                James Andrews, November 8, 1854
                                Simeon Botsford, December 26, 1855

SECTION 8            Martin Watrous, October 23, 1852
                                Mary Ann Botsford, March 25,1854
                                Marshall N. Robinson, March 25, 1854
                                George R. Smith, May 15, 1854
                                Simeon Botsford, March 16, 1855
                                William R. Robinson, March 16, 1855
                                William C. Beach, May 12, 1856
                                Joseph M. Dodge, May 6, 1856

SECTION 9             Curtis Emerson, February 5, 1850
                                Curtis Emerson, Jun3 8, 1850
                                William H. Green, July 16, 1850
                                Maurice Moran, January 22, 1852
                                Loiza Baker, September 10, 1852
                                Martin Watrous, October 23, 1852
                                William W. Gorton, July 13, 1853
                                William W. Gorton, January 28, 1854
                                William W. Gorton, January 28, 1854
                                David Keslar, April 5, 1854
                                Martin Watrous, June 14, 1854
                                Wakeman, Goodsell, August 8, 1854
                                Asabel Disbrow, April 6, 1857

SECTION 10         James Morgan Baldwin, May 13, 1851
                              William Winspear, June 24, 1852
                                James M. Edmunds, May 22, 1854
                                Edmund H. Hazelton, February 26, 1857
                                Martin Watrous January 30, 1858

SECTION 11           William H. Green, June 19, 1850
                                   Martin Watrous, February 5, 1858

SECTION 12            John H. Hodges, January 1, 1853
                                    Willard Barker, May 8, 1854
                                William H. Whitney and Edmund H. McQuigg, October 28, 1854
                                Henry D. Braddock, November 14, 1855

SECTION 13            William F. Whitney and Edmund H. McQuigg, October 28, 1854

SECTION 14           James Morgan Baldwin, May 13, 1851
                                William Winspear, June 26, 1852
                                Willard Parker, April 24, 1854
                                William F. Whitney and Edmund H. McQuigg, October 28, 1854
                                Henry D. Braddock, Nov. 26, 1855
                                Samuel W. Yawkey, July 9, 1856

SECTION 15            Asher Tyler, June 14, 1851
                                 William H. Green, June 19, 1850
           

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                                Curtis Emerson, February 23, 1851
                                Stephen D. Sayer, January 28, 1854
                                Stephen D. Sayer, February 11, 1854

SECTION 16          William W. Gorton, December 31, 1856
                                James Andrews, February 25, 1858

SECTION 17            Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852
                                 George G.. Anderson, May 11, 1853
                                William W. Gorton, July 12, 1853
                                William C. Beach, December 12, 1855
                                Lorenzo D. Welch, December 13, 1855

SECTION 18          Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852
                                Myron H. L. Tyrrell, November 27,1852
                                Benjamin W. and Jonathan A. White, May 2, 1853

SECTION 19        Samuel G. Hathaway, June 14, 1851
                              James Morgan Baldwin, May 15, 1851
                              Cyrus Haven, May 11, 1853
                              William Willcox, June 25, 1853
                              William Willcox, June 27, 1853

SECTION 20        D. and S. Johnson, September 14, 1847
                              Paschal Richardson, October 14, 1847
                              Thompson, Whitney & Coit, October 12, 1850
                              Ira Kibbee, October 9, 1851
                              John C. Casler, April 13, 1854

SECTION 21        D. and S. Johnson, September 14, 1847
                              Paschal Richardson, October 14, 1847
                              Thompson, Whitney & Coit, February 28, 1851
                              James Morgan Baldwin, May 13, 1851
                              Ira Kibbee, October 9, 1851
                              John H. Richardson, October 19, 1855
                              Henry A. Braddock, November 14, 1855

SECTION 22       Thompson, Whitney & Coit, January 24, 1851
                              James Morgan Baldwin, May 13, 1851
                              Lewis J. Davis, September 3, 1856

SECTION 23        James Morgan Baldwin, May 3, 1851
 

SECTION 24        Delia A. Baldwin, July 28, 1853
                              Vallorous A. Paine, July 14, 1859

SECTION 25        Martin Watrous, November 15, 1858

SECTION 26        Delia A. Baldwin, July 28, 1853
                              Alfred H. Wright, May 4, 1855
                              Henry Hayden, February 8, 1858
                              James L. Ketcham, December 7, 1858

SECTION 27        Abijah H. Thompson and Thomas Whitney & Coit, October 12, 1850
                              James Morgan Baldwin, May 12, 1851
                              James Morgan Baldwin, December 10, 1852
                              James M. Baldwin, August 9, 1853
                              Martin Watrous, May 5, 1854
                              Alfred H. Wright, May 4, 1855
                              James J. McCormick, November 17, 1856
                              Ebenezer A. Higgins, November 28, 1856
                              Robert H. Weideman, October 26, 1857
                              Alfred H. Wright, May 26, 1858
                              Martin Watrous, January 30, 1858

SECTION 28        Abijah H. Thompson, October 12, 1850
                              Thomas Whitney and F. E. Coit, October 12, 1850
                              Thomas Whitney and F. E. Coit, February 3, 1851
                              Andrew M. Orvis, October 9, 1851
                              James Cleaver, November 6, 1854
                              George Cleaver, February 19, 1856
                              Ebenezer A. Higgins, November 28, 1856

SECTION 29        Artemas Thayer, January 29, 1852
                              Samuel Lake, June 24, 1852
                              James M. Baldwin, August 9, 1853
                              William F. Whitney and Edmund H. McQuigg, October 28, 1854
                              George Judson, May 6, 1856
                              Edmund H. Hazelton, July 7, 1856

SECTION 30        Thomas Whitney, June 29, 1852
                              William Willcox, June 9, 1854
                              William Willcox, October 18, 1854
                              William Willcox, December 30, 1854
                              William Willcox, January 8, 1855
                              George Judson, May 6, 1856
                              William Willcox, June 18, 1856
                              William Willcox, July 4, 1856

SECTION 31        Curtis Emerson, February 5, 1850
                              Samuel T. Atwater, July 1, 1854
                              Samuel T. Atwater, July 5, 1854
                              William Willcox, January 26, 1855
                              William Willcox, March 24, 1855

SECTION 32        James Morgan Baldwin, May 15, 1851
                              William F. Whitney and Edmund H. McQigg, October 28, 1854
                              William Willcox, July 4, 1856

SECTION 33        James M. Baldwin, May 13, 1851
                              William F. Whitney and Edmund H. McQuigg, October 28, 1854
                              James Cleaver, November 6, 1854
                              Alfred H. Wright, May 4, 1855
                              Alfred H. Wright, October 3, 1856

SECTION 34        Alfred H. Wright, October 3, 1856
                              Alfred H. Wright, February 1,, 1859

SECTION 35       James M. Baldwin, April 30, 1853
                            James M. Baldwin, August 9, 1853
                            Alfred H. Wright, October 5, 1858
                           James J. McCormick, February 1, 1859

SECTION 36        James M. Baldwin, April 30, 1853
                              Alfred H. Wright, October 1, 1856
                              Alfred H. Wright, October 5, 1858

_______________________________________________

FIRST SETTLEMENT

     The settlement of this town dates back to 1854.  The first settlers were William Medcalf, Jonathan White and his sons, B. W. and Almon, I. J. B. McKenney, William Robinson, Simeon Botsford, J. M. Dodge, William Wilcox, James Andrews and Elliott R. Burnett.  Of these, Jonathan White, William R. Robinson and William Wilcox are dead; others have moved away.
     Mr. Botsford relates that his journey from Oakland County was made with a horse team largely by lumber roads, which, owing tot he purpose for which they were constructed, were necessarily winding and indirect.  His horses he was obliged to return and sell, a pioneer settlement furnishing but little food for their support.  The night of their arrival was spent in Mr. Medcalf's small shanty, twenty persons occupying the one small building.  The next day Mr. Botsford commenced work on his shanty, and the following forenoon at eleven o'clock the family took possession.  This house was in section 8 on the site of the present village of Ellington.
     The first child born in Ellington was a son of William Medcalf, and was named George Ellington Medcalf.
     Rev. I. J. McKenny was the third settler in Ellington and a pioneer in the religious work of Tuscola County.  He remained a resident of Ellington until his death, which occurred October 15, 1880.  His widow still continues to live at the old homestead near the village of Ellington.  Having spent twenty-six years of his life in the Christian ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church,

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twenty-five of it in connection with Genesee conference of New York State, he in 1854 took a superannuated relation to that conference and came with his family to Michigan in the fall of 1854 to make a home for his old age.  Though adopting the employment of farming and with other pioneers bending his energies to subduing the forest and clearing the soil, he yet did not forget the earlier employment and service of his life.  He at once resumed labor in the ministry of religion and preached from time to time in different parts of the county, holding the first service ever held in what is now the town of ellington in the spring of 1855, and also about that time preaching in what is now the town of Indian Fields the first sermon preached in that town, being thus one of the pioneer preachers as well as one of the pioneer settlers of Tuscola County.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

     The first services of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the town of Ellington were held in the spring of 1855, when Rev. I. J. B. McKenney preached to the fiew settlers the first sermon to which they had listened in their new home.

     About 1858 the Ellington class of the Caro and Ellington Quarterly Conference was organized by Elder Klump with twelve or fifteen members.

     Its legal organization and incorporation was effected at a quarterly conference held on the Cass City circuit march 19, 1870, when the following persons were duly elected and appointed a board of trustees to be known and called the "Trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of the Township of Ellington," viz.:  James D. Sutton, of the town of Almer, William Medcalf, Inman J. B. McKenney, Samuel Miller and Ozias Hutchinson, of the town of Ellington.

     The church has a house of worship in the village of Ellington, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Benson, of Caro.

     the church edifice was completed in 1874 and dedicated July 18th of that year.  The event was one of interest, and was mentioned at the time as follows:

     "The dedicatory sermon by Rev. O. J. Perrin, P. E. was received with great satisfaction, and listened to with profound attention by a large and imposing audience.

     "At three o'clock in the afternoon the church was again filled to overflowing to witness the solemn and beautiful ceremony of dedication as conducted by Rev. Mr. Perrin, assisted by Rev. Messrs. McKenney and Ashford.  This service was followed by a children's meeting, addressed by Rev. Messrs. Perrin, Gee and Maywood.

    "the building is a modern structure, completed in modern style and neatly furnished.  Though not large, it meets the wants of the community in which it is situated.

     "The success of the enterprise is largely due to the enterprise of the pastor, Rev. Joseph Ashford, and the industrious ladies of the church.  Great credit is due to Miss E. L. Bowen, through whose agency means were obtained to supply the furniture of the church.  The day passed off pleasantly, reachly enjoyed by those present, and will long be remembered with gratitude by the good people of Ellington as a new epoch in their history."

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH

     About the year 1858 a class of the Methodist Protestant

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Church was organized at the house of Simeon Botsford under Rev. A. M. Warren with four members, viz.: Simeon Botsford and wife and William R. Robinson and wife.  To this class Mr. Warren preached about three years, services being held at school-houses.  He was succeeded by Rev. C. D. Covill.  The first quarterly conference, embracing nearly all of Tuscola County, was organized as the Cass River circuit at a meeting held at the Bourne school-house, in what is now Ellington, in 1862; Rev. X. O. Smith was chosen pastor and Simeon Batsford, secretary.  From this circuit as originally organized new circuits have from time to time been formed, viz.: Fair Grove, Cass City, Prairie and Tuscola.  Cass River circuit now embraces Almer, Columbia, Elmwood and Ellington.  The pastors from the time of its originall organization have been Revs. X. O. Smith, A. Omans, John F. Witherell and wife, Father Bradshaw, John Robertson, Mrs. N. J. Remington and E. B. Sutton, the present pastor.

     A special meeting of the legal members of the Ellington class of Cass River circuit of the Methodist Church was held at the school house of District No. 2 of the town of Ellington May 11, 1868, for the purpose of electing trustees and effecting a legal organization.  The following were elected trustees: Simeon Botsford, William R. Robinson, John W. Ostrander, John Patterson and A. Wilcox.  The trustees were then duly elected a building committee.  The name of the chrch as organized was the "Methodist Church of Cass River Circuit."

     In 1871 a church building was erected a mile and a half west of Ellington village, and known as the Sutton Church.  It is a neat, plain edifice, worth about $2,000.  A comfortable parsonage was built about thirteen years ago, to which additions have been made from time to time.  The total value of the property is about $3,000.

________________________________________________________________

CIVIL HISTORY

     The town of Ellington was organized by the board of supervisors at a meeting held December 31, 1855.  The territory comprised townships 13 and 14 north, of ranges 10 and 11 east, under the jurisdiction of Almer.

     The names signed to the petition are as follows, being of freeholders of the townships to be organized:  Eliott Burnett, A. P. Cooper, William Wilcox, Simeon Botsford, Inman J. B. McKenney, William Robinson, W. Goodsell, W John, James Andrews, J. M. Dodge, Joseph White, W. C. Beach, P. Higley, Jonathan White, J. A. White.

     At a meeting of freeholders, inhabitants of township 13 north, of ranges 10 and 11 east, held at the house of Simeon Botsford Dec. 19, 1855, for the purpose of selecting a name for the town, Simeon Botsford being moderator and William R. Robinson clerk on motion of Wm. C. Beach the name of "Eden" was selected by a unanimous vote.  Simeon Botsford was chosen delegate to represent the town before the board of supervisors, and he was directed, if the supervisors would not grant the name selected, to then apply for the name of "Paradise."  It appears, however, that neither name met the approval of the board, as the name "Ellington" was selected.

     The first town meeting was held April 7, 1856, at the house of Simeon Botsford.  Simeon Botsford, William C. Beach and William R. Robinson, having been appointed by the board of supervisors inspectors of election, the meeting was organized by the appointment of William C. Beach, moderator, and Elijah S. White, assistant clerk.  The polls were opened at ten o'clock and closed one hour at noon, and finally closed at three o'clock and fifteen minutes.  The result of the election was as follows:  Supervisor, Inman J. B. McKenney by a majority of two; town clerk, Simeon Botsford by a majority of four; treasurer, Benjamin W. White by a unanimous vote of twenty-four; justices of the peace, Hugh F. Cooper by a majority of twenty-three, William R. Robinson nineteen, Joseph M. Dodge fifteen, Jonathan White fifteen; school inspectors, Inman J. B. McKenney twenty-two, Elijah S. White twenty-two; commissioners of highways, Joseph M. Dodge for three years by a majority of twenty-three, William Edger for one year by a majority of twenty-three; constables, Alexander Cooper by a majority of nineteen, Jonathan A. White by a majority of nineteen, James Andrews by a majority of twenty-two and Elijah S. White by a majority of twenty-four; directors of the poor, Simeon Botsford by a majority of twenty-two, Inman J. B. McKenney by a majority of twenty-two.  It is recorded that upon the same day the ballot box in use was presented tot he twon by the inspectors of election.

     The meeting further voted unanimously to raise $200 for highway purposes, and $130 for incidental purposes.  It was moved by James Andrews as a by-law that swine should not be free commoners from the tenth of May.  The vote being by the usual sign there was a dispute as to the result, and on a division of the house, the motion was lost.

     The terms of the justices being determined by lot, William R. Robinson was chosen for four years, Joseph M. Dodge for three years, Hugh F. Cooper for two years and Jonathan White for one year.

     The report of the town treasurer for the year 1856 was as follows:

                                                                                                                        Dr.
For roads, raised by vote of town................................................................    $200.00
    Incidental expenses..................................................................................    $130.00
     Road tax on non-residents......................................................................    $443.20
    Mill taxes for library and school...............................................................    $68.77
    Rejected tax re-assessed.........................................................................    $70.00  
                                                                                                                __________
                                                                                                                        $911.97
  Added to this is four per cent for collecting.................................................         48.24
    Also for State and county tax...................................................................       292.64
    Also, if all is collected, an excess of taxes.................................................         58.51
                                                                                                                ___________
                                                                                                                      $1,311.36
To this should be added for building of school-house in district No. 1,
    and to No. 1, and to come out of excess of tax........................................           27.37
                                                                                                                ___________
                                                                                                                        $1,338.73

All of which was covered by receipts, orders and cash on hand.

     The first meeting of the town board appears to have been held May 3, 1856, at the house of Simeon Botsford, the only business transacted being the appointment of Wm. C. Beach as highway commissioner,, to fill vacancy for one year.

     At the town meeting held April 7, 1857, it was voted to raise $500 for highway purposes and $150 for incidental expenses.
     In April, 1859, the electors of the town voted to raise $250 for highway purposes, $125 for contingent expenses, and to appropriate one half of the two mill tax to the purchase of a town library.  The vote on the question of township or district library, was fourteen for town and twelve for district.
     The appearance of small-pox in various parts of the county is indicated by a meeting of the board of health Nov. 21, 1859, and arrangements made for vaccination, for the expense of which it was voted to raise a tax of $50.
     At the town meeting held April 2, 1860, $25 of the two mill tax was appropriated to the purchase of a library, $500 for highways and bridges and $150 for incidental expenses.
     The year 1860 appears to have been a fruitful one, in town meetings.  On account of local differences several special meetings were held but no action taken which changed the results of the annual meeting.

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     At the annual town meeting April 6, 1863, it was voted that $150 should be raised to refund the bounty of volunteers; $700 was voted for highways.
     At a meeting of the town board of Almer and Ellington Dec. 23, 1863, it was agreed that $300 should be raised for each volunteer procured in those township or drafted, the question to be submitted to a vote of the people at a special election ; Almer to raise $660 and Ellington $540.  The election was held in Ellington Jan. 9, 1864, and there were nine votes cast, all in favor of raising the money.

The tax roll for 1863 was as follows:

State tax.........................................................................................................    $  81.28
County tax.....................................................................................................       521.12
Non-resident highway.....................................................................................      290.00
Township highway..........................................................................................      700.00
Military bounty...............................................................................................      150.00
Contingent fund..............................................................................................      194.43
School District No. 1.....................................................................................        46.24
Two mill tax District No. 1.............................................................................        16.60
School District No. 2, contingent...................................................................        24.00
Two mill tax District No. 2............................................................................        20.54
Mill tax unorganized territory..........................................................................        46.31
Collector's fee...............................................................................................        83.63
                                                                                                                       ________
                                                                                                                    $2,174.15

    At a special town meeting held March 3, 1864, the total number of votes cast being nine, it was decided by a vote of eight to one to raise a bounty of $100 for each volunteer under the last call of the President or any future call.
    In 1864 at the annual town meeting an ordinance was passed restraining swine from running at large;  $1,000 was voted for highways.  The total number of votes at this election was thirty-eight.  The vote on removal of county seat from Vassar to Wahjamega was thirty-eight in favor, none against.
     The board of health met June 10, 1865, and to prevent the spread of small-pox, ordered all schools and public meetings stopped, and to stop travel on certain roads.
     The number of votes cast in 1866 was fifty-five, showing a material increase.  It is evident that not every man owned a dog, for the list of taxable canines is but twenty-one.
     The number of votes at annual town meeting in 1868 was sixty-six.  Four years later it was seventy-two.
     In 1871 provision was made for a bridge over Cass River by an appropriation of $500.
     In 1872 $200 was appropriated for the purchase of a burial ground.

     the town of Ellington appears to have kept the even tenor of its way, nothing of particular moment appearing in the records.

     The last report of the treasurer February 16, 1883, shows debits to the town of Ellington as follows:

State tax...............................................................................................    $339.01
County.................................................................................................      678.02
Contingent fund....................................................................................      300.00
To pay outstanding orders....................................................................      125.00
General highway tax, 1882..................................................................       150.00
Non-resident highway tax....................................................................      150.40
School District No. 1..........................................................................       290.95
Ellington and Elmwood Fractional No. 2............................................      174.93
Ellington and Elmwood Fractional No. 6.............................................          9.20
Ellington and Alma Fractional No 3.....................................................      140.65
Dog tax..............................................................................................        62.00
Received for Elmwood........................................................................       72.65
Received from Alma............................................................................      79.24
Excess of roll......................................................................................       13.74
Received from W. Ostrander, April, 1882.............................................    546,41
                                                                                                            _________
Total....................................................................................................    $3,304.64
    Principal school money....................................................................    $    255.44
    Library money.................................................................................              6.38
    Board of health money....................................................................               8.00
                                                                                                            __________
                                                                                                                $3,574.46
    CREDITS
    Orders returned.............................................................................      $3,444.44
    Orders remaining on hand..............................................................           130.02
                                                                                                            __________
                                                                                                                $3,574.46

     At the last annual meeting, held April 2, 1883, the whole number of votes cast was 109.  The money voted for township purposes was $300 for contingent fund and $150 for general highway purposes.

TOWN OFFICERS

YEAR SUPERVISOR CLERK TREASURER COMMISSIONER HIGHWAYS
         
1883 Hiram R. Perry Robert Wilson Andrew J. Turner William Campbell
1882 James Brooker Samuel Elliott John Deitz Charles Wickware
1881 James Brooker Samuel Elliott John W. Ostrander Hiram R. Perry
1880 Hiram R. Perry R. P. Henderson John W. Ostrander W. W. Peck
1879 Hiram R. Perry Samuel Elliott Wesley W. Peck John May
1878 Hiram R. Perry Samuel Elliott Wesley W. Peck John Deitz
1877 James Brooker Ozias Hutchinson Darius H. Gould John Deitz
1876 J. M. Deitz A. N. Hatch Darius H. Gould Wesley W. Peck
1875 William Medcalf Absalom Hatch Darius H. Gould Wesley W. Peck
1874 E. J. Carpenter Henry G. Bailey Darius H. Gould John McKenney
Christian Shadley
1873 E. J. Carpenter Nathaniel Dunn Darius H. Gould James Andrews
J. P. Hendricks
1872 Joseph M. Dodge Nathaniel Dunn Darius H. Gould John Deitz
1871 Joseph M. Dodge Ozias Hutchinson Darius H. Gould Andrew Campbell
1870 James Brooker Ozias Hutchinson Darius H. Gould Andrew Turner
1869 James Brooker Samuel Miller Darius H. Gould James Andrews
1868 William Medcalf E. J. Carpenter E. R. Burnett A. H. Smith
1867 Joseph M. Dodge E. J. Carpenter William Medcalf J. P. Hendricks
1866 Joseph M. Dodge Duncan Clark James Dorman James Andrews
1865 William Medcalf Duncan Clark Ozias Hutchinson J.P. Hendricks
John May
1864 Benj. W. White James Andrews John w. Ostrander Jonathan A. White
1863 Joseph M. Dodge I. J. B. McKenney Benj. W.. White J. A. Sherman
1862 Joseph M. Dodge Nathaniel Dunn Benj. W. White S. C. Beecher
J. Ostrander
1861 Joseph M. Dodge E. R. Burnett James Andrews Nathan Ash
1860 I. J. B. McKenney Simeon Botsford Benj. W. White Wm. Medcalf
1859 Duncan Clark Jonathan White James Andrews Sherman C. Beecher
1858 I. J. B. McKenney Simeon Botsford Nathaniel Dunn Lucius Bardwell
1857 I. J. B. McKenney Simeon Botsford Wm. C. Beach Elijah S. White
J. M. Dodge
1856 I. J. B. McKenney Simeon Botsford Benj. W. White Benj. W. White
Wm. Edger

SCHOOL MATTERS

     September 11, 1856, the school inspectors of the town of Ellington organized a school district consisting of sections 3 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, township 13, range 10; and south half of sections 32, 33, township 14, range 10, to be known as District No. 1.  At the first annual meeting of the district, Waterman Goodsell offered a site for a school-house in the west half of northwest quarter of section 9, township 13, range 10, which was accepted.

     It was voted to raise $25 for material for a school-house; that a three months school be had, beginning January 1st, and that the school officers employ a woman teacher.  Miss Myra Selden, now Mrs. John Johnson, of Vassar, was employed, and the following winter taught the first school in Ellington, in a small log building, near where the village now is.

     From the annual school report of the town of Ellington for the year ending September 4, 1882, the following facts were obtained:  Directors for the ensuing year, V. W. Mallory, B F. Eayrs and Joseph W. Crea.  The number of districts is three, one whole and two fractional, with one brick, and two frame school-houses.  Whole number of children of school age, 222; number attending school during the year, 173.

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