HISTORY OF TUSCOLA COUNTY
TOWN OF MILLINGTON
The township of Millington embraces what is known in the government surveys as town 10 north, of range S. east. It is one of the southern towns of Tuscola County, and is bounded on the west by Arbela, north by Vassar, east by Watertown, and south by Marathon, in the county of Lapeer. The township was organized under a special act of the legislature of 19855, and when organized the present township of Watertown wa embraced with it. The bill was introduced by Hon. Reuben Goodrich, at the time senator from Genesee County. It involved a change of County lines, for previously the line dividing Lapeer and Tuscola Counties was, for some unexplained reason, so placed as to cut the present towns of Millington and Watertown, and the town of Rich, Lapeer County, through the center. By act of organization the bill gave to Tuscola the full townships of ten 8, and ten 9, and to Lapeer all of 10 north and 10 east.
The first township meeting was held in April, 1855, in a loghouse, occupied by the late Amos Wolverton, on the southwest quarter of section 16, and one mile south of where Millington village has since been built. At that time extensive sugar camps in the vicinity were annually worked by the Indians. The kind-hearted Mr. Wolverton was the Indians' friend, and in him they reposed the most implicit confidence. When the sugar season was closed, and the Indians were ready to break up camp and return to their hunting grounds, they would bring in their surplus stock of sugar, carefully and neatly packed in "mocacks" made of the bark of the White Birch, and store them away in Mr. Wolverton's capacious chamber. Tons of sugar were thus deposited for safekeeping, until called for as needed in the succeeding months long after. It is a circumstance illustrative of Indian character, that though these packages were left for months unseen by their owners, and were often so near alike that a white man could not tell the difference, no Indian ever made a mistake and took the wrong mocack, nor was ever an Indian found so dishonest as to call for what did not belong to him. But the log house burned down many years ago. Mr. Wolverton's dust reposes in the Millington grave-yard, and the Indians are dispersed, the Lord knows where. The sugar camps have been cleared up and transformed into fields of waving grain, the tall maples cut into cord wood, whose coal has been used to propel the smelting works of the Union Iron Company.
FIRST SETTLEMENT
Edwin E. Brainerd, who now resides in Vassar, was the first white settler of the township of Millington. On the 24th day of December, of the year 1850, he took up his abode, with his little family, on the left bank of the Millington Creek, in the extreme northwest corner of the township, his homestead being technically described as the west fractional half, of the northwest fractional quarter, of section 6. Coming in just in time to spend the Christmas of 1850 in his wilderness abode, he remained on this spot with his family, the sole inhabitants of Millington for a little upward of four years. In this sylvan habitation the first white child of Millington, Elvira Brainerd, was born on the 24th day of February 1852. Marcus Tetsworth, the second white settler of Millington, emigrated from Goodrich, in Genesee County, Mich., and settled on the cast half of northwest quarter, of section 15. This was about the commencement of the year 1854. Immediately after, and almost simultaneously with Mr. Tetesworth, came Alfred Fox, who settled on section 10, but died before he had remained many months. Mr. Tetesworth remained many years, cleared up a fine farm, planted a large orchard and made other valuable improvements, when he was finally “gathered to his fathers,” leaving a wife and large family of children. Several of his sons still remain industrious citizens of Millington, while his venerable widow still occupies the homestead. Mr. Fox’s widow was many years ago married to Mr. George Turner, one of Millington’s early settlers, and in her ripe old age still resides with her husband on section 13, while of his children two live in Millington, one in Lapeer County, one in Genesee County, and one went to his long home in the South, a sacrifice to the cause of his country in the great rebellion.
TOPOGRAPHICALLY.
The surface of the township is gently rolling, sufficient for the purposes of drainage, but more level in its north part, and on its east line, and near its southeastern border it breaks up in places into short hills. The soil is generally good, in parts very superior though some thin soil is found near the north line of the township. Few townships in th State are better watered. Millington Creek traverses the township from the southeast to the northwest corners. A beautiful spring branch heads near the south town line and running nearly parallel with the Millington, crosses the State road half a mile south of illington village, uniting with the Holmes Creek, near the northeast corner of section 18. Holmes Creek, rising in the southeast corner of Arbela, crosses into Millington on section 31, and sweeping first to the northeast and thence to the north, comes finally to the west and leaves the township about midway of the west line of section 7. These, with their tributary springs, afford abundant water for stock and farm purposes. The timber was of the stateliest character, as might be inferred from the fertility of the soil on which it grew. Beech, maple, basswood and elm were almost everywhere present, while much of the township possessed an inestimable wealth of pine. About on half of the celebrated “Gerritt Smith Tract,” cut by the Otter Lake Lumber Company, was located in the southeast quarter of Millington; while along the east line considerable quantities were taken out by the celebrated firm of Avery & Murphy. Other portions of the township contained less pine, though none were wholly destitute. And here let us pause for a moment’s reflection: Thirty years ago there doubtless stood upon the soil of Millington 00,00,000 feet of choice pine timber. This timber, if today manufactured and poled upon the docks of the Saginaw, would be worth a straight twenty dollars a thousand, or two millions of dollars, a sum sufficient to buy four such townships as Millington, with all of its improvements. Should not this be a lesson against the wasteful destruction of timber that is going on throughout our land?
LAND ENTRIES PRIOR TO 1860
TOWNSHP 10 NORTH, RANGE 8 EAST
Section 1 Charles Seymour, Horace R. Jerome and Francis G. Macy, March 27, 1837.
Section 2 Charles G. Southworth, August 5, 1852.
Isaac N. Blackman, November 28, 1854
Nelson Hewes, December 1, and 11, 1854
Royal C. Remick, September 1, 1855
Section 3 Walter Beebe, January 30, 1854
George W. Estes, November 28, 1854
Austin Blackman, November 28, 1854
Isaac N. Blackman, November 28, 1854
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Section 4 Austin Blackman, November 28, 1854
James H. Hickox, November 28, 1854
Henry Hudson, December 6, 1854
Section 5 Ira Davenport, September 13, 1853
Samuel Howard, November 28, 1854
James H. Hickox, November 28, 1854
Reuben Gustin, Novmeber 28, 1854
Samuel Lapham, December 25, 1854
Section 6 Martha Brainerd, February 16, 1852
Orson Tousley, November 3, 1851
George S. Clough, December 27, 1852
Ira Davenport, September 13, 1853
Section 7 Peter Weed, October 28, 1836
Norman Brainard, April 12, 1851
Abraham Leach, August 3, 1852
Wesley Clough, December 27, 1852
Ira Davenport, September 13, 1853
Andrew D. Hawkins, December 28, 1853
Daniel Stewart, November 28, 1854
Section 8 William Dean, November 10, 1851
Egbert Harvey, January 5, 1853
Egbert Harvey, March 21, 1853
Jacob Mack, April 21, 1853
Ira Davenport, September 18, 1853
Ira Davenport, February 1, 1854
Section 9 Ezra Pease, November 10, 1852
Jacob Hummel, April 21, 1854
Townsend North, April 21, 1854
Samuel Enders, April 24, 1854
Warren A. Gustin, December 9, 1854
Section 10 Ira Davenport, September 13, 1853
Townsend North, April 21, 1854
Samuel H. Hewes, December 11, 1854
Anthony DeWitt, December 18, 1854
Alfred Fox, December 18, 1854
Simon H. Hart, December 23, 1854
Section 11 Royal C. Remick, August 15, 1852
Ira Davenport, February 1, 1854
George Anthony, September 11, 1854
Samuel H. Hewes, December 11, 1854
Amos Hicks, February 21, 1855
Marcus Gibbs, March 1, 1855
Section 12 Royal C. Remick, August 13 and 15, 1852
Section 13 Christoph Howard, July 17, 1851
Royal C. Remick, August 13, 1852
Harry T. Perkins, March 30, 1854
William H. Brooks, April 3, 1855
George Turner, April 13, 1855
Section 14 Royal C. Remick, August 13, 1852
Abraham W. Green, November 10, 1852
Waterman Burlingham, November 10, 1852
Cutler Tyler, March 10, 1853
Milo L. Gates, August 15, 1853
Luke Peaslee, September 2, 1853
Adonis Johnson, January 18, 1855
Section 15 Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852
Anson Read, May 3, 1853
Ira Davenport, February 1, 1854
Edgar Sheldon, February 10, 1854
Macus Tetesworth, December 9, 1854
Samuel Hewes, December 20, 1854
Section 16 James L. Ketchum, July 5, 1853
G. M. Higginson, October 26, 1853
Enos & Reuben Goodrich, March 15, 1854
Enos & Reuben Goodrich, July 15, 1855
Amariah P. Ireland, March 4, 1856
Section 17 Peter Weed, October 28, 1836
Moses Blakeley, September 29, 1852
Edgar Sheldon, October 16, 1852
Egbert Harvey, December 24, 1852
Egbert Harvey, January 5, 1853
Section 18 Peter Weed, October 28, 1836
Thomas J. Price, May 31, 1852
Homer A. Beach, June 24, 1852
Thomas J. Price, July 13, 1852
Bernard Beal, November 29, 1854
Section 19 Homer A. Beach, June 24, 1852
Cutler Tyler, August 16, 1852
James Losee, September 13, 1852
Edgar Sheldon,October 19, 1852
John E. Kink, February 19, 1853
Section 20 Wilber Talman, September 29, 1852
Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852
Anson Read, January 22, 1853
Joshua W. Waterman, July 26, 1853
George Shaw, September 5, 1853
Egbert Harvey, December 20, 1853
Section 21 Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852
Anson Read, March 10, 1853
Joshua W. Waterman, July 26, 1853
Ira Davenport, September 13, 1853
Section 22 Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852
Ira Davenport, May 25, 1854
Samuel Hewes, December 20, 1854
Dudley Glynn, December 25, 1854
Reuben Henry, September 10, 1855
Reuben Johnson, January 17, 1855
George Goodrich, December 28, 1855
Daniel Larrable, March 19, 1859
Ephraim Wyllys, December 30, 1854
Section 23 Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852
Luke Peaslee, September 27, 1853
Ira Davenport, February 1, 1854
Luke Peaslee, March 7, 1854
John G. Smith, November 28, 1854
Jacob H. Hoover, December 11, 1854
Section 24 Benj. F. Partridge, September 30, 1852
Benj. Downing, December 13, 1853
Moses Farnum, November 28, 1854
William P. Bailey, December 7, 1854
Vincent Alexander, December 19, 1854
Section 25 Benj. F. Partridge, October 9, 1852
Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1851
Thomas C. Baker, May 5, 1855
Sylvester Liscomb, October 1, 1855
Section 26 Benj. F. Partridge, September 30, 1852
Benj. F. Partridge, October 9, 1852
Jacob Hummel, April 24, 1854
Enos & Reuben Goodrich, June 10, 1854
John Campbell, December 4, 1854
Archibald Brew, December 9, 1854
Section 27 Benj. F. Partridge, October 9, 1852
Benj. F. Partridge, Sept 30, 1852
Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852.
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Ira Davenport, January 31, 1854
Archibald Brew, December 9, 1854
Section 28 Benj. F. Partridge, December 1, 1852
Joshua W. Waterman, July 14, 1853
Joshua W. Waterman, July 26, 1853
Section 29 Joshua W. Waterman, July 26, 1853
Section 30 Sylvester Butterfield, December 1, 1852
Egbert Harvey, December 4, 1852
Joshua W. Waterman, July 26, 1853
Egbert Harvey, February 14, 1854
Section 31 Egbert Harvey, November 10, 1852
Nathan McComb, July 12, 1853
Joshua W. Waterman, July 25, 1853
John Haley, April 14, 1854
David Graham, November 28,1854
Norridon D. Bennett, November 28, 1854
Jesse Braford, December 27, 1854
Section 32 Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852
Joshua W. Waterman, July 14, 1853
Joshua W. Waterman, July 26, 1853
Ira Patterson, November 4, 1854
Henry Merrow, November 28, 1854
Samuel Bentley, November 28, 1854
Section 33 Benj. F. Partridge, October 9, 1852
Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852
Joshua W. Waterman, July 14, 1853
Ira Davenport, January 31, 1854
George W. Bidwell, December 21, 1854
Martin Barry, December 25, 1854
Martin Barry, January 20, 1855
Section 34 Benj. F. Partridge, September 30, 1852
Benj. F. Partridge, October 9, 1852
Benj. F. Partridge, January 10, 1857
Judson Hart, November 28, 1854
Section 35 Benj. F. Partridge, September 30, 1852
Benj. F. Partridge. October 9, 1852
Section 36 Benj. F. Partridge, September 30, 1852
Frederick W. Backus, March 21, 1853.