HISTORY OF TUSCOLA COUNTY

 

 

 

 

THE TOWN OF ARBELA

 

     In the southwest corner of the county, with the county lines as its western and southern boundaries, with Millington on the east and Tuscola on the north, lies the town of Arbela.  It has a generally level surface, originally well wooded with maple, elm, beech, basswood, with bodies of pine of excellent quality.  The largest body of pine was in the southwestern part of the town.  The soil is generally a sandy loam, with clay loam in portions of the town.

     The actual and active settlement of the town dates in 1850, though Milton Whitney had at that time been several years a resident, his entry of land in section five, dating December 10, 1845.  In November, 1849, Simeon Newton and William Allen came from Livingston County, on foot, to explore the northern wilds in search of a location.  Having made a selection they returned here again the following January, Mr. Allen making an entry on the way, of northeast quarter of northeast quarter of section 17.  On this tract they worked for two seasons, making shingles.  These were sent out by the team which brought them in supplies, and by teams passing in and out.  In this enterprise their success was indifferent, the end of the first year finding them nine dollars in debt, to say nothing of the next to starvation they had endured, and the second, but forty dollars ahead; upon which they gave it up and turned their attention to farming.  Mr. Newton, in March, 1850, built a loghouse in section 16, on the site opposite where he now resides.  To this he brought his family, consisting of his wife, two boys and a girl, during the same month.  They began keeping a hotel, and the rapidly increasing travel, both of lumbermen and settlers, gave them frequently an over full house.  They brought in, with three cows, several head of young cattle, one and a half bushels of ears of corn, a barrel of buckwheat flour, and fifty cents, with which to run a shingle camp, farm, and hotel.  Mr. Newton says the hotel could not but pay, as by the time a traveler reached it he was so exhausted, by reason of the length and character of the road, that he could get no farther.  He must have viewed the promised land of rest long before he reached it, for with two miles there were twenty-seven bends in the road, which wound hither and thither to escape the low places.  And at the best the State road, which was cut through in 1849, was but a place for a road.  Mr. Newton being well acquainted with the county, and informed as to what desirable lands were subject to entry, was frequently called on to guide new comers to suitable locations, and as he did not fail to point out the desirableness of his own neighborhood, he undoubtedly aided largely in forwarding the settlement of the town.  He also brought in flour and other groceries to supply the neighboring country.

     Shortly after Newton and Allen, came Alauson Calkins, James Brophy, and others.  Indeed, after the first settlers others came in rapidly.

     For several years the mail was obtained from Tuscola; but in 1858 or 1859 a mail route was opened and a postoffice established in the southwest part of the town.

     The first schoolhouse was built by Mr. Newton in 1858 or 1854, in section 9, and the first school was taught in it by Mr. Hodges, who boarded at Newton's.            

     Among the first buildings in the town was a rod shanty, belonging to Mr. Wilson, who had the contract of cutting out the State road, and which was occupied at first by Allen and Newton before their own shanty was ready for occupancy.

     Religion, with rites and services, is ever the attendant of advancing civilization, and in Arbela, as early as 1855, preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church found their way here, Elders Klump and Andrews being among the pioneers, preaching in schoolhouses and in the narrow cabins of the settlers.

     In 1851 a saw-mill was built by Hinckley & McLean, on section 32. Another mill followed, and in a short time the present village of Pine Grove grew to considerable prominence.  A large amount of trade was done, hotel business was lively, and the roads were lined with teams, hauling business was lively, and the roads were lined with teams, hauling the product of the mills to Saginaw and elsewhere.  On the opening of the mail route a postoffice was established, and Samuel Evans appointed postmaster, who, however did not serve.  Nathan Hinckley, of Pine Run, being appointed, put a deputy, Truman Curtis, in charge.  The next postmaster was Roger R. Rathburn, who was succeeded by Clark Powell, and he by John Jacobs, the present incumbent.

     About 1872 a postoffice was established nearer the center of the town, with H. H. Crosby as postmaster.  He was succeeded by R. L. Merrick, and he by William Allen.  The present postmaster is James Spears.  The office is called Elva.

 

ENTRIES OF LAND

 

     The following is a list of entries of land made prior to the year 1860:

 

TOWNSHIP 10 NORTH, RANGE 7 EAST

 

SECTION 1                Richard Hooper, June 2, 1851

                                    Jay Rice, December 1, 1852

                                    Daniel Stewart, June 21, 1854

                                    Henry I. Stewart, November 4, 1854

                                    George M. Dewey, November 29, 1849

                                    Horton Wilcox, November 28, 1853

                                    George Rockfellow, October 4, 1850

                                    Ebenezer W. Perry, February 18, 1850

 

SECTION 2                Samuel W. Chapin, October 28, 1836

                                    Samuel W. Chapin, February 10, 1837

                                    Henry J. Stewart, November 24, 1849

                                    Ebenezer W. Perry, February 18, 1850

 

SECTION 3                Gardner D. Williams and Benjamin Clapp, November 20, 1835

                                    Simeon Scott, Jr., October 11, 1836

                                    Luther Dickinson, October 19, 1836

                                    Samuel W. Chapin, October 28, 1836

                                    John Q. A. Hossler, December 1, 1852

                                    Daniel Hossler, January 1, 1853

 

SECTION 4                Thomas L. L. Brent, March 30, 1836

                                    Samuel Vance, October 11, 1836

                                    Ebenezer D. Barker, October 17, 1836

                                    Caleb W. Dickson, June 21, 1852

                                    Caleb W. Dickson, November 19, 1852

                                    Daniel D. Dewey, December 25, 1852

                                    Lorenzo D. Hains, July 6, 1875

 

SECTION 5                Ebenezer D. Barker, October 17, 1836

                                    Milton Whitney, December 10, 1845

                                    George Raymond, February 4, 1852

                                    Jesse Hopkins, May 20, 1852

                                    William H. Harrison, January 10, 1853

                                    Daniel Leland, November 14, 1853

                                   

SECTION 6                Theodore F. Smith, December 5, 1851

                                    David G. Slafter, March 3, 1852

                                    William R. Randall, March 17, 1853

                                    William H. Davis, August 7, 1852

                                    Nathaniel D. Lewis, August 7, 1852

                                    William R. Randall, June 9, 1853

                                    Leonard Dean, November 28, 1854

 

SECTION 7                Enos Clark, November 4, 1851

                                    Isaac Miller, March 22, 1853

                                    Josiah Bail, October 10, 1851

                                    Daniel Leland, November 14, 1853

                                    Robert Shoemaker, January 30, 1854

                                    A. P. Cook, January 29, 1858

 

SECTION 8                Ebenezer D. Barker, October 17, 1836

                                    Ezra S. Holden, October 17, 1836

                                    Kneeland Townsend, March 10, 1837

                                    John H. Richardson, December 16, 1850

                                    Volney Chapin, November 3, 1851

                                    James Carol, November 1, 1852

                                    Daniel Hopkins, March 9, 1859

                                    Oliver H. P. Green, August 25, 1852

                                   

SECTION 9                Ebenezer D. Barker, October 17, 1836

                                    Ezra S. Holden, October 17, 1836

                                    Lucian B. Tousley, December 17, 1850

                                    Lyman Goff, November 6, 1851

                                    Thomas M. Knight, June 14, 1852

                                    Benjamin Ways, June 14, 1852

                                    David G. Slafter, February 7, 1853

                                    Mark Wilcox, November 28, 1854

                                    Ebenezer W. Perry, April 1, 1852

                                    Ebenezer W. Perry, January 6, 1851

                                    John Hays, March 25, 1851

 

SECTION 10              Andrew Ferguson, December 1, 1852

                                    Andrew Ferguson, August 9, 1853

                                    John Q. A. Hossler, April 23, 1855

                                    Oliver H.P. Green, August 25, 1851

                                    James Brophy, January 24, 1850

                                    Chancy L. Crouse, November 24, 1849

                                    George W. and Frederick J. Lee, April 4, 1851

                                    Warner J. Lobdell, June 13, 1851

                                   

SECTION 11              Samuel W. Chapin, February 10, 1837

                                    George B. Stimson, March 20, 1854

                                    Calvin Wilcox, November 28, 1854

                                    Ruel L. Blake, May 29, 1852

 

SECTION 12              Samuel W. Chapin, February 10, 1837

                                    Amos N. Buell, May 31, 1837

                                    Ellsworth Walkley, May 31, 1837

                                    Isaac Miller, August 26, 1853

                                    Dan Lee, February 6, 1854

                                    Richard R. Atwood, November 4, 1854

                                    Townsend North, July 14, 1847

                                    James Grant, June 7, 1856

                                    Ruel L. Blake, Kmay 29, 1852

                                   

SECTION 13              Cutler Tyler, June 22, 1852

                                    Cutler Tyler July 13, 1852

                                    Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852

                                    Edgar Sheldon, February 10, 1854

                                    George A. Baker, April 8, 1854

                                    George Colbath, November 28, 1854

                                    Milton Whitney, November 28, 1854

                                    Elisha Allen, November 38, 1854

                                    Bernard Beal, November 29, 1854

 

SECTION 14              Ruel S. Blake, May 29, 1852

                                    Ambrose S. Berry, June 22, 1850

                                    Albert Backus, June 22, 1850

                                    Warner Lobdell, May 30, 1850

 

SECTION 15              Horton Wilcox, October 19, 1853

                                    C. D. W. C. Gibson, September 8, 1852

                                    James Brophy, January 24, 1850

                                    Henry J. Stewart, November 24, 1849

                                    Albert Backus, June 22, 1850

 

SECTION 16              Isabella B. Newton, June 17, 1852

                                    D. H. Haines, June 17, 1852

                                    Alanson Calkins, October 11, 1852

                                    S. C. Newton, March 31, 1853

                                    D. H. Haines, April 9, 1853

                                    D. H. Haines, May 24, 1853

Alanson Calkins, July 6, 1853

Daniel Leland, November 28, 1853

Robert Allen, August 30, 1854

C. W. Wright, September 20, 1854

Samuel C. Newton, December 27, 1854

Solomon L. Leach, August 11, 1856

Ambrose Haines, August 19, 1856

Solomon L. Leach, December 15, 1856

Solomon L. Leach, September 7, 1857

 

                       

SECTION 17              William Allen, January 1, 1850

                                    Simeon Newton, March 11, 1851

                                    William Allen, March 11, 1851

                                    Silas Spencer, June 19, 1851

                                    Lorrel Nichols, June 25, 1851

                                    Volney Chapin, December 10, 1851

                                    David Cass, June 11, 1852

                                    Martin Wright, June 14, 1852

                                    Alvio Gurney, August 16, 1852

                                    William Allen, September 30, 1852

 

SECTION 18              James E. Bettner, June 24, 1836

                                    Volney Chapin, December 10, 1851

                                    Oliver Steward, Octoeber 9, 1852

 

SECTION 19              James E. Bettner, June 23, 1836

 

SECTION 20              C. H. & William T. Carroll, June 27, 1836

                                    Patrick McDAvitt, February 4, 1850

                                    Alexander Heath, September 10, 1850

                                    Nathaniel Mains, April 2, 1851

                                    Angus Fletcher, November 5, 1851

                                    Volney Chapin, December 10, 1851

                                    Angus Fletcher, April 29, 1852

                                    Harvey Stewart, February 18, 1853

                                    Benjamin Brunt, January 5, 1853

                                    Adam Reddin, December 20, 1853

                                    Adam Reddin, April 4, 1854

 

SECTION 21              C. H. & William T. Carroll, June 27, 1836

                                    Chauncey Wright, October 4, 1852

                                    Nathaniel H. Franklin, November 1, 1852

                                    Amplias Green June 222, 1853

                                    Cutler Tyler, September 12, 1853

                                    David Wright, November 14, 1853

                                    David P. Willett, October 7, 1854

                                    Eliphalet H. Emery, September, 14, 1855

 

SECTION 22              James Grant, June 7, 1856

                                    James Grant, June 27, 1856

                                    Isaac W. Fassett, July 7, 1851

                                    William P. Bailey, July 7, 1851

                                    William P. Bailey, August, 11, 1851

                                    Isaac W. Fassett, August 21, 1851

                                    Ruel L. Blake, May 29, 1852

 

SECTION 23              Roger W. Antisdale, November 13, 1851

                                    William Vansteenberg, November 1, 1852

                                    Philo Phelps, August 25, 1853

                                    Edgar Sheldon, February 10, 1854

                                    Philo Phelps, August 1, 1854

                                    Isaac W. Fassett, June 25, 1851

                                    Darwin A. Pettibone, February 10, 1857

                                    Enoch J. White, October 27, 1851

                                    Arthur B. Bennett, September 2, 1852

                                    A. P. Cook, January 29, 1858

 

SECTION 24              Cutler Tyler, June 22, 1852

                                    Edgar Sheldon, October 20, 1852

                                    John Manchester, November 13, 1851

 

SECTION 25              Anson Read, January 28, 1855

                                    Edgar Seldon, October 19, 1852

                                    Anson Read, January 27, 1853

                                    Edward Gunnel, August 22, 1854

                                    William Gunnel, November 28, 1854

 

SECTION 26              Elijah Canfield, November 13, 1851

                                    Seth W. Chandeler, June 14, 1852

                                    Stephen Rumsey, June 14, 1852

                                    Isaac Roe, June 17, 1852

                                    Edgar Sheldon, October 19, 1852

                                    Anson Read, February 24, 1853

                                    Edward Gunnel, September, 3, 1853

                                    Cutler Tyler, September 7, 1853

 

SECTION 27              John Gardner, May 21, 1851

                                    S. Hinckley and S. McLean, August, 16, 1851

                                    I. M. Nicholson and Thomas M. McKnight, June 14, 1852

                                    Sarah Deming, June 14, 1852

                                    Angus N. Fletcher, December 9, 1854

 

SECTION 28              C. H. & William T. Carroll, June 27, 1836

                                    C. H. & William T. Carroll, June 27, 1836

                                    H. Hinckley and S. McLean, August 16, 1851

                                    Darius Lewis, September 18, 1851

 

SECTION 29              Zenas D. Bassett, and Matthew Cobb, June 24, 1836

                                    C. H. & William T. Carroll, June 27, 1836

 

SECTION 30              Zenas D. Bassett and Matthew Cob, June 24, 1836

 

SECTION 31              John W. Strong, June 18, 1836

                                    Theodore Romeyn, June 25, 1836

                                    C. S. Russell and S. McLean, May 26, 1851

                                    Henry Rathbun, September 16, 1851

                                    Daniel Tobias, October 1, 1851

                                    Stephen E. Lacy, December 10, 1852

 

SECTION 32              John W. Strong, June 18, 1836

                                    Theodore Romeyn, June 26, 1836

                                    C. H. & William T. Carroll, June 29, 1836

 

SECTION 33              C. H. & William T. Carroll, June 29, 1836

                                    H. Hinckley and S. McLean, August 16, 1851

                                    Henry Lee, September 28, 1851

                                    Michael Reardon, March 10, 1854

 

SECTION 34              C. H. and William T. Carroll, June 29, 1836

                                    Phlegman Phelps, February 13, 1852

                                    N. J. Pinkham, March 19, 1859

                                    Alanson Currier, December 8, 1858

                                    H. Vanchest, March 11, 1859

                                    Henry G. Hinckley, April 5, 1867

 

SECTION 35              William J. Bailey, November 28, 1854

                                    S. E. Andrew, November 18, 1858

                                    Caleb Embury, November 13, 1858

                                    James Buel, April 5, 1859

                                    Thomas Ayliff, October 1, 1874

                                    George Williams, November 16, 1868

                                    Joseph Carter, August 27, 1864

                                    Willis Daniels, September 1, 1864

                                    J. E. Cook, December 6, 1864

                                    Carl Niller, March 2, 1865

                                    S. Stewart, June 21, 1865

                                    S. A. Jarrius, August 31, 1865

                                    William Ayliff, August 16, 1864

 

SECTION 36              Edgar Sheldon, October 19, 1853

                                    William J. Bailey, November 28, 1854

                                    Julian Bishop, November 28, 1854

                                    Morriddon D. Bennett, December 1, 1854

                                    Oliver Herrington, December 5, 1854