HISTORY OF TUSCOLA

Page 131

TOWN OF FAIR GROVE

     Fair Grove is said to embrace one of the best townships of farming land in Tuscola.  The surface of the township is very nearly level with a slight descent toward the northwest.  There are several small creeks which assist in the work of drainage, but before a thorough system of ditching was inaugurated the land was decidedly wet and the mud of Fair Grove had a county reputation.  The soil is alluvial and exceedingly rich.  The timber is beech, maple, elm and basswood, and before the work of clearing was begun, the township was covered with delightful groves, from which fact their town derived its name.  There is no waste land in the the township and scarcely an eight acre tract that is not occupied by the owner.

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     EARLY HISTORY

     The history of progress in Fair Grove dates from June, 1852, and the first settler was Amzy Clay, now a resident of the town of Ellington.  Mr. Clay gives the following account of his family and the pioneer experience:

    "The first family that settled in the present town of Fair Grove was composed of my father, Henry Clay, myself, my sister Elizabeth, and a niece, Martha Ann Schofield.  My father was born in Sussex County, N. J., September 25, 1783, and was consequently in his sixty-ninth year when we first came into the woods to make a home for ourselves.  My sister Elizabeth was born December 4, 1820, and was in her thirty-second year.  I was born October 17, 1828, in the town of Hardyston, Sussex County, N.J. My sister was born in the same county in the town of Sparta.  Martha Ann Schofield was born in the town of Wantage, Sussex County, May 13, 1844.

     "My mother died in 1845 at the age of sixty, leaving a large family of children.  My father died July 6, 1871.

     "On the 4th of May, 1852, we left Port Jervis, N. J., for Michigan, coming by the new York & Erie Railroad to Dunkerk, and thence by steamer to Detroit.  At Pontiac we hired Joshua Terry to take us and our baggage to White Lake, Oakland County.  After a few weeks' visit with relatives there, I started on the 31st of May in search of a home in the wilderness.  After a short and unsatisfactory visit to Shiawassee County, I reached McGlone's in what is now Juniata, and with him as guide went out to seek for a desirable location.  Having selected the southwest quarter of section 15, township 13 north, range 8 east, I returned to Flint, and on the 9th of June entered my land with land warrant.  June 16, my father, sister, niece and myself started for McGlone's.  Leaving my sister and niece at Ira Tappan's in Tuscola, my father and myself started on foot for McGlone's reaching there about noon of the 18th.  The next day we commenced chopping out the road known as the Sebewaing road, which had been laid out a few weeks before I made my entry.  Two and a half miles were to be cut out in what was then the town of Rogers, and three miles in township 13, range 8, now Fair Grove.  It is to be remembered that on the 19th of June, 1852, the first blow was struck for the permanent opening of the old Sebewaing road running from Watrousville in the town of Juniata, to Sebewaing, in Huron County.  We were aided in this work by Jacob Winchell, Erastus A. Marr, David Gorter, a Mr. Blank, Joseph R. McGlone and Patrick McGlone, the latter using his team in logging out.  We succeeded in clearing out about one and a half miles that day, so we had a good wagon track for that distance, stopping that night just to the northeast of the little creek crossing the road in the hollow southwest of the present residence of Simeon F. Wright, in Juniata.  The 19th being Saturday, we stopped over Sunday with Patrick McGlone.  The morning of the 21st we commenced alone to cut out road.  The work being new to us was slow and tedious; and when we got on the low ground, the mosquitoes were very thick, and we had to fight them continuously; every little while placing our hands on the back of our necks we would kill hundreds of them, and our hands would be covered with blood; our faces and hands were bitten until they were sore and bloody, and still we worked on.  Our progress was slow, being little more than half a mile per day; but by perseverance the work was completed Saturday night.  Five o'clock found us twenty rods north of the quarter post between sections 15 and 22, every day having been a repetition of the first.  The logs were cut off, the small timber cut and turned out of the way, and a good wagon track opened for five miles, three miles of which was in what is now Fair Grove.  This was the first road by several months that was cut into that town.  The logs were afterwards hauled out of the road by P. McGlone according to promise.  

     "The next work was to chop and clear a spot to build a house upon, and this we had intended to commence the next week.  Had my arrangements been carried out much time and money would be saved; but we cannot look into the future and see what is in store for us there.  On the 27th I started for Tuscola, having to go there on business, and before leaving requested father not to go down to work until I returned, fearing he might get lost in a country so different from that we had come from, as he was very easily turned around.  There we had ridges, valleys, creeks, mountains, etc. Here we had a level country with no running streams at that time, as they were all dry or nearly so.  He promised me he would not go, but being eager to hasten on the work, which was in fart delayed on account of this act of his, he started out alone on Monday morning, and before ten o'clock was wandering through the woods wild with excitement.  When I returned from Tuscola and learned that he had gone to work I hastened out, but when I arrived upon the ground he, in his efforts to find his way out, was tramping deeper and deeper into the forest.  He had his ax with him, and had he begun chopping as soon as he found he was lost I might, being guided by the sound, have found him without trouble.  As It was he was obliged to spend five days and four nights in the woods suffering from hunger, thirst and fear, and from the immense swarms of mosquitoes that filled the woods day and night.  A good deal of rainy weather also during the week kept his clothes wet about all the time.  When he discovered that he was really lost he attempted to find the road leading form McGlone's to Vassar, but traveled in the wrong direction.  He was in the midst of a wilderness many miles in extent, and became so confused as to lose all idea of the points of compass.  Every day he kept walking and at night rested as best he could.  During all the time he was in the woods he subsisted on berries, roots and bark.  Sometimes after walking for hours he would find himself back a the very point from which he started.  At such times he would feel that further effort was useless and death inevitable, but after resting for a time would start forward.  One night he dug a hole in the trunk of a rotten tree large enough to admit his body and crawled into it, but his clothes being wet he became chilled, and having no matches he chopped all night in order to keep himself warm.

     "During this time search was being made, but without avail.  On the fifth day several men, among whom were Joseph Selden, Charles R. Selden, Ezra and Jonas Belknap, William Jameson, John Morse and a Mr. Freeman, were working on the road near the present line between Juniata and Denmark; while thus engaged then heard sounds issuing from the woods, and knowing that Mr. Clay was lost, John Morse started out to see from whence the sounds came.  A short distance away he saw a man wandering about and soon learned that he was the lost man.  He was taken to the house of Ezra Belknap, where he was given the attention which his critical condition required.  After a few days he returned home, but it was a long time before he recovered form the hardships endured during those five days."

     The foregoing circumstance narrated by Mr. Clay has become one of the traditions of the county, and if space would warrant, the incidents of those five days' wanderings would make up a chapter of thrilling interest.

     The big elm tree in which Mr. Clay dug for himself a couch stood by a small stream in what is now Gilford township, which was afterward named Clay Creek, and is still designated by that name.  

     In September, 1852, Edward Howel came in, but remained only until about the following Christmas, when he returned to his former home in Wayne County.

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     There was no further settlement in the town until about the 5th of October of the same year, when Zephaniah Wilber and family arrived.  The day after came David P. Hinson and family, his brother-in-law, Nelson Vickery and family, and Mrs. Hinson's father.

     In the fall of 1852 Robert McFarland and his son John entered land, and the next spring Mr. McFarland and his son Andrew and step-son Charles E. Fonda came in and commenced improvements.

     The first marriage that was solemnized in the town was that of Miss Elizabeth Clay to John P. Wilber, son of Zephaniah Wilber, at the house of the bride's brother, Amzy Clay, November 2, 1853, the ceremony being performed by Lucius S. Marvin, Esq. 

     In the spring of 1854 Mathias Ringle and his wife settled in section 21, and his brother-in-law, Romanzo E. Goodnough and wife, in section 28.  September 22, 1854, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ringle a son, David, believed to have been the first birth in the township.  The second birth was October 2, 1854, William, son of John P. and Elizabeth Wilber.

    The first death was Mr. Calhoun, living on section 16.

     The first school district organized was No. 5, or Hinson District, which was organized while the township was attached to Rogers.  A school-house was built in this district in the spring of 1856, and the first school was taught in it that summer by Caroline E. Stoddard, of Rogers, and during the next winter school was taught by Amzy Clay, as also during the winter term of 1857-'58.

     In June, 1856, Amzy Clay received his commission as postmaster of Fair Grove.

ENTRIES OF LAND

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

TOWNSHIP 13 NORTH, RANGE 8 EAST

SECTION 1.    Charles Knickerbocker, October 28, 1854
                         Ebenezer Warn, October 28, 1854
                        Mason T. Baqrker, October 28, 1854
                        Nathan Clifford, January 5, 1855
                        Norman Harvey, September 22, 1855
                        Lysander J. Lewis, December 21, 1855

SECTION 2      Charles McDuffee, November 9, 1854
                            George Fairfield, November 25, 1854
                            Joseph Newbold, February 19, 1855
                            Norman Harvey, September 22, 1855
                            Benjamin Billington, October 8, 1855

SECTION 3    Robert McFarland, November 1, 1852
                        John McFarland, November 1, 1852
                        Austin Atchison, February 16, 1853
                       Harriet Ann Fonda, September 9, 1853
                        William Fairfield, Jr. March 30, 1854
                        William Burton, June 8, 1854
                        Charles McDuffee, November 9, 1854
                        Ransford S. Bryant, November 28, 1854
                        Robert Patrick, December 23, 1854
                        Birdsey Perkins, December 25, 1854

SECTION 4    Albert Van Voorhies, September 4, 1854
                        James R. Phillips, October 24, 1854
                        Lyman J. Corbin,November 23, 1854
                        John Francis, December 12, 1854
                        Lyman J. Corbin, February 2, 1855
                        Robert Butler, June 15, 1855

SECTION 5    Chester Baxter, November 29, 1854
                        Thomas McGrady, June 5, 1855
                        Michael Buchanan, June 5, 1855
                        Jesse Stone, August 20, 1855
                        Owen Kunkel, September 6, 1855
                        Norman Cone, September 11, 1855
                        Michael Buchanan, September 9,1855
                        David F. Steele, September 9, 1855

SECTION 6    Webster H. Jones, January 13, 1855
                        Jesse Stone, September 24, 1855
                        John Jacob Richter, October 3, 1855
                        William Gotwalt, October 23, 1855
                        John Simott, December 10, 1855

SECTION 7     Chester Baxter, November 29, 1854
                        Thomas McGrady, June 5, 1855
                        Michael Buchanan June 5, 1855
                        David F. Steele, June 9, 1855
                        Michael Buchanan, June 9, 1855
                        Jesse Stone, August 20, 1855
                        Owen Kunkel, September 6, 1855
                        Norman Cone, September 11, 1855

SECTION 8    Albert Roe, October 25, 1854
                        David F. Steele, June 9, 1855
                        Jesse Stone, August 20, 1855
                        Norman Cone, September 11, 1855
                        Jesse Stone, September 24, 1855
                        John G. Throop, August 27, 1856

SECTION 9    Philander Hazen, May 4, 1855
                        Robert Butler, June 15, 1855
                        Wallace R. Bartlett, July 27, 1855
                        Jesse Stone, September 24, 1855

SECTION 10    Aaron Seaver, July 14, 1852
                           Hermon Camp, November 12, 1852
                            William Atwater, December 1, 1852
                            Charles H. Summers, January 12, 1853
                            Eli A. Eddy, JUne 17, 1854
                            George Bryant, October 28, 1854
                            Alonzo Fairbanks, October 25, 1855

SECTION 11    Henry G. Sherman, March 16, 1855
                          Thomas Graham, September 12, 1855
                          William Fairfield, August 12, 1856
                            George W. Black, September 7, 1858

SECTION 12    David J. Pulsipher, April 11, 1854
                          Edward R. Clifford, November 2, 1854
                          Valentine Coats, January 5, 1855
                          Henry G. Sherman, March 16, 1855
                          William P. Convis, March 16, 1855
                          Henry G. Sherman, July 5, 1855
                          James Van Valkenburgh, July 9, 1855
                         James Van Valkenburgh, September 11, 1855
                         Mason S. Samson, October 9, 1855

SECTION 13    Thomas Graham, October 30, 1854
                         Anthony Harmon, November 6, 1854
                          Morensi M. Sherman, March 16, 1855

SECTION 14    Virgil L. Wilcox, October 17, 1854
                            Thomas Graham, October 30, 1854
                        Richard R. Jackson, April 3, 1855
                        M. W. Sampson, March 19, 1859
                        David Cutler, October 16, 1855

SECTION 15    Elon Virgil, June 9, 1852
                        Amzy Clay, June 9, 1852
                        Henry Clay, Juen 16, 1852
                        Hermon Camp, November 10, 1852
                        Richard Pater, July 6, 1854
                        Romanzo E. Goodnough, November 27, 1854
                           

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                    Virgil S. Wilcox, July 27, 1855
                    James J. Roberts, October 9, 1855
                    John Lee, October 9, 1855

SECTION 16    David Cahoon, May 23, 1855
                        Amos Holmes, March 21, 1856
                        Ann E. Cranston, June 24, 1856
                        George W. Smalling, June 24, 1856
                        Nathan Luce, March 19, 1859
                        Leonard Smith, April 1, 1859
                        David E. Cranston, June 24, 1856

SECTION 17    William Cooper, June 6, 1853
                           Orvil Otis, December 27, 1853
                            Ira Tappan, August 4, 1854
                            Alfred Benton, November 4, 1854
                            Jonas Bellinger, May 22, 1855

SECTION 18    David L. Steele, August 20, 1856
                            Joseph R. McGlone, November 5, 1856
                            Reuben Hitchcock, July 19, 1854
                            James Otis, January 9, 1854
                            Peter Honsinger, September 18, 1851
                            Franklin Fairman, May 28, 1860
                            George Burgess, August 2, 1860

SECTION 19            Aaron Burdick, September 23, 1856
                        Charles Patterson, October 15, 1856
                        Reuben Hitchcock, July 19, 1854
                        William Parks, March 12, 1855
                        James A. Stowell, January 13, 1852
                        Charles C. Mallory, October 16, 1856

SECTION 20            Hugh Campbell, October 13, 1851
                        Lucius Craul, April 28, 1852
                        James A. Tice, May 6, 1853
                        Charles White, June 26, 1854
                        Harmon Streeter, November 8, 1854
                        Benjamin Dennis, December 20, 1854
                        John Dennis, December 20, 1854
                        George Degroff, March 7, 1855

SECTION 21            Hugh Campbell, May 3, 1852
                        David Rengle, August 22, 1853
                        James Wood, November 14, 1853
                        Hermon Camp, March 20, 1854
                        Aaron Watrous, Jr., August 21, 1854
                        Harmon Streeter, November 8, 1854
                        George Degroff, November 7, 1852

SECTION 22            Elon Virgil, June 9, 1852
                        Asa Stoddard, June 7, 1852
                        Benjamin Greene, June 7, 1852
                        Daniel Chapman, June 14, 1852
                        Lysander J. Lewis, November 29, 1853
                        William C. Pratt, September 10, 1854

SECTION 23            Virgil S. Wilcox, October 17, 1854
                        Durfee Chase, July 25, 1855
                        David A. Salisbury, August 31, 1855

SECTION 24            Patrick Sheridan, September 4, 1855
                        Obed Wright, September 4, 1855
                        Alva Spaulding, December 7, 1855
                        William J. Rawson, July 5, 1856

SECTION 25            Daniel R. Sortwell, December 19,k 1853
                        Herman Andrews, October 24, 1854
                        Samuel Moreland, January 18, 1855
                        Herman Andrews, February 6, 1855
                        Ezra Heath, August 20, 1855
                        Elihu Arnet, November 1, 1855

SECTION 26            Carlton Wilber, November 25, 1853
                        Lucius S. Marvin, January 21, 1854
                        Joshua N. Heath, March 15, 1854
                        Simeon Daines, March 24, 1854
                        Ralph Hollingworth, January 26, 1855
                        Carlton Wilber, May 11, 1855
                        Ambrose Mathews, August 27, 1855
                        Oliver A. Dickinson, August 29, 1855
                        Peter Bowen, September 4, 1855

SECTION 27            Leonard Canfield, June 9, 1852
                        William Hanna, October 21, 1854               
                        Bela B. Blakslee, December 5, 1854
                        Watson Luther, December 11, 1854
                         Oliver B. Wilcox, June 29, 1855
                        Oliver A. Dickinson, August 29, 1855
                         Peter Bowen, September 4, 1855

SECTION 28  John P. Maxwell, July 24, 1852
David Ringle, August 22, 1853
John S. G. Bodge, March 24, 1854
Hermon Camp, March 20, 1854
Daniel D. Dewey, May 5, 1854
James H. Streeter, June 21, 1854

SECTION 29  David P. Hinson, May 11, 1853
Marvin Hinson, October 10, 1853
George Whitehouse, February 7, 1854
John Houghtaling, March 8, 1854
William Abell, March 13, 1854
Madison J. Marsh, April 17, 1854
Samuel Hinman, June 17, 1854
Elijah Phillips, June 23, 1854
James H. Streeter, December 12, 1854

SECTION 30  Edward Packer, February 8, 1855
Samuel W. Dexter, March 30, 1854
Edwin Jacobs, October 30, 1851
James M. Edmunds, September 10, 1851

SECTION 31  James Spencer, January 26, 1850
John Atkin, February 16, 1862
James Spencer, May 3, 1853
Albert Haner, October 8, 1853
Samuel M. Booth, July 5, 1854
Patrick Connelly, August 11, 1856

SECTION 32  David P. Hinson, April 28, 1852
Levi Read, August 26, 1853
James Bennett, November 7, 1853
William Burton, June 8, 1854
William Burton, June 26, 1854
Thomas Streeter, November 13, 1854
David P. Hinson, January 13, 1855
Bela B. Blakslee, January 17, 1855

SECTION 33  David P. Hinson, April 28, 1852
Thomas M. Knight, June 13, 1853
James Bennett, November 7, 1853
Hermon Camp, March 20, 1854
Elijah Phillips, June 22, 1854
Charlotte Luther, December 11, 1854
Hermon Camp, December 16, 1854
Squire B. Crawford, January 10, 1855
George Whitehouse, May 18,k 1855
Albert Arnold, July 5, 1855

SECTION 34  Thomas M. Knight, June 11, 1853
Storms S. Arnold, August 24, 1853
James Rideout, September 23, 1853
Albert Luther, December 11, 1854
Henry Winchell, April 17, 1855

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                        Henry Brusie, July 2, 1855
Peremilly Brusie, July 2, 1855

SECTION 35  Carlton Wilber, November 25, 1853
Michael Hiller, December 19, 1853
Aaron Watrous, Jr., December 17, 1853
Daniel Dunn, April 6, 1854
Michael Hiller, February 21, 1855
Carlton Wilber, May 11, 1855
Warner Vandusen, October 23, 1855
Aaron Watrous, August 5, 1858
William King, August 12, 1858

SECTION 36  Daniel Kinyon, July 10, 1852
John R. Root, September 14, 1852
David Dunn, July 16, 1853
George P. Root, August 13, 1853
Daniel Kinyon, December 8, 1853
Lewis R. Vangieson, August 24, 1854
Willard Moreland, November 2, 1854
Samuel Moreland, January 18, 1855

 

CIVIL HISTORY

    At a meeting of the board of supervisors held December 31, 1855, a resolution was adopted to organize township 13 north, of range 8 east, and that it be designated by the name of Fair Grove.

     The application was signed by P. B. Wilber, Thomas Graham, James Moreland, John Kelsey, Willard Moreland, Elihu Arnet, Ezra heath, O. Wright, James H. Streeter, James H. Bennett, James S. Wood, Lyman J. Corbin, Robert McFarland, William Fairfield, Amzy Clay and Henry Clay.

    The application designated the name of Mont-Ville, and in case that should not be deemed admissible, suggested the names of Ladore, Forest Home, New Lebanon, Fair Grove, North Spy, New Durham, New Lisbon, North Farms, Middle Town and New Berlin.

     According to notice given by order of the board of supervisors the citizens of Fair Grove assembled April 7, 1856, at the residence of D. P. Hinson on section 29, township 13 north, of range 8 east, for the purpose of holding the first annual township meeting and perfecting the organization of the town. R. E. Goodnaugh and Robert McFarland having been previously appointed inspectors of election by the board of supervisors and D. P. Hinson having been appointed moderator, they proceeded to business.  W. R. Bartlett was by cica coce vote elected clerk of election; also by the board of election R. E. Goodnough was chosen assistant clerk.  The inspectors and officers of election having been sworn in, it was voted to adjourn to the school-house near by, which was done.  It was voted that a committee be appointed to select candidates, and T. Streeter, L. J. Corbin, J. Moreland, Philip Honsinger, Robert Butler and W. R. Bartlett were appointed.  This committee reported the following list of candidates:  For supervisor, D. P. Hinson; clerk, W. R. Bartlett; treasurer, L. J. Corbin; school inspectors, Charles E. Fonda, Webster H. Jones; directors of the poor, Z. Wilber, N Northrop; commissioners of highways R. Butler, J. Heath, T. Streeter; justices of the peace, R. E. Goodnough, Philip Honsinger, Thomas Graham, Robert McFarland; constables, Jasper Fox, James H. Bennett, Obed Wright.  The meeting then adjourned for one hour, after which the first elected were Thomas Streeter highway overseer in Road District No. 12, and Elihu Arnett overseer in Road District No. 13.  The result of the vote was as follows:  For supervisor, D. P. Hinson was elected by forty-four votes; o opposition.  For town clerk, W. R. Bartlett received forty-four votes and was declared elected.  For treasurer, Lyman J. Corbin received forty-two votes and John Kelsey two, and Lyman J. Corbin was declared elected.  For school inspectors, Charles E. Fonda and Webster H. Jones each received forty-three votes, and were declared elected.  For overseers of the poor, Zephaniah Wilber and Noah Northrop received each forty-four votes, and were declared elected.  For commissioners of highways, Robert Butler received thirty votes, Joshua A. Heath and Thomas Streeter each forty-four, and Amzy Clay thirteen votes; the three first were declared elected.  For justices of the peace, Thomas Graham received forty-one votes, Robert McFarland forty votes, R. E. Goodnough thirty-nine votes, and Thomas Streeter four votes; the first four were declared elected.  For constables, Jesse Fox, James H. Bennett, Obed Wright and George Bryant received each thirty-three votes, and were declared elected; Thomas Graham, Robert McFarland, R. E. Goodnough and Philip Honsinger received each one vote. 

It was voted unanimously to raise the assessment on land for the benefit of highways instead of voting a direct tax for highway purposes.

     It was voted unanimously that the town raise $50 for contingent and incidental fund to put the treasury in a situation to keep town orders par.  This amount to be raised in addition to the demands of the present season.

     It was voted unanimously that the next annual town meeting be held at the school-house near D. P. Hinson's.

     July 7, 1856, the township boards of Rogers, Fair Grove and Akron met in Watrousville for the purpose of effecting a mutual settlement, making a division of moneys, credits, library books and indebtedness.  The rule was adopted that the several townships mentioned should receive of moneys and credits and pay off indebtedness in the following proportion, viz.: Rogers, 50/100, Fair Grove, 275/1000, and Akron, 135/1000, which arrangement appears to have been satisfactorily carried out.

     At a meeting of the town board held October 11, 1856, it was decided that the office of town clerk was vacant on account of the removal of the clerk from the township, and Amzy Clay was appointed.

     At the annual town meeting of 1859 the result of a vote upon the question of town or district libraries was fifty-two to one in favor of township library.

     At the annual meeting in 1861 it was voted that the treasurer make a demand on the town of Juniata for moneys due, and that if refused the proper officers take legal steps to collect.  It was voted to raise one-half of one per cent on the valuation for roads and bridges.

     In February, 1864, at the written request of fifteen electors a special town meeting was called to meet on the 25th for the purpose of raising a township bounty for volunteers, not exceeding $200 per volunteer, in order to fill the quota assigned the township and thus avoid a draft.  At this meeting the town board was instructed to pay all volunteers who have enlisted or may enlist under the call for 300,000 men the sum of $200; and to those who enlist under the last call for 200,000 men $100 each, and that bonds, orders or other evidences of indebtedness bearing 7 per cdent interest be issued as required, and that volunteers under the last call receive $100 more, provided those under the first call receive $100 from the State.  Also that the town board be authorized to enlist volunteers out of the township is necessary.  Similar action was also taken at the annual meeting in 1864.  The town board on the 5th of April, 1864, issued four bods to pay bounties as follows, viz.:  To Mason S. Samson, $200; to L. C. Miller, $200; to George W. Dutcher, $200; and to one not mentioned, $100.

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 At the general election in November, 1874, the vote of Fair Grove upon the question of woman suffrage, then submitted to the people, was sixteen votes in the affirmative and sixty-seven in the negative.

     At the annual town meeting in 1877, 184 votes were cast.  It was decided to purchase a site for a town hall and to raise $400 in yearly installments of $100 each to build a town house.  John Francis, Thomas Graham and John S. Moor were appointed a building committee.  It was voted to raise money to build a bridge across Squaw Creek in section 16.

     About the month of May, 1879, there appears to have raged in the town of Fair Grove a canine epidemic among the sheep, judging from the numerous reports, affidavits and appraisals of values of sheep slain.

     In May, 1879, the board decided to purchase a site for a town hall, as ordered by the annual town meeting in 1878, and appropriated $40 for that purpose.  They further directed S. C. Wilder to get up plans and specifications and to advertise for bids.  The contract was subsequently let to Albert Shellito, and in September, 1879, a very neat and convenient town hall was, after view, accepted as built according to the specifications, and there the next annual town meeting was held.  The number of voters at that meeting was 238.

     The town hall was by subsequent action of the board put in charge of the town clerk, and he was authorized to open it for literary, political and religious meetings free of charge, a charge, however, being made for the use of the building whenever an admittance fee was collected.

TOWN OFFICERS.

YEAR 

SUPERVISOR

CLERK

TREASURER

COMMISSION OF HIGHWAYS

1883

James Kirk  

F. W. Harris

R. C. Burroughs   

William Kirk

1882

James Kirk  

F. W. Harris

H. N. Gotham   

William Kirk

1881

James Kirk  

W. F. Stoddard 

H. N. Gotham   

William Kirk

1880

John Francis   

L. C. Wilber

L.F.Hinson                    

James Kirk  

1879

Edward J. Putnam

L. C. Wilber

 John Francis 

John S. Moor

1878

William B. Waldo

L. C. Wilber

 John Francis 

Watson Luther

1877

William B. Waldo

F. W. Harris

 John Francis 

John S. Moor

1876

William H. Rose

F. W. Harris

 John Francis 

John S. Moor

1875

William H. Rose

F. W. Harris

 John Francis 

John Francis

1874

William H. Rose

F. W. Harris

 John Francis 

Moses Mitchell

1873

I. N. Loomis

D. E. Cranston

 John Francis 

Phillip Honsinger

1872

I. N. Loomis

D. E. Cranston

 John Francis 

William P. Convis

1871

I. N. Loomis

N. L. Parmater

 John Francis 

John Francis
Alonzo Cooper

1870

C.C. Stoddard

H. N. Gotham

John Francis

Philip Honsinger

1869

C.C. Stoddard

H. N. Gotham

John Francis

J. B. Graham

1868

D. P. Hinson

D. E. Cranston

John Francis

John Francis

1867

John Francis

L. C. Wilber

Watson Luther

Orvil Otis

1866

D. P. Hinson

L. C. Wilber

L. F. Hinson

George W. Black

1865

D. P. Hinson

L. C. Wilber

L. F. Hinson

Storms Arnold
J. M. Petershaus
E.R. Clifford

1864

Watson Luther 

Amzy Clay

L. F. Hinson

W. P. Convis
Orvil Otis

1863

C. C. Stoddard

C.E. Fonda

Watson Luther

George Smalling

1862

C. C. Stoddard

C. E. Fonda

Watson Luther

Ezra Heath

1861

Amzy Clay

C. E. Fonda

J. A. Heath

Orvil Otis

1860

Thomas Graham

C. C. Stoddard

John Francis

John McFarland
S. Fairbanks

1859

D. P. Hinson

C. C. Stoddard

J. A. Heath

Jerome B. Wilber

1858

D. P. Hinson

G. Smalling

L. J. Corbin

C. Knickerbocker
R. Butler

1857

D. P. Hinson

Amzy Clay

L. J. Corbin

R. E. Goodnough
C. Knickerbocker

1856

D. P. Hinson

W. R. Bartlett

Lyman J. Corbin

Robert Butler
Joshua A. Hearth
Thomas Streeter


                                                                                                                                          
STATISTICAL

     Census of 1860: Population, 367; families, 91; dwellings, 91; number of occupied farms, 87; number of acres improved, 1,398; number of horses, 15; number of cows, 114; bushels of wheat raised, 1,396; bushels of rye raised, 48; bushels of corn raised, 1,363; bushels of oats raised, 1,082; bushels of potatoes raised, 1,325; pounds of butter made, 5,940.

     Census of 1870: Population, 928; number of farms, 128; voters, 185; pounds of wool sheared, 3,345; pounds of butter made, 43,790; bushels of wheat raised, 6,677; bushels of potatoes raised, 8,489; tons of hay cut, 1,233 bushels of corn raised, 4,726 bushels of oats raised, 7,175.

     Census of 1874:  Population, 1,056; bushels of wheat raised, 5,900; bushels of corn raised, 17,747; bushels of potatoes, 10,774 tons of hay cut, 1,580.

     Population in 1880, 1,609.  In 1882 the number of acres assessed was 22,706; totoal equalized valuation of real and personal property was $476,815; number of farms in 1881, 242 acres of improved land, 8,222; bushels of wheat in 1880, 39,582; of corn, 67,643; tons of hay, 1,204.

SCHOOL MATTERS.

     From the annual school report of the town of Fair Grove for the year ending September 4, 1882, the following facts are obtained:  Directors for the ensuing year, John M. Petershaus, George Inglis, Bert Shellito, F. W. Harris, James Kirk, Philip Honsinger, J. S. Vandemark and John P. Reed.  Number of school districts, eight, of which seven are whole and one fractional.  Number of school houses, eight, seven of them frame and one log.  The number of children of school age is 596, of whom 476 attended school during the year.

FAIR GROVE VILLAGE.