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

 

Page 123

 

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.

 

Page 124

 

                        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.