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