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Establishment of a Post-Office

The first postal facilities were obtained for the people of the town in the fall of 1825, through the efforts of Dr. Webb, who was himself appointed postmaster, and the office was kept in his large log house at Quakertown. The service was infrequent, the mail- matter coming up once a week from Detroit, and being delivered by the doctor himself, when it was in any way convenient for him to do so, on his professional tours. Two shillings was the price which the pioneers paid for each letter at that time, and it was from this source that the medical postmaster realized his only compensation, excepting the privilege of franking his own letters. Such a mail service would at the present day be considered as little, if any, better than none, but at that time the people regarded it as a very great favor and accommodation, and were most grateful for its establishment among them.

The First School

The first school in the township was taught by Nathan Power, at Quakertown, in the year 1826. Its sessions were held in a small log building that stood near the bank of the creek, at a point about opposite where is now the house of Deacon Adams. As late as 1830 this was the only school taught in the town; and during the winter of 1828-29 it was still under the charge of its first teacher.

Thaddeus Andrews, now of Farmington Centre, and who was one of Mr. Power's pupils, recollects that one morning "the master" met him with rather a thoughtful and troubled expression of countenance. "Thaddeus," said he, "I lost one of my oxen last night; how does thee suppose I will manage to get another in his place?" But as Thaddeus could not suggest any feasible plan to meet this unexpected necessity, the teacher explained to him that he had decided to catch wolves enough, so that the bounty upon their scalps would supply the necessary means. The State bounty was then eight dollars, and the county offered an additional five dollars; and before the opening of spring the proceeds of the sales of wolves' ears had reached an amount sufficient for the purchase of the ox, and meanwhile the teacher's school duties had not been neglected in any particular. The female teacher who first wielded the rod of command during the summer term was Miss Polly Ann Mead, afterwards Mrs. Ladd. The terms were short, and of course this school, like all others at that time, were supported by subscription; the public school system not going into effect until some years later. The general law ordering the laying off and numbering of school districts in townships was passed in 1833.