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Some of the Settlers of 1825

The number of settlers was very largely increased during the year 1825. Among those who arrived that season were Howland Mason, a Quaker, who settled opposite to Solomon Walker, on the southeast corner of section 19; Solomon Woodford and his wife, who for a time took charge of the household affairs of Arthur Power; George Thayer and Rufus Thayer, Jr., brothers who settled on the northeast quarter of section 31; George Brownell, who came early in the year and built his cabin just west of Buckhorn Corners; Timothy Tolman, a carpenter, also at the corners, on the farm now owned by J. M. Tolman; Nathaniel Tolman, Timothy's cousin, who, in the next year (1826), was married to Mary Lewis. (This wedding was the first which took place in Farmington. It was solemnized before 'Squire Amos Mead, at the place where Charles Parkerson now lives; and the couple commenced their married life in a house in the northeast corner of section 24, where John Boyle's house now stands.) Warren Lee, a son-in-law of Solomon Walker, settled on the northwest quarter of section 28, now the premises of Mrs. Mason; Ephraim Hildreth Utley (not a relative of the Utleys at Buckhorn Corners), Timothy Allen, Calvin Ray, and ___ Drown, coopers, who came in with Deacon Erastus Ingersoll, of Novi; Amos Mead, southwest quarter of section 21, where R. H. Hatten's place now is; Horace Hopkins, Samuel Mead, who settled on southwest quarter of section 20, and brought, in his employ, a young man named Myra Gage, from Seneca county, New York; Luther Green and Leland Green, on sections 29 and 32; William B. Cogsdill, Abraham Aldrich, and his sons Royal and Jesse; Hezekiah B. Smith, who settled a mile north of the base- line; Charles Grant and David Grant, brothers of Mrs. George Brownell, near Buckhorn Corners, and Philip Marlatt, a mile and half west of the point; Seymour Newton, on the northwest corner of section 33; David Maden and Wilard Wadsworth, both bachelors, the former of whom established his hall on the east side of the town, one mile north of the base-line, and the latter in the south part of section 20, on land now owned by Deacon J. M. Adams.

Seth A. L. Warner came in that year, and settled in the northwest quarter of section 15; John Crawford on section 6; Esek Brown, a blacksmith, settled a mile south of Farmington Centre. Orange Culver came in from Wayne county, New York, and arrived in the township on the 8th of May, 1825, and, with his wife, occupied a part of the log house of Benjamin P. Wixom until a cabin could be make ready upon his own land. Into this cabin they moved before a floor had been laid or the gables closed, and in this condition they occupied it for many months, and in that house he says they received many a visit from Indians, whom he always found friendly and well-behaved. In company with him came his brother George, who, in the previous year, had entered the southwest quarter of section 10, and it was upon that quarter that the brothers made their settlement. Mr. Culver afterwards removed to other lands which he purchased on the northwest quarter of section 3, North Farmington. George now lives near Bath, Clinton county, Michigan. The Rev. Eri Prince and Edward Steel came in 1825, as also Constantine Wood, who arrived in the month of November, from Perrinton, Monroe county, New York. He died in less than a year after his arrival in Michigan.

David Smith, who, with John Power, had felled the first tree in the township, having now completed his year's service with Mr. Power, - for which he received one hundred and thirty-six dollars, - purchased and settled upon the east half of the northeast quarter of section 23, being enabled to do so by pecuniary assistance generously afforded him by his former employer. Daniel Rush, the other man whom Mr. Power employed in New York to come with him to Michigan, had been seized with violent homesickness immediately on his arrival, and, after enduring the pangs of the terrible malady for nearly three weeks, and seeing no prospect of alleviation, had started on foot for Detroit, intending to return thence to his eastern home, which probably he reached in safety.