CHAPTER XXXVII. STERLING TOWNSHIP. This division of the county is similar in many respects to the township of Shelby and Clinton. The Clinton River enters the town at the head-waters of the hydraulic canal in the village of Utica, flows through a tortuous channel southeast and leaves the This creek forms township in Section 24. Plum Brook flows parallel with the Clinton. a confluence with Red Run Creek, at the northeast corner of Section 25, and the united streams enter the Clinton just east of the town line. Beaver Creek waters the south western sections and flows southeast to the waters of Red Run. The soil is very productive, generally level and carefully cultivated. THE FIRST SETTLERS. The first settlers include the names of Henry R. Schetterly, Chauncey G. Cady, Eleazer Scott, Peter Moe, Asa Huntley, John B. St. John, Jesse Soper, John Gibson, Oliver Crocker, Henry J. Stead, David Stickney, Washington Adams, Charles Hutchins, Richard Hotham, John B. Chapman, the Skinner family, John Wright and others referred to in the biographical history. Sterling has always been up to the average standard as a productive and fertile township. The amounts of agricultural products, as given in the respective statistical reports of 1850 and 1873, are as follows: In 1850-wheat, 4,416 bushels; corn, 12,695 bushels; all other kinds of grain, including, principally, oats, barley, rye, etc., 14,076 bushels; potatoes, 3,679 bushels; wool, 4,582 pounds. Dairy produce-butter, 17,885 pounds; cheese, 1,450 pounds. Value of orchard produce, $319. Live stock-horses, 108; milch cows, 289; sheep, 1,521; swine, 370; other neat cattle, 280; working oxen, 70. Number of acres of improved occupied farms, 4,314. In 1873-wheat, 9,241 bushels; corn, 18,315 bushels; all other kinds of grain, 39,645 bushels; potatoes, 12, 165; wool, 9,269 pounds. Dairy produce-butter, 23,745 pounds; cheese, 4,020 pounds. Value of orchard produce, $2,205. Live stock-horses, 553; milch cows, 733; other neat cattle (other than oxen and cows), 407; sheep, 2,228; swine, 564; working oxen, 18. Number of acres of improved land in occupied farms, 9,500; whole amount of taxable land, 22,763 acres. During the year 1881, the severe droughts caused very serious damage to crops of all descriptions. It was the first time in the history of the township that such an unfortunate event could be recorded. ORGANIZATION. Jefferson Township was organized under authority of an act approved March 17, 1835, and the first town meeting ordered to be held at the house of Jonathan T. Allen. The district known in the United States survey as Township 2 north, Range 12 east, formed the new division of the county. Under the act approved March 6, 1838, the name of the township of Jefferson was changed to that of Sterling. THE FIRST ELECTION. The officers elected April 6, 1835, were: William A. Davis, Supervisor; John M. Chipman, Clerk; John St. John, Elias Scott, Orton Gibbs, Assessors; Abraham Freeland, Col lector; John T. Allen and Russell Andrus, Directors of the Poor; Samuel Merrill, Lewis are named in the following lists: ROSTER OF OFFICERS. Supervisors-William A. Davis, 1835-36; Hilan Ober, 1836-38; County Commissioners, 1838-43; William A. Davis, 1843-44; John B. St. John, 1844-49; Hilan Ober, 1849-51; Eli S. Scott, 1851-52; John B. St. John, 1852-56; Leonard M. Caster, 185657; John B. St. John, 1857-60: Benjamin C. Gunn, 1860–61; A. W. Aldrich, 1861-62; John B. St. John, 1862-70; Samuel H. St. John, 1870-71; Seymour Brownell, 1871-73; Humphrey Murphy, 1873-82. Clerks-James Wallace, 1836-37; Lyman T. Jenny, 1838-39; C. B. H. Fessenden, 1840; Chester W. Phelps, 1841-46; Julius A. Smith, 1847; William Cowie, 1848; George E. Adair, 1849; Elias Scott, 1850; James Abernethy, 1851-53; L. L. Bailey, 1854; Seth K. Shetterly, 1855; George Brownell, 1862; Elam Moe, 1869; George Brownell, 1870-71; George W. Abernethy, 1872; George Brownell, 1873-76; George W. Abernethy, 1877; George Brownell, 1878; Seth K. Shetterly, 1879-80; Erastus W. Lawrence, 1881-82. Treasurers-Abram Freeland, 1836-37; Eleazer Edgerton, 1838; James A. Hicks, 1839; C. McKisson, 1840; Elias Scott, 1841; Amos B. Cooley, 1842; Ralph Wright, 1843; Walter Porter, 1844; Hilan Ober, 1845-46; George E. Adair, 1847; Hilan Ober, 1848; John B. St. John, 1849; Cranson Belden, 1850; C. L. Rice, 1851; A. H. Welden, 1852; Elias Scott, 1853; George M. Davis, 1854; W. H. Lester, 1855; Eleazer Edgerton, 1856; Gilbert Rice, 1857; Phineas Andrus, 1858-59; John B. Wright, 1860; Charles S. Hutchins, 1861; Aug H. Morrison, 1862-63; Francis Wright, 1864-65; William N. Soper, 186669; George M. Davis, 1870-72; George Upton, 1873-74; Louis Burr, 1875-77; Henry P. Mitchell, 1878-79; David V. Robinson, 1880-82. Justices of the Peace-Benjamin L. Watkins, Eleazer Edgerton, Ralph Runyan, Jonathan T. Allen, Chester Naramour, Joseph Northrup, 1836; Lyman T. Jenny, 1837; John A. Wood, 1838; Peter S. Palmer, Eleazer Edgerton, 1839; Peter S. Palmer, John B. St. John, 1840; James B. Carlter, Abraham Freeland, Orson Sheldon, 1841; William Wright, 1842: Eliakim Ober, John B. St. John, 1843; A. W. Aldrich, 1844; Hiram Skinner, 1845; John B. St. John, James Abernethy, 1846; Eliakim Ober, 1847; Robert D. Smith, 1848; John B. St. John, 1849; A. W. Aldrich, 1850; Hiram Ober, 1851; Alex Marvin, 1853; Eleazer Edgerton, 1853; Seth K. Schetterly, Jedediah Millard, 1854; Calvin Moore, 1855; Eleazer Edgerton, Chauncey G. Cady, 1856; John B. St. John, 1857; Sylvester Hovey, Seth K. Schetterly, 1858; Eleazer Edgerton, A. H. Morrison, 1859; Hilan Ober, 1860; Charles S. Hutchins, P. W. Sumner, 1861; Seth K. Schetterly, 1862; George Brownell, 1863; Eleazer Edgerton, 1864; Joseph Jennings, 1865; S. K. Shetterly, 1866; G. Brownell, J. Jennings, 1867; E. Edgerton, B. C. Back, 1868; Louis Burr, 1869; Emanuel Case, John B. St. John, 1870; S. K. Schetterly, G. Brownell, 1871; Franklin P. Montfort, 1872: Seth K. Schetterly, 1873; Charles Gust, 1874, George Brownell, 1875; John C. Priehs, 1876; Seth K. Schetterly, 1877: John B. St. John, 1878; George Brownell, 1879; John C. Priehs, Emanuel Woodie, 1880; Seth K. Schetterly, 1881. In 1882, this township was Democratic as usual, although the Republicans elected a Treasurer: Supervisor, H. Murphy, Democrat, 177; Edward Hacker, Republican, 113; Democatic majority, 64. Clerk, E. W. Lawrence, Democrat, 171; M. Abernethy, Republican, 110; Democratic majority, 61. Treasurer, M. Finan, Republican, 148; G. Miller, Democrat, 135; Republican majority, 13. a SCHOOLS. The The schools of Sterling are six in number. Charles S. Hutchins presides over District No. 1, as Director. The number of children belonging is seventy-five, of which number fiftyone attended school during the year ending September, 1881. The expenses incurred were $397. District No. 2 claims 117 pupils, of whom forty-one attended school. expenditures were $321. This district is under the direction of C. C. Dubois. Winfield S. Drake, Director of School No. 3, reported ninety-six children belonging, of which number thirty-six attended school during the year 1881. The expenditures amounted to $353. George P. Berz, of Warren, Director of No. 4, reported 136 children belonging, of whom eighty-three attended school. The expenditures were $484. Lewis T. Cady, Director of School No. 8 (fractional), reported 165 pupils belonging, of whom thirtynine attended school during the year 1881. The total expenditures for school purposes was $689.46. No. 9, fractional, with Gurdon Hoard, Director, claimed sixty-seven children enrolled, of whom forty-four attended during the year. The expenditures were $601. The school buildings comprise one brick and five frame houses. Schoolhouse No. 8 is valued at $1,500, and No. 1, a brick structure, at $1,000. The total value of school property in the township is $3,900. The schools of Sterling are not graded. BIOGRAPHICAL. The personal sketches of old settlers and other citizens form an essential part of the history of this district. They contain the minutio of its history; therefore to these sketches the attention of the reader is directed. W. J. ADAMS. CHARLES ACKLEY, P. O. Utica, was born May 2, 1829, in Yorkshire, England; in 1834, he came to Wayne County, Mich., with his parents, William and Martha (Preston) Ackley, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Ackley was married, July 10, 1864, to Amelia Watson, whose parents were natives of England, and came to Detroit in 1857. In 1876, Mr. Ackley came to Sterling, Macomb County, where he owns thirty-nine acres of land; he also owns eighty acres in Hamtramck, Wayne Co., Mich. Mr. and Mrs. Ackley have had eight children; all but the two youngest were born in Hamtramck; their record is as follows: Martha E., born March 18, 1856, died October 18, 1856; Laura A., December 31, 1867; Cordelia, March 17, 1868; infant, June 20, 1870, died same year; Ark A., June 9, 1872; Adelbert P., September 2, 1875; Ethel M., March 12, 1879; Bessie L., June 27, 1880. Mr. Ackley is a Republican. C. G. CADY. JOHN CLARK, P. O. Utica, son of Thomas and Matilda Clark, was born September 16, 1848, in Lincolnshire, England; removed with his parents, when eighteen months old to America, settling in Rochester, N. Y.; in the fall of 1852, came with his parents to Detroit, Mich.; removed from Detriot in the spring of 1862, with his parents, to Sterling Township, Macomb Co., Mich, where he has lived until the present date--February 20, 1882; was educated in the common schools, and has always followed the occupation of a farmer. LEWIS DRAKE, P. O. Utica, was born January 13, 1801, in Seneca County, N. Y.; is son of Thomas and Phoebe (Conklin) Drake; his parents were natives of New Jersey, and his father was a direct descendant of Sir Francis Drake. Mr. Drake came to Michigan in the fall of 1832, and took up a farm of Government land, for which he paid 18 shillings an acre; it was located on Section 14, in Sterling Township; there was at the time but one house between Frederick and Utica, and, as an incident illustrative of the times, Mr. Drake relates that two of his younger sons tried to coax a wolf into the House, under the supposition that it was a neighbor's dog. He and his wife attended the wed America in 1713; they settled in Massachusetts, and left but one son, named Jonathan; the genealogy has been obtained from descendants living in Massachusetts, and is preserved in a library in Detroit. Mr. Lawrence was married, in January, 1828, to Julia E. Russell, born in 1808; they have five children-Cornelius, Henry M., Benjamin S., Helen E. and Mr. Lawrence came to Michigan in the spring of 1838, with his wife and four children; he first settled in Pontiac, Oakland County, and, in the fall of 1849, went to Rochester, same county, where he remained six years; was Postmaster four years, under Polk's administration. In 1850, he came to Utica, and in 1855 started for California, he spent three years in the mines with pick and shovel, after which he traveled two years with his son, then eighteen years old, and visited Oregon, Washington Territory, New Mexico and the Sandwich Islands, returning home in 1860. In 1861, he volunteered as a private in the war of the rebellion, and was in active service four years; he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and served under it three years; he received honorable discharge for disability from exposure, and was mustered out of service at Detroit in 1865. He returned home and engaged in agriculture for a time, but is now leading a quiet life, free from arduous labor; he has served a term as Town Clerk; politically, is a Democrat, and belongs to the Masonic order. WILLIAM PETTS, P. O. Utica, was born September 19, 1829; is son of Thomas and Jane (Joice) Petts, natives of England; his mother died in 1842; his father, in 1852. In 1857, Mr. Petts came to Sterling and bought the S. D. Adams farm, on Section 8. He was married, in 1857, to Ann, daughter of William and Mary Robinson, natives of England; they have four children-Mary J., born May 15, 1858; Christiana, May 31, 1860; Robert W., November 1, 1861; George R., May 13, 1865. All the children reside at home. Mr. and Mrs. Petts and their family are all members of the M. E. Church of Utica. Mr. Petts is a Republican in politics; a member of the Knights of Honor, and owns a fine farm of eighty acres. GILBERT RICE, P. O. Utica, was born January 24, 1819, in Greene County, N. Y.; is son of Ira and Nancy (Avery) Rice; they came to Michigan in 1837, and settled in Sterling, Macomb County, on Section 15, where they passed the remainder of their lives; bis father died at the age of seventy-one; his mother, at sixty-three years old. He was married, in 1844, to Harriet, daughter of Samuel and Amelia (Seaman) Chapman; they have had five children, born as follows: Amelia, February 12, 1846; Oscar W., September 29, 1847; George L., September 20, 1849; Viola C., July 23, 1853; Carrie N., August 17, 1857. Mr. Rice was married a second time, March 24, 1858, to Lydia A., daughter of John L. and Esther Chase; they have had four children-Lora B., April 15, 1854; Mary F., May 14, 1862; Isa L., January 2, 1877; and an infant. Mr. Rice owns a snug farm of sixty acres, all first-class land, on Section 11; he is a member of the Congregational Church, and is a Republican. GARDNER H. RUNYON, P. O. Utica, was born May 16, 1831, in New Jersey; is son of Ralph and Mary (Gardner) Runyon, natives of New Jersey. His parents came to Michigan in 1834, and located a farm of Government land in Sterling. Mr. Runyon was married, in 1864, to Estella, daughter of John and Mary Steed; they have three children -Cora, born June 27, 1863; Jennie, January 27, 1866; Bruce, September 10, 1875. Mr. Runyon is a Democrat. He enlisted in the civil war in 1862, in the band of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, and returned in 1864, after twenty months' service; his hearing was much impaired by the concussion of the air in action from explosion of shells. He is a carpenter and joiner by trade, and owns a pleasant place on South Cass street, at Utica, with fine dwelling. CYRUS SCHOONOVER, P. O. Utica, was born N. Y.; is son of Jacob and Luba Sikes Schoonover. March 6, 1812, in Monroe County, He came to Michigan in 1847 and |