and for two years was engaged in operating a saw-mill, after which he established his present business. He is a Mason, and a member of the Democratic party.

Samuel H. Whitney, farmer, sec. 10; P. O., Chesaning; was born at Chester, Rutland Co., Vt., April 15, 1831. His parents were John and Sarah Whitney, natives of Massachusetts, the former of whom served in the war of 1812, and died in 1867. Samuel grew to mature years in Ohio. He attended the Geauga Academy, and subsequently went to Texas, where he taught school one year. In February, 1854, he came to Brady tp. During the late war, he was Provost Marshal of Brant, Brady and Fremont tps. He has filled several tp. offices, and is connected with the I. O. O. F. and the Republican party. He was married Jan. 24, 1854, to Maria Patterson, daughter of John and Eliza Patterson, natives of Cayuga Co., N. Y. Five children have been sent to seal this alliance-John M., who married Sarah Shroeder; James F., married to Luna Parker: Adeline E., wife of George Gates; Mary and Alice L. Mr. Whitney was schoolmate of James A. Garfield.

Stephen W. Wickham, son of Josiah D. and Maria Wickham, was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., July 29, 1837, and when an infant accompanied his parents to Washtenaw Co., Mich. In 1840 his mother died, and when seven years of age he went to live with John C. Southworth, of Jackson Co., Mich., with whom he remained till of age. On Aug. 9, 1862, he enlisted in Co. K, 3d. Mich. Cav., and was honorably discharged June 10, 1865. In 1871 he came to Oakley, and for six years owned a half interest in the stave and heading factory. In 1879 he opened a grocery store, which he still owns. He was married March 6, 1861, to Caroline Cook, who died in April, 1862. He was again married, Aug. 22, 1866, to Ida F. Converse, who was born in Jackson Co., Mich., Aug. 9, 1850, and is a daughter of Perrin and Mary Converse. They have 3 children-Henry C., Freddie and Judson P. Mr. Wickham is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Greenback party.

Chester F. Wright, merchant, Oakley, Mich., was born in Erie Co., N. Y., April 10, 1828, and is a son of Phineas R. and Martha (Richardson) Wright, natives of Vermont and New York. When 13 years old Mr. Wright accompanied his parents to Jackson Co., Mich., where he was raised. When 18 years of age he bought his "time" (his labor until 21) for $150, and started in business at burning lime, which he continued until 1873, when he sold out, and opened a store at Oakley. He was married, November, 1852, to Abigail Raymond, who bore him 10 children. Three survive-Martha A., Charles C. and Edwin. Mr. Wright is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Oakley, also of the Encampment. He is Democratic in politics, and an enterprising business man and citizen.

BRANT TOWNSHIP.

This section of the county is most favorably circumstanced so far as the quality of its lands, the number of its water-courses, and the purity of its flowing wells may be considered. The settlement of the township has been slow indeed: thousands of acres of its fertile soil are still untouched by the plowshare; other resources are still waiting upon enterprise to offer up their stores of wealth; the land summons the industrious to its embrace, and demands, as it were, that within the next decade the present population of 860 shall be increased centum per centum, the district developed, and its place among the more important sections of the county insured.

Francis M. Cobb operates a steam saw-mill in this township, and George Severns a similar mill on the town line.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

The undulations of the land are more marked than those of any other portion of the county. The soil is a sandy loam generally, with large tracts of black loam and clay subsoil. Bad river and its tributary streams may be said to course through every section. The main stream has its source in the southeastern sections of Marion, enters the township at the northwest quarter of section 31, and, flowing northeasterly, courses through sections 29, 21, 22, 14, and 13. The North Branch of Bad river has its head-waters in the northeastern sections of the adjoining township of Marion. This stream flows in a zigzag course through the northern sections of Brant, and forms a confluence with the larger stream in St. Charles township. Great and Little Potato creeks rise in the township of Marion, and, like Bad river, with which their waters conjoin in section 14 of this township, flow in a northeasterly course. Many rivulets, supplied by the flowing wells, aid in bestowing upon this portion of Saginaw a fair quantity of good

water.

In

The "flowing," or Artesian, wells of the township are not the least important feature among its physical characteristics. some places the water forced its way to the surface, and formed for itself, in the course of years, natural channels through which it might rush forward to join some parent stream. The average depth of a boring necessary to obtain a supply of Artesian water at any location in the township is said to be from 60 to 300 feet. In some situations the water has been reached at a depth of 25 feet.

ORGANIC.

As early as 1857 an application was made to the county board by 19 electors of this township, asking that the territory now known as Brant and Marion should be organized as a township under the former name. The board considered the application during its session of January, 1858, and on the 8th of that month acceded to all which the first settlers demanded in it. The following is a copy of the act of organization:

It appearing to the Board of Supervisors that application has been made, and that notice thereof has been signed, posted up and published, as in manner required by law, and having duly considered the matter of said application, the Board orders and enacts that the territory described in said application, as follows, to wit: Township number ten (10) north of range number one (1) east, and township number ten (10) north, of range number two (2) east, be, and the same is hereby erected into a township, to be called and known by the name of the township of Brant.

The first annual meeting thereof shall be held at the house now occupied by Albert A. Aldrich, on the first Monday of April, A. D. 1858, and at said neeting, John B. Adams, Ezra T. Cogswell and Thomas Berry, three electors of said township, shall be the persons whose duty it shall be to preside at such meeting, appoint clerk, open and keep the polls, and exercise the same power as the inspectors of election at any township meeting, as the law provides.

The 15 members of the supervisors' board present were unanimous in support of the motion to grant the application.

The first township meeting was held April 5, 1858, at the house of Albert A. Aldrich, with Ezra T. Cogswell, Moderator; Bradley Adams, Clerk; Charles H. Cogswell, Assistant Clerk, and John B. Adams, Ezra T. Cogswell and Thomas Berry, Inspectors of Election. Two hundred and twenty votes were recorded in the aggregate, but in reality there were only 19 citizen voters present: Thomas Berry was elected Supervisor; John B. Adams, Clerk; Ezra T. Cogswell, Treasurer; Bushrod W. Lamb, Bradley Adams, Jason B. Eldridge, Columb. L. Luther, Jason P. Eldridge and Benjamin Colville, Justices of the Peace; Alpheus Oliver and Bradley Adams, School Inspectors; Purchase R. Hill, Albert A. Aldrich, Charles H. Cogswell and G. M. Campfield, Constables, and Bradley Adams, Overseer of the Poor. Bushrod W. Lamb was appointed Overseer of the Poor by the township board April 21, 1858, vice Bradley Adams, resigned. The new officer had very little trouble with the office. as there were none so poor as to require his aid, and the township was too distant from the great highways to warrant a visit from the ordinary tramps.

In the following list the names of the principal township officers are given with, the dates of their services:

The officers elected at the annual meeting, April 4, 1881, are as follows: David J. Webb, Supervisor; Adam C. Higler, Clerk; George Price, Treasurer; James E. Brady, Justice for full term; Columbus L. Luther, Justice to fill vacancy; Charles L. Huntley, Commissioner of Highways; Reuben Montague, School Superintendent; Joseph Whaley, School Inspector; Wm. H. Smith, Drain Commissioner; Charles Griffith, Charles Sweatland, Francis M. Cobb and Judson Sorrell, Constables.

SCHOOLS.

The schools of the township are seven in number. The number of children of school age is 334. The number reported in attendance during the year 1880 was 233. The school property is valued at $2,375. The number of teachers employed is 12, three of whom are male teachers. The total expenditures for the year ending September, 1880, was $1,886.10. The amount derived from the primary school fund is about $150; the balance is derivable from the two-mill tax and direct taxation for school purposes.

EARLY LAND-BUYERS.

The names of those who patented the lands of the township are as follows: