MARION TOWNSHIP.

This is the most recent addition to the commonwealth of the county. Like Chapin township, just south of it, it is a fractional township, and forms a Congressional township with the addition of 12 sections of the lands of Gratiot county.

The population in June, 1880, was only 80; this number increased during the subsequent year to 120, and there is a prospect of an annual increase for years to come. The first settlement met with in the township going west from St. Charles, is the Kernahan. So far the roads were very fair in June, 1881; but beyond that point the nominal highways were mere rivers of mud. The township is watered by the sources of Bad river, Great and Little Potato creeks and numerous streamlets. The land is rich in all the constituents of soil, heavily timbered with hard wood, and wrapped, as it were, in a dense underwood. A new road is to be cut through to Chapin this year, and other improvements effected.

Perhaps there is no more extended records spread on the books of the county than that which points out the organization of Marion township. During the session of the board, Jan. 14, 1880, the application from the people of the western portion of Brant, was read, and referred to the committee on township organization. This committee reported as follows:

Gentlemen-Your committee, to whom was referred the application of Daniel Paul and 15 freeholders of the township of Brant, praying that fractional town 10 north, of range one east, be detached from the town of Brant, and that said town north, of range one east, he erected into a township to be known as the township of Marion-after due consideration would report in favor of granting the prayer of the applicants, and recommended the adoption of the following preamble and resolution, to wit:

WHEREAS, It satisfactorily appears by affidavit thereto attached, that notice of such application has been posted up in five of the most public places in said township of Brant for four weeks next preceding said application, and that the same has been duly published in the Business, a newspaper published in said county, for the period of four weeks immediately preceding the present session of the Board of Supervisors of the county of Saginaw, as required by law; now therefore be it

Resolved, By the Board of Supervisors of the county of Saginaw, that town 10 north, of range one east, be, and is hereby erected in a township to be called and known by the name of Marion.

Resolved, That the first township meeting, of said township of Marion, shall be holden on the first Monday of April, 1880, at the house of Loren A. Panl, and that Daniel Paul, Daniel Welsh and Malcolm McInnis, be, and they are hereby appointed inspectors of said township meeting; whose duty it shall be to preside at such meeting, appoint a clerk, open and keep the polls, and exercise the same powers as the inspectors of elections at any township meeting. That Daniel Paul be, and is hereby appointed to post up three notices, according to law, of the time and place of holding the first township meeting in said new township of Marion; that Daniel Paul post notices of registration, required by law, in three conspicuons places in said new township of Marion, and that the said Daniel Paul, Daniel We Ish and Malcolm McInnis be, and they are hereby appointed the Board of

Registration, and are required to take the constitutional oath before entering upon the duties of Board of Registration, and upon the election of the officers of said township; the said oath so taken shall be filed with the Township Clerk of Marion.

This report was unanimously adopted.

THE FIRST TOWNSHIP MEETING

was held April 5, 1880, at the house of Daniel Paul, section 1, with Daniel Paul, Moderator; Thomas Kern ohan, Clerk, and Donald Welsh and Finlay McInnis, Inspectors of election.

The following officers were elected: Daniel Paul, Supervisor; Thomas Kernohan, Clerk; Finlay McInnis, Treasurer; Win. Crittes, Wm. Irwin, and Donald Welsh, Justices of Peace; John B. Stewart, Road Commissioner; Isaac Hodson, Drain Commissioner; Cyrus Fauble, School Superintendent; John B. Stewart, School Inspector; Van Patten, Albert Northrop, Lorin Paul, Constables.

The second annual meeting was held at the house of William Crittes, April 3, 1881; Mr. Paul presided. Thomas Kernohan was Clerk, and Henry Tolgate and Wm. Crittes were Inspectors of election. Daniel Paul was elected Supervisor; Henry Tolgate, Clerk; Thomas Kernohan, Treasurer; Dr. Gray, Justice of Peace; Gilbert Rhodes, Drain Commissioner; Van Patten, Road Commissioner; William Crittes, School Superintendent; Charles Rector, Inspector; Rufus Himbley and Lorin A. Paul, Constables.

There is only one school-house in the township. The school is taught by Miss Jenny Fauble. This school was started Nov. 22, 1880, in a log lumber shanty on the southeast quarter of section 26. The people purpose erecting a large frame building for school purposes on the northeast quarter of section 35. The children attending school at the beginning of 1881 were: Molly Fauble, John Fauble, Minnie Fauble, Edith and James Stewart, George, John, and Arthur Crittes, Frederick Kernohan, Mary, Charles, Eva and Bertie Irwin, Cora Hodson, Joseph and Ira Osborne, Miss Rector, Rolland Schneider, and Martha Snyder. The total number enrolled was 26.

The principal manufacturing industry was projected in 1879, by John B. Stewart, as a steam saw-mill. The concern is now operated by Messrs. Barnum and Whitmore. It is located on section 24. There is also a portable saw-mill operated by Daniel Paul.

There are no churches, nor is there an immediate prospect of erecting a building specially for worship; the new school-house will probably be utilized as a house of worship.

The settlers of Marion, still perpetuate in a great measure the manners and customs of pioneer days. Their motto is evidently, "Each for each, and all for all." They live in an atmosphere of contentment and happiness, leading the thinker to conclude that these enviable boons are conferred only on the white men of the wilderness, the builders of the public good.

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

This district of the county gives promise of equaling in its physical and social characteristics many of the older settled townships. The population in 1880 was estimated at 700, but within the year which has since elapsed this number has met with many additions. Large clearances have been made, new homes erected, and the period of its greatest advancement entered upon. June 7, 1881, was the steam saw-mill of Smith & McMann's started at "Hemlock City." It is the intention of the proprietors to add flouringmill machinery at an early date. These, with kindred industries, which may spring up in the near future, will add to the prosperity of the township, and tend to hasten its development. The village known as Hemlock City is located in the western center of section 28. At present there are a postoffice, two stores, a commodious hotel, a steam saw-mill, and 25 dwelling-houses in the village. With the development of its agricultural resources Hemlock City will grow in importance, and perhaps form one of the leading municipalities in the county.

The township of Richland was organized under authority given by the Board of Supervisors Jan. 8, 1862. At that period it embraced the following territory: Town 12 north, of range 1 east, and town 12 north, of range 2 east. The order was "that this territory is hereby erected into a township to be called and known by the name of the township of Richland; the first annual township meeting thereof shall be held at the school-house in district number 5, in section 22, town 12 north, of range 2 east, on the first Monday in April, 1862; and at said meeting Thomas A. Porter, Lemuel Cone and William McBratnie, three electors of said township, shall be the persons whose duty it shall be to preside at such meeting."

The first township election was held April 7, 1862, in the schoolhouse of district number 5, section 22. T. A. Porter, L. Cone and Wm. McBratnie were Inspectors of election. The last-named was Moderator; James A. Wiltsie, Clerk, and Frederick Field, Constable. William McBratnie was elected Supervisor; T. A. Porter, Clerk; Geo. Brown, Treasurer; D. L. Cole and Frederick Field, Justices of the Peace. The Treasurer elect failed to file his county bond within the allotted time, when Andrew McBratnie was appointed to that position. The total amount of taxes for 1862 was $1.409.60, and of expenditures $1,399.80. The list of township officers from organization to the present time is as follows:

(887)

The present officers are Geo. W. Carson, Supervisor; Joseph H. Whitney, Clerk; Jedd Bennett, Treasurer; Winfield S. Cone, Highway Commissioner; A. L. Carver, School Superintendent; Jas. B. Johnson, School Inspector; Walter D. Pettit, Henry Beamish, Alonzo T. Hodges, Justices of the Peace; G. W. Pettit and Isaac Williams, Constables.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

There are one fractional and six full school districts in the township, each in possession of a frame school-building. The school census gives 252 children, 164 of whom attended school during the year 1880. The school property is valued at $3,300. The number of teachers employed is nine. The expenditure for 1880 was $1,569.38. The people generally profess Christianity. However varied in form these professions may be, all have studied to live together in peace and banish from their midst the demon of bigotry. The German Lutherans possess one church building the only duly

dedicated house of worship in the township. The land upon which the church stands was presented to the Lutheran Society by Frederick Fitting.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

In the following personal sketches, the principal settlers of this section of the county are noticed:

Henry Bemish, was born at Rochester, N. Y., in 1830; is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Conklin) Bemish; natives of Ireland, who came to Rochester about 1819, and went into the grocery business, which they continued for several years. His mother died there in 1834, and his father came to Michigan in 1838 and settled where East Saginaw now stands. He died at Pine Run and was buried there. The subject of this sketch came to Michigan in 1838 and settled at Saginaw, with his father, and remained there several years, and made occasional trips back to New York. In 1855 he settled in Thomastown, and there followed farming and lumbering, being 13 years with one firm. He came to Richland in 1878 and bought the hotel which he now occupies. He was married in Saginaw City, Nov. 27, 1853, to Delia Irish, a native of Oakland county. They had 5 children in all, 4 of whom are living— Norman T, who married Nellie E. Lewis, and resides at Hemlock: Wm. F., Henry, Edward (deceased) and Edwin. While in Thomastown he was Commissioner five years, Justice of the Peace two years, Road-master about seven years, and since being in Richland was Commissioner and Constable three years, which office he holds at the present time. Mr. Bemish is an old settler and prominent man, keeping the only hotel in Hemlock City, situated on the business street, and forms a prominent feature of the city.

Geo. W. Carson was born in Ohio in 1826, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Willoughby) Carson, of Irish and Welsh descent. They both died in Seneca Co, Ohio. Mr. Carson was brought up there and received his education. While living there he followed farming and also worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner eight years; was also a dealer in stock for five years. Arriving in Michigan, Jan. 17, 1866, he settled in Saginaw county, tp. of Brady, and bought a farm of 160 acres, but now consisting of 80 acres. He also owns village property at Chesaning. He was first married Feb. 3, 1852, in Ohio to Martha C. Moore, a native of that State, who died May 3, 1873, in Brady tp. She left 4 children-John F., Rosa E., who married Legrand Sanderson, residing in this tp.; Geo. B. and Martha. He was married again, November, 1875, at Chesaning, to Mrs. Catharine A. Crane, a native of Canada. They have 1 child-Effie. Mr. Carson was Supervisor in Brady two years, and four years in this tp. During the war he enlisted in Co. C, 14th Ohio Regiment, Home Guards, and was stationed at Washington Heights, and at Johnson Island; served in all about