First Families of Brant

Excerpt From:

THE HISTORY OF

OUR CHURCH AND ITS PEOPLE

By Laura E. Barnhart

In the years between 1850 and 1858, our territory was called Brant and Marion.  Brant is said to have been named for Joseph Brant, a chief of the Mohawk tribe whose Indian name was Thayendanga.  During these years, twenty-two families migrated to this territory called Brant.

The earliest family to settle here seems to have been the Benjamin Colvin family from New York.  Benjamin was 32 years old and his wife, Arvilla, 28.  They came with three children:  Charles, age 12, Alice, age 9, and Hannah age 7.  He built his log cabin along the banks of the North Branch of the Bad River.

Alpheus Oliver was another of the first landowners in the Township (1851) and he was also listed as a school inspector in 1858.  Evidently, he was not at home when the census was taken because he was not listed as a resident in the Township.

The Adams family came along in 1854.  There were Adam Adams, age 60, from Vermont and his wife Nancy, age 48, with their two children, Nancy age 15, and Melonaton age 9.  Also from Vermont were John Adams, age 24, and his wife Celista, age 24, and their daughter, Nola, age 1.  Bradely Adams was very active in the political side of our community; however, the writer could not locate any information about his family.

Albert A. Aldrich, age 26, was listed as a farmer from New York.

Timothy Ingersoll, 65, years old, came as a farmer from New York with Peter, age 37, Amanda, age 21, and Alice age 1.

Orinton Babbitt, age 22, came from Delaware and his wife Celista, 44, came from Canada.  There were eight children:  Levi, age 32, Franklin, age 22, Phebe, age 19, Harriet, age 14, James, age 11, Fanny, age 9, Jackson, age 6, and Ambrosia, age 3.

Austin Blackmore, age 25, came from New York, but his wife, Sylvia, age 19, came from Michigan.

Another family coming here in 1854 was the Cogswell family.  Ezra age 55, was from New York, and his wife, Laura, age 51, was from Connecticut.  Two children were listed in the census:  Charles H., age 25, born in New York, and Frederick, age 14, born in Michigan.

William N. Crandel, age 55, came from New York and was listed as a Ship Carpenter.  His wife, Louisa, age 55, came from England.  They had six children.  Two of their children were born in Ohio:  Julia, age 24, and Eber, age 20.  The other four children were born in Michigan.  Their names were:  Sylvester, age 15, Louisa E., age 12, Wealthy, age 11, and Maria, age 9.  Also there were Albert G. Mellager, age 14, and Perry Crane, age 22.  Perry was listed as a Carpenter from Canada.

Isaac Dibble, age 43, and Polly, age 41, came from New York with their five children:  Willis, age 15, Lydia, age 13, Cornelia, age 12, Maria, age 8, and Eddie, age 4.  Isaac worked as a farmer.

Jason Eldredge, 25 years old, was a farmer from New York.  He came with his wife Rachel, 23 years old, and their daughter, Laura E. age 2.  Laura was born in Michigan.

Phillip Frazer, age 26, came from New York with his wife Elizabeth, age 23.  He, too, was interested in clearing land to plant crops in the fertile land.

Purchase R. Hill, 44 years old, was a farmer from New York.  He came to Brant with his wife Eliza, age 42, and their eight children:  James, age 19, Siris, age 17, Jeffrey, age 14, Emily, age 13, Eliza age 11, Safrona, age 8, William, age 6, and Florence, age 4.  Purchase had been in Pennsylvania, as well as Canada, before coming to Brant.

Talmon Jennings, age 61, and his wife, Elizabeth age 63, came from Vermont and New York.

B. W. Lamb, 69 years old, came from New York to buy land in 1854 but the census lists him as a resident between 1860 and 1870.

Columbus Luther, age 37, came from New York, with his wife Maria H., age 26.  James Hinkley, 8 years old, was listed as part of their family.

Thomas Perry, age 38, came from New York; and lived in Canada before coming to Michigan with his wife Eunice, age 32, and their children:  Elizabeth, age 16, Isadore, age 10, George, age 8, Eunice, age 5, and Thomas, age 2.

Elanson Roads, age 29, and his wife, Elizabeth Roads, age 37, came from New York, as did the Benjamin Sliter, age 22, family.  His wife Margaret, age 30, and their 10-year-old son William B., accompanied him.

These were the “first” families to face, not only the many rigors of pioneer life, but also the responsibility of establishing a community.  How they must have labored to clear land with the primitive tools; and to build log shelters for their families.  Yet, they had their lighter moments, when they got together after finishing a log home, with a potluck supper, prayer meeting and talk of future plans.  Can you imagine getting your mail once or twice a month, eating only what you raised, a few dollars and cents in your pocket, making all your clothes from materials you may have brought with you, knitting your own stockings, mittens and no place to shop?

These strong pioneers had dreams of better days to come for their children, as well as themselves.  They were willing to make sacrifices at the present for their dreams of the future.