Valley Township

Valley Township

Bradley is a station on the line of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, three miles directly south of Wayland. It contains a store of general merchandise, drug-store, hotel, several small mechanical shops, and about 100 inhabitants. Its name is derived from David Bradley, who was the first postmaster of an office of the same name, situated on section 28, on the old mail-route in 'use prior to the building of the plank-road.

Joel Brownson, Esq., was the first settler in the vicinity of the present village of Bradley. On the completion of the plank-road, in 1854, several other families settled here, and proposed the establishment of a village. The postoffice was removed from its original location to this point, a hotel built, and other interests projected. Shortly after, Uriah Gregory, who had a steam saw-mill, store, etc., on section 10, through political influence got the post-office transferred to his place of business, and himself appointed postmaster. Another turn of the political wheel, however, established a new office at Bradley, and Joel Brownson became postmaster. Among the earliest merchants were, Jarvis J. Joy and Josiah H. Harding.

Biographical Sketches Humphrey Gardner

This gentlemart was born in Attica, Genesee (now Wyoming) Co., N. Y., Dec. 27, 1818. His ancestors came from England and settled at Brimfield, Mass., very early in colonial days. His father, Daniel Gardner, removed from Brimfield to Attica soon after the close of the war of 1812, and became one of the pioneers of the latter region.- Here he married Miss Lorena Ensign for his second wife, and Humphrey was the second child born of this marriage,

The early days of young Gardner's life, passed upon his father's farm, were uneventful, and marked by no epoch varying them from those of his associates in old Genesee. His educational advantages were limited to such as could

In 1837, at the age of nineteen years, in pursuance of a cherished desire to become a citizen of the great West, he proceeded by the usual roates and conveyances then in vogue to Kane Co., Ill., Blackberry township, where he pre-empted an eighty-acre lot. There were very few people then in a county which is now one of the most prosperous and populous in the State of Illinois. Its inhabitants were all known by him. He remained in Kane County, following various occupations, until 1846, when he came to Wayland and purchased of the general government forty acres, situated on section 22, and from the latter date he has been prominently identified with the history of this township. To his original purchase additions have been made until he now owns four hundred and ninety acres in one body.

In 1844 he married Miss Mary Brown. Two children were born to them, viz.: Florence, Aug. 16, 1845, and Loren, Sept. 9, 1847, died March 30,1871. His wife died Feb. 3, 1865. He subsequently married Sylvia, the sister of his first wife. 'This marriage has resulted in the birth of three children, viz.: Olive, Oct. 27, 1867; Humphrey, Feb. 8, 1872; and Clay, Aug. 27, 1876.

Mr. Gardner's first vote was cast for Gen. Harrison in 1840, and he continued a member of the Whig party until its disbandment. Upon the organization of the Republican party he joined its fortunes, and remains a steadfast member of the same to the present time. Socially he is held in high and deserved esteem. A quiet, unostentatious demeanor, coupled with great integrity, has gradually but surely placed him in the proud position he now occupies in the hearts of his friends. '

As showing the estimation in which he is'held by his townsmen at large, we need but add that he has held the office of township treasurer twenty-one consecutive years.

Amaziah R. Balch

His father was a farmer, and the' early years of young Balch's life were passed in the Green Mountain State, assisting his father in farm' daties through the summer, obtaining the rudiments of a common-school education during the winter. As years passed, and he arrived at manhood's estate, he varied his occupation during the winter months by teaching.

In 1851 he came to Kalamazoo, Mich., and soon became known as one of the successful teachers of that county. He was also employed by Mr. Arnold, of Kalamazoo, and proved an invaluable aid by the successful manner in which he managed all business details intrusted to his care. About the year 1857, with Guild as a partner, he became identified with the history of Wayland by the purchase of a large tract of pine-lands situated near the southeast corner of the township. A steam saw-mill was built, and for a few years the firm of Balch & Guild lumbered quite extensively. In 1861 he bought Guild's interest, and thereafter conducted the business independently, adding many acres to his landed estate, owning at one time more than fifteen hundred acres.

Mr. Balch was first married at Athens, Vt., May 3, 1846, to Miss Abby Davis. She died June 1, 1851. His only child by this marriage was Dorr M., who was born Jan. 11, 1848, and now resides in this township.

On the 24th of November, 1861, he was again married, at Kalamazoo, Mich., to Miss Mary Williams, whose people came from Lower Canada, and settled in Kalamazoo township, Mich., in 1855. Five children were born to them, viz.: Edgar D., Feb. 9, 1863, died June 4, 1863; Cora Bell, April 15, 1864; Nathaniel A., Feb. 18, 1866; James B., Sept. 10, 1868; Mary E., Jan. 9, 1872. The four last named all réside with their mother on the home-farm.

Mr. Balch died May 29, 1879. He was a prominent and respected citizen of Wayland, a staunch Democrat, and an ardent admirer of Stephen A. Douglas and the principles enunciated by him.

Although not a member of any religious denomination, he freely contributed to their support. In educational matters he was especially earnest and active, and served as

'township school inspector several times. He was the candidate of the Democratic party of this district for the State Senate in 1868, and ran largely ahead of his ticket, but very naturally failed of an election in a Republican stronghold.

Horace J. Turner

Dr. Horace J. Turner, a view of whose beautiful residence ': in the village of Wayland adorns one of these pages, is the son of a physician, Dr. Horace C. Turner, and was born jn the township of Greenwood, McHenry Co., Jl., Jan. 11, 1849.

A few years subsequent to his birth his father removed to Barry Co., Mich., where, during early boyhood, young Turner pursued the usual course of studies prevailing in the public schools. At the age of seventeen years he was admitted as a student to the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and after successfully passing through the various phases of college life and its studies, especially that of medicine and surgery, he graduated with honor during the session of 1868-69.

He then practiced medicine with his father for a period of six months. After a short experience in the city of St. Louis, Mo., he again returned to Michigan and began the practice of his profession in the village of Bradley. A year later he removed to the village of Wayland, where well-merited pecuniary success has attended his professional labors.

On the 2d of October, 1874, he was married to Miss Eva Crittenden, the accomplished daughter of one of Martin's pioneers, T. G. Crittenden, Esq. In his political convictions Dr. Turner is a Republican of the stalwart type. Socially and professionally, he is held in high esteem by all who know him.

George H. Jackson

George H. Jackson was born in Thimbleby, Lincolnshire, England, Nov. 26, 1839. His father, Charles Jackson, was born in Anwick, of the same shire, April 22, 1800. In 1835 he (Charles) married Miss Ann Maltby, of Sansthorpe, and settled upon his farm in Thimbleby, where he remained until June, 1845, when he emigrated to America. After a five years' residence in the State of New York, he removed with his family in October, 1850, to the farm in Wayland now occupied by him. Of his family of ten children, viz., six sons and four daughters, five were born in Thimbleby, England, three in Monroe Co., N. Y., and two in Wayland, Mich.

Since their settlement in Wayland, the Jacksons have done more than the average of pioneer-work. Dense forests have disappeared beneath their sturdy strokes, well-cultivated fields and beautiful farm-buildings have taken their place, and to-day, by dint of their own individual exertions, the father and sons are the possessors of fourteen hundred acres of land, distributed among them as follows: Charles, the father, forty acres; George H., four hundred and eighty acres ; Robert C., one hundred and sixty acres; Joseph, one hundred and sixty acres; Andrew, three hundred and twenty acres; John H., one hundred and sixty acres; and James, eighty acres.

George H. Jackson, to assist his father, began working for others at the early age of eleven years, and continued as a farm-laborer until reaching his majority. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in 1860, soon clearing and paying for the same. As years have passed he has added to his original tract, and is now the proud owner of four hundred and eighty acres.

in the latter township in 1845. In his political convictions Mr. Jackson is a staunch Republican, and proposes to continue as such to the end. Socially and as a public-spirited citizen, he is highly respected by all who know him.

Abel Angel

Prominent of all men living in the township of Wayland to-day is the subject of this brief sketch, Abel Angel. His ancestors were English people, and early settlers in the State of Rhode Island, where his grandfather, Abiatha Angel, was born. Abel's father, Joseph Angel, was a native of the State of Vermont.

Abel Angel, the ninth child in a family of eleven children, was born in the town of Pownal, Bennington Co., Vt., Sept. 12, 1821. When fourteen years of age he removed with his father's family to Erie Co., N. Y., where he remained three years, following the pursuits of farming. Meanwhile, he had obtained such educational advantages as the public schools of Vermont ind New York afforded.

In 1838 he with other members of his family settled in Livingston Co., Mich. He remained in the latter county until 1842, when he came to the township of Wayland, and has since been prominently identified with its every public interest. His first purchase of land was made in the year 1845, - forty acres. By subsequent purchases his landed

Mr. Angel held his first official position in 1845, when he was elected highway commissioner over territory which then included the present township of Leighton. But in 1849 began a series of office-holdings which have scarcely a parallel in the annals of any township in our common country, and the position he held was such as to render him more familiar with the history and people of Wayland than any other citizen in it. ..In the year last mentioned he was elected supervisor, and was re-elected again and again for a period of twenty-five years, almost consecutively ; this, too, very frequently when by a strict party vote his opponents were in a large majority.

He was married July 22, 1852, to Mrs. Mary Gardner. Five children have been born to them, viz.: Eleanor, June 29, 1853; William, April 26, 1855, died Dec. 9, 1876; ~ Mary, Jan. 9, 1857; Clara, May 11, 1860; Lucy, June 28, 1862: Mrs. Angel, formerly Miss Mary Pease, was born in Haston, Washington Co., N. Y., in the year 1820, and was first married to Nelson Gardner, in 1840. Of her children by her first marriage, viz., Lewis, Sarah, Edwin, and Nelson, Sarah, now Mrs. Henry Buxton, of Plainwell, Mich., is the only survivor.

Mr. Angel has been a life-long Democrat and an agriculturist. As evidence that he has succeeded beyond the expectations of most men, it is only necessary to,refer to the beautiful farm-view which embellishes one of these pages, and to what has already been said.

Josiah He. Harding

Josiah H. Harding was born in the town of Sandy Creek, Oswego Co., N. Y., Oct. 16, 1825, being the fifth child of Solomon S. and Phila Harding.

The Hardings are of English origin, threé brothers having come to America at an early period. in our colonial history, of whom, finally, one settled in Connecticut, another in Kentucky, and the third became a sea captain. This sketch pertains more particularly to the Connecticut branch, of whom Benjamin - the great-grandfather of Josiah H. - is the most distant landmark. He lived and died in Connecticut. His son, George, espoused the cause of the colonists during the war of the Revolution, and in 1794 became one of the first settlers of Oswego Co., N. Y. Solomon §., the son of George, was, during the war of 1812, with the United States forces at Sacket's Harbor. He became a successful farmer, and at the time of his death was the owner of more than six hundred acres.

The school advantages enjoyed by Josiah E. Harding were limited, such only as could be obtained by attending the winter sessions of district schools to his sixteenth year. Arriving at years of manhood, he received as his share of the paternal estate an eighty-acre lot, upon which he devoted all his energies untjl removing to the State of Michigan. In September, 1847, he married Miss Helen M. Wood. The three children born of this marriage were Cora E., Jan. 7, 1849, who died May 6, 1856; Ernest B.,

' In September, 1851, Mr. Harding became the first settler on section 6 in the township of Martin, this county. His purchase embraced the southeast quarter, all unimproved. After clearing some sixty acres of this. tract, he sold the same, and in 1856 purchased forty acres on section 19 in the township of Wayland, his present residence. He has since added by purchase, until one hundred and sixty beautiful acres in the home-farm greets the view of travelers on the line.of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, which here intersects the farm from north to south through the centre. _

In his political convictions Mr. Harding is known as a Democrat. Not an office-seeker, yet he has served 'his townsmen as justice of the peace for several terms, and in various other capacities, and in 1878 was the candidate of the Democratic party of this district for the State Senate.

Of large stature, genial and urbane in his manners, a successful farmer and merchant,* a good citizen, a kind, indulgent husband and father, Mr. Harding may well be considered a true representative of his class, - 7.e., a genuine, unaffected American gentleman. ;

Samuel S. Gunn

The ancestors of this gentleman came from England prior to the war of the Revolution, and settled at or in the near vicinity of Waterbury, Conn.

Jobalmah Gunn, the grandfather of Samuel S., was in sympathy with the mother-country during the long struggle for American independence. His sons were Isaiah, Jonn, Jobalmah, Jr., and Isaac.

Samuel Shelton Gunn was born in Waterbury, Conn., July 21,1810. His father was a farmer, and here young Samuel passed his early boyhood' days. At the age of sixteen years, however, he was bound as a carpenter's apprentice to onc William Hurlburt, of Woodbury, Conn. He remained with Hurlburt four years, when, having bought his time, he began work under instructions, at low wages, with Jason Bassett, of Humphreysville, Conn. He was with Bassett one year, and shortly after began a re-

® Mr. Harding bought out J. J. Joy's stock of goods at Bradley in 1854, and thereafter, besides farming, conducted the business of merchandising for a period of fifteen years. He was the first merchant in Wayland township who brought goods direct from New York City.