History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers.

HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

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ever brought into Hillsdale County came with Mr. Graham's
household goods. In 1849 he bought two large farms in
the vicinity of Jonesville, and in 1851 built his present residence on the smaller one. During the great panic of
1837-38 Mr. Graham lost most of his funds through the
worthlessness of the famous "wild-cat" money, but finally
recovered his balance and became again prosperous. In
1845 he was elected to the Legislature, and in 1850 was
chosen a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He
has been prominently connected with the manufacturing
interests of the place, the Jonesville Woolen-Mills having
been built under his direction, and is at present enjoying
the benefits of a life well spent.
Hon. Ebenezer O. Grosvenor, now of Jonesville, came to
Michigan in 1837, when but seventeen years of age, and
located at Albion, Calhoun Co., where he was employed in
the store of an older brother. In 1839 he removed to
Monroe, and in 1840 to Jonesville, in which latter place he
was employed for four years as clerk in the dry-goods store of
H. A. Delavan. In April, 1844, he became a partner-with
R. S. Varnum; having in February of the same year married
a daughter of Hon. Elisha P. Champlin, one of the first
settlers of Lenawee County. In 1847, Mr. Champlin purchased Mr. Varnum's interest, and entered into partnership with his son-in-law. From 1857 to 1864 Mr. Grosvenor conducted the business alone. In 1875 the firmname was changed to Sibbald, Spaulding & Co., Mr. Grosvenor remaining a partner. In April, 1854, he established
the banking firm of Grosvenor & Co., which has been continued to the present time, with Mr. Grosvenor as manager
and principal owner. Early during his residence here he
was chosen to all the principal offices in the township, and
in 1858 was elected State Senator. In April, 1861, he
was commissioned colonel on the staff of Governor Blair, and
became president of the Military Contract Board, to which
he was appointed. Was elected to the State Senate again in
1862, and Lieutenant-Governor in 1864, on the same ticket
with Governor Crapo. By virtue of this office he was
president of the State Board of Equalization in 1866,
during which year lie was elected State Treasurer, holding
that office until 1871. Numerous other prominent positions
have fallen to his lot; he was the first treasurer of the
Jonesville Cotton Manufacturing Company, and was instrumental in directing the route of the Fort Wayne,
Jackson and Saginaw Railway, with which company he is
prominently connected.*
Elisha P. Champlin came to Michigan in 1824, and located at Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., where he stayed two years,
returning thence to New York. About 1830 he again
came to Tecumseh, and in 1834 sold his property at that
place and removed to Jonesville, where he engaged in the
mercantile business with George C. Munro, building a block
of stores on the northeast corner of West and Chicago
Streets. He remained in business until 1851, when ill
health obliged him to retire. He owned a farm adjoining
the village on the east. Between the date of his settlement
here and 1840 he was twice elected to the House of Rep

resentatives, and in the latter year to the Senate of the

State. From 1840 until 1844 he was the postmaster at
Jonesville. When he came here heVwas interested in the
mill property, probably disposing of his right in it to Hon.
Levi Baxter, who, in company with Cook Sisson, erected
the mill the same year (1834). Mr. Champlin died in
1855; his widow, now seventy-eight years of age, resides
in Jonesville with her son-in-law, Hon. E. 0. Grosvenor,
whose wife is her oldest daughter.
The following article, from the pen of Mrs. Roscius
Southworth, daughter of Thaddeus Wight, is copied from
the records of the Hillsdale County Pioneer Society.t Her
husband was from Windham Co., Conn., and was an early
settler in Litchfield township, in January, 1837, where
Mrs. S. now resides.
" I was born in November, 1819, in Hope, Montgomery
Co., N. Y. When about two years old my father, Thaddeus
Wight, emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Euclid, Geauga
Co. Here passed eight years, the happiest of my childhood; with a kind father and the best of mothers, home was
bright and cheerful for the little ones composing our group.
Then a dark cloud of adversity settled over home. Father
had signed with other men, and to pay the notes, as he had
to do, took his farm, after which he packed up his household
goods and shipped them to the mouth of the St. Joseph;
put a bed, cooking utensils, his wife, and seven children in
wagon, which was drawn by two yoke of oxen, and started
by land for Michigan, my oldest brother, Washburn, then
thirteen years old, driving four cows and some young cattle.
Thus we started for St. Jo,-the land that flowed with milk
and honey. In going down a steep hill my little brother,
William, six years old, fell from the wagon, and both wheels
ran over him. We took him up for dead; upon examination we found his shoulder badly broken. Laid by a week
at the first house, where, fortunately, lived a physician, who
set the broken limb and kindly cared for him. He helped
fix a swing bed in the wagon, and we started again. On
arriving at the 'cottonwood swamp,' a settler persuaded
father to go through, as it would save many miles of travel.
So two men volunteered to go with oxen, axes, and guns to
pilot and help us through, as no wagon had as yet ventured.
Well do I remember the water and mud into which the
wagon plunged every few steps. The dark, gloomy woods
were to us children a constant source of terror, and when
sister Alvira got lost we were all dismayed; but stopping
the team the men and dogs returned the lost child in about
two hours. At night our tent was spread, four large fires
built to keep the wolves at bay; father with his gun, on
one side, and the men with theirs on the other, quieted our
fears. It was the first howling of wolves we had heard.
"In the morning my brother, myself, and two older sisters
started ahead with the cattle, the marked trees being our
guide, wading through water all day. Just at night we
reached a tavern on this side the swamp, which we hailed
with great joy. Here, too, we found friends among strangers. After washing, they furnished us with dry clothes,
and prepared supper for twelve. The wagon with mother
soon cane up. Rested one day; started again on our slow,

toilsome journey. When we left Tecumseh we left the road

* Principally from Representative Men of Michigan.

t See ante.