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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I

Mr. Southworth is emphatically a self-made man. He
arrived in Michigan without a dollar in his pocket, and by
industry and shrewdness has worked his way onward and
upward, until he occupies a position as one of the most
prominent farmers in the township of Alien. Has a large
and finely-improved farm. For many years he was a railroad contractor, building portions on the Detroit and Toledo,
Michigan Southern, Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, and
Jackson branch of the Michigan Southern Railways. The
second horse he purchased in Michigan cost him ninety-five
dollars, and he drew flour from Litchfield to Hillsdale at a
shilling per barrel to pay for it.
The father of Mrs. Southworth, Thaddeus Wight, was
one of the earliest pioneers of the county, and when he
arrived with his wife and eight children, had but twelve
shillings in money left, with no shelter and no means of
supporting them. But the ingenuity and perseverance of
the " dweller in the wilderness" triumphed, and in a short
time he was one of the wealthiest farmers in the county, and
was surrounded with every comfort attainable in that day.
Mr. and Mrs. Southworth have witnessed the growth of
their adopted land, and its development into one of the most
powerful members of the sisterhood of States. Forty-four
years' residence on the part of the husband, and forty-eight
on that of the wife, have had their varied experiences,-their
trials, hardships, privations, reverses, and successes,-and in
their age they may rest content amid the blessings their
hands have provided, while their children enjoy the noble
inheritance built up for them since the pioneer days of long
ago.
JONATHAN W. WHITNEY.
Among the early pioneers to Hillsdale County was Jonathan Whitney, a descendant of John Whitney, who was
born in Whitney Street, Liverpool, England, in the year
1599. Having determined to emigrate to the colonies,
with his wife and family he embarked on the vessel
" Elizabeth and Ann," April, 1634, and arrived in Watertown, Mass., in June of the same year. Jonathan, whose
name stands at the head of this sketch, was born in Ontario
Co., N. Y., Nov. 3, 1816. His grandfather, Jonathan
Whitney, was a volunteer in the French and Indian war,
and was captain in the war for independence. His father
bore the commission of lieutenant in the war of 1812.
Mr. Whitney came in the year 1837 to Michigan on a
prospecting tour, and returning in the fall of the same year
to his native State, engaged in farming occupations until
the year 1839, when he married Ann Jane Garrett, of
Niagara, N. Y., who was born on the Isle of Man. They

came to Allen, Hillsdale Co., after their marriage, and on
the 21st of June of the same year moved into the house
known in after-years as the Still house.
In February of 1840 they removed to a house of their
own. This dwelling was destitute of many comforts, having no doors or floor, for the reason that no lumber was to
be had for the purpose. Mr. Whitney made good use of
his axe, and in a short time had cut a puncheon floor, and
having hauled a saw-log to the nearest mill, ten miles away,
he hoped soon to complete his house, and make it attractive.
On going for the lumber, a week later, he was dismayed to
find neither lumber nor log. It had disappeared in a manner not unfamiliar to pioneer lumbermen. Mr. and Mrs.
Whitney have had four children. The first, William G.
Whitney, was born Dec. 13, 1840, and enlisted as a private
soldier in the 11th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry
Aug. 24, 1861, and was with one exception in every engagement in which his regiment participated. He was slightly
wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, and afterwards promoted to a captaincy. He was provost-marshal, military
conductor, and railroad inspector, and was mustered out of
the service Sept. 30, 1865. In 1874 he married Bessie
Kay, and now resides on his farm in Allen. Anna E. was
born Dec. 26, 1842, and was married to John M. Watkins
in 1868, and died Jan. 2, 1878.
Jonathan C. was born Aug. 19, 1852, and Jennie S.
Oct. 10, 1859. They are both living at home with their
parents. Mr. Whitney and his family are regular attendants of the Methodist Church, and their house has often
been the home of the itinerant minister. Hospitality and
good cheer have always been extended to the deserving, and
the poor and sick alike find a welcome at their door. Many
places of honor and trust have been filled by Mr. Whitney,
among them the offices of supervisor, town treasurer, justice
of the peace, etc. In politics he is a Republican, and was
in early years a Whig.
WILLIAM McCONNELL
was born on the Isle of Barbadoes, Nov. 19, 1818. His
father was a soldier in the British army. William came
to America when he was fifteen years of age; learned the
cooper's trade. Carried on that and the mercantile business in Ceresco, Calhoun Co., Mich., until 1864, when he
purchased the farm where he now lives. Aug. 17, 1848,
he married Miss Elvira Cunningham. By this union five
children have been born, four of whom are now living,two sons and two daughters. Mrs. McConnell was the
daughter of James Cunningham, who came from Cortland,
N. Y. Settled in Marshall, 1837.

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