History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers.

DE WITT TOWNSHIP.

403

CHAPTER LIV.
DE WITT TOWNSHIP.*
Boundaries, Soil, and Streams-Land-Entries-Early Villages in
De Witt Township-Settlement and Progress-Early HighwaysTownship Organization and Civil List-Schools-Religious Organizations-De Witt Grange.
THE township of De Witt, the scene of the early labors
of the first pioneer to the south half of the county, as
also of the earliest session of the county court, may be geographically described as bounded on the north by the township of Olive, south by Ingham County, east by Bath, and
west by Watertown. It is designated by the United States
survey as township 5 north, of range 2 west.
The township is watered by numerous streams of greater
or less magnitude, the most important being the LookingGlass River, which enters it from the north at section 1,
and flowing southwest through sections 2, 3, and 4, diverges to the west, passing through the village of De Witt,
and again to the south at section 7, making its exit into
Watertown at section 18. This stream, which affords a
considerable water-power, is fed by Prairie Creek, which
rises in a marsh in the southeast portion of the township,
and flowing north and west while pursuing a tortuous course,
enters the main waters at the village of De Witt on section 8.
The soil of the township embraces sand, gravel, and
clay, the former prevailing to a greater extent on the southerly border, while clay is found in the north and northwest. Gravel in limited amount is distributed generally
throughout the township. The southwest abounds in extensive marshes and swamps of tamarack, though an elaborate system of drainage has greatly improved much of this
land. The surface of De Witt is somewhat rolling in
character and offers a pleasing variation to the eye. The
landscape from all points is attractive, and in many places
impressive in its beauty, vying in this regard with the
most beautiful portions of the county. The soil is well
adapted to grains of all kinds, wheat and corn being especially prolific in their yield. The average harvest of
wheat in localities is twenty-five bushels to the acre, though
this is exceptional. The various fruits find here a congenial
soil, and orchards producing the choicest grafted fruit
abound in all parts. Peaches are being cultivated with
much success, and the smaller fruits are abundant in their
yield. Most of the woods peculiar to the State flourish in
De Witt, oak, maple, ash, and walnut being very thrifty in
their growth. The marshes produce the usual growth of
tamarack, which prevails principally in the south and southwest. The township is not unlike other portions of the
county in its destitution of pine-lands, a single tree of that
kind being almost a curiosity in De Witt.
LAND-ENTRIES.
The following-named persons were the original purchasers
from the government of' the land in township 5 north, of
range 2 west:

-~ --- —------ I

SECTION 1.
Acres.
John Lowery, 1835...... 65.28
Dewitt Parshall, 1836........................................ 320
Samuel Sherman, 1836....................................... 89.28
John Dodge, 1836............................................. 148.69
SECTION 2.
Cynthia M. Collins, 1834................................ 112.70
John Lowery, 1835, 1836................................... 295.48
SECTION 3.
Henry Miller, 1835........................................... 81.62
Erastus S. Ingersoll, 1835................................ 80
H. H. Leroy, 1835........................................... 129.96
Elias Daniels, 1836........................................... 81.70
D. E. Matthews, 1836........................................ 39.14
Platt Smith, 1836........................................ 206.97
SECTION 4.
S. Beckwith, 1835,1836..................................... 160
Leah Packard, 1836.......................................... 80
S. Beckwith, 1836............................................. 232.03
D. E. Matthews, 1836....................................... 78.61
Daniel Moore, 1836........................... 78.45
SECTION 5.
David Scott, 1833............................... 240
Sylvester Scott, 1833.................................... 80
Randolph Manning, 1836................... 80
J. R. Langdon, 1836..................................... 158.16
D. E. Matthews, 1836....................................... 77.40
SECTION 6.
C. S. Ferguson, 1834......................................... 160
William H. Webb, 1835..................................... 169.44
Alanson Goodrich, 1836..................................... 84.73
J. R. Langdon, 1836...................................... 157.20
B. H. Utley, 1836.................................. 82.11
SECTION 7.
C. S. Ferguson, 1834......................................... 9.13
Calvin Marbin, 1835................................. 55.52
E. H. Utley, 1835............................................. 203.04
Franklin Oliver, 1835..................................... 204.16
Alanson Goodrich, 1836..................... 166.27
SECTION 8.
David Scott, 1833............................................. 82.81
Hiram F. Sheldon, 1833......................... 107.80
George Pearsall, 1835............................ 80
William A. Hewitt, 1835.................................... 40
F. R. Bolles, 1835........................................ 197.54
J. R. Langdon, 1836............................... 120
SECTION 9.
S. Beckwith, 1835............................................ 34.47
William Utley, 1835.......................................... 234.17
George Pearsall, 1836.................................... 40
David Scott, 1836.......................................... 80
Platt Smith, 1836............................................ 80
Fitzalan Gardner, 1836...................................... 160
SECTION 10.
Philip French, 1836.......................................... 160
John Groves, 1836....................................... 160
Fitzalan Gardner, 1836...................................... 80
Salam F. King, 1836........................................ 240
SECTION 11.
William S. Warner, 1836................................... 160
Edward Townley, 1836...................................... 160
Platt Smith, 1836............................................. 320
SECTION 12.
Stephen P. Morehouse, 1836.............................. 160
William M. Lowell, 1836.................................... 320
Levi A. Mills, 1836........................................ 160
SECTION 13.
S. S. Bullock, 1836........................................ 80

William Packard, 1836.............................. 80
William G. Smith, 1836..................................... 40
E. L. Smith, 1836........................................ 160
John Taylor, 1836............................................ 80

* By E. 0. Wagner.