Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Karen D. Foster for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================== U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================== Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ========================================================================== SOURCE: History of Genesee County, Michigan pub. Everts and Abbott - 1879 Page 300 - 301 HENRY H. HOWLAND Since the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth Rock, the pioneers of America have been men of iron nerve, of energy and perseverance, —men who, when they had once turned their faces westward, turned not back for trifles, but kept resolutely on, until to-day a great and beautiful country shows the work of their strong arms and willing hearts. Such a man is Henry H. Howland, one of the first settlers in the town of Mundy. He was born in the town of Ira, Rutland Co., Vt., April 30, 1807. His father, Banister Howland, was born in the town of Scituate, R. I. After his marriage to Miss Mary Forbes, the elder Mr. Howland moved to Monroe Co., N.Y., where he bought, in 1808, a farm of unimproved land. Here he remained four years, when he moved to the town of Hartland, Niagara Co., N.Y., of which section he was one of the first settlers. The country was then an almost unbroken wilderness. He had just got a start in the new home when the war of 1812 broke out; he was drafted, and served through the war, as his father, Samuel Howland, had previously in the Revotionary war. At the close of the war Banister went back to his farm, and lived there until 1836, when he again emigrated to a new country, settling in Oakland Co., Mich., where he died, June 11, 1856. Henry H. lived at home with his father until he was twenty-two, helping to clear up and improve the new farms, and having but a limited chance to acquire an education. He then started out for himself, with no capital save a strong constitution and an abundance of energy and industry. He commenced by taking jobs of chopping and clearing land, and in this way earned the money to buy eighty acres of new land in Troy, Oakland Co. This farm he sold in 1836, when, in company with his uncle, he came to Mundy, Genesee Co., looking for land. It was then a wilderness, with but few inhabitants save its original owners, the Indians. They followed the section lines by the aid of the trees marked by the surveyors. When they came to the land now owned by Mr. Howland, he told his uncle he should locate there unless he found something better. They went west till they struck the big swamp. Mr. Howland climbed a tree, and saw before him only swamp, with the water up to a man's arms. They then struck south, and the uncle selected his land in Gaines township, while Mr. Howland bought of the government four eighty-acre lots, two hundred and forty acres of which he now owns. There was then no one within one mile of his land, and but twelve families in the town. The next spring, at the first town-meeting, there were but eighteen voters in what is now Gaines and Mundy. In the spring of 1837, Mr. Howland moved his family, consisting of his wife and two children, to the new home. He had built a log shanty, eighteen by twenty feet, covered with shakes, and without doors or windows. He had to cut his roads in, and ford the streams. Swartz Creek was partly frozen over, and Mr. Howland waded it seven times in one day, with the water up to his arm-pits, breaking the ice with a pole, and then driving his own and his father-in-law's team through, the last trip leading a pig through by the ear. In the log shanty they lived five years, while Mr. Howland was clearing and improving his farm. His supplies were bought in Bloomfield, and five days were consumed in making the trip with an ox-team. He sold his first wheat for "three-and-sixpence" a bushel, oats ten, and potatoes eight cents per bushel, — not for cash, but in trade out of the store. He was then a man of great strength and powers of endurance, there being few men who could do more of any kind of work than he; by his energy and industry the forest disappeared as if by magic, and soon a well-improved farm was to be seen where so short a time before was only a wilderness. The howl of the wolf was no more to be heard, but in its stead the bleating of sheep and the lowing of cattle. In 1854 the old home was replaced with the present commodious home, which was at the time of its erection the finest house in Mundy. At the first term of court held in Genesee County, Mr. Howland was one of the jurors, few of whom now survive. Mr. Howland is now in the seventy-third year of his age, the owner of one of the finest farms in Genesee County, the reward of a lifetime of labor; and here, under his own "vine and fig-tree," he intends to spend the remainder of his days. He is spoken of by those who know him well as a citizen esteemed and respected by all. There are but few men of his age who, like Mr. Howland, can say they never drank a glass of liquor, or any beverage save water. In politics Mr. Howland is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, having in early days been a Whig. Hissons likewise are all Republicans. Mr. Howland married, for his first wife, Polly M. Sprague. She was born June 12, 1814. They were married July 15, 1832. Their children were: Barnibas S., born Sept. 8, 1833, died July 23, 1859; Harley H., born Sept. 10, 1836, died July 12, 1854; Banister F., born Aug. 7, 1839, enlisted in Co. G, 8th Michigan Infantry, in July, 1861; killed June 16, 1862, at James Island, S.C, while storm- ing the fort at that place. Mrs. Howland died Dec 4, 1839. For his second wife he married Esther P. Van Tifflin (born in Rochester, N.Y., Oct. 25, 1822), daugh- ter of Peter and Hannah (Allen) Van Tifflin. There have been born to them five children: Mary P., born Sept. 28, 1840; Aretus S., born Dec. 14, 1841 ; John C, born Sept 27, 1843; George W., born April 30, 1845; Millard F., born ========================================================================== Page 301 March 15, 1856. The latter was killed by the cars at Durand, Dec. 9, 1877; he was conductor of a freight train, and was making his last trip as such, prior to taking the position of a passenger conductor. Aretus Howland is now living on and owns a part of the old farm. The daughter, Mary P., is married and lives at Charlotte. John C. graduated in the literary class of 1870, at Ann Arbor, and afterwards was graduated in the law school. He subsequently practiced law three years with Judge Swift, in Detroit, but is now by himself, and has a good practice. George W. went to Ann Arbor in 1867, and was graduated in the medical school in 1870; he practiced medicine in Pontiac during 1869; since graduating he has had an office in Flint, where he has a good practice. ========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our free online information by going to the following url: http://www.us-data.org/ ==========================================================================