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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. =========================================================================== PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY, MICHIGAN by Florence McKinnon Gwinn Huron County Pioneer & Historical Society, 1922 [page 60] CHAPTER III EARLY TOWNSHIP HISTORY VERONA TOWNSHIP Going away from the bay we find one of the older townships, Verona. The township was organized by act of legislature in the winter of '60 and '61, out of the following territory: Surveyed township No. 16 North of Range 13 East. The first township meeting was held at the home of THOMAS PHILP. He with THOMAS TEAR and ANDREW McALLISTER were the inspectors of the election. At the time Verona was organized there were just 12 free holders residing within its jurisdiction, being just the required number to petition for a new township. THOMAS PHILP was the first settler and shortly afterward he was joined by Messrs GEORGE MARTIN, JOHN and THOMAS SCOTT and ANDREW McALLISTER. These pioneers were about the only ones who had made any improvements when the township was organized. They deserve much credit for their bold courage in undertaking such an arduous task knowing that they would have to do many a hard day's work, undergo many privations before suf- ficient improvements could be made to make them- selves and families comfortable. With one exception, they had little or no means left after paying for their land and consequently like many others had to live out at different places on the lake shore to earn provisions and other necessities for their families. Then carry [page 61] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY it on their back fifteen or twenty miles through thick woods and swamps without a road or often even a path; only a blaze which by the aid of a pocket compass they were able to follow. This was the only mode of trans- portation for three or four years, after which sled roads were cut leading from the Forestville state road into their township. During the winter of '58 a grant of one section of swamp land from the state was obtained for the pur- pose of making a state road from Sand Beach to Midland City via Bay City. This road did not prove to be a success and in 1861 the governor appointed GEORGE W. PACK, commissioner for that portion of the above road which lay in Huron county. Mr. PACK immediately resurveyed it from Sand Beach to Pinnebog River via Bad Axe, run- ning nearly through the center of Verona. In the course of three or four years a good road was built along this route and emigrants began to enter not only Verona but also Sigel. Mr. PHILP had located 320 acres of land under the graduation act in section 36. Had to make two miles of road to reach his future home. He became the first supervisor of the township. Mr. McALLISTER, who came in 1858 told this story of how the township got its name. He had for neighbors, THOMAS PHILP, and THOMAS TEAR. They were both scholarly young men who had read much in their native Scotland and were familiar with Shakes- peare's works, especially the play "Two Gentlemen of Verona." The scene is laid in Verona, an open place. In some way or another Mr. McALLISTER and Mr. PHILP came to be termed the "Two Gentlemen" and later the three young men decided to call their new home Verona. GEORGE MARTIN, who also came in '58, located on sec- tion 25 and built a home in the wilderness. Here his son JOHN was born, the first white child in the settlement. GEORGE WHITELEM, another settler of '58, tells interesting stories of these pioneer days. When his father came to Verona there was an old mill that worked by hand to [page 62] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY grind the wheat. The grain was put in at the top and came out at the bottom, flour, bran and shorts, all to- gether, but people were glad to have even that kind of flour. The wolves in those days were another source of trouble. A man was going to Verona one day with some meat when the wolves took after him and in order to save his own life he had to drop the meat and flee for safety. We must not forget to mention JEREMIAH LUDING- TON, whose name occurs in the sketch of Sand Beach. In '64 he disposed of his property at Center Harbor, (then known as Jerry's Mill) and the next year became pur- chaser of about 2,000 acres of good agricultural land, well timbered with cork pine. Mr. LUDINGTON was a true pioneer, fearless, enterprising, prompt to act and resolute to hold, neither discouraged by reverses, nor too elated by success, but perservering until his object was gained. He built a large grist mill, saw mill and also a shingle mill which were hailed as a "God send" by the inhabitants of Verona and the adjoinging town- ships. He also erected a large boarding house, several dwellings, a store, blacksmith and carpenter shop, and last, but not least, one of the largest and finest school houses in the county at his own expense. His house and that of his brother-in-law, JOHN KNEAL, were the first frame houses in the township. He employed 60 men and 10 teams in his lumbering operations. In 1869 he cut 40,000,000 feet of lumber and 100 planks averaging from 36 to 49 inches in width. Each plank was 16 feet in length. Two of these planks were in Cleveland for several years and afterwards were shown at the Fair in Philadelphia. Mr. LUDINGTON lost many thousands of dollars in the great fires of '71 and '81. He served in the Michigan Legislature two terms and also three years as State Swamp Land Commissioner. During this time the Huron City and Bad Axe state road was built under his supervision. He also built a number of roads at his own expense in 1866. [page 63] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY Another well known name is that of JOHN BALLENTINE, who built a store at Verona Mills in 1867, which he conducted until it was burned in the fire of '71. He next tried lumbering and built a saw mill which he ran for seven years when he added a flour mill. Had good success until the fire of '81 swept away all of his prop- erty leaving him only 50 cents to start anew with. This he did, moving to Bad Axe, establishing a fine mercantile business. ROBERT SCOTT came into the township in 1859. He was a stone mason by trade and laid the foundation for the first house built by FRANCIS CRAWFORD, of Caseville. He was assisted in this work by RICHARD GWINN, Sr. This was the first stone wall built in Caseville township. Two families of the PANGBORNS came to Verona in 1862 and 1867 and the township settled quite rapidly from that date. The beautiful little village of Verona Mills was swept over by the great fire of '81 and only four buildings were left. This town had a post office es- tablished in 1867 with J. LUDINGTON as postmaster. The first school was opened the same year. A great portion of the township is a series of hills and valleys which add much to the beauty of the landscape. The timber found here was beech, ash, maple, cedar, pine and hemlock. This was nearly all destroyed in the terrific fire of '81. The township is drained by Willow Creek, whose outlet is at Huron City. All records were burned, so the real date of the organization of the township is unknown. The following named settlers came before 1868 and had from 10 to 120 acres of land under cultivation: THOMAS RAPSON, Mrs. TALBERT, JOHN NOONAN, FRED PETH- ERS, ALEX SNETZINGER, RICHARD BRADEN, ANGUS McDON- ALD, WILLIAM THOMPSON, JOHN METCALF, JAMES MURRAY and C. B. SHIRE. Wheat was the principal crop then. The first agricultural fair in the county was held in Verona Mills, October 20, 1869. The commodius barn of Mr. LUDINGTON was placed at the disposal of the society for the display of manufactures, agricultural pro- [page 64] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY duce, etc., while the live stock was exhibited in an adjacent enclosure. Among the exhibits we note 10 pounds of maple sugar, 1/4 M shaved shingles, 100-foot plank, chain hook, 1/2 dozen axe helves, best yoke of matched oxen, best yoke of working oxen, best 30 yards of full cloth. The prize for the last item mentioned was taken by ROBERT SCOTT. JOHN PANGMAN took the first prize for axe helves, while DONALD CURRIE had the best matched yoke of oxen. The paper of that day states that the sheep, like angels' visits, were few and far be- tween. There was also a fine exhibit of fruit. ===========================================================================