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 Linda Talbott 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. =========================================================================== PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY, MICHIGAN by Florence McKinnon Gwinn Huron County Pioneer & Historical Society, 1922 [page 80] CHAPTER III EARLY TOWNSHIP HISTORY CHANDLER TOWNSHIP Chandler township was organized in 1879. Its territory was taken from that of Lake. WILSON SMITH was the first supervisor. THOMAS EDWARDS, who came in 1860 is said to be the first settler. The land is rolling in the north and east and flat in the south and west. It is drained by the Pinnebog and Pigeon rivers and has no waste land. There are no large villages in this town- ship. The entire section is given over to agricultural purposes and there are some excellent farms in this party of the county. Beans, clover hay, wheat and corn being the principal products. Sugar beets are also raised in some parts of the township. The little village of Soule is on the east branch of the Pinnebog river. In 1876 JOHN SOULE came to that section and purchased two acres on which the village is situated. CHAS. SOULE built a grist mill, saw mill and store on this site. The settlement which gathered [page 81] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY around these buildings naturally took Mr. SOULE'S name. He was also instrumental in having the township of Chandler organized and named in honor of the then sen- ator from Michigan. EDWARD McKAY came to the town- ship in 1878 and purchased 160 acres on section 24. He became one of the leading agriculturists and later increased his estate by purchasing another 160 acres in section 25. On the east boundary of the township is a splendid Catholic church with a large membership. This point is called Hewletton. The priest from here at the present day cares for the Caseville Catholic church also. The first Protestant religious services were held in the home of RALPH McCOUL, by Rev. Mr. CROSS, a Meth- odist preacher in 1868. Two brothers, JOHN and JAMES BEDFORD came in the early 50's and settled in the town- ship. JAMES afterwards sold his land to his cousin, JAMES BEDFORD. WILLIAM HEDLEY was another pioneer, com- ing in 1867. Other settlers in the '60's were THOMAS and ANTHONY GREEN, DAN HART, JOHN HOWARDTH, ROBERT SMITH, DARLING ANDERSON, Mr. NICHOLS, the HARVEYS, DANIEL LANGLEY, OBED MELICK, the DEVINES, the LENAWAYS and CHRISTIAN FLACK. To merely mention these sturdy pioneers gives but little idea of the hardships and privations they endured in establishing homes for their families. These men and many others not mentioned were chiefly instru- mental in the transformation of the township from a wilderness to a region of fruitful farms and comfortable homes. Many of them carried in on their backs the necessary provisions for the sustenance of their families. Often walking on logs through swamps and over trails tormented by those pests, the mosquitoes, which swarm- ed in clouds around them. Even the homes were be- sieged by these insects with their buzzing noise. A "smudge" was to be seen at every door in those days. Among the men who did much to develop this sec- tion the name of EDWARD HEATON is worthy of mention. He located 320 acres of land under the Graduation act. [page 82] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY He lumbered in the early years and later through his energy and enterprise he had one of the finest stock farms in the county. He raised the first grain, owned the first team of horses and wagon in Chandler township. He bought his farm implements in Detroit and Lexington and for many years owned the only fanning mill in the settlement. In the '70's we find these names on the roll in Chandler: MAXWELLS, YOUNGS, THOMPSONS, McLEODS, BROOKS, WILSONS, FITCHETTS, HAYS, ALEXANDERS, THOMAS FARVER and the SAWYERS. Several of these families were Scotch and where they lived was known as the Scotch settlement. They were nearly all adherents of the Pres- byterian church. ===========================================================================