ALBEE TOWNSHIP

Few of the early land buyers became permanent settlers in the township. The resident owners purchased through a third party, and in some instances through a twelfth owner. The time arrived, however, when the cultivator of the soil became its proprietor, and conferred the blessings of settlement upon the district.

BIOGRAPHICAL

In the following biographical notices much of the history of the township is related. The subjects of these sketches aided materially in raising it to its present prosperous condition:

William C. Albee, the pioneer settler of Albee tp., was born at Collins, Erie Co., N. Y., in 1833. In April, 1849, he moved to Vienna tp., Genesee Co., Mich., and on March 6, 1855, located in what is now Albee tp., Saginaw Co. He was the first settler in the township, and it was named in honor of him. Himself and wife suffered many privations and hardships in their pioneer home, and Mrs. Albee has gone a period of six months without seeing a person of her own sex. Mr. Albee located 160 acres of land on the S. E. ¼ sec. 27. Their cabin was erected on a little spot of two acres, which was cleared by him without the use of a team. Mr. Albee was a Republican in politics, and took a very active part in raising men and money in support of the Union cause during the war of the great Rebellion. He also served the tp. as its Treasurer for several years, and in other local offices.

He was married to Miss Phoebe Toogood, daughter of Charles and Sarah Ann Toogood, of Genesee, Genesee Co., Mich.

Wm. C. Albee died on the 9th of March, 1878, of consumption, leaving an estate of 320 acres to his wife and 2 children, who reside at the homestead on sec. 33.

Henry C. Chapel, farmer, sec. 33, was born at Dexter, Washtenaw Co., Mich., in 1844. His parents were S. S. and Harriet L. Chapel, natives of New York, and of English descent. Mr. C. learned the tinsmith's trade, and followed it for eight years. He came to Albee tp. in 1878, and bought 120 acres of land, 15 of which are improved. He is Republican in politics, has been School Superintendent one year, and School Director three years. He was married in Ingham Co., Mich., in 1868, to Frances E. Hicks, who was born in Ingham county in 1848. They have 2 children—Clara M. and Daisy B.

Orville D. Chase, farmer, sec. 33, was born at Flint, Genesee Co., Mich., June 3, 1852. His parents' names were Calvin and Amanda (Fitzallen) Chase, the first a native of Vermont, and the latter of New York State. They settled in Michigan at an early day. Calvin Chase now resides in Chesaning tp., this county. His wife is deceased and buried in the Chesaning cemetery. Orville D. Chase received the advantages of a common-school education in Flint. He was married to Miss Alice Patterson, Dec. 22, 1873; they have 2 children living—James Calvin and Charles Wilbur. Mr. C. now owns 20 acres on sec. 33, Albee tp. In politics he is a Democrat.

Thomas S. Craig, farmer, sec. 31, was born in Mercer Co., Pa., in 1828. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Simpson) Craig, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ireland. Mr. Craig settled in Genesee Co., Mich., in 1856, and in 1861 located in Albee tp., Saginaw Co., where he purchased 64 acres of land, 50 of which are now improved. Mr. Craig is the third settler now living in Albee tp. He has been Tp. Treasurer five years, Supervisor one year, and School Director six years. He is Democratic in politics. Mr. C. was married to Ellen, daughter of Albert Gridley. They have 10 children. The names of Mr. Craig's children are---Geo. W., Wm. M., Charles H., Robert C., Etta M., Thomas S., Flora Belle, Frank H., Albert H. and Roy C.

James Darling—This gentleman is one of Albee township's most substantial and enterprising citizens and farmers, as well as one of its pioneers. He was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Dec. 6, 1820, and is a son of James P. and Susannah (Pierson) Darling. When he was but two years of age his mother died, and at the tender age of four years the motherless boy was given by his father to Zadok Martin and wife, in whose family he remained until his 15th year. Mrs. Martin was a kind woman, and proved almost a second mother to the orphan boy, but her husband and 5 children proved themselves during all these years as tyrannical masters. He was obliged to work from his earliest years, and was given tasks that it was unreasonable to expect so small a boy to perform, and when from want of strength he failed in any of them, he was unmercifully punished. At the above age, by the advice of Mrs. Martin, who sympathized with him, he returned to live with his father, who had married again and lived at Manchester, Ontario Co., N. Y., where he remained six months, and then hired out to a farmer for three months at $4 per month. He continued to work in this way for two years for different parties, never receiving over $8 per month. He was now 17 years of age, and able to "hoe his row with the best." He returned to Livingston Co., N. Y., and found employment at $10 per month for the season. He remained in this county until the spring he was 21 years of age, having attended school three months the preceding winter. This was the only schooling Mr. Darling ever received, except while living at Mr. Martin's; and he often said he learned more during those three months than ever before.

In 1842 he hired to A. C. Stevens (who was coming to Michigan) to drive his team, Mr. S. also agreeing to pay his fare on the lakes and $11 per month. The party started from Livingston Co., N. Y., about the first of May, driving to Buffalo, N. Y., 65 miles, with a team. At this point they shipped team and all on board a lake steamer bound for Detroit, Mich., where they arrived May 6, 1842. From Detroit they came to Flint, Mich., by team, a distance of 65 miles. Mr. Darling remained in the employ of Mr. Stevens nine months and a half. For some time afterward he worked at jobbing around Flint, and then found employment with a Mr. Pierson, with whom he remained one year and a half.

He then commenced teaming on his own account, and hauled the first heavy load ever taken over the Saginaw and Flint plank road. He drove four horses, the wagon being loaded with 42 barrels of flour, and loaded back to Flint with five tons of merchandise. He followed teaming for 14 years, running a threshing-machine part of the time.

Jan. 9, 1848, he was married to Miss Harriet Esther Reynolds, a daughter of Levi and Freelove ( Thompson) Reynolds, who were both natives of Chemung, Saratoga Co., N. Y. They were early settlers in Flint tp., where they cleared up a farm. They are both deceased, each being 68 years of age when they died, though the father preceded the mother some 10 years. They are buried in the town of Richfield, Genesee Co., Mich.

June 15, 1856, James Darling was elected Constable of the Second ward in the city of Flint, and served two years. He then took a farm in Mount Morris tp., Genesee Co., consisting of 160 acres, the use of which he had for the improvements he made by breaking the wild land, etc., on this place. He remained three years, when he came to Saginaw county and bought 240 acres of and on secs. 23 and 26, Albee tp., and commenced moving his goods and preparing a place for his family to live in. This was about the middle of November, 1861. The land was in a perfectly wild state, heavily timbered with all kinds of hard wood, white-wood and pine—not a foot of it but what was shaded by forest trees. The ax of the white man had never invaded its quiet except for hunting purposes. At the time above stated, Mr. Darling with his eldest son, Harry R., took possession of the new farm. They had a team loaded with lumber, and arrived about four miles from his present residence about 5 o'clock in the morning, and it took them until 10 o'clock P. M. to pass over that four miles, being obliged to cut their way and make a road for the team to pass. They immediately cleared a small space on which they proceeded to erect a shanty to live in, and near by put up some log stables for stock. Mr. Darling and son spent most of the winter on the place, preparing for the family in the spring, while Mrs. Darling remained at Flushing, where they lived, and took care of the stock and other matters, assisted by her next oldest son, James Franklin.

Having prepared as well as he could, Mr. Darling moved his family, wife and 8 children, to his home in the forest in March, 1862. This year he cleared off about six acres and put it in corn, and has cleared off up to the present 130 acres of land, all of which is the result of his own labor or directed to be done by him, as also are all the improvements on the place. The homestead is one of the best farms, if not the very best in Albee tp. Mr. Darling has since added to his possessions, and at one time owned 640 acres, but has now 440, having given to his eldest son, Harry R., 160 acres, and 40 to his son Charles E. Besides his lands and stock Mr. D. is otherwise independently situated, having several thousand dollars working for him day and night drawing from seven to ten per cent interest.

He is now, at the age of 61 years, an active and vigorous man, and is so situated that he may for the rest of his life enjoy a competence so well and honestly earned. James Darling may truthfully be called a self-made man; having been thrown among strangers since infancy, with no help from any one, he has attained a position financially and socially second to none in his tp., though he attributes much of his success to the help afforded him by his true and faithful wife, who has shared in all his labors and suffered all his hardships equally with himself in building a home in the wilderness. Mrs. Darling set fire to the first brush heap that was burned in the clearing of their now beautiful farm, and lived at their present residence 13 years before she saw a smoke from a neighbor's chimney. She is a true pioneer woman, kind-hearted, hospitable and generous.

James Darling, in religious matters is a "free-thinker," and believes that the golden rule well followed is the best religion. In politics he is a Democrat, and he has served his township in all its various local offices. On the organization of the tp. in 1863 he was appointed one of the Board of Inspectors of Election, and was also elected its first Supervisor. This office he has held four years. He has been Tp. Clerk two years, Treasurer one year, Commissioner of Highways three years, Justice of Peace four years, etc. He has held as many as four different offices at the same time.

Mr. and Mrs. Darling have had a family of 18 children, whose names are as follows: Harry R., who married Susan Bowerman and lives on sec. 22, Albee tp.; Susannah Jane, who married Calvin O. Chase and lives with her husband in Chesaning tp.; James F., who lives at home; Harriet S., now the wife of Lewis Sutton and living at Big Rapids, Mich.; Charles E., who married Mary Guiney and lives in Albee tp.; Wm. P., who is now at St. Helen's, Roscommon Co., Mich., learning telegraphy; Helen E., who died Jan. 21, 1865; Geo. W. who died Jan. 17, 1865; Julia A. E., who died Jan. 24, 1865; Andrew and Lillie B., now living at home; Henry H., who died April 19, 1867; Alice M., Julia G., Fred. H., Lewis O., Rosa M., and Viletta A., are all living at the homestead. The names of the children are given in order of their birth.

In the foregoing we have traced in a condensed form, step by step, from earliest childhood the career of this honored pioneer of Albee tp., as an example of the difficulties and labors which not only he and his wife, but other pioneers, experienced in their efforts to clear a farm and build up a home for themselves and families in a trackless wilderness. We give the portraits of James and Harriet E. Darling on pages 712 and 713.

James A. Gould, farmer, sec. 34, was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Aug. 15, 1825. His parents were Othniel and Abiah Gould, the former a native of Syracuse, N. Y., and the latter of Vermont. Mr. G. went to Port Huron, Mich., with his parents, in 1886, and came to Albee tp. in 1866, purchasing 160 acres of land. He was Township Clerk seven years. He was married at Almont, Lapeer Co., Mich., Sept. 4, 1852, to Lydia E. Parker (a daughter of Eliada and Elizabeth Parker, natives of Connecticut), born Nov. 9, 1834, at Lexington, Greene Co., N. Y. Of the 7 children given them, 4 are living—Charles H., Willis J. Elmer O., and Fred. H. Mr. Gould and wife are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. G. is a Republican in politics. He owns 160 acres of land.

Alexander C. Kidd, son of William and Christa (Robertson) Kidd, was born at Petersboro, Canada, Sept. 22, 1834. His father was born at Bathgate, Scotland, in 1808, and his mother at Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, March 28, 1811. By occupation he is a blacksmith, having worked at that trade for 30 years. He was married while living in Cavan tp., Durham Co., Canada, March 3, 1853, to Isabella, daughter of Alexander and Mary Robertson, who was born in Cavan tp., Dec. 20, 1828. Of their 7 children, 5 are living. 3 born in Canada, the remainder in Albee tp., William T., born Dec. 30, 1853; Mary M., born Aug. 26, 1855; John Alexander, born March 30, 1858; Eveline N. and Caroline (deceased), born May 3, 1868; Thomas J., born Aug. 15, 1870; Jane A., was born in Canada, Sept. 25, 1860, and died Dec. 15, 1863. Mrs. Kidd died in Albee tp., April 5, 1876. Mr. Kidd came to Albee tp. in January, 1868. He has been Justice of the Peace two terms, School Director three years, and Highway Commissioner two years. Mr. Kidd is a member of the Disciples of Christ Church, as was also his wife.

Isaac Savage.----This pioneer and prominent citizen of Albee tp. was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Aug. 11, 1830, and is a son of Wm. and Urania (Sprague) Savage. The subject of this sketch was married at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1849, to Hannah Warden. In 1849 they came to Michigan and settled in Livingston county. In 1859 he, with his family, moved to Saginaw county and located in Albee tp., on sec. 15, where he took up a homestead of 40 acres, and has since purchased 160 acres more, so that now his lands consist of 200 acres. When he came to this place it was an unbroken forest, while now 100 acres are improved--mostly the result of his own labor. Mr. Savage is a Republican in politics, and has served his tp. in many offices of trust and honor, among which are Supervisor one year, Commissioner of Highways two years, School Director 18 years, Justice of the Peace for several years, and Treasurer of the tp. for two terms. He is now holding the last two offices. Mr. and Mrs. Savage have had a family of 8 children, 6 of whom are living, named as follows: Caroline L., William, Amanda A., Adelbert, Hiram A. and Sydney E. Mr. Savage resides on sec. 15, Albee tp. His portrait is given on page 275.

John. N. Slocum, farmer, sec. 28, was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., in 1841. His parents are John and Margaret Slocum, the former a native of New York, of English descent, and the latter of Scotland, of Irish descent. At East Otto, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., in 1861 Mr. Slocum enlisted in Co. C, 64th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf. and served over one year in his country's service. He was discharged at Newark, N. J., in December, 1862. In 1876 he married Carrie E., daughter of James H. and Jeanette Orr, natives of Erie Co., N. Y. Mr. Slocum was at the siege of Richmond, at the battle of Fair Oaks, and his regiment covered the retreat to Harrison's Landing. Mr. Slocum has been Supervisor of Albee tp. three years, and Commissioner of Highways one year.

Henry H. Stuart, farmer on sec. 27, was born in Tyrone tp., Livingston Co., Mich., in 1845, and is a son of Thomas and Susan Stuart. His first occupation was farming, but he also worked as an engineer for some time, and in 1880 bought and fitted up a large saw and shingle mill in Albee township, which he has since operated. He owns 80 acres of land, on which is erected a substantial dwelling. On Aug. 24, 1863, Mr. S. enlisted in Co. B, 10th Mich. Cav., Capt. S. T. Bryan, as a private, and was discharged at Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 11, 1865, with the rank of Colonel. He is a Republican, was Town Commissioner two years, and Assessor nine years. In 1869 be married Lucy Byerla, a native of New York, and of German descent. They have 1 child, Alice.

BACK TO LIST OF TOWNSHIP HISTORY 1881

Source: History of Saginaw County Michigan, By Michael A. Leeson, Damon Clarke, Published 1881 Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Chicago pages 715-722.

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