Chapin Township

This township occupies the southwestern corner of the county, and, with the 12 adjoining sections in Gratiot county, forms a Congressional township of 36 sections. The Chapin postoffice is located in section 35. The head-waters of Bad river may be said to rise in this township. Pine creek and its tributary streamlets form the principal water-courses of the district. Lamb and Gould creeks are in the northeastern sections.

There are a few old farms in the township. Within the last half decade a number of industrious agriculturists have been added to the population, which now reaches 646, according to the census returns of June, 1880. Within the past 12 months a few settlers have made their locations there, so that it is presumed by the residents that the actual population exceeds 700.

The question of organizing this fractional township began to be agitated immediately after the close of the war. The small band of settlers then residing there petitioned the county board to erect the 24 southwestern sections of the county into a township to be named "Chapin." The motion to organize was supported by 24 members of the board, and opposed by one; so that the following order to organize was made Oct. 10, 1866:

It appearing to the Board of Supervisors that application has been made, and that notice thereof has been signed, posted up and published, as in the manner required by law, and having duly considered the matter of said application, the board order and enact that the territory described in said application, bounded as follows, to-wit : fractional township 9 north of range 1 east, be, and the same is, hereby erected into a township to be called and known by the name of the township of Chapin.

The first annual township meeting thereof shall be held at Joseph Taylor's house on section 14, on the first Monday in April, A. D. 1867, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, and at said meeting Ferdinand F. Smith, Austin Chapin and Joseph G. Taylor, three electors of said township, shall be the persons whose duty it shall be to preside at such meeting, appoint a clerk, to open and keep the polls.

The order took effect in April, 1867, and the first township meeting was carried out with due regard to the formalities prescribed by the law in such cases. The municipal affairs of Chapin have been zealously guarded since that time, and every effort made by the local legislators to advance the position and prosperity of their constituents. The present township officers are: John McChristian, Supervisor; Edgar W. Winter, Clerk; Morris S. Brown, Treasurer; W. O. Wilson, David Van Bell, Austin Chapin and Gilbert Smith, Justices; Wm. Murlin, School Superintendent; Chris. Roebacher, School Inspector; Barney Hopee, Road Commissioner; Jesse Hall, Drain Commissioner; Walter Brown, Constable. This election was held at Bell's Corners, or Chapin, near the post office. Joseph Taylor, the oldest settler, was present.

There are four schools in this fractional township.

PATENTEES OF THE LANDS.

The original purchasers of the public lands of this township were not resident proprietors as a rule. In the following list of those who entered the United States lands, the names of non-residents as well as residents are given:

The settlers, both old and new, are as industrious as they are affable. Perhaps in no part of the State can the pioneer of 50 years ago find a better living remembrance of his early days than in this township. A little community of genial hearts, bound together by a solidarity of interests as well as true friendship, exists there, to tell the traveler, as it were, that there is one corner of the world, at least, free from the heavy cares which weigh upon more ambitious and older settlers.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

David V. Bell, second son of George and Asenath (Clapp) Bell, was born in Cuyahoga Co., 0., Jan. 10, 1842, of Irish and English ancestry. His first occupation was sailing on the lakes two years. He next worked on the Ohio canal five or six years. In the fall of 1860 he engaged in farming, at which he continued until Aug. 12, 1861, when he enlisted at Cleveland, O., in Co. B, 2d O. Cav., under Capt. Smith, and served in the Western army. He was discharged Dec. 12, 1865, and returned to Ohio, and the following spring he came to Chapin tp. and bought 80 acres of land on sec. 35, 70 of which are under cultivation. He was married in Chapin tp., Dec. 25, 1867, to Calista A., daughter of Steward and Margaret (Bonsteel) Thompson, born in Summit Co., 0., Aug. 2, 1848. They have 6 children, all born in Chapin tp.—Charles It, born March 30, 1870; Ella M., born Dec. 10, 1871; Daisy A., born Oct. 21, 1874; George S., born July 26, 1876; Clyde H., born July 6, 1878, and James C., born Jan. 29, 1881. Mr. Bell has been Commissioner one year, Justice of the Peace six years, and School Superintendent one year. Himself and wife are members of the Disciples of Christ.

Ferdinand F. Smith, third son of John B. and Annie (Hardy) Smith, was born in Sullivan Co., N. Y., May 6, 1813, of English and German ancestry. When four years of age his parents moved to Sussex Co., N. J., where they remained until he was 20 years of age, when he removed to Niagara Co., N. Y., and remained until the summer of 1857. He then removed to Ingham Co., Mich., where he resided until 1864, when he came to Chapin tp. and purchased 360acres of land on secs. 13 and 14. He was married in Niagara Co., N. Y., May 11, 1843, to Clarissa, daughter of Timothy and Polly (Kinney) Baird, born in Niagara Co., N. Y. They have 2 children, born in Niagara Co.—Gilbert A. and William J. Mr. Smith has been Township Treasurer three years and Justice of the Peace 11 years. He was burned out in 1871, loss estimated at $2,000. Mr. Smith and wife are connected with the United Brethren Church and he is a Democrat.

William B. Taylor, second son of Joseph G. and Almira (Brundage) Taylor, was born in Adams Co., Ind., Sept. 12, 1841. His father was born June 25, 1812, of English and German ancestry. His mother was born in New York Dec. 23, 1807. When six months old his parents removed to Yates county, and then to Chemung county, where they resided until he was 11 years of age. In the summer of 1855 he came with parents to Chapin tp. He purchased 40 acres of land on sec. 14, since when he has purchased 40 acres adjoining, 30 of which are under cultivation. He was married in Chapin tp., Dec. 3, 1865, to Sarah E., daughter of James and Aurora S. (Rising) Hervey, born at Manchester, Vt., July 9, 1850. They have 4 children, born in Chapin tp.—Ida M., born Sept. 10, 1866; William B., born June 29, 1871; Charles C., born Dec. 11, 1874, and Maude, born Aug. 11, 1877. In politics Mr. Taylor is a Republican and himself and wife are members of the Disciple Church. At the time of the Chicago fire he lost $500 worth of farming tools, buildings, etc. Joseph G. Taylor, his father, has 40 acres of land, on sec. 1.