The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-08-14
READING.
Early History of the Town
ship of Reading,
Read at the Hillsdale County
Annual Pioneer Meeting,
Held on the County Fair
Grounds june 13, III.

~ los
The township Of Reading was organ.
lied from the town OF Allen, under
special act of the Legislature, in the
spring of 1897. 1t comprises territory
six miles square, known in the United
States survey as town seven, south OF
range four west, in the State of Michi-
gan. It's surface is gently undulating,
heavy timbered. and is probably the
most elevated point in the southern
part OF the State. The soil is mostly
a black sandy loan, very deep, under
laid by clay sub-soil. Natural for
grass and spring crops generally.
It's first settler was John Miokle, Oct.
9th, 1895; Eleazer Gleason AID Charles
Powell followed in Nov. and Ephraim
Wiltsie in Dec. of the same year. In
Jan, 1886, VIM. Berry, Horace Palmer,
Ransalor Sutliff and Chas. Lee came
with their families. In Feb. following
Mrs. Lee and child died, and Mr.. Lee
left the town. In April, Wright Red
ding, Ami Carpenter and mother came.
In May, Jarvis Mason; in june, Jeffer-
son Kellogg aud Geo. W. Halsted; in
October, Sylvester Whaling and Peter
Belts; in November. Newman Curtiss.
These were the principal electors in the
organization OF the town. In April,
1897, George and John Fitzsimmons,
father aud son, John and Asahel Nj.
Rising, father and son, Jonas p. Gates,
Jonathan Odell, VIM. Tappan, Jarvis
Mason, Lewis A. Keith, VIM. Meek,
Miriam Wiltsie, VIM. VanHorn, Sidney
Bailey, Benjamin Lewis and Garner
Archer. In 1888, Martin Wygent, Da-
vid Prouty, William aud Chester Mo-
rey, Warren Chaffee, Bazaliel Palmer,
Lorenzo and Bingham ID. Abbott.
Charles Hughes, Daniel Kinne, Robert
Berry, Stephen Webster, Thos. Berry,
John Fritts, A. II. Bartholomew, Geo.
Brown. Oscar Whitney, Mrs. Beisey
Moses, Jacob Valentine, Ralph Bailey,
Melvin Bailey, Almon Nichols and a
Mr.. Sears settled in the town, very
nearly in the order here named. In
1889, EphriAm p. Purdy, Jas. \. Gal
+ lowsy, Jas. 9. Galloway, Elmor and
Heman Hawse, Elmer Bacon. Horace
Avery, Hemsn Holdridge, Roswell Mer-
riman, Daniel Murray, John Dopp, and
two brothers Of the name Of Hill were
among the settlers OF the year. These
were, one and all, strictly pioneers Of
+ the town-uot enough 20 give family
10 every half section OF land IN it
Previously we find less than n quarter
I of this number resolute and determin.
/ cd 10 take for themselves towns ship re-
sponsibility, although they could hard
/ ly fill the Offices required for full
fiedged township.
Indeed, We find al the time Of their
organization that all territory south TO
/ the Ohio and Indiana lines were attach
ell 10 them foI the time being for town
| ship purposes, and this accounts for
the election of James Fowle, living
I near the Ohio line. as their first super
visor-the population OF the whole ter
/ ritory numbering 221.
The first board OF township officers
were elected April, 1897, aud the prin.
cipal offices were filed as follows: Sn-
\ pervisor, James Fowle; Justices Of the
/ Peace, james Fowle, William Berry,
/ John Mickle aud Samuel ;. Curtis. -
/ Collector, Eloazor Gleason.
Value of real and personal estate in
I 1897, sl37, ,67s.
1 For ls3S-Chas. Powell, Supervisor;
/ VIM. Berry, Justice Of the Peace.
Valuation Of Reading alone IN le3o,
/ Slj6, 657.
For 1s39-Ralph Bailey, Supervisor;
/ Daniel Kinne, Justice OF the Peace.
For lS40-l.alph Bailey, Supervisor,
George Fitzsimmons, Justice of the
Peace.
Up to this date, 1910. but very few
roads had been regularly laid out aud
I improved. There was one principal
road from Jonesville, the county seat,
/ by way Of Sand Lake, aud this contin-
ucd south on section line into the town
south Of this; from this main line
/ others branched off each way to accom-
modate the settlements being made -
| The county seat being prospeciiyely
removed 10 Hillsdale, or some point
/ nearev the center Of the county, about
this date, the legislature authorized
the laying Of State rosd from Hills
dale through Reading 10 the Indiana
/ State ine, and 10 carry the act into ef
/ feet Ralph Bailey, Geo. FitZsiu mons
aud Barron b. Willetts we're appointed
| commissioners. This road was partial
ly opened 10y those living on tho line;
and at later period, lSi7, the State
made a grant Of land 20 assist in open
lug il. Salmon Sharp, Esq, was ap-
pointed commissioner, the work doue
/ by people living on the line, aud the
| land taken IN payment therefor.
On the opening of this road in 1871,
il gave facilities for two markets and
centers OF trade, Jonesville or Kills
dale, as the people chose.
The census Of l640 showed popula-
ton OF the town Of 33l. They felt the
necessity Of mail facilities, which they
we're Justly entitled 20 IN view OF their
population, but IL was first necessary
to get post-route established, then
postmaster. While the first Of these
measures we're pending, a general move
was made through the town for the ap-
pointment Of John Mickle. Esq, as
/ postmaster, on the ground, probably,
OF his being the first settler and very
influential IN oil town matters. But
we find in this case the best laid plaus
Of men, as we'll as mice. oft gang aglee.
A rivalry was springing up between
neighborhoods, one mostly located on
the Jonesvillo road, near the north line
of the town, the other on the new
State road running % Hillsdale, aud
nearer the center OF the town geo
graphically. While the first party
we're waiting patiently on Uncle Sam
TO establish the route and commission
the applicant, ''they being IN accord
politically with the administration. "
the leaders of the other neighbOrhOOi
put their heads together. working
mostly through officials OF the posto!-
fee depsr ment, and the resul, was the
establishing Of the route on the new
State road and the sppointmont OF
Rslph Bailey AZ postmaster aud Daniel
kiane deputy; Geo. FitzsImmons mail
carrier. 10 was afterwaFd charged ns
being the work of a riog composed Of
Ralph Bailey, George Fitzsimmons and
Daniel Kline, neither of which would