The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-02-14

WiILArQ ana tho Otuox esOcSA'S~>e f~
. repeal OF it, charter; thsrsupon Mr.. Willard
perhaps to secure unpaid dividends due upon
bus stock, took out plank in spots along the
road and built them into fence OF his own.
The other stockholders were indignant and the
public not less SO; but Mr.. willard with .
pertinsclty peculiar to himself carried the day,
and she road was finally abandoned. Such of
the stockholders az were able to do so, paying
themselves in "plank," Mr. Willard securing
to himself the toll houses.
Van Buren, County was named In honor OF
the distinguished member Of Jachson's admin
istraton, and who afterwards became the
eighth President OF the Union. The townships
and villages In the county generally bear the
names OF familiar towns, or Of historical per-
sonAses The few exceptions consist OF Paw
Paw, the Indian name OF . fruit that grew
sbundantly in the vicinity OF the river; Pine
Grove. named from that variety Of timber
found in places In the township; Breedsville, q
village named from Silas Breed ESQ, the first
settler in Col umbia township and among the
first in the county. He was an influential and
energetic citizen, TO whom the county is much
indebted for its advancement; Keeler, named
after Wolcot H. Kesler one Of the first associ-
ato Justice Of the county. He, with Jay r.
Monroe, sat with Judge Ransom, to open the
fret term of the Circuit Court in the Paw Paw
School House LAYTON, named after Nathan
Lawton Esq, at this writing, Of Auburn, N. Y
The village sprang into existence At the cross
ing OF the Little Prairie Ronde and Paw Paw
road, laid out under the Territorial laws, with
the Michigan Central r. r. and was originally
called Paw Paw Station, or South Paw Paw
But with the establishment OF Post Office
there, and the appointment OF Col. Andrew
Longstreet, Postmaster, another name was
sought. The gall ant Col. being a warm friend
Of the proprietor of the soil, named the grow
ing village, with the concurreI ce OF the Post
Office department, Lswton Mr.. Lawton was
not pioneer Of Michigan-never having re-
sided in the State-but he sprAng from a very
hardy race Of pioneers They came frem Eng
with Roger Williams in Rhode Island, and
took an active part in the formation Of that
colony. The Records OF abe Rhode Island
Plantations from the earliest date, have for
tunately been preserved, and they inform us
by what independent stops our fore-fathers
settled themselves into organized commun-
ties. The following extracts from those early
documents which the name OF Mr. Lawton
connects With this sketch may be found inter
esting. The Arst paper in the formation Of
Newport, is the following, and II sssursdly
shows the independent spirit Of the signers:
APRIL, seth, 1882
I've whose names are under written doe
acknowledge ourselves the legal subjects OF his
Majestic KING Charles and IN bus name doe
hereby binde ourselves into . . civil body
"politick unto his laws according TO matters Of
Justice" This document was signed BY
twenty-six persons, among which are Thomas
and George Lawton. The next entry OF the
same date is: According to the intent OF
the foregoing instrument wee whose names are
above particularly recorded do agree joyantIy
or by tho major voice to govern ourselves by
the ruler or judge amongst US IN all transac-
tons for the space and term of one year-
he beharing himself according to the term of
the same. We have freely made choice of
TO be ruler or judge among u.s." What
the pioneers OF Michigan would have done
without the ordinance OF 1887, the Territorial
Governor Council and laws is left to conjecture.
Probably as they were composed, excluding the
French families, to no small extent OF decend-
ants of those who first landed on the Atlantic
coast they would have followed the example
and traditions of their fathers, and Michigan
would, in due course, have taken its place
among the sister states OF the union with in
stitutions differing in no fundamental princl-
pie from them. Mr.. Lawton was born IN Fair
field, Herkumer county, N. Y, to which place
his father and grandfather, leaving Rhode
Island IN 1888, emigrsted.
The village OF Kendall is named after one Of
the proprietors OF the soil, q gentleman well
known In political and editorial circles; Goble-
vile takes its name also from the proprietor
OF the soil. The name is found early among |
the settlers of the county. Indeed the first
wedding recorded to have taken place within
Its limits was solemnized between Elijah
Goble and Eliza Title; Antwerp received its
name from Deacon Van Antwerp the oldest
settler. The Deacon came from the Genesee
Valley, N. Y, and his father was . body
servant OF Sir VIM. Johnson, OF whom the
Deacon could relate many anecdotes.
There are many reminiscencies worthy of
record, touching men prominent in the affairs
Of the county from an early day down to their
deaths, that are worthy Of collection and
but there seems to be no room
for them in this sketch. Among these names
not already appearing here, are Philotus Hay
den, A. w. Broushton, J. H. Simmons, and
indeed . long list Of them. And there are
many matters touching the townships that
ought to be collected and preserved before
they pass beyond recovery. Those capable of
-