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Gleaning the Past.........Part 3 Burr Oak Township St Joseph County, Michigan |
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Hackett Tidbits
Unconnected
These are bits and pieces of Hackett information I've collected over the years in search
of my family ties. When I first started to research back in 1972, I did so by the seat of my pants and
without even thinking about it, didn't think about recording such minute things as microfilm rolls,
pages numbers and the date of such things.... I apologize to you that I'm unable to provide those
important pieces of data for you on this first entry.
This is an 1850 census for the state of Michigan, St Joseph County, Burr Oak Township. The date of the recording of this data in the census taker's book was 6 August 1850.
Hackett, John.............28 years old, born New York
Hackett, Ellen............26 years old, born New York
Hackett, Josephine......2 years, born Michigan
Nathan Hackett, my mother's great great grandfather was listed on the same page and the age of 33 years. I don't know how these two men were related. I do know that Nathan's daughter Ellen was my great great grandmother and she married with Thomas Jefferson Reed, son of Casper Reed and Mary Wolverton Reed.
from the papers of Jo Garzelloni
77
Burr Oak Acorn, 3 November 1932
Burr Oak SCHOOL NOTES
J.A. Vogt, Supt.
First and Second Grade~~~~~The first and second grades have made their calendars for November.
We have a Hallow'een party in our room last Friday. The second grade boys and girls are
making "The Pilgrim's Thanksgiving" for the sand table.
Third and Fourth Grades~~~~~The following pupils were neither absent nor tardy during the
month of October: Florence Bathrick, Jane Bedient, Edna Chapin, Victor Decker, Richard
Emerson, Charlene Harmon, Helen Harman, Eleanor Hill, Max Lee, Betty Maystead,
Norene Smith, June Buller, Sadie Bell Dunham, Harry Gross, Marlan Hatch, Francis
Kane, Clayton Klopfenstein, Winifred Kanouse, Clinton Klopfenstein, Maxine Klopfenstein,
Jeanne Mayer, Donald Thrasher.
People receiving a gold star for perfect spelling lessons of last week are: Max Lee,
Joan Milliman, Anna Weaver, Barbaradine Cravens, Donald Thrasher.
Fifth and Sixth Grades~~~~~The fifth grade is studying Holland in Geography. We are
making Dutch windmills. The sixth grade is studying the Western Mountain region
in Geography. Our room had a Hallow'een party Friday afternoon. We played games
and enjoyed eating pop corn, candy and apples. We have had our room decorated
with jack-o-lanterns, cats, witches and bats.
The "A" spellers of the fifth grade are Frances Bathrick, Jacob Gross, Helen
Maystead and Wilfred Weaver.
The "A" spellers in the sixth grade are Russell Johnson, Edna McMahon,
Charles Emerson, Jr., Phillip Bedient, Duane Miller, Mabel Packard, Carol
Himebaugh and Ralph Selby.
My note: apparently two grades were combined in one classroom in the elementary grades.......given the size of our school this is probable to have been the case in 1932.
High School~~~~~The Junior class held a class meeting Monday to decide definitely
about ordering their rings. The Economics class which is taught by Miss McCrea is
planning a debate. The resolution is "Resolved that Hoover would make a better
president than Roosevelt." The affirmative side elected Myrtle Smith as chairman,
and the negative side elected Robert Shane. After the debate there will be a rebuttal
between the chairmen of both sides. Two periods during Friday after will be used for this argument.
The boys first and second basket ball teams will play at Scott Friday night. Remember
that people of Burr Oak can help the boys win the game by going.
We need two or three men with cars to take the basketball boys to Scott
Friday night. It would be better to have men drive the cars. Will any man
interested notify the school at once.
Copied to Jo Garzelloni by John A. Ultz, 27 September 1997
78
The first frame house in Burr Oak Township was buillt by Reuben Trussell. He
purchased his lumber at Duggs sawmill, located not far from where Jonathan Holmes
mill stood later (Holmes Hollow). The lumber was rafted down Swan Creek
to a point not far from whence it was taken by teams to the building site not far from where
Nathaniel Houston later lived (Jesse Steinbarger's). Mrs Steinbarger was Fern Houston.
$5.00 per thousand feet for best white wood. Nails were .13 per lb. by the keg.
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Post Office
A petition signed by 30 citizens, was presented to Village Council, May 24, 1873
asking that a cross walk be laid across Front Street commencing at the corner
of the Post Office Block and extending directly across Front Street to RailRoad
Grounds. Motion supposted that a 6 foot walk be laid.
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First Township
In 1838 the question of a new township began to be talked of, as the parent
township, Sherman, was considered too large in extent for judicial and electoral
purposes. Accordingly, in the spring of that year the following legislative act
recorded, viz: That "All that part of the county of St Joseph designated in the
United States survey as township No 7, S of range No.9.W be, and the same is
hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Burr Oak.
And the first township meeting was held at the home of Julius A Thompson in
said township.
Randolph Manning, Secretary of State, approved 6 March 1838.
First Township Board Meeting......2 April 1838
Pursuant to the above recited act of the legislature the meeting was held 2 April
1838, and organized by appointing Alvin Gates, Esq. Moderator. Oliver Raymond
Esq, was present as active justice of the peace. James L Bishop and Hiram Draper
were chosen clerks. The following men officers were elected to fill the newly-made-township.
Supervisor~~~~~~Marshall Livermore
Township Clerk~~~~~~James L Bishop
Assessors~~~~~~ Alvin Gates, Daniel Weaver and Hiram Draper
Commissioners of Highways~~~~~Oliver Raymond, Hiram Draper and Daniel Weaver
Supervisors of Primary School~~~~~Norman Allen, Oliver Raymond and Sidney Carpenter
Constables~~~~~~John S Stickles, Sidney Carpenter and Norman Allen
Collector~~~~~~Norman Allen
Directors of the Poor~~~~~~~Cyrus Benedict, Phineas H Sheldon
Justices of the Peace~~~~~Alvin Gates, Marshall Livermore, Hiram Draper and Oliver Raymond
Fence Viewers and Pound Masters~~~~Julius A Thomson, Warren Norton and Benjamin Stocking
Overseers of Highways~~~~
District no 1........Josiah T Livermore
District no 2........Samuel Needham
District no 3........Ervin K Weaver
District no 4........Nathaniel Leavitt
District no 5........Casper Reed
My Note: now on the back of the page containing this data are a couple notes from
Geneva that I haven't figured out yet. I think this were to fill the "Clerks" position as
they are listed on the next page and she perhaps didn't want to use up a piece of paper
with so much wasted space. To wit: Sidney Carpenter, Sr, 1845 for 7 years 1852 and
lastly, J.C Bishop, 1876 ~ 1886
On the next page a listing of Clerks and their length of service is given
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Township Clerks~~~~~1838 ~ 1876
Sidney Carpenter...........4 years
William Clark...................8 years
Charles E Kibbe..............2 years
John H Clews, John S Tyler, Hiram Bets, Allen C Arold, Lyman F Hopkins,
Charles Thornton...........2 years each in succession
Bliss N Stone..................2 years
Walter W Stone, Chester A. Ward, James Mills, N.H. Soule,
John H. Phelps....all 2 years each
N.G. Cooper......................3 years
L.S. Benjamin and F.F. Betts.........3 years
Sidney Carpenter, Sr.............1845 for 7 years 1852
Justices of the Peace
Norman Allen..................4 years
James Bishop..................7 years
James P Allen.................2 years
Alvin Gates, Richard Houston, Harrison Kelley and James Sickles.............8 years each
Samual Needham and James H Tisdell.................28 years
Hiram Betts.....................16 years
J.C. Bishop................1876 ~ 1886
78 ~ 81 from the papers of Geneva Smith
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Drake ~ Lee
Two favorable known young people of this village, Miss Brenda, daughter of Mr and
Mrs Claude Drake, and Donald E Lee, son of Mr and Mrs George Lee, were married
at Centreville last Saturday, Rev. A.W. Simmons pastor of the M.E. Church performing
the ceremony. The happy couple returned here for a short visit with their parents and
then left for Bremen, Indiana, where Mr Lee holds a responsible position and they will
make their home. Their many friends extend congratulations.
Burr Oak Acorn,
dated in pen 1925 only from the papers of Geneva Smith
83
Friend ~ Ahlgrim
A pretty home wedding was solemnized at the home of Mr and Mrs Fred Friend in
this village last Thursday evening, when their daughter, Miss Edna Lucille, and Arthur E
Ahlgrim, son of Mr and Mrs Henry Ahlgrim, were united in marriage. Rev. Noffze
officiated, and the ring ceremony was observed. This happy couple are numbered
among the most highly respected young people of our village and have hosts of friends
who wish them happiness. They will make their home here.
Burr Oak Acorn,
dated in pen 1925 only from the papers of Geneva Smith