Shubael Atherton left his home farm in Franklin Co., MA in 1808 at the age of 20 years and found himself near the shore of Lake Ontario in Jefferson Co. NY, which was then considered the far west. He located a tract of land in the Town of Henderson, near Henderson Harbor. In the autumn of 1810 he returned to Massachusetts for a wife and on 10 October 1810 he married in Shelburne MA to Clarissa Childs, a lady of his own age whom he had known since childhood. (She died in 1818 and in 1819 he married at Shelburne MA to a sister of his first wife whose name was Sarah Childs.) The pair, Clarissa and Shubael, set out in a lumber wagon to make the 250 mile trip to the wilds of northern New York and not long after, Shubael's brothers, Adonijah and Perus with their aged parents and surviving sisters joined them, all settling in the town of Henderson. (The aged parents were: Adonijah Atherton born Hampshire Co MA 6 Aug 1750 who married Temperance Worthington, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Worthington.) In 1830 Shubael migrated to Michigan and settled in Pontiac; his brother, Perus, joined him in 1833.
Adonijah Atherton (the brother of Shubael) had married in Shelburne to Esther Long, daughter of John Long; Perus married in Henderson NY to Lucy Bogle of that place. The younger sister and her husband, Jonathan Cole remained in Henderson for 60 years.
Adonijah Atherton Sr. (son of Shubael who was killed by Indians at Greenfield, MA) died at Henderson, on the homestead, which was occupied by his son Adonijah, on 17 Sept. 1822 at the age of 72 years. His widow, Temperence, spent her later years with her daughter, Mrs. Cole, and died 24 June 1844 age 88 years.
Shubael, Adonijah and Perus Atherton were engaged in the War of 1812, serving with credit in the operations at Sackett's Harbor and other points.
Thomas Clark settled in Richfield Township. He was a native of Rutland Co., VT and moved with his parents to Saratoga Co NY where he married Rebecca Wing. The couple moved to Butternuts in Otsego Co., NY and then moved to the town of Lorraine in Jefferson County. Four years later they moved to the Town of Lyme in Jefferson County where they lived for 14 years, the first seven being on Grenadier Island. He moved from Lyme to Michigan in the spring of 1836, departing Jefferson Co on 4 May 1836. Thomas Clark died at his home on 10 July 1864 at the age of 68 years. His wife died 7 Nov 1855 age 84.
Henry Schram was born in Schenectady NY and with his father's family settled in Jefferson County NY early. In September 1835 he left Adams, Jefferson Co, and arrived at the Atherton Settlement on 3 October. He was accompanied by his wife, a daughter of Nathaniel Curtis. His father, John Schram and brothers Isaac, William, Truman, James, George, David and one sister, Mary Jane, became settlers in the township in the spring of 1836.
In May of 1836, Capt. Nathaniel Curtis (a soldier of the War of 1812), Adonijah Atherton, brother of Shubael and Perus, Asahel Robinson, Elisha Salisbury, all with families, and Harmon Clark (who was employed by Capt. Curtis) came from Adams, Jefferson Co., NY and after 14 days reached the settlement of Atherton. Barnabus Norton, James Ingalls, Joseph Chambers and his sons, also from Jefferson Co., NY became settlers soon after. William and Jeremy Chambers walked the entire distance from Jefferson Co, NY to their new settlement in Michigan. A majority of the early settlers of Burton, as it was then known as Flint Township, came from the towns of Adams and Jefferson Co NY and the Michigan location was known as the “Atherton Settlement”.
Rev. Orson Parker, evangelist, was the grandson of a veteran of the Revolutionary War and was born near the city of Lawrence MA in 1800. In 1814 he went to Jefferson Co., NY where his father had removed with his family in 1811. They settled in the Town of Henderson, not far from Henderson Harbor. In 1821 he began the study of law with Judge Thomas C. Chittenden. In 1827 he married Celestine Gridley. Eventually he gave up his law practice and entered the Auburn NY Theological Seminary. After one year of study he returned to Adams, examined and licensed to preach by the Black River Association. In 1832 he married Diana Eleanor Atherton, daughter of Adonijah Atherton, of Henderson NY. He spent one year at Belleville NY and in 1834 to Cassville NY where he remained for two years. Later he purchased a farm at Burton MI where he resided until his death and his widow remained on the farm.
David Brooks was born in Homer, Cortland Co NY 17 Dec 1808. His father, Samuel Brooks, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was killed in the battle of Queenstown Heights. In 1815 the family moved to Cayuga Co., where they resided until David emigrated to Michigan in 1831. He first stopped in Rochester, Oakland Co., where he was engaged as a teamster for about 16 months. At the end of that term he married Abigail Shipey, daughter of Stephen Shipey, one of the town's first settlers. She was born in the town of Adams, Jefferson Co NY on 8 Sept 1812. She was about seven years old when her family emigrated to Oakland Co., MI.
Cyrenus Morgan, was from Jefferson Co. NY and removed to Brighton in September of 1837. He eventually purchased a farm of 150 acres. He was deputy marshal and auctioneer. In the early days of his arrival he was a peddler and traded extensively with the Indians in Shiawassee County, MI.
Asa B. Hamlin, son of Truman and Anna (Bowen) Hamlin, was born at Greenfield, Saratoga NY on 5 March 1813. His father was a native of Rhode Island and his mother a native of Connecticut. They both moved to Jefferson Co NY when young and died there. His father served in the War of 1812 by proxy. Asa moved to Macomb Co. in 1866; he married Lora Ann Wheeler, daughter of William Wheeler of Jefferson Co NY, who died at her native place on 7 March 1859. He married 2) Maria F. Merriam, who was also a native of Jefferson County, born 11 July 1820. All of the children born from his first marriage were born in Jefferson County. Merriam Hamlin's parents were formerly of Connecticut and moved to Jefferson Co NY in 1806. The family name of the mother was Cady (Eunice), who died in September 1862. The father died 20 July 1860. He also served in the War of 1812 and was honorably discharged.
Sherman S. Eaton, son of William and Hannah P. Shattuck, was born in Jefferson Co., NY on 25 Sept 1822; his parents were natives of New Hampshire and moved to NY in 1818 settling first in Jefferson County where Sherman was born. They then removed to Niagara County NY in 1827 and the father died in Tompkins Co NY in 1845. The mother died in 1850 in Essex Co NY. Sherman Eaton arrived in Michigan in 1846 He married Eliza Conklin, daughter of Andrew, of Herkimer Co NY; she was born 14 May 1827.
Lysander K. Shaw was born 11 June 1827 in Jefferson Co NY, son of Marvil and Roxana (Kennedy) Shaw, natives of NY state. In 1833 they moved to Michigan. Lysander married on 27 Jan 1880 to Margaret, daughter of Daniel and Belinda (Bronson) Frost of Washington. She was born 8 March 1852 at Berlin, St. Clair Co, MI.
Joseph Lonsby was born in Jefferson Co NY on 24 July 1837, son of Peter Lonsby, a native of Canada. Joseph came to Michigan in 1854, where he was a dealer in lumber, shingles, posts and part owner of the steamer, Ida Burton and the barge, S. H. Johnston. Joseph married Lucy Ann Webster of Ohio in 1860.
Wesley Lewis was born in Jefferson Co NY on 22 Aug 1814, son of Labin Lewis of New Hampshire. His parents moved from Jefferson Co to Massachusetts, then to Genesee NY in 1830 and Macomb Co MI in 1838. In 1842 Wesley married Hannah Warren.
Rev. George A. Ames was born 11 Dec 1826 in Madison Co NY; he married 1 Julia A. Palmer, daughter of Joseph A. Palmer and she died June 1860. His second wife was Martha Cline, daughter of Ebenezer and Betsey Cline of Jefferson Co NY; they were married in July 1863. She was born 8 Dec 1835—her father was a native of New York and her mother of Rhode Island.
Louis A. Allor, son of Louis Allor of Trois Rivieres, Quebec City, was born in Jefferson Co NY on 2 October 1835. He moved to St. Clair Co, MI in Nov 1852 and in 1865 to Macomb Co. In 1862 he enlisted and served in the Civil War, and became an Adjutant in June of 1864. He was appointed Assistant Adjutant General Reserve Brigade, Div. Of Cumberland in 1864, which office he held until the close of the War. Louis married in 1856 to Octavia Landry who died in 1859. He married 2) Mary Jean, daughter of Fabien Jean. Fabien Jean was born in Clinton Co NY in 1805 and died 26 Oct 1878. He married Magdaline Sear and after her death he married 2) V. Griffard.
Bartlett Perkins, son of George and Rebecca S. (Goddard) Perkins, was born in Albany NY 8 Jan 1828 and came to Macomb in 1831. George, the father, died in Richmond Twp on 8 Feb 1836. Bartlett married in January 1853 to Amanda A. Ellenwood of Jefferson Co NY. She died 10 July 1870. Bartlett married 2) Mrs. J. L. Barnard (Sutton) born Stratford NY 23 Sept 1833.
Daniel P. Ketcham was born in Brownsville, Jefferson Co NY on 30 March 1811; he moved to Michigan and settled in Macomb Co on 25 Nov 1853. Daniel served in the Civil War and after two years was discharged for disability. He married on 16 Feb 1836 to Catharine Woolson, who was born 19 Aug 1815 in Poughkeepsie NY .
Edgar J. Salisbury, was born in Jefferson Co NY on 26 Mar 1844; he came with his widowed mother to Lapeer MI in 1852. He married Louisa C. Hosner, daughter of Jacob Hosner on 8 October 1873. Besides farming Edgar was extremely involved with the Singer Sewing Machine Co.
James H. Searles was born at Belleville, Jefferson Co NY on 6 August 1832, son of James H. Searles and Martha (Gott) Ransom. James Searles Sr. was a leading merchant of Ellisburgh, NY. James Jr. moved to Rome on 1 Jan 1867 and engaged in a number of enterprises. He married 1)Frances Barilla, daughter of Ebenezer and Mollie (Stark)Webster on 19 June 1859. He married 2) on 18 April 1872 to Eloise Catherine, daughter of John Milton and Mary (Abbott) Rumney.
Sanford J. Stockwell, born Jefferson Co NY on 20 Jan 1840; moved to this township in 1876. Served three years in the Civil War and discharged in 1865. He married Lydia J. Cox in Beloit, WI on 9 Dec 1875; she was born 18 March 1841 in England.
Christopher Coleman born in Vermont on 25 July 1825 and came to this township in 1847; he married Abigail Danlley in this county, town of Harlem, in April 1865; she was born in Jefferson Co., NY on 1 Sept 1828.
Charles Haskins was born in Berkshire Co. MA on 14 March 1817 and came to this township in 1841. He married Mary W. Atwood in Jefferson Co., NY on 29 Aug 1841; she was born in Berkshire Co MA on 21 Nov 1819.
David Conklin was born in N. Salem, Westchester Co., NY; his son, Thomas Conklin, was born in Rutland, Jefferson Co NY on 2 Jan 1811 on the family farm. When he was of age, he worked at various jobs and in the early fall of 1836 he emigrated to Michigan where he purchased land in the township of Hartford. His brother, James Conklin, accompanied him to Hartford. Thomas built a cabin, planted some corn and potatoes and on 1 July 1837 returned to New York. In August of 1837 he married in Jefferson County to Martha Justina Ely, who had been orphaned as a child. After returning to Michigan Mrs. Conklin resumed teaching, as she had in Jefferson County, and they raised a family. She died 6 Dec 1843 and on her deathbed expressed a desire that her husband marry Fannie Davison, a lady who had cared for her during her illness. Thomas Conklin married 2) Fannie Davison on 29 Feb. 1844; she died 25 May 1867. Her father was George Davison from Angelica, Allegany Co NY. In June of 1867, Thomas married 3) Samantha Kennedy, from whom he was divorced. Thomas married 4) Nellie Poole Jones, the divorced wife of Samuel Jones. Thomas Conklin's nephew, John Conklin, a native of Jefferson Co NY, had been a sailor for several years and was chosen as one of the first crew of the original “Monitor” during the War of 1812.
Dr. H. C. Andrus, was born in Jefferson County NY in February 1832. He received his preliminary education in the schools of New York and attended an Eastern academy. For 28 years he had been a successful clairvoyant medium and his recipients called it his “wonderful healing art”. He married Olive Beswick of Vermont in Ohio and in 1862 he enlisted in the army of the Cumberland.
John Lacy was a resident of Ypsilanti, and a soldier in the Civil War. He lived at Watertown, Jefferson Co NY in 1861 and there raised Co. “C” of the 35th Reg. NY Vol. Inf. and was elected its Captain. His bravery caused him to receive a Captain's commission. He was subsequently promoted brevet Major and was honorably discharged in 1865.
Elijah W. Morgan attorney and counselor at law in Ann Arbor, was born in Watertown, Jefferson Co NY on 15 May 1805. His parents had moved to Watertown about 1800 when there were not a dozen families in the town. His father, Rev. Elisha Morgan of the Black River Baptist Association, was a native of New London CT and of Welsh descent; his mother was a native of Stonington CT in the same county. Elijah's father had to learn to repair agricultural tools due to the shortage of “mechanics” at the time and Elijah worked with him and gained practical knowledge. When Elijah was nine years old, his father moved to a small farm in Rutland County and when he was 14 to a place further east in Lewis Co. Elijah emigrated to Michigan about 1830 and was admitted to the Bar in November of that year.
Nathan H. Pierce of Ann Arbor, was born at Batavia, Genesee Co NY in 1819. His parents were Nathan and Catherine (Hartly) Pierce. Nathan was raised on a farm and remained there with his father until he was 23 years of age. He then came to Michigan, locating at Detroit where he learned the painter's trade. On 4 Aug 1847 Nathan married Sophia M. Monroe, a native of Watertown, Jefferson Co. NY, where she was born 16 May 1828. Her parents were John and Electa (Baxter) Monroe who removed to Detroit in 1835. Sophia pursued an active literary career in Michigan under the nom de plume of “Soph”.
Sidney S. Hastings born Jefferson Co NY 1827; farmer; surveyor; engineer. He married Julia Dix in 1854 and settled in St. Louis, MI
William Chambers was raised in New York State and married Elizabeth Sage, who was born in CT. Her forefathers lead to David Sage, who was prominent in early New England history. Both parents died in New York. Elizabeth Sage was first married in Jefferson Co NY in 1851 to Samuel E. Potter. He was born in Steuben Co. NY and was the son of John S. and Lydia M. Potter. Samuel E. Potter died in Champion, Jefferson Co NY on 15 March 1853.
David Conklin was born in N. Salem, Westchester Co., NY; his son, Thomas Conklin, was born in Rutland, Jefferson Co NY on 2 Jan 1811 on the family farm. When he was of age, he worked at various jobs and in the early fall of 1836 he emigrated to Michigan where he purchased land in the township of Hartford. His brother, James Conklin, accompanied him to Hartford. Thomas built a cabin, planted some corn and potatoes and on 1 July 1837 returned to New York. In August of 1837 he married in Jefferson County to Martha Justina Ely, who had been orphaned as a child. After returning to Michigan Mrs. Conklin resumed teaching, as she had in Jefferson County, and they raised a family. She died 6 Dec 1843 and on her deathbed expressed a desire that her husband marry Fannie Davison, a lady who had cared for her during her illness. Thomas Conklin married 2)Fannie Davison on 29 Feb. 1844; she died 25 May 1867. Her father was George Davison from Angelica, Allegany Co NY. In June of 1867, Thomas married 3)Samantha Kennedy, from whom he was divorced. Thomas married 4) Nellie Poole Jones, the divorced wife of Samuel Jones. Thomas Conklin's nephew, John Conklin, a native of Jefferson Co NY, had been a sailor for several years and was chosen as one of the first crew of the original “Monitor” during the War of 1812.
Dr. H. C. Andrus, was born in Jefferson County NY in February 1832. He received his preliminary education in the schools of New York and attended an Eastern academy. For 28 years he had been a successful clairvoyant medium and his recipients called it his “wonderful healing art”. He married Olive Beswick of Vermont in Ohio and in 1862 he enlisted in the army of the Cumberland.
John Lacy was a resident of Ypsilanti, and a soldier in the Civil War. He lived at Watertown, Jefferson Co NY in 1861 and there raised Co. “C” of the 35th Reg. NY Vol. Inf. And was elected its Captain. His bravery caused him to receive a Captain's commission. He was subsequently promoted brevet Major and was honorably discharged in 1865.
Elijah W. Morgan attorney and counselor at law in Ann Arbor, was born in Watertown, Jefferson Co NY on 15 May 1805. His parents had moved to Watertown about 1800 when there were not a dozen families in the town. His father, Rev. Elisha Morgan of the Black River Baptist Association, was a native of New London CT and of Welsh descent; his mother was a native of Stonington CT in the same county. Elijah's father had to learn to repair agricultural tools due to the shortage of “mechanics” at the time and Elijah worked with him and gained practical knowledge. When Elijah was nine years old, his father moved to a small farm in Rutland County and when he was 14 to a place further east in Lewis Co. Elijah emigrated to Michigan about 1830 and was admitted to the Bar in November of that year.
Nathan H. Pierce of Ann Arbor, was born at Batavia, Genesee Co NY in 1819. His parents were Nathan and Catherine (Hartly) Pierce. Nathan was raised on a farm and remained there with his father until he was 23 years of age. He then came to Michigan, locating at Detroit where he learned the painter's trade. On 4 Aug 1847 Nathan married Sophia M. Monroe, a native of Watertown, Jefferson Co. NY, where she was born 16 May 1828. Her parents were John and Electa (Baxter) Monroe who removed to Detroit in 1835. Sophia pursued an active literary career in Michigan under the nom de plume of “Soph”.
Sidney S. Hastings born Jefferson Co NY 1827; farmer; surveyor; engineer. He married Julia Dix in 1854 and settled in St. Louis, MI
William Chambers was raised in New York State and married Elizabeth Sage, who was born in CT. Her forefathers lead to David Sage, who was prominent in early New England history. Both parents died in New York. Elizabeth Sage was first married in Jefferson Co NY in 1851 to Samuel E. Potter. He was born in Steuben Co. NY and was the son of John S. and Lydia M. Potter. Samuel E. Potter died in Champion, Jefferson Co NY on 15 March 1853.
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