Mr. Newel lived in three Oaks township and was a genius and philosopher. He
was the well digger for several townships. Tho his trade kept him
underground much of the time, he was a genial man and fluent talker. One
day he called at Mr. Martins shop to pay his boot and shoe bill. After his
cordial greeting and excusing himself for his neglect - he said "Please
pardon my delinquency, owing to illness, Ive been obliged to neglect
business to gather herbs, barks, and roots to make a decoction for my son
Richard who is suffering from asmatic, bronchial trouble. I now will tender
you the residue." He served the people well and long ago his tools were
laid away.
Charles Francis Sr. and William Easton were among the earliest carpenters.
Mr. Francis was also interested in mills. In 1846 he built a saw mill in
Galena Township. Later he owned a grist mill across the line in Three Oaks
Township Mich.The Francis brothers also owned a lumber mill and grist mill
in Galena. There were various other mills, turning lathes, where wooden
bowls were made from big knots from trees, chairs, spinning wheels, "swifts"
as reels, etc etc were made. Mr. Joseph Winch was at one time the owner.
Mather Moyes erected the first Blacksmith shop at Magis Corners. Mr. Shubel
Smith had the first wagon shop.
The first schoolhouse in Galena was built of logs on Jacob Heckman's farm in
1836. A Miss Armstrong first teacher. Soon after a log schoolhouse was
built about a quarter of a mile south of Paddocks Corners in the Valley,
also a cemetery was started there but was abandoned. Some children
attended school at times at Spring Creek in the cherry log schoolhouse.
While some went east into Hudson Township three miles to school. The
buildings were log structures with primitive fireplaces made of stone,
bricks and mud, floors of split logs, sinks of slabs with wooden pegs for
legs, desks built same style for those who could write or cipher, a pail for
water with gourd dippers to drink from. What would the present generation
do under such conditions?
In 1838 Mrs Paddock's mother Mrs Betsy Tappan and son George came west from
Onondaga Co N.Y. and settled on the farm known later as the W. H. Valentin
place. They built a log house on the north side and at the front of the
hill to be near a good spring of water. The families went across lots to
visit. Trees were marked so as not to loose the way. Late one afternoon
Albert Paddock a lad of about eight years started to spend the night with
his grandmother. As he was about to get over Mr Sheads fence a wolf and two
cubs approached him. He thought they were dogs. The mother wolf put her
paws on the boys shoulders. He pushed her back - jumped over the fence -
hastened on to tell the people of his adventure. They thought he had a very
narrow escape. Being so near Mr Sheads buildings only saved the boy. But
some of Mr Sheads sheep were devoured by the wolves that night.
Stray panthers used to pass through the woods occasionly too. One foggy
morning Mr Paddock was working in the woods but could not see far owing to
the dense fog. But he heard a panthers call. Then it leaped down from a
big tree that was lodged making the ground tremble. Mr Paddock hastened to
his house for safety and to look after his family and livestock. The above
represents many such narrow escapes.
In 1841 Posey Chapel that too was fashioned after the same patterns that
that schoolhouses were. Rev Posy was ar______ and helped roll the logs and
worked with a will with the men of the neighborhood. A few are still
living that worshipped there and enjoyed the sermons just as well as people
do now in the city churches. Prior to that time religious services were
held in homes and schoolhouses.
In 1845 Mr Jacobs built a grist mill across the line in Mich. Twas later
owned by Charles Morrow, his son Tim occupied the place. Still later Horace
Warren owned it. Then it passed to others. There Irving and Steven Paddock
helping to build the mill. Steven used to tell his boys how he wheeled dirt
in a wheel barrow to help build the dam. He was then a mere lad. Some of
the timbers were still there a few years ago. Also a large "mill stone" lay
beside the road for years. Later Mr Henry Chamberlin secured it as a relic.
The last I knew it was on the lawn of the Chamberlin homestead. These same
boys worked for Mr Chamberlin when the track was being cleared for the
Michigan Central Railroad. Also boarded with him in the double log house
and slept in the two story berths that Mr Chamberlin so vividly describes in
his memoirs. Those days were full of hard work and hard fare.
Irving and Steven continued to work in Three Oaks after the Rail was
completed, worked at carpenter trade, helped to build several homes, each
bought land. Irvings was in Buffalo Township. Albert also bought 80 acres
joining Irvings. Stevens was two miles west of 3 Oaks. They continued at
carpenter work until they married. Steven taught school winters at one
dollar per day and board around.
Meantime a large farm had been cleared , large substantial house and barns
built ant twelve children blessed the home, eight boys and four girls. With
the exception of Malissa who died in infancy the family was unbroken until
1859 when Emily the eldest girl married Edson Ingersoll and moved into 3
Oaks township where they resided until their death.
In 1859 Irving and Esther A. Ware were married and settled on their farm in
Buffalo township.
Andrew married Mary Ray in 1860. She died in 1864 leaving two children.
Later he married Elizabeth Butler. Their three children are married.
Steven T Paddock and Aurelia Butler were married Jan 8 1861. They too
settled in 3 Oaks township and remained there until Stevens death January
29, 1890, 3 children survive him.
Morrison was married to Amanda Tuttle Oct 9, 1861. He served three years in
Co g 9th Ill Cavalry, settled near his childhood home, where he died in
1914. His wife died 1911. Their two children James and Anne are living.
Albert died in 1867 at home after a long illness. Thomas J. enlisted as a
recruit in Shermans Army when 18 years of age, died from affects of a forced
march Aug 5 1863. Annie died 1870 at home, of all this big family only two
are living.
Harvey Paddock enlisted when 20 years of age in Co E, 20 Ind infantry
served 4 years. Was in all the battles of the Potomac, was 1st Leut was
married to Clymena Rhodes 1866 who passed away in 1903. Harvey died April
1914.
Lucetta who married J. Wood Smith March 26, 1872 lives on the Paddock
homestead. They have two sons Dennis and Kelley.
And John the youngest married May Francis in 1887. She passed away leaving
seven children. They all reside in Montana.
[Here ends the E.K. Warren letter material. The following is taken from
attached material that did not get into the letter]
end part four