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Michigan Select Michigan Counties
There were four settlers in Bedford in 1835: Josiah Gilbert, John Conway, George Johnson, and a man by the name of Tower. John Con-way had a saw-mill in operation at the mouth of the outlet of what is now known as Harl lake; it was located on the bank of the Kalamazoo river, near the present site of Pratt's mill.
Matthias Hutchinson erected a saw-mill in 1837, at Bedford village. I commenced an improvement on section fifteen in Bedford, in 1838; sold my interest in the farm in 1853, and in September of the year last named became a resident of the city of Battle Creek, at that time a
village.
Noah P. Crittendon made an improvement on section thirty-three in Bedford, and lost his life on the steamer Erie, burned off the mouth of
Silver creek.
Isaac Sutton located section twenty-five in Bedford, in the year 1885, and the following year took possession and commenced his improvement. He had eight sons and one daughter, and I have heard him relate the following anecdote: On his way home after locating his section of land, he called at a farmer's house in the eastern part of Michigan to get something to eat; The farmer's good wife had the curiosity to know somewhat of his affairs. He informed her that he had bought a section of land in Calhoun county and was going to move to Michigan. She expressed surprise that a man of his age should want to move to a new country. Why, said he, I have eight sons, and every one of them has a sister. What! she exclaimed in astonishment, sixteen of them, eh?
Michigan Counties
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