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Michigan Towns Select Towns
We were now well provided for, and prospects ahead were hopeful. Providence smiled upon our labors, and our fields yielded their increase. It was in this manner that the early settlement of our town was made, and although we had our trials and our straight places to pass through, we also had our seasons of enjoyment and pleasure, and after having overcome the obstacles in our pathway, we enjoyed fighting our battles over again on the long winter evenings around our ample firesides."
The first burying place was located on the territorial road, on the land taken by Seeley Neale; and the first interment made therein was a child of Hiram Dowling's, probably the first born in the county, in March,. 1832. This child was the first female child born in town. The second death and interment was that of Noah, the father of Seeley Neale, who-died July 29th, 1832, aged eighty-eight years. The Rev. Randall Hobart preached the funeral sermon. The first male child born in town was-Lorenzo, son of Hiram Dowling, in December, 1833, who is one of the present justices of the peace in Marengo. The first township election was held in April, 1833, at the house of Seeley Neale, who then kept the-post-office, he being also the first post-master in town. At this first charter election Seeley Neale was chosen supervisor; Harmon Neale, township clerk, constable and collector; Reuben Abbott and Joseph Ames,, directors of the poor; Joseph Ames, pathmaster; Hiram Wright and A. M. Benson, commissioners of common schools. The first inspectors of common schools, elected in 1834, were Loren Maynard, Melancthon J. Bagg, Horace Brace, Solomen M. Allen and Benjamin Wright.
Michigan
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