History of Bennington Station

SHIAWASSEE GAZETTE . . . Newsletter of the Shiawassee County Historical Society

VOL. 43 BOOK 1 MARCH 2002

by Margaret Shadbolt Foster

Margaret wrote the following history in 1945 as her College Thesis. She loaned it to a friend to read and her friend turned it in as her work.

Margaret lived in or near Bennington all her life and was a teacher for many years.

Bennington map of 1875

In 1837 the Hiram Davis family came by way of Buffalo to Detroit and thence to Shiawassee County, Michigan, and settled on eighty acres of land one half mile west of what is now Bennington.

Mr. Davis was the first man to drive a team from Bennington to Owosso, having to cut a road upon which to travel. The trip from Pontiac to Bennington at that time took five days. His land was acquired from the government in 1838.

David Johnson bought land north of Bennington in 1836. A log cabin was built there a while later. That stood on the site of the frame house now owned by the late John Perkins family. Two sons, Warren and Myron and one daughter, Ellen, lived there for several years. Ellen was a school teacher. After one of the boys married, all the Johnsons moved to Tennessee.

The cemetery must have been plotted out at about this time. The earliest burial to be recorded on a tombstone is that of Lemuel B. Castle, small son of Lemuel and Mercy Castle in 1841. Two others--Armitta Kelley and her young son were buried in 1843. The next was Adam B. Vanderhoof in 1848. There must be many old graves without markers as the deaths would have been more frequent than the tombstones indicate. I made the study of the cemetery in 1944.

In 1837 Lemuel Castle bought eighty acres of land one mile west of Bennington. This was apparently speculated on as it changed hands nine times before 1903 when my grandparents, Charles and Ella Shadbolt bought it. It is good land so it was not because of its lack of worth that it changed hands so often.

The back forty acres of the Shadbolt farm was bought from the government in 1843 by Joseph Peters. This was owned by one other family before Charles and Ella bought it.

These early lands bought from the government around 1844 cost in the neighborhood of $4.00 an acre. They were paid for by growing wheat which sold for 30 cents a bushel.

In those early times young men's days were taken up with hard work, such as hewing timber, building rail fences, clearing stumps from land and caring for stock, while the evenings were spent in such diversions as singing, schools, spelling matches, sleigh-riding in home-made vehicles, with wolf skin rugs the driver made with his own hands.

The William Yerkes family first bought land from the government in 1836 in section nine. Then in 1849 Mr. Yerkes bought more land in section five. In the fall of 1848, Silas, son of William settled on his farm in section five having at that time one hundred and sixty acres from his father all in wild land.

Silas cleared fifteen acres of dense wilderness just west of where Bennington now stands, and there erected a log cabin, which for years served as the family home.

The cabin was later replaced by the present fine frame structure, now owned by Clarence and Izola Long Ruess (1945). He improved the land and secured eighty acres more in 1855, which then comprised the body of his farm, with the exception of a small portion which was plotted and sold as lots in Bennington. He brought with him a team and a little money from Oakland County where he had lived since 1827.

Mr. Yerkes planted maple trees along his roadside property both west and north of Bennington ninety years ago. They are beautiful trees today, enjoyed by all who pass.

Silas Yerkes bred race horses one of which was "Raynard" whose record was 2.27. They had a race track on their farm. There were also two fish ponds on the property which were stocked with gold fish.

The place was left to Hettie, the only heir of Silas and who married T. J. Perkins. She resided on the farm after the death of Mr. Perkins. She had a colored maid, Lucy Mills who was brought up in the Yerkes family as a member. She was the only N egro resident Bennington has ever had. She attended all community social functions and church and was much liked. Miss Mills later married and went to Flint to live. She died in 1944.

The Yerkes family in this country originated with two brothers, who came from Holland and settled in Philadelphia. "Baron" Yerkes, the street railway magnate was a near relative.

The Yerkes farm "Old Acres" was sold in 1921 to C. J. Thomas. It is now (1944) owned by the Harold Long family.

The No. 1 School which is the school Bennington children attend was built in 1839 one mile east of Bennington Station. The first year there was an enrollment of eighteen scholars. In 1841 there were twenty-six: in 1848--thirty-six: in 1850--thirty-three: in 1860--eighty: and in 1870--eighty.

The first building was built of logs on the corner where Gurden's Gas Station now stands. Two bears persisted in coming up to the school. The children didn't regard them exactly as pets either. The building was later sold to the people owning the surrounding land to be used as a barn. It was moved back up on the hill.

The new frame building was built on the opposite corner between the cemetery and the road. It stood there until in 1933 when it was moved across the corner where it now stands, and was remodeled. The old school grounds was made an addition to the cemetery at the same time. (Told to me by Mrs. Hicks, a very old lady.)

The first roads were only dirt affairs and where they became impassable, corduroy roads were built by putting in logs and filling in on top with dirt. Some of those have existed to the present day and are found when new roads are constructed. In constructing these crude early roads there was much hardship and tragedy.

While the early settlers' first task was to clear the land for farm crops, they did not fail to leave trees that would not interfere with road building. They well knew that tree bordered roads are much more pleasant to use than those having no trees. Then laws were made providing for the planting of trees, and also for the protection of those already planted.

In 1846 Davis Dutcher's father, John, bought eighty acres of land on contract which was paid for by Davis and his brother Seth. This land lay in a triangle south of the railroad in the northeast corner of Bennington.

Mr. Dutcher was quite a sportsman, going hunting in the wilder parts of the state every year along in the 1890's. He killed a number of deer, bears, wild cats, foxes, and wild turkeys.

He was of English descent, his parents having moved to Michigan from New York.

In 1854 Willard Norris bought land from the government. This was located where William Cline's property is today right in Bennington on the south side of the road. He gave a deed to the railroad for as long as they wanted to use it for a depot. It was used thus until after 1874 when the land then came to his son and daughter, his only heirs. The daughter is the wife of Dr. A. M. Hume of Owosso.

In 1861 Mr. Norris was postmaster in Bennington and he also served as the first passenger conductor on the new railroad which was started in 1857 and finished in 1861.

About 1859 a band was organized in Bennington. This played at Sunday School picnics and other gatherings. It was under the leadership of Mr. Henry Williams who ran a blacksmith shop across from the house now owned by Haskells. The band met for practice over this shop. Mr. Manley Castle was only fourteen years old when he started playing in the band. It was discontinued for a while and then started up again in 1878. Walter Harryman was leader during part of this period.

After the railroad was finished in 1861 a treadpower ran on the track and cut wood for the train engine. One was wrecked just outside of Bennington. There were places built up high so as to throw the four-foot pieces of fire wood onto the train tender. One of these was located at Bennington.

In 1863 Willard R. Drury, whose parents were native of Vermont, bought the mill at Bennington and proceeded to stock and operate it. This he carried on until 1882, employing from eight to fifteen men. He finally replaced the old mill with a new one, but after two or three years that was burned and he erected the third one, which has very recently been torn down. It had been made into a barn.

In the spring of 1867 Mr. Drury opened up a store, putting up a new building on Bennington corner where the present store is, laying in a general stock, including everything needed in a country town. Mrs. Drury took charge of the store and carried it on for nearly eighteen years. In the fall of 1867 Mr. Drury was appointed Postmaster and continued in this office until 1874, when he resigned in favor of George D. Palmer. At the same time he sold out his store.

In 1868 Mr. Drury was made railroad agent and held this position for nine years until the office required an operator.

He did much outside business for the railroad, especially in buying wood. He was also agent for the American Express Co. for thirteen years and did a large business in buying and shipping wheat, handling all that was sent from this point. He also shipped large quantities of lumber and had about $15,000 capital invested. Mr. Drury sawed three-foot cord wood to be shipped. Sixty-foot ship timbers were also cut here. The sawmill was powered by steam.

After selling his business he moved to the farm one fourth mile west of Bennington and put up buildings at the expense of $1,500. He owned four hundred acres of land and sold much hay and grain. In 1895 Drury also owned another sawmill near the depot on the northeast corner north of the tracks.

Mr. Drury married Ellen Wight whose parents were natives of Vermont. The Don Wight family moved to Michigan in 1856 and settled in Oakland County. They came to Owosso in 1864, and during the same year moved to Bennington where they built the old house which was recently sold by Roy Drury and torn down. This was one of the very earliest frame houses in this vicinity. The ruins of the old sawmill still can be seen near by it.

Mr. Wight had been a miller and at once went into partnership with Mr. Drury for a year, while he improved his farm. After this he retired from business.

Mrs. Wight Drury was a teacher before marriage and also drew up contracts and legal papers for years for all the neighbors.

Another old house is the white one now occupied by Mr. Roy Drury. It was built by the Thorpe family in 1867. Others are the one owned by Eva Hyman and some south of the railroad. The Stiff place which stood where the present old hotel now stands, was an early building which burned.

In 1863 to 75 W. J. Jubb ran a merchandising establishment in Bennington. He was located next to the Dutcher property in southeast corner in the small point by the railroad. He also owned three lots on Etta Street in the Decker Addition south of the railroad.

This addition had its streets named for the children in Martha Decker's family. Most of these streets are now obscure.

Up until 1871 there had been no church building in this vicinity but the people gathered either at the Bennington No. 1 School east of Bennington or the Dewey School north of Bennington for church services. A minister came out from Owosso to conduct the meetings. Before this Rev. Seth Reed rode a two-week circuit on horseback and held church services at different homes. One Sunday he preached at Owosso, the Dewey home north of Bennington, and Castles. The other Sunday he went to Gale's, Hinkley's, and Clark's. This was from 1846 to 48.

The present church structure was started in 1869 when Rev. John Maywood came here as the preacher in charge of Bennington circuit. It was completed and dedicated in 1871 at a cost, including bell and organ of $2,800. The bell was made in Troy, N.Y. The woodwork and seats came from the Yerkes woods.

The earliest members were Apollos Dewey, Mr. and Mrs. Halstead, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Waugh, Mr. and Mrs. Orra Waugh, William and Nellie Waugh. Soon after this Mr. and Mrs. James Byerly, and Mary Thorpe, Mrs. William Byerly, and Mrs. Juliet Rowell and others became members.

John Burgess's father put the bell up with a team of horses and pulley.

The Sunday School; was organized in 1868 by Mr. Gould, a superanuated minister--assisted by James Byerly and Mrs. Juliet Rowell.

After construction on the building was finished Mr. Byerly used an ox to level the church yard. The women gathered to clean the edifice. They used big iron kettles with fires built under them to heat the water needed to scrub the floor. Mrs. Kimble's was the first funeral to be held from the new building. It wasn't finished inside yet so they laid rough boards over the joist to make the floor.

Since there wasn't a church building at Pittsburg until 1877 the people from that locality attended church at Bennington until it was built in Pittsburg. There were such large congregations that it was necessary to carry in chairs to seat them all. There was also a well attended Thursday evening Prayer Meeting.

Later Bennington, Pittsburg, and Gale churches were on one circuit, the minister living in the parsonage at Bennington.

This first parsonage was moved to the northeast corner by the railroad and sold to Ernest Alchin. The new parsonage was built on the old site that was formerly owned by a Mr. Barnes. At this time around 1880 there were sixty church members.

The church was partly paid for by having socials. These were frequent affairs and held in various member's homes. Many good times were had at Sunday School picnics held in the woods nearby, now owned by Mrs. Minnie Jurrell. Great preparations were made for these picnics. A grandstand would be built in the woods, the organ from the church would be moved to it, the band would play, and there would be singing and other programs.

Young people also enjoyed W.C.T.U. Meetings and gatherings, and put on plays at various homes. (Mrs. Leora Strong gave me the church information.)

The Creamery was built by a stock company. Frank Chevarie was 1st butter maker. Bill Coe ran it later. The building now used as county garage for trucks and scrapers.

The first doctor to have an office in Bennington was Dr. McCormick in 1870. He was succeeded by Dr. Carl, then Dr. Charles Hume. Dr. Hume's office was located where the Jubb store had been.

In 1880 Arthur Hume, Charlie's brother, taught the No. 1 School. He then joined his brother to study medicine. After his internship he studied medicine in Detroit and graduated from the Medical School there.

After practicing medicine here awhile he moved to Owosso where, in spite of his age, he goes to his office every day which is in connection with his son, Dr. Harold Hume.

Dr. Arthur Hume was employed by the government from 1920 to 23 for organizing all veterans' bureaus work in Michigan. He has recently been made president of the Michigan State Medical Society. Dr. Hume has also found time from his duties to be an active member of the Masons for which he has received merits of honor.

Mrs. Hume, also an early resident of Bennington and also a teacher of the No.1 School was Grand Matron of the Eastern Stars in 1917 and 1918. It was under her directions and the help of her husband, that the home for Masonic orphans was bought at Adrian, Michigan. She also holds awards of honor for the outstanding work she has done for the organization.

To visit with these two older people, the Humes, who have lived sixty-three years of their lives together is truly an inspiration.

A lady named Laura Pope received recognition for her paintings. She resided about a half mile east of Bennington on the north side of the road where the four pine trees now stand. The house burned while she and her brother were still living there. She grew many old fashioned flowers and was generous with her bouquets.

One of her paintings was given to the No.1 School and another to the Church to be hung in the chapel. This picture is very good work. Miss Pope died in 1878 at the age of seventy.

In 1874 a Grange was organized which held its meetings in the upper story of the Drury Store building. The hall was also used to hold dances. These occurred every two or three weeks. The Drury family lived in the lower back part of the building behind the store.

In 1855 there had been a prohibitory liquor law enacted in Michigan without popular intervention. This was sustained and continued in operation until repeal in 1875. In 1889 the Local Option Law went into effect with thirty-nine counties prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. Shiawassee was one of these counties. The system of county option, with high license, was in force until 1920.

With this information as a background it is easier to understand the action which was taken by some ladies of Bennington, when soon after the repeal in 1875, one merchant undertook to run a bar in his store where the present old hotel building now stands. The liquor selling spree lasted about twenty-four hours. It didn't take longer than that for Mrs. Leora Strong and some other good ladies to have a petition signed by enough of Bennington population to put a stop once and for all to liquor being legally sold in Bennington or Bennington Township.

There were, however, two places which ran "blind pigs". One good mother tipped off a detective who arrested the offenders.

At another time Mrs. Leora Strong and some other ladies circulated a petition to put a stop to the installation of a pool room in Bennington. They were successful.

On land previously occupied by the old log school a man named Mr. Kinsey had a shop in which he made washing machines. There was a place on the side of the wooden washing machine where a churn could be attached, thus doing two operations at one turning of the big wheel of the washer.

There was also at that time, around 1875, a saw mill working across the road from the farm recently owned by the Shirley family.

Some interesting ads taken from an 1875 Atlas give a good picture of the type of merchandise carried in the town.

They are as follows: Davis Dutcher--Farmer, grain raiser, breeder of grade Durham and Devon cattle, fine horses, and fine wool sheep - Bennington Station.

George C. Stiff--Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Boots, Shoes, Tinware, Woodware, Notions, etc. All kinds of Produce taken in exchange at the highest market price. - Bennington Station.

Henry Wilkiams--Manufr. of wagons, sleighs, etc. Repairing done neatly and promptly. Genl. Blacksmithing and horseshoeing. - Bennington Station.

S.A. Yerkes--Farmer and Grain raiser, breeder of full blooded and grade Durham cattle, Spanish Merino Sheep and Fine horses - Bennington Station.

The new depot and elevator as built on its present site in 1877. The elevator had a 300 foot tramway about ten feet wide running to the top. Farmers drove their horses drawing a load of around seventy bushels of grain up this to the top of the elevator. Here the grain was dumped into a car which ran on a track. After being weighed it was run over the bins where it could be dumped into either one desired. It wasn't screened here. This method was used until elevating machinery was installed and wasn't torn down until around 1905.

In 1878 the Rowell sisters--Azella, Anna, and Nellie gained repute for their playing at concerts. They played the violin, piano, and bass viol, respectively. They moved to California while still young ladies. They lived on the farm that is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Offringa.

The need for more tree planting again became apparent for in 1881 a law was passed providing that persons who planted trees on the highway along his property would be entitled to twenty-five cents on his highway tax for each tree planted. In the districts where there were no trees growing along the highway the commissioner was required to have at least fifty trees planted in each district each year until the highways were supplied with trees, where they did not constitute an actual obstruction.

During a period prior to 1890 Medicine Shows were common in Bennington. They were usually conducted by Indians who did sleight of hand performances and attracted large crowds. These show were located south of the street on the north side of the tracks west of the stores.

The Macabees organized in Bennington in 1892 and held their meetings over the Drury Store. At one time there were around one hundred members. The organization continued until the fire in Bennington.

Around 1899 the Union Telephone was put through Bennington. In 1904 the Bell Telephone Co. extended its line to this vicinity. In 1919 the two companies consolidated, under the name of the Union Telephone Co.

The first Co. in Owosso was the Owosso Telephone Co., organized in 1895. It was bought by the Union Co. in 1898.

Between 1895 and 1900 seems to have been the most flourishing time for our little village. At this time there was a freight, express, and ticket agent who was also the Postmaster, a shoe repair shop, a hotel, one general store, one grocery store, one hardware and implement store, three doctors, two barber shops, and two blacksmith shops.

One fall there was an early blizzard which blocked the railroad. A passenger train which became stranded in Bennington was loaded with hunters going North. They were taking along a few extra bottles of liquor and while having to stay here for three days waiting for the tracks to be cleared they drank it all. According to those present at the time, it was quite a lively town.

From 1900 to 1915 R.F.D. #1 was run out of Bennington. It covered thirty-six miles and was carried by horse and buggy. Mike McCuen was the carrier and Charles Shadbolt substitute. After Charles Shadbolt could no longer substitute his son Elmer, my father, acted in his place.

The Gleaner Hall was built in 1903. The people of the organization sold bonds bearing 5% interest and running for twenty years, in order to raise money for the building. A lot of the work of building it was donated. The organization started in Bennington in 1899 and held its meetings in the hall over the corner store until its own hall was finished.

July fourth, 1905 a Browery Dance was held on the south side of the street across from the stores. Maple boughs were the decorations. The full day's activities consisted of horse races, bicycle races, which Orville Kline won; speeches, band playing, games and basket lunches. Pop and ice cream were sold. This was the first time some of the older people could remember having eaten boughten ice cream. It was customary for ice cream to be made at home for all celebrations and special days.

About 1906 Elmer Hibbard, a former resident of the one brick house, bought the first automobile. This was considered quite a wonderful occurrence. Shortly after, Roy Drury bought the second one, an Oakland 1911 at a cost of $960 plus $20 for top and $20 for the windshield. It wasn't long before they were no longer such a novelty as many more people possessed them, including my family.

A tornado started just west of Bennington, November 11th, 1911 at 11 o' clock. It did considerable damage. The barn was moved on its foundation on the Shadbolt farm and trees were uprooted. The roof was blown off the barn on the present Robert Hudson place and other like damage done between here and Owosso. Of course a great deal more destruction was wrought in Owosso where it struck the hardest.

The owning of cars called for better roads. People could no longer put up with the mud holes in Bennington so in 1915 a good gravel road was constructed running east and west through the town and for some distance both ways.

The fire, which burned two stores, a doctor's office, and a storage building, occurred in 1916. The fire started in the store owned by Jago.

The present two store buildings were erected immediately after the fire. The one on the corner was built by Mr. Lock. He lived above the store and carried a stock of general merchandise. He also had the Post Office. This was finally bought by Mr. William Hudson who still operates it.

The other store was built by Robert Hudson and was run by William Hudson until the time he bought the corner store and moved there. The one store building is now used for storage space.

In 1924 Mrs. Lock brought the first radio to Bennington. It had ear phones to listen through. The latter part of the same year Elmer Shadbolt bought a second radio to this vicinity. This one had a loud speaker which was a big horn separate from the radio.

A filling station was built across the corner from the No. 1 School in 1924 by Amby Gould. He sold it to Mr. Perry in 1927 and in 1929 Gurdens bought it. They later remodeled it making a store of it also.

Around 1930 the freight and ticket office was discontinued at Bennington. The electric power line came to Bennington in 1929 and was extended west of Bennington in 1932.

The farmers west of Bennington experienced more damage by wind when in 1934 a silo was blown down on the Shadbolt farm and damage done to small buildings and trees in the near vicinity.

The W.C.T.U. was organized in Bennington Township in 1933.

The gravel road running through Bennington was showing considerable wear so in 1935 it was replaced by a tarvia surface from M 47 (52) through Bennington. The next year it was extended a mile west.

A golden wedding anniversary was celebrated by Mr. and Mrs. Pearly Slater, who live in Bennington, in 1942.

In June 1943 another tornado dipped down to do considerable damage on the Shadbolt farm again. This one had wrecked buildings in Bath and did no damage between there and here. It raised after leaving here and again dipped in Owosso where it uprooted number of trees. This happened in the afternoon before the evening the terrible tornado occurred which destroyed so much property north of Perry.

At present, 1945 there is a population of one hundred and fifty-four and there are seventeen of our boys in the service, scattered on all fronts in all parts of the world.