Luman A. Fowler came to Michigan with my father in 1825, under contract to work for him one year. He helped build the house, fell the first trees, clear, plant and gather the first crop on the farm. He made our house his home several years, as long as he remained in the vicinity. At one time he was interested in the firm of Fowler & Wells, in selling goods in the house built by Dr. Adams, a little west of the Schwarzburg schoolhouse. In 1831 he bought of the government the east ½ of southwest 1/4 of section 10, and built a small log house and made other improvements on it. About 1834 he went into the employ of Titus Dort of Dearborn, where he worked a year or two. He married Miss Nancy Cochran of Dearborn. He visited us soon after, which proved to be his last visit. He sold his land and about 1836 moved to Indiana, where, if living, he still resides. He had always been a welcome visitor to our family circle. Peace to him wherever he is.
Dr. Micah Adams Among my earliest recollections of persons Dr. Adams stands prominent. He was our family physician during my childhood and youth, and he was prominent as a neighbor, and a leading member of the Methodist church. He came to us from Ohio, in 1826, and settled on the plains a little west of where the Schwarzburg schoolhouse afterward stood. His first wife died n 1828. In 1830-1 he taught the first winter school in the Schwarzburg house, at $12.00 per month, and boarded himself. About this time he built a log house on the east ½ of southeast 1/4 of section 4, and moved into it. He lived here but a short time, when he sold out with the intention of going to Illinois. The day was set for his going, but something interfered and he abandoned his plan. My father then offered him the use of five acres of land, without rent, so long as he should occupy it, on the northwest corner of his farm. He accepted, and built a log house upon it. He lived here during the first year of the cholera in Detroit, in 1832, and he frequently went to Detroit on professional business during that season. His professional calls at Plymouth became so numerous that he removed his family to that place in 1833. His second wife, Julia, daughter of Rev. Judah Lewis, of Livonia, died in June, 1833. He subsequently married a Miss Chambers of Canton. She died late in the fifties. He died in 1859, aged 64 ½ years. Several years before he died he met with an accident to his hip joint which crippled him so badly that from that time he walked only by the aid of crutches. As a physician he maintained a creditable reputation. As a surgeon his skill was not remarkable. As a citizen he was intelligent and honorable. His moral integrity was unquestioned. He seceded from the M. E. church in the great anti slavery movement, in 1841, and united with the Wesleyan church, and remained in their communion the rest of his days.
Joseph Keller was a Dutchman, I think from Pennsylvania. I do not know the year he came. He first settled in the neighborhood a few miles west of us on the territorial road, but about 1830, he moved into the house Dr. Adams left on east ½ of southeast 1/4, section 4. I remember him as a respectable, steady and sedate old man, a quiet neighbor and a member of the Methodist church. He made good improvements on the farm-----a framed barn among them. About 1834, on a cold winter’s night, their house burned down with considerable of its contents. Jacob was running the Schwarzburg saw mill when I first knew him. Soon after the Toledo war the family moved to Toledo. The father, mother and two children soon fell victims to the bilious climate for which that locality was then noted. Since then I have lost all knowledge of them or their whereabouts.
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