BLISSFIELD AND DEERFIELD TOWNSHI

BLISSFIELD AND DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP

Blissfield was organized in 1827. It then included the present Townships of Deerfield, Palmyra, Odgen and Riga. William Kedzie, of Delphi, N.Y., entered at the United States Land Office, at Monroe, on the 3d of May, 1824, the first government land in this town, but did not occupy it until October, 1826. Hervey Bliss made a purchase in June, 1824, and in December following moved on to it with his family, being the first white resident of the town, which was named after him. Gideon West settled near Mr. Bliss in 1825, and was the second resident. Soon after, George Giles, Almond Harrison, and Samuel Buck came; and in 1827 quite an emigration set in, viz., Benjamin and Daniel Clark, Jonas Ray, Anthony McKey, and Benjamin Tibbets, who settled near the present village of Deerfield; and Morris burch, Issac and Samuel Randall, Ebenezer Gilbert, Edward Calkins, Jacob and John Lane, Ezra Goff, and sons, and John Preston, who settled near what is now Blissfield Village. The first town meeting was held at Bliss’s house, May 28, 1827, at which Wm. Kedzie was chosen Supervisor, and Ezra Goff Town Clerk. There were twenty offices to fill and only thirteen electors to fill them; so that every man had two or more offices. The expenses of the town for the first sixteen months were less than $37. Petersburg was the nearest settlement, and Monroe was the nearest market, -- the nearest place to get provisions, milling, medicines, doctors, or magistrates, -- with little or no conveyance but the tramp line. Henry Bliss, about this time, opened the road from Petersburg to his settlement. The first two marriages occurred on the same day, November 23, 1826, -- Samuel Buck to Miss Margaret Frary, and George Stout to Miss Delight Bliss; the ceremonies being performed by a justice of the peace, who came from Monroe on purpose. Miss Lucinda Buck, now wife of Fred. Cannon, was born October 3, 1827, and was the first infant presented to this pioneer colony. The first adult death was that of William Kenzie, which occurred in August, 1828. Rev. J. A. Boughman, Methodist, from Monroe, preached the first sermon. In February, 1829, Rev Alanson Darwin, from Tecumseh, organized the first church; Presbyterian. The first post-offices were established in 1828, at Blissfield and “Kedzie’s Grove.” Chester Stuart, from Monroe, taught the first school in the first school-house (built of logs, within the present limits of Blissfield), at thirteen dollars a month. The second school-house was built near the present sit of Deerfield, in 1829, in which Miss Caroline Bixby was first teacher. In November, 1830, Miss Eliza Clark, aged sixteen, got lost in the woods, and was three days without food or shelter before she found a settler. At the territorial election, held July, 1831, there were fifty-eight votes cast for Delegate to Legislative Council, Darius Comstock, of Lenawee County, receiving thirty-one. In 1834 the first saw-mill was built by A. Harrison, with one run of stone attached, for grinding corn, superintended by Seymour Barrett. Mr. Harrison also put in a small stock of goods. About this time Mr. Bliss stated a plat for the village, and a survey made of the “corduroy turnpike” across “Cottonwood Swamp.” Mr. Gotlieb Crapp erected the first frame house in Blissfield; it is still used as a residence. A boy by the name of Tubbs was stolen by the Indians from the Blissfield colony in the early day, with whom he remained for many years before he returned to his home and civilized life. The following named early settlers came between the years 1827 and 1835: Ruel Payne, Solomon Harrison, John Randall, Jared Pratt, Peleg Pettis, Norman Torrey, John Sherwin, Abner J. McWilliams, Ezra Newton, Nathan Austin, John Eddy, William C. Clark, Avery Pool, Johnson Haywood, Darius Mead, George M. Hubbard, O. A. Sackett, Horace Pierce, P. T. Davenport, Charles H. Gilmore, John Payne, George Ferguson, William Tenant, and Albert K. Hickox. Blissfield and Deerfield are both generally level and heavily timbered. Soil, clay with occasional sandy ridges.

Deerfield Township was set off in 1867.

Blissfield Village contains about 1000 inhabitants, and is on the Toledo division of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, ten miles from Adrian and twenty-three from Toledo. It is also on the river Raisin. It is incorporated, and contains a fine new steam flouring-mill, a large tobacco factory, beside manufactories of staves, broom-handles, and furniture. Lumber, grain, and fruit are the staple articles of shipment.

Deerfield Village was incorporated in 1872, and is also on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, at the point where it intersects the Chicago and Canada Southern Railroad. The completion of the latter road will no doubt make Deerfield a place of some importance. It contains about 600 inhabitants, and has a flouring-mill and manufactories of broom-handles, staves, wooden bowls, etc.