THE SEBEWA RECOLLECTOR Newsletter from Sebewa;
OCTOBER 2005, Volume 41, Number 2. Sebewa Township, Ionia County, MI.
Submitted with written permission of Editor Grayden D. SLOWINS:


SURNAMES: CROSS, NASH, FLEETHAM, BELAND, WHITE, COGSWELL, RICE, SINDLINGER, McLEAN, ALLEN, LEHMAN, SLOWINS, SHOWERMAN, BROWN, HARMON, WELD, PACKARD, WADDELL, BARR, OLRY, ESTEP, MORRIS, SEYBOLD, MEYERS, GIERMAN, DROSTE, FENDER, MEYERS

RECENT DEATHS:

LEAH L. BELAND CROSS, 93, widow of Allen CROSS, mother of Robert, Dean, Donald and Kendall CROSS and Elaine (Donald) NASH, sister of Rosa FLEETHAM, Henry and Thomas BELAND and the late Gladys WHITE, daughter of Rosa COGSWELL & Henry BELAND, Sr. Leah was born in Loda, IL, and came to the Sunfield-Sebewa town-line area with her family as a young girl.

Leah & Allen were married for 72 years and farmed for most of those years on the CROSS homestead on HENDERSON Road in Sebewa Township, which was settled by John CROSS before 1875. Leah was one of our longtime Election Inspectors in Sebewa Township. They also traveled extensively and were active in the LeValley United Methodist Church and the Sebewa Center Association. They are buried in East Sebewa Cemetery.

BLANCHARD A. RICE, 83, husband of Mildred SINDLINGER Rice, father of Larry and Donald RICE, brother of the late Mrs. McLEAN, son of Grace ALLEN & Blanchard E. RICE. Blanchard graduated from Michigan State College, served in the US Army Air Force in WW II, farmed on the RICE homestead on Charlotte Highway in Danby Township, which was settled by J. W. RICE before 1875. Later he worked for the US Department of Labor in the Chicago area and retired back to Portland. Long active in the Sebewa Center Association because of Mildred’s descent from the SINDLINGER family, he is buried in Danby Cemetery.

FRONT PAGE PHOTO of Last class at Sebewa Center School, District No. 4 (1965): Joe SLOWINS, Judy SEYBOLD, Teacher Ariel MORRIS, Martha MEYERS, Eric GIERMAN, Toni DROSTE, Kay FENDER, Debbie MEYERS, Karen SLOWINS.

THE BEGINNING OF SEBEWA CENTER SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR (With spelling and punctuation as in the original). (Surnames capitalized by transcriber L.I.BENNETT):

The School Leace of School Dist. No. 4 in the Township of Sebewa County of Ionia and State of Michigan.

Know all men by these Presents that Jacob SHOWERMAN of the Town County and State aforesaid party of the first part for the Consideration of Twenty Five Cents Do Hereby Leace unto Walter HARMON Eleazer BROWN and Jacob SHOWERMAN the School District Board No 4 in the Town County and State aforesaid party of the second part and their Successors and Assigns the following parcel of Land.

Namely Commencing at the East Quarter Stake of the South East quarter of Section No 22 thence West five (5) rods thence South eight (8) rods thence East five (5) rods thence North eight (8) rods to the place of beginning With all privileges and appertenences To have and hold the same for all during the term of twenty years from this 12th day of March AD 1846.

The Said party of the Second part for themselves their successors and assigns do Covenant and agree to pay the Said party of the first part for the Said premises the anuel amount of twenty five cents In testimony whereof we the said parties have hereunto Set their hands and Seals this the 25 day of March 1846. Jacob SHOWERMAN Walter HARMON Eleazer BROWN Signed and Sealed in the presence of Lucius E. SHOWERMAN Veronica L. HARMON.

To Walter HARMON a Taxable inhabitant of School District No 4 of the Township of Sebewa. Sir you will hereby notice that we Benj D. WELD and Wm PACKARD School Inspectors of Said Township of Sebewa have formed a School District in Said Township Numbered it and bounded it as follows to wit Commencing Eighty rods East of the North West Corner of Section 13 thence West to the North quarter Stake of Section 16 thence South to the South quarter stake of Section 28 thence East to the South quarter Stake of Section 26 thence North to the South quarter Stake of Section 14 thence East three fourths of a mile thence North to the place of beginning.

The first meeting of Said District will be held at the school house in Said District on the 27th Day of September 1847 at four oclock PM and you will in pursuance of the Laws notify every qualified voter of Said district either personally or by leaving a written notice at his place of residence of the time and place of Said meeting Then and there to transact such business as the Law requires Given under our hands this 18th Day of Sept AD 1847 Wm PACKARD Benj D. WELD School Inspectors All notified personally and by writing on the 20th and 21st Days of Sept 1847. Walter HARMON Taxable inhabitant.
At a meeting of the Lawfull inhabitants at the School House in District No 4 in the Township of Sebewa County of Ionia and State of Michigan on the 27th Day of Sept 1847.
Eleazer BROWN was chosen Moderator for the insuing year.
Walter HARMON was chosen Director for the insuing year.
Jacob SHOWERMAN was chosen Assessor for the year.
It was voted that five Dollars should be raised for repairs on the School House.
It was voted that there should be four months School in District No 4
We adjoun this meeting until one year from this Day at this place Sebewa Sept 27 1847 Eleazer BROWN Walter HARMON
Jacob SHOWERMAN School District Board.
I do hereby accept the office of Moderator in School District No 4 Eleazer BROWN
I do hereby accept the office of Director in School District No 4 Walter HARMON
I do hereby accept the office of Assessor in School District No 4 Jacob SHOWERMAN Sebewa Sept 27 1847

Sebewa Sept 25 1848 At the annual School meeting of School District No 4 in the Township of Sebewa County of Ionia State of Michigan
Voted that Eleazer BROWN be moderator for the insewing year
Voted that Walter HARMON should be Director for the insuing year
Voted that John WADDELL should be Assessor for the insuing year
Voted to raise five Dollars by tax for repairs on the school House
Voted that one cord of wood be Delivered for each scollar that attends school.
Voted that the wood be delivered by the first day of December
Voted that we shall have four months of School to commence the first of November
Voted that the resident tax be retained in the District.
Voted that this meeting be adjourned until one year from today Sebewa Sept 25 1848
Sebewa Sept 30 1848 I do hereby accept the office of Moderator in School Dist No 4
Eleazer BROWN
I do hereby accept the office of Assessor in School Dist No 4 John WADDELL
I do hereby accept the office of Director in School District No 4 Walter HARMON

Received of Walter HARMON, Eleazer BROWN and John WADDELL the School District Board of District No 4 Ten Dollars in orders on the Treasurer being in full for building School House (The original log school house) and Leace of one quarter of an acre of land for said School House Sebewa December 25 1848 Jacob SHOWERMAN Sebewa Sept 24 1849

At the anuel School Meeting of School District No 4
Eleazer BROWN was Chosen Moderator
Walter HARMON was Chosen Director
John WADDELL was Chosen Assessor
It was agreed that five Dollars should be raised for repairs for the School House and other purposes
It was agreed that we Raise one Dollar on each Scholler between the ages of 4 and 18 years
Aggreed that the resident tax be retained in the Town
We adjourn this meeting until one year from this Day
Eleazer BROWN Moderator Walter HARMON Director
This may Certify that I accept the office of Moderator in School District No 4 Sebewa Sept 24 1849 Eleazer BROWN
This may Certify that I accept the office of Director in School District No 4 Sebewa 25 1849 John WADDELL

It is agreed between Walter HARMON Director of School District No 4 in the Town of Sebewa and Willard L. BARR a School Teacher of the Township of Said District for the term of two months and a half commencing on the 12th Day of December 1849 for the sum of Ten Dollars per month and Such Services properly performed the Said Walter HARMON is to pay the Said Willard BARR the amount of his wages as ascertained by this memorandum on or before the first of June next in witness whereof the Said parties have hereto set their names this 12th Day of December AD 1849 Walter HARMON Director Willard L. BARR Teacher

Sebewa Sept 30 1850
At the anuel School Meeting of School District No 4 in Said Township it was agreed on motion that John F. OLRY was chosen Clerk of this meeting in place of Walter HARMON absent.
On motion it was voted that John ESTEP is Moderator for the Ensuing year.
On motion it was voted that Eleazer Brown is Director for the ensuing year.
On motion it was voted that John F. OLRY is Assessor for the ensuing year.
On motion it was voted that One Dollar is to be raised by tax in this District on each Schollar between ages of four and eighteen years.
On motion it was voted that a tax of Ten Dollars is to be raised for buying one stove for the School House.
On motion it was voted that one third of the public money is to be kept for the Summer School.
On motion it was voted that a Female Teacher Shall be hired for the year.
On motion it was voted that it should be four months School in this winter.
On motion it was voted that one half cord wood should be furnished by each Scholler.
On motion it was voted that School shall begin on the first Monday of November next.
On motion it was voted that this meeting be Adjourned for one year to this place. Sebewa Sept 30 1850 John F. OLRY Clerk
Eleazer BROWN Moderator
Sebewa Sept 30 1850 This may certify that I accept the office of Director in School District No. 4 Eleazer BROWN
Sebewa Sept 30 1850 This may certify that I accept the office of Moderator in School District No 4 John ESTEP
Sebewa Sept 30 1850 This may certify that I accept the office of Assessor in School District No 4 John F OLRY

Sebewa Sept 29 1851
The Taxable inhabitants of School District No 4 have met to elect officers and Transact other Business
Voted that John ESTEP be Moderator for the insuing year
Voted that Eleazer BROWN be Director for the insuing year
Voted that John WADDELL be Assessor for the insuing year
Voted to raise one Dollar by tax on each Scholler between the ages of four and eighteen years for Schol purposes
Voted to raise five Dollars by tax for repairs to the School house and other purposes
Voted to have three months School taught by a man teacher
Voted that five Dollars be applied to the Summer School
Voted to furnish three-fourths cord of wood for each Schollar corded at the School House
Voted to Adjourn this meeting to one year from this day at this place Eleazer BROWN Director John ESTEP Moderator
I do hereby accept the office of Moderator for the insuing year Sebewa Sept 29 1851 John ESTEP
I do hereby accept the office of Director for the insuing year Sebewa Sept 29 1851 Eleazer BROWN
I do hereby accept the office of Assessor in School District No 4 for the insuing year Sebewa 29 1851 John WADDELL

Sebewa Feb 7 1852
The undersigned Members of District Board of School District No 4 in the Township of Sebewa do hereby appoint John F OLRY Moderator of Said District to fill the vacancy created by the removal from the District of John ESTEP the late incumbent Dated this 7th Day of February AD 1852 Eleazer BROWN Director John WADDELL Assessor Sebewa February 7 AD 1852

I do hereby accept the office of Moderator to fil vacance occasioned by John ESTEP removal from the Distric J. F. OLRY

The undersigned members of the District Board District No 4 in the Township of Sebewa do hereby appoint Lucius SHOWERMAN Director of Said District to fill the vacancy created by the death of Eleazer BROWN the late incumbent Dated April 5 AD 1852 J. F. OLRY Moderator John WADDELL Assessor

I do hereby certify my acceptance of the office of Director in
District No 4 of the Township of Sebewa Sebewa April 5 1852
Lucius SHOWERMAN

LEHMAN FAMILY UPDATE:
The elderly LEHMAN couple in front of their barn on the cover of the August issue were the Editor’s great-grandparents on Grandma LEHMAN SLOWINSKI’S side.

INTERNET UPDATE: At <thebarnjournal.org> look under Barn Stories for ours.

OUR THIRD TRIP TO FLORIDA CONTINUED by Grayden SLOWINS:

Monday, March 7, 2005, 44 degrees & sunny, 80 degrees by noon………Floyd & Grace LUTZ have been to several National Association of Towns and Townships annual conferences in Washington, DC, as well as Pennsylvania Towns Association………

Friday, March 11…………to the Bradford County Fairgrounds and its North Florida Antique Engine Show. We met a retired Case dealer & wife from Spooner in northern WI. The wife tended their hobby flock of up to 50 ewe sheep………Now they winter in FL and attend several antique tractor shows…………Nearby we met the Johnsons from further south in WI. She is a retired nurse and now a genealogy buff, studying her mother’s line, the BOGUES, of whom many settled in West MI around Ludington & in Ottawa County. We told her about Philo N. BOGUE, one of the earliest settlers in Portland (MI), on BOGUE’S flats near Portland Manufacturing Co. about 1833. She thinks he is probably a relative and will investigate.

March 12………Harold & Dolly MEIER had a home in Howell, MI, and our Karen delivered their mail sometimes, especially to their furniture refinishing business in an industrial park. Both graduated from Eustis High School in FL, in 1956, although he was born in Byron, in the southeast corner of Shiawassee County, MI. March 21………typed two pages of the April Recollector………
TO BE CONTINUED