Uziah Boutwell
This story is located in my grandmother
Leta Boice Boutwell’s Book of Remembrance
(Spelling and punctuation corrections have been
made – no changes were made to the sentence
structure or voice – other corrections will be shown
in parenthesis –
Linda Fretwell Duchaine – February 2008)
Uziah Boutwell walked at the age of 19 years from the state of N. Y. to Michigan at the age of 19 years, covering the entire
distance on foot. Over his shoulder in a little leather bag, he carried gold & silver with which he purchased from the Government
a half section of land in Thedford, Township. From what was then a dense wilderness with Indians, bears and other dangers
threatening, he hewed for himself and family what in later years was developed into one of the finest farms in that section of the
country. He sold 80 acres retaining the remaining 80 for himself. He lived at the old homestead until his wife died eight years
ago, when he went to live with a daughter, Mrs. William Laupheimer at that time in Texas. He remained there for a couple of
years and then returned to Michigan to make his home on the Charles Boutwell farm in Thedford. Here he remained until a year
ago, when he came to this city.
Detroit was the only market place in Michigan at the time Mr. Boutwell was actively engaged on the farm, and the trip to and from
that city was laboriously but neverless periodically made by ox team. At the age of 24, Mr. Boutwell was married to Miss Eliza
Hurd (daughter of Russell G. Hurd) of Pine Run. They were the parents of ten children, sever of who survive as follows: Mrs.
Helen Marr of Onoway, Mrs. Florence Krebs of Portland, Oregon, B. F. Boutwell of Onway, IA, Ozias Boutwell of Mt. Morris, Mrs.
William Laupheimer of Los Angeles and Hubert Boutwell of Flint, Michigan.
(I couldn’t find Onway or Onoway, IA. I did find Onoway in Alberta, Canada and Onaway in Michigan – Linda)
online: History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions by Edwin O. Wood, LL D – published 1916.
Uzial (spelling difference) was elected constable of Thetford township on April 4, 1842.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Russell G. Hurd
This story is located in my grandmother
Leta Boice Boutwell’s Book of Remembrance
It is on the back of the story about Uziah Boutwell – Russell Hurd was Uziah’s father-in-law – married to Eliza Hurd)
(Spelling and punctuation corrections have been made – no changes were made to the sentence structure or voice – other
corrections will be shown in parenthesis –
Linda Fretwell Duchaine – February 2008)
Prominent among the settlers of 1837 was Russell G. Hurd. He with a family consisting of Nelson, Calista, Eliza, Hiram,
George, Franklin & Sawyer came from Wyoming Co. then Allegany Co., N.Y. and arrived in Vienna (Michigan) in February. Their
route led them through Canada, crossing the waters which divided the homes of the free from Victoria Dominions at Port Huron.
The stock brought in consisted of two yolk of oxen, two cows, and a team of horses, the first horses owned in the township. A log
house was hastily erected upon the premises now owned by one of the sons, Sawyer Hurd, and occupied before its completion.
During the following summer, provisions and produce were procured in Pomtaic for which they paid $20.00 per ton for hay, for
wheat $2.00, potatoes $1.00, and oats $.75 per bushel, for pork $.25 per lb. Some one of the family was kept upon the road
going to and returning from Thread Mills & Pomtaic the greater portion of the first six months to obtain and bring in the
necessary family supplies.
Mr. Hurd, about the year 1840, erected a frame building which was occupied by him as a store. He also established an ashery,
whereby the early settlers were able to exchange ashes for dry goods. In 1855, assisted by his sons, he built a sawmill, which
was situated one and a half miles west of Cleo. The following year a grist-mill, the first in the township, was put into operation.
1857 Paar Masters-John Middleton.
History of Genesee County Michigan on line