BRONSON TOWNSHIP
pg. 195
Bronson township still retains its original name. In the
spring of 1817, Norwalk and Bronson were incorporated as a
township for business and held their first election at
Hanson Reed’s.
The township derived its name from Isaac
Bronson, one of the principal owners of the land.
The township, while generally level, is diversified by
the branches of the Huron in the western part. In this
portion of the township the soil is a loamy clay mixed with
gravel, while the eastern half is mostly clay.
Sandstone of the newer formation underlies a considerable
portion of the township, and is quarried in some portions to
a considerable extent. The varieties of timber
were whitewood, hickory, beech, white ash, black walnut, the
oak in several varieties, butternut, basswood, elm,
sycamore, chestnut, and some other kinds of less importance.
Several of the eastern branches of the Huron river run
through the township, their general
Page 196 -
course being northwest. The stream called East
branch crosses the southwest corner of the township, and
another crosses the northeast corner, while High Bridge
creek flows from the southeast part to the northwest.
The animals of the forest were the bear, deer, wolf,
wild cat, fox, raccoon, opossum, etc. The wild turkey
was the principal bird, and was quite abundant. Bears
were not infrequently seen, but were not often killed.
Deer were numerous, and venison was a common article of food
with the earlier settlers. Their skin was an article
of clothing, as well as of trade. Two deer skins would
suffice to make a pair of pantaloons, and one would face a
pair. The facing was done by sewing the neck of the
hide on to the seat, and the half of the balance on the
front of each leg, with a strip around the bottom.
The woods abounded in wolves, and they were a great
annoyance to the farmer. It was usual to pen their
sheep up at night, in rail pens, built near the house, for
to leave them out at night was to insure their destruction.
Rattlesnakes also were very numerous in the first
settlement of the township, more especially in the vicinity
of the streams.
The first habitation erected in Bronson, for the abode
of civilized people, was the log cabin of the squatter,
John Welch, built in the summer of 1815. He
came from Pennsylvania with his family and located west of
the creek, opposite Mr. Kellogg’s. His
parents and his brothers came in soon after, some of whom
located in Peru, but none of the family made a permanent
settlement.
- END OF CHAPTER - |
Source: