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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, December 26, 2021, pg. 4 One pioneer family that settled in western Jackson County in the 1830s was the Landon family. Five Landon brothers came here from Cayuga County, New York, and settled Springport and Parma townships. Three of them married Cranson sisters, who all came here. One particular brother was Ezekiel Landon (1813-1867), who settled in Parma Township. He is buried in Campbell Cemetery. Some time after his death when his homestead was being cleared out, a package of old letters was discovered in his attic. These letters were mostly from relatives back in New York which informed the recipients of what was happening back in New York. These letters were transcribed and published as a 91-page book entitled "Stray Leaves From Pioneer Days," published by the Parma News printers. Undated, it is filled with local geographic references of Western Jackson County in the 1830s. Several letters are written to Herman and Betsey (Cranson) Landon, who settled in Springport Township in September, 1835. Other letters are written to other Landon family members who settled in western Jackson County. Here are some examples of the letters: One is written addressed to Herman Landon, Spring Arbour (probably sic for Springport) Jackson County, Territory of Michigan, Barry Post Office; it was written from Venice, N.Y., February 15, 1836. Note: Some townships were combined with others at the time and were still in the process of being divided up. Originally designated as the Sandstone Post Office, it operated under that name of Barry from 1834 to 1880. It then reverted back to the Sandstone P.O, which operated until 1904. The book contains some descriptions of pioneer life in western Jackson County, and mentions various surnames with whom the Landon and Cranson families were associated. Herman's wife Betsey (Cranson) Landon wrote a letter to Thomas Cranson, Sr. of Venice, Cayuga County, N.Y. on May 2, 1836 which included the lines (pg. 25) "The priest Harrison wants to have a road run southwest from his house across our land. Cattle and provisions of all kinds are high. We bought ours early in the spring [from] Comstock." The Comstock mentioned would be John Comstock (1801-1891) a founder of Springport, while the priest Harrison mentioned would be Rev. Marcus Harrison (1795-1874) who was the 4th settler of Springport; he built the first sawmill in the township in 1836, called Springbrook. See pages 16-18 in the "Oyers Corners to Springport" book. Another letter was written to Ezekiel Landon, Cayuga Post Office, Jackson County, Michigan, from Poplar Ridge, N.Y. on February 6, 1843. The Cayuga P.O. operated in Springport Township from 1839 to 1861. Another letter was written to Mrs. Ezekiel Landon, Gidley's Station P.O., Jackson County on October 29, 1854. Gidley�s Station was the first railroad station on the Michigan Central Railroad in Parma Township, and was in operation from 1845 to 1862. There are still Landon and Cranson descendants living in in our area today. For those who are interested in a history of early settlers in Jackson County in the 1830s, this book is for you. Fortunately, this book has recently been photocopied by Jackie Merritt, newly retired area librarian. It is available for reading or copying at both the Springport and Parma libraries. Stop by and take a look at it. From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photograph of Ezekiel Landon, Jr. (1813-1867), to whom many of the letters were written. How many of our readers have ancestors who were among the first settlers in this area in the 1830s and 1840s?  Ezekiel Landon, Jr. (1813-1867)
All text copyright, 2024 © all rights reserved Frank Passic
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