HANNIBAL HYDE, farmer, resident on sec. 10, Mecosta Twp., is the son of James and Eunice (Puck) Hyde, natives of Connecticut; they settled in Vermont where the son was ccron in Orange County, Nov. 5, 1810. On reaching his 21st year he set out to seek his fortune. His first exploit was to walk to Glens Falls, N. Y., 90 miles distant, and thence to Albany, but he soon retraced his steps and engaged in lumbering for a few months, finally finding regular employment on a farm at $11 per month. At the expiration of his engagement he went to wok in a saw-mill, where he was occupied some months. In the summer of 1835 he left Glend Falls with a vague determination to make his way westward. He set out with several companions but became dissatisfied with appearances and took his own route back to Rocherster, N. Y., and returned to Detroit, via Buffalo. In company with seven others he chartered a team to take him to White Pigeon, Mich. Mr. Hyde with several of his fellow travelers went to Indiana, whence they shortly returned to Niles. Not yet satisfied with the outlook he continued his prospecting to St. Joseph County, and pushed on to Chicago. His own statement is that he was "disgusted with the awful windy little village" and left in a few days for Sheboygan, Wis. Here he was engaged eleven months in the management of a saw-mill. His next remove was to Chicago, making the journey partly on foot and partly by sail-boat. He worked there a short time as a carpenter, then came to Muskegon Co., Mich. He arrived in this State in the summer of 1837 and went to work on the river. The winter following he came to Newaygo County, and managed a saw-mill one year, when he decided on a visit to Vermont, where he spent some months, going thence to New York, and thence to St. Louis, Mo., and Louisville, Ky. This rambling existence he continued until 1844, when he married and made preparations for a permanent settlement in life. He purchase 80 acres of wild land in Newaygo County, where he lived and pursued agriculture until 1856. In that year he settled in Mecosta Tp. That section was then in its infancy. The township was unorganized and settlers were few especially permanent ones. Lumber interest invited transient comers, but for a period of ten years there were few who considered the place as having claims upon their interest, and no steps were taken toward arranging the municipal affairs of the township for five years after the settlement of Mr. Hyde. He was one of the most active in the movement for the organization of Mecosta, as he had been in that of the townships of Newaygo County. He is the oldest living inhabitant of his township, and his youngest son was the first white child born within its borders.
Mr. Hyde was married in 1844, to Sophia Russell, who was born in April, 1829, and reared in Newaygo County, in the vicinity of the Big Muskegon River. Mrs. Hyde became the mother of seven children. She was a member of the Catholic Church, and died Sept. 4, 1881. Three children who survive her were borns as follows: Daniel, Oct. 4, 1845; Francis E., Jan. 19, 1850; Miranda J., March 20, 1858. The deceased children were Eunice, Amanda S., Amos H. and James. Mr. Hyde is an adherent to the principles of the Democratic party.
|
