HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.     363
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portion of the land of the adjacent townships. Its boundary
lines have been changed five different times since its organiza-
tion.
 
 
                   SETTLEMENTS.
 
The first settlement made in Brownstown Township, was in
what was since known as the "Hutchinson neighborhood," in the
year 1811 or 1812; but as to who the first settler was, is a matter
that is quite uncertain. The following are the names of those
who were here among the first: Abraham Miller, James Hutch-
inson, Adam Miller, Abraham Huff, Aaron C. Day, John Weath-
ers, Colby Tuell and others. James Hutchinson lived near where
Christian Derr now lives; further north was John Ketcham,
whose cabin stood near the residence now standing on the old
Woodmasee place, near Brownstown. On Hough's Creek, about
two miles south of Brownstown, John Springer had built a small
log hut and had cleared considerable ground. William Ruddick
settled in Section No.6, near the old Indian boundary line. He
built on land that is now owned by the Finley heirs. By some
he is thought to have been the first settler in the township.
James Mitchel, John McCormack and Abel Finley settled north
of Brownstown. The last named built near where Mrs. Bridget
Hamilton now lives. Daniel Reynolds, Robert Burge, Mathew
Tanner, Lewis Ritter and many others were among the first.
 
The following are the land entries made prior to 1825: George
Goss, 1821; Mathew Tanner, 1820; Lewis Ritter, 1821. John
Beggs, 1820; A. C. Durham, 1825; Absalom, 1814; John Ketch-
am, 1816; Abraham Huff, 1825; James Seirs, 1814; Aaron C.
Day, 1824; Vincent Lockman, 1824; James Beggs, 1821; Jones
& Pugh, 1817; John Newton, 1818; William Davenport, 1811;
Adam Miller, 1816; Jacob Peironger, 1811; James Hutchinson,
1813; James Beaty, 1818 ; Thomas Sincleaes,1821; I. G. Richards,
1819; Joseph Wheedon, 1817; Thomas Bullell, 1820: Abel Fin-
ley, 1817; Thomas Finley, 1821; John Weathers, 1821; James
Hutchinson, 1822.