Simeon McCotter, son of James Jr. and
Jenette Howard McCotter was born in Benson, Rutland County, Vermont on
August 30, 1806. He was the oldest of seven children and the grandson of
James McCotter, Sr. and Samuel Howard both soldiers in the Revolution.
He grew up in Orwell as the family
moved there about 1810 where his father set up a cabinette shop. It was
there Simeon and his brother, James, learned the trade of carpentry. The
family attended the Congregational Church in Orwell.
In 1827, Simeon visited the wild Michigan
Territory but returned to Vermont. However, in 1836, a company composed
mainly of Vermont people was organized by Reverend Sylvester Cochrane for
the purpose of forming a colony in the Michigan Territory. Simeon passed
the rigid requirements of the company and joined them, buying wild land
in Eaton, Michigan Territory moving there in 1837. The colonists named
the township and the village, Vermontville because it reminded them of
home. Thereafter, they were known as the Vermontville Colonists. This particular
area was chosen also for its location because at that time there was a
proposal to build a canal to join Lake Michigan with Lake Huron and the
site of the canal was to go directly through Vermontville. The canal, however,
did not happen, and Vermontville became a farming community in the hills
of the Thorn Apple Valley.
Simeon came to Michigan Territory as
a bachelor and, in 1840, married Lucy Minerva Leveridge born in Salina,
NY. She came to Bellevue, Michigan to be with a sister after the death
of their parents. Simeon was a charter member of the Congregational Church
but both were always identified with its' interest and that of the village
until their deaths.
Simeon is credited for most of the
gingerbread trim on the porches of the homes in Vermontvilleand also for
many of the homes themselves. He built the first frame house in the town.
His wood working tools are on display in the Vermontville Museum. He also
was known for making cradles and coffins. Simeon was a quiet man, thoroughly
honest and never suspected or expected dishonesty in others. He and Lucy
raised 4 children, Kathryn Jenette, James Howard, Eliza Betsy, and George
Samuel.
Other than Daniel Barber, a close friend
of Simeons', and another of the original colonists, Simeon was the last
of the male colonists. He passed away November 15, 1893 of 'old age'.
** Group Photograph [taken circa
1890] Henry HANER, Wells R. MARTIN, Jonas DAVIS, Morris WELLS, Rufus HANER,
William WELLS, George ANDREWS, David CHATFIELD, Asa BENEDICT, Argalus SPRAGUE,
Daniel BARBER and Simeon Mccotter.
** Photograph of Simeon and Lucy
Minerva McCotter from the Vermontville Museum
Simeon McCotter biography and
photographs submitted by Cathy
Pouls
[great great grandaughter of
Simeon & Lucy Minerva McCotter]
4 April 2001.
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