Salem Area Historical Society

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Early settlers in the Township

The SAHS will use this page to highlight the lives of early Salem Township residents.

Early Settlers
John Dickerson and his cousin Joseph Dickerson came to what would be Salem Twp  from Seneca County New York in 1825. They purchased property in sections 12 and 13 along  what would be Six mile road. John returned to NewYork and the next year 1826 came back with his sisters.The Dickersons cleared land and built a log home that year. In 1827 he built the first log Barn in the area and in 1830 he built the first frame Barn(1881 History of Washtenaw County) . (This is the barn the SAHS is planning to re-erect.) Dickerson would aquire more land in township including the area where the Hamlet of Salem would be established. With the coming of the Detroit and Howell railroad in 1871 he sold to George Wheeler and Eli Emith a peice where they platted lots for the Hamet. Dickerson also paid to move the Baptist Church then located west of town  into town. One of the streets is named for him.
Rider
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