Tecumseh: The First Century

By: Amanda Payeur and Kern Kuipers

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Synopsis: Tecumseh was founded by a family of pioneers. The principals in the venture were Musgrove Evans with his wife, Abi Evans (n©e Brown), Abi's brother, Joseph Brown, and Austin E. Wing, a cousin of the Brown family. Joseph and Abi had firsthand knowledge of pioneer life, having established Brownville in Jefferson County, New York, with their father, Jacob Brown. Austin E. Wing was already in Michigan, living in Monroe, and he convinced Musgrove that the new settlement would be a noble and profitable venture. Musgrove convinced his brother-in-law, Joseph, and the three formed a company with the purpose of purchasing land and founding a community in the interior of Michigan. Upon arrival, a number of the first settlers were taking lunch while building the first structure, a 20-by-20 footlog "company house" to be shared by all until they could each build their own houses , and Musgrove Evans suggested naming the town after the Shawnee chief Tecumseh. There was some debate, especially as Tecumseh had fought on the side of the British, but it was decided that he had truly fought for his convictions and for his people, so the name was decided upon.