USA > Michigan > American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men.: Michigan Volume > Part 23
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ORRIS, HON. P. W., of Norris, Michigan, was born in Palmyra, New York, August 17, 1821. His ancestry have a far-reaching record as a temperate, sturdy, long- lived race of rigid Roundheads, among the Congregational Puritans of New England. His grandfather, Deacon John Norris, fought at Bunker Hill, and remained in the Continental army until a sword wound disabled him for further military service. Hle afterwards became one of the pioneers of the Montezuma salt marshes, in New York, and lived to extreme old age; as did his brother, who was among the pioneers of the Ohio Valley. Their descendants are widely scattered throughout the North- west. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812; and a pioneer by birth and choice. Mr. Norris inherited from his mother, Azubah Phelps, who was of pure Welsh, or native British, ancestry, his love of mountains and of song. He feels that his best traits of character are clearly Welsh. His father's nomadic life, as a pio- neer mill-builder, in the wild Alleghany region of New York and Pennsylvania, offered few opportunties for his son's school education, but much for mountain climbing. He earned his first dime when less than eight years of age, as guide through the dense moss- draped pine and hemlock forests around the great falls of the Genesee River, near Portage, New York. He was engaged in kindred duties until the removal of the family to Michigan. Here their first greeting was a call for minute-men for the short but bloody Black Hawk War, which was followed by the first and fiercest of the cholera visitations. During these and subsequent attacks of malarial disease, his father's health became
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render material assistance in the support of his numer- | fall of his horse, which was shot under him in a guer- ous family,-mainly daughters. It was then that the rilla fight near Laurel Mountain. He was elected, on
matchless nerve and energy of the Christian mother, his return, to represent the three north-western coun-
who worked with loom and shuttle, and the ceaseless ties of Ohio in the Legislature; and was the only avowed friend of the Government and its soldiers, in that body, along more than one-half of the Western border of Ohio. He resigned his Captaincy in the Hoffman Battalion to take his seat in the Legislature again, and assist in the re-election of Hon. B. F. Wade to the United States Senate, in 1863. With habits and tastes for active camp life, his improved health, and the necessity of keeping on terms of friendship with the soldier, in the Ohio Senate, led him, in the fall of 1863, to become the Union candidate from the seven north- western counties of Ohio. After a long and extremely bitter contest, he was declared defeated by a small ma- jority. Subsequent revelations, however, proved that he had been defeated only by gross fraud along the Indiana border. He made no contest for his seat, as he had become a prominent member of the Sanitary Com- mission, and was at the front caring for the wounded, in the bloody Spottsylvania campaign, while he was awaiting preparations for going, as Secretary or Sur- veyor-General, to Idaho or Montana. He returned from the field in an ambulance, desirous to enjoy the invig- orating mountain air and scenery. The unanimous choice of both the Eastern and Western heirs of the Sedgwicks, Townsends, Benedicts, and other fallen Union, and some Confederate officers, induced him, re- luctantly, to become trustee and guardian of their estates and heirs in the West. Prominent among these interests were lands of the Conner Creek Company, held in trust by the late Shubael Conant, consisting of nearly eleven thousand acres, and nearly as much more owned by others. It nearly adjoined Detroit upon the north, and was, doubtless, the wettest, wildest, most uninviting region proximate to any city in the North. By the terms of his contract he was to purchase a portion of these tracts, and drain the remainder. He purchased heavily ; built a cabin on the famous prairie mound, in 1865; and commenced a regular system of drainage and improve- ments. By the exercise of his characteristic foresight, indomitable energy, perseverance against all opposition, and the expenditure of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, he projected, managed, and carried through the greatest and most successful draining enterprise in the State. Abundance of fall for drainage was found by cutting through the sandy terrace. The village of Norris is situated upon a dry, sandy, undulating plateau, ele- vated nearly thirty feet above the forks of Conner's Creek; surrounded by some of the finest farming and garden lands in the State, which have increased in value ten or fifteen fold within the past ten years. Mr.
toil of the son, kept starvation from the household. When the restored health of his father relieved him, Mr. Norris' habits had been formed by the stern school- ing of pioneer trapper life. He was accustomed to the snow-shoe, the canoe, and the saddle; and traveled with rifle and hatchet along the lakes and rivers, or over the plains and mountains of the North-west. During a ramble among the homes of the Pottowatomie Indians, in North-western Ohio, he was betrothed to Jane K. Cottrell, a daughter of a Massachusetts pioneer ; and thus changed his plans for life. He purchased a portion of land, much of which he still owns, near the forks of the Little St. Joseph River, in Ohio, above Fort Wayne; and erected, in the fall of 1840, the first cabin in the township of Madison, Williams County, Ohio, upon the present site of the incorporated village of Pioneer. Although then only nineteen years of age, he was able and intrepid, and constantly improved his property. He occasionally returned to visit his affianced until his marriage in the fall of 1845. On the wedding journey, from her old home, near the present site of Fayette, to Pioneer, Ohio, the bride rode in the first wheeled con- veyance that ever passed over ten consecutive miles of the trail, much of which her husband widened, through the underbrush, into a rude road, while she drove the team. Prior to his marriage, the book-knowledge of Mr. Norris had been gained from small books carried in his knapsack or pocket of his hunting-shirt. These he studied by the camp-fire, while his comrades played cards. He made ceaseless efforts in keeping accounts for himself and friends in their various rambling enter- prises. He taught, one term, a large but rude fron- tier school ; and spent one term in the academy of Arthur B. Fuller, at Belvidere, Illinois. A settled home, and active business, as agent for the Eastern owners of most of the surrounding country, kept him, for many years, from the Western mountains. He, however, made several extended trips to the great lakes and the St. Lawrence region. He spent much of the summer of 1851, in subdividing the Pinkham Land Grant, near the famous Willey House, amid the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He often scaled the summit of Mt. Washington, when rude bridle-paths alone connected it with the Fabian, the Crawford, and White Mountain hotels. Among the laudable enterprises of these years, was the platting of the now incorporated village of Pioneer, in 1854, upon the site of his old cabin and Indian town. He entered the army at the breaking out of the civil war, serving as spy and Captain of the West Virginia Mountain Scouts; but was soon disabled | Norris has traveled almost over the whole West and by a severe shoulder and spinal injury, caused by the | North-west. His journals of explorations, of 1870 and
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1875, through nearly all the Missouri, Yellow Stone, | filling their commissions, he has traveled extensively in Geyser Basin, Columbia, and other wild regions of the Europe, making annual trips to England and the con- tinent to attend the fur sales of London and Leipsic, where the firm is as well known as at home. Mr. New- land was President of the Detroit Young Men's Society, in 1866; he had for several years previous served on its Board of Directors. In 1865 he was appointed, by Gov- ernor Crapo, a member of the State Military Board, and Aid-de-camp to the Governor, with the rank of Colonel. He served in this capacity during Governor Crapo's two terms. He married, March 11, 1862, Emily A. Burns, West, have, with his notes, many of them in verse, won a greater reprinted circulation than any other late notes referring to those regions. Colonel Norris is of medium height, and has dark complexion, and iron-gray hair. He is of rather a light, wiry build, erect and active; and, despite wounds and long and trying exposure in nearly every portion of the United States and border British provinces, is still vigorous and healthy. He is of winning address, and is a ready speaker and writer, in prose and verse. Colonel Norris is a Republican. |daughter of Hon. James Burns; she died, June 18, 1871. He is a member of the Moravian Church. Under an He was married the second time, March 7, 1877, to Miss Mattie Joy, a daughter of Ilon. James F. Joy, of De- troit. appointment of the Secretary of the Interior, as Super- intendent of the Yellow Stone National Park, he again visited the West, in May, 1877. He ascended the Yel- low Stone, by steamboat, to the mouth of Tongue River, and then went on horseback to the Custer field, where he arrived, July 4, at the disinterment of officers' remains; and brought away those of his old comrade, Charles Reynolds, for burial. He then proceeded up the Yellow Stone, often alone, and in great danger from Indians; thoroughly exploring much of the park and
EWBERRY, JOHN STRENGHTON, Detroit, Michigan, was born at Waterville, Oneida County, New York. He is the son of Elihu and Rhoda (Phelps) Newberry, natives of Windsor, Con- necticut; and is a descendant of Thomas Newberry, who mountain region, -including a long-sought pass from the emigrated from England in 1605, and settled in Dor- Crow agency through the Big Horn Mountains, to the petrified forests on the East Fork. This pass shortens the distance to the wonder land at least one hundred miles. While scouting in advance of General Sher-
chester, Massachusetts. Mr. Newberry removed, with his parents, to Detroit; and afterwards resided at Romeo, where he attended the Romeo branch of the Michigan University. Ilere he prepared for college; he entered man, in the park, he received a severe injury to his : the Sophomore Class of the University, at Ann Arbor, neck and spine by the breaking of a stirrup, and was compelled to return four hundred miles down the Yel- low Stone, in a rude skiff, and thence by steamboat and railroad to his home. This mishap probably saved him from great personal danger in the unlooked-for invasion of the hostile Nez Perces; and enabled him to furnish a very valuable report upon the wonder land, and the pressing necessity for Congressional appropriations for its improvement and protection.
and graduated at the age of eighteen. He was then employed, for two years, in civil engineering and sur- veying, spending a portion of the time in the construc- tion department of the Michigan Central Railroad, under Colonel John M. Berrien. He abandoned this work; and, after a year spent in travel, commenced the study of law in the office of Van Dyke & Emmons, in Detroit. In 1853 he was admitted to the bar, and entered the practice of his profession. Ile carly discovered that the admiralty business, on the lakes, had not received par- ticular attention, and devoted himself to that; practicing almost entirely in the United States Courts. He soon published a volume of reports of admiralty cases arising at the lakes and Western rivers. In 1862, in addition to his practice, he, with three other gentlemen, established the Michigan Car Company, of Detroit, for the manu- facture of freight cars; soon after, they established the Detroit Car-wheel Company. Of both these Mr. New- berry is President. Ile is also interested in the Fulton Iron and Engine Works, of which he is President; the Baugh Steam Forge Works; the Detroit Railroad Ele- vator; and is largely interested in other manufacturing enterprises in this and other States. The car works and car-wheel works are the largest manufacturing estab- lishments in Detroit; the two factories employ nearly
EWLAND, HENRY A., of Detroit, Michigan, of the mercantile house of F. Buhl, Newland & Co., was born at Hammondsport, Steuben County, New York, March 17, 1835. When an infant, his parents removed to Palmyra, Wayne County, New York. At the age of twelve, he entered the store of William H. Cuyler, where he remained seven years. He then left Palmyra and came to Detroit, in 1854. Here he obtained a situation with F. Buhl & Co., and was admitted as a partner in 1858. Since his connec- tion with the house, he has held a responsible position. Hle attends to the purchase of goods, and the sale of raw furs, - in which the house is largely engaged. In | one thousand men. From his various manufacturing
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interests, Mr. Newberry has acquired a handsome fortune; | tion of Regent of the University for six or eight years, but these extensive business cares have caused him to from 1843; and was State Treasurer for three terms, or relinquish, in part, the practice of his profession. In 1862 he was appointed, by President Lincoln, the first Provost Marshal for the State of Michigan, with the
six years,-1860-66. He has been connected with the Methodist Church for fifty-five years; and is universally acknowledged as one of the pillars of that denomination rank of Captain of cavalry. This position he resigned in Detroit. He contributes freely of his time, money, and influence, to aid Christian and benevolent enterprises.
at the close of two years. During that time, he had charge of two drafts, and enrolled and sent to the field the drafted men and substitutes. In 1865 Mr. New- berry traveled through the West Indies, and visited the celebrated Pitch Lake, of Trinidad. In 1871 he made a tour through Europe. In politics, he was a Whig, but is now a Republican. Though often solicited to accept nomination, he has always declined political honors. Ile is a member of the Presbyterian Church; but con- tributes liberally to the support of other denominations, and of charitable institutions. In 1855 he married Harriet Newell Robinson, of Buffalo. She died in 1856, leaving a son who lately graduated from the Military College, of Chester, Pennsylvania. In 1859 Mr. Newberry married Helen P. Handy, of Cleveland, Ohio. They have two sons and one daughter. Mr. Newberry is thoroughly informed upon scientific sub- jects; and has a fine library of scientific works, belles- lettres, and works on art and science. He has a hand- some residence in Detroit, and a country seat on the eastern shore of Lake St. Clair.
WEN, WILLIAM A., a prominent Politician, of Detroit, Michigan, was born at Carthage, Jeffer- son County, New York, on the 18th of May, 1834, and was the son of Dr. William and Sarah (Owens) Owen. Doctor Owen was an agriculturist as well as a physician. Ilis son William, until he was fourteen years of age, divided his time between working his father's farm, and attending the common school in the neighborhood. He then bought his time from his father ; purchased a tract of wild land in Lewis County, and spent two years in the lumber business. He had a well-developed physique, and became a noted athlete; he was especially famous as a wrestler, and had several warmly contested matches with jealous rivals. At six- teen, he began the study of law at Geneva, New York, in the office of Hon. George M. Horton. He took a warm interest in local politics; and, in the campaign of 1856, when James Buchanan was elected President, he was Secretary of the Democratic Senatorial Com- mittee. Having been admitted to the bar in the spring
WEN, HON. JOHN, Detroit, Michigan, was ! of 1857, he started on a tour through the Western
born near Toronto, Canada West, March 20, States, in search of a place of residence. He visited Cincinnati, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago, and other large cities, and, finally, Detroit. The beauty of this city and its surroundings induced him to make it his home. Ile had expected to practice his profession in Detroit; but, happening to be in Chicago during a cele- brated murder trial, he witnessed a legal contest between Abraham Lincoln and John Van Arnem; and, becoming impressed with the culture and ability of the Western lawyers, decided to change his course. Ile conse- quently began to work at his trade. In December, 1858, his business being sufficiently well established, he returned to Geneva, New York, and married, January 3, 1859, Lydia I .. Fish, of that city. On the breaking out of the civil war, in 1861, Mr. Owen secured the contract for furnishing the various camps in the vicinity of Detroit with meats; and thereby laid the foundation of his success. As the fate of the Union became crit- ical, Mr. Owen gave up his lucrative business, and en- listed in the 24th Regiment of Michigan Infantry, in September, 1862. He assisted in recruiting two com- panies, and received a Captain's commission. On the 1809. His parents were in humble circumstances; and his father died when Mr. Owen was quite young. In the year 1818, he came to Detroit with his widowed mother, cast upon the world at the age of nine years. He had a strong desire to acquire an education; and found a friend in a gentleman who had charge of the only academy in the city at that time. Ile gave Mr. Owen tuition free, in consideration of work done about the school building. Ilis patron leaving the city in 1821, Mr. Owen was obliged to give up school; but, through his tutor's recommendation, he obtained a sit- uation in the drug store of Doctor Chapin. Here he acted as clerk until the autumn of 1829, when he was admitted as partner, remaining in that position until the death of Doctor Chapin. After this he continued the business alone, and, by dint of hard work and close attention, was enabled to retire from trade in 1853. Since this time, although he has relaxed a little from its severities, he has not entirely abandoned business, being Director of a bank, and associated in other financial operations. He is now President of the Detroit and Cleveland line of steamers. Mr. Owen held the posi- | 13th of December of that year, under General Burnside,
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Captain Owen was actively engaged in the battle of | up to the present time. In 1869 Mr. Parsons, accom- Fredericksburg, where he received a severe wound in the hip from the explosion of a shell. He was confined in Lincoln Hospital, Washington, for three months; and, being unfit for further service, was mus- tered out in March, 1863. Returning to Detroit a> soon as he was able, he resumed his trade, in which he is still engaged. In 1873 Captain Owen was elected Alderman in his ward. He was re-elected by an in- creased majority, in 1875, from which time he became the acknowledged leader of the Democracy in the Com- mon Council of Detroit. Mr. Owen has had five chil- dren, only two of whom are living.
panied by a portion of his family, made an extensive tour in Europe, being absent about a year. In 1875 he made a second trip, traveling through Egypt, Syria, and other historical portions of the Old World, and remained abroad until November, 1877. During the war, Mr. Parsons gave an earnest support to the Government ; he was especially liberal and zealous in aiding the work of the Sanitary Commission, and entertained hospitably and generously the officers and soldiers of the army. He has always been a liberal contributor to public char- ities. In his connection with the city government, he was an earnest advocate of economy in the municipal administration. Mr. Parsons' active life has been that of a business man; and he is known to the people of Detroit, and of Michigan, as a successful, upright, and honorable citizen. He has, however, in other ways ARSONS, PHILO, Capitalist, of Detroit, Mich- igan, was born at Scipio, Cayuga County, New York, February 7, 1817. His parental grand- father was a native of Williamstown, Massachu- setts, and a prominent officer in the army of the Revolution. His father was a merchant, and a man of unimpeachable honor and integrity. and gave the bulk of his fortune to endow a Western college. Mr. Par- sons is the second son of a family of ten children. He was preparing to enter college, when his health failed, and he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. His early business training was at Rochester, New York, whence he removed to Perry, Genesee County, New York, where he remained five years in connection with his father. During this period, January 17, 1843, he quietly exercised his beneficence, which, though not seen by the public eye will endure in the educational institutions of the State. In 1857 he became actively interested in Olivet College, then in its infancy, and struggling with poverty; and has ever since been a reg- ular and liberal contributor, giving time, money, and influence to its support. He was, in 1862, a member of the Board of Trustees of the College, and, until failing health prevented, was always present at its annual meet- ings; he was also a regular attendant upon college commencements. In 1866 he laid the corner-stone of the new structure, which, at its completion, was named "Parsons' Hall," in honor of the chief donor towards its erection. In 1872 he was the leading man in an effort to increase the permanent endowment of the was married to Miss Ann Elizabeth Barnum, of Liv- | college, and donated twenty thousand dollars to estab- ingston County, New York. In the fall of 1844, Mr. ; lish the "Parsons" Professorship of Greek, and seven Parsons removed to Detroit, and in 1848 engaged in the | thousand dollars towards liquidating the college debt. wholesale grocery trade, which he carried on successfully llis donations, in all, amount to more than forty thou- for twelve years. The legitimate rewards of a business carefully studied and laboriously pursued, had, at this time, placed him fairly in the list of capitalists in his adopted city; he then became largely interested in banking, and, in 1861, established the First National Bank of Detroit. Mr. Parsons is a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and of the American Home Missionary Society of the Con. gregational Church. He was for two years President of sand dollars. Since his connection with the college, its resources have been quadrupled, and its influence widely extended throughout the State. His name will ever be identified with the institution, and he will be remem- bered as one of our few wealthy men who are wise enough to bestow their gifts and enjoy the fruits thereof during their life-time. Not less wise and generous have been Mr. Parsons' contributions to the University of Michigan. During his first visit to Europe, he em- the Detroit Board of Trade, and served for the same period | braced the opportunity of purchasing the valuable in the Common Council of the city of Detroit. He has | library of Professor Rau, of Heidelberg, which, with long been prominently connected with the State Agri- some valuable additions, Le subsequently presented to the University. The record of this beneficence is best made by quoting from the report of acting President Frieze, of the University, for the year 1871 : "Until the beginning of the present year, no considerable dona- tion has been made to the University library. Since that time, however, a very large and valuable private library cultural Society ; and, in 1861, upon the establishment of the State Board of Agriculture, with supervision of the State Agricultural College, he was appointed, by Governor Blair, a member of that Board, and served thereon for the term of two years. In 1867 or 1868, he was one of the incorporators of the Detroit Medical College; he was chosen Secretary and has held that office | has been purchased and presented to the University by
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Philo Parsons, of Detroit. It consists of the entire col- | transporting the latter back to Hartford; each venture lection of the late Professor Rau, of Heidelberg, made during his long service of fifty years as Professor of Political Economy in Heidelberg University; and em- bracing all the most valuable literature contained in the European languages on political science and kindred topics. The number of volumes in this collection is four thousand and thirty-four; and of pamphlets, more than two thousand. While this municipal gift is of great importance on account of the intrinsic worth of the col- lection, it is not less valuable as an example which can not fail to find imitators. Mr. Parsons has made arrange- ments for the binding necessary to be done. It is un- doubtedly as nearly perfect as a library can be made, in the specialty which it represents. It was the well authen- ticated statement of this fact which influenced the authorities of Yale to send an order for its purchase before it was known to have been secured for this Uni- versity. While, however, the collection possesses this specific character, it contains also a large number of works of inestimable value on other subjects. The most important of these is the series of volumes issued by the Academy of Vienna, and those on the original sources of the History of the House of Hapsburg, - a work of great importance in the study of European his- tory. The languages represented in the Parsons' library are German, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Latin, Greek, Hollandish, Danish, Swedish, Icelandic, Servian, Polish, Hungarian, Russian, and the Slavic languages of the lower Danube." Mr. Parsons has since made valuable additions to the collection, and the whole is now known as the " Parsons Library." Mr. Parsons is a trifle under medium size ; he is of a nervous-sanguine temperament, quick to apprehend, and prompt to act on well-formed conclusions; although now in his sixty- second year, he is as active and ready, both physically and mentally, as at middle age. His faculties, no longer taxed by the demands of active business, are devoted to the service of the public in all good works.
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