USA > Michigan > American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men.: Michigan Volume > Part 31
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ALKER, HON. CHARLES I., of Detroit, Mich- igan, was born at Butternuts, Otsego County, New York, April 25, 1814. His grandfather, Ephraim Walker, was born in 1735; and married Pris- cilla Rawson, a lineal descendant of Edward Rawson, who graduated from Harvard College in 1653; for nearly forty years, was Secretary of the Colony of Mas- sachusetts; and was especially noted for his effective opposition to the usurpations of Dudley. Ephraim Walker built a family mansion on the corner of West- minster and Walker streets, Providence, Rhode Island, where the father of the subject of this sketch was born, in 1765; and married Polly Campbell, in 1790. She died in 1795, leaving two children. In 1796 he married Lydia Gardner, a Quakeress, of Nantucket, by whom he had eleven children, one of whom is Charles I. Walker. The youngest of these thirteen children lived to be more than twenty-one years of age before a death occurred among them. In 1812 his father, who was a housewright, emigrated from Providence, Rhode Island, to Butternuts, New York. The Book of Walkers says, "He was a man of fair abilities, sterling good sense; honest, temperate, and remarkably industrious. He labored for the education of his family; and his ambition was to train them in paths of honor, useful- ness, and piety." The same book records of his mother that she "was strong in person and character ; a woman of inexhaustible energy and resources; and the care of thirteen children sat lightly upon her." Charles Walker's education was acquired in the district school of his native village, with the exception of one term spent at a select school in Utica. When sixteen years of age he began teaching, and, a few months later, entered a store which was connected with a cotton factory, near Coop- erstown, where he remained four years. In the fall of 1834, he made his first trip to Michigan, passing through the State on his way to St. Joseph. In the spring of 1835, he engaged in the mercantile business, at Coopers- town, but sold out .the following year to try his fortune in the West, having been appointed as agent to look after Western lands, and aid in making further invest-
Iowa, he made Grand Rapids his place of residence, it being a village of five or six hundred inhabitants. He made investments for other parties, in some of which he was interested, and spent much time in the woods "land looking." In the fall of 1836, he was elected a member of the convention called to consent to the terms proposed by Congress for the admission of Michigan into the Union. The convention met at Ann Arbor in the following December. The suspension of specie pay- ments in the spring of 1837, and the financial crash that followed, put an end to further investments in real estate, and proved most disastrous to those already made. He then turned his attention to other business, becom- ing editor and proprietor of the Grand River Times, but sold out after two years' experience, finding it unprofit- able. In 1838 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and, as such, tried a large number of cases. During the same year, he began the study of law under the direction of the late Chief-Justice Martin, his fellow students being Judges Withey and Holmes, of Grand Rapids. In 1840, he was elected a Representative to the Legislature from the district comprising the counties of Kent, Ionia, and Ottawa, and the territory north of them. That term of the Legislature contained many of the leading men of the State; among whom were John S. Barry, John J. Adams, Warner Wing, Kinsley S. Bingham, and John S. Biddle. The session was one of great interest and importance. Early in the fall of 1841, he removed to Springfield, Massachusetts, -his object being to complete his law studies. He entered the office of Hon. Henry Morris, who afterwards became Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in that State. In the Spring of 1842, he entered the office of Hon. Don Bradley, of Brattleboro, Vermont, who was a lawyer of distinguished ability. In the following Sep- tember, Mr. Walker was admitted to the bar, and at once entered into partnership with Mr. Bradley. In 1845, Hon. Daniel Kellogg, of Rockingham, Vermont, was elected Judge of the Supreme Court; and Mr. Walker took his practice and business, remaining there three years. Upon the completion of the railroad to Bellows' Falls, Vermont, he removed to that point. By this time he had acquired a large practice, which ex- tended into the adjacent counties. In June, 1851, he returned to Michigan, and entered into partnership with his brother, E. C. Walker, at Detroit. In July, 1853, Alfred Russell was admitted to the firm, which was changed to Walkers & Russell. The firm was engaged in collections and commercial business, as well as in liti- gation, and Mr. Walker desired to devote himself prin- cipally to the examination and argument of law questions; hence he withdrew from the firm in January, 1857, since which time he has practiced his profession alone. Soon after coming to Detroit, he became interested in the
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study of its early history. In 1854, while President of | but re-assembled at Peterboro, by the invitation of the Young Men's Society, he delivered the opening Gerrit Smith. Upon removing to Michigan, he became identified with the Democratic party, and has been con- lecture of the course, taking for his subject, "The Early History of Detroit," in the preparation of which he nected with it ever since. He sympathizes with the received valuable information from General Cass. In
principles of that party favoring free trade, and oppos- 1857 he united, with others, in the reorganization of the | ing the centralization of power in the General Govern- Historical Society of Michigan, and became its Corre- sponding Secretary. He read before the society many interesting papers relating to the early history of Detroit and Michigan. In July, 1858, on the one hundred and fifty-seventh anniversary of the founding of Detroit, he delivered an elaborate address on "De La Motte Cadillac ! and the First Ten Years of Detroit." This was followed
ment, but was not satisfied with its position on the slavery question. He acted with the Free-soil party in 1848, supporting Martin Van Buren against General Cass. In 1854 he openly and actively opposed the re- election of David Stuart to Congress, on account of his course on the slavery question. During the Rebellion, he gave his hearty support to aid in its suppression. by papers on "The Early Jesuits in Michigan ;" ". Mich- | He was educated in the faith of the Quakers, but, upon leaving home when sixteen years of age, he was thrown among Presbyterians, and became a member of that
igan from 1796 to 1805:" "The Civil Administration of General Hull; " and several minor papers. In 1871 he read before the Historical Society of Wisconsin a | church. He gave his aid in organizing an Episcopal paper on "The North-west During the Revolution," , Church, at Grand Rapids, became one of its officers, which contained many interesting facts not found in, and a regular attendant while he was a resident of the print elsewhere. Mr. Walker's taste for historical re- : place. He attended the Congregational Church during search has led to the collection of a choice library of his residence in Vermont; and, on removing to Detroit, books and manuscripts relating to the carly history of | he became a member of the First Congregational Church Detroit and the North-west. He became a member of . of that place. Hle has no strong denominational feel- the Board of Education in 1853, and has been actively | ing-, his church relationships having been principally connected with it for several years. In the spring of | determined by circumstances. April 12, 1838, he mar- 1859, he was appointed one of the professors of the law fried Mary A. Hinsdale, sister of Judge Mitchell Hins- department in the Michigan University. After having dale, an carly and prominent settler of Kalamazoo held this position for fifteen years, his constantly in- County. . She died in February, 1864. In May, 1865, creasing practice compelled him to resign. On the death he married Ella Fletcher, daughter of Rev. Dr. Fletcher of Judge Witherell, in 1867. Mr. Walker was appointed, of Townshend, Vermont.
by Governor Crapo, as Judge of the Wayne Circuit Court, to fill the vacancy. A proposition to increase the salaries of Circuit Judges, was pending in the Con- stitutional Convention, which was then in session, but, upon its rejection by the people the following spring, Mr. Walker resigned, having held the office about ten months. Under a provision of a joint resolution of the Legislature, in 1860, he was appointed, by Governor Baldwin, one of the commissioners to examine the penal, reformatory, and charitable institutions in Michigan; visit such institutions in other States, and report the results to the Governor. The commissioners, after making extensive examinations, submitted an elaborate report, containing many suggestions, which led to the passage of a law creating a Board of State Charities, of which Mr. Walker was appointed a member. He has been its chairman from the first. He has twice represented this Board in National Prison Reform Con- gresses; at Baltimore, in 1872; and at St. Louis, in 1874. He was a member and assistant moderator of the somewhat famous "Brooklyn Council." Owing to the influences of his Quaker home, Mr. Walker was an earnest opponent of slavery. When twenty-one years of age, he was a member of the antislavery convention at Utica, New York, which was broken up by a mob,
ITHERELL, HON. JAMES, late of Detroit, Michigan, was born in Mansfield, Massachu- setts, June 16, 1759. Ilis ancestors emigrated from England soon after the arrival of the " Mayflower." In June, 1775, after the battle of Bunker Hill, he vol- unteered, with his townsmen, to go to the siege of Boston. After the British had been compelled to evac- ua'e Boston, he served, during the war, with the grand army, until it disbanded at Newburg, New York, in 1783. He was at the battles of White Plains, Long Island, Stillwater, Bemis Heights, and at the surrender of Burgoyne, at Saratoga. He was in camp at Valley Forge during the terrible winter of starvation and suf- fering ; and, in the following summer, was at the battle of Monmouth. He also bore a part in many actions of lesser note. In the battle of White Plains, he was severely wounded. He entered the army as a private soldier, and rose to the rank of Adjutant of the 11th Massachusetts Regiment. On being mustered out of service, in 1783, he found himself in possession of sev- enty dollars in Continental money. He then settled in
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Connecticut, and studied medicine. About the year | over by Hon. Henry Chipman, passed resolutions of 1788, he removed to Vermont, where he practiced his mourning and respect. In Lauman's Congressional Dic- tionary, Judge Witherell is spoken of as a man of strong native powers of mind. He possessed a positive char- acter, as his career indicates; genial humor, warm friend- ship, unquestioned integrity, and much literary taste. Three children survived him : Judge B. F. H. Witherell, Mrs. E. Hurd, and Mrs. Thomas Palmer; all have since died. One son, James B. Witherell, died while a mid- shipman on board the United States ship "Peacock," on a trip from llavana to Ilampton Roads. Another son and one daughter, Mrs. Joseph Watson, died in Vermont. profession. In 1789 he married Miss Amy Hawkins, youngest daughter of Charles Hawkins, a lineal de- scendant of Roger Williams. Judge Witherell, in early life, held many offices. He was Associate and Chief- Justice of the County Court of Rutland County, mem- ber of the Governor's Council, and of the Legislature. In 1807 he was elected to Congress, from the Rutland district, and had the pleasure of voting for the act abol- ishing the slave trade, which was passed in 1808. While in Congress, he was appointed, by President Jefferson, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Michigan. Soon after, resigning his seat in Congress, he started for his new field of labor, which was then a vast wilderness, containing about three thousand white inhabitants, scattered along the margins of the lakes and the mouths of the rivers. The duties of the office AYNE, JAMES B., Engine-Builder, of Detroit, Michigan, was born in Nottingham, England, April 29, 1825. lle attended the schools of Nottingham and Birmingham ; and, at the latter place, learned the trade of iron-worker and machinist. At the age of twenty-two, he emigrated to America, landing at Boston, where he remained one year. At the end of that time, he removed to Detroit, and engaged in the manufacture of steam-engines, with the firm of John- ston, Wayne & Co. Later, he became half owner and general manager of the Fulton Iron and Engine Works, in the same city. This firm has engaged largely in the manufacture of steam-engines and mill and railroad machinery. Mr. Wayne has constantly employed from fifty to two hundred men. He is a master of his trade; hundreds who have learned the business from him, now command the highest wages given in any shops in the country. Mr. Wayne is a Republican, but has never sought nor held any public office. He is a disciple of the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, and is an active member of the New Church. were arduous; the Governor and Judges constituted the Legislature of the Territory, and were also required to act as a land Board in adjusting old land claims, and in laying out the new city, Detroit. In 1810 Judge Witherell removed his family, consisting of his wife and six children, from Fair Haven to Detroit; but the hos- tilities of the Indians, who were hovering around De- troit in vast numbers, induced Mrs. Witherell to return, with the younger children, to Vermont, where they remained from the autumn of 1811 until 1817. In 1812, when war was declared with England, Judge Witherell, who, in the absence of Governor Hull, was the only Revolutionary officer in the Territory, was appointed to command the " Legion " ordered out to defend the Ter- ritory. He was soon after appointed to command a battalion of volunteers. He remained in the defense of Detroit until its surrender. He felt so keenly the humili- ating position in which he and his followers were placed, that he broke his sword to save himself the mortification of surrendering it. His son, James C. C. Witherell, an officer in the volunteer service, and his son-in-law, Colo- nel Joseph Watson, were made prisoners of war with him; and as such they were sent to Kingston, Canada West. They were there paroled, and rejoined their family in West Poultney, Vermont. After having been ILKINSON, ALBERT HAMILTON, Detroit, was born at Novi, Oakland County, Michigan, November 19, 1834. He is the second son of James and Elizabeth (Yerkes) Wilkinson, both of whom are now deceased. In his father's family were seven children, of whom three, besides Albert, are now living. Mr. Wilkinson attended the common schools; and after- wards, for a time, the State Normal School, at Ypsi- lanti. In 1855 he entered the Michigan University, graduating from the classical course of that institution in 1859. While pursuing his studies, he spent some time in teaching in the public schools at Lodi, Centre- Territorial Judge for a period of twenty years, he ex- changed the office for that of Secretary of the Territory. At one time he was also acting Governor. In 1815 he bought what is now known as the Witherell farm, where he resided until 1836,- his house standing among the pear trees, near the bank of the river, at the foot of Dequindre street. For a year or two previous to his death, his residence was on the Campius Martius, the present site of the Detroit Opera-house. Judge With- erell died at his home in Detroit, January 9, 1838. Both Houses of the Legislature, then in session, and the bar of the Supreme Court of Michigan, presided | ville, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. He married, on the
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4th day of July. 1859. Elvira M. Allen, who is still | and conducted the business alone for ten years, when his living. The winter of 1859-60 he spent as a student in the law school at the Michigan University; and was admitted to the bar in 1860. He commenced practice in. Pontiac. In the fall of 1861, he removed to Detroit, where he has since continued to reside. Hle at once opened a law office in Detroit, and soon acquired a suc- cessful and lucrative practice, which he has since re- tained. In the fall of 1872, Mr. Wilkinson was elected Judge of Probate for Wayne County on the Republican ticket ; and held the position until January 1, 1877, when he resumed the practice of law. He has always
nephew and present partner, Mr. C. II. Wetmore, joined him, and became one of the firm of F. Wetmore & Co. For a period of thirty-seven years, the name of Mr. Wetmore has been familiar to the people of Michigan, both in business circles, and in social and moral enter- prises. He has, however, never sought ner held any political office. He was an old-line Whig, and has been a Republican since the formation of that party. His name is associated with some of the leading insurance companies as a Director. Mr. Wetmore is a Presbyte- rian, and a regular attendant upon that form of wor- been a Republican, taking an active interest in the ; ship. He has been twice married. His first wife was Cornelia P. Willard, a niece of Judge Platt, a former resident of Detroit. They were married at Albany,
political affairs of his city, county, and State, though never seeking office for himself. Mr. and Mr., Wilkin- son are members of the First Baptist Church of Detroit, New York, in 1845; Mrs. Wetmore died in 1848, leav- and bear a prominent part in the maintenance of that, ing one son, Edward W. Wetmore, who is at present body. Mr. Wilkinson has specially interested himself Professor of Chemistry and Philosophy in the Detroit in the Sabbath-school, having held the position of | High School. His second marriage was in 1850, to Superintendent for several years. His reputation in | Anna Mary Curtenius, of Lockport, New York; she is the community is that of an upright, consistent, Chris a lineal descendant of Peter B. Curtenius, of Revolu- tian gentleman; an honest, jam-taking, conscientious tionary fame, who led the assault on the monument of lawyer; a good neighbor, and a firm friend. He has George IV., in Bowling Green, in the city of New received many important trusts, especially those relating to the management of estate .; and ha- filled these faith- fully and honorably.
York. They have had six children, one of whom, Cath- erine Bruce, died in August, 1876. Mr. Wetmore, dur- ing early life, traveled extensively in the United States; and, some years ago, made an extended tour in Europe. He came to Detroit a perfect stranger; but relatives, friend-, and a fair proportion of this world's goods, have come to him a> the fruits of a life of industry and integ- rity. Aside from his mercantile business, he has dealt largely in real estate, at present owning property in Detroit and Chicago, and a farm five miles from the
ETMORE, FREDERICK, Merchant, of De- troit, was born at Whitestown, Oneida County, New York, August 7, 1813. He is the son of Amos Wetmore and Lucy Olmstead, who were both ; former city. Now, at the age of sixty-five, Mr. Wet- natives of Connecticut, whence they removed, soon after more is a fair representative of a gentleman of the old school. the close of the war of the Revolution, in company with the family of Judge White. Mr. Wetmore was the eighth child of a family of nine,-six boys and three girls. His father was a farmer and mill-owner, carrying on both grist and saw mill. Mr. Wetmore was brought up on his father's homestead, doing valuable service in summer, and attending school during the winter. Ile
INDER, JOHN, of Detroit, was born at Union- town, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1805. Ilis father, James Winder, was a native of went through the preparatory course for college, but ill Virginia; and his mother was a native of Hunterdon health prevented him from pursuing his studies further. County, New Jersey. He received a thorough English At the age of seventeen, he went to Pittsburg, and education in his native town. In 1824 he left home, for acted as clerk for his older brother, who was engaged Detroit, in the employment of Major Thomas Rowland, in the crockery business there. In 1836 he entered the: who was then United States Marshal for the Territory transportation business at Pittsburg, on his own account, ' of Michigan, United States Pension Agent, County . continuing in that line until the fall of 1841. About Clerk, and Justice of the Peace. Mr. Winder succeeded this time, in traveling to New York, be formed the K. C. Trowbridge as Clerk in Major Rowland's office. acquaintance of two English gentlemen, manufacturers: In 1826 he was appointed Clerk of the Supreme Court of crockery in England. They proposed to join him in of the Territory of Michigan, and held the office until business in Detroit; and an arrangement was made by 1840. In 1837 he was appointed Clerk of the United which they shipped their goods to him for sale. In States Circuit and United States District Courts for 1844 he bought out the interests of his English partners, , Michigan. He held both offices until 1848, when he
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resigned the clerkship of the District Court, and retained | freedom from debt. During this period, Mr. Wheaton that of the Circuit Court until April, 1870, in which year he retired. He held the office of City Clerk of Detroit, from 1832 to 1836. In his early life, he was prominently identified with the militia of the State, and held the office of Aid-de-camp, with the rank of Colo- nel, on the staffs of Governors Mason, Horner, and Por-
also served, for two years, as Chairman of the Demo- cratic State Convention, and did good service, although he worked under most discouraging circumstances. The political control of the State was in the hands of his opponents by a majority of from thirty to sixty thou- sand. Many of the prominent members of his own ter. He was a member of the celebrated " Brady ! party believed that almost any measure was justifiable Guards," of Detroit, from theh organization until they which would place the power in their hands, because of were disbanded. In his public life he has been diligent the good use they intended to make of that power. and faithful. IIe is a man of robust constitution; is' This policy and feeling led to the nomination of Horace social and genial in nature; and has a host of friends. j Greeley for President. In this action and the pretexts
under which it was engineered Mr. Wheaton had no sympathy or confidence, and separated himself prom- inently from it. This for a time drove him from politics, although subsequent events fully showed the wisdom of HEATON, HON. WILLIAM W., of Detroit, Michigan, was born in New Haven, Connecti- & cut, in April, 1833. He was the son of John and Orit C. (Johnson ) Watson, both of whom were natives his course. Although he is still a warm Democrat, and keeps alive his interest in his party, he has, for the past few years, devoted himself to business. During the last four years. he has had the management of large mining of Connecticut; and is a direct descendant of Captain and manufacturing interests in the iron district of Mich- William Wheaton, of Revolutionary celebrity. By the | igan, and has displayed in this, as in every other position death of his father, in 1844, he was left to the care and ! in which he has been placed, the rare abilities which training of his mother, who is still living, at a very ; have made his name distinguished, not only in the city, but in the whole State.
advanced age, and has for years realized his high love and appreciation. . Her advice and moral instruction, with his inherited traits of character, have made Mr. Wheaton prominent as a merchant and politician. Ilis education was acquired in the common schools of Hartford and New Haven. At the age of sixteen, he entered the wholesale house of Charles II. Northam & Co., of Hartford. In the succeeding four years he rose,
ISNER, GEORGE W., Lawyer, of Detroit, was born in Cayuga County, New York, in 1812. His father, Colonel Moses Wisner, settled in through all the grades, to book-keeper and confidential ' the township of Springport, four miles from Auburn. clerk; acquired a complete and accurate business educa- On the breaking out of the War of 1812, he left his tion, and the entire respect of his employers. In 1853 family and gave his services to the country. He had he moved to Detroit and entered the employ of Moore, ten children, of whom seven were boys. To them he Foote & Co., large wholesale grocers. In 1855 he gave as good an education as the district schools of became the junior partner of Farrand & Wheaton, in the same line of business. On the dissolution of that firm, he became the head of the firm of Wheaton, Leon- ard & Burr, and afterwards of that of William W. Wheaton & Co. In all of these enterprises, he was suc- cessful and realized a handsome property. Mr. Wheaton
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