USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Chronography of notable events in the history of the Northwest territory and Wayne County > Part 22
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Horace Hallock was born in the city of New York, April 10th, 1807. After receiving a common school education he commenced business in New York in 1829, which he continued until 1831, when he moved to Detroit and established the business which he has from that time been actively engaged in, and is therefore entitled to be recognized as the oldest business man in Detroit.
In 1833 Mr. Hallock was ordained elder in the First Presbyterian church, and continued as such until the organization of the Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian church in February, 1854, and has been an elder of that church up to the present time. He was superintendent of the Sabbath School of the First Presbyterian church from 1833 to 1854, and of the Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian church from 1854 to 1882.
While Mr. Hallock has been active before the public, and con- spicuously so in his advocacy of those reforms in politics, which have now become fixed and established as the policy of the Republican party, he has never sought or held a public position. As a citizen he has favored all enterprises tending to improve the morals as well as the material growth of Detroit, and as such, is highly esteemed and enjoys the love, respect and confidence of all who know him.
On the 19th of April 1833, he married Miss Elizabeth Raymond, in New York City. Mrs. Hallock died in March, 1887, and left her husband, two sons and two daughters to survive her, also a brother, Mr. Francis Raymond, of this city.
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COL. JOHN FRANCIS HAMTRAMCK.
Col. John Francis Hamtramck was born April 11th, 1758. He received a liberal education and entered the army at an early age. He participated in the battles of the Revolution and received personally the thanks of General Washington for meritorious service.
President John Adams appointed him commandent at Detroit in 1790. He died April 16th, 1803, and was buried near the remains of her to whom he was devotedly attached during life.
STEVENS THOMSON MASON.
Stevens Thomson Mason was a native of Virginia, and was born in that State in 1811. He removed from there to Kentucky with his parents when a young lad, and was appointed Secretary of the Terri- tory of Michigan by President Jackson in 1831, when but twenty years of age, and took the oath of office July 25th. The office of Governor being then vacant, he acted as Governor until the appointment of General George B. Porter, August 6th.
Being so young, a large number of the elder citizens were dissatis- fied with his appointment, and held a meeting and chose a committee of five to procure his resignation. Mason met the committee in a very courteous manner, and said, in reply to their objection to his youth : "A young man would be more ready to accept the guidance of his elders than one of riper years." This response would seem to have captured them, for in later years three of the committee were his devoted friends.
Under the constitution of 1835 he was elected Governor, the votes being, for Major John Biddle 814, and for Mason 7,509; and again in 1837, the vote being for him 11,505, and for Charles C. Trowbridge II,268, his majority being 237.
His administration was popular and he was personally esteemed and respected by men of all parties. He died suddenly on the 3d of January, 1843, in the city of New York, where he had removed at the expiration of his term as Governor.
EUROTAS P. HASTINGS.
The subject of this sketch was conspicuous in his day and to-day is remembered by older citizens as the peer of any for business saga- city, integrity and financial knowledge.
Eurotas P. Hastings was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut,
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July 20th, 1791. At the age of fourteen he entered a store at Clinton, Oneida county, N. Y., and when nineteen formed a co-partnership with his brother, Orlando, under the firm name of O. & E. P. Hastings. The firm did a successful business for five years as merchants, when they dissolved, Orlando entering upon a study of law, and E. P. removing to Utica, N. Y., where he remained until appointed teller of the Bank of Geneva in 1819. He held this position until 1825, when he came to Michigan as the representative of the stockholders of the old Bank of Michigan. In May, the same year, he was chosen president of the bank, and continued as such until 1839. In 1840 he was appointed Auditor General of the State by the Legislature. In 1842 he was appointed, by Judge Wilkins, official assignee in bankruptcy under the general bankrupt law, which position he held for a number of years. In the early period of his appointment he settled 660 cases in bank- ruptcy, involving millions of dollars, and while having been a custodian of immense sums of money for others, watching their interests with vigilance and assisting others to fortunes, he retired from life leaving a meager competency to his family. While the subject often of severe criticisms, yet he lived to see many who were the most malignant to become his warm personal friends.
As a private citizen he was active in the benevolent enterprises of the day. He was for many years an active member of the Presby- terian church, and at his decease had long been an elder in Dr. Hogarth's church on Jefferson avenue.
JOHN P. CLARK.
" Nature has made occupation a necessity to us ; society makes it a duty ; habit may make it a pleasure."
Necessity compelled the subject of this sketch to find an occupa- tion at an early period. The death of his father forced the care of his mother and brother upon him.
John Person Clark was born near Catskill, on the Hudson river, April 10th, 1808. At the age of ten years he came with his father to the Territory of Michigan, locating on the Detroit river in the vicinity of what is now Wyandotte. They there cleared a small farm which never proved very valuable, so, that in 1825, his father's death left the family in straightened circumstances, dependent upon John and his brother for the bare necessaries of life.
In 1826 he made his first venture in the fish business, which subse- quently contributed to and was the basis of his fortune. The theater of his business from 1826 to 1836 was the Maumee river and bay. Dur- ing this period he also cleared a large tract of land for the wood, which
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he disposed of at Toledo. In 1833 he built a canal boat and connected freighting with his fishing business. In 1836 he located a number of fishing points on Lake Huron and Michigan and associated with his brother George and Shadrach Gillett. In 1850 he came to Springwells and established a dry dock on the river, which he owned at his decease. He was the builder of the steamers "Alaska," "Jay Cook," "Pearl," " Gazelle," " Riverside " and numerous other steam and sail vessels. All his efforts in this line as well as in his fisheries brought him good returns. While he devoted his time to these specialties, he was at the same time the promoter, and interested in numerous other industrial enterprises, which have aided in the growth and improvement of Detroit and added to his own material wealth. At his death he was the owner of much valuable real estate, both in Detroit and in various parts of the State. By the provisions of his will he dedicated to the city of Detroit a large body of realty at a nominal price, on condition that it should be improved and made available for a public park.
As a business man Mr. Clark was shrewd, but honorable in his transactions, manifesting exemplary integrity, and honesty, in his deal- ings, but never submitting to impositions. He was benevolent and gave liberally to all objects tending to benefit society. He was public spirited, and encouraged all efforts and enterprises affecting the growth and prosperity of the country.
Although not a member, he was a regular attendant of the Con- gregational church, and foremost in his contributions for its advance- ment.
In politics he was Republican, but did not seek preferment as a politician.
At an age when many retire from business, he was engaged in developing new enterprises of great magnitude.
Mr. Clark was twice married. By his first wife he had four sons and three daughters. His second wife was Eliza W. Whitney, whom he married in 1863. Her departure preceded his.
At his death his family consisted of Mrs. J. A. Hecking, at the time residing in Paris, France; Mrs. George Atchison, of St. Louis; Miss Florence Clark, then at home with her father, but who was recently married to W. O. Ashley, of the firm of Ashley & Dustin, steamboat agents, and resides at 114 Adelaide street, Detroit; Norman S., of St. Louis, Missouri, and A. S. Clark, of Detroit.
Mr. Clark died September 3d, 1888, leaving numerous evidences of what energy and perseverence, combined with honesty and industry, will accomplish in the creation of material wealth and the establish- ment of an unsullied business reputation.
Mr. Clark was a member of this Society from its organization till his death.
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SHUBAEL CONANT.
None who knew the subject of this sketch will fail to recall the candid, kind and genial man who, for over half a century, made his home and occupied as an office the little two-story, wooden building immediately in the rear of the Michigan Insurance, now the First National Bank, of Detroit, and of whom it was always said, "when he states a fact, or expresses an opinion on any subject, no discount need be made for exaggeration or reserve."
Shubael Conant was born in Mansfield, Windham county, Conn., August Ist, 1783. He was apprenticed to the watchmaker's trade, of which he acquired a thorough knowledge. At the age of twenty he turned his attention to the mercantile business, and on the 5th of July, 1809, came to Detroit and opened a store on Jefferson avenue. From his own memorandum the merchants of that day were as follows: Joseph Campau, John R. Williams, Conrad Ten Eyck, Antoine De- quindre, Stephen Mack, Thomas Emerson, Joseph Emerson, Oliver Williams, John S. Roby, Abraham Edwards, Henry J. Hunt, Prospect Thibault, Gabriel Godfroy, R. H. Jones, James Abbott, Peter J. Des- noyer, Barnabas Campau, Hugh Martin, William Jones, William Meldrum, Shubael Conant, to which he adds this impressive commen- tary: " What is best to say, I know not."
The firm of S. Conant & Co., David Stone, of Walpole, New Hampshire, being a partner, continued to do business at the same place until the surrender of Hull in 1812. Mr. Conant was at this time a sergeant in Captain Solomon Sibley's company. On the morning of the surrender the company was paraded on Randolph street, anxiously awaiting orders to move forward to resist the British attack, when sud- denly a white flag was hoisted on the flagstaff of the Fort, which created a sensation, and as Col. E. Brush rode up, an explanation was asked by Private Richard H. Jones. Colonel Brush replied : " Eighteen hundred British and 3,000 Indians are marching up to attack us; that is our condition." Jones replied, "It's a lie," and Robert Smart stepped out of the ranks in front of the company and, whipping his musket against a post said, in broad Scotch, "I'll be if the infernal British shall have my gun." The company were soon after called to lay down their arms and retired to their homes, as the terms of capitulation exempted the militia as prisoners of war.
Thus ended Mr. Conant's military experience. After Detroit fell, Mr. Conant packed the goods of the firm, stored them, and left for New England.
The mercantile business reviving after Perry's victory on Lake Erie. Mr. Conant purchased additional stock and returned in Novem-
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ber, 1813, and continued business under the firm name of S. Conant & Co., until 1816, when he became associated with Col. Stephen Mack, and did business under the firm name of Mack & Conant, which firm did the largest business of any house west of Albany until 1820, when, owing to the delay to realize from claims against the government for advances made to it, or on its account, to the amount of $50,000, they became embarrassed and were compelled to assign for the benefit of their eastern creditors. After the assignment of Mack & Conant, Mr. C. retired from mercantile life and became the agent of the firm of Center & Co., Albany, New York, in the purchase of furs.
Mr. Conant was a man of enterprise and kept pace with the cur- rent improvements of the day, and at his death owned several fine buildings erected by him, beside other realty outside of Detroit. As a man, Mr. Conant lived an unblemished and exemplary life. He was appointed by his peers to many important posts, among them alderman, Commissioner of the State Internal Improvement Board, commissioner for building Sault Ste. Marie canal, and president of the Detroit Water Board.
It is needless to say that in all the duties pertaining to these sev- eral positions, he discharged them with the same fidelity and sound judgment as he exercised in the conduct of his own private affairs. He was for many years a member of the first Protestant society and of the Fort Street Presbyterian church.
Mr. Conant was never married. He had two brothers in the west, Dr. Harry Conant, who held a distinguished position in the State, and in Monroe, where he lived and died, and Horatio Conant, M. D., who resided at Maumee, Ohio.
Mr. Shebael Conant died in 1867, leaving his property to his nephews and nieces. Harry A. Conant, Secretary of State from 1883 to 1887, was a nephew, and Mrs. General A. S. Williams, of Detroit, was a neice.
His life and conduct furnishes an example to young men of what the practice of industry, integrity and frugality in the affairs of life can accomplish, and if permitted to live to the age of eighty-four years may it be said of them, as of him:
"Age sits with decent grace upon his visage, And worthily becomes his silver locks.
He wears the marks of many years well spent, Of virtue, truth, well tried and wise experience."
Mr. Conant was one of the organizers of this Society (Historical).
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JAMES VALENTINE CAMPBELL.
" It was the boast of Augustus that he found Rome brick, but left it of marble. How much more will be the Sovereign's boast when he shall have it to say : that he found law dear, but left it cheap-found it a sealed book, left it a living letter-found it the patrimony of the rich, left it the inheritance of the poor-found it a two-edged sword of craft and oppression, left it the staff of honesty, the shield of innocence."- Brougham.
Laws are intended to govern, regulate and control society-to protect the weak against the strong-to confirm man in his inherent rights. Their enactment is sometimes the emanation of minds, selfish, prejudicial, weak and corrupt, and not being carefully considered, would work infinite wrong, were there no higher power instituted to correct or prevent it. Hence he who is chosen to adjust, expound and administer, should be honest, just and wise. Some one writes : " These four things belong to a judge : to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to give judgment without partiality."
The fact that the subject of this sketch has been successively elected by the people of Michigan, and has for thirty-one years passed upon the laws enacted by their legislature, would seem to warrant the conclusion that he must in an eminent degree possess the attributes deemed so essential in one occupying the exalted position of Supreme Judge of this great commonwealth.
James Valentine Campbell is a native of the State of New York, and was born at Buffalo, February 25, 1823. From his name he would seem to be of Scottish descent on the paternal side.
His father, Henry Monroe Campbell, was born in Ulster county, New York, September 10, 1783, and died at Detroit, Michigan, in January, 1842. The maiden name of his mother was Lois Bushnell. She was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 1786, and died at Detroit in July, 1876. Her parents were married at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1810.
Judge Campbell came to Detroit with his parents in 1826. Received his collegiate education at St. Paul's College, from which he graduated in July, 1841.
He read law in the office of Douglas and Walker, and was admitted to the bar at Detroit, in October, 1844.
He was elected to the Supreme Bench first in 1857, the term beginning January 1, 1858, and at the close of each term has since been re-elected as his own successor. In 1859 was appointed Law Professor in the State University, and in 1866 received the degree of LL. D. He published his outlines of the political history of Michigan in 1876, and is recognized as an authority on all questions relating to the history of the State up to that period.
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In his religious views he is Episcopalian, and is a member of the standing committee of the diocese of Michigan.
His political sympathies were Whig, during the existence of that party, and since 1854 they have been Republican.
The Judge, while courteous, is firm in his convictions. His opinions are extensively quoted in the Federal, as well as in the Courts of this and other States. All questions submitted to him, receive close and careful consideration; and while he has a great respect for legisla- tive acts, he does not hesitate to declare them void, when in his opinion they conflict with the principles of equity.
Judge Campbell married Miss Cornelia Hotchkiss, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, November 8, 1849. She was born at Oneida Castle, N. Y., August 17, 1823, and died at Detroit, May 2, 1888.
The children by this marriage are: Henry Monroe, lawyer; James V., Jr., banker ; Charles Hotchkiss, lawyer ; Douglas Houghton, (Ph. D.), Professor in Indiana University; Edward DeMill, mining chemist and metallurgist, Dayton, Tenn., and a daughter, Cornelia L.
[March 26, 1890 .- Just as the foregoing sketch of Judge Campbell is going to press, his sudden death this morning is announced .- F. C.]
MAJOR HORACE GRAY.
In civil government, firm in our allegiance, yet steadfast in our laws, liberties and constitution. In private, not yielding to selfish pro- pensities, inclining neither to avarice nor injustice, to malice or revenge, to envy nor contempt with mankind.
Such have been the principles, and such the rules which have governed Horace Gray, and which he has sought to exemplify in his daily life. Springing from old New England stock, he has pre- served their independence of thought and opinion, conceding to others the right to think for themselves, which were the characteristics of the early Puritans.
Major Horace Gray, was born in Jefferson county, New York State, September 12, 1812. Thomas Gray, his father, was a native of Massachusetts, and served in the Revolutionary Army. His mother, Thankful Winslow Gray, was born in Connecticut, and was descended from the historical family of Winslows of New England.
His parents, soon after marriage, removed from New England, . and settled in New York, where the subject of this sketch was born. Mr. Gray was given all the advantages for acquiring an education which the public schools of that day afforded, and at the age of seven- teen sought his fortune in the West, reaching Detroit in the spring of 1829, where an elder brother, Elliott Gray, had already established
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himself in the forwarding business. Immediately on arrival at Detroit, he engaged as a clerk with his brother, and subsequently became a partner with him and with Samuel Lewis, in the same business. He continued these relations until 1847, when he purchased a farm on Grosse Isle, upon which he settled, and where he resides at the present time.
At the breaking out of the late civil war, Mr. Gray, true to the principles which actuated and governed his forefathers, tendered his services to the government, and August 14, 1862, was commissioned Major in the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, serving as such until February 22, 1864, when physical disability compelled him to resign. In 1842, Major Gray was married to Miss Mary Francis Bury. They have had four children, two daughters (now living) and two sons, deceased.
REV. JOHN A. BAUGHMAN.
" He stood deservedly high in the councils of the Church, as of sound loyalty and excellent judgment. The memorial of his name is 'like ointment poured forth.'" -Pilcher.
The first relation of the Rev. John A. Baughman to Detroit was in 1825. He was appointed by the Ohio Conference to take charge with Rev. Solomon Manier, of the Detroit circuit, which at the time embraced the whole settled portion of the lower Peninsular. He there- fore could preach in the city only occasionally. His real connection with Detroit commenced when stationed here in 1845, where he remained two years, and then became agent for the American Bible Society. He served in this capacity four years and in (1852 was ap- pointed presiding elder of Detroit district, which position he filled for two years. He never removed from Detroit after he was stationed here in 1845.
Mr. Baughman labored twelve years in Ohio and thirty-two years in Michigan. He was emphatically a pioneer preacher in both States, being in many places, the first man to preach the gospel to the people. He received forty-three appointments from the bishop and never failed heartily to do the work assigned him. He was a man of extraordinary physical strength, with a pleasant full voice, cheerful manner, pos- sessed much magnetism, strong faith and untiring industry, greatly beloved by all, children and adults. He was at home everywhere, in the pulpit of the modern church, in the desk of the country school house, on the extempore platform of the camp ground, in the family of the rich or poor. He attended every session of the conference, and while he seldom spoke, yet when he did, was listened to with attention and his counsel had great weight. He was a member of the general conference of 1844 when the issue of slavery was the occasion of
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separation, and took part, faithfully representing the sentiment of his conference. His last sermon was preached in the Jefferson avenue church February 16, 1868, on "Faith, Hope and Charity." He spoke with more than ordinary power and fervor. He was unable to preach in the evening, owing to feeble health and exhaustion from his morn- ing effort.
Mr. Baughman was born in Hereford county, Maryland, in IS02. He married Mrs. Sarah H. Baker, at Monroe, in 1826. She was the widow of the Rev. Samuel Baker, who died at Monroe in IS23. Her maiden name was Sarah Harvey, and she was born near Rochester, N. Y., January 22, 1799, of English parentage. Mr. Baughman quietly fell asleep March Ist, 1868.
SAMUEL PRESTON BRADY.
Samuel Preston Brady was born at Indiana, Indiana county, Pa., June 22d, 1809. He was the only son of Gen. Hugh Brady, United States army, and came to Detroit with his father in 1827 from Sackett's Harbor, N. Y. In June, 1832, he accompanied Col. Whistler, who was in command of two companies of infantry, from Fort Niagara to Chicago, then a military frontier post, and returned to Detroit in March, 1837, and established the business which was afterward carried on by Brady & Trowbridge until 1849, when the partnership being dissolved he entered the forwarding and commission business at the foot of Woodward avenue. He continued this business until IS68, when, on account of ill health, he went to Europe and died at Cologne, Prussia, May 25th, 1868.
BREVOORT-ET-NAVARRE.
The name Brevoort appears in the History of New Amsterdam, built by the Dutch in 1614, and among its defenders when taken by the English in 1664, and the name of New York substituted. Sub- sequently we find distinguished reference made to the men bearing the name in both wars between the United States and England, as well as in the late civil war, and always fighting for the Union.
Commodore Henry Bergan Brevoort, the founder of the Michi- gan Brevoorts, was a direct descendant of the Brevoorts (sometimes spelled BreDevoort), of New Amsterdam. He was born in the city of New York on the 13th day of January, 1775, was appointed midship- man in the United States navy in 1807 by President Monroe. He soon rose to the rank of lieutenant and from that to commodore, and died in Detroit January 30th, 1858.
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The late Hon. Charles C. Trowbridge furnishes the following in reference to Commodore Brevoort's first advent to the northwest: "The government had ordered the Commodore (then a lieutenant) to take a gun boat from New Orleans up the Mississippi and Ohio river to Pittsburg. The Commodore, after working faithfully for three hundred days, reached Fort Massac, on the Ohio, when on reporting to the government that he would probably be able to reach Pittsburg in another year, the order was reversed." The above was told to illus- trate the navigation of the Mississippi seventy years ago.
Commodore Brevoort was a participant with Perry in the battle of Lake Erie.
On January 2d, 1823, President Monroe, through Smith Thomp- son, then secretary of the United States navy, presented him with a very large silver medal for gallant and meritorious services at the bat- tle of Lake Erie, known as Perry's victory. And he was again pre- sented with another large silver medal in 1827, by President Jackson, for gallant and meritorious services rendered the Union during the war of 1812 with Great Britain.
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