USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 40
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The story of Mr. Childs's life is closely inter- woven with the history of Hillsdale county, in which he has lived for sixty years, in the settle- ment, development and progress of which he has been a most potent factor. He was born on De- cember 8, 1821, at Altay, in Schuyler county, New York, at that time known as Kendall Hol- low and being then a part of Steuben county. His parents were Daniel and Sally (Benjamin) Childs, natives of Lexington, Mass., who moved to New York about 1819 and cleared up a farm in the tangled wilderness of Steuben county, on which they passed the remainder of their days, the father dying there in 1830 and the mother in 1833. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom Mr. Childs is the only survivor, and the only one who ever became a resident of Michigan. His grandfather was Daniel Childs, also a native
of Massachusetts and a prosperous farmer in that state until the War of the Revolution, when he joined the ever historic "Minute Men" and during the seven years of the memorable struggle was ever at the post of duty, no matter what of danger or hardship it involved, what the personal sacri- fice of comfort or estate it exacted of him. He was early in the contest for liberty, beginning his service on the historic field of Lexington, where the shots were fired in behalf of human freedom which reverberated around the world. In the war he was several times wounded, remaining in the service, however, to the final triumph of the cause at Yorktown. He lived to see the prin- ciples for which he fought fully vindicated and in beneficent operation in this country as the basis of our government, dying in 1826, in Steuben county, New York, where he settled after the close of the war. He was twice married, his first wife being the grandmother of William B. Childs.
William B. Childs was reared in his native county, at the primitive country schools of his clay he received a limited education, attending during the winter months, and working on the farm throughout the rest of the year. At the age of twenty-two he followed the example of his daring and adventurous father and grand- father, seeking a home and opportunity for a better fortune on the frontier, emigrating to Michigan in 1844, and locating in Hillsdale county. The long journey, through a wild and unbroken coun- try, which consumed nearly a month of wearying travel, was made with teams and in company with two of his wife's brothers, Henry and Charles Koon. He "stuck his stake" seven and one-half miles west of the present town of Hills- dale, in the very depth of the forest, and went to work diligently to carve out of the wilderness a home and a competence. He helped to clear seventy-five acres of the farm he located, and, six years later, bought eighty acres more a mile and a half west of the present site of Hillsdale College. This he cleared and made his home un- til 1869, when he removed to Hillsdale and opened a drygoods and carpet establishment, which he conducted on a scale of increasing magnitude and with expanding profit and reputation until
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1888. He then retired from active business and has since lived quietly at Hillsdale, free from business cares, in the full enjoyment of the public Esteem which he has so well earned, and which he possesses in such abundant measure. He was married in New York state in 1842, to Miss Eliz- abeth Koon, a daughter of Alonson and Marilla (Wells) Koon, and sister of E. L. and M. B. Koon, able and leading attorneys of this county for many years, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Childs were the parents of two children, their son, Daniel, now a resident of Washington, D. C., and their daughter, Marilla L., living at the paternal home. Mrs. Childs died on January 28: 1891. Mr. Childs was a member of the Union League during the. whole period of its existence, and, at one time, was an active Odd Fellow.
N. R. COOK.
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The lumber interests of Michigan, which are widely renowned for the volume, variety and value of their products, have given to the com- mercial world some of its best business capacity, greatest breadth of view and most productive en- terprise. Among the number of those who have adorned and dignified this line of mercantile in- dustry, N. R. Cook, of Jonesville, has a place in the front rank. He is a native of Genesee county, New York, born on November 16, 1835. His parents were Anson and Anna (Wheeler) Cook, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont. The father was a farmer in his na- tive state, prosperous and well-to-do, but, impelled by the hope of larger opportunity in the new part of the country to secure a home in Michigan, he came to Hillsdale county in 1844 and located at Litchfield. He later purchased a farm near Jones- ville, some time afterwards moving to Allen town- ship, there carrying on a prosperous farming en- terprise until his death in 1890. His widow survived him two years and passed away in 1892. Their family consisted of four sons and two daughters, of whom three sons and one daugh- ter are now alive. The father was for many years a justice of the peace and took a leading part in
the public and local affairs of the township in which he lived. His father, John Cook, was a native of New York state and died there after living a life of industry and usefulness.
N. R. Cook accompanied his parents to Hills- dale county in 1844, and has passed the rest of his life within its limits. He received a limited edu- cation in the public schools and afterwards as- sisted in the work of the farm. He began life for himself as a farmer and followed that occupa- tion until 1893, when he removed to Jonesville. purchased the lumber business which he is now conducting, which under his enterprise and care- ful judgment has grown to very gratifying pro- portions and laid under tribute the favor of a large number of well-satisfied patrons. Mr. Cook was married in Allen township on May 26, 1874, to Miss Martha Warn, a native of New York. They had four children, Charles A., Neva, Hazel and Seward. Mr. Cook has been a lifelong Re- publican and has taken a continuous and active interest in the success of his party, rendering good service as a soldier in the ranks, also in official positions of prominence and importance. He was for two years a justice of the peace, two years a deputy sheriff, and has occupied various other local offices from time to time.
In fraternal relations Mr. Cook belongs to the Masonic order in three of its branches; the blue lodge, royal arch chapter and council of the royal and select masters. While Michigan has proved agreeable to Mr. Cook and furnished him with satisfactory opportunities to exercise his business capacity and ability, still that state has not had the benefit of his citizenship during the whole of his mature life, for he spent five years in California, Oregon and Montana, three years of this time being passed at Helena, Mont., where he had many exciting experiences with road agents and other desperadoes and several times barely escaped with his life. The lawless element in Montana was bold and aggressive and the strong hands of the Vigilantes had not yet reduced it to subjection. He found life in the farther West spicy with adventure, filled with in- terest and incident, large in promise of rich re- wards for judicious labor, but he returned to
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Michigan, where the social and commercial at- mosphere was better suited to his taste, and the conditions afforded sufficient inducement to elicit all of the ardor of an energetic man. And, on his return with the expectation of making this state his permanent home, he entered with spirit into the business which interested him, which he has since made one of the leading commercial enterprises in his part of the state. In all rela- tions of life he has so borne himself in this com-
ALBERT G. CONGER.
Albert G. Conger, of the town of Litchfield, who is living retired from active business pur- suits, has earned the quiet rest he is now enjoying by a long life of industry and varied experiences in agricultural, mechanical and mercantile activ- ity, and through the misfortunes that have befall- en him from time to time, which he has borne with patience and triumphed over by determined effort and persistent application. He was born at Bristol, Ontario county, New York, on May 27, 1830, the son of Jacob and Maria (Johnson) Con- ger, also New Yorkers, the former born at Bing- hamton and the latter at Scipio in Orange county. The father became master of two trades, black- smithing and weaving, but passed part of his life as a farmer. He came to this county in 1856 and settled in Litchfield township, where he con- ducted successful farming operations until 1867, when he moved to the village of Litchfield, there residing until his death in 1895 at the venerable age of ninety-seven years, his wife dying in 1891 aged eighty-seven. He was a stanch Republican and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of their eight children three are now living. Albert and a sister until recently being the only ones residing in this county. The sister died on June 27, 1903.
Albert G. Conger was reared and educated in his native state, where he learned the trade of a weaver, which he followed until 1853, when he came to Michigan and settled on a farm in Litch-
field township in this county. In 1866, selling his farm and stock, he opened a store at Litchfield which he conducted until 1869. He then formed a partnership with James Howland to purchase and conduct the Litchfield mill. At the end of a ycar the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Conger continuing the business until the mill was de- stroyed by an incendiary fire on August 4, 1880. The incendiary was apprehended, convicted and sentenced to ten years at hard labor in the peni- munity as to win the regard and confidence of his . tentiary. Mr. Conger then again engaged in fellow men, being looked up to as one of the lead- ing and representative citizens of the township.
farming for a number of years until the failure of his eyesight obliged him to retire from all ac- tive pursuits. Since then he has lived quietly in the village of Litchfield in the enjoyment of his well earned case, firmly fixed in the respect and esteem of his fellow men. He married on Novem- ber 23, 1858, Miss Mary J. Riblet, a native of Litchfield township and a daughter of Samuel and Deborah (Woods) Riblet, early settlers in the township.
Her father, Samuel Riblet, was born at Har- bor Creek, Erie county, Pa., on February 22, 1811, a lineal descendant of a French nobleman, who, because he embraced the Protestant faith, had his property confiscated and was exiled under penalty of being burned as a heretic if he re- turned. In company with others he went to Ger- many, where he married and reared a large fam- ily. Two of his sons, Christian and Bartholo- mew, emigrated to America. They first settled at Charleston, S. C., and later moved to Maryland and settled at Hagerstown, where John Riblet, son of Bartholomew and grandfather of Samuel, was born in 1758. At the beginning of the Rev- olution he entered the service as a first lieutenant in a regiment of riflemen, was soon taken prisoner and confined for three years on the British man- of-war Roebuck. After his release he settled near Hagerstown, Md., where Solomon Riblet, father of Samuel, was born in August, 1782. In 1802 John Riblet moved to Erie, Pa., and there, during the War of 1812, commanded the body- guard of Commodore Perry while his fleet was building. Solomon also served with distinction in that war as first lieutenant and acting captain in a company of Erie minute men. After the war
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he removed to Ohio and later to Michigan where he prospered as a farmer and died in old age at Litchfield.
His son, Samuel, was taught the rudiments of German by his grandfather, attended the district schools and an academy at Erie, teaching at inter- vals to secure the necessary funds for this pur- pose. He began and relinquished the study of medicine and became a teacher near Pittsburg, where he was married on November 19, 1833, to Miss Deborah Woods. Soon after this event they came to Michigan and purchased 160 acres of land which was his home until death ended his labors. Here his five children grew to maturity and at this homestead all were married. He was prominently connected with all enterprises in- augurated for the benefit of the county, among them the Northern Central Railroad, being a di- rector of this road from its organization until its sale to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Co. To his untiring exertions the people of Litchfield are largely indebted for the location and con- struction of the road. Mr. and Mrs. Conger have five children : Jennie M., wife of Dr. E. J. Pen- dall, of Marshall ; Eugene D., the principal owner and editor of the Grand Rapids Herald, who, in 1898, was appointed as a member of the Indus- trial Commission, serving during the life of the commission ; Willard S., a member of the editorial staff of the Grand Rapids Herald and a stock- holder of the company publishing it; Minnie T., a clerk in the office of the auditor-general at Lan- sing ; Luella D., formerly a popular teacher in the schools of Michigan and Indiana, now at the paternal home. In politics Mr. Conger is inde- pendent, having never sought or held office or been an active partisan. He is a man of broad views and sterling integrity, possessing extensive knowledge of men and affairs.
CORWIN COX.
One of the prosperous and progressive farm- ers of Wheatland township in Hillsdale county, who is well known throughout the boundaries of the county and has been of great service in build- ing it up and pushing forward its development, is
Corwin Cox, who is living on a well-improved, highly cultivated and beautifully located farm of 310 acres near North Adams. His parents were natives of the far East, his father, Robert Cox, having been born and reared in New Jersey, and his mother, erst Rowena Gregg, in New Hamp- shire. The father came to Michigan in 1835 and entered forty acres of government land, soon thereafter entering another forty, all in the woods, as yet untouched by the hand of civilized man in the way of cultivation. He cleared some of it and built a home, and, on this estate, which he carved literally from the wilds of nature, he passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1890.
He married with Miss Gregg in Lenawee county, she having come to the state from her Eastern home with her parents, and, when they settled in the township, its total population did not exceed a dozen or fifteen families. They had two children, their son, Corwin, and their daugh- ter, now Mrs. Lucy E. Barnes, of this county. In May, 1901, the mother passed away at the home so long hallowed by her useful labors. In politics the father was an ardent Republican, one of the founders of the party. He was much es- teemed in the county, on occasions representing it in the lower house of the State Legislature. He also held, from time to time, several local offices, among them drain commissioner and justice of the peace. When the Black Hawk War and the Toledo War broke out he promptly enlisted in the service of his country, seeing hardship and danger in the Indian War. Both he and his wife were active and zealous members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Corwin Cox's grandfa- ther, Job Cox, was a prominent pioneer of Michi- gan, living and dying in Jackson county. Four of his sons settled in Hillsdale county, two in Cambria, one in Woodbridge and one in Wheat- land township. All are now deceased, except one daughter living in Hillsdale county.
Corwin Cox grew to manhood and was edu- cated in his native county, where he assisted in clearing his father's farm and in cultivating it when it was cleared. Since he reached man's es- tate this has continued to be his home. Here he was born on August 27, 1847, here he has found
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his world of hope and promise, the proper field for his enterprise and industry, and the choice ground for his domestic altar. "He was married in 1871 to Miss Mary E. Oaks, a daughter of Samuel and Esther Oaks, carly settlers in the county. They have three children, Jay L., Charles R. and Luella E. Cox, the last named be- ing now Mrs. Arthur Haggerty, of this county. In politics Mr. Cox is, as was his father, an ardent and active Republican, taking great interest in the success of his party, although not seeking its po- sitions of honor or profit for himself. He is a member of the Masonic order and has given to the affairs of his lodge interested and serviceable at- tention. To the original tract of eighty acres be- longing to his father, he has added by purchase until he now owns 310 acres, and he has contin- ued with diligence and skill the improvements be- gun by his father until he has one of the best farms in this part of the county, one of the most comfortable and attractive country homes to be found within a large extent of country. .
JUDAH P. CORNELL.
This industrious and successful farmer of Pittsford township, in Hillsdale county, whose death on May 27, 1892, left a void in the hearts of his many cordial friends, a vacancy in the ac- tive utilities of the township which it has been difficult to fill, was a native of New York state, where he was born on September 14, 1835, the son of Henry and Matilda (Piper) Cornell, also na- tives of that state, who came to this county in' early days and settled in Ransom township. Here their son, Judah, grew to manhood, remain- ing at home and assisting on the farm, with in- tervals of attendance at the public schools of the vicinity, until 1862, when he enlisted in the Union army in Co. F; Eighteenth Michigan Infantry. His regiment was placed on duty in the West, where he was in active service until his capture by the Confederates at Athens, when he ex- changed the weariness of the march and the dan- gers of the battlefield for the horrors of prison life at Macon, Cahaba and Andersonville, which he was compelled to endure until the close of the
Civil War in 1865. He was then released, return- ing to his home in Michigan more dead than alive, with his health permanently shattered, his affairs in confusion, his fortunes badly disturbed, but his spirit undismayed and his energy still predom- inant. He once more resolutely engaged in the productive work of farming and continued his diligence until his death, improving and develop- ing his land and meeting every requirement of an exacting condition with manliness and success.
Mr. Cornell married in 1861 with Miss Mary A. Briggs, a daughter of George W. and Chris- tina (Stuck) Briggs, an account of whose life is given in the sketch of John Haggerty on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell had one child, Verona A., now wife of Dr. S. M. Cor- nell, of Bronson, in Branch county. Mr. Cornell was a Republican in politics and was called to fill a number of local offices in the township, in all of which he rendered good and appreciated service. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic, and was, from his childhood, a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. During the later years of his life he was much engaged in the service of this church and in its evangel- izing work as a local preacher and active church advocate. He was well esteemed wherever he was known, lived always and everywhere a clean, upright and useful life, performing his duties with conscientious diligence and giving an in- spiring example to all who met him.
ORSON DAYTON.
The new nation raised up among the powers of the world by the establishment of our indepen- dence was scarcely a quarter of a century old, and had made but little progress in its great career of commercial, industrial and agricultural devel- opment and political power, when its people were called on to secure by a second conquest over the arrogance of Great Britain the right to maintain its integrity and conduct its own affairs, and, among the valiant soldiers who went forward to win that fight, were ancestors on both sides of the family of the late Orson Dayton, of Pitts- ford township. He was born in Erie county, New
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York, on September 20, 1820, not long after the close of the war, near the scene of some of its most exciting episodes, and his childhood was made interesting with thrilling narratives of its events of blood and carnage and its incidents of daring and danger. His parents were Sherman and Elizabeth (Birdsell) Dayton, both natives of New York. The father was through life an in- dustrious farmer, except during the War of 1812, in which he took an active part, and, while his son, Orson, was yet a lad, he removed the family to Lake county, Ohio, locating on a farm in the the town of Madison:
Here Orson Dayton grew to manhood, saw much of frontier life, gathered intelligently a few nuggets from the great mines of human knowledge in the primitive schools, acquired hab- its of industry in work, waxing strong in char- acter, self-reliance, independence of spirit and vigor of body. He was one of the eleven chil- dren who composed the household, five sons and six daughters, all of whom have now paid the last debt of nature except two of the daughters. After leaving school he entered regularly on the duties of life for himself by engaging in the al- most universal occupation of the section in which he lived, the cultivation of the soil. He re- mained in Ohio until 1866, when he took up his residence in Hillsdale county, on a farm which he purchased in Pittsford township, and on which he lived and farmed until his death in January, 1890, and which, by that time, he had enlarged by subsequent purchases to 200 acres. When he settled on this land it was full of possibilities but all undeveloped ; when he left it, in obedience to his summons by death, it was a well-improved, highly cultivated, abundantly productive tract, yielding large returns of fruitfulness and domes- tic comfort for his continued investment of time, labor and skill in its cultivation.
On October 5, 1855, Mr. Dayton was united in marriage with Sarah D. Weston, a native of Massachusetts, and they became the parents of three children, Grenville W., Hattie L., wife of William W. Dayton, and Millard B., living at the parental home. Their father was a Republican in political faith, but was not an active partisan and 16
he never sought or held office. Mrs. Dayton's par- ents were Granville D. and Sarah ( Marsh) Wes- ton, the former a native of New Bedford, and the latter of Dalton, Mass., belonging to families con- spicuous in the history of that state from Colonial times. Her father, a prominent woolen manu- facturer and merchant, was also engaged in agri- culture. Both her parents died in their native state. In the War of 1812 her paternal grandfa- ther, Nathaniel Marsh, was a Federal soldier who made an excellent record in council and on the field. His son, the father of Mrs. Dayton, kept up the martial spirit of the family by a long serv- ice as a colonel of the state militia, in which he was prominent for disciplinary powers and sol- dierly qualities.
WILLIAM H. DEVOE.
William H. DeVoe, one of the leading farmers of Pittsford township in Hillsdale county, is a na- tive of Newark, New Jersey, born on December 29, 1840. His parents were Peter and Harriet De Voe, the father a native of New Jersey and the mother of New York. The father, a shoemaker by trade, was employed for many years as a fore- man in a rubber factory. He served in a gallant New Jersey regiment in the Civil War, and, al- though in active field duty much of the time, he escaped unhurt. William H. DeVoe was reared and educated in his native state, reaching the age of nineteen years before leaving home. In 1859 he came to Michigan and settled near Ypsilanti, where he remained three years, removing to Hills- dale county in 1862. He then purchased the farm of which he is now possessed, and, since that time, has made it his home. It was all wild and un- broken timber land when he bought it, without a building of any kind or any other improvement. He began at once to clear off the timber, and, in the course of but few years, he had a goodly por- tion of the new place under cultivation, furnished with such buildings for the comfort of his family and his stock as he was able to put up under the circumstances. These have been replaced by oth- ers more pretentious, complete and satisfactory ; the land has all been cleared except about five
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acres, its fertility has been greatly increased by careful and judicious tillage ; and, through the continued application of his systematic industry, excellent judgment and good taste, the estate has been made one of the attractive and valuable farmis of this part of the county. In 1862 Mr. DeVoe was united in marriage with Miss Mary F. Britten, a daughter of Richard R. and Ellen (Collins) Britten, later Mrs. Lorenzo Barkınan.
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