USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 43
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Mr. Frankhauser has performed its trying and important duties with skill and diligence, has won high tribute and general commendation as a vigilant, energetic and successful prosecutor, at the same time building up an excellent reputation as a well read, careful, astute and successful law- yer in general practice, being acknowledged also as a gentleman of high character, solid attain- ments and most pleasing manners. He is a pro-
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gressive, far-seeing and public spirited citizen, giv- ing carnest and helpful support to all movements locking to the advancement and improvement of the town and county. In politics he has been an ardent Republican from the dawn of his man- hood. to the welfare of his party hc has made valuable contributions both of time and effort, serving at times as chairman of its county central committee, advocating its cause with force and eloquence on the hustings in every important campaign. Almost as soon as he reached his legal majority he was made a Freemason, and, from that event, he has taken great and active interest in the affairs of the fraternity, holding member- ships in its symbolic, its capitular, its cryptic and its templar branches, filling with credit to himself and bencfit to the craft official stations in each, also helping to hold its membership and its work in his neighborhood up to a high standard of ex- cellence. He also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. On January 16, 1900, he married with Miss Mary E. Powers, a native of Hillsdale county, and they have two children, a son, Rich- ard, and a daughter, Isabelle. Mr. Frankhauser is an ornament to his profession, a potent factor in the progress and development of the county, a high type of the best citizenship of the statc.
MALCOLM GRAHAM, M. D.
Malcolm Graham, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Jonesville, is wholly a product of this county. He was born in Scipio township on February 1, 1848, a son of Jonathan B. and Maria (Lomis) Graham, both natives of Connecticut. His father, a farmer in his New England home, came to this county about 1836 and purchased a farm three miles northeast of Jonesville, which he cleared of its heavy forest growth, improved and lived upon until April, 1849, then bought the farm adjoining the - village of Jonesville, where he passed the remaining days of his life, dying there in 1891 at the age of eighty-one years, having survived his wife since 1880. They were the par- ents of four children, of whom two sons are now living, the Doctor being the only one who is a resident of this county. The father was active in
politics, serving the state several times in the low- er branch of the State Legislature. The family came from Great Britain to Connecticut in the early settlement of that colony, where its various members were serviceable in public life for gen- erations.
Doctor Graham was reared and educated in his native county, finishing his academic course at the Jonesville high school. After leaving this institution, he began the study of medicine at Jonesville, and, in 1863. entered the medical de- partment of the State University, later attending the Long Island (N. Y.) Medical College, from which he was duly graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1865. He began his medical practice at Independence, Iowa, where he remained five years, at the end of that period removing to Illi- nois and practicing in that state until 1885. Hc then came to Joncsville where he has since resided. Here he built a lucrative and representative prac- tice and endeared himself to the people in his community, and throughout the county, by faith- ful attention to their wishes in his line of activ- ity, his high character as a man, and his genial and obliginig disposition. He is a diligent stu- dent of the literature of his profession, a close observer of all its phases in his practice. He is also interested in farming and in fruitgrowing, conducting his finc farm upon a lofty plane of skillful husbandry, but giving, however, a special attention to the production of fruit of superior grades. He was married at Jonesville, in 1861, to Miss Cornelia Hooby, who was born and reared in New York state. They have three children, Norris M., Cornelia G. and Robert H. The Doc- tor stands in the front rank of his profession in the state and is well and widely known and highly respected by the people of Hillsdale and adjacent counties.
DR. BURT F. GREEN.
Although but a recent acquisition to the medi- cal faculty of Hillsdale, Dr. Burt F. Green is suf- ficiently far from shore to be under full sail in his profession and has given abundant evidence of his capacity to steer his barque to its desired haven. His story is just like that of thousands every-
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where among us. It forcibly illustrates the possi- bilities of American life and the no less wonderful versatility of the American mind. Entering upon the stage of action at his maturity in one impor- tant and exacting capacity, after a few years he is found pursuing a very different vocation, equally important and exacting, or more so. He is a na- tive of Van Buren county, this state, born at Paw Paw, on December 16, 1869, his parents being Ebenezer W. and Frances (Randolph) Green, na- tives of Western New York. The father, a farm- er, came with his family to Michigan about 1866, and settled in Van Buren county. Since 1891, however, the father and mother have been resi- dents of Hillsdale. They are the parents of two children, both sons and both physicians.
Doctor Green received his early education in the public schools and was graduated from the Paw Paw high school in 1888. He then entered Hillsdale College and was graduated from that institution in 1894. He began the study of medi- cine at once, and then passed two years as the principal of the North Adams high school. He read for some months under the instruction of Doctor Sawyer before going to North Adams, and there continued his professional studies while teaching the school. In the fall of 1896 he en- tered the medical department of the State Univer- sity, and in 1900 was graduated with the degree of M. D. He came immediately to Hillsdale, be- came associated in the practice of his profession with Doctor Sawyer and they are still in partner- ship. Their practice is large and growing.
Doctor Green is acquiring a strong hold on the confidence of the people as a skillful and care- ful practitioner, with a love of his profession that is sure to bring to his aid all that is valuable in theory and of demonstrated utility in practice. He is an active member of the state and county medical societies, being also a close observer and a careful and reflective student, and, both in the ranks of the profession and among the people gen- erally, he is considered one of the most promis- ing professional men in the county. He belongs to the Masonic order and to the Knights of Pyth- ias ; and, while a student at college and at the university was a member of college societies and
fraternities. In social circles he is everywhere warmly welcomed, and by his genial and enter- taining manners, his fund of anecdote and general information, and his courteous and considerate at- tion to the comfort of all he meets, he has become a general favorite with all classes of people.
EDGAR B. GREGORY.
Edgar B. Gregory, the popular postmaster of Jonesville, and the senior member of the firm of Gregory & Eggleston, publishers of the Jonesville Independent, the leading Republican paper of the township, is a native of Wilson, New York, where he was born on March 31, 1852. His parents were William E. and Eliza (Bartlett) Gregory, the former being a native of New York and the latter of Massachusetts. The father was first a school teacher, then a druggist, and latera farmer. He came to Michigan in 1857 and settled two miles north of the village of Jonesville, which lo- cation was his home until his death in 1876. He survived his wife, whose death occurred in 1861. He served three years as the supervisor of Scipio township, and took an active interest in all public affairs affecting the welfare of the community. His family consisted of three children, all of whom are living. The paternal grandfather was born and reared at Bennington, Vt. He was a blacksmith by trade, but came to Michigan in 1857, where he was actively engaged in farming until his death in 1865, at the age of eighty-seven years.
Mr. Gregory was reared and educated in Hillsdale county and worked on the home farm until 1885, when he came to Jonesville and pur- chased an interest in a mercantile enterprise in the boot and shoe line in partnership with E. D. Howard. The partnership continued for five years, when it was dissolved by mutual consent, and, in 1890, Mr. Gregory purchased the interest of George E. Harding in the Independent, which he still holds. The paper was founded in 1849 as the Jonesville Telegraph, its name being changed in 1852 to the Jonesville Independent. This is the leading newspaper published in this part of the county, the accepted organ of its party in political
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matters. It has a large and loyal body of patrons and is appreciatedas ameans of entertainment and education to the people of the township. Mr. Gregory was appointed postmaster of Jonesville in December, 1889, and, prior to that time, he had served as township treasurer one term, supervisor one term, village trustee and as president of the township board. He was secretary of the schoo! board for ten years. He was married in 1874 with Miss Sarah Mumford, the daughter of E. C. L. and J. A. Mumford, of Moscow. They have two children, their son, William M., and their daughter, Helen.
In politics Mr. Gregory has been a lifelong Republican and has given to the affairs of his party diligent and faithful service. For six years he served as a member of the county central com. mittee, during that time being a potential figurc and factor in the campaigns in behalf of the poli cies and candidates' of his party. In everything pertaining to the interests of the press he is deep- ly and intelligently interested. He is a member of the Michigan Press Association, the Republi- can Press Association, and the Postmasters Asso- ciation, also belonging to the Knights of Pythias. He is well and favorably known throughout the county, being highly esteemed as one of the lead- ers of thought among this progressive people. His son, William Mumford Gregory, is now fin- ishing his fifth year of service as superintend- ent of schools of East Tawas in Iosco county, this state. He is a graduate of the State Nor- mal school, and is a student at Harvard Univer- sity. It should be said to Mr. Gregory's credit, that, with an active and able newspaper at his command, he has never used his power except on the side of right and justice, and in behalf of all that was progressive and elevating to the communnity. He is well esteemed wherever he is known as a gentleman of high character, fine capability and cultivated manners.
JOHN HAGGERTY.
The late John Haggerty, of Pittsford, whose death on March 7, 1900, at the ripe age of sixty- four years, was universally lamented and ended
a life of signal worth and usefulness, was one of the substantial and highly respected citizens of Hillsdale county, who had an enviable career of public service and private industry to his credit. He was born on September 3. 1836, in the state of New York, where his parents, John and Eliza Haggerty, settled in early days, on their arrival in this country from Ireland, where their fami- lies had lived for many generations. Some few years after the birth of their son, John, they re- moved to Michigan and settled on a farm in Pitts- ford township, in this county, where, after clear- ing the land and creating a comfortable and pro- ductive home, they died at advanced ages, being the parents of three sons and two daughters, of whom one son and two daughters are living.
John Haggerty grew to manhood from child- hood in Michigan, was educated at the public schools of this county and near Northfield, in Washtenaw county. In 1861 he went to Cali- fornia, crossing the plains with teams, and, after spending eight years on the cattle ranges in that state, he returned to Michigan in 1869, by way of the "isthmus" and New York. Soon after his return he purchased a farm in Pittsford township on which he resided until his death in 1900. His farm comprised 120 acres of land, and, at the time of his death, it was all in an advanced state of cultivation, and supplied with good buildings and other desirable improvements, representing in its excellent condition the results of his more than sixty years industrious and systematic labor and care.
In 1871 he was married to Miss Amanda Briggs, a daughter of George W. and Christina (Stuck) Briggs, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. They emigrated to Michigan during the thirties and settled in Pittsford township, where, in the course of time, both died. Mrs. Haggerty died in 1880, and, on April 3, 1883, Mr. Haggerty married his second wife, Miss Helen Briggs, a sister of the first. They had three children, Amanda B., Inez and another, who died in infancy. Mr. Haggerty was a Democrat in politics, but not an active partisan and he never sought or filled public office. He was active in promoting the welfare of the com-
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munity, in all of his public acts and aspirations he had no other motive than to secure the best ad- vantages and the most substantial progress and prosperity of the people among whom he lived. His friends in all parts of the county were numer- ous and cordial in their esteem for him, and at his death gave proof of their feelings by the demon- strations of public regard and good will amid which he was laid to rest.
George W. Briggs, deceased, the father of Mrs. Haggerty, was a native of Vermont, being a son of Nathaniel Briggs, also a native of that state. His grandfather was Cyrus Briggs, a Rev- olutionary soldier, who saw much active service in the war and was killed in the storming of Fort Ticonderoga in 1777. After the coming of peace his family lived for many years in their native state, conducting successful farming operations according to the circumstances of the time and place in which they lived. In the thirties George W. Briggs emigrated with his family to Michigan and settled on a tract of government land, which was part of the great extent of unbroken forest, given up to the. predatory savage and to the beasts of prey that filled the wilderness with danger, and made the first advances of civiliza- tion difficult and slow. The life of the hardy pio- neers was beset with peril and full of privations. Their toil was doubly arduous because of the un- tamed state of nature and the lack of suitable ap- pliances. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs and their chil- dren accepted their lot with cheerfulness, met its requirements with courage, energy and deter- mined perseverance, and before a great while they had the satisfaction of seeing the forest melt away before their persistent industry and the land grow fertile and productive under their careful and diligent husbandry.
Other settlers came to the region, and the combined energies of many made the work less difficult and more efficient. Roads, bridges and other conveniences multiplied in the township; schools, churches and more commodious resi- dences rose around them ; all of the concomitants of a more cultivated life came gradually among them, sweetening their toil with bounteous and en- during benefactions. To these results the Briggs
family made most substantial contributions. . They are numbered among the builders of the county and looked upon as vital factors in its growth and progress. When Mrs. Haggerty's parents saw the evening of life at last closing up- on them, it was in the midst of a new civilization. which they helped to plant in the wilderness, in a home which their own hands had wrought out of the hardest and most obdurate conditions. On her mother's side there was also heroism and devotion to the general weal in an active and po- - tential way, for her grandfather Stuck was a sol- dier in the War of 1812, in that struggle aiding most valiantly in maintaining and establishing the liberties and political institutions which her father's ancestors had helped to win and create.
FRANK M. HALL.
Frank M. Hall, of Hillsdale, the circuit court commissioner, is one of the younger lawyers of the bar who is well established in his profession, conducting an active and lucrative practice with vigor and success, meeting the requirements of every case with the most careful preparation and presenting his side of it with skill, force and re- sourcefulness. The place of his nativity is Rich- land county, Ohio, and there he was born on February 10, 1870. His parents, Amos C. and Susan (Sterick) Hall, were natives of Pennsyl- vania, and removed to Ohio, soon after which their marriage occurred. They there engaged in farming until 1875, when they came to Michigan and settled in Eaton county, where they still live. Mr. Hall's paternal grandfather, Thomas Hall, was a Pennsylvania Quaker who passed his life in his native state. His father, John Hall, a native of England, came to America with William Penn, living thereafter and dying in Pennsylvania.
Frank M. Hall was one of four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom are living in Michigan. At the age of five years he came with the rest of the family to this state, his sub- sequent childhood and youth being passed in Eaton county, where he was educated, attending the primary, grammar and high schools. After leaving school he taught for a time, and then in
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1891, began the reading of law in the office of F. J. Slayton, of Eaton Rapids, a little later contin- uing his studies under the direction of F. A. Lyon, Esq., of Hillsdale. Mr. Hall was admitted to practice on July 18, 1895, and at once started liis professional career in Hillsdale. In 1899 he was made city attorney, and on October 12, 1899, was appointed to the office of circuit court com- missioner by Governor Pingree. The duties of both positions have had his careful and conscien- tious attention, and have been performed with an ability and promptness that have won him gen- eral commendation. Mr. Hall married on Octo- ber 19, 1898, with Miss Bertha Fink, a native of Ohio, the marriage occurring at lonia. They have one child, their daughter, Marian. In polit- ical faith Mr. Hall is an ardent Republican. He has rendered his party good service both in com- mittee duty and on the hustings, showing himself to be shrewd, tactful and effective in each line of campaigning. His fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic order, of which he is an enthusiastic and valued member.
HILLSDALE SAVINGS BANK.
The Hillsdale Savings Bank, one of the strongest, safest, ablest managed and most pro- gressive financial institutions in the southern part of the state, was founded in July, 1884, with a capital stock of $60,000 and the following officers : John P. Cook, president; Chauncey F. Cook, cashier ; and these two, with Henry Walworth, J. H. Armstrong and Col. F. M. Holloway, were the directors. John P. Cook served as president until his death in the ensuing autumn, when he was succeeded by his son, Chauncey F. Cook, who is still filling that position. Frank H. Conk- lin succeeded Mr. Cook as cashier, and, after a service covering several years, was succeeded in turn by A. B. LaFleur, the present efficient and popular incumbent of that office. A general bank- ing business is conducted by the institution, whose progress in business success and in popular favor since its opening has been steady, constant and substantial. It has rendered great service to the community, by multiplying the financial resources
available for its mercantile operations, and by aid- ing wage-workers and others to lay up a portion of their carnings for future needs.
HON. JOHN P. COOK, the founder of this bank, and the prolific parent of many other excellent commercial and industrial offsprings that have blessed and materially aided the community, and, it may be truthfully said, the founder of the city of Hillsdale itself, whose long and useful life was ended by death on December 15, 1884, was a na- tive of Plymouth, Chenango county, N. Y., born on January 27, 1812. His parents, of English descent, moved from their New England home at an early day and settled at Plymouth. His fa- ther, Joseph Cook, died when the son was but two years old, and two years later, his mother, whose maiden name was Lydia Benson, married a second husband. The exigencies of his situation obliged Mr. Cook to begin working for his living at an early age, and his opportunities were therefore limited for securing much education of the schools. But the same hard fortune made the lessons of adversity salutary in teaching him self-reliance, in begetting in him business thrift and acumen, and in leading him into habits of in- dustry and economy.
His youth and early manhood were passed in farming, teaching and in learning carpentry in his native state. In the spring of 1832, at the age of twenty, having saved a little money, he started west, and, on July I, arrived at Detroit. There in association with others he built a foun- dry, but a few months later sold his interest, in the summer of 1834 removing to Jonesville in this county. In that village, in partnership with C. W. Ferris, he built a store and filled it with the first stock of merchandise ever brought into Hillsdale county for sale over the counter. Two years later, foreseeing the ultimate removal of the county seat to the place where Hillsdale now stands, he bought property in that locality, although it was then covered with a dense forest and the neigh- borhood was peopled with but two families. In 1837 he changed his residence to this place, and, engaging in partnership with Mr. Ferris, they erected a mill for grinding grain, in connection with this conducting a store, which they estab-
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lished about the same time. Mr. Cook continued these operations until 1862, in the meantime, the state having begun the construction of the Michi- gan Southern Railroad, Mr. Cook became a large contractor in the work. In 1855 he engaged in banking in company with Messrs. Mitchell and Waldron, remaining with the firm until 1863, then became interested in the hardware trade, and, in 1866, he began to deal extensively in lumber. And throughout his life in this county he was more or less actively engaged in farming and in the raising of stock, owning always tracts of farmn- ing and timber lands, working them with the same ardor and systematic enterprise that charac- terized his efforts in other lines of effort.
For a quarter of a century or more following the organization of the state government, Mr. Cook took an active part in political affairs, and became one of the best known and most highly respected men in the commonwealth. His polit- ical affiliation was with the Democratic party, and in the councils of that organization he had an influential voice. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of Hillsdale county, and was enthusiastically chosen its first treasurer. In 1838 he was appointed the first postmaster of Hillsdale. In 1845 he was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature, and, in the ensu- ing session, served on the judiciary committee, being the only non-professional man among its members. At this session the statutes of the state were revised and this committee had unusually important duties to perform. In the fall of 1846 he was elected to the State. Senate, and would have been easily reelected in 1848, had not private business interests obliged him to decline a second nomination for this office.
In 1850 Mr. Cook was chosen a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention, in which he served as chairman of the committee on corpora- tions, one of the most important offices of the body. This convention framed a new state con- stitution, which is substantially the present or- ganic law of the state. An attempt was made to form a new one in 1874, and a special session of the senate was held for the purpose. To this sen- ate Mr. Cook was sent, overcoming a large ad-
verse majority in the contest. He strenuously opposed the new constitution, which, when it was submitted to the people, was rejected. For many years Mr. Cook was a member of the board of education of Hillsdale, and for a long period he was one of the trustees of Hillsdale College, serv- ing many times as chairman of the board. He also took part in other public enterprises for the benefit of the county, being particularly energetic in securing the completion of the Detroit, Hills- dale & Indiana Railroad.
In 1837 Mr. Cook was united in marriage with his first wife, formerly a Miss Betsey Wol- ford, of Cayuga county, New York, who died in the summer of 1850, leaving three children. In 1852 he married with his second wife, Miss Mar- tha H. Wolford, a sister of the first. They had nine children, six of whom are living.
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