USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > History and biographical record of Lenawee County, Michigan, Volume I > Part 36
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unfaltering trust in God, a cheerful hope, a tender sympathy and a charity which thinketh no evil; and when they passed away, left to children and grand-children, the precious memory of a beautiful and well spent life. Both lived to a good old age, he being 71, and she 83. Five daughters married, and for a time were settled in Palmyra. Eliza, the oldest of the family, married Dr. Caius C. Robinson, of Palmyra, New York. He eame west in 1832, with his brother-in-law, Judge A. R. Tiffany. Mr. Robinson bought a large tract of land where the village of Palmyra now stands, built a mill and laid out the village, giving it the name of his for- mer home. It was in his humble log house that the first church of Palmyra was organized, and where the meetings were held for many months, he leading the meetings and superintending the Sunday school. He was a great lover of musie, and always led the singing, accompanying his fine voiee with the bass-viol. Emi- nent and most successful in his profession, esteemed as a citizen, for his integrity and zeal in promoting every objeet that tended to the common good, admired in the social cirele, for his geniality and humor, his early death was deeply mourned by those who loved and honored him. His only child, Lueius G. Robinson, also a physician, died in Detroit, at an early age, leaving a wife and two children. Mrs. Robinson married for her second husband Henry Pomeroy. They died of cholera within a few days of each other, in 1852. Mary Ann married Nahum Whitmarsh, of Cunimington, Mass., and came to Palmyra soon after her parents, and settled on the farm now oceupied by Charles Whitmarsh, her son, and where her death occurred in October, 1878. Clarissa, the wife of Horace Whitmarsh, came with her parents, and settled on a farm adjoining them. She died in 1839. Her husband was for many years a deacon, and a very useful man in the church. Laura married Samuel Bement, a civil engineer, of Woodstock, Vermont. He came west in 1835, and was with the first corps of engineers in running the line for the railroad between Monroe and Hillsdale, taking their tents, cook and provisions with them, and wading through swamps and marshes. In later years, he was for a time, a resident of Palmyra, and identified with all its interests. Rosa- mond married James S. Dickinson, a native of Northampton, Mass., who came from Albany in 1836. He was for many years a resident of Palmyra, and held the office of town clerk, and was prominently identified with its business interests. Of the seven sons, only two settled in this county, the others going to different states. Norton D., the oldest, married Silena M. Shaw, of Cum- mington, Mass., in 1833, and removed to Palmyra, occupying the farm which is now the home of his son Almon. He died May 17th,
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1868. His youngest son, George, is a resident of Toledo, Ohio. Lucius married Lydia C. Whitmarsh, of Princeton, Illinois, De- cember 31st, 1849. They have always lived and are still upon the old homestead in Palmyra. The surviving sons are Cassius, in California; Stephen, in Michigan, and William M., who went to Cleveland, in the winter of 1849, and was employed as rodman for S. Bement, on the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad for a short time, and during the summer following engaged as fireman on the first construction train, and in February, 1852, commenced as engineer of the express train, in which capacity he has contin- ued to the present time, and what is quite remarkable, has not met with an accident in nearly twenty-eight years service. Cassius P. went from Medina, this county, to California over twenty years ago, on account of his health, and is now residing there. Stephen Jr., resided in Toledo for about twenty-five years previous to going to Bronson, Mich., about five years since, where he is now employed at the station by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Company. Hon. Henry L. Dawes, in a local Centennial Oration, delivered at Cummington, Mass., June 26th, 1879, speaks of the Warner family, as follows: " Accordingly, upon application of the inhabitants, a meeting of the proprietors was called by a committee in Concord, to meet at the house of Stephen Warner, in the town- ship, on the 19th of June, 1771, for the choice of officers for the management of its affairs there. This Stephen Warner was the father of that Stephen Warner, who lived where this meeting was held, on a road now discontinued, and with a large family of sons and daughters, moved to Michigan within the memory of many who now hear me. The house has disappeared many years since, but the place will be remembered by the old residents as the center of a wide social circle where a generous hospitality was dispensed and large numbers of friends and acquaintances constantly entertained."
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ORMAN B. CARTER, son of Barzilla and Mary Ruth Carter, was born in Warren, Litchfield county, Connecti- cut, September 7th, 1801, where he lived with his parents until the eleventh year of his age. In the year 1811 he moved with his parents to New York, and settled in the western part of that State, on the Holland Purchase. They moved with an ox- team, and were twenty-four days on the way. For five years
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thereafter he hardly saw the inside of a school house. He helped his father clear up a new farm, undergoing all the hardships of a new country. He remembers well the war of 1812, when the neighboring women and children would assemble together in some log house and talk over the war, and the prospect of the British and Indians coming and murdering them, the men, at the time, being on the frontier lines. In December, 1820, he took a con- tract of the Holland Land Company for a piece of land, in what was then called Ellicottville, Cattaraugus county. In the spring of 1821, with his small effects, he moved on this land. There was not a tree cut, or a neighbor living within several miles. He was one among a few who paid for his land, and got the first deed in the whole town. It was here that Mr. Carter first undertook to hew a farm out of a vast wilderness. He taught the first school in that town, his scholars coming a long distance to attend. He remained there about sixteen years, until the country was well im- proved. February 27th, 1827, he was married to Miss Mentha M. Bradish, of Macedon, Wayne county, New York. He came to Michigan in 1832, and purchased land in the town of Ogden, on section 8. In May, 1836, he moved upon this land with his family, where he now resides, it being the third time he (Daniel Boone like) had grappled with a wilderness country. He was justice of the peace, town clerk and school inspector, during nearly the en- tire time he resided in Cattaraugus county. He was justice of the peace for at least twenty-five years in Ogden, and township clerk and highway commissioner for several terms in the same town. He at one time, owned sixteen hundred acres of land in Michigan, three hundred and twenty acres being in Hillsdale, and the balance in Lenawee county. At the present time he owns six hundred and forty acres in this county, being one of the best farms in the township of Ogden. Mr. Carter has but two children living as follows: Russell C. Carter, born in Ashford, Cattaraugus county, New York, March 14th, 1832. He was married to Miss Lucinda A. Bowen, daughter of Daniel W. and Sarah R. Bowen, and now resides in Ogden, on the old homestead. Amanda D., the daugh- ter, is the wife of John G. Mason, a druggist of Adrian, where she now resides. Mrs. Norman B. Carter was born in Macedon, Wayne county, New York, February 20th, 1800. She was the daughter of Calvin Bradish, and sister of A. Wellington, and Norman F. Bradish, of Madison, in this county. She died at her home in Ogden, November 22d, 1877. Mrs. Carter was a lady of high respectability. She had lived with her husband to an ad- vanced age, had shared with him in all the hardships and pleasures of subduing several new farms, and had labored hard and faith-
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
fully through life, to make her home pleasant for her children and her husband in his declining years. Her disease, a spinal difficulty, baffled the skill of our best physicians and the kind care of dear friends, for months. She died in the seventy-eighth year of her age. Norman B. Carter resides in Ogden with his son, but always finds a welcome home with his daughter, Mrs. Mason, of Adrian, where he spends much of his time. He is a man of unblemished character, and has amassed a large property through economy, pru- dence and strict integrity.
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HOMAS McCOMB was born in Mt. Morris, Livingston county, New York, August 23d, 1835. His father, William McComb, was born in Antrim county, Ireland, August 15th, 1796. He was brought up a farmer, and always lived in Antrim county, with the exception of six years' residence in Scotland, until he emigrated to America, in the spring of 1831, when he settled in Livingston county, near Mt. Morris, New York. He lived there until the spring of 1837, when he emigrated with his family to Michigan, and arrived in Adrian in May, where he lived nearly one year. In 1833 he came to Michigan and took up the e. ¿ of the n. e. ¿ of section 20, in Ogden, it being near the centre of the township. In the early spring of 1838 he moved from Adrian to his farm in Ogden. He at once set about clearing up the land, and lived upon it until 1850, when he removed to Tecumseh and resided five years, during which time he purchased one hundred and thirty acres more new land on section seventeen, in Ogden. In 1855 he went back to Ogden, and lived upon his farm until his death, which occurred January 27th, 1864. At the time of his death he had cleared and improved the eighty-acre farm he first purchased, and had erected a good frame house and barns, and had fenced the entire one hundred and thirty acres of his last purchase, and cleared about twenty acres of it. He did a large amount of ditching and draining. September 30th, 1834, he married Mrs. Mary Johnson, of Sparta, New York, by whom he had five chil- dren, two sons and three daughters, Thomas being the oldest. Mrs. Mary McComb was born in Antrim county, Ireland, Decem- ber 25th, 1804, and is still living at Ogden Center. Mr McComb was twice married, his first wife, Miss Betty McMurry, was born in Antrim county, Ireland, and died there about 1829. She left a
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
son and daughter; William, now of Ogden, this county, and Mar- tha, wife of Edward Hines, of Barry county, Michigan, where she died about 1871. Thomas McComb was brought up a farmer. With the exception of about six years, since 1838, he has made Ogden his home, and now owns the old house that his father built in 1857, with a small amount of the old farm. He now runs a store, grist-mill, saw-mill, and is post-master at Ogden Center. He has been deputy sheriff two years, and has been elected super- visor five times of his township. December 24th, 1860, he mar- ried Miss Isabel Patterson, daughter of William and Jane Patter- son, of Ogden, by whom he has had four children, two sons and two daughters, as follows: Estine, born in Ogden, January 3d, 1865; Jennie, born in Coldwater, Michigan, September 18th, 1869 ; Alton T., born in Ogden, January 23d, 1872; Allison, born in Ogden, February 27th, 1879 ; all at home. Mrs. Isabel McComb was born in County Down, Ireland, August 12th, 1843, and came to America with her parents in 1848, and settled in Ogden that year, where they still reside.
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LEXANDER RICHARD was born in Geneseo, Living- ston county, New York, January 6th, 1833. His father, John Richard, was born in Antrim county, Ireland, No- vember, 1806. He first came to this country from Ireland, in 1825. He partially learned the mason's and bricklayer's trade there, and followed that business several years in this country. About the first work he did in America was in the iron furnaces of New Jersey. He came to Michigan with his parents in 1833, and settled on the farm in Raisin he now lives on. [See his record on another page.] In the fall of 1831 he returned to Ire- land, and married Miss Elizabeth Sherrard, in January, 1832, by whom he had one child, Alexander. Alexander Richard lived with his father on his farm until he was thirty years of age. He received a good common school education, and afterwards attended the high school at Adrian. October 1st, 1854, he became a stu- dent of the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, and graduated from the literary department in June, 1858. He then returned home and resumed farming, at the same time engaging in survey- ing to a considerable extent, doing a large amount of engineering for the county drain commissioners for several years. He lived
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
with his father until the winter of 1863-4, when he purchased his grandfather's (Archibald Richard's) old homestead, it being the w. ¿ of the s. w. ¿ of section 14, in Raisin. It is the highest point of land in Raisin, and was selected by the government engin- eers, a few years since, as a proper site upon which to erect a surveyor's station. Since his residence here he has greatly improved the farm and buildings, having overhauled the house completely, and refenced the entire farm. He has also insti- tuted a splendid water system, by which he has now a good sup- ply, where it was formerly considered impossible, and has over- come one of the greatest former objections to the farm. He has a splendid well eighty-five feet deep. August 14th, 1858, he mar- ried Miss Amanda Dresser, daughter of Lewis Dresser, of Sardinia, Erie county, New York, by whom he has had three children, one son and two daughters, as follows: Elizabeth A., born in Raisin, February 28th, 1860, at home; John L., born in Raisin, January 21st, 1866, at home; Mary Winifred, born August 26th, 1878. Mrs. Amanda Richard was born in Freedom, Cattaraugus county, New York, January 28th, 1836. Her father, Lewis Dresser, was born in Avon, Livingston county, New York, January 27th, 1806, and now resides in Sardinia, Erie county, New York. Her mother, Mrs. Ada Dresser, who was born in Geneseo, Livingston county, New York, September 23d, 1812, now living in Sardinia, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Richard are members of the First Presbyterian church, of Raisin, Mr. Richard being a ruling elder. In politics he has always been an active and earnest Democrat.
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RS. ALZORY D. WEBSTER, of Hudson, was born in Ontario county, New York, August 12th, 1817. Her father, Noah Norton, was also born in the same State, where he married Miss Sarah Waite, and soon after moved to Jefferson county, where they lived six years, he holding the office of consta- ble most of the time during their residence there. In the spring of 1825 he started for Michigan. He came as far as Lockport, where he remained three months; from there he came to Buffalo, where he took a steamer for Detroit, and landed with his family, a wife and three children. The family remained in Detroit about a week, Mr. Norton going ahead as far as Tecumseh, where he found his old acquaintances, Musgrove Evans and Gen. Joseph W. Brown. In a few days he returned to Detroit for his family,
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
which he brought with an ox team, to what was, or is now called the " Valley," where Darius Comstock had located, but had not yet moved his family. Here, Mr. Norton soon after commenced working at shoe-making for Mr. Constock, where he stayed until the spring of 1827, when he moved to what is now Adrian. Be- fore coming to Adrian, he was offered a village lot, free of cost, if he would move to Tecumseh, and open a shoe shop there, but Addison J. Comstock was not the man to let Tecumseh outdo him in liberality, and offered Mr. Norton two village lots, as soon as they were laid out, if he would come to Adrian, which offer was accepted, and the first shoemaker for the town was thereby secured. Mr. and Mrs. Norton were the parents of twelve children, six of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, as follows: Alzory, the subject of this sketch, married Andrew J. Webster, at Adrian, October 18th, 1836. They were married by L. G. Budlong, Esq ; Alzina P., three years younger, married Urias Treadwell, and mov- ed to Hudson, where she died ; Noah Napoleon, was born in Jef- ferson county, New York, and died at Adrian, March 4th, 1841; Roby Ann, born at the " Valley," July, 1826; Adelia H., born in Adrian, in the spring of 1828, being the second child born there. She married William Worrell, and now resides in East Toledo, Ohio; Marion A., born in Adrian, now the wife of George Ward, of Jackson, Michigan. All the other children died in infancy. Mr. Norton, for several years before his death, became quite a trav- eler : about the year 1847 he visited the Southern States and Mexico, where he stayed some time, returning to Adrian with material enough to open a museum, which was the first thing of the kind in Adrian. In 1850 he went to California, where he set- tled in Los Angeles county, staying several years. Afterwards he returned to Adrian, where he remained until his wife died. He married for his second wife, a Mrs. Miller, and soon after re- turned to California, and settled at Antioch, near Oakland. While in California he discovered the Black Diamond coal mine, which was very valuable, but for some cause he failed to realize any pecuniary benefit. He died in California, at the house of his grandson, aged eighty-four years. Mrs. Webster lived in Adrian about two years after her marriage, her husband working at his trade, of wagon making. He came from Rutland, Vermont, and built the first buggy ever made in Adrian. From Adrian he mov- ed into the town of Rome, on a farm, where he lived three years. He then removed to Pittsford, Hillsdale county, where he lived on a farm until April 1875, when he moved to Hudson village, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Webster have had eight children, seven of whom are now living, as follows: Alonzo F., born in
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Adrian, August 28th, 1837, married Jennie Bailey and now resides at Pittsford, Hillsdale county ; Melissa Ann, born December 27th, 1839 ; Noah, born, December 29th, 1841, married Maria Preston, and during the late war, served in the old 4th Michigan Infantry. They now reside in California; George A., born in the town of Pittsford, Hillsdale county, December 29th, 1843, killed on the Michigan Central railroad, February 10th, 1875; he served in the late Rebellion for three years ; Andrew J., Jr., was born Sep- tember 17th, 1845, married Miss Emma Ollpaugh, and resides at Pittsford. He also served in the late war; Edgar J., born Octo- ber 2d, 1847, served in the late war, and was wounded. He is a law- yer, and resides in Oakland, California ; Charles A., born July 15th, 1849, married, and resides in Leadville, Colorado ; Alzora J., born July 25th, 1851, married Frederick Maxon, February 10th, 1864, and now resides in Adrian. Mr. Webster, after having sent four sons into the late war, volunteered himself in the same cause, and served two years. Neither himself nor any of his sons were drafted into service, but all volunteered, served their time out, and were all honorably discharged from the service.
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R. THOMAS F. DODGE was born in Andover, Windsor county, Vermont, August 21st, 1806. Of his early history we have but little knowledge. His father died when he was eleven years old, being the oldest of the family. After the death of his father, he went to live with his uncle, and when a young man he came to Blissfield, this county. As early as October 18th, 1830, he purchased of Isaac Randall, a small farm, which, together with school teaching, furnished him employment. While a resi- dent of Blissfield, he became acquainted with Miss Abigail V. Carpenter, daughter of Samuel Carpenter, of Madison, a worthy young lady to whom he was married, August 8th, 1831. By this union three children were born, Samuel C. Dodge being the oldest, born October 21st, 1832. He now resides at Reading, Hillsdale county. Mrs. Dodge died September 15th, 1837. June 20th, 1835, he purchased of John S. Older, the e. } of the n. w.5} of the n. w. 4 of section 20 in the town of Madison, where he resi- ded until November 14th, 1836, when he sold his farm to Seth P. Benson. The farm is now owned by the Hon. Thomas F. Moore. On the 21st day of the same month, he purchased of Job S. Com- stock, the property on the corner of Main street and Dodge's alley,
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Adrian. Mr. Dodge was married the second time, May [28th, 1838, to Miss Melinda King, by whom five children were born. She died December 13th, 1849, leaving the Doctor with a large family of children, adding much to his many cares. January 2d, 1850, he married for his third wife, Mrs. Lucinda King, by whom four children were born. Upon his last wife devolved the res- ponsible cares of raising this large family of children, and by the valuable advice and assistance of a kind husband, she performed her part well. A large and worthy family has been cared for, educated, and is now respected by all who have the pleasure of its acquaintance. In the summer of 1859, the Doctor rented his homestead in Adrian, and became a resident of Reading, Hillsdale county, where he lived for about four years, when he returned to Adrian and again occupied his old home on Main street. If we are not mistaken, the Doctor practiced his profession more or less for over forty years, and by many, his kind care and goodness of heart will long be remembered. Dr. Dodge did not succeed in amassing a large fortune, but he did succeed in leaving to his family a name untarnished. Being one of the earliest pioneers of the county, he took an active part in the organization of the Lena- wee County Pioneer Society, and was elected its first treasurer, at the same time that Dr. D. K. Underwood was elected president and Wm. A. Whitney secretary. Dr. Underwood was first called to his last resting place, and Dr. Dodge soon followed. He died at his residence in Adrian on Monday afternoon, May 28th, 1877, in the 71st year of his age, and was buried in Oakwood cemetery, on the 30th of the same month.
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ON. ELIHU L. CLARK was born in Walworth, Ontario (now Wayne) county, New York, July 18th, 1811. His father, Barzillai Clark, was born at Hudson, Columbia county, New York, July 31st 1780. In the year 1807 he came to Ontario county, where he purchased a farm. April 24th, 1808, he married Miss Patience Leach, daughter of Levi and Patience Leach, of Monmouth, New Jersey. By this marriage two sons were born, as follows : Elihu L. and John R. In the year 1836 he moved, with his family, to Adrian, Michigan, where he died, November 12th, 1847. His wife, Mrs. Patience Clark, was born in Monmouth, February 19th, 1789. Her father was a business man, being engaged in the lumber trade. He died about the year
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1800, when her mother, with a large family, moved to Ontario county, New York, and purchased land. After the death of Bar- zillai Clark, his wife resided with her son, John R., until her death, which took place in Adrian, Michigan, January 26th, 1878. She was a most estimable woman, and will long be remembered by the early settlers. Elihu L. Clark, the subject of this sketch, at the age of nineteen, commenced business as a clerk in a dry goods store, at Palmyra, New York, which he continued until the vear 1832, when he commenced business there for himself, continuing the same until the year 1835, when he sold out to a Mr. Jackson, for one thousand dollars, and immediately went to New York, and invested all his means in goods, and shipped them to Adrian, where he opened a small store, on Main street, selling goods exclu- sively for cash. From about the year 1838 to 1842, he invested considerable means in the purchase of what was then called State warrants, and State scrip, which he bought at a discount, thereby making quite a profitable investment, as he soon after realized par value for the same. He continued the dry goods trade until about the year 1847, when he sold out to his brother, John R. Clark. From that time until the present date, he has been engaged in loan- ing money. Mr. Clark was married to Miss Isabella T. Bean, September 11th, 1834, in Walworth, Wayne county, New York. By this marriage six children have been born, as follows : Dewitt C., born November 22d, 1837, married, in the year 1866, Miss Lucia Paine, of Rome. He now lives in Manden. Dakota Terri- tory ; Emily Jane, born August 22d, 1839, died August 19th, 1840; Cassius A., born August 11th, 1844. In the late war he enlisted in the 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Wilcox, in the first call for three months men. He was in the first battle of Bull Run, served his time, was honorably discharged, and return- ed home. Two years afterwards he enlisted in the 17th Michigan Infantry, and served in the Army of the Potomac. Soon after the battle of the Wilderness, he was taken sick at City Point, and was brought to Alexandria, where he died of typhoid fever. He was buried in the National cemetery, near Alexandria ; Elihu L., Jr., born April 25th, 1846, graduated at Yale College, and married Miss Margaret Davidson, of New Rochelle, New York, October 13th, 1874, and they now reside in Adrian ; Isabella M., born March 20th, 1849, married, March 28th, 1870, William J. Cocker, at that time a teacher in the public schools of Adrian, and who is now superintendent of the same. Mrs. Isabella Clark, wife of E. L. Clark, was born in New Sharon, Somerset county, Maine, June 30th, 1810. Her father, Samuel Bean, moved from that State to New York, and settled in Palmyra, now Macedon, Wayne
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