USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > History and biographical record of Lenawee County, Michigan, Volume I > Part 9
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ON. ADDISON J. COMSTOCK, son of Darius and Phebe Comstock, was born in Palmyra, Wayne county, New York, October 17th, 1802. He received a good busi- ness education, and about the year 1820 he moved with his parents to Lockport, Niagara county, and for several years spent his time in his father's office, who had the contract for building the locks of
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the Erie canal at that place. In the fall of 1825, in company with his father, he came to the Territory of Michigan, and purchased of the Government six hundred and forty acres of land in Lenawee county, in what was then called Logan, now Adrian. On part of that purchase the city of Adrian now stands. Mr. Comstock returned to the State of New York, and on February 14th, 1826, he was married, in the town of Phelps, Wayne county, New York, to Miss Sarah S. Deane, daughter of Isaac Deane, and soon after started for their new wilderness home, arriving there in July of the same year. They first stopped with his father, who had, in the mean time, located at what was then known, or had been christened by the old gentleman, " Pleasant Valley," now called Raisin Valley, on the grounds where the Raisin Valley school or seminary now stands. He immediately commenced building a saw-mill on his new purchase, in Logan, now Adrian, on grounds just below where the Mineral Springs Hotel is now located, which was in running order in November following. The same year he erected a log house, which was the first house built in the now city limits. The house was built for his hired man, John Gifford, and was situated directly in front of the Gibson House, and about the center of Maumee street, which was after- wards located. The house was occupied first by Mr. Gifford and his family, on the 10th day of August, 1826, and a few days later, August 15th, Mr. Comstock, with his young wife, occupied their new house, situated in the beautiful oak grove, on the bank of the River Raisin, on the same grounds now owned and occupied by Mr. Joseph C. Jones, on the south side of Maumee street. On the 31st of March, 1828, Mr. Comstock laid out and platted the village of Adrian, and the same was recorded in the register's office, on Tuesday, the 1st day of April, the same year. The village was named by Mrs. Comstock, after the Roman Emperor. The plat contained forty-nine lots, which was believed to be quite sufficient for all coming time. On the 28th day of May he was chosen town clerk of Logan, which was the first election held in the town. His first child, Leander Comstock, was born August 9th, 1827, and died on the 8th of the following October, which was the first birth and death in the town. At the first celebration of the 4th of July, 1828, Mr. Comstock read the Declaration of Independence to all the people of the neighborhood, consisting of nearly or about forty persons, young and old. In the year 1829 he was appointed first postmaster of Adrian, his first quarter's receipts being nineteen cents. He held the office for several terms, at the same time holding the office of town clerk. In the year 1829 he, in company with his father-in-law, Isaac Deane, built the
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red grist mill now owned by Elder William Benson: Mr. Comstock was the leading spirit in the long and bitter controversy on the removal of the county seat from Tecumseh to Adrian, which lasted for several years, and finally was decided, in the year 1835, in favor of Adrian. In the year 1832 he and his father projected the Erie and Kalamazoo railroad from Toledo to Adrian, which, after years of toil, participated in by a few others, was completed in the year 1836 to Adrian, a distance of thirty-three miles, through what was considered at that time an almost impass- able swamp, opening a market direct with Lake Erie and the east. This was one of the most remarkable enterprises and successes of his whole life. He held the office of secretary and treasurer during the time of its construction, and for one year thereafter. In the year 1837 he represented Lenawee county in the Territorial Legislature. About this time immigration was rapidly pouring into the county and Mr. Comstock was most active in selling village property, which he had further laid out, on the most favorable terms, to all who desired to locate in the embryo city. In all the enterprises of building roads, bridges, and mills, and they were many, he was the first to lead. This same year, 1836, the Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad Bank was organized by some eastern parties, in which Mr. Comstock took of the stock. In the year 1837 he started the Bank of Adrian, which proved a bad invest- ment. In 1848 he was elected president of the Adrian and Bean Creek plank road company, which was completed to the Chicago turnpike the following year. In 1850 he was elected a member to revise the State Constitution, and in 1853 he was elected mayor of Adrian, being the first mayor of the city elected by the people. About this year he, in company with others, purchased the old suspended Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad Bank charter of Governor Washington Hunt, of New York, and revived that institution which, through questionable management of those connected with him, failed, leaving the responsibility of its liabilities mostly upon Mr. Comstock, and which was almost the financial ruination of him. Mr. Comstock had before met with many losses and reverses, but this one came well nigh proving his utter ruin and causing him more trouble and anxiety than all his other business through life. From that time forward he almost wholly retired from the active business of life, except to extricate himself from the dilemma which had been so unjustly brought upon him by others, and was in a fair way of so doing when death came to his relief, dying suddenly on Sunday, January 20th, 1867, at his home in Adrian, after attending the M. E. church in the morning, of which he had been a prominent member for many years. A
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public meeting was called at the council room to take measures to express the deep sentiment of regret for the sudden bereavement; when on motion of Henry Hart, Doctor P. J. Spalding was called to the chair and William A. Whitney was elected secretary. A committee of three, consisting of Henry Hart, F. R. Stebbins and T. P. Thompson, was selected, who reported a series of resolutions highly eulogistic of the character, life and services of the departed friend and neighbor. The common council held a special meeting and unanimously passed similar resolutions. The funeral took place at the M. E. church, on Wednesday following, and long before the time appointed for the services to commence, the citizens in large numbers were in attendance to pay their respects to a man esteemed by all. The funeral services were conducted by the Reverend B. F. Cocker, assisted by Reverend F. A. Blades. The sermon was most eloquent, and was listened to by the large congregation with great attention. His remains were taken to Oakwood cemetery and buried in the family burial place. Mr. Comstock was the father of eight children: Leander, the eldest, died in infancy; Helen M., died at the age of ten years; Isaac D. and Charles H., are still living in Adrian, conducting a large manufacturing establishment; Darius E., was judge of the Ninth judicial circuit of Michigan, died February 3d, 1875; James Watson, died at the age of eleven months; Addison J., attorney at law and youngest son, resides at Charlotte, Eaton county, Michigan; Sarah E., is the wife of Doctor J. W. Kirtland, and resides at Lake View, Montcalm county. The widow of Mr. Comstock died November 10th, 1872, and was buried beside her husband.
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UMNER F. SPOFFORD was born in Jeffrey, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, May 11th, 1808. His father, Abner Spofford, was born in New Hampshire, about the year 1779, and lived in Jeffrey until 1818, when he removed to Lyme, Jefferson county, New York. He lived there until the summer of 1824, when he emigrated to Michigan with his family, and arrived in Tecumseh about the 20th of July that year. The same year he took up eighty acres of land, now known as the Patterson farm, adjoining the village. He was a blacksmith by
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trade and opened the second blacksmith shop in the county, Turner Stetson opening the first. About the year 1826 he purchased a "mill privilege" of Ezra Blood, and erected a saw- mill, and in 1828 he built a grist-mill at the same place, with a blacksmith shop attached. He carried on these mills until about 1838, when he sold to his son, Samuel Litch Spofford and Eliphalet Wood, and removed to Racine county, Wisconsin, where he was killed by a horse while driving, in 1861. About the year 1800 he married Miss Betsey Litch, of Jeffrey, New Hampshire, by whom he had nine children, Sumner F. being the third child and second son. Mrs. Betsey Spofford was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1772, and died in Tecumseh, January 28th, 1834. In 1835 he married Miss Sally Morey, of Maumee, Ohio, daughter of John and Louisa Morev, by whom he had four children. Mrs. Sally Spofford died in Wisconisn about five years after the death of her husband. Sumner F. Spofford lived with his father until he was twenty-one and was brought up a farmer. He came to Tecumseh, with his parents, in July 1824, and did most of the work in clearing up and improving the farm. In the spring of 1829 he commenced work for Theodore Bissell, on his farm, and stayed there during that summer. In the spring of 1830 he drove the first stage that ever went west of Tecumseh. The route was established by Horace Walcott as an independent line between Tecumseh and White Pigeon. The winter of 1824-5 was a very mild one, and January 1st he assisted in breaking up the then new ground where Doctor Patterson's residence now stands in Tecumseh. In 1834 he purchased of Daniel Pitman, sixty acres of the land originally taken up by his father, where he lived until 1837, when he sold it to Doctor M. A. Patterson. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of new land of his father, on the east side of the river in the town of Raisin. He made great improvements here, building a new house and barn, with stone cellars, besides about four miles of new fence, &c. He lived on this farm until the fall of 1840, when he rented it for two years and moved into Tecumseh village, on account of the continued illness of his wife. In 1842 he sold his farm to Peter R. Adams, who still owns it. In the spring of 1841 he was elected constable of Tecumseh, and during the following twelve years he held the offices of deputy sheriff, under sheriff, sheriff and deputy United States marshal of Lenawee county. In 1843 he moved to Adrian. In 1851 he became conductor on the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana railroad, between Toledo and Chicago, which position he held until 1855. In September, 1855, be moved to Des Moines, Iowa, and on the 10th of October
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following, he purchased an undivided half interest in the "De Moine House," for which he paid $7,500. The following 10th of June he purchased the other half, paying $9,500, and continued to run the hotel until 1862. He then rented the property for a number of years, and is still the owner of it. During his residence in Des Moines he has held many offices of trust and honor, being elected mayor of the city in the spring of 1864. He was one of the directors of the State agricultural society for twelve years, and afterwards served as vice-president two years, and president of the same society for 1877-8. He was director and treasurer of the city school board for six years. He was commissioned by Governor Samuel Merrill, April 1st, 1870, a member of the Iowa Immigration Society, and was, in 1872, re- commissioned by Governor Carpenter. He was commissioned by Governor Carpenter a member of the Iowa Centennial Board of Commissioners, and served on the executive committee of both boards. He was for many years a director of the Citizens National Bank of Des Moines. April 20th, 1836, he married Miss Emeline E. Bixby, daughter of David and Laura Bixby, of Adrian, Michigan, by whom he had three children, one son and two daughters, as follows: Charles S., born in Tecumseh, Michigan, October 10th, 1837, died at Des Moines, Iowa, January 16th, 1872. Ellen Eliza, born in Adrian, May 14th, 1845, and died August 30th, 1845. Laura E., born in Adrian, December 5th, 1847, and died August 25th, 1849. Mrs. Emeline E. Spofford was born in Middlebury, Massachusetts, November 15th, 1814, and died at Des Moines, Iowa, July 17th, 1878. [For her family relation see David Bixby's record.]
- OHN J. ADAM was born in the city of Paisley, Scotland, October 30th, 1807. His father, Robert Adam, was a builder and lumber dealer of Paisley, for many years, and was a descendant of the celebrated Adam family of Edinburg. This family produced members of Parliament, noted classical and literary men, architects, etc., and can be traced back to about 1600. John J. Adam, the subject of this sketch, only remembers his father as he saw him, when a child about two years old, upon his death bed. His mother was a Miss Mary Crichton, a native of
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Dumfries-shire, Scotland, and was married about 1804 to Robert Adam. About the year 1812 Mrs. Adam left Paisley and went to Dumfries-shire, in Closeburn Parish, for the purpose of educating her children-two sons-(Thomas C. Adam, now Doctor T. C. Adam, of Clinton, this county, and John J., of this sketch) at the celebrated Wallace Hall Academy, of that Parish. Mrs. Adam remained in Dumfries-shire about six or seven years, when she removed to Stewarton, near Glasgow, where both her sons were students of the University of Glasgow, and were graduates of that institution. About two years ago John J. Adam presented his diploma from that institution, as Master of Arts, to the University of Michigan. July 4th, 1826, John J. Adam sailed from Glasgow, in a brig of less than one hundred and fifty tons burden, and landed in Baltimore, Maryland, forty-six days afterwards, having been forty-two days out of sight of land. His first employment in this country was that of teacher of languages and mathematics, in Meadeville Academy in Western Pennsylvania. In 1826-7 General George W. Cullum, of the U. S. A. was a student under Mr. Adam in this academy, and went from there to West Point. During the summer of 1827 his elder brother, Thomas C. came to this county, but it was necessary that one should return that year to settle with their guardian, as John J. was but about eighteen years old when he left Scotland. It fell to the lot of John J. to return, which he did, but came back to this county the following year, leaving his brother, who also returned to Scotland in the meantime, to make the final settlement with their guardian. Upon his return he commenced the study of medicine in Canton, Ohio, subsequently going to Cincinnati for the purpose of attending lectures, but soon afterwards, through the solicitation of some friends, became connected with the Republican Farmer, a weekly paper of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where he remained until the fall of 1831, when he was attacked with the western fever and came to Michigan, arriving at Clinton, Lenawee county, about the first of October, 1831. He took up some land in what is now the town of Franklin, that fall. He also taught the first school that was organized in Clinton and vicinity. The following spring he commenced improving his land and built a log house. In 1832 he was a private in Captain Hixson's company during the Black Hawk war. 1835 he was a lieutenant of a company raised in Franklin for the Toledo war, and was afterwards appointed division paymaster with the rank of major. In 1835 he was elected one of the eight delegates from Lenawee county to the State convention to frame the first State Constitution. During the years 1836-7-8 he was secretary of the State Senate. In 1839 he
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was a member of the House of Representatives of Michigan. In 1840-1 he was a member of the State Senate. In January, 1842, he was elected State Treasurer, which position he held until 1846, when he resigned, at the request of Governor Barry, to accept the the position of Auditor General, to serve out the balance of the official term of Mr. Hammond. In 1846 he was again elected to the Legislature. In 1848, at the request of Governor Ransom, and Digby V. Bell, then Auditor General, he again accepted the office of Auditor General, which office he held until 1851. He lived on his farm until 1853, when he moved his family to Tecumseh village. This year he became connected with the Michigan Southern Railroad, as construction agent for the purpose of finishing the Jackson branch and the Three Rivers roads, subsequently being appointed to the same position for the Air Line road from Toledo, Ohio, to Goshen, Indiana, and also for the Detroit and Toledo road. At the completion of these roads he was appointed Auditor of the company which position he held until his resignation in 1868. In 1871-2 he was again a member of the State House of Representatives. He was one of the first Board of Regents of the University of Michigan, in 1837, and was reappointed the following year, but having succeeded in establishing a branch of the university at Tecumseh, he resigned in favor of Doctor Patterson, who resided there. In August, 1838, he married Armenia Bradley, daughter of Deacon William Bradley, of Franklin, a. pioneer of this county, by whom he had two children : a son, Charles H., born October 31st, 1844, and a daughter, Minnie B., wife of Thomas Adamson, of Tecumseh, born November 25th, 1846. Mrs. Adam was born in Barre, Orleans county, New York, March 7th, 1817, and died in Tecumseh July 8th, 1870. November 5th, 1873, he married Cornelia M., a sister of his first wife. She was born March 8th, 1822, in Barre, Orleans county, New York. She now resides with her husband in Tecumseh.
ILLIAM HOXTER was born in Romulus, Seneca County, New York, January 12th, 1808. His father, Samuel Hoxter, was a farmer of Seneca County. His mother, Miss Aneva Rouse, was also of Seneca County. They had eight children, five sons and three daughters, William being
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the oldest of the family. When William Hoxter was eighteen years old he went to learn the blacksmith trade, and afterwards rented the shop and run it several years. In May, 1836, he came to Adrian, Michigan, and purchased a farm in the town of Rome, of Mrs. Moses Salsbury. He then returned to New York, and in September, of the same year, he came back with his family and settled on his farm, where he lived about four years, when he traded with Daniel Thurston for a farm on the Territorial Road, now known as the " old plank road," seven miles west of Adrian, consisting of 175 acres, ninety-five of which he still owns. About the year 1841 he erected a blacksmith shop at the "forks of the road," nearly opposite his house, and for twenty-five years it was well known as "Hoxter's Blacksmith Shop," and was an old " land-mark" for travelers going west. Besides running this shop and doing work for all the travelers and farners as far west as Coldwater, he cleared up and improved, himself, eighty acres of land. September 2d, 1830, he was married to Miss Janette M. Knowles, daughter of Hezekiah Knowles, of Seneca County, New York. She was born in Old Haddam, Connecticut, April 13th, 1813, and went with her parents to the'State of New York, in 1818. Mr. Knowles came to Michigan and settled in Rome, this county, in 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Hoxter have had seven children, four sons and three daughters, as follows: Hezekiah, a farmer in Dover, this county ; Susan, wife of John H. Todd, of Rollin," this county ; Heman, deceased ; William, deceased ; Elizabeth, wife of Bertram Skeels, of Rome, this county ; Josephine, deceased, and one son, who died an infant. Mr. Hoxter never kept a " tavern," but always kept travelers when they asked for accommodations, and often assisted emigrants through the " beech woods," just west of his house, with his oxen. 'These " beech woods" were between his house and John B. Schureman's, about one mile west. This was a notoriously bad piece of road, and at the present time it is not the best road in the county. When Mr. Hoxter first came in with his family he stayed seven weeks with Amos Beach, who had a log house with one room. At this time there were three families in this house. In the spring of 1869 he left his farm in charge of his son Hezekiah, moved to Adrian and built a house on Madison street, just north of the College, where he still resides. In religion, Mr. and Mrs. Hoxter have always been Episcopal Methodists, having united with the church in Rome in 1839. In politics Mr. Hoxter was originally a Whig, but at the formation of the Republican party he identified himself with it, and has, since that time, acted with that party.
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ELLECK C. BOUGHTON was born in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, June 30, 1796. His father, Nathan Boughton, lived in West Stockbridge and was a miller and farmer of that town. He married Miss Mary Goo, by whom he had four children, Selleck C. being the oldest, who lived with his father until his death, which occurred when Selleck was fourteen years old, when the boy went to live with an uncle. He followed farming and milling until 1822, when he went to Pennsylvania, and settled in Sidney, Delaware Co., on the Susquehanna river, engaging in the mercantile business. He finally entered into a co-partnership with Levi Baxter, and in 1831 they came to Tecumseh and opened a store under the firm name of Baxter and Boughton. They had a large stock of goods and intended to go to Jackson when they left Pennsylvania, but the runners at Detroit told them that Jackson was a very sickly place, and that Tecumseh was a very healthy point, and a much more desirable one to go to. General Brown himself happened to be in Detroit at the time, and he finally convinced them that Tecumseh was just the place to locate in, and they finally decided that Tecumseh, instead of Jackson, should be their destination. There were very few buildings there then, and they could find no place to store their goods, and finally unloaded them in a small building on the hill on the east side of the river, in Brownville, where Mrs. Boughton now lives. For safety, the boys were put on watch over the goods at night. The fleas were so thick that the watch was driven out several times while on duty, and the goods were finally moved across the road, into a building now known as the "General Brown House," which was then a hotel kept by William Hoag, and where they opened their store. Baxter and Boughton purchased of General Brown the old "Red Mill," the first grist mill built in the county, and run it in connection with their other business for several years. In 1835 Baxter and Boughton dissolved partnership, Baxter continu- ing the business. Mr. Boughton then formed a co-partnership with Stephen Fargo, and went to Manchester, Washtenaw county, and opened a store and built a grist mill, when, after three years, Mr. Boughton disposed of his interest to Mr. Fargo, which proved a very unfortunate step. He was postmaster of Tecumseh for several years previous to 1840; he was for many years a Justice of the Peace, and was a civil engineer, and did a large amount of survey- ing for the settlers and land owners ; he was township assessor for many years, and was one of the most prominent and reliable men of the village and township. January 4th, 1824, he married Miss Roana Avery, daughter of John Avery, of Sidney Plains, Delaware county, New York. They had one child, a son, Nathan
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A., who died in his twenty-fifth year, in 1863. Selleck C. Boughton died May 22d, 1856. Mrs. Boughton still resides on the old homestead, in her 79th year, a wonderful representative of a refined and intelligent woman.
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AMES WHITNEY was born in Warwick, Orange county, New York, February 10th, 1783. When about eighteen years of age, he went from his birth place on foot and alone, traveling through what was known as the beech woods, with scarcely a house for forty miles, to Romulus, New York, where he married, November 9th, 1806, Mary Frisbie, daughter of Captain Abel and Rebecca (Hayes) Frisbie. He was drafted for the war of 1812. It being difficult for him to leave home, he furnished a substitute, and in 1813 went west as far as Shelby, Orleans county, New York, where he purchased two hundred acres of land of the Holland Land Company, on which he moved with his family in the spring of 1814. During his residence there he was for many years captain of a military company. He lived in Shelby till the spring of 1828, when he removed to Adrian, Michigan, then a place containing some half dozen buildings. He purchased the south half, and the east half of the north-east quarter of section thirty-four, October 23d, 1827, all of which purchase is at this time within the city limits. He resided in Adrian about five years, having sold his farm to James Wheeler, June 6th, 1833. He then moved to Nottawa, St. Joseph county, and purchased eight hundred acres of land at Sand Lake, where he resided until 1839, and then went to Moulton, Allen county, Ohio, and there died, August 11th, 1851. His wife, Mary Whitney, died August 28, 1851. They are buried in the cemetery at Fort Amanda. Their children were:
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