USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > History and biographical record of Lenawee County, Michigan, Volume II > Part 32
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
born April 1, 1848, died March 17, 1849; Ellah Adell, born August 1, 1851, now the wife of Edgar Dalton, a farmer of Mad- ison; Cora Isabella, born January 29, 1859, at home. Mrs. Lucretia Cross was born in Ashfield, Mass., February 24, 1819. Her father was a native of Connecticut, and her mother was born in Ashfield, Mass. Her father died in 1861, in his seventy-third year. Her mother came to Michigan in her eighty-sixth year to visit her children, and remained about one year. She returned to her home in Massachusetts, where nearly two years after she fell and broke her hip, which caused her death in her eighty-eighth year.
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LBERT SOUTHWORTH was born in Edmeston, Otse- go county, N. Y., January 17, 1818. His father, Joseph Southworth, was born in Mansfield, Tolland county, Conn., January 30, 1788, but moved with his parents, Joseph and Lydia Southworth, to Edmeston, Otsego county, N. Y., when he was young, and where his parents died. He was brought up a farmer, owned a farm in Otsego county, and resided there until 1832. In the spring of 1831 he came to Michigan, and purchased of John Pennington, 160 acres of land on section 17, in Raisin. He then returned to Otsego county, sold his farm there, moved his family to Michigan and settled on his land in Raisin, in the spring of 1832. There was a log house, and a small improvement had been made. His nearest neighbor north was Mr. Derbyshire, over a mile distant, and on the south was Darius Comstock, one mile and a half distant. That fall he sowed a few acres of wheat which vielded a good crop the following summer, and furnished food for the family, which otherwise must have suffered. He cleared up the entire 160 acres, and afterward purchased 160 more adjoining, and cleared up the most of it. This excellent tract of land now consists of four good farms. He also owned a farm on section 18, in Raisin. He was one of the organizers of the town of Raisin, and was elected one of the first assessors. He was one of the active men in the township for many years, and did his share in establishing schools, churches and society. He was social and genial, a good neighbor and kind friend. He was a man of strong
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character and strict integrity, sagacious, prompt and ambitious. He was a life-long Democrat, and assisted in organizing the party in this county, after Michigan was admitted into the Union. Oc- tober 18, 1810, Joseph South worth married Hannah White, daugh- ter of Low White, of Sherburne, Chenango county, N. Y., by whom he had six children, Albert being the second son and third child. Mrs. Hannah Southworth was born in Orwell, Vt., May 23, 1785, and died in Raisin, this county, September 13, 1849. Joseph Southworth died in Raisin, September 24, 1873. Albert Southworth came to Michigan with his parents in 1832, and was brought up a farmer. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, and assisted his father in clearing up his farm. In 1843 he went to Galena, Ill, and operated in the lead mines of that locality for three years, and in 1848 he was married, and pur- chased a part of the old homestead in Raisin, where he now resides. September 12, 1848, Albert Southworth married Antoinett South- worth, daughter of Harvey and Elsie Southworth, of Pittsford, Hillsdale county, by whom he has had eight children, as follows : Maria Antoinett, born August 11, 1849, died at the age of one year; Lydia L., born October 4, 1852, now the wife of William Montague, of Raisin; Lunetta C., born December 11, 1854; Al- bert J., born December 20, 1856, died at the age of two years; Herbert W., born February 22, 1859; Kate L., born May 4, 1862; Arthur W., born September 19, 1863; Alexander P., born April 4, 1869. Mrs. Antoinett Southworth was born in Spring- field, Erie county, Penn., December 5, 1831, came to Michigan with her parents in 1837, and settled in Pittsford, Hillsdale county.
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E DSON WALKER was born in Dummerston, Windham county, Vt., October 27, 1813. His father, Daniel Walker, was born in the same place, July 11, 1783, and was the son of Jonas Walker. It is not definitely known, in regard to ances- tors, although much time has been spent in ascertaining, but it is said that three brothers named Walker, came from England, and settled in Massachusetts, and this family springs from one of them. Daniel Walker, in his early days, learned the shoemaker's trade, but after he married he turned his attention to farming, owned a farm in Dummerston, and carried it on until he was too aged to
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
look after it, when he sold it to one of his sons, and went to live with his daughter, Harriet Bennett, in Putney, Vt., where he died in June, 1874. About the year 1806, Daniel Walker mar- ried Mary Stockwell, of Dummerston, Vt., by whom he had ten children, Edson being. the fourth child and third son. Mrs. Mary Walker was born in Dummerston, December 9, 1787, and died there in October, 1847. Her parents came from the old Massachu- setts Puritan stock, and were sturdy, honest people. Edson Walk- er called his father's house home, until he was nearly twenty-six years old, was brought up a farmer, was educated in the common schools, and at Brattleborough and Chester academies. He began teaching school winters when he was nineteen, and continued until 1839, when he came to Michigan. He came to Palmyra, this county, where his brother, Joel Walker, then owned a farm. That winter (1839-40) he taught school at Holloway's Corners, in Rai- sin. In 1840 he purchased forty acres of new land on section 14, in Palmyra, and in 1843 he purchased eighty acres more land on section 11, and settled on it, living there ever since. The entire 120 acres was wild land when Mr. Walker purchased it, he cut- ting the first tree, and doing the first work toward improving and subduing it. Since that time he has cleared and pulled the stumps ou 100 acres. He has erected a good frame house, with barns, sheds, etc. In fact, he has lived a life of usefulness and industry, energetically, though quietly prosecuting his business, and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor. He has filled the office of justice of the peace, and has several times served as school inspector. For over twenty years he has been an elder in the Presbyterian church at Palmyra. January 1, 1842, Edson Walker married Betsey Hoxie, daughter of John and Phebe Hoxie, of Palmyra, who died in June, 1842. December 10, 1846, Edson Walker married Maria J. Stewart, daughter of James A. and Mary (Taylor) Stewart, of Adrian, by whom he has had five children, as follows: James S., born in Palmyra, December 17, 1847, was a soldier in the war of the rebellion, served in the Mississippi River navy, and was drowned while on detailed duty, February 14, 1865; Edson G., born same place, October 22, 1849; has served as county superin- tendent of schools, and is now a professor in Adrian College; Mary L., born same place, October 19, 1851, at home; Pliny Fisk, born same place, October 9, 1855, died March 14, 1873; Mattie J., born same place, January 7, 1864, at home. Mrs. Maria J. Walker was born in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa., July 4, 1827, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1845. Her father first stopped in Monroe, where he lived one year, but in 1846 he came to Adrian, where he lived until his death, which occurred July
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17, 1880. He was a machinist by trade, but was superintendent of a cotton factory in Pittsburgh for a number of years, and after- ward owned and carried on a woolen factory in Liverpool, Ohio. He was for many years a member of the Presbyterian church, was sincere, earnest and thorough in all endeavors, exemplary in all things, and was much respected by all who . knew him. He was born in Cannonsburgh, Pa., July 13, 1794. In 1824 he married Mary (Taylor) Stokes, of Beaver, Pa., by whom he had seven chil- dren, five daughters and two sons, Mrs. Walker being the third child and second daughter. Mrs. Mary (Taylor) Stewart was born in Beaver, Pa., April 13, 1801, and died in Adrian, August 17, 1847.
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OHN McCONNELL was born in Caskum, County Down, Ireland, July 16, 1808. His father, David McConnell, was a native of the same county, and for many years was employed in a linen-bleaching establishment. He inherited a small farm from his father, John McConnell, who was a well-to-do farmer and linen dealer. The ancestors of the McConnells were Scotch, and went to Ireland during the religions persecutions. David McConnell lived in Ireland, where he followed farming until 1825, when he came to America, sailing from Warren's Point in the ship "Brisk," and after a long voyage landed in Quebec, August 19th. He went to Kingston, where he resided about five years, when he removed to Rochester, N. Y., where he died July 3, 1832. He married Esther McClelland, daughter of Archibald and Elizabeth (Hathaway) McClelland, of Loughbrickland, County Down, Ireland, by whom he had five sons, John being the oldest. Mrs. Esther McConnell was born in Loughbrickland, and died in Kingston, Canada, in October, 1828. John McConnell, the sub- ject of this sketch, came to America with his parents in 1825, and settled in Rochester, N. Y., in September. He immediately found employment in S. S. Olcott & Co.'s cotton factory, where he remained until May, 1833. He saw Sam Patch make his wonder- ful leap over the Genesee Falls. In 1830 Mr. McConnell returned to his old home in Ireland, and after remaining there several months came back to Rochester. In May, 1833, he came to Mich- igan, and settled in Brighton, Livingston county, where he located 160 acres of government land. After a residence there of nearly
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
five years, making some improvements, he eame to the eonelusion that he would not make a successful farmer, sold out in March, 1838, came to Lenawee county, and settled in Tecumseh village, where he has resided ever since. In 1839 he commeneed as sexton of the old cemetery in the southeast portion of the village, and has acted in that capacity ever since. When the new cemetery was opened in the northwestern portion of the village he was regularly appointed. sexton. The first grave was dug in the new ground August 13, 1853, for Volentine Ream, who died the day previous. In November, 1840, Mr. MeConnell was appointed sexton of the First Presbyterian ehureh, soon after its dedieation, a position which he has held ever since. He was sexton of the First Pres- byterian church of Rochester, N. Y., for three years, commeneing in 1827. Since his residenee in Tecumseh he has served as eon- stable, and was deputy sheriff under J. R. Bennett for two years. October 17, 1832, John MeConnell married Elizabeth Richard, daughter of Archibald and Jane Richard, then of Geneseo, Liv- ingston county, N. Y., by whom he has had nine children, as fol- lows: Richard L., born in Brighton, Livingston county, Mich., July 30, 1833, a resident of Tecumseh; Mary E., born same place, November 26, 1834, was the wife of Webster Anderson, of Tecumseh, and died March 16, 1880; Sarah. B., born same place, July 16, 1836, now the wife of John Conklin, of Raisin; Jane Ann, born in Tecumseh, Mareh 29, 1838, matron of the Protestant Orphan Home, Toledo, Ohio; Emma I., born same place, May 22, 1842, now the wife of Charles Bidwell, of Tecumseh; Delia E., born same place, March 26, 1844, now the wife of Edward Hoag, of Newton, Kan .; Charles H., born same place, December 27, 1846, a resident of Teeumseh; William M., born same place, December 18, 1849, a farmer of Harvey county, Kan .; Margaret P., born same place, June 28, 1851, at home. Mrs. Elizabeth McConnell was born at Fleming Hall, Antrim county, Ireland, May 10, 1806. [For her family relation see William Richard's record, in volume 1 of this work. ]
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ILLIAM WOOD was born in Onondaga, N. Y., June 21, 1826. His father, Leander Wood, was born in the same place, June 22, 1804, where he lived until after he was married. He then moved to Barre, Orleans county, where he
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purchased a farm and lived until the fall of 1833, when he came to Michigan and settled on section 13, in Rome. He located eighty acres of land from the government, and afterward purchased eighty acres adjoining of Martin Cure, his brother-in-law. He subsequently added to his farm until he owned 220 acres of land in one body. He cleared, fenced and improved about 160 acres, and built good buildings. He resided on his farm until 1859, when he purchased a house in the city of Adrian, where he resided until his death, which occurred September 10, 1863. Previous to his death he sold a part of his farm to William, the balance being willed to his heirs. He took an active interest in the early settlement of the county, and was ever ready to assist the new comer with mate- rial aid, as well as helping him to locate land and get a start. He was a good neighbor, a kind friend, a moral, energetic, and much respected citizen. September 25, 1825, Leander Wood married Maria Cure, daughter of Martin Cure, by whom he had ten chil- dren, William being the oldest. Mrs. Maria Wood was born in Saratoga county, October 4, 1806, and died in Rome, in January, 1851. Her ancestors came from Germany, and were among the early settlers of the city of New York. William Wood came to Michigan with his parents when he was eight years old, and has lived inRome, this county, ever since. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, and has always followed farming. He was married soon after he was twenty-one, and in the spring of 1848 he moved on forty acres of land on section 13, in Rome, which his father had given him, and where he now resides. Since that time he has added to his farm until he now owns 150 acres of highly productive land. He has erected a good frame house, with large barns, etc., with good orchard and all necessary conveniences. October 14, 1847, William Wood married Adeline Decker, daugh- ter of Uri and Experience Decker, of Adrian township, by whom he has had four children, as follows: Elizabeth J., born in Rome, March 15, 1849, now the wife of Hawley Smith, a farmer of Adrian; Alfred H., born September 24, 1850, died at the age of one year; William H., born September 24, 1854, a farmer of . Rome; Clark L., born June 30, 1864, at home. Mrs. Adeline Wood was born in Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y., April 12, 1830, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1833, and settled on section 7, in Adrian, where they now reside. Her father was born June 21, 1805. In 1829 Uri Decker married Experience Baker, daughter of Joseph and Sally (Cruthers) Baker, by whom he had ten children, Mrs. Adeline Wood being the oldest. Mrs. Experience Decker was born in Ontario county, N. Y., March 8, 1807. Her father came from Vermont, and was one of the early settlers of Ontario county, N. Y., as well as Lenawee county.
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ILLIAM T. THORP was born in London, England, February 9, 1826. He is the son of Thomas and Rachel (Edmondson) Thorp. Thomas Thorp was a tailor by trade, and carried on business in London for some years. He died there in 1828. After his death, . Mrs. Thorp, with her two chil- dren, William T. and Mary Jane, went to the city of Leeds, where she carried on the millinery and dress making business for several years. William lived with his mother until he was sixteen years old, when he came to America in company with Rev. John Smith and wife, who came directly to Michigan, and settled in Cambridge. Mrs. Thorp resided in Leeds until 1850, when William sent for his mother to come to this country. She came directly to this county, and lived in Franklin until about 1868, when she died, in her 65th year. Joseph Edmondson, who was then a resident of the present town of Ridgeway, was his uncle, and William went to live with him. Mr. Edmondson was one of the first settlers of Ridgeway, and was one of the first Englishmen to settle there, but soon after, many others came in and formed a large English settle- ment. Mr. Edmondson took up quite a large tract of land, and was of great assistance to his English friends who settled about him. William T. Thorp lived with his uncle in Ridgeway for about four years. He then worked by the month for some time, attended the Albion College for one year, and in 1850 he pur- chased a farm on section 19, in Franklin. This farm was nearly new, and Mr. Thorp cleared it up, put up good buildings, and has added to his first purchase until he has 100 acres. He resided there until January, 1876, when he went to Tecumseh village, where he owns a homestead on Kilbuck street, of seven acres. He still owns his farm in Franklin. August 2, 1852, Willian T. Thorp married Ennice Stewart, of Franklin, by whom he had four children, as follows: Mary Jane, born in Franklin, June 19, 1853, now the wife of Frank Cutler, of Raisin; Harriet A., born same place, October 11, 1854; Thomas W., born same place, Octo- ber 26, 1860; George W., born same place, July 4, 1866. Mrs. Eunice Thorp was born in Dansville, Livingston county, N. Y., in 1828, and came to Michigan with her parents about 1842. . She died in Franklin, in March, 1870. April 24, 1871, William T. Thorp married Mrs. Mary M. Ball, widow of Martin Ball, and daughter of Asa and Rebecca. Hill, of Adrian township. Mrs. Mary M. Thorp was born in Ridgeway, Orleans county, N. Y., December 18, 1832, came to Michigan with her parents in 1836, and settled on section 2, in Adrian, this county. Asa Hill was born in Adams, Mass., December 25, 1794, and died August 25, 1875. In 1822 he married Rebecca Wilson, daughter of Timothy
(40)
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and Mary (Card) Wilson, by whom he had six children; Mrs. Thorp was the fifth child and second daughter. Mrs. Rebecca Hill was born in Massachusetts, March 26, 1799, and died in Adrian, in November, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were among the very early settlers of the county, and were respected as pioneers, neighbors and friends, by all who knew them. Mrs. Thorp is the mother of three children by her first marriage, as follows: Ara- bell Ball, born in Ionia, Mich., July 31, 1860, now the wife of Charles Tyson, of Madison, this county; Frank Ball, born in Adrian, October 4, 1854, now a farmer of Ronald, Ionia county, Mich .; Eudora, born in Adrian, February 4, 1853, now the wife of Augustus Clarkston, of Adrian city. Martin Ball was born in Ovid, Seneca county, N. Y., December 21, 1828, died in Ronald, Ionia county, Mich., November 23, 1862. He came to Michigan with his parents, Jonathan and Julia (Tingley) Ball, who were among the first settlers in Adrian township. They afterward settled in Rollin.
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R. NELSON H. KIMBALL was born in Martinsburg, Lewis county, N. Y., September 10, 1820. His parents were natives of Rhode Island, and died when Nelson H. was but two and a half years old. He was adopted by Arba Jones, of Martinsburg, N. Y., who came to Michigan in 1837, and settled in Seneca, this county. In 1839 Nelson H. Kimball went to Tecumseh and learned the carpenter's trade with Charles Van Val- kenberg. In the spring of 1840 he went to Galena, Ill. He re- mained in Galena three years working at his trade, when he returned to Adrian and worked at carpentering with James Berry until 1847, when in the fall he commenced the study of medicine with Drs. Spalding and Barnard. He continued his studies and graduated at the Cleveland Medical college in the spring of 1850. Since that time he has enjoyed a very successful practice in Adrian. The Doctor has been a close student of his profession, with quiet, unassuming ways. He served as alderman from the Second ward of Adrian for four years, and during that period acted as chairman of the committees on sewers, paving, gas and fire depart- ment. He was subsequently elected mayor of Adrian for two
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
terms, his administration giving general satisfaction. He has also served as chairman of the board of health of Adrian. He was surgeon for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad company from 1862 until 1879, when the company suspended all surgical assistance at its expense. He was city physician of Adrian for two years. He was a member of the old Adrian Guards from 1845 until 1861, when the company was disbanded. May 14, 1850, he married Abbie J. Jones, daughter of Samuel and Lydia Jones, of Adrian. There have been no children by this marriage. Mrs. Abbie J. Kimball was born in De Ruyter, Madi- son county, N. Y., September 6, 1827. She came to Michigan with her parents in 1840, and settled in Adrian. She is a sister of John F. Jones, of Adrian.
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OHN H. BATES was born in Hartland, Niagara county, N. Y., July 31, 1816. He lived there with his parents on a farm until he was eighteen years old, and in the spring of 1834 his father, having sold out, came to Michigan and settled on section 29, in Rome. John H. lived with his father until he was married, when the farm was divided between the three brothers, John H., Perry W. and James C., and in the final settlement John H. got the west one half of the southeast one quarter of section 29, where he now resides. Since that time John H. has erected a good frame house, sheds, stables, etc., and has one of the finest orchards in the township. It was about the 9th of May that John H., in company with Ezra Bertram, walked into Adrian from Monroe. John H. was in search of his parents, who had come through Canada. His father started from his home in New York in Feb- ruary, on foot and alone, with a pack on his back, and walked all the way through Canada. He came on ahead for the purpose of locating land and getting ready for his family, who followed him with teams through Canada, with the exception of John H., who came up the lake with the household goods. At that time there was only one road cut through the township of Rome, which is the ', one now known as the Territorial road, which had then been "bushed out" from Adrian through to the Chicago turnpike. The family came over the Chicago turnpike from Detroit to the
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junction of the Territorial road, at a place then known as Millspaugh's, and from there they came east through the woods and bushes, until they found a vacant log shanty, which stood about three miles north of where Mr. Bates had located his land. John H. finally found his parents by diligent search and inquiry, and the next work to be done was to cut a road through to the land three miles distant. This was finally accomplished, and after some time a good log house was erected and some corn planted. About the 10th of May a heavy frost killed all the leaves on the beech trees. The trees afterward partially leaved out, but the leaves only grew about half the usual size. The woods were alive with squirrels that year, and it was almost impossible for the set- tlers to secure their corn from their ravages. The country was filled with all kinds of game, bear, deer, wolves, and turkey being abundant. John H. at that time being young, was very fond of hunting, and for several years, especially in the winter, he spent most of his time in the woods. He supplied his own family and many of the settlers with meat, and made considerable money from the peltry. He never shot but one bear, but his mother kept an accurate account of the number of deer he killed, until the number reached over one thousand, and he says he has not the least doubt but what the total number would amount to over fifteen hundred. He never kept any account of the number of turkeys he killed, but there were thousands of them, and they could be had at any time. He never killed a wolf. The first hog he owned was killed by a bear, but that day a "dead-fall" was set for the bear, and the next morning the old fellow was found dead in the trap. He lived on the farm and assisted in clearing it up and im- proving it until September, 1851, when he went to California, tak- ing the Panama route. He was absent two years and eight months, and since that time has lived in Rome. He has always been an active man in the township, and has always taken a lively interest in schools and politics. He was brought up a Jeffersonian Democrat, and says his faith in that doctrine is firmer to-day than ever. He has held several minor offices in his township, but is averse to office-holding, and prefers rather to work for the election of others than himself. November 13, 1842, John H. Bates was married to Eliza H. Stockwell, daughter of Curtis W. and Therina Stockwell, by whom he has had five children, as follows: Althera, born November 23, 1843, now the wife of Theodore Mullenix, of Rome; Susan, born April 28, 1848, was the wife of Danford Meyers, now divorced; Almond W., born February 24, 1851, at home; Ellestine L., born June 30, 1855, now the wife of George O. Bostwick, of Rome; Ida P., born December 4, 1858, now the
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