USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > History and biographical record of Lenawee County, Michigan, Volume II > Part 35
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. :
decided to drive "cross lots" to a road beyond, which they did, letting down three rail fences and one pair of bars. They arrived at the lake just as the carriage team was being unharnessed. Woods' horse was sweating terribly, and Bodwell remarked that the horse was very warm. "Yes," said Wood, "we drove off the road to see a man that owed me." Drew says he always believed Wood to be a man of truth and veracity, and did not dispute his answer. But it all came out in time. On another occasion A. H. Wood and Drew went to Round lake fishing. They stopped with Dr. Bender, who loaned them a coffee-sack to put their fish in. They fastened the sack to the stern of the boat, letting it float in the water for the purpose of keeping the fish fresh, as the day was warm. Their "luck" was good, never before having caught so many and so large fish. As fast as they were caught they were put into the sack, and about 2 o'clock in the afternoon they decided to weigh anchor and go ashore. Proud of the day's sport and anxious to see the game in the sack, Wood hauled it aboard, but his utter astonishment and disgust may be imagined when it was discovered that there was not a single fish in the sack, a large hole in the bottom letting them all escape. It will not do to report all that was said, but Drew says Wood did the most of the talking. This incident furnished more "fun for the boys." Delos Drew lived in Adrian for twenty-five years, and was engaged in several different kinds of business. In 1866 he was agent of the Mer- chant's Union Express at Adrian, and held the position until the company was consolidated with the United States Express company, and the office abolished. In 1869 he went to Grand Rapids, where he resided six years. In January, 1876, he was appointed assistant agent of the Union ticket office in the Grand Pacific hotel, Chicago, and is now the agent in charge. February 22, 1853, Delos Drew married Mary L. Healey, daughter of O. V. and Jane Healey, of Adrian, by whom he has had one son, Delos Fenimore, born in Adrian, November 29, 1856, now in the gen- eral passenger agent's office of the L. S. & M. S. R. R., Chicago.
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AMUEL W. TEMPLE, JR., was born in Sunderland, Ben- nington county, Vt., April 17, 1834. He is the son of San- uel W. and Jane M. Temple, who were born in Bennington county, Vt. Samuel W. Jr. was brought up on a farm, and lived
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with his parents until he was twenty-four years old. He came to Michigan in the spring of 1859, and arrived in Tecumseh, June 15th, where he has resided ever since. Before coming to Michigan he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in Tecumseh for several years. In 1863 he opened a lumber yard in Tecumseh, which he carried on successfully. He was the first man to embark in the lumber business in Tecumseh. Although he had but a very small capital to start with, he so managed his affairs that in a short time he became recognized as a business man, running one of the important and indispensable branches of trade in all places of any importance. His first year's sales only amounted to about $2,000, but by industry and close application to business and a manifest desire and disposition to meet the demands and supply the wants of all classes, he was not long in building up a very large and prosperous business. In the spring of 1873 he took into the business as partner Andrew J. Hunter, and with renewed energies the firm prosecuted the business, Mr. Hunter investing largely in the pineries of the northern part of the State, but the panic came on, and with it a shrinkage in values, a great falling off in trade and a general stagnation, and, after a continuance of two years, the firm was obliged to suspend. The partnership was then dissolved, but Mr. Temple was not a man to succumb to any ordinary pressure, and after the lapse of about one year he again started in at the old place. He is now carrying on the lumber and coal business, together with a planing mill and sash and blind factory, supplied with the best machinery in the county. His lum- ber yard, office and store are situated on the corner of Railroad and Shawnee streets, adjacent to the railroad depot, where he keeps a stock of building material and hardware. His business in lumber, coal, plaster and lime is constantly increasing and growing in im- portance. Mr. Temple is a thorough business man, and is imbued with all its elements, being prompt, energetic and radical in all his enterprises. He was a strong promoter, and was perhaps one of those instrumental in the erection of the Merchant's block in Tecumseh, being very active in urging its construction and assist- ing in its erection. He is now engaged in constructing and build- ing, and employs a gang of expert carpenters and joiners, in con- nection with his other business. August 23, 1859, Samuel W. Temple, Jr., married Emma W. Crossman, daughter of Elijah R. and Dorothy (Murray) Crossman, of Tecumseh, by whom he had four children, as follows: Charles W., born December 13, 1861, died May 29, 1866; Herbert M., born October 27, 1864; Clau- dius W., born Jannary 17, 1869; Lillian E., born September 25, 1870, died September 27, 1871. Mrs. Emma W. Temple was
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
born in Burlington, Vt., February 2, 1841, and died in Tecumseh, October 17, 1871. January 18, 1872, S. W. Temple married Het- tie A. Smith, daughter of Silas M. and Averilda M. Smith, of Irving, Barry county, Mich., by whom he has had two children, as follows: Samuel W., born August 15, 1874, died March 26, 1875; Leon E., born April 7, 1879. Mrs. Hettie A. Temple was born at Smith Mills, Chautauqua county, N. Y., September 27, 1850, came to Michigan with her parents in 1855, and settled in Irving, Barry county. Her father, Silas M. Smith, son of Silas and Jerusha Smith, was born in Chazy, Clinton county, N. Y., July 11, 1823, and married Averilda M. Brown, daughter of Charles and Lydia Brown, of Forestville, Chautauqua county; N. Y., December 25, 1849, by whom he has had four children, Mrs, Temple being the oldest. Mrs. Averilda Smith was born in Hanover, Chautauqua county, N. Y., October 31, 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Smith now reside in Tecumseh. S. W. Temple, Sr., was born April 27, 1810, and married Jane M. Hill, March 5, 1829 ; she was born July 12, 1811. They now reside in Pittsfield, Pike county, Ill.
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- UGENE MURAT BROWN was born in Bingham, Potter county, Pa., September 5, 1833. His father, John Brown, was born in Seneca, Cayuga county, N. Y., March 18, 1806, where he resided until after he was married, when he moved to Pennsylvania and purchased eighty acres of land on a mountain side, covered with a heavy growth of hemlock. He was an ener- getic, hard-working man, and knew how to clear land. He soon cleared off seventy acres, and built a log house and frame barn. After a residence there of four years he sold out, and came to Mich- igan and settled at Ridgeway village, in this county, in the spring of 1835. He was a shoemaker by trade, and when he settled in Ridgeway he opened a shoe shop, and besides manufacturing, he kept a small stock. He remained there for four years, when he disposed of his stock, and in the spring of 1839 he went to Wheat- land, Hillsdale county, and located 160 acres of government land on section 7. He added to this farm until he owned six hundred acres, cleared up four hundred and thirty acres, built a fine frame
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house, splendid barns, set out good orchards, etc., and it is to-day one of the best and most desirable farms in Southern Michigan. He resided there until 1874, when he sold out and now resides in Addison village, this county. He served Wheatland as supervisor, and with one exception he was the last Democratic supervisor that Wheatland ever elected. He enjoyed the advantage of a very good early education, and during his Jong residence in Wheatland often defended law suits for neighbors and friends, and was quite an advocate before a jury. March 4, 1828, John Brown married Mary Ann Latourette, daughter of David and Mary Ann Latourette, of Seneca county, N. Y., by whom he had seven chil- dren, two of whom are dead. Following are the names of those who are living: Orestes A., a resident of Hamilton, Dakota Ter- ritory ; Eugene Murat; Emma Dell was the wife of M. R. Haz- lett, of Hudson; John, Jr., a stock farmer in Umatilla county, Oregon; Levant, a practicing lawyer of New York city. Mrs. Mary Ann Brown was born in Seneca county, N. Y., July 1, 1810, and is still living with her husband in Addison. Her father came from France, his property being confiscated by Napo- leon, and he was obliged to flee for his life. He owned a small farm in Seneca county, where he was married and died. Eugene Murat Brown came to Michigan in his mother's lap, in 1835, and has resided in Lenawee and Hillsdale counties ever since. He was brought up a farmer, and was educated at Hillsdale and Albion colleges. He assisted his father in clearing up his farm. His recollections of his life in the woods, when it was no uncommon thing to hear wolves howling, are vivid ; and especially he remembers . one night when a black bear chased the old white dog around the house, and how the following night the family watched for and killed Bruin, and remembers eating bear steak. Deer, foxes and coon, and all kinds of game were very plenty. He remembers thousands of incidents, and can recollect when there were no roads in the town of Wheatland, and his father was obliged to go to Tecum- seh to mil !. He resided on the old homestead until the spring of 1867, when he purchased a farm on section 18, in Rollin, this county, where he now resides. He now owns 240 acres of land, and is one of the prominent and thrifty farmers of the township. His popularity will be best understood when it is said that, although a Democrat, he was elected treasurer of Rollin-against a Republican majority of 140. Has served as president, treasurer and director of the Farmers' picnic, and was one of its prominent originators. December 5, 1860, Eugene Murat Brown married Emily Williams, daughter of George and Mary Williams, of Pittsford, Hillsdale county, Mich., by whom he has had four chil-
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
dren, as follows: Nellie L., born in Wheatland, January 5, 1865; Williams M., born in Rollin, October 27, 1868; two children died in infancy. Mrs. Emily Brown was born in Pittsford, Hillsdale county, September 24, 1840. Her father was born in Connecticut, March 18, 1804, and moved with his parents, Charles and Par- thenia Williams, to Duanesburgh, Schoharie county, N. Y., when he was a child. He resided there until 1836, when he came to Michigan and worked for David Bixby, at Adrian, for about one year. In the spring of 1837 he located a farm in Pittsford, Hills- dale county. He was a school teacher for a number of years pre- vious to his coming to Michigan. February 26, 1838, he married Mary Hoag, daughter of Michael and Anna Hoag, of Wayne county, N. Y., by whom he had two daughters, Mrs. Brown being the oldest, her sister, Mrs. G. I. Thompson, of Hudson, being ten years younger. Mrs. Mary Williams was born in Duanesburgh, Schoharie county, N. Y., and came to Michigan on a visit to her brother, Brice Hoag, in 1838. When she was a girl she was a pupil of her future husband. She died in Hudson, April 5, 1874. Mr. Williams is still living in Hudson, a hale and hearty old man, in the possession of all his faculties.
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ILLIAM L. ROGERS was born in Brutus, Cayuga county, N. Y., May 2, 1816. When he was a child his father, Clark Rogers, moved to Fabius, Onondaga county. Here Mr. Rogers established a very large ax and tool factory, and manufactured axes, hoes, scythes, forks, cooper's tools, etc., and made a reputation throughout the country for Rogers' tools. After running this business about ten years, he sold out and purchased a farm in the same township, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1843. About the year 1810, Clark Rogers married Waty Niles, of Fabius, Onondaga county, N. Y., by whom he had eight children, four sons and four daughters, Wil- liam L. being the second child. She died in Fabius in 1843. William L. Rogers learned the blacksmith's trade in his father's shop, and followed that business more or less for twenty-five years. He took a contract of R. W. Knowlton, of Syracuse, N. Y., to manufacture one hundred set of carriage springs. This was
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before springs were manufactured by machinery, and Mr. Rogers made the entire lot, with the assistance of a helper, in three months. In the fall of 1839 he came to Michigan and settled on section 1, in Rome, and the following spring he opened a black- smith shop, which he carried on for twelve years. In 1852 he sold out his shop and farm, and purchased a farm on section 18, in Adrian, where he has resided ever since. He also run a black- smith shop here for several years, and still continues to do his own work, and assist his neighbors occasionally. When he purchased his present farm it was nearly new, and he has erected a good frame house, large and good barns, sheds, etc. January 1, 1840, William L. Rogers was married to Susan M. Scott, daughter of Cornelius and Sally (Dickson) Scott, by whom he has had eight children, as follows: Jeanette, born in Rome, January 14, 1841, was the wife of John Thorn, and died in 1859; Lorett, born in Rome, July 25, 1843, now the wife of John Anderson ; Clark, born in Rome, December 10, 1845; Lewis C., born in Rome, De- cember 19, 1847; Purleyett, born in Rome, December 9, 1849, now the wife of Walter Chambers; Harriet, born in Rome, April 3, 1852, now the wife of Charles Chambers; Niles, born in Adrian, April 4, 1854; Lell, born in Adrian, August 25, 1856, now the wife of John Hawley. Mrs. Susan M. Rogers was born in New- ark, Wayne county, N. Y., May 27, 1818, and came to Michigan in 1836. She died in Adrian, February 19, 1869. February 25, 1871, William L. Rogers was married to Mrs. Sally Bridger, rel- ict of John Bridger, and daughter of Isaac and Betsey Dickson, of Wayne county, N. Y. Mrs. Sally Rogers came to Michigan with her brother, Henry Dickson, in 1864.
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UTHER REXFORD was born in Sharon, Litchfield county, Conn., August 7, 1816. His father, Joseph Rexford, was a farmer, and owned a farm in Sharon, where he died. He married Annie Bradley, by whom he had seven children, Luther being the youngest child. Luther Rexford, when a boy about eight years old, was bound to a farmer by the name of George Gay, of Sharon, until he was twenty-one, but Gay was a severe master, and Luther was taken away from him by the town author-
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ities after he had been with him about two years. In 1827 Luther went to Seneca county, N. Y., where he followed farming until 1844. He never had any of the advantages of an education or advice or instruction after he was twelve years old. He was thrown upon his own resources after he was bound out, and for many years experienced a hazardous and severe life. He has never seen his parents since he was nine years old, and knows nothing of their history. His father met with a. great misfortune by obligating himself for a friend, and lost his farm and all his property, which was the reason that Luther was bound out. In 1842 Luther rented a farm in Tyre, Seneca county, N. Y., and lived upon it until the fall of 1844 when he came to Michigan. That spring he came west and purchased a farm on section 32, in Franklin, this county, and in the fall he brought his family on. His farm was covered with heavy timber, and scarcely any im- provement had been made on it. He now has 130 acres under good improvement, and has a very desirable and productive farm. November 3, 1842, Luther Rexford married Eliza Matthews, daughter of William and Susan (Wilson) Matthews, by whom he has had six children, as follows: William M., born in Tyre, Seneca county, N. Y., September 25, 1843, a resident of Rome, this county; Susan E., born in same place, August 1, 1845, and died January 8, 1875; Harriet A., born in Franklin, this county, September 5, 1847, died November 3, 1875; Lucy A., born same place, March 10, 1852, now the wife of Baker J. Cole, of Frank- lin; John H., born same place, January 11, 1854, at home; Elmer E., born same place, January 13, 1861, at home. Mrs. Eliza Rexford was born in Fayette, Seneca, county, N. Y., September 13, 1819. Her parents were natives of New Jersey, and were pioneers of Seneca county, N. Y., having settled there with their parents when they were children. Her father was a farmer and owned a farm in Tyre, Seneca county, where he died. Her mother died in Fayette, Seneca county, in 1832, leaving seven children, Eliza being the third child. Mr. Rexford came to Michigan for the purpose of making a home for himself. When he got to Adrian with his family and paid the freight on his goods at the Erie and Kalamazoo depot, he had twenty-five cents in money left. At the same time he owed $400 on his land, and had neither a horse, ox or cow. He was determined, however, to succeed, and he has done it, notwithstanding meeting with some severe losses during the past few years. It was a ease of desperation with him in coming to Michigan. He could see no possible chance for him to ever own a farm in New York, and rather than always work on land of somebody else, he determined to come west and suffer the
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privations and discomforts of poverty in the woods until he could at least own the land he lived upon. He has succeeded, and is enjoying the results of his wise determination. He now owns 180 acres of choice land, well fenced and stocked.
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LIVER BRAGG was born in Barre, Orleans county, N. Y., March 22, 1826. His father, Joel Bragg, son of Solo- mon and Lois (Weatherby) Bragg, was born in the same place, December 25, 1801. He was brought up a farmer, lived in Orleans county, and owned a farm in Barre until the fall of 1833, when he canie to Michigan and purchased a farm in Fair- field, but after living there about five years, and making consider- able improvement, he sold out. He then located another piece of land near by, but in the spring of 1839 he made another change, and purchased a farm on section 36, in Ridgeway (now Deerfield). At that time Daniel Carey and Anthony McKey were the only set- tlers in the vicinity of where the village of Deerfield now stands. There were no roads or any improvements, and Mr. Bragg assisted in all of the first public work done. He resided in Ridgeway about seven years, when he sold out and went to Seneca, and pur- chased a farm on section 1. He resided in Seneca for about three years, when he again sold out and returned to his old neighbor- hood in Ridgeway (which in the mean time had been set off to the town of Deerfield), on section 36, where he resided until his death, which occurred April 8, 1856. He was indeed a pioneer in the truest sense. He brought his family from New York to Michigan with an ox-team. He was a poor man, and it required his best energies and judgment to provide for his family and give them enough to eat. He was an honest, hard-working, kind and gen- erous man, who enjoyed the friendship and confidence of every ac- quaintance. January 20, 1825, Joel Bragg married Hannah Van- nocker, daughter of Henry and Catharine Vannocker, of Barre, Orleans county, N. Y., by whom he had seven children, five sons and two daughters, Oliver being the oldest. Mrs. Hannah Bragg was born in Barre, Orleans county, N. Y., November 28, 1807, and still survives her husband, and resides on the old homestead in Deerfield. Oliver Bragg was reared a farmer and lived with
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
his parents until he was twenty-one. He came to Michigan when he was about seven years old, and has resided in Lenawee and Monroe counties ever since. After he was married he purchased a farm in Somerfield, Monroe county, where he resided until 1865, when he sold out and purchased a part of his father's homestead, in Deerfield, where he now resides. October 15, 1849, Oliver Bragg married Nancy Carpenter, daughter of William L. and Sa- rah Carpenter, of Seneca, this county, by whom he has had six children, as follows: Luana, born in Seneca, this county, Novem- ber 6, 1850, now the wife of Adam Christe, of Somerfield, Mon- roe county, Mich .; Chester, born in Somerfield, Monroe county, Mich., March 3, 1852, a resident of Deerfield; Diana, born same place, October 23, 1853, now the wife of William Swift, of Ridge- way; Lorenzo, born same place, October 17, 1855; at home; Olie J., born same place, August 28, 1859, at home; Delfina, born same place, June 24, 1864, at home. Mrs. Nancy Bragg was born in Fairfield, this county, January 6, 1833. Her parents came to Michigan and settled in Madison, this county, previous to 1830. Her father was a native of New York, and died in Fairfield in March, 1874. Her mother was also a native of New York, and died in Deerfield in 1869.
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EORGE HOADLEY was born in Martinsburgh, Lewis county, N. Y., June 5, 1809. His father, Jacob Hoadley, was born in Vermont, October 7, 1779, where he resided until after he was twenty-one, when he married, and moved into what was then known as the Black River Country, in Lewis county, N. Y., and located government land. He resided there until about the year 1825, when he sold out and moved to Alle- gheny county, and located another new farm. He lived there until 1839, when he again sold out and came to Michigan, and settled in the woods, on section 25, in Fairfield. This was the third new farm that he had owned, and he lived to see it pretty well improved, with good buildings and an orchard. He resided there for many years, but finally went to Adrian and resided about seven years, but after the death of his wife he returned to Fair- field, where he died Angust 14, 1858. February 28, 1802, Jacob
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Hoadley married Betsey Crandall, daughter of Ezekiel Crandall, who lived, in 1821, in Martinsburgh, Lewis county, N. Y., by whom he had eleven children, George being the fourth child and son. Mrs. Betsey Crandall was born in Vermont, February 4, 1786, and died in Adrian in 1850. George Hoadley lived with his parents until he was about nineteen years old, and was brought. up a farmer. In 1828 he went to Wayne county, N. Y., and worked at farming about two years, when he was married and afterward moved to Riga, Monroe county, where he resided until he came to Michigan, in the winter of 1835. He left Monroe county with two yoke of oxen and one wagon, and after four weeks of hard travel in the months of December and January, he arrived in Adrian. He purchased a farm on sections 12 and 13, in Fairfield, and cleared it up. In 1839 he erected a saw mill on Black creek, and run it seventeen years. He erected good build- ings on his farm, and resided there until the spring of 1860, when he sold out and afterward purchased a farm on section 5, which he still owns. In 1870 he moved to Fairfield village, where he now resides. Mr. Hoadley has always taken an interest in all matters pertaining to the advancement and prosperity of Fairfield and the county. He haserected several good buildings in the township, and while he was carrying on his saw mill, which was the only one nearer than Adrian, LeRoy or Palmyra, he assisted and accom- modated the settlers in building, and added largely to their general comfort and prosperity. He has always taken a lively interest in the schools and churches of his township, and has assisted liberally in erecting three church edifices in Fairfield village, and has been a member of the Christian church for many years. October 4, 1829, George Hoadley was married to Miss Hannah Baker, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Baker, of Macedon, Wayne county, N. Y., by whom he had four children, as follows: Mary F., born in Macedon, Wayne county, N. Y., October 6, 1831, was the wife of D. W. Edmonds, of Fairfield, and died August 27, 1853; Samuel, born in same place, September 16, 1833, a farmer of Madison; Jacob, born in Fairfield, June 11, 1835, a farmer of Seneca; Lydia Ann, born in the same place, June 30, 1837, and died April 16, 1838. Mrs. Hannah Hoadley was born in Macedon, Wayne county, N. Y., March 6, 1814, and died in Fairfield, this county, September 11, 1838. March 28, 1839, George Hoadley was married to Anna M. Wilbur, daughter of William and Sarah Wilbur, of Fairfield, this county, by whom he has had two children, as follows: Hannah E., born in Fairfield, September 11, 1840, was the wife of Cyrus P. Fletcher, of Fair- field, died January 21, 1867; Rosilaner V., born in the same
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
place, September 13, 1842, now the wife of George W. Shower- man, of Fairfield. Mrs. Anna M. Hoadley was born in Unadilla, Otsego county, N. Y., January 8, 1815, came to Michigan with her parents, and settled in Fairfield in 1834. Her parents were natives of Rhode Island, and her father is still living, in his ninety-second year. George Hoadley is strictly a Fairfield man. He has four children, eleven grand children and four great-grand children, all of whom lived in the township until about a year ago.
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