USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > History and biographical record of Lenawee County, Michigan, Volume II > Part 39
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
considerable note, resides in Deerfield ; Anthony M., born Novem- ber 17, 1832, died February 8, 1849, a youth of great promise; Walter S., born September 30, 1835, for many years a druggist, now in trade in Deerfield, and residing on the old homestead. These three by the first wife. E. W. Dwight, born of his second wife, May 16, 1847, now and for many years an efficient and pop- ular conductor of the L. S. & M. S. R. R., resides in the city of Adrian. Wallace A. is a widower with two children ; the others are married and have families.
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ENRY CHITTENDEN, JR., was born in Williston, Chit- tenden county, Vt., May 21, 1825. His father, Henry Chittenden, Sr., was born in the same place, October 14, 1797, where he lived until the spring of 1832, when he sold his farm there and came to Michigan, settling in London, Monroe county, where he located 160 acres of government land. At that time there were but three families in the township. He came to Michigan because he was threatened with consumption, and was in poor health. His land in Monroe county was covered with heavy timber, and after going to work at it, he immediately improved in health, and cleared up his farm. He built a block house, and dur- ing the Black Hawk war it was used by the few settlers as a "fort." It was not a great while after this event before old Black Hawk came by his house a prisoner, on his way to Washington. Mr. Chittenden was elected the first justice of the peace in the town- ship, and served for many years. He also served several terms as supervisor, and was always one of the most prominent men in his township. He died on his farm in February, 1861. He was the son of Truman and Lucy (Jones) Chittenden, and traced his ancestry back to Thomas Chittenden and his wife Elizabeth Meigs, who were driven from their home in Williston, Vt., by the Indians and Tories, at the outbreak of the revolution. A short time before the war Thomas Chittenden had settled near the shore of Lake Champlain, had founded the village of Williston, and had just constructed a grist mill and saw mill, and begun to enjoy some of the fruits of his labors, when he, and his family were obliged to flee for their lives, and finally found safety in the southern part of
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
the State. After the war he returned, the village was rebuilt, and he and his family now lie buried there. The county when it was organized was named after him. He was the first governor of Vermont, and was elected eighteen successive times. His son, Martin Chittenden, was afterward elected governor of the State, and served at the time of the war of 1812. Another son, Truman Chittenden, was at one time lieutenant-governor of Vermont, and for many years judge of the Supreme court. Truman Chittenden and his wife were the parents of fourteen children. The ancestors of the family came from Wales. In 1818 Henry Chittenden, Sr., married Miss Lydia Halleck, of Williston, Vt., by whom he had four children, Henry, Jr., being the third child and second son. Mrs. Lydia Chittenden was born in Vermont, in 1796, and died in London, Monroe county, Mich., in 1840. Henry Chittenden, Jr., came to Michigan with his parents in 1832, and lived with them in Monroe county until 1845, and was brought up a farmer. In the spring of 1845 he went to Vermont, and lived with his grandfather, Truman Chittenden, until the spring of 1847, when he went south and spent several months, afterward going to Gran- ville, Licking county, Ohio, where he followed farming two years. He then went to Cincinnati, and graduated at Bartlett's Con- mercial college. In the spring of 1851 he found employment in a hardware store, in Wilmington, Clinton county, Ohio, but after about six months his health failed him, and he returned home to Monroe county. June 1, 1852, he got employment on the Michi- gan Southern railroad as train baggage master, between Adrian and Monroe, under the superintendency of Joseph H. Moore. After about one month he was made through baggage master from Chicago to Buffalo, running from Chicago on the train, and at Monroe he transferred his baggage to the magnificent steanı- boats, then owned by the company, and proceeded to Buffalo, run- ning the first baggage through under this arrangement. June 1, 1853, he was promoted to passenger conductor, and was given a train on the Jackson branch, between Adrian and Jackson, which position he held until 1857, when he resigned to accept the position of mail agent, running the first mail car between Adrian and Detroit, and Adrian and Jackson. In 1861 he was again given a passenger train, and afterward ran mostly on the main line, between Toledo and Chicago, until the 1st day of June, 1872. In the winter of 1874 he engaged in the hardware business in Adrian, with William Corbin, and continued one year. In 1875 he formed a partnership with his brother Mark, in the wholesale tobacco and oil business, and remained with him three years. In the spring of 1879 he became interested in the Adrian Fruit Can-
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ning Works, the firm being Lambie, Corbin & Chittenden, where he is now actively engaged. July 28, 1856, Henry Chittenden, Jr., married Emily Hanford, daughter of Gorham and Susan (Warner) Hanford, of Tecumseh, by whom he has had two chil- dren, as follows: Carl H., born April 3, 1859; Harry, born Jnly 16, 1872. Mrs. Emily Chittenden was born in Parma, Monroe county, N. Y., July 6, 1832, came to Michigan with her parents in 1854, and settled in Tecumseh. Her father was born in Rome, Oncida county, N. Y., December 18, 1795, and is still living in Adrian. Her mother was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, N. Y., March 31, 1804, and is still living in Adrian. Henry Chittenden, Jr., came to Adrian in June, 1852, and has resided in the city ever since.
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EORGE W. A. LUTHER was born in Chazy, Clinton county, N. Y., September 20, 1823, where he resided until 1831, when he came to Michigan with his parents, and settled in Superior, Washtenaw county. After a residence there of about three years, his father sold his land and came to Lenawec county and purchased a farm on section 27, in Rome. George lived with his parents until he was twenty-six years old, and as- sisted his father in clearing up his farm, which was covered with very heavy tiniber. In 1834-5 his father built a saw-mill, and George worked in the mill for several years. This mill was run until 1847, when a new steam mill was erceted, which is now in operation and owned by George. The principal occupation of George has been farming, but his father being a mechanic, besides running the saw mill, he has worked at blacksmithing, carpenter work, and other mechanical business. In 1846 George purchased a farm adjoining his father's, on section 27, in Rome, which he still owns, and where he resided until 1873. At that time he bought out the heirs of the old Ory Chaffee farm, on sections 31 in Adrian, and 1 in Dover, where he now resides. Sep- tember 20, 1849, George W. A. Luther married Mary A. Chaffee, daughter of Ory and Polly Chaffec, of Adrian, by whom he has had five children, as follows: Ephraim L., born in Rome, February 22, 1851, a farmer in Rome; Flora A., born same place, December 7, 1853, died November 24, 1860; Abbie M., born
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
same place, October 13, 1855, was the wife of James D. Bingham, and died June 16, 1875; Frank C., born same place, August 10, 1857, works the home farm; Florence M., born same place, May 14, 1868, at home. Mrs. Mary A. Luther was born in Machias, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., January 11, 1831, came to Michigan with her parents in the spring of 1833, and settled on section 31, in Adrian. Her father, Ory Chaffee, was born in Rockingham, Windham county, Vt., May 23, 1807, and was the son of Otis and Abigail Chaffee, who settled near Olean, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., about the year 1814. In the spring of 1841 Ory Chaffee opened a hotel, which he continued to keep until 1850. August 17, 1827, Ory Chaffee married Polly Rowley, daughter of Erastus and Lydia (Richardson) Rowley, by whom he had nine children, Mrs. Luther being the second child and oldest daughter. Mrs. Polly Chaffee was born in Fort Ann, Washington county, N. Y., October 17, 1804, and died in Adrian, March 3, 1875. Ory Chaf- fee died in Adrian, March 11, 1872. He left five children, as fol- lows: Lyman, a farmer of Delhi, Ingham county, Mich .; Frank- lin, engaged in the foundry and machine business in Lansing; Horace W., a farmer of North Shade, Gratiot county, Mich .; Wallace G., a resident of Leadville, Col .; Mrs. Mary A. Luther. For George W. A. Luther's family relation, see his father's Theo- dorick Luther's record, on page 500, in volume 1, of this work.
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EV. RICHARD HARKNESS was born in Peru, Clinton county, N. Y., 8th month, 24th, 1820. His father, Rev. David Harkness, son of Adam and Thankful Harkness, was born in Smithfield, R. I., 7th month, 6th, 1779, where he re- sided until he was three years old, when his parents moved to Adams, Mass. He resided in Adams about twenty years, when he went to Clinton county, N. Y., and purchased a farm in the town of Peru. He resided there until 1834, when he came to Michi- gan, and settled in this county, purchasing 320 acres of land on sections 13 in Adrian, and 18 in Raisin. He built his house near the center of his land, along the section line road, built barns, im- proved over 100 acres, and resided there until his death, which occurred 2d month, 22d, 1845. He was a birthright member of
389
OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the Society of Friends, and was a minister over thirty years. He was among the pioneer ministers of the Society in this county, Daniel Smith, who settled in Adrian, being the first, Charles and Esther Haviland, of Raisin, were the next, and Mr. Harkness followed them. Mr. Harkness was a zealous worker in the faith, and passed many years in traveling about the New England States, as well as the State of New York, holding meetings and visiting Friends, but after he came to Michigan his labors were confined mostly within the limits of the State. His labors resulted in settling some of the first meetings in Michigan. About the year 1801 he married Ruth Hoxie, daughter of Zebulon Hoxie, of Easton, Saratoga county, N. Y., by whom he had six children. Ruth Harkness was born 7th month, 7th, 1780, and died in 1816. In 1818 he married Mary Chadwick, widow of Richard Chad- wick, and daughter of Daniel Willis, of Hempstead, Long Island, by whom he had four children, Richard being the second. Mrs. Mary Harkness was born at Hempstead, Long Island, 12th month, 17th, 1784, and died in Adrian, 11th month, 28th, 1850. Rich- ard Harkness came to Michigan with his parents in 1834, and has been a resident of this county ever since. His home has always been in Adrian, and he now owns a portion of his father's home- stead. He was reared a farmer, and only received what education he could get in the old-fashioned district schools. He is a birth- right member of the Society of Friends. When quite young he commenced speaking in meetings, and was acknowledged by the Society as a minister in 1859. Since that time he has devoted much time and thought to the cause, and has labored with fervor and fidelity in all directions. He has ever held himself in readi- ness to answer all demands for his services in any portion of the county, and has many times attended funerals in its remotest parts, with difficulty, and in the most inclement weather. He is an earnest worker in the cause of Christ, and feels it his duty to lend his voice and sympathy whenever there is a need, or willing ears to listen. His entire life has been devoted to religious reflec- tion, having inherited an inquiring, studious, and meditative mind. Fourth month, 20th, 1843, Richard Harkness married Deborah R. Crane, daughter of Elijah and Mary Crane, of Raisin, by whom he has had twelve children, as follows : Mary C., born 4th month, 24th, 1844, now the wife of Vincent Wood, of Rollin; Phebe, born 10th month, 22d, 1845, died 10th month, 4th, 1864; Sarah, born 7th month, 29th, 1847, died 6th month, 21st, 1848; Debo- rah, born 4th month, 28th, 1849, died 2d month, 29th, 1859; Sarah R., born 2d month, 13th, 1851, died 3d month, 3d, 1859; David, born 5th month, 1st, 1853, works the home farm, married
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Flora Murphy, of Adrian city ; Richard J., born 7th month, 3d, 1855, now of Colorado; Lydia Maria, born 7th month, 16th, 1857, now the wife of George E. Cavsie, of Jackson, Mich .; Deborah S., born 11th month, 14th, 1859, at home; Hannah, born 12th month, 25th, 1861, at home; William, born 1st month, 2d, 1864, died 10th month, 18th, 1864; Nathan, born 8th month, 29th, 1865, at home. Mrs. Deborah R. Harkness was born in New York city, 5th month, 24th, 1823, came to Michigan with her parents in 1839, and settled in Raisin, this county. Her father was a native of New York city, being born 3d month, 13th, 1788, and died 1st month, 29th, 1864. He was a shoemaker by trade, but when he came to Michigan he purchased a farm. Second month, 15th, 1814, he married Mary Roberts, daughter of Amos and Deborah Roberts, of Darien, Conn., by whom he had eight children, Mrs. Harkness being the sixth child. Mrs. Mary Crane was born in Danbury, Conn., 7th month, 6th, 1785, and died 6th month, 29th, 1863.
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ILLIAM H. CORNELIUS was born in Clinton, Dutchess county, N. Y., December 28, 1825. His father, Henry Cornelius, son of Samuel Cornelius, was born in Stamford, Dutchess county, N. Y., August 3, 1799, and still resides there. When he was young he learned the shoemaker's trade, but subse- quently purchased of the heirs his father's homestead, where he now lives. About the year 1822 Henry Cornelius married Miss Phebe Conklin, by whom he had ten children, William H. being the second child and oldest son. Mrs. Phebe Cornelius is still liv- ing in Stamford. William H. Cornelius left the parental roof when he was fifteen years old, and commenced working on a farm by the month. He followed this occupation for thirteen years. In the spring of 1853 he came to Michigan, bringing with him several hundred dollars, which he had saved from his wages, and after working one season by the month, and going to Illinois dur- ing the winter of 1853-4, he purchased a new piece of land on section 18, in Raisin, in the spring of 1854, and cleared it up, re- siding there until 1873, when he purchased a desirable small farm on section 8, in Raisin, where he now resides. He has never dab-
391
OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
bled in politics, sought after office or political favors, but has attended to his own business, prosecuted whatever he had in hand with fidelity, and rejoices in the fact that providence or nature, or whatever power that answers to the call and wants of those who till the soil, obey the law and profit by experience, prosper and become comfortable and happy. October 10, 1855, William H. Cornelius married Cynthia T. Cornelius, daughter of William and Mary Ann Cornelius, of Adrian, by whom he has had two chil- dren, as follows: Mary A., born March 14, 1863, at home ; Walter H., born January 5, 1871, at home. Mrs. Cynthia T. Cornelius was born in Milan, Dutchess county, N. Y., May 5, 1832, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1852, and first stopped in Southfield, Oakland county, but during the same fall moved to Adrian, this county, and settled on section 13. Her father was born in Stamford, Dutchess county, N. Y., April 30, 1801, and died in Adrian, August 15, 1879. He learned the shoemaker's trade, but after he was married. he purchased a farm in Macedon, Wayne county, and afterward owned a farm in Rush, Monroe county, where he resided until he came to Michigan. June 7, 1823, he married Mary Ann Mead, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Mead, of Milan, Dutchess county, N. Y., by whom he had five children, Cynthia T. being the fourth child and third daughter. Mrs. Mary Ann Cornelius was born in Milan, Dutchess county, N. Y., June 2, 1802, and is still living on the homestead in Adrian.
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AMES J. NEWELL was born in Boston, Mass., July 31, 1816. He lived in Boston only until he was about two years old, when in 1818 his father, John Newell, moved with his family to the village of Niagara, in Canada. James J. lived in Niagara until 1830, when at the age of fourteen he went to Roch- ester, N. Y., and found employment there with William P. and H. Stanton, manufacturers and dealers in jewelry and silverware. James J. remained there about two years, when he went to New York city and spent nearly two years with Oliver Whittlesey, a manufacturing jeweler. In 1834 he went to Utica, where he also remained about two years, and worked at watch repairing. In the fall of 1835 he went to Boston, where he remained until May 1,
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
1837, when he started for Chicago. He got on his way as far as Buffalo, where he found the harbor blocked with ice, but after waiting about three weeks he took a boat for Detroit. He fell in with parties at Detroit who induced him to go to Toledo. At Toledo he found other parties who pursuaded him to go to Adrian, where he found employment with Japheth Cross, remaining with him about four months. He was not yet twenty-one years of age, but about the 1st of November, 1837, he opened a jewelry and book store in Adrian. He was the first man to start a book store in the village, and the second in the jewelry business. He con- tinued in business for thirty-four years, and in 1871 sold out. For many years he was engaged in the wholesale jewelry, book and fancy goods trade, and continued until 1857, when, owing to the financial troubles of that year, he lost large amounts from western customers, and stopped wholesaling. In 1852 the Adrian Gas company was formed, through the efforts of Mr. Newell, who was the only man in the city who would take a dollar's worth of stock. He was secretary, treasurer and superintendent for about ten years, and was a director from the formation of the company, until he sold his stock in 1868, he holding one third of the capital stock of the company. He was one of the board of trustees of the village of Adrian, and was twice elected alderman of the Third ward of the city. He was one of the first business men of the village of Adrian, and at one time owned more business property in the vil- lage than any other one man. In 1838 he erected a wooden store on North Main street. In 1840 he erected two wooden stores on the same street, which were barned in 1841. In 1847 he built a brick store on Maumee street, adjoining the old Michigan Exchange. This building contained the first public hall in the village. In 1852-3 he built two wooden stores on the south side of Maumee street, and in 1853 he built a brick store on the same side of the street. In 1841 he purchased a residence and four acres of land on West Maumee street, which he still owns, together with the brick store adjoining the Lawrence House. Since 1875 he has passed the most of his time in the city of Washington. November 7, 1839, James J. Newell married Johanna Needham, daughter of J. P. and Johanna Needham, of Rochester, N. Y., by whom he had five children, as follows: Mary E., born in Adrian, October 12, 1841, now the wife of Austin W. Carey, of Adrian; James H. and Joseph P. (twins) born June 3, 1845; both died in infancy ; Francis Josephine, born same place, December 24, 1846, now the wife of James A. Eaton, of Adrian; Norman A., born same place, October 26, 1848, now a resident of Toledo, Ohio. Mrs. Johanna Newell was born in Boston, Mass., September 6, 1817,
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and died in Adrian, July 15, 1875. Her father was a merchant, and at one time was one of the most prosperous business men of Rochester, N. Y., settling there about 1820. James J. Newell's father was born in Lynnfield, Mass., in 1794, was a mechanic, lived in Boston for several years, and died in Niagara, Canada, in 1828. He married Mary McBride, daughter of Daniel McBride, of Bos- ton, by whom he had three children, James J. being the oldest. Mrs. Mary Newell was born in Boston, in 1804, and died in Adrian, in 1872.
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HANNING WHITNEY was born in Adrian, Mich., De- cember 28, 1842. His father, Richard H. Whitney, was one of the pioneers of Lenawee county, who came to Michi- gan in 1831, and settled in Adrian. Richard H. Whitney was born in Massachusetts in 1808. When he was a young man he went to Boston, where he was engaged as clerk in a general store, subsequently going to Albany, where he entered into the general mercantile business on his own account. When he came to Michi- gan in 1831 he engaged in buying and selling new lands, purchas- ing government lands in different parts of Lenawee and Hillsdale counties. He erected several houses in Adrian, but his attention was mostly given to the development of farming lands. A few years after his settlement in Adrian he was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for about twenty-five years. In 1856 he was elected mayor of Adrian, was a member of the Public . School Board, and was prominently identified in the establishment of the present splendid school system of Adrian. On February 22, 1837, he married Nancy Flagg Whitney, of Stowe, Mass., by whom he had five children, as follows :
1st-Sarah Flagg Whitney, born in Adrian, Mich., September 22, 1838.
2d-Edward L. Whitney, born same place, September 2, 1840.
3d-Channing Whitney, born same place, December 28, 1842. 4th-Charles Carrol Whitney, born same place, July 4, 1846.
5th-Aaron Augustus Whitney, born same place, February 7, 1850.
Mrs. Nancy Flagg Whitney was born in 1814, and died in
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Adrian, Mich., September 6, 1852, at the age of thirty-seven. In April, 1853, he married Dorcas Fisk, of Dover, Lenawee county, Mich. By this marriage there were two sons, as follows: Richard H., born in Adrian, September 22, 1856, and Henry Hart Whit- ney, born in Adrian, January 18, 1859, and died September 22, 1860. Mrs. Dorcas Whitney was born December 18, 1823, and is still living in Adrian. Channing Whitney has lived in Adrian the most of his life. His mother died when he was but nine years old, and at the age of ten his father found him a home with Joshua W. Thurber, of Madison, where he spent five years of his life learning the habits of industry, and the secrets of gaining wealth from the products of the soil. The money derived from this five years' hard labor was invested, and from that time to this there has not been a day that it has not drawn interest, thus laying the foundation for a growing fortune. On returning from his farm life he attended school until he was seventeen years old, when he engaged as clerk in Clark & Hall's dry goods store, in Adrian, re- maining there until 1860. In the spring of 1860 he entered the service of the government, in the Adrian post-office, under Charles Redfield, P. M., remaining until the fall of 1864, when he went to Natchez, Miss., and entered the commissary department of that post, Captain Edward L. Whitney being the commissary at that time. In the spring of 1865 he returned to Adrian, and again entered the post-office. In the fall of 1865 he formed a partner- ship with S. A. Powers, in the merchant tailoring business in Adrian, which partnership continued until after the death of his father, in 1877. He was then made administrator of his father's large estate, and devoted his entire time to it for a little over a year. In the summer of 1869 he formed a copartnership with J. E. Parker, of Washington, D. C., and engaged in the hardware business in Adrian, continuing the same until the spring of 1874. In July, 1875, he went into the Second National bank of Toledo, Ohio, for the purpose of gaining a knowledge of banking, remain- ing there until the fall of 1876. He then returned to Adrian, for the purpose of organizing a bank, and in June, 1877, he opened Whitney's Commercial Exchange bank, now known as the Com- mercial Exchange bank of Whitney & Wilcox. Mr. Whitney has been for several years actively engaged in the various manu- facturing enterprises of Adrian, being a stockholder and director of the Michigan State Insurance company; also, of the Adrian Paper Mill company, and the Low Manufacturing company, and a stockholder in the Illinois Manufacturing company. September 22, 1867, Mr. Whitney was married to Ellen M. Cornell, daughter of Asa and Fanny S. Cornell, of Adrian, by whom he has had one
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
son, Charles Seward Colfax Whitney, who was born March 21, 1870. Mrs. Ellen M. Whitney was born in Adrian, March 21, 1844. Her father was a native of Lockport, N. Y., and was born January 18, 1812, came to Michigan when he was a young man, was an early settler of Adrian, and was among the first business men of the village. June 17, 1841, he married Fanny S. Hitch- cock, daughter of James and Hannah Hitchcock, of Adrian, by whom he had four children, Mrs. Whitney being the oldest. Mrs. Fanny Cornell was born in Lockport, N. Y., December 20, 1822. Asa Cornell died in Adrian, April 27, 1853. Mrs. Cornell was married to Rev. J. E. Parker, in 1866, and now resides in Wash- ington, D. C.
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