USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 61
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the East. He was very favorably impressed with the country, and, after one or two more tours of inspection, bought, in 1834, eight hundred acres of fine land where he now resides. After spending about three months in visiting his brother Alexander H. Redfield, Esq., in Cassopolis, he returned to New York. He was married June 9, 1835, to Julia Augusta Mason, daughter of Samuel and Martha (Lee) Mason, of Palmyra. She was his valued helpmect until her death August 29, 1848. Immediately after his mar- riage Mr. Redfield removed to Michigan, but did not dispose of his New York farm until several years later, when the success of his Western venture was beyond doubt. In 1836, he bought of Government 3,000 acres of land in Calvin Township; 1,000 in Jefferson, and 1,000 in Mason, besides other and smaller tracts purchased at different periods later, making a total of nearly 10,000 acres. In 1837, he bought the only water-power saw-mill in Jefferson Township, rebuilt it in 1850, and again in 1862, after it was burned, in connection with a grist-mill which is still carried on.
Mr. Redfield never sought nor desired public office, enjoying the quiet of home life, reading and the man- agement of his extensive farm ; but honors have crowded thickly upon him. He evinced a high order of executive ability, and many other qualities of mind which fitted him for the occupation of places of trust and responsibility in the service of the people, and these, combined with his popularity, made it impossi- ble that he should remain in private life. He was elected a Representative to the State Legislature in 1841, and served in the State Senate the three suc- ceeding years. During this period, his influence and exertions were the chief instruments in securing the liberal exemption laws, which have since been copied by the Legislatures of most of the Western States, and have done much to prevent the oppression of poor debtors, to diminish pauperism and encourage those who are struggling with adversity. In 1844, he was elected Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket.
In 1845, he was appointed by Gov. Barry to the office of State Treasurer, and in the following year declined a re-election. In 1850, he was nominated by Gov. Barry, who was then serving his third term, to the position of Secretary of State, and, being con- firmed by the Senate, accepted the office, and dis- charged its duties until the adjournment of the Legis- lature, when he resigned. The same year, he was elected a member of the convention which framed the present constitution of Michigan. His influence in the convention was strong, and he left its impress upon the instrument then formed. He labored par. ticularly for the incorporation of the exemption laws,
which he had a hand in framing, when he was in the Senate. The provision for the free-school system also received his hearty support. After the adjournment of this Convention, he returned to his farm, and has since refused to hold public office.
On the 14th of September, 1854,. Mr. Redfield mar- ried his second wife, Jane E., daughter of Hon. Gid- eon Hammond, of Essex County, N. Y., who lived with him until her death in November, 1865. She left one son and three daughters.
Politically, Mr. Redfield is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and strong in his convictions. During the four years he spent in the South, he gained a very thorough knowledge of the institution of slavery and of the character of its adherents. Although heartily desir- ing the discontinuance of slavery, he never adopted extreme abolition views. It is his belief that had it been let alone it would have suffered gradual decay, and the benefits of freedom would have been secured to the blacks without the terrible political convulsion, bloodshed and sectional animosity which attended its forcible abolition. His practical friendship for the colored people has been demonstrated very fully by the nature of his dealings with them. A large pro- portion of the negro settlers in Calvin, who bought their lands of him, are indebted to his magnanimity and lenience for their present prosperity. In a num- ber of instances payments have been deferred for a period of twenty years, the value of the lands in that period increasing many times. And so it happens, that although of the opposite political party, no man in the county is looked upon with more gratitude and confi- dence by the colored people than he. They have con- stantly gone to him for favors and help, and never have turned away without some assistance. ITis generosity is really proverbial.
The foregoing narrative of his life shows the prom- inent features of George Redfield's character. To sum up in the language of another, " he is steady, in- dustrious, of unswerving integrity, and is possessed of more than ordinary business ability ; he is without political ambition or greed of gain, and is possessed of sound common sense and good insight into char- acter, which guides the exercise of his generous prac- tical philanthropy ; domestic in disposition, yet a leader among his neighbors in public enterprise."
Since 1871, Mr. Redfield has been almost totally blind, and while that infirmity has been " a great re- straint in some directions, it has increased his mental activity and developed a richness and subtlety of thought which prove the fineness of his mental fiber." His affliction has been borne with the sublimest pa- tience and submission. His motto, we are told, is, " be temperate," and he illustrates not only in abstain-
GEORGE ROGERS.
GEORGE ROGERS.
The subject of this memoir, George Rogers, was born in Palmyra. Wayne County, N. Y., June 7, 1829, and is a son of John and Mary (Mason) Rog- ers. The elder Rogers was known to all where he resided as honest John Rogers, which title was most worthily bestowed.
Having arrived at manhood's estate, George decided to visit the West, and cast his lot with the enterpris- ing people there to be found, and accordingly, in 1852, came to Michigan and for one year acted in the eapac- ity of clerk at Coldwater, and then removed to Elk- hart, Ind., where he clerked in the post office one year, and in 1854 moved on the farm of 165 acres in Mason, which he had purchased the year previous, and where he remained until his death, December 28, 1879. Not being a man of much physical strength, in addition to farming, which he conducted successful- ly, he devoted considerable attention to fire insurance, and, in the capacity of agent, insured nearly all the property in the southern portion of the county. He also purchased large quantities of fruit for shipment.
His business kept his time fully occupied, so that little attention was paid to politics, he affiliating with the Democratic party ; still, he filled the office of Jus- tice of the Peace two terms, Township Treasurer, etc.
His public and private business was conducted in a manner to win the confidence and esteem of all, for the mantle of honesty worn by the father had descended to the son.
He was married October 1, 1854, to Elizabeth, daughter of Elias and Sarah (Frost) Manning, who was born in Miami County, Ohio, November 21, 1831, and who when two years old removed to Indi- ana with her parents.
Her father in the war of 1812 was under Gen. Harrison at the siege of Fort Wayne, and was pressed into the service to carry provisions at the time of Hull's surrender at Detroit. Her grandfather, John, was one of the pioneers of Ohio, and built the first grist-mill where Cincinnati now stands, when a small huddle of houses constituted the embryo city. In 1798, he went to Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, where he built a grist-mill, and where his son Elias, the first white child in the county, was born.
William Frost left his native State, North Caroli- na, to escape the demoralizing effects of slavery, and when entering the now State of Ohio was obliged to cut his own roads through the almost impenetrable forests. Mrs. Rogers resides on the old homestead with her two sons, Manning E., born April 27, 1857, and Charles M., born September 28, 1862.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ing from the use of spirituous liquors and tobacco, but in every habit of his life and in every arrangement of his household. " Peace, order and quiet contentment are about him, and the special tenderness and regard which his affliction has called forth show the strong affection of his family and friends. He is connected with no society whatever ; and while not deprecating benevolent and religious organizations, believes that as the race advances toward the practical recognition of universal brotherhood and obedience to true spirit- ual philosophy, sects and societies-now the works chiefly of controversies and divisions-will disap- pear, and all humanity be merged in one universal church, needing neither canons nor bishops, creeds nor ceremonials."
Mr. Redfield is now in his eighty-sixth year, and his faculties are in a wonderful state of preserva- tion, while his physical health is far superior to the condition which might be expected in one of his years. His old age has been passed in serene con- tentment at his home upon his large and beautiful farm, inclosed and partitioned with seven miles of liv- ing fence-as fair an agricultural domain as can be seen in the State. His remaining years can at the best be very few, and when the end of the earth-chap- ter of life shall be reached, the eyes, closed for the past ten years to the beanties of nature which he once looked upon so fondly, will be opened to more lovely sights.
The Redfields are, by his first wife : Ann Maria, Julia Augusta and Lewis H., the latter deceased ; and by his second wife : George Hammond, Bertha, Myra J. and Abbie.
REV. ABIEL SILVER.
The subject of this sketch, by inherent force of character, superior educational advantages and favor- able environments, exercised, perhaps, as large an influence, socially, morally and politically, upon the character of society in the southern portion of Cass County, during the first twenty years of its settle- ment, as any individual could exercise in that era of personal independence.
He was born in Hopkinton, N. H., April 3, 1797, and was the fifth son of John and Mary (Buell) Silver. The family included six sons and two daughters all of whom, finally, became pioneers and residents of this county. The boys received a common school educa- tion and were taught their father's trade, that of brick and stone masonry.
John Silver, the father, died in Elkhart County, Ind., in 1843, aged eighty years, his wife surviving him five years. Jacob died in Cossopolis in 1872, aged eighty-six years ; John returned to New Hampshire
and died in 1864, aged seventy years ; Jeremiah died in Pokagon in 1876, aged eighty-six years; Josiah died in Pokagon in 1870, aged seventy years; Mar- garet died in Elkhart, Ind., in 1878, aged seventy- nine years ; Joan is living in Elkhart and Benjamin F. in Pokagon, aged respectively eighty and seventy-four years.
In 1825, Abiel migrated to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he engaged in teaching, met and married Edna Hastings, and afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits. One child, a daughter, was born to them who, with his wife, survive him.
In 1830, he removed to Chautauqua County, and in company with his youngest brother, Benjamin F., opened a stock of goods, but they caught the far- western fever of the day and, after enlarging their capital by including Jacob in the firm, determined to ship their wares to Chicago or Ottawa, the precise location to be determined after their arrival at the former port.
Benjamin remained temporarily to close up their collections ; Jacob embarked with the goods and Abiel started overland for health, pleasure and observation.
While journeying along the military road between Detroit and Chicago, he was so impressed by the beauty and fertility of Beardsley's Prairie and the glowing prospects of the thriving village of Edwards- burg, that he halted and wrote Jacob to at once reship the goods to that point,. via the St. Joseph River. Various causes served to delay until so late in the fall of 1831 that the last boat load was frozen in the river, thus necessitating a long and expensive portage, but all was finally received and displayed for sale, or barter, in a large log storeroom, and the business of the Silver Brothers fairly launched.
In 1832, upon the location of the county seat at Cassopolis, the Silvers opened a branch there which was under the management of Jacob.
During the Sauk war panic, Abiel was drafted into Capt. Butler's company, and marched with the Mich- igan contingent to Chicago, declining the offer of his unmarried brother, Benjamin, to serve as his substi- tute.
In 1835, the partnership of the brothers terminat- ed, Jacob retaining the Cassopolis plant (which then included a distillery and a well-filled store), Benjamin the Edwardsburg stock, and Abiel embarking his withdrawn capital in real estate speculations, until, in 1838, he repurchased Benjamin's business and (in company with a Mr. Emerson, who died the following year) resumed trade. In 1839, a cargo of merchan- dise, valued at $20,000, consigned to him, was lost in Lake Erie, and his reimbursement from salvage and insurance was only partial. This loss, with the gen"
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
eral stringency of the " wild-cat " panic days, caused his failure. He assigned his property to his creditors (who showed their appreciation of his integrity by placing it back in his hands for realization) and went through bankruptcy, obtaining a release on an honor- able compromise. In after years he paid the balances in full, although under no legal obligation to do so.
At about this time his residence, a fine brick build- ing on the bank of the lake, noted in those days for its elegance and hospitality, was burned, and a small- er one built by his brothers on the " bee " plan.
From the beginning of his stay in Edwardsburg, he was acknowledged leader in every good work. Hegave gave the sites of each of the three churches there, and contributed largely to their building and support. He was an Associate Judge of the county and a member of the second Convention of Assent to the terms of admission to the Union, held at Ann Arbor Decem- ber 14, 1836. He voted for Adams in 1824, but for Jackson in 1828, and subsequently identified himself with the Democratic party.
In 1846, he was appointed Commissioner of the State Land Office, by Gov. Felch, and was re-appointed by Govs. Greenly and Ransom, serving until 1850. During this service the State Capitol was removed, and its location on a " school section " in Lansing, was largely due to his persistent efforts, instigated by a zeal for the welfare of the State School Fund.
Through the malpractice of a drunken surgeon, in 1834, he lost an arm, and was led through specula- tion upon the sensation of feeling it still in its place, after its removal, to examine the theories and doc- trines of Swedenborg, which investigation resulted, in January, 1844, in his adopting the New Church be- lief, and entering upon a course of study preparatory to its advocacy.
In 1850, he closed up his affairs in this county and commenced preaching at Marshall, whence he removed to Detroit. He afterward established a Seminary, under Swedenborgian auspicies, at Con-too-cook-ville, N. H., which is still flourishing and upon a firm basis.
The remainder of his life was spent in this ministry, at Wilmington, Del., New York City, Hopkington, N. H., Salem, Mass., and in 1867 he was finally set- tled over the church at Boston Highlands.
He was a successful preacher and vigorous writer, publishing a very large number of books, pamphlets and tracts, in defense of his faith.
On Sunday evening, March 27, 1881, while return- ing from an exchange, at Salem, where he had preached that day, he stepped off the train, while it was stopped on a bridge over the Charles River, fell through the ties, and was drowned. He was univer- sally respected and widely mourned.
JOSEPH L. JACKS.
Joseph L. Jacks was born in Harbor Creek, Erie County, Penn., May 18, 1804. He was the son of Robert and Ann (Robinson) Jacks, who reared a fam- ily of ten children, six boys and four girls. The elder Jacks was a farmer, honest and upright,and one of the first settlers of Erie County. Both died on the farm they improved, the father in 1833, in the sixty- seventh year of his age, and the mother in 1868, in her eighty-sixth year. Joseph L. shared the priva- tions and hardships of a pioneer family and received such an education as was afforded by the district school of that early day. He remained under the parental roof until 1827, when he went to Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he remained two years, when he decided to emigrate to Michigan. In September of 1827, he was married to Miss Susannah Silsbee, and the follow- ing year Mr. Silsbee came to Ontwa and located on the south west side of Pleasant Lake. In 1829, Mr. Jacks and his young wife followed them, and with them remained five years.
Very soon after Mr. Jack's emigration he took a prominent part in the affairs of the little settlement. In 1830, he was appointed by Gov. Cass as County Clerk.
In 1831, he was Assessor of Ontwa under its first organization, which embraced an area of about 144 square miles, he made the assessment in just five days. The following year came the " Sauk war," and Mr. Jacks was one of the number who went to defend the homes of the pioneers. He was afterward commis- sioned by the Governor as a Lieutenant. In 1848-49, he represented Ontwa in the Board of Supervisors.
The life of Mr. Jacks has been almost wholly de- voted to agricultural pursuits, and the farm which he purchased in 1840 was his home until 1874, when he retired from active business, and removed to Edwards- burg.
Mr. Jacks has been twice married, the last time to Alvira Penwell ; she was born in Indiana in 1824, and died in 1872.
By the first marriage there were two children-John S. and Mrs. T. J. Jordan, of Marcellus; by the second three-Mrs. Harwood, of Jefferson ; Mrs. K. Shan- ahan, of Ontwa ; and Miss Belle, a young lady of much promise, who died in 1879, in her twentieth year.
In his political convictions, Mr. Jacks is a Demo- crat, in his religious views he is liberal, according to all the right to be guided by the dictates of con- science.
He is now in his seventy-eighth year, hale and hearty, and enjoying the fruition of a well-spent life. Socially, he is genial and pleasant, winning the regard
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN.
of all with whom he comes in contact. He is always disposed to look upon the better side of life, and bas an unlimited fund of anecdote and jokes, with which he regales his friends. He has been closely identi- fied with the interests of Ontwa for over half a cen- tury, and among the founders of the county holds a prominent position.
JAMES L. GLENN.
James L., or Col. Glenn, as he was commonly called, was one of the early residents and prominent men of Cass County. He was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and most of his early life was spent in Phila- delphia. He acquired a good education, and adopted the profession of a civil engineer, which he followed successfully upon public works until he came West in 1834. He first located at Niles, but soon afterward removed to Cass County, and settled upon a farm on the south side of Beardsley's Prairie. He was elected Sheriff and Representative in the State Legislature. He was not a political aspirant, and held no other elective offices than these, but was several times ap- pointed to honorable positions. In 1847, he was ap- pointed a commissioner to plan and survey the city of Lansing, the then newly located capital of Michigan, and to erect a State House in time for the ensuing session of the Legislature. The appointment was in the line of his profession, and he accepted it with alacrity. Although the time allowed for the work was short, Col. Glenn accomplished his task in due season, and to the satisfaction of the State. The Sault Ste. Marie Canal is another monument of his engineering skill, of which there are several in the State.
Col. Glenn died after a short illness January 1, 1876. He seemed almost to the last to be hale and strong. He was a man of fine social qualities, led a blameless life and occupies an enviable position in the memory of a very large number of Cass and Berrien County people, having been associated with the latter almost as intimately as with the former.
ORREN SILVER.
Probably no one family were more prominently identified with the early history of the southern por- tion of Cass County than the Silvers. Orren Silver, the subject of this memoir, was born in Hopkinton, Merrimack County, N. H., December 8, 1812, and is a son of John, Jr., who was born in the same place May 30, 1788, and Julia (Colby) Silver, who was born in 1785.
John, Jr., was taught the mason's trade by his father (John), but in 1827 commenced keeping a tav- ern, and also became proprietor of a stage route in
Newport, which business he pursued for many years. After his first wife's death in 1821, he married Susan Russell, who accompanied him to Cass County in 1846, and who some two years subsequent departed this life. About ten years after this event, he re- turned to New Hampshire, where he died August 22, 1864.
Orren Silver, who was raised on a farm, had no op- portunity for scholastic attainments other than those afforded by the common schools. He removed with his father to Newport when fifteen years of age, where he remained until coming to Cass County in October, 1835.
Being conversant with the business of hotel life, on reaching Edwardsburg he commenced keeping a tav- ern on the Thomas H. Edwards stand, where he re- mained for two years, and after three years spent in farming, he disposed of his property and returned East, but returned one year subsequently, and after a few changes purchased his present farm, and has since been prominently identified with the agricultural in- terests of Ontwa. As his business has been man- aged with prudence and sagacity, coupled with marked industry, success has crowned his efforts, as will be indicated by a view of his fine farm residence to be found on another page.
In politics he is a Democrat, but has eschewed active political life ; nevertheless, has filled several important township offices, and is accounted among the substantial and honored residents of Ontwa.
In October, 1833, he was únited in marriage to Abigail, daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (Thomp- son) Fifield, who was born in Salisbury, N. H., April 8, 1815, near the birthplace of Daniel Webster. In May, 1845, Mr. and Mrs. Silver united with the Swedenborgian Church, of which they have since been consistent members. They are the parents of one child, George F., who was born in Newport, N. H., January 9, 1835, and has filled the offices of Town- ship Treasurer and Clerk of Ontwa. He was united in marriage May 6, 1863, to Miss Sarah J. Haney, and they are blessed with five children, viz .: Mary, Ray, Isabelle, Dora and Benjamin. The two first named are deceased.
AUSTIN C. MARSH.
Austin C. Marsh, son of Jesse and Althea (Foster) Marsh, was born in Sharon Township, Litchfield County, Conn., July 15, 1793. The family is of English extraction, and Jesse acted in the capacity of teamster during that sanguinary struggle, the Revo- lutionary war.
Having received a common school education, Austin C. went to Armenia, Dutchess County, N. Y., in
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1809, to learn the scythe-maker's trade, which at this time was an important industry, and there, in 1824, married Miss Zade (Case), who was born in 1796, and died in February, 1831. They became the parents of three children, Rufus, Walter and Emmott, the two former of whom died in that State.
Having married Abigail Darling in April, 1834, who was born in Armenia, Dutchess County, N. Y., in the year 1794, he, in June, 1836, came to Edwards- burg to carve out for himself a home, and purchased the village lots on which he now resides and which since that time have been his home.
Owing to Eastern competition, there was no possible opening for pursuing his trade, and for two years he turned his attention to blacksmithing, and then, in company with Abiel Silver, H. H. Cooledge and E. Taylor, established a foundry of which he shortly became the sole proprietor, and to which his son Emmott was admitted as a partner when arriving at manhood's estate. This business was conducted until 1875 and then discontinued, owing to the death of his son the year previous. In 1840, he cast a cannon which did duty for the Whigs during the memorable campaign of this year. Mr. Marsh has been an active, energetic and successful business man, and during his long residence in this place of nearly half a century has won and maintained the esteem and respect of the community of which he has been an honored member. Although he- has long since passed his threescore years and ten he is in the possession of all his faculties, and bids fair to enjoy many more years. He is now the sole survivor of his father's family of nine children.
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