USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. II > Part 25
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He has invested largely in real estate, and by the «erection of many fine residences has aided in beau- tifying the city. Socially he is a genial companion, and personally enjoys the friendship of a wide cir- cle of friends, while his business integrity com-
mands the respect of the commercial community. He is a Democrat in politics, but, aside from loyally supporting the candidates and principles of his party, has taken no active part in politics. Although not a member of any religious denomination, he is an Episcopalian from early training and faith, and renders substantial support to religious and charit- able work. His business partner, Mr. Fowle, was born in Geneva, New York, but for many years has been a resident of Detroit, and in numerous ways has aided the prosperity of the firm.
Mr. Dudley married Sarah Marie Lawhead, of Brighton, Michigan. They have had three children. Charles Edward, the only one living, is an assistant in his father's business.
WILLIAM H. ELLIOTT was born near Am- herstburg, Ontario, October 13, 1844, and was employed on a farm and in a store until he was fourteen years old. His education was obtained in the schools of that locality. His parents, James and Elizabeth (Pastorius) Elliott, removed to Kings- ville, a small village in Essex County, where his father engaged in mercantile business and in milling.
At the age of sixteen William H. entered a store at Amherstburg, where he remained until 1864, when he came to Detroit and engaged as clerk in a small dry goods store on Jefferson avenue. In 1866 he became a clerk for George Peck, in one of the stores on Woodward avenue which he himself now occu- pies. In 1871 he was admitted as a partner with Mr. Peck, the firm being George Peck & Co. The partnership continued until 1880, when Mr. Elliott withdrew from the firm and established business for himself at 139 Woodward avenue. In 1884 he bought out a dry goods store adjoining him, known as No. 137, in which he had been engaged as clerk in 1866, and by this operation more than doubled the volume of his business. He continued to prosper, and in 1887 added the next store on the west, and his establishment now includes the three stores, 135, 137 and 139 Woodward avenue, and is one of the largest retail houses in Detroit.
His success has been really remarkable, and it is noticeable that it has been achieved in the same locality, and literally in the same block, where his business life has been chiefly spent. This has given him a large acquaintance with the purchasing pub- lic, with whom he has always been popular, and whose confidence he early secured by honorable dealing, and has as surely kept. He has adhered strictly to a cash business and to the one-price rule, and has never been sensational in his advertisements or methods. Although diligent in business, and successful in building up a large trade, he has not been lacking in public spirit nor unmindful of duties and interests in other directions. Since 1884 he has
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been a director in the Dime Savings Bank ; since 1886 a director in the Imperial Life Insurance Com- pany, also treasurer and director of the Thomson- Houston Electric Light Company, and from its organization a director in the Preston National Bank. He is the President of the Michigan Club, and one of the trustees of Harper Hospital, also a member of the Detroit and Grosse Pointe Clubs. Much of his leisure time is spent in looking after his farm and improved stock in Oakland County.
He is a Republican in politics, and an earnest supporter of every movement that gives promise of good to the city or nation. As a business man, he ranks among the ablest in the city. Coming here without means, he has carved out his own fortune by energy, enterprise, good management and cour- teous demeanor towards all, and there are few if any but rejoice in the success which has crowned his efforts. He is esteemed as a manly man, a trustworthy citizen, and a devoted friend. Liberal towards all worthy charitable objects, he has shown himself especially helpful to deserving young men, who by good conduct have commended them- selves to his confidence. He has been twice married, first in 1870, to Lena Caverly, who died in March, 1871. On April 21, 1874, he was married to Fidelia, daughter of the late Rev. Dr. William Hogarth, formerly pastor of the Jefferson Avenue Presby- terian Church, of which congregation both himself and his wife are members.
JAMES LAFAYETTE EDSON was born at Batavia, Genesee County, New York, July 31, 1834. His father's name was Lewis M. Edson. His mother's maiden name was Sarah A. Flint. They had five children, three boys and two girls, James L. being the eldest. The family were descendants of early puritans, the mother being from Massachusetts.
The elder Mr. Edson contracted the yellow fever while on a visit to the South, and never fully recov- ered from its effects, and in consequence of this fact he and his family made frequent changes of residence while searching for a favorable climate. They finally located at Akron, in New York, about twenty-five miles east of Buffalo, and there, in 1859, the father died. The two brothers of J. L. Edson, John M. and Dallas M., enlisted in the War of the Rebellion, the former dying at Fortress Monroe, and the latter a few days after reaching home. The mother and one sister, Mrs. Charles M. Rich live at Akron, New York.
The year following his father's death, James L. Edson, who was then sixteen years old, became a clerk in the store of Charles M. Rich, the leading merchant in the village. He was in the employ of Mr. Rich four years and then went to Buffalo, where he remained about a year. While in Buffalo he
became impressed with the larger business oppor- tunities afforded in the West, and determined to make a venture elsewhere. With this idea he left Buffalo, without deciding definitely as to where he would settle; and on December 7, 1855, arrived in Detroit. Reaching this city an entire stranger, and with but little means, he sought employment and secured a situation with James Stephens, in the then widely advertised and well-known " Checkered Store," located on the site now occupied by the stores of J. L. Hudson. He remained in this establishment about two years, and in 1857 secured a place in the large wholesale dry goods house of Orr, Town & Smith, who had succeeded Zachariah Chandler & Co., at 23 Woodward avenue, Mr. Chandler, who had been elected to the United States Senate, retaining an interest as special part- ner. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Edson was admit- ted as a partner in the business, the name of the firm being changed to Allan Shelden & Co., the partnership continuing for six years. In Febru- ary, 1872, in connection with George F. Moore, Ransom Gillis, Charles Buncher and Stephen Bald- win, Mr. Edson organized the firm of Edson, Moore & Co. They began business at Nos. 188 and 190 Jefferson avenue, on the west side of Bates street, and in 1882 removed to the building Nos. 194 to 204 Jefferson avenue, which was erected espe- cially for their occupancy.
In this place the success of the firm has been quite exceptional, and no house of the kind in Detroit does a larger business, and few dry goods houses in the West sell as many goods yearly as are marketed by their establishment. The extent of the business affords ample scope for business management of the highest order, and the success achieved affords abundant evidence of the possession of these qualities by the persons chiefly interested.
In social life, Mr. Edson is known as a warm friend and generous companion. He is liberal in his benefactions, appreciative of good endeavors, discriminating in judgment, and is highly esteemed as a progressive, successful and public-spirited citi- zen. Politically he is a Republican, and has served as President of the Michigan Club. In addition to his regular business interests, he is a large share- holder in the Brush Electric Light Company, and a director in the People's Savings Bank.
He was married in August, 1857, to Julia A. Collins. They have two living children, Mary A. and Lillian E. A third daughter, now deceased, was the wife of E. T. Adams.
JACOB S. FARRAND was born in Mentz, Cayuga County, New York, May 7, 1815. His parents came to Detroit in May, 1825, but after a few months removed to Ann Arbor. While living
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at Ann Arbor, Mr. Farrand, then a boy of thirteen, carried the mail on horseback between Detroit and his home. Two years later in 1830 he came to De- troit, where he secured employment in the drug store of Rice & Bingham. After six years' service, having attained his twenty-first year, he formed a partnership with Edward Bingham and embarked in the drug business and continued therein for five years. He was then appointed deputy collector of the port and district of Detroit, then extending below the city and around the shores of Lakes Huron and Michigan and including the city of Chicago. Dur- ing the year of 1841 he also served as military sec- retary of the Governor. After four years' service as deputy collector he again entered the drug business and has since continued actively engaged therein.
As senior member of the wholesale drug firm of Farrand, Williams & Co. he has seen the business grow from a few thousands yearly to an amount exceeding $1,000,000 annually. The high standing of the house in commercial circles has been largely due to the untiring energy, careful management and unsullied business probity of Mr. Farrand. His active energies have also been directed to other busi- ness channels where equal success has followed his endeavors. For many years he has been treasurer of the Detroit Gas Light Company ; a director of the Detroit Fire and Marine Insurance Company ; at present vice-president, and from its organization a director of the Wayne County Savings Bank ; from the beginning connected with the Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Company and for many years its president. For years he has been a director of the First National Bank and was its president from 1868 to 1883, holding the position at a time when able financial management and the full confidence of the people were especially needed. His wise counsel, good judgment and far-seeing ability as well as his personal worth inspire the fullest trust in all the institutions under his control.
In a monograph on Banking in Michigan, pre- pared by Theodore H. Hinchman, he pays Mr. Farrand the following well deserved tribute , "Jacob S. Farrand was president of the First National Bank from the death of S. P. Brady in 1868 until the ex- piration of its first term in 1883. He is of medium height, slender with strong regular features and pleasing address. His well known reliability and integrity commended the bank to public favor and aided in securing to it a large business. Careful, conscientious, faithful attention to duties, combined with good sense, entitled him to a high position as a bank officer. His kindly deportment and benev- olent impulses have won many friends. He is one of those rare good tempered persons who have no quarrels and consequently have no enemies. At the
same time he is not over credulous or liable to imposition."
His taste and disposition do not run toward pub- lic station nor official life, but on several occasions he has waived his personal preferences and accepted public duties. From 1860 to 1864 he was a mem- ber of the Common Council. During this period he served for one year as president of the Board and for a short time was acting mayor. When the Met- ropolitan Police law was enacted he was appointed Police Commissioner for the long term and served eight years all the time as president of the Board, after which he was solicited to continue in office but declined a re-appointment. For twenty years he has been a member of and has served as president of the Board of Water Commissioners. He has ever evinced a warm interest in educational projects, and as a member of the Board of Education was for sev- eral years a helpful factor in securing liberal pro- visions for the maintenance of public schools, and is president of the Detroit Home and Day School.
From boyhood Mr. Farrand has been a member of the first Presbyterian Church of Detroit, and since 1856 an elder. His efforts in religious and charitable work have been founded on deep and conscientious convictions of duty. He was a mem- ber of the committee to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which met at Dayton, Ohio, in 1863, at New York in 1869, and at Detroit in 1873. He took a prominent part in the action which brought about the union of the new and old schools of Presbyterians of the United States, hav- ing been a member of the joint committee on re- union appointed by the Assemblies in 1866 and also of the committee of conference on the same subject appointed by the Assemblies of 1869. He was on the committee for the reorganization of the Board of Home Missions and for many years was receiving agent in Detroit for the American Board of Commis- sioners of Foreign Missions. In July, 1877, he was a delegate to the Pan Presbyterian Alliance held at Edinburgh, Scotland. In local church work in con- nection with the Presbyterian denomination, he has been as active as the most critical could desire, both by gifts of money and of personal service. For many years he has been a Sunday school teacher, in one of the most needy fields of mission labor and in temperance work was active at an early day, when to be so was to be singular, and his labors in this direction and in favor of Sunday observances are well known matters of record. He has been from the first actively and earnestly interested in the furtherance of the interests of Harper Hospital, serving as trustee and for several years as President of this most worthy institution. He is also a trustee of the State institution known as the Eastern Asy- lum for the Insane at Pontiac.
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Mr. Farrand is simple in his taste and habits, modest and retiring in disposition, conscientious and careful in his doings. His religious views are the result of the clearest and most deliberate convic- tions, but he is full of generous and charitable im- pulses and includes in his fellowship all who believe in and practice the Christian virtues. As a business man he is conservative and cautious, yet when he has once embarked in an enterprise he has the courage to see it through to the end. He is one of those who know how to be independent without being obstinate. Although conservative, he is not harnessed to dogmas or rules ; is seldom aggressive, but is never crowded from the platform of his own judgment. He never arouses antagonism by arro- gant or dogmatic pursuance of a project, but a course of action decided upon, although pursued with persistency would be so manifestly fair as to be accepted by all the right thinking as wise and just. In matters of great interest, and in times of great excitement, his equanimity is undisturbed and his judgment unclouded. His deep interest in the material prosperity of Detroit has been proved in many ways. Personally he is genial and pleasant, enjoying the society of his friends, and living loyally up to every duty of his public, business, and private life. More could be said of him in com- mendation ; less could not and do justice to one who for so long a period has rendered constant, devoted, and efficient service to many agencies that have aided in the enlightenment and uplifting of his fellow-citizens.
He was married August 12, 1841, to Olive M. Coe, of Hudson, Ohio, daughter of Rev. Harvey Coe, a pioneer of the Western Reserve, well known to many of the older citizens of this city. Their children are: Mary C., wife of Rev. James Lewis, of Joliet, Illinois; W. R. Farrand, J. S. Farrand, Jr., and Ollie C., wife of R. P. Williams.
JOHN FARRAR, of Detroit, traced the family ancestry to John Farrar, of Lancashire, England, who, with his younger brother Jacob, settled at and were among the first proprietors of Lancaster, Massachusetts, which town was incorporated on May 18, 1653. On the twenty-fourth of Septem- ber, 1653, they were leaders and signers of what was called "a covenant for the better preserving of the purity of religion and themselves from the infection of error, and for the exclusion of excom- municants or otherwise profane and scandalous per- sons, or anyone notoriously erring against the doc- trine and discipline of the churches and the State and the government of the commonwealth." Dur- ing King Phillip's War, on February 10, 1675, the town was nearly destroyed by the Indians and sev- eral of the family were killed by them. The Far-
rars of Lancashire, England, are descended from the Farrars or Farrers of Eawood Hall, Halifax, Lords of the Manor Wortley, in Yorkshire, of which family the head in 1863 was James Farrar, of Ingle- borough County, York, Deputy Lieutenant for West Riders and County Durham, and formerly Member of Parliament of South Durham. From this Yorkshire family came Robert Farrar or Far- · rers, Bishop of St. David and Canon of St. Mary's, who was martyred in the reign of Queen Mary. They were descended from Henry de Ferrers, son of Walchelin de Ferriers, who was a Nor- man Knight, and a conspicuous leader in the army of William the Conqueror in 1066; his name is on the roll of Battle Abbey and in the Doomsday book. The Lordship of Etingdon was given him in Normandy after the conquest. He was created Lord of Tutbury, County of Stafford, and his son Robert, Earl of Derby, by King William. The family originally took its name from Ferriers, a town in the Gastenois, France, celebrated for its iron mines. Arms, crests and mottoes are numer- ous in the early history of the family. The de- scendants of John and Jacob Farrar have been in all the wars incident to the United States ; have served as judges and filled various professorships at Dart- mouth, Andover and Cambridge.
John Farrar, of Lancaster, Massachusetts, died November 3, 1669. His son John was born in England between 1640 and 1650 and had a son John who was born about 1670, who left a son also named John, born about 1700. He married Anna Chandler. In 1758 he joined the British Army under General Braddock and is supposed to have been killed at the taking of Quebec in 1759. His son John, born about 1732, married Anna Whit- ney ; he was in the War of 1776. His son, Captain Asa Farrar of Rush, now Avon, New York, form- erly of Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachu- setts, was born in Northfield, Massachusetts, June 16, 1760, died at Avon, January 18, 1829. He married Dorinda Pearsons, a relative of Rev. Abram Pearsons, first President of Yale College. In May, 1777, at the age of seventeen, he joined the Continental Army and was three years in Captain Hodskin's company, under Colonel Timothy Bige- low, and three years in Colonel Crane's regiment of Massachusetts Artillery, and for his services re- ceived a pension.
His son, John Farrar, of Detroit, was born June 27th, 1793, in Rutland, Massachusetts, but spent his childhood with his parents on their farm at Rush, New York. His education, which included private instruction in surveying and architecture, was completed at Canandaigua, New York. On July 1, 1812, when nineteen years old, he entered the American Army and served in Captain James
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McNair's company of Colonel Philetus Swift's regi- ment of volunteers. He was stationed at Black Rock, on the Niagara frontier, most of the time during the summer and autumn of that year. On the sixteenth of October, the sailors, under the com- mand of Lieutenant Elliott, boarded and cut loose the brig " Adams " and the schooner " Caledonia," then lying at anchor at Fort Erie, to send them over Niagara Falls. The " Adams" grounded on Squaw Island and was burned and the " Caledonia" landed off Long Battery. In this affair John Far- rar took a prominent part. While serving under General Scott he participated in and was wounded at the battle of Lundy's Lane and at the close of the campaign was among the troops left to guard the Niagara frontier and remained there through the winter of 1813. For these services he received a pension and a grant of land.
On June 15, 1815, at Canandaigua, New York, he became a member of the Masonic body. In the two following years, business called him to Canada, where he gained many friends through his connec- tion with that society. He received the degree of Master Mason on November 6, 1820, at Ontario Lodge, No. 23. He subsequently became a mem- ber of Zion Lodge, No. I, at Detroit ; filled all the offices and was one of the founders of Detroit Lodge, No. 2. The petition for the charter of this last Lodge was signed by John Farrar, Levi Cook, John Mullett, Marshall Chapin, Jeremiah Moors, Charles Jackson. and three others. During the anti-Masonic excitement their lodge meetings were discontinued, but after a lull of fourteen years they aided in re-establishing Masonry and administered the Royal Arch degree from memory, each one. recalling a part of the ceremony. John Farrar was High Priest of Monroe Chapter in 1825-26, a Knight Templar and a member of Monroe Coun- cil, R. A. S. M., and various other bodies of the order and Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Michigan. At the time of his death he was one of the oldest members in the United States, and a year before was received with honors-at the Grand Chapter.
He arrived at Detroit, May 22, 1817, and be- came a useful citizen and merchant. During ter- ritorial times he was an intimate friend of Gen- eral Cass and was chosen by him to represent the territory in the erection of the Court House or Capi- tol, which duties he performed from October 1, 1826, to July 1, 1827. Prior to this he had given most of his time to building and surveying and was fre- quently called upon to pass judgment on structures for the city, territory or State. He was alderman at large in 1828, '31 and '36, assessor and collector of the Second Ward in 1843-44; was collector in 1832, '38 and '48. He was one of the first projec-
tors of the Detroit Mechanics' Society and was their bondsman for the construction of their first building on Griswold Street. He was President and Secretary of that society in 1836, and 1841 to 1853, and from 1854 to 1860, and librarian for the thirty years preceding his death. He favored edu- cation ; was one of the committee who selected the University grounds at Ann Arbor, and in 1834 was one of the committee that established the first dis- trict school in Detroit ; it was conducted by Charles Wells in the old academy on Bates Street. He was commissioned to the second lieutenancy in the militia by acting Governor Stephen T. Mason, on May 23, 1832, and was first lieutenant in Captain Charles Jackson's Dragoons in the Black Hawk War of 1832, under General John R. Williams, and one of the escort that accompanied Colonel Edward Brook, Major Charles W. Whipple and Major M. Wilson, to Chicago, to assist in the protection of that town from the Indians. The command es- caped conflict but were voted thanks by the cor- poration of Chicago for the prompt response to their call for help. They remained some weeks awaiting developments of the war, and during the time made a reconnaissance of Napier settlement, a point then threatened by the Indians. After the capture of Black Hawk they returned. For his ser- vices in this war, Mr. Farrar received a grant of land.
After his return he purchased a building on the corner of Bates and Atwater Streets, the last named street then being the chief business thoroughfare, and in 1836 opened a general store with dry goods, hardware and groceries, doing what was then con- sidered a thriving business. At the great fire of April 27, 1837, the store and all its contents were burned.
Mr. Farrar was brought up a rigid Puritan but became a more liberal thinker and in 1831, with two others, purchased the First Presbyterian Church and removed it to the corner of Bates Street and Michigan Grand Avenue, with the expectation of its being used as a Universalist Church, but the project failed and the building was sold to and occupied by the Trinity Catholic Church. He was thoughtful of the needs of others, a liberal giver to charities and a great entertainer, and many families emigrating to Western homes found an asylum with him. His homestead was at the corner of Bates and Farrar Streets, which latter street perpetuates his name.
He had a very retentive memory, possessed a fund of information on matters connected with the military and political history of the United States, and took great delight in relating incidents con- nected with his personal and ancestral history, to relatives and intimate friends. He was naturally of
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a retiring disposition and although importuned to become a candidate for prominent positions, he steadfastly refused, yet he filled several municipal offices with honor and trust and with a zeal that was eminently characteristic. He was a Whig in politics and when that party ceased, became a Republican.
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