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 45
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JARED C. WARNER, like many others of the older and substantial citizens of Detroit, came from New England. He was born in Chester, Connecticut, December 9, 1804, and was the son of John and Mehitable (Clark) Warner. His father was born August 4, 1772, and died in the autumn of 1850. His mother was born July 14, 1777, and died December 1, 1826.
Mr. J. C. Warner lived in Chester until 1831, when he came to Detroit, where he soon engaged in the hotel business, and continued in it until 1856. His first venture was in the old Eagle Hotel, on Woodbridge Street, between Griswold and Shelby Streets. In 1837 he began keeping the Franklin House, at the southwest corner of Bates and Larned Streets, and subsequently removed to the " Yankee Boarding House," which was on the southeast cor- ner, the site of the present Franklin House. One of the almost universal features of hotels at that time was the bar, but in 1843 Mr. Warner resolved to have none in his hotel, and his house became widely known as the Franklin Cold Water House, and has ever since been maintained as a temperance hotel.
After leaving the hotel business he engaged in various real estate transactions, and by careful investments secured a large fortune. He was a Democrat in his political faith, and sincere and earnest in adhering to his convictions. He served as a member of the Board of Education from 1856 to 1861, and as member of the Board of Review from 1866 to 1872.
For nearly twenty years prior to his decease he had lived rather a retired life, but he was always affable and courteous, universally esteemed by those who knew him, and among his intimates was des- ignated as " Uncle Warner." He was one of the earliest members of the First Baptist Church of Detroit, and a consistent and courageous advocate of the Christian faith.
He was married October 1, 1836, to Sarah Finney, daughter of Thomas and Harriet (Beatley) Finney. She was born in Delaware, New York, May 15, 1815. After enjoying fifty years of ex- ceptionally happy married life, Mr. and Mrs. Warner celebrated their golden wedding on October I, 1886. He died within one year after, on July 18, 1887, leaving his wife and one daughter, Mrs. H. H. James.
DEODATUS C. WHITWOOD was born in West Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, July 17, 1813. The homestead stood upon the State line, one half being in the State of New York and the other in Massachusetts. The head of the family voted in the State of New York, while the children from the same home attended school in Massachusetts. Before Mr. Whitwood became of age he made two journeys to Western New York, purchasing large numbers of cattle and driving them East for sale.
He came to Michigan in 1836, and was interested for a number of years in a line of stages running between Chicago and Detroit, making his head- quarters alternately at Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, and Jackson. About 1840 he engaged in merchandizing,
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at Dexter, Michigan, and was quite successful. About 1848 he disposed of his interests in Dexter, came to Detroit, and became at once identified with the produce business, the sale of farming implements, and also dealt in cattle. In 1853 he was appointed agent for the Sault Ste. Marie Canal Company, and held the position until 1860.
In 1862 he was appointed Comptroller of the city of Detroit, and is conceded to have been one of the most careful, exact, and scrupulous men that ever filled that important position. In politics Mr. Whitwood was a staunch Democrat, and one of the leaders of the party in Washtenaw and adjoining counties. The old inhabitants of some localities relate many amusing stories and anecdotes regard- ing his stump speeches, and the way in which he managed political campaigns.
In 1864 and 1865 he was engaged in constructing the harbor at Frankfort, on Lake Michigan. His connection with the Sault Ste. Marie Canal Com- pany led him to become largely interested in pine lands throughout the State. He also owned a large fruit farm on the shore of Lake Michigan, together with considerable real estate in Detroit. For several years previous to his death he was con- nected with the Wayne County Savings Bank, as second Vice-President, assistant Secretary and Treasurer.
Mr. Whitwood was a man of warm attachments, but resented injury, deceit, and misrepresentation with such outspoken scorn that he drove from his presence any who attempted to impose upon him. His quick perception, large and varied experience in business, and his unimpeachable integrity, together with an extensive acquaintance, made his services of great value in any enterprise in which he engaged.
In January, 1842, he married Caroline E. Farrand, of Ann Arbor. She died in 1864, and in 1866 he married Harriet Murdock, and within a year he was again bereaved. He died on October 7, 1884, leaving four children, D. B. Whitwood, Mrs. A. B. Case, Mrs. E. H. Flinn, and Mrs. H. W. Barnard, all of Detroit.
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EBER B, WARD was born December 25, 1811, in Canada, during a visit of his father's family to that country. The family were all natives of Vermont, and they returned to that State just at the commencement of the War of 1812. In 1818 they emigrated to Ohio, Mrs. Ward dying on the journey, at Waterford, Pa. Young Eber arrived in Detroit in 1821, aged nine years, and when twelve years old he was serving as cabin boy on a lake schooner. Being very enterprising and energetic,, he steadily advanced, until he commanded his own craft. Steam navigation on the lakes was then in
its infancy. He was quick to see the favorable opening, and continuing his investments he soon be- came prominent in various steamboat lines, and commanded personally several once well-known boats. As there were no railroads in those days to compete for travel and traffic, steamboating became immensely profitable, and Mr. Ward laid the found- ations for his subsequent large fortune. Gradually as railroads began to spread out towards the west and steamboating began to wane, he had the shrewdness and foresight to part with his vessel in- terests, and devoted his attention to iron manufac- ture just inaugurated in the west. He saw it must become an important interest, and buying up a large quantity of the depreciated stock of the Eureka Iron Company, which, owing to mismanage- ment, had not been successful, he procured the dismissal of the salaried officers of the company, and taking the management into his own hands he performed effectively and without charge duties that had previously entailed a great expense on the corporation. This was the turning point in the suc- cess of the Eureka Iron Company. It at once became a profitable establishment, and Captain Ward was fairly launched in the iron business. New plants were established at Chicago and 'Milwaukee, mines purchased on Lake Superior, blast furnaces erected at Wyandotte, Toledo, and other points, and im- mense pieces of timber land secured for charcoal purposes. At this time Mr. Ward was President of the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad, and he had been for a long time a director in the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad. As a railroad man his influ- ence soon extended westward to Iowa, where he was soon in charge of the Burlington and South- western Railway. About this time immense de- posits of silver were discovered on the north shore of Lake Superior, and Captain Ward was quick to occupy this new field for enterprise. The entire island known as Silver Islet was purchased, and ex- tensive mining operations inaugurated, followed by the erection of silver smelting works at Wyandotte. Hearing of large deposits of sand suitable for the manufacture of plate glass on the Mississippi river, below St. Louis, he investigated the same, bought the entire property, and in company with other parties established the American Plate Glass Works, which became the most extensive on the continent. It was always a wonder to his friends how Mr. Ward managed to successfully maintain the mastery of so much business. The secret lay in the fact that the captain was a good judge of men, and had the faculty of attaching faithful and competent men to himself, upon whom the details of his multifarious business could be placed, and whose fidelity he never failed to reward with princely generosity.
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In politics Mr. Ward was a Republican, and at the time of the impeachment movement against Andrew Johnson, Captain Ward's name was prominently mentioned in connection with the secretaryship of the treasury.
In character he was a man of mild and agreeable manners, quick in action, open-handed and gen- erous. Possessed of almost invincible determina- tion, if he thought his plans were unreasonably op- posed he would brook no opposition, and usually carried his point, but in general he was far from be- ing a difficult man to please. As a friend and pat- ron of young men of force and enterprise he was held in great esteem. He possessed a strong mind, and for one of comparatively limited education, was surprisingly well posted in science, modern history, political economy and philosophy, and could write most forcibly upon subjects in which he was inter- ested. He had considerable taste for and thorough- ly appreciated and enjoyed the accomplishments and graces of culture. His cabinet of mineralogy, his library, and his garden, all bespoke a high de- gree of natural refinement. Though bred a sailor, he was a thorough gentleman in his deportment. No oath or vulgar expression ever escaped his lips, and though possessed of great wealth, he was demo- cratic in his habits and free from all the petty weak- nesses of pride.
Mr. Ward's religious views were broad and liberal. To quote the words of one who holds his memory in grateful affection, " he believed in God, in universal law, in the communion of spirits, in life everlasting, and in eternal progress." His heart was large and his charity abundant, his forethought and foresight wonderful, making his judgment in business superior to ordinary men. . His nieces and nephews, and a long list of relatives and friends, remember with gratitude his kind heart and open purse. He was far from being a bigot, and alto- gether free from petty jealousy. Though nominally a Unitarian, he was always ready with a liberal dona- tion to any church or denomination that needed aid.
Mr. Ward's death, which occurred on January 2, 1875, was very sudden, and was caused by a stroke of apoplexy. By his first marriage Mr. Ward had five sons, John P., Henry S., Milton D., Charles H. and Frederick, and two daughters, Lfzzie V. and Mary E. By his second wife he had two children, Eber B. and Clara.
EMILY WARD, familiarly and almost univer- sally known as Aunt Emily, was born March 16, 1809, at Manlius, near Syracuse, N. Y. Her father, Eber Ward, was the son of a Baptist clergyman, and her mother the daughter of Captain Potter, a retired shipmaster. After the birth of Emily, Mr. Ward, who was a native of Vermont, moved back to
that State with his wife and two little daughters. Living there but a short time, he went to Canada, locating near the present site of Toronto. Mr. Ward remained in Canada about a year and then returned to his former home near Rutland, Vt., where he resided with his family for five years. In December, 1817, he, with his family, left for Ken- tucky, where he intended to settle permanently. It being winter, they were obliged to travel in a can- vas-covered sleigh, and the journey, which was through New York and Pennsylvania, was a weari- some one, and rendered much more so by the in- clemency of the weather. After they had been on the road for several weeks Mr. Ward was taken . with pleurisy, and the providing for the family was thrown on Mrs. Ward, until her husband was re- stored to health. The additional exertion she was impelled to make was more than she could sustain, and on their arrival at Waterford, Pa., she was taken sick, and after a few days' illness, died. Her death induced Mr. Ward to give up his intention of settling in Kentucky, and he directed his way toward the lake regions, reaching New Salem, now Con- neaut, Ohio, when he brought his journey to a close, and remained four years.
When Mrs. Ward died she left four children, "Aunt Emily," Sallie, Eber B., and Abbie, and at the age of nine years "Aunt Emily " was installed as housekeeper, and faithfully and well performed the duties and assumed the responsibilities of that position.
In 1822 the family went to Marine City, then known as Yankee Point, where Mr. Ward's brother Samuel lived and owned several vessels which he used for trading purposes. The family remained in Marine City about five years, during which time Aunt Emily taught school in addition to looking after the needs of her father's household, but finally, as the members of the family were suffering severely from malaria, they moved back to Con- neaut. At this time Aunt Emily's sisters married and went to make homes for themselves. Sallie became Mrs. Brindle and Abbie, Mrs. B. F. Owen.
About 1831 her father was appointed keeper of Bois Blanc Island Light-house, and after a few months Aunt Emily joined him, remaining there for eight or ten years.
"Aunt Emily assumed the active responsibility involved in the care of the light stations, a man be- ing employed by her father to carry out her in- structions. *
* * During the progress of a severe storm, while her father was at Mackinac, Aunt Emily discovered that the masonry of the light-house tower was being undermined. Watch- ing anxiously, she discovered seams appearing, run- ning its whole length from top to bottom. In spite of the fierce wind that was blowing, she climbed in-
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side the spiral stairs leading to the top of the tower, which was even then swaying back and forth, re- moved the lamp and other things of value and descended. She had scarcely reached the ground before the tower toppled over, but luckily it fell in such a manner as not to crush the residence."
About 1845, Aunt Emily returned to Marine City, living there for the next twenty years. During this time both of her sisters died, leaving large families, over whom she exercised the same kind guardianship she had exercised over their mothers. As has been truly said of her, "she found her mis- sion amongst children, and it was a mission in which her devotion was earnest and unwearying." She had under her care as many as ten children at one time, and brought up fourteen children from childhood to maturity. She cared for half a dozen others for periods of several years, and the number of those who felt the benefit of her assistance and the influence of her words of advice and encour- agement would reach into hundreds. She reared her charges in a good old-fashioned way, keeping them out of mischief by giving them something to do. She had a contempt for many of the acquire- ments and arts which are supposed to be essential to the training of the young ladies of the present day. She sought to impress upon the children the importance of work and the necessity of thrifty and economical habits. The late Captain Ward gave her material assistance in carrying out her projects and good deeds. He built a school for her at Marine City and fitted it out with all the equipments and appliances essential to a good education. A college graduate, whose salary he paid, was gener- ally placed in charge, but Aunt Emily was the pre- siding genius, or, as it has been happily put, "she had charge of the school-master, the school-house and the pupils, and was a board of education of one, with original and appellate jurisdiction." Though Aunt Emily had several proposals of marriage, she always refused, as she herself has said, "she didn't have time to get married."
Like her brother, she possessed considerably busi- ness talent, was quick to comprehend a business proposition, and to take in the phases of a commer-
cial situation. Captain Ward, over whom she had great influence, always attributed much of his suc- cess in business to her foresight and prudent sug- gestion. At a crisis early in his career, he was saved from ruin by the timely assistance of a sum of money which she had laid by, and with which the captain successfully overcame his embarrassment.
In 1865, she joined her brother in Detroit, where he had moved some years previous, and in 1869 Captain Ward built for her a large old-fashioned home on Fort street, nearly opposite his own beautiful house, and she has resided there ever since, being frequently visited by those who have felt the benefit of her kind attention, and over whom she exercised the care of a mother.
Her career has been full of incident. Placed in a position of responsibility at an early age, she soon displayed that force of character which has been one of her most prominent traits, and which years of energetic action have highly developed. Having once made up her mind to do a thing, and becom- ing convinced of the rightness of her position, she went ahead, regardless of what the world thought, bravely facing all obstacles, and if possible, over- coming them. She has always had a contempt for the demands of fashionable society, and clothed her- self in dresses of the plainest kind, adhering to the same style year after year. Accustomed from her childhood to work, she was never happy when idle, and frequently after spending the day attending to the wants of her own flock she would be seen hurrying off, bearing succor and good cheer to some sick or distressed family, and in the kindness of her heart she has always managed to have several such ones on her hands. Although she has never failed or faltered in her benevolent deeds and her cheerful good nature, honest, whole-souled sym- pathy, and steady generous giving of both money and time, and her wise counsel have endeared her to many scores of persons.
She has not shone in the literary, social, or politi- cal world, but she has left the impress of her life upon many, and will live, with thanksgiving, in their memory long after she has passed away.
John Brennan
Canrat Cliffeuts
CHAPTER CVII.
MERCHANTS AND MANUFACTURERS.
JOHN BRENNAN, of the firm of John Brennan & Company, Manufacturers of boilers and workers of sheet iron, was born in Ireland, on March 16, 1820. During the same year his parents emigrated to America, settling in New York City. At ten years of age he was an orphan and thrown upon his own resources, a fact that so materially inter- fered with his education that he may be called a self-educated man. While but a youth, he entered the Allair Iron Works in order to learn the black- smithing business, and in 1847, with the capital which he had acquired by industry and economy, he joined his uncle, James Brennan, in the boiler-mak- ing business at Detroit, under the name of J. & J. Brennan. In 1865 he became sole owner of the establishment, and in 1882 the business was incor- porated with a capital of thirty-five thousand dol- lars, Mr. Brennan becoming President. The insti- tution has steadily prospered, and now gives em- ployment to ninety or one hundred men, and a branch was established at Battle Creek in 1883.
Mr. Brennan's business life has been eminently successful, and he is now enjoying the reward of a life of continuous industry. In 1839 he married Matilda Van Drummond, of Long Island. She died shortly after her arrival in Detroit, leaving a son who subsequently died. On April 28, 1851, he married Hannah Hilton Butler, a native of Maine.
When the old volunteer fire department was in its prime, Mr. Brennan was a member of Con- tinental Co., No. 8, and often ran with the machine. He was also prominent in musical circles, and was at one time Treasurer of the Handel and Haydn Musical Association. His integrity and sterling qualities being well-known, his fellow citi- zens often tried to induce him to hold public office, but he always resisted the allurements of politics, and attended strictly to his personal affairs. Up to the beginning of the war with the South he was a Democrat, but after that time he voted the Re- publican ticket. In every respect, Mr. Brennan is a self-made man. By his own energies he has raised himself to a position of affluence and independence, and close application, strict business methods and
persevering energy have won for him a success of which he may well be proud.
CONRAD CLIPPERT was born in Hesse-Cas- sel, Germany, in 1834. His parents Henry and Anna Catherine (Kimbal) Clippert, died in Ger- many, leaving a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom John, Mrs. Mary Bornman and Conrad now survive. Conrad received a good education in Germany, and after coming to this country acquired an English education by attending night schools and by contact with English-speak- ing people. In the spring of 1850 he came to Wayne County, settled at Springwells, and com- menced his business career the following year as an errand boy in the employ of Richard H. Hall. Later on he became the book-keeper, and finally general manager of that gentleman's extensive brick-making business, holding the position until 1874, when he organized the firm of Clippert & Daniels.
He has taken a prominent part in public affairs, serving as Town Clerk one year, and being elected Supervisor in 1870. He filled this position for ten years, and was then elected Sheriff of Wayne County In 1882 he was re-elected as Sheriff, retir- ing from office in 1884. When Mr. Clippert was elected Sheriff he sold out his large brick-making interests, but re-engaged in them at the expiration of his term of office, and now gives employment to seventy-five or one hundred men.
He was married to Christina Frederica Pfeifle in 1859. She was born in Germany in 1840, and came to Detroit in 1844. They have six sons and one daughter, namely, George H., Frederick J., Charles F., Conrad, Jr., William, Julius Caspar and Hattie Frederica.
Mr. Clippert attends the German Lutheran Church at the corner of Jay and Russell streets. In politics he is a Republican and is an excellent worker for the interest of his party. Of a genial, friendly nature, he quickly makes friends, and num- bers them by hundreds. His great popularity amongst his fellow-citizens is attested by the fact
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that he was elected to the Sheriff's office on the Republican ticket in a largely Democratic county. Strictly honorable in his dealings, he has the confi- dence of all with whom he deals. His efforts in business ventures have been attended with gratify- ing success, and he is truly entitled to a place in the list of our self-made men.
VICTOR COLLIAU was born in Paris, France, July 4, 1827, and is the son of Francois and For- tuné Adelaide Colliau, née Lottin. His grandfather and great grandfather were clock and watch makers of reputation, their time-pieces being still in use in many French palaces. His grandfather, who in 1820 founded the iron works at Toutes- voyes near Chantilly on the River Oise, made the first wire nails by machinery and his father who succeeded to the business made the first iron wire- rope ever manufactured by machinery. Mr. Col- liau himself was at the head of this iron establish- ment for ten years and then sold out on account of the business stagnation that followed the revolutions of 1848 to 1851. He lived at his home in Paris, which had witnessed the birth of four generations of the Colliau family, until his eighth year, and then went to l'Abbe Poiloup's College at Vangirard, near Paris. He remained at College until his seven- teenth year, and amongst his college mates and friends were the present great chemist Berthelot and General de Gallifet, the sons and nephews of Lafayette, de Chateaubriand, de Larochejaquelain, de La Rochefoucauld, de Clermont Tonnerre, the sons of Admirals de Moge and Duperre, de Polig- nac, the nephews of Monsignor Affre, Archbishop of Paris, who was killed at the barricades in the revolution of 1848. On leaving college in 1844 he worked for his father until the latter's death in 1846, and then went as draughtsman for the Seguin Brothers, the great railroad and bridge builders. While with them he assisted in the construction of the railroad from Troy to Monteraux, and in the erection of three cast-iron cantilever bridges over the River Seine. On the death of his mother in 1850, he took possession of the iron-works, which he managed for six years, and then sold out to go to England, where he was engaged as draughtsman for Easton &. Amos, machinists. In 1857 he re- turned to Paris, preparatory to starting for America. While in Paris one of his sisters introduced him to a gentleman who had taken some shares in a com- pany just organized in Paris for the exploration and development of millions of acres of mineral lands, which the company claimed to hold by virtue of cer- tain letters patent issued by the American govern- ment, conferring large grants of land on certain persons who had done service for the Republic un- der the Marquis de Lafayette. Young Colliau was
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