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 76
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MRS. MARY E. NASH, of Canton, was born in Seneca, Ontario County, New York, May 4 1827. Her parents were Isaac and Mary (Dodd) Corwin, who came to Michigan in 1834. Mary E. Corwin married Zenas Nash of Lodi, Michigan, April 20, 1847. Zenas was born in New York State, July 22, 1821. His parents Aaron and Mary Corwin came to Michigan in 1836. Zenas and his wife lived in Jackson County, Michigan, until 1854 when they came to Canton, Michigan. Zenas died October 22, 1887, aged sixty-six years. They had five chil- dren, Erford, born May 24, 1848; Edgar, born June 19, 1850, died June 11, 1885 ; Ella, born July 21, 1852 ; Marian, born February 11, 1857, died August 22, 1886; John, born October 13, 1861. John married Jessie M. Lever, of Canton, Decem- ber 20, 1882. Jessie was born in Detroit, October 20, 1860. John and Jessie have two children.
MRS. JOHN PACKARD, of Canton, was born in Florida, New York, March 25, 1820. Her maiden name was Diantha Hannan. Her parents William and Fannie (Britton) Hannan came to Canton, Michigan, in the spring of 1853, and purchased eighty acres of land from the United States Govern- ment. Diantha Hannan married John Packard of Waterford, Wayne County, Michigan, August 12, 1840. John was born in Canada, September 4, 1818. His parents Willard and Sarah came to Michigan in 1832. John Packard and wife came to their present farm soon after their marriage. John died May 20. 1886. Nine children were born : Winslow H., born January 29, 1841, died Septem- 14, 1875 ; Florence A., born May 18, 1845 ; Preston,
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born November 6, 1846; Silas J., born December 21, 1849, died January 2, 1876; Cynthia, born Oc- tober 27, 1851 ; Mary B., born May 8, 1854 ; George, born September 15, 1855, died September 24, 1862; Martha, born April 17, 1858, died October 1, 1875 ; Elizabeth, born November 2, 1861. Winslow en- listed in Company D, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, in 1862, and served as a soldier until 1865.
ALFRED RIGGS, of Canton, was born in State of New York, May 23, 1832. His parents were Eli and Mary (Soule) Riggs, who came to Michigan in 1852 with their family of nine children. Eli died in 1859, aged 57, Mary died in 1866, aged sixty-six. Alfred married Abigail Z. Menzer, Decem- ber 28, 1854 Abigail was born in Lodi, Michigan, November 8, 1835. Her parents George and An- geline Menzer were Eastern people. George died in 1853, Angeline is still living. Mr. Riggs came to Wayne County, Michigan, in 1860. In 1863 he built a large brick house and new barns. They had five children, Mary A., born April 8, 1857; Frank L., born August 26, 1859; Arthur E., born July 13, 1863; Dora A., born January 4, 1865, died May 14, 1871 ; Jennie M., born January 2, 1872. Frank L., married Ella Jones, of Canton, Michigan, April 5, 1882. Ella was born in Plymouth, Michigan, Janu- ary 15, 1859. Frank is engaged with his father on the farm. Mr. A. Riggs has been Treasurer of Canton one year, and Director of School District No. 2, of Canton and Van Buren.
MRS. ELIZA C. ROBINSON, of Canton, was born in Canada, March 6, 1838. Her maiden name was Eliza Cheney. Her parents John and Eliza (Thorn- ton) Cheney, were from Ireland. John died in 1845 aged fifty, Eliza T., in 1850, aged thirty. Mrs. Robinson, née Cheney, came to Michigan in 1831. Eliza Cheney married Hiram H. Robinson, of Canton, Michigan, August 8, 1863. Hiram was born in Elmira, New York, September 30, 1833, and came to Michigan in 1837. Hiram being a sawyer by trade was obliged to move from place to place, but finally settled in Canton. Four children were born to them: May S., born May 8, 1864; William E., born January 22, 1866 ; Mary L., born October 19, 1 867 ; Sarah B., born September 14, 1871. May and Mary L .. have been engaged as teachers in the pub- lic schools throughout the county for a number of years. Mary L., married Wesley Baker, of Canton, Michigan, February 9, 1887. Wesley died July 30, 1887, aged thirty-two. Mrs. Baker has one child Ethel W. C., born December 25, 1887. They are living with Mrs. Robinson.
LORENZO SECORD, of Canton, was born in Clarence, Erie County, New York, July 19, 1817. His parents Joshua and Lydia (Harris) Secord came to Michigan with his family of four children, Janu- ary, 1821, locating in Detroit. Lydia died at Adrian,
in 1876, aged eighty-one. The father died in Van Buren, Wayne County, April, 1851, aged sixty- seven. Lorenzo learned the trade of millwright of his father. On April 25, 1841, he married Mary Smith, of Penfield, Monroe County, New York. Mary was born in Penfield, New York, May 2, 1818. Her parents were John and Sally Smith. After his marriage Lorenzo purchased a farm in Unadilla, Michigan, living there until 1848, when he came to Canton, Wayne County, Michigan. They have seven children: Sarah J., born March 4, 1842 ; John M., born May 23, 1844; Sylvester A., born Novem- ber 19, 1846; Frank A., born May 22, 1851 ; Charles P., born December 3, 1856; Mary E., born July 9, 1859; Delbert M., born December 14, 1860, died September 4, 1861. Mr. Secord held office of Constable and Treasurer. He is a member of Myrtle Lodge, No. 89, F. & A. M., of Belleville.
JOSEPH SEYMOUR, of Canton, was born in East Cottingworth, England, December 25, 1818. In 1843, Joseph married Ann Wiles, of East Cot- tingworth, England. In 1844 they came to Canada, remained there until 1853, when they came to Can- ton, Michigan, purchasing forty acres of land. Ann (Wiles) Seymour died October 18, 1870, aged fifty-five years. They had six children: Mary Jane, Sarah Ellen, Ann, Josephine, Walter and George. On April 19, 1871, Joseph married Sarah Ann Kinghorn, of Ypsilanti, Michigan. Sarah Ann was born November 3, 1827. They have no children.
CHARLES SHIPTON, of Canton, was born in Sternsville, Massachusetts, March 21, 1860. His parents George and Mary (Hoyt) Shipton were English people, coming to America in 1858. In 1868 George with his family came to Rawsonville, Wayne County, Michigan, being engaged in the woolen mills at that place. Charles worked in the mill with his father. In 1882 George and his family excepting Charles went to Dakota. July 4, 1880, Charles married Hattie Mckinstry of Canton. Hattie was born in Canton, Michigan, September 4, 1861. Her parents Andrew and Maria Mc- Kinstry, are residents of Canton, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Shipton have one child, Mabel, born November 3, 1881.
HENRY SITLINGTON, of Canton, was born in Stone House, England, June 26, 1812. He was apprenticed to a millwright when ten years old and served until seventeen years old. In 1829 he came to Canada remaining there until 1835. While in Canada he learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade. In 1836 he came to Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1839 he married Frances Smith of Canton. Frances was born in England in 1815. By this marriage there were eight children. Wm. Henry, Mary E. G. Oliver, Alfred A., Diana B.,
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Hannah C., Anna M. and Henry. Wm. H. and Henry are dead. Frances (Smith) Sitlington died in 1856. In 1858 Henry married Frances E. Lil- ley of Canton. Frances was born in England, June 5, 1838. She came to America in 1854. They have seven children: Sarah Jane, Edward A., George H., Frances M., Charlotte and Robert, Charlotte married James H. Phillips in June, 1887, and died April 13, 1888, aged twenty-two years. She left a son, Harry F. S. Phillips, who is with her parents.
CHARLES H. SMITH, of Canton, was born in Van Buren, Wayne County, February 1, 1859. His parents were Chas. W. and Jane (Barton) Smith and are residents of Van Buren. Chas. re- mained at home until twenty-one years of age, when he purchased 100 acres of land in Canton, it being known as a part of the Cotton farm. He married Ida R. Huston of Canton, Michigan, Octo- ber 25, 1882. Ida was born in Canton, February 2, 1865. Her parents Robert L. and Jane Ann (Comer) Huston are prosperous farmers of Canton. They have no children.
JOHN E. SMITH, of Canton, was born in Can- ton on the farm he now owns, March 17, 1854. His parents are George T. and Elizabeth (Duffey) Smith. John remained at home until his eigh- teenth year. He then went to Saginaw, Michigan, working in a saw-mill, and afterwards engaged in railroading on the F. & P. M. R. R. and M. C. R R. until the spring of 1884. April 16, 1884 he mar- ried Minnie Wilkinson, of Ypsilanti township, Michigan. Her parents Isaac and Emily Wilkin- son are residents of Ypsilanti. Minnie was born in South Lyon, April 7, 1857. They have two child- ren : Byron J., born April 7, 1886, Emmet, born June 16, 1888.
JOHN W. SMITH, of Canton township was born in Van Buren, June 13, 1866. His parents are Charles W. and Jane (Barton) Smith and are residents of Van Buren. John was at home until the spring of 1888. On March 27, 1888, he mar- ried Carrie C. Packard, of Ypsilanti, Michigan. Carrie was born iu Romulus, Michigan, January 21, 1871. Her parents were Winslow and Sarah (Mckinstry) Packard. Winslow died September 16, 1876, aged 33 years ; Sarah is still living. Soon after their marriage John and his wife came to live on the farm they now occupy.
JOHN J. TAIT, of Nankin, Michigan, was born in Dearborn, Michigan, January 8, 1856. His par- ents, John and Elizabeth (Slyphield) Tait, were English people. John died April 12, 1888, aged 71 years. John J. remained at home until he was six- teen years old and then began working for himself. In 1880 he had saved enough to buy an interest in a portable saw-mill, George Proctor being his
partner. They engaged in the' lumber business two years in the town of Salem and then came to Canton and purchased what was known as the "Mann 80," erecting a large mill, boarding house and necessary barns. July 3, 1885, fire destroyed their mill, nothing being saved but the engine. In 1886 fire destroyed their barns and carriage house, nothing saved. In spring of 1887 fire destroyed their boarding house, but they saved one-fourth of the contents. The amount of lumber sawed annu- ally was 500,000 feet, the oak timber going to the Car Works and the soft woods to the Michigan School Furniture Company and Frost Wooden Ware Works of Detroit. They give employment to twelve men. Mr. Tait attends to the financial part of the business, the buying and selling of the logs and lumber, Mr. Procter superintending the mill.
C. B. TRUESDELL, of Canton, general farmer and importer of thoroughbred horses, was born in Canton, August 6, 1844. His parents, Erastus and Cholista Truesdell, came to Michigan in 1834, locat- ing in Canton. Cholista died in 1882, aged sixty- seven years ; Erastus died in 1885, aged eighty-three years. On May 29th, 1866, C. B. Truesdell married Harriet Smock, of Van Buren. Harriet was born in New York, July 21, 1844. Her parents, Charles and Elizabeth Smock, came from New York to Michi- gan in 1845, locating in Van Buren township, where they are still living. They have five children : Carrie, born February 18, 1867 ; Bert, born October 28, 1875 ; Roy, born September 20, 1877 ; Samuel, born October 12, 1880; Frank, born July 11, 1883. Mr. Truesdell purchased the farm he now owns prior to his marriage. In 1880, he purchased an im- ported Clyde stallion, and has since added (by direct importation) two each of English Shire and Cleve- land bays. He has twenty head of horses aside from these on his farm, and keeps from six to ten milch COWS.
DEFOREST TRUESDELL, of Canton, Michigan, was born in Van Buren, Wayne Co., Michigan, June 26, 1860. His parents, Lewis and Eveline (Stew- art) Truesdell, were Eastern people. Lewis was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, and was killed at the battle of Winchester. Eveline died in 1873, aged thirty-eight years. On January 1, 1878, De- Forest married Eleanor Berdan, of Canton. Eleanor was born in Canton, Michigan, May 18, 1853. Her parents are George and Cynthia Berdan, who are liv- ing in Canton. In 1873 DeForest came to Wayne County, Michigan, to live with his uncle, Ephraim Truesdell, living with him until his marriage. In 1880, he purchased the farm he now owns. They have three children, Ella M., born October 12, 1878 ; Mary E., born February 12, 1883, and a boy, born May 25, 1888.
HENRY P. TRUESDELL, of Canton, was born in
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Canton, July 17, 1836. His parents, Erastus and Cholista (Mary) Truesdell, came to Michigan in 1836. Cholista died in 1882, aged sixty-seven years ; Erastus died in 1885, aged eighty-three years. January 1, 1861, Henry married Martha H. Mc- Kinstry, of Canton. Martha was born October 31, 1838. Her parents, Archibald and Mary (Adams) Mckinstry, came to the United States in 1834. Archibald died October 23, 1884, aged seventy-two years ; Mary died May 12, 1885, aged seventy-five years. November 9, 1865, Henry purchased one hundred and eight acres of his present farm. They have three children : Elmer Erastus, born February 16, 1865 ; William A., born May 18, 1869; George H., born December 17, 1872. Mr. Truesdell is a general farmer and stock raiser.
WILLIAM S. TRUESDELL, of Canton, was born in Barry, near Albion, New York. December 5, 1830. He, with his parents, Erastus and Cholista (Mary) Truesdell, came to Michigan in 1834. locat- ing in Canton township. Cholista died in 1882, aged sixty-seven years; Erastus died in 1885, aged eighty- three years. November 14, 1859, William married Sarah R. Nagge, of Canton. Sarah was born in Raisinville, Monroe County, Michigan, November 13, 1835. Her parents, James and Clarissa Nagge, were of Michigan birth. Clarissa died in 1848, aged thirty-nine years. James was a soldier of the Black Hawk and Patriot War, and is credited with the capture of the chief, Black Hawk. He is still living with his daughter Sarah, and is eighty years of age, and, with the exception of being blind, is in general good health.
WILLIAM TYLEY, of Canton, was born in Eng- land in 1822. He came to Michigan in 1832. In 1 840 he purchased the farm he now owns, clearing it himself. Subsequently he purchased forty acres more, and now has a fine farm of eighty acres under cultivation.
RICHARD WEST, of Canton, was born in Ire- land, July 24, 1826. October 22, 1848, Richard married Jane Jones, of Ireland. Jane was born October 2, 1822. In July, 1850, Richard, his wife and only child, Deborah, sailed for America. Sep- tember 29, 1850, they landed in Montreal, Canada. They came West to Superior, Washtenaw County, and purchased ninety acres of land, living here for thirteen years. In 1863, they came to Canton, Wayne County, Michigan, purchasing one hundred and sixty-five acres. Their children are Deborah, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary Ellen, Jennie, William, Jerome, and Nettie. Jerome died May 27, 1881, aged eighteen years. Joseph and William are con- ductors on Detroit street car lines.
P. S. WESTFALL, of Canton, was born in Phelps, Ontario County, New York, April 1, 1822. His parents, Peter and Abigail (Brink) Westfall,
with a family of four children came to Plymouth, Wayne County, Michigan, in September, 1835. Peter died in Plymouth Michigan, February 20, 1848, aged sixty-three years. Abigail died Septem- ber 3, 1870, aged seventy-eight years. April 2, 1846, Mr. Westfall married Lydia Knapp, of Salem, Michigan Lydia was born in New York State, June 7, 1828. Her parents, Harry and Siless (Simons) Knapp came to Michigan in 1834. After his marriage Mr. Westfall lived in Plymouth, Michigan, until 1851. He then moved to Lyon, Oakland County, Michigan, living here until the Spring of 1866, when he moved to Canton, Wayne County, Michigan. They have two children, Charles, born November 5, 1852, and Ada, born January 18, 1860. Charles is a druggist at Ithaca, Michigan Ida married Dr. E. F. Holmes of Canton.
JOHN P. WIEST, of Canton, Michigan, was born in Ontario County, New York, May 16, 1835. His parents were William and Amelia (Culver) Wiest. William was born August 5, 1803; Amelia was born November 21, 1810. They came to Michigan in June, 1836. William located the farm John now has, in 1840 William died September 19, 1885, aged eighty-two years. Amelia is living with her son, John. February 18, 1872, John married Mary Shackelton, of Canada. Mary was born in Canada, September 19, 1848. They have three children : Hattie J., born January 16, 1873 ; John J., born No- vember 19, 1875, and Francis J., born May 23, 1888. He is assessor of School District No. 2 of Canton.
JAMES WILES, of Canton, was born in York- shire, England, August 5, 1824. His parents were William and Ellen Wiles. William died in 1858, aged eighty ; Ellen died in 1866, aged ninety. James came to America 'in 1884, coming to Canton, Michigan, and working at his trade, that of a mason. On August 5, 1850 he married Ann Jane Mc- Kinstry of Van Buren, Michigan. Ann was born in Ireland, June 16, 1832. Her parents Archibald and Mary (Adams) Mckinstry came to Michigan in 1834, settling in Van Buren, taking land from the government. Archibald died in 1884, aged seventy-two ; Mary died in 1885, aged seventy-five. In 1850 Mr. Wiles purchased forty acres in Canton, and has since added to his farm until he now has 150 acres. The children are : Francis W., born June 17, 1851 ; Mary Ellen, born August 11, 1853. died June 5, 1863; Sarah Jane, born January 8, 1856; Betsey Ann, born June 5, 1859; James A, born March 22, 1862; George A., born October 24, 1865 ; Edward I., born June 20, 1868, died August 17, 1875.
ZENAS H. WINSOR, postmaster of Canton, was born in Chautauqua County, New York, July 8, 1830. In 1856 he came to Van Buren, Michigan,
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where he worked at his trade, that of wagon and carriage making for about three years. He then engaged in surveying, with George Lamson of De- troit, in Saginaw and Bay counties. After this he returned to Canton at that time called Sheldon's corners built a shop and worked at his trade. In 1861 he went to California prospecting and return- ed in the fall of 1862. In the spring of 1863 he went to Nevada and kept a station on a mail route for the exchange of horses. This station was at Spring
Valley. In the fall of 1865 he returned to Sheldons, Michigan. On January 1, 1868, he married Sarah Simpson of Canton, Michigan. Sarah was born in Canton, February 26, 1840. In 1877 Mr. Winsor engaged in general merchandise which he still con- tinues. On October 1, 1885, he was appointed postmaster of Canton. They have two children : Frank, born December 21, 1868, and Clark, born February 15, 1871.
DEARBORN.
JOHN BLACK, of Dearborn, was born in Scot- land, May 9, 1844 His parents were natives of Scotland. His father died there in 1886, his mother still lives in that country. John came to America in 1871, locating upon his present farm. He mar- ried January 30, 1883, Alexina McCallum of Liver- pool. Her parents were born in Scotland. They have three children.
JOHN COSBEY was born in Ireland in 1820. He came to America in 1843, and settled at Herkimer, New York, clerking in a general store. He came to Dearborn in 1850, and married Mary Campbell of Dearborn. in 1852. They have six children. He has been Supervisor, two terms, Treasurer, two terms, Justice of the Peace, eight years and is still in office. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1850, was detailed as clerk in the Detroit Arsenal, and held that position fifteen years. He held the same posi- tion as civilian ten years, then when the arsenal was discontinued in 1875, he was appointed custodian of it, holding that position three years, making a con- tinuous term of twenty-eight years.
HENRY DITTMER was born in Germany, Feb- ruary 20, 1827. He came to America in 1881, and settled upon a farm in Dearborn. He married Miss Annie Lukins of his native town. They have six children, Annie, Minnie, John, Emma, Lena and Frederick.
ANDREW J. DORT was born at Dearborn, Jan- uary 9, 1837. He married Lydia S. Wisner, of Dearborn, January 1, 1857. Seven children were born to them. Mrs. Dort died July 17, 1885 Mr. Dort has been School Assessor about twenty years. He is largely engaged in market gardening
JOHN GARDNER, farmer of Dearborn, was born on the farm where he resides, November 14, 1844. His parents were born in England, and came to America in 1828, locating at Dearborn, At the death of his father James purchased the homestead of 80 acres of land. He married No-
vember 29, 1883, Jennie Flaherty of Barrie, On- tario, who died April 6, 1885. He is engaged in raising English draft horses and fine live stock. He is a school director.
WILLIAM M. HOLTON, merchant of Dearborn was born September 21, 1847, in Ireland. His father died when William was two years of age. His mother, with her family, came to America in 1849. In 1855 they came to Michigan. She died in 1872. William, when twenty-one years of age, en- tered the Normal School at Ypsilanti, and after- wards the Detroit Business College, from which he graduated in 1869. He was clerk in a store until 1875. when he began business for himself. On January 2, 1871 he married Anna M. McPherson, of Dearborn, who was born March 20, 1848. Four children were born to them : Gertrude, Wil- liam, Charles and Don M. Dickinson. Mr. Holton has been Justice of the Peace since July 1875, and post master four years and is now deputy.
EDGAR HOWARD, retired farmer of Dearborn, was born in Bristol County, Massachusetts, April 8, 1822. His parents came to Michigan in 1836 locating at Dearborn, and afterwards bought the farm now occupied by Edgar. When he was twenty-one years of age, Edgar was employed on the railroad, which position he retained sixteen years, when he returned to the farm, and a few years after- wards was appointed Superintendent of the County House. Has been town treasurer three years, Jus- tice of the Peace four years, and Highway Commis- sioner. He married Nancy A. Van Alstine, of Nan- kin, in 1843. She was born in Genesee County, New York, September, 1822. They had seven children.
SHEPHARD L. HOWARD, farmer of Dearborn, was born in Massachusetts. He came with his parents to Dearborn in 1836. For ten years he was employed by railroad companies as fireman and engineer. He enlisted August, 1862, in the Twenty- fourth Michigan Infantry, Company D, as private.
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He was in the battles of Ist and 2d Fredericks- burg, Fitzhugh's Crossing, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, where he was wounded. He re-enlisted in 1864 as First Lieutenant in the Twenty-fourth Michigan, Company K, and was mustered out June 30, 1865 He married in April 1865, Irene Allen of Dearborn, whose parents came from England, July 1, 1836. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Howard. He has been town treasurer, also held other offices.
GEORGE MCCORMICK was born at Dearborn, February 19, 1836. His parents came to Michigan in 1829. He married January 9, 1878, Anna Robb of Van Buren, who died April 25, 1886.
BERNARD H. MAGOONAUGH was born March II, 1842, at Dearborn, Michigan. He enlisted in the Fifteenth United States Infantry in 1861, and served three years, when he was wounded at the battle of Shiloh or Pittsburgh Landing. He served under Generals Buell, Grant, Sherman, and Thomas. He re-enlisted March 17, 1865, and was stationed at the Detroit Arsenal. While firing a salute on the day of President Lincoln's funeral, by the premature discharge of one of the guns, he lost both hands. He was appointed Custodian of the Detroit Arsenal,
June 17, 1885, by President Cleveland, and still holds the position.
CYRUS RANDALL, of Dearborn, was born June 24, 1821, in New York State. His parents were of New York birth and came to Michigan in 1832. He married Caroline Downing of Nankin. He owned at one time forty acres of land at Romulus, where he lived a short time. He returned to Nankin and purchased sixty acres of land. Nine children were born to them.
SAMUEL REED was born in Ireland in 1829. He married Mary Smith in 1844, who was also born in Ireland. They have five children. They came to America in 1845, and located at Dearborn in 1851. He enlisted in 1863 in the Twenty-fourth Michigan, and was with the regiment in all its en- gagements. He is a member of the Masonic Fra- ternity. He is a general contractor for digging wells, fencings, etc.
ARCHIBALD ROBINSON, was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, December 10, 1810. He came to Ame- ica in 1832, locating at Dearborn in 1833. He married Sarah Woodworth, at Dearborn, in 1850. They have an adopted son. Mr. Robinson has been Pathmaster and Assessor for several years.
DETROIT.
SAMUEL ABERNETHY was born at Detroit in 1838. His father was born at Colchester, England, and his mother in Ireland; they were married in Canada and came to Detroit in 1837. His father engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and died in 1853, leaving a widow and eight chil- dren. Samuel learned the tin and sheet iron trade, and worked as journeyman for several years. In 1869 he engaged in the hardware business, and in 1877 purchased his present store on Grand River Avenue. He married Margaret Hopkin, of Detroit, in 1864. She was born in Scotland, and died in 1887, leaving one daughter, Jennie Belle.
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