USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 108
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He has held nearly every office in his tp. and is at present Super- visor, which office he has held for nearly 10 years. Mr. Blackmore and wife are honored and respected members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has a commission to preach, which was granted by the General Conference in 1873. He is a strong advocate of Republican principles, and has been elected to all its offices in the tp.
Samuel Bolton (deceased); P. O., Leslie; was born in Lebanon county, Pa., Feb. 14, 1812, and is by trade a blacksmith. In 1836 he migrated to Wayne county, Ohio, where he united in mar- riage with Miss Shuey, a daughter of Henry Shuey, a native of Pennsylvania, born Nov. 25, 1819. They have 4 sons and 3 daughters, 4 of whom are living-John H., Jerry, Mollie and Kate. Mr. Bolton died Aug. 2, 1877, a man highly respected by all who knew him. He left his widow in comfortable circum- stances. Had 3 sons in the army-John H., William and Jerry.
H. G. Cole, farmer; P. O., Rives Junction; was born in Concord, N. H., Feb. 17, 1808, of American ancestry; he resided with his parents in Concord until 1810, when they moved to New Jersey, taking him with them. In 1835 he with several others, was at-
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tacked with the Western fever, and immediately started for what was then known as the far West; they came to Jackson county, and commenced prospecting for a future home; having at last chosen a favorable location he returned, and in the spring of 1836 he im- migrated with his family to the Territory of Michigan. He traveled by canal from Syracuse to Buffalo, and from Buffalo to Detroit by steamer, and from there to Jackson with a team; they had consid- erable difficulty in crossing the swamps, miring at times, and having to call to their assistance some fellow traveler who had a good yoke of oxen.
Marvin Dorrell, farmer; P. O., Jackson; was born in Mohawk county, N. Y., April 17, 1804, and remained with his parents until 1821, when he bought his time and got a power of attorney from his father to make contracts, etc., and have them binding, after which time he remained in the same county, until the spring of 1833, when he went to Herkimer county, N. Y. During seven years of his time he was engaged in farming-from 1828 to 1835; he was Constable and Sheriff, and did collecting. During the years 1835-'6 and '7 he was Captain of a boat on the Erie canal. Thinking there were greater inducements being held ont to young men in the West he came to the State of Michigan, in the year 1837, and located on sec. 20 in Rives tp. Previous to coming to Jackson county be sent a draft for $1,400 by Allen Bennett to pur- chase land in Jackson county. Mr. Bennett was to have half of the profits, or 14 per cent. of the entire investment; the former was given. In 1834 he married Miss Mary B. Sargeant, native of the State of New York. Upon arriving in Jackson, he left his family in the city, and hired their board for about one month, when he became tired of the prosy life of Jacksonburgh, and rented a log house about one mile north from where he now lives, until he could build. In the fall of 1837 he built a log house 18x26, and moved into it. He remained on this place for about 10 years, when in 1847 he was selected as Deputy Sheriff by the agent, and confirmed by the State Board of Inspection ; there he remained for four years; at the expiration of his time, not fancying the work which he had to perform, he concluded to retire from active life. For a few years he lived in the city of Jackson, and did nothing but look after the interests of his many farms; but being a man unac- customed to so tame and moderate a life, again engaged in busi- ness. In the year 1870 he bought half interest in the carriage factory at Jackson. But owing to the hard times and manipula- tions of unscrupulous men, he sunk nearly $50,000 in less than seven years. Being thus pilfered of a large fortune he returned to his farm in Rives, on sec. 30, where he has since resided. While engaged in the carriage business he purchased one-third interest in the Gravel Road, and expended $2,000 in repairing. The public becoming incensed, tried to get a bill passed annulling the power of the corporation, but not succeeding in this they at last compromised, and Mr. Dorrell agreed to give up the road hy a
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certain time if they would use their influence in obtaining travel, that he might recover the money expended in putting the road in repairs; they did not do this. and when the time had arrived to withdraw and give up possession, concluded that as they had not lived up to their part of the contract he was under no obligations to them and would continne to take toll until he had secured the money ontlaid in graveling. Public feeling now ran high, and a band of masked men took the gate-keeper and bound him to a tree, and set fire to the buildings; after they had consummated their diabolical scheme they loosed him; immediately he informed Mr. Dorrell, who went in search of the incendiaries, but no trace of them could be found; since this time the road has been in the lands of the people. Mr. Dorrell has 1 child.
Lyman Draper, farmer, sec. 31; P. O., Jackson; was born in Troy, N. Y., Jan. 10, 1815, son of Addison and Mary (Eldred) Draper, of American ancestry. Dec. 23, 1833, he married, and in 1836 came to this State and located in Jackson county, in Rives tp., where he has since resided. Mr. Draper is one of the early settlers, and has, since the organization of the tp., taken a very active part in its business. He is broken down from over work in his younger days; but he has not to regret that there is anything undone that was within his power to do, and one of the few who can say that the world has been made better by his living in it. He enlisted two sons, Addison and Anstin, in ourl ate civil war, both in 1864, and commanded by Col. Eckerson. They took part in a number of very prominent engagements, and in 1866 were mnstered out and came home to pursue their labors in another field.
John F. Drew, Representative from the first district, Jackson county, was born in the town of Shelby, Orleans Co., N. Y., Dec. 3, 1828. Mr. Drew was compelled to rely on a common school for his education when a youth, and it was pounded in with a fernle in good old-fashioned style. In 1866, he immigrated to the town of Rives, Jackson county, where he now resides. He has borne his share of town offices. While a resident of the State of New York he served his district in the Assembly of the State one term. His occupation is that of drover.
John B. Grundy, farmer; P. O., Rives Junction; was born in the State of New York, Sept. 19, 1836, and was brought by his parents to Michigan in 1837; they located in Leoni tp., Jackson county. Here they remained for quite a number of years, and then moved to Rives tp., where Mr. Grundy died, and Mrs. Grundy still resides with her son, John B. Oct. 21, 1860, he married Miss Adelaide Crippen, a native of Michigan, and they have had 1 child-Edna C., who is now attending school at Jackson. Mr. Grundy's early edu- cation was good; he has attended several high schools aside from the district school of his neighborhood, which gives him superior advantages. He has a well-improved farm which has been made so by his own industry and exertion, and his mother, although she has seen the frosts of many winters, has left a good memory, and what
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is still better, very good health. In 1863 Mr. G. enlisted in the 1st Mich. Engineer Corps; after taking part in a great many engage- ments, without receiving as much as a scratch, he was mustered out of the service in 1865. He was a warm supporter of all war measures, and a strong advocate of Abolition principles. He is an honored and respected member of the Congregational Church.
James C. Hills, farmer, sec. 25; P. O.,Jackson; was born in Alle- gany county, N. Y., April 17, 1834, the son of Silas and Emily (Beldin) Hills, natives of Vermont, and of American ancestry. He came to this State in the spring of 1858 and obtained employment in the brick yard owned by Benjamin Porter and John Jones, re- maining with them for six months, when he moved to Rives tp., sec. 35, and remained there until the fall of 1860; from there he moved to sec. 25, and bought a farm, on which he has since re- sided. His father, Silas, was the third settler in the town of Wells- ville, Allegany Co., N. Y .; he put up the first saw-mill, grist-mill, store and hotel; was the first carpenter to introduce the balloon frame in the county. Mr. James Hills came to this State with a view of permanently locating, and at an early date to procure a home within its boundaries; having no definite point in view when he left home, he made inquiry and was advised to stop at Jackson, which he did, and to-day he is in comfortable circumstances and has the respect of a people that appreciates an energy and industry that has overcome mountains of difficulties in order to obtain the desired home. Nov. 21, 1855, he was married to Frances E. Wright, by whom he has had 11 children; but 4 of them are now living-Lewellyn, Manville, Myrtie, Vinna. He is an honored and respected member of the M. E. Church, with which he united in 1874. He is a warm advocate of Republican principles, casting his first vote for the first Republican candidate.
William T. Jackson, farmer, sec. 7; P. O., Rives Junction; was born in Berkshire county, England, Ang. 8, 1806; was reared on a farm; when 18 years old came to Canada, where he remained four years, when he came to Michigan in 1844, and bought a farm, and has resided on the same since. He married Miss Abigail S. Smith, a native of Vermont; she was born March 7, 1809. They had 7 children, 12 of whom are living-Emeline, now Mrs. Burle- son, and Mary C., now Mrs. Prentice; has 80 acres of land, 55 under good cultivation, valued at $60 per acre.
Joseph Kilpatrick, farmer, was born in the State of New York, in 1830, where he remained with his parents until he was married, Nov. 2, 1850, to Miss Hannah Philips, also a native of New York State; they had 4 children, all of whom are living. Jesse Kilpat- rick, a brother of Gen. Kilpatrick, who so nobly fought in defense of his country in the late civil war, is father of the subject of this sketch, Mr. Joseph Kilpatrick; his brother William is now Senator from his district in New York State. Their early education was attended with considerable difficulty, but Joseph has by reading acquired an extended knowledge, and is master of the occupation 61
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which nature dirceted him to choose. Before the war he was a staunch Democrat, but thinking that his party was pursuing the wrong course, he became a Republican, and since that time he has advocated Republican principles as strenuonsly as he had Demo- cratic principles before the war. In 1847 he immigrated to this State, first settling in Washtenaw county, but thinking that he could enrich himself more rapidly, he came to this county and lo- cated in Rives tp., where he now resides. He is determined to give to his children an education sufficient to enable them to en- gage in any business they may choose.
Benjamin C. Lewis came to this State in the spring of 1834 and located in Napoleon tp., this county, where he resided until after the war. He was born in the State of New York, where Rochester is now situated, Aug. 24, 1829. Aug. 11, 1862, he en- listed in the 17th Mich. Vol., Co. E; after taking part in some of the principal engagements of the war, he was mustered out of the service June 3, 1865, and paid Jnne 7. In 1865 he was married to Miss Eleanor Peterson, a native of the State of New York. Her parents came to this State in 1835 and located in Columbia tp., this county, where they resided until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have 3 children -- Wilbur, Francis E. and Levada O. In the spring of 1860 he went to California to seek a fortune in the gold regions, but not having as good success as he had anticipated, in 1862 he returned to Michigan. After the war he moved to Rives tp., where he has since resided. In 1856 he voted for Buchanan, but in 1864 he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and has since voted the Re- publican ticket. We find him a man of great energy, who has made a mark in this life in his capacity. His opportunity for early education was limited, having to go a great distance after doing half a day's work before daylight. He takes a great interest in the educational welfare of his children, and they are now being sent to school every day. His wife, who is also a great lover of his- torical reading, encourages them by buying good and useful books for their reading.
E. Guy Lyman was born in the northwest part of Ohio, June 23, 1842, son of Elijah and Sarah (Dyer) Lyman, of American ancestry. In 1851 he went to Iowa, where he remained until 1854, when his parents moved to Jackson county, this State, and located in Leoni tp. They located in this tp. on account of school privileges offered them. Mr. Lyman had attended the common school until he came to this county, where he was sent to the high school at Leoni. Here he improved his time, and became proficient in the branches taught there; he has attended several other schools of considerable merit. Since he left school he has taught several terms, and in 1878 he was elected Tp. Superintendent of Public Schools. March 13, 1868, he was married to Miss Lida J. Rankin. By this union there have been born 4 children-Cecelia Rankin, Anna, Edwin and Roy.
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Thomas Dyer, a distant relative of Mr. Lyman, was born in England and came to this country in 1612, settling in Boston, where he died in 1676. Since that time the name Thomas has been kept in the family as a test name. Mr. Lyman is an honored and respected member of the Christian Church; politically he is a warm sup- porter of Republican principles, casting his first national vote for Abraham Lincoln.
William Peek, farmer; P. O., Jackson. Mr. Peek was born in Fulton county, N. Y .; here he lived with his parents until he was 18 years old, when he immigrated to Oneida county, where he remained until he was 22 years old; then he visited his parents in Fulton county, and remained with them for about two years, and in 1854 he came to Michigan and cast his lot with the pioneers of the then new State, locating in Rives tp., where he has since resided. . Sept. 12. 1852, he was married to Mies Helen M. Conover, and they have had 4 children, of whom 3 are living, one attending school at Les- lie. Mr. Peek is by trade a blacksmith, and when he first came to Michigan he worked at his trade in Blackman, but not being suited with his business there, he moved to Rives and located on the old Gravel Road; here his business improved and he had a good patron- age as long as he remained; but after accumulating a song little fortune he bought him a farm in Rives, where he now resides. In 1877 the citizens of Rives tp. clected him Justice of the Peace, which office he is now holding. He has also held other offices of trust in his tp., but not aspiring to office, he has not been brought before the people. Mr. Peek cast, his first vote for James Buchanan in 1856, after which time he voted the Democratic ticket until a few years ago, when he united with the Greenback party, and now works with them with the same untiring energy that he did when an advocate of Democratic principles. "Believing that I am right," he says, " I shall go ahead, knowing that victory is ours in the near future," His early education was rather limited; but by dint of perseverance he has acquired a very extended knowledge, which of course is practical. He is schooling his children, and they are improving their opportunity.
Daniel Perrine, farmer, was born in the State of New Jersey, in 1805; in 1816 his people moved to Seneca county, town of Fayette, where they resided until their death. June 4, 1828, he married Miss Howell, and in the spring of 1829 he moved with his family to Livingston county, N. Y., and in 1840 he returned to Seneca county, remaining there about seven years. In 1853 he concluded to seek a home in the West, and immediately acting upon this de- termination, he started for the State of Michigan, arriving in the spring, and settling on sec. 8, this tp. He has a family of 8 chil- dren.
Charles F. Ranney, farmer, sec. 22; P. O., Jackson; was born in Lorain county, Ohio, April 1, 1833; raised on a farm and received an elementary school education. In 1851 went to California by water, crossing the Isthmus of Panama on foot; engaged in mining in
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California three and a half years; afterward was employed in har- vesting and hauling to the mines. He afterward engaged to James Meyers, of Ohio, as herder, when he was sent to Salt Lake City to buy stock, and remained through the winter, returning the fol- lowing spring.
Just opposite Mr. Meyers', across a river on what was called Sides Bottoms, were two families,-Col. Stephenson's and a Mr. Cronk's -consisting of some eight or nine persons. One morning Mr. Ranney got up and imagined he heard some one halloing on the opposite side of the river, and crossed over in a boat, found a boy named Morriscy, brother-in-law of Col. S., who told him that the Indians had come down from the hills and set fire to the shanties, which consisted of piteh-pine boards, and cotton cloth and paper partitions, which burnt like powder, and all the two families had been burnt up with the exception of himself and Mr. Cronk. All this he found to be too true. They found Mr. Cronk under a tree, but he died in the course of the day. It appeared that their object was not to steal, but to satisfy an old grudge against Col. Stephen son, only taking one horse. After looking over the scenes he went back to the bluff and raised a party of men and followed the In- dians, capturing the one that stole the horse and brought him back, when he was tried and hung. The people in that vicinity organ- ized a company and went into the Indian country, where they hunted them down like decr. While out with a party and passing some bluffs an arrow was shot from one of the bluffs, passing through a man's hat, striking Mr. R. in the foot, passing through a heavy pair of boots as well as the foot ; so he cut off the upper end and drew it down through the bottom of his foot. The party dodged ont of sight, but no Indians were to be seen.
After coming back to Ohio, Mr. R. was engaged in various pur- suits, and in 1868 came to Jackson county, where he has since re- sided. He married Miss Fannie Stanley, a native of England, who was born Nov. 11, 1839. There were 5 sons-Henry J., Alvirus C., Arthur F .. Frank L. and Adelbert D.
David H. Runney, farmer, sec. 22; P. O., Jackson; was born in Middlesex county, Conn., July 18, 1820. When 11 years of age his parents emigrated to Lorain county, Ohio, in 1831, where he bought land and made a farm, where he died Oct. 4, 1875, at the age of 81; his mother died May 20, 1867, at the age of 70. David re- mained on the farm until he was 21 years of age, when he went to work by the month, at $12 per month. Afterward engaged in making pearl-ash on his father's farm, where he remained four years. While at home he was married to Miss Elvira L. P. True, daughter of Alva True. There was a drouth in Ohio, and stock was very low; could buy a good cow for five dollars, and Mr. Ranney laid out his money in stock and drove them to Michi- gan, where he bought 40 acres of land at eight dollars per acre, and remained two years, when his health failed and he sold out and returned to Ohio; bought 50 acres of the old homestead where they lived two years. He moved thence to Rockport, where he
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engaged in hotel-keeping two years; sold out and moved his family to Pittsfield, when he spent one and a half years in California; then he returned to his family in Pittsfield and engaged in a gen- eral store and hotel, and was appointed Postmaster; in four years he sold out, came to Michigan, and in 1860 bought his present place, there he has remained since. Has 100 acres of land, 80 under good cultivation, valued at $60 per acre.
Joseph Smith, farmer, was born in Dover, England, Dec. 17, 1819, and in 1830 came with his parents to this country; they lo- cated in Oneida county, N. Y., where they remained until 1836, when they moved to Jackson county, Michigan, and settled in Tompkins tp., on sec. 13; here Mr. Joseph Smith resided with his parents until he was married, his father then giving him 40 acres of land; he built a house and moved into it and went to house- keeping for himself. Soon after he bought 140 acres in sec. 19, Rives tp., and in 1867 commenced the erection of a large frame house, which he completed in 1869, and immediately moved into it. Along about this time his wife died, and he married again soon after.
His second wife lived but a short time, and in 1871, April 21, he married Mrs. Eliza J. Thomas, who was mother of 3 children- Curtice Tussing, Zena V., Lenie N.
Mr. Smith had 3 children by his first wife-Alice E., Wm. D. and Minnie G. By his second 1-Homer B.
Mr. Smith has one of the best farms in Rives tp., but badly rep- resented on the map. The swamp lands there located are exaggerated, and we feel safe in saying that there is not one acre of land that is not tillable on this entire place. Although he has not held office in his tp., it is not because he has not been solicited by his friends, of whom he has many, but because he is not favorably inclined toward a life of care and anxiety. His chances to obtain an education were rather limited, attending school only in the winter season, and in summer working on the farm; but seeing the need of an education he has stored his mind, by reading, with useful information, and is a practical business man. His children are receiving an education from the care of a devoted parent, which will fit them for the age in which they live. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are honored and respected members of the Wesleyan Meth- odist Church of Leslie. He has been a Republican ever since the organization of the party, taking a deep interest in the welfare of the country.
Thomas P. Smith, farmer; P. O., Jackson; son of Daniel and Mary (Betten) Smith, natives of England, of English descent; was born in the town of Tompkins, Jackson Co., Dec. 31, 1836. His father and mother died when he was quite young and he was com- pelled to support himself; necessity drove him out into the world, and taught him economy and perseverance. Oct. 29, 1859, he married Miss Mary Wood. They have had 9 children; all are living.
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His early education was attended with considerable difficulty, the most of the time having to walk from three to four miles, and this in the winter months, when it was extremely cold. He has preserved some of the school-books used by his father when attend- ing school in England; these consist of an old magazine from which he read, and a hymn-book from which he spelled.
Mr. Smith has the books that he used when he attended school and they are well preserved. His father after coming to this country realized the need of an education more than ever before, and conse- , quently began to look about to ascertain if there was not some way by which he could now obtain that which is more precious than gold. At last he found that he could attend a night school, and he procured the books necessary to admit him to the school; this school he attended for a short time when it was disbanded; he now gave up all hope of obtaining anything more than education enough to do the business connected with farm life. Had Mr. Smith lived it is quite probable that he would have given his children a liberal education. About 20 years ago Mr. T. P. Smith united with the Methodist Church, and since that time he has been a firm believer and a steadfast Christian. He is a Republican; cast his first vote for Fremont, in 1856.
Thomas W. Spencer, farmer, sec. 25; P. O., Jackson; was born in Cortland, N. Y., June 20, 1830. In his early life he worked at the tanner's trade for his father, Michael Spencer, who followed that business. He came to Jackson county, where he married Miss Ann Elizabeth Tower, daughter of John and Mary Ann Tower, natives of New York, who emigrated to Illinois and located in Ogle county. She was born in December, 1837. The fruit of this marriage is 5 children-Hattie, born April 26, 1857; Albert E., born Sept. 25, 1860; Frederick W., born Sept. 30, 1862; Lizzie E., born April 20, 1866; Ethel M., born March 8, 1877. Has 120 acres of land, valued at $75 per acre.
George H. Steele, farmer, sec. 23; P. O., Jackson, Mich .; was born in Orleans county, N. Y., Feb. 18, 1836; was raised on a farm and received a common-school education. His father was a native of New Hampshire, mother of New York State, who emigated to Michigan in 1836 and located on sec. 23, where he made a farm and where they both died. When Mr. Steele came to the county it was a vast wilderness, inhabited by wolves, deer and bear, and the Indians were as thick as the wolves. In 1859 he went to Col- orado for the purpose of mining, where he remained but a short time, then came back and followed farming until 1863; then took a trip to the northern part of Montana, and from there to the Brit- tish Possessions, but remained a short time; then went to Cariboo, where he stopped a short time; then to Lewiston, Idaho, where he spent the winter; thence to south part of Idaho, where he worked on a gulch mine. The next fall he came back to Michigan. In 1872 he was married to Charlotte Brewster. Slie was born in Geauga county, Ohio, in 1837. Has 75 acres of land, val- ued at $60.
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