USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 24
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235
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Albert Foster came to Jackson in 1837, and went to work as a blacksmith and machinist, at which he has continued to labor in- dustriously to the present time, except that the last few years he has given the most of his attention to the sale of agricultural im- plements, particularly mowing machines and buggy rakes.
Myrick C. Hongh commenced the practice of the law in Jackson in 1837. Jesse Williams was then working at his trade-a car- penter.
William H. Munroe came to Jackson in January, 1837. His nephew, Nelson Munroe, came with him. They soon after bought the stock in trade of Geo. B. Cooper & Co., and subsequently sold out to Mr. Gilbert. W. II. Munroe was one of the proprietors of the Jackson Furnace. In 1838 he bought the " Jackson Exchange " hotel of Paul B. Ring, and kept it as a public house for many years.
Dr. John McLean was a practicing physician in Jackson in 1837, and his familiar form is still seen upon our streets.
At the April term of the Circuit Court in 1838, David Johnson was admitted to the practice of the law, the committee to examine him being George Miles, Peter Morey and Phineas Farrand. Judge Johnson had now made Jackson his place of residence, and entered at once upon the practice of his profession, and soon at- tained a reputation that placed him on a level with the ablest law- vers of the State. He was elected school inspector in 1839; was candidate for senator in 1839; was prosecuting attorney from 1843 to 1845; was member of the House in the Legislature of Michigan in 1845, and again in 1847; was elected circuit judge under the old constitution in 1851, and served six years, being also one of the judges of the Supreme Court, which was composed of the cir- cuit judges. He was the Democratic candidate for judge of the Supreme Court in 1857. Judge Johnson, on retiring from the Bench, entered again upon the practice of the law, in which he is still ac- tively'engaged, being now the senior member of the Bar in Jackson.
Edward Higby was admitted to practice law at the October term of the Circuit Court in 1838, the examining committee being David Johnson, A. Wright Gordon and A. L. Millard.
Mr. Buck made Jackson his home in 1839. He was for many years engaged in the mercantile business on the east side of the river, first with Win. Ford, Jr., and subsequently with Henry Vandercook. Mr. Buck was elected mayor in 1867, and again in 1868. He is now an acting justice of the peace, having been four times elected. He has also been for many years supervisor or town clerk, and has for most of the time for 31 years been a member of the School Board in the district in which he lives. Mr. Buck has, in all the relations of life, maintained a character above reproach.
Walter Budington came to Michigan and settled in Jackson in 1836. Ile engaged in 1838 in the mercantile business with B. W. Rockwell. He was cashier of the Detroit & St. Joseph Railroad Bank. Mr. Budington was one of the most publie spirited of the pioneers of Jackson, and was for many years of his life con-
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
nected with its interests by holding offices of more usefulness than profit. He was for many years a member of the School Board in district No. 17. He was also several times elected supervisor, also town clerk; was county clerk from 1848 to 1852, and city treasurer in 1863-'5.
Henry A. Hayden come to Michigan in 1837 and made Jackson his home in 1838. He was in the employ of the Michigan Central railroad as civil engineer, superintendent of repairs and paymaster until 1842. He bought the Vandercook mills soon after leaving the road, and engaged in the manufacture of flour. In 1851 he and Wiley R. Reynolds bought the old Ford mills and water-power. In 1853 they also bought of P. B. Loomis the steam flouring mill east of Mechanic street. Messrs. Hayden & Reynolds are still operating these mills, which can make 100,000 barrels of flour per year. Mr. Hayden has been a member of the vestry of St. Paul's Church since its organization, and is now one of the wardens. He was chief engineer of the fire department in 1861-'2. He was elected member of the House of Representatives. Michigan Legislature, in 1862, and was mayor of the city in 1874-'5.
Samuel Iligby became a resident of Jackson in 1839, and the same year was admitted to the practice of his profession in the courts of this State. Mr. Higby at once took a high stand among the citizens of Jackson, not only as a lawyer, but in all the rela- tions of life. A consistent member of the Episcopal Church. he stood forth to the day of his death a bright example, to the Church and to the world, of the life of a Christian gentleman. The prac- tice of Mr. Higby was not that of an advocate, but as counsel and in chancery practice it is no disparagement to the Bar of Jackson to say that he stood at its head. As a counselor he was sought, not only in intricate legal cases, but in many others of great im- portance, and all parties interested were perfectly certain that his decision would be the impartial conclusion of his judgment. In 1843 Mr. Higby was elected recorder of the village, and in 1856 he was elected its president, being the last to hold that office. Mr. Higby in 1869 was elected judge of the fourth judicial eirenit, but resigned after serving three years and resumed the practice of his profession, in which he was actively engaged when he was struck with the hand of death on the 12th of May, 1876, while in the office of the county elerk in the performance of his duty. Mr. Higby was a member of the vestry of St. Paul's Church from the time of its organization to the elose of his life, and for many years was one of its wardens. Of Judge Iligby it could most truly be said that he was an honest man. the noblest work of God.
Benjamin M. Rockwell and William Hudson came here in 1837. and after 41 years of industry are both living in the enjoy- ment of that respect and esteem to which they are entitled by lives of usefulness.
Fidus Livermore came to Jackson in May, 1839, and was ad- mitted to the practice of the law the same year. He at once took a stand among the leading members of the Bar, and has to the
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
present time continued in the practice of his profession. In that, as in all other relations of life, Mr. Livermore has always been regarded as one of the leading citizens of Jackson. Mr. Liver- more was elected township treasurer in 1840, to the House of Rep- resentatives of the Legislature of Michigan in 1842, and again in 1843; was appointed proseenting attorney in 1846 by Gov. Felch. and in 1848 by Gov. Ransom. He was elected prosecuting attor- ney in 1854, and was Democratic candidate for judge of probate in 1858. Mr. Livermore was nominated for representative in Con- gress in 1874, and again in 1876, and though unsuccessful, as the Democratic party was largely in the minority, yet he always ran ahead of his ticket in Jackson county, thus proving the high esteem in which he was held by those who had longest and best known him.
Phineas Farrand became a citizen of Jackson in 1836. He was a lawyer and continued a resident of Jackson in the active practice of his profession until his death. In 1836 he was candidate for representative in the Legislature at both the special and general elections, and was prosecuting attorney for the county from 1843 to 1845. In 1838 he became a member of the firm of Farrand, Johnson & Higby.
Fairchild Farrand practiced law in Jackson from his admission to the Bar of the county to his death in 1877. Ile came to Jackson in 1837. Mr. Farrand was county clerk from 1840 to 1842, and president of the village in 1855.
Levi P. Gregg settled in Jackson in 1838, and immediately com- menced work at his trade as a tailor. He soon formed a partner- ship with B. F. Eggleston and opened a tailoring establishment. He followed his trade until 1851, when he was elected register of deeds and was re-elected in 1853. Mr. Gregg invested largely in boring for salt in the first and deepest artesian well ever sunk in Jackson. He was also much more largely interested in boring for petroleum oil at Petrolia, Canada. Both of these investments were unremunerative, and by the latter Mr. Gregg was a heavy loser. He has for many years been engaged in the baking busi- ness, and has had an eating-house as well as bakery. Mr. Gregg is still as active as when he came to Jackson, more than forty vears ago.
Benjamin Porter came to Jackson, and was one of the commis- sioners to superintend the building of the State's prison in 1838. The work on the west wing and keeper's house was under the im- mediate supervision of Mr. Porter. In 1847 he built the State capitol at Lansing, in which the "State Pioneer Society" is now as- sembled. Mr. Porter was actively engaged in contracting and other business to the time of his death.
His son. Benjamin Porter, is one of the proprietors of the Por- ter Coal Company, and owns the land on which their works are sit- uated.
Benjamin G. Mosher came to Jackson in an early day. He was by trade a mason and plasterer and was always largely engaged in
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
that business as a contractor until his death. Mr. Mosher was elected mayor in 1872, and re-elected in 1873. There was no man in the community stood higher than " Uncle Ben," as he was of late years familiarly ealled.
We have it on the authority of William H. Monroe that when he came to Jacksonburgh in January, 1837, there were but 26 build- ings, all told, in it, including four stores. During the year W. Bndington, D. M. Owen, Geo. B. Cooper & Co., W. H. & N. Monroe, Wolfley & Rockwell, and Shears & Collier, were mer- chants; Wm. Ford & Son were running the "Jackson Mills;" the Jackson Exchange was kept by Paul B. Ring; Lewis Bascomb was keeping the Bascomb's Hotel; Leander Chapman, Phineas Farrand and W. J. Moody were practicing attorneys; Ira C. Backus, John McLean and Oliver Russ were practicing physicians; Wm. R. Thompson ran a stage to Ann Arbor, and Mr. Mont- gomery had a tri-weekly lumber wagon line to Marshall.
March 6, 1838, the Legislature changed the name of Jackson- burgh to JJackson.
In 1838 Moody and Johnson were partners as attorneys; D. Parkhurst, Myrick C. Hough, Leander Chapman, Phineas Far- rand and E. Higby were also practicing attorneys; M. B. & J. W. Medbury, W. Baker & Co., Green & Jessup. L. Blackwell & Co., Ford & Buck, and Wm. H. & N. Monroe were merchants; Amos Bigelow, hardware merchant; J. M. Gilbert, saddlery; L. Graves, tailor; W. Chittock, tailoring establishment; J. B. Cobb and Smith M. Brown, carriage painters; Russell Blackman was keeping pub- lic house, and the "Grand River House" was kept by H. P. May- bee; George W. Gorham was a practicing physician; L. S. House, hat store; J. W. Gledden, watch and clock repairing: Jackson Academy, by Mr. Dudley; D. B. Hibbard, livery stable; Charles Derby, auctioneer; Joseph Ganson and Stephen Monroe, proprie- tors of the Jackson Iron Foundry; Samnel Higby, Alonzo Bennett and Jason W. Packard, school inspectors; Lewis D. Welling, John Gillespie and John Kane, constables: Fidus Livermore, township treasurer; Oliver Russ and Win. P. Worden, directors of the poor; Norman Allen, agent for sale of Rowland's tonic mixtures; David F. Dwight and David Porter, in lime business, and Bunnell & Fish, shingles; Ring & Hibbard ran a daily line of stages to Adrian. In 1839 D. G. McClure and J. M. Terry were practicing physicians; E. D. Merriman became a resident; Childs, Houssel and Brown were carriage painters, paper hangers and dealers in cabinet ware, and Benjamin Hazleton was running an ashery.
There were in Jackson in 1839 two banks, two printing offices (the Jackson Sentinel and Michigan Democrat), two semi-monthly publications (the American Freeman and Michigan Temperance Herald), two drug stores, 10 dry-goods stores. Five religious de- nominations held services weekly (the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Close-Communion Baptist and Free-Will Baptist). The population of the village was, by the newspapers at that time,
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
claimed to be 1,000, and the number of dwellings 200, with 80 ad- ditional in the course of completion.
Hon. Austin Blair came to Jackson in 1840, and was a member of the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Michigan in 1846, and of the Senate in 1855. Ile was elected prosecuting at- torney for the county in 1853 ; was the war governor of the State, serving 1861-'4, and was elected to Congress from the third district of Michigan in 1867, being re-elected in 1869 and '71. Governor Blair, in the full maturity of his powers, is now in the practice of law in Jackson. He was Whig, with abolitionist tendencies, until the formation of the Republican party, with whom he acted until 1872, when he supported Horace Greeley, and has since been liberal in politics.
Amos Root came to Jackson in 1841, and has since been one of the active business men of the city. Mr. Root has been member of the village council, and was alderman under the city organiza- tion. He was elected mayor in 1860, and appointed postmaster in 1861, serving for four years. Mr. Root was inspector of the State's prison nine years, and six years a member of the Board of Public Works of Jackson, of which he acted two years as president. Mr. Root has a large farm in Portage, and gives it a considerable share of his attention. Mr. Root was a Whig, but in 1872 joined the " Liberal movement" and supported Horace Greeley.
Peter B. Loomis entered into partnership with John N. Dwight in 1843, and established himself in Jackson as a merchant. In 1850 he bought the Kennedy Steam Mills, and was for four years engaged in the milling business. In 1856 he became a member of the banking firm of Loomis & Whitwell, which, as P. B. Loomis and P. B. Loomis & Co, has continued to be one of the principal banking houses of the present time, and of which Mr. Loomis is now president. In 1857 he became president of the Jackson City Gas Company, and now holds that office. Mr. Loomis was very active in procuring the construction of the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad, of which he has been president since its completion. Mr. Loomis is a Republican. He was mayor of the city in 1858, and of the House of Representatives, Legislature of Michigan, 1859.
John D. Conely settled in Jackson in 1854. He was admitted to the Bar in 1858, and at once commenced the practice of his pro- fession, which he has since followed very zealously and indus- triously, and with a marked degree of success. His first practice was in company with G. T. Gridley. 'In 1861 he entered into partnership with Gov. Blair and William K. Gibson, and was in company with them for two years. He is now alone in practice and has a large and lucrative business. Mr. Conely has been for several years a member of the School Board in the district in which he lives. He is a Democrat, but has taken very little inter- est in politics since the election in 1860, when he was a candidate for Congress on the Breckenbridge ticket.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Wiley R. Reynolds came to Jackson in 1840. He engaged in the grocery business six months after his arrival, in company with George T. Gardner. In 1842 Reynolds and Gardner sold their stock to Henry H. Gilbert. Mr. Reynolds soon after started again in the same business. In 1844 he added dry goods to his stoek in trade. In 1851 he formed a copartnership with his brother, Wm. B. Reynolds. In 1856 he sold his interest to another brother, Sheldon C. Reynolds. In 1857 Mr. Reynolds bought the interest of William B. Reynolds, and the firm. W. R. & S. C. Reynolds, confined their business exclusively to dry goods, in which they transacted a very large business. They finally sold their stock to L. W. Field.
In 1851 Mr. Reynolds became interested with Mr. H. A Hay- den in the purchase of the " ÆEtna Flouring Mills," as the mill built by the Fords was called, and engaged in the manufacture of flour. Messrs. Hayden and Reynolds also purchased the Kennedy Steam Mills in 1854, and have been large buyers of wheat to the present time. Their mills have a capacity to make 500 barrels of flonr daily. Mr. Reynolds is a Democrat, but has taken but little interest in politics.
Leander Chapman came to Jackson in 1835, and commenced the practice of law. He was judge of probate from 1836 to 1840, and prosecuting attorney for a portion of the same period. He was candidate as Representative to the Legislature in 1840. Mr. Chapman was county treasurer from 1842 to 1846. and member and speaker of the House of Representatives, Michigan Legisla- ture, in 1848. JJudge Chapman resided in Jackson over a quar- ter of a century, and always maintained a high standing among the best men in the county as a lawyer and as a citizen. He was in politics a Democrat.
James C. Wood settled in Jackson, and commenced the practice of law in 1844. In 1847 he became a member of the law firm of Livermore & Wood, which existed for over 20 years. Mr. Wood was elected county treasurer in 1847, and re-elected in 1849. He was elected first mayor of the city in 185 -. and served as member of the Lower House in 1875-7. Mr. Wood is now practicing law in company with his son, Charles W. Wood. Mr. Wood in his prin- ciple is a Democrat, and has always been active in advocating the principles of his party.
Samuel O. Knapp came to Jackson in 1844, and took charge of the manufacturing of woolen goods in the State's prison. In 1848 he went to Lake Superior and took charge of the valuable "Minne- sota mine," in which he was largely interested, and from which he derived a competence. Mr. Knapp was for four years a mem- ber of the Board of Public Works, and president of the school Board of distriet No. 1 for several years. Ile has given much at- tention to horticulture, and is an active and valuable member of the State Pomological Society. He is in polities a Republican, and is one of the pillars of the Methodist Church in Jackson. of which denomination he has been a member for 46 years.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Rev. Daniel T. Grinnell, D. D., came to Jackson in 1847, and took charge of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, of which he remained the active, faithful and successful rector for 21 years, and until he was removed by death in 1868. He found the society and parish poor and feeble ; he left it zealous and prosperous. When Dr. Grinnell took charge of the parish the Sunday-school was little other than such in name. Under his care it soon became one of the most interesting and instructive, and was attended largely by children not belonging to the parish, as well as by those belonging to it. When its real founder and painstaking teacher was taken away from it. the Sunday-school of St. Paul's Church was the larg- est in the city. The charity of Dr. Grinnell was so broad and its exercise so unlimited, that he was as much loved by those outside of his parish as in it.
Joseph Tunnicliff, Jr., is a native of the State of Michigan. He was educated as a physician and surgeon, and has practiced his profession in Jackson for over 35 years, with the exception of a short residence at Sacramento in California in 1852, and while serving as surgeon of the 4th and 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry during two years, and as assistant State military agent until the close of the war. He was surgeon for the Michigan Central Rail- road Company at Jackson from 1865 for 10 years. In 1867 he was appointed United States examining surgeon for pensions, and served until 1873. Dr. Tunnicliff has acquired much celebrity as a successful operator in surgery, and stands with the first in Jack- son in his profession. He is an allopathist. Dr. Tunnicliff was a Republican until 1872, when he supported Horace Greeley, and is now a " Liberal" in polities.
James O'Donnell came to Jackson in 1848, was clerk for William Jackson, entered the Citizen office in 1854 to learn the trade of printer, and also worked in the Patriot office. In 1864 he pur- chased the Citizen office, then a weekly paper. The publication of the Daily Citizen was commenced in 1865 by D. W. Ray and Mr. O'Donnell. Mr. Ray died in 1866, and since then Mr. O'Donnell has been sole editor and proprietor of the Citizen, both daily and weekly. The Citizen has been and is the organ of the Republican party. Mr. O'Donnell was elected city recorder in -, and mayor in 1876-'7.
Eugene Pringle became a member of the law firm of Kimball & Pringle in 1850, immediately after making his home in Jackson. In 1852 he was circuit court commissioner, and was recorder of the village in 185 -. In 1856 he was elected prosecuting attorney, and was re-elected in 1858, and was city attorney in 1858-'9. In 1860 he was elected to the House of Representatives, and in 1866 to the Senate of the Michigan Legislature. In 1867 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and in 1871 he was appointed a register in bankruptcy, and is still active as such. Mr. Pringle was a member of the Board of Public Works from 1871 to 1875. Ile has been active in all the railroad enterprises in which Jackson has been interested, and is now secretary of the Fort Wayne, Jackson
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
& Saginaw Railroad, which office he has held since the organi- zation of the company.
John L. Mitehell settled in Jackson in 1850 and commenced the practice of his profession as a physician and surgeon, and is still active in the discharge of his duties. Dr. Mitchell has held the office of town elerk. supervisor and alderman. IIe was for 12 years a member of the School Board for district No. 1, and for 10 of these vears he was the director. Dr. Mitchell has always been a Demo- crat. He joined the Masonie fraternity in 1852, and has always been a very active member of all the orders of the fraternity. He lias presided in all the subordinate and most of the grand bodies of which he has been a member.
Frederick M. Foster has been a resident of Jackson for over 30 years. He has filled many offices of trust and responsibility, and always with credit to himself. He was eity treasurer in 1867-'8. Mr. Foster has, since he first came to Jackson, been prominently connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has presided in the Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment, as well as in the subordinate societies. He was grand treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows for several years, and was master of Michigan Lodge No. 50 in 1858.
Charles W. Penny eame to Detroit in 1831, a young man not yet of age. Mr. Penny resided in Detroit 10 years. Ile was one of the originators and first members of the " Young Men's Associa- tion," and of the military organization known as the "Brady Guards" of that city. In 1841 Mr. Penny removed to Jackson, which has since been his home. He was for many years engaged in the mercantile business, and was one of the principal business Inen of this place. Hle early interested himself in the formation of the "Young Men's Association," has been its president, and has always taken a lively interest in its affiairs. Ile has also been an active Odd Fellow, and has presided in the Lodge and Encampment. Mr. Penny has, during his entire residence in Jackson, been a prom- inent member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and for over 30 years a member of the vestry of the parish of St. Paul. He is now one of the wardens, and is one of the most vigorous and active men of his age in the city.
George D. Brown is a native of Tompkins county, New York. Ile is one of four brothers who, at an early day, made their home in Michigan. Lewis, Amos and William were among the first set- tlers in the township of Parma, in the western part of Jackson county, where they engaged in farming. They have always been of the most intelligent and respected, as of the most industrious and successful farmers in the communities in which they lived. Hon. William G. Brown was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1866. Mr. George D. Brown in 1848, then a youth of 20 years, commeneed business in Jackson in the book and stationery trade, which he has snecessfully continued to the present time. Mr. Brown, from small beginnings, has built up by his perseverance and business ability, the largest trade, perhaps,
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
in the State outside of Detroit. He has for the most of the time had the entire monopoly of the retail business in Jackson, and his urbanity and tact have enabled him to acquire and retain the custom of all who have once come within the influence of his genial ways. The most accommodating spirit, accompanied with the determina- tion not to be undersold, has made it possible for Mr. Brown to overcome all opposition. For many years Mr. Brown has had a wholesale department connected with the business, and while the retail book and stationery trade is large, it is but a small item of the business of the present firm of Brown & Pilcher compared with the transactions in the wholesale.
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