History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 63

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1166

USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 63

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James Gould

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

line. Two years later, he, as a partner, engaged in the foundry business and manufacture of machinery, but not finding it profit- able, retired at the end of three years. The firm erected and occu- pied a part of the building subsequently used by Messrs. Lusk & Co., and employed 20 men. Mr. Choat was in the tin and hard- ware trade in Jackson more than a quarter of a century; 17 years of the time in the building now occupied by Messrs. Wells & Fuller, and later in a frame building on the northwest corner of Main and Mechanic streets, for which he paid $1,500, and upon retiring from the mercantile business in 1868, sold it for $8,500. Mr. Choat, in company with P. Thuber, at one time owned nearly a quarter section of land bounded on the north by Main, on the west by Mechanic street and on the east by Grand river. For the past 12 years Mr. Choat has devoted his attention principally to looking after his real estate. He has always felt much interest in the growth and progress of the city, and especially in the schools and the cause of education. He was also prominently identified with the coal mining in this county. Mr. Choat was united in marriage with Marilla Sackett, of Moravia, N. Y., in 1837. They are the parents of 8 children, 6 living, all but 1 in Jack- son. Nelson F. Choat is Cashier of a bank in Dowagiac, Mich .; the other son, Dr. Edward E. Choat, graduated from Michigan State University with the degree of M. D. in 1873, and is now practicing medicine in Jackson.

Franklin S. Clarke, Clerk and Agent of Michigan State Prison, has occupied his present position since April, 1872. He is a native of Berkshire county, Mass., born April 17, 1812; is the son of Linus Clarke, of Puritan stock, and Hannah Remmele, natives of Massa- chusetts. In 1825 they moved to Onondaga county, N. Y. Franklin went thence to Monroe county, and spent several years in the mer- cantile business; returned to Onondaga county, and engaged in the manufacture of machinery. In the spring of 1843 he came to Calhoun county, Mich., and continued in the same business until 1847; was a number of years in a mill he had built, as clerk and bookkeeper. During 1853, '54 and '55 he was freight agent for the Michigan Central Railroad Co., one year at the general office in New York city, and two years in Battle Creek. In 1856 Mr. Clarke was elected Register of Deeds for Calhoun county for four years. In 1863 he became chief clerk and cashier of the Quarter- master General's office of Michigan. Retiring from that position in 1867 he spent a year in New York; about a year in the tobacco trade in Detroit. Mr. Clarke has been three times married; first to Mary Syinson, of Monroe county, N. Y., in 1833. She died in 1837, leaving 1 child, which soon followed her. He married Louisa Clark in 1841, who died in 1858, the mother of a living son and daughter. Miss Mary E. Read, of Calhoun county, Mich., became his wife in October, 1859. They have 3 daughters. Mr. C. is a member of both lodge and chapter in the Masonic order. In politics he has always been a Radical, and an active worker,-in carly years in the Whig

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

and later in the Republican party. Was leader of a campaign glee club in every Presidential campaign from 1840 to 1860.

Reuben E. Clark, of the firm of Hitchcock, Clark & Co., hard - ware merchants, 175 W. Main street, was born in Steuben county, Ind., in 1851. He is the son of Philo and Elizabeth (Fitzgerald) Clark. When he was 13 years of age his parents moved to Albion, Mich., where he graduated at Albion College in the class of 1872. He began reading law with W. K. Gibson immediately after, and was admitted to the Bar in February, 1874. He served as clerk for Higby & Gibson nntil January, 1877, when he formed a partner- ship with Mr. Gibson, which relation continned two years, when he became partner with Hon. Jas. Guild for one year, when he entered his present relation with Mr. Hitchcock, in the hardware trade. He, with Mr. Hitchcock's son, manages the business. They do a general retail business of $30,000 a year. He is an active member of the M. E. Church and has been Recording Steward several years. He was married in Albion to Ada R. Elow, of that city, Feb. 23, 1875. They are the parents of 1 son, Clarence, five years old. Mr. Clark was elected Circuit Court Commissioner in the fall of 1876, being one of the only two elected on the Republican ticket that year. At the expiration of his term in 1878, was Repub- lican candidate for Prosecuting Attorney, and led the ticket, but was defeated by the Greenback movement. In the spring of 1879 he was elected a member of the City Council from the third ward for two years. At the close of his first year's service he was chosen President of that body. In the fall of 1880 he was candidate for the Legislature from the city district.

Charles E. Clement, of the firm of Clement & Brown, grocers, 221 W. Main street, was born in Seneca county, N. Y., in 1825; is the vonngest of 14 children, 10 of whom lived to adult age, of Bartlett S. Clement, of Long Island, and Catherine McLanglilin, of Orange county, N. Y. He was reared on the farm and attended the local schools; came to Jackson after attaining liis majority; worked for the railroad company for a time; at the age of 24 married Lovina Scott, of Grass Lake; bought and settled on a farm four miles west of Jackson. Four years after they moved to Jackson, and Mr. C. en- gaged in the grocery business. The present partnership was formed in September, 1878. They keep a general stock of groceries and pro- visions, and have a fine retail trade. Mrs. Clement died in May, 1880, the mother of 3 children, 1 son living, Eli A. Clement, who read law, and was admitted at the age of 21 years, and is now Dep- nty County Clerk.

Wilber H. Clute is editor and publisher of the Michigan Indus- trial Liberator, which was established in Jackson June 26, 1880, and takes a front rank among Michigan weekly publications. The circulation immediately sprang to 1,700 weekly copies. It is an eight-column, four page paper, devoted to political economy and current news. It sides with the National Greenback party, the editor believing that it is contrary to experience and the nature of

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men to reform the vices of old organizations, led by self-seekers and politicians instead of statesmen and philanthropists. Financially, the paper advocates a national enrrency based on the entire prop- erty of the country, including the precious metals. instead of on private credit governed by private Inst of gain. The ideas of Judge Kelly, Andrew Jackson, Henry C. Cary, Thomas Jefferson, Benj. Franklin, Robert Emmet and Charles Stewart Parnell are strongly supported in this paper. Mr. Clute published the Three Rivers Reporter from 1861 to 1880.

Clark Cole, Keeper at the State prison, has been officially connect- ed with the institution more than 35 years,33 of which he has filled his present position. He has had several thousand convicts under his charge during this third of a century, and never had a man escape. Mr. Cole was born in 18 in Rome, Oneida county, but was reared in Oswego county, N. Y., till 1837, when he came to Jacksonburg. and has been a resident of the place ever since. Until he entered the employ of the State, Mr. Cole worked for Ichabod Cole, a brother, and David Porter, as overseer of hands in the building business; superintended the work on the old court-house in Jackson. At a ratification meeting over the nomination of James K. Polk in 1844, Mr. Cole had his left fore-arm badly mangled by the premature discharge of the cannon he was firing as gunner for the military company of which he was a member. The wound crippled his hand permanently. He has been twice married; first to Adelia White, of Orleans county, N.Y., when 25 years of age. She died 28 years ago, leaving a son and a daughter. Little over a year after, he married Phoebe Sibley, from Macomb county, Mieli., born near Roch- ester, N. Y. They have 1 son. Mr. Cole is a Past Master of Lodge 17, A. F. & A. M.

His long contact with men whose characters his position obliged him to study, has made Mr. Cole a remarkable reader of human nature, an accomplishment for which he is quite noted.

James Congdon, tinner, was born in Ireland, March 6, 1833, and emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1843, lo- cating in Ontario connty, N. Y. His mother, Julia ( Martin) Cong- don, died in 1874. Mr. Congdon remained on the farm till he was 17 years old, when he learned his trade. In 1853 he came to Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained one year, then returned to Ontario county, N. Y .; married Miss Ellen G. Martin; she was born in Ireland. They have 1 child-Ellen, now Mrs. Thomas ('Neil. After marrying he came to Jackson and worked at his trade for B. J. Billing 14 years. Then embarked in business for himself opposite Webb's drug store. Three months afterward he was burned out, losing all he had. He then formed a partnership as Congdon & Palmer, afterward as Congdon & O'Neil; remained there nine years, then came to his present place; he carries a good stock, and his property is valued at $3,000. Members of the Catholic Church.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Thomas Conklin, engineer M. C. R. R., was born in Living- ston county, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1853; was reared on a farm, and re- ceived a district-school education; came to Jackson in 1871 and worked in a hotel, and in a mill for Brooks & Adams. In Jann- ary, 1877, he made his first trip as engineer. He married Katie Flynn, a daughter of Thomas Flynn, a native of Ireland; she was born in Jackson, Jan. 3, 1857. There are 3 children-Thomas Frank, born June 29, 1876: Christopher L., born Dec. 25, 1878; Elizabeth, born June 26, 1880. Members of the Catholic Church.

Edwards J. Connable, principal proprietor of the Jackson Fire Clay Co., was born in Franklin county, Mass., in 1815, and is the son of Joseph and Mary (Maxwell) Connable, both of New Eng- land birth. He obtained a good business education for those days at the common school and academy. In 1838 he went to Ohio, and while a young man still with his parents, commenced on his father's farm the manufacture of agricultural implements, and afterward carried on the same business, for about four years, as sub-contractor in the Ohio Penitentiary, with a force of 25 men. In 1847 he came to Jackson as acting partner with Messrs. Pinney & Samson, of Columbus, Ohio, in the manufacture of farming tools in the Michigan State's prison, which business interest was the foundation of the present house of the Withington & Cooley Manu- facturing Co. Being the only member of the firm residing in the State, he was actively engaged in the general supervision of all the interests of the concern, continning in this relation for six years, when failing health obliged him to retire. After remaining out of active business about 14 years, he finally drifted, partly by force of circumstances, into the business of the Jackson Fire Clay Co., in the year 1867. The present company was then formed, employ- ing from 40 to 50 men in the manufacture of the goods, which are sold in this and adjoining States.

In 1843 he married Miss Cadelia Newkirk, sister of Mr. Ben- jamin Newkirk, Cashier of Jackson City Bank, she being a native of Xenia, Ohio.

The father of Mr. Connable was always an uncompromising Whig, and his 5 sons, the eldest of whom is the subject of this sketch, have all their lives been Whigs during the existence of that party, and since its dissolution, staunch Republicans.

Charles W. Cook, of the firm of Chapman & Cook, grocers, was born in Allegany county, N. Y., Nov. 28, 1833. In 1839 his people came to Ann Arbor, where they remained a short time, then returned to Buffalo, N. Y .; from thence to Toledo and remained a short time; thence to Fort Wayne and Logansport, Ind., and to Clinton, Lenawee county, where he remained for five years, where he learned the painter's trade. He lived in Ingham county a short time, then he came to Marshall, and after about a year enlisted in the Sth Michigan Cav., Co. A, and remained in the service nearly three years. He participated in the siege of Knoxville, Nashville,

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and several others; after the war he returned to Indiana, and worked on the railroad one year, then came to Jackson.

In 1879 he formed a partnership with H. S. Chapman; they carry a general stock of groceries, and are doing a good business. Mr. Cook has held several local offices of trust; was Coroner of Jackson county at the time of the accident near the Junction when 15 lives were lost, and appointed the following gentlemen as a jury: C. W. Pany, H. A. Hayden, Chister Warrens, N. B. Hall and M. Shoemaker.

Elijah N. Cooper, physician and surgeon, was born in Ashta- bula county, Ohio, May 12, 1836; was reared on a farm until he was 16 years of age, and attended school winters; then engaged in mechanical pursuits, and followed the same until he was 26 years of age, when he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Rey- nolds, of Louisville, Ky., and remained abont two years. Being in limited circumstances, he again took up his trade to earn money to finish his professional studies. In 1861 he enlisted in the 87th Reg. Ind. Vol. Inf., Co. K, as a private, but was commissioned as Ist Lieutenant by Gov. Morton; was in several engagements, and with Sherman to the sea. In 1875 he came to Jackson; re- mained a short time, then went to Ann Arbor and took a course of lectures; afterward returned to Jackson and has been here since. Dr. Cooper has been married twice; his first wife was Miss Esther E. Owen, native of Indiana; she died Oct. 7, 1864, leaving 2 chil- dren-Katie A. and William D. For his second wife he married Miss Carrie E. Burch.

Geo. W. Coover, grocer, was born in Ohio, Feb. 18, 1844; was the son of George and Julia A. (Sarber) Coover, who were natives of Berks county, Pa., and emigrated to Ohio in early day, locating in Preble county, Ohio. The subject of this sketch enlisted in 1861 in the 34th Ohio Inf., which was known as the Ohio Zouaves, Co. K, and remained in the service three years and 14 days; he partici- pated in several engagements. After the war he engaged in rail- roading, being employed on several roads; was always lucky as an engineer, never having a collision. He married Miss Otta J. Acker, a native of Germany, whose parents emigrated to this country in 1844 and located in Monroe county, Michigan. She was born Dec. 26, 1852. There are 3 children, 2 of whom are living- Charles L., born Sept 23, 1874, died Oct. 20, 1876; Edward W., born Feb. 25, 1879; George W., born Ang. 10, 1876. Mr. C. car- ries a stock worth $1,000 and does a business of $10,000.

William F. Cowham, of Cowham & Scofield, carriage manu- facturers and agricultural implement dealers, and general State agent of McCormick Reaper Co., is a native of Racine county, Wis- consin, born Oct. 15, 1844; son of Robert M. and Louise (Neal) Cowham. When 15 years old he moved with his parents to Joliet, Illinois. At the age of 11 he went into a hardware store, and two years after became cashier of the concern. After settling in Joliet he traveled three years selling school furniture in the West

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ern States; in 1867 entered the employ of the McCormick Co., and in the winter of 1868-'69 became their general agent for harvesting machinery in Michigan, and located in Jackson. Their trade was then 100 machines a year, in 1880 it was 1,700, and 43 per cent. over any previous year. In 1870 Mr. C. engaged in the sale of farm implements in company with Wm. Billings; bought his part- ner's interest in 1872; entered into partnership with Charles O. Scofield, and moved from the Keystone to the Odd Fellows' Block. The growth of their business demanded the erection of two large warehouses, near M. S. depot; and later, their removal to the Hib- bard Block on Courtland street, occupying two floors 42x130 feet in area. They began the carriage manufacturing in 1878; confine themselves to spring work, and expect to build 500 carriages and buggies this year. They started with a gross business of $5,000, which has grown to $200,000 a year.

Mr. Cowham married Margaret M. Billings in Illinois in 1869, who died in 1879, leaving 1 son. Mr. C. is a member of the Ma- sonic order.

Alf. C. Cowherd, proprietor of Jackson book-bindery and paper- box manufactory, son of Thomas and Ellen (Batty) Cowherd, was born in Brantford, Canada, and is 28 years of age. His father was a well to-do hardware merchant and had a large family. Alfred pos- sessed an adventurons spirit; left home and became self dependent at the age of 12 years, and at 16 went to Buffalo, N. Y., and served three years at the book-binding trade. He came to Jackson in April, 1872, and in March, 1873, married Susan M. Mooney, of Jackson. Upon entering his " teens " Mr. C. laid out a course in life which has been strictly carried out thus far. as to date of becoming estab- lished in business, marrying, etc. He started in business without any capital; now employs about 20 hands and does a business of 815,000 to 820,000 a year.

Abel M. Crawford, M. D., is a native of Tompkins county, N. Y., born in 1828. His parents, Abram and Jane Crawford, nee Scott, were New York people, descendants of Irish and Scotch parents respectively. They came to Michigan and settled in the town of Leoni, Jackson Co., in 1835, on a farm. Doctor was educated in Leoni, Hon. J. W. Longyear being one of his teachers. He read medicine with his brother, and with Dr. G. W. Gorham, of Jack- son ; took a course in Rush Medical College 1846-'7 and another in 1849-'50, receiving the degree from that institution in the spring of 1850. The Doctor located in practice two years in Eaton Rapids; seven years in Lansing; was then appointed Surgeon of the Detroit & Milwaukee railroad, with headquarters at St. John's, Clinton Co., in which he erected the first brick house. While there, in 1855, he located, platted and named the town of St. Louis, Mich., and se- cured the location of' postoffices and mail route from St. John's to Maple Rapids. Doctor also acted as reviewer under Capt. Ward in locating the 75,000 acres of land granted to the Sault de Ste. Marie Canal Co., and was afterward agent of the lands for the company

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in seven counties. He served some time as Postmaster of St. John's, and was County Treasurer of Gratiot county in 1855 and '56, the county having been organized through his efforts mainly, at the session of the Legislature in 1855. He settled in Jackson in 1859, where he has been in active practice since, save while in the army. Doctor was appointed Surgeon of the 11th Mich. Inf., March 16, 1865, and served till it was discharged in September. In 1864 he spent a season in Bellevue hospital, New York city, and had charge of a lying-in ward some months. Doctor Crawford is a member of Michigan State and Jackson Medical Societies; was one of the or- ganizers of the former. He married Julett O. Miller, of Lansing, in 1850. Her father built the first brick house in that city, and was one of the contractors for the masonry of the capitol. Doctor and wife were the parents of 1 child, Hattie Bell, the second white child born in St. Louis, Mich. Dr. Crawford was twice elected Supervisor from the old 3d ward of Jackson; has been a mem- ber of the Masonic order since 1849.

Philo J. Curtiss, carpenter and builder, was born in Oswego connty, N. Y., May 2, 1828; is one of 4 sons and 3 daughters of John and Phebe (Gilson) Curtiss, natives of New York; who came to Jackson count y, Mich., in 1836 and setttled in what is now the town of Norvell, then Napoleon, where they farmed nine years; re- moved to Kalamazoo county in 1844; returned to Jackson three years later and conducted the old Eagle hotel a year. Mrs. C. died some 12 years ago; her husband still resides in the city, aged 81 years. Philo learned the carpenter's trade, carried it on in Kal- amazoo county; had active charge of the hotel while his father oc- cupied it; then engaged in the building business and has continued since; went to California in the spring of 1852; three years later returned to Jackson. Mr. Curtiss erected a large planing mill and ran it until 1877, then closed it ont. May 19, 1855, he married Elmira Palmer, in Jackson, who died in 1866; two years after, he married Mary L. Parmeter, a sister; has a daughter by the first wife and a sou by the second. Mr. C. served as Alderman from the 4th ward in 1864; and was Supervisor from the 5th and 6th wards in 1877; has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. over 30 years; is a charter member of the Knights of Honor in Jack- son, and is presiding officer.

Christopher Dalton, merchant and farmer, was born in Ireland in 1827, where he received a common-school education, and worked on a farm. In 1848 he emigrated to the United States, located in Fairfield county, Conn., where he worked on a farm four years; thence to Michigan in 1855, locating where the Michigan Central freight house now stands; remained four years, then built a house on Main street in 1860 and remained a short time; bought a farm of 120 acres in Leoni tp .; remained one winter, then returned to his place on Main street, where he stayed about one year and a half, then bought 120 acres of land in sec. 7, Leoni tp., making 240 acres adjoining. He lived on his farm from 1862 until 1877.

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He married Miss Margaret Casey, born in Ireland in 1827; they had 12 children, 8 of whom are living. Mr. D. has a fine resi- dence in the city, valued at $3,000; also a store building valned at $2,200. His landed property is valued at $7,200. He is in easy circumstances and is at present engaged in the grocery business, more for occupation than for profit. The family are Catholics.

Wm. D. Davenport, proprietor of meat market, was born in Rochester, N. Y., Ang. 20, 1839; received a common-school educa- tion and was brought up to the trade his grandfather and father followed before him; the former did the butchering for Washing- ton's army : he died at the age of 90 years. In 1861 Mr. Davenport enlisted in Van Allen Cavalry, but was afterward changed to the 3d New York. He participated in several battles; was at the Winches- ter, and covered Gen. Banks' retreat; was on the expedition to New- bern, N. C., where they were stationed two years, and while there acted as seont; in 1863, enlisted in liis old regiment, was ordered to report to Brig. Gen. Kantz, where he was detailed as scout and re- mained with him until the close of the war. He was with the first squad that entered Petersburg; raised the stars and stripes in the city; while on Wilson's raid he was wounded four times and left on the field, and was six days getting baek to camp. After the war he came to Jackson and engaged in the meat business, where he has since been employed. He married Miss Abigail Speers, who was born in 1849.

Montgomery R. Davis, patentee and proprietor of the Davis Skeleton Spring Bed, and manufacturer of spring beds and mat- rasses, was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., in 1824; is the eldest of 11 ehildren of Rosevelt and Sally (Atwood) Davis of that State. They brought their family to Michigan and settled on a tract of wild land bought from the Government in June, 1831. There were but five families in the township; they had come the year previous. The settlers either had to ponnd their grain into bread- stuff with a hard-wood mallet on a flat stump, or haul it to the Ann Arbor mill with ox teams, requiring 10 days to make the round trip. Mr. Davis' school opportunities were confined chiefly to the log school-house and the slab benches. At the age of 30 he left the homestead and engaged in the mercantile business in Hudson, Lenawee Co., abont nine years, as the firm of Davis & Johnson. He sold to his partner, and a year after settled in Jackson; prosecuted the lumber trade several years; manufactured fine-cut tobacco a year, then went to the north part of the State and mannfactured lumber and shingles a year; lost money in the business, and re- turned to Jackson; was 11 months in the boot and shoe trade, then embarked in the milling business, and in two years lost some $10,000, leaving him $1,000 in debt, which he paid off in full in the next two years. In 1874 Mr. Davis established his present business. He is the inventor of several patents, among them his spring bed, of which he has made and sold during the last six and a half years 20,000, and employs an average of 12 hands. His

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patent door-spring is simple and effective, and is extensively sold in a number of States. Mr. Davis married Esther Myrick, in Jackson county, 33 years ago. They have a son and a daughter, the former a dentist in Eaton Rapids.

Elmore Dennis, proprietor of E. Dennis & Co.'s machine shop, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., and is 53 years old. His parents were Cornelius and Clarissa (Taylor) Dennis, natives of that State, They immigrated to Michigan and settled on a farm in the town of Springport in 1838, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Elmore's father being a millwright, he learned the trade, and pur- sued it at various points for 10 years, making Parma his home. In February, 1866, he came to Jackson, and for five years was fore- man in the machinery department of Bennett & Woods' fanning and flouring mill, then established his present machine business. He married Alice Pinckney, of Howell, Livingston Co., Mich., in May, 1855. Her father was a pioneer of Howell. Mr. Dennis is a member of the Masonic order, lodge, chapter and commandery. Mr. Henry Kline, his partner in business, is an adopted son. He is now married and has 1 child.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 63

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1166

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1166