History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 65

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 65

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Byron Foote, hay, straw and wood dealer, was born in Sand- stone tp., Jackson Co., Mich., June 12, 1844. His father, Henry Foote, was a farmer, and a native of Medbury, Vt .; was born in 1805; his family consisted of 5 children, 2 of whom are still living; his wife is living in Summit tp. Mr. Foote was one of the first merchants of the county, forming a partner- ship with Wiley Reynolds soon after coming to the State; from that he engaged in the harness business and afterward went on a farm. In 1856 he went to Milwaukee, where he remained but a short time. Thence came back to Jackson, where he followed money-lending four years; then went to his farm in Summit tp., where he died in 1868. The subject of this sketch is still residing on the same farm, running it in connection with his business in

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

the city. He married Miss Frances Harrington, daughter of Ches- ter Harrington, a pioneer of this county, and was born in this county in August, 1848. He has 160 acres of land in Summit tp., near the city limits, which is valuable. He is a member of Jack- son Lodge, No. 940, Knights of Honor, and holds the office of Dictator.

Henry Foster (deceased) was born in Bridgeport, Addison Co., Vt., May 14, 1804, and learned the trade of blacksmith with his father. When 24 years of age, married Miss Sylvia Adams, daughter of Timothy Adams, a native of Barre, Mass. She was born Feb. 10, 1812. When 10 years of age her father died and she went to live with a sister at Crown Point, N. Y., and liked so well she never returned. After marrying Mr. Foster, remained in Crown Point two years, then went to Bridgeport and remained six; then started with the intention of coming to Michigan, but thought it too new and stopped in Wayne county, N. Y ., where they remained six years. In 1840 came to Jackson. He worked at the prison one year and then engaged in the manufacture of engines for saw and grist-mills; he followed that business until his death, which occurred Ang. 8, 1864. There was a family of 7 children, 3 of whom are living-Emily E., now Mrs. Edwin Andrus, of Jackson; George A., now of Detroit, and Lillian M. In politics was an old-line Whig up to the time of the organization of the Republican party, after which he joined the Democratic party. Mr. Foster was a kind and devoted husband and respected by all who knew him.

Ulysses T. Foster, residence 310 North Blackstone street, is a native of Genesee county, N. Y., born in 1819: is the second of 6 children, 5 sons and a daughter, of Lemuel Foster and Abi Fenn. They moved to Niagara county, N. Y., when he was seven years of age, where he received a fair English education. In 1836 the family came to Michigan, and settled in Ann Arbor tp., Washtenaw connty. His father, who is a pensioner of the war of 1812, still re- sides there, aged 88 years. In 1842 Mr. Foster returned to Niagara county, N. Y .; remained there until 1846; then came to Jackson, of which he has been a citizen since. In October of that year he be- came foreman in the wagon manufactory of J. E. Beebe, in the State's prison, which had been established some three years previous, employing convict labor, on contract. Mr. Foster claims, under pretty good authority, to have made there the first wagon that crossed the plains to California, during the early gold excitement. He has been continuously in the employ of the concern since, through several changes of ownership. The past eight years has had supervision of the machinery departments. Mr. Foster never served any apprenticeship; but having a natural genius for mechan- ics, thoroughly understands working wood, iron and steel. He was united in marriage with Helen Tibbitts, of Whitesboro, Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1848. They are members of the Congrega- tional Church.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

George W. Ford, real-estate, loan and insurance agent, is a native of Jackson; was born Nov. 1, 1842. His grandfather, William Ford, his father William Ford, Jr., and uncle, Jerry Ford, came to Jackson in 1836; erected the Ætna Flouring Mill, purchased a tract of land and laid out Ford's addition to Jackson that year. In the winter of 1837-'38 a store was built on the site of the present Com- mercial Hotel, and his father, Wm. Ford, Jr., in company with his brother-in-law, Warren M. Buck, started a dry-goods store. His father, also, in partnership with A. B. Gibson, established the De- troit & St. Joseph Railroad Bank, on the east side of Grand river, Mr. Ford being President and Mr. Gibson, Cashier. William Ford, Sr., died about 1846, and two years later their extensive and varied business was closed. Wm. Ford, Jr., crossed the plains to Califor- nia; engaged in mercantile business in Marysville; remained there in business at different points, returning twice to Michigan mean- time until 1869, when he died at Pacheco, Cal. His brother Jerry had died some years previously. They met with reverses which left them with little property at their decease. George's mother died when he was six months old, and he was adopted and reared by his uncle, Warren M. Buck. He was educated in Jackson and at the Ypsilanti Normal school; entered the dry-goods store of Wm. Bennett as clerk at the age of 19; two years after, engaged with W. R. & S. C. Reynolds, remaining over five years, till they sold out, and a few months with their successor, Mr. Field; be- came a partner with his uncle, W. M. Buck, in the real-estate and insurance business in 1871, and at his uncle's death in 1879, be- came sole proprietor. He married Mary E., eldest daughter of Rev. D. T. Grinnell, of Jackson. They have 2 daughters. Mr. F. is Regent of the Royal Arcanum, Lodge 120; and a member of K. of H.

Cyrus H. Fountain, Superintendent City Water-Works, son of Dr. James and Charlotte (Heustis) Fountain, was born in West- chester county, N.Y., in 1825. His father being a physician, educated him at Williams College for the medical profession. After having read medicine and attended one course of lectures, he abandoned the idea, and turned his attention to the drug business for nearly four years; went to California in 1850 and spent two years in the mines; came home by way of the isthmus, and for a time remained there in the employ of the Panama Railroad Co., constructing the line; came home very ill with the isthmus fever. Mr. Fountain came to Michigan in 1855 and engaged in the milling business in Man- chester, Washtenaw Co., for a number of years; took a second trip to California in 1860 and returned in 1861, going and coming over- land; enlisted as a private in the 4th Mich. Cavalry soon after arriving in Manchester; was promoted to First Lieutenant, and in the spring of 1864 resigned from physical disability. Afterward he joined the Sth Mich. Cavalry, of which he was a member when the war closed. He has been in business in Jackson since 1865; in 1874 was appointed to his present position. From 1871 to 1873

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Mr. F. served as Alderman from the 3d ward. £ He married Juliet R. Field, in New York State, in 1847. They have 2 daughters and a son.

Charles W. Fowler, of Fowler & Dunham, grocers, West Main street, was born in the town of Liberty, Jackson Co., Mich., in 1842, and brought up in the town of Spring Arbor. Justus and Flora M. (Lake) Fowler were his parents. They were natives of Onondaga county, N. Y., where they were married, and came to Jackson county 1838 or '39, and bought and settled on wild land in Spring Arbor tp., where they still reside. Mr. Fowler enjoyed the advantages of the district school; became joint proprietor of the Spring Arbor Mills in 1872; sold out and came to Jackson in June, 1874, and nine months after bought a joint interest in the present grocery house, with Geo. Stiles and brother, the firm becoming Stiles, Fow- ler & Co. They also carried on the manufacture of buckskin gloves and mittens. Two years later they dissolved, George Stiles taking the manufacturing department. At the end of another two years the firm changed to Fowler, Palmer & Co., and March 1, 1880, to Fowler & Dunham. They keep a general stock of groceries, of which they sell at retail 820.000 a year. Sept. 21, 1861, Mr. Fow- ler enlisted in Co. H. 1st Michigan Engineers, and served over three years, the last two as clerk of the company. He received a gunshot wound in the left hand at the battle of Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862, but never left the company; was under the command of Gens. Buell, Rosecrans and Thomas, successively. On March 1. 1865, Mr. Fowler was united in marriage with Sarah J. Olds, of Spring Arbor, but a native of Oakland county, Mich. Mr. F. is a member of the order of Chosen Friends, Ferry Council, No. 6, and of the Free- Will Baptist Church, and one of its Trustees. He is President of the Y. M. C. A., and was one of the organizing mem- bers and its first Secretary.

Rev. Carl Franke, Pastor German Lutheran Church, is a son of Carl and Sophia (Foellinger) Franke; father a native of Hanover, Germany, mother, of Prussia; his mother's people were among the earliest settlers of Ft. Wayne, where the subject of this sketchi was born March 10, 1853; he received his education in the German Lutheran Concordia College, and finished his theological studies at St. Louis, Mo., at Theological Concordia Lutheran College. His first work was at Waverly, Jones Co., Iowa, where he had five charges, and remained two and a half years; thence to Jackson, where he still resides. He married Miss Annie Seemeyer; she was born in New York city May 24, 1856. There are two children, Annie and Clarrie.

Alonzo D. Fuller, of Wells & Fuller, hardware merchants, is the eldest of 6 sons and 2 daughters of Andrew S. and Cornelia (Bunker) Fuller, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. They married in Ann Arbor. Mich., and Alonzo was born there in 1834. A year after they moved to Jackson county, and settled on a farm in the town of Sandstone. Mr. F. was educated in the district

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

school and Albion College; taught school a number of terms; mar- ried Helen C. Ball, of Eckford, Calhoun Co., in the spring of 1864; farmed two years, then moved to Jackson; clerked eight years in the hardware store of Rice & McConnell; traveled two years, selling Champion machines for Warder, Mitchell & Co .; in March, 1876, formed the present partnership with M. M. Wells, and engaged in the hardware business; have a large retail and some jobbing trade, amounting in all to $60,000 a year. Mr. Fuller's father was one of the first in Sandstone town to vote the Abolition ticket, and helped to organize the Republican party. He died in 1865, and his widow in 1869. Mr. Fuller has been a Master Mason for a quarter of a century; is a member of the Knights of Honor and Chosen Friends. He and wife have two sons, Freddie, aged 14 years, and Charlie, 12 years old.

Henry Gass, proprietor of saloon and billiard hall, was born in Rhine, Bavarian Germany, on Jan. 10, 1820,; came to the United States in 1851, and located in Ohio, where he kept a boarding house and worked by the day. In 1855 he came to Jackson, worked in a nursery for Herwood & Downing two years, then came'to the city and worked at making candles and soap, and in 1860 embarked in his present business. He married Miss Mary Crinner, a native of Germany, in 1839. They have had & children, 7 of whom are still living-Mary, Agnes, Elizabeth, Catherine, born in Germany; Henry, Emma, in Ohio; Adam and Ida in Michigan.

John Gee, dealer in hides, pelts and tallow, is a son of John and Clarissa (Henderson) Gee, natives of New York, who emigrated to Blissfield, Lenawee Co., Mich., in 1837, when the subject of this sketch was six years old, then removed to Fairfield tp. His father was a blacksmith by trade and followed it in connection with farm- ing; in 1853 he went to Ingham county. and lived with his son, John Gee, until 1868, then removed to Columbia tp. and remained two years; came to Jackson, where he engaged in buying hides and pelts for other parties: afterward engaged for himself, and has con- tinued in the business since; he died in 1871 at the age of 82, and his wife died in Lenawee county, in 1553, at the age of 55 years. John Gee married Miss Abbie Jane Peak, daughter of Peter M. Peak, of New York, who came to this State in 1847. She was born in Monroe county., N. Y., Nov. 21, 1833. They have 2 sons-Lozella A., born Oct. 10, 1856, and Meloni A., April 16, 1861. Mr. Gee has held the office of Treasurer in Bunker Hill tp .; in politics lie is a Re- publican. He is doing a fine business, and his trade amounts to $30,000 per year. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was under Capt. Mack and Lieut. Harris, and served three months and 13 days.

Douglass Gibson, President of the Jackson Interest and Deposit Bank, the only living child of Hon. Amasa B. and Mary (Douglass) Gibson, was born in May, 1827, in Crown Point, on the border of Lake Champlain, N. Y. His father was a native of Voluntown, Conn., born Oct. 10, 1795, and died in Jackson, Mich., Oct. 26,

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

1868; was of Scotch and Protestant Irish ancestry. During his early manhood he engaged in mercantile pursnits in Crown Point; came with his family to the Territory of Michigan in the autumn of 1831, lived a year or two in Ypsilanti, then removed to Spring Arbor, Jackson Co., and in the spring of 1836 to the young town of Jackson, and became a member of the mercantile firm of Cole- man, Cooper & Co. Two years later he became Cashier of the St. Joseph's Railroad Bank; in 1842 established a real estate and in- surance business, which he conducted prosperously until about two years prior to his decease. While residing in Spring Arbor he was chosen Supervisor of that town, including what is now eight townships; was also appointed Sheriff by the Territorial Governor, elected to the same office after the organization of the State; served on the County Board of Supervisors; was Building Commissioner of the State prison; Commissioner and Superintendent for the erection of the court-house; was candidate for the State Senate in 1856; elected Mayor of the city in 1861, and served three success- ive terms; was a prominent and active member of the Congrega- tional Church for many of the last years of his life. Douglass Gibson was educated in the Michigan State University, graduating in the class of 1850. In 1852 he engaged in the saddlery hard- ware trade; some years after formed a partnership with E. H. Rice, as Rice & Gibson, and conducted a general hardware business, with a succession of partners, until 1873, when he sold out; and having previously entered into the banking business in February, 1869, in company with Thomas Westren, he has since paid exclusive at- tention to that, doing a general and prosperous banking business. Mr. Gibson has served the city two years in the Board of Super- visors; is a member of the A. F. & A. M., lodge, chapter and commandery. He married Mary J., daughter of Albert Howe, of Jackson, in 1850. They have 1 son-Albert H. Gibson.

William A. Gibson, homeopathic physician and surgeon, was born in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich., in 1843. Thomas Gibson, his father, was of Scotch-Irish stock, and was born on ship- board when his parents were on the voyage from Scotland. He pur- sued farming and the mason trade during active life. He married Maryette Piper, of Palmyra, N. Y. Her parents were Vermont people, and her father was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Dr. Gibson is the eldest of 4 brothers and 1 sister. The family moved to Jackson in 1848, and 10 years later upon a farm in Liberty tp.,remain- ing until 1868, then returned to the city. Doctor was educated in the district and Normal schools; began to read medicine at inter- vals when 16 years old; attended his first course of medical lectures in Michigan State University in the winter of 1861-'62; spent the sum- mer as a student in the office of Dr. Root, of Gambolville, Hillsdale Co .; in September, 1863, entered the army as hospital steward, and filled that position until the close of the war. Returning to Jackson, he became a student with Dr. G. W. Carhart; attended a second course of lectures the next winter, and graduated from the

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Michigan State University with the degree of M. D. in the spring of 1866. In May he began to practice in Marshall, Mich .; did a prosperous business until he moved to Jackson in the fall of 1869. Doctor Gibson has served as City Physician four years; was one year physician for the county ; for the jail four years, and has been exam- ining surgeon of Government pensioners two years in Marshall, and since 1873 in Jackson. He is Secretary of the Jackson County Homeopathic Society ; is a member of the Michigan State Homeo- pathic Association of Physicians and Surgeons, and is one of the Curators of the Buffalo College of Physicians and Surgeons. He served as Alderman from the 4th ward two years-1866 and '67.

Doctor Gibson early became self-dependent, educated himself, has always been an energetic, hard worker, and has an extensive medical practice. He married Laura S. Kirtland, in Jackson, in Sep- tember, 1866. Her parents were early settlers in Jackson county from Portland, Maine. Dr. and wife have 2 daughters-Isabel and Irene. The Doctor is an admirer and has always driven fine horses. He now owns the celebrated Hambletonian horse "Tremont," for which he paid a large sum of money, and one of the most valuable ani- mals in Michigan. We give, on page 643 of this work, a portrait of Mr. Gibson.

John B. Gilson, of Snow, Gilson & Co., boot and shoe merchants, West Main street, is a native of Genesee county, N. Y., born in 18 -. His parents moved to Michigan, and settled in Dexter when he was eight years old; lived there on a farm some years. He came to Jackson, and in the winter of 1860-'61 began to learn the shoe- making trade with W. N. Woodsum; served nearly three years; worked as a journeyman two years, and then changed to the posi- tion of salesman, continuing until June 30, 1869, when he became a partner. The concern did a large business, of some $25,000 a year, but · becoming financially embarrassed, the stock passed into the hands of Snow, Gilson & Co., in 18-, and has since been han- dled by them. Mr. Gilson was married to Catherine McWilliams, a native of New York, in June, 1872. They have 3 sons. Mr. G. is a member of the Young Men's Catholic Benevolent Association, and of the Catholic Church.

Prof. John Baxter Glasgow, Superintendent of the city schools of district No. 17, is the eldest of a family of 3 sons of James H. and Sarah Glasgow, nee Baxter, natives of Scotland, and was born in Jonesville, Hillsdale Co., Mich., May 29, 1853. James H. Glas- gow was born in Greenoch, Scotland, in 1819; came to America about 1851; married in New York State; came West and settled in Hillsdale county. They moved to Jackson in August, 1857, and he immediately obtained employment as an officer in the State's prison, which continned until August, 1868. He then engaged in the foundry business in Marshall, Mich., three years; at the end of that time returned to Jackson, and has ever since been Keeper in the prison.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Prof. Glasgow fitted for college in the schools of Jackson, and took a course in Michigan State University, graduating in the class of 1877. He spent a year in Yale attending lectures in the Divin- ity school and the college, and was elected to his present position in the fall of 1878, being but 25 years of age and never having taught a school. The marked success of the school during his three years' superintendency demonstrates the wisdom of the choice.

Andrew J. Gould, real-estate and loan agent, E. Main street, near Mechanic, was born in Hillsdale county, Mich., April 25, 1839; was reared and educated there; came with his parents to Jackson in 1858; was employed three summers as Guard or Keeper in the State's prison, and taught school in winters, in this and Hillsdale counties-in all, seventernis. In 1861 he married Rosetta, daughter of Allen W. Grover, a prominent farmer of Pulaski tp., Jackson Co., and farmed there three years. He then moved to the city, entered the law and insurance office of Bostwick & Gould, read law with them, and was admitted in May, 1869. Sept. 3 following he opened an office for real estate and insurance, and probably does the heaviest real-estate business in the city. Mr. Gould has for a number of years been a member of the Board of Cemetery Trus- tees, for three years Chairman of that body, under whose manage- ment the cemetery has been made one of the most beautiful spots in Michigan. He and wife are members of the Unitarian Church.

James Gould, Judge of Probate, of Jackson county, son of Amos and - Gould, is a native of St. Lawrence county, N. Y., born Nov. 24, 1831; came to Michigan with parents, who settled in the forests of Hillsdale county in 1856. His school opportunities in the new country were but meager; learned the alphabet at eight years of age, and, being a strong boy, soon after began to render valu- able aid to his parents on the new farm. The season after his 13th birthday he worked six months for a neighbor for $3 per month; continued to work on the farm for seven years. In the winter of 1850-'51 Mr. G. attended the Union school of Jonesville, living in the family of Hon. George Munro; made rapid progress in his studies; at the end of one year in this school was qualified to teach, and taught in the Union school of Moscow. In the spring of 1853 he entered the Normal school at Ypsilanti, and remained a year; the following year taught as Principal of the Jonesville Union school, and began reading law; was several years Principal of the Litchfield Union school; came to Jackson in April, 1861, and was an officer in the State's prison for two years; in 1863 formed a law partnership with V. M. Bostwick, and began practice, and carried on a loan, real-estate and insurance business, which rapidly in- creased, and amounted in 1868 to 8240,000. Mr. Gould was admit- ted to practice in the United States courts in 1870; the same year the partnership dissolved by the death of his partner, and he closed up their business in 1872; was appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to visit Hillsdale College and report the condition, progress, etc., of the institution. He is a pronounced Republican

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in politics; assumed the duties of his present office Jan. 1, 1881; has served as School Inspector, and in the Board of Aldermen; has for years been an active member of the M. E. Church, and was the first President of the Y. M. C. A. of Jackson; is a member of A. F. & A. M., lodge, chapter, council, commandery, and has also taken the Scottish Rite degrees. He married Miss Caroline, daughter of James Fitton. They have no children, but have reared several adopted ones. Mr. Gould's portrait can be found on page 609 of this work.

G. T. Gridley was born in Vernon, Oneida Co., N. Y., July 1, 1816. His father, Norman Gridley, died in Paris in the same county, when G. T. was 12 years old. He was educated at the Clinton Grammar school and pursued the classical studies at local academies. He clerked in a dry-goods store at Utica for a while, and at the age of 17 entered the law office of Timothy Jenkins, an eminent lawyer of Oneida, where he remained two years, teaching school during the winter months. In 1834 he entered the law office of his uncle, Hon. Philo Gridley, a very eminent lawyer of Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., where he remained three years. In 1837 he came to Michigan; located at Ypsilanti the first week in June, and entered into a law partnership with Grove Spencer. He found a very pleasant home among the new settlers of this county. May 4, 1837, he was married in New York to Caroline W. Todd, daughter of John R. Todd, Esq., of Verona, Oneida Co., N. Y. After remain- ing four months in Michigan, Mr. Gridley returned to New York and brought his wife to his new home. The following spring he entered into partnership with George N. Skinner, and continued in that relation until his removal to Jackson, in 1849. While liv- ing in Ypsilanti Mr. G. was elected Village Recorder, Village Assessor, and at the time of his removal was holding the office of Master in Chancery-an office which was abolished some years later.

The year 1844 will be remembered as the great presidential con- test, when James K. Polk defeated Henry Clay. Mr. Gridley took an active part in the campaign. He was very successful, and in less than a year was appointed Prosecuting Attorney by the Gov- ernor, in place of David Johnson, the latter being elected to the Legislature. At this time Mr. G. met with the greatest affliction of his life, in the death of his 2 children-one, a precocious little girl in her seventh year, and the other an infant six months old. In 1848 he was appointed Injunction Master of this circuit, and held the position until the office was abolished, in 1850. The same year he was elected County Judge, and about the same time was elected Director of the Union school of this city, a position he held for 12 years, with the exception of one year. It was under his administration that the large and commodious school building was erected in 1854-'5, which at that time was the largest and best school building in the State. Soon after this Mr. Gridley was elected President of the village of Jackson, and he drafted the charter of the city when it was incorporated in 1857. In 1852, and again

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 65

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