History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 66

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

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

in 1857, he was the Democratic candidate for Judge of Probate, but was defeated. In 1867 he was appointed Assessor of Internal Revenue of the Third Congressional District of Michigan by President Johnson, and served until the office was merged into that of Collector, in 1873.

Mr. and Mrs. Gridley have had 5 children; only 2 are living, both daughters; the eldest is the wife of Col. W. S. Gridley, and has 3 children; the other is the wife of Edwin C. Knight, and re- sides at Battle Creek, Mich. Mr. G. loved his profession and has always been successful, loving justice more than honor and fame.

Col. William Seward Gridley was born July 13, 1838, in Schenec- tady, N. Y., and is a direct descendant of Thomas Gridley, who emigrated from Essex county, England, to Hartford, Conn., where he settled about 1630. His father, Capt. Reuben Gridley, was born in Hartford county, Conn., in 1805. He was a Whig politician and an effective stump speaker; was noted for his ready wit, also for his great muscular strength. About 1816 he removed to Wood- stock tp., Ulster Co., N. Y., and in February, 1822, he married Mary Dewell, a native of New York. In 1829 his house was de- stroyed by fire, and 3 of their children, Malinda, Peter and Almira, were consumed in the flames. Mr. and Mrs. Gridley barely escaped with their lives by jumping from a second-story window, each with a child in his arms. Mr. Gridley was very badly burned in trying to save his other children, and for several inonths his life was despaired of. In 1830 he removed his family to Schenectady, where he lived until his death; himself, wife and an infant born the same day, all died June 23, 1843, within a few minutes of each other, and were all interred in one grave in the Methodist burying ground on Albany Hill. Their + surviving children are -- Sarah Wilson, wife of Thomas Cleary; Henry Seward and William Seward (twins), and Nathaniel T. T., who was killed June 27, 1862, in the battle of Gaines' Mill, in front of Richmond.

The subject of this sketch passed the greater part of his youth in Schenectady. When the war of the Rebellion broke ont, he held the commission of First Lieutenant in a company of artillery. When Gov. Morgan, of New York, issued his call for 30,000 men from that State, Col. Gridley promptly offered his services, and, at his own expense, recruited a company of infantry, and in three days after the call, reported with this company to the Governor at Albany, which was the fourth company organized in the State ; this company was attached as Co. A, 18th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Rifles, and was mnstered into service May 17, 1861. While at Albany, Col. Gridley was one of the pall- bearers at the funeral of Col. E. E. Ellsworth, being detailed for that duty.

June 18, 1861, the 18th was ordered to Washington, and July 22d this regiment, with the 16th, 31st and 32d, were formed into a brigade and called 2d Brigade, 5th Division, Army of Virginia, un- der command of Col. Niles. This division was at the battle of Bull Run and formed the left wing of the Union army. Aug. 14,

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1862, Mr. Gridley was promoted to Major of the 18th Regiment, and was afterward in the following battles: 2d Bull Run, Crampton's Pass in South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. The reg- iment was mustered ont at Albany, N. Y., May 28, 1863. While in the army, Col. Gridley had several hair-breadth escapes, but re- ceived only a slight wound. He was several times ordered to duty as a member of a general court-martial, and at the end of his term of service was brevetted Lieut .- Col. and Col., for gallant and meri- torions service.

During the years 1865-'66, Col. Gridley read law in Schenectady, N. Y., and was admitted to the Bar May 8, 1867. He at once en- tered upon the practice of the law, and has continued the same ever since. Oct. 1, 1867, he married, at Jackson, Mich., Caroline Eleanor Gridley, eldest daughter of Hon. G. Thompson and Caro- line W.{Todd) Gridley, and in December, 1868, removed to Jackson, where his family has continued to reside. They have 3 chil- dren -- G. Thompson, William Mallory, and Olive Vernon. In May, 1869, Col. G. went to Nebraska and engaged in his practice; while there, he was Deputy Clerk of the District Court, Notary Public, and U. S. Commissioner for the U. S. Judicial Circuit and District of Nebraska. In the spring of 1870 he returned to Jackson; was appointed chief clerk to Hon. G. Thompson Gridley, U. S. Assessor for the 3d District of Michigan, which position he held until the office of assessor was abolished. Nov. 21, 1872, he was appointed U. S. Internal Revenue Gauger for the 3d Collection District of Michigan, which office he held till 1873. In November, 1872, he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner and served two years; was re- nominated in 1874, but was defeated with the rest of the Republican county ticket. In 1877 he was Clerk of the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives, at Lansing, and the House passed a resolution complimenting him for his ability and faithful services; he is now (1880) Secretary of the Judicial Committee of the Mich- igan State Senate. In politics, Mr. Gridley has always been an active Republican, casting his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln.

Lieut. Col. Ebenezer B. Griffith, hardware merchant, was born in Batavia, N. Y., in 1837. His parents were Owen Griffith, of New York city, and Mary Rowland, of New Jersey. They re- moved to Jackson, Mich., in 1850, which was their home until death. Mr. G. was educated in the schools of the city, and at the age of 16 began to learn the trade of tin and copper-smith. After working a short time as a journeyman, the war of the Rebellion began, and he being Orderly Sergeant of the Jackson Grays, ten- dered his service to the Government, and was probably the first man in the State to enlist. Anticipating the bursting of the war cloud, the officers had reorganized their company, Gen. Withington being made Captain and Mr. Griffith First Lieutenant, and they tendered the services of the company to the Governor of Michigan before any call was issued by the President for troops. They went to the

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front as a part of the First Michigan Infantry, joined the army of the Potomnac, and made the first capture of the war at Alexandria. Their term of enlistment had expired the day before the first Bull Run battle, but they decided to participate, and Mr. Griffith commanded the company in that fight. Upon the reorganization of the regiment at Ann Arbor, he was commissioned Captain of Co. D, of the First Mich. Vol. Inf. The regiment guarded the B. & O. railroad at Annapolis Junction a short time; went to For- tress Monroe, and joined McClellan before Richmond; were in the seven days' fight, soon after which ill health compelled Capt. Griffith to retire from the service after being in 16 months. For a year after returning to Jackson he was unable to engage in business; then formed a partnership with his father and embarked in the hard- ware trade, he becoming sole proprietor at his father's death, in 1876. In February, 1875, Co. G, First Mich. State Troops, was or- ganized for six years, and Mr. G. was elected its Captain. In 1879 he was promoted by vote of the commissioned officers to Lieut .- Colonel of the regiment, and now holds the office. Mr. Griffith married Ama Bailey, of Jackson, in 1874; is a member of A. F, & A. M., Lodge 17, and he and wife are members of the Episcopal Church.

Casper Haehnle was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 19, 1852; emigrated to the United States in 1864, landed in New York, where he remained a short time, thence to Jackson county. In 1870 he built his present brewery, which has been in successful operation since. The cost of land, buildings and fixtures was $25,000; employs six men and makes abont 500 barrels of beer per annum. He married Miss Mary Baltz, born in Detroit, Dec. 15, 1855. They have 2 children-Casper and Amelia. Both are members of the German Lutheran Church.

Henry Hague was born in Derbyshire, England, Ang. 31, 1824, and received a common-school education. When he was 14 years of age he was apprenticed to the trade of frescoing, graining and painting, and followed the same until 1851, when he came to America, landing in New York, Sept. 6 of the same year; he remained until 1852, then came to Jackson; his first work was to fresco the Episcopal church. Being a stranger in this country, the committee wanted some guarantee that he could do the work; he told them if the work was not satisfactory he would ask no pay; it appears that the work gave satisfaction, from a letter dated Dec. 13, 1852, a portion of which runs as follows: " We consider ourselves fortunate in having been able to obtain your services, and as you are a stranger in our State it will afford us pleasure at any time to certify to the superiority of your workmanship. Signed, Daniel T. Grinnell, Rector, Charles Penny, Samuel Higby, John Sumner, Ira C. Backus, Wm. B. Stanton, Almon Patterson, H. A. Hayden, Vestrymen of St. Panl's Church, Jackson, Mich." In the spring of 1853 he moved his family to Jackson, where he carried on his busi- ness extensively for several years, a portion of the time employing

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

as many as 20 men. He married Miss Mary Ann Morley, who was born in England the same year as her husband. They have 3 children, 2 sons and 1 daughter. Mr. Hague had one brother in the Union army who was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, and afterward died at Washington; also a son, Edrick, was in the navy department, and was wounded at the bombardment of Fort Anderson on Cape Fear river, North Carolina, Feb. 17, 1865. In a letter to Gov. Austin Blair, from the commanding officer of the United States steamer Pequoit, he said: "When first wounded he would not allow the surgeon to attend him until others more seri- ously wounded had been cared for, and his cheerful and willing deportment while on board had gained for him the friendship of all."

Mr. Hague came to this country in limited circumstances, but by good management has accumulated a fine property.

Joshua Haire, attorney at law, was born in Milo, Yates Co., N. Y., Sept. 14, 1816; is a descendant of Protestant Irish ancestry. His father, Robert Haire, was a native of Ireland; came to America when young; was twice married, and the father of 10 sons and 4 daughters. Margaret Hayne was his second wife and the mother of 7 children, of whom Joshua is the eldest. He grew to manhood on the farm, was educated at Penn Yan, N. Y .; came to Michigan, and at the age of 22 began reading law, while attending college at Ann Arbor. After about four years spent in that manner Mr. Haire came to Jackson, completed the law course with Judge D. Johnson, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Michigan, in July, 1850, after having spent nearly five years in the study of law exclusively. An attack of bronchial disease rendering him un- fit for active practice, Mr. H. was elected Justice of the Peace; served one term, then bought a farm and settled on it in 1855, and conducted it abont nine years. Having recovered his health he re- turned to Jackson and has been in active law practice since. Mr. Haire has been twice elected Circuit Court Commissioner, in 1862 and 1874. He has always been a Democrat of the Jeffersonian- Douglas type; was active in encouraging recruiting during the late civil war. Mr. H. has been twice married, first to Miss Clarica Gregory, of Jackson, a native of Vermont, in 1838. She died the following May with consumption. In 1845 he married Miss Mary J. Gregory, of Washtenaw county, also a native of Vermont, and a cousin of the first wife. Two children are the fruit of this nuion, Robert. J. Haire, late Prosecuting Attorney of Jackson county, and a daughter, now Mrs. Marsh, of Jackson. Mrs. Haire died July 28, 1880, with cancerons affection of the stomach. Mr. Haire is a member of the A. F. & A. M., lodge and chapter, and of the First Congregational Church.

Walter Hammond, of the firm of Hammond & Co., wholesale paper dealers, 114 West Courtland street, purchased the stock and business of E. L. Hunt in July, 1879. The house was established by Mr. Hunt and Hanford Cobb about 1864, and after several

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changes of partners Mr. Hunt became sole proprietor, until he sold out to Mr. Hammond and Frank Long, the present owners. They do a general jobbing business in papers, rags and old metals, their trade in 1880 running over $20,000. Mr. Hammond was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., 27 years ago. His parents, Amariah and Rosana Hammond, were residents of that place until his mother died, some years ago; father still lives there. Mr. H. has provided for himself since 16 years of age; went upon the Michigan Central railroad when 18 as fireman. Four years later became engineer and ran a train about three years, when he left the road to engage in his present business.

William H. Hamilton, proprietor of Diamond Gift Tea Store, was born in the State of Maine, and is 46 years of age. His parents, James and Mary (Pray) Hamilton, natives of the same State, re- moved to Port Burnell, Canada, when the subject of this sketch was a lad of 13. They remained there during the rest of their lives; his father died there and was carried to his native State for burial. His mother died at Elmira, N. Y., in 1878. Mr. Hamilton received his education in the schools of Port Burnell, and assisted his father in his business of lumbering, alternating as a clerk in a grocery two or three years. In 1863 his father died leaving him in sole charge of the business. and a year later the mill was destroyed by fire, involving a loss of $15,000. Through the aid of friends he erected a new mill of less dimensions, which was in active operation in less than a year, and continued so until its destruction by fire in 1874. The loss amounted to $5,000. He saved $1,700. Some years before lie invested $7,000 in a sailing craft, which in four years paid for itself. He disposed of this piece of property in 1874, and a little later, in company with others, built two vessels, one on a contract for other parties. The net gain on this was $4,000. Their own vessel was run several seasons at a small loss, and in the winter of 1879 Mr. Hamilton sold his interest, which had cost him $11,000, for $6,000. In 1877 and '78 he conducted a general store in Port Burnell, where he again suffered a small loss by fire in the winter of 1878-'79. Immediately after he purchased a stock of goods in Detroit and July 15, 1879, came to Jackson and commenced business operations here. He makes a specialty of teas, coffees, spices and sugars and keeps in stock a full line of groceries, cut- lery, glass and crockery. He does somne jobbing in addition to a large retail trade, his transactions amounting to $25,000 a year, and rapidly increasing. He married in 1856 Miss Susan McCon- nell, of Port Burnell. She died Feb. 6, 1881, leaving 5 sons and 2 daughters. The elder of the latter, Lilly, is Mrs. Raymond, of Tilsonburg, Canada. The two eldest sons assist in their father's store. Mr. Hamilton served as magistrate two years in Port Bur- nell, and is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Orders.

Charles H. Haskins, M. D., was born in Monroe county, N. Y., in 1839. His father, Samuel R. Haskins, was a native of that State, and married Lusetta Smith, of Vermont. The Doctor is the

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youngest of 6 sons and 2 danghters. He came to Michigan with his parents and settled in Cass county in 1850. About four years later they removed to Marshall county, Iowa, and spent the rest of their lives there on a farm. Charles was educated in Auburn and Kal- amazoo. Oct. 1, 1861, he enlisted in Co. H, 13th Iowa Inf., was promoted to 2d Lieut. in May, 1862, and on the 28th of July, 1864, was commissioned Captain; participated in many important battles in Gen. Sherman's command; was wounded by a gun-shot in the right-knee joint in the advance upon Atlanta, which disabled him for 90 days. Upon rejoining the regiment, Mr. Haskins being the senior Captain, acted as Major until the close of the war, and com- manded the regiment at the grand review at Washington; was mnstered out with the regiment at Lonisville, Ky., in July, 1865; spent a year in Iowa, then came to Van Buren county, Mich .; read medicine with an older brother; took his first course of lectures in Michigan State University in the winter of 1867-'8; two years after,attended a course at the Indiana Medical College, from which he received the degree of M. D., in the spring of 1871. The Doctor practiced two years in Chesterton, Porter Co .; came to Jackson late in the summer of 1873; has acted as alternate surgeon of the Michigan Central railroad two years; is physician to Court Lincoln, No. 4, I. O. Foresters; was elected to the City Council in 1877 and 1878, and was President of it the latter year. He married Emma Kaywood, of Jackson county, April 6, 1873.

Hiram Haskins, carpenter and joiner, was born in Taunton, Mass., Dec. 30, 1818. His parents emigrated to Lenawee county, Mich., when he was 15 years old, where they both died. He remained in Michigan four years, then went to Kingsbury, Wash- ington Co., N. Y., where he learned his trade; was engaged in boating between Whitehall and Buffalo four years; in 1867 he came to Michigan again and remained in Lenawee county two years, thence to Jackson, where he has followed his trade since. He married for his first wife Mary Frost, who was born in New York in 1817, and died in 1830, leaving 1 child; for his second wife he married Miss H. Carter, born in Hartford, Washington Co., N. Y., in 1819. The fruit of this marriage was 3 children ; 1 is living.

Hiram F. Hutch, of the firm ot Hatch & Warren, boot and shoe merchants, was born in the town of Benton, Eaton Co., Mich., Dec. 24, 1842. His parents, Henry II. Hatch and Amanda Hatch, nee Potter, were of Scotch descent, and were natives of Batavia, N. Y. They married and immigrated to Michigan about 1840, and settled near Charlotte. Hiram is the second of 5 children. His parents removed to Charlotte, where he attended the schools of the place until 17 years old; and upon the breaking ont of the Rebellion he enlisted in Co. H. 6th Mich. Inf., on April 6, 1861. He was appointed a Corporal, and was mustered into the United States ser- vice with the company Aug. 20, at Kalamazoo, and soon after left for Baltimore, Md. Mr. Hatch participated with his regiment in the campaign on the eastern shore of Virginia; and in the spring

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it was ordered South to join the 19th Army Corps, Gen. B. F. Butler, commanding, at Ship Island. After assisting in the capture of Forts Jackson and Phillip, at the month of the Mississippi, they were among the first troops to enter New Orleans. The 6th Regi- ment took a prominent part in the battle of Baton Ronge, and the siege of Port Hudson. Mr. H. having risen to the rank of Sergeant a year after entering the service, was promoted, for meritorious con- duct during the siege, to Second Lieutenant in the 1st New Orleans Regiment, on June 16, 1864, and assigned to the command of Co. D. On Ang. 19, 1865, he was again promoted to First Lieutenant. After serving on numerous commissions and courts-martial he was appointed in September, 1865, Quartermaster on the Staff of Major- General E. R. Canby, commanding the military division of West Mississippi, with headquarters at New Orleans. He also had full charge of collecting the military taxes levied in that city. Having served over five years Mr. H. was mustered out of service May 31, 1866. Returning to Jackson Mr. Hatch entered upon the boot and shoe trade in company with Edwin M. Warren, under the present firm name. He also engaged quite heavily in the manufacture of boots and shoes, for five years, employing from 50 to 75 convicts in the penitentiary on contract. Mr. Hatch possesses an active, nervons temperament, and has ever been an energetic worker. He married Miss Sarah J. Haslett, of Charlotte, but a native of Ohio. Two living children bless their union-Harry J., 11, and Mabel, nine years old. Mr. H. has always been a staunch Republican in politics, and quite active in a local way. The trade of the firm is confined to retail, and runs from $45,000 to $55,000 per annum.

Jackson W. Hewitt, carriage manufacturer, West Courtland street, is a native of Wayne county, N. Y., born in 1830; is the son of Orson and Mary A. (Pollock) Hewitt, of that State. At the age of 18 he learned the carriage trade in Onondaga county; came to Jackson in 1852; was four years foreman over 125 men in the Michigan State's prison, and one year foreman in an agricultural-implement mann- factory. In 1857 he married Charlotte A. Ross, of Ypsilanti; went to Fort Madison, Iowa, and acted as foreman over a force of con- victs, in the manufacture of agricultural machinery more than a year; went thence to fill the same position in a similar branch of labor in Mississippi State's prison, Jackson. Little more than a year later took charge of 60 men in a carriage factory in Canton, Miss. He came to Jackson, Mich., and established his present business in 1860. Willis P. Hewitt, a brother, was a partner the first two years, at the end of which J. W. became sole owner and has continued alone since. He manufactures all kinds of single and double seat vehicles with side springs, and phaetons; makes a special feature of fine work, for which he has carried off many first prizes from exhibitions where it competed; took seven first and sec- ond premiums on as many pieces of work exhibited at the Michi- gan State Fair of 1880. Mr. Hewitt employs from 18 to 25 men, and made in 1880, 200 buggies and 100 cutters, aggregating $35,-

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000, besides a large run of repair work. His vehicles are sold in a number of States, solely upon their merits. Mr. H. and wife have 1 son and 1 daughter. He was a member of the fire depart- ment 30 years, and many years its chief.

Silas Heyser, of Miles, Heyser & Co., and of S. Heyser & Sons, lumber merchants and manufacturers, was born in Montgomery county, Pa., and is 54 years of age. Jacob and Hannah (Dingler) Heyser were his parents. At the age of 17 he left the farm to learn the carpenter's trade; having completed it, came to Cleveland, Ohio, worked as a journeyman four years; came to Jackson in 1858 and started in business as a contractor and builder. In 1860 he established in connection with it a sash, door, blind and general building material manufactory, and three years after abandoned the building and contracting feature. In October, 1874, he and son, and Mr. M. Miles established a lumber yard, which is doing a large business. In 1872 Mr. Heyser, in company with a number of other enterprising Jackson men, having landed interests at the south extremity of the city, started an omnibus line to be run from the south city limits to East Main street. Two omnibuses were bought at $1,000 each in New York, and horses at $200 and over each, for teams. The enterprise continued four years, when finan- cial depression of the times induced its abandonment, the parties ail losing more or less money in the operation.

Mr. Heyser married Anna Kennedy, of Pennsylvania, in 1850, They have 2 sons and a daughter, the sons being partners in business.

Daniel B. Hibbard, capitalist and Vice-President of the People's National Bank, was born in Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1818. His father, William Hibbard was a native of Hartford, Conn., and married Penelope Holmes, of Syracuse, N. Y., who died when Daniel was four years of age. He was early thrown upon his own resources, and never was at school after reaching his 12th year. Between 13 and 18 Mr. H. worked at various occupations, clerking, driving stage, etc. In 1836 he landed in Jackson with a cash cap- ital of $3. He hired to drive stage, and in process of time be- came joint owner of a number of lines. Mr. H., in company with Morris Knapp, established a daily line from Jackson to Lansing, and he drove the first stage and carried the first mail after the lo-

cation of the capital in the latter city. He in partnership with others established two daily lines of four-horse coaches to Detroit; also a line from Lansing to Grand Rapids via Ionia; a daily line from Jackson to Adrian via Clinton and Tecumseh; a daily line of four-horse stages from Ypsilanti to Adrian ; a daily line from Hills- dale to Chicago, and a line from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids. These were continued until the completion of railroads furnished a more speedy transportation, Mr. Hibbard being the active man- ager. He brought the first steel-spring, iron-axletree buggy to Jackson, which was a curiosity in that day; established the first livery stable in the place, and for many years was connected with

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 66

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