History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 67

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 67

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

the business; Mr. II. erected the fine hotel which bears his name. He is a two-thirds owner of the Jackson Foundry Works, which orig- inally cost 8200,000, and employs 50 men; a heavy stockholder in the People's National Bank, and has a large amonnt of real estate in the city. Heis now chiefly devoting his attention to breeding fine horses, of which he now has 35 head. Mr. Hibbard married Esther Darrah, in Jackson, in 1840. She is a native of County Antrim, Ireland. They have 2 sons and 2 daughters, 1 the wife of E. R. Smith, his partner in the foundry.

Rev. George H. Hickox, Chaplain of the Michigan State's prison, is the son of Erastus W. Hickox, a pioneer farmer of Monroe county, N. Y., a man of strong character and superior judgment; George was born near Rochester, N. Y., 1822. His father died when he was 18 months old; and he was early trained to labor and self-de- pendence. He left the rural district school at the age of 15 and went to work, making his home with a brother. In 1845 he came to Michigan; and being impressed that the ministry was to be his field of labor he entered Kalamazoo Theological Seminary in 1851, from which he graduated in 1855, being ordained to the Baptist ministry. His first pastorate was at Dexter, Washtenaw Co., the duties of which he assumed in the spring of 1856. Mr. Hickox has been continuously engaged in clerical labor since; and after several changes of location, among which he preached eight years in Lansing, he came from there to his present position Oct. 1, 1872. Mr. Hickox is admirably adapted by nature and education for the position he occupies, as the good results of his eight years' labor abundantly testify. While he is Protestant in belief and teaching he is broad and unsectarian; possesses a fine intellect and combines great firmness and energy with a strongly sympathetic nature.

Mr. Hickox was united in marriage with Miss Eliza, daughter of Fisher Cummings, a pioneer of Calhoun county, Mich., in Novem- ber, 1865. He served a year in the Chistian Commission during the war, having charge of a portion of the delegate work.

Charles W. Higby, President of the Bortree Manufacturing Co., was born in the city of Jackson, Mich., in December, 1848. His father, Hon. Samnel Higby, was a native of Western New York, and married Mary Wheelock, a Vermont lady. He was a lawyer by profession, and coming to Jackson prior to 1840, was one of the early members of the Bar in this county ; at one time Circuit Judge and held several local offices. He died in May, 1877. His widow is a resident of the city, aged 63 years. Mr. Higby was educated in Jackson and Ypsilanti, and at the age of 15 entered the banking office of Loomis & Whitwell, where he remained until 1873, save a year or two while attending school; for the last nine years was cashier of the bank. He became interested with M. K. Bortree in the present business in 1873, the firm title being M. K. Bortree & Co. When it was merged into a joint-stock company in 1876, he was chosen its Secretary, and two years after its President, which position he now holds. On June 14. 1871, Mr. Higby was united

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in marriage with Anna Chapin, daughter of B. H. Chapin, of Jack- son. They have 1 daughter. Margaret, six years of age. Mr. H. is a member of the Masonic order, lodge, chapter, council and commandery.

Clark W. Hill, manager of J. D. Hill's granite and marble works, was born in January, 1835, in Oswego county, but brought up in Niagara county, N. Y. His parents were John D. and Priscilla (Stall) Hill. He obtained a thorough practical education; came to Mich- igan in 1866, settled in Cass county, and engaged in his present bus- iness. In 1868 he sold out and removed to Jackson; worked about a year as salesman of monumental work, then became a partner in the firm of Ramsey & Hill, which soon after changed to Hill & Griffith. In January, 1876, he retired from the firm and spent over two years in the same business in Howell, Livingston Co., returning to Jackson in 1878. He has the active supervision of all departments of the business, and idealizes the designs. Mr. Hill married Evanette Barlow, in Howell, Livingston Co., Mich., in De- cember, 1873. He is a Mason, a member of the lodge and chapter.

Mark S. Hitchcock, hardware merchant, and Manager, and Treas- nrer of Eureka Coal Co., is the son of Manly and Chloe (Adams) Hitchcock, of Waterbury, Conn., was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in 1821; parents moved to Ohio when he was three years old, and lived in Cleveland, Lorain Co., until their death. He worked on the farm till 20, meantime attending the district school; then en- gaged in buying and shipping live stock five or six years; after which he was in the grocery and provision business and farming until 1864; then filled the office of Sheriff of Lorain county four years; came to Michigan in 1868, and located on the farm he now owns, three miles north of Jackson, remaining there until he bought the hardware store, of which he is now joint owner, of Rice & McCon- nell in 1879, and settled in the city; took his son-in-law, Mr. Geo. Feifield, as a partner one year; conducted the business alone a year; and Jan. 1. 1880, took as partners Reuben E. Clark and his son, Charles S. Hitchcock, each owning one-third interest. Mr. H. pur- chased an interest in the Eureka coal mine in January, 1880; was elected Superintendent and Treasurer in December ot that year. The company works over 100 men, and mines from 300 to 350 tons of coal per day. The hardware trade is chiefly retail, and runs from $25,000 to $30,000 a year. Mr. Hitchcock has been twice married; first when 19 years of age, in Lorain county, Ohio, to Polly Morgan, who died in May, 1854, leaving 5 children. Two years later he married Mary A. Bush, of the same county, by whom he has 2 children-Charles S., his partner, and a daughter. Mr. H. was for some years a Justice in Blackstone tp. He and wife are members of the M. E. church.

A. J. Hobart (deceased) was born in Yates county, N.Y., Dec. 14, 1822, where he was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. When 15 years of age his parents emigrated to Jack- son county. He married Achsah Amanda Randolph Feb. 8,

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1853; her parents came to the county in 1836, and she was born Jan. 5, 1831. There were 4 children-Helen E., born Jan. 17, 1857; Frank, born Feb. 8, 1861; Nettie May, born July 13, 1866; Freddie, born Dec. 7, 1872. In 1855 Mr. Hobart commenced clerk- ing for Merriman Bros., in the dry-goods business, and afterward was taken as partner, and remained with them some time; after- ward went to Blackman tp., and kept the Center one year; then returned to Jackson, entered the grocery business, and remained until he built his brick store on Cooper street. He was President of the Porter Coal Company, and shortly before his death he sold his interest to the company. He held several local offices, and was a member of the Knights Templar. Mr. H. died Feb. 15, 1875.

William L. Hobart, grocer, established his business in Jackson at its present location, 102 Main street, in 1869; his trade has an extensive country and city patronage and his transactions range at about $40,000 yearly. Mr. Hobart was born in Yates county, N. Y., in May, 1842. His parents, John F., and Sarah H. (Thomas), were also natives of that State, of English ancestry on the father's side, of Welsh on the mother's. He grew to manhood and was educated in Steuben county, at the Collegiate Institute at Plattsburg and at the Genesee Seminary in Lima, Genesee Co. In 1867 he came to Jack- son where he engaged as clerk with A. J. Hobart and C. Warriner, entering into co-partnership with A. J. Hobart April 29, 1869. In 1872 he became sole proprietor. He is a member of Lodge 17, A. F. & A. M., and of Chapter 3, R. A. M. In July, 1869, he was united in marriage to Abbie Wing, a native of Maine, but then re- siding in Jackson. They have 2 sons and 1 daughter.

Samuel J. Hobbs, wholesale and retail dealer in harness, trunks, etc., was born March 16, 1826, in Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y. His parents, Alfred and Polly (Hutchinson) Hobbs, came to Michigan when their son was a little past 12 years of age and located in York, Washtenaw Co., where the mother still resides, 86 years of age. She has been a widow some years. March 3, 1850, Mr. Hobbs married Jane D. Bliss of Washtenaw county, and settled in Chicago, where he remained engaged as a carpenter for three years; then operated as a contractor and builder until 1862, when he came to Jackson and embarked in his present enterprise. About two years after, he purchased the property where his store now is, the Hurd House Block, and was burned out in the fall of 1868, losing over $7,000. In conjunction with Messrs. Smith & Hurd, in 1869, he rebuilt the block where he has since prosecuted his business. He employs from 8 to 12 assistants, and has the leading harness trade in Central Michigan. Mr. Hobbs has 1 son, Clarence R., aged 25. His daughter, Mrs. Jessie Denny, wife of Frank D. Denny, a pub- lic reader and elocutionist, is also prominent in these particulars, and both are well known in the practice of their profession.

G. E. Holcomb, dentist, was born in Peru, Clinton Co., N. Y., Jan. 4, 1851; received an academic education at Keeseville, N. Y .; when 17 years of age commenced the study of dentistry with

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Dr. Howard, of Keeseville, where he remained one and a half years. In 1869 he went to Wamego, Kansas, where he engaged in his profession, but remained only a short time; came back to Aurora, Ill .; entered the office of Dr. Kilbourn, President of the Illinois Association, and remained with him about 10 months; then to Mattoon, Ill., where he entered into partnership with Dr. Camp- bell, who had an established trade, and remained until 1875, when he came to Jackson and entered the office of Dr. Mo her, where he remained a short time, then opened his present office. He married Miss Hattie S. Carr, daughter of Francis Carr, an early pioneer; she was born in this county, July 22, 1858. There is 1 child, Ernest.

George R. Holden, chief clerk in the Michigan Central tele- graph office, is a product of the city of Jackson, having been born here Oct. 10, 1845. George H. Holden and Mary A. Gardner were natives of Batavia, N. Y., but came to Jackson in early life, where they united in marriage, and were the parents of 2 sons and 2 daughters, of whom George R. is the eldest. He was ed- ucated in the schools of Jackson, and when nearly 15 years of age entered the Patriot office to learn the printing business. Here he remained most of the time for nearly 10 years, when, tiring of night work, he engaged in the Citizen office, working there in various capacities about four years, a part of the time acting as reporter. Soon after quitting the printing office, early in 1875, he was appointed Deputy County Clerk, under Clerk A. M. Tinker. After serving two years in that office Mr. Holden became a partner with Mr. Tinker in the real-estate and insurance business. He sold out to his partner six months later and engaged as bookkeeper in J. D. Price's agricultural implement house. On Jan. 22 he entered upon the duties of his present position. Mr. H. has held the office of Captain of Co. G, of the 1st Reg. Mich. State Troops since July, 1879. He married Miss Ida A. Price, of Jackson county, in December, 1871. They have 1 daughter. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and of the A. O. U. W.

Timothy E. Howard, wholesale and retail oyster, fruit and to- bacco merchant, 115 West Main street, established his oyster job- bing trade in Jackson in 1873. It now extends over a radius of 100 miles about the city, and requires 200 barrels of bulk oysters and as many canned goods per year, which yield an income of $30,000 to $35,000, and is the largest oyster business in Michi- gan. During the season his daily shipping bills rnn $100. He added the fruit and tobacco department in 1878, and did a jobbing and retail business in these in 1880, of $35,000. Mr. Howard is a native of Washtenaw county, Mich., born in 1847; came to Jackson at the age of 17 years, and began as a dish-washer in J. L. Holmes' restaurant. Five years later he became a partner and active manager, and in 1876 sole proprietor. He sold out in 1878, and has since devoted exclusive attention to his present business. Mr.

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Howard is a member of the Catholic Young Men's Benevolent.So- ciety ; was one of the organizers and one year its President.

Jefferson E. Howe, proprietor of Central City Custom Mills, was born in Moravia, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and is 37 years of age. He began learning the miller's trade in Scipio, of that State, at the age of 13, serving three years for board and clothing. After re- maining there 13 years, he came to Michigan in August, 1873, and has been a resident of Jackson county since; conducted the Bald- win Mills two years, the Millville Mills six months, the Hanover Mills a year and a half; and since September, 1878, has controlled and run the Central City Custom Mills, of Jackson. Mr. Howe has had several partners but is now sole proprietor; does a general custom business, and has increased it from 1,500 bushels per month to 7,000. Mr. Howe married a school-mate, Miss Elizabeth Aikin, in Scipio, N. Y., in May, 1867. They have 1 son and 2 daughters. Politically, Mr. H. is Republican.

Rev. J. W. Hough, D. D., Pastor of the First Congregational Church, Jackson, was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., Nov. 26, 1832. Joel J. Hongh was a native of Connecticut, near New Haven, went to the Empire State while young, and married Miss Emily Winegar, of Onondaga county, N. Y. Of the 2 sons who con- stituted their family, Rev. J. W. is the elder, the Rev. George A. Hough, of Antwerp, N. Y., being the other son. Mr. Hough prepared for college in Homer Academy, and graduated at Yale College in the class of 1853. After spending three years in teach- ing, he took a course at Union Theological Seminary, New York, finishing in 1858. He entered upon the ministry in a mission church, a foster society of Dr. Adams' Church, of Madison Square, New York city. He remained there nearly two years, and in the summer of 1860 was called to the pastorate of a Church in Williston, Vermont, in which he officiated nearly five years. During his con- nection with that society he, in. 1862, visited Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land. In 1865 he was called to the Presbyterian Church in Saginaw city, Mich., which he served two years and a half; and on Feb. 1 he received and accepted a call from the First Con- gregational Society of Jackson. His health failing in October, 1872, he relinquished his pastoral relations with this Church and went to California. Soon after arriving there he accepted the proffered charge of the Congregational Church of Santa Barbara, which connection continued until the summer of 1879, when hav- ing regained his health he was recalled by the First Church of Jackson, whose service he re-entered in September, 1879. This society has been signally prosperous under Dr. Houghs' ministra- tions, and the relations of pastor and flock have been peculiarly congenial and happy. Besides his zealous pastoral labors, he has delivered numerons public lectures upon scientific and literary subjects; and has contributed many articles to the newspaper and magazine press, upon various current topics; which, together with

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his published sermons, render his mental efforts voluminous and broad-cast.

Dr. H. is a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, and was for years one of the Board of Trustees of Olivet College, Michigan. The honorary degree of D. D. was conferred upon him in 1877.

Rev. Hough married Miss Sarah Holmes, of Waterbury, Conn., in July, 1858, who died in Santa Barbara, Cal., in 1877, leaving 2 sons-Theodore H., now teaching in Santa Barbara, and Williston S., a student in the Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich. Mrs. Hough was a woman of exemplary character and remarkable energy and religious zeal. She was active in organizing the Woman's Board of Missions in the Central States, and was the projector and organizer of the Woman's Board of Missions of the Pacific coast. Her Christian virtues and amiable nature won the warmest place in the hearts of her friends and co-workers.

T. Mckinnon Hull, wholesale and retail grocer, West Main street, was born near Culpepper Court House, Va., in 1836. His parents, Isaac and Maria (Grubb) Hull, settled in Clarke county, O., when he was a lad; and four years later removed to Cass county, Mich. Mckinnon enjoyed the benefits of the public schools until 16 years of age. when, seized with the spirit of adventure, he left home and started alone to seek his fortune in California. He joined a cav- alcade, and drove stock across the plains to pay his expenses on the way. Upon arriving in the Golden State, young Hull hired as clerk to sell goods, at $125 per month, for a time; then established a grocery and miner's supply store, and has never been out of the mercantile business but a short time since. He remained in Cali- fornia nearly eight years, returning in the fall of 1859. Soon after the beginning of the war Mr. Hull received a recruiting commission; and while conducting the grocery trade in Winnebago county, Wis., raised several companies for the army. About the time the war closed he engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business in Frankfort, Ky .; but owing to the ill health of his family sold out to his partner three years after, came to Cass county, Michigan, and for seven years carried on a hardware store. In 1874 he closed it out and removed to Jackson, and the following year em- barked in business in his present store, as successor to Reynolds & White. Under Mr. Hull's energetic and judicious management the volume of trade has grown from $15,000 a year to $60,000, with an annual increase.

Erastus Hunter, dental surgeon, office Bennett Block, cor. Main and Jackson streets, is a native of Tioga county, Pa., and 58 years of age. Arnold Hunter, his father, was born in Connecticut, and mar- ried Zipporah Bennett, a native of Vermont. Dr. Hunter began learning the trade of making edge tools at the age of 16 in New York State; at the age of 22 he married Caroline Weeks, of Penn- sylvania; pursued his trade in Cleveland, O., Buffalo, N. Y., and other points, until 1852, when he became foreman in Powell &

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Son's edge-tool manufactory in Cleveland; but a year after was employed as edge-tool dresser in the railroad shops of the C., C. & C. company. Failing health compelled him to abandon the trade in 1854, when he removed to Lee county, Ill., and for three years carried on farming; then engaged in cutting steel stamps, and in 1860 on plow work in the Oliver Chilled Plow Factory,South Bend, thence went to Canada, and pursued different features of his trade until 1862, when he began the special study of dentistry, having previously indulged qnite extensively a natural taste for the study of the human system. Dr. Hunter practiced three years in Almont, and 11 years in Manchester, Washtenaw Co., Mich. He settled in Jackson, in October, 1877, and has an extensive dental practice. Doctor is a member of the Michigan State Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. He lost his wife in April, 1860; and married Mrs. Sarah M. Porter, of Almont, in November, 1862. He has 1 son, by his first wife.

General William Humphrey, Warden of Michigan State Prison, Jackson, was born June 12, 1828, in Ontario county, N. Y .; is the son of John Humphrey, of New Jersey, who married Jane Hall, of Geneva, N. Y., whose father emigrated from Pennsylvania at a very early date, and was a pioneer in that part of New York. John Humphrey was an iron founder in early life, but after remov- ing to Hillsdale county, Mich., in 1837, he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture until his death in 1870. His widow survived him nine years. After leaving the public school, Mr. Humphrey was a student at Spring Arbor College for some time, working at inter- vals for his father on the farm. When of sufficient age he passed the winters in teaching school. For some years previous to 1861 he was employed as clerk in a store in Adrian, Mich. Upon the inauguration of the civil war, Mr. Humphrey enlisted in the 2d Mich. Inf .; was appointed Captain of Co. D, which position he filled until May, 1863, when he became Colonel of the regiment; in 1864, was brevetted Brigadier-General and commanded a brigade until his term of service expired. His regiment participated in both Bull Run battles, at Williamsburg and Yorktown, in the seven days' fight before Richmond, at Fredericksburg, Vicksburg and Knoxville, the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and Petersburg, besides many minor engagements. The only injury Gen. Humphrey received was a flesh wound in the hand, which did not disable him for service. After returning from the army he engaged with a brother in the book business in Adrian a year, then purchased a half interest in the Watch-Tower, one of the oldest Democratic journals in Michigan, and in company with T. S. Applegate, changed its name to the Adrian Times, and conducted it as an exponent of Republicanism. Having been elected Auditor General of Michigan in the fall of 1866, he sold his interest in the Times in December of that year. He was elected to the office four successive terms of two years each. In October, 1875, Gen. Humphrey received the appointment of Warden of the State's

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prison at Jackson, by Governor Bagley, and still fills the office, with signal ability. By inheritance Gen. Humphrey was a Demo- crat, and cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas; but after the war of the Rebellion began he joined the Republican ranks. He married Mary E. Sinclair, of Adrian, Oct. 9, 1867, and 1 child-Miss Kate, eight years old-is the fruit of their union. A full-page portrait of Gen. Humphrey will be found on page 313.

William B. Hurd, of Blackman tp., is the eldest of 4 children of John S. and Sally (Boyd) Hurd, and was born in Washtenaw county, Mich., in 1839. His father was a native of Canandaigua county, N. Y .; came to Michigan in his early manhood, and mar- ried Miss Boyd in Washtenaw county, where they resided until 1841, then came to Jackson. They kept the old Grand River Hotel for some time; bought and lived a year on a farm near Stockbridge; returned to the city and remained till 1865; then set- tled on a farm of 500 acres, two miles west of Jackson, remaining till 1874. Mr. Hurd dealt extensively in live stock, and specu- lated in real estate, in which he was very successful, accumulating a fortune of more than $125,000. He served several terms in the Board of Supervisors, and was elected to the State Legislature from Jackson county. He died Aug. 7, 1880, aged 65 years, his first wife having died some years previously.

William B. Hurd enlisted in the 1st Michigan Infantry, three months' service, and became a member of the 17fh Infantry, three years, United States troops, at which time he was made Sergeant; was promoted successively to 2d Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant and Captain of Co. K. He is first Vice-President of the Reform Club, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Hurd married Mary A. Weston, of Blackman tp. They have + living children, 2 of each sex.

Sefroit L. Hurst, Actuary for the United States of the Home Guardian Sickness and Accident Association, was born in Sharon Springs, Schoharie Co., N. Y., in November, 1842; was educated in the schools of the place until 15 years old. In July, 1857. he left home and entered the principal office of the Knickerbocker Life Insurance Co., to learn the business. He remained there 11 years; then for several years did business as actuary, compiling tables for life insurance companies, etc. He went to England in 1876, and remained two years, studying the philosophy of life in- surance with Mr. Radcliff, the famous English actuary. Upon returning to America in 1878, Mr. Hurst began elaborating a new system of mutual beneficiary insurance, and perfected and copy- righted his plan for the Order of Home Guardian Sickness and Accident Association in April, 1879, both in the United States and Canada. He settled in Jackson in June, 1880, and with the co-operation of leading citizens of the city, opened the business, making Jackson the central office for the whole country. The few months of its existence augur a flattering success. Mr. Hurst married Laura L. Gatch in Piqua, Ohio, in 1869. She was born

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and brought up near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is the daughter of a Methodist clergyman.

Charles B. Hyde, City Engineer, was born in New London, Conn., Oct. 2, 1816. His father, Christopher Hyde, a tanner and currier by trade, moved to Oswego county, N. Y., when he was very young, where he was reared on a farm. When 25 years of age he graduated as civil engineer at Renssalaer Institute. In 1851 he engaged with a corps of engineers on the Oswego canal, and in 1856 was appointed by the State as first assistant. In 1865 he came to Ypsilanti, and remained one year; in 1866 came to Jackson, and was employed by the Air-Line railroad between Jackson and Niles as engineer; was afterward employed by the Michigan Central, and was with them one year; had charge of the double track between Detroit and Ypsilanti; in 1873 was appointed City Engineer of Jackson, and served two years; in 1879, was again appointed. He married Miss Ellen Newkirk, daughter of Nathan Newkirk; there was 1 child-Ella. Politically, Mr. H. is Demo- cratic.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 67

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