History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 68

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

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Sidney M. Isbell, of the firm of Isbell & Sheldon, produce and commission merchants, 125 and 127 West Pearl street, is a native of Washtenaw county, Mich., and the youngest of 14 children, 13 lived to adult age, of Leonard and Anna (Lewis) Isbell, natives of New York State. They moved West and settled on Government land in Washtenaw county, abont 1832, which they improved and occupied until 1854, then removed to Ingham county, where Mr. Isbell's father died four years later. His widow, now aged 82, lives with a son on the old homestead in Washtenaw county. At 15 years of age Mr. Isbell started in life for himself, spent the first three years in learning the mason's trade; attended school one term at Agricultural College, and two terms at Normal school. He pur- sued his trade summers and taught school winters for several years; also taught vocal music. In 1865 Mr. Isbell bought 40 acres of land joining the home place, in Ingham county, and farmed it three years. In 1867 he married Miss Franc G. Bellenger, of that county, and a year later bought and moved upon his father-in-law's farm, six miles north of Jackson; a year and a half after located in the city; followed his trade for a time, was in the undertaking business a few months, and in July, 1878, in partnership with B. G. Lowe, established the commission business. Mr. Isbell after- ward became sole owner, and later took Mr. Sheldon as a partner. They handle all farm produce save grain, and do a yearly busi- ness of about 820,000, which is increasing. Mr. Isbell is Repub- lican in politics.

Horace S. Ismon, President of Jackson County Bank, was born in Essex county, N. Y., in 1824. He is the son of Aaron and Su- san ( Reynolds) Ismon, both natives of New York. The father of Mr. Ismon had one brother, and their descendants are the sole claimants to the name in this country. Horace Ismon is the second child of a family of 7-3 boys and 4 girls. He was reared

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and educated in the Empire State. At the age of 20 he came to Jackson and engaged as a grocery clerk with Wiley Reynolds, con- tinuing in that capacity two years. He then went to Paw Paw, Van Buren Co., Mich., where he, in company with his brother, en- tered upon an enterprise combining mercantile and lumbering trade, under the style of C. & H. S. Ismon, a relation which existed nearly 20 years. The brothers were projectors and builders of the Paw Paw railroad, of which Mr. Ismon was President and General Manager until the road was sold to a company of citizens formed for the purpose. In 1848 he returned to Jackson and conducted a dry-goods enterprise for 20 years, about 15 years of which time he was also operating heavily in wood and produce, his interests rival- ing any other in the State. April 1, 1870, Mr. Ismon purchased the land and laid out the town of Hanover. In 1872 he, with others, formed a stock company and opened a bank, with himself as Presi- dent and H. V. Perrin as Cashier. The bank has a capital of $50,- 000, and does general banking business. In 1848 Mr. Ismon married Clara M. Barker, of Brandon, Vt. The marriage took place in Van Buren county, Mich.

William Jackson, grocer, 154 West Main street., was born in Cazenovia, N. Y., in 1814; was a student in Cazenovia Seminary several years; attended Union College when Gen. Jackson was Presi- dent, and Dr. Nott gave him the title of " General Jackson, " which has elung to him through life. Mr. Jackson graduated from Union in the class of 1836; came to Michigan, and settled in Leoni, Jackson county, in 1838, and engaged in the mercantile business. He served as Postmaster of the town 10 years, and was twice a candidate on the Whig ticket for the Legislature. He removed to Jackson in 1852; was elected Mayor of the city in 1859, and is still a resident of the city which bears his name. Mr. J. has quite a taste for the drama; at one time was a member of an amateur dramatic company composed of Jackson citizens. In 1860 Mr. Jackson built the finest hall for public entertainments in the city, since destroyed by fire. Most of his active life has been spent in the grocery busi- ness, which he still conducta. Mr. Jackson says he has escaped three great calamities that afflict society: riches, matrimony and politics.

Rev. Myron A. Johnson, D. D., Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, is the son of Alfred and Drusilla (Hall) Johnson, of Mas- sachusetts, in which State he was born Feb. 25, 1836. His boyhood was spent on a farm; attended school at Jacksonville and Hopkins Academies, at Williston Seminary, Amherst College and Harvard Law school. During those years he taught at intervals in Jackson- ville and Crescent Academies, and, after leaving the law school, taught in Mystic Hall Seminary, filling the chair of Latin and mathematics one year. He then took a course in the' Alexandria Theological Seminary, graduating in 1861. On July 28 of that year, Mr. Johnson was ordained to the Deaconate by the Bishop of Massachusetts, and preached his first sermon at Waltham that

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY

afternoon. March 12, 1862, he was ordained to the priesthood of the Church by Bishop Williams, of Connecticut. Rev. Johnson labored in various missionary fields until 1867, when he was ap- pointed Rector of St. Peter's Church, Bennington, Vt., where he officiated two years; then was elected Rector of St. Peter's Church at Niagara Falls; and during the four years of his ministration he erected a fine church edifice for the parish. In 1874 Dr. Johnson was called to Calvary Church, Cincinnati, O., and after four years of labor there became Rector of St. Paul's parish in Jackson, Michigan, entering upon its duties in July, 1878. In the 18 years of his clerical labors, Dr. Johnson has not missed a Sabbath from illness or inability to perform duty. He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in June, 1877. Dr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Frances, daughter of the late Prof. William Gordon Mitchell, on April 9, 1863, at Grace church, Chickopee, Mass., Rev. George C. McKnight officiating. Four sons and 1 daughter bless this union.

Wm. H. Johnson, engineer, M. C. railroad, was born in Genesee county, N. Y. March 7,1839. When a small boy his parents migrated to the vicinity of Kalamazoo, and followed farming; when he was 9 years old they went to Marshall, Mich. In 1856 he went on the road as fireman, and remained in that capacity until 1862, when he was promoted to engineer and ran between Marshall and Michi- gan City. Just before coming to Jackson he got a passenger train engine and has run the same since. While between Marshall and Michigan City, about 1} miles from Kalamazoo, he ran into a fallen tree two and a half feet thick, cutting it in two, throwing the engine into the air and turning it bottom side up, and Mr. Johnson di- rectly under it. How his life was saved he can't tell; as it went over he only remembers saying, "Oh, my God!" the tender was turned end for end with the fireman underneath, who came out with a bruise on one of his knees.

Mr. Johnson has been on the road 25 years, and 19 years as en . gineer; has never injured a passenger through neglect. He mar- ried for his first wife, Gernett Sherwood, who died April 13, 1874, leaving 3 children-Willie, Vernon and James. For his second wife he married Agnes Dulin; she was born in July, 1856. By this union there were 4 children, 3 of whom are living,-Blanche, Bernadett and John Henry.

John H. Jones, grocer, 113 North Jackson street, was born in Wayne county, N. Y., in 1835; at the age of 20 years went to Attica, Ind., and clerked in his brother's drug-store two years; spent some two years at various occupations in Michigan; returned to New York in 1860, and in August, 1861, enlisted in the 160th New York Infantry. Co. C; was with Gen. Banks on his Red River expedition, participated in the battles of Port Hudson and Pleas- ant Hill; ascended the James river in 1864 to the front of Rich- mond, Va., was with Gen.Sheridan in the battles of the Shenandoah Valley; was wounded in the fight at Cedar creek, by a shot which

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severed the sciatic nerve of his right thigh, rendering him a per- manent cripple; was taken prisoner on the field, but recaptured that night. He commanded the company from the siege of Port Hnd- son until wounded, but held the rank of Sergeant; was discharged in June, 1865; came to Jackson in January, 1866, and began the grocery business in the building he now occupies, two doors north, the following month. The first 10 years he had a partner; since has been sole proprietor; does a general retail trade of $25,000 a year. Mr. Jones is now serving his seventh consecutive year in the Board of Supervisors, from the first and second wards; is a stockholder in, and Secretary and Treasurer of the Bonanza Coal Company; and is a member of the A. F. & A. M, Jackson Lodge, 17. He married Miss Della, daughter of William Langdon, an early settler in Jackson, in October, 1870. They have 1 daughter and 2 sons still living.

James H. Kellogg, of Kellogg and Baker, wholesale grocers, is a native of New York State, and was born in Cayuga county in 1826. His parents, Nathaniel and Sarah (Stoell) Kellogg, were natives of Massachusetts. Young Kellogg enjoyed only a limited attendance in the public schools of the neighborhood. His father being a physician, he learned and pursued the drug business for several years. He then went to New York, and was nine years em- ployed as salesman of dry goods and boots and shoes. After several business changes, Mr. K. came to Jackson in 1867, and engaged in the manufacture and jobbing of boots and shoes, in the firm of Bumpus, Woodsum & Co. "Four years after he disposed of his in- terest there, and associated with Birdsall, Baker & Co., in the grocery trade. The firm has undergone two changes since, Gov. John J. Bagley being at one time a member. The entire ownership passed into the hands of Kellogg & Baker in 1875. The business is strictly confined to wholesale, and extends chiefly over Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana. They employ two traveling salesmen. Mr. K. married Miss Maria L. Sleeper, of Mount Mor- ris, Livingston Co., N. Y. Their family consists of 2 sons- Arthur L., 21 years of age, and Ralph H., nine years old.

George W. Baker, the other member of the firm, was born in Cumberland county, Maine, Nov. 2, 1837. His father, Arthur M. Baker, was a native of Portland, that State, and married Harriet Willard, of Lancaster, N. H. Mr. B. is the elder of their two sons. His school opportunities were prior to the age of 14, the last four years of which were spent in Hamilton Academy. On leaving school he entered a hardware store as clerk, and has led a commer- cial life continuously since. At the age of 18 he went to Greene, N. Y., and obtained the position of clerk in a general store, which he retained until 1865, when he opened a general store on his own ac- count. Four years later he sold ont in Greene, and embarked in the wholesale grocery business in Wellsville, N. Y .; conducted it two years, then sold and came to Jackson, at once engaging in the same line of trade. He married Christina G. Wilson, of Chenango

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county, N. Y., in 1859. They have 1 child, Alice J., five years old.

Dr. Edward Kennedy, 113 Cooper street, was born in Dundas, Ontario, Upper Canada, Aug. 5, 1827. He went to Toronto, and attended what was known as Rolph's Medical College, and remained two years. In 1856 he came to Detroit, Mich., where he remained a short time. In 1857 moved to Grand Rapids, and continued there until December of the same year; thence to Jackson, where he has remained since. He married Miss Bridget Garvin, daugh- ter of John Garvin, who was born May 8, 1827. Of their & chil- dren 7 are living.

Frederick A. Kennedy, Superintendent of the paupers and poor-farm of Jackson county, was born in Brighton, England , Feb. 18, 1811; is the son of Frederick and Margaret (Thipper) Kennedy. His father crossed the Atlantic, and locating in New York city, sent for his family, and Mrs. Kennedy and their chil- dren came over in 1818, consuming 12 weeks in the voyage. After residing in the city a year and a half they removed to Susquehanna county, Pa., and 18 months after to Seneca county, N. Y., where they remained until 1831; then came to Michigan and settled in Lenawee county. In 1837 Mr. Kennedy came to Jackson. county, and bought and located on a piece of Government land. being the second settler in the sonth half of Hanover tp. In March, 1830, he was married in Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., to Caroline Hew- ett, a native of Pennsylvania. They settled on the land Mr. K. had purchased in Hanover, which they improved and occupied un- til the fall of 1871, then moved to the city to educate their children, of whom they have had 13, 9 living. The second eldest of their 6 sons, Capt. Jackson Benton Kennedy, of the 1st Michigan Volun- teer Infantry, was killed in the battle of Fredericksburg. Frederick, another son, was also in the army and navy, and was brevetted 1st Lientenant. Mr. Kennedy's father was elected Repre- sentative to the Legislature from Lenawee county, in 1850; came to Jackson in the fall of 1857, where he died in 1872. Mr. Kennedy took the census of Jackson county in 1845, under the official title of County Marshal; was elected to the Legislature from Jackson county, the same year, for the session of 1846. The assembly then convened at Detroit; and at that session the railroad laws of Michi- gan were revised. Mr. K. served eight years as Justice of the Peace in Hanover tp. He is serving his sixth year in his present position, having been elected in 1875 and again in 1878. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and chapter.

Frederick A. Kennedy, grocer, 117 North Jackson street, is sole proprietor of the grocery house in which he started as clerk in the spring of 1865. Messrs. Hobart & Boulton were' then the owners; their successors were Ford, Delamater & Co., whom Mr. K. bought out in the fall of 1873, and now does a general retail business of $20,000 a year. Mr. Kennedy was born in Norris- town, Montgomery Co .. Pa., and is 31 years of age. His parents,

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Isaac and Isabel Kennedy, came to Michigan and settled in Jack- son in 1865, but returned to their native State five years later. Mr. Kennedy commenced at a salary of $2 per weck, and his present capital and trade are entirely the result of his own efforts. He married Miss Isabel Warren, of Tekonsha, Michigan.

George W. Kennedy, insurance and loan agent, was born in Sus- quehanna county, Pa., Feb 22, 1820. His father, Frederick A. Ken- nedy, was a native of Brighton, England, born in 1785; and at the age of 24 years married Margaret Tipper, of London, in St. Paul's church of that city; came to America in 1817, located in New York city, and the next year sent for his family. In 1821 they removed to Sencca county, N. Y., where they lived 10 years. The last year, Mr. Kennedy built a boat, and in 1830 carried on it the first load of goods shipped between Buffalo and New York. In the spring of 1831 they came to Michigan Territory, and settled in Lenawee county. There Mr. Kennedy served as Justice of the Peace under the Territorial Governor. George obtained a good English education in the common school and by private study; began teaching at the age of 18, and taught school seven winters, farm- ing in summer. In April, 1849, he married Ann E. Russell, of Monroe county, Mich., and came to Jackson county, and settled in Hanover tp., remaining there on a farm until 1864. During the time, he was Justice four years, Town Clerk a number of years, and in 1864 was elected Supervisor. After locating in Jackson, Mr. Kennedy bought a farm three miles north, farmed it eight years, then exchanged it for city property. In 1866 he engaged in the agricultural implement trade; in 1870 sold out and began the insurance business. He now represents six . prominent fire and one life and accident company. Mr. K. and wife have a son and a daughter, the former in his office, the latter the wife of W. M. Dodge, of Jackson. Mr. Kennedy was Alderman in 1855 and 456; has been Treasurer of the County Agricultural Society a number of years; has been Treasurer of the Horse Breeders' Asso- ciation since 1870; is a member of the Masonic order, lodge and chapter.

Elwin L. Kimball, physician and surgeon, Jackson, Mich., was born in Biddeford, Maine, on the 5th of September, 1851. When eight years of age his parents, John and Priscilla, moved to Con- cord, N. H., where he received a practical education and commenced the reading of medicine, with Dr. Sad Morrill, of Con- cord, where he remained but a short time. In the fall of 1872 came to Michigan and attended three courses of lectures at Mich- igan University and graduated in 1875. In 1876 was appointed as Physician at the State's prison and has held that position since. Married Miss Amy Garrison Brown, daughter of Dr. W. Syming- ton Brown, of Stoneham, Mass. Her father was of Scotch descent, and a liberal and charter, and was thrown into prison for his views and forced to leave the country. He was Surgeon of the first reg- iment of colored troops that left Massachusetts. He was an aboli-

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tionist, and always took a lively interest in the cause. Mrs. Edwin Kimball is a practicing physician and a graduate at the medical department of Wooster, Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. George F. Kimball, of Kimball & Black, dentists, West Main street, was born in Tioga county, N. Y., and is 27 years old. His par- ents moved to Michigan and settled in Brooklyn, Jackson Co., when George was six years of age. There 12 years of his life were passed on a farm. His father died and the family removed to Ypsilanti. Dr. was engaged at a variety of occupations during a number of years; com- menced the study of dentistry in the fall of 1877 in the dental department of the Michigan State University; at the close of the first year, entered the office of Dr. J. A. Wating, Prof. of Mechan- ical Dentistry in the University; studied a year, then returned to the University, graduating in the spring of 1880. He traveled through the northern lake country that summer, and settled in Jackson in October, 1880; formed the present partnership in De- cember following. Dr. Kimball has all the dental work of the State's prison, and has already secured a good practice in the city.

Charles A. Knapp, of Knapp & Sutton, proprietors of the City Omnibus, Hack and Transfer Co., Hibbard House Block, engaged in his present business 15 years ago; first as Goodyear & Knapp, in part- nership with John Goodyear, who was succeeded by H. G. Sutton seven years ago. The company has nine hacks, two omnibuses, a trans- fer wagon and 27 head of horses. They employ 10 men. Mr. Knapp was born in Somerset, Michigan, and is thirty-three years of age. His father, Morris Knapp, is the pioneer livery man of Jackson, and still in the business. Mr. Knapp has always been either in livery or his present business. He is a joint owner in some valuable mining property in Colorado.

Samuel O. Knapp was born in Royalton, Vt., in 1816; is the sixth of a family of 12 children of Nathan and Nancy Knapp, nee Grinnell. At the age of 10 years he was apprenticed to Gov. Charles Paine to learn woolen manufacturing. Two years later he was put in charge of the carding department, and was made super- intendent of both carding and spinning when 18 years old. Eight- een years of close confinement in the factory injured Mr. Knapp's health, and through the advice of Mr. Paine he took charge of a hotel in Northfield for a year and a half; came to Jackson, Mich., to set up and start some machinery just purchased for woolen man - ufacture in the Michigan State's Prison. Mr. K. superintended the factory about a year and a half in 1845 and 1846, then went on a prospecting tour up into the Lake Superior copper mining region. Mr. K. was accompanied by several others. He spent the season exploring, and among the discoveries made was a boulder of pure native copper weighing 3,000 pounds, which they managed to convey by means of a rude sled and a pine-log canoe to naviga- ble waters some 22 miles, then shipped it to New York that same season. Mr. Knapp was employed by a party of New York mer- chants to superintend a gang of men, and open a new mine for

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them, and after spending the winter in the East, he fitted out for the work in Detroit, and in the spring of 1847 returned to the mines with 20 men, which was increased until in four years the miners and their families numbered 300. During those four years Mr. Knapp made many important discoveries of antique stone- mining implements and open mines involving great labor of the pre-historic miners. Their rude stone-mining tools were found in such quantities that they were used to wall up a large spring whose water supplied their modern successors. Mr. K.'s operations proved very successful, large quantities of ore were taken out, a smelting works was erected on the Detroit river to reduce it, and was oper- ated the last two years of his connection with the business. Mr. K. sold his interest in the developed mines, and returned to Jack- son in 1851, and has resided here since. After settling down in Jackson he devoted considerable attention to nursery business and fruit-growing for some years, and has since operated quite heavily in real estate. The present beautiful summer resort, Bay View, on the borders of Little Traverse bay, owes its origin and attrac- tions chiefly to Mr. K.'s judgment in selecting the site and his en- ergy and taste in developing it. He married Sarah L. Balch, in Vermont, at the age of 22 years. They have both been members of the M. E. Church from childhood.

Robert D. Knowles, attorney at law, fifth child of William and Olive (Davis) Knowles, was born May 6, 1834, in Niagara county, N. Y., where his father bought and settled on a part of the " Hol- land purchase" in 1816, being a pioneer in that locality. Robert was brought up there, and educated in Wilson Collegiate Institute, graduating in 1856; taught school several terms, spent two years in his brother's printing office; then receiving a farm as a present, he settled upon it and engaged in farming; sold it in 1863, came to Grass Lake, formed a partnership with Michael and Lemuel Dwelle, and entered the hardware business, succeeding Bridge- man & Bronson. Mr. K. was elected County Clerk in the fall of 1866, took charge of the office Jan. 1, 1867, was re-elected twice, and resigned the office in November, 1871. In 1873 he entered the County Clerk's office as deputy and held it two years and a half, reading law meantime. Mr. Knowles was admitted to prac- tice in 1874, and has been active in the profession since; was Alder- man from the 3d ward for two years, and several years Secretary of the Jackson County Agricultural Society. He married Julia A. Foster, in Wilson, N. Y., in 1858. They have had a family of 5 sons, 3 living. Frank, mailing clerk in the postoffice, and Lonis and Eddie, in school. Mr. Knowles' mother resides in Grand Rapids, aged over 80 years.

David Lane, yard-master State's prison, was born in Broom county, N. Y., March 4, 1824. When 10 years of age his parents, Nathan and Clarissa Lane, emigrated to Michigan and located at Ann Arbor, where his father rented a farm and remained two years, then came to Jackson county and located one and a half miles west of Sandstone village, which was then competing for the

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county seat. At that time it was a flourishing town with several business places. When David became of age he taught school until 1862, then entered in the 17th Michigan Regiment, company G; he participated in all the battles of the regiment. After the war, returned to Jackson and has since been engaged in the State's prison. He married Miss Minerva Crawford, a pioneer of Sand- stone tp. She was born in Ontario county, N. Y., Jan 1, 1826. They have 4 children-Lora E., Chester T., Elsie A. and Jesse A. Politically Mr. L. is a Republican,

Joseph Lannigan, grocer, was born in County West Meath, Ire- land, Dec. 25, 1839. When 12 years of age, he came to the United States, landed in New York, where he remained a few months, then came to Jackson, where he was employed as clerk in a grocery store for Michael Morrisy and remained with him seven years. In 1859 engaged in the grocery trade for himself, and has continued in the same ever since. He is among the oldest grocers in the city. He married Miss Bridget Calvin, a native of Ireland, in 1862. They have had 11 children, 10 of whom are living. Mr. L. carries a stock of $3,000; is a member of the Catholic Church.

Prof. U. W. Lawton, Superintendent of the Union school, de- scended from Quaker parentage, whose ancestors were among the first settlers of Massachusetts. George Lawton inarried Ruth Potter and settled in Westport, Bristol Co., that State, where U. W. was born in 1831. He graduated at Brown University in the class of 1856, having taken the two first prizes in Latin and chem- istry during the course. Mr. L. was a classmate of Senator Hill, of Colorado, and Gen. Thos. Ewing, of Ohio. After leaving college he came to Michigan, and organized and taught the school at Dexter in the winter of 1856-'7. The following year he accepted the Principalship of the schools of Tecumseh. During the five years he held that position he re-organized the schools, and fitted a number of his pupils for the State University. In 1862 Mr. Lawton accepted a second proposition to take charge of the schools of Ann Arbor. He found them considerably disorganized from the effects of the war, and other causes; but they soon rallied and became prosperous. After five years' labor in the Ann Arbor schools Mr. Lawton rested a year, during which, visited many of the New England schools in the winter of 1867 -- 'S. Upon return- ing to Michigan he came to Jackson and has filled the position of Principal in district No. 1 for more than 12 years. Through the efficient effort of Prof. Lawton the schools of Jackson rank among the best in the State. His aim has been to supply the link between the common school and the university. Many of his pupils have adopted the profession of teaching, a number of whom have at- tained high rank as educators in various parts of Michigan, while a host of others are in the legal profession and other prominent walks of life. Prof. L. is a fine disciplinarian and possesses a happy faculty of imparting knowledge, which, supplemented by a large

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 68

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