History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 70

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 70

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James McKee, a retired farmer of Jackson city, was born in Washington county, N. Y., in 1803; his father, Wm. McKee, em- igrated to Seneca county in 1814, when the country was a wil- derness; purchased wild land which he developed into a farm, and here remained until his death. He was a soldier of 1812. In 1826 James married Lucinda Southwell. She was born in Seneca county, N. Y., Nov. 26, 1810. They have 7 children, viz: Elizabeth, Thomas, William, Sarah A., Martha, Laura, Emma J. Mr. McKee came to Jackson county in 1832, vit Lake Erie from Buffalo to Detroit; thence to Ann Arbor, Grass Lake and Jackson. He re- turned to New York until 1836, and then made his second trip West and located in Hanover tp., where he lived two years, and re- moved to within two miles and a half of Jackson city, and there made it his home for 30 years. The occupation and development of this farm was fraught with many trials and discouragements, but like a trne pioneer they were all overcome and success crowned their efforts to become independent. In 1866 he came to Jackson city, where he still lives.

Robert Mckinstry, of Mckinstry & Wilson, coal and wood merchants, 137 Mill street, was born in Kalamazoo county, Mich., and is 43 years of age. During youth he resided several years in Schoolcraft, that county. After attaining his majority he traveled in the far West two years; one year of the time carried the United States mail between Independence, Mo., and Santa Fe, New Mexico, during which he had a number of severe skirmishes with, and narrow escapes from the Comanche Indians; and on one occasion constructed an earth work on the plains, since known by his name-Fort Mckinstry. After returning he sold goods in School- craft until the spring of 1861, when he enlisted in the 70th New York Infantry. Mr. McK. was wounded by a gunshot in the arm at Williamsburg; and again at the battle of Seven Pines, before Richmond, June 25, 1862, with a gunshot in the right knee, by which he lost his leg. In December, 1865, he formed a partner- ship with T. J. Wilson, and opened a wood and coal yard at their

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present location. After several changes of partnership the pres- ent, with James A. Wilson, was entered into in May, 1879. They handle 3,000 tons of coal and 1,000 cords of wood a year. Mr. Mckinstry is general agent for the Michigan Aid Association, of Kalamazoo, and local agent for the Mutual Benefit Association, of Detroit. He married Elizabeth Wilson, of Fairbury, Ill., in April 1867. Have 1 living son aged 10 years; lost a son in infancy. His parents, Col. Andrew and Eliza (Cross) Mckinstry, live in Jackson, aged 83 and S1 years respectively.

Col. J. H. Mclaughlin, the champion wrestler of the world, was born in Oriskany, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 8, 1844. His father was of Scotch, and his mother of Irish ancestry. His first wrestling match was when he was 15 years old; he was then a large boy, weighing 185 pounds. Hiram McKee, a brawny Scott, of twice his years, was his opponent and was defeated for a stake of $100 a side. Since that time he has contested some 26 matches, for money, medals or bets, and has always been victorious, with one excep- tion: Homer Lane had the honor of beating him. Previous to this he defeated Lane and also conquered him since; so he can make the just claim of having defeated every opponent who has thus stood before him. The following are a list of men whom he has met since he became a professional wrestler: D. S. Watson, Troy, N. Y .; H. McKee, Binghamton, N. Y .; L. P. Morgan, Baltimore, Md .; F. Corrigan, Philadelphia, Pa .; D. Wilcox, Green, N. Y .; B. Fisher, Albany, N. Y .; D. S. King, Milwaukee; H. P. Comstock, Wash- ington, D. C .; J. I. Beupau, Washington, D. C .; Homer Lane, of New York, three times; James De Witt, Pacific slope; N. S. Dor- ance, Chicago, Ill .; Mort. Bentley, St. Louis; G. C. Orr, L. Ains- worth, and P. Dalton, Connecticut; Mark Slatter, Buffalo; Dan Hagerty and William Harrison, of Pittsburg; Julius Thompson and Barry Smith, Canada; Orrin Dart, Chicago; Michael Whalen, San Francisco. The Colonel received his title for honorable service in the Union army during the Rebellion. He enlisted as a pri- vate when 17 years of age at the outbreak of the war, and had risen to the rank of Major before he was 21. The Governor of Michi- gan, after the regiment was mustered out, brevetted him Colonel. Col. MeLaughlin is six feet one inch in height, and ordinarily weighs 265 ponnds. He is a splendid specimen of muscular manhood, and notwithstanding his great weight, there is nothing stiff or ungrace- ful in his movements. He is 36 years old, has never tasted liqnor nor used tobacco in any form, and to his good habits he no doubt owes his fine physical condition.

Miar Mclaughlin, M. D., was born in Ontario Province, Can- ada, in 1840. His father was a native of Ireland, mother of New Jersey. Being left an orphan boy, he supported himself and ob- tained a fair education in the schools of the Dominion; began reading medicine at the age of 20; attended lectures at Victoria College, Canada, and at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, N. Y., from which he received the degree of M. D., in 1865. Doctor

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being a student of Dr. L. A. Sayer, had been appointed Assistant Surgeon of St. Schuyler McDongal Hospital in June, 1864; served till fall and resigned from ill health. After graduating, he returned to that position and remained till August, 1865; when, the war having closed, he was discharged and went to Fingal, Canada, and practiced till Dec. 20, 1869; spent a season reviewing, chiefly at Bellevue; March 12 shipped on board the Isaac Webb, as her Sur- geon, for Liverpool; visited the principal points of interest in Ire- land, Scotland and England, and returned to New York the latter part of the summer; located in Jackson the last of August. In December following he went to Fingal, Canada; spent two months on business, returning Feb. 28, 1870. Dr. M. has a large general practice, and has paid special attention to the diseases of the eye . and ear; was a member of the Jackson County Medical Society while it existed. Some four years ago he engaged in the drug busi- ness in connection with his practice, and conducts a fine store in the Hibbard House Block. The Doctor married Miss Emma Cromon, of Jackson, April 21, 1875, by whom he has 2 living children, 1 dead.

Frank Mc Lean, hardware and stove merchant and manufact- nrer of copper and sheet-iron ware, South Jackson street, was born in Jackson in 1847; is the son of Dr. John and Harriet (Law- rence) McLean, natives of New York State. They came to Jack- son in 1837, where Dr. McLean practiced medicine for a third of a century, being one of the pioneer physicians of the place. He died in March, 1879. Frank began to learn the tinner's trade in Jackson at the age of 18, and after completing it worked as a jour- neyman until he started business at his present location, in Sep- tember, 1877. Mr. McLean does quite an extensive job work in the season, and employs three men besides himself; does a hard- ware and stove trade amounting in the aggregate to about $9,000 a year. He married Angie O. Curtiss, of Saratoga county, N. Y., in December, 1873. They have a daughter and 2 sons. Mr. McL. has a brother and sister living ;his mother died several years ago.

Moses Archibald McNaughton, M. D., a native of Argyle, Washington Co., N. Y., was born January 3, 1813, and is the yonngest of 11 children of Robert and Isabella (Watson) McNaugh- ton, both natives of Washington county, and of Scotch-Irish ances- try. Doctor's grandfather, John McNaughton, settled in that county in 1765 and his mother's people two years earlier, both coming from County Antrim in Ireland, whence they had moved from Scotland. He attended school at Middlebury Academy, at Salem, Washington Co., and two years in Union College; read medicine in Medina, Orleans Co., and attended three courses of lectures at Fairfield Medical College, graduating in the spring of 1840. During the last course Doctor M. was demonstrator of anat- omy in the institution. In April, 1841, he came to Michigan and settled in Jackson, where he passed 10 years in the active duties

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of the profession, then turned his attention to real estate and retired from practice. He became the owner of large tracts of land, and laid out several additions to the city of Jackson. Doctor McNaugh- ton was also a prominent actor in the projection and building of a number of the railroads centering here, among them the branch of Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, the Grand River Valley, and the Air Line; was General Manager for the company during the con- struction of the latter, and is now its Treasurer. Doctor was elected on the Free Soil ticket to the State Senate in 1853, and has served

the city as Mayor in 1866-'67. He is President and one of the principal stockholders of the Bonanza Gold and Silver Mining Co., which owns five silver and one gold mine in Arizona: that from present developments give promise of rich returns. In 1848 Dr. McNaughton was nnited in marriage to Miss Mary Turner, of Jackson, a native of Pittsfield, Mass., but moved from Hartford, Conn .. to Jackson in 1846. They are the parents of 4 children. 3 living. Their eldest son, Charles D., graduated from Yale College with flattering honors at 20 years of age, and died the fall of the same year. Robert, second son, is married and shares the parental mansion; Archie W. is taking a law course in Michigan State University; Miss Mary Bell is at home. Doctor and his amiable wife occupy one of the most beautiful and palatial residences in central Michigan in the northwest part of the city, erected in 1871- '73, at a cost of nearly 870,000.

Thomas McQuillen, grocer, Main street, was born in the city of Jackson, in that portion now occupied by the State's prison, and was 33 years old in May, 1881. He is the son of Nicholas and Eliz- abeth (Riley) McQuillen, who were natives of Ireland, coming to America after marriage, and to Jackson, March 1, 1873. His brother was killed at a street crossing by a railway train. The mother is still living in this city on the old homestead. He engaged in the business of a grocer May 1, 1873, and has a retail trade of $12,000 yearly. He was nominated in the Greenback caucus in 1879 for Alderman of the seventh ward by six majority, but the nomination was not declared. He was re-nominated in 1880 for the same office by the Democrats and came within 16 votes of being elected. In June, 1878, he went to Hot Springs, Ark., where he remained several months under treatment for rheumatism. He went there on crutches, the local physicians declaring his case in- curable, and returned in August nearly recovered.

Charles McRoberts, engineer Michigan Central railroad, was born in Marshall, Michigan, Sept. 8, 1850; was raised on a farm, attending the common schools in winter. In 1864 he en- gaged on the railroad as fireman, and was in that capacity a short time, when he went into the shop at Marshall and' learned the trade; was promoted to engineer in 1872. His father, James Mc- Roberts, was a native of Ireland, and his mother of New York; they came to Michigan in an early day. The subject, Mr. McR., married Miss Elizabeth Perkins, daughter of J. L. Perkins, who

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was born at Rome Center Feb. 19, 1850. They have 2 children- Gracie and Charlie. Mr. MeR. is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Hugh Mc Roberts, engineer Michigan Central railroad, was born in Hoboken, N. J., Jan. 12, 1832. When he was a boy his parents moved to Boston and remained a short time: thence to Norwich, Conn., where he followed the business of railroad con- tractor: thence to Cohoes Falls, and shortly after came to Michi- gan and located in Marshall in 1540, when the terminus of the Michigan Central railroad was at Jackson; after coming to Mar- shall he learned the trade of tinner, and in 1854 commenced rail- roading as fireman. Soon after, while running an emigrant train over the Michigan Central, about three-fourths of a mile from Marshall, the engine blew up, killing two engineers, one by the name of Cooley, on his way to Kalamazoo, and Engineer Robin- son, who had charge of the engine. Mr. McRoberts was blown over 15 rods, and landed in a hazel-bush patch; was very badly hurt, his clothing almost entirely torn off, nothing remaining ex- cept the wristbands, shirt collar and one sock; had on a new pair of boots made by å man named Blake, who warranted them not to rip; while looking up the pieces, found some portions of his boots and part of his shirt. He married Miss Barbara Ann Petrie, who was born in Little Falls, N. Y., Feb. 21, 1829, and died in Mar- shall, leaving 4 children, Feb. 15, 1874; the children are Carrie, Edward, Lena and Zella. Mr. McR. enlisted in 1863 in the 28th Regiment, Michigan Volunteers. Company A, under Col. Wheeler; participated in the battles of Nashville, Tenn., and Kingston, N. C.

Levi G. Merriman, real-estate dealer, is a son of Dr. Titus and Polly (Bacher) Merriman. His father was a native of Connecti- cut, born Oct. 9, 1786, and of Scotch descent; was a practicing physician in Onondaga county. N. Y., over 50 years. His mother was born in Amsterdam, N. Y., May 10, 1805. The subject of this sketch was born in Eldridge, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1827. In 1843 he came to this county and engaged in clerking in the dry- goods and grocery business for his brother, and remained with him until his death, which occurred in 1853; he then engaged in busi- ness under the firm name of Merriman Bros., and continued in the same for 20 years; he is at present engaged in the real-estate busi- ness, owning some very valuable property in the city, among which is Rustic Hall, which was built in 1874 as a pleasure resort, and was used for that purpose until 1876, when it was changed to a health resort There are certain leading features in the busi- ness interests of all communities, and certain elements that lead to prosperity, and it is no reflection upon the many and various commendable establishments of Jackson, when we say that the house in question embodies all the desirable elements essential to success and to the wants and requirements of the general public. Mr. M. has been identified with the interests of Jackson for nearly 40 years.

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Volney V. B. Merwin, attorney at law and Circuit Court Com- missioner, is a native of Portage, Genesee Co., N. Y., born in June, 1833; is the son of Dr. Smith C. and Minerva S. Merwin, nee Williams, who moved to Michigan and settled in Moscow, Hills- dale Co., in 1838, where Dr. Merwin has practiced medicine con- stantly since Mrs. M. died, some years ago. Volney was chiefly educated in Spring Arbor College; began reading law at the age of 16 years, at which time he also commenced teaching school, and continued a number of terms; also clerked in a store for a time; was commissioned Recruiting Officer at the opening of the civil war, and enlisted a great number of volunteers; was some time in the oil business in Canada; traveled several years selling goods; did a heavy real-estate business in company with Mr. Davis, and later with Mr. Cady, for some three years each; read law without a preceptor; was admitted to practice in 1874, after receiving a high compliment from the Judge upon his legal attainments. Mr. M. has been in active practice since; was elected Circuit Court Com- missioner in 1878, and re-elected in 1880; was a Republican in earlier years, bnt severed his connection with the party about five years ago, and became an active adherent of the Greenback party, and has been prominent as a local exponent of those principles from the stump. His first election to his present position was due to that party, but was chosen the second term regardless of party lines, because of proven efficiency in the office. Mr. M. has been twice married, first when 23 years old; was left a widower with 1 son, five years after; was married again in Jackson, in 1862, to Miss Martha A. Knight. They have a son and a daughter. Mr. M. is a member of the Masonic order, Moscow Lodge.

John Millard, proprietor of meat market, 119 North Mechanic street, Jackson, Mich., was born in Somersetshire, England, Nov. 17, 1837, where he received a common-school education, and when 19 years old came to America. When first coming to this country he worked on a farm. In 1861 he came to Jackson county bought a farm, and later came to this city, where he has followed his present business since. He uses 500 head of cattle and about the same number of small stock, and does a business of $20,000 per year. He married Miss Margaret Rowan, born in England May 18, 1837. They have 3 children-William, Edward and Mary; is a member of the Foresters, of Jackson, Lodge No. 4.

Frederick C. Miller, coal and wood merchant, northeast corner Mechanic and Washington streets, son of D. C. F. Miller, of Atlanta, Ga., was born in Charleston, S. C., and is 32 years of age. He left the South in 1864, and came directly to Jackson, Mich .; clerked over a year in a grocery, a few months in a crockery store, then hired to Mckinstry & Wilson, with whom he remained more than 12 years; left them in July, 1878, and Sept. 23 following estab- lished his present business. Mr. Miller handles all kinds of the best hard and soft coals and marketable wood, and in the building season ships and sells brick at wholesale. In 1880 he sold over

Patton Morrison

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1,000 tons of coal and nearly 500 cords of wood. He married Snsie De Graff, of Amsterdam, N. Y., March 24, 1875; had 2 children, 1 living-Susie Mabel, a year and a half old. Mr. Miller is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., Jackson Lodge, No. 4, Wiley Encampment, No. 5, and also of Chosen Friends, Council No. 6.

John L. Mitchell, M. D., is a native of Southbury, Conn., born in 1823, and descended from English ancestry on the paternal and French on the maternal side. His father, William Mitchell, was also born in Connecticut, and married Eunice Lewis, of that State. They had 3 sons and a daughter, of whom the Doctor is the youngest son and third child. He was educated in the academy at Syracuse, New York, where he also read medicine; attended one course of lectures at Yale College, then attended the New York College of Physicians, from which he graduated in 1846. After practicing four years in New York city, he came to Jackson in 1850, and has been active in the profession here since. Dr. Mitchell was a member of the Jackson County Medical Society about 25 years. He has been a prominent member of the Masonic order about 29 years; has taken all the degrees that are conferred in Jackson; has filled the office of Master of Lodge No. 50, nine years; has been High Priest of Chapter No. 3, four years; was Eminent Commander of Commandery No. 9, two years. In politics Doctor has always been a Democrat. He served as School Inspector a number of years; was physician to the State's prison one year; Town Clerk two years; was the first City Recorder, and in 1880-'81 is Alderman from the first ward. He has been a delegate to every county convention since 1852. Doctor's parents came to Jackson in 1848; father died here in 1867; mother resides in the city, aged 85 years.

John B. Morris, proprietor of the Hibbard House barber shop, is a native of Sandusky, O., and is 38 years of age. He began working at the barber's trade in Cleveland, O., at the age of 17; was several years in that city, and while there learned the printer's trade in the office of the Plaindealer. He went to Minnesota and remained a number of years in St. Paul and vicinity; was three years and a half in the employ of the Northwestern Express Co., as messenger and clerk. On Oct. 9, 1870, he established a barber shop in Toledo, O., and conducted the business until com- ing to Jackson in August, 1872, since which time he has occupied his present quarters. Business at first scarcely warranted keeping one man; now he employs six experts, and has more than they can do. His work and his shop are among the finest in the North- west. Mr. Morris married Miss Minerva B. Roark, a native of Dayton, O., in Fort Wayne, Ind. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and has filled every official chair in the local lodge.

Patton Morrison, retired capitalist, was born in Orange county, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1816, and is the son of Francis and Matilda Morrison, nee Patton, of that county, where his father resided until his death. His mother came to Jackson, and died here a few years ago. Patton's early life was passed on the farm, and his education obtained in the

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district school. In October, 1838, he came to Jackson. Before start- ing West he had earned and saved $400. On reaching Rochester N. Y., he found he had not money enough besides that to defray his traveling expenses, consequently he deposited the $400 with John Mains, a broker, for safe keeping, and remained there at work over a year. When ready to proceed to Michigan Mr. Mains gave Mr. Morrison his check for the amount, which document he has pre- served in a frame as a relic of his first banking business and a reminder of his early struggles in search of a fortune. Upon arriving in Jackson he worked at whatever employment could be obtained for about 50 cents per day, paying $1.50 a week for board, and later $1.75 per week. After a year or two, becoming some- what expert in the use of carpenter's tools, he was able to command 75 cents per day. His original capital of $400 was invested in land, and after some speculations, and loss from a year's ill- ness with the agne, he lost all and began anew. After regaining his health Mr. Morrison engaged to pack the pork taken by Messrs. Allen, Bennett & John Sumner, merchants, in exchange for goods or on account, he to do all the work, and they to pay all expenses save his labor, the gross amount to be charged to Mr. Morrison, and to be repaid when sale of the pork was made, after which the net profits were to be equally divided. By holding over he received a neat sum as profit, which enabled him to buy in a small way on his own account, in addition to their purchases. With the results of the business at the close of that year, he bought the ground on which the Morrison Block now stands, on West Main street, in- vesting all his capital but $40, and with a stock of goods worth $800, all bought on credit save the $40 he started in the grocery trade. Mr. Sumner gave him a strong letter of recommendation to New York and Boston merchants, which enabled him to purchase such goods as he needed until he got a start. Mr. Morrison met his obligations promptly, but felt the $800 to be a much heavier burden than ten times that amonnt has been frequently since. He continued in business prosperously until three years ago, when he sold out and retired from a successful mercantile life of more than a third of a century. During the past 10 years Mr. Morrison has lost $75,000 by signing paper for accommodation; and has an estate of over $100,000 remaining. He has erected seven busi- ness blocks in the city, and some resident property. While pur- suing the grocery trade he entered a section of land in the town of Rives, which he improved and farmed for 10 years. He did a jobbing business in groceries for 17 years, during which his net gains averaged $10,000 a year. Since retiring from commercial life, in April, 1879, Mr. Morrison has been chiefly employed in tak- ing care of his estate. When about 34 years of age he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Mortimer, in Jackson, by Elder Marcus Harrison, of the old-school Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Mor- rison is a native of Rochester, N. Y., but resided in Adrian, Mich., previous to their marriage. They are the parents of 3 children,

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all deceased. They have reared from infancy or early childhood, and educated 13 boys, all grown to man's estate, and established in life; and have two adopted sons now with them-Frank Patton Morrison, aged 16 years, attending Notre Dame College, South Bend, Ind., and George D. Morrison, aged 14 years, in school in Jackson. Besides the cheerfully assumed care and labor of bring- ing np this large family of friendless children, Mrs. Morrison lias dispensed charities with remarkable liberality to other needy ones, and carried sunshine to many homes and hearts. Mr. Morrison has been for many years a member of the Masonic Order.

A full-page portrait of the subject of this biography appears in this work on page 677.

Marvin Myers, of the firm of Brown & Myers, dealers in agri- cultural implements, W. Pearl street, was born in Erie county, N. Y., May 27, 1833. He is the son of Alexander and Hester Ann (Bailey) Myers, of N. Y. They came to Michigan when Marvin was three months old and settled in Leoni village, where they lived 24 years, removing thence to Columbia, where they died. Mr. Myers, Sr., was Constable and Collector in Leoni 21 years in succession. His son was educated in Leoni College, and followed agricultural pursuits 22 years. In 1875 he came to Jackson to engage in his

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 70

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