History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 72

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

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He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention at De- troit in 1835, and was also elected to the first Legislature held in Lansing and served two terms. He figured largely in State poli- tics, and his influence was telt in an early day. There were four counties named by him, viz. : Antrim, Wexford, Roscommon and Clare. His wife was a native of Chantanqna, and was born in 1816. She is still living. The subject of this sketch com- menced the reading of medicine in 1862 in the office of Dr. R. Stephenson, where he remained a portion of the time for three years; graduating at Ann Arbor in March, 1565. He followed his profession in Cass county until 1877, when he came to Jackson. He married Miss Marion L. Bugbee, daughter of Dr. Israel Bugbee, a na- tive of Vermont, who was a graduate at Fairfield Medical College at Geneseo, N. Y .; her mother was a native of England, and came to the States in an early day; was adopted by Professor Mussey, of Dartmouth College. She was born Sept. 8, 1840. There are 2 children-Escaoville and Fred; both are members of the Metho- dist Church.

Erastus Peck, attorney at law, is a native of Yates county, N. Y., and was born in December. 1839. His parents, David G. and Catharine (Hughes) Peck, were both of that State. At the age of

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14 Erastus entered Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, remaining a year, subsequently took a course in Genesee College-now Syracuse Uni- versity-graduating in the class of 1860. He came to Michigan that summer, and began reading law with Henry L. Henderson, in Mason. In 1862 Mr. Peck passed his examination before the Cir- cuit Court and was admitted to the Bar. He remained there in practice until 1864; then came to Jackson and was clerk in the Provost Marshal's office two years; opened a law office in 1866, and has continued active in the profession since. The winter of 1861-'2 Mr. Peck spent in Lansing as clerk of the Judiciary Com- mittee, and correspondent of the Detroit Tribune, and the winter of 1862-'3 he was there as Assistant Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk of the House. Mr. Peck is now serving his fifth term as City Attorney, and has been School Inspector several years. Pre- vious to 1872 he voted the Republican ticket, but being personally acquainted with Mr. Greeley, he supported him and has since af- filiated with the Democracy. He married Miss Ella, daughter of William Mundy, an old settler in Jackson, in 1871. They have 1 child-William Mundy Peck, aged 7 years. Mr. Mundy died in 1859; his widow is living and resides with Mr. Peck.

R. W. Peppard, Superintendent of Jackson Pulp Co., is a son of Standish and Catherine (Deal) Peppard, natives of Alle- gheny county, Pa., where they raised a family of 6 children, 3 of whom are still living. The subject of this sketch was born in Pittsburg, Pa., Jan. 28, 1844, where he received a liberal educa- tion. When he first left home he was employed in steamboating on the Ohio, Red and Mississippi rivers. and in 1878 came to Jack- son county, where he has been engaged since at his present busi- ness. He enlisted in the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served three years; was engaged at the battle of Antietam, but soon after was taken sick and afterward was detailed as clerk in the Adj. Gen.'s office at Point Lookout.

Henry V. Perrin. Cashier of the Jackson County Bank, was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1843. His father, Artemus Perrin, was a native of Connecticut, and married Hortensia T. Allen, of Massachusetts. Henry was educated in Fredonia Academy, Michigan State University, and Hillsdale College, from which he graduated in the class of 1860, teaching several terms during his college course, and one year since in Bryant & Stratton's Busi- ness College at Detroit. He then returned to New York and took charge of his father's farm and business for 10 years; returned to Jackson in 1871; traveled six monthis for a New York book house. At the end of that time, in 1872, the Jackson County Bank was organized and Mr. Perrin chosen its Cashier. In 1862 he married Ellen P., daughter of Hon. Freeman C. Watkins, late of Norvell, Jackson county, and one of the first settlers in the southeast part of the county. He was born in New Hampshire, and married Phil- inda Fitzgerald, of Skaneateles, N. Y., whose parents were among the pioneers here. Mr. Watkins was elected to the State Legis- lature from Jackson county in 1850, and was chosen a member of

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the Constitutional Convention in 1867. He was killed by a run- away team in 1880, at the age of 69 years. Mr. Perrin and wife have 1 son-Howard E., 17 years of age. Mr. Perrin's father re- sides in Fredonia, N. Y .; mother died in 1876. Their family originally consisted of 2 sons and 1 daughter, the latter now de- eeased. Mr. Perrin and wife are associated with the First Bap- tist Church.

Orrison A. Pierce, of the firm of Pieree & Seamans (Moses C. Seamans) grocers, E. Main street, is a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in 1847. He is the son of Almon T. and Bet- sey O. (Tower) Pierce, and grew to manhood on his father's farm, receiving a good education at the publie school. He had a position as clerk in his native State about a year, and came to Jackson in 1869, where he found employment as salesman in the bakery and confectionery store of John Webb, where he remained six months. In company with his brother, Orlando Pierce, he established a wood and coal trade in 1973. In this he was fairly successful, but lost in other ventures. In June, 1873, the firm of which he is at present a member was established, and they then located near their present quarters. They do a general retail grocery trade of about 820,000 yearly, making a specialty of produce and fresh vegetables in their season. Mr. Pierce was married Feb. 21, 1871, to Emma E. De Wolf, of Jackson. They have 1 son-Harry A. They are both members of the Unitarian congregation. Mr. Pierce is a Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 17.

J. Henry Pilcher, of Brown & Pileher, wholesale and retail book and stationery merchants, West Main street, was born in Spring Arbor town, Jackson Co., Mich., in January, 1839; is the son of Rev. Elijah and Caroline M. Pilcher, daughter of Dr. Benjamin H. Packard, who came to the site of Jackson in the fall of 1829, in company with his brother-in-law, Josiah W. Bennett, and each took up 160 aeres of land near what is now the center of the city, and upon which they settled the following spring, and ereeted a saw-mill and other improvements. Rev. Pileher's wife descended from Vermont people. who removed to New York in an early day, and settled upon the Holland purchase, in Genesee county. He was a native of Virginia, and preached the first sermon in Jackson, Jan. 27, 1831. Henry's mother having died in his infaney, he was brought up by his maternal grandfather, who left the farm when Henry was five years old, and settled in the village of Jacksonburgh. Mr. Pilcher was edneated here and in Albion College, of which his father was one of the founders. In 1855 he went to lowa, and was several years Cashier in a bank in Mount Pleasant and in Council Bluffs; returned to Jackson in the fall of 1859, and was employed in a similar capacity in the bank of Loomis & Whitwell for some years. He then became bookkeeper in the book house of Brown & Carter until August, 1872, when he succeeded Mr. Carter as a partner, the firm assum- ing its present title. The house was first established by George D. Brown, in 1848, then a young man aged 20 years, having been

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

born and reared in Auburn, N. Y. Some time after he took Mr. Carter as partner, who continued until succeeded by Mr. Pilcher. The firm occupies a very large store, with basement, fronting on Main. their retail department, and a large double store fronting on Pearl street, as the wholesale house. They have a trade of $150,000 to $160,000 a year. Mr. Pilcher has been twice married, first to Lucy Porter, of La Salle county, Ill., who died in 1870, leaving + children ; and in January, 1872, to his present wife, whose maiden name was Mollie S. Pilcher. She is the mother of 1 son. Mr. Pilcher and wife are members of the M. E. Church, of whose Sunday-school he was Superintendent 20 years.

Constant C. Pond, lumber manufacturer and dealer, son of Jo- siah and Nabbia (Gates) Pond, was born in Vermont in 1822. He was bound to an uncle in Addison county, Vt., with whom he re- mained until past 20 years of age; came to Jackson, Mich., in May, 1847; bonght and lived on a farm in Liberty tp., until the fall of 1859, then spent a year in the oil regions of Pennsylvania, return- ing to Jackson in the fall of 1860. In November, 1872, Mr. Pond became a member of a joint stock company, with a capital of 820,- 000 to manufacture lumber, and after carrying on the business three years he bought ont all the partners save one, and a year later became sole proprietor. Thomas Hood, his son-in-law, was admitted as a partner, and took active charge of the business. At the close of two years M. P. Gale became a member of the firm, with one-third interest. The concern then invoiced about $40,000. Their mills have a capacity of 40,000 feet per day. The present year (1881) their mills will cut 24,000,000 feet. Their daily pay roll is over $600. Mr. Pond married Esther Ager, of Warren county, Pa., in July, 1841. They have 2 daughters, 1 the wife of Thomas Hood, the other the wife of Owen Groom. In 1874 Mr. Pond erected the block which bears his name on West Courtland street, and on Christmas, 1875, made each of the daughters a pres- ent of one-third interest in it, valued at $5,000 each.

Benjamin Porter, President of Porter Coal Mining Company, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Powers) Porter, was born in Batavia, N. Y., in 1825; came with parents to Detroit, Mich., in 1833; father being a mechanic, erected the old Baptist church, one of the first houses for worship in that city. Mr. Porter receiving the appointment to superintend the erection of the State's prison, re- moved to Jackson in 1838, and cut the first tree on the ground where it now stands. He and wife both died in Jackson, from the effects of broken limbs. Benjamin, Jr., attended the Jackson schools and one term at the Marshall. He established a blacksmith, wagon and plow shop, as his first business; he next bought a stock of goods in Jackson, shipped them to Lansing, sold out the stock in about a year, then returned to Jackson and engaged in the mannfacture of brick, burning from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 annnally. Having be- come interested in mining coal, he abandoned the brick business some 10 years ago, and has given that his attention since. The

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Porter Coal Company, of which he is President, was formed about that time; employs about 160 men, and mines 400 tons per day. In 1879 Mr. Porter bought a tract of coal land in Boulder county, Colorado; organized the Jackson Coal Co., and began mining in October of that year, taking out 150 tons per day. When 22 years of age he married Esther Case, of Jackson, who died three years after, the mother of 2 children since deceased. About a year after her death he married Elizabeth Howells, also of Jackson, who has borne him 3 sons and 1 daughter. Mr. Porter has served three years on the Board of Supervisors; was Trustee of Jacksonburglı; has been a member of the City Council four years, and City Clerk a number of year»; is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Past Com- mander of Jackson Commandery, No. 9; Past Grand Commander of the State; Past Grand High Priest of the State, and is also Past Grand Secretary of the State.

Thomas N. Porter, engineer Michigan Central railroad, is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Harrison) Porter; father of Irish descent, coming to Canada when 19 years old; married and raised a family of 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls. The subject of this sketch was born Dec. 25, 1840. When a boy he learned the blacksmith's trade with his father and followed it several years. In 1864 he came to Marshall, and in 1866 commenced railroading as fireman; after working about three and a half years in this capacity he was pro- moted to engineer. In all his railroading he has never injured a passenger or had a smash-up. He married Miss Jane A. Sunley, of Canada, who was born Feb. 28, 1848. They have had 2 chil- dren, 1 of whom is living.

Win. H. Potts, engineer Michigan Central railroad, Jackson, Mich., was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., May 14, 1835, where he received a common-school education. When 14 years of age he was engaged on the Terre Haute & St. Louis railroad as fireman, where he remained one year. In 1867 he was promoted to engineer, and has always been very lucky, never having a cent charged to him by the company. He married Miss Mary E. Dyer, danghter of John Dyer, a native of New York; she was born Oct. 27, 1846. There is 1 child, born Angust, 1876. Mr. P. is a member of the Knights Templar and the order of A. O. U. W.

Lewis M. Powell, attorney at law and ex-Judge of Probate of Jack- son county, was born in Bradford county, Pa., in September, 1828. His parents were Lewis Powell and Betsey (Marvin) Powell, natives of Dutchess county, N. Y. They emigrated from Penn Yan, Yates Co., N. Y., to Washtenaw county, Mich., in the fall of 1835. Judge Powell's education was chiefly obtained in the common schools and by two years' attendance at Grass Lake Academy. In 1847 he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, taught in the public schools of the city three years, and two years of the time read law with the law firm of Salmon P. Chase and Henry W. Snow. In 1850 Mr. Powell went to Louisiana, and in June, 1851, returned to Michigan and to farming till December, 1857; then entered the law office of Johnson & Higby, of Jackson, as a student; was admitted to the

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Bar in November, 1858; he remained with Johnson & Higby until the next spring; opened a law office in Grass Lake, and con- tinned there until 1868; then returned to Jackson, and has been continuonsly in practice here since, save the four years from Jan. 1, 1877, to Jan. 1, 1881, when he was holding the office of Judge of Probate. Judge Powell filled the office of City Attor- ney of Jackson one year; was Prosecuting Attorney for the county in 1875 and'76. Judge married Lavina, eldest daughter of Hiram Polley, of Grass Lake, Jan. 2, 1860. They have a son and a daughter. Politically, Judge has always been a Democrat.

Edward Price, proprietor of meat market, Jackson, Mich., was born in Willshire, England, Sept. 16, 1831, where he was reared at the trade, and has followed it all his life. In 1860 he came to the United States, and located in Rochester, N. Y. In 1862 he enlisted in the 8th N. Y. Cav., Co. K., and participated in all the battles of his company; was at the battle of Chancellors- ville and Gettysburg, where he saw the first gun that was fired; was at the grand review at Washington ; remained until the close of the war, serving nearly three years. He then came to Jackson, and has followed his present occupation ever since; does a business of 817,000 to $18,000 per year. He married Miss Charlotte P. Cox. daughter of John Cox, of Gloucestershire, Eng., who was born in 1828. There were 2 children-Lottie and Ann Elizabeth. John P. Quincy, residence 502 First street, Jackson.

Henry C. Ransom, furniture merchant and manufacturer, Main street, is 48 years of age, and is a native of Ashtabula county, O. His parents, Zebina and Mary (Whitney) Ransom, immigrated to Jackson, Mich., in 1845, where they remained till death. Mr. R. was educated in the Jackson schools; in 1852 went to California; returning in 1857, he entered the employ of Waters, Lathrop & McNaughton; spent a number of years with that firm, then formed a partnership with Messrs. Gilbert and Knapp, as the firm of Gilbert, Ransom & Knapp, and abont 1866 engaged in the manufacture of wooden goods aud upholstery. They employed over 100 hands, and did a business equal in volume to any in the State, of its class; owned and supplied three large stores in as many cities, and distributed their goods over Michigan. At the end of about six years Mr. Gilbert & Sons took the manufactory, and Mr. Ransom and Mr. Knapp the retail business. Four years ago they divided, Mr. Ransom taking his present store. His business occupies five large rooms, embraces a capital of $30,000 to $35,000, and extends throughout Central Michigan. Mr. R. upholsters all his best goods, employing five to eight men in the work. Mr. Ransom married Betsey Johnson, of Jackson, in 1859. They have 1 son and a daughter.

Charles C. Reed, Superintendent of Telegraph for the Michigan Central railroad, was born in Port Byron, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1839. His parents, Reuben and Zadie (Titus) Reed, were natives of New York State. They immigrated to Calhoun county, Mich.,

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in 1846. Mr. Reed was educated in Marshall, and in the Wesleyan Seminary at Albion. He clerked for a time in a drug store; entered the telegraph office in Albion as messenger boy in 1857; worked at several places on the line during that and the following years, was about a year and a half in Chicago, and in the spring of 1863 was made train dispatcher in Kalamazoo; remained in that capacity until December, 1872, when he succeeded M. D. Woodford as Superintendent of Telegraph. Mr. Reed controls all the lines connected with the Michigan Central, and those on the Hillsdale & Southwestern, about 1,000 miles of line in all, consisting of 5,000 miles of wire. These wires do business from some 300 offices, and require the services of about 250 hands in the interests of the M. C. Co., and 50 in connection with other lines. Mr. Reed has paid $100,000 for construction during the 13 months ending with February, 1881. He has instituted and kept a general weather report for the benefit of the railroad com- pany since 1873; takes four observations and records four reports every 24 hours. It serves as a valuable protection to the company in shipping perishable goods; and since his organization of the system, many other railroads have adopted it. Mr. Reed is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Detroit Commandery, No. 1. He married Mary Cooley, of Albion, in 1863.

William B. Reid, general State agent for the Champion Ma- chine Co., is a native of North Carolina, born in Halifax county, March 12, 1832; was educated in the common school and academy ; went to Northampton at 15 years of age and remained five years. At 18 years of age attained the position of Secretary to the President of the Raleigh & Gaston railroad; and a few months later was put upon the road as conductor of a special express train, which he ran two years. His father, James L. Reid, for some years connected with that railroad, having died in the fall of 1854, William took his place as agent at Henderson, N. C., an important shipping point. In February, 1855, he married Martha A. Crandall, a native of New York, teaching in Henderson at the time. The road changed officers that fall, and Mr. R. severed his connection with it; was ap- pointed agent of Adams Express Co., in 1856; two years after ac- cepted the superintendency of the Forest Manufacturing Co .; held the position until July, 1861, then left everything save his wife and 3 children, and came by a circuitous route to Hoosac, N. Y., and in 1863 formned a partnership with John Brown, borrowing $1,200, his share of the capital, bought a flax mill, and engaged in the mann- facture of flax-cotton; ran the business until 1865; sold ont. The day following engaged to travel for Warder, Mitchell & Co., con- tinned seven years, and in 1871 became the general agent for the Champion Company, for the State of Michigan. Since that time he has increased the sale of their machines in the State from 150 to 3,000, in 1880. He is now erecting a building for the company on the corner of Mechanic and Courtland streets. Mr. Reid is a member of the City Council from the third ward; is a member of the Masonic order, lodge, chapter and commandery, and has been a

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member of the Baptist Church for 24 years. Mr. and Mrs. R. have 3 daughters and + sons; the eldest daughter married, and is a resi- dent of Springfield, O .; the eldest son is also married, and private secretary for his father; the second son is bookkeeper for a Coal Company in Erie, Col .; the others are at home.

Amelius O. Revenaugh, oil and crayon portrait artist, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1840. He is the son of John and Cla- rinda (Blake) Revenaugh and is of French and German descent. His father was for many years a practicing physician, coming to Ingham county, where he still resides. In 1853 Mr. Revenangh entered upon his profession. When about 18 years old he began car- riage- painting and in 1861 went to Binghamton, N. Y., August, 1862, he entered the army in the 141st New York Inf., serving until June, 1865. He was transferred to U. S. Signal Corps in 1863, and after that time was on duty at Thomas' headquarters. He was engaged in a number of important battles. Returning to Michigan after his discharge he entered the State University Medical Department, graduating in the class of 1867. He prepared for college with his father. During the time he was in the army, he acted as hospital steward at Nelson, Georgia. In 1867 he went to Detroit and studied the details of his profession as an artist with J. M. Stanley, and then entered upon its prosecution. He has been a resident of Jackson since 1871. He married Lavina Mason, of Elmira, N. Y., in 1867, and has 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. He has met with good success and generous patronage in his profession, having painted a considerable number of fine oil portraits, among which are several celebrities,-Prof. Williams, of Ann Arbor; John D. Pierce and Dr. Wolcott of Milwaukee, Wis.,-the latter for the sol- diers' home in that city. It is a bust picture, a duplicate of one he painted for the State Historical Library Room. For this he received $200. For one of his Jackson orders he received $800. He is a member of A. F. & A. M, and A. O. U. W. and of Com- mandery No. 9.

Ethan H. Rice, retired merchant, was born in Bridgeport, Addi- son Co., Vt., April 22, 1812, where he was reared on a farm and received an elementary education; remained on the farm until he was 22 years old, taught school one winter and the following year engaged as clerk for Edward R. Mason, and remained with him two years. In 1838 he came to Michigan, and to Jackson the year that the grounds of the prison were laid out. Soon after his arrival in Jackson he engaged to Dyer & Derby as clerk, and re- mained with them one year. At that time a party of men, think- ing Michigan Center would be the principal town in the county, formed themselves into a corporation, bought lumber and went there for the purpose of building up the town. Mr. Rice was em- ployed as general superintendent and remained in that capacity three years; then came to Jackson, where he was employed by Roots & Berry as clerk. In 1854 he engaged in the hardware trade, which business he followed 24 years. At the time of going

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ont of business he was the oldest hardware merchant in the city. Mr. Rice is a consistent Christian, and respected by all. He has held the office of Alderman six years, and is a stannch Repub- lican. He married Miss Gennett Sergeant, daughter of Dr. Eras- tns Sergeant, a native of Massachusetts; she was born Ang. 16, 1822. There are 3 children-George, Emma and William. When Mrs. Rice was 11 years old her father died and she came to Ohio to live with a sister, the wife of Rev. Samuel Newbury; they came the whole way in a buggy, being as early as 1833. They remained in Ohio a short time and the same year went to Indianapolis, Ind., when the State was one vast wilderness. In her own words, she said she "had some experience in pioneer life riding in double wagons through mud and timber, fording rivers and sleeping in log cabins." In 1838 she came to Jackson, Mich.

Jared S. Richardson was born in Leroy, Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1812, and was the son of Jared and Levina (Butterfield) Richard- son, who were farmers. They came to Michigan in 1834, remaining until death. The subject of this sketch was the oldest of the chil- dren, and started in life for himself at the age of 21 years. He went to his native town, Leroy, and worked on a farm at $12 per month for seven months, then worked five months for $10 per month. He saved $90 of his earnings, and April 20, 1834, started for the West, with the family of Sherman Eastman; they came to Buffalo in wagons; arrived at Detroit April 28; remained there over Sunday; left Monday morning with two yoke of oxen and a wagon loaded with household goods; found very bad, muddy roads; arrived in Sandstone, this county, Saturday evening and remained over night at the Barry Hotel, kept by Frederick Boorh. At that time the mail was carried from Jackson to Chicago in a Inmber wagon drawn by two horses; this was also the only mode of con- veyance for passengers. Mr. R. worked for Mr. Eastman seven months, at 812 per month; in the fall of 1834 he went to Monroe city to the land office, a distance of about 90 miles, on foot and alone; purchased 80 acres of Government land at $1.25 per acre; went to work again, at $13 per month, and the next spring sent to Monroe and purchased 40 acres more; he then bought a yoke of oxen, paying 880, and commenced breaking up his ground. Dec. 2, 1837, he married Harriet M. Bush; built a small log cabin and moved into it. In 1853 he purchased 80 acres of land of F. E. Bush, for which he paid $13.25 per acre; 55 acres were improved. This land he deeded to his eldest son, Henry Clay, when the latter was 21 years old. In 1857 Mr. Richardson built his fine brick residence, which cost over 83,000. They have + living children, all married. The youngest son, Albert S., and his wife, work the farm. On page 575 of this work will be found a portrait of the subject of this biography.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 72

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