History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 73

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 73

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Don J. Robinson (deceased) was born near Ithaca, Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1834. He was educated in Hamilton College, graduated in the class of 1857, afterward took a law course in the same insti- tution, under Professor, now Judge, Dwight, of New York. He

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then entered the law office of Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson, a leading Democratic statesman and ex-member of Congress, at Bing- hamton, N. Y., and so zealously applied himself to the study of law that his eyesight became impaired, and he was compelled to abandon the further pursuit of law. He was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Compton, in New York city, in 1859, and soon after came to Michigan, settling at East Saginaw in 1860. He there engaged in the lumber trade, which proved successful, and he came to Jackson in 1869 with considerable capital. In that year he, in company with Mr. A. V. Pantlind, leased the Hibbard House, Mr. Robinson furnishing the money and Mr. Pantlind the experience. After six years' connection with the hotel, during which he added greatly to its popularity, Mr. Robinson turned his attention to manufacturing agrieultural implements, chief among which was a patent spring-tooth harrow, and other articles that he was largely interested in, to the time of his death. He was a superior judge and great admirer of fine horses, and took a deep interest in the breeding and improvement of them in Michigan, especially in this portion of the State. In 1870 the Jackson Horse Breeders' Association was formed, and Mr. R. was chosen its Secretary. His zeal for the prosperity of the society amounted to enthusiasm, and he filled the office with signal ability till his decease. He possessed a broad, cultured intellect, a fine sense of honor in his business affairs; and was noted for large-hearted gener- osity; was a kind and loving husband and father. His widow, 4 daughters and 1 son, comprising the family, greatly miss his genial presence from the vaeant seat in the home circle. He was a high Mason, having passed the 32d degree; belonged to Michigan Lodge, No. 50, and Jackson Commandery, No. 9. In accordance with his request, his remains were interred by the Knights Templar in the honors of the order. At the time of his deeease he was carrying $5,000 life insurance; previously he carried a much larger amount.

A portrait of Mr. Robinson appears in this volume, page 541.

Dr. Jeremiah A. Robinson, surgeon dentist, is a pioneer in his profession in Jackson, and one of the oldest praetieing dentists in the Northwest. He was born in Coneord, Mass., May 31, 1812. William Robinson, his father, was a hat manufacturer, and also his father, who was a Lientenant in the Revolutionary army, Dr. Robinson sprang from Puritan stoek, his mother, Martha (Cogs- well) Robinson, being also of New England birth. He is the fourth of 6 children; began preparing for his profession in 1836, and graduated in dentistry in 1838. He located in practice in old Salem, Mass., and moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1853; came to Jackson, Mich., in 1858. He has now been 43 years in the pro- fessional harness; has aimed at and attained great proficiency, and, upon several occasions, has, by invitation of the college authori- ties, prepared and read papers before the students in the dental department of Michigan State University. He is President of the Jackson Reform Club; and probably established the firs

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bon Sunday-school in the world, in April, 1878, which is now pros- pering. with a large attendance. He was zealous and active in the recruiting service during the late war; for many years has been a prolific writer on questions of reform for the current press, and a regular editorial contributor to one of the city papers. Among the numerous poems from his pen are several productions of merit.

Dr. Robinson married Harriet A. Brown, of Concord, Mass., May 3, 1832. They are the parents of 9 children, 7 living. Al- though of delicate constitution, Doctor has been an inveterate laborer. It can be truthfully written on the slab that may mark his final resting-place that he wore out.

Marcus W. Robinson, dry-goods merchant, is a native of Rhode Island, and was born in Slaterville in 18 -. James K. and Abigail W. Robinson, nee White, his parents, were from Connecticut. They removed to Oneida county, New York, when Marcus was three years of age. Here he was educated, and when nearly 18 years old entered a dry-goods store as clerk, in Winsted, Conn. After serving three years he went to New York and spent a year as a com- mercial traveler in the boot and shoe trade, then remained a year at home; after which he came to Jackson and engaged as salesman in the dry-goods house of W. Y. & S. C. Reynolds, in the building his store now occupies. Mr. Robinson was with the firm until they sold to L. H. Field, and continued in his employ a year; then sold goods for P. R. Sabin & Co. nearly four years, when the firm failed, and he was with W. M. Bennett & Son a short time; changed to the house of Camp, Morrill & Camp, and a year after opened a store on his own account in the old Sabin store, chang- ing 18 months later to his present store. Under his judicious management Mr. Robinson's trade has steadily increased, until now he carries a stock of $60,000 to 890,000, and does a volume of business of $175,000 to 8200,000 a year. Mr. R. is still un- married. His mother died five years ago; his father still resides in Connecticut.

Benjamin W. Rockwell, retired merchant, was born in New York city Jan. 31, 1812. His parents, Thomas and Sarah (Tyler) Rockwell, emigrated to Onondaga county, N. Y., when he was six years old, and purchased a farm, where Benjamin remained until 1837; he then went to Cleveland, Ohio, for five years, then came to Jackson, where his father and mother died, after being together over 50 years. His father was a Deacon in the Congregational Church at the time of his death. Mr. Rockwell visited Michigan in 1836, and being well pleased with the country, returned to Ohio, and the following year brought a stock of goods and opened a general store in Jackson, opposite where the Commercial Hotel now stands. He remained in business two years, and sold to David Ford. Then engaged in the crockery business, it being the first crockery store in Jackson. He followed this business two years, since which time he has lived on his place; has 60 acres of land in the city limits. He married Miss Samantha De Land, daughter of Judge De Land, a native of Massachusetts, who came to Michi-

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gan in 1830. She was born in Massachusetts, March 22, 1824, and died June 29, 1853, leaving 3 children-Sarah, Edward and Thomas. Mr. Rockwell, in former years was an old line Whig; at present he is a Greenbacker.

S. Edward Rogers ("Gog"). The subject of this sketch, at present city editor of the Jackson Daily Citizen, has held that po- sition, with some short intermissions, for 15 years, taking that chair a few months after that paper was established as a daily and the death of Mr. Ray, Mr. O'Donnell's associate in the enterprise.

Born in London, England, in 1838, he emigrated to America when quite young, in 1851, and after a year or two of travel through Canada and the West, settled in Ann Arbor, Mich. With- out relatives in this country, but with a passably good English education, he worked for board and clothes and books and spent two years in study and a partial collegiate course. Being pecuni- arily unable to finish and gradnate, he decided upon taking advantage of the "Poor Man's College," and entered the office of the Ann Arbor Journal, then published by Davis & Cole, as an apprentice. Working faithfully the required three years, and for some time longer as foreman of the office, he removed to Ypsilanti, and in company with B. B. Bissell, started the Ypsilanti Herald, the first Republican paper in that city. In 1860 he removed to Lansing, and the following year enlisted in Company D, 14th Michigan In- fantry, and served in the army of the Cumberland, under Gen. John Pope, until 1862, when, after a long illness, he was trans- ferred to the general hospital at Keokuk, Iowa. Participating in the battles of Shiloh, Farmington and the siege of Corinth, he saw still more active service after convalescing, commanding a scat- tered company from the hospitals, organized to drive the guerrillas from the Missouri border towns. Returning to Michigan in 1862, he came to Jackson and was employed for some months in the office of the Jackson Citizen, then a weekly paper, published by Bentley & De Land. Returning to Ypsilanti, he married the dangh- ter of Joseph L. Smith, Esq., and took charge of the Ypsilanti Commercial, then about to be started by the Rev. C. W. Pattison, continuing in charge of the mechanical department and the local columns of this paper for three years. In 1866 he was called to Jackson to accept a position upon the Citizen, at the earnest solici- tation of Mr. O'Donnell, its present proprietor, which he has oc- cupied since that time, excepting during six months' sojourn in Europe, whither he went in 1867, the year of the Paris Exposition, and returned in the spring of 1868, bringing with him his widowed mother, who still resides in Jackson. It was while in Europe he adopted the nom de plume of " Gog," by which cogno- men he is familiarly known, signing that name to the letters of an interesting series of "Notes Abroad," and retaining it when- ever away from home, in Northern Michigan rambles or else- where. His letters from the North Woods upon annual summer vacations, are interesting and graphically written, and have done much to attract tourists to that section, especially those of eight

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or ten years ago, or about the time the possession by Michigan of that celebrated game fish, the grayling, became known. An en- thusiastic sportsman and lover of nature, and a close observer, he is known as a concise and graphic, as well as ready, descriptive writer. Another withdrawal of a few months from the staff of the Citizen was when, during the Greeley campaign, he, in company with Charles W. Gillette, started the Daily Republican, a two- cent paper in Jackson; but the senior partner desiring to run the journal in the interest of the Greeley party instead of independ- ently, as promised, Mr. Rogers soon retired and returned to his position upon the staff of the Citizen. Always a stalwart Repub- lican, he cast his first vote for the martyr president in 1861. He filled the office of Alderman from the ward in which he lives-a Democratic stronghold-for two terms, and was the first Repub- lican Councilman elected in that ward, the fifth in 20 years. In addition to his duties as journalist, he one year collected the water rates of the city, and last year, 1880, he was appointed cen- sus enumerator of his ward, and performed the arduous duty promptly and faithfully.

Hon. Amos Root, farmer, capitalist, and President of the Grand River railroad, is the third son, and one of a family of 5 sons and 2 daughters of John and Roxana (Worden) Root, and was born April 8, 1816, at Fort Ann, Washington Co., N. Y. John Root was for nearly half a century a blacksmith and manufacturer of edge tools in Fort Ann. His wife was a woman of rare excellence of character. Amos Root enjoyed such educational facilities as his native village schools could furnish and his feeble health would per- mit up to the age of 16 years, when he left home to enter the employ of his two elder brothers; engaged in the mercantile business and manufacturing in Mohawk, Herkimer Co., N. Y. During the six years of his connection with the firm of Root Bros., Amos received a physical and mental discipline which have contributed much toward his usefulness and success in later life. In the fall of 1838 he, in company with Henry Orendorff, a fellow clerk, immigrated to Michigan and engaged in merchandising in the then promising village of Michigan Center, Jackson Co. Fate having decreed that Jackson should become the inland commercial city of this portion of the State, the young firm removed here in 1841. After having pursued a successful mercantile life 16 years longer, during which he had invested quite heavily in real estate, Mr. Root sold out his interests in the store and devoted exclusive attention to operating in lands and city property, soon becoming recognized authority in matters pertaining to real estate. Believing that flour- ishing cities are the result of judicious enterprise of their inhabi- tants, rather than advantageous locations, Mr. Root had a hope and confidence in the future of the city of his adoption which amounted to enthusiasm, and every laudable public improvement received his hearty endorsement and co-operation. His acute in- tellect at once perceived that railroads were rapidly superseding the slower methods of transportation by land and water, and were

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very soon to become the great thoroughfares of traffic and travel, and logically concluded that no considerable inland city could be created or exist withont several of these life-giving arteries and veins of commerce. Jackson then had but one line of railroad- the Michigan Central. The Palmyra & Jacksonburgh railroad com- pany had been incorporated in 1836; and by the help of voluntary subscriptions at Jackson and other points, and $100,000 from the State, 13 miles of the road, from Palmyra to Tecumseh, had been built, and was forfeited to the State. In 1846 the charter for the construction of the Michigan Southern railroad was granted, upon the implied condition that the company should complete the Pal- myra & Jackson road as a branch. In 1851, the Southern road being finished, the provisions of the charter rendered it morally obligatory that the branch should be built. The company was dis- posed to defer it till some future time, but Mr. Root assumed the responsibility of urging its immediate construction, and, being a member of the Legislature at that time, so influenced the action of that body that the lobbyists in behalf of the Southern road could only secure the measure sought by giving the personal bonds of the directors that the branch should be speedily built. Mr. Root was a prominent actor from the inception of the enterprise, in pro- curing the personal guarantee of the directors, in getting the books opened and securing local subscriptions to aid in its construction, and in obtaining a pledge from the contractor that the road should be finished by a specified date, and at a time when the stock of the company was depressed to six cents on the dollar. Mr. Root's sagacity and prompt action also thwarted an effort of the Michigan Central Company to hinder the connection of the Southern branch with the town. Before the completion of this line Mr. Root and others took steps to organize the Grand River Valley Railroad Com- pany, with a view of forming a railroad connection with Lansing and the Saginaw regions and Grand Rapids. In 1853 and 1854 he and Moses A. McNaughton and Joseph E. Beebe expended several thousand dollars in preliminary surveys. From this time Mr. Root became the central motive power among those whose efforts culminated in giving to Jackson the Grand River Valley road. He was made President of the company, and through long years of watchful interest and incessant and persistent labor he pushed forward his cherished enterprise, making speeches to the people along the line, convincing them by his logic, and inspiring confi- dence by his candor and earnestness in the cause he advocated; the necessary funds were subscribed, the work of construction was begun in 1862, and the last rail laid Jan. 1, 1869. Mr. Root feels a satisfaction in the fact that no person was rendered poorer through his railroad enterprises, but individuals, as well as com- munities, have been greatly benefited. The public spirit and liber- ality of the man has been manifested in many other ways in behalf of Jackson's progress-in assisting manufacturing institutions, in supporting Churches and favoring general city improvements. Mr. Root has never been an aspirant for office, but has accepted and

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filled a number with approval. He represented Jackson county in the Legislature in 1854; served as a member of the Council a number of years before Jackson became a city, and as an Alder- man after; was elected the fourth Mayor of the city in 1860; was appointed Postmaster by President Lincoln in 1861, and acceptably filled the office until the close of the civil war. For five years he was a member of the Board of Public Works of Jackson, two years its President; served nine years as one of the Inspectors of Michi- gan State's Prison, several of them as presiding officer of the board. In early manhood Mr. Root was a Henry Clay Whig, until the nomination of Mr. Taylor in 1848, npon a pro-slavery platform, when he became a Free Soiler; and npon the organization of the Republican party became a zealous advocate of its princi- ples. He was an ardent supporter of the measures for prosecuting the war. While Mr. Root believes Christianity is fruitful of much good to society, and has been conspicuously liberal in the support of Churches, he is not a member of any, but is an adherent to the doctrines of Swedenborg, and holds religion to be only valuable as it affects human life and action. Mr. Root has never married, and argues that he has been able to accomplish more good to society by not being encumbered with a family. He owns a fine farm of 1,500 acres in Henrietta township, eight miles from the city, the cultivation of which he superintends, though residing in the city. A steel portrait of Mr. Root will be found in this work on page 523.

John M. Root, President of the People's National Bank, was born in Fort Ann, Washington Co., N. Y., in April, 1824. John Root, his father, was an edge-tool maker, of Fort Ann, and married Roxana Worden, a brilliant and cultured woman, who became the mother of 5 sons and 2 daughters. Young John graduated at the State Normal school, in Albany, in the class of 1846, and engaged in teaching school a number of years. He came to Jackson in June, 1848; tanght in the city schools about two years; was elected Register of Deeds for Jackson county, and served from 1856 to 1860; also filled the position of Deputy Postmaster six years; represented the second ward two years in the City Council. In June, 1865, Mr. Root was chosen Cashier of the People's National Bank, at its opening, and some five years after became its President, which office he now holds. The career of the bank, under his administration, has been one of exceptional and continuous prosperity. Mr. Root was united in marriage with Miss Eliza P. Cole, of Jackson, April 25, 1855. Their family consists of 3 daughters-Minnie L., now Mrs. Benham, of Detroit; Ruth and Bertha, at home.

Joseph F. Sammons, funeral director and undertaker, is a pioneer in Michigan, having come in 1832. He lived in Washtenaw county about three years, coming to Jackson in 1835. His parents, Cornelins and Mary L. (Moe) Sammons, were natives of New York. He was born in Rutland county, Vt., March 9, 1830. The family reached Detroit Nov. 3, 1832 ; lived in a log honse in Ann Arbor about a year, when a farm of 80 acres was purchased in the town of

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Webster. This was disposed of for $400, and a removal to Jackson- burgh effected. They located on sec. 19, Blackman tp., in Sept., 1835, where they lived 35 years, then moved to Jackson. The elder Sam- mons died April 12, 1875. Joseph was the second of5 children (and the only son), all now living. He obtained his education at the district school. He married Isabella A. Smith, of Kalamazoo, a native of Wyoming county, N. Y. Mr. Sammons had a commission as recruiting officer, in Blackman, during the war, and was active in the enlistment of men. In addition, he had the care of the families of such as lost their lives in their country's defense. He was Supervisor of Blackman seven consecutive years, during the last acting as Chairman of the Board. He removed to the city in 1868, being compelled, by failing health, to sell his farm. In 1870 he was elected Justice of the Peace. During the last few years of his pursuit as a farmer, he added thereto the sale of agricultural implements. Following the close of his official term, in 1874, he built the two stores of the Francis street front of the Sammons Block. His father died in April of that year, and for one year he was not actively engaged in business. Nov. 1, 1876, the firm of Sammons & Quincy commenced operations, and continued until Jan. 1, 1880, when Mr. S. purchased his partner's interest. Nine- teen years ago he lost a daughter by death, and has 1 son, Arthur M., aged 18. He is a student residing at home. The mother of Mr. S. was born in 1803, and is now living with her son. Mr. Sam- mons was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Funeral Directors' Association, of Michigan, the first in the United States, and was elected its Vice-President. The preliminary meeting was held in the Hibbard House, Jan. 14, 1880. There are now several State Associations.

William Sanford, grocer, 84 East Main street (old number), was born in May, 1841, in Cleveland, O .; is the son of Jonathan Stick- ney Sanford, of Vermont, who married Fanny M. Seeley, born at Sodus Point, N. Y. In 1849 they came to Michigan and settled in the town of Tompkins, Jackson Co .; two years after removed to Michigan Center, Leoni tp., where his father resided until he came to Jackson in the fall of 1880. William was formerly in the hotel business and handling live stock. In January, 1878, he embarked in the grocery and product trade at his present location, doing con- siderable shipping of the latter in the season. He does a business of $20,000 a year. He also deals in real estate and in mining stocks, in partnership with his brothers, E. S. and Myron San- ford, located in Helena, Montana. Mr. Sanford's mother died four years ago; his father is aged 85; his paternal grandfather was killed while raising a building, at the age of 99, and the widow died at the ripe age of 103 years. Mr. S. has an aunt aged 87, who reads without glasses and does her own housework. He is a member of the Temple of Honor, No. 14; of the Order of Red Men, Cayuga Tribe, No. 6.

John F. Sauer, grocer, East Main street, was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, and is 45 years of age. In 1854 he came alone to

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America, though only 17 years old. After spending one summer in Buffalo, N. Y., he traveled about some, and located in Jackson, Mich., in 1856. Before crossing the Atlantic he learned the black- smith's trade, beginning at the age of 14; and upon settling here he carried on that business until 1871; then engaged a year in the hardware trade with J. C. Bader, as Bader & Saner; sold to his partner and was six months in Europe; returned, and on Feb. 15, 1873, opened his grocery in the room he occupies. The business has flourished and now he has an extensive retail trade. Mr.

Sauer married Maria Haag, in Jackson, in the fall of 1858. She was also a native of Southern Germany, but came to this country and settled in Jackson in 1847, when eight years old. They have 2 sons and a daughter; Frank E., abont 21 years of age, is book- keeper in the store. Mr. Saner is a member of the Order of Foresters; of the German Workingmen's Association, and the family belong to the German Lutheran Church, and he is a mem- ber of the Masonic order.

Carl B. Scheffler, professor of music, is a native of Prussia, Eu- rope. He was educated at an institution in Breslau, of which his grandfather had previously been Principal. He came to America in 1854, and engaged in teaching music in Lapeer county, Mich., where he remained two years. In May, 1837, he came to Jack- son, which has since been his home. Oct. 5, 1861, he enlisted in 3d Mich. Cavalry, and Nov. 11 was commissioned 2d Lient. In 1863 he was promoted to 1st Lient., and in 1864 became Captain of Co. L. He was Senior Captain and in command of his regi- ment, which he brought to Jackson to be paid off after having been mustered out of service. Since that time he has been con- tinnously engaged in the practice and teaching of music. To him must be accredited much of the progress in music in the city of Jackson, he having labored indefatigably to promote taste and culture in that art. He is the originator of the two prosperous musical societies of the city, and projected the 10-cent concerts, of which the Franz-Schubert Club, an organization of 35 members, is the first society of its class in this country. The club has given about 20 of these concerts, to cultivate musical taste in Jackson; they have also given entertainments on public occasions in differ- ent cities in Michigan, Prof. Scheffler married July 12, 1876, Miss Jennie Flint, a New York lady, engaged as teacher in one of the Jackson schools.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 73

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