History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 78

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

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Sewell S. Vaughn, retired merchant, is a son of David C. and Rebecca (Carter) Vaughn, and was born in Franklin county, Mass., Jan. 9, 1820. In 1825 his parents emigrated to Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y .; three years later his father died, and he went to live with an uncle, P. L. Carter, now a resident of Jackson county. He came here in 1836, and Sewell remained with him until he was 20 years of age, when he left his uncle's farm and came to the village: was employed as clerk by C. W. Penny, a dry-goods merchant, and remained one year; was employed by Roots & Perry, and remained two years; then purchased a drug store and embarked in business for himself. In three years his health failed; he afterward formed a partnership with C. W. Penny, and was with him 15 years; left that and entered the hardware business, in company with B. J. Billings. He married Miss Helen A. Billings, daughter of J. B. Billings, a native of New York; she was born in 1825 and died July 18, 1880. Mr. Vaughn is a great lover of horses; after retiring from business he gratified himself by dealing in horses, and has owned some of the finest in the State. In 1871 he matched a team which he sold for $4,000, and was taken to Japan as specimen coach horses, being the first team that was ever taken from this country. They were purchased by the ruler of Japan and used by him as a coach team. They were six years old, 16} hands, cherry bay (no white), rangy, full long tails, round barrels, and fine limbed. Previous to this sale they were sold to Mr. Pullman, of Chicago, just before the fire, for the same figures. A portrait of Mr. Vaughn is given on page 713.

Levi D. Vinson and Hiram S. Vinson, brothers, were born in Montgomery county, O., and are sons of Bruffett and Mary (Davis) Vinson. They are enaged in the monumental trade, the business details of which they learned from their father, in their native State. Levi is 40 years old. In 1865 he married Harriet Clark, in Montgomery county, and they are the parents of 3 children. The second brother is 37 years of age; he was married in 1868, to Phebe Moore, of Cass county, Mich. Levi enlisted in Plymouth, Rich-

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

land Co., O., and served three years and five months. He was taken prisoner at the second battle of Bull Run but was paroled. Hiram enlisted in the 25th O. V. I., and was in Burgess' Western Sharp-shooters. He served three years.

Zaremba W. Waldron, M. D., druggist, was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1843; is the son of William and Phebe (Hicks) Waldron; graduated from Union College in the class of 1865 ; taught school a number of years, the last years in Charlotteville Seminary, in Charlton Academy, in Norwalk, Conn., and in the academy of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of Philadelphia; read medicine and chemistry in the meantime at Parish's School of Pharmacy. Mr. Waldrou graduated at the Medical University of Pennsylva- nia, in 1871, and in 1873 came to Michigan and located in Jackson. He formed a partnership with A. E. Mintil, purchased their present drug house, of which he has since had the active management. In September, 1877, A. E. Curtis succeeded Mr. Mintil. They do a large retail and prescription trade and some jobbing. Mr. W. holds the position of assistant surgeon of the Michigan Central rail- road. He married Miss Jennie B. Mintil, of Waterbury, Conn., in 1872; they have 2 sons-Freddie R. and Alexander M. Waldron.

William Walker, mining engineer, was born in Yorkshire, Eng- land, in 1821; is the son of Thomas Walker and Ann Dongherty; mother died when William was a boy, and his father in 1872, at the age of 92 years. In his 21st year Mr. Walker crossed the Atlantic, and engaged in the mining business in Pottsville, Pa. In 1845 he married Lonisa Marks, a native of Pennsylvania, and about that time having made a discovery of coal, he, in company with a Mr. Frantz, opened a mine. In the fall of 1846 Mr. Walker sold to his partner, and became associated with the Myers & Silliman Coal Co., re- maining in that connection 10 years. In 1856 he moved to Jackson, Mich., and became identified with the Detroit & Jackson Coal Co., as their explorer and Superintendent. About a year after, this company suspended and Mr. Walker then opened the Sandstone mine, which he operated as Superintendent and joint owner until 1859. His health failing, he then sold out and spent a season traveling in the West; returned in the fall of 1860, and was em- ployed to sink the Bay City salt well by the company of that name. Mr. Walker has been more or less indentified with opening and operating nearly every coal mine in Jackson county, up to the present time, and is considered standard authority upon mining matters in this vicinity. He was active in establishing the Jackson Chemical Works, in which he and others lost heavily. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have a family of 3 sons and 4 daughters --- Robert, the eldest, is mining in Colorado; Thomas in the plumbing business in Kansas City; the eldest daughter is the wife of J. S. Wirtz, of Jackson; the others are at home. Mr. Walker is a member of the Odd Fellows' order, was initiated in 1839; is also a member of the Masonic order, and of the I. O. F., and has attained the highest degrees in the first and last orders.

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Edward R. Warner, hardware merchant, was born in Oswego, N. Y., in January, 1841; is the son of Edward W. and Mary A. (Wells) Warner. Edward is the eldest of 2 sons and a daughter; was educated in Oswego Academy, and became employed in a hard- ware store in his native town; was bookkeeper five years, and a member of the firm five years; sold out in 1871, and coming to Jackson united with G. A. W. Dodge in the hardware house of Warner & Dodge. Mr. Warner married Clara A. Dodge, of Con- cord, N. H., in 1866, who has borne him 1 son and 2 daughters. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

The hardware house of Warner & Dodge is one of the largest in Central Michigan, and has an extensive trade at retail and whole- sale. It was established by B. J. Billings in 1850, and is the old- est house in the line in Jackson.

Edward M. Warren, of Hatch & Warren, boot and shoe mer- chants, West Main street, was born near Lewiston, Oxford Co., Me., in 1833. His parents, Deminicus Warren and Remember Rec- ord, were natives of Buckfield, Me. Mr. Warren learned the trade of boot and shoe making and pursued it many years. In 1862 he went to California and spent three years, during which he earned and sent home considerable gold. In 1867 Mr. Warren came to Michigan; worked three years in Detroit at his trade; came to Jackson to take charge of a State's prison contract for H. H. Hatch, Jan.1, 1871; was foreman over 50 men for three years. In 1874 he formed a partnership with Mr. Hatch to engage in their present business in the Bronson Block. The following year they moved to their present quarters. They do a large retail trade of $30,000 to $35,000 a year. Mr. Warren married Hannah A. Glaspie, a native of Michigan, in Detroit, Dec. 23, 1869. Her parents were early settlers in Michigan. Mr. W. is a member of the Masonic order, lodge, chapter and commandery, in Detroit.

Charles E. Webb, druggist, was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., in 1835; is the third of a family of 8 sons of George and Julia Webb, nee Brown, of that State. The first 14 years of his life were those of the farmer's boy, when he went to Watertown to learn the drug business, remaining there until 1857. Mr. Webb then went to Iowa, and for six years was proprietor of a drug store in Detroit, Clinton Co., which he sold out and came to Jackson in 1863, and has conducted the business here continuously since. He has one of the largest and finest drug stores in Michigan. Mr. Webb is a manufacturing chemist, and has for a number of years prepared a line of extracts and compounded some valuable medical remedies, which have attained great popularity, and are sold to retail- ers in several States. Mr. Webb married Miss Elizabeth Clark, of Watertown, N. Y., by whom he has 4 children, 3 daughters and 1 son. He is now a member of the City School Board, and he and family belong to the First Baptist Church.

Mr. Webb's mother was a niece of General Jacob Brown, who settled in Pennsylvania before William Penn's time; and removed

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

to Northern New York when the country about them was a wilder- ness, and where for six months they saw the face of no white per- son but their own family, the Indians being their only neighbors.

Walter B. Webb, insurance, loan and real-estate agent, was born in Watertown, N. Y., in 1843; enjoyed the advantages of the com- mon school until 15 years of age, then came West and engaged in the drug business with his brother in DeWitt, Iowa; was there chiefly until 1863, came to Jackson, continned in the same business, and three years later became a partner. In January, 1875, Mr. Webb retired his interest from the concern, save that in manufact- nre of patent medicines, which he still retains. He then engaged in insurance, represents some 18 fire companies, among which are a number of the leading companies of Europe, his business being equaled in volume by few agents in Michigan. He married Emma L. Backns, of Jackson, in 1866, who died two years after; and in the fall of 1871 he married Julia A. Mann, of Calhoun county, Mich., who has borne him 1 daughter, Mettie, now five years old. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church.

John Weber, of the firm of Weber Brothers, Jackson, meat mar- ket, was born in Wittenburg, Germany, Dec. 27, 1845, and came to the United States in 1866, landing in New York city, and thence to Cleveland, O., where he was engaged in the meat trade; from there he went to Detroit, Mich., and remained 13 months, then came to Jackson, where he has since been engaged in his present business with his brother. They are young and enterprising men, and are doing a good wholesome business. Mr. Weber married Miss Ennice Gass, daughter of Henry Gass, of Jackson, who was born Ang. 18, 1853; there are 4 children-Emma, Albert, John and Carl. Mr. W. is a member of United Workmen, Knights of IIonor, the Independent Red Men, Manhattan Lodge and German Relief Association.

Edward A. Webster, President and General Manager of the Jackson Wagon Works, also, of the Webster Wagon Company, at Moundsville, West Va., is a native of Vermont, born in 1833. His parents, David B. and Eliza Webster, nee Goss, were natives of New Hampshire and Vermont respectively. They moved to Michigan and settled in Kalamazoo in 1836 or 1837, where Mrs. W. died in 1846, and her husband in 1860. At the age of 11 Edward returned to New England and spent some six or seven years in school in Montpelier; came to Detroit in 1850; took a course in a business college, and was three years in the commission and steam- boating house of Gordon, Williams & Co. HIe then engaged in mercantile business, as proprietor in Three Rivers, St. Joseph Co., Mich., about two years. In 1856 he came to Jackson, and forming a partnership with Mr. Austin and Mr. Tomlinson, engaged in the manufacture of wagons. The first year they employed a force of 80 men, and produced 800 wagons; the concern employed 250 men in 1880, and built 7,000 wagons. Their goods find a market in

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

nearly every State in the Union, and are handled in most of the centers of commerce, from ocean to ocean. The Webster Wagon Co., of West Va., was established in 1878; Mr. W. is President and General Manager; their capacity is 3,000 wagons a year, and give employment to 100 men. Mr. Webster built about eight years ago the American Telegraph lines from Detroit to Chicago, and north to Saginaw, in all, abont 1,000 miles of line, which was sold some four years since to the Western Union Co. He was also a member of the Executive Board in constructing the Fort Wayne, and Jackson & Saginaw railroads, and is now a stockholder. Mr. W. is a staunch Republican; is a member of the Board of Public Works. He married Fannie A. Austin, of Kalamazoo, in 1855; have 3 sons and a daughter; the eldest, Edward L., is Superintend- ent of Jackson Wagon Works.

Lewis D. Welling, Justice of the Peace, is the fourth of 12 chil- dren of Elisha and Anna (Alling) Welling, of Dutchess county, N. Y., where they married, and in October, 1831, came to Michigan and settled in Lawrence county, on a farm purchased from the Gov- ernment. In 1836 they sold it and removed to Jacksonburgh, now Jackson city, where they resided until death. Mr. W. is one of four of the family now alive, and was 68 years old the 12th of last September. His educational opportunities were such as farmers' boys of that time enjoyed. Being 19 years of age when he arrived in Michigan, he worked a short time on a farm, spent a few months in a grocery as clerk, drove stage for awhile when nearest neigh- bors were several miles apart and every cabin was a place of public entertainment; then was employed as clerk in Uncle Jesse Button's tavern in Tecumseh, dividing his time between the duties of bar- tender, manager and shaking with the agne. In the fall of 1833 Mr. W. went back East and remained about three years, chiefly in working as a farm hand in his native county. He returned to Clin- ton, Mich., in the fall of 1836, and to Jackson in the spring of 1837. He brought a team with him and engaged in hauling that season. The following spring he was elected to the office of Constable, and from that time gave his attention to the duties of the office. He served in this capacity until 1846, the last four years of which he acted as jailer and Deputy Sheriff, under Sheriff Henry Tinsdale. The year last named he was chosen Sheriff, and served two terms till 1851. Soon after retiring he was elected Justice, and has held the office more than 20 years; is now filling his fourth successive term. Mr. Welling married Susan M. Wakeman on Jan. 1, 1839. She was born near Batavia, N. Y., but came to Michigan in an early day. Three sons and 1 daughter constituted their family. All the sons were in the Union army during the late war, and all escaped injury save the eldest, who received a wound at the battle of Peach-tree Creek, which resulted in the loss of one foot and was probably the means of his death in 1869.

Charles Wells, carriage-maker, was born in Berkeley county, Va., Sept. 4, 1830. When a small child his parents, Nicholas and

Lincoln Wood

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Elizabeth Wells, emigrated to Hocking county, Ohio, in 1831, took up Government land and made a farm, where he resided un- til his death, which occurred in 1869. The subject of this sketch remained on the farm until he was 16 years of age, when he was apprenticed to a man by the name of Michael Moore, and re- mained four years. He then worked as a "jour." and traveled over the Western States. In 1849 he crossed the plains to Cali- fornia, but his health failing, he returned to Ohio. In the spring of 1851 he came to Ann Arbor and followed his trade a short time. In 1861 he enlisted in the 16th Ohio Vol. Cav., Co. K, and served three years; was in all the engagements of the regiment up to the battle of Gettysburg, where he was injured by a cannon ball com- ing so close to his head that it knocked him down, and it was sup- posed a horse ran over him. After the war he came back to Ann Arbor and remained there until 1878, then came to Jackson and has remained since. He married Miss Elizabeth Shaible, a na- tive of Germany; she was born in 1847. They have 1 child- Loda. In politics Mr. W. is a Republican.

Marshall M. Wells, firm of Fuller & Wells, hardware mer- chants, No. 125 West Main street. The firm deal in general hardware and carriage goods, stove and shelf goods. The busi- ness is principally retail, but the house does some jobbing. Their figures amount to about $60,000 yearly. Mr. Wells was born in Geneseo, Livingston Co., N. Y., in August, 1822. He is the son of Dr. Cyrus and Dinai F. (Chipman) Wells. His father and mother are natives of Vermont, and were married in Richmond, Ontario Co., N. Y., where they lived about 20 years, during which their family of 10 children were born. They came to South Lyon, Oakland Co., Mich. Dr. Wells practiced medicine there many years. He and his wife are still living; the Doctor is past 86 and his wife past 84 years of age, and they have lived together over 62 years. Marshall left the farm when 23 years old to enter as clerk in the office of the Auditor General. He represented Oakland county in the Legislature in 1848-'9, at 26 years of age. During the years 1850 and 1851 he was engaged in steamboating on the lakes. Feb. 23, 1851, lie married Sarah E. Fuller, of Liberty Mills, Jackson Co., Mich., 12 miles south of the city. In the fall of 1851 he engaged in merchandising at Liberty Mills, where he remained five years, adding milling to his other business, becom- ing half owner of the mills. He received an appointment at De- troit for four years as Deputy United States Marshal under his brother-in-law, Mr. J. S. Bagg, in Buchanan's administration. He closed up the business of the office soon after the first battle of Bull Run, being then in Washington. He was appointed sutler of the 11th Michigan Infantry, went with the regiment and re- mained 18 months. His health failed and he left the regiment soon after the battle of Stone River. He came to Jackson and en- gaged in speculative enterprises until 1870, when, in company with others, he built mills and manufactured lumber north . of Grand Rapids, about five years. He next entered upon his pres-

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

ent business relation in company with Alonzo D. Fuller, succeed- ing Wertgate & Mulvey. He is a Master Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 50. Himself and wife are members of the Congrega- tional Church. They have buried 3 children.

Dr. R. C. Wendt, M. D., 113 West Main street, was born in Germany in December, 1848. He was educated in Leipsic, where he graduated in the lower school from six to twelve, from 12 to 20 in the college, and from 20 to 25 in the University. He fin- ished the course in the spring of 1873 with the degree of M. D. He practiced from 1871 to 1873 in the hospitals, and was assistant in the clinic of the diseases of children, under Prof. Livius Fuersht. He landed in New York March 9, 1873, and practiced in Galien, Berrien Co., Mich., and became a member of the County Medical Society in 1875. In the spring of 1879 he moved to Lansing, where he practiced 17 months. He came to Jackson in 1880, where he has a rapidly growing business. He is a mem- ber of the German Workingmen's Association, also of the Independent Order of Foresters, of which he is Senior " Wood- ward."

James B. Wesley, proprietor of Wesley's shoeing shops, South Mechanic and Courtland streets, was born in the city of Rochester, N. Y., in January, 1837. His parents, James G., and Hannah (Kilborne) Wesley, were natives of Connecticut. At 14 years of age he began learning the blacksmith's trade in Canandaigua, Ontario Co. In August, after he was 17, he came West and settled in Jackson, in the employ of Humphrey & Hibbard, who were run- ning a stage line. The following spring Mr. Wesley bought a kit of tools and established business in Concord, in company with his father. Three years after he sold out and ran a shop in Kalamazoo a year; then returned and opened another shop in Concord, in partnership with a Mr. Thayer, whose interest he bought at the end of three months. A year later his shop burned, with a loss of 81,000. He started a shop in Jackson soon after, and con- ducted it until 1862; then was a year in the army working at his trade for the Government; carried on a shop a few months in Lacon, Ill .; sold out and returned to Jackson. After several changes in partnership and business relations, Mr. Wesley ex- changed his town property, in 1873, for a farm, paying $100 per acre, which he sold in 1876 for $40 per acre, losing $3,000. Re- turning to the city he again went in company with Mr. Tift, which continued until the latter's death in 1877, since which Mr. W. has continued the business, very successfully. He conducts two shops, employs six mechanics, and makes a special feature of scientific shoeing. £ Mr. Wesley married in July, at the age of 21, Leonora B. Hughson, formerly from New York State. They have 3 chil- dren.

Thomas Westren, Cashier of Jackson Interest and Deposit Bank, was born in the city of Jackson in 1843; is the youngest of 5 chil- dren-3 dead-of John and Annie Westren, both natives of Devonshire, England. Mr. Westren came to America in 1832 on

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

a prospecting trip; visited Canada and New York; returned to England and married Miss Westren in 1833. They soon after embarked on board a sail vessel named Calypso, and after six weeks at sea, battling with adverse winds and storms, the craft was disabled by the loss of her masts 1,200 miles out, and had to return to England for repairs. After two months' waiting, the Calypso was considered seaworthy, and Mr. and Mrs. W. re-embarked for America, which was reached in safety after a six weeks' voyage, during a large part of which the pumps had to be constantly worked to keep her from sinking. The young couple settled in Genesee county, N. Y., with a colony of English people from their native town. Mr. W. bought a farm, on which they remained until 1843, when they removed to Michigan and settled in Jackson. Some years previously Mr. Westren had come to the county and purchased a large amount of land on speculation, intending to sell it in small tracts to settlers, but financial depression rendered this impracti- cable, and compelled him to turn his attention to placing it under cultivation. He brought with them to Michigan several tenant families and farm implements, with 28 yoke of oxen and three horses as a part of the outfit. Mr. W. opened several farms, and continued their management until his death, which occurred at Marquette while on a tour for his health, in August, 1868, at the age of 65 years.

Thomas Westren enjoyed the privilege of the Jackson schools, and in 1869 entered the old Jackson Savings Bank as a partner with Douglass Gibson and Theodore Bennett. A year later he and Mr. Gibson purchased Bennett's interest, and have continued their partnership since, their bank having had its title changed some years ago. They do a general banking business, and the concern is one of the substantial banking houses of the city. John Westren, in his lifetime, was one of the original incorporators of the old Jackson iron mine, and served as one of its directors till his decease, since which Thomas has filled that office. He has half a ton of the first ore taken out of the mine now in his garden as a souvenir. Mrs. W. still resides in the city, at the age of 68 years.

Rufus Wilkinson, express messenger, was the son of John C. and Anna Wilkinson; father a native of England, mother of Scotch deseent. He was born in Norwalk, Conn., March 5, 1817, where he received a limited education. At the age of 15 he went with his parents to Monroe county, N. Y., where he remained three years; thence to Orleans county, where he followed the trade of black- smithing; then to Buffalo, N. Y., remaining three years; thence to Sandusky, Ohio, where he remained two years, when he came to Michigan and located in Battle Creek, remaining 11 years; finally to Jackson, where he has been employed by the Express Company ever since, with the exception of one year, when he was Marshal of Jackson. He married Miss Nancy Dwight, of Orleans county, N. Y .; they have had 7 children, 3 of whom are still living.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Thomas Willmore was born in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, March 31, 1809; he was the son of William and Zillah Willmore, also natives of England. William Willmore died in 1812, leaving his widow with 6 small children to care for. Thomas commenced daily labor at the age of seven. He worked for William Britain for four cents per day, and boarded himself. He resided with his mother until his 16th year, then left home to seek his fortune, roaming about a few years, sceking and finding employ- ment. In his 26th year he removed to London, where he remained until May 23, 1838, then went to Chatham and set sail for Canada. The voyage was long and tedious, taking 13 weeks to cross the

ocean. They were nearly shipwrecked, being met by one of those tremendous gales which are prevalent on the sea. He says that for several nights in succession he fervently praved that the ship might go down, so great were his sufferings. After the storm had passed an attempt was made by some of the passengers to mutiny, but the parties being discovered they were whipped by a cat-and- nine-tails, one man receiving 50 lashes, another 100, on the bare back. The attempt was made on account of a great lack of pro- visions. He landed at Quebec on the 16th of August. He

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 78

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