History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 79

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

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remained in Canada until 1840, when he concluded to see Yankee land, as the States were then known; first settled in Burlington, Vt., three years, employed by different parties, among whom were Hon. George P. Marsh and Judge Smalley. It was here he became an advocate of the Whig party in the year 1842, when G. P. Marsh first became a Congressman. From Burlington he went to Boston, Mass., and worked for John D. William, living with the family. While there he became acquainted with Miss Ellen Butler, a relative of General Ben. Butler, whom he married in 1845. They removed to Philadelphia, thence to Schuylkill county, Penn., in the coal region, at a village called Llewellyn; he was here engaged as foreman in a coal mine, by Johanan Chockle & Sons, encountering all kinds of hardships. While here he became acquainted with Mammon Duke Hurst, formerly a missionary at Dexter, Mich., who induced him to buy land of him without having seen it; came here the following fall and found it was not what it was represented; exchanged for another piece of land with no house upon it; moved in with Joseph Hawley, who still resides on the same farm, in Waterloo, Jackson county. As soon as the house was raised, he, with his wife and 2 children, moved in, without a chink being in. Many hardships met him and his family before the next harvest; at one time they were seven days without bread. There were no roads in that part of the country, and Mr. Willmore and Joseph Hawley cleared and prepared a road to Stockbridge, a little village two miles and a half from their home. About the year 1855 Mr. Will- more sent to England for his aged mother; she came with her daughter Ann and family, and her son Richard, both of whom have since died. Mrs. Zillah Willmore was a very remarkable woman, When she was 77 years of age she walked to Jackson, a distance of

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20 miles, starting at about six o'clock in the morning and arriving at her journey's end at noon. She lived on the farm with her son until his removal to Jackson in 1875, and at that time seemed in perfect health: sewed and read easily without glasses. In the spring ot 1876 she was taken to her last peaceful home, at the age of 100 years and 10 months. She is supposed to be the oldest person buried in Mount Evergreen Cemetery. To Thomas and Ellen Willmore were born 7 children, all of whom are living, 3 being married. Mr. Willmore has always taken a deep interest in relig- ion. and is a member of the Episcopal Church.

Thomas A. Wilson, attorney at law, is a native of New York State; was born in Hamilton county, April 22, 1836, and is 1 of 5 children of Thomas and Henrietta (Wing) Wilson. His father was a Scotchman, and his mother a native of New York. In June, 1836, they immigrated to Michigan, and settled in the town of Spring Arbor, Jackson Co., where they resided until his father's death, abont five years ago. The widow and youngest son live in Summit tp. Mr. Wilson's early years were strict, those of the farmer's boy full of hard work, with only the advantages of the common school, until he entered the Chicago Law School. He read law with Mr. John D. Conelly, of Jackson, beginning at 38 years of age; and two years later was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Illinois. He spent a year in practice in East Saginaw, and in 1867 came to Jackson, where he has since been active in the profession. In the spring of 1869 Mr. W. was elected City Recorder, and filled the office two years. In the fall of 1870 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and entered upon the duties of the office Jan. 1, 1871. Two years later he ran for re-election, during the Greeley campaign, but was defeated. He was appointed City Attorney by Mayor Hayden, in 1874, and served during the two years of his administration; was also chosen one of the school trustees of district No. 1, in June, 1880, for a term of three years. Mr. Wilson affiliates with the Democratic party; served as chair- man of the county committee from 1868 until 1870; was again chosen for that position in 1876, and is now acting in that capacity. He married Miss Harriet Hutchins, daughter of J. L. Hutchins, a pioneer in Jackson county, in 1860. Mrs. W. died in 1864, leaving an infant daughter, Hattie. In October, 1866, Mr. W. married Matilda Hutchins, a sister of the former wife, by whom he has 3 children-Kittie, aged 11; Walter S., nine years; and Winifred, a babe.

William H. Wilson, grain dealer, was born in Madison county, N. Y., Dec 10, 1829, son of Thomas and Henrietta (Wing) Wil- son; father of Scotch descent and mother a native of New York; they immigrated to Jackson, Mich., in 1836, located in Spring Arbor tp., and took up Government lands; afterward bought land in Summit tp., adjoining, where he moved and remained until Itis death, which occurred in 1875. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and remained at home until he was 21 years of age, when he purchased a farm, on which he commenced work;

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he remained but a short time, sold his farm, came to Jackson and embarked in the butchery business, which he followed one year, when he engaged in buying and shipping stock; is at present engaged in shipping grain, and his shipments have amounted to a million and a half bushels in a year. Mr. Wilson is one of the oldest shippers in this part of the State, having been identified with the business over 24 years. He put the first bushel of wheat into the Lake Shore house; has some 25 stations where he handles grain. He married Miss Mary A. Hutchins, daughter of Isaac Hutchins, who was a pioneer in the county. She was born Sept. 28, 1831. There were 2 children, -- Edgar C. and Helen M.

Benjamin Winans, engineer M. C. R. R., was born in Batavia, New York, Feb. 9, 1844; was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1861 he enlisted in the 14th N. Y. Inf., Co. D; was in the army of the Potomac and participated in the battles of Antietam, Harrison Landing, etc .; was in nine general engagements in all, serving two years. He married Miss Laura Long, a native of Genesee county, N. Y .; her father, Dr. Aaron Long, was an old resident and followed his profession for 40 years; was a member of Legislature two terms, and was a man who was respected by all who knew him; he died in 1864, mourned by all his neighbors. Her mother was Nancy (Cooley) Long, a native of New York; she died in 1863. Mrs. W. was born Nov. 11, 1851. They have 1 son, Benjamin Howard, born Feb. 27. 1871.

James E. Winney, engineer, was born in Glenns Falls, Warren Co., N. Y., Jan. 15, 1835; his mother moved to Waterloo when he was about a year old, thence to Rochester, where slie married L. Pierce and went to Brutus, New York, on a farm; in 1843 re- moved to Auburn, where his step-father was connected with the Auburn & Albany R. R., as depot master, and remained four years: in 1847 came to Niles, Michigan, with his uncle, Benj. Ful- som, who had a contract of 40 miles of railroad on the west side of St. Joe river, for the extension of the M. C. R. R. His step-father broke the first sod on the west side of the river. At this time Mr. W. was about 12 years old; he drove a horse and helped to dump the dirt; was there about 18 months, when they returned to their farm in Brutus; his uncle was also a contractor on the Erie R. R .; they came back to the farm, thence to Rochester, and from there to Marshall, Mich .; then to Adrian in the fall of 1852, where he was engaged in taking up the old strap rail and laying down the Trail. After making a visit home, he was employed by the N. Y. & Erie R. R., laying the broad gauge; in 1853 was employed as brakeman, but remained in that position only a short time, when he was promoted to assistant conductor, and afterward to yard master at Jersey City. In the spring of 1854 he came to Adrian and engaged as fireman on the M. S. & Ind. R. R., and remained eight months, thence to Detroit, where he was employed as fireman 18 months, when he was promoted to engineer and remained about three years; in 1859 he was on the Grand Trunk two years, thence back to the M. C., and remained four years; in

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1865 went to Rochester and ran between Rochester and Syracuse, where he remained six years; then back to Jackson, where he was employed by the Lansing & Saginaw R. R .; after the consolidation of the two roads, he was transferred to the M. C., and remained on that road until 1878; is at present employed by the Ft. Wayne Company. In all his time as an engineer he never left his engine but once, and has never injured a passenger. He married Miss Elizabeth Holman, who died in 1857, leaving 1 child; for his second wife he married Miss Catherine J. Sullivan, of Detroit; there were 6 children, 5 of whom are living.

Sylvester M. Winney, engineer, M. C. R. R., was born in Cay- uga county, N. Y., Feb. 2, 1857. When a small boy his father moved to Rochester, N. Y., where Sylvester received a common- school education; in 1857 he came to Michigan, where he engaged in the railroad business about six years; returned to Rochester, and remained until 1871, when he permanently located in Jack- son. He married Miss Mary Hunt, daughter of Lewis M. Hunt, a Congregational clergyman, who was born in Tuscola county, Mich., April 11, 1857. They have 1 son, Lewis J., born June 11, 1879.

Sebastian J. Wirtz, plumber and gas-fitter, was born in Baden, Germany, May 10, 1844. His parents immigrated to the States when he was two years old, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., where he learned his trade and remained there 18 years; then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he followed his trade; in 1869 he came to Jackson, where he was employed to do the lead work on the Chemical Works, then in process of construction. In 1873 he embarked in his present business and employs from five to 15 men; does a business of $8,000 to $10,000 per year. He married Miss Sarah A. Walker, daughter of William Walker, of Jackson, born in Pennsylvania in 1852; there are 3 children-Willie, Charles and Julia. Mr. W. has held the office of School Director; is a member of the Masonic Lodge, I. O. O. F. and Foresters.

Gen. William Herbert Withington, Treasurer and Manager of the Withington & Cooley Manufacturing Company, was born in Dorchester, Mass., Feb. 1, 1835. His father, Rev. William With- ington, was an Episcopal clergyman. a descendant from English ancestry, who were among the early settlers of New England. He married Miss Elizabeth Ford, also a native of Massachu- setts. They are the parents of 2 sons and 4 daughters, of whom William is the eldest now living. He was educated in the schools of Boston and in Phillips Academy, at Andover. Upon leaving school he entered a leather store in Boston as a salesman, but soon after became bookkeeper for the North Wayne Scythe Co., and shortly had full charge of the details of their extensive business. While there Mr. W. made the acquaintance of Messrs. Pinney & Lamson, who were heavy manufacturers, and under contract with Mr. Pinney, he came in 1857 to Jackson, Mich. They had an ex- tensive manufactory of farm implements here, and employed & large force of prisoners, and neither of the proprietors being a

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

resident of the place, Mr. W. found the business in a somewhat chaotic state, withont an efficient managing head. The responsi- bilities of that position at once devolved upon him. Mr. Lamson died, and the financial crisis of 1857 coming on, Mr. Pinney be- came sorely oppressed, and in a fit of despondency committed suicide. The estate went into the hands of an executor, and Mr. W. was employed as his chief assistant in handling the estate. About a year after Mr. Pinney's death the firm of Sprague, With- ington & Cooley was formed, composed of the employes of the old firm, and the manufactory was sold to it. This company and its successors have continued the business to the present time, enlarg- ing and extending its resources until its productions are now sold, not only from Boston to San Francisco, but throughout Europe and Australia. Mr. Withington is also a stockholder and director in the Iowa Farming Tool Co., Fort Madison, Iowa; also of the Web- ster Wagon Co., at Moundsville, West Va. He is also a Director in the Grand River Valley Railroad Co.

Early in life Mr. W. evinced a military taste and joined a com- pany of independent cadets, an organization dating its origin back to the Revolutionary war; and on locating in Jackson, he with others organized the Jackson Guards, of which he was the Captain at the opening of the civil war. The day the President's procla- mation was issued calling for 75,000 volunteers, the Guards tendered their services to Governor Blair, being the first in the State to offer. The tender was accepted and they were mustered as Com- pany B, Ist Michigan Infantry. The regiment was the first to arrive in Washington from the West, and was highly complimented for its appearance and equipments. Being assigned to the army of the Potomac they were in the first Bull Run fight, where Cap- tain W. was captured and held as a prisoner till the following Feb- rnary, being an inmate of Richmond, Libby, Charleston, S. C., and Columbia, S. C., prisons successively. Soon after being ex- changed he was commissioned Colonel of the 17th Michigan In- fantry, which he commanded during the Maryland campaign, South Mountain and Antietam. For determined bravery in the former battle the 1st was denominated the "Stone Wall " regi- ment. It followed the fortunes of the Ninth Corps, and was com- manded by Col. Withington until in March, 1863, when he retired from the service. He was brevetted Brigadier-General for " con- spicnons gallantry " in the battle of South Mountain. After re- turning home, upon the organization of the militia companies of Michigan, Mr. W. was chosen Colonel of the First Regiment, in July, 1874. When the regiments were organized into a brigade in 1879, Col. W. was made Brigadier General, and has command of the entire State troops. He served in the State Legislature from Jackson in 1873-'4; was appointed Trustee of the Asylum at Kala- mazoo. but being unable to give it sufficient attention, resigned at the end of two years. General W. is a prominent member of the Episcopal Church; was conspicuous in organizing the Y. M. C. A.,

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and acted as its President for six years. He married Julia C., daughter of Hon. Joseph E. Beebe, in 1859, which union has re- sulted in :6 children, 2 sons and 1 daughter living-Kate W., Philip H. and Winthrop Withington.

HIon. James C. Wood, attorney at law, son of Heman A. and Eliza Wood, nee Grant, was born in Decatur, Otsego Co., N. Y., Oct. 31, 1813. His parents were natives of New England, of English and Scotch ancestry. His father died when he was six years of age, and at 15 he was thrown upon his own resources; was educated in Monroe Academy; intended to go through college, but when 20 years old was offered and accepted the position of editor and p oprietor of the Waterloo Observer, in Seneca county. It was a staunch Democratic journal, and during the three years of his editorial management was warmly sustained and prosperous. Mr. Wood read law in the meantime with Messrs. Knox & Wat- kins; sold the paper in 1837, and continued the study of law; came to Michigan in the fall of 1843, spent the winter in White Pigeon, and the following July settled in Jackson, then a village of 800 inhabitants; began the practice of law at once, and in 1847 formed a partnership with Hon. Fidus Livermore, which lasted until 1857. In October, 1875, Charles B. Wood, his eldest son, became, and still is, his law partner. Mr. Wood has for many years made a feature of chancery practice, in which he has achieved considerable prominence. He has always been a Demo- crat in politics, and in earlier years was quite active and suc- cessful as a local organizer and leader; was elected Treasurer of Jackson county in 1847 and re-elected in 1849; was the first Mayor of Jackson under its city charter; in 1874 was chosen Representa- tive to the Legislature from the third district of Jackson county; was re-elected to the same office in 1876, under his protest, by a large majority; acted as local attorney for the M. C. R. R. Co. a number of years. Mr. Wood was a war Democrat during the Rebellion, and presided over the first war meeting held in Jackson. November 15, 1837, he married Mary E. Beers, of Ithaca, N. Y., with whom he lived happily until she departed this life March 9, 1860, leaving 2 sons, Charles B. and Frank N., and a daughter, Mary E., who became the wife of Gen. J. W. Hall, and now deceased. Mr. W. married Maria L. Lawrence, June 18, 1862, daughter of Hon. H. M. Lawrence, of Yates county, N. Y., by whom he had 2 children -- Lawrence J. and Maggie B. Wood.

Lincoln Wood, retired farmer, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., April 17, 1823. His parents, Jonathan and Anna Wood, were natives of Vermont, and emigrated to Otsego county, N. Y., in 1819, where Mr. Wood owned and controlled a carding mill; remained there until the spring of 1830, then came to Jackson with his oldest son, purchased land, and commenced to make a farm, three and a half miles north of Jackson. In the fall he returned to New York, and remained through the winter. In the fall of 1830 he employed a man to put up a frame house, shut it up and shingle it; left his family with Capt. Alexander Lafferty

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until his house could be made ready; it was the first frame building in the county. At that time this country was one vast wilderness; there was no railroad, and he came from Detroit with an ox team, following the Indian trail, and fording all the rivers and creeks, there being no bridges at that time. The subject of this sketch, after coming to the county, followed farming until 1870, when he moved to Jackson, and has remained since. He married Miss Lydia Ann Bryant, daughter of Carlton Bryant, of Spring Arbor, who came to the county in 1836. She was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., May 15, 1827. There are 2 children-Addie, now Mrs. Charles H. Pratt; Carrie, now Mrs. H. G. Burger. Mr. Wood has been identified with the interests of Jackson county all his life; has held the office of Alderman of the city two years. A portrait of Mr. Wood will be found in this volume, on page 749.

Melancthon Woodford, General Superintendent of the Ft. Wayne Railroad, is a native of Chautauqua county, N. Y., born in 1838. His parents were Melancthon S. Woodford, and Harriet D., daughter of Captain Jonathan Wheat, of the war of 1812, who erected extensive mills at Oswego Falls. Mr. Woodford was educated in the district school and Fredonia Academy. At the age of 14 he became messenger boy in the telegraph office at Dunkirk, where he learned the art of telegraphy. While there young Woodford made the acquaintance of Gen. Superintendent Charles Minot, of the N. Y. & E. R. R., who gave him a position as operator; a few months later placed him in charge of the Jersey City office; and before he left there he was Division Superinten- dent of telegraph at that point, being but 17 years old. In 1856 Mr. Woodford entered the employ of the Michigan Central Co., as chief train dispatcher, and was the first to inaugurate the system of moving trains by telegraph in the West. He remained with this company 16 years. In 1872 he became Assistant Superintendent of the Great Western Railway, and in 1875 accepted the Superin- tendency of the Western Division of the Canada Southern road. In 1879 he left that to assume the duties of his present position. In 1861 Mr. Woodford united in marriage with Miss Helen, daughter of William Sprague, of Kalamazoo, Mich. Mr. Sprague was one of the Rhode Island family, and settled in Michigan at a very early date. Mr. and Mrs. Woodford reside in Kalamazoo. They have 1 daughter, Edith, aged 13 years.

J. H. Wortley, proprietor of Wortley's China Palace, 148 West Main street, purchased the stock of Messrs. Southworth & Co., April 10, 1879. since which time he has refurnished the store and greatly enlarged the stock, until it now embraces mnuch the largest and finest assortment of crockery ware in Central Michigan. Mr. Wortley makes a special feature of the best china and silver-plated goods, and has an extensive retail and wholesale trade. This honse is the outgrowth of a long succession of dealers in the same line in the same store. The business was established by Thurber & In- galls, who were succeeded by Bliss & Ingalls; they by Mr. Bliss;

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he by Bliss & Spaulding, who sold to Southworth & Co., in 1875; and they to Mr. Wortley in April, 1879. Mr. W. is a native of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich., and is the son of William Wort- ley, of that city. He first started in the crockery trade in Ypsi- lanti in the spring of 1875, and removed his stock to Jackson three years later.

Kasper Yahrsdorfer, boarding-house and saloon keeper, corner of Milwaukee and Wesley streets, was born in the Kingdom of Ba- varia, June 28, 1828, where he received a common-school educa- tion. When 18 years of age he learned the trade of cotton-weaver, and also worked on a farm. In 1852 he came to the United States, landed in New York on the 9th day of July, and arrived in Jackson on the 14th day of the same month; he is the oldest Ger- man resident in the city except one. He worked on the railroad three years, then learned the baker's trade; afterward was employed by Hayden & Reynolds three years. In 1866 he married Miss Susannah Shelders, born in Germany in 1831; there were 3 chil- dren, 1 living-Julia Odilla. Mrs. Y. was previously married to Jacob Palmer, a native of Switzerland, who died in 1865, leaving + children-Jacob, Susan, John and Joanna; the latter died in 1872. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Y., by hard work and economy, has accumulated a good property, valued at $5,000.

M. F. Younys, engineer, was born in Lenawee county, Mich., Jan. 28, 1846. When eight years old he went with his parents to Hillsdale, where he was reared on a farm and received a common- school education. In 1863 he enlisted in the 11th Mich. Cav., Col. Brown; participated in two engagements, one against the notorious Gen. Morgan; met with a serious accident in Kentucky-was scalded and nearly lost one of his legs; was taken to Knoxville, Tenn .. and was afterward transferred to Nashville, then to Louisville, Ky., where he was discharged. After coming back heworked on a farm four years; engaged as fireman about two years, and was promoted to his present position. He married Miss Romie Chidester, who was born in Wayne county, N. Y., June 13, 1848. They have 2 children.

TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.

On entering the study of township history, it was found that much valuable information connected therewith already had a place in the pages devoted to the county. To obviate repetition, the only alternative left the writer was to distribute many of the papers, intended originally for the chapter on pioneer reminis- cences, and so render each one an integral part of the township history to which it pertains. This rule appears to be most appro- priate, because the contributors of these special historical reminis- cences have been closely identified with the town of which they write, and the introduction of their papers cannot fail to give satisfaction. Regarding the general events of the township, such as accidents, deaths, destructive tornadoes, etc., a review of them is given in the county history, also school and other statistics of a valuable character.

BLACKMAN TOWNSHIP.

This township has been so identified with Jacksonburgh and Jackson city that very little remains to be written in its regard. The township was organized in 1857, and forms the northern, eastern and western boundaries of the north portion of the city. It com- prises the mining and manufacturing village of Puddle Ford, Woodville, and Van Horn's Crossing. The mineral resources of the township are unrivalled. The coal and iron mines near Jack- son have been thoroughly tested, and the supply of ore is thought to be sufficiently abundant to meet the demand for many years. The agricultural interests are also of much importance. Being so near the Jackson markets the agriculturists enjoy many advantages not bestowed on those of other townships.

The title " Blackman " was given on account of a just desire existing to perpetuate and honor the name of the first pioneer of the county, the first settler north of the line dividing Summit and Blackman.

A. W. Daniels, who came into the town in September, 1830, may be considered the first settler in the township proper; Henry Daniels and William R. De Land, came shortly afterward, and within a very short period every acre was in the possession of earnest inen, determined to carve out for themselves a home in the charming wilderness.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 79

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