History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 105

Author: Leeson, Michael A., [from old catalog] comp
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, M. A. Leeson & co.
Number of Pages: 952

USA > Michigan > Macomb County > History of Macomb County, Michigan > Part 105

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

GILBERT F. CONKLIN, P. O. Washington, was born September 18. 1806. in Orange County, N. Y .: is the son of Gilbert and Mary Conklin; his parents were natives of New York, of English and French lineage: in 1832. Mr. Conklin bought fifty acres of land on Section 32, in Washington, which he has increased to 150 acres by purchase; at the time of his settlement, the country was in its primeval condition, and Mr. Conklin en- countered all the struggles and privations of the early pioneer, which awakened all his energy and perseverance to overcome, but he made a success of his contest with circum-

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

stances, and ranks among the best element of Macomb County. He was married, March 11, 1830, to Eunice Thompson, of Cayuga County, N. Y .: they have had three children -- John, born March 13, 1831, died April 5, 1836: Peter T., born October'S, 1835, and Mary Jane, July 18, 1537; they have also an adopted daughter. Hannah, born August 11, 1852; his wife died December 5, 1578. He was a second time married, November 6. 188}, to Mrs. Phoebe J., widow of Noah Baker. of Mentz, Cayuga Co., N. Y .: she is the sister of his first wife, born August 17, 1817. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin are members of the Baptist Church, of Mt. Vernon: he is. politically. a Democrat and east his first vote for Andrew Jackson.

DR. DENNIS COOLEY (deceased), the son of Chloe Allen, who was the daugh- ter of Caleb Allen, who was the son of Samuel Allen, who was the son of Edward Allen, who was the son of one Allen who emigrated to America from Scotland about the year 1660. Edward married Mary Painter: Samuel married Hannah Hawks: Caleb married Judith Hawks: Chloe married Eti Cooley; Dennis married Elizabeth Anderson, of Deer- field, Mass., and, in 1836, married Clara Andrus, of Macomb County. Dr. Dennis Cooley was born at Deerfield, Mass., February 18, 1789; received his primary and preparatory education in the schools of his native town, and completed his studies at the Medical College of Berkshire. Mass .. from which he graduated in August, 1522. The Massachu- setts Medieal Society admitted him to practice in his profession by a complimentary note in the same year; he soon after went South and engaged in the practice of his profession in Georgia, five years; returning from that State, he remained at home one year, and then removed to Macomb, in July, 1827, and located in Washington Township, where he re- sumed his practice, in which he continued until the year 1856, when failing health caused him to relinquish his business: he was a great lover of science, a skilled botanist, and had collected a fine and large cabinet of natural and scientific objects. The older residents of the county remember him with feelings of respect and greatest good will. He married, May 16, 1830, Elizabeth Anderson, of Deerfield, Mass., by whom he had two children- Etta, born September 6, 1831, died June 2, 1834; Belle; born February 6, 1834, died January 12, 1844. Mrs. Cooley died October 19, 1834. He married again, May 13. 1836, Clara, daughter of Elon Andrus, of Genesee County, N. Y .; she was born at that place July 27, 1812; her father removed to Macomb in 1822, and lived here till his death, about the year 1863. Dr. Cooley died at his home, in Washington Village. September S, 1860; the widow was married to her present husband. May 1, 1862; she has no children: in form of worship, a Methodist. Mr. Samuel A. Babbitt was born at Danville, Vt., Octo- ber 4, 1811: received his early education in his native State, and, at the age of twenty- two, gave his attention to the study of medicine and physiology. attending the college courses devoted to that science, and afterward gave lectures on physiology and hygiene in various places in the States of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, for ten years. In the year 1862, he married the widow of Dr. Cooley, and since that time has resided at Washington Village. Dr. Cooley was appointed Postmaster of Washington Township, July, 1836, being the successor of Otis Lamb, the first incumbent, which he held continuously twenty- three years under several administrations.

CHARLES C. CRISSMAN, P. O. Mt. Vernon, son of Benjamin Crissman and grandson of John Crissman, a native of New Jersey, and of Susan ( Kern) Crissman, a native of Pennsylvania; he is one of the most prosperous agriculturists of Washington Township. In the Crissman family history can be found a more extended reference to Mr. Crissman. Mrs. C. C. (Parish) Crissman, daughter of Harvey Parish. and grand- daughter of Jeremiah Parish, born in Connecticut February 17. 1765, and of Abott Sykes Parish, born in Bethel, Vt .. February 16. 1769, is referred to in the personal sketch

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

of Mrs. J. J. Crissman, and again in that of the Sykes family: her sons, Jehiel and Jo- seph, are extensive sheep farmers in Kansas.

DAVID H. CRISSMAN, P. O. Washington, was born July 15, 1523, in Warren County. N. J., is the son of Benjamin and Mary (Kern) Crissman, both natives of New Jersey (see sketeli of M. H. Crissman); they came to Michigan in 1833. and settled in the Township of Washington, on 240 acres of land, on Section 29, where they lived until the father's death, May 7, 1862. Mr. Crissman of this sketch commenced farming for himself about twenty nine years ago, and bought 120 acres on Section 28, which he has increased to 177 acres, and brought to an advanced state of improvement, with commodious dwell . ing and other farm buildings. He was married, December 28, 1848, to Olive M. Meeker, of Bruce, Macomb County; she was born June 21, 1831, in Rochester, N. Y ; they have tive children living-Benjamin A., born December 1, 1849; M. Jay, October 25, 1857; John I., June 12, 1859: Charles O., January 23, 1862; Mertie E., December 28, 1867. Politically, Mr. C. is a Democrat.

ETHO J. CRISSMAN, P. O. Romeo, was born July 8, 1855, in Washington, Macomb Co., Mich .; is the son of Frederick S., and Eliza (Smith) Crissman, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter of England (see sketch of F. S. Crissman). Mr. Crissman has followed the vocation of farmer all his life; his estate comprises 160 acres, on Sections 15. 16 and 21; his new and elegant dwelling is situated on Section 16, and was recently constructed, at a cost of $3,000. He was married, December 17, 1878, to Nellie D., daughter of Israel A. and Margaret ( Moon) Park, of Oakland Township, Oakland County, born June 16, 1857, in Lapeer County, Mich .; her father is a native of Michigan; her mother, of England. Mr. Crissman is a Republican in politics.

FREDERICK SNOVER CRISSMAN, P. O. Romeo, was born at Sandiston, Sussex Co., N. J., March 5, 1817; his paternal grandparents, Charles and Margaret (Snover) Crissman, were natives of Germany and emigrated to America a few years prior to the Revolution, as did his maternal ancestors. Both grandsires were engaged in the struggle for independence, his mother's father having a fort on his place garrisoned for frontier duty. Jonas Crissman, father of Mr. C. of this sketch, was born in Knowlton, Sussex (now Warren County), N. J., in 1751, and died December 14, 1876, in his ninety-fifth year. Susan (Snover) Crissman, wife of Jonas, was born in the same place, in 1791, and died April 29, 1858; three of their ten children survive; they, with three daughters, are buried in the cemetery at Romeo. Mr. F. S. Crissman, with his sister, Mrs. A. J. Sikes, of Romeo, has erected to their memories a handsome monument of Vermont granite, at a cost of $1,000. The Crissman family set out for Michigan in September, 1836. The father had bought three "SO's" in June previous, in Oreon, Oakland County. F. S. and his brother proceeded to Buffalo with a horse and wagon, where they expected to join the family party traveling by water, but the latter was delayed by a break in the canal, and the sons took passage on the "Charles Townsend" for Detroit, driving their team thence to their destination. The family arrived two weeks later. Mr. Crissman was dissatisfied with his father's purchase and expressed his opinion of the stony, unpromising character of the land without reserve, which resulting in his securing the means of making a pur- chase of the northeast quarter and south half of the sontheast quarter of Section 20, Washington. His father offered him $300 for his bargain, and promised to buy for him the southwest quarter of the school section (16) when it came into market, if he would remain at home until that period. This arrangement was partly consummated, and Mr. Crissman holds the patent from the Government for the possession of his homestead of 160 acres. It was virgin soil. and he entered upon the work of clearing in January, 1840; in September the same year, the wheat erop was in, and the harvest the following year yielded 3,340 bushels of grain, which he sohl at $1 a bushel. In the winter he "got out "

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the lumber for his house and barn, both of which structures. remodeled after modern method, the family now occupy. He was married. March 31. 1842, to Eliza, daughter of Francis and Dinah (Day) Smith, born in England January 23, 1820; her paternal ances tors were natives of Thetford; those on her mother's side lived in Minting, Lincolnshire, England; her father sailed for America with his family in February, 1831; she was a child of eleven years and remembers distinctly the marked incidents of the passage, which lasted seven weeks, during two of which a severe storm raged, the hatchways being closed and the ship lighted by side-lamps, which were kept burning; there were two deaths on board; the burial service was read by the Captain and the bodies entombed in the wilder- ness of waters. They landed at Staten Island; proceeded to the city of New York. up the Hudson, via canal to Pittsford. and thence to Mendon, Monroe Co., N. Y. ; in October, 1837. they went to Rochester, and traveled by canal and lake to Detroit; thence over cor- duroy roads to Royal Oak, and eventually to Washington, the journey consuming a week. Mr. Smith died May 31. 1866, aged seventy-two years; his wife December 15, 1867. at the age of seventy. Following is the record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Crissman; Lorissa, born February 19, 1843, died July 31, 1875: Justina C., March 5, 1844, died August 29, 1877: Emma C., March 28, 1845, died August 27, 1845: Marsha E., April 16, 1846: Ferdinand S. November 22, 1847, died June 14, 1877; Francis J., May 18, -1849: Marium S. D., February 5, 1853; Etho J., July S, 1855; Edwin S .. September 7, 1857, died December 31, 1874: infant son, June 23. 1860, died July 9; Albert J., December 2, 1862. Mr. Crissman is rated one of the most substantial citizens of Macomb County: he has added to his real estate and personal possessions, has been Director in the Citizens' National Bank, of Romeo, since its organization and holds stock in the First National Bank. Mrs. Crissman enjoys a handsome heritage from her father's estate; she is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church at Mt. Vernon. Mr. C. was an uncompromising Abolitionist, and has been known for years as a zealous advocate of temperance. The family monu- ment stands in the Central Cemetery, of Washington, where five children and Mr. and Mrs. Smith are buried; it is four feet. eight inches square at the base, and with die, cap, dra pery. spire and Grecian urn with drapery stands twenty-one feet. It is of Vermont gran- ite and cost $1.400; the coping is about 35x17 feet. with corner and joint caps, and cost $700.

JAMES J. CRISSMAN (deceased) was born July 9. 1819, in the township of Sand- iston, Sussex Co., N. J. : was the son of Jonas and Susan (Snover) Crissman: the former was born in 1781, in Knowlton. Sussex (now Warren) Co., N. J .. and died December 14. 1876. in his ninety-fifth year: his wife was a native of the same place and was born in 1791. and died April 29, 1858: the ancestral lines of both parents were German. Mr. C. came to Michigan in 1836, making the trip with his brother. F. S. Crissman, to Oak- land County, where his father had previously purchased land, and not long after the family settled in Washington. He was married, in Washington, October 30, 1545. to Mary Par ish. a native of Pike, Allegany Co .. N. Y. In 1846, Mr. C. came into possession of 286 acres in Sections 3, 20 and 22. on which he lived the remainder of his life: he died August 7, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. C. had a family of eleven children, born as follows: Catalina E .. November 16, 1846, died August 21. 1847; Sarah C., December 4, 1847, died October 22, 1864; Susan A., May 7. 1849: Elmina A., September 23, 1850; Alma E., April 6, 1852. died September 8, 1867: Jonas H., March 22, 1556; Carrie E., July 7. 1858; Ida May, September 13. 1860, died May 7, 1966; Clark J., October 4. 1862: Mary E .. December 4, 1865. died October 4. 1866; Estella M .. November 22, 1868; they were all born on their father's farm, and have never resided elsewhere. Mrs. Crissman was born February 21, 1826. and is the daughter of Harvey and Sybil (Sikes) Parish, the former born in Bethel, Windsor Co., Vt., August 29, 1796. the latter in Granville, Washington Co., N. Y., January

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5. 1806; they came to Michigan in October, 1543, and lived on a farm two miles south of Romeo. until 1852. when they moved to Addison, Oakland County, where they passed the remainder of their lives: they had eight daughters and one son. Mr. P. died June S. ISS1. Mrs. P. died June 20, 1870. Jeremiah Parish, father of Harvey, was born in Connecticut February 17, 1765. Thankful Abbott Parish, his wife, was born in Bethel, Vt., February 16, 1769; they had four daughters and five sons; the remoter ancestors were natives of Connecticut; they were married August 3, 1823.

MICHAEL HETZEL CRISSMAN. P. O. Washington, was born in Blairstown, Warren Co., N. J., and is the youngest son of Benjamin and Mary (Kern) Crissman, both natives of Warren County, N. J. ; the ancestors on each side were natives of Germany; Benjamin, the son of John and Johannah Schoonover Crissman. John Crissman was a soldier in the Revolution. Benjamin was born June 18, 1781: was a tailor by trade and married Mary Kern. November 12. 1812; they became the parents of seven children, born as follows: Henry K., March 21, [S]3; John. November 21. 1514; Susannah. Sep- tember 14. 1816: Amos O., October 9, ISIS; Charles, November 10, 1820; David H .. July 15, 1823. and Michael H., March 21, 1827. Mr. C. moved to the Territory of Michi- gan in 1833, and settled thirty miles north of Detroit, where he purchased of Benjamin Tubbs three eighty-acre tracts, with a comfortable log house 'on one, which was known as the " Buckhorn Tavern. " and had for a sign a huge pair of antlers fastened to a pole; it was at the junction of three roads-the old Territorial road from Detroit through Royal Oak. Rochester and Romeo. to Almont, then called Tapshire; the second was known as the Tromley trail, from a French settler who owned land in Mt. Clemens and Bruce; the latter was known as Tromley Mountain; the third road ran from Hursey Mill to Washing- ton Post Office; these roads are now all vacated. M. H. Crissman of this sketch now owns and occupies his father's farm. He was married, March 13. 1855, to Margaret Kern, of Wantage, Sussex Co., N. J .; the following is the record of their children's births: Irene (Mrs. Denison). January 5. 1857; Mellie (Mrs. Eaton), December 29, 1858; William L .. February IS. IS61; C. Elmer, April 26, 1863; Ora G., October 2. 1865; Loretta. Febru- ary 1, ES68; Laura, August 23, 1870; Alice, April 29. 1878; Margaret, September 28, 1875, and Michael Hugh, September 28, 1879.

EDWARD O. CURTIS, P. O. Romeo, was born November 11. 1843. in Oakland, Oakland Co., Mich .; he is the son of Zurial and Amanda Curtis, both natives of New York; he was trained to the vocation of a farmer, which calling he has pursued all his life: he resides on Section S. of the town of Washington, where he owns 120 acres of the best quality of land, purchased by him in 1870. He was married. April 26, 1869. to Julia, daughter of Elijah and Lydia Thorington, of Washington (see sketch of George W. Thorington); she was born July 24, 1849. in the house where she now resides; they have one child Vernon, born March 26, 1881. Mrs. C. is a member of the Mt. Vernon Bap- tist Church. Mr. C. adheres to the principles of the Democratic party; he has acted as School Director for three years and four terms as Road Commissioner.

OLIVER C. DUDLEY, P. O. Romeo, was born October 14, 1822, in Washington, Macomb Co., Mich .; is the son of Orsel and Lucinda Dudley, both natives of the State of New York. Mr. Dudley is a farmer, which has been his vocation through life. In 1867. he became the owner of 160 acres of land, near Romeo Village, which constitutes the family homestead; it is well improved and judiciously managed, well stocked and has a substantial dwelling, with creditable accessory buildings. Politically, Mr. Dudley is a Republican. He was married, May 1, 1834, to Mary A., daughter of Isaac and Maria Anderson, natives of New York; they came to Michigan in 1832. and bought 160 acres on Sections 13 and 14. Mr. Anderson was born February 9, 1793, and died November 16. 1859: his wife was born November IS, 1795. and died September 13, 1877. Mrs. Dudley

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was born in Washington June 3, 1833. Elijah Anderson and Sally (Lyon) Anderson, her paternal grandparents. were born in New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Dudley have four chil- dren, born as follows: Martha, November 11, 1856 (Mrs. Thaddeus Hazleton; see sketch) ; Wesley A., February 14, 1859; Manley J., October 11. 1866; Hattie M., May 30, 1868. WARNER H. EATON, P. O. Romeo, was born in Union, Tolland Co., Conn., No- vember 26, 1836, and is the youngest of a family of seven children, all of whom lived to mature years; his father, William Eaton, was born in Connecticut September 16, 1793. In 1822, he was married to Fannie Sessions, a native of Tolland County, Conn, born An- gust 14, 1795. In February, 1837, he set out for Michigan, in consonance with the idea that the new State offered better advantages for so large a family; he bought a farm in Washington and sent East for his family; the character of Mrs. Eaton can be readily con- jectured from the fact that she made her way from Connecticut, more than a thousand miles, alone, with seven children, the eldest only twelve, the youngest a babe of six months; she came through safely with her children in five weeks, reaching her destina- tion July S. The staple product of Michigan was wolves, and they were more familiar than agreeable to the new settlers, but Mr. Eaton managed to capture five in various ways, securing the Government and other bounty of $13 a head, which was a feat held in high- esteem by his fellow-pioneers, in view of its having been accomplished by a Yankee from the land of wooden nutmegs. Mr. Eaton entered courageously upon the work of improv- ing his farm, having only his strong arms to help, no team nor farming tools being then in his possession. He died in March, 1862, having nearly reached man's allotted years; he was an indulgent father, an upright, sympathetic neighbor, a conscientious adherent to principles in all matters of whatever importance; he was a radical Democrat and a con- servative in religions opinions; his wife was in every way worthy and met her responsi- bilities as a pioneer's wife with all the required strength and firmness of purpose; she died in November, 1875. W. H. Eaton was bred a farmer; he attended the district school winters and helped on the farm summers, until the fall of 1858, when he went to California; he was in El Dorado County until April 1861, when he left for Michigan, arriving home May 2. July 4 following, he was married to Alina, daughter of Samuel and Deborah (Banister) Aldrich, born in Armada February 14, 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton reside on the farm where his parents lived, whither he was carried a babe of six months by his courageous mother from her far-away Eastern home: they have three children, born as follows: Cappie, October 21, 1864; Mary, February 19, 1866; Warner H., Jr., April 29, 1880. Mr. Eaton is giving his children educational advantages in accordance with his obligations as a kind and judicions father: he is a Democrat and a conservative in relig- ions views.

HARVEY ELDRED, P. O. Romeo, was born July 28, 1841, in Bruce, Macomb Co., Mich. : he owns a fine farm of 240 acres in a state of advanced improvement, with sub- stantial frame house and ontbuildings; it is situated adjoining the corporation of Romeo; he also owns another farm of 240 acres, one-half mile north of Romeo. He was married, in March, 1861, to Rachel Shaw, of Washington; she died in March, 1874, leaving one child-Ratie, born March 7, 1873. Mr. E. was married again, in November, 1874, to Virginia Sholes, of Bruce; they have one child-Gracie, born April 1, 1882. Mrs. EI- dred is a member of the M. E. Church. Politically, Mr. E. is a Democrat.

EMORY P. EWELL was born in Sciota. Shiawassee County, April 12, 1859; is the son of Samuel Day Edgar and Sarah (Lintz) Ewell; his mother is the daughter of Simon and Elizabeth Lintz, natives of the Empire State, where the former still lives, aged ninety - one. Mr. Ewell traces his paternal line of descent to 1734, when his earliest authenti- cated ancestor, John Ewell, was born in Scotland; the latter came to America in 1759, and entered upon a seafaring life, settling at Scituate, Plymouth Co., Mass .; he became

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the father of nine children. Mr. Ewell of this sketch is bis sixth descendant. James Ewell. first son and child of John, enlisted with his father in the Revolutionary service. He was the fifth in Mr. Ewell's ancestral line. Following is a list in regular descent: John, James, Peleg. Philander, Samuel. D. E. and Emory. The family record elearly traced by Edwin H. Ewell, son of an elder brother of Peleg Ewell. is contained in a neatly printed and carefully compiled volume, from which these statements were eulled. The family name is one of honor, and, in many instances, of distinction. Samnel D. E. Ewell was born September 27. 1835. in Shelby, Macomb County, and died April 12. 1878: his son, E. P. Ewell, succeeded to the management of the patrimonial estate, comprising 102 acres on Section 28, Washington. He was married, October 21, 1879, to Clara A., daughter of Alvin and Margaret Baldwin, (natives, respectively, of Vermont and New Jer- sey). of Avon. Oakland County. Mrs. Ewell was born July 29, 1860, in that county, and is a member of the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. Mr. Ewell is a Democrat in political views: he has two brothers, born as follows: Samuel D. Ewell, August 19, 1860, and Ervin E. Ewell. October 20, 1867; the former is a resident of San Francisco. Cal .; the latter resides with his mother at Rochester, this county.

DANIEL E. FROST, P. O. Romeo, was born in Brookline, Windham Co., Vt .. July 28. ISIS: is the son of Samuel and Lydia (Bixby) Frost, the former born in Massachu- setts, the latter in Connecticut. Mr. Frost is one of a family of twelve children, ten boys and two girls; ten of their children are living, the eldest seventy-two years of age, the youngest, forty-six years old; his parents moved to Bolivar, Allegany Co., N. Y., when he was six years old, and three years later went to Ceres, McCane Co., Penn .: in 1830. they went to Covington, Genesee Co., N. Y. : seven years after, Mr. Frost settled in Oak- ? land County, Mich., where he was married. January 22. 1844, to Margaret Jarvis; she died June 4. 1848, leaving one son, James J., born November 21. 1844. Mr. Frost was again married. January 30. 1849, to Belinda Brownson; she died August 4. 1861. leaving three children, born as follows: Willard A., January 5, 1850; Margaret A .. March 4. 1852, and William K., July 24. 1854. Mr. Frost was again married. March 6. 1862, to Mrs. Mary (Eaton) Sholes, who had one daughter --- Virginia, born May 12, 1855. Mrs. Frost was born November 9, 1832, in Union, Tolland Co., Conn. : the family moved to St. Clair County in 1849, and, eighteen years after, to Romeo, where they resided seven years and a half; in the fall of 1874, they bought a farm of 280 aeres, three miles south of Romeo, where they have since resided.

GILMAN E. GRAVES, P. O. Rochester, Oakland Count was born November 30. 1839, in Washington, Macomb Co., Mich. ; is the son of Ento af and Persis (Hall) Gray - his father was born in Vermont and his mother in Com avant: both descended from n'y- tives of those States. His parents came to Michigan pr June, 1927, and bought eighty aeres of land on Section 32, in Washington, where lus father died September 5, 1563. Mr. Graves of this sketch succeeded to the possession of the homestead, to which he has added eighty acres, making a fine farm of 160 aeres; on this property there has never been an incumbrance from the day of the original purchase. Mr. Graves was married. February 20, 1860, to Jeanette Healy, of Shelby: she died September 16, 1860, and Mr. Graves was married a second time, May 1, 1862, to Hannah E., daughter of Lockwood and Emeretta Russell: her father was a native of New York, her mother of Connecticut; both probably descended from English ancestry.

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History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 105

Author: Leeson, Michael A., [from old catalog] comp Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, M. A. Leeson & co. Number of Pages: 952

Author: Leeson, Michael A., [from old catalog] comp
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, M. A. Leeson & co.
Number of Pages: 952