History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 67

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 67

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).

1880, with Robert Posner as partner. Mr. Crittenden married Miss Jane Hathaway, daughter of Julius Hathaway, an old settler of Armada, in January, 1879, to whom two children were born. The Crittenden & Posner hardware store is replete in the amount and variety of stock carried. It is estimated that the annual sales amount to $30,000.

GEORGE M. CROCKER, son of Samuel Crocker, of Vermont, was born at Green- ville, Bond Co., Ill., August 9, 1848. His father settled in Illinois about 1840, where he was Sheriff of Bond County for several years. Mr. Crocker was educated in Greenville, again at the Normal at Bloomington, and lastly at Newbury, Vt. He came to Mt. Clem- ens in 1867, where he entered the law office of his uncle, T. M. Crocker, who was then Probate Judge. He was admitted to the bar in April, 1870; was elected Justice of the Peace and Cirenit Conrt Commissioner same year: Prosecuting Attorney in 1876; re- elected in 1878; Mayor of Mt. Clemens City in 1879; re-elected in ISSO. He married Katharine, daughter of Joshua B. Dickinson, September 6, 1870, to whom were born six children, five of whom are living-George D., Katharine, J. R., Margaret and Mary, Mr. Crocker is connected with the Masonic Lodge of Mt. Clemens, and with the Romeo Com mandery of Knights Templar. His record since coming to Mt. Clemens points ont dis- tinetly a man who has secured popular esteem by industry and integrity.

THOMAS MARTIN CROCKER was born in Pawlet, Rutland Co .. Vt., November 23. 1825. He was the youngest of five children born to Thomas Crocker and Mary Hooker, who were married in December, 1814. The Crockers were among the earliest settlers in Plymouth Colony, Mass. The exact date of their immigration cannot now with certainty be determined, but they were in the colony as early as 1634, and the branch from which he descends soon after that date settled in Barnstable County, Mass. Mary Hooker. the mother, was a descendant of the Rev. Thomas Hooker, who. with the people of his church, took their flocks and herds through the wilderness from Massachusetts and founded the Hartford colony in Connecticut in 1635. Mr. Crocker was early taught to work upon the farm, and here he formed the habits of industry which still remain with him. The common schools of Pawlet and Granville not affording all the advantages desired, he was sent for several terms to a private school tanght by Lyman Chandler, a graduate from Vermont University. He removed, in April, 1844, to Macomb County. In 1846 and 1847, he attended the school taught by Peter Moyers, at Rochester, Mich. In May, 1849, he was married to Fandira Emery, with whom he reared a family of fine children. He removed to New Baltimore in December, 1851. In the spring of 1852, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served a term of four years. In that thenchanging and increas- ing population, there was much litigation, and he had many suits brought before him. Finding his knowledge of the law nnsatisfactory to himself, he purchased a small law library and commenced in earnest the study of his future profession, and so careful was he in the consideration of the cases submitted for his judgment that no case where an appeal was taken from his decision was reversed in either the Circuit or Supreme Court. At the Jan- uary term in 1859. Mr. Crocker applied for admission to the bar. The court was then held by the Hon. S. M. Green, who appointed the venerable Richard Butler, the Hon. Andrew S. Robertson and Giles Hubbard as Committee of Examination. After his admis. sion. he entered upon an active and large practice, and he has frequently been heard to remark that business came to him as rapidly as he could properly qualify himself to attend to it. In the general election in 1862, he was elected Proseenting Attorney, having a ma- jority of eighty five votes over his popular competitor, the Hon. E. F. Mead. In Novem- ber. 1864. he was elected Judge of Probate, and served one term of four years. He failed to be re-elected in 1868, as the party to which he belonged was then in the minority. In November, 1862, the Hon. Giles Hubbard proposed to him a co-partnership, which was accepted, and he removed with his family to Mt. Clemens. The business relations then

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY

entered upon between him and Mr. Hubbard continued until the death of Mr. Hubbard, November 6, 1876. In 1867, Mr. Crocker was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention. Acting with the minority, he took part in the deliberations of that body, whose labors were so signally defeated by the people upon the submission of the constitu- tion to them. He served twelve years on the Mt. Clemens School Board, taking an active part in raising the grade and character of the school. He was elected President of the village in 1874, and served four successive terms. He has been City Attorney since the adoption of the city charter, and in whatever capacity he has served the people, he has steadily and unfalteringly advocated systematic progress. Mr. Crocker has been twice married, his present wife being the second daughter of the late John I. Traver, and widow of the well-known Moore Stephens. Upon the death of Mr. Hubbard, Mr. Crocker formed a eopartnership with H. B. Hutchins, the husband of his eldest daughter, which copart- nership still continues. As an attorney, Mr. Crocker stands in the front rank. He was gifted by nature with a logical mind, which has been developed by study and discipline. If Mr. Crocker, in the presentation of cases, is noted for one thing more than another, it is his habit of independent reasoning from first principles. Although an earnest student of reported cases, he is in no sense a case lawyer. He looks upon the law not as a mere budget of decisions, but rather as a comprehensive frame work of principles. Thoroughly devoted to his profession, active, industrious and untiring in his work, he has always en- joyed the confidence and esteem of his clients, and the respect and friendship of his asso- ciates at the bar. Mr. Crocker has ever been a Democrat, believing the elementary prinei- ples of that party those best calculated for the safety and prosperity of our Government. He has been on several occasions offered the nomination for Congress in this distriet, but his duties to his family and his clients have so far prevented him from accepting the honor.

AUGUSTUS CZIZEK, son of Vensel Czizek, of Bohemia, was born in Prussia Septem- ber 17, 1833; came to Detroit in 1854, and to Mt. Clemens in 1856; he, in partnership with Charles Ulrich, operated the first butcher-shop in the village, and, buying Mr. Ulrich's in terest, managed the business until his death, April 4, 1868. Mr. Czizek was married, No- vember 22, 1856, to Gertrude Rosscopp, daughter of John Rosscopp, who came to Detroit from Germany in 1854. and to Mt. Clemens in 1856. Of ten children born to this marriage, five are living. namely: Annie, now Mrs. B. Vanlandeghem, Jr .: Anthony, John, Jacob and Caspar. The family belong to the Catholic Church.

ZEPHANIAH DAVISON, a native of Vermont, married Mrs. Olive Davison, a native of Bethel. Vt., at Pittsford. N. Y., February 18, 1825. The following year, they moved to Michigan, and located in Ray Township some time later. In 1844, the family moved to Mt. Clemens, where Mr. Davison died three years ago, and Mrs. Davison April 26, 1882. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are living.

J. D. ARTHUR DEZIEL, owner of dry goods, ladies' fur and notion store, established in spring of ISS1 by Brehler & Deziel. was born at Montreal. Canada; was educated at Point Levis, opposite Quebec; came to Detroit in 1869, where he served as elerk in the dry goods store of L. A. Smith & Co. for a period of twelve years previous to his settlement at Mt. Clemens in the spring of 1881. Mr. Deziel's trade is estimated at $20,000 per annum.

WILLIAM L. DICKEN, County Clerk, was born in lay Township October 8, 1533, son of John Dicken, of England, who settled in York State in 1818, and in Ray Township in 1831. William L. received his education in the district schools of Ray, and also of Disco, in Shelby Township. He learned harness-making in 1852; established a shop at Ray in 1855, and operated it until 1878, when he was elected County Clerk. He married Miss America H. Harris, daughter of Lovell Harris, June 30, 1860, to whom were born five children, of whom three are living-Carrie L., Jessie B. and Hugh W. The former is a

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

graduate of Mt. Clemens High School, class of ISS1. During Mr. Dicken's residence in Ray' he has been honored with a few of the principal township offices. His services as Clerk of Ma- comb County are marked by strict attention to the affairs of his office and a genial method of transacting public business.

JOSHUA B. DICKINSON, deceased, was born December 9, 1811, in Orange County, Vt. He received a good common-school education, and passed his younger days in the Eastern States, variously engaged. In 1841. he came to Michigan, locating at Detroit. One year later. he moved to Mt. Clemens, which was his home from that time until his death. He engaged in the mercantile business npon coming here, but, after some years, confined himself chiefly to real estate. He was one of the builders of the old Romeo & Mt. Clemens Plank Road. By his thrift and good judgment, he accumulated a consider- able fortune. He had a large circle of warm friends in every town in the county. In politics, he was a stanch Democrat, being Chairman of the County Committee for many years. In 1852, he was elected County Treasurer, and was re-elected in 1854. and was subsequently elected Register of Deeds. When Mt. Clemens became a city, he was elected as the first Mayor, an honor that he highly appreciated. At different times, he was placed in other positions of trust. and filled them all honorably and creditably. He joined the Odd Fellows in Buffalo in 1543. and was a charter member of the society here when organized in 1847, and we believe at different times occupied the various official chairs of the lodge. Mr. Dickinson was married. in 1846. to Katharine Lee, daughter of George Lee and grand-daughter of Judge Christian Clemens. Ten years later. his wife and three of his children died. The loss of his wife and children was a crushing blow to Mr. Dickinson. He never recovered from its effects. He never remarried, and the great object of his life was in watching over and caring for his remaining child, Katharine L. His efforts in this direction were gilded with sunshine. They were never separated dur- ing his life, and this child proved a kind, devoted. loving and reverential daughter to him. She developed into a pure and attractive woman. She married George M. Crocker in September, 1870. She was a constant and affectionate wife, and was a fond and ever watchful mother. Her sudden and seemingly untimely decease, which occurred in March. 1SS2, was received with the deepest regret by all who knew her. Mr. Dickinson died in May. 1879. The news of his death was received with unfeigned regret by the entire county. The Circuit Court adjourned out of respect for his memory. The Common Council of Mt. Clemens attended his funeral in a body: also the Odd Fellows' society, and many of the business places of the city were draped in mourning. As to the character of Mr. Dickinson, the testimony of all agrees. He was a kind and good man at home, cour- teous and considerate to all. He bore his trials with fortitude; was the young man's friend and adviser: was open-handed in philanthropic endeavor, and public-spirited in a high degree. He was, in short, a true citizen. To not many men can be given greater praise than this. Early identified with Mt. Clemens, he was ever solicitons of her wel- fare, and lost no opportunity to advance the town in growth and improvement. It was indeed fitting that he should be elected her first Mayor.

SILAS DIXON. son of John, a ship-carpenter, son of William, was born at Chatham. Conn., February 29, 1812; came to Mt. Clemens in 1834. while Shelby street was still a wilderness, and opened a shoemaking shop, which he operated for several years. He es- tablished his grocery business in 184S, and continued it with success for twenty years. He was appointed United States Revenue Collector here, and held the position for twelve years: was Village Trustee, and a Treasurer for several years, and in early days was Con- stable for four years. He was married, May 6, 1834, to Miss Harriet Loomis, to whom two children were born. Mrs. Loomis Dixon died August 21. 1837. Mr. Dixon married Miss Harriet Cleggett February 9. 1839, to whom ten children were born. He is a mem-

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and one of the surviving old settlers of the village.

ANDREW T. DONALDSON. of the Donaldson firm, was born in North Ireland Sep- tember 26, 1843; came with his father and family, in 1844, to the United States, and set- tled with them in Macomb County. He was married. November 9, 1869. to Miss Olive Dixon, daughter of Silas Dixon, an old settler of the county. They are the parents of three children-Meta and Harry S. ; a third child is deceased. Mr. Donaldson has been honored with position on the City Council Board, in the Masonic Order, and in the Pres- byterian Church, of which he is a member.

WILLIAM S. DONALDSON, son of James Donaldson, who came with his family from North of Ireland in 1844 and settled at Cady's Corners, was born in Ireland October 10, 1841. William S was raised and educated at Mt. Clemens, and learned the black- smith's trade in his father's shop there. He married Miss Sarah Leonard, daughter of the late Sylvester Leonard, September 5, 1865, to whom was born Arthur L. After the death of this lady, he married Miss Eliza L. Harrington, daughter of Harry Harrington, an old settler of Macomb County. Mr. Donaldson is a member of the Masonic Order; has been Alderman of the city, and one of the most enterprising citizens.

CAPT. WILLIAM DULAC, son of Louis and Josephine (Peltier) Dulac, the latter born at Detroit in 1798, was born in Harrison Township December 27, 1837. The family moved into Mt. Clemens previous to 1840. In 1849, Capt. Dulac began his lake voyages; was cabin boy and pilot successively, and Captain for the last quarter of a century. He is the builder of tive boats, two of which were constructed in the winter of 1881-82 -- one 180 feet long, with 32 feet beam; the other, 65 feet long, with 16 feet beam, is a tug-boat. The Captain has charge of the passenger and freight steamboat the A. Weston. from Man- istee to Tonawanda, N. Y. He was married, January 20, 1863. to Nancy Peltier, daugh- ter of Joseph Peltier, of Harrison. They are the parents of six children, four of whom are living, namely: Adele, Arthur, Emma and Berton. The family belong to the Cath- olic Church.

ROBERT F. EASTMAN was born at Chelsea. Vt., in 1814: came to Mt. Clemens in 1835, and was one of the leading business men of the village for many years. Mr. East- man was twice married. His second wife. Harriet M. Rutler, a native of Philadelphia, came to Mt. Clemens in 1839. She is the daughter of Thomas Rutler, a Captain in the United States Navy, who died in Africa in 1828. Mrs. Eastman is the mother of four children-Frederick, Arthur, Fannie and Julia. Arthur served in Company I, Ninth Michigan Infantry: made prisoner: exchanged company: Second Lieutenant Fighth Mich- igan Cavalry; and lastly, First Lieutenant, which position he held when discharged in 1865, on account of wounds received at Sweetwater. Frederick served in the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry; passed seven months in Libby. Charleston and Macon, and, in 1863, was commissioned Captain, which position he held when discharged.

JOHN EBERLEIN, son of John L., was born in Bavaria, Germany: April 25, 1828, He came to Detroit in 1854, and to Clinton Township in 1856, when he paid $275 for a tract of twenty-five acres, since increased to 130 acres, Section 31. Clinton He was married, at Detroit, June 3, 1854, to Miss Catherine Smith. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living -- Barbara, George. Fred, Caroline, Mary. John and Leonard. Mr. Eberlein has not sought for public positions. The family belong to the German Lutheran Church.

JAMES C. EDGERLY was born in the State of Massachusetts November 22, 1791, of English parentage, his father being a son of one of the early colonists of New England; his mother's maiden name, Hannah Chadwick, a daughter of the younger son of the Earl of Chadwick of England. The Edgerly family moved to Vermont; subsequently, to Gen-

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

esee County, N. Y., 1814. James C. Edgerly served three months in the war of 1812, in Kel- logg's company, of militia volunteers, taking the place of an older brother who was drafted. Married in December of the same year; engaged in mereantile business; failed in 1821; settled up business and went to Canada; stayed six or eight months: bought lumber at Runnel's Mill. rafted it, moved on to the raft, his family and household goods both being small; weighed anchor, floated to the month of the Thames; sent raft to Detroit; hired a row-boat to bring him to Mt. Clemens, the Captain and crew of the boat being composed of one man and small boy; arrived at Mt. Clemens in the spring of 1822: entered eighty acres of land now known as Mosher farm; soon made a small opening in the dense forest. where he planted potatoes, etc. ; potatoes yielded abundantly and of excellent quality, but blackbirds, squirrels and many other natives of the country took the largest share of the eorn. leaving but little to the disappointed planters. He stayed on the place two or three years; concluded to take his chance, on Judge Clemens' farm, as the Judge wanted some one to take charge of it, so moved into town; this consisted of eight dwellings and one store; the whole stock in trade, whisky and all, could have been carried away in a small market wagon: there were also a shoemaker's shop, a blacksmith's shop and a cooper's shop, a court house and jail, all in one, built of square timber. It was in this court house that the first school ever taught in Mt. Clemens held its session, Miss Jane Everett, teacher: this was in the summer of 1825: the following winter, J. C. Edgerly taught school in the samo place. In April of the same year, received the appointment of Lieutenant in the militia of the Territory, from Lewis Cass, then Governor of the Territory; in December, 1826, was appointed Justice of the Peace for the county of Macomb by Gov. Cass; two years later, bought and moved on the farm now known as the Parker farm, where he spent the rest of his life: died of heart disease, after a few hours' illness. November 14, 1851. HON. R. P. ELDRIDGE, born on the banks of the Hudson, town of Greenwich, Wash- ington Co., N. Y., in 1808; winter of 1814-15, his father moved to Lebanon, Madison County. and thenee to Hamilton Township, on east side of West Branch of Chenango River, in same county. In his fifteenth year, he entered the Hamilton Academy. New York, to pre- pare for college, but his mother died when he was sixteen. The children, eight in number. were separated: he taught in winter and studied in summer while attending college. from necessity. At the request of his father, he began the study of law at the age of seventeen. under Stowe & Gtirdly, the most eminent law firm of Madison County. while they were required to labor hard at copying tables; at elose of school. in spring of 1826, he had $20 in cash, with which he started for the Territory of Michigan; with no references except in teaching, he landed in Detroit May 26, 1826, poorly clad, and with 10 shillings; taught school in the debtor's room of the Detroit Jail six weeks, at $3 a scholar per quarter, but was taken sick and abandoned it. He went to Pontiac the same year, and taught there during the winters following, and devoted his evenings and Saturdays to recording deeds in the Register's office; was afflicted the same winter with sore eyes, which eost more than his teaching brought him. He rode to Mt. Clemens on a borrowed horse in the spring of 1827, and located here in July, walking the whole distance from Pontiac; worked for his board for a Mr. Ashley, a merchant; the next fall, received some law books from his fa- ther which he read. He began keeping bachelor's hall in the fall of 1827 in Mt. Clem- ens, and read law; admitted to the bar by examination in open court in the fall of 1828; on that occasion, stopped at Uncle Ben's Steamboat Hotel in Detroit, and, in passing from there to the old capitol building, where the court was convened, he did not pass a pedes- trian or pass a house; returned to Mt. Clemens and hung out his shingle, being the first lawyer in Macomb County. The people were industrious and peaceable, and his prospects were gloomy; would have sought other location, but poverty held him there. The county improved rapidly, settlers increased and grew wealthy, and other lawyers located in the

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

county, and many suddenly discovered that they had received injuries at the hands of their neighbors. which duty to themselves and to society required them to have righted. From this time Mr. Eldridge found it easy to support himself and family. He soon took active parts in politics; being a Democrat, was a warm supporter of Jackson and Van Buren, and Democratic nominees for State and county offices: in February, 1842, was appointed Secre- tary of State by Gov. Barry, which office he held four years: in the fall of 1846, was elected to the Senate, and attended first session of Legislature at Lansing in 1847; left polities at the close of the session; when his term of office as Secretary of State expired, he re- sumed law practice at Mt. Clemens, Mich., which he successfully pursued for many years. He looked upon the law as a noble science, and loves its practice, esteems and reverences it, and has occupied an eminent position among the oldest attorneys of Michigan, but has recently retired from active life, and resides quietly at Mt. Clemens. He was married, in October, 1831, to Miss Louise Crittenden, to whom three children were born -- Catharine, James B. and Carrie. After the death of Mrs. L. C. Eldridge. he married Miss Jane A. Leonard, who is the mother of Miss Emma Eldridge. In the organic, pioneer, law, polit- ical and other chapters of this work, the connection between this old resident and Macomb County is fully set forth.

JAMES B. ELDRIDGE. Judge of Probate for Maeomb County, was born at Mt. Clemens November 25, 1835. His father, Robert P. Eldridge, one of the few surviving old residents of the city, one of the early lawyers of the county and a well-known citizen of the State, conferred on him many of those educational advantages which, in common with the American pioneers, he esteemed. The Judge having passed some years in attending the Mt. Clemens school, was transferred to the Romeo Academy, then affiliated with the Michigan University. He graduated from Ann Arbor with the class of 1855; studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Macomb County in June, 1858. In 1862, he was elected Representative; two years later, Prosecuting Attorney; this latter office he also held from 1870 to 1876: when he was elected Judge of Probate. In ISSO, he was re-elected Probate Judge, which position he now holds. Judge Eldridge was married to Miss Helen S. Fiteh January 27, 1859, daughter of Samuel Fitch. They are the parents of two children-Julia L. (Spier), and Robert F., now a student of the Michigan University. A reference to the organie, law and political chapters of the general history will show the part taken by Judge Eldridge in the affairs of the county. A review of the organic and society sketches of Mt. Clemens will show his publie connection with the city.

ALOIS EYTH, born at Binsdorf, Wurtemberg, Germany, March 30, 1856; came to Mt. Clemens in 1872. He was married to Miss Louisa Miller, of Alsace, November 29, 1877. They are the parents of Alois and Caroline Eyth.

JUDSON S. FARRAR, Register of Deeds, was born at Mt. Clemens August 23, 1836. His father, Manson Farrar, of New York, is an old settler of Macomb, now a resident of Lenox Township. Col. Farrar's military record will be found in the history of the war for the Union, and his political record in the political and organie chapters. As a soldier and citizen he is known throughout the State. He married Miss Carrie Eldridge, daugh- ter of Robert P. Eldridge, in June, 1864, to whom were born five children, four of whom are living.

JESSE O. FERRIS, son of Jonathan Ferris, was born in Cortland Township, N. Y., December 8, 1800. He was educated in the subscription school in Westchester County ; subsequently was clerk in store of Clark & Haight, of Peekskill, from 1817 to 1819; in 1820. settled at Big Sodus Bay, on Lake Ontario; in 1823, bought a half-interest in eanal- boat, while his cousin, named Hubbell, bought a second interest. This boat he ran on the Erie Canal in 1823 and 1824. He engaged in groeery business at Lyons, N. Y .. for about two years, then in the dry goods trade for two years; came to Mt. Clemens in 1831. and

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History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 67

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