History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 77

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 77

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).

PERSONAL HISTORY.

Much has been already written on the settlement and progress of Romeo. This vil- lage of sixty-one summers, still in its yonth, claims an interesting and instructive history -- one which would form a large volume in itself. To deal with it minutely was found to be impracticable: yet. to do justice to its story. the best citizens have been asked to aid the general historian. to which request they acceded cheerfully. Early in December, 1881. W. M. Bucklin entered on the labor of collecting the personal history of the village; to- ward the close of February, 1882. his work was taken up by Mr. H. O. Brown, who com-

642

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

pleted the collection of biographical matter there March 2, 1SS2. His sketches were all rewritten, again reviewed by the writer of the general history, and in many instances submitted to the person whom they concerned. In this manner we believe we have suc- ceeded in compiling a sketch of Romeo and her people which is destined to give satisfac- tion.

W. F. ABBOTT was born July 30, 1813, at Haverhill, N. H .: is son of William and Patience (Burbank) Abbott. His father was a native of the same place, and came to Oak- land County with his family in May, 1827, where they remained until March, 1828, when they took possession of the homestead of ninety-six acres in Washington, contiguous to the eastern limit of Romeo. The senior Abbott died January 1, 1562; his wife, June 11, 1829; the former aged seventy-three, the latter forty-two years. Mr. Abbott, of this sketch, left home at the age of eighteen and began his struggle with the "wide world." He found employ as a farm hand, etc., and, in the spring of 1838, he returned to the homestead, which he has managed since, with the exception of one year, when he rented the farm. He cast his first Presidential vote for Martin Van Buren. In 1840, he became a tariff man, and voted for Harrison. He acted with the Whigs until the merging of the factions into the Republican party, with whom he has since been identified. He has been elected to some minor township positions, but preferred the quiet of a private career. He was married, June 1, 1845, at Romeo, to Julia A., daughter of Brewer Dodge, who settled in this county in the spring of 1838. They have two children-Franklin S., married Emma Abbott, a distant connection. now editing the Wyandotte Herald; and Julia A., wife of Irving D. Hanscom, Acting Prosecuting Attorney of Macomb County. Mr. Abbott united with the Congregational Church of Romeo in 1838, and is a highly respected mem- ber of the community. He has been a sufferer from paralysis since the spring of 1879.

FRANKLIN ARNOLD, youngest son of Edward and Martha Arnold, was born in Washington, Macomb County, March 20, 1830. He was educated while at home. and spent his early life on his father's farm. He was married, in October, 1848, to Sarah Par- dee, of Kalamazoo County, a native of New York State, born April 18, 1831. She died September 20, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold had eight children, seven of whom are now living -Amanda M., born September 2, 1849, now Mrs. George Dibble, of Bull City, Os- borne Co., Kan. ; Hannah L., born April 15, 1852. now Mrs. William Court, near Romeo, Macomb Co., Mich. ; Martha A., born November 25, 1855, now Mrs. William H. Fowels. Terry Station, Bay Co., Mich .; George F., December 23, 1859, died when seventeen days

old; Evaline, May 10, 1861. now Mrs. W. H. Hovey, Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. V .: Ed- ward D., boru February 17, 1864: Everette R., born August 28, 1869; and Sarah A., born August 4, 1873. Mr. Arnold was again married, September 22, 1874, to Mrs. Sarah A. Smith. They have one child, F. Beecher, born January 25, 1576. Mrs. Arnold was born at Holton, Warren Co., N. J., October 9, 1835. She was married, May 1, 1855, to George Starkweather, and had one daughter, Almeda S., born April 13. 1856. She resides with

her mother. Mr. Arnold lived on his father's farm for about fifty years, and, in the spring of 1880, although he still managed the farm, he came to Romeo. Their fine residence on South Main street was built in the fall of 1879. He has always been a Democrat, and has belonged to the Masonic fraternity since 1862. Edward Arnold, deceased, was born in 1790, in Eastern New York, and was the son of William Arnold, of English descent. He was married, in Monroe County, to Mrs. Martha Woodman, and in 1823 came to Macomb County, Mich., and patented 240 acres of land from James Monroe, situated on the south- east quarter of Section 15. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold were the parents of five children. The first town meeting of the township of Washington was held in 1827. in a log schoolhouse

643

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

on the south end of his farm. He was a Democrat. Mrs. Arnold had one son by her first marriage. He settled in Ray, one mile west of Brooklyn, where he died. Horace Arnold, the oldest son, resides at Decatur, Van Buren County. George, second son, died in Wash- ington, aged twelve years; Rebecca, third child, died on the homestead, aged eighteen years. Mr. Arnold died in 1865. Mrs. Arnold died in 1856.

SETH L. ANDREWS, M. D., is a native of Putney, Vt .. born June 24, 1809. His father, Rev. Elisha D. Andrews, was born in Southington, Conn., and, after fitting for the ministry, was settled as Pastor of the Congregational Church in Putney, Vt., for more than twenty years; resided a few years in Central New York, and ultimately came with his family to Michigan: in 1840, located a central section in Armada, and organized a church. He preached occasionally during the remainder of his life, which terminated in January, 1852. at Armada. His wife, Betsy Lathrop Andrews, died there in 1860. aged seventy-two years. Dr. Andrews received his elementary education in his native place, and in 1828, matriculated at Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H., from which he graduated in 1831. He went to reside at Pittsford, N. Y., and commenced to study for his profession, attend- ing lectures at Fairfield Medical College: took his degree from that institution in the spring of 1836, and at once entered upon practice at Lancaster, N. Y .. where he continued but a short time, and, in the winter of 1835-36, attended medical lectures at Philadel- phia. In 1836, he was married to Parnelly, daughter of Simeron Pierce, of Woodbury, Conn. December 14 of the same year, he sailed for the Sandwich Islands as a missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. He resided twelve years at Kailua, Hawaii, where his wife died September 29, 1846. He also buried there three children, and returned to the United States in 1848, bringing with him his son, George P. Andrews, now a physician of Detroit. Dr. Andrews attended a course of medical lec- tures in New York, and in 1852, married Miss Amelia T. Dike. January 12. 1853, he lo- cated at Romeo. Mich., and has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession until the past few years. He has, on account of his years, somewhat reduced his business. His adopted daughter, Carrie E., married John H. Potter, of Delaware, Ohio. George P. Andrews, of Detroit, married Sarah G., daughter of John W. Dyar, a pioneer of Ma- comb. Dr. Andrews has a fine museum of natural history, a large proportion of which was collected on the Sandwich Islands.

ALVAN B. AYER was born in York County, State of Maine. December IS, 1809. He was the son of Aaron and Ruth Merrill Ayer, who were both natives of Maine, and of English origin. His father died at the age of thirty-seven years, and his mother at the age of eighty. He was reared in the State of Maine: followed the business of a carpenter in early life; subsequently engaged in lumbering in the eastern part of Maine: was mar- ried, in Massachusetts, in 1835, to Martha Lyon. born in Vermont August 17, 1810. She was the daughter of Amos and Abigail Greenwood Lyon. both of English origin. They have had four children, named as follows: Sarah F., who died in 1960: Lucy MI., wife of Adrian D. Taylor, of Bruce; Charles M. ; and Abbie L., wife of Daniel McCoy. Mr. Ayer came to Michigan in 1852 and engaged in lumbering, managing the business in the woods, and became part owner of a mill in Detroit. At the age of sixty-eight, he retired from active business. He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Andrew Jackson, but joined the Republicans when that party was organized. He has been connected with the First and Citizens' National Banks in the village of Romeo since their organization.

JOSEPH AYRES was born in Dover, Morris Co., N. Y .. November IS, IS12. He is the second son of William Ayres and Abigail Lewis, natives of New Jersey. Mr. Ayres grew to manhood in his native State. He learned the boot and shoe trade in Orange, Essex Co., N. Y., receiving but a limited education. At the age of twenty-one, he en- gaged in the boot and shoe business in the city of New York. Six years after, he removed

644

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

to Michigan. loeating in the valley of Romeo, Macomb County, leaving his native State. New York, on the 17th of June, 1841, and arriving in Romeo July 17, after a month's travel. In the fall of the year [841, he engaged in the boot and shoe business at Romeo. A few years later, he combined harness-making with his other business. In 1845, he added a small farm. located near the village, which he has managed in connection with his business in the village. He has been prosperous the most of the time, but, owing to a disposition to assist friends, has met with serious losses that have crippled him much. He has always been ready to lend his aid to every movement that was calculated to elevate society in the church and outside of it. He was engaged a few years, in company with other parties, as an iron manufacturer; conducted a furnace and made castings of all kinds. He was " Free-Soil " in political principles when he came to Michigan, and has been identified with the Republicans since the organization of the party. He has served his generation as Supervisor in the aggregate twenty-five years; has also been Village As sessor and member of the corporation. He was married, in New Jersey, to Elizabeth Thompson, a native of Morris County, who died August 23, 1845, and left two children, both of whom are dead. September 18, 1850, he was again married, to Miss Elizabeth H. Sutton, of Sussex County. N. J. They have two children living at Detroit -Joseph S., practicing law, and Augusta, wife of P. A. Billings. In 1856, when the business portion of the village was nearly destroyed by fire, Mr. Ayres suffered the loss of a double frame three-story building. The brick structure now occupied by him was erected by Sutton & Ayres in 1867.

WILLIAM T. BADGER was born at Alburgh, Grand Isle Co.,, Vt., June 12, 1823. His parents, James and Eleanor (Manning) Badger, were natives of the same place. His father died in 1861; his mother is now living in Vermont, where he was brought up. In 1850, he went to Norwalk, Ohio, where he remained a year, and came to Romeo in 1851. He learned the business of painter, which he has made the vocation of his life. He has seen Romeo grow from its wild state to its present prosperity. Mr. Badger was married to Asenath Hill, a native of Vermont. She died at Romeo. They became the parents of five children, four of whom are living and married. The eldest son, Willard, died; the second. William Anson, resides at Detroit; Sanford is in the boot and shoe business with J. L. Benjamin; Sarah Jane and Georgiana live at Romeo. Mr. Badger was married again, to Mrs. Sophia McKinsey, a native of Scotland, where she was reared. Mr. Badger cast his first Presidential vote for James Buchanan, and has always been a Democrat.

ASAHEL BAILEY was born January 29, 1789, in Haddam, Conn. He was the son of Stephen and Lydia Freeman Bailey. His grandparents were Stephen and Eunice Crooks Bai- ley. the latter of Scotch origin. Stephen was the name of four paternal ancestors in a direct line. The family came from England. Mr. Bailey had three sisters and two brothers. His parents were Presbyterians in early life, but became communicants in the Protestant Episco- pal Church. Mr. Bailey was a churchman, and studied with Rev. Alanson Welton, with the intention of applying for holy orders; but his health failed from a life of inactivity, and he engaged in manufacturing, teaching at intervals, and later became a farmer. He mar- ried his cousin, Cynthia Freeman, at Richmond, N. Y., in 1819, Elder Wright, a Method-

ist Episcopal preacher. officiating. Mrs. Bailey was the daughter of Joseph and Sylvia Newman Freeman, and was Welsh by maternal descent. The Freemans came from En- gland to Cape Cod, and thenee to Chatham, Conn. The parents of Joseph were Moses and Susan Brooks Freeman. His father was a sea captain: was lost with his vessel and erew when his son was a child. The only trace of the wreck was a blanket marked with his name. Mrs. Bailey was born in Berkshire, Vt., September 18. 1798. Her parents were Methodists. She was a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey eame from Richmond. N. Y .. in 1821. to the Territory of Michigan. They crossed Lake

645

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

Erie in the Walk-in-the-Water, the first steamer on the lake. They reached Detroit Sep- tember 14, and started from there in a small boat, intending to reach Mt. Clemens, then a small French settlement, that day, but their boat sprang a leak, and, after vain efforts to bail out the water, they calked the boat with their handkerchiefs. They lost so much time that all hope of reaching their destination died out. The sun was low when they discov. ered a log house in the woods and landed. They met with faint welcome from the French settlers, who had but slight knowledge of English. The man of the house was absent. and the woman refused to prepare them supper, saying: "Cook you own vit for you own peep," and no offer of money could change the decision. In the morning. Mr. Bailey tried in vain to induce the man to carry his wife, sister and baggage four miles to Mt. Clemens. While deliberating. Judge Clemens rode up. Mr. Bailey had become ac- quainted with him during prospecting the previous spring. He directed Latisau, the Frenchman, to accept the offered reward for the required service, and sent the party to his house, and they set out in an ox-cart, the proprietor running beside his team, which he urged into a run. It was a fearful journey, and one of great fatigue, but they remained at Judge Clemens' until they were well rested, when they procured horses and a wagon and set out for their final destination. They had to make a road many times, and there was one of the worst of Michigan mud-holes on the route. When near it, they met Mayor Cook, of Detroit. He was on horseback, and rode back to see them through it in safety. He insisted on adding his horse to their team, though Mr. Bailey feared that the beast would lie down. As they made the venture, Mr. Cook shouted, "Lick them, Bailey! lick them!" and Mr. Bailey obeyed the high authority, and the horse lay down and rolled over: but they finally made their way through, and reached Town 4. now Washington, in safety, where a few persons had already settled, and they remained until January, 1822. Jere- miah Allen had made some improvements in Town 5, now Bruce, and, becoming discour- aged, was anxious to dispose of his acquisitions -- an unfinished log house and an unstoned well. Mr. Bailey offered him $50 in boots and shoes, which was gladly accepted. Mr. Bailey completed the building, and. in January, 1822, took possession, with his wife and their new daughter, born December 19, 1821, of their new home in Indian Village, then the only dwelling in what is now Romeo.

The Hoxies came eleven months later. Mr. Bail- ey's house was the home of all travelers, without compensation, as he was so desirous of promoting the growth of Indian Village. He and his family became fast friends with the Indians, who trusted "Asa Billy " implicitly. Mr. Bailey went twice a year to Detroit for letters, paying 25 cents postage on each, and Pontiac was the nearest milling place. They exchanged equal measure of supplies with the Indians for blackberries, whortleber ries and cranberries, which were abundant, and, as soon as practicable, a place was pre- pared for an apple orchard. Sickness had attacked the family, and Mr. Bailey, hardly able to ride, drove his ox team to Mt. Clemens, procured apple trees at 25 cents each, small and closely trimmed by sheep, but gladly acquired, and he and his wife set them out in the rain, on what is now the north side of East St. Clair street. Afterward, they set out another orchard on the west side of Main street. Mr. Bailey surveyed the first public roads in Macomb County, running to Mt. Clemens and St. Clair. He was paid in county orders, good only for tax-paying. In 1832. the village of Romeo was surveyed by John B. Hol- lister, and platted by Mr. Bailey and N. T. Taylor. When the question of building a meeting-house came before the community, Mr. Bailey gave the Congregational society a suitable site, and on it have been built their houses of worship. The first schoolhouse was built on land given by Mr. Bailey, and it is the present location of the North Primary Grade of the Union School. He was one of the first School Inspectors of the township of Bruce. In February, 1837, Mr. Bailey sold his farm in Romeo and bought a tract of new land, which he called Goshen, and is now Berlin Township, but the parties failed in their

646

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

agreement, and. much to the satisfaction of the family, they returned to their old home at the end of three months. Mr. Bailey obtained the lumber for his first frame house by long and repeated journeys to the north woods, with his oxen. for logs. It was finished in the fall of 1833. Their third dwelling, at the south end of the village, was completed in 1858, and occupied by the family January 1, 1859. It is now the residence of the daughters who survive. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey had seven children -- Prudence Cynthia. Maria Matilda, Stephen, Lois Curtis, Newman, Lydia and Phebe Jane. Nowman died in infancy: Prudence died April 17. 1872: Stephen married Isabella Harriet Davis, of Jamestown, N. Y., at Strawberry Point, Clayton Co., Iowa, December 31. 1856. He was engaged in farming for a time in Iowa, and afterward in mercantile business, and, in March, 1860, went to Pike's Peak, returning in December following to Romeo. They had

two children-Edith Mand and Clara Marinda. The latter died March 11, 1881. Mrs. Isabella Bailey died April 16, 1881. Mr. A. Bailey died at Romeo January 27, 1862, and was buried on his birthday, January 29. Mrs. Bailey survived her husband more than nineteen years. Her death occurred July 1, 1881.

CHAUNCEY BAILEY was born February 28, 1797, in Connecticut; was the son of Edward Bailey and the grandson of Stephen and Eunice Crooks Bailey. His mother died when he was young, and the children, Chauncey, Eliphalet and Harriet, were separated. Chauncey was married to Amanda Freeman, sister of Mrs. Asahel Bailey, December 25, 1820, at Richmond, N. Y. She was born March 18, 1803, at Berkshire. Vt .: was a mem- ber of the M. E. Church. They accompanied the Baileys to Michigan in 1821, and lived some time with them, and later located about one mile north and west of the Indian Vil- lage. Their daughter was born February 27, 1822. in the first dwelling in Bruce: was the first white child born in that township. Mr. Bailey sold his first location and took up land farther east, near the location of the Farrar saw-mill. After several changes, they removed to Iowa. and afterward to Fairmont, Martin Co., Minn .. where Mr. Bailey died in February, ISSO. Mrs. Bailey is still living. They had five children, three of whom survive.

JOHN L. BENJAMIN was born December S. 1827, in the State of New York. Sara- toga County, son of Seth and Sarah Watkins Benjamin, of same place: came to Michigan in June, 1831, and to Romeo in December, 1848; commenced in the grocery trade June, 1849; was married to Jane A. Lufkin, of Mt. Clemens, December 16, 1850. They had a family of nine children -- Arthur H., born April 7, 1852; Florence A., born September 16, 1853, died January 24, 1876; Varnum L., born May 3, 1555, died May 20, 1872; Jenney L .. born August 10, 1858, died December IS, 1863: Frank C., born June 8, 1867; J. L .. born September 26. 1869; Ira H., born July 22, 1871; Monta, born August 17, 1872, died September 21, 1872: Emley S., born January 24, 1876. John L. Benjamin moved one mile south of Romeo in April, 1875, and there made for himself, family and friends. a lasting monment in the way of fish ponds and other improvements. He has always been a true friend to the poor and all laboring classes, a true Union Democrat of the old Jackson stamp: never took much stock in priests or their selfish schemes to get a fat liv- ing out of others' hard earnings. He believes in but one God of love and justice, from whom all good comes. He believes by his true record he must stand or fall. A God of just- ice demands that we must suffer for all laws broken, natural or spiritual, here and here- after. He is a true believer in a future, and that man never dies, and so let it be recorded. JESSE BISHOP was born May 24, 1803, at Pittstown. now Richmond, Ontario Co .. N. Y. He is the son of Isaac and Lucinda Short Bishop. The former was born in Blandford, Conn .; the latter was a native of Massachusetts. His father was a farmer, and pursued that vocation all his life. He died September 9, 1858, at Canada, Ontario Co., N. Y. His mother died January 4. 1859. in Portage, Livingston Co., N. Y. Mr. Bishop,

مر

647

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

of this sketch, lived on his father's farm in Ontario County until he was nineteen years old. when he set out to make his own way in life. September 4, 1825, he was married to Abigail Fox, a native of Ontario County, N. Y. He bought a small place near his father and went to work as a carpenter, where he remained until he came to Michigan. June 7. 1831, he left Ontario County for the West by wagon to Pittsford, thence by canal to Buffalo, where he took passage on the Henry Clay for Detroit. From there he went by wagon, following the trail to Troy, Oakland County, arriving June 14. June 18, he bought 160 acres of land in Bruce. It was in its primeval condition, and Mr. Bishop invaded the wilderness with his effective ax, ent down trees, cleared the land and built a house. In 1852, he sold the place and bought a small one three miles northeast of Romeo. where he remained until his wife's death, July 9, 1862. She left nine children, three of whom are dead. On the death of his wife, he sold his place and returned to New York on a visit. He was married at Dansville, November 15, 1865, to Rhoda F. Southwick, of Richmond, Ontario Co., N. Y. He bought a grist-mill, in company with his brother, in Argentine, Genesee Co., Mich .. which he operated a year and then sold out. He bought his present property, corner of Bailey and Lafayette streets, Romeo, where his second wife died November 27. 1869. He was married. May 24, 1870, to Susan H. Webster, a native of Ray, Macomb County. Her father. Maj. Webster, is an old pioneer of that town. Mr. Bishop cast his first vote in New York for Andrew Jackson, but was a Whig, and remained in the Whig party until the organization of the Republican party. Mr. Bishop was a radical temperance man, which, in those days, was a much more venture- some matter than now. Such an event as a raising without whisky was one to arrest and hold in abeyanee nearly every consideration, exclusive of one of life and death, and Mr. Bishop believed that it could be done, and in 1832, he engineered such an enterprise on the farm of W. IF. Abbott, just east of the village. The general invitation there was re- sponded to, even though the conditions were understood, and the thing was accomplished. Mr. Bishop is in his seventy-ninth year, in good general health, though obliged to walk with a cane on account of an injury received by a fall October 2, 1879.

JOHN H. BRABB, son of Isaac and Hannah Hudson Brabb, was born in Yorkshire, England, November 5, 1820; his parents came to America when ten years old, making the route via Quebec to Detroit, where they remained for a few weeks and then settled in Oakland County, on the old Sheldon farm, near Rochester. They made the journey be- fore there was any direet highway to that point, via what was called the old Crook road. The wolves gave nightly expressions of their opinions upon the invasion of the intruders, and necessitated extra precautions for the protection of calves and pigs. During their residence there, Govs. Cass, Porter and Mason were entertained at the hospitable pioneer home. Four years later, in 1834, they settled in Washington Township, on a farm which is still retained in the family. Mr. Brabb was married, November 12, 1843, to Sarah A., daughter of Marvil Shaw, an early pioneer of the county, and soon after this event set- tled upon a farm in Bruce, where he remained for fourteen years, which resulted in his being the owner of several farms in the neighborhood. In 1857, he came to Romeo, and for eight years handled grain, wool, pork and other produce with reasonable success, dis- continuing about the close of the war. He has been Director of the First National Bank for the past twelve years and has officiated as its Vice President for six years. He is Di- reetor in the Detroit Union Iron Company, and is one of the heaviest financial operators in this section. His only son, M. I. Brabb, is also a Direetor in the First National Bank and negotiates loans extensively. Mr. B. is a Democrat, with much influence in political circles. His integrity in his business transactions has insured him a well-deserved popu- larity in the commercial community.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 77

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