USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume II > Part 13
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Mr. Monore bought forty acres of land, which he improved and then sold, after which he immediately bought more land. He now owns two excellent farms, among the best in Exeter township, on which he has two good houses and three barns, first rate fences and other necessary improvements. Together the farms comprise 160 acres of land, and they are conveniently divided into fields of suitable size for cultivation, pasturage and handling in any way. The dwelling which he occupies with his family contains twelve rooms and is comfortably and attractively furnished.
On this land Mr. Monore carries on general farming and raising live- stock, principally dairy cattle and hogs, and as he is careful and skill- ful in both branches of his industry he makes both profitable, being one of the most successful farmers and live-stock men in the township, or for that matter, in the whole of Monroe county. He is studious of his business, keeps posted as to the best methods in conducting every part of it, and applies the results of his reading and observation on the subject with good judgment and assiduous industry. The returns he gets for his labor are logical results of his care and intelligence in planning for them.
Mr. and Mrs. Monore have five children : Clayton, who is now (1912) twenty-one years old ; Oria ; Muney ; Claudie, and Donald. The father is an ardent Democrat in political faith and allegiance, and an energetic worker for the success of his party, although he is not himself desirous of any of the honors or emoluments it has to bestow, even though his general popularity might win almost any local office for him if he chose to seek one. He is square and honorable in all his dealings, and where he pledges his word he as good as gives his bond for the performance of his promise. He is besides frank, genial and hospitable, obliging to his neighbors and friends and liberal to all public interests of a worthy character. Among the citizens of Exeter township none stands higher in public estimation, and none deserves to.
ELIJAH M. LAMKIN. One of the venerable citizens of Monroe county, who has spent many years within its borders, and readily recalls incidents and experiences of the pioneer days of this section, is Elijah M. Lamkin, of section 1, London township, who also holds prestige as a veteran of the great Civil war. Born on the banks of the Raisin river, September 6, 1830, he is a son of Oziah and Laura (Martin) Lamkin.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Lamkin was Benjamin Lamkin, a native of New York, the Empire state, and a member of one of the old and distinguished families of the Empire state, from whence five of his sons came to Monroe county, Michigan, settling in the forest and clearing
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farms from the wilderness. They were: Calvin, Oziah, Wiley, Robert, and Orren. Oziah Lamkin married Laura Martin, also a native of New York, and a daughter of Elijah and Hannah (Herkimer) Martin. the lat- ter of whom was born at Litttle Falls, New York, and was a granddaugh- ter of Gen. Herkimer, an officer in Washington's Continental army, after whom Herkimer county, New York, was named. Oziah Lamkin came to Monroe county some time after his marriage, and spent the remainder of his life here, dying in Exeter township, at the age of forty-seven years, while his wife passed away when she was forty-nine years of age. They had a family of seven children, as follows: Elijah M .;
Benjamin, who was a soldier during the Civil war; Hannah; Susan; Frederick ; Oliver, who was a soldier in the Union army, and now resides at Milan, Michigan ; Perry, at home; George and Ira are deceased.
Elijah M. Lamkin was reared to agricultural pursuits, and received such educational advantages as were afforded by the district schools of his day. On attaining his majority, he commenced to work on the farms of the neighboring agriculturists, and he was so engaged at the time of his enlisment, in August 1861, in the Eleventh Regiment, Michigan Vol- unteer Infantry, Capt. Chamberlin, Company I, Col. Stulz. Soon after going into camp, the regiment was ordered south to Louisville, Kentucky, and subsequently participated in the battles of Gallatin, Tennessee, Elk river, Stone river, Chickamauga and Chattanooga. Mr. Lamkin had been suffering from inflammation of the eyes, and at Chattanooga his sufferings became so severe that he could no longer remain with his company and was sent to the hospital. Later, he was removed to the hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, where he was put in charge of the hospital as steward, continuing as such for eight months and then receiving his honorable discharge. He had an excellent record as a brave and gal- lant soldier, and as one who at all times did his full duty cheerfully and faithfully.
Returning home after his career as a soldier, Mr. Lamkin resumed farming, and in 1865 was married to Miss Martha D. Sabin, a woman of intelligence and good family, who made him an excellent helpmeet, and for forty-seven years has done her share in making a home and in developing the interests of the community. She was born near Mead- ville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, the old Keystone state, daughter of Dr. Lakin Sabin and granddaughter of Jesse W. Sabin, of Massachu- setts, and Jesse was a soldier in the War of 1812. Lakin Sabin married Electa Morton, who was born in Vermont, daughter of Robert Morton, and she died at the age of forty-one years, in 1849. Mr. Sabin, who was a farmer and teacher, died at the age of eighty-five years. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Lamkin resumed farming, but subsequently engaged in the sawmill business and also conducted a brick and tile factory at old Herkimer. This, however, did not prove a financial success, and he eventually again turned his attention to tilling the soil in London township, where he owns two farms, of ninety and sixty- five acres, respectively. He is now the owner of a fine brick residence, built in 1893, with eight rooms and porches, a barn 36 x 90, with annex 30 x 40 feet, and other buildings of proportionate dimensions. He has
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been successful in his undertakings, and is considered one of the sub- stantial men of his community.
Mr. and Mrs. Lamkin have had six children, as follows; Mrs. Effie Dolbee; Mrs. Electa Bedell; Sydney, a general builder, who manages his own farm in addition to the old homestead; Mrs. Alice Smuck; Libbie, the wife of Delos Lamkin; and Mrs. Lillie Vedder, the last two named being twins. Mr. Lamkin is a stanch Republican in his political views, but has never cared for public office, although he has done his duty as a public-spirited citizen by serving efficiently in the capacity of school director of London township. He and Mrs. Lamkin are con- sistent members and liberal supporters of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Many changes have taken place since Mr. Lamkin studied his lessons in the little old log schoolhouse in the Palmer district, and he and wife can look back over a long and useful career, satisfied in the knowledge that they have done their share in bringing these changes about, and that their children have grown up to sturdy manhood and womanhood, a credit to their breeding and community, and an honor to their parents.
COLUMBUS DURBIN. A veteran of the war for the Union and a sub- stantial farmer and public-spirited citizen, Columbus Durbin has been identified with Exeter township for a period of forty-five years and was the first settler on the site of the village of Scofield.
Mr. Durbin was born in Ohio, the good old Buckeye state, on the 27th of October, 1837. His parents, Thomas and Abby (Collins) Durbin, both natives of Ohio, were quiet and substantial farming people and good citizens. They have three living children, Columbus, Serepta and Lucinda. The father died when Columbus was twelve years old and his mother then married Joseph Johnson, who had been a soldier in the War of 1812.
Columbus Durbin during his youth attended a log-cabin school, and his advantages were limited, but he has been a lifelong reader and student of men and affairs. He was twenty-six years old when he responded to the call of patriotism and enlisted in July, 1863, in the Eighty-sixth Ohio Infantry, in Captain Brigg's Company, and the regi- ment commander being Colonel Lemert, a gallant, hard-fighting Irish- man. The regiment was under Burnside's command for a time, and then was sent south and saw considerable hard service. One time it performed. a forced march, with baggage, one hundred miles to Cumberland Gap in three days, to relieve General Burnside's forces in Virginia. This regiment also had the distinction of capturing General John Morgan, in southeastern Ohio.
After a good record as a soldier and an honorable discharge, Mr. Durbin returned home, and in 1868 came to Lenawee county, Michigan, and soon afterward to Monroe county, which has since been his per- manent home. On the townsite of Scofield he bought the first lot of land and put up the first dwelling house of the village. He later sold that property and bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in the township, and set to work to make it one of the best farms in this vicinity, his two sons having been his right-hand aids in improving and perfecting this country estate.
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He was married at the age of twenty-two to Miss Alvira Hughes, and together they have worked for their home and a substantial pros- perity. Mrs. Durbin was born in Wayne county, Ohio, one of the sixteen children of Hugh and Phebe (Ayers) Hughes. Her brother, Hugh Jr., was also a soldier of the Eighty-sixth Ohio, and now lives in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Durbin have had four children, two of whom, Octavus and Thomas, died in infancy, and the others are: Lemert, who was named for the colonel of the Eighty-sixth Ohio; and Fremont, named for the Pathfinder, the General and the presidential candidate. Both sons are genial bachelors, living at home, and very able farmers and good citizens.
Mr. Durbin has been a stanch Republican from almost the beginning of the party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church. The Durbin home is noted for its old-fashioned hospitality and its fine ideals of personal character and citizenship, and its members are all representative people of Monroe county.
Mr. Durbin, one of the pioneers of Monroe county, especially Exeter township, is a gentleman of high standing as to honor and integrity, as well as one of the noble defenders of the Union, when the clouds of war threatened the dissolution of the states, receives the homage of all who know the venerable old gentleman. He is a man who is a reader, as well as a logical thinker, and the wisdom he modestly distributes is appre- ciated by the youth as well as the aged. Being a product of the old Buckeye state "The Mother of Presidents," he feels a just pride in his birth state. Mr. Durbin's hospitable home is ably presided over by his estimable wife, and its atmosphere is that of a peaceful and contented home. Almost three-quarters of a century has passed over this good man's head, and yet Father Time has dealt gently with him, and it is with pleasure that the publishers of this valuable work ascribe to him this eulogium.
HOWARD MCLAUGHLIN. Practical scientific farming is taking the place of the old hit-or-miss style of former days, and as a result, land which at one time could be bought for almost nothing is today worth hun- dreds of dollars per acre. Much of this advance has been brought about by the use of modern machinery and the application of scientific meth- ods, as well as by general progress and increase of population, but as a general rule the farmers throughout Monroe county have rocognized the value of modern intensive farming, and are profiting materially thereby. One of the finely-cultivated tracts of Ash township is that of Howard Mc- Laughlin, members of whose family have lived in this locality since 1837. He was born on the old homestead farm here, March 10, 1865, and is a son of Briance and Kate (Armstrong) MeLaughlin, natives of Pennsylvania, who belonged to an old Scotch family noted for its traits of industry and thrift. Mr. McLaughlin's parents had eleven children, of whom the following survive: Frederick, Carrie, Ettie, Jessie and Howard, the others having died young.
Howard Mclaughlin was educated in the district schools of his native locality, and was reared on the old Ash township farm, where he assisted his father in the work of clearing and cultivating. At the age of twenty-one years he was married to Miss Emma Todd, who was born, Vol. II-7
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-
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reared and educated in Ash township, and was a daughter of Nathan Todd, one of the early settlers of Ash township, who died in May, 1912. He was for sixty years a resident of Ash township, whence he had come from Columbiana county, Ohio, being also of Scotch ancestry, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Jones, was also a native of the Buckeye state. Of their seven children, four are now living: John W., of New Boston, Michigan; Mary Cronemoett, of Ash township; Emma, who married Mr. Mclaughlin; and Alexander; while the three who are deceased are : Ben ; Mrs. Minerva Barnum, who died aged thirty- nine years; and Mrs. Jane Harwood. Mr. Todd was a leading farmer, and also took an active part in politics, stanchly supporting the princi- pals and candidates of the Democratic party. His widow, who survives him, still makes her residence on the old home farm. Mr. and Mrs. MeLaughlin have three children: Theodora, who is eighteen years of age ; Katie, who is thirteen years old ; and Clifford, aged six years.
Mr. MeLaughlin is well supplied with modern machinery and appli- ances, not only for his farm work, but in fitting out his home. His farm is conducted according to the latest improved methods, and his premises and fields attest to his good management and thrift. In political matters, like his father, he is a Democrat, but the public field has not lured him from his private interests, his agricultural operations satisfying his am- bitions. However, he has at all times been ready to lend his aid and influence in forwarding movements for the welfare of Ash township of Monroe county, and has contributed liberally to the needs of his com- munity. Frank and genial in manner, he has hosts of friends, and his honorable methods and honesty of purpose have gained him the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens throughout this section.
JOHN L. SIGLER. The Grand Army of the Republic is worthy of the respect of every patriotic citizen in the land. It represents a body of men, rapidly growing smaller and smaller, who responded to the call of duty when their country needed them, and who faltered not when the trying times came. These men suffered that their country might live; they were heroes of the greatest strife the world has ever known; they fought for principle and not for conquest, and because of their noble deeds and heroism our country is today the greatest and best on the face of the globe. Monroe county, Michigan, donated its full quota of men to the ranks of the Union army, furnishing some of the hardest- fighting regiments of the Federal forces, and among those who left the comfort of their homes for the perils to be encountered at the front, were many who were still only a part way through their 'teens. In this class was John L. Sigler, a well-known citizen of Berlin township, who responded to his country's call and fought bravely in defense of its flag. Mr. Sigler was born in Ash township, Monroe county, Michigan, January 8, 1844, a son of John and Sarah (Haley) Sigler, natives of New York. John Sigler left the Empire state as a young man and came to Michigan, the rest of his life being spent in agricultural pursuits in Ash township. He met his death at the age of fifty-four years, being killed by a car, the approach of which he had not heard on account of defective hearing. He was a Democrat in politics, and his religious
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John L. Sigler
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belief was that of the Baptist church, in the faith of which his widow died at the age of seventy-two years. They had a family of four chil- dren : Walter, who was a soldier in the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, and met his death during the Civil war, being buried in West Virginia; Susan and Charles Henry, who are also deceased; and John L.
John L. Sigler was educated in the district schools and was reared on the old homestead farm in Ash township, which he assisted his father to clear. Subsequently he went to the lumber woods, and also worked in a sawmill until his enlistment, September 7, 1864, in the Fourth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, Capt. George H. Rathburne, of Dundee; Col. J. U. Haller, of Ypsilanti. The regiment went into camp at Adrian, Michigan, but a short time later was ordered to Decatur, Alabama, where they participated in a battle. Subsequently they engaged in several other minor battles in Alabama, Georgia, Missis- sippi and Tennessee. At Murphreesboro, Tennessee, Mr. Sigler's regi- ment was in a hot fight lasting three and one-half hours and captured nine pieces of artillery and eighty-eight prisoners, under Gen. Thomas, of the Fourth Corps, Army of the Cumberland, the regiment then being ordered to New Orleans, Louisiana, and across the Gulf to Indianola, Texas. They then moved up the Rio Grande river to Green Lake, and the march was undertaken across the great Salt Plains, but this expedition proved disastrous, many of the men dying of thirst on the route. Mr. Sigler suffered greatly on this march, his tongue becom- ing so parched and swollen that he could not speak, while the first nourishment that he was able to take was one teaspoonful of coffee. Eventually the regiment arrived at San Antonio, Texas, where it remained two months, there gaining strength to make the march to Houston, at which place the men were mustered out of the service and sent back to Detroit, Michigan, where they received their honorable dis- charge and final pay. On his return from the war, Mr. Sigler took up the occupation of peace, settling down to farming, in which he has been engaged ever since. He has a nice home, containing seven rooms, taste- fully and comfortably furnished, and his entire property is in the best of condition. In addition to general farming he has a large orchard, raises berries, and carries on stock-raising to some extent, and the suc- cessful manner in which he has carried on his affairs stamps him as one of his community's capable men.
At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Sigler was married to Mary A. Madison, daughter of John Madison. One of her brothers was a soldier in the Fourth Michigan Infantry during the Civil war and died at San Antonio, Texas, where he was buried. To Mr. and Mr. Sigler there were born nine children, of whom eight grew to maturity : George, Wil- liam, Albert, John, deceased, Jennie, Julia, Libbie, Lewis and also Frank (Libbie and Lewis being twins). Mrs. Sigler died in 1896, and Mr. Sigler was married (second) to Mary Ann Fountain Madison, who was born in Monroe county, and died at the age of sixty years. Happy in his declining years, Mr. Sigler can never forget the hardships he suffered during the war, nor can those who know and admire him for his many sterling qualities of mind and heart.
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PETER J. ZINK. The fertile fields of Monroe county have furnished some of its best citizens with the means of working out their life's des- tiny, and of laying up for themselves a comfortable provision for later years. Farming requires hard, unremitting work, and to carry it on successfully requires good management and an intelligent knowledge of all of its details. The possession of these qualities have made Peter J. Zink, of section 2, Exeter township, one of the substantial agriculturists of his section of the county, while his public spirit and progressive ideas have given him marked prestige among his fellows. Like many other agriculturists of this part of the state, Mr. Zink resides on land that has been the property of the family for many years, as his father, John A. Zink, came to Monroe county as a youth of eight years, with his father, Jacob J. Zink.
John A. Zink received his education in the district schools, primitive structures built of logs, but the greater part of his time was spent in the school of hard work, as his services were needed on the home farm in cutting down the timber, grubbing it out of the ground and preparing the soil for cultivation. In addition to this he worked early and late in the old Zink sawmill that was located on the farm, so that he had little chance to attend school even during the short winter terms. However he managed to secure a fairly good education, and years of observation made him an intelligent man, while much reading kept him well informed on the live issues of the day. As he grew to manhood he acquired por- tions of the original homestead, and eventually became one of the sub- stantial agriculturists of his locality, doing well his part in improving the county, and being honored and respected by all. His death occurred July 27, 1909, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Gertrude Luke, still survives him and has reached the age of seventy-two years. They had a family of four sons and three daughters, as follows: Eliza- beth; John, a carpenter, of Toledo, Ohio; Mary Albert, also living in Toledo; Lucius, of Exeter township; Maggie, and Peter J. The parents were Lutherans, and the children were reared in that faith, being taught lessons of integrity and sobriety that have assisted them greatly in their after lives.
Peter J. Zink received his education in the district schools of Exeter township, and was reared to the life of an agriculturist, which he has followed throughout a busy and useful career. He is now engaged in cultivating the home farm, a well-improved property, on which is located a large. modern eleven-room house, comfortably and tastefully furnished, which is surrounded by shade trees. In addition there are good, substantial barns and well-appointed outbuildings, the farm is well fenced, and the pasture lands and grain fields are in the finest condition. Mr. Zink carries on general mixed and dairy farming, and his efforts have met with well-deserved success. He is well known throughout Exeter township, where his word is considered as good as his bond, while personally he is genial and frank in manner and a pleasing conversationalist.
On May 1, 1912, Mr. Zink was married to Miss Catherine Kiley, a woman of intelligence and good breeding, who was born and educated in
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Monroe county, and is a daughter of Thos. Kiley, a farmer of Exeter township.
HENRY A. ZINK. This genial, upright, progressive and highly esteemed farmer is a native of Monroe county and has passed the whole of his life to this time (1912) in Exeter township. He was born on the old homestead farm, on which he now lives, on May 24, 1883, and was reared on that farm and educated in the neighborhood public school. He has never been engaged in any other business than farming and raising live stock, and has been successful in both branches of his industry.
Mr. Zink is the son of Philip and Catherine (Kramer) Zink, the former born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1835, and the latter in the state of New York, in 1850. The father was one of the most highly respected and esteemed of the early settlers of Exeter township, prominent and influential in the public affairs of the township, and is well worthy of the record of his usefulness, high character and business success which the publishers of this volume are well pleased to give in these pages.
Philip Zink was but a young boy when he came to this country with his parents and the family found a new home in Niagara county, New York. He grew to manhood in that county and obtained his education there. There also he was married in 1865 to Miss Catherine Kramer, being at the time not far past twenty-nine years old. In 1871 they moved to Monroe county and located on a farm in the woods in Exeter township, which Mr. Zink purchased immediately on their arrival here. The farm was then improved with a log cabin built by its first occupant, and only a few acres of it were cleared. He cleared the rest and improved it all, adding to it by subsequent purchases until he owned fifty-two acres, on which he had a modern nine room house, good barns, sheds and other necessary structures.
Mr. and Mrs. Zink were the parents of four children: Philip, Jr., who lives on a farm of his own one mile and a half north of the old homestead, and is married; Mary, who is the wife of Lewis Shumacker of Exeter township; Henry A., who is unmarried and lives on the old homestead farm, and Clara Elizabeth, who has her home with her brother Henry, and looks after the affairs of the household for him. Their mother died on April 26, 1891, and the father afterward married Miss Dorothy Schoelles, who was born in Germany, the daughter of Philip Schoelles, who died in Niagara county, New York, many years ago well esteemed in his neighborhood.
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