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 25
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On the 7th of June, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Acker to Miss Mildred H. Crane, who was born and reared in Eaton county, this state, and who is a daughter of John and Mary (Spalding) Crane, her father having long been engaged in mercantile business in Eaton county and being one of its substantial and honored citizens. Dr. and Mrs. Acker have three children, William F., Jr., Robert Louis and Mary.
The Doctor is a member of local clubs and has been president of the Monroe County Society.
HON. HARRY C. ORVIS. The present mayor of the city of Monroe is Dr. Harry C. Orvis, one of the able young citizens and professional men, who has found and utilized large opportunities for service in the city of his choice. Dr. Orvis came here from the dental college in 1899, and in the years of building up an excellent practice has also taken a prominent part in public affairs.
Harry C. Orvis was born in Whitby, Ontario, May, 1879, a son of William H. and Emily (Dennis) Orvis, both natives of Canada. His father, who was a farmer in later life moved to Kansas, where he was engaged in mercantile business until his death in 1895. The Ontario public schools afforded Harry Orvis his early education, and after leav- ing high school he began the study of dentistry in the University of Mich- igan, where he was graduated in 1899. He is one of the most successful men in his profession in Monroe. His office and practical equipment is maintained at the highest point of efficiency and modern standards.
Dr. Orvis was married in 1904 to Miss Spalding, daughter of Gen- eral George Spalding, president of the First National Bank and one of the first citizens of Monroe. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, and on the ticket of this party was elected to the office of mayor in the
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spring of 1911. His administration has been notable for much material accomplishment in the improvement of the city. Mayor Orvis is well known in Masonic circles, being a member of Monroe Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., and River Raisin Chapter, No. 22, R. A. M.
REV. JAMES S. DOWNEY. The great mother church of Christendom has maintained strong vantage ground in Monroe county from the early pioneer days to the present time, and the parish of St. Mary's church, in the city of Monroe, has a long and interesting history, both in its spir- itual and temporal activities. Of this fine old parish Father Downey is assistant priest, as coadjutor to Rev. Joseph Joos, the honored rector of the church, and he is well entitled to specific recognition in this pub- lication, such consideration being the more consonant by reason of the fact that he is a native of the Wolverine state and a representative of one of its sterling families.
James Samuel Downey was born in the township of Silver Creek near the city of Dowagiac, Cass county, Michigan, on the 23d of Janu- ary, 1873, and is a son of Eugene and Abbie ( White) Downey, both natives of the fair old Emerald Isle, where the father was born in County Cork and the mother in County Kerry. (Their marriage was solemnized in Marshall, Michigan.) They immigrated to America and established their home in the vicinity of the city of Toronto. There Eugene Downey became a successful agriculturist and a citizen of in- fluence in his community, and the town of Downeyville was named in honor of the family. Ile finally removed with his family to Michigan and he was for many years one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Cass county, where he was engaged in farming in Silver Creek. Both he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives in this township and both were most earnest and zealous communicants of the Catholic church, in whose faith they carefully reared the chil- dren. Of the eighteen children born to this couple, five sons and one daughter are now living.
Father James S. Downey passed his boyhood days on the farm and gained his early education in public schools. He thereafter continued his studies in Notre Dame University, at South Bend, Indiana, and in Assumption College at Sandwich, province of Ontario, Canada. Graduated in the philosophical course in 1898. In preparation for the work of his holy calling, Father Downey entered Mount St. Mary's Seminary, at Cincinnati, Ohio, in which he completed his theological course and in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1901. He was ordained to the priesthood on the 7th of July, 1901, by Right Reverend John S. Foley, D. D., bishop of the diocese of Detroit. On the 7th of September of the same year, Father Downey came to Monroe, Michigan, to assume his present office of assistant priest of St. Mary's parish, and here his earnest labors have been fruitful in goodly results, both spiritual and temporal, the while he has the affection and high esteem of the members of the important parish with which he is thus concerned, and the unequivocal regard of the entire community. St. Mary's church has a membership of five hundred families and the parish organization is one of the largest in the entire northwest. The
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parochial school has an average enrollment of about three hundred and fifty, and four hundred children represent the average membership list of the Sunday school. Father Downey is indefatigable in his parochial activities, and it may well be understood that the same place insistent demands upon his time and attention. He enjoys un- alloyed popularity in his home city and county and is broadminded and public-spirited as a citizen, with his political allegiance accorded to the best men in any of the old parties.
DR. WILLIAM F. KNAPP. The late Dr. William F. Knapp, of Monroe, Michigan, was not only one of the best known professional men in this section, but also widely known as a successful business man. Although most of his professional career was spent in Monroe county, yet he had practiced in one of the large cities of the Middle West and his success there was even greater than in the vicinity of his boyhood home. HIe had the peculiar qualities that belong to the successful physician ; a quiet, reassuring manner, a strong will, sympathy and a fine mind, that was able to cope with the difficult problems which the doctor is called upon to solve daily. His death was not only a shock to the com- munity but a loss that can never be made good, for though other phy- sicians may come, who are equally as able as was Dr. Knapp, he will have a distinct and separate place in the memory of his people for he was more than a doctor ; he was a true and tried friend.
William F. Knapp was born in the township of Raisinville, on July 2, 1855, the son of Ludwig and Martha (Martin) Knapp. He was always a student, even as a boy, and he assimilated learning with remarkable rapidity. By the time he was sixteen he had completed the courses offered by the public schools in his vicinity, and entered the State Normal at Ypsilanti, taking the course in English and Latin, and graduating from the institution in 1875. He had determined during these years that he would take up medicine as a profession and there- fore the opening of the University of Michigan in the fall of 1875, found him enrolled as a student in the medical department. He was graduated from the great school at Ann Arbor, in 1878, and upon returning home, began to look about him in search of a good location. Dr. C. T. South- worth, at the time one of the most prominent practitioners in Monroe, the father of Dr. C. T. Southworth of Washington street, had been watching the young fellow, and now offered him the position as assist- ant in his office. Dr. Knapp accepted, and for two years held this position, deriving the greatest benefit from his association with the older and more experienced physician. He was tremendously interested in his work, and the skill which he developed as time went on, together with the charm and the power of his personality, aided him to build up an extensive practice which was rather more largely located in the country than in the city. This fact induced him after considerable per- suasion to remove to LaSalle, Michigan, in the spring of 1880.
He practiced for several years in LaSalle, winning marked success, and then coming back to Monroe, he opened an office on the north side of Front street. He was warmly welcomed by his old patrons, and soon developed a large practice, having the honor of being appointed medical
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examiner for several insurance companies and for the Working Men's Society in this city. In 1904, feeling that he could handle a larger field he removed to the city of Toledo, where he purchased a beautiful home on Warren street, and established an office in "Doctors' Row" on Mich- igan street. Although he had hoped for success he was greatly sur- prised to find himself soon popular and well known. During his years in Monroe the business side of his nature had asserted itself and he had acquired considerable valuable property, showing himself a good judge of property values and a shrewd business man. After his removal to Toledo he began to sell out his interests in Monroe, that he might con- centrate all of his efforts on his work in Toledo, only retaining a farm near LaSalle. His plans were blighted by a sad event that took place in 1909. His youngest son Tracy, in whom his hopes were deeply centered, was studying at the University of Michigan, with the intention of fol- lowing in the footsteps of his father, and eventually entering into part- nership with him. The young boy was taken ill and despite his imme- diate removal to the milder air of the south, the lavish use of money, and the best of care and medical attendance, he died in Toledo in the spring of 1909. The brilliant successes which Dr. Knapp had achieved and the roseate future that lay before him, seemed to have turned to ashes in the sight of Dr. Knapp. In his distress he instinctively sought old scenes and familiar faces, and turning away from the prospect of a large and lucrative city practice, he again returned to Monroe in June, 1909.
It was about twelve years ago that Dr. Knapp fell from a ladder and sustained injuries which his physicians think may have caused his death, for he had an apparently strong constitution and was far from an old man. While he was living in Toledo, in March, 1908, he suffered a stroke of apoplexy, and although he recovered quickly, this was very likely the beginning of the end. After returning to Monroe, he steadily grew worse and practically ceased his professional work, spending much of his time out-of-doors in the attempt to recover his strength. He had another stroke on the sixth of March and a third shortly afterwards from which he never rallied, passing away on March 10, 1910. He died at Dearborn, Michigan, where he had been taken a few days before in hopes that the quiet of the place might prove beneficial.
The funeral which was held on the 12th of March, was attended by a large number of friends and acquaintances, and the great masses of beautiful flowers showed how devotedly he was loved by those to whom he had ministered through so many years. The doctor was a member of the Odd Fellows and the order attended in regalia and acted as an escort for the remains to their last resting place.
On January 1, 1880, Dr. Knapp was married to Miss Margaret J. Graham, of LaSalle, Monroe county, Michigan. She was a daughter of George W. Graham and Julia A. (Sprague) Graham, and was born in Chautauqua county, New York. Her mother is still living and though she has passed her ninetieth birthday, yet she is hale and hearty and is in possession of all her faculties. Mrs. Knapp's paternal grandfather was George Graham, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to the United States early enough to become one of the pioneers of Mon-
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roe county. George W. Graham, the father of Mrs. Knapp was born in Monroe county, and grew to manhood in this section. He enlisted in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, at the outbreak of the Civil war, and had the hero, General Custer as his commander. He was one of the martyrs of Libby prison during the war, who died in Monroe county.
Three children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Knapp, Myrtle who died in infancy. Tracy L., whose sad death has been mentioned was born in Monroe, August 29, 1886. The only living child is Burton S. He took up the study of pharmacy, and during the last five years of his father's life was connected with the Pharmaceutical Establishment of the Frederick Stearns Company of Detroit. He has severed his con- nection with this institution and is now devoting himself to the cares of his father's estate.
VERNON C. BREWER. Among the many intelligent and enterprising agriculturists of Monroe county, Michigan, will be found the name of Vernon C. Brewer, of Dundee township, one of the most influential and respected citizens of that community, who has entered prominently into its public life and is recognized as one of its most progressive and worthy men.
Mr. Brewer was born in Bergen, Genesee county, New York, June 24, 1869, to Gilbert N. and Carrie Brewer, the latter of whom died when her son was but six weeks old. He was adopted at that time by Anon H. Brewer and wife, who reared him and educated him in the public schools to the age of fifteen years. It was not until he had nearly reached manhood that it was made known to him that Mr. and Mrs. Brewer were not his real parents. In 1876, when he was about eight years old, he accompanied his foster parents from New York to Dundee township, Monroe county, Michigan, where Mr. Brewer passed away in 1883 and his wife in 1895. Vernon C. remained in their home until both parents had passed to the life beyond.
He owns a farm of eighty acres in section 21 of Dundee township and has given his whole attention to the general lines of agriculture, his efforts having been attended with gratifying success.
On May 11, 1892, Mr. Brewer was united in marriage to Miss Frankie L. Hobart, of Whiteford Center, Michigan, who was born September 13, 1869, in Whiteford township, was reared there and was educated in its public schools. She became a teacher and taught five or six terms prior to her marriage. Her parents were Christian Hobart and Esther Colby Hobart, the former a native of New York and the latter of De- troit, Michigan. They were married in Monroe county, Michigan, and were residents of Whiteford township for fifty years. The father has passed away but the mother is still living and remains a resident of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer have three children: Ruth Ann, born December 3, 1893, who graduated from the Dundee high school in 1912, and has taken up the profession of teaching; Carrie L., born July 12, 1896, who is now a student in the Dundee high school; and Edward B., born April 27, 1900, a pupil in the grades. Mr. Brewer is affiliated fraternally with two of the oldest fraternal orders, the Masons and the Odd Fellows, and is also a member of the Dundee Lodge No. 206
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Knights of Pythias. He is a member of Dundee Lodge No. 74 Free and Accepted Masons, of Mt. Vernon Chapter No. 37 Royal Arch Masons, and of Dundee Council No. 4 Royal and Select Masons, and both he and his wife are members of Ruth Chapter No. 89, Order of the Eastern Star, of which lodge she is a past worthy matron and he a past worthy patron. He affiliates with Thomas Lodge No. 211 Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows at Dundee, is a past noble grand of that lodge, and Mrs. Brewer is a past noble grand of its auxiliary Rebekah lodge. He is a member of the grand lodge of both the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and both he and his wife are members of the Michigan Rebekah Assembly and the grand lodge of the Eastern Star.
In politics Mr. Brewer is a Republican and at the present time is chairman of the Monroe County Republican central committee. He was elected supervisor of Dundee township in 1903, has served in that office continuously since June 15th of that year, having been reelected to that office each year since that time, and in 1911 he served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Monroe county. He has now also been a member of the school board of district No. 7 for thirteen years, and his long tenure of office in each of these capacities bespeaks his ability and efficiency.
Mr. and Mrs. Brewer are honorable and upright people, quiet and un- assuming, but are endowed with those personal qualities of character that make them valued factors of society and have drawn to them a host of friends. It is with pleasure that the publishers of this volume give them representation among the best families of Monroe county.
CAPT. AMOS T. HECOCK. Among the first of the thrifty settlers from New York State coming to Monroe county, Michigan, were Samuel C. and Catherine C. Hecock, the parents of Capt. Amos T. Hecock, one of the best known of Monroe county citizens, whose advent to this section of Michigan dates back nearly a century ago and who became large contributors to the upbuilding of this opulent section. They were born in New York, he in Schenectady county in 1792 and she in Orange county in 1799. Samuel C. Hecock was of English and German descent, while his wife was of Scotch-Irish lineage and was a direct descendant of Thomas Lynch, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. They were married in Ovid, New York, in 1818. About this time many were mov- ing to the Territory of Michigan and as reports came back as to the cheapness of the land, the wealth of fine timber and the unusually fine opportunities for homes in Michigan, Mr. and Mrs. Hecock too became enthused with the spirit of emigration and late in the fall of 1824 they made preparations to start on the then long and perilous journey with three little children, barrels of dishes and chests of bedding. The latter had been made by the thrifty housewife before her marriage, as was the custom of that day, and the family soon found itself fortunate in being so well provided for in this respect, for in a short time there was use for them. Several of these beautiful blue and white woven counterpanes are still in existence and in excellent condition and are highly prized by the owners as heirlooms and as samples of an art that has passed. They left Ovid, New York, in November by ox wagon for the New York and
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Erie canal en route to Buffalo. The weather was favorable during their journey thence, but the way was long and the boat slow, so slow in fact that some three weeks passed ere they reached Buffalo. Upon their arrival there they found that an open schooner was about to start for Monroe, Michigan, and being fearful of changing weather and anxious to conclude their journey, they took passage. Almost from the start they were confronted with adverse winds, gales and sleety storms, and with Lake Erie at its worst, another three weeks elapsed before they reached Detroit, safe but tired and weakened from the rough voyage. They resided in Monroe until 1832. While the United States turnpike from La Plaisance Bay to Chicago was being surveyed and work begun they moved to Dundee, where they bought land and built a large double log house on Tecumseh street, a part of this famous military and post road as all national turnpikes were then termed. Here they opened a hotel known for years as the Hecock Hotel, famed for the geniality of its host and the excellent fare served by its hostess, whose first consid- eration was the comfort of their guests, and there are still pioneers in this section who retain a "sweet" memory of the quality of the maple syrup and sugar they made. Samuel C. Hecock was a man of sterling integrity, was identified with every movement which had for its purpose the upbuilding of his community, and for years was a colonel in the state militia. In 1849 they abandoned the hotel and built a substantial frame house on the same site. Here on November 29, 1850, Samuel C. Hecock passed to the higher life, respected and esteemed by all who knew him. His wife survived him until December 26, 1861. Of the seven children living at the time of the father's death, Capt. Amos T. Hecock is now the sole survivor.
He was born July 28, 1838, in the township of Raisinville, whither the family had removed from Dundee and where they remained less than a year before returning to their former home. His education was begun at the age of five in a little red school house on the banks of the River Raisin, where now stands Pulver's blacksmith shop, and as he grew older he, with other lads, worked during the summers and attended school during the winters. At the age of sixteen he took up farin work but soon became convinced that his aptitude was not for that vocation, and though he filled his contract for the season and received his wages of $8 per month with board and washing, that summer concluded his experience in gen- eral farming. He was fond of stock, however, having a way of handling horses and cattle that attracted attention, and was very early entrusted with teams to take travelers to the various villages around Dundee. Later he drove stock to Toledo and carried large sums of money to and fro, as banks were not so numerous then as now. When seventeen years of age he became a student in the Ypsilanti Union Seminary, where he remained one year, and from then until 1861 was engaged in various lines of business. In that year he sold the mercantile business he was then conducting and on August 22d was mustered into the United States service as a private in Company D, Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infan- try. On September 2, 1861, he was made second lieutenant of his com- pany and on March 1, 1862, he was promoted to the office of first lieu- tenant. For gallantry and bravery in action on the field at Yorktown
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he was again honored by being made captain of Company D, being at that time but twenty-three years of age. In December, 1862, he was appointed chief of ambulance on General Darius N. Couch's staff and after the latter was relieved Captain Hecock held the same office on General Han- cock's staff. The 7th Michigan Infantry was engaged at Ball's Bluff, Yorktown, West Point, Fair Oaks, where it participated in the bayonet charge that broke the enemy's line, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross Roads and Malvern Hill. It fought at the second battle of Bull Run, was with General Mcclellan at South Moun- tain and Antietam, and in the latter battle Captain Hecock was wounded on September 17, 1862. This regiment was with Burnside's army at Fredericksburg, where it crossed the Rappahannock in open pontoon boats (the first Union troops to land on the other side) and here Captain Hecock received his second wound while crossing in the second boat of the pontoon bridge on December 13, 1862. With the assistance of the 19th Massachusetts infantry, the 7th Michigan regiment dislodged the sharpshooters here and captured almost as many prisoners as its own members. This was one of the most gallant acts of the war. Captain Hecock served in the Army of the Potomac until June 22, 1863, when he was mustered out by order of the war department to accept the position of deputy provost marshal of the Fifth congressional district of Michi- gan, in which capacity he served until January, 1865. During the fol- lowing three years his attention was given to different affairs, a portion of that time having been given to prospecting in the oil fields of West Virginia and one year having been spent in the law office of Grosvenor & Rauch at Monroe. In 1869 he accepted the position of deputy county treasurer and in 1872 was elected county treasurer of Monroe county, serving two years. He then retired from politics and official life and became interested in general trade. On October 19, 1872, he married Miss Cynthia Zeliff, a most estimable lady who passed to the great beyond on March 7, 1879. A month later Captain Hecock with his brother Man- deville went to Texas on a prospecting trip and they were so well satis- fied with the country that they decided to remain. Buying the Winfield Scott ranch in Johnson county, they stocked it with graded native and Hereford cattle and became thorough stockmen. After the death of his brother on June 3, 1896, Captain Hecock disposed of his property in Texas and in 1898 returned to the old Hecock homestead in Dundee, Michigan, which has now been in the continuous possession of the family since 1832.
The second marriage of Captain Hecock occurred on December 27, 1884, and united him to Mrs. Anna M. Underwood, daughter of James G. and Mary (Pope) Jordan. Mrs. Hecock was born in Indianapolis in 1843 and was educated at Lynch Seminary and at Earlham College. Captain Hecock is a member of Pontiac Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons, Pontiac Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and of Pontiac Council of Royal and Select Masons. He is also a member of William Bell Post No. 10 G. A. R.
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