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 38
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JACOB MARTIN. This representative business man and honored and influential citizen of Monroe has maintained his home in this fair Michi- gan city from the time of his nativity, and the high esteem in which he is held in the community has been attested in many ways, not the least of which was in his being chosen mayor of his native city, an office of which he continued the able and popular incumbent for three successive terms, as well as two consecutive terms in later years. He served in that office in 1901, 1902 and 1903, and also in 1909 and 1910. He was thus mayor of the city during the Custer Celebration of 1910, and President Taft was his guest at that time, coming to the city on the invitation of the mayor, our subject. It is a significant fact that of the five times that he was nominated for the office of mayor, he was only opposed in the office on two occasions. The family name is one that has been identified
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with business and civic enterprise and interests in Monroe for nearly sev- enty years, and has at all times stood exponent of loyal and worthy citi- zenship. He whose name initiates this paragraph is junior member of the firm of Martin Brothers, engaged in the retail boot and shoe business in Monroe, and the enterprise thus conducted is the outgrowth of a modest business established in 1846 by the honored father of the present inter- ested principals, so that the present establishment may consistently be designated as one of the pioneer mercantile concerns of the "Floral City."
Jacob Martin was born in Monroe on the 4th of May, 1861, and is a son of George and Odelia (Gerweck) Martin, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, the year of the former's nativity having been 1819 and that of the latter, 1821. George Martin learned the shoemaker's trade in his native land, where he served a most thorough apprenticeship. In 1840 he immigrated to America and after a long and weary voyage on a sailing vessel of the type common to that period, he landed in the port of New York City. He was thereafter employed at his trade in Newark, New Jersey, and it was there, in the year 1844, that he married Odelia Gerweck. In 1846 the family came to Michigan and established a home in Monroe. Here George Martin opened a shop and engaged in the work of his trade, and he continued as an industrious workman on the bench for several years, in the meanwhile gaining a secure hold upon the confi- dence and esteem of the residents of the city and county. In 1870 he amplified his business by handling ready-made boots and shoes, and through careful and honest dealing and conservative business methods he built up a substantial and prosperous enterprise. The Martin shoe store has long been one of the veritable mercantile landmarks of Monroe county, its trade has at all times been of a representative order, and its reputation has been a most unassailable one. The present establishment is metropolitan in its appointments and general equipment and a large and substantial trade is controlled therein by the sons of that sterling founder of the business. The building now utilized was erected by George Martin in 1860 and is a substantial three-story brick structure, twenty by eighty feet in lateral dimension. All three floors are occupied by the firm in the conducting of their large and ever growing business, and the stock carried is the largest of its kind in the county. George Martin continued to be identified with the business until his death, which occurred in 1896. He had admitted his sons, John A. and Jacob, to part- nership, and thereafter the business was conducted under the title of George Martin & Sons until the death of the founder, when the present firm name of Martin Brothers was adopted. George Martin was a man of strong mentality, marked business sagacity and impregnable integrity of purpose. He was long one of the valued and honored members of the business community of Monroe and his circle of friends was coincident with that of his acquaintances. He was one of the venerable citizens and pioneer merchants of the city at the time of his death, and he was sur- vived by his wife until 1904. Both George Martin and his wife were earnest and devout communicants of the Catholic church, and the former was a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party. Of their children, two sons and one daughter are now living.
Jacob Martin, the immediate subject of this review, gained his early
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education in the parochial schools of Monroe, but his broader education has been acquired through self-discipline and through the lessons learned under the direction of that wisest of all head-masters, experience.
When but sixteen years of age Mr. Martin entered upon an appren- ticeship to the tinner's trade, in the hardware establishment of Seib & Baier, of Monroe, and after completing his apprenticeship he worked for one year at the trade. Within a short time, however, he became associated with his father's shoe business, and finally both he and his elder brother, John A., were admitted to partnership in the business, as has already been noted in a previous paragraph. The firm of Martin Brothers has admirably upheld the prestige of the family name in connection with pro- gressive business enterprise and loyal citizenship, and in addition to his interest in the firm noted Jacob Martin is a stockholder and director of the Monroe Canning and Packing Company, which represents one of the leading enterprises of the city, in an industrial way.
Broad-minded, liberal and progressive as a citizen, Jacob Martin has shown intense interest in all that has touched the welfare of his home city and county, and in politics he has ever been aligned as a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party. Previ- ous to his election to the office of mayor in 1901, in which office he served five terms, as noted in a previous paragraph, Mr. Martin was appointed chief of the Monroe Fire Department, and in that position he served from 1892 to 1901, inclusive. His continued and effective service in that position warranted his election to the office of mayor, to which he was elected in 1901, and the five terms which he served in that office gave tangible proof and evidence of the high order of his citizenship, which he had already amply demonstrated in other service to the city.
Mr. Martin and his family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, in which they are zealous members of the parish of St. Michael's church, and in which Mr. Martin is a trustee. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of St. John. In a fraternal way he is associated with the German Working Men's Association, the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He is also a charter member of the Monroe Yacht Club.
On the 11th day of May, 1886, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Martin to Miss Nellie Shovar, who was born and reared in Monroe and who is a daughter of Clement and Susan (Bond) Shovar. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have one daughter, Laurenca, who remains in the parental home and is a popular factor in the social activities of Monroe.
DAVID CLARK PICKENS. An up-to-date and prosperous farmer of Whiteford township, is David Clark Pickens, who resides on that part of his property which is located in section 3 of the township mentioned. Mr. Pickens' birthplace was in Hancock county, Ohio, where he was born on the eighth of July, 1874. His parents were Benjamin and Mary (Moe) Pickens, both of whom were natives of southern Ohio, and who later removed from Ohio county in that state to Hillsdale county, Mich- igan. They subsequently returned to their native state, making their most recent home in Findlay, Ohio. Mr. Pickens' father passed from
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this life in 1911, but his mother is still living as are six of the seven chil- dren born in this family.
Mr. Pickens' three older sisters are: Bertha, the wife of Quinn Long of Arlington, Ohio; Cora, who is Mrs. Marion Ely of Detroit; and Clara, who is Mrs. Charles Longbrake of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Alice, a younger sister of our subject, is deceased. Of his two brothers, Charles J. Pickens is married and lives in Mt. Clemens, Michigan; Bert is married and resides in Detroit.
David Clark Pickens found his chief educational opportunities in the district schools, which he left at the age of fourteen, spending his time in assisting with the pursuits of his father's farm until he attained his majority.
At this time, Feburary 9, 1895, he gained as his life's comrade Miss Anna MeMeekin, who was a daughter of Henry and Melissa (Ferris) McMeekin. Her girlhood years were spent in Monroe county and a part of her young womanhood was devoted to the profession of teaching. Two children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Pickens. Harold C., who is now fifteen years of age, is a graduate of the common schools of White- ford township and is a student in the Blissfield high school. Brace is twelve years of age and is still in the public schools.
Politically Mr. Pickens is a Republican, though not a violently active one nor an office-seeker. His interest in education makes him an effi- cient member of the district board of school directors. He is a progres- sive in all lines in which he is active. He owns not only the seventy-one acres where he resides, but also a half-interest in an eighty-acre property in Somerfield township. On the farm which is his home he has made notable improvements, especially in his building of a fine and exception- ally convenient barn. His cattle and dairy business is a flourishing en- terprise, his cattle feeding and buying being both judicious and exten- sive, and his stock being bought by the carload.
FRED CLAMPITT. An enterprising and public-spirited agriculturist of Whiteford township is Fred Clampitt, who has lived here ever since his childhood and who was born on the farm which he now owns, on May 3, 1872. His family, however, was originally English, both his parents having been born in Devonshire, England, the father, William Clampitt, on May 7, 1827, and the mother, Elizabeth Thone, on July 3, 1829. Both lived in their native country until they grew to maturity and were united for the rest of their life journey. They came to America about the year 1860, settling first in Toledo, Ohio, later removing to Sylvania in the same state, and after three years changing their home once more, this time to a farm in Whiteford township. This was the home of Wil- liam Clampitt's family until 1900, when he retired to Sylvania for the less active years of his life. Of the thirteen children, six are still living besides Mr. Fred Clampitt, to whom this sketch is dedicated. William, junior, is a farmer of Sylvania township, Ohio. James is a farmer living in Whiteford township. Mary is the wife of L. F. Frost of Dundee town- ship, Monroe county. Elizabeth is the wife of D. B. Young of Sylvania, Ohio. Mina, maiden lady living with parents. Emma, wife of W. E. Chapple of Toledo, Ohio.
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Fred Clampitt, the third living son of William Clampitt, was reared and educated with his brothers and sisters, first amid farm scenes and rural school experiences at Sylvania. He later attended Sylvania high school, after which he began his present vocation of farming. On May 28th, he was united in life's closest companionship with Mary Fletcher, a native of Whiteford township, the date of whose birth was May 27, 1872. Her parents were Samuel L. and Anna E. (Nichols) Fletcher, who were originally of Portage county, Ohio, and of Whiteford township, respectively. The youthful schooldays of Mrs. Clampitt had been spent in the district schools of this region.
The second generation of Fred Clampitt's family numbers three children : Frank, who was born March 18, 1897 and who in 1911 was graduated from the rural graded schools; Fred W., junior, whose natal day was May 12, 1906; and Ina I., who brought her infant charms to the home on December 22, 1910.
Mr. Clampitt's residence is on section 27 of Whiteford township, where he owns 80 acres of successfully cultivated land. He is not oblivious to the public duties which should fall to the lot of the intelli- gent farmer; he has therefore accepted and adequately filled the office of treasurer for Whiteford township for two terms. He is a Republican of thoughtful views, but one who is rather conservative in his attitude to- ward issues that do not seem to him to be well founded. His nature is a genial one, as may be inferred from his activity in social fraternities. He is a member of Ottawa Lake Lodge, No. 20, of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand master, and also holds membership in the Ancient Order of Gleaners, in which he carries insurance.
DR ROLPH BROWN, the gifted and popular physician of Whiteford Center is one of our citizens who is not only a figure of exceptional importance in his own right, but who can also point back to ancestral lines of considerable distinction. His father's family are of that English branch formerly living in Taunton, England. His great-grandfather, Wm. Brown, was the first of his line to come to America, and it was his wife who, during the privations of the Revolutionary war, knitted stockings and carried provisions to the soldiers of Washington's army at Valley Forge. Dr. Brown's maternal great-grandmother, an ances- tress of his mother, Eunice Walton Brown, of Scarborough township, York county, Ontario, was the first white woman who ever lived in that region.
James M. Brown, our subject's immediate progenitor, came originally from (Pekin) New York, and has been at several times a resident of Monroe county. He was a Civil war patriot who enlisted from Wiscon- sin. He and his wife were the parents of two children, Dr. Brown and a daughter, Jessie, who is the wife of Joseph Cook of Toronto, Canada.
Rolph Brown was born on April 15, 1873, at Allendale, Ontario, Canada. He came to Sanilac county, Michigan, in 1882, with his partnts where he attained his majority, and was educated in the Michigan public schools and in those of Canada. He is a graduate of the Simcoe high school of Ontario, Canada. He has been a teacher in both the Canadian Vol. II-19
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schools and those of this state. It is an interesting and significant fact that he earned his own expenses both for his high school course and for the medical course which fitted him for his present profession. It was in 1895 that he entered the Medical College of Detroit, Michigan, and his degree was conferred in 1897. He began his medical practice at White- ford Center, where he established an enviable reputation for efficiency and skill and where he has since remained. He was the organizer and president for the first five years of the Whiteford Farmers Telephone Company.
Mrs. Brown was formerly Miss Martha McKoy. She is of Canadian birth and Scotch ancestry, her father having been a native of Edinburgh and her mother of Kilmarnock, Scotland. Dr. and Mrs. Brown have two daughters, Jessie, born in 1900, and Helen, born in 1907. The family live in an attractive home, the grounds of which comprise twenty- seven acres.
Dr. Brown is not only deeply interested in professional organizations, but gives a due amount of time and attention to social fraternities. His membership in the former includes the National and State Medical Asso- ciations and the County Medical Society, and he is also a member of the A. F. & A. M., his membership being in the Russel lodge, of Petersburg, Michigan; of the O. E. S., of which Mrs. Brown is also a member and of the I. O. O. F., Ottawa lodge No. 20. In politics Dr. Brown is thought- fully and impartially independent.
ROBERT MCMEEKIN. A well-known resident of Whiteford township and a highway commissioner of intelligence and efficient service is Robert McMeekin. His parents were of Scottish ancestry, though it was in northern Ireland that both were born. In 1855 they came to a land of broader possibilities, where they might bring up their family under the most favorable circumstances. Samuel McMeekin, the father is still living at the ripe age of eighty-five, although his wife, Mary (Given) McMeekin, passed to her reward a number of years ago. All of their seven children are living in 1912, and are as follows : Henry H., of Hard- ing, Montana ; Maggie, wife of Alfred Tucker, of Whiteford township; Samuel, a farmer of near Mt. Vernon, Washington; Mary, the wife of Isaac Sloan, of Tecumseh, Michigan ; Robert, to whom this sketch is dedi- cated and the details of whose life will be more fully stated; James A., a barber in Hortonville, Wisconsin; and Lizzie, the wife of George Sie- fleet, of Lucas county, Ohio.
Robert MeMeekin, who was born January 28, 1858, spent his earliest years in Toledo, Ohio, but when he was but six years of age his parents changed their home from that place to Whiteford township, Michigan. He attended the rural schools until he had reached the age of fourteen, at which time, like most of the boys of agricultural districts in those days, he gave his time to the work of his father's farm. Arriving at his majority, he began work for himself, engaging his services by the month to farmers of the neighboring county. In 1885 he became interested in the Dakota lands, where he took up a claim of 160 acres. This he proved up, being meanwhile engaged in other pursuits possible of combination with homesteading. In 1892 he returned to Monroe and the attraction
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of old scenes was so strong that he presently disposed of his western land and has since remained in this locality. Mr. McMeekin, who is unmarried, takes a lively interest in the fraternally social organizations of which he is a member. He has twice passed all chairs of the Ottawa Lake lodge, No. 20 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has twice represented his chapter to the Grand lodges of Michigan. He is a Republican of practical theories and civic conscience and has accept- ably filled the public offices of township treasurer and highway com- missioner, serving for two years in each capacity. Mr. McMeekin's prop- erty in this township comprises thirty acres of productive and well-tilled land.
ROBERT SMITH. The honors enjoyed in old age by those who have lived worthily and well are enjoyed by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith, who are among the oldest residents of this region. Mr. Smith's parents, Robert and Nancy (Crawford) Smith were of Scotch birth and ancestry. In their native home across the sea both grew to maturity and there they were married before coming to America. They made their home in the new land at Paterson, New Jersey, where, on October 15, 1827, the subject of this sketch was born. In 1834 the family came to Monroe county, Michigan, where was entered a plot of land in which the parents lived for the rest of their lives and where Robert Smith still resides. The log cabin which was first built and occupied was later replaced by the cobble-stone house which still stands upon the farm.
Robert Smith was educated in the district school near his home attending chiefly in the winters and assisting his father during the farm- ing seasons. After his eighteenth year he remained continuously at home until the death of his parents. In 1856 he won as his life com- panion Harriet Harroun, whose birthplace was Genesee county, New York, and who was born on August 5, 1834. When she was one year old her parents moved to Sylvania, Ohio, where she grew to womanhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith's chief pride and satisfaction in life have been the rearing and educating of their children, of whom they have seven. Clara, who was graduated from the Sylvania high school, is now Mrs. S. B. Chambers of Toledo, Ohio. Ella is the wife of C. W. Lee, of Brad- ner, Ohio. Sarah, who was also a graduate of the Sylvania high school and who has been a teacher, is Mrs. H. S. Bennet, of Toledo. Robert is married and a resident of Toledo. Losette is a graduate of the Michigan State Normal school at Ypsilanti and is a teacher in Bradway school, Toledo. Florence, a graduate of the Toledo high school, holds a similar position in the public schools of that city. Edwin H., who has also been a teacher, and who is now and has been employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for many years, is now traveling agent for this railroad. Another daughter, Gertrude, is dead.
Mrs. Smith is a member of the Congregational church of Sylvania, Ohio, her husband having no religious affiliation. He is a Republican who votes thoughtfully, but is not in any marked way a public politician, being a man of quiet and retiring habits. He and his wife are spoken of in high terms by all their acquaintances. Their name is one that is ever
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associated with honesty, sobriety and life-work of the inconspicuous sort that means much to future generations.
FRED B. DOTY. The Doty family, of which Fred B. Doty of section 27, Whiteford township, is a son of the third generation, has been num- bered with Monroe county settlers since the year 1822 when his grand- father, Stephen Doty, came with his family from Erie county, Pennsyl- vania. Their first home was in Bedford township, where Stephen Doty and his wife lived out their years. Eugene Doty was ten years of age when he first became a resident of this county and lived here continu- ously throughout all the remainder of his life. He was one of those successful farmers, who, starting with nothing, live with such frugality, thrift and industry as to accumulate a goodly share of property. Eugene Doty owned land in both Bedford and Whiteford townships. He was a Mason of prominence, having attained the degree of Knight Temp; lar at Monroe, Michigan.
Eugene Doty's family consisted of four children, including Fred B. Doty. The two daughters, Estella and Belle, are now respectively Mrs. Alvin Kelley and Mrs. George Agnew. Ralph Doty, the other son, is a farmer of Bedford township.
Fred B. Doty was reared, with his brother and sisters, on the old Bedford township farm. Educationally, he gathered such advantages as were to be had in the district schools of the locality and supplemented these by attendance at the college at Adrian, Michigan.
Mr. Doty then entered upon an agricultural career as his life's work. In November, 1884, his life and fortunes were united with those of Miss Lillian Van Wormer, who was a native of Lucas county, Ohio, and whose intellectual development had been accomplished in the district schools of that county and the high school of Toledo, Ohio. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Doty are two daughters. The elder, Helen, who is a graduate of St. Joseph's convent at Adrian, is now Mrs. Hermann Rothfuss. The second daughter, Eva, is a graduate of the Ann Arbor high school. Both Mrs. Doty and her daughters are members of the Congregational church at Sylvania, Ohio.
Politically, Mr. Doty is a Republican, although he has never been an office-holder nor an officeseeker. In secret society circles he has been exceptionally popular, being affiliated with Samaria Lodge No. 438 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; with the Mt. Vernon Chapter, No. 37 of the Royal Arch Masons of Dundee, Michigan, and Toledo Commandery No. 7, Knights Templar; and with the Zenobia Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine.
FRED T. CONSEAR. The qualities of stability and honesty for which this section of Michigan's population is so notable are due in great degree to the estimable representatives of good old German stock which form a prominent element in the citizenship of the locality. Conspicuous among these in the high respect accorded him by his neighbors is Fred T. Consear, who resides in section 22 of Whiteford township. He is a native of this place, where he was born on May 7, 1868. His parents, however, who were Charles and Frederika (Dankwert) Consear, were
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both born in Germany. They were married in the land of their birth and in 1859 came to America. They first settled in Canada, later remov- ing to Toledo, Ohio, and eventually coming to Whiteford township in Monroe county, Michigan. They first made their home here in the year 1863 and here Charles and Frederika Consear spent the remainder of their lives. He died on February 18, 1895, and she followed him on March 23, 1909. They were the parents of two children besides the son who is the subject of this biography. Charles Consear is married and is a resident of Toledo, Ohio; Louis died on the 20th of November, 1909.
Fred T. Consear spent his childhood days on the parental farm, attending the rural school until he was a youth of sixteen, thus securing a good common school education. Having arrived at manhood's estate, he took up his life work of farming, which he has ever since successfully followed.
On November 30. 1893, Miss Helena Bischoff of Whiteford township became Mrs. Fred T. Consear. She also is a native of this locality, where she was born on April 7, 1871. Her education, like that of her husband, had been that afforded by the school system of the county in which they lived. Their home has been blessed by seven children of promising characteristics. Lillian, the eldest, was a graduate of the common schools at the age of thirteen years and is now a student in the high school of Toledo, Ohio. Clyde, the eldest son, is also a graduate of the rural graded schools. Frederick, Orrin and Aaron, who are aged respectively twelve, eight and six years, are still in the district school ; while Helena, who is four, and Donald, who is but one year old, are as yet in their babyhood.
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