USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests Volume II > Part 35
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During the Civil war Mr. Brown served as a musician in the army for almost a year, and it was said of him that he was the "littlest man, with the biggest horn." His brother Ulhart also settled in Oakland county, and here resided until his death, many years ago. One of his daughters, Mrs. Eva Ross, lives at Vassar, Michigan, and his daughter Genevieve, who married T. T. Shafer, is a resident of Iowa.
In 1858 Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Clara Graham, the ceremony that made them husband and wife being performed by Rev. J. G. Whitcomb, under whose ministry both were converted. She was born April 3, 1836, in Avon township, and died in Orion, February 22, 19II. She was of honored pioneer stock, being a daughter of Alex- ander Graham, and granddaughter of James Graham, who settled in Michigan in the very early years of the nineteenth century. Mrs. Brown's great-grandfather on the paternal side immigrated from Ire- land to America in colonial days, locating in Pennsylvania, where his Dutch neighbors insisted on calling him "Grimes," and, it is said, he was the man referred to in the familiar ditty written about the time of his death,
"Old Grimes is dead, the good old man, We ne'er shall see him more; He used to wear an old blue coat All buttoned up before."
James Graham was born, in 1749, in Pennsylvania, and was there reared. Emigrating to Canada in early manhood, he was engaged in farming near the present city of Ingersoll for six years. Coming then to Michigan, which was then in its original wildness, with here and there a clearing in which some courageous pioneer had erected a small log cabin, he located first at Mount Clemens, a township which he and his son Benjamin assisted to survey in 1816, working under Colonel Wampler. In February, 1817, he took up a squatter's claim in section 21, township 3, range II east, becoming one of the first three householders of Oakland county, an out-of-the-way place reached only by way of Mount Clemens and the Clinton river. He was a man of much enter- prise, and among other of his ventures was the building of the first flour and grist mills in Rochester.
The court records of Oakland county show that said James Graham was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, reading as follows:
"James Graham declared at the February term of Court, in 1826,
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that he was seventy-seven years old, and enlisted April 15, 1777, for one year, in Pennsylvania, in Captain Hewitt's company, of Colonel Denni- son's regiment of Connecticut troops, and served in that company until the death of Captain Hewitt, at the battle of Wyoming, and was then attached to Captain Spaulding's company, in Colonel Butler's regiment of Connecticut troops, and was discharged at the expiration of his enlistment."
James Graham married Mary Vandemark, who was born in 1760, and they became the parents of nine children, as follows: James, Jr .; David; John; Alexander, father of Mrs. Brown; William; Benjamin ; Chester ; Martha ; and Mary.
Alexander Graham was born in Pennsylvania, and as a boy came with his parents to Oakland county, Michigan. Beginning life for him- self as a farmer, he resided near Rochester until 1839, when he sold out and bought the estate known as the "Graham Farm," in Oakland town- ship, where he spent his remaining days, his body being then laid to rest in the Rochester cemetery. He was twice married. He married first a Miss Hawkins, who died in early womanhood, leaving four children, as follows: James, whose birth occurred in 1818, was the first white child born in Oakland county, and the village proprietors of Rochester deeded to him the lot on which he was born, and he retained it as long as he lived ; Mark ; Lucina ; and Alexander Patterson, who was born January 5, 1823, and died November 26, 1897.
Alexander Graham married for his second wife Adeline Butter- worth, who was born in Oneida county, New York, and came to Michi- gan about 1830, to visit friends in Rochester, where she met and mar- ried Mr. Graham. Their union was blessed by the birth of five children, namely : Benjamin, born October 9, 1834, died at the home of his brother-in-law, Mr. Brown, July 23, 1902; Clara, who became the wife of Mr. Brown, as above stated; Ruby, who married Andrew Potter ; Sarah, wife of Patrick Scully, died June 7, 1872; and Anna, who mar- ried Robert Sims. None of these children are now living. No children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, but they adopted and reared a girl, Pearl A., who is now the wife of Fred Wieland, of Oak- land county.
J. C. NELSON. Although still youthful in appearance, vigor and actual number of years, J. C. Nelson, of Orion, has had that experience which is comparatively rare now, although the accustomed thing with the pioneer of the early part of the nineteenth century-that of clearing the ground for his own farm. There is to him an added sense of satis- faction in the fact that the broad acres whose fertile soil returns annually a bountiful harvest were brought to their present state of perfection from their primeval condition by the strength of his arm.
Mr. Nelson came originally from Ohio, being born in Ashland county, that state, on September 12, 1859. He is a son of Samuel and Eliza- beth ( Miller) Nelson, both parents natives of Pennsylvania. The senior Nelson followed farming all his life. He came to Michigan when he was twenty-one years old, bought one hundred and five acres in Oak- land township, and tilled it until his death in 1891. His wife died June 25, 1912. To their union were born six children, the subject of the present sketch being the eldest. The others were: Silvia, wife of Lucian Kelley, of Oakland county : Ida E., of Orion, and three younger children who died in infancy.
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The Pontiac high school and two years at the Valparaiso, Indiana, Normal School gave J. C. Nelson a very thorough and practical educa- tion. He then embarked in agriculture, which he had selected as his life's calling. He bought and cleared forty acres of woodland in Oak- land township. He sold the lumber and bought one hundred and twenty- six acres in section 6 of this township. Since his father's death he has conducted the old home place in connection with his own, raising a variety of crops and dealing extensively in stock as well.
Mr. Nelson, on June 21, 1892, married Miss Bertha McCormick, daughter of William R. and Ester McCormick, the former a native of Indiana and the latter from Canada. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick came to Michigan in 1882, locating at Detroit, where he followed the occu- pation of a decorator. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nel- son, Maud Elizabeth, Esther, Bayard L., and Dorothy. The second born died in infancy and the others are at home.
Mr. Nelson is a Democrat in his political faith and has held every office in the township except that of supervisor. He affiliates with the Gleaners and the Maccabees, and belongs to the Methodist church. His postoffice address is on Rural Route No. 2 out of Orion.
Mr. Nelson did not stop with the clearing of his farm, but continued to improve the place with commodious buildings and from time to time still adds modern conveniences as they become desirable. He is pro- gressive in his methods and strives for the best in everything. One of the specialties on his place is the rearing of fine Chester White hogs. He is agent also for the Oakland County Fire Insurance Company.
The Nelsons have a keen strain of patriotism in their makeup and are public-spirited in all matters. Mr. Nelson's great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and knew General Washington per- sonally. The family came originally from Scotland.
FLOYD B. BABCOCK. One of the conspicuous figures in the recent history of Oakland county is Floyd B. Babcock, county clerk, a popular and efficient young public servant who has given many evidences of being of the best type of citizenship. The family is an old one in this section, the father of the subject having arrived within the boundaries of the county in 1857 and for many years the name of Babcock has been well and favorably known.
Floyd B. Babcock was born in Highland, Michigan, on November 20, 1879, the son of Newton B. and Lorena (Ruggles) Babcock. The mother, whose lamentable demise occurred in February, 1907, was a native of Michigan, but the father was born in the state of New York and came to Michigan, as mentioned above, a few years previous to the Civil war. He located in this county and engaged in mercantile business for a great many years, retiring from active business in 1900. The elder Mr. and Mrs. Babcock became the parents of three chil- dren, Floyd being the only survivor, as a daughter, Etta, and a son K. C., are deceased.
Floyd B. Babcock attended the public schools and was graduated in due time from the higher department. At the outset of his business career he was associated with his father in the mercantile business at Milford for three years, and at the end of this period was appointed assistant postmaster at that place. He gave faithful and efficient service in the employ of Uncle Sam for some four years, in the administration
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of President Mckinley, and having proved his fitness for public re- sponsibility, his appointment on January 24, 1909, as county clerk, to fill the term of George A. Brown, who had resigned, was recognized as most appropriate. In the fall of that year Mr. Babcock was elected to the office of county clerk and he is now the incumbent of that important office. He is a staunch Republican and since the casting of his maiden ballot has given heart and hand to the party in whose causes he be- lieves.
Mr. Babcock was happily married on June 15, 1903, the young woman of his choice being Lulu B. Hewitt, daughter of John S. and Delia (Greig) Hewitt, both natives of Michigan, now maintaining their resi- dence at Milford. Mr. Hewitt, who is a druggist by occupation, is one of the prominent citizens of his locality. By a former marriage, he has a son, Herbert W. Hewitt, a physician of Detroit, but the wife of the subject is the only child of the present union.
Mr. Babcock is a popular member of a number of Pontiac lodges, his fraternal affiliation extending to the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. In religious conviction he is a Presbyterian and he and his wife enjoy general esteem in the community in which their inter- ests are centered.
JAMES K. BURT. In presenting to the readers of this volume the biography of James K. Burt we are perpetuating the life record of one of the brave veterans of the Civil war, that of one who for nearly half a century has been a resident of Oakland county and as a useful and worthy citizen has ever commanded the high respect and esteem of his acquaintances. He has resided on his present estate in Oxford town- ship forty-two years, the whole of which period has been successfully devoted to farming.
Mr. Burt was born in Monroe county, New York, November 21, 1845, the only child of Valentine and Hannah (Wadrell) Burt. The mother died when her son was but an infant. In 1850 Valentine Burt removed to Michigan, locating in Calhoun county, where he engaged in farming and where he continued to reside until his death. James had accompanied his father to this state and remained with him until the opening of the Civil war, when, though still a youth in his 'teens, he ran away and enlisted in Company A, Eleventh Michigan Infantry. This regiment was mustered in August 24, 1861, at White Pigeon, and left the state December 9 for Kentucky, being stationed at Bardstown dur- ing the winter. In the spring of 1862 it was engaged in railroad guard duty, in July pursued Morgan's cavalry through Kentucky, and on August 13 it joined in repelling an attack made by a considerable force under Morgan. At Munfordville, Kentucky, in September, 1862, Mr. Burt was one of 4,133 Union men taken prisoners when after three days of most valiant defense of their post they were obliged to surrender when Bragg with his whole army came up to reinforce the Confederates. After his exchange Mr. Burt rejoined his regiment and participated in the engagement at Stone River, where it joined the Nineteenth Illinois in charging a fierce assault and driving back the enemy after it had broken the right wing. Here Mr. Burt was taken prisoner a second time. After his exchange was effected he continued in service until mustered out at Sturgis, Michigan, on September 30, 1864. The Eleventh Michigan Infantry was present at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and was
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in the hottest of the fight at Chickamauga, its brigade holding one of the most important positions against largely superior forces until night and being the last to leave the field; and where "Thomas stood like a rock." It did its full share and received his compliments. The regi- ment was in the siege at Chattanooga, in the main and successful charge of Missionary Ridge under heavy fire and always claiming to have been the first to reach the works. In 1864 it entered on the Atlanta campaign under General Sherman and fought at Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Ken- nesaw Mountain and other of the principal engagements of that move- ment. It was ordered to Chattanooga on August 27, 1864, for muster out, but joined in the pursuit of Wheeler's forces, marching to Mur- freesboro and Huntsville, Alabama. On September 18 it started for home and on September 30 was mustered out as previously stated, thus closing three years of valiant and active service in behalf of the Union.
Mr. Burt received his education in the public schools of Albion, Michigan. In 1868 he located at Pontiac, Oakland county, where he remained three years before removing to his mother-in-law's farm in section 36, Oxford township, which is now owned by Mr. Burt. Mrs. Burt was Miss Mary Furse prior to her marriage, the youngest child of Thomas and Jane (Stanlake) Furse. To the union of her parents were born five children, namely: George, of Nebraska; Matilda, deceased ; John, now a resident of Kansas; Frances, deceased; and Mrs. Burt. Two daughters have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Burt: Jessie, the wife of Lewis Young, of Princeton, Idaho, and Carrie, who is at home with her parents.
Mr. Burt is a stanch Republican. The days of 1861-65 are com- memorated as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he is promimently affiliated with the Masonic order as a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch Masons and the Knights Templars at Pontiac. He is one of the comparatively few veterans that have been spared to see a half century pass since the close of the war and to note the remarkable changes that have taken place in that period. With the same earnestness with which he fought as a soldier he has employed his life as a useful citizen and well merits the high esteem in which he is held in Oakland county.
AMI ARNOLD is the representative of a family that has been favorably known in Oakland county since pioneer days and is himself one of the substantial farmers of Addison township, whose success in life is evi- denced by his large ownership of land and by the prosperous aspect of his surroundings.
Mr. Arnold was born September 2, 1853. where he now resides, the homestead being one which his parents took up from the government and is located in section 20 of Addison township. His father was Edward Arnold and his mother was Miss Hannah Carleton prior to her marriage, both natives of New York. Edward Arnold gave the whole of his career to farming and spent the most of it in Oakland county, Michigan, where he died on October 2, 1865. To his wife, who sur- vived him many years and passed away on March 2, 1907, was left the care of their four children: Eliza, now the widow of Daniel M. Alt- house, of Oakland county; Lucinda, the wife of E. W. Porter, of Addison township; Ami, the subject of this sketch; and John E., a resi- dent of Orion, Michigan. The early death of the father threw responsi-
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bility upon the shoulders of Ami while still a youth, as he was the eldest son. At the age of fifteen he took charge of the home place and continued to care and provide for his mother until her death in 1907, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. To the old homestead, of which he is now the owner, he has added by additional purchases of land until today his holdings aggregate over four hundred acres of Addison and Oxford township land. This showing represents tireless industry upon the part of Mr. Arnold and good business acumen in the management of his farm affairs. Besides following the general lines of farming, he has given much attention and that very successfully to the raising of fine registered sheep, and through the energetic manner in which he has conducted his agricultural pursuits he has amassed a competency which places him among the most substantial men of Addi- son township. Fine buildings complete the farmstead and provide for comfort and convenience.
On October 13, 1880, Mr. Arnold married Miss Martha Ann Stitt, a daughter of David and Martha (Williamson) Stitt. Both parents were born in Ireland and immigrated from their native isle to America in 1860, locating in Oakland county, Michigan, where the father fol- lowed farming until his death on October 30, 1897 and where the mother also passed beyond, her demise having occurred on April 2, 1910. David and Martha (Williamson) Stitt were the parents of seven children, namely : Martha and Jane, deceased; William, who died November 18, IQII ; David H., a resident of Orion, Michigan ; Thomas W., who re- sides in Cass City, Michigan; Martha Ann, the wife of Mr. Arnold; and Alfred K., of Oakland county. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have two daughters and a son : Ada V., now Mrs. Arthur De Main, of Rochester. Michigan; Ida V., the wife of James Brooks, of Oxford; and Jossman A., who resides with his parents.
Mr. Arnold is a believer in Prohibition and exercises his franchise consistently with his convictions. He has taken an active and loyal interest in local political affairs and has at different times held minor township offices, such as justice of the peace, a member of the board of review and as grain commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are members of the Methodist Protestant church. They are known as upright and worthy people who fully measure up to the ideal of good citizenship and command the respect of all who know them.
ROBERT CONRY KINNEY. In naming those of the younger generation who are representatives of some of the honored families of Oakland county, and who have themselves achieved something in the world of trade and finance, mention should be made of Robert Conry Kinney and brother, Daniel Kinney, of Pontiac, young men whose careers have been spent in useful endeavor and who are making excellent reputations for themselves among their fellow-citizens. They are sons of William and Tane (Conry ) Kinney and grandsons of Alva L. and Sarah A. (Parker) Kinney.
Alva L. Kinney was born July 19, 1824, in New York, and on at- taining his majority, in 1845, came to Michigan, locating in Oakland county. A tailor by trade, he followed that occupation throughout his life in the community of his adoption, and here passed away in June, 1891. He was married (first) October 7, 1848, to Sarah A. Parker, who was born March 29, 1824, in Michigan, and she died February 29.
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1853, having been the mother of three children: Almeda, who died in infancy ; William, the father; and Sarah A., who was born February 3, 1853. Mr. Kinney was married (second) January 12, 1854, to Ruth Stoel, and five children were born to them, as follows: Alvira, who was born June 12, 1855, and died November 22, 1911; Almira, born Decem- ber 8, 1856, and now the wife of Bradley Deer, of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia; Margery, born January 10, 1859, and now the wife of Mr. De- Witt, of Los Angeles; Carrie, born February 6, 1861, and now the wife of Robert Willetts, of Shelby, Michigan; and Lydia, deceased, who was the wife of Frank Parrott, of Pontiac.
At the age of ten years William Kinney went to live with a fam- ily in Oakland county, with whom he remained for seven years, at that time taking up farming, a vocation at which he continued to be employed until his marriage. At that time he disposed of his eighty- acre farm and gave his attention to the plastering trade, which he has followed to the present time, his home being located at No. 385 Perry street, in Pontiac. He was married May 18, 1879, to Miss Jane O. Conry, daughter of John and Ellen (McGuire) Conry, and granddaugh- ter of Farrell Conry, who was a soldier during the War of 1812 and in the barracks at a fort in Ontario. Her grandmother, Ann (Wever) Conry, is buried in the churchyard where was erected the monument to the English soldiers who perished in 1838 on the ice at Amherstburg, Canada. Mrs. Kinney's father, John Conry, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and her mother was a native of Canada, the family coming to Michigan in 1878 and locating in Detroit, where Mr. Conry spent the remainder of his life in conducting a hotel, and passed away in 1882, his widow surviving until February 29, 1908. They had a fam- ily of six children: Ann, the wife of David Caldwell, of Detroit; Jane O., wife of Mr. Kinney ; Emma L., wife of John Rademacher, of De- troit; Catherine, wife of Joseph Wurtsworth, of Detroit; George, of Detroit : and Elizabeth Ida, wife of Christopher Doelcher, of Detroit. To Mr. and Mrs. Kinney the following children were born: Ellen, born November 2, 1880; Daniel, born November 1, 1882; Robert Conry, born August 25, 1884; Hazel, born August 1, 1886; John Howard, born January 10, 1890; William Carroll, born April 5, 1892; Wallace Murry, born March 15, 1894; Elizabeth Virginia, born May 17, 1896; Edwin Hudson, born January 22, 1899; and James Hazen, born April 25, 190I.
Both Robert C. and Daniel Kinney were given good educations, at- tending common school and business college, and the former was for two and one-half years employed by the Oakland Motor Car Company, until becoming connected with the Flanders Manufacturing Company as clerk of the foundry department, a position which he holds at the present time. Daniel is a painter by trade and has a nice business in Pontiac, being considered one of the thoroughly reliable workmen of his city. Both young men are known to be progressive, energetic and enterprising, and have wide circles of friends and acquaintances. They are Democrats in their political views, and belong to the Foresters of America, while Robert C. is also a member of the Modern Woodmen and Daniel of the Maccabees and Odd Fellows. Both hold substantial policies in the Massachusetts Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company.
On September 18, 1906, Robert C. Kinney was married to Miss Eva Agnes Richardson, daughter of George and Anna (Lock) Rich-
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ardson, natives of England. Mr. Richardson, who was a farmer by occupation, owned one hundred acres in Waterford township, where he died in January, 1894, while Mrs. Richardson still survives and lives in Pontiac. They had a family of eight children: Edward, of Pontiac; George, living on the homestead in Waterford township; Hattie, the wife of Israel M. Beattie, of Pontiac: Jennie Emery, of Davisburg, Michigan; Charles, living in Detroit; Fannie, the wife of Daniel Kin- ney ; William, of Pontiac; and Eva Agnes, wife of Robert C. Kinney. Mr. and Mrs. Kinney have one child, George William, born January 21, 1908.
On June 24, 1908, Daniel Kinney was married to Miss Fannie Richardson, sister of his brother's wife, and to this union there has been born one child; Harriet Frances, born December 31, 1910. The family residence at No. 125 East Huron street is a center of gracious refinement, and the young people are well and favorably known in so- ciety circles and among the members of the Congregational church.
MARSHALL T. HADDEN. Among the group of younger business men in Rochester, Michigan, Marshall T. Hadden stands out prominently as a responsible and progressive man. Born October 27, 1881, in Oak- land county, he spent his childhood on his father's farm. After gradu- ating from the Romeo high school he attended the Metropolitan Busi- ness College of Detroit. He is now keeping a livery, feed and sales stable on Fifth street, Rochester. He is a member of the Methodist church, and in his political life an Independent.
Mr. Hadden is a descendant of an old American family. His pa- ternal grandparents, Abraham S. and Abbie (Thompson) Hadden, were natives of New York. Mr. Hadden was a farmer and politically in sympathy with the Democratic party. He lived a long and useful life, his death occurring in 1896. Six children were born to them, of whom Hiram C., the subject's father, was the second child. Of the others. James, Polly and Phoebe Hadden are dead; John J. is a resident of Oak- land, Michigan ; and Mary Adell is the wife of H. Briggs, of Rochester. The subject's maternal grandparents were John I. and Sidna (Slate) Cole. By trade a blacksmith, Mr. Cole attended the Methodist church and belonged to the Democratic party. 1902 was the year of his death.
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