USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests Volume II > Part 37
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covers its field and it has proved an admirable advertising vehicle, both in a local and general way.
Mr. Fox is affiliated with the local lodge and chapter of the Ma- sonic fraternity, as well as with the adjunct organization, the Order of the Eastern Star, and holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Independent Order of Foresters.
On the 9th of October, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Fox to Miss Susie L. Browne, of Milford, this county. She is a daugh- ter of the late Dr. Joseph Browne, who was one of the able pioneer physicians and surgeons of Oakland county. Dr. Browne was edu- cated in Glasgow University, Scotland, and for twenty-eight years he served as ship physician and master-at-arms in the British navy. Later he served in the United States navy, in similar capacity, and in 1856 he established his home at Milford, Oakland county, where he passed the residue of his long and useful life, a distinguished member of his profession and a man of high intellectual powers. He was a brother of Miss Frances Browne, the famous blind poet of England. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have two children, Hazel Leslie, who was born at Rochester on the 16th of May, 1891, and Lauris Lockley, who was born in the same village on the 26th of July, 1904. Hazel L. was graduated in the Rochester high school as a member of the class of 1910, and for two years has been a successful and popular teacher in the country schools of her native state. In 1912 she entered upon a special course in music and drawing in the Michigan State Normal School at Ypsi- lanti.
WILLIAM C. SUTHERLAND. Possessing much business energy, abil- ity and intelligence, William C. Sutherland, manager and chemist for the Detroit Creamery Company at its plant in South Lyon, is well known in this part of Oakland county, and is considered an authority on all matters connected with the manufacture of dairy products. A son of the late Solomon Sutherland, he was born January 15, 1858, on a farm in Argentine township. Genesee county, Michigan, of pioneer ancestry. His father was a life-long resident of Michigan, and his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Myers, was born in New York, and is now a resident of Michigan.
His parents buying two hundred and forty acres of land in Green Oak township, Livingston county, when he was but two years old, William C. Sutherland was there brought up and educated, attending the district school pretty regularly in his boyhood days. At the death of his father he assumed the management of the home farm, which he carried on successfully several years. In 1890 Mr. Sutherland changed his residence and his occupation, moving with his family to South Lyon, where he has since had control of the Detroit Creamery Com- pany's plant, having entire supervision of the work and serving as chemist. In this capacity he takes in and tests on an average one hun- dred gallons of cream each day, and every month pays out to the farm- ers of this locality $2,500 in cash.
Mr. Sutherland married, October 22, 1879, Sarah Hamilton, of Mil- ford, Michigan. Her father, John W. Hamilton, a native of Pennsyl- vania, came to Michigan in early life, and was engaged in farming un- til his death, being quite prosperous in his operations. He married Mary Ann Leary, who was born in England, and as a girl came with
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her parents to Michigan. She is still living, making her home since the death of Mr. Hamilton with her children. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland, namely : Lulu B., who married Harry Fawcett, a successful agriculturist of Lyon township, has one child, Eva Fawcett; and Frank, of Pontiac, Michigan, is bookkeeper for the Pontiac Electric, Gas and Coke Company. A short time ago there gathered at the home of Mr. Sutherland's grandmother in Genesee county, Michigan, five generations of his relatives on his mother's side, in the group having been Mr. Sutherland's maternal grandmother, his mother, himself, his daughter, Mrs. Fawcett, and his granddaughter, Eva Fawcett. Mr. Sutherland is independent in politics, and has per- sistently refused all public office. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of the Macca- bees.
WILLIAM W. ADAMS has for more than a third of a century been a leading and influential citizen of Southfield township, Oakland county, Michigan, where his birth occurred December 7, 1842. Here he was reared to maturity and here he is passing the declining years of his life. He has always been interested in agricultural pursuits and is the owner of one of the finest and largest farms in the county, the same comprising two hundred and seventeen and a half acres. Mr. Adams has money in- vested in a number of business enterprises in this county and as a financier he holds a reputation for having ever conducted his affairs on a fair and straightforward basis.
William Adams, grandfather of the subject of this review, was born in the state of New York, his father having been of Irish descent and his mother of Scotch descent. At the age of sixty years he removed to Michigan, settling in Birmingham, where he resided until his death, in 1866, at the age of eighty-six years. He was twice married and his second wife survived him for a number of years. Reuben Adams, son of William, was born in Genesee county, New York, and was twenty- six years of age when his father came to Michigan, whither he like- wise came. Upon his arrival in this state Reuben Adams immediately began to clear a farm for himself, on which he settled soon after his marriage to Emily O. Tyler, on October 25, 1840. He died in 1893 and his wife passed to the life eternal in 1895. They were the parents of five children, all of whom are living, in 1912, namely : Charlotte, who is the widow of John Beattie, of West Bloomfield township, Oakland county ; William W., the immediate subject of this review; John K., a resident of Bloomfield township; Julia C. who is the wife of Julius Rundle, of Birmingham, Michigan; and Arabella A., wife of Edwin Miller, of Bloomfield.
Under the invigorating influence of the old homestead farm William W. Adams was reared to maturity and his educational training was ob- tained in the public schools of Southfield township. He has always re- sided on the home farm and cared for his father and mother in their declining years. Through persistency and well applied energy he has managed to acquire a large estate and is now the owner of some two hundred and seventeen acres of most arable land, the same lying in sections 4 and 5 of Southfield township. He has considerable money invested in local enterprises and is recognized as one of the most prominent business men and farmers in this section of the
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county. In politics he is a Democrat and he served for a num- ber of years as school director of his district. In religious matters, while not a member of any church, he leans toward the teachings of the Universalist church. He is a man of highminded principles and his generosity and innate kindliness of spirit make him deeply and sin- cerely beloved by all with whom he comes in contact. Although fairly advanced in years, he is erect and hearty and retains in much of their pristine vigor the splendid mental and physical qualities of his prime.
On December 8, 1866, Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Miss Matilda J. Geman, a daughter of George Geman, of West Bloomfield township. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Adams five are living, in 1912, and concerning them the following brief data are here incorporated: Cora M. is the wife of C. V. Seeley, of West Bloomfield township; Frank is on the home farm with his parents; Archibald C. is engaged in the undertaking business at Pontiac ; George R. is at home ; and Ross G. is a resident of Pontiac. William H. died in 1909, at the age. of forty-one years.
CHARLES KELLY GRIGGS, for two terms treasurer of the township, resides in a handsome two-story brick residence on Fifth street, Roch- ester, which he built himself. It was this quality of self-reliance which directed his affairs early and late and won for him a measure of suc- cess highly satisfactory. Much of his life he was in the elevator busi- ness. He remained at home until twenty years old, then went to work in an elevator at Metamora, Michigan, for three winters, spending the summers at home on the farm. He went to Thomas, Michigan, and embarked in the elevator business on his own account, conducting this property for three years, but on account of poor health did nothing dur- ing the following year.
He then came to Rochester and built two elevators. At this time his brother was associated with him in his enterprises. He bought the old homestead and has added to its 140 acres an adjoining 80 acres, all lying in Avon township. Here he carried on general farming and stock raising. He has now disposed of his elevators and is in the produce business, buying and shipping in large quantities.
Mr. Griggs was born in Eagle, Wyoming county, New York, on Jan- uary 22, 1853, a son of Oliver Hazard Perry and Lovina (Kelley) Griggs, both natives of New York. The father came to Michigan in the spring of 1865, locating in Oakland county. He followed farming all his life and died October 30, 1905. His wife followed on November 12, 1908. Five children graced their home, all of whom survive. They are: Ellesif A .. widow of Frank S. Bates, of Grand Rapids, Michigan ; Charles Kelly, the subject of this review; Albert G., of Avon town- ship; Nellie, wife of Elmer H. Carlton, of Portland, Oregon; and Jes- sie, wife of F. A. Rosenkrans, of Portland, Oregon.
Martha Hall Kidder was the maiden name of the wife of Charles Kelly Griggs, and they were married February 11, 1886. She is a daughter of Sidney M. and Delia Lorette (Fisher) Kidder. Batavia and Alexander, New York, were the birth places, respectively, of Mrs. Griggs' parents. They came to Michigan in 1837, locating in Macomb county, where Mr. Kidder was in the mercantile business. Later he took up farming, which he followed until his death in 1856. His wife died in 1868. Mrs. Griggs is the only survivor of their three children,
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the two eldest being Ami, who died in 1911, and George R., who died in February 13, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Griggs have one son, Mark K., recently arrived at manhood's estate, and who is now attending the Michigan Agricultural College at Lansing. He was born February II, 1890. Mr. Griggs is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Griggs is a Republican, and, as has been previously noted, has been honored by his fellow townsmen with public office on several occasions. He holds fraternal affiliation with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a man of decision of character, well versed upon affairs in general and deliberate in his judgments. He stands high in the com- munity.
ROBERT HOYT GLASPIE. The family to which Robert Hoyt Glaspie, of Oxford, Oakland county, Michigan, belongs is an old and honored one in Michigan. Its members are many, and represent in their voca- tions almost every profession-doctors, lawyers, editors, capitalists, mer- chants, teachers, etc. They have served in every war in which this country has been a factor-The Revolutionary war, the War of 1812, the Civil war and the Spanish-American war, and in every instance have proven themselves men of courage and stability. Wherever any branch of the family has been located it has held a high social and financial position, and has taken a prominent part in all the public events con- cerning its community. Mr. Glaspie still has the old deed which records the grant to his grandfather's uncle, James Glaspie, by Governor George Clinton, of New York, of 1.790 acres in the township of Marcelles, New York.
Mr. Glaspie's grandfather, Henry Glaspie, was a great wrestler, and was never laid on his back until he was fifty years old. He served as a captain during the War of 1812, and his old sword is now in the possession of C. H. Glaspie of Oxford. Mr. Glaspie was an active, energetic man, and he delighted in anything that tried his strength. Hunting was one of his greatest diversions, an occupation which brought him much renown as an expert shot. He killed his first deer when still a small boy. After he came to Michigan in 1835 he became a deacon of the Baptist church, and spent all of the latter part of his life at Clifton, near Romeo. He was married twice, the first time to Betsy Wiltsie, who died August 8, 1834, and by her he had the following children : David, born February 10, 1810, died in July, 1898; Betsy, born June 12, 1812: Wiltsie, born July 5, 1814; William, born May 25, 1816; Abigail, born in June, 1818; John, born July 13, 1820; Henry C., born June 12, 1822; Sarah, born March 18, 1827; Nancy, born September 18, 1831, died April 27, 1837. By his second wife, Harriet (Denison) Glaspie, he had two children, Maria Jane, born December 29, 1838, and Andrew P., born March 18, 1842.
Henry Glaspie's son David became the father of Robert Hoyt Glas- pie. David Glaspie was also married twice, the first time to Ruth Noble in Onondaga county, New York, in October, 1824. She died in Macomb county, Michigan, October 28, 1841. They had three chil- dren, Sabrah Ann, born December 19, 1830, died March 3, 1897; Betsy, born in Spafford, New York, April 6, 1832, died July 24, 1864; and George, born at Spafford, November 17. 1834, died July 19, 1863. at Oxford. By his second wife, Clarissa Noble. Mr. Glaspie had three children, William, born in Macomb county, Michigan, March 1, 1845,
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died in Macomb county, March 31, 1845; Ruth, born at Oxford, May 4, 1847, died April 24, 1852; and Robert Hoyt, the subject of the sketch, born in Oxford township, August 19, 1854.
Robert Hoyt Glaspie has been a farmer all his life, or until his re- tirement from active work a few years ago. He attended the district schools during the winter months until eighteen years old and then re- mained at home to help his father. When he was thirty years old his father moved to Oxford, leaving the farm of 260 acres to his son. Mr. Glaspie worked the farm, raising the regular staples, until 1883. when he rented his holdings and moved to Oxford, where he now lives
in one of the town's handsomest homes. On January 24, 1877, Mr. Glaspie was married to Nellie M. Clack, the daughter of James W. and Helen (Johnston) Clack. Mr. Clack, who died June 9, 1903, was a native of Cambridgeshire, England, and came to America in 1840 to settle in Addison township, Oakland county. He was a farmer until twenty years before his death and then retired. Mrs. Clack was born in Genesee county, New York. She died December 30, 1886. They had one other child besides Mrs. Glaspie, Charles, who was born Au- gust 9, 1853, and died March 18, 1854. Mrs. Glaspie was born May 31, 1855.
Mr. Glaspie is a Prohibitionist, and takes an active interest in the politics of the country. He has also always given a great deal of time to local affairs, and was on the village council for six years. He was one of the board that installed the water works and electric plant in Oxford, and also held the position of city treasurer for one and one half years. He is now one of the directors of the Oxford Savings Bank, and has been local inspector for the bank. Both Mr. and Mrs. Glaspie belong to the Baptist church.
HARVEY TOWSEND. In some portions of continental Europe the sons are taught both a trade and a profession, it being considered that the double knowledge equips them the better for success in life. Harvey Towsend, the subject of this sketch, has been thus gifted, for in addi- tion to being a practical farmer he is master of the stone mason's craft. and through his long and useful life has found ample work to do in both lines. Wayne county, New York, was the place of his nativity, his birth date being May 7, 1836. His parents, Nathan and Nancy (Van Druth) Towsend, were likewise born in the Empire state, the former being a jobber by trade. He came to Michigan in 1847 and located in Lapeer county, where he remained until his death in 1857. His wife died three years later. Of their three children Marcus, the eldest, is de- ceased. Harvey was the second and Octavius, a veteran of the Civil war, is living in Lapeer county.
When but thirteen years old Harvey decided on farming and fol- lowed it for a year. Then the occupation of the stone cutter and layer attracted him and he mastered it and combined its practice with farm- ing during his entire life. At one time he was the owner of 120 acres of land in Oakland county. His wife was Lois Brown. daughter of Isaac and Artie (Mishie) Brown, to whom he was married on August 15, 1858. The Browns came to Oakland county in 1843 from New York, and engaged in farming, the father dying in 1887 and the mother in 1862. Of their four children, Waldon and Oliver, the two eldest, are deceased, and the fourth child died in infancy. There were four
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children, born to Mr. and Mrs. Towsend, and the sable visitor has never invaded their number. Nathan I. was born December 12, 1860. Elnora A., born February 18, 1863, became the wife of John Pellen, of La- peer county. Phena A., born May 12, 1867, married Albert Spencer, of Oakland county. Olin A. was born September 30, 1872, and now makes his home at Bay City, Michigan. Mrs. Towsend died December 22, 19II, and was tenderly laid to rest in Oxford cemetery. She was a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Towsend is a Republican.
Olin A. Towsend married Matilda Steinhauser on July 4, 1901. She was a daughter of Mike and Matilda ( Muntz) Steinhauser, natives of Germany. The former located in New York when he first crossed the water, and later came west to Michigan, settling in Tuscola county to ply his trade as stone mason. Nine children comprised the family of Mr. and Mrs. Steinhauser, Matilda being the first born. In succes- sion then came the following: Frederick, of Detroit; Emma, wife of F. A. Shier, of Detroit ; Maud, wife of Albert Eastman, of West Branch, Michigan; Kate, wife of B. Eastman, of Montana; Lillian, wife of Al- vin Sheppard, of Selkirk, Michigan; Jennings of Prescott; Frank, of Prescott, and a child who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Olin Tow- send have one child, Bernice Ethel, who was born in Bay City on Octo- ber 29, 1903. Her father is a miner by occupation and belongs to the Baptist church. Mrs. Towsend's father died December 8, 1903, but her mother is still living, in Prescott.
STEPHEN C. HILL. In view of the nomadic spirit which prompts American citizens to move restlessly about from place to place, it is most gratifying to come in contact with a man who has resided during the greater part of his life time in the place of his nativity. Stephen C. Hill is the owner of a fine estate of two hundred acres of land in Troy township, Oakland county, Michigan, and he devotes his attention to stock-raising, general farming and dairy work. He has ever been on the alert to forward all measures and enterprises projected for the good of the general welfare and has served his community in various official positions of trust and responsibility. He has been township supervisor for the past three years, was justice of the peace, and held the office of school director for eighteen consecutive years.
Stephen C. Hill was born in Troy township, on the farm he now owns in Oakland county, Michigan, December 18, 1850. His parents, Elisha and Adelia (Bentley) Hill, were both born and reared in the vicinity of Seneca Lake, New York. In the agnatic line Mr. Hill is descended from stanch Scotch ancestry and on the maternal side he traces his lineage to English stock. Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Hill grew up. were educated in the district schools of and were married in the place of their birth, probably in Oneida county, New York. They resided in the old Empire state for a number of years after their marriage and there four of their children were born. About 1844-47 the family came to Michigan, landing in Detroit and coming thence to Troy township. where they settled on a farm. That farm is the one now owned and operated by the subject of this review. Elisha Hill passed the re- mainder of his life time in Troy township, where he became a most successful farmer and a man of prominence and influence in public af- fairs. He passed to the life eternal in 1891 and his cherished and de- voted wife died September 2, 1880. They were the parents of six chil-
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dren, concerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated : Martin served in the Civil war as a member of Lumison Battery, Heavy Artillery, for a period of three years; Sophronia is the widow of Chester Chatfield and resides at Hastings, Michigan; Harriet, deceased, was the wife of Henry Reynolds, of Oakland county; Mary was the wife of Ogden Taylor at the time of her demise; Laura is the wife of Ellis Bookam, of Swartz Creek, Genesee county, Michigan ; and Stephen C. is the immediate subject of this review.
Stephen C. Hill was reared a maturity on the old homestead farm, in the work and management of which he early began to assist his father. He received a good common school education and has always devoted his attention to farming. He owns two hundred acres of some of the most arable land in Oakland county, one hundred and sixty acres of his estate being in section 13 and forty acres in section 24, Troy township. He is a general farmer and stock-raiser and does a little dairy business in his section of the county. In politics he is a stalwart and active Republican. He was elected justice of the peace and served in that capacity for one year, when he resigned, but was again elected in 1912, and is the present incumbent of the office. He was school di- rector for eighteen years, and was a member of the township board of supervisors for three years. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees and the family are devout Methodists in their religious faith. Mr. Hill has been Sunday-school superintendent on va- rious occasions and he is an interested church worker. He is a man of splendid executive ability, is generous hearted and kind to all with whom he has dealings and is possessed of that sterling integrity of character which begets admiration and wins the good will of those with whom he comes in contact.
On October 13, 1878, Mr. Hill married Emma J. Moore, a daughter of Calvin and Melinda (King) Moore, both natives of the state of New York. The father of Calvin Moore was Irish and his mother was Eng- lish. The Kings are of English extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have four children, as follows: Chauncey N., who married Myrtle Randell. and they have four children-Ruth, Lucius, Harriet and Marriet : George married Phila King, and they have two children-Leslie and Marion ; Ida remains at the parental home; and Frank married Helen Phillips, and they have one son, Harold.
WILLIAM H. LAMB. One of Troy township's widely-known and substantial citizens is William H. Lamb, postmaster and general store keeper at Big Beaver. He is one of the native sons whom the county has been able to keep permanently and is the scion of a family long established within Oakland county's pleasant and prosperous borders. He was born in Bloomfield township, near Benningham, Michigan, Au- gust 27, 1874, and is the son of Frederick R. and Jane (Auscomb) Lamb. The father was born east of Detroit in Wayne county, Mich- igan, the son of John Lamb, an Englishman. The subject's grand- father was born, reared, educated and married in the country of his birth and shortly after the latter event severed the associations of his native land and came to the United States, eventually coming on to Michigan and choosing for his home Wayne county. In that county he resided until Frederick Lamb, father of William H., was a youth fourteen years of age. The family then removed to Troy township
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and located on a farm a mile and a quarter north of Big Beaver, where John Lamb lived until summoned to the life beyond, being full of years and honors. Frederick R. Lamb was married when a young man about twenty years of age and subsequent to that he lived on his father's place for two years. Following this he took up his residence in South Haven, where he remained for another two years, engaged in carpen- tering work. He then returned to Bloomfield township, whose attrac- tions had never diminished for him, and there the birth of the subject occurred. He remained engaged in the business of a carpenter and painter at Birmingham for about five years and then removed to Big Beaver, where he embarked in the milling business, which he followed until about eight years ago, when he left Big Beaver and went to De- troit. For about a year in that city he worked in the automobile shops and then removed to Rochester, where he resides at the present time, holding the position of manager and head sawyer in the mills there. This good citizen and his equally estimable wife are the parents of two children, J. Edgar, of Troy township, and William H., immediate sub- ject of this review.
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