USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests Volume II > Part 40
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Jacob Keller was born in 1825 in Germany, and came to the United States when twenty-one years of age. After remaining in New York city about a year he went to Buffalo, New York, living there until 1874, when he came with his family to Oakland county, Michigan. Locating in Ortonville, he there followed his trade of a shoemaker for many years,
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living there until his death, in 1901. Of the children born to him and his wife, Jacob and three others, died in infancy, and the following named are now living: George W., who married Miss Melos Calkins, of Highland township, is engaged in farming on his father-in-law's farm; Clara, living in Ortonville, with her widowed mother; Ella M., wife of Robert Chassidy, of Ortonville ; and Frank S.
Coming with his parents to Michigan when but five years old, Frank S. Keller received excellent educational advantages. After leaving the public schools of Ortonville he attended two of the state normal schools, one at Ypsilanti, and the other at Flint, later continuing his studies for a year at the normal school in Fostoria, Ohio. As a young man Mr. Keller farmed for a time, but was principally engaged in professional work, teaching school five years in Highland Corners, one year in High- land village, and for five years at Groveland Center and Belleville, in Wayne county. Embarking in mercantile pursuits in 1899, he conducted a general store at Highland Corners for six years, being quite success- ful in his venture. He then formed a partnership with Mr. I. R. Water- bury, of Detroit and Highland village, and has since carried on an ex- tensive and lucrative business in Highland village, where he carries a stock of goods valued at about $10,000, the store being located in a building twenty by seventy-five feet, and stocked with a fine line of general merchandise. Mr. Keller also owns thirty acres of land in the southwestern part of the village, it being property of considerable value.
For the past three years he has served as postmaster, and for the past five years has been township clerk. He was also for eight years justice of the peace for Highland township. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Milford Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, and religiously both he and his good wife are members of the Baptist church.
Mr. Keller married, June 16, 1897, Nellie M. Holdridge, a daughter of Henry D. and Josephine Holdridge, and they have one child, Jose- phine C. Keller.
HON. GEORGE WILLOUGHBY. A man of integrity, Hon. George Wil- loughby occupies an important position among the influential citizens of Clyde, where he is carrying on a substantial business as a dealer in farm produce. Active and genuinely interested in public affairs, he has filled the various offices to which he has been elected with tact and dis- crimination, winning thereby the respect and esteem of his fellow-men. A native of Oakland county, he was born March 6, 1850, in White Lake settlement, where his father, Zerah Willoughby, settled in pioneer days.
Zerah Willoughby was born in one of the eastern states, and was of noble lineage, having been a lineal descendant of Lord Willoughby, of England. Coming to Oakland county, Michigan, in pioneer days, he took up a tract of timbered land in Commerce township, and on the farm which he redeemed from the forest spent his remaining days, passing away at advanced age. He was a prominent member of the Democratic party, and served not only on the local school board, but was the first treasurer of Commerce township. He was a well edu- cated man.
Zerah Willoughby was twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in his native state, came with him to Michigan and died in Commerce township, leaving two children, as follows: Ryal, living
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at Shepherd, Isabella county, Michigan; and Ellen, deceased, who mar- ried a Mr. Colvin. He married for his second wife Delia D. Baker, who was born in New York city, and came with her parents, Rev. Daniel M. and Mary (Banks) Baker, to Oakland county. Her father, who was a shoemaker and dealer, preached the first sermon ever delivered in the White Lake settlement, and also, with a few farmers living in his neighborhood, organized and named Farmington township. Mrs. Delia D. Willoughby survived her first husband, and subsequently mar- ried a widower, Lyman Johnson, of Highland township, and with him lived on his farm the remainder of her life, dying when but fifty-seven years of age, while Mr. Johnson lived to the age of seventy-five years. She had one child by her first marriage, namely: George Willoughby, the subject of this sketch, and by her union with Mr. Johnson had a daughter, Jennie, now the wife of R. C. Beach, of California.
His mother marrying for the second time when he was two years old, George Willoughby accompanied her to the Johnson homestead in Highland township, and there lived until after the death of his step- father, for whom he tenderly cared during his later years. As a well- merited reward for his kindness, and for paying off the indebtedness on the farm, Mr. Willoughby, at the death of Mr. Johnson, succeeded to the ownership of the Johnson homestead, which was located on Duck lake, section 12, Highland township, and continued its successful man- agement until 1885. Retiring then from agricultural pursuits, Mr. Willoughby removed to Clyde, where he has since built up a large and exceedingly remunerative business as a dealer in grain and farm produce, making a specialty of buying and selling potatoes, hay and apples, ship- ping annually from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-five car- loads of produce. He has an especial talent for music, and for twenty years played the first B flat cornet in the Clyde Brass Band, his work in that organization making it extremely popular throughout the com- munity.
Mr. Willoughby is a stanch Republican and has served his fellow- citizens in many public positions, ever fulfilling the duties thus devolv- ing upon him in a manner to reflect credit upon himself and to the honor of his constituents. He was constable two years; justice of the peace eight years; supervisor one year; and township treasurer two years. In 1908 he was elected to the state legislature, and during the first session was a member of the committee on ways and means; on Federal rela- tions ; and on religious and benevolent societies. During the second session of the legislature he served as chairman of the committee on the School for the Blind; was a member of the committee on Federal relations, during which time nine new Federal buildings were completed ; was author of a bill to authorize the building of a soldiers' and sailors' monument; and introduced a bill relating to the primary school fund, its object having been to equalize its distribution according to valuations of different counties rather than according to the number of school chil- dren in a district, an action that would enable many of the poorest tax- paying counties to get fifty per cent more of the primary money than at present. The bill, however, was not introduced in season to receive permanent action. He was also successful in having passed several bills of local importance. While a member of that august body Mr. Wil- loughby obtained a thorough knowledge of the inside workings of state affairs. His own work was mainly with the different committees, and,
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though quiet, was equally as effective as that done on the floor of the house by the ready speakers.
Mr. Willoughby married Sarah A. Allen, who was born in England and came wih her parents when seven years old to Commerce, Michi- gan, where she was reared and educated. Her father, William Allen, married, in England, Ann S. Kelton. Fraternally Mr. Willoughby is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge; he also belongs to the Yeomen of America.
JOHN HENRY PREDMORE. Held in high respect as a man of sterling character and ability, John Henry Predmore holds a position of note among the valued citizens of Clyde, Oakland county, where he is living, a valued member of the farming community. A son of a pioneer of this part of Michigan, Benjamin Predmore, he was born April 17, 1840, in Hector, Chemung county, New York, of Scotch ancestry.
A native of New Jersey, where his birth occurred March 6, 1792, Benjamin Predmore spent a part of his early life in the Empire state, coming from there in 1855 to Oakland county, Michigan. Buying land in Orion township, he improved a farm, and there lived until 1864. Selling out then, he bought a farm in Highland township, in company with his son, Miles C. Predmore, who had located there in 1858. He continued his residence in that place until his death, February 28, 1882, at a venerable age, lacking but nine days of being ninety years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Adair, lived but sixty-five years. They reared five sons and one daughter, as follows: Benjamin F., a millwright, was killed while working on the machinery in a grist mill at Holly; Miles C., who served as a member of a company of Michigan artillery during the Civil war, died in northern Michigan; John Henry, the special subject of this brief biographical review ; Charles B., who enlisted during the Civil war in the Twenty-second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, died at Lexington, Kentucky; Spaulding D., who served in the Third Michigan Cavalry during the Civil war, died at Leavenworth, Kansas; and Emeline, who married William Livermore, died in early womanhood.
As a lad of fourteen years John Henry Predmore began working out by the month, one-half of his wages during the first year going into the family exchequer. He afterwards depended entirely upon his own resources, and being industrious and frugal had saved quite a sum by the time he attained his majority. On July 6, 1864, he enlisted in the Twenty-second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, a new regiment, and first met the enemy in Kentucky, where the regiment was practically cut to pieces, he receiving injuries that disabled him from further service. Being honorably discharged from the army, Mr. Predmore returned to Oakland county, and took up his trade of a blacksmith, for six years running a smithy at Spring Mills. Locating then near Clyde, he bought one hundred and twenty-one acres of land adjoining the village, and has since carried on general farming with most satisfactory pecuniary results. He was for twelve years associated with the Monitor Insurance Company, doing a large amount of business during that time. He has also twice served as township treasurer. For twenty years or more Clyde supported a very good brass band, which had an extended reputa- tion, and was often in demand on public occasions or for local enter- tainments and amusements, and in it Mr. Predmore pounded the bass drum.
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Politically he invariably supports the principles of the Republican party by voice and vote. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs, and has served as a delegate to the Grand Lodge. Mr. Predmore is a man of abstemious habits, using no tobacco, and has never taken a drink of liquor over the bar. He is fond of cards, and enjoys a clean game of "seven-up."
On April 2, 1864, Mr. Predmore was united in marriage with Mary A. Glass, of Lapeer county, Michigan. Their only child, Willie Pred- more, who was a timberman in the copper mines at Butte, Montana, was killed while putting in timbers to support the roof, in August, 1904, at the age of thirty-seven years, being crushed by the falling of rocks.
CHARLES T. FOSTER. Industriously engaged in the prosecution of a calling upon which the wealth and prosperity of our nation so largely depends, Charles T. Foster, who owns and occupies Oak Grove Farm, is widely known as one of the most successful and progressive farmers of Rose township. A son of Samuel and Sarah Foster, he was born December 8, 1851, in Springfield, Michigan, coming on the paternal side of English ancestry.
Born in Kent, England, Samuel Foster immigrated when very young to the United States, locating first in New York. From there he came to Michigan in 1839, and after living for a few years in Detroit settled in Oakland county, near Clarkston, where he bought land and in addi- tion to carrying on general farming followed his trade of a carpenter, living there until his death, in 1878. His wife survived him many years, dying, in November, 1910, in Pontiac, Michigan. Six children were born of their marriage, as follows: Samuel, engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Chicago, Illinois; Horatio, engaged in the livery and undertaking business in the city of Midland; Mrs. Sarah Bigelow, of Cass City, Michigan; Mrs. Alice Brondige, who died, in 1909, in Pontiac, leaving one son, Eli Brondige, of Davisburg; Mrs. Letitia Brondige, of Pontiac; and Charles T.
Brought up on the home farm and educated in the district schools, Charles T. Foster remained beneath the parental roof-tree until 1878. In January of that year he came to Rose township, and having pur- chased one hundred acres of land that are now included in his present home estate, he began farming upon his own responsibility, and has met with most satisfactory pecuniary results. His home farm now contains two hundred and fifty-five acres of rich and fertile land, and in addition to general farming he is profitably and extensively engaged in raising stock, a branch of industry in which he has been quite successful. He is a Democrat politically and takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his community. For twenty-nine years he served as township clerk. Fraternally he belongs to Rose Lodge, of the Ancient Order of Gleaners.
In November, 1871, Mr. Foster was united in marriage with Emma L. Merrill, who was born in Springfield township, Michigan, a daughter of George and Sophia Merrill. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have had children as follows: Charles, who died in March, 1906, when twenty-five years of age; George, who owns a farm of one hundred and thirty acres in Rose township, married Ida M. Ellison, and they have two children; Edith, who married, in October, 1910, Charles I. Hadley, of Rose town- ship, has one child; John H., owning a farm of one hundred and thirty-
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four acres in the northeastern part of Rose township, married Mary Perry, who was born near Pontiac, Michigan; Ethel, living at home, was graduated from the Holly high school and from the Oakland County Normal School, has taught school one year; Frank, attending the Holly high school; and Yvonne, a child of seven years, attending the public schools.
NATHANIEL J. GORDON. Ranking high among the prosperous far- mers of Oakland county, the record of whose lives fill an important place in this volume, is Nathaniel J. Gordon, of Rose township, an en- terprising and progressive man, possessing much force of character. A native-born citizen, his birth occurred September 26, 1859, on a farm lying about one and one-half miles north of his present home.
His father, Patrick Gordon, a native of county Antrim, Ireland, born January 29, 1830, was there bred and educated. In about 1846 he came to America with his parents and located on Long Island, New York. In 1851, just about the time he attained his majority, he migrated with his parents, James and Jennie Gordon, to Michigan, locating in Rose township, Oakland county. Saving money while working by the month as a farm hand, he subsequently wisely invested it in land, becoming owner of a fine farm situated two miles east of Rose Center, on which he made improvements of value, continuing his residence there until his death, in December, 1899, aged seventy years. He was an active Republican in politics, and in the later years of his life served as town- ship treasurer and as justice of the peace. He married Sarah Sutton, who was born November 27, 1837, in Genesee county, New York, and came in 1844 to Rose township, Oakland county, with her parents, Peter and Fanny (Bird) Sutton, both natives of New Jersey, who cleared and improved a farm here, on which they spent their remaining days, the father dying at the age of eighty-one and the mother when sixty- three. Mrs. Gordon is still living, now making her home with her son Nathaniel in Missouri. Five children were born of their union, as fol- lows: James, who received excellent educational advantages, taught school from the age of sixteen years until his death, when but twenty- three years old; Jennie, who married August Anderson, died in 1911, aged forty-three years; William, engaged in farming in Lake county, Michigan; Willis B., engaged in farming in Missouri, near Trenton ; and Nathaniel J.
Living beneath the parental roof-tree until twenty-three years old, Nathaniel J. Gorden was early initiated into the mysteries of farming. When ready to establish a home of his own he purchased eighty acres of his present estate, in Rose township, assuming quite a debt for a young man. Fortune smiling upon him, he placed his land under good cultivation, and when out of debt bought additional land, now having a highly improved and productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has made improvements of an excellent character, having good buildings and in 1909 having erected a new house, one of the most attractive residences in the locality. Mr. Gordon carries on general farming after the most approved modern methods, paying especial atten- tion to the feeding and raising of stock. He is a strong Republican in his political relations, and has filled several minor public offices. He served on the school board twenty-four years, and has spent his entire life in this school district.
Mr. Gordon married at the age of twenty-three years, on February
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6, 1883, Ella Highfield, the adopted daughter of Edgerton and Lucy (Hicks) Highfield, who came from Canada to Oakland county when Ella was a child. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are the parents of six children, namely : Joseph P., a farmer, is married, and lives in Springfield town- ship, Oakland county ; James Earl, married, and engaged in farming in Rose township, served as census enumerator in 1910, and in April, 1911, and again in 1912 was elected township treasurer; Arthur J .; Minnie; Alva, attending the Holly high school; and Frank. All of the children have received good educational advantages, after leaving the district schools continuing their studies at the Holly high school. Mrs. Gordon is a member of the Rose Center Methodist Episcopal church.
ASA REYNOLDS. Coming to Oakland county, Michigan, upwards of seventy-five years ago, Asa Reynolds was one of those brave and courag- eous pioneers who dauntlessly pushed his way into an uncultivated country, taking up a tract of wild land in Rose township, where he cleared and improved a good farm, laboring with persistent industry. Public-spirited and capable, he became prominent among the leading citizens of his community, filling numerous offices of trust and responsi- bility, at his death leaving behind him a record for steadiness of purpose and integrity of character of which his descendants may well be proud.
Born November 25, 1810, in Schenectady county, New York, Asa Reynolds spent his boyhood and early manhood in Livingston county, New York, where his parents settled when he was seven years old. He taught school for a year in Monroe county, and in the same year, 1834, married. In October, 1836, Mr. Reynolds came with his wife to Michi- gan, with her bravely daring all the hardships and privations incidental to frontier life. Securing one hundred and sixty acres of land in Rose township, Oakland county, he cleared a large part of his farm, and was there a resident for thirty years. Subsequently removing to Fenton, he remained there a resident until his death, September 9, 1888.
An active and influential worker in Demorcatic ranks, Mr. Reynolds was frequently elected to public positions, and ever rendered excep- tionally good service as an office holder. He served as justice of the peace in Rose township for sixteen years, and as supervisor ten years. In 1854 he represented his district in the state legislature. He did a great deal of public business during his life, often being selected as administrator of estates.
Mr. Reynolds married first, in Avon, New York, in 1834, Sarah M. Lurvey. She passed to the life beyond in 1846, leaving three children, namely : Mary E., born March 24, 1836, married Luther W. Cole, and settled in Rose township, where both spent their remaining years; Sarah, born February 17, 1842, married Jerome E. Carver, and remained on the parental homestead; and Bettie, born March 3, 1844, married C. L. Miles, and died in 1876. Mr. Reynolds married in 1847 Mary Gage, who was born in New Hampshire, in 1808, and died in Owosso, Michi- gan, November 18, 1892. The only child born of their union was Jennie L. Reynolds, who was born October 19, 1847, and is now the wife of Cornelius Mahaney, of Owosso, Michigan.
JEROME E. CARVER was born in York township, Washtenaw county, Michigan, March 26, 1836. On September 24, 1861, he was united in marriage with Sarah, daughter of Asa Reynolds, and immediately after
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that important event settled on a farm lying near the Reynolds home- stead, in Rose township, Oakland county. Mrs. Carver subsequently purchased her father's farm, running in debt for it. Mr. Carver carried on general farming with good success until his death, September 27, 1880, when but forty-five years of age. Still owing $8,000 on the farm, Mrs. Carver assumed its management after the death of her husband, and was so prosperous in her operations that she was enabled each year to lessen her indebtedness, and lived to see every cent of it paid in full. She died the following year, however, her death occurring December 27, 1906, on the farm where she had practically spent her entire life. The house now standing on the place was erected by her father about 1850, and was at that time one of the best houses in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Carver reared but one child, Sylvia Carver, who married, January 19, 1907, Alfred F. Le Baron.
Mr. Le Baron was born December 11, 1865, in York township, Wash- tenaw county, Michigan. Since his marriage he has had the entire charge of the home farm, which came to his wife through inheritance, and is managing it in an able and skilful manner, each year adding to its value and attractiveness. In 1911 Mr. Le Baron erected a substan- tial barn, thirty-four by sixty-six feet, with an "ell" sixteen by thirty- four feet, it being one of the finest buildings of the kind in the vicinity, well adapted for farming purposes. He has also a windmill which supplies a large tank with water for use on the farm. Mrs. Le Baron is a member of Fenton Chapter, No. 248, Order of the Eastern Star, to which her mother, Mrs. Carver, also belonged. Her grandfather, Asa Reynolds, was one of the leading members of Fenton Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, which honored him with the gift of a fine gold watch when he retired from the position of master of his lodge.
GEORGE W. GLINES. A venerable and much esteemed resident of Oakland county, George W. Glines has for nearly three score years lived upon the farm he now occupies, three and one-half miles north- west of Clyde, during which time he has rendered material assistance in the development and advancement of this locality. A son of John Glines, he was born November 3, 1829, in Canada, coming on the paternal side of New England ancestry. Coming here as a child, he has wit- nessed wonderful changes in the face of the country. In his boyhood days schoolhouses, churches, costly residences and substantial barns were unknown in this region. Neither railways, telegraph or telephone lines spanned the country, nor were motor-propelled vehicles of any kind dreamed of, few, if any, of the present evidences of civilization existing. In this grand transformation Mr. Glines has taken an active part, spending many of the best years of his long and useful life in redeeming from the wilderness a portion of the country roundabout.
Born and bred in Vermont, John Glines emigrated to Canada when young, for awhile working there as a farm laborer. Going from there to Ohio, he lived for three years in Newburg, now a part of the city of Cleveland, working by the day. Following the tide of migration west- ward in 1836, he located in Hartland township, Livingston county, Michigan, four miles southwest of the present home of his son George. Buying eighty acres of heavily timbered land, on which there were no improvements, he began the pioneer labor of wresting a farm from the
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