USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests Volume II > Part 5
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Mr. Van Atta was born in South Lyon township, Oakland county, Michigan, on March 18, 1879, and is a son of James A. and Jane ( Mur- ray) Van Atta, the former also a native of South Lyon township, and the latter of Salem township. The father was a farmer in his native township until 1881, when he changed his residence to Waterford town- ship, and there continued his farming operations. He is now living in Pontiac, retired from all active pursuits. He is a Democrat in his political faith and loyal to the core of his party. The mother is a daughter of William and Lydia (Scott) Murray, and one of a family of six children: Spencer, Walter, Mrs. Van Atta, Ann, Phebe and Clare. William Murray was also a farmer during his years of activ- ity and successful at the business. His present residence is at Salem, in Washtenaw county, this state. James A. Van Atta and his wife are the parents of six children: Flora, George, Fred, William, Roy Spencer and Homer. Their son Roy Spencer obtained his education in the district schools of Waterford township, this county, and after leaving school turned his attention to the occupation of his ancestors for many generations and followed farming until he attained the age of twenty-three years. He then moved to Pontiac, where he has ever since been engaged in the livery business.
This business seems to have fully met the taste and desire of Mr. Van Atta, for he has taken the deepest and most fruitful interest in it and produced results commensurate with the care and labor he has bestowed upon his work. He has the leading establishment of its kind in Pontiac, and one that is unsurpassed in this part of the state. His stables are noted for the high-class driving horses they furnish to the trade and the substantial, ornate and showy rigs that go with them. It is the proprietor's aim to have only the best of everything in his line, and he hits his mark in every way and omits no effort necessary for the purpose.
On November 1, 1905, Mr. Van Atta was united in marriage with Miss Grace Violetta Cheal, a daughter of William and Mary E. (Bird)
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Cheal. She was born in Pontiac on September 23, 1882, and was edu- cated in a country school in Waterford township in the lower grades, after which she pursued a course in the Pontiac high school, and was graduated from it in 1902. During the next two years she followed teaching in Waterford township, then became the wife of Mr. Van Atta. Four children have been born of their union, all of whom are living: George William, whose life began on September 15, 1906; Ken- neth Cheal, who came into being on October 17, 1907; James Roy, the date of whose birth was July 5, 1909; and Ruth Grace, who was born on September 29, 1910.
Politically Mr. Van Atta is a Democrat, and while he neither seeks nor desires a political office of any kind, he is always loyal and service- able to his party and its candidates. He is content to help in every way he can in promoting the welfare of his county and leave to others the management of its civil affairs. His wife is a member of the Con- gregational church.
CORNELIUS L. TOWER. Oakland county and Oakland township have no more enthusiastic advocates than Cornelius L. Tower, who follows farming and stock raising and who always advocates these branches of industry as desirable for young men who want to consider health, wealth and happiness in their choice of a life's vocation. Mr. Tower was born in Oakland on July 18, 1849. He is a son of Lemuel P. and Annie E. (Irwin) Tower, both of whom were natives of New York. They came to Michigan about 1840, locating in Oakland county. Lemuel P. Tower followed farming always. Their family comprised six children : Henry, the first born, died in infancy ; Lydia became the wife of Frances Whipple and resides in Lapeer county ; Adela is deceased; the fourth child was Cornelius; William, his younger brother, resides in Oakland county ; and Emily, the youngest child, married A. O. Harris, of Ma- comb county.
At the age of twenty Cornelius Tower took up farming and has followed it steadily with stock raising for a correlated industry. Dur- ing his career he has bought and sold considerable land. He now owns one hundred and forty-five acres in section 28 of Oakland township. He married Myrtle J. Goodison, a daughter of William and Margaret Goodison. Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Tower had three children, the first two dying in infancy and Elmer, the third, is living in Detroit.
Mr. Tower is a stalwart Republican in his political preferences. He has held the various minor offices of his township. In his religious connection he holds membership in the Methodist church. He is a good citizen in every sense of the word.
WILLIAM H. OSMUN. It is with pleasure that the editors of this publication take up the life of one of Oakland county's honored and representative citizens, William H. Osmun, who has resided in this community for over half a century and who has contributed in very definite fashion to its progress and growth. His interests have been for the most part in the line of agriculture and brick manufacturing. He has ever led an active and busy life and has been helpfully inter- ested in all measures tending to the general welfare. He is a man of breadth of character and of generosity of judgment, and he comes of a family of like fine principles, who have succeeded better than the average in living together in peace and harmony, a pleasant fact of which he is justly proud.
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William H. Osmun is a native son of the state and county, his eyes having first opened to the light of day within its pleasant boundaries on October 27, 1841. He is the son of William H. and Mary A. (Linder- man) Osmun, both natives of New York, who came to Michigan in 1836. The father followed the vocation of a farmer until after the Civil war, when he engaged in loaning money. He lived to advanced old age, passing to the Great Beyond on January 15, 1905. The demise of the mother occurred in March, 1900. These greatly respected citi- zens of Oakland county were the parents of six sons and daughters, as follows: Abraham, who died in childhood; the subject of this review ; Martha, wife of Welcome Young, of Pontiac; Charles, of Detroit; Mary, wife of Lewis Young, of Pontiac; and Carrie, wife of Charles Bartlett, also of this city. Upon the death of his father William H. Osmun, Sr., found himself the owner of over five hundred acres, and a remarkable circumstance in connection with the settling up of the parental estate-the largest in all the county,-was that there was no trouble whatsoever among the heirs, and the entire cost of settlement amounted to two dollars. This spirit has always distinguished the Os- muns.
The subject received only a small part of his education in the schools of this place, but attended fourteen years in New York, whence he had accompanied his father, who was called there by business. At the age of twenty years he came back to his native county and here has ever since remained. When the Civil war cloud was gathering he en- listed in the New York Sharpshooters, whose services were not accepted by Lincoln. During his practice at sharp-shooting a shell exploded and destroyed the sight of his left eye, and, thus disabled, he had to abandon his idea of becoming a soldier. It was a sad trial to the patriotic young fellow who longed to be with the companions of his youth and give his services for the defense of the Nation whose insti- tutions were dear to him. Fate decreed otherwise and he came to Pon- tiac and went into business.
Mr. Osmun's first adventures in business were in raising sheep and selling wool, in New York, in which business he was engaged for three years. He married young, and upon coming to Michigan bought from his father-in-law two farms, having some idea of devoting his energies to the great basic industry. These farms consisted of eighty acres apiece. He also bought from that gentleman his brick plant, and he continued in the manufacture of brick for forty years. He filled many large contracts, among others providing all the bricks used in the con- struction of the Michigan State Asylum, 27,000,000 in number. He is the possessor of sound judgment and executive ability and has been very successful in his undertakings. In April, 1911, he received the compliment of election to his present office of commissioner of public utilities, and at three different times he has served as alderman of the second ward. He has never been found wanting in public office, but the interests of the people have always been more important to him than his own personal interests.
Mr. Osmun was happily married on the 22nd day of March, 1864, his chosen lady being Frances Chaffee, daughter of Stephen and Mel- letiah (Leonard) Chaffee, natives of Vermont. Mrs. Osmun, how- ever, is a native of Michigan. The union of the Chaffees was blessed by the birth of the following children : Ellen, deceased ; Mary, of Pon- tiac ; and Mrs. Osmun. To Mr. and Mrs. Osmun were born three chil- Vol. II-3
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dren. Mabel is the wife of Melton Robentson, of Pontiac; Allie died at the age of eleven years; and Flora is the wife of H. H. Crisp, of Pontiac.
Mr. Osmun is a loyal Republican and the friend of good govern- ment. He is a man of exemplary life and glories in the fact that neither · his father nor his father's sons and sons-in-law smoked or used in- toxicating liquors. Mr. Osmun carried the piece of copper in his eye, received previous to the Civil war, for more than forty years before it was removed. He and his wife are popular and genial members of society, holding high place in the community and supporting its good causes. They built their present home forty-six years ago, and have continued to live therein ever since.
JOSEPH KENAGA. Retired after an active life devoted to agricul- ture, Joseph Kenaga lives comfortably in a handsome home on East street, Rochester, which he purchased when the desire to move to the city came to him in 1910. He was one who did not wait until old age arrived to enjoy the competency which he had won from the soil, but with health and vigor as his portion has now relinquished the cares of the farm. Mr. Kenega's native home was Erie county, New York, where his parents, both natives of Pennsylvania, had located. His father was Benjamin and his mother Sabrina (Hoyl) Kenaga. They came to Michigan in 1867, locating in Macomb county. The senior Kenaga died on August 4, 1903, and his wife on March 7, 1891. To their union there were eleven children born: Benjamin and Levi, the first-born are now deceased. So also are the next six children, none of whom survived the days of infancy. Annie the ninth child, is dead, leaving surviving only the two youngest of the family-Sarah, wife of Jefferson Fogelsonger, of Macomb county, and the subject.
At the age of twenty-one years Joseph Kenaga married and took charge of the home place for several years thereafter. Then after a resi- dence of a year and a half in Bay City he bought 122 acres in Avon township, located in section 22. This was in 1892, and he worked this farm for the succeeding eighteen years, retiring in 1910.
His wife was Sarah George, to whom he was wedded on May 25, 1871, and by whom he had four children: Anson, of Oakland county ; Clarence, who died on May 15, 1873; Tressa, wife of John Major, of Fowlerville, Michigan; Nellie, wife of William Graham, of Detroit, Michigan. Mrs. Kenaga died December 21, 1896, and on December 21, 1899, he married Catherine Jacobs, daughter of Jonas and Catherine (Yost) Jacobs, who were natives of Canada. The father still lives in Ontario, but the mother is now deceased. There were four children in their family-Samuel, of Canada ; Joseph, deceased; David and Levi, of Canada. Mr. Kenega is a member of the Reformed Menonite faith. He lives on Rochester Rural Route No. I.
CHAUNCEY BRACE. Among Pontiac's admirable citizens and prom- inent business men must be mentioned Chauncey Brace, who has been engaged in the undertaking business here since 1887, and who is partic- ularly eligible to representation in a volume of this nature. He is one of the gallant ex-soldiers of the Civil war whom Oakland county pos- sesses in considerable numbers, having gone forth in the dread days of the '6os with the flower of American manhood to risk his life for the Nation. Mr. Brace is a native of Wayne county, Michigan, his
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life record having had a beginning within the boundaries of that county on the 8th day of September, 1844. His parents were Willis and Har- riet (Curtis) Brace, both natives of Niagara county, New York, and, like so many Empire state people, they came to Michigan in the early days and laid the paths for civilization straight and clean. The arrival of the Braces in the Wolverine state was in the year 1836, and, as mentioned, they made settlement in Wayne county. Willis Brace was a contractor in the earlier years of his life, but upon coming to the newer state engaged in agriculture and was known to his fellow men as a man of high character and ability. He was born in 1800, and was a traveler to the "Undiscovered Country" in 1857, being in the prime of life at the time of his demise. The mother, born January 25, 1815, survives, a venerable lady within a few years of the century mark, her residence being maintained in the city of Detroit. There were seven children in the family circle of which Mr. Brace was a member, their names being as follows: Joel, who lost his life in a street car wreck in Chattanooga, Tennessee; an infant who died unnamed; Sarah, who died in infancy ; Curtis, of Wayne county, Michigan; Martha, widow of James Cory, of Detroit; Mr. Brace, immediate subject of this re- view ; and Leathy, deceased, her death occurring November 14, 1911, wife of Horace Barnes, of Wayne county.
Mr. Brace, like the companions of his youth, received his education in the district schools of his home locality, and at the early age of thirteen years took up the active duties of farm life, becoming through actual experience very familiar with the many secrets of seed-time and harvest. When he was fifteen years of age he decided that the routine of the farm was becoming irksome and he began railroading, in which work he was engaged for a year and a half. In the meantime the long gathering Civil war cloud broke in all its fury and the patriotic young fellow of less than seventeen years enlisted in Company E, Ninth Mich- igan Infantry, the date of his enlistment being August 15, 1861. He served until the affair at Appomattox, the length of his service thus be- ing nearly four years in duration. He was a participant in many en- gagements and was mustered out at the close of the war at Jackson, Michigan.
Upon the termination of the great conflict Mr. Brace returned to Wayne county and for a time engaged in the agricultural implement business, which included the manufacture of plows, and he remained thus identified for a decade. In 1875 he embarked in the undertaking business and followed this in Wayne county until his removal here in 1887. His career in Pontiac has been remarkably successful and his undertaking establishment is thoroughly up-to-date, while the mortu- ary methods employed by him are of the most scientific character. Both as an exemplary business man and a citizen whose hand and heart are given to all causes likely to prove beneficial to the public welfare, he has proved a valuable acquisition to Pontiac.
Mr. Brace was happily married on February 13, 1864, his chosen lady being Mary Randall, daughter of Cyrus and Caroline (Downey) Ran- dall, the father a native of New York and the mother an Englishwoman by birth. The death of the father occurred at Detroit, when he was about seventy-five years of age, but the mother is living at Inkster in Wayne county, Michigan, the years of this worthy lady numbering eighty-eight. Mrs. Brace was one of a family of nine children. Felista is the wife of James Dugaw, of Detroit; Chauncey is deceased; Mary,
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wife of the subject, is third in order of birth; Louisa is the widow of Lewis Scott, of Wayne county ; Elizabeth, now deceased, was the wife of Joseph Clark, of Wayne county; Caroline, wife of Mr. Rieff, of Wayne county, is deceased; Filena is the wife of Henry House, of Genesee county ; George is deceased, having been accidentally shot; and Cyrus, the youngest child, is a citizen of Wayne county.
Into the household of the subject and his wife were born six chil- dren, concerning whom the following brief data is entered. Frank W., the eldest son, makes his home in the city of Detroit, where he is engaged in the undertaking business; Electa is at home; R. Jay is en- gaged in the leather goods business at Pontiac; Lucille is the wife of Dr. C. B. Chapin, of Benton Harbor, Michigan; Clarence is associated with his father in his undertaking business; and James is at home.
Mr. Brace is a loyal adherent of the "Grand Old Party" and takes a great interest in national and local issues. He is now holding the office of coroner of Oakland county and has given the highest service in such capacity. He is a prominent lodge man, belonging to the time- honored Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic he renews old memories with the comrades of other days. He and his wife are faithful and helpful members of the Methodist church and give a helping hand to all just causes.
ELMER O. CHARTER. Oakland county is noted for its men who have a thorough knowledge of agricultural conditions and the breeding of fine stock. Probably the conditions in this part of the state are as near ideal as could be found anywhere for the successful and profitable raising of large crops of grain, vegetables and fruit, and the fertile pasture land is especially well adapted to the needs of the stock raiser. One of the progressive and enterprising agriculturists of Oakland county who has met with decided success in his operations is Elmer O. Charter, of Pontiac township, the owner of a fine tract in section 8, on which he has spent his entire life, and which has been developed from its virgin state by members of his family. He was born on his pres- ent property, April 30, 1871, and is a son of Alfred and Caroline (Phelps) Charter, natives of Oakland county, whence their parents came during the early 'thirties, taking up land from the government. Alfred Charter has spent his entire career in Pontiac township, where he is still carrying on farming, and owns the original deed granted by the government to his father. He and his wife had two children: Elmer O. and Cora H., the latter being deceased.
›Elmer O. Charter secured his education in the common schools of Pontiac township, and was reared to the work of the home farm, be- ginning to assist his father as soon as he was old enough to grasp the plow handles. Descended from a long line of agriculturists, he in- herited natural ability for the work, and this, with a thorough training, has made him one of the skilled farmers of his township. He has never left the home farm, and for some years has had charge of the old homestead, where he raises large crops and breeds fine cattle, find- ing a ready sale for his product in the various large markets. While his private duties have demanded the greater part of his attention, he has always been ready to lend his aid to movements tending to advance the interests of his township and county, and is recognized as an active and public-spirited citizen. In his political views Mr. Charter is a
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Democrat, but he only takes a passive interest in public affairs, and has never desired the honors or emoluments of public office. His fraternal connection is with the Knights of the Maccabees. Although he be- longs to no particular church, he may be counted upon to support move- ments fostered by religious and charitable bodies, and has reared his children to lead upright Christian lives.
Mr. Charter was married February 22, 1898, to Miss Martha Mary, the daughter of Albert and Matilda (Lissett) Mary, natives of Mich- igan. Mrs. Charter has five brothers, as follows: Edward, residing in Oakland county ; George, a resident of Pontiac township; and Wil- liam, Bert and Leslie, all living in Pontiac. Mr. and Mrs. Charter have had three children : Myrtle, Alta and Burt, all living at home.
PHILIP H. STARKE. The late Philip H. Starke, of Pontiac, whose untimely death on May 1, 1896, at the early age of thirty-eight years, threw the whole community into grief and gloom, was connected with railroad work from the time he left school until the end of his life. He received a fair education in the common schools and by private read- ing and study, and was in so far as that went well prepared for the important duties he had to perform. But his principal qualification for them resided within himself, and found expression in his fine executive ability, his quickness of perception, his breadth of view, and his ready and commanding grasp of the requirements of any given situation, whatever its difficulties.
Mr. Starke was a native of Montreal, Canada, born on February 22, 1858, and the son of Andrew and Deborah Starke, both born in Ireland. The father was a railroad man and bridge contractor, and while he lived wrought diligently and successfully at his business. Both he and the mother have been dead a number of years. They were the parents of seven children: Philip H. : George; Andrew, William and Frank. all of whom are yet residents of Montreal; Jane, whose home is in New Baltimore: and Mary, who is a resident of Montreal.
Philip H. Starke was for some years a paymaster on the Air Line Railroad, and at the time of his death was chief clerk in the superin- tendent's office of the American Express Company in Detroit. Pre- vious to his connection with the Air Line he was private secretary to the chief engineer of the Canadian Pacific. He began working in a railroad office when a boy and worked his way up step by step. He was a man of fine capacity for railroad work, as has been stated above, and, having been largely self-educated, was trained in the best way for excellent service of the most practical character. His work for the railroads by which he was employed was highly satisfactory to their directorates, and the men with whom he was personally associated in official relations found him an exceedingly valuable assistant, on ac- count of both his ability and his fidelity.
On December 22, 1882, Mr. Starke was united in marriage with Miss Lena Benson, a daughter of John H. and Catherine ( Allen) Ben- son, the father a native of the state of New York and the mother of Pontiac, the first white girl born in Oakland county, her birth occur- ring April 14, 1823. The father died on January 21, 1901, and the mother on April 5, 1909. He was a photographer, and one of the old- est in the state in continuous connection with the business. They were the parents of three children: One who died in infancy ; Mrs. Starke : and her brother Fred, who is also deceased. No children were born
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of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Starke, and Mrs. Starke is therefore the only surviving member of her father's family and her own household.
Mr. Starke was a Democrat in his political faith and always zeal- ously loyal to his party. He never sought or desired a political office, but he at all times gave his earnest, energetic and effective support to the candidates and principles of his political organization, and did all he could to help them to success. Fraternally he belonged to the Na- tional Union of Detroit, and was active in its service. In church rela- tions he was a Methodist, as is also Mrs. Starke, and was as true to his congregation and the teachings of his creed as he was to everything else he believed in and was connected with. At the time of his death he was held in the highest esteem by the people of all classes wher- ever he was known, and if he had not been cut short in the very prime of his years and his usefulness he would undoubtedly have become a man of commanding influence and considerable prominence.
GEORGE D. COWDIN is one of the most prominent farmers of Oakland county, not only owning a fine estate in section 13, Brandon township, where he engages in general farming, stock raising and fruit culture, but also taking an active interest in political affairs. He was born at Avon, New York, October 21, 1835, the son of Addison and Bethiah ( Douglas) Cowdin, who came to Oakland county in 1836, at which time they lo- cated on the farm which forms a part of the present large estate of George D. Cowdin.
Addison Cowdin, a highly respected man of his time and locality, was a native of New Hampshire, where he lived until he was eight years of age. Then he moved with his parents to New York, where he remained until his marriage. He was justice of the peace for a long time and held numerous township offices at various times in his life. He was familiarly known as "Deacon" Cowdin. Although his wife was a member of the re- ligious body known as Close Communion Baptists, the family attended and liberally supported the Congregational church at Oakwood, because there was no Baptist congregation there at the time. He died in 1888, at the advanced old age of eighty-one years. His wife was born at Avon, New York, in 1809 and passed away in Oakland county at the age of eighty-seven years. Some of her relatives reside in Troy township. There were seven children in the elder Cowdin family, four of whom are deceased, namely, Eliza, Yates, Carlos and Ada. The survivors are Han- nah, widow of Henry Fitch and a resident of Independence township, George D .; and Omer, who resides with him.
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