USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests Volume II > Part 55
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of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Van Gordon is a Socialist in politics.
CHARLES HUDSON TERRY. The fertile fields of Oakland county have furnished some of its best citizens with the means of working out their life's destiny and of laying up for themselves a comfortable pro- vision for later years. Farming requires hard, unremitting work, and to carry it on successfully calls for good management and a thorough knowledge of all its details, although conditions are much improved over those of the pioneer days, and modern machinery and newly discovered methods of tilling the soil have revolutionized agricultural operations. One of the progressive and enterprising young farmers of Oakland township is Charles Hudson Terry, carrying on farming and stock rais- ing on a handsome tract of fertile land in Pontiac township. Mr. Terry belongs to a pioneer family of Oakland county, and was born here July 13, 1884, a son of Frank and Sarah (Wyman) Terry.
Charles Hudson Terry was given excellent educational advantages, attending first the district schools in the vicinity of his father's farm, and subsequently going to the high school at Rochester, Michigan. Re- maining under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age, he then started out in life on his own account, taking up one hundred and six acres of his father's land. The success which rewarded this first venture encouraged Mr. Terry to extend his operations, and he soon began working three hundred and forty-six acres in Pontiac township with his brother. This has likewise proved a successful enterprise, and Mr. Terry is now regarded as one of the substantial young agriculturists of his community. General farming and stock raising have received his attention, and the immense crops raised and the fine cattle bred on his property offer ample testimony to his ability in his chosen vocation. The buildings on his land are large and substantial, the fields are neatly fenced and the pastures well kept, and the entire place bears an appear- ance of prosperity and good management.
On December 2, 1909, Mr. Terry was married to Miss Lena Kitche- master, daughter of John and Minna (Rewold) Kitchemaster, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1883 and settled in Ma- comb county, Michigan. They had a family of six children, as follows: Fred, residing in Oakland; Henry, a resident of Pontiac; Lena, who married Mr. Terry; Ella, who lives in Macomb; William, who died in childhood; and one that died in infancy. The father of these children died in 1911, the mother having passed away in 1891. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Terry there has been born one child: Irene Isabelle, May 22, 1910.
In his political views Mr. Terry is a Democrat, but public life has never held out inducements strong enough to cause his active participa- tion in the public arena. Agricultural matters have satisfied him, and he is a valued and popular member of the Gleaners. With Mrs. Terry he attends the Methodist church, and both are well and favorably known in the community where their families have lived for so many years.
OSCAR D. WILSON. A venerable and highly respected agriculturist of Oakland county, Oscar D. Wilson has spent the larger portion of his long and useful life within its boundaries, and has taken a genuine in-
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terest in its advancement. A native of New York, he was born in Onon- daga county December 14, 1836.
Daniel T. Wilson, his father, came from New York to Michigan in 1837, performing the long and tedious journey with teams, bringing with him his wife and family. Being favorably impressed with Oakland county, he bought a tract of wild land in Springfield townhip, and was there engaged in farming until his death, while yet in the prime of life. He married Lucina Servis, a native of New York. She passed to the life beyond, leaving four children, as follows: Charlotte R., of Bay city, widow of Archie McAlpin; Oscar D., the subject of this sketch; Laura A., widow of Daniel Young, late of Gratiot county; and Susan, widow of M. Rathburn, of Flint, Michigan.
In early life Oscar D. Wilson came with his widowed mother to Brandon township where in section twenty-nine, she bought eighty acres of land and began the improvement of a farm. Soon after her death Mr. Wilson bought the interest of the remaining heirs in the property. and has since been successfully employed in tilling the soil. A man of excellent judgment and sound sense, enterprising and energetic, he has accumulated a good property, now owning two hundred and forty acres of as rich and fertile land as can be found in this part of the county, and from it is reaping profitable crops. Although badly handicapped, having been forced to use crutches for the past thirty years, owing to the loss of his left leg, he has been exceedingly fortunate in his oper- ations, being now one of the leading general farmers of Brandon township.
Mr. Wilson has been twice married. He married first, Lavina Fer- guson, who died on the home farm April 18, 1885, leaving two children, Jay T., living at home; and Zoe, wife of Edward N. Page, of Detroit. On December 27, 1888, Mr. Wilson married for his second wife Eliza- beth Warner, who was born in Canada, and as a girl of ten years came to Michigan with her parents, John and Elizabeth ( Plum) Warner, who settled in Genesee county, where the death of Mr. Warner occurred December 14, 1858. Mrs. Warner survived him many years, passing away December 26, 1891, at an advanced age. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom Mrs. Wilson and her brother, Robert Warner, of Tuscola county, are the only survivors. Politically Mr. Wilson is a stanch Republican.
J. W. CAMPBELL. To perhaps few of the present hurrying, stren- uous period will it be given to attain to such a crown of years as those of J. W. Campbell, who had reached the age of ninety-seven when he passed from the midst of men, and whose venerable dignity seems still to linger about his familiar haunts in Holly. He spent the last twenty- one years of his life here, where his son and daughter continue to reside.
Early in the preceding century, in 1813, at Paris, Oneida county, New York, J. W. Campbell was born. In 1840 he married Miss Eliza Durham, of Genesee county, New York, and in 1846, changed his home to Oakland county, Michigan, living in Independence, near the environs of Clarkston. He cleared a stretch of woods four miles north of that place, covering an extent of eighty-eight acres and securing more than fifty acres of good farming land. Eight years later he changed his lo- cation for that of Lapeer county, where larger expanses of land were
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accessible. Here he bought 280 acres of heavy timber land, of which only a few were cleared, and soon had one hundred acres of farm land in cultivation, having also replaced the one log cabin with adequate buildings, including a comfortable home.
Having thus, after more than a half century of faithful, steady and wisely exerted toil, reclaimed a goodly portion of forest wilderness, making it to usefully and practically bloom, having seen his children all well established in their respective spheres in life and feeling content at the age of seventy-six to more passively enjoy life. Mr. Campbell came to reside in Holly in 1889. He rebuilt the house he had selected as the home of his old age, and united with the Presbyterian church of Holly. In his youthful days in New York he had been a member of this denomination, but, coming to Michigan, he did not find this organiz- ation near his place of residence, and, believing the polity of the Con- gregational church better adapted to the newer fields, he assisted in the organization of such a church in Independence, and when removed from that place became a charter member of a church of this denomination at Goodrich, Genesee county, bordering on Lapeer. In both of these churches he served as deacon until his removal from their midst and then in the Holly congregation as an elder until his decease. One week pre- ceding his death he assisted in the examination of a candidate, J. R. Jones, who was admitted to membership and became his successor in the session of the Holly Presbyterian church. Politically as well as religiously Mr. Campbell's views always stood for something definite and he was never afraid of opposition. In the days of conflict over slavery he was a decided and outspoken Abolitionist, as might readily be inferred from the fact that he at one time aided a black slave and his wife to escape to freedom in Canada. No less determined was he in his attitude toward the use of alcoholic beverages, for he was all his life an ardent Prohibitionist.
His good wife left her place beside him in 1907, closing her earthly existence at the age of eighty-two. Of the three children who had been born to them, Sarah, Flavel and Phoebe, two yet survive them. The last, who became the wife of Dr. C. P. Felshaw, of Holly, died at the age of forty-nine years. The other daughter, Miss Sarah, and the son, best known as J. F. Campbell, remained with their father throughout most of his later life. The former, who has been well known as a teacher in Lapeer, Oakland and Genesee counties, began her educational service when she was only seventeen years of age, continuing it for twenty-eight years in both country and village schools. Her favorite subjects were such as point definitely towards some phase of the world's work or toward higher education. Her enthusiasm and thoroughness in teaching such subjects as bookkeeping and algebra, which too often were considered as beyond the reach of country and village schools, are gratefully remembered by many of her former pupils who are now suc- cessful business men or teachers in advanced lines. To her personal inspiration, too, are traceable the early ambitions of a considerable num- ber of ministers, physicians and others who are prominent in public life. Her influence has been a broadly beneficient one. As a member of the Presbyterian church her ability and activity make her valuable there as they ever have done in the school room, as well as in the home where her faithful care was given her parents while they lived. Neither she nor her brother has ever married, their domestic affection having been
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given most fully to their mother and the noble hearted old man to whom this sketch is dedicated.
GEORGE W. & JANE CLENDENNING SLY. Among the early pioneers of this county were Jacob and Susannah (Bennet) Sly, who migrated from Elmira, New York, in 1823, and in 1824 took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in the wilds of old Oakland.
George W. Sly, their youngest son, was born on the Sly farm, on March 3, 1828. At that time the beautiful township of Bloomfield was a wilderness inhabited by Indians who found this charming locality a favorite fishing and hunting ground. A stone school house, built about 1856 and one of the old landmarks of Oakland county, is located at Sly's Corners, just opposite the Sly home. The accompanying cut
OLD-TIME SCHOOL HOUSE ON THE SLY FARM NEAR FARMINGTON
represents the building at the present time, the addition of a belfry be- ing the only change from the original design. While the advantages of the locality in an educational way were limited, the sturdy children of this pioneer period developed strong physiques, and as Mr. Sly grew to years of manhood he was especially well fitted for the agricultural duties that devolved upon him. He made an overland trip to California in 1849, but after a few years' stay there he returned to the home of his birth, where he spent the remainder of his life. His death occurred on January 29, 1905, when he was seventy-six years of age.
On December 8, 1858, Mr. Sly was united in marriage with Jane Clendenning, Rev. R. E. Lanning performing the ceremony. At an early age Mrs. Sly came with her parents from New Brunswick and settled near Franklin. She was a woman of sterling character and de- voted her life to promoting the welfare and best interests of her family.
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She passed away on June 25, 1900, aged sixty-six years. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sly. George Jr. and Jennie C., died as they were reaching years of young manhood and womanhood, and one son died in infancy. Five daughters and five grandchildren are now the only living representatives of the family, the daughters being Mrs. Emma Sly Hupp, of Birmingham, Michigan; Mrs. Lottie E. Stannard, of Taylors Falls, Minnesota ; Miss Addie Sly, who resides on the old home- stead, and who has done much to improve and beautify the place; Miss Sarah E. Sly, who also resides at the Sly Farm; and Miss Martie B. Sly, of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. The grandchildren are Mrs. W. K. Poppleton, of Birmingham, Michigan; Fred J. Blanding, of the same place; Luella, Louise and Conway Stannard, of Taylors Falls, Minnesota.
HERMAN H. ZAHN. With a fine farm of one hundred and sixteen acres, located in section 14, Pontiac township, well watered and in a high state of cultivation, improved by a handsome residence, ample barns and other outbuildings, and enlivened by fine herds of cattle and swine, Herman H. Zahn would seem to have nothing to long for in a material way, and when it is added that he is held in high esteem by the people of the section, and considerd a good representative citizen, an excellent farmer, a man of wide information and a serviceable, benevolent neigh- bor and friend, the civic and social side of his life is as complete in its combination of satisfactory elements as is the financial side. He was born in Macomb county, Michigan, April 10, 1866, and is a son of Frederick Henry and Minnie (Feunert) Zahn.
Frederick Henry Zahn was born in Pennsylvania and during the early 'twenties came to Detroit, Michigan, there being only a few log houses in the city at that time. He was a machinist by trade, but later established himself in the milling business, but his mill was destroyed by fire, and as he had no insurance he lost his entire property and was forced to make a new start. He accordingly devoted himself to agricul- tural pursuits, and at the time of his death owned eighty acres of land in Macomb county. His death occurred in 1873. Mr. Zahn was mar- ried three times, there being two children born to his first union. Car- oline, deceased, who was the wife of Mr. O'Shea, of Portland; and Henry, deceased. There were also two children born to the second mar- riage: William, a machinist of Mt. Clemens, Michigan; and Ann, the wife of Mr. Mason, of Portland, Oregon. Minnie (Feunert) Zahn, his third wife, was born in New York, and bore him two children: Lewis L., of Detroit, and Herman H., and after his death she was married to Charles Nurenburg, of Pontiac township. Her death occurred October 10, 1906, when she was sixty-six years of age.
Educated in the district schools of Macomb county and reared there to agricultural pursuits, Herman H. Zahn remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age, at which time he went to Port Huron and took up railroad work. He was so engaged until 1898, when he came to Pontiac, and there purchased one hundred and sixteen acres of good farming land in Pontiac township. He has a fine set of buildings, the latest being a barn, erected in 1912, and does general farming and stock raising, as well as devoting some attention to a dairy. He is one of Oak- land county's representative men, wide awake, progressive and enterpris- ing, and has so conducted his affairs as to win the unqualified respect of his fellow citizens. In political matters he is a Repubilcan, alhough
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he takes only a good citizen's interest in matters of a public nature, while his fraternal connection is with the Odd Fellows. With his family he attends the Methodist church.
On June 16, 1907, Mr. Zahn was married to Miss Martha McGarry. one of the seven children of Joseph and Hannah (Jessup) McGarry, natives of Canada, the former of whom is deceased, and to this union there have been born two children: Edna, born November 11. 1908: and Lewis, born August 9. 1900.
HENRY A. Porrs, a dealer in harnesses and horse goods of South Lyon, Oakland county, Michigan, is a prosperous and solid citizen of that town. Outside of his own business, which has always been highly successful. he has interested himself in various other industrial invest- ments which his keen judgment and efficient management have always brought to a satisfactory financial conclusion.
Mr. Potts' grandparents on both his father's and his mother's side were from England, and were among the first families to settle in Oak- land county. Ilis father, Robert Potts, was brought to America by his parents in 1833. leaving England March 17 and landing in this country April 28. They started for Michigan three days after their arrival and reached Milford on May 17. Henry A. Potts' mother. Betsy ( Bowers) Potts, sailed from Liverpool with her parents May 4. 1830. and was five weeks and three days crossing the ocean. They remained in New York for three and a half years, and then moved to Detroit, reaching there October 14, 1833. They soon afterward went on to Milford, and. like the Potts family, took up land from the government.
Henry A. Potts was born in Milford. May 27, 1853. and attended the district school near his home until he was fifteen, when he entered the high school of Milford. Sickness prevented him from finishing his course he remained at home until September 20. 1870, when he was apprenticed to a harness and saddle maker. At the end of his first year with this firm, which was called the Mannypenny and Cripper Company. he purchased Cripper's interest and changed the firm name to Manny- penny and Potts. This continued for six months, when he purchased Mannypenny's interest. He kept on with this business until March 24, 1888. when he decided to move to South Lyon, where he rented a build- ing and opened his store again. In 1891 he erected the best brick building in South Lyon, and transferred his business to it. Four years later he sold out and bought fifteen acres and fifteen village lots in South Lyon, taking up gardening as an occupation. After three years he sold this property and purchased a house and lot, but he could not con- tent himself with doing nothing. Accordingly, in May. 1899. he again rented a store and started in the harness business. The next year he bought a building on Lafayette street, and after holding it for three years sold it and bought a lot on Lake street, on which he built a store. In 1900 sickness compelled him to sell out and he remained out of ac- tive work until September IT, IQUI, when he purchased a brick building with store and living rooms above, and started in business again.
On July 1. 1874. Mr. Potts was married to Miss Esther R. Bridg- man, of Milford. Michigan, the daughter of Truman T. Bridgman, a native of New York, and Sarah B. (Towne) Bridgman. a native of Connecticut. Mrs. Potts was born in Lyons, Michigan. Mr. Potts is a Maccabee and his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. Mr. Potts is a Republican. They both attend the Presbyterian church. Vol. II-26
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C. MARTIN STUMPF. A representative citizen of Oakland county is C. Martin Stumpf, who answers to the double calling of farmer and blacksmith. Reared to agricultural life, he early became familiar with the details of farm work on his father's small property, and under the tutelage of that gentleman learned the blacksmith trade, which the father had learned in Germany, and in which his younger son, Jacob Stumpf, also engages. The subject, in addition to maintaining his up-to-date shop, cultivates a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres in section 27, of Troy township. In the public schools, which he attended at in- tervals during his minority, he received an education which has enabled him to transact successfully the duties of an active and useful life.
By the circumstance of birth, Mr. Stumpf belongs to the state of New York, his birth having occurred at Albany, that state. April 17, 1861, the first guns of the Civil war echoing about his cradle. He is the son of Jacob J. and Magdelena (Kosman) Stumpf, the former born in Baden, Germany, on March 24, 1834, and the latter in the historic old city of Wurtemburg, on June 9, 1839. In 1851, when seventeen years of age, he bravely concluded to seek the New World with its better opportunities for the thrifty and industrious, and he made the journey alone, landing in New York city, a stranger in a strange land. He did not know that already in America there was living a young German girl who would some day be his wife and the mother of his children. He remained in the great metropolis but a short time and then went to Albany, where he secured work as a blacksmith. He remained in that city for three years and then traveled, following his trade in which he was unusually proficient at various points along the way, which was for the most part in the south. His chief object was sight-seeing, for he was still young and longed for change and adventure. He traveled for a little over a twelvemonth and then returned to Albany, where he was employed in shops belonging to Jay Gould. the noted capitalist. He continued as an employe for a number of years and then started a shop of his own in Albany, which he conducted for a number of years. In 1866, he concluded that he would follow the tide of immigration west- ward and he brought his family to Michigan and located in Royal Oak township, where he established a shop. This he conducted successfully for many years, only giving it into younger hands about two years be- fore his death, which was on December 3, 1910. He was a worthy man, of the sound, honest, substantial sort, on which the safety and prosperity of a community is securely founded, and he reared his children to like good citizenship. His shop was at the time of his retirement given over into the hands of his son and namesake, Jacob Stumpf. The mother is still living. The seven children of the elder Stumpf and his wife are herewith given: C. Martin, the immediate subject : Catherine, who died in infancy : Jacob, residing on the old homestead in Royal Oak township; Hannah, at home: Mary, the wife of Robert McBride, of Royal Oak; Louise, at home, and one other who died in infancy.
Until the age of about twenty years, C. Martin Stumpf worked at his trade under his father's direction and at that age he went to Detroit, where he stayed for a year. He then left the city of the straits and came home, following his trade in Royal Oak township until eight years ago, when he came to his present location. He not only conducts a blacksmith shop, but owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which, under his thrifty management, has become one of the model places of this locality.
Mr. Stumpf was happily married on November 16. 1886. Caroline
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Hartsig, daughter of Louis and Catherine Hartsig, both of German birth, becoming his wife. Under their roof-tree are now gathered a large family of interesting children, and at least one has already started out in the world. The following is an enumeration of the Stumpf sons and daughters : Lewis ; Martin, of Detroit ; Roland; Raymond; Carl; Pearl ; May ; Leslie ; Lydia and Lucile.
Mr. Stumpf is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Royal Oak and he and his family are consistent members of the Evangelical church of Warren. The head of the house is liberal in his political views, supporting the men and the principle, looking most surely toward the public welfare. He is essentially public spirited and enjoys general confidence and respect in his community.
HOMER J. PEUTON. Ancestry that dates back to the ship that came over to America immediately after the Mayflower landed on these shores is the pride of Homer J. Pelton, born in Lapeer county, July 1. 1852, the son of Joseph W. and Mary ( Farmington ) Pelton. His father was a native of New York and his mother of New Hampshire. Ilis father, who died in 1897, came to Michigan in 1835. locating in Lapeer county, and in 1873 settled in Oxford. He was a farmer previous to his moving to to Oxford, and then he was a capitalist. Mr. Pelton's mother died in 1871. In the elder Pelton family there were seven children, four of whom are now deceased. Those still living are: Elizabeth, the wife of Fred Bullock, of Hadley, Michigan; Herbert, of Hadley, Michigan; and Homer 1.
In 1879, when he was eighteen years old, Mr. Pelton took up mer- cantile lines in Lapeer city. He then came to Oakwood, Oakland county, where he built a store and has a fine stock of general merchandise. He also owns a beautiful residence and other valuable town property. During a cyclone in 1906 his store took fire and the two-story building and about ten thousand dollars worth of stock were a total loss.
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