History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan, Part 125

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan > Part 125

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In China, two tickets were run in 1882. The following were elected: Supervisor, Fred . erick Lindow; Clerk, Peter Wood; Treasurer, Willam Duchane; Justices, Peter Wood, Jacob Westrick; School Inspectors, Nicholas Westrick, George Schriner; Highway Commissioner, Fletcher Osborne; Drain Commissioner, Thomas Wood.

China, in East China Township, was once a Post Office village. It is only three miles below St. Clair.

The Farmers' Protection Society, of China, was organized in February, 1874, with W. A. Tripp, Dolphus Smith, John N. Kemp, J. McMichael, Calvin Chamberlin, Andrew Husel and Clement Duchane original stockholders. This society appears to have been re-organized May 9, 1874, with fifty-one shareholders.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

AUSTIN ABBEY, farmer, Section 16, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of New York and was born in Rich- mond, Ontario County, November 30, 1832. He lived in that State until 1858, and came that year to this county and settled in the town of China. During the war, he enlisted and served in Battery H, First Mich- igan Light Artillery. After the war, returned to this town, and since then has been engaged in farming; has held school offices. In 1858, he married Miss Elizabeth Gage, a native of New York State. They have two children-Sherwood and Lora.

MRS. MARY ALLEMAN, general store, Section 15, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of Michigan and was born in the city of Detroit. His parents, John Sadler and Annie (Gill) Sadler, came to this State in 1833 and settled in Detroit, then a very small place. Mrs. Alleman was brought up there, and in 1858 married Sebastian Alle- man, a native of Switzerland. He came to this county when eighteen years of age and settled on Belle River. He was a shoe-maker by trade and engaged in farming. After the war broke out, he enlisted in Com- pany E, Twenty-second Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in the battle of Chickamauga five times and left on the field for dead, but partially recovered and draws a pension. Mrs. Alleman has been engaged in business here for the past four years. They have two children-Emily and Edward.

REV. WILLIAM ALLINGTON, farmer, Section 6, P. O. St. Clair, is a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Baird) Allington. He was a native of England and she was born in Scotland. They came to this county in 1830. He was a soldier at Ft. Gratiot and helped build the fort there and served out three terms of enlistment. He bought land in this town in 1835, then a wilderness, cleared the land and made his farm and lived here until his death, December 15, 1875. His wife died in June, 1843. He was one of the earliest settlers here, and was always active in church work. William B. Allington, his son, was born in the town of China, on the farm where he now lives February 21, 1837. He was brought up and attended school here and prepared for the ministry. He afterward engaged in preaching for ten years in the conference, in regular work, but on account of his health had to give up regular preaching and engage in farming. Is still in the local work. He owns 180 acres of land, and lives on the old homestead. In 1861, he married Mary J. St. Clair, a native of this county. She died in 1872 and left four children-Frederick, Richard, John and George. In 1874, Mr. Allington married Miss Lucy Atchison, a native of New Brunswick. They have two children-Mary G. and Robert A.

THADDEUS W. BACON, farmer, Section 12, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of New York State, and was born in the town of Waterloo, Seneca County, May 7, 1830. His father was Joel W., a native of Pittsfield, Mass,, who removed to New York State when nine years of age, his mother, Emma (Billings) Bacon, was a native of New England, and was born in Connecticut. Her mother was an Allen, a descendant of Ethan Allen, of Continental fame. Mr. Bacon's father practiced law in his native State until he was thirty, when he moved onto his farm. He was an intimate, personal friend of Hon. William H. Seward. He was actively interested in and identified with the interests and prosperity of his town and county. Mr. Bacon's boyhood was spent

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

in Seneca County, and he attended the common school and completed his education at the Waterloo Acad- emy. He remained in his native State until 1856, then came to Michigan and settled in St. Clair County, in the town of China, on the land where he now lives, which was taken up by his father. Mr. Bacon cleared the land and made his farm, and since then, for over a quarter of a century, has resided here and successfully engaged in farming and owns 500 acres of land. He is actively interested in the welfare of the town and county, but is not an office seeker, nor will he permit his name to be used as a candidate for any office. Mr. Bacon was united in marriage in New York September 30, 1857, to Miss Clara Miller, a native of Romulus, Seneca Co., N. Y., daughter of Ezra Miller, who was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and was a brother of Judge Miller, of Auburn, N. Y. Her mother was a native of Elmore, N. Y., daughter of Dr. Parker, a prominent physician of that State. Mrs. Bacon is a cousin of Mr. William H. Seward. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon have four children, two daughters and two sons-Frances Lazette, Clara Elnora, Thaddeus Waite and Francis Miller, all at home.

CORNELIUS BENSTED, farmer, Section 2, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of England, and was born Sep- tember 30, 1823. He grew up to manhood there and came to the United States in 1850, and lived one year in Ohio and then came to this county and began working in a ship yard at St. Clair. After a few years, in 1855 he bought the land where he now lives. It was heavily timbered ; he cleared the land and made his farm, and since then, for the past twenty-eight years, has lived here and engaged in farming. He has held school offices; he has been married three times. In 1848, he married Mary Allen, a native of England; she died Sep- tember 25, 1866, leaving one daughter-Mary, now Mrs. Wood. In 1868, he married Mrs. Mary Hilbern, native of York State; she died April 18, 1877, leaving one daughter-Susic. He married his present wife, Mrs. Jane Campbell, of this county, December 9, 1880. They have one son-Cornelius. She has five children by former husband-John, Nellie, James, Robert and Albert.

JOHN CHAMBERLIN, farmer, Section 15, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of this county, and was born in the town of China February 7, 1844. His parents, Porter Chamberlin, a native of Massachusetts, and Lovicy Worden, a native of New York State, were among the early settlers here. His father came here in 1829 and engaged in lumbering. He and his wife moved where they now live in 1835. They have four children liv- ing. John, the eldest son, was brought up and attended school here, and since manhood has been engaged in farming. Owns the farm where he now lives; has also sailed on the lakes. He superintended the building of the steam barge Porter Chamberlin, and was interested in her. In 1866, he married Miss Blanche E. Kin- yon, a native of the town of China, and daughter of Myron Kinyon, one of the early settlers here. They have two children-Kittie B. and Myron K. Mr. Chamberlin has held the office of Supervisor, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer and Justice of the Peace.

WILLIAM H. COOK, farmer, Section 11, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of St. Clair County, and was born in the town of China in 1846. His parents, William and Cordelia Cook, were early settlers in this county. His father died October 12, 1858, and his mother died February 20, 1878. Henry grew up and attended school here, and since reaching manhood has been engaged in farming. He owns his farm of sixty acres. In 1870, he married Miss Clara Warren, a native of the city of Buffalo, N. Y. They have three children-George W., Nina B. and Warren S.

JONATHAN DEWHIRST, farmer, Section 2, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of Ohio, and was born near Cincinnati October 18, 1824. His parents removed to Canada when he was seven years old, and lived there until 1841, then came to this State and lived on the Gov. Cass farm three years, and in 1844, came to this county and settled where he now lives. It was all heavily timbered then and there were no settlers west of him this side of Belle River. He engineered the cutting of north road. He cleared his land and made his farm, and since then has lived here and been engaged in farming. He owns 240 acres of land. He had nothing when he began life. He was married July 4, 1845, to Miss Mary Bunn, a native of Canada. She died March 20, 1871. She left three children, only two survive-Emma (now Mrs. King, living in Lapeer), Franklin (liv- ing here). He married Mrs. Susan Burns, of Bellville, Canada, April 20, 1872. She has three children- Mary, Frank and James.

CLEM DUCHANE, farmer, Section 22, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of St. Clair County and was born at Newport, now Marine City, January 14, 1833; his parents were Francis Duchane, born in Wayne County, Mich., and Clara Duchane, a native of Canada. They were among the early settlers of this county; Clement was brought up in this county and has lived here fifty years; since reaching manhood he has been engaged in farming and working at trade of carpenter and joiner. He owns 100 acres of land, and his farm is well improved; he has held the office of Commissioner of Highways seven years, and Tax Collector five years. In 1856, he married Mrs. Janette Allen nee Baird, a native of this county. They have six children-Clara, David, Sophia, Estella, Joseph and Maggie.

ALPHEUS EARLE, farmer, Section 12, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of Vermont and was born May 20, 1815; he came to Michigan and settled in this county in 1836, and was one of the early settlers here. A few years after coming here, he bought land in the town of China, cleared and made his farm, and engaged in farming; has lived here on this place forty-two years; has held the office of Supervisor and Assessor; in 1842 he married Miss Jane Nichols, adopted daughter of Samuel Hopkins; she died February 9, 1865, and left six children-Hattie, Urana, Edwin, Mary, Clara and Sylvester. Mr. Earle was married to Margaret Fairchild, his present wife, July 4, 1866; she is from Illinois. Edwin Earle is the oldest son of Alpheus Earle and Jane Nichols, and was born in the town of China January 9, 1852. He was brought up and attended school here, and has been engaged in farming, and now owns the home place ; he married Miss Laura Burrows February 24, 1880. She is a native of this county, and was born in town of Cottrellville.

HENRY HAMMOND, one of the pioneers of Michigan, is a native of New York, and was born in Washington County; his parents moved to the town of Bolton, Warren County, with their son, Henry, who was a mere boy; there they lived until he grew to be a man, and at the age of twenty-three he was married to Miss Esther Roberson, a native of Bolton, Warren Co., N. Y., in the year 1831: in November, 1832, their

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

first son was born, which they named Horace N. Hammond, and in May, 1833, the young couple with their son, then about six months old, left their native home and started for Michigan, which was then an almost unbroken wildnerness, an arduous undertaking in those days of no railroads, and their route was slow but sure, going by way of canal to Buffalo, then to Detroit on the steamboat, Pennsylvania, and from Detroit to St. Clair on a sail vessel, then being anxious to cast his lot among the farmers of Michigan, he moved from St. Clair to Belle River (about four miles), where he rented a farm of one of the old French settlers, and commenced to till the soil; he rented the farm for eight years, and while there two more children were born to them-James M. and Julia A., making two sons and one daughter, which were all they ever had; but before his time ex- pired on the rented farm he bought one of Uncle Sam containing eighty acres in Section 10 North, of Range 16 East, and erected thereon a neat frame house, to which he moved in the spring of 1842, where they have lived ever since, about forty-one years, and fought the battles and endured the hardships of a pioneer life; in those early days the wolves would come around the house and make night hideous with their howls; in autumn the black bear was frequently seen in the corn-fields, and when the settlers retired to rest he would venture still nearer and often take from the sty a fat pig to satisfy his ferocious appetite; yet undaunted, they toiled on and cleared their farm and raised their children, and are now enrolled among the oldest settlers liv- ing here; their oldest son, H. N. Hammond, at the age of nineteen, commenced teaching school, which pro- fession he followed for twenty years. In the fall of 1858, he was married to Miss Laura A. Blanchard, of Wayne County, Mich., and settled in the township of East China, St. Clair County; they have three children -Ida A., N. Frank and H. Willie Hammond. James M., the second son, since reaching manhood has been engaged in farming, and now farms the home place. He was married March 15, 1860, to Miss Louisa Perry, a native of Macomb County, Mich., and they also have three children-Julia A., Burton R. and Henry; their youngest child and only daughter was married September 29, 1859, to H. M. Carleton, a farmer, and lives about two miles from her parents in the same town and county, and have no children.

JOHN HART, farmer and lumberman, Section 7, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of New York State and was born in Tompkins County, July 22, 1835; his parents, Silas and Maria Hart, were natives of the same State, and came to this county in 1836 and was among the early settlers here; he settled here where his sons now live; it was a wilderness; he was a millwright and joiner, and built mills at Flint, St. Clair, and other places. He died in 1870 and his wife died in 1876. They left four children. John, the oldest son, came here with his parents and was brought up in this county, and since reaching manhood has been engaged in lumbering and farming; he owns a good farm of 140 acres. In 1876, he was elected Sheriff of St. Clair County, and after- ward held the office of Under Sheriff until 1883. In 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara Carleton, a native of this county. They have two children-Edmund and Hugh.

ANDREW HUSEL, farmer, Section 11, P. O. St. Clair, was born at Hurnheim, in the western part of Bavaria, Germany, September 1, 1831; his father's name was Zacharias J. Husel, was a manufacturer and dealer in woolen and cotton goods, and served as Town Councilor for fifteen years prior to leaving his native place. Andrew received a liberal education in the public schools of his country up to his fourteenth year; after that he received some private tuition in the higher mathematics. In 1850, his father with his family emigrated to the United States and the same year came to St. Clair, and the following year bought the land which is now owned and occupied by his son Andrew. After their settlement Andrew became a pupil in the High School at St. Clair, his object was to obtain a knowledge of the English language. In the winter of 1851, he entered the employ of John Nichols, woolen manufacturer, and the following year he with his two brothers began to clear the land his father purchased; his father died the same year, and Andrew assumed the management of affairs; he was married December 3, 1852; his wife's maiden name was Miss Maria Ann Klinglers; she was born in Deggingen, Bavaria. Since then Mr. Husel has been successfully engaged in farming; during the war he enlisted and served in the Fourth Regiment Michigan Infantry, in the Army of the Cumberland, and was discharged in 1866; has served as President of the Farmer's Protective Association of China Township, and is President of the German Mutual Farmer's Insurance Company; has served as member of Executive Board of County Agricultural Society, and is actively identified with the interests of the town and county. Mr. and Mrs. Husel have seven children-Fred, lives in town of St. Clair; Charles, at home; Mary, in Dakota; Jennie, now Mrs. Parsons; Helen, now Mrs. Bathey, in Dakota: Andrew, now in Dakota; Laura, at home.

SILAS D. KING, farmer, Section 14, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of Newport, R. I., and was born May 9, 1811. His parents removed to New York on the Hudson River during his boyhood, and lived in that State until 1852, and then came to St. Clair County and settled in the town of China, where he now lives; cleared the land and made his farm, and since then, for over thirty years, has lived here and engaged in farming. He has held school offices most of the time since he came here." In 1832, Mr. King married Miss Nancy Web- ster, a native of New York, and sister of Parker and Samuel Webster, who were among the earliest settlers now living in this town. Mr. and Mrs. King have four children-Charles H., Martha (now Mrs. Collins), Eleanora (now Mrs. Marks), Jessie (now Mrs. Fairfield).

MIRON KINYON, farmer, Section 13, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of New York State, and was born in the town of Bolton, Warren County, April 20, 1824. When he was only eight years old, his parents came West to this territory from Detroit. They came with three other families, thirty-six in all, in an open boat, up the St. Clair River, and reached this county in the middle of the night of December 15, 1832. They settled in this town and were among the earliest settlers here; bought land and began clearing it. After reaching manhood, Miron began sailing and was on the lakes seven years. He then bought the land where he lives; there was only eight acres cleared. He cleared it of timber and made his farm and paid for it in cutting and hauling wood at $1 per cord, delivered at the river. He earned the reputation of the greatest chopper in this part of the country, and he has cut a cord of wood in fifty-five minutes from the standing trees. He handled himself eighteen hundred cords of wood in one summer, and has piled fifty cords in one day. Mr. Kinyon has lived on this place since 1851. He owns a good farm of 140 acres; for five years has been Di-

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

rector of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company. He has been married three times. His first wife was Barbara Mitchell, of Canada. She left one daughter-Blanche. His second wife was Nora Mitchell, of Can- ada. She left one daughter-Maria. His present wife was Catharine Stewart, of New York State. They have two children-Seneca and Mary C.

PETER MINNIE, farmer, Section 23, P. O. St. Clair, is a son of Lambert Minnie and Sulie St. Barnard; he was born in the town of Clay in 1803, and she was born on Grosse Point the same year. They grew up in the town of Clay. Mr. Minnie's grandfather came to this county in 1790; his mother and father came to De- troit before it was burned. His parents settled in the town of Cottrellville; lived there thirteen years, then moved on Swan Creek, and afterward came on Belle River and lived in the town of China until his death in 1869; his wife died in 1877. Peter Minnie was born in the town of Clay in 1827 and lived with his father until of age; then engaged in farming a short time and moved to St. Clair and worked in a saw-mill two years. Moved on Swan Creek and lived there two years; bought eighty acres and built the first house on the Lindsey road, and from there moved to Marine City; in 1854, he bought the farm where he now is and has lived here twenty-nine years; owns his farm of sixty-three acres; has held the office of Highway Commis- sioner. In 1849, he married Sophia Duchane; she died December 25, 1853, leaving two children-Frank and Josephine. In 1854, he married Julia Martin, of Montreal. They have one son-Henry-living in this town. J. B. MEUHLLITNER, Section 4, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of Germany, and was born in Bavaria, No- vember 11, 1823. He emigrated to America in 1852, and came to St. Clair the same year in July, and worked for Mr. Douglas the two years following, In the fall of 1856, he was married to Miss Mary Salter, and moved on the farm where he now lives, having but $80 when he came to this country. He now owns 270 acres of land. Their success is owing to their industry and management. He has a family of five boys and five girls and resides five miles west of St. Clair; is located in the midst of a fine agricultural district.

DAVID K. OAKES, farmer and fruit grower, Section 1, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of St. Clair County and was born in the town of China, February 18, 1837. He is a son of John M. and Minerva (Parker) Oakes. Subject's mother had two children by her former husband (Parker)-Eliza and Henry, both of whom reside in St. Clair Town. He was a native of Rockingham, Vt., and she was a native of New York State. He came to this county first in 1822, and two years later returned here and engaged in lumbering on Black River, and built several mills on the river. In 1832, he came on this place with his father. It was then a wild forest of tim- ber. They cleared the land and made the farm. He was married May 19, 1834, to Mrs. Minerva Parker. She came to this county in 1832. They were among the earliest settlers here. He held the office of Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Supervisor and Justice of the Peace. He died February 24, 1854. His wife survived him many years and died in October, 1875. Six children survive- Harriet ( now Mrs. Henry Luck; resides in St. Clair town), David K. (living here), Mary (now Mrs. Kingsbury, resides in Kinderhook, Mich. ), Sarah (now Mrs. Randall), George (living in St. Paul, Minn.), Emily (now Mrs. Northrop; living in St. Paul). All born on this farm. David was born on this farm and was brought up and attended school here, and since reaching manhood he bought the interest of the heirs in the home place and has resided here and been suc- cessfully engaged in farming, gardening and raising small fruits. He owns a good farm of seventy-two acres, finely located and well improved, and also owns other property. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace, Mr. Oakes was married February 6, 1858, to Miss Charlotte E. Luck, a native of New York State, and daugh- ter of William and Jemima Luck of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Oakes have one son-John W. He was born here December 27, 1858; was brought up here and married Miss Hannah A. MeElhinney, a native of Nova Scotia. They have two children-Mary E. and David W.

WARREN J. PARSONS, farmer, Section 14, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of this county, and was born in the town of China, on the place where he now lives, June 17, 1854. His parents, William A. and Lovina (Weeks) Parsons, were among the early settlers here. When they came there was only a bridle path from St. Clair to Belle River. He bought this land, cleared it and made this farm. Mrs. Parsons died in 1876 and he died in 1878. Warren grew up and attended school here and since reaching manhood has been engaged in farming; owns his farm of eighty acres. He was married June 20, 1876. to Miss Jennie Husel, a native of this town and daughter of Andrew Husel, Esq. They have two sons-Charlie P. and Ralph A.

JAMES POWRIE, farmer, Section 8, P. O. St. Clair, is a son of Peter F. Powrie, a native of Scotland. He married Mrs. Jane McDonald, a native of Dundee, Scotland. They came to this country in 1846, and came to this county the same year and settled in Marine City (then Newport), and lived there seven years; then bought land in this town and cleared it, and made his farm and lived here until his death in 1878, leav- ing seven children-Stewart M., James, Peter F., Margaret J., Agnes C., Emily and Mary. James Powrie, the second son, was born in this county at Marine City |(then Newport), March 29, 1848, was brought up and attended school in this county. Since reaching manhood, with the exception of two years in Port Huron, has been engaged in farming on the home place. Mr. Powrie married Miss M. J. Stewart, a native of the city of St. Clair, August 6, 1873. They have two children-M. Alice and Agnes Jean.

LEVI R. ROBBINS, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 3, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of Niagara County, N. Y., and was born in February, 1824. He served an apprenticeship to the trade of carpenter and joiner, in Buffalo and in New York City. He went to Buffalo in 1844, and began working at his trade, and after- ward engaged in building, and for many years was extensively engaged in contracting and building in the city of Buffalo. In 1858, he went to Orleans County, and lived there until 1869, when he came to this coun- ty and settled on the land where he now lives. He owns 320 acres, and is engaged in farming and stock- raising. He feeds and handles a large amount of stock. In 1846, Mr. Robbins was married, in the city of New York, to Miss Lucinda A. Dodd, a native of New Jersey. They have four children-Nelson W., lives in this county; Charles H., on the farm with his father; Ben D., lives in Alpena; Willis J., at home.

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History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan, Part 125

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co.
Number of Pages: 818