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 138

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 138

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

SAMUEL L. SMITH, of the firm of W. Alder & Smith, dealers in groceries, flour and provisions, was born in St. Clair County, town of Berlin, in 1845. Was reared in the agricultural profession, received a business education. At the age of twenty-one, he engaged in the business of farming at which he continued until 1882; at this time embarked in the grocery business, and at the end of eight months admitted his brother as a partner, and continued four months. In March, 1883. he formed a copartnership with Mr. William Alder, with whom he is still associated. Was married to Miss Mary A. Alder, of Canada, and have five children- Melvin, Wilbur, Mary, Harry and Earl.

MARTIN STOFFER, farmer, Section 23, P. O. Capac. was born in Switzerland in 1829. Emigrated to the United States, and was in New Jersey a short time; was next in Buffalo for a few weeks, from which place he went to Hamilton, where he remained five years as day laborer. In 1860, Mr. Stoffer came to St. Clair County, Mich., and settled on his present home of 340 acres, which he improved and which is now one of the best improved farms in St. Clair County. He has about 170 acres under cultivation, which is run as a grain and stock farm. Mr. Stoffer owns three farms, and is a gentleman of fine attainments and business qualities, and a man of great integrity and moral worth in his community. Mr. Stoffer was Drain Commissioner four years; was School Moderator six years. Was married to Miss Caroline Canis, of Prussia, in 1857. Have six children- Henry, Matain, Carolina, Mary, Annie and John.

ALBERT G. TOSCH, farmer, Section 9, P. O. Capac, was born in Hamilton, Canada, November 12, 1855, where he lived until four years of age, at which time he came with his parents to St. Clair County, where his father settled in the town of Mussey in the spring of 1860. Here he lived with his parents until 1879, at which time he settled on Section 9, in the township of Mussey, where he lived and worked an eighty acre farm, together with his mother, until 1882, at which time he was married, and has farmed alone since. He also owns forty acres in Section 16, in the town of Mussey. Mr. Tosch's business is chiefly grain and stock. He has opened up about thirty-five acres of land. He also owns a house and lot in Capac. He was Highway Commissioner for one year and also School Moderator. He was married to Miss Ida Proctor in February, 1882. Mr. Tosch inherited some property, but has made the most that he owns himself. The subject of this sketch was the third child of the late William Tosch, who was born in Prussia in 1816, where he lived until . about 1854, when he emigrated to Canada, living in Hamilton until 1860, in which year he came to the United States and settled in the town of Mussey, St. Clair Co., Mich., in Section 23, where he lived one year, after which he moved to Section 10, in the town of Mussey, where he resided until his death. Mr. William Tosch was Burgomaster in his native country, and also a Justice of the Peace in the town of Mussey: also, Highway Commissioner and Constable. He was a member of the Evangelical Association, and, also, at one time a member of the church in Mussey Township, Sunday school Superintendent, class-leader and local preacher.

BARTON J. WADE, farmer, Section 28, P. O. Capac. Barton J. Wade was born in Rhode Island in 1840; reared in the agricultural profession; received a liberal education. At the age of eighteen, he began farming on his own account in Rhode Island, where he continued till 1868, at the end of which time he came to Michigan and settled on his present home of 200 acres, which he has improved and runs as a dairy farm, selling about one ton of cheese and 1,000 pounds of butter; he also owns two shares in a cheese factory. Was Drain Commissioner and School Inspector, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. Was married to Miss Henrietta Yeam, of Rhode Island, and has one child-Russell N. Lost his wife and was married a second time to Miss Cardinell, of Canada, in 1876, by whom he has two children-Ceylon and Jennie. Mr. Wade is another instance of what men may and can do when indomitable energy and persistent application are directed by a high order of intelligence.

MARTIN WAGONSHED, farmer, Section 12, P. O. Capac, was born in Prussia November 11, 1832, where he lived until thirty-four years of age. His life in his native country was spent mostly in service, and principally as coachman to some rich gentleman. On reaching his thirty-fifth year, he came to America, land- ing in New York in 1865, from whence he came at once to the town of Mussey, in the county of St. Clair, where he purchased eighty acres of wild land in Section 12, where he still resides. Mr. Wagonshed has with his own hands cleared up forty acres of his farm, which he cultivates, raising small grain and some stock. Was School Director two terms, and Pathmaster six or seven years. Is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church. In 1845, was married to Miss Vernia Viezier, of Prussia, by whom he had five children-William, Rachel, Minnie, Charles and Frank. By his second wife, Mary Hood, with whom he is now living, he has three children-Henry, Mary and Lizzie; Freddie, deceased. Mrs. Wagonshed is a member of the same church that her husband belongs to, and an exemplary Christian lady. Mr. Wagonshed is another example of what sturdy and persistent effort will do for those who are disposed to try and aid themselves. He spent more than one-half of his life in his native country, where lands are immensely high and the laws so constructed that instead of helping the poor man, they militate against his every effort; in this country, in a few years, he has acquired a competency, and become an honored and respected citizen.

JUDGE DEWITT C. WALKER, attorney at law, was born in Vermont in the year 1812. He graduated at Middlebury College. He studied law at Yale Law School, under Dewitt Dagget and Judge Dagget, and graduated in 1836. He then came to Romeo, Macomb Co., Mich., where he settled and began the practice of law, and continued twenty years; and in the meantime was Prosecuting Attorney two years. He was then elected a Representative one year; and was elected for two years to represent Macomb, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Saginaw, Mackinaw and all of the Upper Peninsula in the Senate of the State; then in 1844 was re- elected to the House for one year; was Regent of the State University of Michigan. in 1845; was a member of the House again in 1846; was a member of the Constitutional Convention, in 1850, that framed the present Constitution of the State of Michigan; was elected Judge of the Probate Court in 1862 for four years. He laid out and platted the town of Capac in 1857, having settled here in 1856. He donated the grounds for three churches in Capac, and was President of the first Council of the village of Capac, and is also President at the present writing, and has been for a greater portion of the time since the organization of the village. Judge Walker was, in 1846, mainly instrumental in securing the passage of a bill at the time of the sale by the State

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

of its public railroad property, whereby the State is now annually benefited by the handsome sum of half a million of dollars, which will be augmental from year to year as the resources of the State become developed. He was also Chairman of the Educational Committee of five in 1850, who introduced the bill by which the present admirable system of free schools was secured to the State. Judge Walker being one of the representative men of the times, and possessed of those rare perceptive faculties, coupled with able executive abilities, has secured to himself in an honorable manner large possessions. Was at one time quite extensively engaged in milling and manufacturing in this county. In 1856, he built a saw and grist mill, which in 1866, were com- pletely destroyed by fire, without any insurance. In 1837, he was married to Miss Adeline Ketchum, of Vermont, by whom he had seven children, five of whom are now living-Adelaide, Bernard, Dewitt, Lewis, Carrie and Byron; Frank and James, deceased. He lost his wife in 1872.

DEWITT WALKER, of the firm of Walker & Co., merchants, was born in Romeo, Mich., in 1843, and was reared in the milling business. Received a high school education. Was the first man to join the army from Mussey Township in 1861, and served two years, at the end of which time he returned to Michigan, and was engaged in the lumber business a short time; was then in the hotel business in Capac one year. For a short time in Detroit he ran a meat market. and then traveled on the road for one year. Returned to Capac and again ran a hotel for one year; then handled lumber a short time, after which he returned to the road again for two years. in the hardware line. Was then in the butcher business in Capac for a short time, and opened his present business in 1872, and continued until 1882, at which time he entered into his present part- nership. He owns a brick yard, business and residence properties in Capac; also lots in Port Huron, and was City Treasurer two terms, also Town Treasurer two terms. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Maccabee, and is Sir Knight Commander of the latter. Was married to Miss Meileson Caswell, of Canada, in 1862. Mr. Walker was at one time quite a famous hunter, sort of a Daniel Boone, having killed one coon and two bears in one day. He is also a terrible fellow among glass balls, having never lost but one match.

ERI WATSON, farmer, Section 32, P. O. Capac, was born in the State of New York February 26, 1833, . where he lived till twenty-one years of age, spending the most of his time on the farm. On arriving at his majority, Mr. Watson came to Michigan, and stopped in Almont, where he carried on farming for about thirteen years. In 1867, he removed to the town of Mussey, where he bought eighty acres of wild land, ex- cepting four acres, which were improved. He has now about forty-six acres under cultivation, raising a vari- ety of products and some stock. He was married to Miss Phoebe Wilcox, in May, 1854, and has three chil- dren-William, Harvey D. and Milo C. Mr. Watson has just been elected Roadmaster for the ensuing year. He is a widower, having lost his wife some time since. He is a gentleman of ennobling instincts, and such as materially aid in building up communities that offer desirable attractions in which to live.

ALFRED J. WEST, dealer in real estate, State contracter and mill and lumber dealer, was born in New York State in 1843, and came to St. Clair County in 1855. Was in the hotel business and on the farm two years with his father, after which he sailed for three years. He enlisted in the volunteer force in 1861, and served until the close of the war. He then returned to Michigan, near St. Clair, and was engaged in con- tracting and farming until 1870. At this time, he settled at Capac, and was engaged for one year in filling a contract for the Quebec Company for timber, and also ran a livery stable. For two years he was out of bus- iness, at the end of which time he took a State contract for building roads, in payment for which he received 7,000 acres of State lands, upon which he built a steam saw mill and carried on the lumber business until 1881, when he sold his mill and lands. Has built about forty miles of road, sixty miles of ditches, and now has forty miles of road and ditches on hand. Is also in the milling and lumber business on Thunder Bay River, this State. Is a stockholder and President of the Michigan Canning & Preserving Company; is also President of the Atlanta Town & Manufacturing Company; is a stockholder and Director in the James River Navigation Company, of Dakota. Runs a grain and stock farm, and has fine blooded sheep. Owns 30,000 acres of land in Michigan; owns a farm; seven houses in Capac, and other town and village property in the State. Owns 320 acres of land in Dakota, one farm in Virginia, one in Alabama, and employs 125 men, and will run nine camps during 1883. Was Deputy Sheriff six years, President of Capac one year. Has been a member of every Republican State Convention, and has also attended every Presidental convention since the war. Was married to Miss Elizabeth Conant, of Canada, in 1866. They have five children-Sabrina M., Alfred J., Edward F., Mabel G. and Elbert P. In accumulating this vast property, Mr. West has displayed the rarest business qualities, and it is a fitting tribute to his sagacity, tact, energy and skill in the management of large business affairs.

JOHN C. WHEELER, farmer, Section 23, P. O. Capac, was born in Monroe County, State of New York, in 1825. He was reared in the agricultural profession. In 1847, he enlisted in the army and went to Mexico, where he served one year and twelve days, after which he returned to Michigan, and settled in Genesee County, where he remained three years, at the end of which time he came to the town of Mussey, from there to the town of Lynn, where he carried on farming three years .. At the end of this time he removed to Mus- sey, where he improved a farm of forty acres, removing to his present home in 1870, which he also improved. He runs his farm, growing grain and stock principally. Mr. Wheeler served one year in the war of the rebellion, receiving his discharge in 1865. During the period that he was making his farms, for eighteen seasons he spent his winters in the lumber woods, thus enabling him to earn ready money. He also assisted in clearing a fifty-acre farm on Mill Creek, in the town of Lynn. Was Highway Commissioner eight years in the town of Mussey; Constable two years; has been a member of the order of Freemasons twenty-one years. In 1852, he was married to Miss Orphia Shurtlell, of the State of New York. They have seven children-Willis W., Ida I., Charles C., Lewis L., Alice A., Lizzie L., Delbert D. He assisted in organizing a school in Mussey Township, and was also School Director for a number of years. Mr. Wheeler is held in the highest esteem by his friends and neighbors, being regarded by all who know him as a very exemplary man, a model well worthy of imitation by the rising generation, and in many respects, by those of the pres-

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

ent. It is in writing the biographies of the lives of such men, and spreading them before the people, that produces some of the noblest of impulses, and stimulates others to overcome difficulties and make for them- selves an honored place among their fellow-men.

WILLIAM WILLS, farmer, Section 25, P. O. Capac, was born in Hamilton, Canada, in 1857, and was reared as an agriculturist, and received a classical education ; in 1860, he emigrated with his parents to the town of Mussey, St. Clair Co., Mich., and settled on Section 25, where he has since resided. At the age of twenty-five years, he commenced farming on his own account, growing grain and stock, such as short horn and Durham cattle, Poland-China hogs, and general-purpose horses. He is a member of the K. O. T. M .; was Commissioner of Highways in 1880, and in 1883 he was re-elected ; is an auctioneer ; speaks both English and German. Was married to Miss Plena Seidel, of Mussey, September 22, 1882. Mr. Wills is a young man of great popularity and influence in his township, and bids fair to hold a high and an honorable position in the future.

CHESTER WILLIAMS, carpenter and joiner, was born in Pennsylvania in 1835, and was reared in the agricultural profession. At the age of twenty-five years, he was married to Thankful M. Batterson, in the fall of 1860. In 1861, he joined the army, entering the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, where he served until 1862. Then returned to Pennsylvania and engaged in the carpenter and joiner business. On September 21, 1865, to them was born an only daughter-Glenna M. In 1869, Mr. C. Williams became the patentee of a valuable patent ; he then engaged in the patent business for several years; during this time he, with his fami- ly, moved to Ithaca, Tompkins Co., N. Y., and worked at boat-building, and then returned to Pennsylvania. He then spent about one year in traveling through the United States and Canada, selling his patent. He then moved to Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y., and engaged in the patent business ; from there he returned to Penn- sylvania, and engaged as carpenter and builder ; and in 1878 he moved to Capac, St. Clair Co., Mich., and en- gaged in the carpenter business until 1881 ; then he went to Colorado, and spent nearly one year in the mount- ains prospecting, and as foreman carpenter on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad at Salida, Chaffee Co., Colo .; from there, he returned to his family at Capac, St. Clair Co., Mich., and has taken up the agricultural profession again.

LYNN TOWNSHIP.

THIS town was organized in 1850, with A. A. Dwight, Supervisor. The lands of this town- ship were purchased since 1836. Among the first purchasers were Nathan Dickenson, David Mack, Elon Farnsworth, C. C. Trowbridge, Sylvester Sibley, H. Imley, George Beach, Lyman Burgess, Cullen Brown, S. P. Murphy (1851), John Lloyd, Daniel Alverson, James Leslie, Benjamin F. H. Witherell, Kezia Hill.

The settlement of this district may be said to have begun in 1850. In that year the pop- ulation was only 55; in 1854, it reached 167; in 1864, 457, and in 1880, 788. The area of the town is 21,008 acres; the equalized value is $164, 470; the number of children of school age, 342.

Among the pioneer settlers of this township were Joel Bonney, Henry Morgan, A. Sevoy, L. B. Sprague and John Houghton.

The post office village of Lynn is the only center of population in the district.

SUPERVISORS.

Alfred A. Dwight, 1850; Daniel Alverson, 1851-53; William Allison, 1854-59; W. B. Munson, 1860-63; John Houghton, 1864-70; George Bullock, 1871-72; R. Leach, 1873; George Bullock, 1874; John Houghton, 1875-77; Robert Leach, 1878-80; Eugene E. Murphy, 1881-82.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Alfred A. Dwight, 1850; Henry Brown, 1850; Daniel Alverson, 1850; Samuel J. Fincher, 1850; William B. Preston, 1853; Samuel Fincher, 1854; Henry Morgan, 1857-72; W. G. Walker, 1858; William Houghton, 1858; Norman H. Sharp, 1860-68; Simon P. Murphy, 1861; C. D. Bryce, 1862; John D. Wait, 1863-70; M. T. Roberson, 1863; Robert Leach, 1867; William Rogers, 1870-73; Hiram Mills, 1873; William Bullock, 1874; Robert Leach, 1875-79; John D. Wait, 1875; Henry Morgan, 1876; John L. Clink, 1876; John Drennon, 1877; John Allen, 1878; Simon P. Murphy, 1879-80; George Locke, 1881; George Mussey, 1882; Munson Hosner, 1882.

The election of April, 1882, passed off with considerable interest, and some excitement. There were no party tickets, and party spirit seemed to have no influence on the result. There

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

were two tickets, Union and Citizens. The Union ticket was elected, with the exception of Drain Commissioner. The following are the names, with their politics as far as known, and their majorities: Supervisor -- Eugene E. Murphy, G. B., 29. Clerk-Elston Huffman, G. B., 28. Treasurer, John Stevens, Republican, 27. Justice of the Peace-(Full term) George Murray, Republican, 12. Justice of the Peace-(Fill vacancy) Munson Hosner, G. B., 15. Highway Commissioner - William Weaver, Republican, 26. Drain Commissioner-John Shearsmith, Republican, 15. School Inspector-(Two years) Robert Willoughby, Republican, 42. School Inspector -- (One year) Richard Houghton, Republican, full vote, 120. Constables -Hugh Clink, John Dorhman, G. B., James Bryce, Andrew Curry, Republican, with an average majority of 28.

The proposition to raise $500 for building a town hall was voted down, the vote standing, for, 17, against, 95.

Lynn, in the township of that name, is thirty miles northwest of Port Huron. It is a small country village.

PERSONAL HISTORY.

We complete the history of this township with the biographies of many of its most public- spirited and best citizens. In the pages devoted to them, much that is historically valuable is given.

JAMES CAMPBELL, farmer, Section 13, P. O. Lynn, was born in New Brunswick about 1827, where he lived until about twenty years of age, when he moved to the State of Maine, where he remained about two years. In 1851, he came to St. Clair County, Mich., stopping en route two weeks in Detroit ; he lived in Port Huron, Mill Creek, and other sections of the county until 1881, when he moved and settled on Section 13, in the township of Lynn, where he now resides, and owns ninety-five acres, which he runs as a grain and stock farm. Is a Freemason, a member of the K. T. O. M. Was married to Miss Catharine Brisley, and has seven children -- Eliza J., Hugh, John A., William A., Mary, George S. and Annie (deceased).

MARTIN LAVELL, farmer, Sections 21, 22 and 23, P. O. Lynn, was born in Canada in 1836, and raised a farmer. At the age of seventeen years, he came to St. Clair County, and remained there until the rebellion opened. In 1861, he joined the army, entering the Seventh Michigan Infantry, Company A, to serve three years. He participated in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac with great distinction. Was promot- ed for meritorious conduct while in the battle of Antietam, and was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, causing the amputation of one of his legs. In 1864, he received an honorable discharge from the service and returned to Lynn. Here he settled on his present farm of 240 acres of land. 160 of which he has under good cultivation, devoted principally to stock-raising. Mr. Lavell was married to his most amia- ble wife, formerly Miss Helen Bryce, of Brockway, and has five children-Ebor E., Emma H., James T., William M. and Charles C. His honest, industrious habits, fair dealing and business qualities have secured for himself and family a sufficient competency.

JOHN SHEARSMITH, farmer, Section 34, P. O. Capac, was born in England in 1831. He was raised in the agricultural business. In 1851, he came to the United States, stopping for eleven months in Connecti- cut, from which place he went to Michigan for one year, and from there to Ohio for a short time, returning to Michigan, where he worked by the month in the township of Lynn four years. At the end of this time, he bought 230 acres of wild lands in Section 34, most of which he has improved, and carries on as a general farmer. He owns two shares in the Lynn Cheese Factory. Was one of the organizers of School District No. 6, and is local Drain Commissioner for the State of Michigan; is also Town Drain Commissioner for Lynn at the present time. Was Township Treasurer several terms and School Moderator three years. Was married to Miss Martha Brown, of Scotland, in 1859. They have four children living-Margaret E., Walter M., Annie E. and Carrie M., and Carrie, deceased. Mr. Shearsmith commenced life without means, and has, by hon- est industry and fair dealing, placed himself amongst the foremost and wealthiest farmers of St. Clair County.

JAMES M. STERLING, farmer, Section 23, P. O. Lynn, was born in Scotland in 1847. At the age of four years, he was brought by his parents to Canada, where they remained till 1857, at the end of which time his parents came to St. Clair County and settled on a farm in the town of Brockway, where he remained with his parents four years. He then attended school in Port Huron two years. Returning to Lynn, he clerked in the hotel for his brother two years. From the hotel he returned to Port Huron, and worked on the St. Clair River for two years, at the end of which time he returned to Lynn and bought his brother's farm and hotel, which he ran for six years. At the end of this time, he sold the hotel property and a part of his farm, retaining for himself 120 acres, which he runs as a grain and stock farm. In the meantime, from 1877 to 1880, he followed the lumber business during the winter season and farmed during the summer. He owns eighty acres in Section 14, which he has himself improved; is one of the organizers of the Lynn Cheese Factory, in which he owns an interest, and was at one time its Secretary. Was Township Clerk six years, and is now Director of his school district, and has been for eight years. Was married to Miss Lydia Morgan, of Michi- gan, and they have three children-Grace F., Charles F. and James H. In 1873, Mr. Sterling lost his first wife, and in October, 1882, was married a second time, to Miss Mollie Johnson, of Michigan. Mr. Sterling was liberally educated in Port Huron, and taught school for four years. The meeting of such gentlemen as Mr. Sterling goes to make up one of the not too many pleasant incidents of the biographical writer's life, he being finely educated, well posted on all topics of public interest, and a genial, intelligent gentleman.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

LEWIS PRESLEY, farmer, Section 15, P. O. Lynn, was born in Jefferson County, State of New York, in 1831, from which place his parents came to Canada, when he was eight years of age, where he remained until he was twenty-two ; he then came to St. Clair County, and bought a farm of eighty acres in the town- ship of Brockway, which he operated one year, and then sold it. He then removed to the township of Kenockee, where he bought an eighty-acre farm, where he remained till 1864, at which time he settled on his present farm of eighty acres, in Lynn, which he has improved and runs as a stock farm, having seventy acres under cultivation. In the meantime, he owned and ran the Lynn Hotel during the years 1881, '82 and '83. Was Constable and Pathmaster, Assessor on Pine River and assisted in organizing a school in Kenockee. Was married to Miss Catharine Furguson, of Canada, in 1851, by whom he has ten children-Amy, Louis, Melvina, Ivy, Charles, Eddy, Ida, Lizzie, Lena, Frankie, Richard, John, and Minnie, deceased.

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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 138

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