History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 149

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1457

USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan > Part 149

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Nathan D. Brower was born in New York in 1800. His parents were Henry and Lydia (Draper) Brower, the former a native of New York, of Holland descent, and the latter of Vermont, of English ancestry. Nathan was reared and edu- cated in New York, and his early occupation was that of a clothier. In 1835 he came to Michigan, and immediately to Manchester village. He purchased a farm from the Government, on sec. 18, where he now lives. He was married in 1832, to Prudence Saunders. To them were born 3 sons and 2 daughters, of whom but 2 sons are living. They are both farmers in this State. Mrs. Brower died in 1870. In politics Mr. B. is a Republican.

Porter Brower, farmer, sec. 18, was born in this township in 1837. His parents are Nathan and Prudence (Saunders) Brower, natives of New York. In this county he was educated, and reared as a farmer, which occupation he still follows. He is a Republican, and has served as Constable of this township. Dec. 18, 1880, he was married to Melinda J. Whitbeck.

Horatio Burch was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1834. His parents were Merrick and Lucy A. (Mills) Burch, natives of New York, the former of French and the latter of German descent. When six years of age he accompanied his parents to Washtenaw county, where he was reared and educated. He spent one term in the University of Michigan, and is a proficient bookkeeper. Mr. Burch and his brother Charles own 160 acres of land on sec. 9, of this tp. He was married in 1876 to Christina George. They have 4 children. Mr. Burch has been Supervisor for nine consecutive years.

John Burkhardt, dealer in all kinds of furniture, Manchester, was born in Free- dom tp. in 1839. His father, Christian Burkhardt, settled in that tp. about 1833. There Mr. Burkhardt was reared, educated and learned the trade of a carpenter. He did a large business in contracting, building many houses, churches and school-houses. In 1867 he purchased a farm in Manchester tp., which he tilled until 1870, at the same time working at his trade. In 1870 he moved into the village, and in 1875 embarked in his present business. In 1879 he built the sto he now occupies, 23x45 feet in size, and two stories high. He does a fine buz ness, and in undertaking carries a fine stock of goods. Mr. Burkhardt is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., and a member of the Lutheran Church. In 1864 he married Margaret Breitenwisher, of Freedom tp. To them have been born 3 sons and 1 daughter, of whom 2 sons are living.

O. E. Carpenter, blacksmith, Manchester, was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., in 1832, and soon after accompanied his parents to Genesee county. In 1838, they came to this county, where the father opened a blacksmith shop, which he ran some years. Here Mr. Carpenter was reared, educated and learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 1860 he opened a shop in Sharon tp., and in 1861 went to Sylvan tp. In 1862 he enlisted in the 4th Reg. Mich. Cav., and served until

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the close of the war. Returning to this county he followed the business of blacksmith in Bridgewater tp. four years, and then went to Clinton, Mich. In 1880 he came to Manchester, where he now carries on business. In 1869 he was married to Phobe Boucher, of Sharon tp. To them have been born 4 daughters and 3 sons.

William S. Carr, Manchester, was born at New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1808. His father, Spencer Carr, was a farmer. In 1833 he came to Michigan and located in that part of Bridgewater tp. which was subsequently set off in the town of Manchester. He took up land, and himself and brother brought some goods with them and opened a small store, which was the first store in Manchester. In 1834 they gave up the mercantile business, and William engaged in farming, which he followed until 1867. He then removed to Manchester village where he has since remained, being chiefly engaged in real estate. In politics Mr. Carr is a Democrat. In 1840 he represented this district in the Legisla- ture of Michigan, and in 1850 was a delegate to the State Constitutional Conven- tion. He has also been Supervisor, Alderman and Justice of the Peace. In 1830 he was married to Mary Ann Rowley, of Lebanon, N. Y., who died in 1852, leaving 7 children, 6 of whom are now living. In 1853, was again mar- ried, to Mary Conklin, a sister of Dr. Conklin, of Manchester. To them have been born 2 sons and 1 daughter, of whom only 1 son is living.

Arthur Case, farmer; residence, Manchester; was born in New York, Nov. 13, 1817, and is a son of Benjamin and Anna Olmstead, natives of New England. Mr. Case spent his youth in Monroe county, where he received his early educa- tion. He came to Manchester tp., this county, in 1834, and located on sec. 11. He was married in 1840, to Elizabeth G. Stringham. This union was blessed with 2 children-Antoinette, who is married, and Arthur G. Mrs. Case died April 17, 1850, and he subsequently married Adelia Richmond. They have a pleasant home, and own 80 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Case is a prominent Freemason, and a Democrat. He has held all of the prominent village and tp. offices, and was formerly a hardware merchant of Manchester village for several years.

A. W. Case (deceased) was born at West Rush, N. Y., October, 1804, where he was reared, educated and learned the milling business. In 1832 he removed to this State and located 160 acres of land, a part of which now lies within the limits of Manchester. This he cleared himself, and followed the occupation of a farmer until his death in July, 1880 In politics Mr. Case was a Democrat. He was married in 1835 to Sophia Markham, of West Rush, N. Y. To them were born 6 sons and 1 daughter, of whom 2 sons are deceased. Of the living, except- ing 2 sons in Missouri, all the children reside at Manchester.

Clarence W. Case, dealer in lumber, sash, doors and lime, Manchester, was born at Manchester in 1849, son of A. W. Case (deceased). He was educated in his native village, and reared on the farm of his father. In 1872 he became a partner with Mr. David Dorey, in his present business, and on the death of his partner in 1878, became sole proprietor of the business. In 1880 he sold about 600,000 feet oflumber. Mr. Case is a member of Manchester Lodge, No. 148, F. & A. M. In 1877 he was married to Dora Robison, of Manchester. To them has been given 1 son. Sidney, who was born in 1878.

M. D. Case was born in Manchester, in 1838. His parents were Barnabas and Clarissa (Squire) Case, early settlers of this section. Mr. Case was reared and educated in this county, and in 1858 entered the store of Bessac & Clarkson, mer- chants, where he worked two years. He was a teacher in Wisconsin for one year. Returning to Manchester he entered the employ of Mr. Bessac as clerk, remaining with him three years. He then became bookkeeper for Mr. Brown, and after- ward in the mill until 1871, when he was appointed agent at Manchester of the D., H. & S. W. R. R., and was its first agent in the village. In 1876 he resigned his position, and engaged in the general mercantile business. Mr. Case is a mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge, Chapter and Council, and also of the A. O. U. W. He has held the office of Supervisor ; Township Treasurer, President of the village and other positions. In 1866 he married Lucelia M. Hedon, of Manchester. To them have been born 1 son and 1 daughter.

Wiliam Chase, farmer, sec. 12, was born in New York July 6, 1831, son of Benjamin and Harriet Chase, natives of New York, and of English ancestry. William received a fair education, and in 1841 settled in Manchester tp. In 1852 he went to California, where he remained five years. In returning he took pass-

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age on the ill-fated vessel Central America, and suffered the untold horrors of an ocean wreck, clinging for six and one-half hours to a board to save his precious life. He was finally rescued, and on his arrival in this county bought a farm on sec. 12 of this tp. He was married in 1859 to Hannah M. Conklin, a native of New York. This union has been blessed with 5 children-Francis H., Benja- min, Abigail, Egbert and Earl F. Mr. Chase is Democratic in politics, and was Township Treasurer for two years. While residing in California he served 13 months on the police force. He owns 90 acres of valuable land.

Thomas Clark, farmer, sec. 24, was born in England in 1828, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Wardle) Clark. He received his schooling in England, and in 1862 married Elizabeth Phillips They have 5 children-Mary E., Thomas P., Jane, Anna and John Franklin. Mr. Clark came to this county in 1850, locat- ing in York tp., and in 1862 in Manchester tp. He owns 164 acres of land, and is Republican in politics.

Dr. Ebenezer H. Conklin, the third son of Capt. Benjamin Conklin, was born at Lenox, Mass., May 4, 1790. When a boy he learned the wagon-maker's trade, which he pursued for a few years, but soon gave his attention to study and edu- cation, teaching school during a portion of the time, and in the mean time devoted his energies to the study of medicine, having completed which, he married Miss Lucy Winchester, the daughter of Amariah Winchester, of Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he located in the practice of his profession as physician and surgeon. After 25 years of successful practice at this place his health failed him, and in 1831 he was induced to emigrate westward, which he did, and coming to Michigan became one of the first settlers of the tp. of Sharon, in Washtenaw county, where he located some 400 or 500 acres of land. He still continued in the practice of his profession, though surrounded by the wilds of a frontier life and but a few families near him, at this time being the only physician in South- ern Washtenaw. As one of its citizens he held many positions of honor and trust, and his history is closely identified with that of Sharon itself. Through his influence and efforts it received its name.

Living upon his farm four miles north of Manchester, he managed his agricult- ural affairs and followed his profession until he died, in June, 1851, at the age of 61 years, leaving a wife and 5 children, as follows: Amariah Conklin, born Jan. 20, 1822; Cynthia Conklin, Dec. 2, 1824; Goodrich Conklin, Dec. 19, 1826; Mary Conklin. July 19, 1828; and Ebenezer Conklin, Oct. 27, 1836, all of whom are living in Manchester at present, with families, save Cynthia, who died Feb. 23, 1860, as the wife of Franklin Freeman, to whom she was married Feb. 12, 1851. The other daughter (Mary) is the wife of William S. Carr, in the western part of the village. He was a very active business man, progressive in his views of medicine, a man that read and thought a great deal outside of medicine, was very liberal in his views, and kind but firm in his family.

Amariah Conklin, the first son of Dr. Ebenezer H. and Lucy Conklin, was born in Amenia, Dutchess county, N. Y., Jan. 20, 1822, where he spent his younger days, till he came to Michigan with his father's family, then consisting of the parents and 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. From this time till he took up the study of medicine he remained with his father upon the farm, where he became acquainted with the hardships of frontier life. He helped to clear up the farm and afterward had the management of it, till he decided to study for the profession, in which he completed his studies and began the practice in June, 1849, having given it his time for several years previous, and the last two at the Medical University of N. Y.

June 7, 1853, he was married to Lovina A. Carpenter, this village, where he was located in the practice of medicine and surgery. After living here for three years he moved into Sharon with his wife and 1 child, upon a portion of the farm owned by his father, where he remained seven years, having an office in the village and doing a very extensive business in his profession. In 1861 he moved to the village again, having at this time 3 children, where he remained about three months, and being unable to ride much on account of his poor health, again moved upon his farm, where he resumed the practice of his profession again, having partially re- gained his health; but in the winter of 1871-'2 he took his family, comprising 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls, to the village for the purpose of giving them a better education. His family consists of the following: Ebenezer M. Conklin, born Jan. 1, 1855; Amariah B., Sept. 16, 1857; L. Sophia, Nov. 18, 1859, and Julia M., June 13, 1867. The 3 eldest are graduates of the Union school, and the 2 sons in the practice of medicine and surgery, the former a graduate of Bennett Medical College,

p . Feldkamp

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of Chicago, and the Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and now practicing in Tecum- seh, and the latter a student of both institutions and a graduate of the latter; he is now located in the practice of his profession with his father in this village.

Like his father, the subject of this sketch has been a man of study and thought, and has done much to liberalize the practice of medicine in this county, believing in standing by the right though he stood alone, which he did for a long time in the practice of his profession as an Eclectic. He started as a poor man in the midst of men of years and experience, whose combined influences were against him because he believed medicine should progress the same as any other branch of science; but as liberal medicine must triumph, it did through him, as the extent and success of his practice for years will show; and those who in his younger days opposed him with the bitterest hatred have coincided with him, and even now employ him in their declining years.

As a public man he has filled many honorable positions, being a strong advocate of anti-slavery principles during the war. He has always been connected with the educational interests of his community, both as a patron and as a strong supporter of education and free schools; is a temperance man, though no temperance worker. So also, like his father, his views have always tended toward "Liberalism," though the Church has always received favors from him, as has the world at large from his being generous to a fault with all. Is now 59 years old.

A portrait of Mr. Conklin appears in this volume, on page 1227.

Marvin Cooley, sec. 34; P. O., Clinton ; was born at Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1830. His parents were Charles and Electa (Goodell) Cooley, natives of New York and Massachusetts. In 1844 the family came to Michigan, locating at Ann Arbor. Here Mr. Cooley grew to manhood and lived until 1854. He then re- moved to Franklin, Lenawee Co., where he lived two years. He then went to Brooklyn, Jackson Co., where he followed farming about three years. He then went to Woodstock, Lenawee Co., where he was engaged in farming and thresh- ing until 1870, when he purchased a farm in Manchester, where he has since lived. Mr. Cooley started poor and now has 232 acres of fine land well supplied with buildings and stock. He makes a specialty of fine Merino sheep, of which he has a very fine flock. In politics is a Democrat and has held several offices in the town, now being a Justice of the Peace. Is a member of Clinton Lodge, No. 75, F. & A. M., and also a Mark Master in the Chapter. In 1854 he was married to Miss Jane Moore, of Brooklyn, Jackson Co., a daughter of James Moore, an old pioneer of this part of Michigan. To them have been born 4 sons, all of whom are living. The eldest son is married, but all live at home with their parents.

Lorenzo H. Coon was born at De Ruyter, Madison Co., N. Y., in 1811, His parents were John and Sarah (Carpenter) Coon, and were old residents of Cortland county. In 1836 his parents came to Michigan and located at Parma, Jackson county. In 1837 they came to Manchester tp. and purchased land. In 1842 Mr. Coon purchased a farm in the eastern part of Jackson county, where he lived until 1853 He then came into the township of Manchester, where he still owns land. In 1875 he came into Manchester village to live; was Commissioner of Highways, but has generally kept out of politics. In 1849 he was married to Mary Phelps, a native of Chautauqua Co., N. Y. To them have been born 2 sons. By a former marriage he has 1 daughter now living. Mrs. Coon's ancestors, the Phelpses and Adamses, date back in America to 1630, only 10 years after the landing of the Pil- grims at Plymouth Rock.

Hon. Jeremiah D. Corey is among the early pioneers of this locality. He was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1816. His parents were Peleg and Sarah (Spaulding) Corey, the former a native of Rhode Island, and the latter of the "Empire State." Mr. Corey received an academic education in his native State, and in 1833 came to Michigan. He located in Lodi, and subsequently in Sharon tp., on the farm now owned by O. L. Torrey, where he resided until 1844, when he removed to Manchester tp., and in 1868 to Manchester village. He was a farmer in early life, and is still interested in that business. During his early residence in this county he taught school for several terms, having at one time 104 pupils. many of whom now have grandchildren in the schools of Washtenaw county and elsewhere. In 1840 he was severely ill, and looks back to the care and kindness bestowed upon him by Dr. Bessac and others, through whose attentions he was brought back to strong health. In early days himself and brother "kert bachelor's hall," but that was ended by his marriage, in 1844, to Elizabeth A. Gage. Two children were born to this union-a daughter, now the wife of O. L 77

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

Torrey, and Jay, a business man of Manchester. Mr. Corey votes the Democratic ticket, "straight," and in 1866 was elected from this district as Representative of the Michigan Legislature. In 1874 he was elected State Senator. During his official career he introduced several important bills and resolutions, one of which was for the construction of a ship canal across the Southern boundary of the lower peninsula of Michigan Since his residence in Manchester he has done much to forward its interests. He gave $4,000 for the construction of the D., H. & S. W. railroad, and also much time. He was the first Director to represent Manchester, and has been the only one. He is a Director in the People's Bank of Manchester, with which he has been connected for some time. Mr. Corey has been very system- atic in his business operations, and since his marriage has kept a minute account of all moneys expended for business and home expenses, not including that invested in real estate, stocks, etc., and on April 1, 1881, the amount was $46,- 061.75. Mr. Corey's business life has been a success. He began life with nothing but his own brain and muscle, and has acquired a competency sufficient for the remainder of life. He is a man of active, energetic habits; full of integrity and honor, and well worthy the emulation of the rising generation.

John W. Cowan, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Washington Co., N. Y., in 1822, the 3d son of John M. and Elizabeth (Greene) Cowan, natives of the same county, and occupants of a farm. They moved to Onondaga Co. when J. W. was nearly five years of age, and in a few weeks to Monroe Co., 12 miles west of Rochester, and took a farm of 200 acres. Here Mrs. C. died, leaving 8 children -- 3 sons and 5 daughters. The family then moved back to Onondaga Co., where Mr. C. married again, and in the autumn of 1837 he, with wife and 3 children, emigrated to Michigan, the other children to follow the next spring. They came by wagon along the lake shore, when the roads were bad, requiring four days to cross the Maumee swamps. Startling rumors were rife at this time of Fenian invasions into Canada, and the route of the emigrants was thronged with demoralized troops from the Canadian border. The family arrived in Man- chester, Jan. 20, 1838. In 1862, after a long and eventful life, Mr. Cowan died, and the surviving widow died some time afterward in New York State.

At the the time of his father's death the subject of this biography was in his 21st year, and had not a dollar of capital; but with those stern qualities of mind which characterize a hero, he went forth to the battle of life, first finding work in the employ of Lewis Allen and Nichols Baker, for two and a half years, at $10 to $13 a month, next buying a horse and a half interest in a threshing-machine, and following threshing and teaming for a time. He thus made $5 a day a large portion of the time; was encouraged to increase his business, and he spent a por- tion of the winters in teaming and dealing in dried fruit from Ohio, which he exchanged for lumber, shingles and furs, in the northwestern portion of the State. He invested his surplus means in real estate. He went to school during the winters of 1847 and 1848 at Ypsilanti and Kalamazoo, graduating at the Nor- mal school. The winter of 1848-'9 he visited the scenes of his boyhood in the Empire State. In 1851 he married Dorcas M. Thompson, an estimable lady of Dexter; they had 1 child. Katie E., a very promising girl, who died in the 11th year of her age, of diphtheria. In 1849 Mr. Cowan bought the Stockwell place in Manchester, consisting of a store and dwelling house. A short time previously he had purchased a stock of bankrupt goods of the noted Zachariah Chandler, but in 1853 a fire burnt him out. Nothing daunted, however, he went to work with a courageous heart, farming, then in rapid succession carriage- making, meat-marketing, running a livery stable, making brick, auctioneering, building and contracting-in all these assisting to rebuild Manchester after the great fire of 1853, which burned up the business portion of the place. He has been liberal in public enterprises, donating at one time $3,000 to the building of the D. & H. railroad. At one time he owned as much as 1,500 acres of farm land, a portion of which was laid off and sold for village lots; he has dealt largely in real estate, and although he has met with many losses, he still ranks as one of the most prosperous citizens of the place. He still owns 300 acres of land and 30 or 40 lots in Manchester village.

Mr. Cowan is liberal toward the Churches with money as well as in spirit; has aided in the erection of every church in the village; built the first public hall ; helped procure the first printing press; founded and platted that portion of the village of Manchester, where now are the nicest residences of the place. Polit- ically, Mr. Cowan is not ambitious for prominence, but has always been ready

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to bear his burden of local affairs; has been Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, etc. He never turns the poor away hungry from his door, or refuses employ- ment to them if it was possible for him to find it.

A portrait of Mr. Cowan is given on page 1301 of this volume.

Samuel W. Dorr, of Manchester, Mich .. born at Keene, N. H., Jan. 20, 1823, the eighth son of Solomon F. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Dorr, the former of Brook- field, Mass., born at that place July 24, 1785, and the latter born at Keene, N. H., in 1782. The father, mother and three youngest sons emigrated to Michigan in the spring of 1834; on arriving at Detroit, the five found the money in all their purses amounted to only $1.70, which was divided as follows: One dollar and fifty cents was left the mother to take passage by stage, while the father and three sons had the remaining 20 cents, set out on foot for Ypsilanti, where Albert an elder brother, then lived, and where the four arrived, weary and hungry, some time during the following night, and the mother arrived the following day. In the spring of 1835 the family removed to Manchester and located on sec. 18. The subject of this sketch, then a lad of 12 years, received a common-school education, taught a district school five winters, purchased 40 acres of land, commenced farming for himself at the age of 20, and soon made additions to his originally small place. In 1849 he married Miss Elizabeth A. Blyth, of Franklin, Lenawee county. Of their large family of 10 children, 6 sons and 4 daughters, only 4 survive. The eldest daughter, Helen, is the wife of Wm. E. Pease; and the other daughter, Ettie, married B. F. Mattison. By untiring perseverance he became a practical and successful farmer of 220 acres, one of the best farms of Washtenaw county. From his earliest childhood being a great lover of fruit, as soon as he became the possessor of a piece of land, he made it his first business to plant an apple and peach orchard, and from time to time has made additions; at the present he has 30 acres of one of the most productive and profitable orchards of the State. He is one of the active pomologists, and at present President of the Washtenaw County Pomological Society, and one of the Vice-Presidents of the . State Horti- cultural Society, of which he is a life-member, and with which he has ever iden- tified himself since its existence. Mr. Dorr is also extensively engaged in sheep-raising.

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History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 149

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 1457

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1457