USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 19
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HON. HENRY C. SMITH was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., June 2, 1858, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1860. His father, Wanton Green Smith, a substantial and favorably known farmer of Palmyra township, built a fine brick home on Section 22, where, with his wife, equally loved and respected, he lived for about twenty-eight years, and reared a family of six children; one, Lucy M., having died October 20, 1864, of diphtheria, at the age of six years. Born in Farmington, Ontario County, N. Y., January 26, 1822, the son, Wanton Smith, a native of Berkshire County, Mass., who was a son of Joseph Smith, born in Smithfield, England, was married to a French lady at Paris, France, soon after which he em- igrated to Berkshire, Mass., and from there went to Ontario County, N. Y., about the year 1783. He purchased a tract of land which in- cluded the present sight of Farmington, and Victor, N. Y., and built a grist mill, which was one of the first manufacturing indus- tries of the kind in that section. He died in 1815. Wanton Smith was seven years of age when his parents moved to New York State, and he there grew to manhood, and continued in the milling busi- ness. He was remarkably industrious and accumulated a fine and
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valuable property in Farmington. Married Lucy Eddy, daughter of Caleb Eddy, and a native of Vermont. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom lived to years of maturity. Wanton Green Smith received a common school education, was also a student at the Academy of Canandaigua, and after the death of his father, took care of the family. He was married in Wayne County, N. Y., October 11, 1849, to Maria Mitchell, a native of Madison County, N. Y., daughter of William and Millie Mitchell, and was born December 22, 1822. In the spring of 1860, desiring a change of location, and because of the ill-health of his wife and children, he came to Michigan and purchased the homestead where he lived the rest of his life. The father of Mrs. Smith was born in Dutch- ess County, N. Y., and was the son of Joseph Mitchell, a na- tive of Nantucket Island. Mrs. Smith's mother was the daugh- ter of Henry Clapp, of Dutchess County, N. Y. Mrs. Smith re- ceived a good education and began teaching at the age of nineteen years, being thus oc- cupied until her marriage. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were Quakers. The oldest son, Mitchell C., is a locomotive engineer, and has been since 1873. He lives at Maquoketa, Iowa, where he has a fine fam- ily and has attained good suc- cess. Frank A., the oldest daughter, was married to Ed- ward F. Hutchinson. She has Hon Henry C. Smith. been a successful teacher for years, and still follows that profession with marked ability. Henry C. Smith has served two terms in Congress, and is an attorney at Adrian, Mich., member of a good firm. George C., the next son, is also an engineer in Iowa. Clara C. is married to John D. Kinney, and lives in Adrian, Mich. Louis G. lives on the old farm in Palmyra. Henry C. Smith, sub- ject of this sketch, was educated in the district schools of Palmyra, this county, and at Adrian College. He worked on a farm, taught school in the winter, and graduated from the college in 1878. He studied law, and in 1880 was admitted to the bar. Was appointed Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of Lenawee County, January 1, 1881, and was chosen City Attorney in 1880. He subsequently became a member of the law firm of Watts, Bean & Smith, and is now the leading member of the law firm of Watts, Smith & Baldwin. In
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November, 1898, he was elected to Congress, and was re-elected in 1900. He is an eloquent public speaker, an able lawyer, and is re- spected by all classes. December 20, 1887, Henry Smith married Miss Emma Watts, daughter of Col. R. A. and Susan A. Watts of Adrian, and resides at No. 45 Toledo street, Adrian.
RICHARD ILLENDEN, of Adrian, Mich., was born in Canter- bury, Kent, England, July 8, 1824. His father, Richard Illenden, was born in Woodchurch, Kent, England, in May, 1776, where he was educated and always lived until 1824, when he moved to the city of Canterbury, and resided until he came to America in July, 1830. He owned about 200 acres of land in Woodchurch, known as the Shirk-Oak farm. The grandfather of our sketch, John Illenden, came from the town of Illenden, in Northumber- land early in the eighteenth century. He was a land-owner and miller. The town of Il- lenden had always been the residence of the family until John Illenden left there. He being the last male represent- ative of the family, carried all its history with him when he went to Woodchurch. For 150 years there have been but three male representatives of the family. The Illenden coat-of-arms consisted of a half moon and sheaf of wheat, with the sickle thrust in. They were members of the Church Mrs. Sarah Illenden. of England until the advent of John Wesley, when Richard Illenden, the father of our sketch, be- came a convert to Methodism. September 19, 1805, Richard Illen- den married Miss Sarah Grant, daughter of Vincent and Johanna Grant, of St. Nicholas, Isle of Thanet, Kent, England, by whom he had ten children, as follows: Ann, born October 12, 1808, died in London, October 28, 1834; Sarah, born October 12, 1811, married W. H. Pillow, and died in Adrian, July 28, 1883; John, born May 6, 1813, died in Woodchurch, January 27, 1819; Johanna Chapman, born October 11, 1814, married John Henry, died in Vevay, Indiana, January 27, 1892; Grace Waters, born May 7, 1816, married Thomas
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E. Bonner, and died in Adrian, December 25, 1860; Mary, born Sep- tember 27, 1817, and died in Buffalo, December 16, 1834; Elizabeth, born November 29, 1818, married Stephen M. Hoyt, died January 30, 1899; Mercy, born May 8, 1821, the widow of William Ward, of Junction City, Kansas; Jane Parton, born December 21, 1822, mar-
Mrs. Mary R. Illenden.
Richard Illenden.
ried Dr. Woodland Owen, died in Brinkley, Arkansas, July 1, 1902 ; Richard, born July 8, 1824, married Miss Mary Ann Rulon, September 28, 1853. All the children except Richard were born in Woodchurch, Mrs. Sarah Illenden was born at St. Nicholas, Isle of Thanet, Kent, England, December 11, 1782. Her father, Vincent Grant, was a manufacturer of St. Nicholas. His family may be traced back to Inverness, in Scotland, in the twelfth century. The Grant coat-of- arms is a shield with three crowns, guarded by two nearly nude sen- tinels with battle clubs. The crest is a burning mountain, and the motto on the scroll beneath is "Stand Fast." Mrs. Sarah Illenden's mother was Miss Johanna Chapman, who was disowned by her fam- ily because she became a convert of John Wesley. Mrs. Sarah Illen- den was also a convert of John Wesley, and was an earnest Chris- tian, a profound reasoner, and a zealous worker in the church for over 60 years. July 8, 1830, Richard and Sarah Illenden, with eight children, left London, and after a voyage of seven weeks and three days, landed in New York. They immediately went to Buffalo, and shortly afterwards purchased a farm of the Holland Land Company, in Pembroke, Genesee County, N. Y. Here they found pioneer life
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in earnest. They were in the midst of the primeval forest. The log house to which they came was without a floor, covered with a bark roof, and the chimney was made of sticks and clay. At night the cry of the wolf and panther could be heard. The husband and father was sick with an incurable disease, and the care of the family of eight children, and the management of the farm devolved largely upon the wife and mother. But she never faltered. She was a wo- man of noble attainments, and her friends admired her for her daily actions, and loved her for her pure, sympathetic nature and constant watchfulness for the good and welfare of others. Richard Illenden, the father of our sketch, died in February, 1837. Mrs. Sarah Illen- den died in Three Rivers, Mich., January 29, 1866. Richard Illen- den, the subject of our sketch, was brought up a farmer, and lived on his father's farm in Pembroke until the fall of 1844, when he came to Michigan, and stayed in Ypsilanti during that winter. He fol- lowed different avocations until 1854, when he purchased the Amos Aldrich farm, on Section 36, in Adrian township, which is now mostly embraced in Oakwood cemetery. He sold to the Oakwood
Residence of Richard Illenden, on Beecher Street, three miles west of Adrian.
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Cemetery Association in 1865, and purchased a large farm near Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, Mich. He resided there until 1874, when he returned to Adrian and purchased the old Webster farm on Section 5, in the township of Madison, where he now resides. Mr. Illenden, at the age of 16, became a member of the M. E. church and served her cause with fidel- ity, until the ques- tion of slavery agi- tated that body, and finally culminated in the division of the church. He was a member of the con- vention held at Chestnut Ridge, near Lockport, N. Y., in 1843, which resulted in the organization of the Wesleyan Methodist church. But as that denomi- nation did not agree with his ideas on slavery, he finally espoused the Garri- sonian movement.
Ephraim and Sarah Rulon.
He was the treasurer of the Michigan An- ti - Slavery Society during its existence. William Lloyd Gar- rison and all the noted Abolition
champions made his house their home when they were in Adrian. September 28, 1853, he married Miss Mary Ann Rulon, daughter of Ephraim and Sarah Rulon, of Raisin township, this county, by whom he has had four children: Johanna, born May 23, 1855, died December 26, 1855; Jessie, born December 9, 1856, died April 15, 1865. Albert Edward, born November 15, 1861, married Miss Clara L. Holloway, January 17, 1894. Two children were the result of this union, Jessie Lillian and Mary Rulon. He owns a large farm on Section 5, in Madison, on which he resides; Ephraim Rulon, born in Three Rivers, Mich., January 2, 1870, married Miss Eva I. Ed- wards, July 30, 1902, and resides on the old homestead in Madison. Mrs. Mary Illenden was born in Richmond, Ind., October 2, 1828, and died in Adrian, July 16, 1901. She came to Michigan with her parents in 1832. Her father, Ephraim Rulon, was born in Fairfield,
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N. J., January 2, 1804. His ancestors were French Huguenots, and the genealogy of the family shows that a man named Rulon came from France in a hogshead, being sent as merchandise, to escape death, and landed in New York previous to 1704. Her mother, Mrs. Sarah Rulon, was the daughter of Caleb and Sarah Atkinson, of Burlington County, N. J. Mr. Atkinson was an elder in the Society of Friends, and died at the age of 99 years and 7 months. His an- cestors were Friends for many generations back. Mrs. Sarah Rulon died in Three Rivers, Mich., February 20, 1871. Ephraim Rulon died in Adrian, June 3, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Rulon came to Lena- wee County, Mich., in 1832, and lived in Tecumseh during the first year. In 1833 Mr. Rulon bought a part of the school section in Raisin township, erected a log-house thereon, and proceded to clear up and improve his farm in true pioneer fashion. He was promi- nently identified with the development of Raisin township during those early days, holding many positions of trust and responsibility, and being a township officer for many terms. Mr. and Mrs. Rulon were Hicksite Quakers, and leading members of the church of that denomination for several years, Mr. Rulon being one of the elders of the meeting. They were among the first to join the anti-slavery movement, and did all they could to help on the cause of freedom. About 1856 Mr. and Mrs. Rulon sold their farm in Raisin and moved to Adrian.
WARREN GILBERT was born in Richmond, Ontario County, N. Y., April 3, 1822, and was the son of Elias Gilbert, Jr., who was born near the city of Hartford, Conn., November 29, 1776. The pa- ternal grandfather of our subject, Elias Gilbert, Sr., served in the Revolutionary War, and besides being a soldier was a farmer, tan- ner and currier. In 1852 he accompanied his son Elias to Daven- port, Iowa, and there died at the age of ninety-five years. He was married twice, and his family included nine children, of whom Elias, Jr., was the eldest born of the second marriage. The latter, upon reaching manhood, was first married to Miss Polly Steele, who was born in Connecticut, in 1781. She removed with her husband to Ontario County, N. Y., and died there while a young woman thirty- four years of age. Of this marriage there were born four children. Elias Gilbert, Jr., became the father of the following children : Polly, Amanda, Marietta, Warren, of our sketch, Theodosia and Ann E. Warren Gilbert remained with his parents in his native county, and assisted his father at farm work until reaching his ma- jority, then starting out for himself, he came to Grand River, Clin- ton County, this State, in October, 1843, and purchased a tract of land, farmed one year, then traded it for ninety-three acres on Sec- tion 2, in Rome township, this county. To this he added by degrees,
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and was uniformly prosperous in his labor of tilling the soil and stock-raising. In this latter enterprise he had an experience of forty years. Mr. Gilbert, in 1845, was married to Miss Almira M. Reed, who was born in Ontario County, N. Y., September 29, 1825, and was the daughter of Wheeler and Hannah Reed, natives of Ver-
Mrs. Almira Gilbert.
Warren Gilbert.
mont. From the Green Mountain State Wheeler Reed's parents re- moved to Ontario County, N. Y., where they spent the remainder of their days. Wheeler Reed's family consisted of nineteen children, several of whom came to Michigan and settled in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Warren Gilbert there were born three children: Wil- liam Goodell, born April 18, 1846, and married Miss Albina Eddy. They settled on the Gilbert homestead and engaged in stock-raising, but Goodell died March 26, 1884; Theodosia Gilbert, born Septem- ber 24, 1848, is the widow of William M. Shepard, and has one child, Warren G., born September 1, 1871, married Miss Mary Middleton, and they have two children: Curtis, born April 1, 1899; Seward, born June 30, 1902; Frank W., born May 14, 1853, married Decem- ber 25, 1883, Miss Mary, daughter of William and Ellen (Lewis) White, of Cambridge, born December 13, 1862, and they have two children, as follows: Gale W., born January 8, 1888; Lucile, born July 26, 1897. Both reside on Section 2, in Rome. At a time when it was considered almost a disgrace to be characterized as an abolitionist, a champion of woman's rights or an apostle of temperance, Warren Gilbert was a staunch friend of
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each cause, and strove by voice and vote to advance every good work. His home was one of the stations of the underground rail- road, and many a poor black fugitive has been helped on his way to freedom by his aid. During 54 years of married life together, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert did much to build up the interests of the com- munity in which they lived by their hospitality, which was so freely extended to all who knew them. Warren Gilbert died November 21, 1899, and his wife, Almira M. Gilbert, died November 11, 1901.
FRANCIS R. STEBBINS was born at Williamstown, Vt., on the 26th of October, 1818. His father, Captain Bliss Stebbins, was born in Wilbraham, Mass., December 12, 1777, and in 1805 settled in Williamstown, Vt., where he resided until his death, March 10, 1826. His ancestors were English. November 17, 1802, he married Miss Betsey Ruth Cossitt, of Claremont, N. H., by whom he had five children, Francis R. being the youngest. Mrs. Betsey Ruth Steb- bins was born in Claremont, N. H., April 21, 1783, and died in Adrian, Mich., February 21, 1870. She was of French descent. Francis R. took his name from an uncle, Francis Reub Cossitt. At the age of 16 years he commenced to learn the cabinet maker's trade, with his brother-in-law, Lyman Briggs, at Montpelier, Vt., earning money enough to pay for several terms tuition at the Academy at Montpelier. In 1837 he came to Michigan and joined his brother, C. B. Stebbins, who was carrying on the cabinet business at Pal- myra, in Lenawee County. Here he remained for about two years, and then went to Buffalo, N. Y., in the employ of Cooley & Galli- gan, cabinet makers. While at Palmyra he wrote articles for the Michigan Whig. He also contributed to the Michigan Observer of Detroit, and to the Emancipator of New York. While in Buffalo he wrote for the Buffalonian, The Commercial Advertiser, The Repub- lican and several other papers, and was finally given charge of the editorial work of the Morning Tattler, a society paper, with the un- derstanding, however, that it should not interfere with his work as a cabinet maker. Alternating between Vermont, Buffalo and Pal- myra for a few years, he finally came to Adrian in the fall of 1841, and from that time until his death, which occurred on the 29th day of September, 1892, resided in that city. With the exception of a few months spent in the study of law, in the office of Baker, Harris & Millard, Mr. Stebbins, during the entire period of his residence in Adrian (comprising more than half a century of time), was continu- ously engaged in the business of which he had made himself master in his youth, commencing in a small way, working at the bench himself, he gradually built up one of the largest, best and most suc- cessful factories and furniture stores in Southern Michigan. A part
15
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of the time he was in partnership with his brother, C. B. Stebbins. A part of the time the two brothers carried on the same business separately, side by side, and always in perfect harmony. In 1852 the brothers, in connection with S. P. and T. D. Jermain, built a four story brick block on East Maumee street, in the city of Adrian -then the only four story building in Lenawee County-and in that portion of the block erected upon his land, he continued in business until the dav of his death. While Mr. Stebbins was thoroughly master of his trade, yet his strong literary bias and the urgent so-
Mrs. Sarah Louise Stebbins.
Francis R. Stebbins.
licitations of the proprietors, induced him to assume the editorship of the Weekly and Tri-Weekly Expositor, of Adrian, which position he held from 1850 to 1860, and so long as he lived he continued to write for the press. For nearly thirty years prior to his decease, he spent a portion of each year in travel, and while on these excursions wrote many interesting and instructive letters, covering the country from Lake Superior and the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence, to the Gulf of Mexico. He was fond of what is termed "outing," had a cottage at Grand Lake, Presque Isle County, Mich., and one at Sand Lake, Lenawee County, and during the latter part of his life a part of each winter was spent in Florida, where he made very thorough explorations of Indian River. Mr. Stebbins was a public spirited man, and was identified with the growth and prosperity of the city of Adrian and the State of Michigan for more than half a century. He was a zealous and active member of the Pioneer So- ciety of the County of Lenawee, and also of the State Pioneer Society, contributing during his membership, interesting and valuable ar-
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ticles to each society. He served as alderman of his ward in Adrian, also as member of the Public School Board, where either as presi- dent or chairman of the building committee, he had the leading charge of the erection of the present Central School building, the main features of the plan of which were furnished by him, and adopted by the board. He served as a member of the old volunteer fire department of the city, and had much to do with the erection of its buildings; was a member of the committee having charge of the erection of the soldiers' monument, furnishing the design which was adopted for the base, and in short, has been directly or indirectly identified with almost every movement that has been made, calculated to advance the best interests of the city, dur- ing his long residence therein. In politics Mr. Stebbins was a Whig, and cast his first vote in Buffalo for William Henry Harrison for President, and subsequently became identified with the Republican party. He was an active politician, but never sought for any public office. He was a religious man in the best and broadest sense of the word, was liberal and catholic in his views, and a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Stebbins was twice married, his first wife being Miss Mary E. Meyer, of Buffalo, N. Y., to whom he was mar- ried on the 3d day of August, 1841, and by whom he had three chil- dren : Francis G. Stebbins and Mary L. Colvin, who survive him, and Ellen C., who died in childhood. Mrs. Mary E. Stebbins was born in Coxsackie, N. Y., June 15, 1820, and died in Adrian, April 16, 1852. He was again married October 24, 1853, to Miss Sarah Louise Briggs, of Claremont, N. H., by whom he had three children : Lillie Louise, Fred B. and Edwin J. Mrs. Sarah Louise Stebbins was born at Charlestown, N. H., February 25, 1833. She and her two sons, above named, survive her husband, and reside in the city of Adrian. Lillie Louise, the daughter, married Mr. Edwin J. Pierce, and died in Hingham Center, Mass., on the 27th day of September, 1890.
WILLIAM B. SERVICE was born in Fairfield, Lenawee County, Mich., April 14, 1845. His father, John Service, was a native of Scotland, but came to this country a child. [For a full history of the Service family see the biography of John Service, in this vol- ume.] William B. Service, the subject of this sketch, has always abided in Lenawee County, and lived in Fairfield until he was about thirty years old. He was brought up a farmer, and has always fol- lowed that calling. In connection with farming he learned to make cheese, and followed that for some years. In 1887 he purchased a farm on Section 21, in Seneca, where he now resides. He has given his attention entirely to agricultural pursuits, and has never been engaged in any speculative enterprises. May 21, 1879, William B.
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Service married Miss Mary A. Shearson, daughter of James and Elizabeth Shearson, of Seneca, and they have had two children, as follows : Katie Bell, born August 25, 1880, and died November 28, 1882; Mollie E., born in Seneca, March 1, 1884; at home. Mrs. Mary A. Service was born in Seneca, Lenawee County, Mich., March 11, 1853. Her father was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1821. He came to America in 1851, and settled in Toledo, Ohio. He afterwards came to Michigan, and settled on Section 21, in Sen- eca, this county, where he died January 31, 1891. August 18, 1846, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Darby, of County Mayo, Ireland, and they had five children. Mrs. Elizabeth Shearson was born in County Mayo, Ireland, August 3, 1823, and died in Seneca, this county, June 30, 1896.
MRS. DORCAS (FISK) WHITNEY was born in Veteran, Chemung County, N. Y., December 18, 1823, and was the fourth child and second daughter of Jabez and Catherine (Ten Brooke) Fisk. Her father, Jabez Fisk, was born in Wendell, Mass., June 3, 1794, and was the son of Daniel Fisk, who was a na- tive of Worcester, Mass., where he was born, June 26, 1772, and could trace his an- cestry back to Suffolk, England, in 1208. He was a farmer and a Puritan, and the family was numerous and prominent in the American Revolution. He died in Albany, N. Y., July 25, 1810. Jabez Fisk left his na- tive place in Massachusetts when he was about eight years old, and with his parents, went to Albany, N. Y. After he became of age he purchased a farm in Chemung County, N, Y., where he resided until he came to Michigan and settled Hon. R. H. Whitney. on Section 32, in the town of Madison, June 3, 1833. About the year 1819 he married Catherine Ten Brooke, and raised a family of thirteen children. Catherine Ten Brooke was born in Chemung County, N. Y., in 1788, and it was said that many of her relatives and friends were victims of the Wyoming massacre. Jabez Fisk
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was a thrifty farmer. He owned over 400 acres of land. He died in 1867, and his wife followed him in 1870. March 22, 1853, Mrs. Dorcas (Fisk) Whitney was married, at her father's house in Dover, Lenawee County, Mich., to Richard H. Whitney, of Adrian, Mich., and two children were born to them, as follows: Richard H., born in Adrian, September 22, 1856, and died in Adrian, October 1, 1893; Henry Hart Whitney, born in Adrian, January 18, 1859, and died September 22, 1860. Richard H. Whitney was born in Harvard, Mass., in 1808, and came to Michigan and settled in Adrian in 1831. Before coming to Michigan he was engaged in general mercantile pursuits, but after locating in Adrian he became largely interested in the development of farming lands, built several houses in Adrian, and for twenty-five years served as Justice of the Peace. He was elected Mayor of Adrian in 1856, was a member of the School Board, and was actively identified with the founding of the public school system. He was a thrifty, provident business man, and when he died July 11, 1867, he left a comfortable estate. Since his death Mrs. Whitney has wisely managed the financial interests left by her husband, and been the source of much good in a social, religious and esthetic way. She still resides in the old homestead on South Main street and Michigan avenue, which is often the scene of social and intellectual gatherings. Mrs. Whitney donated to the First Baptist church of Adrian, a lot adjoining the church edifice, upon which now stands the Dorcas chapel, a most complete and beautiful annex to the church. She also donated to the church several hundred dollars towards constructing and equipping the chapel.
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