USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 21
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 241
Senate. He was opposed by an out and out Pingree man, who was opposed to Mr. Burrows-and an out and out Burrows man who was opposed to Mr. Pingree. The candidates hotly contested the field. Dr. Howell was re-nominated. He ran against Dr. O. M. Rice, Dem- ocrat, and Thomas Beals, Prohibitionist. His plurality was 362. In the session of 1899, Dr. Howell strongly supported Governor Pin- gree in the repeal of the railroad charters given under the first con- stitution and the taxing of railroads on an ad valorem basis. To accomplish a work of such importance the State needed a man of the sterling qualities of Mr. Pingree. He had just taken his rest after his best effort to secure the taxation of railroads equal to that of other property, when a message came from the Senate stating that when the next convention should meet to nominate his successor, he would not be in it ! and he was not. The doctor says that politics as a recreation has many exciting pleasures, and as an educator it has a fruitful field for wise investigation, but that
"Every rose has its thorn And every sweet its sting."
In 1886 Dr. Howell moved from Macon to Tecumseh, where he closely applies himself to practice.
CAPTAIN CHARLES ROLLIN MILLER was born in Mo- ravia, Cayuga County, N. Y., June 7, 1834, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1837. His father, Amos Miller, was a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., whose parents came to Central New York from Connecticut, and were of German ancestry. Amos Miller mar- ried Miss Katherine Bartlett, daughter of Moses Bartlett, who was a native of Vermont. She was born in Moravia, N. Y., and her grand- father, Colonel Bartlett, who was of English descent, was an officer under Ethan Allen in the Revolutionary War. In the spring of 1837 Amos Miller, with his family, started from Moravia, N. Y., with a team and lumber wagon for Michigan, traveling the entire distance, via Canada, to Washtenaw County, where he settled on a farm in Bridgewater, without any serious mishap. Here the subject of our sketch was reared, in the very heart of nature's wilds. Here the family lived for some time in the rudest kind of a log cabin, and until the virgin forest could be subdued, and the soil could be made to produce, it was only by the greatest fortitude and such indomit- able courage and hope as the true pioneer possessed, that life and faith were sustained. After about three years he moved to Saline. Here our subject remained and labored with his father until he was nineteen years old. During this time he had profited by all the school privileges that were then extant. He determined to have an education, and labored hard to acquire it. He labored at farm work 16
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Captain Charles R. Miller.
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summers and taught school winters until he was able to attend the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, from which he graduated in 1855. He then entered the literary department of Michigan University. He graduated from there in 1858, and from the law department of the University in 1860. He then located in St. Joseph, Mo., and commenced the practice of law, but after about two years' residence there he found the secession sentiment very strong, and it was diffi- cult for him, with his love of country, and veneration for the consti- tution and law, to abide with rebels and lawless frontiersmen. In the winter of 1861-2 he returned to Michigan. In August, that year, he enlisted in Company C, 18th Michigan Infantry. He was first made Second Lieutenant, but soon after service in the field he was promoted to First Lieutenant. After some twelve months' service in the field in Kentucky, he was made Captain. At Nashville, Tenn., he was detached from his company and put on the staff of the Post Commander, and soon after was made Assistant Judge Ad- vocate, on the staff of Maj. Gen. Rousseau. Not many months after this, by special order of Gen. George H. Thomas, he was made As- sistant Judge Advocate of the Department of the Cumberland, on the staff of Gen. Thomas. At the close of the war in 1865, he was mustered out with a captain's commission. After the close of the war, in the summer of 1865, he returned to Adrian, and immediately entered into a law partnership with Hon. Norman Geddes, under the firm name of Geddes & Miller, which partnership continued for over twenty years, when Mr. Geddes was elected Judge of Probate. Mr. Miller carried on the business until 1894, when he retired from the law, to give his entire attention to his extensive business inter- ests. During Mr. Miller's active professional career, he was twice elected Prosecuting Attorney for Lenawee County, in 1868-70. He was for eleven years a member of the Adrian School Board, and acted as secretary during that time. He was appointed by Governor Croswell one of the Board of Management of the State Industrial Home for Girls, and was reappointed by Governor Jerome, and is now a member of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, and secretary and treasurer of the commission. He has served many years as one of the trustees of the First Presbyterian church of Adrian. He was at one time the unanimous choice of the Republi- can county delegation for nomination as candidate for Congress. Mr. Miller has been very successful in his business career, and as a finan- cier is highly regarded. He was one of the charter members of the Commercial Savings Bank corporation, of Adrian, and is now its president. He is also president and principal stockholder in the Tecum- seh State Savings Bank. He is undoubtedly the largest land owner of improved farms in the county, as he owns and operates over 1,200 acres. He is president of the Anthony Fence Company of Tecum- seh. He owns the site and platted the village of Millersburg, in Presque Isle County, which is now a prosperous, incorporated, grow- ing place of 700 people. He also has large landed interests in
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Presque Isle, Cheboygan and Chippewa Counties, and Mackinac Island. In October, 1865, Captain Charles R. Miller married Miss Mary L. Becker, of Ann Arbor, daughter of Hiram and Sophia Becker, and they became the parents of two daughters, as follows: Mary S., an undergraduate of Wellesley College, and Jessie F., a graduate of Michigan University. Mrs. Mary L. Miller was born in the State of New York, in 1838, and died in Adrian in 1889. In 1890 Mr. Miller married Mrs. Anna Marie Wendell. She was a na- tive of Virginia, and descends from the Hale and Beale families.
CHARLES M. WALKER, a native of Michigan, was born in Farmington, Oakland County, September 24, 1834. His was a stren- uous life, commencing as it did before Michigan was a state, and during the period of settlement and transformation from a vast wil- derness into homes and fields of productiveness. His eyes opened upon a vast, illimitable wil- derness, inhabited by the red man and exploited by the wild beasts of this latitude, but they closed upon a scene of beauty. A vast state had been developed, and all the blessings of civilization were enjoyed, as the result of the heroic pioneers who had con- quered and won their heritage. He did his part in this great work. He believed in human effort, and never wearied in his labors. His was a recep- tive mind. He found pleasure and profit in study and em- ployment, and never shirked a responsibility or duty. He grew to manhood under the inspiring influence of his old Charles M. Walker. Granite State parentage. His mother came to Michigan a young wife, giving up a happy home in New Hampshire, with her husband to endure the hardships, hopes and dangers of pioneer life, and her heroism and fortitude, her love and faith, and pure womanly character, so im- bued her son that he never failed in manhood. This, with his fath- er's Puritan virtue of faith, sterling honesty and untiring zeal, gave.
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our subject the faith and hope in life that made him what he was-a noble man. He was always a student. He early became a good law- yer and a strong advocate ; but was honorable, and never resorted to low or abusive methods in his practice. He was a good soldier, served in the war of the great Rebellion of 1861-5 with much dis- tinction, and at its close settled in Adrian in 1865. His home life was beautiful, and his greatest enjoyment was with his family and immediate friends. Modest and simple in his desires, and exemplary in his daily life, he died at his home in Adrian, October 20, 1878. [For a full record of his ancestry, family relations, etc., see Whit- ney & Bonner's History and Biographical Record of Lenawee County, page 161, Vol. 1.]
ABRAM W. BARAGAR was born in Clarkson, Niagara County, N. Y., October 7, 1830. His father, John Baragar, was born in New York City, August 23, 1803. He was the son of Peter and Rebecca Baragar. Peter Baragar was a soldier in the war of 1812. He came to Michigan about the year 1840, and settled at Al- legan, where he and his wife died. In 1826 John Baragar married Miss Amelia Lewis, daughter of Isaac and Mary Lewis. Isaac Lewis was a native of Connecticut, and Mary Lewis descended from early Holland settlers. Mrs. Mary Baragar was born in Niagara County, N. Y., in 1809, and died in Adrian, Mich., December 7, 1874. John Baragar died in Adrian, November 23, 1876. He came to Michigan in 1833, and took up land in Madison. He cleared up this farm, built buildings and fences, got it under a good state of cultivation and resided there for some years, when he sold out, re- moved to Adrian and engaged in hauling freight from Detroit and Toledo to Adrian for merchants and emigrants. He was the first man to haul a car over the wooden track of the Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad from Toledo to Adrian, in 1836. He drove his horses tan- dem between the rails. This was a slow, tedious trip of thirty-three miles, and very unpleasant on account of the inud, as at that time the old "Cottonwood" Swamp was under water nearly the year round, and mud between the rails was something "fierce" to con- tend with. The lead horse would become so covered with mud that it was impossible to clean him, and it became necessary to swim the animals in the river to soak the mud off. This operation had to be gone through with at the end of each trip. Some days when everything went right it was possible to get through from Toledo to Adrian between "sun and sun," but it often required the most of two days to make the trip one way. Compare that kind of railroad- ing with the present. He continued as "engineer" on this railroad until the first locomotive arrived in 1837. John Baragar was a typi-
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cal pioneer and "hustler." After the advent of the new locomotive, the "Adrian, No. 1," he turned his attention to giving aid and furnishing supplies to the new settlers. He opened a supply store on North Main street, and in company with an old stage driver named Decker, who was crippled by being thrown from his seat, sup- plied groceries, pork, fish, etc., and they were the first men to intro- duce oysters into Adrian. Mr. Decker established an express line between Toledo and Adrian, and carried packages between the two places for prompt and immediate delivery. It is believed by many that this was the foundation of the express business in the United States. Mr. Baragar was in full sympathy with all new comers and was very active in getting them on the right road or the location or land they wished to find. For a number of years he was active in all the enterprises of the growing town. He was a man of resource, intelligence and integrity, and held many positions and offices of trust. John and Amelia Baragar were the parents of seven children, three of whom died in infancy. Abram W. Baragar, the oldest son, lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, and was educated in the old district schools of Adrian. He resided there un- til 1868, when he purchased a farm on Section 36, in Rome, where he now resides, comfortably situated, surrounded by family and friends. March 7, 1854, Abram W. Baragar married Miss Esther C. Cornell, daughter of Charles and Abigail M. Cornell, of Adrian, and they have had two children, as follows: Charles J., born in Rome, December 23, 1856, married Miss Carrie Wiggins, daughter of Henry and Emily Wiggins, of Cambridge, this county, and they have one child, Lloyd W., born in Rome, April 27, 1895; George E., born in Adrian April 21, 1861, married Miss Lulu Reynolds, daughter of Wesley and Clarissa Reynolds, of Rome. They have one child, Ber- nice I., born April 17, 1892. Mrs. Esther C. Baragar was born in Westchester County, N. Y., December 23, 1831, and came to Michi- gan in 1836, with her parents. Her father, Charles Cornell, was born January 20, 1808, of Quaker ancestors, and died in Adrian, November 9, 1860. Her mother, Abigail (Champenois) Cornell, was born October 18, 1809, in Westchester County, N. Y., and died in Rome, this county, May 10, 1839. Charles and Abigail Cornell were very early settlers in Rome, this county, locating on Sections 14 and 11, in 1836.
ALBERT B. GRAHAM was born in Madison, Lenawee County, Mich., January 3, 1858. His father, Edwin P. Graham, was born in Fairport, N. Y., March 21, 1824, and came to Michigan with his parents, Walter, born in Connecticut, December 19, 1795, died in Madison, this county, November 18, 1852, and Hannah (Peck) Gra- ham, born in Providence, R. I., November 27, 1787, died in Madison,
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
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this county, January 13, 1880. They settled on Section 19, in Mad- ison, where Edwin P. was brought up, and ever after lived. He pur- chased a farm on Section 19, about the year 1848, which he improved, and erected good buildings. In 1876 he built a large house, one of the best farm houses in the township. He was twice married, first to Miss Nancy Meech, January 27, 1848, daughter of Peter and Catherine Meech, who were pioneers of Lenawee County. Mrs. Nancy (Meech) Graham died March 26, 1854, aged 27 years, without issue. April 7, 1857, Edwin P. Graham married Miss Jane B. Warren, daughter of Thomas and Martha L. (Kester) War- ren, of Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio. They had five chil- dren, as follows: Albert B., born as above; Wellington C., born August 1, 1860, died March 3, 1865; Elmer W., born October 1, 1864, and re- sides in Didsbury, Province of Alberta, Canada; Addie J., born November 23, 1870, mar- ried William A. Hubbard, De- cember 31, 1891, and resides at Edwin P. Graham, Madison. Mankato, Minn .; Charles, born October 24, 1872, and died August 25, 1886. Mrs. Jane B. (Warren) Graham was born in Bronson, Huron County, Ohio, February 25, 1835. May 30, 1882, she mar- ried David L. Warren of Ovid, Mich., who died February 10, 1902. Her parents were pio- neers of Huron County, Ohio, had eleven children, and re- sided in Huron County for about fifty years, when they removed to Hillsdale, Mich. Thomas Warren was born at Egg Harbor, N. J., February 12, 1802, and died in Hillsdale, November 7, 1884. His ances- tors were English, and of the Mrs. Jane D. Graham.
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same family as General Joseph Warren, of Revolutionary fame. His wife, Martha (Kester) Warren, was born in New Jersey, January 8, 1810, and died in Hillsdale, Mich., October 11, 1897. They cele- brated their Golden Wedding April 2, 1878. Her ancestors came from Holland in the seventeenth century. Albert B. Graham, the sub- ject of this sketch, has always lived in Madison, on the farm he
Farm Home of Albert B. Graham, Section 19, Madison.
now owns, on Section 19. He was brought up a farmer, receiving his education in the schools of his neighborhood, and at Adrian Col- lege. When he was twenty-one years old he took charge of his father's large farm of 180 acres, and since that time he has pur- chased the interest of the heirs as far as possible, and added 65 acres to the farm. He is engaged in general farming and dairying. In 1894 he built a butter factory and has operated it successfully ever since. His output of butter in 1902 was 55,000 pounds, besides 2,364 gallons of cream. He keeps a herd of forty head of choice Jersey cows. The factory is well maintained by patrons, their butter being made by the pound. He is successful as a swine raiser, and generally sells more than one hundred hogs yearly. He has also been quite successful as a horse raiser, and has produced some good ones.
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"Ding Dong Bell" came out in 1901 in 2:2512. He is now breeding her. He deals in the very best strains of blood. April 26, 1881, Albert B. Graham married Miss Clementina Thompson, daughter of Smith and Lucinda (Phillips) Thompson, and they have two chil- dren, as follows: Bertha Irene, born September 19, 1882; Florence Adelaide, born June 16, 1890. Mrs. Clementina Graham was born in Mason, Ingham County, Mich., July 1, 1854.
WARREN M. BEAL was born in Bronson, Huron County, Ohio, September 11, 1850. His father, Edward Beal, was born in the old town of Marcellus, Onondaga County, N. Y., June 9, 1825. He re- sided there until he was a young man, when he emigrated with his parents to Huron County, Ohio, where a new farm was purchased and the struggle of his life began. The land was covered with heavy timber, it being stipulated in the contract that to pay for it, a certain quantity of staves were to be split and hauled to Milan, Ohio. This work was done, and a good home was soon worked out. A saw mill was established by Mr. Beal, and for several years he did well with it. In the spring of 1860 he sold his property in Huron County and came to Michigan, bringing his saw mill with him. He purchased land on Section 25, in Dover, where he put up a saw mill, which is still in operation. Mr. Beal erected good build- ings, and ever after resided on this place. He was an active, hon- orable man, of sterling qualities, and was entrusted by his neigh- bors with several public places, including Justice of the Peace and Highway Commissioner. He was always active in the growth and prosperity of the county agricultural society, and served as director from Dover. He also acted for several years on the executive com- mittee. He was the son of Amzi and Maria (Billard) Beal, who came to Michigan with him Amzi Beal was born in Massachusetts, June 20, 1801, and died in Dover, August 10, 1872. Maria (Billard) Beal was born March 20, 1805, and died in Dover, July 7, 1871. She was the mother of four children. Edward Beal died in Dover, No- vember 30, 1894. December 4, 1849, Edward Beal married Miss Lucinda Warren, daughter of Thomas and Martha L. Warren of Bronson, Ohio, and they had five children, as follows : Warren M., born September 11, 1850; Eva Jane, born same place, December 12, 1852, died November 24, 1871 ; Frank E., born same place, January 29, 1855, of Boise City, Idaho; Cora L., born in Dover, this county, November 4, 1863, married Darius C. Clark, has one son, and resides at Ellensburg, Wash .; Estella, born in Dover, December 21, 1865, married Frank A. Woolsey, and resides in Madison. Mrs. Lucinda Beal was born in Bronson, Huron County, Ohio, September 11, 1832, and resides in Madison. Her father, Thomas Warren, was born in Little Egg Harbor, N. J., February 12, 1802; emigrated to
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Ohio about the year 1827, and came to Michigan in 1865. He died in Hillsdale, November 7, 1884. April 2, 1827, he married Miss Mar- tha L. Kester, who was born in Essex County, N. J., January 8, 1810, was the mother of eleven children, and died in Hillsdale, October 11, 1897. Warren M. Beal, the subject of this sketch, came to Michi- gan when he was ten years old, and has resided in Lenawee County ever since. He was educated in the district schools of his township, with the exception of two terms in Evans' Business College in Adrian. He has always followed farming and is a charter member of Madison Grange. He has never sought political honors, and has many times refused to accept office. He means to be a progressive and an aggressive farmer, and is content with that. October 2, 1876, Warren M. Beal married Miss Harriet M. Moore, daughter of Thomas F. and Rachel (Todd) Moore, of Madison, and they had two children, as follows: S. Roy, born in Madison, August 27, 1879, teacher in the public schools of Port Huron, Mich .; Frank C., born same place, June 15, 1882. Mrs. Harriet N. Beal was born in Medina, this county, November 25, 1853, and died January 15, 1895. Her father, Thomas F. Moore, was born in Peterborough, N. H., Oc- tober 2, 1819. His father was Nathaniel Moore, who was born there in 1776, and his grandfather was William Moore, who was a soldier in the French and Indian war, and afterwards served in the Revo- lution. Thomas F. Moore died in Madison, November, 1896. His wife, Rachel Moore, born May 5, 1819, also died in Madison, June 28, 1895. December 15, 1897, Warren M. Beal was married to Miss Mary C. Allis, daughter of Edward P. and Hannah J. Allis, of Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Allis were pioneers in that township, who died De- cember 18, 1899, and February 26, 1900.
SPIELMAN BROTHERS' NURSERY. Twenty-one years ago we began growing trees and plants on ten acres of land, and by con- stant working and honorable dealings with our customers we have become growers of over 200 acres of nursery stock. The soil here- about being of a character best suited to produce the healthiest con- dition of growth, that solid, firm texture of wood, with abundant fibrous roots so necessary to successful transplanting, we are enabled to offer the choicest nursery stock to planters with entire confidence. The many friends we have made, and their continued support for many years, has induced the belief that our efforts have not proved an entire failure, and to all we send greetings, with a de- sire to deserve still further their patronage and influence. Starting out with the positive assertion that every tree and plant sold should be true to name and of the best quality, we confidently believe this course to have been the mainspring of our success and the confidence
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reposed in us by thousands of planters. Reputation is nowhere of so great value as in the nursery business, and the buyer of nursery stock who does not consider this will reap disappointment-will be taught by his own experience what he ought to have learned from experience of others. We aim to conduct the nursery business on
Residence of John Spielman, and entrance to Adrian City Nurseries on Bent Oak Avenue.
liberal principles, and we like always to do any favors our customers ask. Friction is what impedes business. Life is too brief to encum- ber commercial transactions with unnecessary conditions. A life- time of energy and experience has been spent, not only to acquire, but in our turn to impart exact information about trees and fruits. For the success attendant upon our efforts to supply the best stock at moderate prices, we spare no pains or expense to grow high grade stock. We are content to sell at a small profit. We give careful at- tention and continuous study to perfecting every detail. Our sales- men all have certificates of agency signed by us. With a large nur- sery business interest, our aim has been to build for the future rather than to try to squeeze out the most money each year in the way of dividends. Hence we have kept reinvesting our money in the business. We are in it to stay-not alone for profit-but because we love it. It is our life work. Success in it means to us far more than mere money making. We hope to contribute to the happiness and welfare of everyone with whom we have dealings. A trial order
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we respectfully solicit, if we have not yet had the pleasure of doing business with you, and we venture to believe it will lead to further business to our mutual benefit. If zeal and restless energy count, if quality, reasonable prices, prompt attention count, if you are par- ticular about any of these points, try us and see how we serve you. Address, Spielman Bros., Adrian City Nurseries.
WILLIAM R. HIBBARD was born in Vienna, Oneida County, N. Y., August 22, 1833, and came to Michigan with his mother in 1836. His father, John Hibbard, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., about the year 1798, and died there in 1835. He was a farmer, and assisted in the pioneer settlement and early growth of Oneida County. March 29, 1818, John Hibbard married Miss Eva Smith, daughter of George Adam Smith, of Vienna, Oneida County, N. Y., and they had seven children, William R. being the youngest and only survivor. Mrs. Hibbard was left a widow in 1835, with five children. She came to Michigan in the spring of 1836, and settled in Dundee, Monroe County. In the fall of that year she married George Wilcox, the first settler of Dundee, he locating there in 1830. Mrs. (Hibbard) Wilcox was a veritable pioneer. Her father and mother were Germans, and were pioneers in Oneida County, N. Y., and she was the first white child to see light in Oneida County, being born March 25, 1795. She died at Dundee, August 21,
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