USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 22
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1880. Mr. Wilcox died at Dundee, May 1, 1860. William R. Hibbard came to Michigan when he was three years old, and resided in Dundee until 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, 18th Michigan Infantry. When he was a young man, he learned the carriage maker's trade, and upon returning from the army again engaged in the carriage business. He was four years in Kalamazoo, and in June, 1876, he came to Ogden Centre, where he now resides. For more than thirty years he carried on a shop in the village, but has now retired from business. October 3, 1853, William R. Hibbard married Miss Ellen Palms, daughter of Andrew and Harriet Palms, of Dundee, and they had five children, as follows: Fred H., born in Dundee, and now residing in Monessen, Pa .; Clara A., born in Dun- dee, married John Landy, resides at Onaway, Mich .; Hattie E., born in Dundee, married Charles Mead, and resides in Dundee. Two sons died in infancy. Mrs. Ellen Hibbard was born in Dundee, Octo- ber 3, 1840, and died there in January, 1865. April 10, 1870, William R. Hibbard married Miss Harriet L. Hydorn, of Kalamazoo, Mich., and they had four children, as follows : Cora M., born in Kalama- zoo, May 28, 1872, married Asa Phetterplace, and they had two chil- dren ; Claude A., born in Ogden Center, August 19, 1878, resides at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich .; Clarence G., born in Ogden, June 12, 1881 ;
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Bernice J., born in Ogden June 21, 1884, at home. Mrs. Harriet L. (Hydorn) Hibbard was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., March 2, 1845, and died in Ogden Centre, December 6, 1896. Her parents were among the first settlers of Kalamazoo, and her ancestors came from Holland.
CHARLES E. HENIG was born in Woodville, Wood County, Ohio, October 5, 1860. His father, John Henig, was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, January 14, 1821. He learned the trade of car- penter and builder, and followed that business in his native town until about the year 1847, when he came to the United States and first settled in Lancaster, Pa., where he resided until he removed to Woodville, Ohio. He lived there until 1861, and then came to Adrian, Mich. He followed his trade in Adrian for many years, and was a respected, honored citizen. His death occurred Septem- ber 16, 1885. He married Miss Mary Nachtrieb, of Lancaster, Pa., and they became the parents of four sons and four daughters. Mrs. Mary (Nachtrieb) Henig was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in May, 1823, and came to the United States with her brother. Her father was a Burgomaster, and well-to-do citizen of his native vil- lage. She now resides in Denver, Colorado, with a daughter. Charles E. Henig, subject of this sketch, has passed very nearly all his life in Adrian. He was educated in the public schools of the city, and commenced to learn the carpenter and builder's trade in 1875. That has been his principal business ever since. He was City Marshal of Adrian in 1896-7, was appointed Deputy Sheriff by W. F. Shepherd, in January, 1901, and is still holding that office. He is a member of Adrian Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 19, and I. O. O. F., No. 8, of Adrian. February 26, 1896, Charles E. Henig married Miss Elizabeth D. Buck, daughter of Joseph and Caroline Buck, of Adrian, and they have two children, as follows: Frances L., born April 1, 1897; Helen M., born December 13, 1900. Mrs. Elizabeth D. (Buck) Henig was born in the city of Adrian, January 14, 1875.
C. A. CONKLIN was born in Eaton Rapids, Mich., August 8, 1838, and has always lived in Michigan. He came to Adrian with his parents in 1848. His parents came from Ontario County, N. Y., and were among the first settlers of Eaton Rapids. Mr. Conklin, the subject of our sketch, was educated in Adrian, and has been an active business man in the city for many years. In January, 1866, he established the first exclusive undertaking establishment in
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Southern Michigan, and at that time was also the youngest man engaged in the business. He was known as the "boy undertaker." During his first year he attended over one hundred and twenty-five funerals. During the past thirty-five years he has buried several
Charles A. Conklin.
Mrs. Mary A. Conklin.
Conklin & Mott's Undertaking Establishment, 18 South Winter Street, Adrian.
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entire families, and in one instance he has laid away three genera- tions from one house. Mr. Conklin, by his close attention to all the details, and fully understanding and adopting all the modern ideas and methods that are desirable in an intelligent community, has suc- ceeded in building up a large patronage, and it is no exaggeration to say that he has one of the most complete and best equipped estab- lishments in Michigan. His place of business is located on the cor- ner of South Winter and Pearl streets, and within the walls of his large building can be found everything needed in his business. Some fourteen years ago he secured patents on several casket attach- ments, which he has since manufactured and supplied to the trade. December 25, 1860, Mr. Conklin married Miss Mary A. Bradish, daughter of John W. and Lydia A. Bradish, of Madison, Lenawee County. This marriage resulted in six children, four of whom are living.
Residence of C. A. Conklin, No. 72 South Main Street, Adrian.
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JOSEPH M. BAKER was born in Adams, Mass., February 19, 1780, and was the son of Joseph and Experience Baker, who were of Quaker origin, and of English and German ancestors. When Joseph M. Baker was a young boy, his parents removed to Ira, Rut- land County, Vermont, where he lived with them until the year 1800, when he left home and went to Manchester, Ontario County,
Charles L. Thomas.
Aunt Sally Thomas.
N. Y., where he purchased a farm in the woods. He at once com- menced clearing nis land, and built a log cabin, and the following year, December 27, 1801, he married Miss Sally Cruthers, daughter of John and Betsey Cruthers, of Phelps, Ontario County, N. Y. They had eleven children, as follows: Norton, born December 9, 1802, married Almeda Howland, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Howland of Manchester, N. Y., September 12, 1830, and they had ten children ; Norman C., born January 17, 1804, married Harriet Robinson, daughter of Robert and Deborah Robinson, of Manches- ter, N. Y., December 28, 1835, and they had seven children ; Lyman W., born January 15, 1806, married Miss Asenath S. Warner, daugh- ter of Russell and Orra Warner, of Manchester, N. Y., February 11, 1830, and they had seven children. Asenath Baker died in Rome, April 12, 1856. October 22, 1856, he married Miss Jerusha T. Hinckley, daughter of Benjamin and Lydia Hinckley, of Johnstown, Mich., and they had five children. Mrs. Jerusha T. Baker was born in Batavia, Genesee County, N. Y., June 1, 1831; came to Michigan with her parents in 1845, and died in Rome December, 2, 1885;
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Experience M., born March 8, 1808, married Uri Decker, and was the mother of ten children; Anna, Nancy and Russell, all died in in- fancy ; Sally F., born June 18, 1819, married Charles L. Thomas, was the mother of seven children; Joseph F., born June 18, 1819, married Cynthia Dewey, daughter of Edmund B. and Sally Dewey, of Manchester, N. Y., October 28, 1845, and they had three children. Mrs. Cynthia (Dewey) Baker died in Rome, this county, October 15, 1857. Joseph F. then married, October 17, 1858, Mrs. Anna D. Teachout, sister of first wife, and they had one child : Russell C., born April 19, 1821, never married; Huldah J., born December 20, 1822, married Riley Cole, and was the mother of four children. All of Joseph M. Baker's children were born in Manchester, Ontario County, N. Y. Mrs. Sally (Cruthers) Baker was born in Half Moon, N. Y., January 24, 1778, and died in Rome, this county, Sep- tember 15, 1851. Her parents came from Ireland early in the 18th century. Joseph M. Baker died in Adrian township, this county, May 27, 1872. Joseph M. Baker was a veritable pioneer. The first thing he did after leaving the parental roof in Vermont was to go into the unbroken forest in Ontario County, N. Y., and make him- self a home. He married a pioneer's daughter, raised a family of eleven children, and resided there until the country was well im- proved. He erected a large and fine house, and the family enjoyed all the comforts and many of the luxuries of that period. But he had five sons, and as they became men they grew uneasy and wanted homes and farms of their own. Michigan at that time being the Eldorado, these young men began to talk about emigrating to that unknown country, and the parents, rather than have the family sep- arated, finally decided to sell and abandon the pleasant home they had worked so hard to make, again to go into the woods and start once more. This they did, and in the spring of 1833 Joseph M. Baker and the entire family came to Michigan and settled in the virgin forests of Lenawee County. Mr. Baker purchased from the government one thousand acres of land on Sections 12, in Rome, 5, 6 and 7, in Adrian, and 30, in Franklin. Each of his sons was given 160 acres, and his daughters 80 acres of land. The family arrived in the woods on the 7th of August, 1833. This day is now celebrated by Mr. Baker's descendants, to the number of nearly four hundred, by the annual Baker picnic. The members of Joseph M. Baker's family who came to Lenawee County in 1833, died upon the following dates: Norton, died March 15, 1880; Norman C., died February 22, 1881; Lyman W., died March 14, 1887; Experience, died July 10, 1892 ; Joseph F., died December 2, 1899; Russell C., died in January, 1883; Huldah, died April 12, 1851. The only direct descendant of Joseph M. and Sally Baker now alive, (1903), is Mrs. Charles L. Thomas, who resides at her old home on Section 19, in Adrian, that her husband purchased 67 years ago. Aunt Sally, as she is famil- iarly called, was married to Charles L. Thomas, September 17, 1837, and is the mother of seven children, as follows: Clarissa A., born
17
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
June 14, 1838, married Wesley Reynolds, and is the mother of two children; Marcelline R., born October 28, 1840, died August 24, 1845 ; Statira E., born April 12, 1843, died August 15, 1845 ; Amanda S., born February 10, 1845, for ten years a teacher in the Adrian public schools; Jefferson R., born May 15, 1848, married Miss Ida Spear, daughter of George Spear, of Rome, December 9, 1878, and they have four children; Xara F., born June 30, 1851; Fred, born December 26, 1854, resides on the home farm. Charles L. Thomas was born in the town of Penfield, Ontario County, N. Y., June 21, 1814. His father, Ransom Thomas, was a pioneer of Western New York. He was born in Connecticut, December 31, 1787. In 1810 he married Miss Kate Cure, daughter of John and Eleanor Cure, of Saratoga, N. Y., and they had a family of nine children. Mrs. Kate (Cure) Thomas was born in the State of New York, near the Hud- son river, in 1792, and died in Adrian in 1865. Ransom Thomas came to Michigan with his family in 1833, and settled in Adrian township. He died there in 1850. Charles L. Thomas came to Michigan with his parents in 1833, and always followed farm- ing. He was an active, energetic man, and took a great inter- est in all public affairs, but never would accept public office. He was a successful farmer, and a much respected citizen. He was a member of Greenly Lodge, 103, F. & A. M., of Adrian. He was one of the earliest settlers in the township of Adrian, and no man did more to help the new settlers in locating, and relieving their suffer- ings and wants than he. He was stricken with heart trouble while eating breakfast, June 14, 1876, and passed away, beloved by all who knew him.
FRANK W. CLAY was born in Farmer Village, Seneca County, N. Y., May 24, 1837, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1839. His father, Rev. Bradbury S. Clay, was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and was one of the pioneer Baptist ministers of Michi- gan. Mr. Clay preached in Adrian for five years during the early days of the first Baptist church, and afterwards preached for many years in Indiana and Illinois. He did a noble work among the pio- neers during their struggle in making homes and subduing the wilderness. He died in 1870, in his 75th year. He married for his second wife, Miss Mary Raymer, of Bolton, N. Y., and they became the parents of five children, of whom our subject was third. Miss Sarah Frances Clay, daughter by his first wife, became the wife of the Hon. W. S. Wilcox, of Adrian, in 1844, and died February 12, 1852. Mrs. Mary (Raymer) Clay died in 1880, in her 82d year. Frank W. Clay, the subject of this sketch, resided with his parents until he was eleven years old, when he commenced the great battle of life. After acquiring such education as the pioneer schools af-
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
forded, he went at seventeen, to Oberlin, Ohio, and by his own efforts took a two years' course at Oberlin College. In 1855 he returned to Adrian and found employment as a clerk in the drug store of the late Samuel E. Hart, and subsequently with Remington & Bennett, and Norman Bidwell, also druggists. In 1860 he formed a partner- ship with Rial Niles, and carried on the drug and grocery business for about five years, building and occupying the Shepherd store on North Main street. In 1866 Mr. Clay accepted the position of con-
Frank W. Clay.
Mrs. Amelia C. Clay.
fidential manager of the late E. L. Clark's loan office, and remained in that capacity until 1870, when he engaged with Waldby's bank, of Adrian, as teller. In 1871, this bank was transformed into the First National Bank of Adrian, Mr. Clay still remaining in the same position. This bank wound up its affairs after a few years, when the late E. I. Waldby and Mr. Clay purchased the building and con- tinued the business as private bankers, under the firm name of Waldby & Clay. This business continued until 1894, when a new organization was effected, and the present institution known as Waldby & Clay's State Bank, was founded. Mr. Clay is the presi- dent. The bank enjoys the utmost confidence of the people, and its business is among the largest in Southern Michigan. Mr. Clay has always taken a great interest in the growth and prosperity of Adrian, and his policy has been as liberal as safe and conservative banking will admit. He was twice elected city treasurer, and served as school director three years. In December, 1862, Frank W. Clay married Miss Amelia C. Hickox, daughter of Reuben K. Hickox, of Avon Springs, N. Y., and they are the parents of two children, as
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follows: Rial, born in Adrian, February 20, 1864, and Geraldine, born in Adrian, July 8, 1865, who married Joseph H. Ames, of Detroit, Mich., in 1889. Rial Clay, referred to above, is now a prominent young business man of Adrian, whose career is a stand- ard for all ambitious sons of Lenawee County. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, and entered his father's bank as
.
Residences of Frank W. Clay and his son, Rial Clay, in Adrian.
a messenger after graduation. By his enterprise and application to business he has gradually advanced to the position of cashier. In 1900 his health failed him. This obliged him to seek relief in an- other climate. He immediately abandoned his pleasant home and surroundings and sought relief in a high altitude among the Alps of Switzerland. He remained there for two years. He was accom- panied most of the time by his wife, and has recovered his normal condition of vigorous health. September 11, 1888, Rial Clay mar- ried Miss Fanny Ketchum, daughter of Daniel and Martha E. Ketchum, of Adrian, and they have two children, as follows : Frank D., born in Adrian, March 14, 1890; Martha Amelia, born in Adrian, September 17, 1894. Mrs. Rial Clay was born May 12, 1864. Her father, Daniel Ketchum, was born in Schenectady, N. Y .. October 19, 1828, came to Michigan in 1855, settled in Adrian, and has been in the employment of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail-
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
road as locomotive engineer and conductor ever since. Her mother, Mrs. Martha E. Ketchum, was born in Ashland, Mass., March 30, 1834. She was the daughter of Ellis and Emeline Richards, who were natives of Ashland, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ketchum were married at Attleboro, N. Y., March 5, 1853.
ARCHIMEDES STEVENSON was born in Hannibal, Oswego County, N. Y., September 20, 1821. His father, James Stevenson, was a native of the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and came to the United States in the latter part of the 17th century with his parents, Samuel Stevenson and wife, when he was an infant. Samuel Stevenson settled on a farm in the town of Salem, Washing- ton County, N. Y., where he died. James Stevenson lived with his parents in Salem until he was about twenty-one, when, in 1808, he made a tour of the then almost unknown great West, going through the northern part of Pennsylvania and Ohio, from Lake Erie to the Ohio river. He then went down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. After spending all the summer on this exploration trip, he returned to Salem, N. Y., and settled in the town of Han- nibal, Oswego County. Here he purchased a farm in the wilderness, cleared it up, made a comfortable, desirable home and resided there until his death in September, 1828. About the year 1810 he married Miss Isabel Carson, daughter of Patrick and Margaret Carson, of Salem, Washington County, N. Y., and they became the parents of eight children, four of whom lived to become men and women, as follows: James, born in Hannibal, June 13, 1816, a resident of Adrian, Mich .; Susan, born same place, in 1818, married James Mc- Kissick, and resided in Jordan, N. Y., where she died; Archimedes, born same place, September 20, 1821, resident of Adrian; David C., born same place in 1824, and died in Jordan in 1845. Mrs. Isabel (Carson) Stevenson was born in Salem, N. Y., and died in Jordan. Her ancestors were Scotch-Irish. Archimedes Stevenson, subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of his neighborhood, and finished at Elbridge Academy, Onondaga County, N. Y. In 1835 he engaged as a clerk in a store at five dollars per month, in Jordan, following that occupation for about three years, when in the fall of 1837 a man came to Jordan who was interested in merchandizing and handling goods in Texas. Famous stories were told of great opportunities in the Lone Star State. Mr. Stevenson, then seven- teen years old, being very susceptible, was lured away by the tales of the smooth talker. He went to New York, and after seeing the sights for about a week, engaged passage on a " Baltimore Clipper" for Matagorda, Texas. After a passage of forty-three days, he landed at his destination. It was a long, eventful sea voyage. The
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boat was small and unseaworthy, but the trip proved to be only a prelude to the experience he was bound to realize for nearly three years, among the Indians, the Mexicans and the pioneer white men. Nearly the first year was spent in helping survey land along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, from Velasco to Galveston Bay. At that time there were thousands of Buffaloes and wild horses. Many of these horses were killed for the hair in their manes and tails, which was used to make hair rope, that would not curl and shrink in wet weather. It would require an expert writer of romance, adventure and hair-breadth es- capes, and many pages to faithfully chronicle all that happened to the young man during his stay. The money consisted of Mexican standard silver dollars and Texas wild- cat currency. The silver dol- lars were about sixteen to one -pound, and a few coins be- came a burden to carry, and whenever possible the coin Archimedes Stevenson. was exchanged for Texas bank bills. In 1838 a law was passed to locate the capital at Austin, and Mr. Stevenson drew the first load of lumber to the new town, from Bastrop, twenty- five miles down the Colorado river. At this time the town only consisted of wagons, three or four army tents, and the State officers. In the fall of 1840 he made up his mind to return home. He traveled to Galveston, then a town of about 500 people, and from there to New Orleans. At New Orleans he exchanged his Texas bank bills for current funds, being compelled to give six dollars for one, and took passage for New York on the Mrs. Susan E. Stevenson. ship "St. Mary," arriving
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
there in January, 1841. Upon his return home, he, with his brother James, purchased 80 acres of land in the town of Elbridge, Onon- daga County, N. Y. He soon after, however, purchased other land and quickly made a most desirable home. He resided in Elbridge until 1856, when he came to Michigan. He lived one year in Bliss- field, and in 1857 purchased the Lewis Kemp farm on Section 22, in the township of Adrian. This is one of the choice farms of the county, and Mr. Stevenson has greatly improved it since his pur- chase. Some of the very best farm buildings and stock barns in the township are to be found there. In 1873 he, with his son Jasper, purchased five houses and lots on Michigan and Erie streets, in Adrian city, and established the A. Stevenson & Son lumber and coal yard, which has ever since been one of the important and pros- perous business enterprises of Adrian. In 1882 he erected a fine res- idence, corner of Dennis and Union streets, in Adrian, where he has resided to this time. Mr. Stevenson, since his residence in Lenawee County, has been an active, prosperous farmer and business man. He is interested with his son, Jared W., in carrying on his farm, feeding sheep and shipping stock. He is also still at the head of the firm of A. Stevenson & Son in the lumber and coal trade, his son, Frank A., attending to the active business. December 4, 1844, Archimedes Stevenson married Miss Susan Elvira Whitney, daugh- ter of Jared and Susan Whitney, of Elbridge, N. Y., and they had four children, as follows: Jared W., born in Jordan, Onondaga County, N. Y., March 13, 1848; Edward Jasper, born same place, November 5, 1850. He married Miss Minnie Hall of Tecumseh in 1874. They had two sons, George Edward and Fred Covert. He died November 12, 1881. His wife. Minnie, died December 24, 1897 ; Frank A., born at the same place, April 12, 1852, married Miss Laura E. Bradley, daughter of R. J. and Laura W. Bradley, of Adrian, and they have two children, Alice L. and William H. Mrs. Laura E. (Bradley) Stevenson was born in Adrian May 11, 1851. Mamie S. Spingler, born February 5, 1857, adopted child. Her parents came to Blissfield in 1858. Her mother was Mrs. Frances L. (Whitney) Spingler, a sister of Mrs. A. Stevenson, and died of fever, in November, 1860, at Blissfield. Miss Spingler has always been a member of the Stevenson family. Mrs. Susan Elvira (Whit- ney) Stevenson was born in the town of Onondaga, N. Y., January 6, 1821, and died in Adrian, Mich., March 5, 1898, after a happy married life of fifty-four years. Her parents were natives of Con- necticut, of Puritan stock, and were pioneers in Onondaga County.
SILAS A. SCOFIELD was born in Lysander, Onondaga County, N. Y., October 5, 1826, his ancestors coming from Scotland. He was reared on a farm until he was fifteen years of age. From the age of 12 he worked the homestead on shares, and accumulated some
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$350, which he gave his father for the balance of his time until he at- tained his majority. He was a natural tradesman, and first began clerking in a store at Plainville, N. Y., where he remained between two and three years. At this time he received from his brother-in- law an offer which led him to engage in peddling looking-glasses, pictures and picture frames. Later he engaged in the same busi- ness for himself, and then se- cured a one-third interest in his brother-in-law's business, in which they carried on a quite extensive trade. He had reached the age of twenty when he suddenly decided to go West, and started for Wa- tertown, N. Y., with his horses and wagon, peddling as he went. He set out for Gorham, O., where he had relatives. The following spring he lo- cated in Adrian, where he sold furniture, and resided there until the fall of 1851, when he went to Morenci, opening a similar store there. From that time until his late sickness Mo- renci was his home-the place where his best physical and mental powers were expended ; Silas A. Scofield. where he finally established a successful business, and where he was a potent factor in the general welfare of the town. Fires devas- tated his establishment, but he was never the sort of man who gives up because of misfortune. He became noted far and wide as an un- dertaker, and he personally had charge of over 3,000 funerals up to the time that his activity in that respect ceased. We have referred to him as a village-maker. Besides all that he did in and for Morenci, he established the village of Scofield, in Monroe County. He cleared up considerable land there, and furnished the Canada Southern with all of its ties, timber and piling from the State line of Ohio to the Detroit river, also furnished 40 miles of telegraph poles. He built a depot, furnishing the funds himself, and otherwise helped the place. He did much altogether in giving mechanics and other laboring men employment, in the manufacture of furniture and cof- fins in the earlier days, and in other lines in a later period. He also busied himself in inventing sundry devices, the most important of which was his casket fastener and other articles connected with the mortuary trade. These devices have made the name of Scofield noted in many parts of the country, as they are largely used, and
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