USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 24
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
extent of his ability. He served as senior warden of Christ church nearly forty years, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school. Always deeply interested in the welfare of the city of Adrian, in the days of the old volunteer fire department, he was for many years an enthusiastic member. He served several terms as member of the school board, and one term as Mayor. September 5, 1854, he was united in marriage to Caroline Louisa Choate, daugh- ter of Nathan and Louisa (Kimball) Choate, she being born at Derry, N. H., March 29, 1832, and moving with her parents to Adrian, during her early life, dying at Adrian, February 28, 1882. The children by this union were Frank Choate Bury, of Detroit; Mrs. W. E. Germaine, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Richard Alfred Bury, of Cleveland, Ohio. March 27, 1883, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary W. Hoag. Mr. Bury died at the family home on Division street, June 6, 1902.
RUFUS MERRICK was born in Corinth, Orange County, Ver- mont, April 15, 1800. He was the oldest son of Joseph and Sarah (Herriman) Merrick, who were natives of Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Joseph Merrick was the son of Joseph and Judith (Lit- tle) Merrick. Joseph Merrick, Sr., was also a native of New Hamp- shire, and a farmer of Rockingham County. Joseph Merrick, Jr., was brought up a farmer. When he was a young man he went to Corinth, Vt., and followed farming for a few years. In 1802 he moved to New Hampshire, and finally settled at Newburyport, Mass., where he followed ship carpentering until 1812, when the war broke out and business was suspended. He returned to New Hampshire, and finally back to Corinth, Vt., where he lived until 1816. In the spring of that year he left Corinth with an old horse team and sleigh, with his wife and eight children, for the State of New York, having no definite point of destination. He got as far as Brutus, (now Sennett) Cayuga County, in March, when the snow went off and he was com- pelled to stop. It so happened that an abandoned log house stood near by, which he took possession of and occupied for several days, until he could find a more comfortable place. He settled there and finally purchased a farm and lived there until 1834, when he sold out and came to Michigan, settling in Adrian, purchasing eighteen acres of land, all of which is now in the city, and comprises that portion lying west of South Main street and south of Merrick street. The old house built by him on South Main street, near Cross street, is still standing (1903). He died in Adrian, January 9, 1854. Mrs. Sarah Merrick also died in Adrian, March 2, 1870. Rufus Merrick lived with his parents until the spring of 1817, when he went to Auburn, N. Y., and learned the cabinet maker's trade with Abijah Keeler, remaining there until he was twenty-one, when he went to
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Kingston, Canada, worked six months and returned to New York. He worked in Auburn one year, in Elbridge, Onondaga County, eight years, and in 1830 he came to Michigan, arriving in Adrian in Octo- ber, where he resided until his death, January 2, 1882. There were but three frame houses in Adrian at that time. He immediately opened a cabinet shop, and during the first nine months his cash re- ceipts were only 75 cents. There was nobody to buy his work, or need
Rufus Merrick.
Mrs. Artemicia Merrick.
his services, nor money to do business with. He struggled along until the tide of emigration set in in 1834, and from that date for many years he flourished. During the summer of 1830 he purchased of A. J. Comstock a mill privilege, and in the fall of 1832 he built a cabinet and chair shop which he carried on for about thirty years. In 1854 he changed his shop into a flouring mill, and in 1856 he sold it. For several years, in connection with his furniture shop and mill, he carried on wool carding and cloth dressing, and in 1850 he had a large lot of cloth in the mill that had been dressed and was ready for delivery. One night the whole lot, valued at about $400, was stolen. Old "Sile" Doty was afterward indicted by the grand jury for the robbery, but the indictment and proofs were destroyed when the court house was burned in 1852. In 1832 he purchased of A. J. Comstock the lot upon which his house now stands on West Maumee street, consisting of about one acre, for which he gave a wooden clock and a bedstead. In 1834 he built a house on it, and in
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1846 built the large brick residence. In 1821, at Rochester, N. Y., Rufus Merrick married Sarah Robbins, by whom he had three chil- dren, two of whom died in childhood. George W., born in Auburn, N. Y., March 16, 1834, died in Adrian, April 18, 1892, where his widow, nee Rachel Lovisa Wright, 'still lives (1903). He afterwards married Mrs. Artemicia Hunt, widow of Morris Hunt and daughter of William and Huldah Stone, by whom he had three children, as fol- lows: Philo, died at the age of fourteen months ; Rufus P., born in Adrian, November 17, 1842; Sarah E., born in Adrian, October 7, 1844. Mrs. Artemicia Merrick was born in Burlington, Conn., April 12, 1810, and came to Michigan with her husband, Mr. Hunt, in 1838. She died September 14, 1885, at Adrian. Her parents were natives of Burlington, Conn., where her mother died. Her father afterwards went to Lima, Ohio, living there until his death. Rufus P. Merrick, after serving three years in the Civil War, married Marie Antoinette Ripley, they making their home in Adrian until the year 1886, when, with their four children, they removed to Charlotte, Mich., where they now reside. Their son, Lauren E., served in the war with Spain, and is now married and living in Detroit, Mich. Two daughters are married and living in or near Charlotte, and one is at home with her parents. Sarah E. Merrick married on October 13, 1863, John S. Nash. They shortly after removed to Toledo, Ohio, where their daughter, Ida Luella, was born, returning later to Adrian. It was the daughter's privilege to minister to her par- ents in their last days, her father, Rufus Merrick, passing from earth January 2, 1882, at the ripe age of eighty-two years, in active usefulness until within the last two weeks, his first warning of the end coming to him in a fall upon the floor while standing at his wood-turning lathe at his customary occupation. From this time he was confined to the house, but very little to his bed, and his final succumbing was unexpected, the physician's verdict on the previous day being that he would recover. His wife, Mrs. Artemicia Merrick, survived him three years and eight months, passing away Septem- ber 14, 1885. She lives in the memories of her children and others who knew her as the faithful mother and kindly neighbor, a life- long member of the Baptist church and largely endowed with the chiefest grace-charity. After the death of John S. Nash, Febru- ary 1, 1886, his widow and daughter removed to DesMoines, Iowa, where they now reside. In 1897, fifteen years after the departure to the spirit world of Rufus Merrick, the railroad engine shrieked its rapid flight across the grounds he once owned and occupied. Rem- iniscently his children and grandchildren see him in his favorite seat at the east porch window, commanding an extended outlook over the tract now occupied by the railroad, and think what an in- teresting diversion it would have afforded him who always took such profound interest in the city's progress and in improvements of whatever kind. But even in his day, the possibility of a railroad on the present site was not unconsidered.
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Mrs. Harriet H. Knapp.
Hon. Cornelius Knapp.
For a complete record of the life of Hon. Cornelius Knapp, see Whitney & Bonner's History and Biographical Record of Lenawee County, Vol. 1, page 457 ; also see Biographical Album of Lenawee County, page 1004.
JAMES S. WILCOX was born in Whitesboro, Oneida County, N. Y., September 10, 1821. His father, Morris Wilcox, was born in the same place, June 12, 1796, died June 6, 1879, and was the son of Reuben, born 1762, and Hannah Wilcox, born 1760, who were na- tives of Connecticut, pioneers of Oneida County, N. Y., and located on government land in the township of Whitesboro, where they died respectively in 1853, aged 91 years, and 1837, aged 76 years. Morris Wilcox was raised a farmer, but became a mechanic and contractor, building many of the first large buildings in Utica. He constructed the locks on the Chenango Canal at Utica, and was in the employ of the State of New York for many years. He was a prominent man
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
$
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Mr. and Mrs. James S. Wilcox.
in Utica, and held important public offices there. During the latter portion of his life he filled the office of Justice of the Peace, suddenly dying in office. About the year 1817 Morris Wilcox married Miss Phobe Brown, daughter of Nathan and Hannah Brown, of Leonards- ville, Madison County, N. Y., and they became the parents of six children. Her parents were pioneers in Madison County, where they were farmers and became prominent citizens. James S. Wilcox was born on a farm near Utica, N. Y., where he received a limited education. When he was twelve years old he left home and went to Norwalk, Ohio, where he found employment and remained several years. Most of his time was spent in merchandizing, and at the age of about twenty-one he was made manager of a large general store. In 1848 he went to Milan, Ohio, where he was engaged in merchan- dizing until 1852, when he went to New York city, and for two years traveled for a wholesale cloth house. In 1854 he went to Utica and engaged in the flour and grain trade. In 1864 he came to Michigan and settled in Adrian. In 1864-5 he engaged in the sheep business, buying in Ohio and driving to Illinois. In 1866 he was in the em- ploy of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad Com- pany, as clerk to Supt. J. E. Curtis. In 1867 he organized a com- pany for the manufacture of woodenware, at Toledo, Ohio. The firm was known as Wilcox, Kidder, Treat & Co., Mr. Wilcox being the manager. In 1867 a large fire wiped the factory out of exist- ence. In 1868 he engaged in the life insurance business, and was very successful. He has followed this calling for 35 years, and at 82 years of age is as energetic for business as many much younger men. March 3, 1847, James S. Wilcox married Miss Eudotia M. Stur-
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gis, daughter of Thaddeus B. and Eudotia (Beach) Sturgis, of Nor- walk, Ohio, and they are the parents of four children, as follows : James M., born in Milan, Ohio, March 31, 1848, married Miss Mary Wood of Adrian, has three children and resides in Grand Rap- ids, Mich. Lewis S., born in Milan, Ohio, July 29, 1852 ; Jennie E., born in Utica, N. Y., October 3, 1859, married H. N. Montague, May 13, 1886, is the mother of two children, and resides at Caro, Mich. Mattie L., born in Utica, N. Y., February 7, 1861, married W. H. Burnham, May 13, 1889, is the mother of three children, and resides in Adrian. Mrs. Eudotia M. (Sturgis) Wilcox was born June 6, 1826. Her father, Thaddeus Burr Sturgis, was a native of Connecticut, born October 22, 1800, died in California, July 31, 1850. He was the son of Lewis B. and Charlotte (Belden) Sturgis. Lewis B. Sturgis represented his district in Congress for twelve years, and was a prominent lawyer. Her mother, Eudotia (Beach) Sturgis, born in Marcellus, N. Y., October 16, 1806, was the mother of eight children, the daughter of Dr. Bildad and Hannah Beach of Mar- cellus, N. Y., and died at Utica, N. Y .. May 15, 1859.
ORLANDO WESTGATE was born in Raisin, Lenawee County, Mich., December 24, 1838. His father, Jeremiah Westgate, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., December 19, 1792. He was reared a farmer and lived with his parents, Jonathan Westgate, in Niagara County, N. Y., until 1834, when he came to Michigan and took up. 160 acres of land on Section 27, in Raisin township, where he lived until his death, which occurred in May, 1871. He was born and reared a Quaker, and was always an active member of that denomi- nation. He was one of the founders of the Raisin Centre Quaker church, was very active in the construction of the first building and was a constituent member. He was a good citizen, an honorable man, and thrifty farmer. In 1835 Jeremiah Westgate married Mrs. Dorcas Bowerman Kayner, and they had ten children, Orlando be- ing the second child and son. Mrs. Dorcas Westgate was born in Niagara County, N. Y., October 15, 1812, and died in Raisin, this county, in December, 1853. Orlando Westgate is a native of Lena- wee County, and has always lived in Raisin township. He was raised a farmer, and was educated in the country district schools, one term at Hillsdale College, one term at Aunt Laura Haviland's Raisin Institute, and finished at the Raisin Valley Seminary. His home is on Section 33, in Raisin, opposite his father's homestead. He has a comfortable home and a desirable farm. In February, 1865, he enlisted in what was then known as the New 11th Michigan Infantry, and served in Major General Thomas' Division at Chatta- nooga and Knoxville. At the close of the great Rebellion, he re-
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
turned home after a service of only seven months, with an honorable discharge. He has served his township as Treasurer, and Moder- ator of his school district, No. 7, for seventeen consecutive years. He is a member and one of the trustees of the Raisin Center Friends church, and is also a trustee of the Raisin Valley Seminary. No- vember 25, 1869, Orlando Westgate married Miss Mary L. Moore, daughter of Samuel D. and Mary Moore, of Raisin, and they had five children, as follows : Estella M., born November 5, 1870, mar- ried Charles E. Gorton, November 15, 1894, and they have one child ;. Chester O., born March 25, 1872, married Miss Alice Haviland, March 22, 1894; Orpheus A., born August 29, 1873, married Miss Jane Bird, and they have one child; Lorena, born April 8, 1876, married George R. Miller, August 27, 1896, and they have three children ; Mary Mable, born April 11, 1878, married William Ken- nedy, July 3, 1901, and they have one child. Mrs. Mary L. West- gate was born in Lancaster, Pa., and came to Michigan with her parents, who were pioneers in Washtenaw County. She died in Raisin, November 5, 1879. March 31, 1881, Orlando Westgate mar- ried Miss Ellen J. Bowerman, daughter of Moses and Zilpha Bower- man, of Raisin, and they have had five children, as follows: Fanny E., born July 16, 1882; Charles H., born July 30, 1885; Lewis A., born April 2, 1887 ; Millard C., born February 19, 1891; Lloyd G., born April 13, 1893. Mrs. Ellen J. Westgate was born in Raisin, this county, September 9, 1852. Her father, Moses Bowerman, born in Niagara County, N. Y., November 27, 1811, was a pioneer in Raisin, where he died December 18, 1896. Her mother, Mrs. Zilpha (Haviland) Bowerman, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., January 9, 1812, and died in Raisin, July 9, 1896. She was a minister of the Society of Friends, and descended from Quaker parentage of several generations standing. Moses Bowerman took up land on Section 33,. in Raisin. Soon after the railroad went through the farm, and the ridge road cutting through another way, he became dissatisfied and sold. In 1839 he bought the farm upon which he afterwards lived and died. Charles Haviland came to Michigan in 1832, and took up a half section of land, the west half of Section 34, donating about three acres of land for church purposes. Afterwards his son Daniel and daughter Martha obtained part of the land. Later the daugh- ter sold her part and went West and the son traded with a brother. The brother died, and after several changes it has at last come to be the home of a granddaughter of the original owner, Mrs. Orlando Westgate.
CHARLES C. WAKEFIELD was born in Morenci, Lenawee. County, Mich., February 16, 1841, and has spent the most of his life in his native village. His father, Dennis Wakefield, was born in Thompson, Windham County, Conn., in November, 1809. He was. the son of Moses and Nancy (Kimball) Wakefield, of Thompson,-
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Conn. Moses Wakefield was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his wife, Nancy, supported herself and family of three children while her husband was doing battle for liberty. Dennis Wakefield, after receiving a common school education, and working out for about three years, came to Michigan in 1834, and entered govern- ment land on Section 2, Town 9, Medina, this county. He after- wards entered additional land until he owned over four hundred acres in Medina. In July, 1839, he married Miss Abigail F. Crosby, daughter of Charles and Abigail Crosby, of Ypsilanti, Mich., and they had two children, Charles C. being the oldest. Mrs. Abigail F. Wakefield died in March, 1845. Mr. Wakefield was married to Miss Charity Scofield in 1847, who died in April, 1851. They had two children. He was next married to Miss Amanda Crover, of Worces- ter, Mass., who is still living in Morenci. Mr. Wakefield died in Morenci, June 1, 1886. He was an active and thrifty man, and as a pioneer and citizen was highly respected. He did his share in making all improvements and in helping to make a new country a pleasant abiding place. Charles C. Wakefield, subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Morenci, and at Hills-
Residences of Charles C. Wakefield and his son, Cassius Wakefield, Morenci.
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
dale College. He commenced an active- business career at Pioneer, Ohio, where, in 1862, he engaged in a general mer- cantile business, and continued there for six years. In the spring of 1868 he returned to Morenci, and purchased a plat of ground, erected a suitable building and established an exchange bank, then known as C. C. Wakefield & Co., and has continued in that business ever since. In 1898 the bank was reorganized under the State law, and is now known as the Wakefield State Bank, Mr. Wakefield being the Pres- ident. Mr. Wakefield is also quite largely interested in farming, and owns some four hundred acres of good land in Ohio and Michigan. Novem- ber 3, 1864, Charles C. Wake- field married Miss Josephine O. Rogers, daughter of James and Lucy H. Rogers, of Pio- neer, Ohio, and they have had five children, as follows: Lu- ella J., born November 17, 1865, and died in infancy; Dennis K., born in Morenci, this county, May 14, 1869, and died at the age of one year ; Cassius E., born in Morenci, February 10, 1872, a licensed Methodist minister, married, June 25, 1896, Miss Bertha Rose, daughter of Dr. Rose, of Ann Arbor, Mich., has two children, and resides in Mo- renci; Abigail G., born Octo- ber 9, 1875, married, October 20, 1898, William Hamilton, has one child and resides in Morenci ; Eva L., born Janu- ary 13, 1878, died June 11, 1901. Mrs. Josephine O.
Dennis Wakefield, Morenci.
Charles C. Wakefield, Morenci.
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
(Rogers) Wakefield was born April 3, 1846. Her parents were na- tives of Massachusetts, and were pioneers of Lenawee County, hav- ing settled in Medina among the first white people. They after- ward removed to Pioneer, Ohio, where they both died.
EDWARD SERVICE was born in Fairfield, Lenawee County, Mich., March 29, 1841. His father, John Service, 1st, was born in Scotland. [For his family record see sketch of John Service, 2d, in this volume. ] Edward Service has always lived in Fairfield, this county, and has followed farming. He owns a farm of 140 acres on Sections 35 and 26, and also owns a home in the village of Jasper, where he now resides. On the 11th day of August, 1862, he en- listed in Company I, Eighteenth Michigan Infantry, and served three years in the great Rebellion. He is a member of David Becker Post, G. A. R., of.Ogden Centre. He has served as Highway Com- missioner for two years, Township Drain Commissioner two years, and Justice of the Peace twelve years. He is also engaged in sell- ing Deering farm machinery. August 22, 1869, Edward Service married Miss Carrie Lane, daughter of Lyman and Nancy (Cost) Lane, and they are the parents of six children, as follows: Herbert L., born September 15, 1870, resides in San Francisco, Cal .; Edith L., born September 20, 1873, married, September 15, 1897, Carlton G. Arnold, and resides in Fairfield ; Bertha May, born August 31, 1876, married Harry Van Marter, March 16, 1898, has one son, and resides in Ogden ; Mildred F., born February 13, 1878, married George W. Taylor, April 9, 1902, and resides in Ogden; Carroll C., born October 19, 1879, married Miss Mary Hinckley, and resides in Fairfield ; Alice L., born March 29, 1882, at home. All born in Fairfield. Mrs. Carrie (Lane) Service was born in Fairfield, this county, January 6, 1849. Her father, Lyman Lane, was born in New London, Conn., January 9, 1804, came to Michigan in 1835, and died in Fairfield, January 24, 1885. His ancestors came from the Isle of Man, William McLane being one of them. He changed his name to Lane, and his branch of the family has ever been known as Lane. Mrs. Nancy (Cost) Lane was born in Loudoun County, Va., March 10, 1808. Her father was a native of Germany, who settled in Virginia. She died in Fairfield, January 21, 1877.
JAMES W. WIGHTMAN was born in Lodi, Seneca County, N. Y., March 9, 1842, where he resided until the spring of 1882, when he came to Michigan and located in Morenci, Lenawee County. He was educated in the Starkey Seminary, in Yates County, N. Y. His father, John M. Wightman, was born in the town of Hector,
287
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Tompkins County, N. Y., and was the son of John and Ruth Wight- man, who were pioneers of Tompkins County, and was the under sheriff that hung Guy C. Clark, the first murderer in Western New York. John M. Wightman was a shoemaker, and carried on the business in Hector for many years. He came to Michigan in 1873, and settled in Colon, St. Joe County, where he died in 1879. About 1834 he married Miss Eliza- beth Nivison, daughter of John A. and Elizabeth Nivi- son, of Tompkins County, N. Y. They had five children, James W. being the only son. John A. Nivison was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and then resided at Black Rock, on Niagara River, where all his property was destroyed. His titles were burned, and he was evicted by the British. He and his wife died in Tompkins County, N. Y. Mrs. John M. Wightman, died in Hector, N. Y., in October, 1859. James W. Wightman, the subject of this sketch, was first employed as a school teacher, and after- wards learned the paper hang- ers' trade, which he followed until 1861, when he enlisted in James W. Wightman. the 23d New York Infantry, where he served two years as musician. He then enlisted in the 50th New York Engineers as 3d sergeant, and remained there until the close of the great Rebellion, in June, 1865. After the war he followed different avocations until 1872, when he commenced the study of the law. He assumed practice in 1874, and in November, 1888, was admitted to practice in the Michigan courts at Adrian. In December of that year he opened an office in Tecumseh, this county, where he continued until he was made postmaster at Tecum- seh on February 15, 1899. At that time he formed a partnership with G. R. Gillespie, and his law business is still being carried on. February 27, 1867, James W. Wightman married Miss Susan Mc- Duffee, daughter of Nelson and Nancy McDuffee, of East Varick, N. Y., and they had two children, who died in infancy. Mrs. Susan Wightman died at Morenci, Mich., January 22, 1888. September 18, 1890, he married Mrs. Clara B. Boyce, who was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., April 14, 1837. She was the widow of Isaac Boyce, of Raisin. She was the mother of three children, all of whom are dead.
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MAJOR SEYMOUR HOWELL was born in Buckinghamshire, England, August 12, 1841, and came to the United States with his- parents in 1856. His father, Rev. James Howell, born January 9, 1810, was a native of Wales, and became an Independent Minister of some note in England, as well as a missionary to Jamaica. In the year 1836 he married Miss Amelia Franklin, born January 26, 1810, and four children were born to them, Seymour being the third child and son. Af- ter preaching in England for several years and seeing con- siderable service as a mission- ary, they came to this country and first settled in Sharon, Washtenaw County, Mich. Here Mrs. Howell died in 1856, S Mr. Howell afterwards going to Canada, where he died in Toronto, in 1881. Major Sey- mour Howell was 13 years old when he came from England. He was given the advantages US of a good common school edu- cation, since which time he has made his own way in the world. His first employment, when about 14 years old, was Major Seymour Howell. on a farm, which he followed until 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, 6th Michigan In- fantry, and upon the organization of the company, was made second lieutenant. His first service was under General Butler at Ship Island, Miss., and he participated in the capture of Forts Jackson and St. Phillip, and Baton Rouge, La. He was with General Banks at Port Hudson, and at the reduction of Forts Gaines and Morgan in Mobile Bay. In 1862 he was promoted to First Lieutenant, and in July, 1863, to Captain. In August, 1864, he was commissioned Ma- jor of his regiment. He was mustered out of the service August 20, 1865. After his discharge from the army and return home, he en- gaged in railroading, becoming a clerk in the freight office of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad, He was afterward in the employment of the Ft. Wayne & Jackson Railroad, in the freight de- partment, and then became general freight agent of the Eel River Railroad for about eight years. He came to Adrian in March, 1881, with the Peninsular Car Company, where he had an interest, and assisted in the management. In 1884 he entered the banking firm of T. J. Tobey & Co., of Adrian. In 1885 the firm name was changed to Howell, Baker & Co., Mr. Tobey retiring. In 1898 Mr. Howell
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