USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 25
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
withdrew from the bank to accept the appointment of Additional Paymaster, with the rank of Major, in the U. S. Volunteer army, and served through the Spanish war. In 1899 he was ordered to the Philippines, where he remained for some time. In July, 1901, he was commissioned Paymaster in the Regular Army, with rank of
Captain, and ordered back to the Philippines in May, 1902. In 1903, while in active service in the Philippines, he was promoted to the rank of Major, and ordered home for examination. April 6, 1864, Seymour Howell married Miss Eliza Kellogg, daughter of Hiram and Jane (Ward) Kellogg, of Genoa, Livingston County, Mich. They had two children, as follows: Maud A., born in Sharon, Washtenaw County, Mich., September 2, 1871, married Howard T. Taylor, May 27, 1885, has two children, Seymour H., born in Adrian, August 16, 1888, and Harriet K., born in Adrian, June 2, 1892, resides in Adrian. One child died in infancy. Mrs. Eliza (Kellogg) Howell, was born in York, Washtenaw County, Mich., April 24, 1845. Her father, Hiram Kellogg, was born in Geneseo, Livingston County, N. Y., January 28, 1820, married Miss Jane Eliza Ward, April 9, 1843, and died at Genoa, Livingston County, Mich., April 1, 1892. Mrs. Jane Eliza (Ward) Kellogg was born in Syracuse, N. Y., June 2, 1824, and died at Saline, Mich., March 24, 1852.
GEORGE A. WILCOX was born in Adrian, Mich., and is the only surviving representative of the Hon. William S. and Sarah F. (Clay) Wilcox. [For his family record see sketch of the Hon. W. S.
George A. Wilcox.
Mrs. Susette R. Wilcox.
19
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Wilcox in this volume.] George A. Wilcox has always resided in Adrian, and is today one of the prominent, active, representative business men of the city. He was educated in Adrian, supplemented by a scientific course in Douglass University, of Chicago. He began his business career in his father's hardware store in 1865, and became a member of the firm of Wilcox Bros. & Co., in 1873. This is one of the oldest and most successful hardware stores in Southern Michi- gan, having been established by the Van Brunt Bros. about the year 1850, went into the hands of W. S. Wilcox in 1854, and has ever since been a most successful business enterprise. In 1889 the firm was re- organized and consisted of W. S. Wilcox, George A. Wilcox and W. A. Staniford, and is now known as the Wilcox Hardware Company, George A. Wilcox being the senior member and manager, W. A. Staniford being the only surviving partner. It is classed today among the largest, most reliable and complete hardware stores in Michigan. George A. Wilcox is Vice President and one of the largest stockholders and directors of the Adrian State Savings Bank, Presi- dent of the Oakwood Cemetery Association, Treasurer of the Adrian Telephone Company, Vice President of the Citizens Light and
Residence of George A. Wilcox, No. 42 South Main Street, Adrian.
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Power Company, Director in the Gibford Razor Strop and Gibford Automatic Pin Company, Treasurer of the Lenawee County Mutual Protection Association, and a stockholder in many other business enter- prises in Adrian. His capacity for business seems to have no limit, as he is always foremost in any proposition or enterprise promising to promote the business volume or importance of his native city. July 15, 1874, George A. Wilcox married Miss Susette R. Berry, daugh- ter of James Berry of Adrian, and they have had three child- ren, as follows: S. Frances, born in Adrian, Sept. 24, 1875, married John Blaine Keating, May 15, 1901, and resides at Winthrop, California ; William Seward, born in Adrian, Feb- ruary 10, 1878, and died in Tucson, Arizona, June 13, 1900; one child died in infancy. Mrs. Susette R. Wilcox was born in Adrian, Mich. Her father, James Berry, was born in Manchester, England, in 1811, came to the United States with his father, George Berry, who was a silk weaver, and settled in Paterson, N. J. James Berry learned the car- James Berry. penter's trade in the city of New York. He came to Adrian in 1836, and for nearly fifty years carried on business here. He was a prominent, pushing, enterpris- ing citizen, engaging in general building, construction, the lumber business, etc., etc., and platted Berry's addition to the city of Adrian when it was still a wilderness. He died in Adrian, March 12, 1886.
JAMES NELSON CHAPPELL, son of James Gilmore and Eliza (Butts) Chappell, was born May 2, 1841, at Palmyra, New York, on the farm adjoining that on which lived the father of Ad- miral Sampson, and near where Joseph Smith dug up the stone tab- lets containing the Mormon Bible. He moved to Geauga County, Ohio, in 1851, and at the outbreak of the Civil War was attending Hiram College, of which James A. Garfield was principal. As he was not yet of age, and could not obtain his parents' permission to join Garfield's regiment, he joined the "Squirrel Hunters," (Home
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Guards), and afterwards enlisted in Company I, 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Company F, 182d Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving through the war. He was at Franklin and Nashville, under General Thomas, and in the campaign around Petersburg and Richmond, under General Ben Butler. He moved to Morenci in 1865, and March 19, 1868, was married to Emma A. Baldwin, (born August 2, 1842), daughter of Hon. Elias Jones Baldwin, and Olive (Payne) Baldwin, of Morenci. Mr. Baldwin was a direct descendant of Henry Baldwin, of Woburn, Mass., who was prominent in early days. Since his marriage, Mr. Chappell has resided continuously in and around Morenci. He has been a Deacon in the Methodist church for many years, was Postmaster at Morenci during Benjamin Harri- son's administration, and was afterward Township Supervisor for two terms. His father, James G. Chappell, is still living at the age of 86. His family consists of two sons, Ralph Hubert, born July 3, 1871, and Claude Clark, born August 2, 1872. Ralph H. graduated from the Morenci High School, class of '89, and entered the U. S. Naval Academy in May, 1890, where he graduated in the Engineer Corps, class of '94. July 8, 1896, he was married to Jane Catherine Biays, daughter of James Philip and Rebecca (Daingerfield) Biays. Mr. Biays was a descendant of Col. Biays, of Maryland, and John Han- son, of Maryland, both prominent in Revolutionary days. They have two sons, Hubert Biays Chappell, and Kenneth Baldwin Chap- pell. October 12, 1900, he resigned from the navy to accept the po- sition of Inspector of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, under the Treasury Department. Claude C. Chappell graduated also at the Morenci High School, class of '91, and after several years as agent and operator with the Wabash Railroad, returned to Morenci to take a position in the Wakefield State Bank. He was married September 8, 1897, to L. Luella Gardiner, daughter of Josiah and Hannah (Judge) Gardiner, of Adrian, and they have one daughter, Leo Bess Chappell.
MARVIN A. PACKARD was born in Macedon, Wayne County, N. Y., April 14, 1831, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1838. His father, Ira Packard, was born in Macedon, N. Y., February 15, 1799, and died in Madison, this county, February 24, 1845. His parents were Bartimeus and Abigail Packard, na- tives of Massachusetts, who removed to Wayne County, N. Y., when they were young. The ancestors of the Packard family in America were Samuel and his wife, Elizabeth Packard, who came from Wymondham, a parish in the southeastern part of England, and set- tled in the Massachusetts colony, August 10, 1638. They brought one daughter, Elizabeth, with them. They became the parents of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters. At this time there are in America two thousand families, direct descendants of Samuel and
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Elizabeth Packard, of Massachusetts Colony. Bartimeus, born in 1769, and Abigail Packard, born in 1772, had a family of ten chil- dren, and died on the farm they took from the government in Wayne County, N. Y., aged respectively 85 and 80 years. Here Ira Pack- ard was raised and lived until he came to Michigan in 1838. Ira and Amanda Packard were the parents of seven children. They were
Residence of Marvin A. Packard, Seneca.
married in Macedon, N. Y., in 1828. After the death of Ira Pack- ard in 1848 Mrs. Amanda Packard married Gilbert Mann, and died December 7, 1877. She was the daughter of David and Lucretia Compton, of Bridport, Vt. Marvin A. Packard, the subject of this sketch, lived at home in Madison, this county, where he got his schooling, with the exception of two terms in the Medina Academy, until he was twenty years old. In 1851 he went to California, tak- ing the Panama route. He landed at the Golden Gate on January 1, 1852. He remained in California for about two years, but was not satisfied with his success in the mines, and returned home and com- menced farming on his own account. In 1864 he purchased a farm on Section 14, in Seneca, and still resides there. The accompanying picture of his home will convey a good idea of its beauty and com- fort. His farm consists of 238 acres. Packard Station on the De- troit Southern Railroad, is located on this farm. For more than thirty years Mr. Packard has followed dairying and mixed farming, and his farm is among the best in the township. May 25, 1853,
-
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Marvin A. Packard married Miss Elsie Phetteplace, daughter of Asa and Hannah (Waters) Phetteplace, of Madison, and they have had two children, as follows: Frank A., born in Madison, January 28, 1858, married Miss Lillie Montgomery in 1879. They have had three children, one of whom, Ira J., is living; Mary Edna, born in Seneca, December 7, 1868, married Horton C. Rorick, September 17, 1891, has three children and resides in Toledo. Mrs. Elsie (Phette- place) Packard was born in Hartland, Niagara County, N. Y., No- vember 28, 1831, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1833. Her father was born in Queensbury, N. Y., January 30, 1788, and died in Madison, this county, November 19, 1865. Her mother, Hannah Waters, was born near Lake George, N. Y., March 24, 1793, and died in Madison, this county, September 9, 1885. Asa and Han- nah Phetteplace were the parents of seven children. Mrs. Packard, who was the youngest, and her sister, Mrs. Rial Niles, are the only survivors. The ancestors came from England.
AMBROSE B. PARK was born in Adrian, Mich., November 12, 1853. His father, Jonathan S. Park, was a native of Connecti- cut, and was born at Preston in 1803. He was the son of Shebuel Park, whose ancestors were Puritans, and came to America in 1630. Jonathan S. Park came to Michigan in 1836, and settled in Adrian. His first work for a livelihood was teaching school in Connecticut, but upon coming to Adrian he engaged in the Mercantile business. and soon opened a grocery store. He continued in that line of trade until 1865, when he retired from business. He was an early member of the First Presbyterian church, was a faithful worker, and did his share in building up the strong and prosperous society. He died in Adrian, August 3, 1869. January 1, 1850, Jonathan S. Park married Emily Berry, daughter of Judge Jonathan and Bathsheba (Greene) Berry, of Adrian, and they had five children, Ambrose B. being the oldest son. Mrs. Emily (Berry) Park was born near Albany, N. Y., in 1819, and died in Adrian, in July, 1896. Her parents were natives of New England, and her father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Ambrose B. Park, the subject of this sketch, has always lived in Adrian, and was educated in the public schools. His first em- ployment was in merchandizing, becoming a clerk in L. G. Berry's store in 1869. In 1870 he went with W. S. Carey, in the dry goods business, and in 1877 he opened a store on his own account, at 32 West Maumee street. The next year, 1878, he removed to the old W. S. Carey store, No. 4 East Maumee street, and remained there until 1885, when he erected his present store, No. 17 South Main street. His business has been a prosperous one from the commencement, and Mr. Park has long been considered one of the leading business men of Adrian. He is
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
identified with some of the largest manufacturing institutions of the city. November 19, 1879, Ambrose B. Park married Miss Emma M. Young, daughter of Charles and Rhoda Young, of Adrian, and they have three children, as fol- lows: Robert C., born August 22, 1880; Frederick E., born July 2, 1883; Florence H., born March 25, 1892. Mrs. Emma M. Park was born in Adrian, April 26, 1857. Her father, Charles Young, was born in Ithaca, N. Y., April 5, 1824. He came to Michigan with his parents, Adam and Lana (Deafendorf) Young, in 1836, and settled in Clinton, this county, in 1837. Charles Young lived in Clinton until December, 1852, when he re- moved to Adrian, and at once engaged in the manufacture of sash and blinds, the firm being Aldrich & Young. About the year 1860 he engaged in the grocery business and remained in that trade until 1890. May 8, 1850, Charles Young mar- ried Miss Rhoda Aldrich, daughter of Gersham and Ambrose B. Park. Mary Aldrich, who lived on Section 36, in Adrian, and they had four children, Emma being the oldest daughter. Mrs. Rhoda (Aldrich) Young was born in Massachusetts, April 4, 1826, came to Michigan in 1834, and died in Adrian, December 12, 1897. Her parents were of Quaker origin.
DELOS M. BAKER was born in Buffalo, N. Y., May 26, 1838. His father, Albert M. Baker, was born at Eden, Erie County, N. Y., February 17, 1817, and his ancestors came from New England. He was educated in Buffalo, and studied law in the office of Le Grande and George L. Marvin, at that time prominent attorneys of that city. Soon after completing his law studies, he was married, came to Michigan, and settled in Adrian, November 27, 1838. Immediately after his arrival in Adrian he opened a law office and formed a part- nership with Peter R. Adams, of Tecumseh. Upon the arrival of
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Delos M, Baker.
A. L. Millard in Adrian, then a young lawyer, a partnership was formed which lasted many years, known as Baker & Millard. Early in the 50's Mr. Baker was appointed attorney of the Michigan South- ern & Northern Indiana Railroad, (now the Lake Shore) which posi- tion he held until his death, July 20, 1860. Mr. Baker was an active citizen, always interested in the growth of Adrian. Coming here in an early day, he soon became prominent in all the contemplated im- provements, and with all other early settlers, his idea of building
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
up a commercial centre was uppermost. He was active in establish- ing churches, schools, and many social, moral, religious and educa- tional institutions. He took an active part in politics, was a Whig in principle, and was elected Justice of the Peace in the town of Madison, although he resided on Maumee and Broad streets. The township line between Adrian and Madison ran through his house. His sleeping room being in Madison, made him a voter there. His justice office was in both townships, but he established the "court" on the Madison side and thus dispensed justice. In religion he was a Presbyterian, an active member of the Adrian church, and for sev- eral years previous to his death served as an Elder. August 3, 1837, Albert M. Baker married Miss Sarah Keeler, at Eden, N. Y. This marriage resulted in two children, as follows : Delos M., born in Buffalo, N. Y., May 26, 1838; Sarah J., born in Adrian, Feb- ruary 22, 1841, and died June 25, 1844. Mrs. Sarah Baker was born October 9, 1816, at Auburn, N. Y. Her parents were of New England origin. She was born and reared in the Pres- byterian church, and was active in church work as long as she was able to attend to the duties. Delos M. Baker came to Adrian when he was about six months old, and it has been his home ever since. He was educated in the Adrian schools. He commenced his business career in the hardware store of Hon. W. S. Wilcox, in the spring of 1862. After about four years service there, in the spring of 1866 he formed a partnership with R. A. Bury in the lum- ber business. This partnership continued about seven years, when Mr. Bury retired, and Mr. Baker has carried on the business ever since. He now handles all kinds of building materials, and can sup- ply everything needed in the construction of a building excepting hardware. He also, in connection, sells all kinds of coal used in this locality. Mr. Baker has never been active in politics, and never held an office, but has never failed to do a citizen's duty of attend- ing primaries and voting. In early life he united with the Presby- terian church in Adrian, and for thirty years has been one of its trustees. Mr. Baker is President of the Lenawee County Savings Bank, succeeding the Hon. J. R. Bennett, and director of the Page Woven Wire Fence Company, President of the Adrian Building and Loan Association, President of the Adrian Telephone Company, and Vice President of the Y. M. C. A. He is also a stockholder in sev- eral other manufacturing concerns. January 27, 1863, at Milwaukee, Wis., he was married to Miss Julia E. Blount. There were no chil- dren by this marriage. After a long residence in Adrian, where she became well and favorably known, she died December 22, 1881. No- vember 18, 1885, Mr. Baker married Miss Mary K. Goodman, of Glens Falls, N. Y., by whom he has had two children, as follows : Albert G., born September 24, 1886, and died February 23, 1889 ; Helen K., born April 7, 1890, and now at home. Mrs. Mary K. Baker was born in Bolton, N. Y., October 13, 1851. Her parents were natives of New York, and her father resides at Glens Falls, N. Y.
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SAMUEL YOUNG was born in Hopewell, Bedford County, Pa., January 2, 1848, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1852. His father, John Young, was also born in Hopewell, Pa., February 11, 1811, the son of a soldier in the Revolution who served through the war, and his stories of hardships and escapes are matters of his- tory. John Young was reared a farmer, and always followed that vocation. He resided in Bedford County until about the year 1852, when he, with his wife and twelve children came to Michigan, and settled on Section 33, in Ogden, this county. He resided on this farm until 1884, when he disposed of it and removed to Weston, this county, where he died February 4, 1885. John Young was twice married, first to Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Bedford County, Pa. They were the parents of thirteen children, as follows, John, Jr., born October 18, 1833; Henry, born October 24, 1836; Mary Ann, born March 12, 1837; Alfred, born April 27, 1838; William, born July 13, 1839 ; Sarah M., born September 26, 1840; George, born December 15, 1841; Martha, born April 27, 1843; Samuel, born Jan- uary 2, 1848; Simon, born August 26, 1849; Jennie E., born April 28, 1850; Susan, born March 20, 1852, all of whom were born in Bedford County, Pa. Alvina was born in Ogden, May 21, 1854. Mrs. Elizabeth (Smith) Young was born in Bedford County, Pa., March 12, 1810. Her parents were natives of Germany, and were early settlers in Bedford County. She was a woman of remarkable force and vitality, and died from a malignant attack of erysipelas, March 20, 1862. Samuel Young, the subject of this sketch, came to Michigan when he was about four years old, and has ever since called Ogden his home. He was educated in the schools of Ogden, and finished by a thorough business course in Evans' Business Col- lege, of Adrian. He was reared a farmer, and when he was about 25 years old he purchased a timber tract of 70 acres, on Section 19, in Ogden, and at once commenced to make a home. He afterwards purchased 30 acres on Section 29. In 1889 he purchased the Elisha Luke homestead of 70 acres, on Section 20, where he now resides. This is regarded as one of the most desirable and pleasant farm homes of the township. In 1887 he went to Los Angeles, Cal., where he purchased a home and engaged in the real estate business for two years. He was very successful in his efforts, and during the two years became treasurer and one of the directors of the Edgemont Land and Water Company. He held this position, which involved the handling of large amounts of money, until his interests in Mich- igan required his return, and he resigned and came back to his home in Ogden. In 1891 he went to Chicago and again conducted a suc- cessful real estate business for five years. In 1896 he once more re- turned to his home in Ogden to oversee his farming interests. Since that time he has remained in Ogden. Being public spirited and active in all matters of general interest, he has taken a prominent part in local and national affairs, and has served his township four years as Clerk, three years as Town Treasurer, and two years as
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
School Inspector. He is a member and chairman of the High School Board at Ogden Center, and has always taken an earnest interest in education. He is an active politician, and affiliates with the Repub- lican party. He is a man of genial and social traits, that make him very popular and in constant demand to serve his neighbors in many ways. He is full of enterprise and push, and was one of the first promoters of the present splendid telephone system of the township, and is and has been for some time engaged in promoting an electric railroad across the township. To him all is success and victory. He is a prominent member of Ogden Grange, the County Pomona Grange and the State and National Granges. November 6, 1873, Samuel Young married Miss Rosetta C. Luke, only daughter of Elisha and Sarah Luke, of Ogden, and they have one son, Al- mon M., born in Ogden, September 5, 1874, married Miss Ruth M. Dunning, and resides in Chicago. Mrs. Rosetta C. Young was born in Ogden, March 19, 1856. Her father, Elisha Luke, born in Port- age County, Ohio, June 20, 1830, was the son of Elijah and Eliz- abeth Luke, and now resides in Los Angeles, Cal. He was an early settler in Ogden, where he married Miss Sarah Wilcox, April 28, 1855. She was born July 18, 1833, and is still living. Mrs. Sarah Luke was the daughter of Aaron and Azubah Wilcox, of Palmyra, this county. Elijah Luke came to Ogden and took up government land on Section 20. His family consisted of ten children, all of whom settled around him, and it was for many years known as the "Luke neighborhood."
JAMES FARRAR was born in Troy, N. H., June 29, 1820. His father, Daniel Farrar, was born, probably in Troy, N. H., in' 1782. In 1653 John and Jacob Farrar came to America from Lan- cashire, England. They established the town of Lancaster, Mass.,. and also founded the Farrar family in this country. James Farrar, the subject of this record, was a direct descendant of Jacob Farrar in the sixth generation. The early days of our subject were passed among the hills of New Hampshire, and under the shadow of Mount Monadnock, where he received a common school education. At the age of 18 years he went to Boston and engaged in the dry goods bus- iness, but soon becoming " homesick," a few months found him back in the old home. He then found employment nearby, and after one year's service in a country store, again went to Massachusetts and procured employment at Royalston. After about three years' active service in merchandizing, he finally purchased the interest of Capt. Howe, who was at that time a partner of L. R. Damon, in Fitzwil- liam, N. H., the firm becoming Damon & Farrar. They remained at that place about two years, when the business was disposed of. In the fall of 1853 they came to Adrian, and established a dry goods.
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"store in the Jermain block, Maumee street. A good business was built up, and the firm of Damon & Farrar became well-known and popular among the people of Lenawee County. Mr. Farrar was an active business man and took an interest in all public affairs. He built a handsome home on the corner of South Main and Merrick :streets in 1855, and in 1868-9, together with Mr. Damon, erected the
Mrs. Clara Farrar.
James Farrar.
large double house on East Maumee street, Adrian, where the fam- ilies now reside. In 1860 the firm of Damon & Farrar was dissolved, and Mr. Farrar purchased a half interest in the F. J. Buck hard- ware store. After ten years in the hardware business, he purchased the Loomis machine shop on South Winter street, which was suc- cessfully carried on until 1883, when the shop and machinery were destroyed by fire. He immediately associated with Messrs. Knapp .& Mckenzie in building a large brick foundry for the manufacture of brick and tile machinery. The Armory block on South Winter street was built by Mr. Farrar and J. C. Rowley in 1884. About this time he sold out his interest in the foundry to Gen. William Hum- phrey, and retired from active business. He was for a long time an ardent member of the Presbyterian church of Adrian, and served as trustee for many years, until his death, December 8, 1890. January 1, 1852, at Warwick, Mass., he married Miss Clara Brown, daughter of Russell and Clarissa (Waite) Brown, by whom he had three chil- dren, only one of whom is living, Ida Russell, born in Adrian, Mich., July 2, 1862, now the wife of T. M. McFarland, of Cambridge, Ohio. Russell Brown was born in Hubbardston, Mass., November 8, 1791, and died July 10, 1871, at Warwick, Mass. His wife, Clarissa
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