USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
314
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
of her age. Thomas Mosher died December 9, 1887. Isaac H. Mosher, the subject of this sketch, lived on the homestead in Raisin, until the spring of 1887, when he purchased his present fine farm home on Section 36, in Cambridge. Since his residence in Cam- bridge Mr. Mosher has engaged in special lines of farming, and his
Residence of Isaac H. Mosher, Cambridge.
success establishes the fact that close attention and intelligent ap- plication to specific lines bring reward. For the past fifteen years Mr. Mosher has been engaged in raising young poultry for market, and annually ships many thousands of broiler chickens to New York. It is worth a visit to his farm to witness the process of producing "spring chickens " at all seasons. Mr. Mosher also makes a specialty of producing the finest quality of dairy butter, and is a breeder of choice Jersey stock. He now has a herd of twenty-four cows and heif- ers, from the best Jersey families in the country, the head of the herd being a choice specimen of the Rysland family. His butter finds ready sale in eastern markets at top prices. January 17, 1861, Isaac H. Mosher married Miss Elizabeth Hoag, daughter of Hazael and Sadie (Hallock) Hoag, and they have had four children, as follows: Lucy E., born January 23, 1862 ; William T., born March 15, 1867, married Miss Jessie Johnson, of Alpena, October 2, 1901; Arthur E., born February 21, 1870, on the home farm ; Katherine M., born February 14, 1874, married Chauncey A. Graves, July 28, 1898, has one child, J. Russell, born March 31, 1903. Mrs. Elizabeth (Hoag) Mosher was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., July 20, 1833. Her father was born in Vermont, April 3, 1796. Her mother was born in Peru, New Jer- sey, April 27, 1802, and died June 17, 1888.
315
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
NATHANIEL HENDERSON was born near the city of Ar- magh, North of Ireland, March 27, 1824. His father, John Hender- son, and his grandfather, George Henderson, were born at the same place. His great-grandfather, John Henderson, was born in Ayr- shire, Scotland, in the village of Kilmarnock. When he was about
Mrs. Mary Henderson.
Nathaniel Henderson.
eight years old, during the reign of Charles II., he fled with his par- ents to the North of Ireland to escape the persecutions by the Presby- terians, of those known as the Dissenters. Before leaving Scotland his father was hunted by English soldiers, and was driven to some of the Highland fastnesses, where he was kept alive by his young son George secretly carrying him food and drink until the family could escape. All of these men, who lived to be very old, handed down their history and the story of their sufferings, from father to son. The home that was secured in Ireland, during the reign of Charles II., is still in the hands of the family, and is now occupied by Na- thaniel Henderson's brother's family. The mother of Nathaniel Henderson, the subject of this sketch, was also of Scotch origin, and her ancestors settled in Ireland under the same circumstances as the Hendersons. She was a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Simp- son) Graham. Her brother, Samuel Graham, came to the United States in 1836, settled on Section 28, in Ogden, this county, and was one of the organizers of the township. In January, 1852, the sub- ject of our sketch, wrote from his home in Ireland to his uncle for information regarding the advisability of his coming to America.
:316
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Mr. Graham at once replied : "I think it is the best thing you can do ; by working hard you can get a good living here." On the 28th of the following June, Mr. Henderson arrived in Ogden. After a stay of a few weeks with his uncle, he went to Tecumseh, where he found em- ployment, and resided for nearly seven years. He worked for Judge Stacy for three years of the time. During this period he purchased a farm on Sections 9 and 16, in Ogden, and paid for it. In the spring of 1859 he moved to his land in Ogden, and com- menced clearing. It was cov- ered with water and heavy timber, but Mr. Henderson succeeded in making a beauti- ful farm, and believes he has done as much as any other man to improve Lenawee County. He has a farm of 240 acres with fine buildings, fences, etc. The land is tiled and drained scientifically, and is as productive as land can be made. Mr. Henderson has re- tired from farming, and now resides in Madison, near Adrian, in the most comfort- able manner. Two brothers William Henderson. followed Mr. Henderson from Ireland, and settled in Ogden. One died the following year ; John, who now resides on Section 28, Ogden, was a soldier in the great Rebellion. November 28, 1858. Mr. Henderson married Miss Mary Dunlap, daughter of William and Elizabeth (White) Dunlap, of Tecumseh. One son only has resulted from this marriage, as fol- lows: William J., born in Tecumseh, October 20, 1859. Mrs. Hen- derson's parents were born near Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland. Their ancestors were Scotch Dissenters. Mrs. Henderson came to Michigan in 1835, with her parents, and settled in Tecumseh. She was born in Philadelphia, February 16, 1833.
JOHN C. TOLFORD was born in Dover, Lenawee County, Mich., October 2, 1856. His father, John W. Tolford, was born in Haverhill, Mass., January 14, 1826, where he lived until he was about seven years of age, when he came to Michigan with his par- ents, Hugh and Hannah Tolford, and settled in Dover township, on
317
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Section 36, in 1833, where he resided until his death, which occurred January 12, 1900. Hugh Tolford died in January, 1861, and Han- nah Tolford died March 20, 1866. John W. Tolford was first mar- ried to Miss Sally Ann Tenbrooke, by whom he had one son, Frank W. Mrs. Sally Ann (Tenbrooke) Tolford died in August, 1851. November 24, 1854, he married Miss Matilda Stumbaugh of Seneca,
Residence of John C. Tolford, Dover.
daughter of John and Susan Stumbaugh, who were pioneers and settled on Section 2, in Seneca. By this marriage there were six children, four of whom are still living. Mrs. John W. Tolford was born in Southampton, Franklin County, Pa., and came to Michi- gan with her parents. She still resides on the old homestead in Dover. John C. Tolford, the subject of this sketch, has always lived in the township of Dover, and has always followed farming. He owns a farm on Section 36, in Dover, and as an evidence that he is a thrifty and progressive man, we show a fine engraving of his tasty and comfortable home. He is a member of Seneca Lodge, K. P., and an active member of Fruit Ridge Grange, having filled the prominent chairs of the Lodge. Mr. Tolford has been twice mar- ried. August 14, 1878, he married Miss Kate Ellis, daughter of Alvin and Mabel Ellis. She died from a malignant attack of ery- sipelas February 19, 1879, six months after her marriage. October 21, 1880, he married Miss Mary E. McCabe, of Seneca, daughter of Alexander and Harriet McCabe. By this marriage three children have been born, as follows: Fred A., born June 19, 1883; J. Forest, born August 29, 1888; Van R., born January 28, 1891. Mrs. Mary
:318
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
E. Tolford was born in Monclova, Lucas County, Ohio, October 5, 1855, and came to Michigan in 1876. Her father was born in Cum- berland County, Pa., March 3, 1827, and died in Morenci, September 20, 1900. Her mother was born in Bucks County, Pa., April 28, 1830, and now resides in Dover.
MURRAY L. ROBINSON was born in Tyre, Seneca County, N. Y., May 6, 1839. His father, Morgan L. Robinson, born near Springport, Cayuga County, N. Y., February 27, 1804, was raised a farmer, and afterwards maintained a saw mill in the town of Tyre, until his sudden death, March 21, 1840. He was the son of Giles Robinson, a surveyor and pioneer in Cayuga County, N. Y., and rep- resented the seventh generation of the Robinson family. He was a ·descendant of John Robinson, who was born in England, in 1576, and
Murray L. Robinson.
Mrs. Carrie L. Robinson.
died March 1st, 1625. John Robinson 1st was a minister in a Puri- tan church at Layton, England, and the records show that he was afterwards chosen pastor of the Puritan church in Nottingham County, in 1606, afterwards going to Amsterdam in the winter of 1607-8, and back to Layton in 1610, where he died. In 1629 John Robinson's widow and children came over to Plymouth colony in Massachusetts. The names of two sons are known: Isaac, who set-
319
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
tled in Scituate, and John, near Cape Ann. Isaac 2d removed to Barnstable in 1639, and was disfranchised by Governor Prince in 1659, because of his opposition to the laws against the Quakers. He was restored by Governor Winslow in 1673, having commenced the settlement of Falmouth in 1660. So far as is known Giles Robinson is the first of the family to leave New England. He emigrated to New York and settled in Cayuga County, about the year 1800. He visited Michigan in 1857, and died at his home in New York May 1, 1859. Murray L. Robinson, subject of this sketch, represents the ninth generation. He came to Michigan with his mother, Mrs. Amanda M. (Daboll) Robinson, and family of six children, and set- tled on Section 15, in Adrian township, where he now resides. The family consisted of five sons and one daughter. In 1865 a saw mill was built on the farm, and has always been know as the "Robinson Bros.' Mill." Mr. Robinson followed farming at home until 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, 4th Michigan Cavalry, and served throughout the great Rebellion. He enlisted under Col. R. B. Rob- bins, of Adrian, who went as Captain of Company F. Mr. Robinson was made Corporal, and served until July 1, 1865, when he was mus- tered out at Nashville, Tenn. His regiment was very efficient dur- ing the entire war, and participated in the historical event of the capture of Jeff Davis, near Hawkinsville, Ga., May 9, 1865. Mr. Robinson relates many hardships which his company and reg- iment encountered. In the spring of 1864, after recruiting the regi- ment at Nashville, it was ordered to join General Sherman on his historic march to Atlanta. On leaving Nashville the roll of his company showed 100 men, but after the surrender of Atlanta, only nine men were present or accounted for. Of course there were a num- ber of men on detached service, and absent from other causes, be- sides the killed and wounded. Although Mr. Robinson was in nearly all the battles the regiment was engaged in, he was never wounded or injured, and was only disabled from sickness about one week during his three years of service. No regiment did better or more valiant service than the 4th Michigan Cavalry, and the surviv- ing members feel a just pride in its history and record. February 26, 1868, Murray L. Robinson married Miss Carrie L. Chambers, daughter of Thomas and Annie (Lyke) Chambers, and they are the parents of one child, Lilly M., born January 21, 1869, married George S. Russell, June 20, 1888, was the mother of one child, Roy P., born March 1, 1890. She died April 6th, 1890. Mrs. Carrie L. Robinson was born June 30, 1846, in Fairfield, this county. Her parents were natives of New York, came to Michigan in 1834, and settled on Sec- tion 8, in Fairfield, where they resided until 1861. At that time they disposed of their home in Fairfield and purchased a farm on Section 16, in Adrian township, where Mrs. Chambers died, February 21, 1880, and Mr. Chambers died August 21, 1894. Mrs. Amanda M. (Daboll) Robinson was born in Connecticut, April 13, 1806, and died in Adrian township, August 24, 1883.
320
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL .
BENJAMIN L. HICKS was born in Bristol, Ontario County, N. Y., June 14, 1820, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1835. His parents, Ephraim and Mercy Hicks, both natives of Massachusetts, were pioneers in Ontario County, N. Y., and also Lenawee County, Mich. Ephraim Hicks was a man of sterling qualities, having been reared among men who never faltered in time of need. His boy- hood days were spent in a Puritan atmosphere, and his young man-
Benjamin L. Hicks.
Mrs. Nancy J. Hicks.
hood was passed among scenes of trial and triumph over the primi- tive in nature, and strife and war in human affairs. He was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and was at Buffalo when the British burned that city. He settled on Sections 6 and 7, in Ogden, this county, in 1835, where he took up two 80 acre lots from the government and purchased two from John T. Comstock. Here he resided until his death, which occurred May 12, 1879. He was the first supervisor elected from the township of Ogden, in 1837, and was again elected in 1841-2-3. He was a man highly respected by all, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the people of Ogden for more than forty years. In 1816 he married Mercy, daughter of Benjamin and Eliza- beth Lincoln, of Taunton, Mass., and they were the parents of two children, Benjamin L., and Nancy M., who was born in Bristol, On- tario County, N. Y., May 9, 1818, became the wife of William B. Freeman, and died in Ogden. Mrs. Mercy Hicks was a woman of many virtues, and gladly shared with her husband all his trials and triumphs. She was a typical pioneer and devoted mother. She
321
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
was born in Taunton, Mass., March 5, 1785, and died in Ogden, this county, August 26, 1844. Benjamin L. Hicks, the subject of this sketch, came to Michigan when he was about fifteen years old, and lived on the same place in Ogden for sixty-six years. No person in Ogden township was better or more favorably known. His life was active and his career an honorable one. He assisted his father in clearing up the large farm. It will be impossible for the present and future generations to realize what it meant to clear a farm out of the virgin forests of Ogden. Yet our subject never faltered, but rather struggled the harder when the great obstacles confronted him. To clear this land was not all, but it must be ditched and tiled to make it tillable. All this work he did, besides finding time to give attention to all public duties and questions that concerned the common welfare. He was a man of sterling qualities and un- blemished character, and enjoyed the confidence of all who knew him. He served his township several times as supervisor, was also elected treasurer, and perhaps settled more estates than any man in Ogden. He lived to the good old age of eighty-two years, and died in Ogden, June 7, 1902. November 12, 1844, Benjamin L. Hicks married Miss Nancy J. Walker, daughter of Eliakim and Nancy Walker, of Salem, Washtenaw County, Mich., and they were the parents of one child, that died in infancy. Mrs. Nancy J. (Walker) Hicks was born in Bristol, Ontario County, N. Y., August 22, 1824, and died in Ogden, April 18, 1847. April 14, 1863, he married Miss Juliana B. Freeman, daughter of William and Betsy Freeman, of Ogden. She was born in Attleboro, Mass., June 28, 1822, came to Michigan with her parents in 1842, and died in Ogden, January 25. 1890.
J. WALLACE PAGE was born in Rollin, Lenawee County, Mich., November 17, 1843. His father, Olson Page, came to Michi- gan in 1834, and first located in Rome, this county, but remained there only about eighteen months, when he removed to Rollin and settled on Section 21, where J. Wallace was born and raised. It was in district schools that his rudimentary education was obtained, but later he attended Adrian High School, and also spent some time at Adrian College. At the breaking out of the Civil War, in 1861, the young man's patriotism was aroused and he considered it his duty to do what he could for liberty and country. He therefore enlisted before he was eighteen years old in the 17th Michigan In- fantry, but his older friends prevented. his going into service until Oc- tober, 1863, when he enlisted in Battery F, Michigan Light Artillery. under Captain Byron D. Paddock, then and now of Coldwater. The 21
322
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
J. Wallace Page, President of the Company and Manager of Adrian plant.
battery was with General Sherman to Atlanta. From Atlanta with the 23d Army Corps went back to Nashville, Tenn., to resist Hoods attempt to capture that city; from thence to Golds- boro, N. C., where it again joined Sherman's army. Mr. Page was discharged from the service July 3, 1865, and returned home. On the day of his arrival back at the farm he celebrated the event by running a mowing machine during the afternoon. From that time he has followed the peaceful pursuits of life, and gave his
323
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Charles M. Lamb, General Superintendent and Manager of Monessen, Pa., plant,
attention to farming for more than twenty years. Mr. Page's choice was to be a farmer, but during that period the fact was forced upon him that one of the greatest needs and growing neces- sities, owing to the scarcity of timber, was some kind of fencing that would be practical and efficient. He at once gave his atten- tion to the subject. Wire was the material he experimented with in many different combinations, and finally adopted as a whole, and the
324
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
initiatory work was begun. A rude wooden loom was made, by the assistance of a friend, Austin Fitts, a neighboring farmer, in the little village of Rollin, this county. After much work a section of woven wire fence was made, the business fairly launched, and Mr. Page put it up on his own farm. His neighbors talked about it, and many acquaintances said he was wasting his time and would lose his whole property in fooling and ex- perimenting with the new fangled patent fence. But of course he persisted, and then another even younger farmer, a cousin, only a lad in years, Charles M. Lamb, came forward with certain improve- ments for the loom, which were adopted, and from that time on the two have worked hand in hand for the advancement and success of anything which promised improve- ment in fencing. The work was pushed until they de- veloped a machine that made a woven wire fence that would stand the test and met the approval of the pub- lic. He put up more fence for himself and for his neigh- bors, who were now willing to admit and embrace "a good thing." Later Mr. Page, with a small kit of tools, but a big chest of hope and confidence, located at Adrian and started making his fence in a small brick shop on the site where now stands the largest woven Frank E. Harvey, Superintendent of Adrian Plant. wire fence plant in the world. In 1889 a company was incorporated. After the organization of the company business still prospered and the merits of the fence became more generally recognized. It will be understood that Mr. Page was the pioneer in the woven wire fence idea, and had no precedents to go by, and when assisted by capital and the fertile brains and indomitable business courage of such men as Mr. Charles M. Lamb and Frank E. Harvey, the farm- ers soon came to see the practicability and importance of Mr. Page's conception of a fence. Since that time the business has steadily grown. When it is realized that it is yet less than twenty years (1885) that Mr. Page was experimenting with a rude wooden loom in an old wagon shop in Rollin, with his neighbors laughing at his "cranky" idea and foolish efforts, the result seems
Bird's Eye View of the Page Woven Wire Fence Company's Plant at Adrian, Mich., where six hundred workmen are employed. This great factory is exclusively devoted to the manufacture of woven wire and ornamental iron fence.
326
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
marvelous. He is now the president of a prosperous company, which operates two great plants, one at Adrian, Mich., employing six hun- dred workmen, and one at Monessen, Pa., with seven hundred work- men. Add to this six thousand local agents, one hundred and fifty traveling men, with ninety-five office people, showing a busi- ness of $3,000,000 in 1902, and it will be seen what Mr. Page, in his quiet, unassuming way, has accomplished. His product has found a great demand, and there are many other companies following in in the wake. In 1898 it became necessary for the company to erect large mills in which to manufacture the special wire used by the company in its fencing. These mills were built at Monessen, 39 miles above Pittsburg, on the Monongahela river. April 2, 1902, the Page Woven Wire Fence Company was reincorporated under the laws of New Jersey, with a capital of $6,000,000. The officers and directors then elected are still in service, as follows: J. Wallace Page, Adrian, president; Austin Clement, Chicago, vice presi- dent ; C. M. Lamb, Monessen, Pa., second vice president and manager of the Monessen plant; secretary, Arthur B. Cody,
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE COS
E Co.Monessen.Pa
NO
PAGE
.
View of the Page Woven Wire Fence Company's Plant at Monessen, Pa., showing the furnaces, bloom, billet and rod mills, and also the mill manufacturing the specially spring-tempered, Page process wire.
327
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Chicago; treasurer, Leslie B. Robertson, Adrian; Charles E. Locke, J. Charles Davis, H. B. Parsons, New York ; S. W. Mc- Munn, D. N. Hansen, Chicago; D. M. Baker, John E. Carr, Adrian. In 1900 Mr. Page was one of the Michigan delegates appointed by the National Association of Manufacturers to attend the Reciproc- ity Congress at Washington ; he has served several years as a mem- ber of the Adrian school board, and is also a trustee of the First Methodist church of Adrian. Mr. Page was married to Miss Alice Morehouse of Albion, Mich., March 14, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Page have three children, two sons, Charles H., of Adrian, Homer, attend- ing Cornell University, and one daughter, Miss Bertha, now the wife of Leslie B. Robertson, of Adrian, who is treasurer and assist- ant secretary of the company.
WILLIAM H. SCOTT was born in Palmyra, Lenawee County, Mich., May 8, 1855, and has always resided in this county. His father, George L. Scott, was born near Cork, Ireland, in 1812. He came to the United States about 1830, and settled in Lima, N. Y. In 1837 he came to Michigan, and afterwards purchased land of George Crane, in Palmyra. He died in Blissfield, December 2, 1893. George L. Scott married Miss Roxie Miller, daughter of Benjamin F. Miller, of Lima, N. Y., and they had six children. Two sons died, soldiers in the great Rebellion, William H. being the fifth child and fourth son. Mrs. Roxie (Miller) Scott was born April 10, 1815, in the town of Lima, Livingston County, N. Y., and died in Bliss- field, this county, December 28, 1886. William H. Scott, the sub- ject of this sketch, has always been a farmer, and now owns a por- tion of the Norman B. Carter farm, on Section 8, in Ogden. His house was erected by Mr. Carter, and was the first frame house con- structed in the township. Mr. Scott has greatly improved and mod- ernized it, and is fast making a desirable home. He believes in modern methods of farming, and engages quite largely in feeding stock for market. He owns 100 acres of Ogden land, which is evi- dence of thrift and prosperity. April 26, 1879, William H. Scott married Miss Mary A. Cook, daughter of Paul and Ann Cook, of Pal- myra, this county, and they have two children, as follows : Alice M., born in Ogden, this county, July 16, 1887, student in Blissfield High School ; Roscoe W., born in Ogden, June 11, 1893. Mrs. Mary A. (Cook) Scott was born in Palmyra, this county, September 19, 1861. Her parents, natives of Yorkshire, England, came to this country in 1850, and settled in Palmyra. Her father, born May 20, 1826, and her mother, born March 16, 1828, both reside in Palmyra.
328
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
TOM S. APPLEGATE. For a period of nearly thirty years the subject of this sketch was a prominent figure in the political, so- cial and commercial affairs of Adrian, Lenawee County, and the State. He was born in Blandford, Dorsetshire, England, June 8, 1838, and died of heart failure in the city of Adrian, Mich., Decem- ber 27, 1891, being consequently in his 53d year. The senior Apple- gate, who was a sturdy specimen of upright English manhood, de- cided to come to America in 1849. He therefore sold out all his bus- iness interests, that of master baker, and landed in New York with his wife and Tom S., the only son, Janu- ary 2, 1849. After a brief experience in the metropolis, he moved to Utica, and later to Rome, Oneida County, N. Y., where he fol- lowed the business to which he had been trained for many years, accumulating a com- fortable competence. The son, who attended Tom S. Applegate. school more or less in the old world, rounded out his education in the City Academy at Utica and the High School at Rome. While yet a mere youth he manifested a predilec- tion for the printer's craft and a liking for the lighter lines of literature. In further- ance of this special bent, he entered the office of the Rome Sen- tinel, then a potent power in Democratic politics in the center of the State. In a few years he moved to C. R. Eng.Co Brooklyn, N. Y., to profit by the greater Mrs. Harriet M. Applegate. scope afforded in such
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.