USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 28
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
a much more comprehensive field. In October, 1863, Mr. Apple- gate came to Adrian and purchased an interest in the Daily and Weekly Watchtower, a paper founded by R. W. Ingalls, a pioneer in the craft of Faust and Franklin, and the accepted organ of Democ- racy in Southern Michigan. In 1865 Mr. Applegate bought out his associates, and subsequently sold his interest to General William Humphrey. Under the new regime, the sheet became Republican, and it has remained so ever since. It was rechristened The Times. Two years later the Expositor was absorbed, and the paper has since been known as the Times and Expositor. The paper experienced many changes in management and in proprietorship, during all of which Mr. Applegate continued the ruling and dominating spirit. In the fall of 1867 Captain J. H. Fee purchased an increased interest, and the firm was known as Applegate & Fee, until 1885, when Mr. Applegate secured the sole proprietorship, which he maintained up to the date of his untimely death. Mr. Applegate was a power in Republican politics. He served eight years as member of the state central committee, during six of which he was chairman of the exec- utive board. He was also chairman of the congressional committee for the district six years. Governor Croswell appointed him a mem- ber of the board to locate the State School for the Blind, and he was for ten years a member of the board of control of that institution. He was a member of the Chicago Press Club, the Inland Press and various state associations. Mr. Applegate was married in 1870, to Miss Harriet Maria Sinclair, daughter of Hon. D. D. Sinclair. One child died in infancy. After his death in 1891, she assumed personal management of the Times and its incidental business interests. A woman of advanced education, fine culture, liberal reading and ex- tended observation, she possessed all the qualifications essential to secure success in her novel as well as responsible self-assumed task. Her relations with her employes were almost ideal, and she herself often used to speak of the office organization as "The Times Fam- ily," and the high standard and irreproachable tone of the paper, as well as its commercial integrity and business interests, were more than maintained for the ten years during which she controlled its management. Her death, which occurred June 14, 1901, was a tragedy in which she was not alone. While taking a ride in the city of Flint, where she had gone to attend a meeting of the State Press Association, she, her sister, Mrs. William Humphrey, Major Buck- ingham and daughter, were run down by a train on the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway. Before they could fairly realize their fate, all four had probably perished.
JOHN SERVICE, SR., was born in Lanarkshire, Parish of Bothwell, Scotland, April 14, 1813, and came to the United States with his mother in 1818. His father, James Service, was born in the
330
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
same place, in 1784. He resided there until early in the year 1817, when he came to Philadelphia, Pa. Thomas Leeper, a wealthy man of Philadelphia, had sent to Scotland for a gardener and farmer, and Mr. Service answered the call. On leaving his old home in Scot- land, he was given a most commendable character, as follows :
BOTHWELL, 19th Feby., 1817.
James Service, the bearer, has been employed from his infancy in the labours of husbandry, and is es -. teemed by all who are acquainted. with him as a most excellent work -. man. He has also the character of. an honest and upright, as well as an. industrious man, and if he shall be: engaged to overlook any farming: establishment, for which we under -. stand he is now making application,. we have no doubt, from what we; know of his qualifications, that he; will give full satisfaction to his em -. ployer.
JAMES CREECH,
Farmer to the Right Honorable Lord ! Douglas. Mat. Baillie, St., Bothwell Castle.
Mr. Service left Scotland in: February, and upon his arrival! in Philadelphia, he at once en -. James Service. gaged his services to Mr .. Leeper, where he remained for about three years. In 1820 he purchased a new farm in Susque- hanna County, Pa. He remained on his farm until 1825, when he sold out and removed to Canandaigua, N. Y., where he resided until 1840, when he came to Michigan. He at once purchased land in Hillsdale County, but resided in Fairfield, this county, until his death, which occurred in 1867. In the year 1803 James Service married Miss. Janet Scott, and they were the parents of nine children. Here we- insert the following certificate, to show the Scotch system of pre- serving family records :
"These are to certify that James Service, farmer, roadmaker, hedger and laborer, &c., in the town of Bothwell, and Janet Scott, his spouse. are the par -- ents of the lawful children after mentioned, whose names, birth days, and days- on which they were baptised. are all regularly entered in the register of the Parish of Bothwell, and stand as under, viz .:
William Service, born 23d February-baptised 5th July. 1807.
Mannie Service. born 12th September-baptised Ist October, 1809. John Service, born 14th April-baptised 30th May, 1813.
Isabel Service, born 24th December-baptised 10th September, 1815.
BOTHWELL, 15th August, 1817.
The above. extracted and certified by William Allan, Parish Clerk and in -- structor of said parents and children."
331
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Regarding the birth of Mrs. Janet Service, we give the Scotch certificate, as follows :
"These are to certify that Janet Scott, lawful daughter of John Scott, shoe- maker, in New Orbiston, and of Marian Crawford, his spouse, was born upon the 10th, and baptised upon the 17th April, 1785.
Extracted from the register of the Parish of Bothwell. 15th August. 1817.
John Service, Sr., was the second son and third child of James and Janet Service. He was brought up a farmer and gardener, and came to Michi- gan in 1840 and settled on Section 31, in Fairfield. After about two years he became dissatisfied and traded for a farm on Section 29, where he resided until his death, which occurred in March, 1863. John Service, Sr .. married Miss Mary Carroll, of Canandaigua, N. Y., and they were the par- ents of seven children, as fol- lows: Sarah, married Harvey Hill, and resides in Grand Rapids, Mich .; John, Jr., a resident of Berkeley, Califor- nia. He married Miss Julia Warner, and they are the par- ents of eleven children: Ed- ward, resides in Jasper this county ; Robert, resides in Fairfield; William, resides in Seneca, this county ; Cather- ine, married Joshua Carpen- ter, and died in Fairfield ; Isa- bella, married Clarence Hough, and resides in Morenci, this county. Mary (Carroll) Service died at her home, on Section 20, in Fairfield. John Service Jr., went to California in 1859, and is there a very success- ful farmer. He resides at Berkeley, near Oakland. He made the trip overland, from Warsaw, Ind., with ox teams. July 3, 1867, John Service, Jr., married Miss Julia Hall War-
By WILLIAM ALLAN. Parish Clerk.
John Service, Sr.
Mrs. Mary Service.
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
ner, of Auburn, Placer County, California, and they have had eleven children, as follows : Walter Warner, born April 26, 1868, died No- vember 22, 1878; Lewis Hall, born April 27, 1870; Wilber Pomeroy, born June 5, 1871, died November 17, 1878; Hubert E., born May 15, 1873; William Roscoe, born October 24, 1874; Ida Irene, born
Mrs. Julia Service.
John Service. Jr.
March 24, 1877; Robert Roy, born at Weston, Mich., June 4, 1879; Lulu Karolena, born January 29, 1881; Lydia Rose, born December 16, 1883; John Henry, born in Auburn, Cal., August 31, 1888; Law- rence Edward, born in Auburn, August 31, 1890. All of the chil- dren except those noted were born in Ceres, Cal. Mrs. Julia (Hall- Warner) Service's parents died when she was an infant, and she is not certain of her age or birthplace.
WILLIAM McCOMB, 2d, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, Feb- ruary 1, 1822, and came to the United States in 1835. His father, Wil- liam McComb, 1st, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, August 15, 1796. When a boy he learned the linen weaver's trade in Ireland. About the year 1814 he went to Scotland as a linen bleacher, but in 1822 he returned to Ireland, on account of illness of his wife. In the spring of 1831 he landed in New York, settling near Mt. Morris, N. Y.
333
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
In the spring of 1837 he came to Michigan, and for about one year lived near Adrian. In February, 1838, he moved to the township of Ogden and settled on land he had taken from the government, on Section 20. This land he cleared and improved, and that was his home until his death, which occurred January 27, 1864. He was twice married, first to Miss Betty McMurry, who was born in An- trim County, Ireland, about 1800, and died there in 1829. She was the mother of three children, William 2d being the youngest. In 1834 William McComb 1st married Mrs. Mary (Glasgow) Johnson, of Danville, N. Y., and they had five children. Mrs. Mary McComb died in Ogden, this county, June 11, 1894. She was born in Loch Gael, Antrim County, Ireland, December 25, 1803. William McComb came to Lenawee when he was 15 years old, and has resided here ever since. His father's land was in an Ogden Swamp, two miles from any habitation, and it was his lot to assist in making a home there. He worked with a will and a home was soon made in the dense woods. He lived with his parents until he was about 26 years old. In 1845 he purchased 40 acres of State school land, on Section 16, in Ogden, where he now resides. He cleared this up and has added 40 acres more, all of which he has cul- tivated and improved. He has built good buildings, tiled the land, (some of it the second time) and made a very desirable home. There were not over a dozen families in the township when Mr. McComb first came in, and land could be had for five dollars an acre, that now cannot be purchased for one hundred. Mr. McComb has been an ac- tive man in the township. He served as School Director and Town- ship Treasurer two terms. He has assisted in building roads and bridges, and all necessary improvements for the betterment of the township. March 21, 1848, William McComb married Miss Eliza- beth Luke, daughter of Elijah and Abigail Luke, of Ogden, and they had four children as follows: Reuben, born April 14, 1849, died October 22, 1851; Sarah A., born March 28, 1851, married Nel- son Frazier, November 6, 1877, is the mother of six children, and re- sides in Hudson city, this county ; Mary E., born March 16, 1854, married Andrew Comstock, February 14, 1894, has two children, and resides at Santa Monica, Cal .; William J., born February 17, 1856, married Miss Alice Wotring, February, 1877, has eight children and resides in Coleman, Midland County, Mich. Mrs. Elizabeth (Luke) McComb was born in Ohio in 1825, and died in Ogden February 17, 1856. Her parents were pioneers in Ogden. November 10, 1857, he married Mrs. Mary E. (Smith) Hampton, and they have nine children, as fol- lows : Allen M., born August 31, 1858, married Miss Ida Crockett, November 25, 1886, has two children and resides at South Ogden. Robert, born July 28, 1860, died Sept. 16, 1874; Martha J., born Sep- tember 9, 1862, married Charles Willbee, March 25, 1891, has five children and resides in Whiting, Indiana ; Anna, born September 3, 1863, at home; Elijah S., born February 18, 1865, married Miss Louisa Jenkins, March 16, 1887, has six children, and resides in
-
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Ogden ; Carlos, born January 6, 1866, married Miss Ellen Savage, February 5, 1900, resides in Toledo; George R., born March 31, 1867, married Miss Esta M. Heckert, has four children, and resides in Ogden ; Leonard A., born November 30, 1868, married Miss Naomi Stephens, June 15, 1893, 'has two children, and resides in Ogden ; Dana S., born October 14, 1870, married Miss Edna Houghtby, Sep- tember 11, 1895, has two children, and resides in Ogden; May, born April 6, 1874, died September 16, 1874. Mrs. Mary E. (Smith) Mc- Comb was born in Bloom, Seneca County, Ohio, September 16, 1835. Was married to Tallman Hampton, of Delta, Ohio, in 1854, and they had one child, Alice, who married Oscar Fry in 1876, and died August 1, 1878, aged 24. She left one daughter.
HON. MARSHALL REED was born in Richmond, Ontario County, N. Y., August 21, 1833. His father, Wheeler Reed, was born in Vermont, May 28, 1788, and went with his father, Phillip Reed, who was a revolutionary soldier under Gen. Stark, at Bennington, to On-
William Barrus, Sr., and Wife Mr. Barrus was a pioneer Methodist Minister in this county.
tario County, N. Y., in 1795. Phillip Reed was born in 1756, and was the son of Jacob Reed, a seafaring man, of Saybrook, Conn. Wheeler Reed was one of the earliest settlers of Ontario County, N. Y., and always lived there, becoming a prosperous and wealthy farmer. He was twice married, and was the father of nineteen children, ten daughters and nine sons. By his first wife he had four children.
335
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
His second marriage was about 1817, with Miss Hannah Risdon, sis- ter of his first wife, who became the mother of fifteen children, Marshall and his twin sister being the eleventh and twelfth. Mrs. Hannah (Risdon) Reed was born at Richmond, N. Y., September 16, 1798, and died at her home, February 2, 1877. Wheeler Reed died May 12, 1867, at Richmond, N. Y. Marshall Reed lived with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-one years old,. In 1854 he came to Michigan and settled on Section 33, in Rome. Being an active, intelligent and public-spirited man, he soon became promi- nent among his fellows in all local affairs. He served eleven years
William and Mary Ann Barrus.
as Justice of the Peace, and held other township offices. He was a Republican in politics, and was elected to the State Legislature in 1874. He served on many of the important committees, and labored earnestly for his constituents. He was a prosperous farmer, and successful stock raiser. In 1866 he sold his farm in Rome and pur- chased another on Section 34, in Cambridge township, where he re- sided at the time of his death, which occurred December 16, 1891. November 22, 1855, Marshall Reed married Miss Julia A. Barrus, daughter of William and Mary A. (Allan) Barrus, of Rome, and three children were born to them as follows: Fred P., born Septem- ber 1, 1857, married Miss Elsie Russell, November 12, 1878, has two children and resides in Cambridge; Alice C., born January 26, 1859, married Jackson B. Daniels, February 25, 1885, has one daughter, and resides in Cambridge, Byron L., born September 10, 1861, mar- ried Miss C. Maud Willetts, September 11, 1885, has one daughter, and is commissioned in the U. S. Revenue Service as First Lieuten- ant and executive officer on the Revenue Cutter Mackinac. Mrs.
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Julia (Barrus) Reed was born in Rome, Lenawee County, Mich., August 22, 1839. Her father, William Barrus, Jr., was born in Vil- lenova, Chautauqua County, N. Y., October 17, 1812. His early life was spent in New Hampshire. His father, William Barrus, Sr., was of New England parentage, his father being a revolutionary soldier. William Barrus, Sr., was a Wesleyan Methodist minister, came to Michigan in 1830, being one of the first ministers in the county. William Barrus, Jr., was about eighteen years old when he came to Michigan in 1830, with his parents. In 1835 he was a soldier in the "Toledo War." In 1836 he settled in Rome and fol- lowed farming as long as he did business. He died at the home of his daughter, in Cambridge, May 29, 1898. In 1836, William Barrus, Jr., married Mary Ann Allen, who was the first to teach a school west of Adrian, and they had two children, Julia A. being the youngest. Mrs. Mary Ann (Allen) Barrus was born in Rich- field, Otsego County, N. Y., February 25, 1811, came to Michigan with her mother, Mrs. Rhoda (Brown) Allen, in 1830, and died in Cambridge, this county, February 26, 1894.
ROBERT SERVICE was born in Fairfield, Lenawee County, Mich., January 29, 1843. [For his family record, see biography of John Service, in this volume.] Fairfield township, in the County of Lenawee, has always been the home of Robert Service, the subject of this sketch. He was born and raised on a farm, and was educated in the country schools of his township. August 11, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Eighteenth Michigan Infantry, and served as a sol- dier in the great Rebellion until his discharge, the 26th day of June, 1865. He is a member of David Becker Post, No. 25, of Ogden, is a charter member of Jasper Lodge, I. O. O. F., 481, is a member of Fairfield Grange, No. 278, and also a member of Dora Rebecca Lodge, No. 369, of Jasper. Immediately upon his return from the army he went to work by the month on a farm, and continued in that employment for about five years, when he rented a farm for several years. In 1872 he purchased land on Section 20, where he resided until 1880, when he sold his home and purchased a farm on Section 36, where he now resides. He has served two years as com- mander of David Becker Post, G. A. R., one year as noble grand, I. O. O. F., Jasper Lodge, No. 481. He has been twelve times elected Township Road Commissioner. December 4, 1870, Robert Service married Miss Aline R. Lane, daughter of Lyman and Nancy Lane, pioneers of Fairfield, and became the parents of two children, as follows: Maude E., born March 23, 1875, married, March 19, 1896, to Samuel C. Blain. She became the mother of one daughter, and resides in Fairfield ; Vern, born September 13, 1880, at home. Mrs.
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Aline R. (Lane) Service was born in Fairfield, this county, March 23, 1847, and died in Fairfield, March 26, 1885. December 15, 1885, Robert Service married Miss Nellie Hubbard, daughter of Edwin F. and Lovina Hubbard, of Madison, and they have two children, as follows: Elsie M., born September 10, 1888; Freida E., born Sep- tember 3, 1895. Mrs. Nellie (Hubbard) Service was born February 21, 1864. Her father, born May 3, 1812, was a native of Massachu- setts. He came to Michigan in 1850, located in Palmyra, afterwards removing to Madison, where he died July 10, 1881. Her mother, also a native of Massachusetts, was born November 19, 1823, and re- sides in Fairfield.
ELIAS B. RORICK was born in Horse Heads, Chemung County, N. Y., December 9, 1831, and came to Michigan with his parents in December, 1836. His father, William Rorick, was born in Decker- town, Sussex County, N. J., March 30, 1805, and was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Wilson) Rorick, who were natives of Sussex County. The ancestor of the Rorick family was a German, who set- tled in Sussex County, N. J., early in the 18th century. The ances- tors of the Wilson family were Irish. William Rorick lived in Sus- sex County until 1826, when he went " West," and settled in the "Lake Country" in the State of New York. He purchased land near Horse Heads, and lived there until the fall of 1836. In Decem- ber, that year, he started for Michigan with a team of horses, com- ing through Canada, and crossed the Detroit River from Windsor on the ice. From Detroit he came to Adrian, and finally settled on Sec- tion 18, in Seneca township, this county. Here he was successful and continued to purchase land from time to time until he owned some 200 acres. He resided on this farm for about 35 years. He was a thrifty, successful business man, and was held in high esteem by all who came in contact with him. He became a victim of ill health, and about 1875 removed to the village of Morenci, where he died, January 15, 1898. May 22, 1830, William Rorick married Miss Phoebe Ann Breese, daughter of Elias and Deborah (Bennett) Breese, Horse Heads, N. Y., and they had five children, as follows : Elias B., John C., Jacob M., Estell H. and Lussetta. Mrs. Phoebe (Breese) Rorick, was born in Horse Heads, N. Y., October 27, 1811, and died in Seneca, this county, September 1, 1858. Elias B. Rorick was reared a farmer, and was educated in the primitive country school house, supplemented by a three months' course in the Medina Academy, J. M. Barrows, principal. At the age of seventeen years he went to Adrian, and for two years was engaged as clerk in the then large and prosperous hardware store of George L. Bidwell. In 1852 he went to Corning, N. Y., and for two years acted as clerk in a dry goods store. In the winter of 1854-5 he went to Cleveland.
22
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Ohio, and spent three months in Fulsom's Commercial School. In the spring of 1854 he went to Green Bay, Wis., where he was en- gaged for six months in the fish business with a Cleveland, Ohio, firm. The next two years he spent at Ontonagon, as manager of the Evergreen Bluff copper mine. He returned home in the spring of 1856, making the trip from Ontonagon to Green Bay with dogs and Indians. In April, 1856, he went to Kansas in the height of the "Border Ruf- fian" troubles, and witnessed many thrilling scenes. He
soon found employment in the government corps of topo- grapical engineers who were selecting a route for a future railroad to San Francisco. He remained in this service for about six months, and returned home in December. In the
year 1857 he went back to agriculture, which he followed for about three years, when he went to Aurora, Ill., and
farmed
it for about seven
years.
In 1867 he went to
Chillicothe, Mo., purchased a small farm, and remained there until 1869, when he returned and went on his father's farm. In April, 1873, he removed to Elias B. Rorick. the village of Morenci and went into the employ of J. P. Cawley & Co. in the general mercantile business. That fall he went to work for Rothrock, Cawley & Green, in the hardware business, and has been engaged in that trade ever since. In April, 1876, he purchased a half interest in the store, in company with Henry E. Green. He was for 27 years express agent and six years postmaster in Morenci. In 1896 he was made cashier of the Bank of Morenci. In 1900 a national bank was organized, and Mr. Rorick was elected president, which position he now holds. He has acted as Town Clerk for six years, and has served on the public school board for 25 years. He is a member of the Congregational church, and affiliates with the Republican party. August 25, 1857, Elias B. Rorick mar- ried Miss Mary A. Corwin, daughter of George E. Corwin, of Batavia, Ill., and they had three children, as follows: Luella, born in Seneca, this county, June 9, 1858, married Pearly Cawley, of Mo- renci, was the mother of three children, and died in Fayette, Ohio,
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
November 27, 1899; William B., born in Aurora, Ill., August 12, 1861, resides in Morenci, and is engaged in the hardware business; George C., born same place, November 29, 1863, died July 11, 1889. Mrs. Mary A. (Corwin) Rorick was born in Watkins Glen, N. Y., March 14, 1835, and died in Morenci, March 23, 1895. September 21, 1899, Mr. Rorick married Miss Amelia Shepherd, of Morenci. She was born in Monroeville, Ohio, March 16, 1850. Her parents were English, and were early settlers in Huron County, Ohio. They afterwards removed to Fulton County, where they resided for many years. Her mother died in Morenci, June 9th, 1898.
HENRY A. ANGELL was born in Newport, Herkimer County, N. Y., September 14, 1826. His father, Ezekiel Angell, was born in Providence, R. I., August 6, 1802. He always lived in Newport, and learned the trade of blacksmithing and edge tool maker with Silas
Mrs. Adelia Angell.
Henry A. Angell.
T. Clark. He carried on a large shop for many years, and in 1848 disposed of his business to his oldest son, William W. In those days a blacksmith was expected to make anything that a person wanted in iron or steel, from a horse shoe to axes, scythes and butcher knives, and Mr. Angell was known the country round as an expert work-
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
man. March 30, 1823, he married Miss Cynthia Brown, daughter of Essuck and Ruth Brown, and they had nine children, eight of whom lived to maturity, Henry A. being the second child. Mrs. Cynthia (Brown) Angell was born in Cheshire, Mass., August 12, 1802, and died in Adrian, Mich., August 18, 1886. Her father, Essuck Brown, was born in Cheshire, Mass., and died in Newport, Herkimer County, N. Y., December 27, 1819. His ancestors came from England, and
Residence of H. A. Angell, 96 East Maumee Street, Adrian.
his father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Ezekiel Angell died in Newport, N. Y., February 24, 1868. His ancestors came from England in 1636, when two brothers named Angell settled on Block Island, opposite Providence, Rhode Island, and from these men the Angells in the United States spring. Henry A. Angell, the subject of this sketch, lived in his native town until he was about 17 years old. Here he received a common school education, and worked in a country store for some time. In 1844 he went to Springfield, Mass., and became an apprentice in the extensive foun- dry and car wheel works of T. and W. C. Wasson. He remained there for nine years, when, in the spring of 1853, he came to Adrian, Mich. He immediately made a contract with the Michigan South- ern & Northern Indiana Railroad to provide car wheels for that company. He at once erected suitable buildings, put in the necessary
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