USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 31
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad for twenty-one years. He has been fairly prosperous in his business relations, notwith- standing many years of bad health. September 6, 1863, David A. Price married Miss Lucy A. Bailey, daughter of Ruggles and La- vantia H. Bailey, and they had one daughter, Alice G., born July 26, 1864, and died August 4, 1872. Mrs. Lucy A. (Bailey) Price was born in Palermo, Oswego County, N. Y., May 4, 1845, and went with her parents to Medina County, Ohio, in 1848, afterwards re- moving to Williams County. Her parents subsequently removed to Hillsdale County, Mich., where her father died November 5, 1890, aged 74 years. He was a native of Connecticut, and was born No- vember 30, 1816. Her mother was born in Massachusetts in 1817, and is still living in Hillsdale County.
THE BOND STEEL POST COMPANY, of Adrian, was organ- ized January 19, 1895, with a capital stock of $40,000.00. The stock- holders consisted of George W. Bond, A. M. and N. B. Keeney, J. H. Reynolds, David Metcalf, Major Seymour Howell, Col. W. F. Bradley, Robert H. Bradley, D. M. Baker, Dr. A. M. Stephenson, C. R. Miller, C. B. Pennock and Howard T. Taylor. The first board of directors was composed of George W. Bond, C. R. Miller, A. M. Keeney, David Metcalf, J. H. Reynolds and Howard T. Taylor. The directors elected the following officers: George W. Bond, pres- ident; David Metcalf, vice president; J. H. Reynolds, secretary, and Seymour Howell, treasurer. The company was formed for the purpose of manufacturing a steel fence post, a most excellent article patented by Mr. George W. Bond. A steel fence post, however, was a new thing, and considerable effort was required to get it intro- duced. In 1897 the company was awarded a four years' contract by the United States Government to furnish steel letter box posts. This post was selected from a score or more of samples submitted by other competitors, on account of its superior qualities. The contract was renewed at the expiration of four years, and as a result many thousands of these posts are rendering Uncle Sam good service in all the large cities of the country. During the year 1898 the controlling interest of the company passed into new hands. A reorganization followed. The board of directors was reduced from seven to five and consisted of Walter Clement, Nathan L. Clement, Col. W. F. Bradley, Henry N. King and Myron H. Hoisington. The new board organized by electing Walter Clement, president; Col. W. F. Brad- ley, vice president ; Myron H. Hoisington, secretary and treasurer. The development of the free rural delivery service created a demand for a metal receptacle for the farmers' mail. The Bond Steel Post Company, quick to seize the opportunity thus afforded, originated and produced a neat, strong, and serviceable rural mail box which
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has met with a very wide sale throughout the entire section of the country. The output has increased from 15,000 in 1900, to 200,000 in 1903. In order to more fully meet the demand made by this new departure it was necessary to purchase and equip with new and special machinery another factory, which also included a thoroughly modern galvanizing plant. Since the reorganization of the com- pany, Captain Henry N. King, a mechanical engineer and an old pioneer of Lenawee County, has had the superintendency of the op- erating department. Much credit is due him from a mechanical standpoint for the high excellence of the company's products. For the great development of the business, and the high commercial standing that the company now enjoys, the credit is due to the ex- ecutive officers, and especially to the president, Walter Clement, and the secretary, M. H. Hoisington. Their constant attention has been given to the business, and while they have found a market for the product, Mr. King has produced an article that met the de- mands in workmanship and quality. In January, 1903, the cap- ital stock was increased from $40,000 to $100,000. The volume of business has also increased from $10,000 in 1896 to $200,000 in 1903.
JAMES FRANCIS MILLER was born in Portland, Maine, June 29, 1868, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1870. His father, James Miller, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1830. He came to America in 1862, settling at Portland, Maine, where he resided until 1870, when he came to Michigan and settled on Section 22, in Raisin township, where he died March 5, 1883. At Glas- gow, May 18, 1851, James Miller married Miss Margaret Jane Francis, daughter of James and Sarah Francis, of Glasgow, Scotland, and they have had seven children, James F. being the sixth child and third son. Mrs. Margaret (Francis) Miller was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in Janu- ary. 1834. James F. Miller, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on a farm, and lived with his parents until
James F. Miller.
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
he was twenty-three years old. He came to Lenawee County when he was two years old. He was educated in the district schools of his neighborhood, and graduated from Raisin Valley Seminary. In 1891 he came to Adrian and accepted the position of assistant superintendent of the Adrian Street Railway Company, under the late Joseph H. Blain. He remained in this service until 1893, when he became a salesman for Grinnell Bros., music dealers, No. 11 North Main street, Adrian. In this calling he was very successful, disposing on the most satisfactory terms to all concerned, pianos, organs and musical merchandise in Lenawee and surrounding counties, for this reliable firm, until 1896. In June of that year he was promoted to manager of the branch house at Adrian, which position he is still holding. His energy and business capacity have been placed favorably before the community. His management has established a first-class music house in Adrian, and he has accumulated for himself a desirable and comfortable home. May 17, 1892, James F. Miller married Miss Lulu West, daughter of Almond and Minerva (Haviland) West, of Raisin, and they have two children, as follows: Gertrude Ann, born in Adrian, Mich., June 15, 1894; Geraldine Lucile, born January 17, 1901. Mrs. Lulu (West) Miller was born December 28, 1869.
SOLOMON FORCE, 2d, was born in Fairfield, June 1, 1847. His father, Solomon Force, 1st, was born at Tonawanda, N. Y., where his parents were pioneers, and where he resided until 1833, when he came to Michigan and settled in Adrian township, this county. He made several changes, but finally settled in Fairfield, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1870. He was married three times and was the father of fourteen children, and stepfather to six others. He was a good mechanic, and was very useful to the settlers in making chairs, tables, etc., besides supply- ing them with grain cradles and many other necessary implements. July 12, 1846, he married Mrs. Catherine (Van Santford) Ferguson, of Fairfield, and they had four sons, Solomon being the oldest. Mrs. Catherine Force was born in Middletown, N. Y., October 15, 1808, and died in Adrian, Mich., July 4, 1897. Solomon Force, 2d, has always resided in Fairfield, and was reared a farmer. He now owns a fine farm home on the s. e. 14 of Section 29. He was edu- cated in the district schools of his township. For many years he followed cheese making, but now gives his entire attention to farm- ing. March 17, 1872, Solomon Force, 2d, married Miss Emma J. Service, daughter of James and Elizabeth Service, of Fairfield, and they are the parents of six children, as follows: Adelbert H., born June 20, 1873, and died September 6. 1875; Jane E., born August 13, 1876, a school teacher in Fairfield ; Luke Harvey, born May 1, 1878,
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at home; Clarence A., born July 11, 1881, at home; Lela G., born August 13, 1885, at home ; Bertha L., born August 2, 1889, at home. Mrs. Emma J. Force was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., November 27, 1849, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1852. Her father was born in Philadelphia, Pa., January 5, 1818, and still re- sides (1903) in Fairfield, this county. Her mother was born in Edinburg, Scotland, in 1817, came to America in 1836, alone, and was married in 1841. She died in Fairfield, this county, May 27, 1872. [For full account of Mrs. Force's ancestors, see John Service's record in this volume.]
PETER L. BAILEY was born in Dover, Lenawee County, Mich., November 9, 1848. His father, Samuel A. Bailey, was born near Rome, N. Y., November 11, 1811, where he resided until he was about twenty-four years old. His father, Samuel Bailey, was a farmer, and was a pioneer in Rome, Oneida County, N. Y., where
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Bailey.
he always resided. About the year 1800 Samuel Bailey married Miss Sally Black, and they raised a family of eleven children, Sam- uel A. being the oldest son and fourth child. Samuel A. Bailey was brought up on a farm. In 1835, he came to Michigan, and in 1837 took up 160 acres of land in Dover, on the north town line ad- joining Rollin. He resided there a year or two, made some improve- ments, and traded for a farm near Dover Centre, where he resided
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
until 1851. After a short residence in Rollin, where he carried on a blacksmith shop in connection with his farm, in 1854, he purchased a farm on Section 19, in Madison, where he resided until 1885, when his eyesight failed him, and he quit active business. In 1838 he married Miss Betsey Ann Meech, daughter of Peter and Catherine (Jackson) Meech, and they had eight children, as follows: Sally, born March 9, 1840, married Henry E. Crane, of Madison; Nancy, born November 14, 1844, married Lyman Fisk, of Dover; Catherine, died at the age of nine years; Peter L., born in Dover, November 9, 1848 ; Samuel J., born in Dover ; Alexander, born in Rollin, and died in infancy ; Daniel, born in Madison, and died in infancy ; Tru- man E., born in Madison, married Elma Faultenburg, and has two sons. Mrs. Betsey Ann Bailey was born in Monroe County, N. Y., in 1820, and died in Seneca, in February, 1895. Samuel A. Bailey died in Adrian, May 2, 1902. Peter L. Bailey, the subject of this sketch, was raised a farmer, was educated in the schools of the county, and attended two terms at Adrian College. He was twice married, first to Miss Helen L. Clark, daughter of John R. and Emilie E. Clark, of Adrian, November 4, 1869, by whom he had three children, all of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Helen L. Bailey died October 31, 1873, in Madison. October 26, 1874, our subject married Miss Jennie Andrew, daughter of Tilgham and Christine Andrew, of East Newmarket, Dorchester County, Md., by whom he has had one child, Anna C., born September 3, 1875, married Charles S. Benedict, July 3, 1901. Mrs. Jennie Bailey was born in Balti- more, Md., July 9, 1863. Her father, Tilghman Andrew, was born near Federalsburg, Md., February 9, 1815, and died there Novem- ber 3, 1892. Her mother, Christiana Andrew, was born on a farm near the Washington church, now Hurlock, Md., March 18, 1819, and died February 3, 1894.
DAVID A. GALLOWAY was born in Toledo, Ohio, May 28, 1838. His father, Almond C. Galloway, was born in Palmyra, Wayne County, N. Y., February 2, 1816. His father, John Galloway, was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., December 2, 1786. He only lived in that county a few years, when his father. Captain James Gal- loway, moved to Wayne County, and settled in Palmyra, in company with two other pioneers, General Swift and General White. His son, James Galloway, now (1903) resides on the old farm. These three families were the first settlers of that town. John Galloway was then a small boy, and made the trip from Herkimer County to Palmyra in a bag, with an older sister. His parents took a large sack, and put his sister on one side and himself on the other, and hung them over the back of a horse, just as an old-fashioned doctor did his saddle bags. He lived in Palmyra, with his parents, until he
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was married, when he purchased a large farm, and lived on it until the spring of 1824, when he emigrated to Michigan, sailing from Buffalo to Detroit on the first steamboat on the lake, and the first trip ever made by the boat-the "Pioneer"-arriving in Detroit about the 1st of May. He left his family in Detroit until he went to Pontiac, purchased a new farm and a yoke of oxen, and returned to Detroit and moved his family upon the land. He lived there about eleven years, when he sold out, went to Toledo, and bought a large farm, where he lived several years, when he again sold out and purchased another large farm in Raisinville, Monroe County, where he lived until his death, October 14, 1851. About the year 1805 he mar- Miss Elizabeth Cornell, of Pal- myra, N. Y., by whom he had four sons, Almon C. being the youngest. Mrs. Elizabeth Galloway was born in New York about the year 1787, and died in Palmyra, Wayne ยท County, N. Y., March 17, 1818. Almon C. Galloway was brought up a farmer, and lived with his father until he was David A. Galloway. about nineteen years old. He received a limited education, and has always been a farmer. In 1834 he went to Palmyra, N. Y., and remained there un- til August 1837, when he came back, and lived near Toledo, about one year. In August, 1838, he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of new land, on Sections 5 and 8, in Adrian township. He was obliged to cut a road for half a mile to get to the land. He lived there for sixteen years, and cleared up one hundred acres, and fenced the entire place. He first built a log house and log barn, but after- wards built a good frame house and a large frame barn. He Mrs. Emily H. Galloway. had a good orchard which he
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
raised from seed brought by his wife from New York. In the spring of 1854 he sold the farm to John D. Kaiser and purchased one hun- dred and fifty acres on Section 13, in Adrian township, where he now lives. Since he purchased this farm he has erected a fine large brick house with several barns and sheds. This house burned March 19, 1893. Since that occurrence a good house has been erected on the same spot. March 16, 1837, he married Miss Calista A. Knowles daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Knowles, of Palmyra, N. Y., by whom he has had three children, as follows: David A., born as above; Elizabeth A., died in infancy. Duane C. Galloway was born in Adrian township, January 29, 1844, married Miss Maggie M. Chittenden, May 22, 1876. They have one daughter, Lucy E., born January 26, 1878. Mrs. Maggie Galloway died July 31, 1894. He resides on Section 6, in Palmyra, this county. Mrs. Calista A. Gal- loway was born in Orwell, Vt., January 11, 1816. Her parents were both born in New Hampshire, but were early settlers of Palmyra, N. Y., and came to Michigan in 1847. Mrs. Knowles died in Febru- ary, and Mr. Knowles in August, 1851. David A. Galloway, subject of this sketch, lives on the homestead, on Section 13, in Adrian township. December 22, 1863, he married Miss Emily H. Rogers, daughter of Ira and Nancy (Tomer) Rogers, and they had two chil- dren, as follows: Almon D., born October 3, 1869, married Miss Flora Van Doren, daughter of Edmund and Elizabeth Van Doren, and they have one son, George R .; the second child was Calista E., born July 19, 1876, married William H. Small, and resides in Fenton, Mich. Mrs. Emily H. (Rogers) Galloway was born in Cambridge, this county, June 22, 1845, and died in Adrian township, June 12, 1892. David A. Galloway was married the second time, March 26, 1896, to Mrs. Eliza (Lanning) Jay, and there is no issue.
HON. JOHN H. COMBS was born in Rome, Lenawee County, Mich., December 22, 1861, and has always resided there. His father, Dr. Henry P. Combs, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., June 19, 1820, and was the son of John and Maria S. (Platt) Combs. John Combs was a native of New Hampshire, but removed to New York when a young man. He settled in Onondaga County, and in 1816 married Miss Maria S. Platt, daughter of Henry S. Platt, a pioneer of that part of the Empire State. He died there at the age of thirty-four years. Mrs. Combs afterwards married Joseph Rhoads, and came to Michigan in 1838, settling in this county, and died at the age of sixty-two. Dr. Combs lived with his mother until he was eighteen years old, attending the district schools of Adrian. About the year 1840 he commenced the study of medicine, and followed it closely, and after graduation at the Cleve-
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Dr. H. P. Combs, of Rome.
land, Ohio, Medical College, in 1845, he began the practice of medi- cine in Rome township, this county. He at once became very suc- cessful and popular in his profession, which he faithfully followed until 1865, when he retired from active practice. He became one of the best known and most popular men in his township. He took an active interest in public, religious and educational affairs. In poli- tics he was first a Whig, but became a Republican after 1854. In 1857 he was elected to the Michigan Legislature, and in 1863 he was re-elected to the same body. He served as School Inspector and Township Clerk for several terms, and was County Superintendent of the Poor for thirteen years. He was a most faithful and honor-
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
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able public officer, and to the end of his life commanded the respect and confidence of all classes. In the fall of 1857 Dr. Combs married Miss Lucy A. Sharrar, who was born in Clyde, Wayne County, N. . Y., March 30, 1834, and they became the parents of two children, as follows : John H., born as above, and Alice E., born in 1872, died in infancy. Mrs. Dr. Combs came to Michigan when she was three years old, and passed through all the stages of pioneer life, but a happy marriage and a genial home made her a bright and much respected woman. She lived fifty-seven years in the house where she died, December 2, 1898. Her husband, Dr. Combs, died three years before, January 1, 1895. Her parents, David and Pa- melia (Langdon) Sharrar, were pioneers of Wayne County, N. Y., and came to Michigan in 1835. David Sharrar was born in Mary- land in 1807. Mrs. Pamelia Sharrar was born in Wayne County, N. Y., March 30, 1834, and died in Rome, this county, May 18, 1881. Hon. John H. Combs, subject of this sketch, was educated in the district schools of Rome until he was seventeen years old, afterwards spending the school years of 1877-8 at Adrian College. He gradu-
Farm home of Hon. John H. Combs, Section 23, in Rome. It is said the first log house in the township was built very near this site.
-
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
ated from Goldsmith's Detroit Business College in 1881. After graduation he returned to his farm home. He served as School In- spector for five years, Township Clerk four years, and Supervisor four years. He was elected to the Michigan Legislature of 1901-2, on the Republican ticket, over W. H. Hayden, of Tecumseh, by a majority of 107, in a hardly-contested canvass. He was re-elected in 1902, over Don H. C. Bowen, of Tecumseh, by a majority of 224. He served as chairman of the committee on Education and member of the committee on College of Mines and the committee on Apportion- ment. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs, during political campaigns, and is a convincing speaker. June 11, 1884, John H. Combs married Miss Nellie E. Williams, daughter of John D. and Mary J. (Downer) Williams, of Detroit, Mich., and they have one daughter, Alice Elizabeth, born in Rome, this county, Decem- ber 9, 1886. Mrs. Nellie E. (Williams) Combs was born in Utica, N. Y., November 1, 1863, and came to Michigan with her parents, who settled in Detroit in 1871. Her father, John D. Williams, wasa native of New York, son of David and Joanna Williams, being born in Rotterdam, near Schenectady, December 18, 1807, and died April 18, 1893. His ancestors were from Holland. August 8, 1844, he married, at Utica, N. Y., Miss Mary J. Downer, who was born in New Lisbon, N. Y., August 9, 1823, and now resides in Philadel- phia, Pa. Her ancestors were English, and settled in New England early in the country's history.
WILLIAM S. G. MASON was born in Hector, Tompkins County, N. Y., December 9, 1821. His father, David Mason, was a native of Massachusetts, and was born about 1791. When a young man he went to Tompkins County, N. Y., where he lived a few years. He then removed to Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he purchased a farm in the wilderness, which he partially improved. March 4, 1821, David Mason married Miss Temperance Palmer, daughter of Japheth and Anna Palmer, of Tompkins County, N. Y., and they had five children, William S. G. being the oldest. Mrs. Anna (Palmer) Mason was a native of New York, and died in Medina, this county. David Mason died at North East, Pa., in 1836. Wil- liam S. G. Mason, subject of this sketch, at an early age removed with his parents to Chautauqua County, N. Y., then a dense wilder- ness, inhabited largely by Indians and wild beasts. After en- during the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, his father sold out and removed to North East, Erie County, Pa., where he died. This left our subject, at the age of fifteen, the eldest of five children, to struggle with poverty and care for an invalid mother. By the loss of his father he was deprived of all further op-
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
portunity for obtaining an education, besides losing a kind parent and wise and affectionate counselor, at a time when most needed. After a few years his mother married again, and he started for the West. He settled in Townsend, Sandusky County, Ohio, where he passed several years in working for farmers by the month. About the year 1843 he purchased eighty acres of land in Townsend. July 6, 1845, W. S. G. Mason married Miss Mary Ann May, daughter of Rev. Isaac and Rachael (McMillan) May, of Townsend, Ohio, and they have had five children, as follows: Angeletta R., born August 8, 1846, married December 30, 1866, Alfred A. Abbott, has three children, and resides in Morenci; Anna M., born August 13, 1848, married November 27, 1873, Charles Leonard, has two children, and re- sides in Manton, Rexford County, Mich .; Alice P., born July 25, 1850, married, December 9, 1880, George W. Woodworth, has two children, and resides in Medina, this county ; Winfield S., born July 27, 1852, married March 28, 1874, Miss Abigail Densmore, has three children, and resides in Chicago; William F., born August 15, 1856, married, January 1, 1880, Miss Ella L. Abbott, has two children and resides in Chicago. All were born in Townsend, Sandusky County, Ohio. Mrs. Mary Ann Mason was born in Townsend, January 24, 1825. Her father, Rev. Isaac May, was a native of New Hampshire, and became a Free Will Baptist minister when he was about twenty years old. He married Rachel McMillan and emigrated to Ohio, settling in Sandusky County, where he was the only minister in his locality. He died there at the age of 78 years. Mrs. May died in the same county, in October, 1830. About the year 1857 W. S. G. Mason re- moved with his family to Fairfield, this county. Here he united with the Free Will Baptist church. He was elected Deacon of the church, which office he held until 1872, when he moved to Fulton, Ohio. Here he remained about twenty-five years. In 1897 he re- moved to Morenci, where he and his wife now reside.
ALPHEUS J. ROBERTSON was born in Preston County, West Virginia, January 28, 1837, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1854. [For his family record see sketch of James Robertson, in this volume.] Alpheus J. Robertson was sixteen years old when he came to Michigan, and assisted his father in making a home in Og- den township, this county. He lived at home until he was twenty- one years old. In 1860 he purchased 40 acres of land on Section 15, in Ogden, where he lives at the present time. Since his first pur- chase he has added to his holdings until he is now the largest indi- vidual land owner in his township, and the heaviest taxpayer. His farm consists of 320 acres, 290 of which are under cultivation. This land was all in the woods and under water when he purchased it,
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and through his own labor and personal efforts he has cleared it, removed the stumps, ditched, tiled and subdued, until now it is among the most valuable farming land in Michigan. Nearly all the stumps are removed on 290 acres, and it is well fenced and improved. Very few men can show better or more satisfac-
A. J. Robertson.
Mrs. Julia J. Robertson.
tory results from personal effort. May 6, 1866, Alpheus J. Robertson married Miss Julia J. Wilcox, daughter of Abner P. and Statira (Varnum) Wilcox, of Fairfield, and they have two children as fol- lows: Eugene H., born in Ogden, February 22, 1867, resides in Boulder, Colo .; Alonzo E., born same place, March 5, 1872, married Miss Bell Spencer. They have one daughter and reside at Mason City, Nebraska. Mrs. Julia J. (Wilcox) Robertson was born in Milan, Monroe County Michigan, March 6, 1845, Her father was a native of the State of New York, and died in Seneca, this county, in his 80th year. Her mother was born near Toronto, Canada, and is still living in Seneca, in her 85th year.
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