USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 7
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
79
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Ft. Wayne, Ind., January 1st, 1892. Her parents were pioneers of Minnesota. January 11th, 1893, he married Miss Eugenia A. Heinlen, of Ft. Wayne. They have one son, Harold H., born July 8th, 1902. Mrs. Eugenia A. Hough was born in Ft. Wayne, Decem- ber 8th, 1865. Her parents were Germans, and early settlers in Ft. Wayne.
NORMAN GEDDES, son of Samuel, 1775-1848, and Elizabeth, 1779-1865, was born at Livonia, N. Y., April 14, 1823, and died at his home in Adrian, May 11th, 1899. He first became a resident of Michigan September 5th, 1835, settling with his parents upon a farm in Cambridge, Lenawee County. He began teaching at seven- teen, was for some time a student in the branch, then located at Tecumseh, of the University of Michigan, and in 1843 entered the law office of Hon. Richard Butler, at Mt. Clemens, and pursued his legal studies under the direction of Mr. Butler and of the late Giles Hubbard, supporting himself meanwhile by teaching. In 1846 he entered the law office of the late A. C. Harris, at Adrian, and was admitted to the bar the following year. After admission he taught for two terms in Professor Hance's Academy, an educational institu- tion at Adrian of considerable note at that time. Thereafter he continued in the active practice of his profession, until shortly before his death, except for about six years, during which he was in charge of the collection department of a large commercial house at Buffalo, and for nine years in which he served as Judge of Probate. He was. in 1849, elected Recorder of the then village of Adrian, and was twice re-elected; in 1851 was elected Justice of the Peace; in 1864 was elected Circuit Court Commissioner, and was re-elected in 1866, holding the office four years. In 1880 he was by Governor Croswell appointed Judge of Probate, to fill the vacancy caused by resigna- tion of Hon. Fernando C. Beaman, and at the general election fol- lowing was elected to the same office, and was re-elected in 1884, holding the office nine years. For twelve years he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Eastern Michigan Asylum for the Insane; for fifteen years was Trustee and Treasurer of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Adrian, and for twenty-seven years was President of the Board of Trustees of Adrian College, resigning as President at the June session of the board in 1898. At the close of the War of the Rebellion he was prominent in the organization of the County and City Soldiers' Monument Associations, was Secre- tary of both bodies, and at the dedication of the monument, July 4, 1871, was orator of the day. He was a director of the Commercial Savings Bank in Adrian from its organization, and from July 25th, 1898, president of the Pioneer and Historical Society of Lenawee County, in the work of which he took great interest and to which he
80
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Judge Norman Geddes.
devoted much time, holding both offices until his death. He was three times married : October 19, 1848, to Laura E. (March 23, 1821-August 21, 1851), daughter of Lyman Casey, of York, Liv- ingston County, N. Y .; November 29, 1853, to Harriet D. (October 29, 1822-April 30, 1857), daughter of Hon. John Barber, of Adrian; and September 15, 1859, to Jane M. (December 23, 1825-January 29, 1892), daughter of Isaac Terry, of Royalton, Niagara County, N. Y. Four children survive him : Frederick Lyman, born November 10,
81
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1850 ; Herbert, November 18, 1854; Harriet Elizabeth, May 9, 1856 -married September 18, 1879, to Willard N. Van Brunt, of Adrian- and Clifton Terry, July 14, 1866. Ada, born January 23, 1861, died April 1, 1865. Judge Geddes' pre-eminent characteristics were : the highest integrity; love of justice, truth and thoroughness; consci- entious and laborious devotion to duty; an infinite capacity for taking pains; scorn of shams and deceits; lofty ideals ; keen enjoy- ment of friendships ; sympathetic interest in the young and in all who need the fostering care of others; esprit du corps in state, municipal and other organizations ; and love of the best in all things. To the administration of the office of Probate Judge he gave a con- scientious and enlightened devotion which can never be fully known. Difficult and intricate questions, involving large values, were con- stantly submitted to him by interested parties personally. To their solution he gave the most patient and laborious examination, fre- quently pursuing his investigations in the great law libraries of larger cities, and resorting to every means in his power to ascertain and to apply the true rules of law, of right and of justice. Though he deeply deplored, he never appeared to resent the frequent failures of interested parties to furnish him the aid of investigations and arguments of counsel. In large part this work was thankless, was indeed almost wholly unappreciated. The parties expected no more of him than his off-hand decision-would have unquestioningly accepted and been content with it. But despite his severe training, long experience and profound knowledge of the law, he could not be satisfied with anything less than the most thorough investigation he had opportunity to make. Most frequently his judgments were pro- nounced in well reasoned, carefully written and convincing opinions. There were few appeals from his decisions, and in some that were taken, "counsel eminent in the law," in argument for appellees, read and mainly relied upon the opinions rendered by the Probate Judge. His sense of responsibility, and his ambitions to be right and to do the best possible work, appeared intensified in public office. Yet, after reaching mature years, he never held office without pecuniary sacrifice. He was always appreciative of his associates, and during the later years of his life wrote, upon request of their families, many obituaries of the older residents of the county.
JOHN KIRBY was born at Charlton, County of Oxford, England, October 22d, 1823. He came to the United States in 1848, and after stopping a few days in New York city, and Troy, finally settled at Oneida Depot, Madison County, N. Y. His father, William Kirby, was born at Charlton, England, in 1788, and lived there until his death in 1845. William Kirby married Miss Esther
6
82
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Tuffery, daughter of Isaac Tuffery, of Weston-on-the-Green, Oxford. By this marriage there were eight children, all of whom came to the United States, John, the subject of this sketch, being the only sur- vivor. Mrs. Esther Kirby, some time after the death of her husband in England, came to the United States, died at. Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 6th, 1870, and lies in Oakwood cemetery, Adrian. When John Kirby was seventeen years old he was "bound out" to learn the trade of coach building, at the city of Oxford, and served his time of four years. He then worked three years in Oxford and one year in London, where he was engaged in building railroad cars. He left the London docks on the good ship Adriatic, March 28th, and arrived at New York on the morning of the 5th of May, 1848, being about five weeks on the water. His first employment in the United States was at Oneida Depot, N. Y., where he was engaged in the construction and repairing of cars in the shops of the Syra- cuse & Utica railroad, and has been in railroad service ever since. In 1853 new car shops were built at Syracuse, N. Y., and Mr. Kirby was employed there until he came to Adrian in July, 1854. At that time the late John Townsend was in charge of the car shops of the Michigan Southern railroad, Mr. Kirby coming to Adrian to work for him as a journeyman, which he continued until 1856, when he was made foreman of the car shops. He held this position until July, 1858, when he was sent to Litchfield, Ill., to make plans and superintend the erection of car shops at that place for the Terre Haute, Alton & St. Louis railroad. After a short stay at Spring- field, Mr. Kirby received a letter from the late John D. Campbell, then general superintendent of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana railroad, asking him to return and accept the position of master car builder at Adrian. The position was at once accepted, and he held it until October 15th, 1870, when he was appointed superintendent of the car department of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad, from Chicago to Buffalo, including all the branches. This position he held until October 1st, 1892, when he resigned with the intention of retiring to private life, but he is still in the service of the company, for in August, 1893, he was tendered a place on the Board of Arbitrators of Award, in the transportation department, during the World's Fair at Chicago, which was consid- ered an honorary position. June 3d, 1851, John Kirby married Miss Ruth S. Hunt, of Oneida, N. Y., and three children were born to them, as follows: Martha Elizabeth, born at Oneida, May 6th, 1852 ; Mary Esther, born at Oneida, February 8th, 1854 ; Helen Ann, born at Adrian, February 4th, 1857, married C. E. Bray, November 7th, 1885. Mrs. Ruth S. Kirby was born at Salem, Mass., October 31st, 1829. Her parents were natives of Massachusetts, but died during her infancy.
1
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 83
WILLIAM CROCKETT was born in Sodus, Wayne County, N. Y., February 4th, 1828. His father, Nathaniel Crockett, born in 1799, was the son of a sea captain, and a native of Maine. After the death of his parents, he removed to the State of New York, residing there until 1836, when he came to Michigan, settling on Section 35, in Ogden, this county. About the year 1823 Nathaniel
Mrs. Minerva Crockett.
William Crockett.
Crockett married Miss Mary White, daughter of William and Lydia White, of Sodus, Wayne County, N. Y., and they were the parents of eleven children, William being the third child. Nathaniel Crockett died in Hardin County, Iowa, March 13th, 1872. His wife, Mary Crockett, was born in Maine in April, 1805, and died in Ogden, this county, January 18th, 1882. William Crockett, subject of this sketch, came to Michigan with his parents in 1836, when he was eight years old, and has resided in the town of Ogden ever since. When his parents settled in the township there were but very few settlers, and the town was considered nothing but a cottonwood swamp, most of the east half being under water half the year. Mr. Crockett remembers most of the settlers who had located here pre- vious to 1836, and had made a beginning. They were as follows: Erastus Brockway, on section 3; Elisha Benton, on section 33; Samuel Graham, on section 29; Andrew Sebring, on section 28; William Johnson, on section 29; Nathaniel Graham, on section 29; N. B. Carter, on section 8; Ephraim Hicks, on section 6; Gideon Sheldon, on section 15; Jacob Gilbert, on section 15. At that time there were no settlers in the east half of the town, and for many years there were no settlers east of Nathaniel Crockett's, and no
1
84
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
roads were cut through. Many times the water was so deep that for miles it would come up to the ox-bows, as the oxen wallowed through the woods. It was some time before anything except corn and pota- toes could be raised, and they would often drown out during the "June freshets," which then occurred almost annually. Wheat was a failure until the timber was considerably cleared off, and the ditch system was inaugurated. There was not a frame house or barn in Ogden in 1836, and the first frame barn Mr. Crockett saw was Nor- man B. Carter's. William Crockett lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, but worked the farm for some time, during which he purchased a farm on section 14 in Ogden, where he now resides. He has seen the township brought from a primitive, worthless state to one of the best and most promising in the county. He has spent nearly his entire life in this work, and has done his share in bringing about the great change. He has assisted in clearing away the wilderness, and subduing the rank and almost impenetrable swamp. He has expended much time and money, besides cheerfully paying all assessments for the ditching system that has proven so generally beneficial to every resident. He has grown up with the town, and has prospered slowly but surely as the town advanced in productive- ness and value. The township is now entirely settled up, with no swamps and "cat holes." Mr. Crockett's present valuable and very productive farm was, in 1836, an impenetrable and worthless swamp, covered with water almost the year round. December 12, 1856, William Crockett was married to Minerva .Ann Potter, daughter of Morey S. and Minerva (Jones) Potter, of Amboy, Fulton County, Ohio, by whom he has had four children, as follows: Almond P., born November 1st, 1857, married Miss Sarah Jane Wilmouth, of Ogden, and they had three children, William B., Carrie A., Burt A. Almond P. Crockett died November 18th, 1885. Eldora L., born June 26th, 1861, married Smith Fairbanks, December 24th, 1882, and resides in Adrian city. Ida May, born January 22, 1867, married Allen McComb, November 25, 1886; they have two children, Pliny Dane and William C., who reside in Ogden. Pliny D., born August 14th, 1873, married Miss Minnie Sebring, daughter of Edgar and Josephine (Rice) Sebring, December 12, 1899; they have one child, Alma Leida, and reside in Ogden. Mrs. Minerva Crockett was born in Richfield, Herkimer County, N. Y., May 27, 1837, and moved to Fulton County, Ohio, with her parents, in 1844. Her father, Morey S. Potter, was born in Rhode Island, May 26, 1799, and moved to Herkimer with his parents in 1809. December 25, 1820, he married Minerva Jones, daughter of Jonathan and Polly (Hopkins) Jones, of Herkimer County, N. Y., by whom he had nine children, Mrs. Crockett being the eighth child. They had forty-two grandchildren and twenty-six great-grandchildren. Morey S. Potter died September 29, 1892, in his ninety-fourth year. His wife, Mrs. Minerva Potter, died May 25, 1886, aged 83 years.
1
85
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
WALTER S. WESTERMAN was born in Riga, Lenawee County, Michigan, January 26th, 1855. His father, George W. Westerman, born in Pittsburg, Pa., June 24th, 1831, came to Michi- gan and settled on section 33 in Riga, this county, in 1852. He resided there until 1867. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company F, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, and served three years in the great Rebellion. At the time of his discharge he was quartermaster-sergeant of the regiment. Previous to his enlistment, he served his township three terms as Supervisor, and Justice of the Peace two terms. Upon his return from the army he was again elected Supervisor and Justice of the Peace, and served in these offices until 1866, when he was elected County Clerk and served three terms. He served as County Drain Commissioner two years, and in 1888 was elected Justice of the Peace in the city of Adrian and served twelve years. Early in life he became a Ma- son, first joining the Blissfield Lodge. After- Hon. W. S. Westerman. wards he went into the Temple Lodge, of Adrian, and so on up to the Commandery of Knights Templar. He was also a member of the I. O. O. F., filling all the chairs, was Grand Master of Michigan and representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. He is a charter member of Woodbury Post, G. A. R., and has twice been elected Commander. He served the Third ward of Adrian one term as alderman. October 21st, 1850, Geo. W. Westerman married Miss Catherine Scott, daughter of Walter and Margaret (McDonald) Scott, of Conoquenessing, But- ler County, Pa., and they are the parents of five children. Mrs. Margaret (McDonald) Westerman was born in Conoquenessing, Pa., May 5th, 1831. Her paternal ancestors were Pennsylvanians as far back as there is any knowledge, but her maternal ancestors were Scotch. Geo. W. Westerman's ancestors were English and German. Walter Scott Westerman is a native of Lenawee, and was born on a farm in the township of Riga, where he lived until he was about eleven years old. In the fall of 1866 his father was elected County
-
86
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Clerk of Lenawee County, and in March, 1867, moved to Adrian, where Mr. Westerman entered upon his duties. Walter attended school, also went to Evans' Business College, and took his diploma March 31st, 1874. In 1867-8 he was made deputy clerk under his father, and later was deputy county treasurer, under the late Col. S. B. Smith. From 1872 to 1876 he was night watchman at the old court house. While here he selected law as his life profession. While attending to his duties, and whenever occasion would allow, he studied hard, having access to the late ex-Congressman F. C. Beaman's law library. He studied nights under the direction of Mr. Beaman and Hon. Andrew Howell, and the day he had reached his majority, January 26th, 1876, he was admitted to practice law. Three years later he was admitted to practice in the United States Circuit Court at Detroit, on motion of Hon. Sylvester Larned, and the presiding judge at that time was Chief Justice Brown, now of the United States Supreme Court. In 1881 he was formally admitted and practiced in the Supreme Court of Michigan, and May 31, 1889, was recommended by the late Judge Thomas M. Cooley, and was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court. In 1890 he was elected Secretary of the Lenawee County Bar Association, which position he has held to the present time. During 1892 Mr. Westerman was tendered a chair in the law department of the Florida State University, but declined on account of the small salary attached to the position. In 1890 he was appointed City Attorney, which office he successfully filled for three years. He was Assistant Prose- cuting Attorney for three years, and in 1895 ran on the Democratic ticket for Circuit Judge against Hon. Victor H. Lane, being defeated in this county by 238 votes, coming the nearest to being elected of any man that has accepted the nomination on the Democratic ticket in years. During the campaign of 1894 he was a candidate for Prosecuting Attorney, and ran ahead of his ticket. In 1900 his name was placed on the Prohibition ticket for the position of Attor- ney General, receiving 12,000 votes in the state, running ahead of his ticket. The following spring, 1901, Mr. Westerman ran for Justice of the Supreme Court on the Prohibition ticket, making a good run. August 8th, 1902, he was nominated for Governor of Michigan on the Prohibition ticket, receiving more votes in his home city, county and the state than any candidate that ever ran on the Prohibition ticket. He was also nominated for Mayor of Adrian on the Prohibition ticket, in the spring of 1902, and carried more than the party vote. During the dinner served by the W. C. T. U., on election day, he received the majority of votes cast by the women for executive officer. At the quarterly conference held in August, 1901, at the M. E. Church, Mr. Westerman was granted a preacher's license. He is a member of that denomination, and is a teacher of one of the largest Sunday school classes in the city. He is president of the Humane Society, also attorney for the .Good Government League. He was married to Miss Emma I. Sizer, daughter of Mr.
87
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and Mrs. Charles F. Sizer, of Adrian, August 3d, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Westerman have nine children, as follows: Ina Leone, born May 17th, 1876, married Elmer D. Knowles, July 6th, 1901 ; Orville S., born August 4th, 1877; Wilbur S., born April 24th, 1879; Ches- ter A., born February 3d, 1881; Flora A., born April 9th, 1883; Clifford W., born December 18th, 1884; Harold L., born April 2d, 1887 ; Kenneth N., born May 13th, 1889; Walter S., jr., born May 1st, 1895. Mrs. Emma I. Westerman was born November 26th, 1853, in Lee, Berkshire County, Mass., and came to Michigan with her parents in 1859. Her father, Chas. F. Sizer, son of Osman and Mary P. (Field) Sizer, was born in Chester, Hampden County, Mass., May 30th, 1833. June 12th, 1851, he married Miss Samantha Jane Bawker, only daughter of Amos Green and Serilla (Stocking) Baw- ker, who was born at Vestal, Broome County, N. Y., July 24th, 1833.
WILLIAM CRANE was born in Macedon, Wayne County, N. Y., September 4th, 1831, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1833. His father, Turner Crane, was born in Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, January 24th, 1789. He was of Quaker parentage, and descended from the very early settlers of Massachu- setts. Turner Crane learned the trade of tanner, currier and shoe- maker, and carried on the business in Massachusetts. About the year 1816 he removed to Wayne County, N. Y., and settled on a farm in Macedon Township. He resided there until the year 1833, when he emigrated to Michigan, in company with his brother, George Crane. He arrived here with his wife and family of nine children, and settled on section 13, in Madison. Here he cleared up his land, made a comfortable home, and enjoyed the results of his hard labor for only ten years, dying from a sudden illness, July 23d, 1843. November 26th, 1812, Turner Crane married Miss Phoebe Arnold, daughter of Asa Arnold, of Norton, Bristol County, Mass. They were the parents of eleven children, William, the subject of this sketch ; Edwin, of Adrian city, and Mrs. Harriet Brittain, of Adrian township, being the only survivors. Mrs. Phoebe (Arnold) Crane was born in Norton, Mass., November 10th, 1796, and died in Madi- son, this county, March 10th, 1868. Her parents were Puritans, and lived and died in Massachusetts. William Crane was only about one year old when he came to Michigan, and since that event he has resided on the farm his father took up over seventy years ago. He has always followed farming, and was educated in the district schools of his neighborhood. He has grown with the county, and has witnessed a great transformation in his lifetime, having seen the primitive forest, inhabited by wild beasts and peopled with Indians, disappear before the approach and settlement of the Anglo-
88
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Saxon. He believes that with one exception he is the oldest resident of Madison now alive. He also believes there is no man in the county now alive who has trailed more wild deer, and other game, than he, or who enjoyed it more. In times past no hunting party was complete without "Bill" Crane. He has served his township as Justice of the Peace, and Highway Commissioner, for many years. February 5th, 1854, William Crane married Miss Hannah Davis, daughter of Isaac and Amelia Davis, of Palmyra, this county, and they had two children, as follows: Minnie D., born in Madi- son, this county, January 19th, 1861, at home ; William Ernest, born in Madison, September 28th, 1869, married Miss Ora Raymond, daughter of John and Estella Raymond, of Ogden, December 6th, 1902. Mrs. William (Davis) Crane was born in Perrington, Monroe County, N. Y., August 11th, 1833; came to Michigan with her parents in 1833, and died at her home in Madison, this county, July 15th, 1894. Her coming to Michigan was a rare experience, being brought on a pillow by her mother from the State of New York. The trip was made in a lumber wagon and consumed twenty-two days. This is a sample of what pioneer mothers many times under- took and accomplished.
FRANKLIN DEWEY TEACHOUT was born in Manchester, Ontario County, N. Y., February 29th, 1852. His father, Alonzo Teachout, was born at the same place, May 19th, 1819. He was brought up on a new farm, and always followed agricultural pur- suits. His father, Jacob Teachout 2d, who was among the first settlers of Ontario County, N. Y., was born in Schuyler County, N. Y., in 1784. He lived in Ontario until 1864, when he disposed of his property, came to Michigan, and resided in Ransom, Hillsdale County, with a son and daughter, where he died, in 1876, at the age of 92. About the year 1806, he married Miss Rachel Curtis, daughter of Elijah and Polly (Wiley) Curtis, of Eastern New York. Polly Curtis died in Genesee County, Michigan, aged 88 years, and was the daughter of Major Wiley, who served in the Revolutionary War, and passed that memorable winter with General Washington at Valley Forge. This branch of the Teachout family in the United States sprung from Jacob Teachout 1st, who came from Holland about the year 1700, and settled in Eastern New York. From the best information obtainable it is related that Jacob Teachout 1st was married when he came to this country. His wife's name was Sabra, and they raised a large family. After the death of Jacob Teachout 1st, his wife Sabra lived with her daughter, Sabra Wood, in Schuyler County, where she died. Alonzo Teachout, the father of our subject, was the third son and fourth child of a family of thirteen children raised by Jacob 2d and Rachel Teachout, above
1
F
Residence of Frank D. Teachout, in Adrian Township.
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.