USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches > Part 43
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born August 18, 1842, married George Fish, and they live in New York. Thomas W .. born April 9, 1844, lives in Washtenaw coun- ty, Michigan. The third union resulted in five children : Charles F., born March 12, 1846. died in hospital July 16, 1864, the result of being overheated while on a march as a soldier in the civil war. Ella G., born September 11. 1847, died September 29, 1848. John H., born August 5, 1848, died August 8, 1854. Caro- line L .; born June 13, 1855, lives in Pontiac, Michigan.
Dennis Hammond, the subject of this sketch, was employed in building the Erie canal, and worked with a repair gang after its completion. He was married in New York state, May 2, 1845. , In 1832 the family came to Michigan, locating in Washtenaw county. Mr. Hammond afterward bought some land from the government, in Washtenaw county. the deed to which was signed by Andrew Jack- son. He sold this farm in 1852 and the next year removed to Ovid, Clinton county, where he bought eighty acres of timbered land. This he cleared and he lived on the place for several years. He afterward bought land in Middle- bury and shifted about a good deal, owning several different tracts, at one time having two hundred acres. The farm on which our subject now lives had previously been owned by his father. Indeed, the buildings on the same were placed there by the latter. Our subject's brother, Daniel Webster, helped to build the first house in Ovid, Michigan, the same having been located near where the Retan House now stands.
Our subject was educated in the district schools and always lived with his parents. He had a deed of his present farm before his father died. Mr. Hammond was married De- cember 25, 1881, to Minnie Dewitt, who was born in Oakland county, December 23, 1863. She is a daughter of John Dewitt, who was born in Pennsylvania, December 11, 1843, and who died in Middlebury township, aged forty- nine years. His wife was Sarah Buck, a na- tive of Canada. She was just four days
younger than her husband. She is still living. on a farm in Middlebury. Our subject's wife was an only child. Her parents came to Shia- wassee county in 1866, when she was but two years old. Her father bought forty acres of land, nearly all of which was in a state of nature, and the buildings consisted of a log house and a log barn. Her parents afterward purchased another forty acres of timbered land, which her father cleared and improved. Her mother has erected a handsome barn since the death of her husband. The home of Mr .. and Mrs. Hammond has been blessed with four children: Erwin, who was born July 23, 1883, enlisted, in Janesville, Wisconsin, in Company A, United States Signal Corps, and is now in the Philippine islands. Lila, born March 15, 1886, married George Finch, and they live in Ovid, where he works in carriage factory ; they have two children,-Wilma, aged two years, and Fannie, aged seven months. Francis, born November 10, 1887, lives at home. Dewitt, born June 18, 1891, is at home.
Mr. Hammond is a Republican but votes independently in local matters. He is not an office-holder or an office-seeker, preferring rather to be a good farmer and being satisfied to look well after his own affairs. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He stands high in the community as a reliable and progressive citizen. Indeed, he does well that which his hands find to do, and takes a laudable pride in having well culti- vated fields and good buildings, with such other surroundings as are calculated to make himself and his family happy and contented. What more could be desired ?
MERRITT S. HARDING.
"If necessity is laid on me, yea, woe is me, if I preach not the gospel." Such is the forci- ble text from which Merritt S. Harding, at the. age of nineteen years, preached his first ser- mon, in the school house known as the church school house, in Venice township, Shiawassee county. He subsequently preached in Tower,
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Minnesota, for three years; in Venice town- ship one year; in Wisconsin two years, and in Florida one and one-half years. He has done circuit and mission work in Michigan for several years, in Virginia one year,-at Gladesville, Virginia, but is not now in the ministry. He may rightly be called the preacher-soldier. He was an ordained elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church. What- ever he has done in life has been done through a conscientious motive,-goodness controlling his every act. With the poet he has exempli- fied the idea :
What good I see humbly I seek to do ; And live obedient to the love, in trust That what will come, and must come, Shall come well.
Mr. Harding was born in Bath township. Steuben county, New York, June 5, 1844. His father, Elisha G. Harding, was a native of Schoharie county, New York,' and died August 23, 1859, aged forty-four years, nine . months and eight days. His mother, Asureth (Burdick) Harding, was also a native of New York. She died January 31, 1893, aged sixty- nine years. His parents were married in Steuben county, New York. Elisha G. Hard- ing was thrice married, his third wife having been the mother of our subject. He first mar- ried Eliza Wait, and they had four children; his second marriage was to Olive Slocum, by whom he had four children, including triplets. Merritt S. Harding's parents came to Venice township, October 15, 1852. The subject of this sketch has worked at carpentering all his life, excepting the period spent in the minis- try. He built the first frame house in Shia- wassee township. When he came to Michigan this section was mostly in a wild state. Game was very plentiful and deer were the frequent trophies of the unerring rifle of Mr. Harding. One day when looking for cows; he and a Mr. Munger saw three bears together. They af- terward secured the aid of some men and killed all of the bears. When a boy he was chased home by a panther. His father and
grandfather were Free Will Baptist minis- ters. ' The latter was so old and feeble that he had to be held up by two men while he preached his last sermon. The father of our subject preached on Sunday and died on the following Thursday. Eight children comprised the latter's family, and of the number two died in infancy. The gentleman whose name heads this article, was the first born. Hannah is the widow of Jacob Bentley, and had five children. She resides in Corunna. Julia is deceased. E. W. married Mina Davison and lives in Corunna; they had five children. Annie married Loren Bigelow, who is a Free Methodist elder, and had five children; she is deceased. Cassius and Emma also are de- ceased. Mr. Harding's father, mother and grandfather died in Venice township.
Merritt S. Harding started in life for him- self at the age of fourteen years, and began learning the trade of a carpenter, with his father and uncle. In 1890 he bought the fifteen and one-half acres upon which he now lives, and cleared about one-half of it, erecting on the same a house, barn and other buildings. He now works at carpentering again. On June 5, 1882, he married Ursilla (Burke) Swindeman, who was born in 1850. She was the widow of William Swindeman. To them seven children have been born. Samuel M. was born in Duluth, Minnesota, March 22, 1884; Jesse was born in Tower, Minnesota, October 26, 1886, and died in June 1887; Minnieola was born in Florida, May 2, 1887; Ward was born in Venice township, Septem- ber 26, 1893; Howard was born in Venice township, December 31, 1895; Franklin was born in Venice township, March 22, 1900; and John was born in the same township, August 15, 1902.
Mrs. Harding's father was Martin Burke. He was born in Germany. He came to On- tonagon, Michigan, in 1864 and was a miner by vocation, having worked as such all his life. He died in Ontonagon in 1868. The mother of Mrs. Harding died in 1899. Mrs. Harding was the third of five children, all of
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whom are living, namely: Barbara, Martin. Mrs. Harding, Christina and Kate.
Mr. Harding was educated in the district schools and the Corunna high school. He studied by the light of pine knots and a hick- ory fire. He is a Republican but was a Demo- crat until Mckinley ran for the presidency the first time. He filled the office of township clerk for one term. He belonged at one time to the Temple of Honor, and the Foresters. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a loyal soldier of the Union in the civil war, having enlisted, at Corunna August 12, 1862. On the 12th of the follow- ing month he was mustered in at Saginaw, in Company H, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry. under Captain Jack Carland. He participated in the following engagements: Perryville. Bowling Green, Washington, Atlanta,-five days' fight, in which his collar bone was broken by a spent ball. He was sent to the hospital at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and while there was made ward master. This po- sition he. held until discharged. November 12. 1865. His regiment was mustered out July 11, 1865.
Mr. Harding relates that in the pioneer days his mother made pies from basswood buds and horse sorrel. Johnnie cake and milk consti- tuted a big meal in those days. He has planted corn with a hand spike and ax. He had been in Michigan for four years before seeing a cook stove or a match, his father lighting the fires by a hemp wad fired from a shot gun, and many times utilizing flint, punk or tinder. The site of the present city of Durand was a wild- erness. There were no railroads when he came to Venice, the first one built being the Detroit & Milwaukee. Vernon contained only two farm houses, no village site having been platted. He has met many a bear, wild cat. and wild turkey.
STILLMAN J. HARDING -
One of the best known business men in Owosso is the gentleman whose name is given
above. In fact, he was a pioneer of that hust- ling little city, and has passed through its ups and downs, its day of gloom and depression ; has been a part of its very life, of its growth and development ; and he now glories in its prosperity. There is probably no other man in the entire county of Shiawassee who has experienced so much of the real practical side of life as Stillman J. Harding. He has fully exemplified the words of the poet :
Behold, we live through all things-famine, thirst,
Bereavement, pain ; all grief and misery, All woe and sorrow ; life inflicts its worst On soul and body,-but we cannot die.
"Though we be sick, and tired, and faint, and worn
Lo! all things can be borne.
Our subject comes from good old Massachu- setts stock, having been born in Southbridge, Worcester county, in that state, November 3. 1821, and thus being now in his 85th year. He is a son of Calvin and Lydia (Jackson) Harding, the father having been born at Stur- bridge, Massachusetts, February 19, 1798, and having died at Southbridge, in the same state, November 8, 1883; while the latter was a native of Woodstock, Connecticut, where she was born October 25, 1801, and she died at the same place as her husband, March 28, 1870. The grandfather of our subject was Ralph Harding, who was born at Sturbridge. Massachusetts, September 10, 1770, and who died in Southbridge, Massachusetts, in 1856. He married Azubah Goodale, who was born December 14, 1772, and who died February 6. 1833. He was married a second time, to Nancy Goodale, who was born in 1780 and died February 5, 1840. His ancestors came from England to America in 1635 and several of these served in the Revolutionary war. Cal- vin Harding was the father of Stillman J. and was a farmer who quarried stone for a busi- ness and owned thirty acres on which he lived at the time of his death.
At the age of eleven years our subject started for himself, working summers for his
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board and clothes and going to school winters. His education was thus acquired by his own individual efforts. He continued working on the farm until fifteen years old, however, and then, in 1840, commenced peddling dry goods. In 1842 he attended select school at South- bridge for one year and lived with the princi-' pal. He then began teaching school winters and attending high school at West Springfield. Massachusetts. He afterward attended one term at Worcester, Massachusetts, and a term at Suffold, Connecticut. In 1845 he passed the best examination of teachers of all per- sons who had ever come before the examining board at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, up to that time. In addition to the above, he taught se- lect school at Burroughville and Manton (now Providence ), 1843, and Fruit Hill, 1845,-all in Rhode Island,-and at Windsor, Connecti- cut, 1846. In the spring of 1847 he com- menced working for the dry-goods firm of Mc- Kinstry & Company of Southbridge, Massa- chusetts, and continued with them for one year. He next took Horace Greeley's advice and came west to "grow up with the country." He landed in Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1848. The first summer he taught school in a log cabin on the prairie, and the next fall entered a general store as clerk. There was a presi- dential election that year, when he cast his first vote for General Taylor. In the following February,-that of 1849,-he returned to his home, securing a position in a dry-goods store in Springfield, Massachusetts. In August, 1850, he was married to Ann Taylor, a native of Springfield, where she was born October 26. 1827, and she died April 18, 1893. The same year, 1850, he was sent by his employer to Buffalo, New York, to dispose of a stock of dry goods there. This he did to the entire satisfaction of his employer. In the spring of 1851 he entered the dry-goods store of Sher- man & Company, of Buffalo, as clerk, and the following year he became a partner in a dry-goods store in Clarence, Erie county, New York, where he remained two years. In 1854 he went to Chautauqua county, New York,
and conducted a general store of his own for two years. In 1856 he came to Owosso, where he had bought a stock of goods, which he closed out as soon as possible. He afterward conducted the Union Hotel, now the National, for six years. While in this hotel he opened the first barber shop in the town ; neither was there a meat market here. He had, therefore, to do his own butchering. When through with the hotel business he traded the furni- ture in the hostelry for a house and two lots in the city. He next embarked in the livery business,-the barn standing where Christian's store is now situated. At that time there was neither a hack nor hearse in Owosso, and he had both of these vehicles made to order for his own use. After being in the livery busi- ness for four years he drove a team to De- troit and then took the cars for Albany, New York, shipping the horses by steamer to that city. He then drove to Springfield, Massa- chusetts, and spent the summer in visiting friends. He afterward sold the team to a friend in Providence, Rhode Island. This was in 1867, in which year he retraced his steps to Owosso. One year prior to this he exchanged his house and lots for a farm, which he now owns. It consists of ninety-four acres, two- thirds of it being then unimproved. It is all inside of the city limits now. Mr. Harding improved the land and built the present house and barn. He has since sold about one-half of it for building lots. After returning to Owosso, as stated, he started the first dairy milk route in the city. In 1867 he was elected a member of the school board and was secre- tary of same for twelve years. He has served as county superintendent of schools for one and one-half years. In 1858 he was elected alderman of his ward, the fourth, this being . at the time the city first received its charter. He has been city clerk for two terms and acted as supervisor of his ward by appoint- ment, for one term.
July 17, 1895, he married Mary Ella Omich. born in Richmond, Michigan. Her father was William Omich, who was born in New Jersey.
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in 1818, and who died at Richmond, in 1887. He came to Oakland county with his parents when a small lad. Her mother was Sara (Baker) Omich, who was born in Elmira, New York, April 4, 1824, and who died at the home of Mr. Harding, in 1897. Mr. Harding had one child by the first wife,-Alice M., who was born April 1, 1852, and who died April 9. 1877 ; she married John J. Davis and had one son,-Albert Harding Davis, who was born September 25, 1876, and who lives at Byron, Michigan, he married Ada Harding, a widow, and they had one child,-Alice Ida, who was drowned in .Shiawassee river May 2, 1904. Mr. Harding's present wife was one of eight children. Elizabeth, born in 1843, died in 1845. James P., born in 1845, lives in Minne- sota ; he married Rhoda A. Beebe, and they have three daughters,-Gertrude H., Cora P ... and Grace I. Frank A., born April 9, 1848, lives in Chandler township, Huron county ; he married Minnie Headley, and they had two sons,-Charles and Frank. William K., born August 2, 1852, lives in Detroit ; he married Elizabeth Russell. Clara B., born April 15, 1855, lives on the old homestead ; she married Alonzo Claggett, and has had three children. -Bessie J., Gertrude H., and Elmer E. My- ron Elton, twin brother of Mrs. Harding, was born December 31, 1861, and died at the age of seven months. Hattie May, born April 9, 1864, died at the age of three years.
Mr. Harding was the first of seven children. Mary Ann, who was born May 19, 1824, mar- ried Joel W. Marble, and she died July 17. 1904, at Woonsocket, Rhode Island; she had three children,-Helen A., George and a child which died in infancy. Otis, who was born May 21, 1826, died February 27, 1851. Wil- liam Henry, who was born March 24, 1828, died October 30, 1851. Nathan, who was born October 13, 1830, enlisted in the regular army in 1852 and was never heard from after- ward. Joshua, who was born September 26, 1833, died October 9, 1834. Sara L., who was born November 29, 1841, lives in South- bridge, Massachusetts ; she married Albert L.
Pelton and had three children-Cora, Frank, and Bessie Louise, the last named having died in infancy.
Mr. Harding has two diaries which he greatly prizes, as one was printed the same year he was born and the other in 1778. He came to Owosso one year before the railroad reached here. This was the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee, now a branch of the Grand Trunk system. Mr. Harding is a Re- publican in politics, and as has already been said, no man in Owosso has been prominently. identified with its every interest than he. Harding avenue in Owosso is named in his honor. He is an Episcopalian in religious be- lief and is a most worthy and respected citizen.
WILLIAM HARPER, M. D.
There is probably no greater victory achieved by man than the overcoming of disease and the saving of human life. There is no pro- fession to which humanity is so much indebted, and which deserves and is held in higher re- gard than that of the physician.
William Harper was born in the township of Berlin, Erie county, state of Ohio, March 5, 1842. His father, Alexander Harper, was born in Erie county, Ohio, and his mother was born at Scott's Corner, in Semproneus, New York. The father died in March, 1844, and the mother in February, 1880.
Dr. Harper is the second of four children. The first, George, died in 1905, at his home in Woodhull township. The second is the subject of this sketch. The third, Louisa, mar- ried Peter Lamb, and is now deceased. The fourth, Esther, married James McBratney.
The subject of this sketch came to Michi- gan with his mother and stepfather, David Royce, in the year 1845. He received his early education in the district schools of Deerfield, Livingston county, afterward attending the seminary of Mrs. Dayfoot, at Howell, and the union school at Fenton. He then attended the University of Michigan one year, after which
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he completed his education and received his degree of M. D. from the Rush Medical Col- lege, of Chicago, graduating with the class of 1866. On the 9th of April in the same year he commenced the practice of his profession at the village of Argentine, Genesee county, re- maining there for twenty years. He then went to Deerfield, Livingston county, where he practised for nine years, then removing in 1895, to Byron, where he has since lived.
On the 20th of February, 1873, he married Leah, daughter of Hon. Benjamin Grace, of Fenton, Michigan. Mr. Grace was one of the distinguished pioneers of the village in which he lived. He was a representative in the leg- islature of the state of Michigan in the year 1859 and 1860. The Doctor's wife had one brother, John Grace, and one sister, Anna, the wife of Lucius Brockett, of Battle Creek. She also had half-sisters by a second marriage.
Subject and wife have three children, all of whom have received liberal education. The oldest, William A., following the footsteps of his father, is a physician and surgeon. In addi- tion to a thorough high-school education, he attended the Michigan College of Medicine, in Detroit for four years, graduating with the class of 1899. He is at present located in De- troit, connected officially with his alma mater. He has performed some very difficult opera- tions and is one of the youngest and most suc- cessful surgeons in the state. He is known as the "boy surgeon" of Michigan. Dr. William A. Harper was born January 6, 1877. He was united in marriage in March, 1902, to Miss Carrie, daughter of Elezar and Sarah B. Fisher. They have one daughter, Leah W. B., born February 19, 1904. Mrs. Harper's par- ents were old and respected residents of the village of Byron. The second child, Louisa, was born November 29, 1880. She is a suc- cessful teacher and is a graduate of the Byron high school. The third child, Anna G., was born February 1, 1882. She also was gradu- ated in the Byron high school, with the class of 1899. She is the wife of Edgar L. Bennett, of Lansing.
Our subject is politically a Republican, hav- ing been allied with that party since Grover Cleveland's second administration. He has always been an active political worker. He has held the office of town treasurer of Argentine, was school inspector for fifteen years in Deer- field township, and for a number of years was on the board of supervisors. The most im- portant office to which the Doctor has been elevated by his fellow citizens was his election to the state legislature, from Livingston county, in 1890. As a member of that hon- orable body he served as chairman of the com- mittee on the Northern Michigan Asylum. He also served on a special committee, looking into the feasibility of the establishment of an asylum for the county of Wayne.
Fraternally the Doctor belongs to the Ma- sonic order. Dr. Harper's parents, he him- self and all of his immediate family were school teachers. He has lived to see his chil- dren grow to honorable manhood and woman- hood, taking the place of leaders in the pro- fessions of their choice. Mrs. Harper died April 2, 1894, in Deerfield township, Living- ston county.
Dr. Harper was active in the establishment of the State Bank at Byron and has been vice- president and director since its organization. He is a social, genial gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet.
CHARLES D. HARVEY
The lamented President William McKinley said: "In the United States we not only honor our great captains and illustrious com- manders, the men who led our vast armies to battle, but we shower honors in equal meas- ure upon all, irrespective of rank in battle or condition at home. Our gratitude is of that grand patriotic character which recognizes no titles, permits no discriminations, subordinates all distinctions; and the soldier or sailor, whether of the rank and file, the line or staff, who served his country, is warmly cherished
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in the hearts and sacred to the memories of our great and generous people."
Charles D. Harvey was born in the state of Pennsylvania, October 22, 1876. He is the son of Edwin A. Harvey, who was born in the state of New York, February 27, 1840, and who removed in early life to Pennsyl- vania, where he engaged in general farming and lumbering. He was married, in 1863, to Clementine Campbell, in the state of Pennsyl- vania, and in that state their seven children were born, the subject of this review being the fifth child. The father has retired from active business and lives in Shaftsburg, but the mother died, in Woodhull township, May 15, 1902.
The oldest of subject's brothers and sisters is Sarah, born December 16, 1864. She mar- ried Henry Graves and resides in Pennsyl- vania. The second, James E. Harvey, was born February 26, 1867. He resides in Cali- fornia. The third, Willard, was born No- vember 2, 1871. He married Rosa Graves and resides in Pennsylvania. The fourth, Pearl, died in infancy. The fifth is the sub- ject of this sketch. The sixth, Florence, born June 6, 1878, married Ed. Webb, the brother of subject's wife, and resides in Bennington township. The seventh, Edith, born April 23, 1881, is the wife of Olan Hoag, of Byron, Michigan.
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