Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches, Part 46

Author:
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Lansing, Mich. : Hist. Pub.
Number of Pages: 580

USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches > Part 46

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Our subject was the fourth of nine children. six of whom are now living: George P., who died at the age of twenty-eight, was married and lived in Colorado; Tane died at the age of ten years; Edwin H., a farmer, resides near Lansing, in Ingham county; our subject was next in order of birth; Augustus, a farm- er, lives near Lansing; Emma H. is the wife of Dan McPherson, of New York: Maria is now the wife of Rev. David Howell, of Lan- sing, who was formerly superintendent of schools, but who is now a minister; Claudius died when six years old; and Arthur lives in Owosso.

Dr. Hume acquired his early education in the district schools of Lenawee county and later in the Saginaw high school. He was graduated in the Michigan Agricultural Col- lege with the class of 1873, after which he at- tended the University of Michigan for two years, and in 1876 he was graduated in the Medical College in Detroit. The young physi- cian first practiced at Bennington, where he remained for six years, but not being satisfied with his field of labor, he moved to Corunna, where he has built up a fine and lucrative practice.

December 26, 1878, Dr. Hume was united in marriage to Miss Helen, daughter of John and Jane (Hopkins) McGuffie, of New York. Mrs. Hume was born in Churchville, New York, August 21, 1851. Her mother is now living in Lenawee county, and her father died in Sparta, Wisconsin. She is one of a family of three children, of whom two are now living.

To our subject and wife have been born two children: Hattie, born April 10, 1880, died March 24, 1898, and Irene, born July 11, 1884, is a teacher in the Corunna public schools and resides at home with her parents.

Dr. Hume is a stanch Republican, a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is allied with the Masons, Odd Fellows and Foresters. He devotes his time to the healing art and his services are in con- stant demand by the best class of patrons in the community.

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A. F. HUNT

The record of the life of every successful business man should be carefully preserved that future generations may have knowledge of the characteristics from which success has - sprung. Many a man with a fair start in life has been surpassed by his less fortunate fel- low-man, not from ill-luck, but inevitably from folly.

A. F. Hunt, of Byron, Michigan, was born in the township of Shiawassee, Shiawassee county, this state, in the year 1865. He is the youngest son of Alfred and Ella (Simpson) Hunt. His father was a native of England, coming to this country at the age of nineteen years. He settled in Shiawassee county, near Bancroft, where he purchased a farm. He * afterward disposed of this farm and pur- chased another, in Bennington township, upon which he resided until the date of his death in 1883, at the age of fifty-four years. There were four children in the family, all boys, the oldest being Thomas Hunt, who is superin- tendent of Indian reservations at Washington, D. C. The second son is George Hunt, of Al- pena. The third is William H. Hunt, cashier of the bank at Laingsburg. The fourth son is the subject of this sketch. He was four years of age when his parents removed from Shia- wassee township to Bennington township. Here he received his schooling, and afterward his knowledge of the banking business, with his brother, William H., in the bank at Laings- burg. He thoroughly equipped himself for the banking business, and then assisted in the organizing of the bank at Byron, under the firm name of Hunt Brothers & Rohrabacher, in the year 1889. His thorough equipment counted for the success of the bank and for himself. In 1898 he purchased the shares of the other partners and has since that time been the sole proprietor.

Mr. Hunt is also the owner of a large farm in Bennington township, which he manages, feeding as high as three thousand sheep an- nually for market. He is also a member of

the firm of Crawford & Hunt, dealers in and importers of horses.

In 1892 he married Anna, daughter of George Rowell, of Bennington township, and to them have , been born three children- Weston. Ethelwyn and Gale.

Mr. Hunt politically is a Republican and has filled the office of town treasurer for many years. He is a member of the order of Ma- sons, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.

Mr. Hunt's success in his business enter- prises is due to a thorough investigation and knowledge of the business before he attempts to conduct it, followed by a vigorous and un- tiring prosecution, until the desired end is ob- tained. And throughout all of his transac- tions is found that element, without which no one can continue prosperous and respected -a fixed integrity.

GEORGE JACOBS

This native Vermonter may rightly be called a soldier-farmer. He enlisted in Company B. Fourth Michigan Cavalry, at Corunna, July 12, 1864, and was mustered in at Flint, Att- gust 20, 1864. He took part in the battles of Double Bridge, Montgomery, and Columbus. He was one of a detachment which captured Jeff Davis. He is the possessor of a large sil- ver ladle which he took from Davis' wagon at the time the fleeing chief was taken pris- oner. He was born in Orwell, Rutland county, Vermont, February 12, 1831. His father was Francis Jacobs and was also a Vermonter. The latter's wife, Maria (Lincoln) Jacobs, like her husband, was a native of that state, where they were married. Francis Jacobs re- moved to Oakland county in 1847, and re- mained there two or three years, He then changed to Genesee county, where he took up forty acres of wild land from the government. He cleared the same, built a frame house and lived there until his death. Jacob was the first of four children. John lives at Caro,

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Michigan ; William E. is individually men- tioned in this volume ; Sara, who lives at Pine Grove, Saginaw county, Michigan, married Jackson J. Powell, and they have eight chil- dren.

George Jacobs started for himself at the age of twenty-one years. He first bought sixty-five acres of wild land in Hazelton town- ship. He built a log house and stable, cleared the land and lived there for forty years. Eight years ago he sold the farm and bought four and one-half acres just south of New Lotli- rop, where he has since lived. There were only eighteen voters in the township when he located there. Deer, wolves, turkeys, etc., abounded in the woods at that time. The wolves were the first to disappear. Mr. Ja- cobs has for sixteen years made an annual pil- grimage to the northern woods in quest of deer. being remarkably fond of hunting. In many houses he has mounted deer heads which he shot over thirty years ago.

In 1852 he was married to Margery Fen- wick, who died in 1860. He had three chil- dren by his first wife: John Fremont, who was born June 10, 1855, married Almeda Cantley, and they live in Hazelton township; they have five children-Pearl, Roy, Margery, Blanche and Otie. Charles, who was born February 25, 1857, lives in Oklahoma; his wife is deceased, having had two children. Darwin, born April 12, 1859, went west when twenty-one years old and has not been heard from in years.

Mr. Jacobs married for his second wife Louisa Amidon, April 20, 1862. She was born in New Haven township October 28, 1843. The eight children of this union are all living. Frank, who was born July 24, 1863. lives at Flint ; he married Luella Hosmer, and they had five children-Clara (dead), Ralph. Laverne, Mckinley and Alice. Flora, born April 21, 1866, is the wife of Charles Birdsell, of Hazelton township, and they have two chil- dren-Elmer and Ira. Alice, born June 10. 1868, lives in Chesaning ; she married Melvin Augustine, and they had four children-Mar-

tin (dead), Mirtie, Mildred and Elmo. Nettie, born March 8, 1870, lives with parents and is single. Orpha, born November 29, 1872, lives at Midland, Michigan; she married Guy Petty and has two children-Merle and Rhea. George, who was born April 24, 1875, lives in New Haven township ; he married Rena Lyon and they have no children. Homer, who was born January 21, 1878, and who lives in Ha- zelton township, married Emma Steinhope, and they had three children-Thelma, Milton (now dead) and Milford. Earl, born Decem -. ber 9, 1879, lives with parents.

The parents of Mr. Jacobs' second wife were Jesse Amidon, born in Vermont, and Matilda (Dunlap) Amidon, born in New York state. Jesse Amidon came to Michigan about 1840 and first purchased eighty acres in New Haven township, most of which he cleared. He bought and sold a great deal of land and at the time of his death lived on and owned forty acres in Hazelton township, having cleared this farm. He used to haul grain to mill at Pontiac. He died in 1895 at the age of sixty-six years, while his wife joined the "silent majority" in 1897, aged seventy-eight years.

In politics Mr. Jacobs is a Republican. He has been a constable, has held the office of highway commissioner for two terms of three years each, was justice of the peace two terms and township treasurer one term. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. and he belongs to the Grand Army of the Re- public. All the men there were in New Haven township-seven in number-at the time he located there, met at the house of Jesse Ami- don to organize the" township. Hazelton and New Haven composed one township at this time.

JOHN F. JACOBS

All homage should be paid to those sterling members of society who by hard work and determined activity, coupled with an unfail- ing energy, have developed the resources of

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a new country, and double honor should be paid them when to their record of industry can be added the story of true integrity, pure lives and beneficent kindness to others. A high personal aim in life has its good effect upon a community just as surely as sunshine causes the tree to bud and the flower to bloom, and it is as necessary and vital in the devel- opment of the social life as the rays of the sun are to the physical.

John F. Jacobs was born at Springfield, . Oakland county, Michigan, on the 10th of June, 1855. When he was one and one-half years of age his parents, George and Margery (Fenwick) Jacobs, who are individually men- tioned elsewhere in this present volume, re- moved from Oakland county and settled in the woods of Hazelton township, Shiawassee county, where they had purchased a farm which adjoins that of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Jacobs attended the district school in Hazelton township in the winter and worked upon his father's farm during the summer months, learning how to fell a tree with an ax, and skilling himself in the art of making a brush pile and rolling a log. When a little older he took a post-graduate course in plow- ing amid roots and around stumps, and those who have the privilege of beholding his beau- tiful and productive farm of one hundred and one acres, on section 18, will bear witness that his early education was thorough and com- plete.

After assisting his father in the clearing up and improving of his farm, our subject, at the age of twenty-one years, purchased the farm which he now owns and to which we have just called the reader's attention. This land was all wild, and in bringing it to its present con- dition he had to do just what all pioneers had to do-the only difference being that he la- bored harder and with more care and judg- ment than most of them, and to-day, as a result, he has a better improved and more valu- able farm. His attractive house is partly brick and partly frame, beautifully decorated and furnished upon the inside, with all the conven-

iences that go to make life worth living, and his large farm-barn is conveniently arranged for grain, hay and stock, is substantially built and fully equipped for general farming pur- poses.

.On the 8th of January, 1879, Mr. Jacobs. was happily joined in marriage to Almeda Cantley, who was born in August, 1856, her family being numbered among the pioneers who have added luster to Hazelton township. Her father, James Cantley, and her mother, Eliza (McEuen) Cantley, now reside at Glad- win, Michigan, having moved there from Che- saning.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs' home has been blessed by the birth of seven children, five of whom are living. Otie, born April 5, 1880, is the wife of Lorne Veal, and they have two chil- dren, Leo and Otto ; Blanche was born March 25, 1882; Alma died at the age of nine years ; Pearl was born March 29, 1888 ; Ray was born December 10, 1891; Margery was born July 24, 1893, and Darwin died at the age of five months.

Politically Mr. Jacobs affiliates with the Re- publican party, but his time has been occupied in attending to his farm and his own business, so that he has not aspired to or held any of- fice. He is not a member of any church, but attends the services and Sabbath school in the Free Methodist church and is one of its lib- eral supporters. While he has devoted his attention to general farming, he has also for eighteen years run a cider mill, and before mills were so plentiful made as much as seven hundred dollars in a single season. He has grown from his infancy to sterling manhood in Hazelton township, which, like him, has grown to be one of the best in the county of Shiawassee.

WILLIAM E. JACOBS

This gentleman may truthfully lay claim to having been a successful farmer, a brave sol- dier, and a good business man, his record

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being one of exceptional distinction in each of these fields. "'Tis not in mortals to command success," but Mr. Jacobs resolved to deserve it and he has.

View the whole scene, with critic judgment scan,

And then deny his merit if you can ; Where he falls short, 'tis nature's fault alone : Where he succeeds, the merit's all his own.

Our subject was born in Orwell township, Rutland county, Vermont, February 23, 1840. His father, Francis Jacobs, was a native of Ontario, Canada, where he was born April 20, 1806, and he died in Vienna township, Gene- see county, Michigan, in June, 1870. The mother of our subject was Prudence Maria (Lincoln) Jacobs, who was born in Connecti- cut, October 13, 1807, and who died in Hazel- ton township, Shiawassee county, in Au- gust 1871. They were married in Vermont. After this event, they removed to New York, where they remained one and one-half years, and in 1848 they came to Pontiac, Michigan. Then Francis Jacobs rented farms in Spring- field, Oakland county, for a time, until he had accumulated sufficient money to purchase for- ty-two acres of government land, in Vienna township, Genesee county, the deed for which was signed by James Buchanan in 1854.

Our subject's grandfather on his mother's side, was Stephen Lincoln, who served in the war of 1812, while ancestors on the same side took part in the revolutionary war. When a lad of twelve years, Francis Jacobs went from Canada to the Nutmeg state, his father having died previously to that time, making it neces- sary for him to leave home. When he estab- lished his home in the forests of Michigan, there were no roads then to his new home,- nothing but Indian trails and blazed trees to point the way. But these conditions did not dis- courage the pioneers of those days. They were made of better metal. Francis Jacobs built a small frame house and afterward a frame barn. Then, little by little, as if storming a citadel, this sturdy man felled the mighty forest trees which towered heavenward, thus laying low

the giants of the forest and causing them to give place to broad, cultivated fields. Mr. Ja- cobs continued to live there until death called him to a higher and better sphere-to "the land of the blue," "a land that is fairer than this." During his early days in that wilderness, Mr. Jacobs killed many deer and much other wild game, the former being plentiful and easily gotten by use of a good rifle in proper hands.

Our subject, William E. Jacobs, started in life for himself at the age of twenty years. He had but little cash,-indeed, cash was a .scarce article in those days, but he had forty dollars. which he had earned in various ways. This, with some little assistance extended him by his father, in compensation for clearing some land, enabled him to purchase, in 1860, forty acres of timbered land, in Hazelton township, the first payment being the forty dollars just mentioned. When he first visited that land, he traveled five miles of the way by blazed trees. There was a log house on the place and the timber on a few acres had been cut off. At first he boarded with his brother George, who owned the land adjoining him. About 1872 our subject bought forty acres of timbered land, which he improved, later adding still an- other forty, giving him now one hundred and twenty acres, one hundred acres of which are under a high state of cultivation. A good house and substantial barns now adorn the place. From 1868 to 1882 Mr. Jacobs conducted a saw mill, originally with a partner, but later alone. In this manner he assisted in clearing most of the township of its vast forests. When Mr. Jacobs decided to plant an orchard he went to Corunna and there purchased the young trees and carried them home on his back, a distance of twelve miles.

In 1864 Mr. Jacobs was mar-ind +^ Maria Halcomb, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Halcomb, who were early settlers in Hazelton township. She died one and one-half years af- terward. The issue of this union was twins, but they lived only a few hours. October 31, 1870, he was married a second time, Cindona Culver of Branch county, being the happy

WILLIAM E. JACOBS

MRS. WILLIAM E. JACOBS

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bride. She was born May 6, 1843. She was a daughter of W. H. H. and Lucina ( Priest) Culver. Mrs. Jacobs' mother was born July 19, 1826, and died November 11, 1900, in Quincy, Branch county. Her father was born February 18, 1816, died in Quincy, Branch county, July 28, 1891. He settled near Oke- mos, Michigan, at an early date. He drove a yoke of cattle through from New York state in 1840. In the early days Mr. Culver used to take grain to Pontiac to mill, the trip requiring four days, and his first purchase of factory cloth was made at Ypsilanti, the goods being carried home on his back. Mrs. Jacobs can remember that in those early days the pioneers used to have to cure marsh grass to feed the cattle during the winter, because of the scarci- ty of cultivated hay. At one time her parents had one-half barrel of strained honey taken from bee trees. During the early days a bear stole a pig from the pen and was followed to the woods by Mr. Culver, who set a trap and succeeded in catching "bruin" the following night. Mr. and Mrs. Culver were members of the Methodist Episcopal church for over sixty years.

Following is a brief record concerning the children of Mr. Jacobs by his second wife: Fred, who was born May 16, 1872, and who lives in Toledo, Ohio, being employed by the Ann Arbor Railroad, married Madge Dann, and they have four children,-Linton, Maine, Marguerite and Fred Jr. Dora E., born June 1, 1874, and lives in Detroit. She married R. M. Ackerson, who works for the Grand Trunk Railroad ; and they had one child, which died. Mark L., born December 12, 1877, has been in the army for twelve years, having taken part in several engagements, in Porto Rico and the Philippine islands; he has one gold and two silver medals for markmanship, being the best marksman in his regiment. He is first ser- geant of Company H, Nineteenth Regiment, and is now in the Philippines for the second time. Carl, born May 10, 1877, lives at home.

In 1861 the cry of war was heard from every hilltop and through every valley in the north-

land. "For with a common shriek, the gen- eral tongue exclaimed 'to arms,' and fast to arms they sprung." William E. Jacobs heard this cry and was not slow to answer it, enlist- ing, in October, of that year, in Company G. Third Michigan Cavalry, in Hazelton, and later being mustered in at Grand Rapids. The regiment left for the field November 28, 1861, in command of Lieutenant Colonel Minty, un- der orders to report at St. Louis, Missouri, but our subject was discharged for disability after four months' service. In February, 1862, he again enlisted, and at Yorktown, Virginia, was mustered into Company K, Sixteenth Michigan Infantry. This regiment shared in the siege of Yorktown, April, 1862, and also partici- pated in the severe engagements at Hanover Court House, May 27, and at Gaines Mills, June 27. He continued with his regiment un- til again discharged for physical disability, at Hampton, Virginia, in February, 1863. At the time of his discharge he was a corporal and acting as sergeant.

In 1892 Mr. Jacobs was elected sheriff of Shiawassee county on the Republican ticket and again in 1894, by five hundred or more votes than were ever given any other sheriff of the county,-a fact that fully attests his ability and efficiency as a public servant. He has served as a supervisor of Hazelton township for several years in succession and has been school director term after term. He also acted as agent for the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company for several years and is now alderman for the second ward in Corunna, his present home. Besides this he is vice-president of the United States Robe Company, which transacts a business of seventy-five thou- sand dollars per annum, and is a director of the Corunna furniture factory. In the multiplicity of his duties Mr. Jacobs does not forget his social functions, as he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and also the York Rite bodies of Masonry,-the Blue lodge at Hazelton, and the chapter, council and com- mandery, of Curunna. His wife is a Presby- terian. Mrs. Jacobs is affiliated with the

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Woman's Relief Corps, Eastern Star, and the Ladies of the Maccabees. She has been presi- dent of the H. F. Wallace Corps, is past de- partment chaplain, is past worthy matron of the Eastern Star, and has been for three years and is now lady commander of the Ladies of the Modern Maccabees. Mrs. Jacobs was one of the pioneer teachers of Shiawassee, Ingham, and Livingston counties, and acquired part of her education at Professor Taylor's private school, at Lansing, Michigan.

WARREN JARRAD

Citizens of Shiawassee county, as of other enterprising localities, are its bones and sinew, and draw to its centralizing influence such cit- izens as are of profit and will forward its prosperity. The genuine push and persever- ance of this son of New York is noticeable in the marked degree of success which he has attained in his undertakings in life. Warren Jarrad, the present sheriff of Shiawassee county, is a man of noble character and high repute, whose public-spirited services and ag- gressive and far seeing enterprise have won for him a position of trust among his fellow men,-and to have the esteem of one's fellow men, and especially of those who know you most intimately in the every-day relation of neighbors, is worth much, and to gain it is a worthy ambition in the breast of any honora- ble man.

Warren Jarrad was born in Livingston county, New York, in 1864, and is a son of James L. and Jane Jarrad, who likewise were natives of New York. The father and mother came to Michigan when our subject was elev- en years of age and settled in Antrim township, Shiawassee county. The mother died when Warren was but fourteen months old. The farm, which was new land when the Jarrads located upon it, is still the home of the father. He has cleared and improved this farm, and to-day it is one of the most desirable pieces of property in the community.

Our subject attended the district schools of

Shiawassee county and upon starting out in life for himself he engaged in drilling wells, following this occupation about two years. After this he went to Buffalo, and for seven years was a fireman of the New York Cen- tral Railroad. Mr. Jarrad then came back to the home county and state and bought the well known Morgan homestead and has since lived upon this property.

Warren Jarrad was married in April of the year 1884 to Miss Ida Morgan, daughter of James T. Morgan, an old resident of Antrim township, who cleared up and brought to a state of cultivation the farm upon which our subject has so long made his home. Seven children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Jarrad, namely: Blanche, James, Edna, Raymond, Earl, Clark Smith and Gertrude; all are at home with their par- ents.

The political views of Mr. Jarrad have brought him into affiliation with the Demo- cratic party and he takes an active interest in all that pertains to politics and the welfare of our country. He served his party in the capac- ity of supervisor in Antrim for five years. Fill- ing this minor office in an able and painstak- ing manner, he won the confidence of his fel- low citizens and they, knowing that he would efficiently fill the position and serve the people to the best of his ability, elected him to the prominent position of sheriff of Shiawassee county, the duties of which office he entered upon January 1, 1905. The citizens of Co- runna and Shiawassee county may, in a meas- ure, thank our subject for the new court house, of which they may justly feel proud. as he was a member of the committee which introduced the measure for building the same.

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Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches, Part 46

Author: Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Lansing, Mich. : Hist. Pub. Number of Pages: 580

Author:
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Lansing, Mich. : Hist. Pub.
Number of Pages: 580