USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches > Part 47
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Warren Jarrad is proud of the record of his grandfather, on his mother's side, whose name was John Perkins and who lived to be one hundred years old. He never wore an ' overcoat and never smoked or drank. He was highly respected and held an enviable posi- tion in the esteem of all who knew him.
WARREN JARRAD
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Our subject is prominently identified with the Elks, Eagles, Masons, Knights of Pythias and Gleaners and takes a great interest in the social side of life.
The record of Mr. Jarrad as a leading citi- zen of his county is worthy of imitation. He is a man to whom right principle is paramount and it is said of him that his word is as good as his note. He is a man well spoken of by all who know him and has honorably attained to a broad and true friendship with many. When elected sheriff his majority was four hundred and five. The smallest majority re- ceived of any one of the Republican candi- dates in the county was twenty-six hundred at the time Mr. Jarrad was elected. This of- fers striking evidence of the estimate placed upon Sheriff Jarrad by the people of Shiawas- see county.
THOMAS JENKINSON
The greater part of the life of the gentle- man, whose biography we shall attempt to give below, has been devoted to agricultural pursuits. For the past eight years, however, he has given a part of his time to evangelistic work, seeking the betterment of his fellow men and leading them to see the light that will eventually guide them to the throne of the Most High. He is prevented from pur- suing the last named labor of love by a duty which he owes to his beloved wife, who is ill and requires his attention and care at home.
Our subject was born at Cambridge, Eng- land, on the 4th day of March, 1845. His father, John Jenkinson, was a highly educated English gentleman. He was born in West- moreland, England, and came to America in 1849, locating at Cleveland, Ohio, where he died three years later, when subject was but seven years of age. He was a civil engineer and was one of the surveyors for the first railroad constructed in England, running from Manchester to Maccleofield. The maid-
en name of his wife was Ann Brown. She was born at Somersetshire, England, and died in June, 1869, at the age of fifty-two years. The subject of this sketch was the oldest of six children. The second, Betsey, now resides in- Canada. The third, Nancy, now resides in Gratiot county, Michigan. The fourth, Sarah, resides in Iowa. The fifth, John, died in the year 1870. The sixth, William, died in, infancy.
The father's unfortunate death left the mother with a family of little ones to care. and thus our subject at an early age assumed the responsibilities of life. He had received a good general education in the district schools of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen years was his own bread- winner. He was occupied for the next few years in running a stationary engine and in learning the cooper's trade, in a shop at Cleveland, Ohio. The occupation of a day laborer was distasteful to our subject, for he desired a business in which there were greater possibilities. He thought of the advice of Horace Greeley to young men and knowing that one of his schoolmates, W. D. Under- wood, had located in the woods of Michigan, he decided to find him, and succeeded, Mr. Underwood having located on a farm in New Haven township. Liking the country, Mr. Jenkinson purchased eighty acres of land, in section 13, New Haven township, and as his ax sunk into the first tree, a large maple which stood where his beautiful home now stands he raised his eyes to his Creator and said, "Here's where I'll_live and here's where I'll die." Grant himself expressed no greater determination when he said, "I'll fight it out on this line if it takes all summer."
On the 7th day of April, 1869,-the same year in which subject arrived in Shiawassee county, he was united in marriage to Alma Cooper, the good woman who is now upon her sickbed. She was born in Ohio on the 28th of October, 1852. Her father, Jacob Cooper, is a native of Ohio, but is now living a retired life, in Owosso. The marriage,
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which has been a happy one, has been blessed by the birth of three children: Cortez T., who was born September 25, 1875, married Mina Hyde and resides in New Haven township. Shirley J. was born February 25, 1878, is single and resides in California. Gar- field H., born February 26, 1881, resides at home.
Mr. Jenkinson has not only kept his prom- ise to reside in Shiawassee county but he has also been prosperous. He is now possessed of one hundred and seventy acres of finely improved farming land, with buildings that do credit to him and his family. Politically he is a Prohibitionist and he has held the office of road commissioner. He belongs to the Free Methodist church and his Christian life and admonition have brought peace to many a home.
ANTHONY S. JORAE
This gentleman is a native of Victor town- ship, Clinton county, Michigan, where he was born March 30, 1870. He is a son of Victor J. and Theresa (Brookwalter) Jorae, both hailing from beautiful Switzerland, where the former was born July 17, 1822, and the latter in the year 1826. They were married under the blue skies of their native heath and came to America about the year 1854. They first located in Oakland county, Michigan, where the elder Jorae worked on a farm for several years. He then removed to Clinton county, where he bought 120 acres of virgin forest. He built a dwelling, cleared the land and re- mained there until his death, at the age of seventy-six years. He proved to be a highly prosperous and thrifty farmer, one of the best in the township, and became an extensive land-owner. A few years before his death he divided his property among his children, giv- ing each a good start in the world. He was a Republican in politics, but never held office, nor did he desire one. Both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church, and
were very worthy people,-fine specimens, in fact, of the sterling type of the country that gave them birth. They had six children, four of whom are living : Joseph is in an asylum at Battle Creek; Nicholas, who lives on a farm in Victor township, Clinton county, married Ella Plunkett; Theodore, who lives on the old farm in that township, married Martha Ash- lev.
Our subject was educated in the district schools of Victor township, his native place. Later he spent one year in the Detroit College of Medicine. He continued to live with his parents until he was twenty-six years of age, when he engaged in farming for himself, be- ing the owner of eighty acres of land in Vic- tor, left him by his father. But he had a de- sire about this time to be a "merchant of great traffic through the world." He therefore em- barked in the grocery business at Ovid, but remained there for about six months only, when he sold and returned to the farm. Not long after this he disposed of his Victor farm and bought eighty acres in Middlebury town- ship. Shiawassee county, where he now lives. This was all improved when he bought it, having good buildings. It was formerly owned by H. Norton. Mr. Jorae was married June 29, 1899, to Lucy Morse, who was born in Ovid township, Clinton county, September 20, 1871. She is a daughter of Grant and Augusta (Eaton) Morse. Mr. Morse is now dead but his widow lives in Ovid. Mr. and Mrs. Jorae have three children, namely : Har- old, born May 10, 1899; Edith, born August 13, 1901 ; and Alice, born April 7, 1903. Mrs. Jorae was the second of five children, as fol- lows: Alma is now Mrs. Scudder of Ovid; Lucy is our subject's wife; George is a dry- goods merchant in California ; Charles, who is a Baptist minister, residing in Kalamazoo, married Grace Calkins ; Arthur is married and lives in Ovid.
Mr. Jorae has always been a Republican but has never held office. Mrs. Jorae is a member of the Baptist church. He is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America, and
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of the Grange, holding affiliation with the or- ganizations of these orders at Ovid. He de- votes his entire attention to farming and has a beautiful place. Indeed, our subject evi- dently thinks with the poet that
Beauty was lent to nature as the type Of Heaven's unspeakable and holy joy, Where all perfection makes the sum of bliss.
FRANK KARRER
The subject of this sketch is not only a good business man, but is also an excellent mechanic as well. For nearly a half a century has been engaged in the work of his trade. He is widely known throughout Shiawassee county as one of the staunchest of Republi- cans, and for years has been singled out among his fellows as the right man to occupy some local office. He, therefore, served four terms as justice of the peace in Durand, one term in Byron and two in Gaines. He was town clerk in Gaines for five terms and held the same position in Byron, and was also constable for seven years in Byron, and dep- uty sheriff for two terms in the same place. He is a native of Switzerland, that land of lofty mountains, huge glaciers, and extensive flocks of sheep, cows and goats, and dates his birth from the year 1834. He is the son of Frank Peter and Ann Marie Karrer. His father was an unassuming, honest laborer. Both his parents are now dead. They had six children,-Sophia, Rose, Frank, Vergis, Su- san and Julia. The two last named are dead. Mr. Karrer came with his parents to this country when only ten years of age, the fam- ily settling in Detroit. He obtained his lim- ited early education in his native land and Detroit. During his residence of nine years in the latter city he learned the trade of tin- smith. Upon reaching the age of nineteen years, he located in Byron, opened a little shop and continued there in the tin business for a period of twenty-six years. Removing thence to Gaines, he continued in the same
line for nine years, settling in Durand about thirteen years ago. This makes in all nearly half a century that he has been engaged in that calling. Verily this is a long period to go in and out before a community and keep one's good name intact, as our subject has done.
Mr. Karrer's business is one of the most prosperous in Durand, and besides doing general work in the tin and sheet-iron line, he does much in the way of manufacturing and installing hot-air and steam heating appara- tus. He also deals quite extensively in stoves.
Mr. Karrer was married, when he first set- tled in Byron, at the age of nineteen, to Ann M. Disbrow, and is the father of five children, as follows: Frank C., a laborer and a resi- dent of Owosso; Delbert D., a painter of Ban- croft; Fred L., a shop employe, living at Flint; Edward E., a tinsmith, in business with his father ; and a daughter, who is now Mrs. Charles Simmons of Durand. The only se- cret society to which Mr. Karrer belongs is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of this he is an enthusiastic member. As has already been intimated, Mr. Karrer is a very upright business man, and as a result is ex- tremely popular among all classes. [Since the foregoing sketch was prepared Mr. Kar- rer has been summoned to the life eternal, closing an earthly career of signal honor and usefulness.]
FRANCIS W. KENT
Francis W. Kent, who occupies the old Van Riper farm in Woodhull township and who has controlled large lumbering interests in the south, is still comparatively a young man, having been born on the family homestead in the southwestern portion of that township, in section 34, on the 7th of August, 1863. His father, William Grover Kent, was born De- cember 25, 1825, in Seneca county, New York, and came to Michigan with his parents as a boy of twelve years. He first lived on a
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farm near Ann Arbor, Washtenaw county, which his father, Elias Kent, had taken up from the government. Here the family re- sided for six years, when the father sold the property and removed to Wheatfield town- ship, Ingham county, where he had purchased another farm. This he also sold, locating next on eighty acres of wild land in Williams- ton township. After improving the farm and making it his residence for twenty years, he took up five hundred and twenty acres of gov- ernment land, in section 34, Woodhull town- ship, making many improvements upon it. A portion of this tract afterward came into possession of our subject when, as a young man, he was at the beginning of his career as an agriculturist.
Grandfather Kent was an Englishman, born in 1792, and was one of three children. Shortly after coming to the United States, however, he proved his patriotic worth by en- listing under the stars and stripes and fight- ing against Great Britain in the war of 1812. He married Hattie Tooker, in New York, where his eleven children were born, eight of whom lived to maturity, viz .: Jonah, Sarah, Fanny, Hettie, William G. (our subject's father), Hannah, Elizabeth and Elias. Prior to his location in Washtenaw county, Michi- gan, he had engaged with Zachary Taylor's troops in the Black Hawk war, and after the marriage of his son, he fought in the Mexi- can war. Consequently in three wars he thoroughly proved his faithfulness as an adopted son of the United States.
William G., the son of the original proprie- tor of the homestead, and the father of Fran- cis W. Kent, married Prudence Warner, in May, 1847. He lived upon the old farm until 1864, when, with his family, he removed to Lainsburg, residing in that place eleven years and then returning to the homestead to pass the remainder of his years. At the time of his death, July 19, 1903, Mr. Kent was the oldest Mason in Michigan, being a charter member of the lodge at Laingsburg. In 1855 he was caught in the California emigration of
gold-seekers and spent four years in the mines. He was accompanied by his brother- in-law, S. F. Warner, and in the course of his varied experience, both made and lost several fortunes. Among his other ventures, in 1872, he went to Shreveport, Louisiana, to take charge of a gang of men clearing logs and debris from the Red river. He was, in fact, a man of remarkable energy and varied ability, which he passed down, in good meas- ure to the subject of this sketch.
To Mr. and Mrs. William G. Kent three children were born. The natal day of Alice A. was August 27, 1848. She married John Scoutten, of Laingsburg, July 6, 1877. They have had two children,-Frances M., who was born January 14, 1881, and who died Septem- ber 23, 1884, and Marguerite, who was born October 20, 1883, who was graduated at Laingsburg and Mount Pleasant and who is now a teacher at Charlevoix. Jane E. was born September 7, 1854, and died in Septem- ber, 1874, unmarried. The third child was our subject.
Prudence (Warner) Kent, the mother of Francis W. Kent, was born in Chenango county, 'New York, February 2, 1831. She was married in Woodhull township, at the age of sixteen years, and died June 12, 1896. She was a daughter of Smith B. and Hannah (Smith) Warner, her mother dying in March, 1865. Her parents were married in Smith- ville, New York, where Mr. Warner owned a grist mill, carding mills, and several farms. Disposing of these holdings, he bought nine- teen hundred acres of wild land in Ingham and Shiawassee counties, Michigan, most of this immense tract being secured direct from the government, and the remainder being pur- chased from Samuel Townsend. At the same time he bought three hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land on the present site of Battle Creek. He died shortly after set- tling in Michigan.
Our subject received his early education in Laingsburg, his schooling from books ending when he was about seventeen years old. At
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that time he bought a yoke of oxen and started to farm on his own responsibility, se- lecting as the field for his operations a part of the original claim upon which his grand- father had located, in section 34, Woodhull township. About the year 1880 he cleared up the remainder of the farm and erected a house and a number of barns on the old homestead. In 1901 he removed to the old Van Riper farm of one hundred and sixty acres, of which one hundred and twenty acres is improved and in fine condition. Besides being a landed pro- prietor here, he has until quite recently had ex- tensive business interests in the south. Some time ago he went into that section of the coun- try to make some lumber estimates for Chi- cago parties, which led to individual invest- ments in the lumbering industries of Ken- tucky and Mississippi. The family are active members of the local Grange and also con- nected with the Maccabees, Mr. Kent having served two terms as lieutenant commander. In politics Mr. Kent is a Democrat. In 1898 he enlisted, at Island Lake, for service in the Spanish-American War, but was rejected on account of disability. .
On March 17, 1885, our subject was united in marriage to Kate L. Harper, the nuptial ceremony occurring at Stockbridge, Michigan. They have two children, Kittie Frances, who was born February 27, 1886, and who graduated in the Shaftsburg school, in 1905; and Clay Kent, who was born May 30, 1890.
Mrs. Kent was born July 14, 1863, and re- ceived her early education in the district schools. Her father, James S. Harper, was a native of Wayne county, New York, where he was born July 12, 1826. He was of Scotch- Irish descent. On October 31, 1846, he married Margaret Ann Van Riper, who was born in New York state September 19, 1830. Mrs. Kent is the youngest of four children. An- drew J. Harper, the first child, was born on the 27th of January, 1843. He married Mary Marsh, in 1877, and lives on the old Harper homestead, in Woodhull township; their one
child, Maud, born February 22, 1879, is the wife of ex-Representative S. J. Colby, of De- troit, to whom she was married on December 29, 1904: Bertha H. Harper, born August 14, 1854, married Myron C. Pierce, in April, 1870, and is the mother of two children,- Kate M. Pierce, born October 9, 1884, and James G. Pierce, born in November, 1879. The latter is a Washtenaw county farmer. May E. Harper was the third born, the date of her birth being November 22, 1860. Her marriage to Neal Dewer occurred at Shafts- burg in 1879. Her husband is a railroad man of Houston, Texas, where their four children were born. Their youngest, May E., died in that city in 1903. The living are Robert, born December 19, 1880; Arthur, born Feb- ruary 9, 1883; and Grace, born October 19, 1885 ; Mrs. May Dewer died April 24, 1894.
Mrs. Kent's grandfather was even an ear- lier Michigan pioneer than her father. He came to the territory in 1835, traveling by way of Canada from New York and breaking his way through the forests with team and wagon. He first settled on a farm of three hundred and sixty acres in Lodi township, Washtenaw county. He was an earnest moral, popular man, and held the office of township clerk for a period of twenty years. He was temperate in all his habits, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a sub- stantial and honored citizen. His wife, Ber- thana (Mason) Harper, was a native of the Empire state, and was the mother of seven sons and one daughter. She spent her last days with her son, Hon. E. W. Harper, a representative from Washtenaw county, in the state legislature. She died at the age of eighty years, and is buried beside her husband, in Saline township, Washtenaw county.
ALBERT E. KILBURN
There are men living in every community the influence of whose lives on the side of virtue, morality, and religion will be felt long years after their once familiar forms and fea-
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tures have passed out of the memory of the living. It is a trite saying that "he lives most who lives best." The impress for good that men leave upon the world is not to be reck- oned by the standard of weights and meas- ures. While the world is loath to adınit it, there are as good men living as dead. It seems otherwise only because we are so conl- stituted that we unhesitatingly let down the mantle of charity upon the weaknesses of of the departed, remembering only their virtues.
Albert E. Kilburn is a just and upright citizen, sharing the confidence and good will of lifelong friends and acquaintances. Mr. Kilburn was born in the Empire state at Orwell, Oswego county, February 13, 1854. His parents, Newell and Lydia (Warner) Kilburn, were both natives of New York, the father having been born at Norwood, St. Lawrence county, and the mother in Jeffer- son county. Newell Kilburn died December 21, 1902, aged eighty years. The mother is still living, making her home with friends in Owosso. Newell Kilburn was a farmer in his native state, where he owned a small farm. This he sold and in 1865 came with his fam- ily to Michigan, first locating in the village of Corunna, where he remained one year, after which he purchased a tract of eighty acres of partially improved land, in the town- ship of New Haven. A small frame house had been erected upon the premises, and into the same the family moved, utilizing this dwelling about twelve years. The present commodious structure was then built, and has since been the family home. The father later purchased a small tract in Caledonia township, where he lived for several years, our subject remaining upon and coming into possession of the old home estate, where he still resides.
Albert E. Kilburn and his twin sister, Alice, were the only children born to their parents. Alice became the wife of Chester Burch, and died at the age of twenty-three years, leaving an afflicted and devoted hus- band and four small children Delilah, Ella
Mina, and Phineas, the last named being now a resident of the township of Venice.
Albert remained at home, assisting in carry- ing on the farming operations. He was united in marriage in March, 1876, to Ida Stewart, who lived only about two years after her marriage, passing out of this life, and leaving a little daughter, Nettie, who was the solace and joy of her stricken father. Nettie married Fred Eveleth and died at the age of twenty years, leaving one child, Anna.
February 17, 1880, Mr. Kilburn was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Mary L., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Bennett, natives of New York. Mrs. Kilburn's father came to Michigan more than a quarter of a century ago and settled on a farm in the town- ship of New Haven, where he has since lived. Her mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Wellard, died in the state of New York, when Mrs. Kilburn was but a young girl.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kilburn has been born a little daughter, Mattie Ruth, whose birth occurred October 4, 1898. In early years Mr. Kilburn affiliated with the Republican party, but when he saw his party drifting under the dominating influence of the rum powers,-as a Christian citizen, realizing the awful curse of the legalized American saloon,-he lined up with the Prohibitionists, thereby giving not only his voice, but also his ballot for the sup- pression of this gigantic evil of the nine- teenth century. In brief, he votes as he prays. In so doing he feels that he is giving the full weight of his influence for the school, the church, and the home, as against the blight- ing curse of intemperance.
Mr. and Mrs. Kilburn are active members of the Free Methodist church at New Haven, in which society they are highly esteemed for the correct deportment of their lives. Though not an extensive farmer, Mr. Kilburn believes in doing well what he does. The family live in the full confidence of their neighbors, and the consciousness of acting well their part in life. Their friends wish for them many years of happiness and helpfulness.
COLONEL PHILIP KLINE AND FAMILY
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PHILIP KLINE
It is always a pleasure to chronicle the events in the career of one who has been a brave and valiant soldier and responsive to the call of his country in its moment of trial and need. The life sketch which we now lay before our readers is that of a man who has made his influence felt not only during the quiet days of peace, but also when the dark clouds of war hung over our land. At that time he joined hand in hand with his neighbors and upon the battle field stood shoulder to shoulder with his comrades in de- fense of the old flag. He now feels that the country for which he fought is dearer to him than if he had remained at home in her hour of distress.
This highly respected gentleman lives upon a beautiful and well cultivated farm of eighty acres, known as Cherryvale Farm, in the township of Vernon. The buildings are new and imposing and denote the thrift and enter- prise of the owner. Colonel Kline was born in the county of Coshocton, Ohio, June 16, 1839. He is a son of John and Katherine Kline, the father having been born in Pennsyl- vania and the mother in the Buckeye state. The occupation of the father was that of farming and his political views were those of the Republican party. He embraced its prin- ciples and believed in its future. John Kline passed out of this life July 13, 1866. His wife lived to an advanced age and died March 3, 1895.
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