Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches, Part 69

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 69

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HIRAM B. WEEKS

Hiram B. Weeks is a native of the Buckeye state, having been born in Sandusky, Ohio,

October 24, 1837. His father, Solomon Weeks, was born in Albany county, New York, June 17, 1896, and passed to the great beyond, at the home of his son Hiram, in Rush township, Shiawassee county, at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years. He removed to Ohio in 1816, being then a young man. He was married there and for many years re- sided in that state,-first in Sandusky county and then in Paulding county, where he lost two sons. Then the family returned to San- dusky county, where the death of the wife and daughter occurred. The family continued to live in different parts of Ohio until 1862, when they removed to Allen county, Indiana, where they remained for seven years. Hiram then removed to Owosso, bringing his father with him. After locating there the father had the misfortune to break his thigh, after which he was unable to work, subsequently dying at his son's home, as stated above. The old gentleman was a Democrat in politics but never aspired to any office; neither was he a church member. Hiram's mother was Emily (Gillett) Weeks, who was born in Pennsyl- vania January 26, 1809, and who died January 7, 1844. Mr. Weeks was the fourth in a fam- ily of six children and is the only one now liv- ing. 1. Mary E., born in Lorain county, Ohio, November 30, 1831, died March 2, 1863. Her first husband was named Krantz and the second Mellen ; they lived in Loraine county, Ohio, and had two children, one of whom is living, Solon B. Mellen, who resides in Lo- rain county, Ohio. 2. Saloma, born February 9, 1834, died February 11, 1844. 3. Harriet, born October 13, 1835, married Sears E. Gal- usha, who enlisted in a regiment of Michigan cavalry and was killed at the battle of Falling Waters in Maryland; his widow later married Hiram Galusha, brother of her first husband, and they lived in Owosso, where she died She had two children by her first marriage,- Mrs. Jennie Hinkley, of Fentonville, Michi- gan, and Mrs. E. M. Hopkins, of Detroit ; and two daughters were the result of the second

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marriage,-Gertrude and Bessie, both single and both now living in Owosso. 5. Martin R., born August 18, 1839, died May 14, 1842. 6. Charles G., born December 6, 1840, died October 14, 1842.

Mr. Weeks was married October 17, 1867, to Lovina Biggs, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, September 22, 1846. She is still living and in excellent health. She is the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Biggs They were both natives of Ohio and lived on a farm in that state until a few years before their death, when they removed to Indiana, where he died at the age of forty-nine and she at the age of fifty years. Mrs. Weeks was one of ten children. She has three sisters living : Sarah, Mrs. Micks; Rebecca, single, and Mrs. Henry Borrow; all are residents of Allen county, Indiana.

Hiram B. Weeks came to Michigan in 1869 and located in Owosso, where he lived one year. He then rented a farm between Owos- so and Corunna and lived there four years. He next leased a farm in Rush town- ship, where he remained four years. He then bought eighty acres of virgin tim- bered land, on section 3 in that township. He at once built a board shanty and began the work of clearing the land. This is now ac- complished, save about six acres of second- growth oak and ash, which he is saving for timber for future use. He has since bought forty-three and three-quarters acres of tim- bered land, but this is not yet cleared. He was educated in the common schools of Ohio and lived with his parents until the death of his mother. Although not one of the earliest settlers of Shiawassee county, he has seen some pretty hard times, and has always been an indefatigable worker, despite the fact that he has suffered greatly from an injury re- ceived while a young man. He is a Democrat but has never held office. He belongs to no church. His wife is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He was drafted for the civil war, but failed to pass a satisfactory

physical examination. His father was drafted for the war of 1812, but was never called upon to go to the front, not being needed.

Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have one son, William F., born November 18, 1869. He married Rena Rathbun, who was born in Bennington township twenty-five years ago. Her father was Joseph Rathbun, now living in Brant, Michigan. William F. and Rena Weeks have four children,-Alva J., Grace, Vera, May and a baby unnamed at the time this article was prepared.

AUGUST C. WESENER

'Tis not often that one finds a gifted musi- cian,-a gentleman who loves music and un- derstands and who has devoted years to it, --- who finally drifts into a business career and makes a success of it. Why this is so, we can- not tell, because, as the poet says: "Music is the universal language of mankind." Why, then, should not a good musician also make a good business man? The only answer we can give is that "music is well said to be the speech of angels," and as a rule few angels are found in business channels. J. G. Holland says that "music was a thing of the soul, a rose-lipped shell that murmured by the eternal sea, a strange bird singing the songs of another shore." The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born August 14, 1860, in Sag- inaw, Michigan. He was a son of Hugo and Bertha (Wiengut) Wesener, natives of Ger- many, the father having been born on the Rhine :

O sweet is thy current by town and by tower, The green sunny vale and the dark linden bower ;

Thy waves as they dimple smile back on the plain,

And Rhine, ancient river, thou'rt German again !

His mother hailed from Berlin. Verily, Germany has done much for the United States, and has sent us thousands upon thousands of

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our best citizens. They are found in all the walks of life. The subject of this memoir received his early education in the schools of Saginaw, and in 1875 came to Owosso, where he entered the high school. Not con- tent to stop there, he afterward took a special course in Olivet College, and from there went to Detroit, where he took musical instruction. From Detroit he journeyed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and entered the Conservatory of Music, taking instruction on the violin and piano. He remained there one year.' Thus it will be seen that young Wesener was musically in- clined and resolved to leave no stone unturned to fully develop the characteristic of his na- ture ; for

Of all the arts, great music is the art To raise the soul above all earthly storms.

Our subject remained one year at Cincin- nati and then returned to Owosso, where he worked in the dry goods store of his father until the latter disposed of his business. He next traveled all over the south and west, with Charles Pike's opera company. He continued on the road for one year with this combination, ending in Kansas City, where he spent one season playing in different opera houses. He then returned to Owosso, but remained only a short time, having been engaged to lead the University Orchestra at Ann Arbor for one year. We again find him in Owosso at work in the dry-goods store of J. J. Davis, with whom he remained for a time. Then he shift- ed to Osborn & Sons' dry-goods establishment, in which he continued ten years. Getting rest- less in the employ of others, he resolved to em- bark in the boot and shoe business, in com- pany with Fred Crowe, under the firm name of the Crowe-Wesener Company. Thereafter he remained until his death identified with that business and also in the same location where he started. When he first engaged in the busi- ness it had been greatly run down and was heavily encumbered. This indebtedness was soon paid off. At his death he owned a one-

third interest in the Wesener block. Seven years ago he bought the interest of his part- ner in the stock, and was sole owner until the close of his life, a short time ago. He employed three clerks and enjoyed a large and profit- able business. This shows what pluck and en- ergy will accomplish. It also illustrates another thing, viz .: that a good musician and a good business man are developed in one and the same individual.

Mr. Wesener was married July 20, 1898, to Grace M. Mead. They had no children. He was a member of Elks Lodge, No. 753, of Owosso, and also of the Lutheran church. He was a Republican in politics, but was not active in that line, neither was he an office- holder or an office seeker. He was a highly respected business man and a splendid citi- zen-just such a one as any community might be proud of. His father located in Owosso in 1875.

WILLIAM I. WHITAKER, M. D.

It is not merely by a knowledge of drugs and medicines that a physician gains success. In order to attain true eminence he must pos- sess the spirit of patient research into the in- tricacies of the "human form divine" and have those kindly sympathies which will give to those who have called him in counsel, con- fidence in his humanity as well as his skill. The career of Dr. Whitaker, of Durand, one of the leading practitioners of Shiawassee county, has been creditable in the extreme, both profes- sionally and personally. A man of fine intel- lectual and professional attainments, with broad and liberal views, he has fortified his mind with a store of useful knowledge, both special and general, through his habits of thought and observation. He commands an extensive practice, stands high in social cir- cles and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

The native place of Dr. Whitaker was Chel- sea, this state, and the date of his birth was

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July 28, 1863. He is a son of Charles and Laura (Beach) Whitaker, both natives of the Empire state. The parents were married in the township of Lima, Washtenaw county, Michigan, in 1846. The father followed the calling of a farmer and came to Michigan in 1834, settling in Washtenaw county. Charles Whitaker died at the age of sixty-one in the year 1879, and the mother still lives at the age of eighty-three, her birthday having been March 12, 1823.

Our subject is the youngest of a family of six children. A sister is a practicing physi- cian at Bay City. Dr. Whitaker attended the district schools and the high school at Chelsea and also at Eaton Rapids. He then attended the University of Michigan for three years and later the Michigan College of Medicine & Surgery, at Detroit, in which institution he was graduated in the class of 1898. Immedi- ately after receiving his diploma the young physician came to Durand, and has here prac- ticed his profession since, with a good de- gree of success.

Dr. Whitaker does a general practice in medicine and surgery and specializes in the treatment of the eye. He is a young man of push and energy and has a large circle of friends and patients in the village and sur- rounding country.

He is local medical examiner for the Mis- souri State Life, the Maccabees, Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York, and is a member of both the State and County Medical Societies. The Doctor is a well-known Mason, being a member of the blue lodge and chapter and is also an Odd Fellow.

Dr. and Mrs. Whitaker are active in the affairs of the Congregational church and deep- ly interested in all that tends to the betterment of conditions in his adopted city. He is a firm believer in the future of Durand.

On the 19th day of December, 1888, Dr. Whitaker was united in marriage to Miss

Alma L. Perry, of Washtenaw county. Mrs. Whitaker's parents were old settlers of Michi- gan, taking up their residence here in an early day. Mrs. Whitaker's father resides at Chelsea and is now sixty-six years of age, and her mother passed away on Christmas, 1901.

The union of Dr. and Mrs. Whitaker has been blessed by the birth of three children, one of whom died in infancy. Two bright little boys, Perry V., born December 25, 1895, and Charles R., born August 8, 1903, are the pride and joy of the home. While yet a young man in his old home town Dr. Whitaker served as supervisor, treasurer and justice of the peace, to the entire satisfaction of his con- stituents. For two years he was traveling salesman for the McCormick Machine Com- pany.

Dr. Whitaker and wife are active members of the Eastern Star Lodge. The Doctor, though a young man in years, has established a good practice and is counted as one of the skilled and useful physicians of his locality. He is personally one of the most agreeable of men, genial and companionable and a man who never fails to make friends wherever he goes.

ADRIAN H. WHITTAKER

Adrian H. Whittaker was born in Halton, near Hamilton, Canada, April 8, 1852. He is a son of John and Charlotte (Disney) Whit- taker, a sketch of whom may be found in con- nection with that of Francis Glover elsewhere in this volume. Until he had reached the age of fourteen years, Adrian Whittaker lived with his parents and attended school in Wood- stock, Canada. Although young in years he started to work for himself at the age stated. For the first six months he was in the em- ploy of John Richards, in a drug and grocery store, Mr. Richards having been founder of the village of Richards Landing. During the subsequent three years he clerked for Peter Nicholson. After this he worked in the

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Bruce mines, but this position did not suit him, so he took a clerkship for one year in the grocery of George Henderson, of Toronto. Next we find him foreman for Hendry & Company, of the same city. But this was not to his liking. He then concluded to en- gage in farming. He may have thought of the words of Pope about

Our rural ancestors, with little blest, Patient of labor when the end was rest, Indulg'd the day that hous'd their annual grain,

With feasts and off'rings, and a thankful strain.

He, therefore, bought one hundred acres of new land in Lamton county, Canada, on which he built a house and barn. He lived there ten years and then, in 1883, he came to Middlebury township and bought eighty acres of land, which had been chopped over. He built a house and barn and cleared the land, making it a splendid property. In 1886 he added forty acres more to his possessions. This had been improved. He continued to live there in comfort and prosperity for twenty years. He then sold the property for a good figure and bought the George F. Arnold farm, consisting of eighty acres, all finely improved, with fair buildings, but the latter have been remodeled and some new fences added. Mr. Whittaker now resides there and is justly proud of the farm and its appointments. Our subject conducts general farming, the kind that seems to pay best in Michigan but he de- votes considerable time to stock, always having a good grade. Durham and shorthorn cattle are his favorite breeds.

Mr. Whittaker was married May 10, 1876, to Alice Ackroyd, born in England Januarv 8, 1853. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Moore) Ackroyd, a sketch of whom is given in connection with that of her brother, John Ackroyd, elsewhere in this work. Our sub- ject and wife have one child, now Mrs. C. H. Seib, born October 3, 1877. Mr. and Mrs.

Seib reside on a farm in Middlebury town- ship and have two children,-Harvey N., aged four years, January 27, 1906, and Charles Edward, aged two years in December, 1905.

'Though coming into Shiawassee county only twenty-three years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker take a deep interest in everything pertaining to the pioneers of Michigan. Mr. Whittaker is a Prohibitionist in politics. He has held the office of justice of the peace for two terms and is now treasurer of his school district. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church.

ELLISON T. WILBUR

This well-known citizen of Owosso township is a native of Ontario township, Wayne county, New York, where he was born April 13, 1852. He received a common school education in the locality in which he was reared. At the age of sixteen years he was placed by his father in the general store of A. G. Gazley at Mendon Center, New York, with a view to learning the mercantile business. The year following he was employed by A. W. Casey in a general store at Ontario, New York, after which he was for two years with his father in a store at Grant City, Missouri. During the years 1874 and 1875 he was in the employ of Kergan & VanTuyl, druggists, and D. N. Preston, a dealer in hardware, at Corunna, Michigan.

His father, Richard E. Wilbur, was born in Milan township, Dutchess county, New York, August 12, 1825, and died in Owosso township August 28, 1902. His mother, Ann Elizabeth (Gazley) Wilbur, was born at Pleasant Val- ley township, Dutchess county, New York, July 19, 1828, dying at subject's residence January 29, 1895. The parents were married at Avon, New York, in October, 1849. Rich- ard E. Wilbur was a farmer, and shortly after his marriage he purchased an improved farm of one hundred and ten acres in Ontario town- ship, Wayne county, New York, as stated

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above, the subject of this sketch was born. Here the father lived for twelve years, when he sold the farm and returned to Avon, his for- mer home, remaining there about two years. He next moved to Grant City, Missouri, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He did not remain there long, however, for in the spring of 1871, he came to Corunna, Michigan, where he bought forty acres of land, inside the city limits. He lived there seven years and then sold the farm and removed to Coldwater, Michigan, where he remained two years. In 1883 he located at Grand Rapids, Michigan, buying forty-five acres of improved land just outside the city limits, in the township of Walker and on what is known as the "river road." He continued there until 1896, when he sold the farm and came to live with his son Ellison at Owosso, where he remained until his death, which has been mentioned. Eph- riam Wilbur, our subject's grandfather, was born in 1790, and was a son of Jeptha Wilbur, of Dutchess county, New York. Eliza (El- lison) Wilbur, our subject's grandmother, born in 1794, was a daughter of Thomas Elli- son, also of Dutchess county, New York. In 1831 Ephriam Wilbur and Eliza (Ellison) Wilbur, settled in Avon, Livingston county, New York, where they purchased a farm of two hundred and eighty-five acres and where they lived until his death, which occurred in 1873. They were the parents of five children, four of whom,-Cyrus, Mrs. Mary J. Harris and Mrs. Eliza W. Stall, of Avon, New York, and Charles E., of Adrian, Michigan, are liv- ing. Mrs. Wilbur survived her husband about two years and spent the last years of her life with her daughters.

Stephen Gazley, our subject's mother's father, born in 1794, and his wife, Ann (Har- ris) Gazley, born in 1798, were residents of Pleasant Valley township, Dutchess county, New York. They were married in 1818. Af- ter his death, which occurred in 1837, his widow with her four children, William, Mary, Joseph and Ann Elizabeth, came to western

New York and established a home at Pultney- ville, in Wayne county. The forefathers of Ellison T. Wilbur came from England and his grandparents were Quakers. At the age of twenty-six years he started in life for him- self. One year was spent in Kansas and Mis- souri and considerable time in Genesee county, Michigan. In January, 1881, he bought the farm he now occupies, on section 21, township of Owosso, Shiawassee county, Michigan. On this were a log house and a stable for one team only. This farm he has improved until it is now all under cultivation. In 1885 he built a barn and later a comfortable and con- venient house. January 1, 1885, he celebrated the new year by marrying Miss Metta Cramer, who was born August 1, 1860. Could the reaching of a new mile stone in life's journey be more appropriately honored ?

Metta Cramer is a daughter of D. S. Cramer, who was born in Wayne county, New York, in 1833. He came to Michigan and set- tled in Atlas township, Genesee county, in 1852. Later he came to Shiawassee county and purchased a farm, in Owosso township. Mrs. Wilbur's mother, Mary Ellen (Gage) Cramer, was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1835. She came to Michigan with her parents in pioneer days, was married in 1856, and much of her useful life has been passed at their home near Owosso. The par- ents of Mrs. Wilbur now live at Burton. Mrs. Wilbur is the second in a family of eight chil- dren : Eugenia M., born July 25, 1858 ; Metta M., born August 1, 1860; Alva, born in 1862, died at the age of one year and four months ; George L., born September 25, 1864 ; Susie R., born February 18, 1867 ; Ellen M., born April 9, 1869 ; Inez A., born November 1, 1871, and Evangeline C., born September 17, 1874.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur have two children, Richard Glen, who was born October 14, 1885, and who lives with his parents, and Mary Elizabeth, who was born April 10, 1887, and who also lives at home. Like his father, Mr. Wilbur is a Republican and has taken an active

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part in the affairs of his township. He has been highway commissioner one year, treas- urer two years, and township clerk twelve years. He now occupies the last-mentioned office. Mrs. Wilbur is a member of the Con- gregational church, while her children are members of the Methodist church.

Who does the best his circumstances allow Does well, acts nobly, angels can do no more.

GEORGE C. WILKINSON

George C. Wilkinson, of Venice township, was the first white male child born in that township, and the event occurred June 13, 1840. He is a son of Charles and Eliza (Clark) Wilkinson, both of whom were na- tives of the Empire state, his father having been born in Jefferson county, April 2, 1813, and his mother in Seneca county, May 14, 1814. His father was one of a family of ten chil- dren,-having had six brothers and three sis- ters. The sisters died when young; his brothers, William, John and Silas, remained in New York state, while the three others be- came prosperous farmers of the Wolverine state, settling on farms and continuing in the ownership of the same until the time of their death. James had three hundred and twenty acres in Oakland county ; Abram one hundred and sixty acres, in Shiawassee county ; and Jacob one hundred and sixty acres, near Mount Vernon.

Mr. Wilkinson's parents were married No- vember 2, 1836, and became residents of Michigan the same year. Their first location was in Oakland county, but in 1837 they re- moved to Vernon township, the father taking up one hundred and twenty acres of govern- ment land. In 1840 he traded this tract for eighty acres of wild land, most of which was cleared, in Venice township, where our sub- ject was born, as already stated, and where he still lives. His father, when he first located upon the old homestead, erected a log house

and barn. At that time, and for some years afterward, wild game and Indians were almost equally plentiful in that locality. As Charles Wilkinson was in poor health for many years, most of the work of the farm was thrown upon the son, who continued virtually to operate it until he was twenty-six years old. The father died January 10, 1883; the mother April 20, 1902.

The four children born to Charles and Eliza Wilkinson are all living,-George C. is our subject; Sara, born in September, 1842, is now the wife of Joseph Priest and is the mother of three children,-Nellie, Benjamin and J. D .; Mary, born in August, 1847, is un- married ; Alvira, born in 1848, is now Mrs. Al- fred Durham, of Durand, and became the mother of Elmer, George (deceased) ; Floyd, Albert and Blanche.

Having operated his father's farm for many years, and having sold a piece of land which he had purchased from his savings, in 1866, George C. Wilkinson erected the house and barns on the family homestead, which formed a portion of the estate, the balance of which he inherited. He has since added eighty acres, sixty of which he has cleared.

In 1866 Mr. Wilkinson was married to An- geline Lewis, daughter of Henry and Anna (Miles) Lewis. Her father was born in New York state, and died at the age of eighty-six years, and her mother, who was born in Ire- land, died at the age of sixty-six. Mr. Lewis settled at Judd's Corners, Michigan, in 1860, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land. Of this tract he sold eighty acres to his son-in-law, our subject, clearing the balance for his own use.

Mrs. Wilkinson is the third of five children, four of whom are living : 1. Rebecca (Mrs. Sam- mer) died at Flushing, Genesee county, being the mother of eight children (seven living), viz .: Mary, Charlotte and Fannie (twins), Julia, Ella, Sarah, Jennie and James. 2. Eliz- abeth, now Mrs. Lyon, a resident of Owosso, has had eight children,-Sara (deceased),

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Henry, Fred, Minnie, George, Angeline, Fan- nie and Peter. 4. Mary (Mrs. Brown) lives in Hazelton and is the mother of Albert, An- nie, Dewey and Ethel. 5. Mrs. Crow, whose maiden name was Fannie, is the mother of three children,-Charles, Bertha and Arthur.

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Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches, Part 69

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