Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Part 8

Author: Beakes, Samuel W. (Samuel Willard), 1861-; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 886

USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan > Part 8

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Archer G. Crane was reared to farm life and in his youth attended the district schools, while la- ter he continued his studies in the Clinton high school. For eight years he was a district school teacher, following that pursuit through the win- ter months, while in the summer seasons he worked at farm labor. In fact he has always been actively connected with agricultural inter- ests and he now lives on section 15. Bridgewater township, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land that he has placed under a high state of cultivation, adding to it the modern equipments which are ever found upon a model farm of the twentieth century. The fields are well tilled and everything about the place bespeaks the energy and enterprise of a careful and painstaking owner.

In 1886 Mr. Crane was married to Miss Anna Belle Kinney, who was born in Cambridge, Lena- wee county, Michigan, in 1864, and is a daughter of Fred and Josephine Kinney. In this family there were five children, namely: Mrs. Crane; Eugene, who is an engineer in the oil fields of Ohio: Amy, the wife of Orrin Smith, a weaver of Clinton, Michigan : Cornelia, the wife of Ern- est McGee, who is also an engineer in the Ohio oil fields ; and Arthur, who is connected with the woolen mills of Clinton. Mr. and Mrs. Crane had but one child, Charles, who was born in 1893. and in 1895 the wife and mother passed away, her death being deeply deplored by many friends throughout the community. Mr. Crane belongs

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

to the Grange and 1- well known as a local leader in democratic ranks, taking an active and helpful interest in the work of his party. He has served as school inspector and highway commissioner and in the spring of 1904 was elected supervisor of Bridgewater township and is now serving his second term in that position. In the discharge of his official duties he is prompt and accurate and the same qualities are manifest in his business career and have constituted the key that has un- locked to him the portals of prosperity.

MARTIN L. BELSER, M. D.

Martin L. Belser, physician and surgeon at Ann Arbor, and surgeon general of the Michigan National Guard, was born in New Washington. Ohio, March 16, 1869, and is a son of H. F. and Mary (Kocher) Belser. The father, a native of Germany, and a man of superior native force and intellectual attainments, came to this country from Wurtemberg as a missionary of the Luth- eran church. The year of his arrival was 1859. and for seventeen years he was pastor of the church of his domination at New Washington, Ohio. In 1875 he came to Ann Arbor as the first pastor of the Zion Lutheran church, continuing his connection therewith for fifteen years, or until failing health compelled his retirement. He is a man of great piety, whose life was characterized by conscientious zeal and consecration to his work, and his influence was of no restricted order. He still makes his home in Ann Arbor. His wife was born in Indiana ; and by this mar- riage there were born nine children, namely : Frederick H., cashier of the Farmers and Me- chanics Bank of Ann Arbor : C. W., Louisa and Paul, all deceased ; Martin L .: Anna, deceased ; Amanda, who is living with her brother, Dr. Bel- ser ; and Emma and Ernest, who have likewise departed this life.

Martin L. Belser, brought to Ann Arbor when a youth of six years, pursued his literary educa- tion in the grammar and high schools of this city and entered the University of Michigan in 1880, completing the course with the class of

1891, which qualified him for the practice of med- icine and surgery. His standing during his col- lege days is indicated by the fact that he was chosen instructor for the department of pathology and thus continued his connection with the univer- sity from 1891 until 1895. In the latter year he en- tered upon active practice and had secured a good patronage, when, in 1898, he went to Cuba as a member of Company A. Thirty-first Michigan Infantry, holding the rank of second lieutenant. He was afterward promoted to first lieutenant, and upon his return from the war was presented with a beautiful sword by the members of his battalion, in recognition of his services among the sick and wounded. For five years before the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he was major surgeon of the Michigan National Guard. and was reappointed upon his return from Cuba. He practiced along modern scientific lines, keep- ing in touch with the advanced thought of the profession, and the consensus of public opinion gives him rank among the foremost representa- tives of the medical fraternity here, while his close adherence to a high standard of professional ethics has gained him the respect of the members of the profession.

Dr. Belser is a member of Golden Rule lodge, A., F. & A. M. He was married in 1891 to Miss Emma Sheets, of New Washington, Ohio, and they have two sons, Carl and Walter, aged re- spectively three and two years. The parents are members of the Zion Lutheran church ; and Dr. Belser gives his political allegiance to the democ- racy. He stands as a typical representative of age, alert, enterprising and progressive, in touch with modern thought, equally prominent and pop- ular in social, military and professional circles.

OLIVER M. MARTIN.

Oliver M. Martin, engaged in the undertaking business in Ann Arbor, and a director of the Farmers and Mechanics' Bank, was born in the city of his residence, November 7, 1847. His fa- ther, Oliver M. Martin, was a native of New Jer- sey, his birth having occurred in Plainfield,

DR. M. L. BELSER.

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

whence he removed to Michigan, in 1843. He es- tablished his home in Ann Arbor, accompanied by his wife and one child. He was married in New Jersey to Miss Phoebe Hawkins, who was born in the state of New York. Here Mr. Martin turned his attention to cabinet-making, having mastered the trade in New Jersey, and eventually he engaged in the manufacture of furniture on his own account. Later he established the under- taking business, becoming the pioneer in that line in Ann Arbor, and after several years he with- drew entirely from furniture manufacturing in order to give his undivided attention to the under- taking business, in which he continued success- fully up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty-two years of age. His wife passed away at the age of sixty-five years. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and for one term he served as city marshal. He was held in high esteem because of his honor, activity and success in business affairs and his loyalty to the varied interests which contributed to public progress and improvement.

At the usual age Oliver M. Martin became a student in the Ann Arbor schools, mastering the branches of the grammar and high school courses. After putting aside his text-books he became a mail agent on the Michigan Southern Railroad, his route being between Detroit and Chicago, oc- cupying the position for a year. He then joined his father in the undertaking business, being ad- mitted to a partnership four years prior to the father's death. Since that time he has been alone in business and the success of the house has been maintained through all these years. He has one of the most modern establishments of this char- acter and a liberal patronage is accorded him. He has likewise made investment in banking interests here and is a director of the Farmers and Me- chanics Bank.

In 1875 Mr. Martin was married to Miss Caro- line Foster, who was born in Ann Arbor, and is a daughter of Samuel Foster, one of the early set- tlers of Washtenaw county and now a prominent farmer of Scio township. Mr. Martin is a very prominent Mason, having taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter and commandery. His wife is a member of the Eastern Star and also belongs to

the Methodist church and various social organi- zations of the city. Mr. Martin has crossed the sands of the desert with the nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Detroit and his name is also on the membership rolls of the Knights of the Macca- bees. His political allegiance is given to the re- publican party but he never places partisanship before the general welfare and is recognized as one of the leading spirits in the promotion of Ann Arbor's best interests, being the champion of every measure for the material, moral and ill- tellectual development of the city in which his entire life has been passed and where he has so directed his labors as to win not only a compe- tency but also an honorable name.

VICTOR CLARENCE VAUGHAN, M. D., LL. D.

Dr. Vaughan, dean of the department of med- cine and surgery of the University of Michigan, was born at Mont Airy, Randolph county, Mis- souri, October 27. 1851. His paternal grandfa- ther came from Wales, where the family name is found in the earliest chronicles, and settled inl North Carolina. His father. John Vaughan, was a tobacco grower in Missouri. His mother. Ade- line Dameron, was descended from French Hu- guenots, who came from Rouen, where bearers of the name still live. Dr. Vaughan has two broth- ers. John P., a commission merchant at Dallas, Texas, and Marvin G., a druggist at Eagle Pass. Texas, and two sisters, Mrs. W. H. Stapleton, of Ennis, Texas, and Mrs. John H. Hammett, of Huntsville, Missouri.

Dr. Vaughan's preliminary education was ob- tained under private instruction and his under- graduate college work was done at Central Col- lege, Fayette, Missouri, and at Mount Pleasant College, at Huntsville, Missouri, where he grad- uated in 1872. For two years after his graduation he was instructor in Latin and his alma mater and in 1874 he entered the University of Michigan, taking the degrees. M. S. in 1875. Ph. D. in 1878 and M. D. in 1878. Since the last mentioned date he has practiced medicine, doing a general practice until 1895,

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

since which time he has confined himself to office and consultation work. Dr. Vaughan has studied in Europe and has contributed more than one hun- dred articles to the medical and scientific period- icals of this country and Europe.

In 1877 he married Dora C. Taylor, of Hunts- ville, Missouri, and to them five sons have been born: Drs. Victor C., Jr., and J. Walter, practi- tioners in Detroit; Herbert H., an instructor in the University of Kansas; and Henry F. and Warren T., now students in the high school.

Dr. Vaughan served as surgeon in the Spanish- American war and was recommended for brevet by President Mckinley for meritorious conduct in the battle at Santiago. Politically he was a democrat until the silver question became promi- nent in 1896 since which time he has been a re- publican in national matters and an independent in state and local affairs.

MAT D. BLOSSER.

Mat D. Blosser, editor and publisher of the Manchester Enterprise, was born in Tecumseh. Michigan, in 1846. His father, Peter F. Blosser, was a native of the state of New York, and is of German extraction, while another branch of the family comes of French ancestry. Mat Blosser. Sr., the grandfather of our subject, served as a soldier in the war of 1812 with a Pennsylvania regiment. Peter Blosser, reared in the Empire state, came westward to Michigan in 1842, locat- ing in Tecumseh. He was a miller by trade, and was employed in the Globe mills for ten years. About 1854 he came to Manchester, where he operated what was then known as the "Southern Washtenaw Mills," now the Manchester Roller Mills, continuing in charge of the plant for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he engaged in the drug business, in which he continued until his retirement from active busi- ness life about twenty-five years ago. He be- longs to the Episcopal church, and fraternally is connected with the Masonic lodge, chapter, coun- cil and Adrian commandery, K. T., while his political views are indicated by the stalwart sup-

port which he gives to the republican party. He is now living with his son Mat, at the age of eighty- three years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Baylis, was born in New York, and is now living at the age of eighty years. She comes of ancestry which is distinctively American in both the lineal and collateral lines, her ancestors having lived in Virginia at an early day. She, too, belongs to the Episcopal church. In the family are two sons, the elder being Thomas Blosser, working in a wholesale drug house and residing in Lansing, Michigan.

Mat D. Blosser began his education in the common schools of Tecumseh and continued his studies there until he became a high school student. He enlisted for service in the Civil war, but owing to his youth he was taken from the army by his parents. In his native town he learned the printer's trade when a lad, and his entire life has been devoted to the "art preserva- tive." In 1867 he came to Manchester, and in connection with George S. Spafford established the Manchester Enterprise, but after a compara- tively brief time purchased his partner's interest and has since been running the paper. It was a full page seven column paper, which he after- ward increased to a six page paper, and now it is an eight page paper. He has a large adver- tising patronage and the journal also enjoys a large circulation. It is non-partisan and is pub- lished every Thursday.

In 1870 Mr. Blosser was married to Miss Mary Etta Harris, who was born in Syracuse, New York, a daughter of B. G. and Sarah (Spaulding) Harris, who came to Michigan about 1865. and after a year spent in Manchester removed to Grass Lake. He was a ship-builder by trade and in this state engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Blosser have three children: Fred H .. a printer, residing in Sioux City, Iowa : Margaret H., the wife of B. Fred Burtless, office manager for the state tax commission at Lansing : and Maree Dorothy.

Mr. Blosser has attained the Royal Arch de- gree in Masonry and is a past master of the lodge and high priest of the chapter. He also has membership relations with the Foresters and is one of the old members of the Michigan Press

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

Association. Personally he favors the democracy. but he publishes an independent paper devoted to the dissemination of local and general news.

JAMES B. SAUNDERS.

James B. Saunders, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who from the age of sixteen years has made his home in Michigan and is now engaged in the printing business in Ann Arbor, was born February 13. 1844. in West Harwich, Barnstable county, Massachusetts. His father, Thorndike P. Saunders, was born in Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1810 and for some years resided in New York. where he was engaged in the wholesale commis- sion business. On starting for the west he came direct to Ann Arbor, taking up his abode in this city in 1857. In 1836 he was married to Miss Abigail B. M. Barnaby, who was born in Massa- chusetts in 1812 and was a daughter of Rev. James Barnaby, whose birth occurred in 1787. Her father became a student in Brown University with the intention of studying law but during a religious revival held there he was converted and abandoned the study of law for the study of the gospel. Being graduated from the theological de- partment, he then entered the Baptist ministry and for many years, or until the time of his death, de- voted his attention and talents to the cause of the church. His labors were attended with success. as many were converted through his earnestness. Christian zeal and consecration and his influence proved a far-reaching factor in the moral devel- opment of the various communities with which he was connected. He died at the venerable age of ninety-six years and six months.

Thorndike P. Saunders, who had engaged in business in New York as a wholesale merchant. turned his attention to the shoe business after his arrival in the west. He had been a prominent fac- tor in political circles in the eastern metropolis and had represented his district in the general as- sembly. He voted first with the whig and after- ward with the republican party and he held mem- bership in the Episcopal church. His death oc- curred in 1871 and for two decades he was sur-

vived by his wife, who passed away in March, 1895. In their family were eight children : Thorndike F., who was born in 1837 and is now a lawyer practicing at the bar of New York city ; Abbie M .. the wife of Judge Frazer, of Detroit, and the mother of three children; Kate .\., the wife of J. B. Hobson, of Olathe, Kansas, by whom she has one child : Addie M., deceased, who was the wife of James Kingsley. Jr., and had four children : James B., of this review : Harry II., who was assistant prosecuting attorney of Detroit, Michigan, and died about two years ago: Eben S .. now living in Olathe. Kansas : and Charlotte. the wife of Thomas Payne, of Kansas City. by whom she had two children.

James B. Saunders, after spending the first six- teen years of his life in the Empire state, came to Michigan and pursued his education in the high school and an academy in Ann Arbor. Taking up the printer's trade he mastered the business, which he continued to follow until the outbreak of the Civil war, when on the 8th of August. 1862, in response to his country's call for troops, he en- listed as a member of Company H. Twentieth Michigan Infantry. He served for three years or until the close of the war and participated in a number of important engagements, including the battles of Fredericksburg. Vicksburg. Blue Springs, Fort Saunders, Knoxville, Tennessee. Strawberry Plains. Wilderness. Spottsylvania Court House, Lenoir Station and others. He was taken prisoner at Spottsylvania Court House and was confined at various periods at Lynchburg. Danville. Andersonville. Florence and Salisbury. He was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness and was taken to the field hospital. but not wish- ing to be taken prisoner tas those in the hospital were assured they would be if they remained there) he partially emptied his knapsack and then undertook to proceed with the army on the march of the day. By the aid of a comrade, who was driving an ammunition wagon, he succeeded in joining his regiment the following morning just in time to be detailed on the skirmish line, where he was unfortunate enough to be again wounded and taken prisoner. This was on the 8th day of May. 1864. and he was confined in the prisons above mentioned until March 1. 1865. when he

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

was, with a trainload of other unfortunates, ta- ken to a point within a few miles of Wilmington, North Carolina, and paroled. After being stowed away in the Union transports once more, they were taken to Annapolis, Maryland, and placed in the government hospitals there. After remain- ing there about a month. hovering between life and death, he was granted a furlough and re- turned home. After the expiration of his thirty days' furlough, on the affidavit of Dr. Wells, his family physician, his furlough was extended, and when that time had expired he was ordered to re- port at Camp Chase, Ohio, parole camp. He did so and, in the middle of June, 1865, was honor- ably discharged, though never exchanged, and re- turned to his home at Ann Arbor. So rigorous had been his service in the war that his health was largely undermined and for two years he was unable to do any work after his return.

Mr. Saunders then went to Chicago, where he engaged in the printing business, and on his re- turn to Ann Arbor continued in the same line. Later he went to New York city in 1870, where he engaged in the book and job printing business.

In 1867 he wedded Miss Ada J. Pierce, who was born June 7, 1848, and was a daughter of Nathan H. and Sophia M. Pierce. Mr. Pierce was a native of New York, who came to Michi- gan at an early day. He served as chief of police and was constable in Ann Arbor for many years. He lost an arm through an explosion when cele- brating a ratification meeting on the courthouse square. The German citizens of Ann Arbor pre- sented him with a fine revolver in recognition of his faithfulness as an officer and his devotion to the general good, and this firearm is now in pos- session of Mr. Saunders. For many years he re- mained a worthy and prominent citizen of Ann Arbor, respected by all as a faithful defender of the general welfare. For many years Mrs. Pierce was very prominent in different things that go to make up the history of Washtenaw county.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Saunders have been born nine children: Georgia, who was born July 5, 1868, and is the wife of Ernest P. Van Kleek, by whom she has three children ; Lottie Belle, who was born February 27, 1870, and is the wife of Frank T. Corr, by whom she had six chil-

dren, two now deceased ; Ada J., who was born April II, 1871, and married Simon P. Dewey, by whom she has one child; Katie, born February 14, 1873, now the wife of Thomas McHugh, and the mother of two children; James B., Jr., who was born May 16, 1876, and married Mabel Midgley, by whom he has two children; Harry E., who was born July 3, 1879, and married Katie Rinsey ; Winona M., born June 12, 1882; Florence L., who was born July 29, 1884, and is the wife of John H. Stimpson, by whom she has one child, and Vera M., who was born July 16, 1889, and is at home.

The family belong to the Unitarian church, and Mr. Saunders is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, having held all of the officers and been adjutant of Welch post, No. 137, when not filling one of the other chairs, ever since the date of its organization. He is likewise a member of the Typographical Union and of the Trades Council, being secretary of the latter. In politics he is a republican, and has for the past forty years worked for the election of the candidates on that ticket when he was not con- vinced that the opponent was the best man for the office.

ALFRED H. HOLMES.

Alfred H. Holmes, who for twenty years has been engaged in the livery business in Ann Arbor, was born in Pittsfield township, Washtenaw county, June 10, 1839, and is one of a family of twelve children, whose parents were Burroughs and Polly ( Denison) Holmes, both of whom were natives of New York. The father came from Saratoga county, New York, in 1837, and settled in Washtenaw county, Michigan, on a farm three and a half miles south of the postof- fice in Ann Arbor. The farm comprised one hundred and sixty acres, and to its improvement and development he gave his time and attention until his death, which occurred March 8, 1860. He was a member of the Christian church. His wife survived him until 1868, when, she, too, passed away. Of their children six are yet liv- ing: Rev. Dr. Thomas Holmes, a Congrega-

Alfred Ht Holmes

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

tional minister, residing at Chelsea: Mrs. Amanda Wilsey, the widow of Moses T. Wilsey. residing at 327 South Division street ; Mrs. Or- pha Wilsey, living at 500 East Liberty street, Ann Arbor : Mrs. Francis A. Jack, and Mrs. Polly C. Bramhall, both of Memphis, Tennessee ; and Al- fred H.

Alfred H. Holmes spent his early life on a farm and in early manhood lived in Kansas for a time, but for twenty years has been engaged in the livery business in Ann Arbor, drawing his patronage from the best citizens here. He is thoroughly reliable in all business transactions, earnestly strives to please his patrons and thus insures a continuance of a liberal trade.

On the 5th of April. 1860, Mr. Holmes was united in marriage to Miss Anna S. Sheldon, of Lodi township, a daughter of Newton and Su- zanna (Edmunds) Sheldon. Her father was a native of Brutus, Cayuga county, New York, and he became a very prominent and influential citi- zen of Michigan, leaving the impress of his in- dividuality upon its legislative history during the early days of the commonwealth. He was a member of the territorial legislature when De- troit was the capital and served in the legislature again in 1868. He died in 1883, at the age of sev- enty-two years, while his widow, who was also a native of New York, departed this life in 1899. at the very advanced age of eighty-six years. In their family were six children: Mrs. Mary M. Isbell, of Ann Arbor ; Edward, of Jackson, Mich- igan : Mrs. Ermina S. Warner, of Lodi town- ship, Washtenaw county; Mrs. Holmes ; Mrs. Jennie A. Wilsey, of Detroit ; and Alma, who died at the age of twenty years. Edward Shel- don formerly followed farming but is now en- gaged in business at Jackson. In politics he is a democrat, and in religious faith is a Congrega- tionalist.

Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Holmes success- fully engaged in teaching school for several years. She and her husband have a fine home at No. 509 Liberty street, East. Unto them have been born a daughter and two sons. Mrs. Nellie Briggs, the eldest, living in Toledo, Ohio, has four children. Helen, Harriet, Lucile and Dor- othy. Bert E., of Boston, Massachusetts, with

the Buffalo Steam Roller Company, was married June 2, 1904. to Grace Haven, a granddaughter of the ex-president of the University of Michi- gan. Willard S. Holmes, who is with his father in business, was married December 9. 1901, to Mildred Harriet Shetterly, of Ann Arbor. and they have a son, Alfred H. Holmes, who is named in honor of his grandfather and is now two years of age.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Part 8

Author: Beakes, Samuel W. (Samuel Willard), 1861-; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 886

Author: Beakes, Samuel W. (Samuel Willard), 1861-; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 886