USA > Michigan > Huron County > Portrait and biographical album of Huron county Michigan, Containing biographical sketches of citizens also a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 18
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ohn A. Morgan, merchant at Bad Axe, was born Feb. 23, 1819, in Wales. He is the son of William and Mary (Lewis) Morgan, and was country bred until he was about 15 years of age, when he went to the town of Merthyr Tydvil, and obtained employment as a tailor, to which profession he had been trained before leaving the country. He was married in his native land, Dec. 4, 1843, to Rachel Griffith, a native of Wales. Mrs. Morgan was born June z7, 18II. She became the mother of a daughter,- Sarah A.,-now the wife of John Williams, and living in New Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The mother died in Wales, Nov. 26, 1844.
Mr. Morgan came to the United States in 1848. He settled in Pittsburg, Pa., where he followed his trade until 1851, coming thence to Detroit. He remained in the City of the Straits until 1864, earning a wide and well deserved celebrity as a superior maker of coats. Many of the prominent men of Michigan were among his patrous. In 1864, he opened a tailoring and clothing establish- ment at Wyandotte, Wayne Co., Mich., where he operated until 1877, the year of his removal to Bad Axe. He at once erected the building in which he now transacts his business, and established his trade. He is operating with satisfactory results.
Mr. Morgan was a second time married in Pitts- burg, Pa., Jan. 18, 1849, to Sarah Davis. She was born March 26, 1823, in Wales, and is the daughter
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of Thomas and Rachel Davis. Her mother died in Wales, in 1827, and she came with her father to America in 1830. They settled in Ebensburg, Cambria Co., Pa. Only three of eight children born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are living, namely : Mary, Ruth and William T. The latter is the Deputy Register of Deeds of Huron County. The family are members of the Presby- terian Church.
tto W. Storbeck, farmer, section 6, Lincoln Township, was born in New York, Dec. 7, 1855. His parents, William and Teny (Witmire) Storbeck, are natives of Germany. About the year 1854 they came to America and resided a few years in the state of New York, afterwards removing to this country, and are still living in Huron Township.
Mr. Storbeck is the eldest of a family of six chil- dren. He was under the parental roof until he reached the age of 24 years, when he set out in the world on his own responsibility. In the summer of 1876 he bought 120 acres of land in Lincoln Town- ship. He has disposed of one-half of his original purchase, and of the remainder, one-third is already under cultivation.
In the fire of 1881, he lost all he had accumulated except the bare acres of his farm. His house, barn, the wheat just cut from 10 acres, and still in the shock, four acres of peas and all incidental crop sand belongings were destroyed. But he is slowly retriev- ing his loss, and will soon be in possession again of something like his former property.
He is a Republican in political faith.
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Fra Haywood, Deputy Treasurer of Huron County, was born at Haverhill, Grafton Co., N. H., Nov. 22, 1855. His father, Alvah Haywood, was a farmer in the Granite State and also a railroad contractor. He was one of the builders of the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad, and died in Haverhill, when
his son was about five years of age. The mother's name previous to her marriage was Lucretia Jeffers. In 1869, the family came to Port Hope, Huron Co., where Mr. Haywood was employed a short time in a saw-mill. He went thence to Lexington, where he operated 18 months as a clerk in the postoffice, after which he engaged as a salesman with Messrs. Johnson & Brown, merchants. He next entered the employment of R. B. Hubbard & Co. at Huron City, where he remained four years. His next employ was with Thompson & Hubbard. In the fall of 1879, he engaged with Langdon Hub- bard as book-keeper and officiated in that capacity two years. He came to Bad Axe Jan. 1, 1882, as Deputy Treasurer under James Adams, and in 1884 was elected Treasurer. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to Stafford Chapter of Port Hope, No. 66, and to Lodge No. 138. He has officiated several years as Justice of the Peace, two years as Clerk of Huron Township, and in 1878-9 was Postmaster of Huron City.
B enjamin McKillen, blacksmith, resident at Verona Mills, was born May 18, 1851, in the Province of Quebec, Can. He is the son of David and Elizabeth (Abbott) McKillen, and was born and reared on a farm. He obtained a very thorough business education at the Canadian Business College located at Hamilton, Ont., where he was graduated.
He left home to make his own way in the world when he was 19 years old, and was variously em- ployed until 1876, when he commenced to acquire the knowledge necessary to the prosecution of the business he has since pursued. He passed three years in the village of Bobcaygeon, Ont., learning his trade. Before his apprenticeship was ended he became a partner in the business with his brother, and at the expiration of the time they sold out. Mr. McKillen came to Verona, April 1, 1880, and estab- lished his residence and business. He is conducting the most important blacksmith shop in Verona, and combines all the varieties of business common to his profession.
He was married in Fenelon Falls, Can., Oct. 16,
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1876, to Mary E., daughter of John and Jane (Thomas) Metcalfe. She was born June 24, 1858, in Mariposa Township, Victoria Co., Can. They have had four children; Lillian M., who was born Feb. 11, 1878; Elizabeth J., June 22, 1879; James E., Aug. 14, 1881, Violet E., April 11, 1883.
Mr. McKillen owns his shop and residence; and employs an assistant in his business.
ichard Smith, real-estate broker and dealer in books and stationery, also abstractor, located at Bad Axe, was born Aug. 23, 1840, in Roxburghshire, Scotland. He is the son of Peter and Margaret (Rutherford) Smith, and obtained a good education in his native country. He taught school there a short time, and when he was 17 years old he came to Peter- borough, Ont. In 1858 he decided to become a maker of carriages and wagons, and he served three years in acquiring a knowledge of the trade. He made it his business in the Dominion for three and a half years after serving his time, when he proceeded to Auburn; N. Y. The war was in progress, and soon after reaching that city Mr. Smith enrolled him- self among the nation's defenders, enlisting Feb. 26, 1865, in Co. H, 169th N. Y. Inf. His command was sent to Raleigh, N. C., where it was stationed at the time of Johnston's surrender. He was discharged from the military service of the United States in August, 1865.
In the autumn of the same year, in company with a comrade in the war, he came to Port Austin, Huron County, with whom he purchased 120 acres of land, on which they spent the winter. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Smith went to the village of Port Austin, and worked two months as a carpenter. He entered the employment of Charles B. Cottrell, County Sur- veyor and Deputy Register of Deeds, and engaged in the duties of both positions, assisting both in sur- veying and in the registration duties. In the fall of 1866 he was elected County Surveyor, and was the incumbent of the office two years. In January, 1867, he was appointed Deputy County Register and County Clerk, by the recently elected official, and
assisted in the duties of the offices two years. In the fall election of 1868, he was elected to the offices of which he had been deputy, and continued to dis- charge the obligations of the positions eight years, being three times re-elected. In 1873 he came to Bad Axe and removed his family hither in 1874. He went thence in 1877 to Port Austin, where he opened an abstract office. He had previously opened a set of those important papers, and he devoted himself with energy to their completion. With the duties belonging to the office he combined the sale of books and stationery. In December, 1883, he established a permanent business at Bad Axe.
From the spring of 1881 to that of 1882 Mr. Smith was a partner in the Huron County News, in connec- tion with which he conducted a stationery business. He disposed of both by sale in the year last named, and devoted his attention to his real-estate and ab- stract business. He has been Supervisor of Port Austin Township two years, and Clerk of the same several years. He owns his place of business and several town lots in Bad Axe, and also 400 acres of farming land in Huron County.
Mr. Smith was married in Port Austin Township, May 19, 1870, to Abbie, daughter of Robert Merrick. She was born Oct. 23, 1851, in Huron Co., Ont. Nettie M., born Nov. 18, 1871; William R., May 12, 1875; and Richard Scott, Dec. 11, 1876,-are the names of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
ames Armstrong, farmer, section 1, Colfax Township, is a native born citizen of Mich- igan. He is the son of James B. and Harriet M. (Hartshorn) Armstrong, and was born April 17, 1849, in Port Huron. The parents were born respectively in Vermont and New York. Soon after their marriage they settled in Michigan. The father died April 23, 1874, in Huron. County. The mother survives. Their family consisted of four sons and two daughters.
Mr. Armstrong is the second of the sons. He obtained a common-school education, and at 18 years of age he became a lumberman and spent the
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winter months of six years in that occupation. In 1868, he bought 80 acres of land in Colfax Town- ship, for which he paid at the rate of $1.25 per acre. In the fall of 1871 he settled on the place which has since been his home. His farm contains 55 acres of cleared and cultivated land. He is a Republican in political views, and has ;served his township as Treasurer and in other school and local offices.
He was married in Huron Co., Mich., May 21, 1871, to Roxana C. Spencer. Her parents, William and Betsey (Wilson) Spencer, were natives of Can- ada. They were pioneer settlers of Sanilac County, and the mother died there. The father removed later to Huron County and went thence to Dakota. Mrs. Armstrong was born Dec. 23, 1846, in Sanilac Co., Mich. The children which constitute the issue of her marriage to Mr. Armstrong were born as follows: George W., William I., Hubert R. and Cora M.
eorge Pangman, farmer, resident on sec- tion 24, Verona Township, is the son of Sterling and Jane (Mills) Pangman, and was born Nov. 2, 1844, in Ontario Co., Can. He began to apply himself to the carpenter's trade when he was 16 years old, and followed it for several years. In 1866 he came to the town- ship of Verona and bought 80 acres of land. He increased his estate by the purchase of 20 acres additional in 1871, and has cleared and improved about 60 acres.
Mr. Pangman was married March 27, 1870, at Verona Mills, to Ellen Pangburn. She was born in York Co., Can., May 10, 1846, and is the daughter of John and Barbara (Shier) Pangburn. Three chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pangman on the homestead farm. Lena May was born July 14, 1872, and died Sept. 5, 1874; Carrie L. was born Aug. 15, 1875 ; and Silas E. was born Jan. 22, 1877. Since coming to Huron County, Mr. Pangman has worked at his trade to the extent of erecting his farm buildings, and in the summer of 1883 he assisted in constructing the Verona grist-mills. He passed through and suffered loss in both the fires that have
swept over Huron County. The family resided at Verona Mills in 1871, in a rented house, which was burned and their furniture with it, at a loss of about $500. The loss in 1881 was about $2,000, the fire destroying a fine house, barn, farming implements, fences, and the' accumulations of years, besides the crop of that year, including 200 bushels of wheat, oats, peas, etc., much of which had been placed in the barn a week previous. He had an insurance of $1,300, but never recovered it.
illiam E. Small, jeweler and dealer in stationery and musical instruments at Bad Axe, was born March 8, 1857, in Mt. Ver- non, N. Y. He is the son of Edward J. and Sarah L. (Bloomer) Small. His father died when he was four years old; his mother is a resident of the city of New York.
Mr. Small was adopted when he was eight years old, by Josiah W. Begole, of Flint, present Governor of the State of Michigan, by whom he was brought up, and with whom he resided until he was of age. He entered a printing office in Flint when he was 16 years old, where he was occupied 18 months, and from that time until 1877 he operated as assistant inspector in the lumber yard of Begole, Fox & Co. at Flint. He then decided on fitting himself for the business which he is now prosecuting, and entered the jewelry house of W. W. True, of Flint, where he acquired the desired knowledge and training and remained until 1881. In that year he established his business at Bad Axe, opening a jewelry store in June at a stand opposite the Court-House. That was the year of disaster to Huron County, and his business shared the common fate of extinction by fire. His store and contents were destroyed, entail- ing a loss of $200 above insurance, his furniture and domestic fixtures being also burned. He immediately opened his business where he is at present located, and where he is winning success in his transactions. He owns his store and residence and the grounds therewith.
Mr. Small was married Sept. 3, 1879, in Flint,
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Mich., to Jennie R. True. She was born Jan. I, 1860, in Flint, and is the daughter of William W. and Rowena (Blair) True. Two children have been born of this union : Rowena H., in Flint, April 21, 1882, and Gertrude L., at Bad Axe, Dec. 3, 1883.
eman W. Dickinson, farmer, section II, Huron Township, was born Oct. 4, 185 1, at Memphis, Macomb Co., Mich. He is the son of Dr. Heman W. and Permelia (Wilcox) Dickinson. (See sketch of Dr. H. W. Dickin- son.
Mr. Dickinson has resided on the farm of which he is now the manager since he was two years of age. He received such education as the schools of the township afforded, and was trained to agricul- tural duties.
He was married Dec. 29, 1875, to Nancy Mercer. Their children were born in the following order : Heman W., Dec. 21, 1876; Freddie, Aug. 13, 1878; Harry A., July 9, 1882. Mrs. Dickinson is the daughter of Henry and Margaret Ann Carroll, and was born March. 6, 1855, in St. Mary's, Ont. Her mother was born May 15, 1835, and died May 8, 1873, in Forester, Sanilac Co., Mich. She is one of a family of six children-four sons and two daughters-of whom she is the eldest. All are living.
Mr. Dickinson had four sisters, two of whom are living. One resides in Kansas and another, Sarah A., has been engaged six years in teaching, chiefly at Huron City.
esire Filion, Postmaster, merchant, and farmer on section 24, Meade Township, residing at Filion, was born in St. Therese, Province of Quebec, Sept. 15, 1844. His parents, Moses and Angeline (Desjardines) Filion, were born in Canada, of French ancestry. Mr. Filion obtained a good education at the public
schools of Canada, and remained in the Dominion until 1861, when he located in Hume Township, Huron County. He resided there about 10 years. In 1869 he homesteaded 160 acres in Meade Town- ship, which has since been his place of residence. He has added to his acreage by later purchases, until he owns 160 acres in Meade Township, 80 acres in Hume Township and 80 acres in the town- ship of Lincoln. He has placed about 40 acres under improvement.
In political belief and action Mr. Filion is a de- cided Prohibitionist. In 1876 he was appointed Postmaster at Filion, and in 1878 established a mer- cantile business, in which he has met with reasonable success. He is the present Treasurer of Lincoln Township. (Filion is situated on the boundary line between Meade and Lincoln Townships.) He has been Clerk of the last named several years, and is a member of the order known as the A. B. A. He belongs to the Protestant Methodist Church.
eorge H. Walker, member of the banking house of Walker & Seeley, at Bad Axe, was born May 30, 1852, in Ontario, Do- minion of Canada. He is the son of William and Janett (Ramage) Walker, both natives of Scotland. His father was a woolen manufac- turer in Canada, and has now retired from business. Mr. Walker attended Rockwood Academy for a num- ber of years, after which he learned the trade of a harness-maker. He came to Caro, Tuscola Co., in 1873, where he established himself and continued the management of his business at that place about eight years. He bought real estate, and platted and sold it while there. He also handled wagons and carriages in connection with his business. In the fall of 1881 he sold his business and entered the banking business of John F. Seeley, for the purpose of obtaining a practical knowledge of the business. Jan. 4, 1883, he opened a banking house under the firm name of Walker & Seeley, of which he is now in charge. The firm has erected a fine brick building, trimmed with Ohio stone, two stories in height above basement, with two vaults, one in basement and one
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on first floor : size of building, 60 x 25 feet. They have the latest improved Detroit burglar-proof safe, with time lock. The house transacts a general real- estate and loaning business. Mr. Walker owns wild and improved land in different parts of the county.
He was married July 7, 1880, in Caro, to Ada L., daughter of Augustus and Mary E. Howell. She was born May 7, 1858, in Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich. Mr. Walker is a member of the fraternity of Odd Fellows.
John Hunt, Supervisor of Verona Town. ship and farmer on section 24, was born Jan. 27, 1852, near St. Paul, Minn. His parents, William and Fannie (Stewart) Hunt, removed with their family to Oakwood, Oak- land Co., Mich., when he was in early infancy. His father was a blacksmith and opened a shop there for the prosecution of his business. His mother died there Jan. 27, 1854, her death occurring on her son's second birthday. Soon after the event he was placed in the care of the family of a man named Ralph Hunt, where he was cared for one year. His next guardian was a man named Hasner. After a stay with him of two years Mr. Hasner died and he was adopted, not long after, by J. W. Phillips, a promi- nent farmer of Oxford, Oakland County, with whom he remained until he was 14 years old. The father of Mr. Hunt died at Hunter s Creek Station, Lapeer Co., Mich.
He obtained a good common-school education and followed farming until he was 21 years old. He then began to operate as a carpenter, and he alternated that occupation with teaching district schools, win- ters. In 1879-80 he engaged in teaching at Bad Axe. He became a land owner in Sigel Township, Huron County, in 1878, by purchasing 160 acres on sections 5 and 6, in company with Ezra Gardner, of Oxford, Oakland County. Their farming operations were considerably advanced when the fire of 1881 destroyed their new house, the barn, containing 250 bushels of wheat, quantities of oats, peas and hay ; also their fences and cattle. Mr. Hunt's loss was swelled to about $1,000 by the loss of his furniture.
He then purchased his partner's interest, and a year later became the owner of 100 acres lin Verona Township, where he has since resided. He has 90 acres cleared, with good dwelling and barns, orchard and a creditable supply of farm fixtures generally. He owns one thoroughbred Durham and several graded cattle, and is breeding Poland-China swine. Mr. Hunt was elected to his first term as Supervisor of Verona Township in 1883, and was re-elected the following spring.
Mr. Hunt was married in Oxford, Oakland Co., Mich., Sept. 24, 1879, to Laura, daughter of Lud- wick S. and Hannah (Gibson) Noble. She was born in Oxford, June 24, 1857. In the winter of 1883-4, Mr. Hunt taught school at Verona Mills.
ohn W. Chappel, farmer, section 6, Meade Township, was born Nov. 20, 1842 in Cornwall Co., England, His parents, John and Ann (Penberthy) Chappel, were also natives of England and emigrated to the Uni- ted States, locating in the State of Wisconsin when it was in its pioneer days. The father's health failed about nine years after they had made a settle- ment, and they returned to England, where they re- sided a few years, and the father went to Brazil, where he died three years afterward.
Mr. Chappel accompanied his parents on their re- turn to their native country. He came back to America in 1860, and at once proceeded to the cop- per regions of the Northen Peninsula of Michigan, where he was interested in the development of the Cliff Mine. In 1863 he went to Virginia City, Nev., where he remained three years, working in the silver mines. In 1866, he went to California and spent seven months in the Golden State, returning thence to Virginia City, and six months later went to Mon- tana. He went thence to England, where he re- mained 11 months, and meanwhile was married. He returned with his wife to the United States and went to Pennsylvania, where his family had their resi- dence a few years. He went again to California and stayed a year, returning thence to Pennsylvania. Soon after he returned to his "first love," the copper mine
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of the Upper Peninsula. It proved a disastrous venture, as in May, 1881, he was seriously injured by the premature discharge of a blast, losing his right eye and being severely burned and mangled. On recovery he came to Meade Township and bought 80 acres of land, under partial improvements. His farm now includes 72 acres of land in an advanced state of cultivation.
In political faith, Mr. Chappel coincides with the principles of the Republican party.
His marriage to Nancy Cogar took place June 2, 1868. They have had nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Those who survive are named John, William C., Edward, Annie, Viola and James H. Mrs. Chappel was born in England, Feb. 5, 1847.
Mr. Chappel is a member of the Order of Red Men, and belongs to the Knights of the Mystic Chain.
eorge Martin, Jr., farmer on section 25, Verona Township, resident at Verona Mills, was born June 27, 1831, in York- shire, Eng., which was also the native country of his parents, George and Mary (Shepherd) Martin. They emigrated to the Dominion of Canada in the spring of 1832, the father buying a farm lying northeast of the present location of the city of Toronto. He now resides with his son in Verona Mills, and is 85 years old. The mother died Dec. 24, 1883, in Verona Township, aged 81 years and one month.
Mr. Martin passed the years of his minority on his father's farm, and was taught the details of the business which has been the occupation of his life. He was married in Ontario, Aug. 24, 1853, to Re- becca Pangman, daughter of Sterling and Jane (Mills) Pangman, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Martin was born Sept. 27, 1834, in Canada. Of this union II children have been born, as follows: Jane, May 31, 1851; Harriet, April 9, 1853 ; George, Nov. 4, 1854; William, Oct. 2, 1856; John, Nov. 3, 1858; Sarie, Jan. 2, 1861 ; Henry, Feb. 22, 1862; Rebecca, Aug. 28, 1867; Lizzie, Sept. 24, 1869; Thomas, Sept. 8, 1871 ; Freddie, May 30, 1875.
In the spring of 1858 Mr. Martin removed his family and interests to Huron County, and on the seventh of May he took possession of a claim of 80 acres of land under the provisions of the Gradua- tion Act. The tract was located on the south half of the southwest quarter of section 25. This was and is the homestead, and is now included in a fine farm of 320 acres, 220 of which are under the best of improvements. The place is now managed by his son William. George is a farmer on section 3, Bing- ham Township. John resides on the same section. Jane is the wife of John Burk, of Sigel Township. Harriet married Michael Brethor. These children have received 80 acres of land each from their father. Sarah is the wife of Archie McKichan, a farmer of Dakota, where Henry Martin is also a farmer. Rebecca married Rudolph Redmond, a farmer in Sigel Township. In June, 1882, Mr. Mar- tin removed to Verona Mills and bought 27 acres of land, 25 acres of which are within the village limits. He has the place in fine order, and has erected a nice house. He belongs to the fraternity of Masons.
Mr. Martin is the second settler in Verona Town- ship, and his son John is the first white person born there. The township was unorganized, and Mr. Martin has been the incumbent of most of the local offices. In the early days, each individual held sev- eral positions at the same time, the situation being exactly the reverse of the State at large, as stated by a prominent official-that there are not offices enough to go around. There were not enough set- tlers to distribute among the offices.
Joseph Newcomb, farmer, section 34, Meade Township, is the son of Joseph and Mary (Gordon) Newcomb The former was a native of New Brunswick; the latter of La Prairie Co., Province of Quebec. They set- tled after marriage in Ontario, and the senior Newcomb enlisted in November, 1864, in the 15th Mich. Inf. He died in the hospital at Louisville, Ky., July 15, 1865. His widow remained in Canada until 1875, when she removed to Ottawa Co., Ohio,
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