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 20
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viram L. Chipman, attorney, doing business and residing at Bad Axe, was born March 5, 1842, in Owosso, Shiawassee Co., Mich. He is the oldest living child born in that city. His father, Isaac M. Chipman, is a builder and architect, and was born June 16, 1818, in Bologne, N. Y. He is still prosecuting his business at Owosso. The mother, Permelia (Whitlock) Chip- man, was born May 23, 1819, in Vergennes, Vt. Three of their five children are living.
Mr. Chipman is the eldest child, and was a stu- dent in the schools of his native city until he was 19 years of age. A few weeks after his birthday, the culmination of Southern folly and madness took practical shape in the assault on Fort Sumter, which was promptly followed by President Lincoln's calls for loyal support from the nation. To Mr. Chipman belongs the honor of first enrolling from Shiawassee County, his name being placed on the muster roll May 2, 1861. He enlisted in Co. H, Fifth. Mich. Vol. Inf., Capt. Quackenboss. The regiment was assigned to the Department of the Peninsula, in the corps of Geo. B. McClellan, General commanding. The command was engaged in some of the severest of the battles of the Peninsula, among which were Fair Oaks, where Captain Quackenboss was killed, Charles City Cross Roads, Yorktown and various skirmishes. Mr. Chipman was discharged in Sep- tember, 1862, as First Sergeant.
He returned to Owosso, and entered the law office
of Amos Gould, with whom he remained about six years, being admitted to the Shiawassee County Bar in 1865. In 1868, he opened an independent office, and in 1869 he was elected Justice of the Peace, which position he filled four years. During that time he was associated with L. H. Smith, firm style, "Chipman & Smith." He was also elected Circuit Court Commissioner of Shiawassee County and served one term.
He came to Bad Axe Aug. 2, 1875, and estab- lished himself as an attorney. Jan. 1, 1883, he formed an association with William T. Bope, the firm adopting the style of " Chipman & Bope," and they are engaged in the prosecution of a successful practice. Mr. Chipman was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the County and served during the years 1881-2. He belongs to the Order of Masonry and to the Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 70. He owns a considerable amount of village property, including his residence and six lots, 80 acres of land on section 25, Colfax Township, and about 160 acres of land at various points in the county.
Mr. Chipman was married June 26, 1868, in Owosso, to Henrietta E. Gale. She was born May 12, 1850, in Elbridge, N. Y., and is the daughter of Platt and Eliza Gale. Following is the record of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Chipman: Winnifred was born Dec. 16, 1869, in Owosso. Irma was born in the same place Nov. 3, 1872, and died Dec. 24, following her birth. Gale was born in Byron village, Shiawassee County, Sept. 28, 1874. Miner was born in Bad Axe, Dec. 28, 1882.
ichard Parr, farmer, section 23, Grant Township, was born in Ireland in Decem- ber, 1832. His parents, Jacob and Ann E. Parr, were natives of Ireland and emigrated thence to the Dominion of Canada about the year 1832. The mother died there, and later the father came to Huron County to reside with his son, where he died March 10, 1883.
Mr. Parr was an infant of three months when his parents removed to Canada. and he grew up in the Dominion. At the age of 16 years he was appren-
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ticed to learn the cooper's trade and followed that as a business 12 years.
In the spring of 1880 he bought 160 acres of land in Grant Township. Of this 70 acres are under im- provement. Mr. Parr is a Republican in political sentiment.
He was married Jan. 27, 1858, to Ann Wilson. Their surviving children are Ann E., Johnathan, Richard, Jr., Jacob C., Lucinda, George A., Emma and Hattie H. A pair of twins died in infancy. Mrs. Parr was born in Ireland, and was brought in her infancy by her parents to Canada, in 1841. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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A ustin E. Case, book-keeper and stock-keeper in the store of Langdon Hubbard at Huron City, Mich., was born Oct. 5, 1857, in Warren Township, Macomb Co., Mich. He is the son of E. and Chloe (Barton) Case, and his father resides in Warren Township, Macomb County, on the old homestead. Mrs. C. died Jan. 1, 1881, and was 60 years of age at the time of her death. Mr. E. Case was born April 1, 1811, in Batavia, N. Y., and Mrs. E's birth occurred Jan., 1, 1821, in the State of Vermont. A brother and a sister of Mr. Case are living in Macomb County, and another sister resides in Tuscola Co., Mich.
' Mr. Case was educated in the common schools of his native county and in the union school of Utica, where he was graduated when he was 17 years of age. He taught school at Huron City four years and at Grindstone City nearly five years. He came from the latter place to the position he now holds, in which he has operated two years. He achieved suc- cess in his teaching, and is now Director of the Schools of Huron City. He is a Democrat in politi- cal sentiment.
His farm on section 9, Bloomfield Township, con- tains 80 acres, with 25 acres improved. The place has a good log house and barn, is well fenced, and valued at $1,300. In Sterling Township, Macomb County, he owns a garden containing ten acres, and
valued at $200 per acre. It has good frame build- ings, hot-house and other necessary buildings, be- siaes four acres of well assorted fruit-trees.
r. Heman W. Dickinson, physician and surgeon at Port Hope, was born Dec. 2, 1813, at Sackett's Harbor, Jefferson Co., word N. Y. He is the son of Heman W. and Eunice (Gates) Dickinson, both of whom died when he was in childhood, the former in 1818, the latter in 1822. He was bonud to a man named Roswell Lane when he was seven years old, to be brought up on a farm in Oswegoville, Oswego Co., N. Y. When he was 15 years of age he ran away. He obtained employment as a raftsman on Oneida Lake and worked four weeks, rafting logs on Oneida Lake to Syracuse, for which he received $60. He went next to Oneida village and engaged as a farm laborer with a man named Nathan B. Ney, with whom he remained two years. In 1835 he came to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he again engaged as a farm assistant. He made his first acquaintance with Michigan Nov. 15, 1835. He remained seven years in Ypsilanti, and came thence to Tecumseh, Mich., where he worked about three years in a tannery. His next removal was to Memphis, Macomb Co., Mich., where he worked for a time on a farm and afterward spent three summers running an engine at St. Clair. He came thence to Forester, in Sanilac County, where he operated two years as an engineer, after which he came to Huron City, and worked as a lumberman for Peter F. Brakeman two winters. He next entered the employment of Smith, Dwight & Co., of Detroit, operating as a lumberman in their interest at Port Austin, where he remained two years. Going thence to Port Hope, he lumbered two winters for W. R. Stafford, and on the termination of that en- gagement took possession of the farm where his son resides.
Dr. Dickinson enlisted Oct. 9, 1862, in the 23d Mich Vol. Inf., Co. F, Capt. H. S. Raymond. He was in active service about 18 months subsequent to being "mustered in," participating in the siege Knoxville and the battle at Campbell Station.
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Mr. R. Stafford
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the spring of 1864 he was detailed as Hospital Stew- ard at Knoxville, and acted as Assistant Surgeon, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his dis- charge in November, 1865. He had acquired some knowledge of medicine previous to his coming to the coast of the Huron Peninsula ; and as he often had occasion to witness the necessity for medical advice, which frequently arose from the condition of things, he fell into the habit of giving counsel and making simple prescriptions, and he continued the practice until his enlistment in the army. On receiving his discharge, here turned to Huron County, and not long after entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1866, and has since continued to practice his profession.
He was married the first time to Permelia Wilcox, at Ypsilanti, in 1837. She died June 14, 1866, after having become the mother of the following children : Ellen, Herman W., Eunice (deceased), Emma L. (died when she was eight years old), Sarah and an infant that died three days after birth. Dr. Dickin- son was again married April 14, 1878, to Ella B. Dixon. She was born in 1832.
Dr. Dickinson came to Huron City (then Willow Creek) in 1851. At that date no improvements had been made in that portion of Huron County. The only thoroughfare was the beach of the lake, and even the routes outlined by " blazed " trees were wanting, the degree of progress being too small for even that primitive method of indicating routes of travel. At the time he came to Forester in Sanilac County, no improvements had been made north of that point.
He is a Prohibitionist, and has held the positions of Supervisor, Justice of the Peace and County Clerk.
illiam R. Stafford, of Port Hope, is one of the leading salt manufacturers of Michi- gan, and is extensively engaged in milling, merchandise and agriculture. He was born Nov. 19, 1828, in Bath, Grafton Co., N. H., the son of Thomas and Mary Stafford, was brought up on a farm, and at the ageof 14 years was apprenticed to his brother to learn the trades of cabinet-making and painting. He served five years and released his earnings for that time to secure ex- emption from the two remaining years of service,
which time he spent in school. He then obtained a situation as salesman in a store, where he remained about 18 months.
In 1849, being then 21 years of age, Mr. Stafford came to Michigan. His first marriage, to Sarah Ann Leuty, occurred at Lexington, Mich., Dec. 19, 1852. Four children were born of this union, viz .: William Arthur, at Lexington, Mich., Aug. 6, 1855; he died June 26, 1859, at the same place; Edwin Haywood, at Port Hope, Mich., March 13, 1859, who died Sept. 28, 1865, at Lexington; Mary Ellen, at Lexington, July 26, 1861; and Sarah Elizabeth, at Lexington, July 30, 1864. Mrs. Stafford died Sept. 29, 1864, at Bath, N. H. She was born at Mayfield, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1834, and was the daughter of Isaac and Mary Leuty, both of whom are now living at Port Hope, aged respectively 70 and 72 years. Mr. Staf- ford was united in marriage to Mary Demaline Leuty, the sister of his first wife, July 10, 1865, at Port Hope, Mich. She was born at Mayfield, Ohio ,Oct. 30, 1842. Frances Alice, only child of this marriage, was born Jan. 30, 1867, at Lexington, Mich.
When, in 1849, Mr. Stafford first came to Michigan he settled in Lexington, Sanilac County, and entered the employ of Woods & Sanburn, general merchants. Three years later he established himself in mercantile business in the same place. . Meanwhile the lumber resources of this part of Michigan attracted his atten- tion, and from the advance in the pine lands of New Hampshire he argued correctly that the same result would follow in Michigan. He succeeded in inter- esting Josiah F. Wilson and William Southard, East- ern captalists, in the enterprise, and secured several thousand dollars, which he invested in pine lands in Huron County.
In 1852 Mr. Stafford formed a partnership with Smith, Dwight & Co., of Detroit, doing a successful mercantile business for two years, when the interest of Smith & Dwight passed into the hands of Staf- ford's former employe, Clark Haywood, of New Hampshire. After four years Mr. D. Leuty was added to the firm, which now took the name of Stafford, Haywood & Co. Twelve years later the business was sold to Potter & Wixon, and shortly after this the property was destroyed by fire. In 1858 the old firm of Stafford & Haywood, which owned large tracts of land in Huron County, formed a partnership with the Hon. R. W. Jenness, former United States Senator from New Hampshire, for the
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manufacture and sale of lumber, which continued for 12 years. This firm established extensive lumber yards in Cleveland, which were in charge of Mr. Jenness, while Mr. Stafford took charge of the mills at Port Hope. The entire property located at Port Hope-mills and dock, together with a large amount of lumber-was destroyed by the forest fires of 1871, the loss being more than $100,000.
In 1872 the mill and dock were rebuilt by Stafford & Haywood, the property eventually passing into the hands of Mr. Stafford. The first mill and dock cost $30,000. The second were built at an expense of $25,000. In the fire of 1881 this property was again destroyed, also a large amount of lumber, the aggregate loss being $40,000. Mr. Stafford was the sole loser. However, the dock has been again re- built, and is acknowledged to be the best on the coast of Lake Huron. It is also worthy of notice that the Government surveyors in 1870-I pro- nounced this site to be more desirable than any other place along the shore for a harbor of refuge,-this on account of better anchorage, easy approach and free- dom from dangerous shoals. Another mill of smaller dimensions has been built to replace the one burned in 1881, and has been run chiefly to supply lumber to rebuild the property destroyed in the burnt dis- trict. Mr. Stafford has also put into operation a planing-mill and sash and door factory, thus being able to convert the products of his mill into building material sufficient in variety as well as quantity to supply the surrounding country. Since the estab- lishment of the mills at Port Hope they have manu- factured about 100,000,000 feet of choice pine lumber, most of which has been marketed in Ohio. Their land at one time comprised about 27,000 acres. The pine was "lumbered," but the hard wood, of which there was an immense amount, was nearly all destroyed in the forest fires.
The Port Hope Salt Works, owned principally by Mr. Stafford, are rated among the best in the State. The well was sunk in 1874. It is 800 feet deep and 43/2 inches in diameter. The brine produces the best grade of salt manufactured in Michigan. The capacity of the block is 6,000 barrels per month. The evaporation is carried on by means of five im- mense pans placed over furnaces. No less than 10,000 cords of wood is in this way annually con- sumed. The salt is extensively used for dairy pur-
poses, and requires no extra purification or grinding. A large amount of this salt is at present being sacked and sent to the mining regions of Montana, which will be transported long distances on the backs of mules after reaching the terminus of water and rail- road transportation. All barrel material is manu- factured on the premises except hoops. The works require a force of 50 men.
The flouring mill of W. R. Stafford, driven by a 40-horse-power engine, is furnished with the best modern machinery. The mill is adapted to all varieties of custom work, and has a capacity of about 50 barrels of flour daily. Mr. Stafford's mercantile business amounts to nearly $100,000 yearly, and is extended in its relations. It supplies the wants and needs of the families of 150 men in the employ of Mr. Stafford, in addition to the trade of the sur- rounding country. The land formerly owned by the company, from which the timber has been re- moved, has a most excellent soil. A large propor- tion of the original acreage has been sold to settlers. Mr. Stafford still holds about 7,000 acres. His agricultural operations include the cultivation of 1,000 acres in first-class farming condition, being stumped and fenced and all in tillage. The garnered harvest of the current year includes the yield of 1,000 acres. In addition to this there are 400 acres seeded and fenced and used for pasturing. During the haying season from five to eight mowing-ma- chines are employed. The grain harvest employs two self-binders and one reaper. The threshing is done by steam power, and the hay is baled and shipped. No less than ten large barns are required to shelter the stock and for hay and grain storage; also many tenement houses for the workmen.
The great magnitude of Mr. Stafford's business enterprise bespeaks the rarest type of energy, indus- try and judgment so necessary to the successful development of his various projects. He did not begin life with a fortune. Seventy-five dollars was the extent of his possessions, and his present large and flourishing business is the result of untiring effort, strict economy and indomitable perseverance, to which he has always added unswerving fidelity to honesty and integrity. The young man eager for success may here learn how the goal is to be reached.
In common with the first settlers of Huron County, Mr. Stafford shared in the hardships of pioneer life. He drove the first double team over the Lake Shore
De
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road and took the first buggy north of Lexington ; also was the first to ride in a cutter from Lexington to Port Austin. He was appointed the first Post- master in Port Hope, which position he held for 22 years.
In political principle, Mr. Stafford is a Demo- crat. He has for years been prominent in his party, and although never seeking office has often been urged to accept a candidacy for important trusts. Twice when those devastating forest fires swept over the country, laying waste everything in their track and reducing hundreds of families to destitution, Mr. Stafford has been a most efficient agent in dis- tributing goods and provisions to the fire sufferers,- not only dealing out those things sent by others, but also giving generously of his own substance and accommodating whole families in his own house.
In 1866 Mr. Stafford built and occupied his present residence, which, without being extravagant, is one of the most elegant and home-like of all on this shore. The grounds are beautified with shade and ornamental trees, and being located on a slight ele- vation they command an extended and magnificent view of the lake, thus securing to the whole situation an air of completeness. Several hundred shade-trees lining either side of the main streets of Port Hope also indicate that he has had a care for the comfort of other houses. The interior of the Stafford home is no less attractive than the exterior, made so by his own genial nature, a cultured and estimable Christian wife and three accomplished daughters, who have had the advantages of the best. schools.
Mr. Stafford, as well as his wife, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and an elegant church edifice of this denomination, which he has been foremost in erecting in Port Hope, bears wit- ness to his fidelity to the cause of God.
A portrait of Mr. Stafford is of course given in this ALBUM, on a page immediately preceding the com- mencement of the foregoing biographical sketch.
ewis C. Truax, hardware merchant at Bad Axe, was born Feb. 20, 1853, in Brandon Township, Oakland Co., Mich., and is the son of Isaac and Anne (Hummer) Truax. He spent the years of his minority on his father's farm, and, on reaching the period of his legal freedom, he went to Ortonville, a village within the
limits of his native township, where he learned the trade of harness-making. After obtaining the neces- sary knowledge, he established a shop at Ortonville, which he continued to manage until 1880. In that year he came to Bad Axe, and embarked in the busi- ness enterprise in which he has since been engaged. His lines of merchandise include shelf and heavy hardware, tinware and building materials, together with all varieties of agricultural implements, among which are the Perry Royce reapers and mowers, Tiger rakes, Oliver chilled plows, the Huntington, Wilkinson and Curtis plows, Studebaker wagons, spring-tooth harrows, etc., etc. A general repair shop is also connected with the establishment. Mr. Truax owns his place of business, his house and lot, and a farm of 80 acres two miles north of the village where he resides. He is a member of the Order of Knights of Maccabees.
The marriage of Mr. Truax to Ella Bingham occurred July 4, 1874, at Ortonville, Oakland County. Mrs. Truax was born in Brandon Township, and is the daughter of William F. and Lany Bingham. She is the mother of two children, both born in Orton- ville, as follows. Lany B., July 22, 1876, and Annie, July 22, 1879.
acob E. Hartsell, farmer, section 23, Grant Township, was born Dec. 17, 1844, in Ox- ford Co., Ont. His parents, William and Ruth (Cunningham) Hartsell, were natives re- spectively of Canada and New York. In 1855, they removed from the Dominion of Canada to Lapeer County.
Mr. Hartsell was 11 years old when his parents came to Michigan. While living there the civil war broke out, and at the age of 19 years he became a soldier for the Union. He enlisted in 1861 in the Fourth Mich. Vol. Cav., but was seized with illness before the regiment left the State, and was dis- charged. Ten months later he re-enlisted in the Fourth Mich. Vol. Inf., and remained in the military service of the United States until the close of the war.
In the fall of 1868, Mr. Hartsell came to Huron County, and entered a claim of 160 acres of land in Grant Township, where he settled, and has since
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resided. He now owns 120 acres of land, and is cultivating 70 acres.
He is a Republican in political belief, and has held the office of Constable. He has served nine years as School District Treasurer.
The first marriage of Mr. Hartsell, to Mary Teller, occurred in July, 1862, in Lapeer Co., Mich. One of their children died in infancy; two survive-Charles E. and Melissa C. The mother was the daughter of William and Martha Teller, and died May 12, 1872. Mr. Hartsell was again married Oct. 5, 1879, to Louisa Woolhouse. Eva J. and William, two of their children, are living. Ethel M. died at the age of five months. Mrs. Hartsell was born in Canada, and is the daughter of William and Mary A. Wool- house.
B razil R. Church, blacksmith and farmer, resident on section 20, Lincoln Township, was born in Canada, May 5, 1845, and is the son of Oliver and Rhoda (Smith) Church. His parents were natives of the State of Ver- mont, and after their marriage they became residents of Canada, where they lived during the remainder of their lives. Their family included 13 children.
Mr. Church is the eighth son and the youngest of the children of his father's household. He acquired a common-school education, and at the age of 19 years he was apprenticed to learn his trade. He served three years, and followed the business of blacksmithing three years in succession, when he became interested in the manufacture of brick, in which he operated for a similar length of time. He next engaged in farming, and spent three years in the management of his father's farm.
After that he was variously engaged, until his re- moval to Huron County in May, 1879, when he bought 80 acres of wild land in the township where he has since resided. He has improved and culti- vated about 35 acres.
Mr. Church is a Republican in political connection, and has held various township offices. In the spring of 1884 (current year), he was elected Supervisor of Lincoln Township.
His marriage to Amelia Wright occurred Nov. 4,
1869, at Morristown, N. Y. They have five children -Arthur, Samuel, Mary, Bertha and Viola. Mrs. Church was born in the State of New York, April 2, 1847, and is the daughter of Lowell Wright. Mr. Church is a member of the Protestant Association; he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Joseph Farr, farmer, section 28, Meade Township, was born in York County, Ont., Nov. 17, 1832. He is of English descent, his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Dawson) Farr, having been born in England, and emi- grated thence to Canada, where they passed the remainder of their lives.
After he had passed the period of early youth, Mr. Farr became a carpenter, and continued the pursuit of that as a calling for 15 years. In the spring of 1876 he came to Huron County and bought 120 acres of land in Meade Township. To this he added 40 acres by later purchase, and now has about 75 acres which are cleared and cultivated.
Mr. Farr adopts the principles of the Republican party, and has been Township Clerk three years.
His marriage to Mary Conet occurred in Canada, Feb. 3, 1857. Of nine children born of their union, but three survive -.- William J., John H. and Bertha J. The others died in infancy.
homas Martin, merchant, at Verona Mills, and farmer on section 25, Verona Town- ship, was born March 27, 1841, in Canada. He is the son of George and Mary (Shepard) Martin. Previous to his removal to Verona Township in 1866, he was variously employed in the Dominion. Among his occupations were lumbering, and at one time he had the management of several threshing-machines.
On coming to Michigan he bought 80 acres of land, and now owns 320 acres, with 260 acres under cultivation, all of which he cleared himself, with the
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