Portrait and biographical album of Oakland County, Michigan, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 107

Author:
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman bros.
Number of Pages: 980

USA > Michigan > Oakland County > Portrait and biographical album of Oakland County, Michigan, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 107

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A lithographie portrait of the late Mr. Moore, appears in connection with this biography.

D AVID W. BUTTS, of Avon Township, was born in Warren County, N. J., November 11, 1884. His honored parents, Elias and Catharine (Emory) Butts, were natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania respectively. The Butts family had large tracts of land in New Jersey and Elias pursued the calling of a farmer throughout life, as did his father before him. About the mid- dle of this century Elias brought his family to the West, locating near Rochester, Oakland County, Mich. In this vicinity he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable soil, the very tract which is now occupied by his son David. This land has been in the possession of the fam- ily since 1854.

Elias and Catherine Butts had the happiness of gathering about their fireside seven beautiful and promising children, but four of them have passed to the spirit land and three only now survive. John H., the eldest living son, is in Lakeville, this State. The second in age is David W., our subject, and the third, Effie, is now Mrs. Bowman, of Roch- ester, this county. The father of these children passed from earth May 27, 1879.

David W. Butts was ten years old when his pa- rents removed to Michigan and he still remembers many interesting ineidients of his home in the East and the long journey to the wilds of Michigan.

He attended school in the old log schoolhouse of pioneer days and benefited by the excellent drill which characterized those schools and produced good scholarship and excellent practical results, notwithstanding the fact that its curriculum was not broad.

The life of our subject upon the farm and in the forest was calculated to strengthen and develop both the physical and moral nature, and he grew up to a strong and vigorous young manhood and early took his place as a man in the community. But it was not until he had passed the thirty- sixth milestone of his existence that he set up a household and took to himself a wife. He married Miss Julia Bromley, daughter of Edward Bromley, June 21. 1881. To them have been born two chil- dren, who are the joy and light of their fond pa- rents.

Mr. Butts has devoted his entire attention to agriculture, in which he has been truly successful. His fine property and beautiful home overlook the Clinton River Valley, in which Rochester lies. The platform of the Democratic party embodies the political doctrines which are approved by the judgment of Mr. Butts and he is a man of influence in his party, having been placed in some positions of responsibility, as he filled for three terms the office of Treasurer of Avon Township.

ASON T. OWEN, a member of a noteworthy family of Oakland County, residing in Orion his native township where he was born March 18, 1846, is a son of Asa Owen who was born in New York in 1785. He removed to Pennsylvania, where he was a lumberman for several years, and came to Michigan in June, 1830, entering land in Orion Township, when there was not a man living north of him. Detroit was his market and he went to mill there with an ox-team. HIe built a log house and cleared and improved his farm where he remained until 1877, when he passed away in his ninety-third year. He held important

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offices in Orion Township, and for several years was Treasurer, and was respected as one of the or- ganizers of the township. He had to go to Pontiac to vote and even beyond there to obtain help enough to raise his log house. He had brought means with him when he came West, and owned at one time quite a large tract of land. He had an honorable record as a soldier in the War of 1812.

The first wife of Asa Owen was Lucinda Corwin of New York, who died a few years after he came to Michigan, leaving five children, none of whom are now living. The second wife and the mother of our subject, Martha Owen by name, came from Pennsylvania to Michigan with her father at an early day, and is still living in her eighty-fifth year. She has been for many years a conscien- tions and earnest mentber of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Her three children are all living.

Mr. Owen was reared upon the farm and took his education in the district schools. When eigh- teen years old he and an elder brother undertook farming in partnership, taking charge of the old homestead, and that pleasant partnership, still con- tinnes. In 1873 he went to Kansas and spent two years in the cattle business. Four years later he removed to Orion and engaged in the lumber and grain business.

The marriage of our subject in 1879 with Mary R. Gage, of Massachusetts, connected him with an honorable and intelligent family, and gave him a helpmate who has been of great service to him through life. IIer father, the Rev. R. Gage, was born in Massachusetts in 1821, and was graduated at the Biblical Institute at Concord, N. II., in 1852. He entered upon the work of the ministry in the Methodist Episcopal Church the following year and continued it until 1883. Ile remained in Massachusetts until 1862, when he became Chap- lain in the hospital at Alexandria, S. C., where he served from August that year, until June. 1865. In September of the latter year he came to Michi- gan and became a member of the Detroit Confer- ence, traveling in Michigan until 1883, when he was placed upon the superannnated list.

The grand work which was done by the Rev. Mr. Gage is beyond computation. He laid in

their graves twelve hundred brave boys who had fallen in defence of their country's honor, and the sick and the dying confided to him their last mes- sages and their treasures, and he conducted the correspondence for hundreds of them, while in his hands were placed many thousands of dollars which the dying left to be forwarded as their last offer- ing to the dear ones at home. llis wife was Sarah Thomas, of Massachusetts, who died in 1880, leav- ing her husband and three children to mourn her loss. This reverend gentleman makes his home in the household of Mr. Owen, where he is tenderly cherished. The Gage ancestors came to Boston in 1629, John Gage being a Deacon in the First Con- gregational Church of that city, and the grandfa- ther of our reverend friend having been a Revolu- tionary soldier.

The subject of this sketch has only one child: Lucius II., who was born June 23, 1885. Mr. Owen was reared a Democrat, but in 1872 became a Prohibitionist and has always adhered with great earnestness to the principles represented by that body. lle takes an active part in every movement in behalf of temperance, and is fre- quently a delegate to various conventions. For six years he was a member of the Common Coun- eil of Orion, and was President for two years. Ile filled the office of Recorder one year, and that of Assessor the same length of time. llis boyhood training in temperance work was in the Good Templars order. Both he and his noble wife are active and efficient members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Brown County, Kan., besides having a one-half interest in three hundred and fifty-seven acres upon section 14, of Orion Town- ship.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was killed by the Indians, when Asa was a little boy. The latter was then bound out until he reached the age of twenty-one and had no opportunity to attend school until that time. He then went for three months and so closely applied himself to his stud- ies as to obtain a good start and become an excel- lent penman. From that time on he was self-edu- cated and became a well-informed man, especially in regard to the Bible, and an earnest follower of

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WILLIAM

WHITE.

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Christ, although he never united with any church. In those early days, while he was pushing himself forward, both intellectually and materially, he used to raft logs down the Delaware River to Phil- adelphia, and then walk back to his home. He was a member of the Masonie order and had taken the highest degree which was at that time given in the United States.

ILLIAM WHITE. The gentleman whose portrait is presented on the opposite page has passed to that "bourne whence no traveler returns," but the memory of his honorable and upright life is the proud inheritance of his children. After fighting as a valiant soldier the battle of life; after struggling with adverse fortunes in a pioneer country ; after gaining worldly success as the reward of his unwearied efforts, he rests from his labors in the peaceful sleep than knows no wake ing on earth. In his declining years he enjoyed the comforts which his unaided efforts secured, and surrounded by a loving family, passed from earth June 24, 1891.

Our British-American citizens almost invariably reflect credit upon the place of their nativity as well as their adopted home. Mr. White was an Englishman, born in Kent Connty, England, Sep- tember 7, 1822. His father, James White, was a farmer in that county, where he resided until 1832. At that time many people were emigrating to America, attracted hither by the prospects of gain- ing homes and fortune, and Mr. White, accompan- ied by his family, crossed the broad Atlantic in the above-mentioned year, and settled in New York. His wife bore the maiden name of Harriet Hitchcock and was born April 30, 1800, in Kent County, England. Five daughters and two sons were granted to this worthy couple.

In 1836, Mr. White, accompanied by his wife and children, started for Michigan by way of Buf- falo, but beginning their journey too late in the season they were detained in that city all winter on account of the lakes being blocked by ice. However, they reached Detroit in 1837 and settled

in what was then a thriving village. The father died there about 1850 and his widow still makes it her home. Our subject accompanied his parents in their various removals, and in different localities pursued his trade of a bricklayer, stonemason and plasterer. He is proud to tell that he laid the first brick in the first railway depot that was erected in Detroit. After a residence of twenty years in that city he came in 1857 to Royal Oak Township, this county, and settled on a farm of one hundred acres on section 5. This estate is still the home of his family.

The marriage of William White with Mary D. Chapman, took place September 7, 1846. This lady was born in Geneva, N. Y., January 10, 1825. Her father, Joel Chapman, was a carpenter in New England in his early days. His wife, Mary Fur- gerson, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y. Iler father, Jacob Furgerson, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and bis wife, Emily Emery, was born in New York of English ancestry. Our subject and his intelligent and lovely wife became the parents of eight children, namely: William J., Emma C., Net- tie, John, Edith, Ida M., Arthur and Harvey E.

On March 24, 1886, Harvey E. White was joined in marriage with Agnes Groves, who was born November 8, 1867, in County Down, Ireland, and came with her parents to America in 1869. She is the daughter of Robert and Agnes (Martin) Groves, who were the parents of eleven children. This son and his young wife are the parents of three children, namely: Ida May, Ilarvey E. and Winnie G.

OHN S. TEEPLES, proprietor of the Na- tional Hotel at Holly, Mich., was born in the township of Pontiac in 1833. He is a son of Jacob and Jane (Stephens) Teeples natives of New York and Vermont respectively. Jacob Teeples came to Michigan in 1825, and set- tled in Oakland County where he was married. Ile engaged in farming and lived here until his death. Hle had a family of six children, four of whom are living as follows: John S., James M., George T., and Albert D.

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Our subject was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. After leaving home he purchased a farm in White Lake Township upon which he lived eighteen months and then sold it. engaging in the mercantile business at Milford thereafter until 1878. Ile then went into the hotel business there staying in this place three years. He next removed to Ilolly purchasing the National Hotel, which is situated near the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railroad. The purchase in- eluded three lots, the large hotel which is 3fx62 feet and the barn 40x62 feet.

July 3, 1855, Mr. Teeples was married to Mariah Retan. She is a native of this State and the daugh- ter of William and Tryphena (Mead) Retan. na- tives of New Jersey and Michigan respectively. Mr. Retan was the son of John and Margaret (Smith) Retan, natives of New Jersey. He came to Oakland County in the pioneer days and engaged in farming; here he lived until his death.

Our subject and his wife have but one daughter, Tryphena, now Mrs. G. O. Fleicher of this village. She is the mother of one child, May. Mr. Teeples belongs to the Democratic party and is also a Mason. lle is a genial landlord and makes all that stop at his house feel that they are at home. Ilis hotel is kept in good style, with a fine table and all necessary conveniences. Ilis wife proves herself an excellent landlady and uses every endeavor to make her guests feel comfortable and happy.

RS. JANE EBLING, a resident of Big Beaver, was born in Troy Township, this county, March 21, 1838. Her father was Ira Smith, the son of Oliver Smith, both natives of Vermont, the former being born in 1800, and a farmer by occupation. Her mother, whose maiden name was Polly Palmer, was born in Can- ada in 1806, and was reared in Niagara County, N. Y .; she was a daughter of David Palmer, a na- tive of Vermont, born in 1812.

Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were married at Warsaw. N. Y., December 23, 1824, and two years afterward

came to Michigan, locating in Troy Township, and taking up Government land on section 26. The county there about was at that time almost a wild- erness, but they bravely went to work to provide themselves with a home. A log house was soon built. and in this primitive abode they not only lived themselves, but kept a hotel for many years, the father at the same time being busily employed clearing up his land and utilizing his spare moments in making the furniture for his house. He was the first Postmaster in that township, and in addition to the many uses to which the small domicile was put, it was also used for thirteen years as the Post- office. For manyyears be carried on a store at .. the corners" Big Beaver. Mr. Palmer was originally a Democrat, but later he became a Republican. Hle filled the offices of Justice of the Peace and School Director, and was well-known and highly respected throughout the county. Ile departed this life, in March, 1877. Mrs. Palmer followed her husband to the silent land February 7. 1890, at the age of eighty-three years, and they were interred side by side in the Jones Cemetery, in Troy Township.

The parents of this worthy couple comprised six children, as follows: Cyrus, who was born July 28, 1826, resides in Oregon, to which State he removed when twenty five years old; Emily L., born June 30, 1831, passed away July 10, 1869; Mary, born December 7, 1834, is the wife of Sherman Williams, and they reside in Royal Oak Township, this county ; Jane, our subject, is the next in order of birth; Ann, who was born February 3, 1841, died December 14. 1875; Lewis G. was born May 27, 1843, and resides on the old homestead. Ile was married December 3, 1866, to Miss Mary Lamb, and they have six children now living.

Mrs. Ebling was reared in her native place, the first school she attended being upon her father's farm. She afterward taught school for four terms in Troy Township, and acquired a fine reputation in this line. She was married January 18. 1860, to Michael Ebling, a native of Germany, who was born in September. 1829. Ile emigrate.I to Amer- ica and came to Michigan when about twenty-five years of age, following the blacksmith's trade at Big Beaver, and running a bus for eight or ten years. Ile then built a brick store and engaged in

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general merchandising. Mr. Ebling was a Demo- crat, and was Postmaster in 1861, having the post- office in his store building. His death took place December 24, 1869, and his remains were interred in the Jones Cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Ebling were the parents of four children, one daughter and three sons: Elmer L., born May 16, 1861, died December 29, 1863; Homer S. born May 27, 1863, resides in Asotin County, Washington; Jennie M., who was born May 16, 1865, is teaching, in which profession she has been engaged since fifteen years of age; Will- iam M., who was born July 15, 1867, resides at home with his mother, and is carrying on the farm.

Mr. Ebling is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and has been a teacher in the Sun- day-school many years. ller daughter Jennie is also a worker in the church, and with her brothers takes an active part in the singing, all being good vocalists.

℮ OL. W. II. DREW, of Troy Township, was born near Burlington, Chittenden County Vt., May 16, 1818, and is the son of Peter and Anna Drew, the former born in Connecticut in 1791, and the latter a native of Sandy Hill, N. Y., also born in 1791. The father, who was a farmer, served in the War of 1812 and was com- missioned Major at the battle of Plattsburg. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Peter Drew, was a native of Connectient and is supposed to have been a seafaring man. The family origi- nally came from Devonshire, England. The mater- nal grandfather of our subjeet bore the name of William Brace, and was a native of the Empire State. He served as Captain in the War of 1812, and followed the business of a lumber merchant.

The parents of Col. Drew were married in Ver- mont, and there were born to them eleven chil- dren, of whom our subject is the ninth in order of birth. The father died in 1826. The mother passed away in Orleans County, N. Y. Col. Drew received his early education in the district schools of Shelburne, and later attended the academy at Ilinesburg. He was also a student at the Univer-

sity at Burlington, and after leaving that institu- tion he entered a mercantile establishment in Bur- lington and remained until the time of the general financial crash in 1835. He then removed to Pal- myra, N. Y., and followed the business of canal transportation for ten years.

In 1838 Col. Drew was united in marriage with Emeline, daughter of Thomas Richardson, a native of Vermont, and Susan (Whiting) Richardson, a native of Connecticut. Mrs. Drew was born June 9, 1818, in Niagara County, N. Y., and was the seventh among twelve children. In 1840 Col. Drew removed to Rochester, where for a short time he engaged in business, but this he sold out and returned to Palmyra. After remaining thus em- ployed until 1844 he went to Niagara County, N. Y., and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1854. We next find him in Buffalo, N. Y., and during the period of his residence there he was called upon to act as Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of the Free Masons of New York, which position he held until June, 1861, when he resigned.

When the Civil War broke out Col. Drew raised four hundred men for the service, the first raised in Buffalo. Proceeding to Washington, the regiment, after a few days rest, was ordered across the long bridge at Ft. Ryom, where they remained during summer. In the fall they marched to Upton's Hill, where they remained until April, 1862. Onr sub- jeet served as the first Captain of the company, and when the regiment was organized he was made Major, and afterward in the field was promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel. By order of the War De- partment he was sent to Buffalo as a recruiting officer. In the spring of 1862 he returned and joined his command in the field. IIe served with efficiency and valor in many important engage- ments, until he was taken with typhoid fever in the fall of 1862, when he resigned on account of disability and returned to Buffalo.

In January, 1863, Col. Drew removed to Fulton County, Ohio, where he remained through the win- ter. At the commencement of the Legislature he was appointed pay agent for the State of Ohio and this position he held until January, 1865, in the meantime handling over $4,000,000 without the loss of a cent. At the close of his duties in that

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connection he was elected recording elerk in the senate, making up the official record. He served with such ability that he was re-elected, an honor he was compelled to deeline on account of failing eyesight. In 1866 he returned to his farm, but a year later bought ont a hotel business, which he operated successfully until 1889. At that time he came to Michigan and purchased the farm where he now resides.

Col. Drew is numbered among the prominent Masons of the State and has held most of the offices in the lodge. Hle and his estimable wife are the parents of two children-Albert N., who was in the late war and now resides in Chicago; and Addie, who is Mrs. George W. Edson, of Detroit.

B ENJAMIN F. GRACE, a farmer residing on seetion 35, Farmington Township. is numbered among the oldest native-born citizens of the county, having been born April 1, 1838, in Farmington Township. llis father, Amasa Grace, was a native of Maine, and followed the avocation of a farmer. As early as 1827 he removed to Michigan and located in Far- mington Township, Oakland County. While a res- ident of Maine he married Jane Barton, a native of Ireland. Upon coming to this township they located on section 25, and at once commenced the improvement of their new place, building a log house and cutting down the large forest trees. After remaining there several years the father re- moved to Novi Township, where he died. He and his good wife. who died in 1870, were buried side by side in the Farmington Cemetery.

The parents of our subject had a family of five sons and two daughters, viz .: Joseph. Rachel, Will- iam, Charles, Jane, Benjamin, our subject, and Theodore. Joseph, Rachel and Jane are deceased. Our subject was reared to manhood in his native place, and his youth was passed in the usual man- ner of farmers' lads in pioneer countries. His first schooling was obtained in Farmington, but was necessarily limited. He began to aid in farm work

at an early age, and with the assistance of his brother, operated the homestead for some time. Hle bought the first cheese factory in Farmington, and manufactured cheese for nine years, being at the same time engaged in farming pursuits. For about six years he was engaged in the mercantile business in the village of Farmington, beginning in 1873 and continuing until 1881, when he sold out.

Mr. Grace was married in 1856 to Jane Shaw, a native of New York, born in 1833. Of this union the following children were born: Wallace, who resides in Farmington Township; William M., who died at the age of three months; two who died in infancy; Ulysses, a resident of Livonia, Wayne County, Mich .; Joseph, at home with his father; Sarah, also at home. The mother of these children died January 11, 1884. Mr. Grace belonged to the Grange at one time and was an active member of the order. lle was instrumental in building the town hall in Farmington. Politically he is a Dem- ocrat, and for eight years was Supervisor of Far- mington Township.

E DWARD F. CHATFIELD. A well culti- vated farm on section 18, Troy Township, is the abiding place of Mr. Chatfield and the center of his business efforts. His property con- sists of one hundred and forty acres, which is the Chatfield homestead, on which his father located early in the '50s. Since the death of his parent our subject has made many important improve- ments, such as the length of time spent here by his father did not give opportunity for. Mr. Chat- field gives his principal attention to the cultivation of the soil, keeping only a moderate number of domestic animals, but he feeds a good many hogs. At this writing (1891) his drove contains about seventy head, and he has ten horses and ten head of cattle.

Mr. Chatfield is the grandson of Roswell Chat- field, a prominent man in the Green Mountain State, and a patriot of the war for independence. That gentleman spent some years in New York,

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where his son Stephen, father of Edward, was born in 1797. The son had a common-school education and February 7, 1819, in Ontario County, was mar- ried to Susannah Johnson, the year of whose birth was the same as his own. In 1832 the good couple removed to this State, making their journey with a team from Detroit to Troy Township, and estab - lished their home on section 17. Their first dwel- ling was the primitive log house common to the time and their experiences such as fell to the lot of all early settlers. They improved the place as fast as possible, and made it their home a score of years, then removed to the place now occupied by our subject. Mr. Chatfield died in 1856, but his wife survived many years, living to the advanced age of eighty-nine, and breathing her last in 1887. They had nine children, named respectively, Isaac, Alvina, Josiah, Daniel, Edward, Iliram, Ira, Otis and Chester. The first, third, fourth and eighth of these are deceased. The father was Justice of the Peace and generally respected.

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Portrait and biographical album of Oakland County, Michigan, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 107

Author: Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman bros. Number of Pages: 980

Author:
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman bros.
Number of Pages: 980