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 15
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Augustus Carpenter Baldwin was born at Salina, Onondaga County, N. Y., December 24, 1817. lle is the seventh in lineal descent from Henry Bald- win, of Woburn, Mass., who, according to the earliest records of the family, came from Devon- shire, England, and settled in Woburn shortly be- fore 1650. The father of Augustus C. was Jonathan Baldwin, born in Canterbury, Conn,, and his mother
was Mary Carpenter, whose family name he bears. Ile was the eldest child and only son in a family of three children-Augustus C., Pamelia and Mary. Ilis father was engaged in the mercantile business, out, like many of the pioneer settlers of Western New York, possessed slender capital, so that at his death. which occurred in Salina in 1822, his family were left in somewhat straitened circumstances- the children being all young, and the husband and father their only stay and provider.
Thus left an orphan in his fifth year, the boy Augustus was committed to the care of an unele, a former partner with his father. From the time of the death of his father he resided with his paternal relatives until 1828, when he went to Lancaster, N. Y., to live with his mother's relatives. After that he had to care for himself, and devoted his time to the performance of such duties as offered to a boy, attending school and pursuing such elementary studies as his age and means permitted, and rapidly acquiring the fundamental principles of an English education. In the fall of 1836 he went from Erie County, N. Y., to visit his father's relatives in Connecticut, where he taught school during the ensuing winter. For a short time he attended the Academy at Plainfield, Conn. The limited advan- tages offered to young men of energy in the Eastern States, caused him to turn his eyes toward new and wider fields. In the fall of 1837 he set out for the great West. On November 12, of that year, he arrived in Oakland County, in the then newly-
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admitted State of Michigan, and during the ensuing winter taught a public school in Southfield. For the next five years he taught and studied by turns. delving all the while as deeply into history and standard literature as the time and books at his command would allow.
Having determined upon the law as his profes- sion, our subjeet began reading under the tuition of John P. Richardson, Esq., of Pontiae, Mich., in 1839. During this time he took advantage also. of the facilities afforded by the branch of the State University, then located at Pontiac, for higher ad- vaneement in his ?eademic studies. Subsequently he entered the law office of the Hon. O. D. Rich- ardson, at Pontiac, and there continued until his admission to the bar in 1842. In June, 1812, he settled and began practice at Milford, in Oakland County, Mich. It was during his nearly seven years' residence here that he won to himself that solid business confidence, and established those habits of close application, temperance and strict economy, which lie at the foundation of his excep- tional success. It was at Milford that he faced and overcame those two mighty obstacles which lie in the pathway of almost every young lawyer- poverty and obscurity-and there he made the proverbial first thousand.
But the demands of his growing practice made his presence at the county seat more and more necessary, and in 1849 he removed to Pontiac, where with the exception of two years' residence upon a farm which he owned in Commerce, his home has ever since been. Since this, his last and permanent location, his career has been that of a busy and successful lawyer-eminent, trusted and honored-with such interspersions of official station and publie duty as naturally fall to a man of supe- rior intelligence and high character. He has par- ticipated in many of the capital cases that have been tried in Oakland, Lapeer and other counties since he came to the bar, and the records of the courts bear his name as counsel through a greater variety and extent of litigation than, probably, any other attorney of Oakland County. For the last thirty-five years Judge Baldwin has not only been an acknowledged leader at the bar, but has also stood as one of the ablest counselors and most
courageous champions of the great Democratic party, of which he has from the attainment of his majority been an active member. He has been an efficient and influential coadjutor with the best men of Michigan in improving and perfecting the gov- ernment of the State in all of its institutions and departments; as well as in the upbuilding of his profession and the strengthening of his party, as great instruments of justice and of good within the commonwealth.
A brief outline of his official and public record, aside from his professional and private employ- ments, will serve to show the esteem in which he has been and is still held by his compeers, and in some degree the extent of his services and useful- ness. The first publie office ever held by him was that of School Inspector for Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, to which he was elected in 1840. Ile was elected to the House of Representatives in the Michigan Legislature in 1843 and 1845, serv- ing during the sessions of 1844 and 1846. 1Ie was appointed Brigadier-General of the Fifth Brigade of the State militia in 1816, and continued such until 1862, when the militia system as then exist- ing was abrogated by law. He was Prosecuting Attorney of Oakland County during 1853 and 1854.
In 1862 Judge Baldwin was elected a member of the Thirty-eighth Congress from the Fifth Dis- trict of Michigan over R. E. Trowbridge, Republi- can, serving on the Committee on Agriculture, and Expenditures in the Interior Department. In the issue which arose during this Congress concerning the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the l'nited States, abolishing slavery, he voted in support of the amendment, i. e., in favor of its submission to the States for their approval. He was nominated for re election by his party in 1864 with Mr. Trowbridge again as his opponent. The State had in the meantime enacted a statute author- izing Michigan soldiers in the army to vote in the field. The Supreme Court of the State, upon a test case, declared the statute unconstitutional. Judge Baldwin received a clear majority of the lawful home vote. Nevertheless, the House of Representatives, upon a strictly party contest, gave the seat in Congress to Mr. Trowbridge, in
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direct defiance of the decision of Michigan's own Supreme Court.
Judge Baldwin was Mayor of Pontiae in 1874, and for eighteen years-1868 to 1886-he was a member of the Board of Education of that city. During this period very important improvements in the local school system have been made, largely through his influence, and the present fine school buildings have been erected. He was aetive in se- curing the location of the Eastern Asylum for the Insane at Pontiac, and has been for many years and still is one of its Board of Trustees-a State ap- pointment. That noble institution, the Michigan Military Academy. at Orchard Lake, four miles from Pontiac, also owes much to him for its remark- able success. He has for several years been one of its Trustees, and is now its President. Ile was for many years President of the Oakland County Agricul- tural Society, and is now President of the Pioneer Association of the Connty. In 1875 he was elected Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Michigan for the ensuing full term of six years. He presided upon the bench over four years of his term with the ability which his eminent legal attainments would indicate, when the utter inadequacy of the salary (which the State refused to increase by the requisite constitutional amendment) eaused him to resign the ermine and return to the regular prac- tice at the bar.
Besides having been during the past forty years a frequent member and officer of State and local political conventions, Judge Baldwin was a dele- gate to the National Democratic Conventions at Charleston and Baltimore in 1860; delegate at large to the National Convention at Chicago in 1864; delegate to the National Peace Convention at Philadelphia in 1866, and at different times a member of the National and State Central Com- mittees. From early manhood he has been a men- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and is Past Eminent Commander of Pontiac Commandery, No. 2, of Knights Templar.
The Judge is slightly above medium stature, standing five feet eleven inches, tips the seales at abont one hundred and eighty-five pounds, and is naturally of a strong constitution and robust pliys- ical frame. The fine portrait which accompanies
this sketch, is a life-like presentment of his earnest. thoughtful face. By temperate and prudent habits of life his powers have been weil preserved, and he is still active and strong for one of his years. lle still applies himself diligently to his business, being at the present time solicitor for the Pontiac, Ox- ford & Northern Railroad.
This record would be incomplete, especially for those by wliom its subject is held personally in highest esteem, if some referenee were not made to the individual qualities of mind and heart, and the modes of life and action, belonging to the man who for more than a generation has been so intimately identified with the affairs of his city, county and State.
The most prominent traits in Judge Baldwin's character are industry, strong common sense, and that kind of moral courage which people call deci- sion of character. In financial affairs he is prudent and cautious, but just; thrifty, but not miserly. When he gives he gives generously, but not to every petitioner. Ilis industry is uneeasing. lle is never idle except when asleep, and then he is very busy resting. His mind is clear and accurate, rather than brilliant. Ile does not reach a conclu- sion at a flash. Ile acquires with deliberation, but a subject once mastered is mastered forever. Ilis power as an advocate lies in clear, straightforward reasoning upon the facts of his case. His argu- ments are severely practical. Ile is not magnetic as an orator, nor classically brilliant, but he drives home facts and figures with merciless force. He loves poetry but deals in hard, plain prose. Per- sons who do not know him thoroughly sometimes aceuse him of a lack of warm, human sympathy, but this is unjust. He is positive in his resent- ments; he cannot tolerate a mean action; he is sometimes harsh in his denunciation of wrong and wrongdoers; but his heart is warm, and he is true in his attachments. Ile is a steadfast friend, though the act which betokens his friendship may be performed with few words.
His style of living, dress, etc., is characterized by a plain, rich abundance-nothing for mere dis- play, but a generous regard for comfort and good taste. Having amassed a comfortable fortune, he has invested quite extensively in farming lands,
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and indulges a natural fancy for nice stock, poultry. fruits, flowers and rare plants. But his ruling taste is for books; and his especial delight, apart from devotion to the learning and literature of his profession, is his private library of general litera- ture and miscellaneous works. This collection comprises many thousand volumes, and is kept at his residence. It has steadily grown under his fostering care through all the years of a long and laborious life-his pet, his entertainer, his counselor, his philosopher and friend-until it has become part of his being. Hle turns to it when the day's tasks are completed, as to a sort of soul's rest. In the departments of history, poetry and the drama, Judge Baldwin's library is probably un- surpassed by any in the State. except, perhaps, the State library at Lansing and that of the l'niversity at Ann Arbor. So constantly has he associated with these thousands of silent friends, that each one has become to him a personal and familiar ac- quaintance. He loves pictures and has some line ones; but they by no means equal his literary treasures. His wife, whom he married in 1812, and who is still living, was Isabella Churchill, of Pontiac, Mich. They have one daughter.
While another of a different mind, peculiarly endowed. might bear a vast assembly upon the loftiest wave of impassioned eloquence, or weave over millions of hearts the raptures of an immor- tal poem, yet in all that goes to benefit practically the common mass of men, and to bear society for- ward in all that is meant by that expressive term civilization, but few men in Michigan, thus far, can with justice be assigned a place co-equal with Augustus C. Baldwin.
G EORGE W. WILLIAMS. A good position among the farmers and stoek-raisers of Waterford Township is occupied by the gentleman above named, whose well-regulated es- tate consists of two hundred and thirty-five acres on seetions 12 and 13. The success which he has met with has been the result of his personal ef- forts, aided by the good management of a prudent
wife, and his career may well be taken as an ex- ample worthy of consideration by those who begin in life without worldly means. He was denied the educational advantages which boys of the present day enjoy, his early life having been passed in this county when it was yet considered a frontier region. In later life, however, he endeavored to supply by judicious reading and accurate observation the de- fieiences of his mental training, and has succeeded in becoming very well posted npon all topics of general interest.
George W. Williams, Sr., father of our subject, was born in New York in 1794, and was well educated in his youth. Upon attaining manhood he studied medicine and became a successful prac- ticing physician. In 1829 he came to this State, and in 1830 was united in marriage with Miss Lois Francis, who was born in Massachusetts in 1808. She came to this State with her parents in 1829. Immediately after their marriage the young couple located in Auburn, this county, where the husband practiced medicine and kept au hotel until 1835, when, Pontiac becoming the county-seat, he removed thither. Ile engaged in various pursuits, was president of a local bank, speculated in land, built mills at Clintonville and the village of Waterford, and became very closely identified with the progress of the county. Toward the close of his life he bought a farm in Water- ford Township, to which he devoted considerable attention. His death, in 1845, removed an hon- ored and well-known citizen from the community.
Of the five children born to Dr. Williams and his wife, only two now survive, our sub- ject and his brother, Charles F., who lives in California. The mother passed from earth in 1879. George W., of this sketch, was born in Pontiac, March 11, 1836, and was reared to man- hood in that city, where he attended the Iligh School, making his home with his uncle. Three years after his father's death he removed to the farm, and here he has since lived, making his home with his mother. In connection with farming he very soon began dealing in stock and grain, and has become a very successful stock-dealer. So greatly has his reputation extended that he has fre- quently been offered a large salary by Eastern
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stockmen if he would give his whole time to the business for them, but he prefers to work for him- self. During the late war he bought a large num- ber of horses for the Government.
In 1882 Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Alice, daughter of James and Ann ( Ainslie) Young, natives of Scotland and New York respec- tively. Mrs. Williams received an excellent edn- cation at Ilannibal, Mo., and of her happy wedded life one child has been born, a son-George Roy, now seven years old. In the exercise of his calling Mr. Williams has acquired a handsome competenee and now has as cozy and attractive a home as may be found in the township. His personal worth and kindly manners have gained him a high place in the regard of the whole community.
ILLIAM SOULTS is the son of Alexander Soults, and the grandson of Ephraim Soults, who were all natives of County Down, Ire- land. Our subject was born in that county, Feb- ruary 23, 1832. When fifteen years old he came to America with his parents, landing in New York City. From there he went to Detroit, and thence to Royal Oak Township, where, on July 3, 1857, he was united in marriage with Susan Bell. IIer fa- ther, William Bell, was also from County Down, Ireland, where he was born in 1795. He was a farmer by occupation, and a Protestant in religion, and was for many years an Elder in the United Presbyterian Church. IIe and his good wife, Eliza- beth (McBride) Bell, were the parents of two sons and eight daughters, of whom Susan was the young- est, being born June 9, 1839. She came with her parents to America in 1849, and resided with them in Royal Oak Township.
William and Susan Soults are the parents of ten in- teresting children, all but two of whom have grown to the estate of manhood and womanhood. They are by name, Joseph E., born August 15, 1858; Samuel A., August 16, 1860; John B., September 24, 1862; William A., June 5, 1865; Eliza A., March 27, 1867; Charles R., January 9, 1869; Mattic J., Feb- ruary 10, 1873; Hattie M., March 12, 1876; Susie
B., September 19, 1878; Cora E., February 23, 1882. Samuel and Eliza were both early called away from earth; Joseph E. was married to Cora Saunders, October 9, 1882, and is engaged in the newspaper business at Ishpeming and Menominee, Mich. They are the parents of two children, only one of whom is living. John was married on Christ- mas day, 1889, to Adelaide A. Brown.
Mr. Soults remained at home until he was about twenty-three years of age, when he began for him- self on a rented farm. A little later he bought twenty acres on section 7, Royal Oak Township, and then went to section 5, and bought eighty acres and remained there for five or six years. From there he came to the place where he now re- sides. He has one hundred acres mostly im- proved and worth fully $100 per aere. Mr. Soults has made his own fortune, and he has a handsome property and a pleasant home, where he and his delightful family dispense hospitality and give a cordial welcome to their friends. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an Elder for many years. He has been School Treasurer for eighteen years, and other offices have been tendered him but he has always declined. The history of his ancestry will be found more fully in the sketch of his brother, Alexander Solts, of this township. This latter gentleman has dropped from his name as superfluous the silent "u," and spells his name in a more simple fashion.
E RASTUS HI. SIPPERLEY. One of the most attractive farms in Avon Township is owned and occupied by this gentleman. The . home place consists of one hundred acres, which are cultivated in a careful and intelligent manner and have their fertility kept at par by a judicious rotation of crops and the use of drainage or fertil- izing agencies when necessary. A complete line of farm buildings stand upon the estate, modern ma- chinery is in use during the season of planting and reaping, and stock of high grades grazes in the pastures. The dwelling is of unusually pleasing tlesign, is a model of neatness and comfort, and in
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its surroundings gives evidence of the refined taste of the family. It was built in 1885.
The Sipperleys have been in America about two hundred years and the family was established here by natives of llolland. The parents of our subject were Jobn and Elizabeth ( Wood) Sipperley, both of whom were born in the Empire State. They brought their family to Michigan in 1835 and lo- cated in Troy this county, where their son Erastus was born February 29, 1836. Ile is one of the five members of the parental family now living, four having died. The father passed away August 27, 1869, when nearly threescore and ten years old. The mother breathed her last November 8, 1885. at the age of seventy-nine years.
The subject of this sketch lived with his father until he was twenty-six years of age, pursuing the usual course in life, giving his early days to study and other preparation for the battle of life. The war having broken out he felt a desire to aid in the defense of the Union, and Angust 11, 1862, became a private in Company B, Twenty-second Michigan Infantry. Ile was sent to Covington, Ky., and with his comrades followed the rebel Gen. Bragg to Nashville and Johnston to Atlanta, taking part in numerous skirmishes and the various duties to which the regiment was assigned. The Twenty-second was badly cut up at Chickamauga, but Mr. Sipperley escaped harm on that occasion, as he was unfit for duty and was in the hospital. Ile did his duty as a brave man should until after the war closed, and was mustered out June 26, 1865.
Mr. Sipperley returned home in July after his dis- charge and at once went to work on the home farn :. Hle continued his labors there till after his marriage, then began housekeeping on the farm he now oe- cupies. Ilis wedding day was February 9. 1870, and his bride, Annette Everett, daughter of An- chew and Prudence ( Wells) Everett. This lady was born in Macomb County, this State, and is ed- neated and refined. She is a model housekeeper, and takes great pride and delight in floriculture and keeps a great variety of hot-house plants. Music and flowers make the home attractive, and the life of the family is one to which all can look back with pleasure when the members shall have
been separated by the circumstances of life. Mr. and Mrs. Sipperley have had eight children, but two are deceased. The living are Florence E., Charles Herbert, Homer Van, Hattie Agnes, Alice May and Zay. The deceased-George Ehner. who died May 3, 1879, and Eddie, who passed away September 9, 1889.
While slavery was in the land Mr. Sipperley was classed among the Abolitionists, and for years past he has been a strong Republican. His connection with the I'nion Army is commemorated by mem- bership in the Grand Army of the Republic, and he takes a comrade's interest in the "boys in blue." llis religious membership is in the Congregational Church and his reputation that of a consistent Christian.
ETH FRANCIS. Many pleasant homes may be seen throughout this county and some of more than ordinary beauty, either in architectural design or surroundings. Among those in Oxford Township that are com. modious and set in the midst of broad fields is the farm of Seth Francis, which comprises two hun- dred and fourteen acres. The tract is well located and bears the improvements usually made by a man who desires to keep up with the times and sur- round himself with the conveniences of modern rural life. Honest and persistent effort on his part has been crowned by success, and to-day he ranks among the prosperous citizens of the community.
William Francis, father of our subject, was born in 1807 in Ontario County. N. Y., and there grew to a stalwart manhood. In the fall of 1833 he came to Macomb County, Mich., where he pre-empted Goverment land and became an early settler. Amid those pioneer surroundings be remained until 1858, when he removed to Brandon Township and there passed the remainder of his life. He attained to the ripe old age of four score and one years. and passed quietly away July 9, 1888. Upright and industrious, he became very prominent in local affairs and held various township offices including Supervisor while a resident of Macomb County. Of
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very peaceable disposition, he never sued a man during his entire business career nor was he ever sued. In his religious belief he was a Universalist. Ile was a strictly moral man, courteous and con- siderate in his treatment of all with whom he came in contact.
The parental family included four children, all of whom are now living and occupying honorable positions in life. The mother, Martha ( Everitt) Francis, was a native of Ontario County, N. Y., and died in 1845. Our subject is a native of this State, born in Macomb County. June 3, 1838. 1Ie was reared to the pursuits of agriculture. In 1859 he joined a company and went to Pike's Peak in quest of gold. After a long and fatiguing journey the desired place was reached, and Mr. Francis located a claim, but after working it one season, he returned home. The same claim was afterward "jumped" by another and was at one time valued at a half-million.
We should be doing but scant justice to our sub- ject did we not refer to his worthy record as a soldier. He showed his loyalty to his country by enlisting to help suppress the Rebellion that threat- ened the destruction of the I'nion. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, First Michigan Cavalry, under Col. Broadhead. Ile participated in the battle of Winchester, the second battle of Bull Run, the three days' battle of Gettysburg and at Falling Waters. In the latter engagement, Septem- ber 22, 1863, he was severely wounded in the left arm and was soon afterward taken prisoner. After being confined in Libby Prison three days he was taken to Belle Isle, where he remained a prisoner until February 21, 1864. lle was next taken to Andersonville where he passed about six months, in the meantime suffering intensely from his wounded arm. After a year of prison life he was exchanged and sent home on a furlough to await orders from the Adjutant-General of the State to come to Detroit and be discharged.
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