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 17
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A native of this county, Gen. Matthews was born in Troy Township, September 5, 1837, and is the younger son of Salmon J. Matthews, a native of Livingston County, N. Y., where he was born in 1799. The father removed in 1822 to Oakland County, Mich., and purchasing a farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres in Troy Township, erected thereon good buildings and carried on general
farming. A publie-spirited man, he was widely known and universally respected, while his death in 1850 was felt to be a loss to the community. The grandfather of our subject, Salmon Matthews, came to Michigan late in life, and died in this county. Ilis remains were interred at Auburn.
The mother of Gen. Matthews was Susan Whit- ney, a native of New York State, and the daughter of Parker Whitney. She died in Troy Township in 1864. She was the mother of nine children, eight of whom lived to maturity, and seven of whom are still living. five being residents of Oak- land County. At fifteen years of age young Sal- mon S. began to clerk in a store at Oxford, for Joel P. Toms. Later he elerked for G. H. Emmons, and two years later became a partner in the store. In 1859 Mr. Matthews sold out to his partner, and in the same winter he became clerk in the store of Isaac Butterfield, of Pontiac. In April, 1861, he enlisted and in June, 1861, was commissioned as First Lieutenant of Company D, Fifth Michigan Infantry, Col. H. D. Terry, and in September joined the Army of the Potomac.
The regiment fought in the battles of Pohick Church, Williamsburg, Fairoaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomoy. Cold Harbor, Peters- burg, Strawberry Plains, Boydton Plankroads, Hatehies Run, Fall of Petersburg, and Sailors' Creek. In all of these engagements Gen. Matthews participated, with the exception of those occurring when he was confined in Libby Prison, or suffering from wounds or sickness.
At the Battle of the Wilderness the General was shot through the right shoulder, the bullet passing downward, coming out just below the scapula. He also received a flesh wound in his leg in the battle of Gettysburg. He was wounded at Glendale June 30, 1862, being shot in the left leg below the knee. He lay on the battlefield two weeks, having been taken prisoner, was removed to Libby Prison July 14, and after being kept there a short time, was paroled, and exchanged in September. He was finally sent to Baltimore and spent some time in the hospital before going home.
His wound continued very troublesome, the bone
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being badly shattered, but in December, 1862, he rejoined his regiment near Bell Plains, Va .. and assumed command of his company. His brave con- duct during the next two years promoted him to a Major's commission, and in 1863 he was made Lieu- tenant-Colonel. On March 13. 1865, for merito- rious 'service at the battles of Glendale and the Wilderness, he was brevetted Colonel and Brigadier- General. He was mustered out of service on a surgeon's certificate of disability December 21, 1864. The Fifth Regiment sustained the heaviest losses of any Michigan regiment, and fourth in the United States.
Gen. Matthews now returned to Pontiac, but it was years before he recovered his health suffi- ciently to engage very assiduously in business. In June. 1866, he received an appointment of l'ost- master from President Andrew Johnson, and held this office for nine years. Ile then engaged in busi- ness at Detroit, residing however in Pontiac. He was then appointed Quartermaster-General of Mich- igan on the staff of Gov. John J. Bigley, for a term of two years. and was re appointed to the same position by Gov Croswell, which position he re- signed upon being appointed United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan, by President Hayes. That office he held for nine years, having been re-appointed by President Grant.
In 1886 Gen. Matthews was elected Sheriff of Oakland County, serving for two years and deelin. ing a renomination. His official life was marked by a high order of executive ability, and his ster- ling honesty gave him the confidence of the people and an extended popularity. He was married May 29, 1877. to Miss Anna E. Hill, of Pontiae, daughter of Harvey N Hill. They have one son, Charlie S .. now ten years old. Gen. Matthews was Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of Michigan, and member of the Dick Richardson Post No. 147, G. A. R., also of the Loyal Legion, of Michigan. He with his wife and son are mem- bers of the l'resbyterian Church, and he is the pres- ent Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is recognized as one of the stanchi and representative Republicans of the State, and was tendered the nomination for Congress from this district, but declined on account of the pressure of other duties.
His elegant residence on Clark Street is an ornament to the city, and heneath its hospitable roof the Gen- eral and his estimable wife are wont to entertain their many friends.
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U'LIAN A. BUEL, M. D. Among the pro- fessional men of the county, mentioned should be made of Dr. Buel, who has been in active practice in Franklin since 1866. He had the advantage of thorough medical instruc- tion, being a graduate of one of the schools of best repute in our country, and furthermore, is the son of a physician who was well and widely known, and by whose example and teaching his own knowledge was well founded and strengthened. The father was Dr. Henry S. Buel, who was born in Castleton, Vt .. in 1825, and located in Franklin in 1842. Here he carried on his professional work until his de- cease in 1891. Few physicians have so long a record in one place as had the late Dr. Buel. Ilis wife was a native of New York, born in 1825, but from her early childhood her home was in this county. She bore the maiden name of Electa M. Frost, and at the time of her marriage was residing in Pontiac.
Dr. J. A. Buel is the eldest child and only son of his parents, whose family also included two daugh- ters. lle was born in Milford, this county, Jan- uary 26, 1840. and his first schooling was received in the town that is now his home, his father having removed here during his early childhood. He took up higher branches in Pontiac, and after such read- ing and study as were deemed expedient, he en- tered the medical department of the State Univer- sity at Ann Arbor, and continued his pursuit of professional knowledge until he was graduated. Returning to his home, he took up the duties of his profession, following the example of his respected father, and winning a similar regard from the people.
In 1864 Dr. Buel was married to Malintha Dur- kee, who was born in Bloomfield Township, this county. in 1843. She is the third child of Stephen F. Durkee, one of the oldest settlers in the State,
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who came to this county in 1825. Doctor and Mrs. Buel have one child, a daughter, who was born in 1866, and is now the wife of Samuel I. Slade, a lawyer of Detroit. The young couple have a little boy, who is named Samuel Buel. Dr. Buel is a Mason, enrolled in the Blue Lodge at Farmington and Chapter at Birmingham. With his estimable wife lie is received in good society, and both are duly respected for their intelligence and worth of character.
OHN S. HEWITT. One of the best stocked and most attractive business houses in Mil- ford is that of Mr. Hewitt, where a full line of drugs is kept on sale, together with a well-selected stock of books and stationery, paints and oils. The business is the most extensive of the kind in the town, and a brick store two stories high with a basement, is the site. The edifice was built for his own use by Mr. Hewitt a few years after opening up in business here. Ile has made a study of the drug trade and is careful in his selection, receiving goods from only the best and most reliable wholesalers, and he also exercises great care in the compounding of prescriptions.
The father of our subject was Benjamin Hewitt, a native of Willimantic, Conn., who was reared on a farm, but in early manhood engaged in the grocery business. About 1832 he came to this county and beginning with an eighty-acre tract, improved property at Highland Corners and en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising. At the time of his decease he owned one hundred acres of improved land and his property covered three corners. He died in 1880 at the venerable age of eighty-two years. Ile was a Democrat in politics and a Baptist in religion. He married Ann Perry, who was born in the same vicinity as himself and whose father was a cousin of the renowned Commo- dore Perry. They were of English descent. Mrs. Ilewitt lived to the age of eighty-one years. She had six children-George J., who died at thirty- six years of age; Mary A., whose home is in Iligh- land; Elizabeth J., formerly the wife of Judge Giles T. Brown, who died in Ithica; Windham W.,
an old soldier, now living on the old homestead; John S., subject of this sketch ; and Olive E., who died when nineteen years old.
At Highland, January 4, 1843, our subject was born. and there he grew to the age of seventeen years. He had the district school privileges and learned considerable of agricultural affairs. At the age mentioned he began clerking in a general store at Ilartland, Livingston County, and acting as As- sistant Postmaster, but the next year he returned bome and took charge of his father's farm while his brother Windham served his country on South- ern battlefields. A few years later he took charge of his brother's store and in 1865 he began the study of dental surgery at Fenton with E. G. Miles, D. S. He also made some study of medicine and more of the nature of drugs, under Miles & Dunlap, and liking the drug business, soon gave it his entire attention and abandoned dentistry. In 1869 he located in Milford, renting a new store into which he put a new stock of drugs. Abont three years later be built the brick in which he now carries on business.
If Mr. Hewitt can be said to have a hobby it is certainly fine horses. He has raised standard-bred equines of the Morgan and Hambletonian strains and now owns some very fine animals. One is "Fellow-craft," a Morgan, bred in Kentucky, which has taken several first premiums. It is a noble animal of a fine chestnut color, well proportioned and graceful in action. Another of Mr. Hewitt's horses is "Myrtie P," a Morgan filly, bred in Ken- tucky, and "Kitty Wood," a fine roadster who has taken several first premiums. Mr. Hewitt has car- ried away the blue ribbon from various fairs, and to see him spinning down the street behind one of his thoroughbreds is a sight to rejoice the hearts of all horse lovers. Mr. Ilewitt owns five acres within the corporation and has a handsome resi- dence.
In Corfu, N. Y., in 1870, Mr. Hewitt was mar- ried to Miss Eunice Hills, a native of Akron, that State. She was a graduate of Alexandre Seminary in Albany, and was a teacher of the first grade. Her father, James Hills, a farmer, made an early settlement in this State, but after some years sold his property and returned East. Mrs. Hewitt died
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in Milford leaving one child.Herbert W., who is now attending the High School in the class of '93. July 13,1882. Mr. Hewitt was again married, the ceremony being performed in Milford, and the bride, Miss Adelia Greig. This nnion has resulted in the birth of one child-Lulu B.
Mrs. Ilewitt is the eldest of the eight children of William and Mary (Tascoll) Greig, and was horn in Detroit February 23, 1854. She lived in that city several years, then in Dearborn, and was sixteen years old when she came to Milford. She finished her education in the Union School here. Her father was born in Scotland, and after he became a man, emigrated and located in Detroit. There he worked as a contractor and builder, and after his removal to Milford he took up the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. Thence he went to South Lyon, where he had large interests in church and school furniture. Mrs. Greig was born in Detroit and was the daughter of one of its early settlers. Both par- ents belonged to the Presbyterian Church and their daughter is an equally consistent member and con- nected with the Home Mission Society.
Mr. Hewitt was Secretary of the Milford Agri- cultural Society two years and Treasurer one year. and is still a stockholder. He helped organize the association and was an officer until care for his health compelled him to resign. lle is a demitted member of the Odd Fellows and belongs to Liberty Lodge of the Michigan United Friends. lle is a member of the Michigan State Pharma- ceutical Society. Politically he is a Republican.
C ALEB J. SPRAGUE, one of the most nota- ble and progressive farmers and stock-rais- ers of Farmington Township, was born in Walworth Township, Ontario County, N. Y., July 8. 1832. His father Caleb Sprague was born and educated in Providence, R. I. His natal day was January 17, 1789. When a young man he went to New York and located in Ontario County, where he followed his trade of milling. Here he married Lydia Aldrich, who became the mother of our subject.
The father of our subject came to Michigan in
1834, traveling by team to Buffalo, thence to De- troit by boat, whence they teamed it again to Farmington Township. He found a log house al- ready on the place which he purchased, a fine tract of one hundred and ninety acres which was partly cultivated. Ile was a Whig in politics and a mem- ber of the Baptist Church in which he served many years as a Deaeon. Both he and his good wife lived to the age of sixty-eight years, and now lie side by side in their long sleep in the Knapp ceme- tery in Novi Township. They were the parents of two daughters and four sons, and they had the happiness of seeing all except one grow to man- hood and womanhood. The four now surviving are-Alonzo, Lorenzo, Caleb and Jonathan.
Our subject was but a little fellow of three years when he came to Michigan, and he took his first schooling in Farmington Township and com- pleted it at Northville. Ile remained at home with his parents until his marriage, April 24, 1857. His bride was Mary E., daughter of Joshua and Han- nah (McCumber) Simmons, natives of Massachu- setts, and who located land in Wayne County, this State, in 1824. Mrs. Sprague was born in Wayne County, this State, November 8, 1835. After their marriage, the young couple located on a farm of eighty acres near the village of Farmington, where they remained until he bought the place where be now resides.
Mr. Sprague has one of the finest farms and one of the handsomest residences in the county. It was in 1863 that be purchased this farm of one hundred and eighty acres, and in 1875 he erected his fine residence at a cost of 85,000. He takes a justifiable pride in having everything about his home in the best shape and most beautifully ar- ranged, and among other attractions has a lovely fountain. IJe built a reservoir in his house which furnishes water to every room and supplies force for that used in his grounds. A large wind-mill on the premises gives the propelling power. He has been one of the best farmers in the county, and has raised some extraordinary cattle. Among these were two pairs of twin steers of remarkable beauty and build. He has taken them to all the fairs, and in every case they took the prize, and have been the talk of the county. One pair weighed
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seventy-four hundred pounds, and the other sixty- eight hundred they were graded Durham. Ile has a handsome oil painting of them which he nat- urally takes great delight in showing. Hle at one time kept fine wool sheep, and it has always been his pride to excel his neighbors in the line of graded stoek.
Mr. and Mrs. Sprague were never blessed with any children, but they adopted one daughter Let- tie, who married Byron Pearce, for whom Mr. Sprague built a neat and pretty home in Farming- ton. They were bereaved by the death of this daughter in 1886. Mr. Sprague is a Mason, he- longing to Blue Lodge No. 151, of Farmington, also to the Royal Arch and Commandery at North- ville. In all of them he has been placed in re- sponsible offices as he is looked upon as a leading member. In his religious views he is a Universal- ist. Ile is widely known throughout the county and adjoining country as a man of liberal views and honorable dealings, and he has the good word of all who know him.
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W ILLIAM AITCHESON, M. D., a successful physician and business man of Ortonville, was born in Paris, Canada, April 18, 1846. His father, William, was born in Scotland, and came to Canada in 1840. He followed the trade of a tailor until about 1850, and then began farm- ing. He is now a man of seventy years, and re- sides at Seaforth, Canada. His wife, Jane, was born near the city of Glasgow, Seotland, and died in 1884. They were both earnest and consistent members of the Presbyterian Chureli, and were the parents of three children.
Dr. Aitcheson was the only son of his parents. Ile received a common-school education, and in 1867 entered the Collegiate Institute in Galt, On- tario. Ile spent two years in this school working his way by his unaided efforts. In 1869 he matri . culated in the university at Toronto. Before tak- ing this step he had taught for some five years, and he continued later to teach. In 1871 he entered the medical department of the Michigan University
at Ann Arbor, and graduated from there in 1873.
Ortonville was the spot which the young Doctor chose as his field of labors, and he has remained there almost continually since he took his diploma. lle has built up an extensive and lucrative practice and has made for himself a splendid reputation. Some unusually difficult eases in surgery which be conducted successfully have added materially to to his repute. Ilis marriage in 1875 to Isabel Mur- die, was an event of great importance in the life of the young man. This lady was born in Seaforth, Canada in 1854, and is the daughter of Andrew and Mary Murdie, both natives of Scotland, who came to Canada about the year 1840. The mother is still living, but the father ended his days in 1890.
Dr. Aitcheson was independent in polities up to 1844, but since that time has been an earnest Pro- hibitionists, and takes an active part in political movements. In 1888 he was a candidate for County Clerk. For sixteen years he has been identified with the Masonic order, and is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. His wife is active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the past nine years the Doctor has had considerable deal- ings in real estate in Tuscola County, handling farms mainly. When he came to Ortonville, his purse and his assets amounted to $2.50, and his suc- cess in life has been great as he has risen by his own unaided efforts.
YLVESTER HAZELTON, a cooper in Ox- ford, was born in Ingham County, Mich., July 28, 1846. He is the son of Ransom and Polly ( Whiting) Hazelton, both natives of New York State. The father was a farmer and he is still living in Washington, McComb County, having reached the ripe old age of four-score years and four. Ilis good wife was snatched from his side by death in 1850. To them were born eight children. The family is of mixed Scotch and En- glish descent.
Sylvester Hazelton was brought up to farming pursuits, but he learned the cooper's trade and in 1874 opened a cooper's shop in Oxford. This work
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he did not continue very long, but returned to the farm in 1878 and engaged for a year or more in farming, but he finally regretted this step and in 1880 he returned to coopering, and still carries on quite an extensive business in this line. He con- tinually employs as many as ten hands and often increases the number to twenty. He has an output of about seventy-five thousand barrels per year. Ile has associated with him Ralph C. Miller under the firm name of Hazelton & Miller.
Mr. Hazelton was married November 30, 1868, to Lydia Ingoldsby, who became the mother of one child, Delia, who is now the wife of Ralph Miller, her father's partner. Mr. Hazelton is a member of several of the social orders, belonging to the Knights of the Maccabees the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and the Grand Army of the Republic.
The subject of this sketch is one of the veterans of the Civil War. Ile enlisted September 6. 1864, in Company G, Third Michigan Infantry. He saw service with the Army of the Cumberland andI was in several skirmishes and at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Ilis regiment was sent to Texas about the time the war closed, to guard Government prop- erty, and their discharge was granted them at Vic- toria, Tex. Ile would have been glad to go into the army at the breaking out of the war and en- listed in 1862, but was sent back home on account of his extreme youth, llis political affiliations are with the Republican party.
L EVI F. STOCKWELL. The home of this gentleman is on section 27, White Lake Township, and his property there consists of one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land, on which he has put the various buildings which be- long to every well-regulated farm. His first pur- chase here was of eighty acres, on which the only improvement in the way of buildings was a log house. After a time he added to the extent of his farm and the most of the quarter section has been cleared by himself and he likewise broke about two-thirds of it. Ile has given his attention chiefly to his personal affairs and the pleasures of social
and domestic life, but he has borne some part in civic matters and fraternal institutions.
Mr. Stockwell is a son of Levi and Catherine (Barrows) Stockwell, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Ile was born August 16, 1822, in New York, and at the age of twelve years came to this State with his parents. He has sinee lived in this county and as boy and man he has been closely identified with its agricultural in- terests. He remained with his parents until he became of age and then began working by the month as a farm hand. He subsequently cultivated land on shares and when about twenty-eight years of age made his first purchase, where he is now living.
The first wife of Mr. Stockwell bore the maiden name of Angeline Terry, and was a daughter of Nathan Terry, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to this county many years ago. She was married to our subject in the village of Rochester. Their son Nathan is married and lives in Rochester, where he is a clerk in a store and hotel. Mr. Stockwell was a second time married, choosing as his wife Miss Naney Quick, the daughter of John Quick, of Pennsylvania; and their union was blest by the birth of the following children : Bert who is carrying on agricultural work in this township, and has a home of his own; John, a farmer living in White Lake Township; Zora and Ora, who are still at home. The faithful wife and mother passed away June 3, 1889.
Mr. Stockwell is a Master Mason, connected with Commerce Lodge, No. 121. When he first studied political issues he decided to cast his vote with the Democratic party and he has always been faithful to his first decision. He is now serving as llighway Commissioner, a position in which he has done good work for the people in times past. Ile is a good farmer, a reputable citizen and a man who enjoys the respect of his associates.
G EORGE H. MITCHELL, of the firm of Whitehead & Mitchell, is one of the leading men of Birmingham, and, like his partner, is still a young man going up the hill of life, He
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was born in Birmingham, May 28, 1854, and is the second child of Robert J. and Emeline (Holly) Mitchell. His parents were born in Westmoreland County, N. Y., and came to this State a number of years ago, making their first settlement in Ma- comb County. The grandparents of our subject, Joseph and Clarissa (Cone) Mitchell, natives of Connecticut, also came West, and they died in that county. About 1847 Robert J. Mitchell came to Birmingham and carried on a mercantile busi- ness here during the rest of his active life. Ile and his wife died here, leaving three children-Frank H., George H., and John U.
The subject of this notice received but a com- mon-school education, and began his business life as a clerk for J. A. Bigelow, with whom he remained two years. At the expiration of that period he began clerking and telegraphing for F. Hagerman, in whose employ he remained some eight years. About the 1st of April, 1881, he formed a partnership with A. Whitehead and started in the drug and grocery business on a small scale. Neither of the partners had any great means, as they had been obliged to work for them- selves, and their parents were not in a condition to supply them with large sums of money. Good business ability and close application have accom- plished what even wealth could not have done, and the firm has a solid reputation.
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