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 21
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Dr. Robertson was born in Glasgow, November 21. 1830, and was but a lad when he accompanied his parents across the Atlantic. He remained on the farm until he was sixteen years old, then went to school to prepare himself for a professional life. As his means were limited, it was necessary for him to teach during the winter months to earn the money with which to pay his expenses while por- suing his studies in the summer. In 1848 he went to live with his brother, an attorney at Mt. Clem- ens, and there he attended school and also began reading medicine with Dr. Taylor. In 1850-57 he attended lectures at Ann Arbor, and leaving the college two years later he began his practice in Waterford and also carried on a drug store there. In 1853 he sold out and went to Clift Mines in the Lake Superior region, holding the position of As- sistant Surgeon for the company three years. He was not satisfied with the amount of technical knowledge he possessed, and continued his study, determined to acquire the degree of Doctor of Medicine, which he had not yet taken. Ilis desire was fulfilled in 1862, when he was graduated from the Buffalo University of Medicine.
March 12, 1863, Dr. Robertson enrolled as As- sistant Surgeon in the Eighth Michigan Cavalry and was promoted to Surgeon September 12, 1864.
His regiment took part in many of the engage- ments during Sherman's march to the sea, and Surgeon Robertson was present on many a bloody field. At Sunshine, Ga., July 31, 1864, during Stoneman's raid, he was taken prisoner, but was released September 3. September 22, 1865, he was mustered out and honorably discharged, and returning to this State he took up his practice at White Lake. He remained there until 1875, in 1877 located in St. Clair, and after a sojourn of three years came to Clarkston.
In 1853 Dr. Robertson was united in marriage with Miss Jessie Newton, who was born on the Island of Jamaica in 1831. The record of the chil- dren born of the union is as follows: Ada, June 22, 1855; Clara C., born in 1858, died in 1860; Clara J., born February 26, 1861 ; Milton G., De- cember 17, 1868. The son is now living in Pon- tiac. Dr. Robertson, in the midst of the arduous duties of his profession, finds time for some social pleasures and a share in the workings of lodges in which he is interested. He is a Mason, belonging to Cedar Lodge, No. 60, F. & A. M., and is a Knight in Tent No. 85, K. O. T. M. In politics he is a Democrat. Well versed on topics of gen- eral interest, with a manly and courteous bearing, he impresses people as one in whom to repose con- fidence, and numbers will testity that their trust has not been misplaced.
EV. DANIEL COOK JACOKES, M. A., S. T. D., of Pontiac, Oakland County, was born in Charleston, Montgomery County, N. Y., April 15, 1813. He was the eldest of four children, three sons and one daughter, of Samuel and Catharine (Hood) Jacokes, both of whom were natives of the State of New York. Cath- erine Jacokes, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was a woman of marked ability and strength of character, and possessed a clear and active mind, with strong convictions as to religion and morals. When her eldest son had arrived at the age of eight years, he was consecrated by her, as were his two brothers, to the ministry ; and with the settled
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purpose to become a clergyman he marked out, by her advice, a course of study to continue the fol- lowing thirty years, at the expiration of which time he was to buy new books on all subjects, and review his studies, which he has twice done since. It is a little remarkable that these three brothers should have followed the course laid out by their mother. Such is the fact, however, and it is even more remarkable that they are all still living, and active ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church at this time (1891), the eldest, Daniel, having at- tained the age of seventy-eight years, and the ag- gregate of their clerical service covering a period of one hundred and forty-seven years.
The subject of this sketch prepared for college at a select school, and subsequently attended, for about three years, Geneva College (now Hobart College), at Geneva, N. Y. In 1828 he made a fly- ing trip West, spending about one year in Michi- gan, and returned to Geneva, N. Y., whence he, with his wife, to whom he was married in 1832, again came West, and located in Detroit. There he remained about six years, at the expiration of which time he went to the township of Lodi, Wash - tenaw County, where his father had settled, and there spent two years in continuation of his studies in preparation for the ministry, and in the year 1840 joined the Michigan Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Ilis first assignment was to the Farmington Circuit, Oakland County, a dis- trict covering a wide extent of territory, where he remained one year; and at the expiration of this time moved to the Lake Superior region and took charge of the Indian missions there. He continued in this work, which he found very interesting, in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, until 1845. His subsequent appointments, for a period of two years each, were at the following places, in the order named: Grass Lake, Girard, Northville, Mount Clemens, Port Huron, Pontiac, Trenton and De- troit.
On the breaking out of the war, the Rev. Mr. Jacokes was appointed Chaplain of the Fifth Mich- igan Infantry, and experienced the hardships of the Peninsula campaign. Ile resigned this posi- tion at the expiration of a year, and his next as- signment was to the church at Dexter, where he
remained three years. Thence he returned to Pon- tiac, and had charge of the church there for a like period, and in 1868 he was made Presiding Elder of the Adrian District for a term of four years. Afterward he was assigned to the church at Hud- son, where he remained until 1876, when his wife's health failed, and he returned to Pontiac, where he has since resided. About the year 1853 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn., and in 1871 be was made Doctor of Sacred Theology by the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio.
In September, 1875, Dr. Jacokes was requested by Gov. Bagley to accept the position of Commis- sioner of Education of the State of Michigan for the educational exhibit at the Centennial Exposi- tion in Philadelphia, in 1876, and, upon becoming convinced of the practicability of the enterprise, accepted the position. At the time of bis appoint- ment no definite plan had been formed for the prosecution of the work by any of the States or countries represented at the Exposition. To carry into execution a clearly drawn scheme of work, would have been comparatively easy; but to devisc a plan whereby the right kind of information could be collected, tabulated, and presented in an easily accessible shape, was a task of no slight difficulty.
This being evidently the starting-point, and the key to success, Dr. Jacokes' first efforts were di- rected to this task. To detail the plan originated by him would be impossible here, suffice it to say that it gave a comprehensive and full exhibit of the educational system of Michigan. At the first glance a superficial observer might have been dis- appointed at the seeming smallness of the depart- mental exhibit; but a slight examination revealed the fact that it contained, in compact and acces- sible form, all the material really needed for a study of the educational system of the State. This pro- gram was adopted by the Centennial Board, and sent to all the States and nations for their guidance in the educational exhibit. To show the estima- tion in which the exhibit was held, the fact may be mentioned that certain foreign commissioners, de- sirous of understanding the system, spent whole days in examining and copying from the volumes
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and diagrams displayed. Much of the credit which Michigan received for this splendid exhibit is due to the energy and wisdom of Dr. Jacokes, and it is not going too far to say that the citizens of Michi- gan owe a debt of gratitude to him they cannot well repay, for this earnest and self-sacrificing work, to which he devoted about sixteen months of his en- tire time gratuitously.
In 1877, Dr. Jacokes was appointed a member of the State Board of Health, and filled that position acceptably for a period of six years. In 1877, also, he was appointed, by the Governor, agent of the State Board of Corrections and Charities for Oak- land County, which appointment he still holds. He became an active member of the American Public Health Association, one of the highest scientific as- sociations in the world, in 1882. Since 1878 he has served as Chaplain of the Eastern Michigan Asylum for the Insane, at Pontiac. He has taken a lively interest in the welfare of the inmates of the asylum, and has bestowed inuch time and thought upon the discharge of his duties in con- nection with them. His varied culture and great kindness of heart have eminently fitted him for this work.
The Doctor was married, in 1832, to Miss Mary Ann Slarrow. of Geneva, Ontario County, N. Y., who was his active helpmate until 1877, since which time she has been in poor health. They have one son, Judge James A. Jacokes (born November 21, 1834, prominent member of the Oakland County bar, and at present a partner in the law firm of Baldwin, Draper & Jacokes, of Pontiac, composed of himself, Judge Augustus C. Baldwin, and the Hon. Charles Draper), and an adopted daughter, Mrs. William Park, of Trenton, Mich. The rever- end Doctor has spent a long life in the steady pur- suit of knowledge, and does not yet consider his education completed. He has, in addition to his theological studies, given considerable attention to the study of astronomy and the sciences, and his researches into almost every branch of learning have been profound. He has a remarkable consti- tution, enabling him to do the work of three men, even at his present age. He can not remember the time when he has devoted more than four hours of each twenty-four to slumber, and is to be seen on
all except the very coldest days of winter, attend- ing to his out-door duties without overcoat or other additional wraps. Of firm character and decided opinions, and yet of most gentle and lovable dis- position, especially towards the young, the helpless, and the unfortunate, his reputation throughout the . State is an enviable one. Full of charity and thought for others, he has hosts of friends wherever his work has led him, while his sound judgment and sterling character have won him a place in the front rank of men of refinement and education throughout the State, and in the esteem and respect of all with whom he has come in contact.
A lithographie portrait of Dr. Jacokes accom- panies this sketch.
THIT
OHIN ALLEN BIGELOW is one of the na- tives of this county whose labors in life liave been successful, and enabled them to retire from arduous toil seenre from want, and able to enjoy every reasonable recreation and comfort. He is a Notary Public, and does some insurance business, and his office and residence are in the village of Birmingham, where he has a fine brick dwelling and neatly adorned lot. Ile has held public offices of trust, and has an honorable war record to which his friends can refer with pleas- ure. His grandfather in the paternal line was a Revolutionary soldier, and is numbered among the early settlers in this county, to which he brought his family in 1825. The names of Abel and Sarah (Clark) Bigelow are familiar to the old residents, as those of Jotham and Esther S. ( Montague) Bige- low, parents of our subject, are to those of a later generation.
Jotham Bigelow was born in New York, February 7, 1807, and came to this State with his parents, locating in what is now West Bloomfield Township, this county. In October, 1835, he was married at Batavia, N. Y., to the daughter of Elijalı and Esther (McElwain) Montague, and returning to this State the next year, resided in Bloomfield for thirty-four years. He then went to Williamston, Ingham County, where he and his wife died. She
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was born in Batavia, N. Y .. April 18, 1817. Both belonged to the church and were active in religious work. Mr. Bigelow was a Whig in early life, and later a Republican. Ile was a carpenter and builder, and was in but ordinary circumstances.
Our subject is the second child and eldest son in a family whose other members were Mary, Augusta D)., Hamilton M., Judson O. and Amanda, Mary and Amanda are now deceased. lle was born in West Bloomfield, September 16, 1839, but spent his boyhood in Franklin. Ile received a limited education in the common school, and about the time he entered his teens, undertook his own sup- port. He learned the carpenter's trade and also engaged in farm work. When seventeen years old he met with an accident in a mill, which deprived him of the use of his left hand. Ile then went to school a year and subsequently entered npon the life of a teacher, and followed the profession until the winter of 1860. Ile then came to Birmingham and began elerking for (). Poppleton, retaining his position until May of the following year, when he went to Franklin and engaged in mercantile pur- suits on his own account.
In August, 1861, Mr. Bigelow sold out, and on the 13th enlisted as bugler in Company G, First Michigan Cavalry. He served with that regiment until Bank's retreat down the Shenandoah Valley. On May 23, 1862, he was capture.l at Winchester, Va., and "kept company" with the Confederates about ten days. lle then escaped and worked his way to Martinsburg with seventy-two others. Tak- ing possession of a train, they ran it to Harper's Ferry, but by orders of Gen. Crawford, were ar- rested and sent on to Washington through the in- terference of a good-natured captain, who was Pro- vost Marshal at that place. At Washington they were ordered to go to work building forts, but our subject sustained his point, that he did not enter the army for any other purpose than to be a cav- alry man, and he was discharged by order of Gen. Wadsworth and Secretary Stanton, June 16, 1862.
Mr. Bigelow enlisted again in the Fifth Michi- gan Cavalry, August 13, 1862, under the name of John Allen. In the following November he was made chief bugler. In the spring of 1863 the fa- mous Michigan Cavalry Brigade was formed, and
in June Gen. Copeland was relieved, and Gen. Cus- ter placed in command. Our subject was the first man in the Fifth Cavalry to strike a rebel with a sabre, which occurred on June 30, at Littlestown, Pa. He participated in the campaign of constant battles, and was promoted to be Second Lieutenant in August, 1863. He devoted his time to recruiting until the 1st of April, 1864, and on May 4, crossed the Rapidan in advance with the cavalry brigade, which inaugurated the Wilderness campaign. The noble Sheridan was in charge of all the cavalry, and the whole army settled down at Petersburg.
The cavalry corps was sent, in August, 1864, to the Shenandoah Valley against the rebel Gen. Early. On Sunday, September 18, Sheridan was with Grant sitting upon a log. After some conver- sation, Sheridan remarked, "I can settle this Valley business and Early, if I push things," whereupon Grant told him to "push things." The following day he began to follow those directions. During the charge at Opequan a bullet struck our subject in the left elbow, shattering the bone into splinters. Drs. Richards, Nash and St. Clair amputated his arm upon the battlefield, and he remained in Win- chester until Christmas, 1864, when he came home. About that time it was found necessary to perform a second surgical operation, as his arm had not properly healed, and at a later period a third was necessary. The arm is still at this date (1891), troubling him very much, and refuses to get well. During the winters of 1864-65, the amputated stump was in such a condition that the artery would not grow together, and for about fifty days and nights the artery was held by his friends to keep from bleeding to death, and many of the old friends can testify to trying vigils.
Mr. Bigelow was wounded five times, but never left the regiment or duty until he lost his arm. One night he crossed the Rappahannock with Lieut. Percy Leggett, and entering Hood's army, brought away some prisoners and gained the information sought, which led to the death of the brave Leg- gett at Belle Plain the following day, September 1, 1863. Our subject participated in eighty-four bat- tles and engagements with the Michigan Cavalry Brigade. We quote the following from "Michigan in the War :" "He entered service August 13, 1861 ;
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bugler of Company G, First Michigan Cavalry, wounded at Hagerstown, Md., July 10, 1863; See- ond Lieutenant Fifth Cavalry August 13, 1863; wounded May 28, 1864; wounded September 19, 1864; First Lieutenant October 27, 1864 ; breveted captain March 13, 1865 for gallant and meritori- ous services during the war; discharged for wounds and loss of left arm April 15, 1865."
Until he was incapacitated by wounds, Mr. Bige- low was always on duty with his regiment, and he took part in all the battles of the Potomac in which the cavalry was engaged. He was wounded in the back of the neck at Groveton, Va., in 1862, by a charge of buek shot, and July 10, 1863, had a finger shot off his left hand at Hagerstown, Md. May 28, 1864, at the battle of Hawes Shop, he received a gun-shot wound in the left arm, and June 11, at Trevilian Station, received a blow on his head with a revolver. The wound which caused the amputation of his arm prevented him from doing further duty as a soldier, and he was discharged April 15, 1865.
Mr. Bigelow re-entered the profession of a teacher and followed it during the winter of 1865-66. The next spring he removed to Birmingham, receiving the appointment of Postmaster, and for eighteen consecutive years he held the position. He also had a general store, and was Notary Publie and Express and Insurance Agent. During that time he was one of the prime movers in the establish- ment of the telephone system there. In 1884 he sold out his business and resigned his position as Postmaster, owing to ill health. The same year he was elected County Treasurer on the Republican ticket, and at the expiration of the term was re- elected. He has held numerous village and school offices, and has been faithful to every trust reposed in him. He is a Republican, and a believer in pro- teetive tariff. He is a Royal Areh Mason, and also keeps up his connection with the Blue Lodge. He is one of the charter members of Diek Richardson Post, No. 147, G. A. R., at Pontiac, and was the first Adjutant. During his first enlistment as a soldier Mr. Bigelow rose through the ranks of Sec- ond and First Lieutenant to that of Captain.
May 24, 1866, Mr. Bigelow was married to Miss Isabel Whitehead, an estimable young lady who
was born in Waterford in June 1844. Her parents were Almeron and Ann ( Mais) Whitehead. Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow have three children, named re- spectively, Mortimer O., Bertha A. and Bessie E. The family moved in good society, and Mr. Bige- low is especially endeared to loyal citizens by the sufferings he endured in his country's cause, and the valor and cheerfulness he displayed on fields of battle, and during the tedium of camp life.
W ILLIAM C. SHOUP, a successful farmer of Oakland Township, was born in Warren County, N. J., March 26, 1832. His father, Conrad F., a Pennsylvania man, was born April 1, 1794, at Carterstown. The grandfather, John, was born August 30, 1770. The family is of Welsh extraction. Conrad F. emigrated from Pennsyl- vania to New Jersey and was there married to Ruth Taylor. Ile elerked in a store at IIarmony, Warren County, N. J., for twelve years. In 1831 he came. to Oakland County, with a view to settling here. He finally located a tract of land on section 10, Oakland Township. and in 1834 removed his family to the new home, where they occupied a log house just across the road from his farm until he could provide a home of his own. Ile purchased a team of oxen and a cow in Detroit while on his journey.
The country was new and sparsely settled. Indians eamped within two miles of the home of our subject, and frequent visits were exchanged. The trip to Detroit, which was the nearest market place, consumed a week in those days. Ile died in 1846 at the age of fifty-two years. Ile had served as an enlisted soldier for a short time in the War of 1812 until peace was declared. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was Township Treasurer and Supervisor. 1Ie lost his right hand in New Jersey while firing a cannon during a Fourth of July celebration. His wife died in 1879 at the age of seventy-three years.
The subject of this sketch was one of eight chil- dren, five of whom are now living. Ile was two years old when his parents removed to Michigan.
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As soon as old enough to work he was obliged by the necessities of pioneer life to leave school. Ile remained at home until of age. and for several years worked by the month for his mother. In 1863 he bought an adjoining farm of eighty acres and after three years disposed of it and purchased the old Shoup homestead, on which he has since continued to reside.
In 1861 our subject married Rebecca Ilixson, who was born and reared just across the road from the Shoup place; the year of her birth was 1844. She was the daughter of Jonah and Mary A. (Jones) Hixson, who came from New Jersey to Michigan in 1837. Mr. Ilixson is now living in Pontiac but his good wife ended her earthly career in 1860.
To Mr. and Mrs. Shoup have been granted four children, namely: Eliza, Frank, Jesse and Wade II. Their father is a stanch Demoerat and has been a delegate frequently to county conventions. He has two hundred and forty acres of fine land, which lie has brought to an excellent state of cultivation. He began life with limited means and has been quite successful.
ENRY J. BOWERS. On section 34, Troy Township, is a milling plant owned and operated by the gentleman above named. When he bought the property, in 1865, it was known as the Blair Mill and the machinery was that adapted for sawing lumber. He carried on work of that kind and also added the fittings by which he could make flour and grind feed. The mill is now run by steam and has complete sets of first-class machinery, well adapted for the several purposes mentioned. Mr. Bowers has forty acres of land around the mill, upon which he makes his home, and eleven acres in Birmingham and forty in Manistee. It is evident that his labors in life have been successful, though he began his career at the early age of ten years and worked on a farm for his board and clothes.
Mr. Bowers was born in Germany August 25, 1838. his parents being Jonathan and Catherine
(Rottgang) Bowers. Ilis father died in the Fath- erland in 1842, leaving a wife and two children-a son and daughter. The widow came across the Atlantic and to this State, where she died in 1847. The son began his education in the land of his birth, but left that country during his early boy- hood and so completed his studies in Michigan. When his mother died he was thrown upon the world and he found it hard to make his way until he was a man. The first money he earned was $3 per month by working in a nursery. When fifteen years old he went on the lake and for about twelve years was a sailor. Ile then worked for the De- troit. Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railroad Com- pany two years, and in 1859 was employed by the Michigan Southern Railroad six months. For some time prior to his purchase of the mill he worked in it by the day or month, and when he assumed con- trol he was thoroughly conversant with sawmilling.
In 1866 Mr. Bowers was married to Miss Frances J. Burnett, who was born in Troy Township in 1847, and is the youngest of three sisters. The union has been blest by the birth of two children- Myrtle and Jessie J .- the former of whom died when but three weeks old. Jessie is a bright and active lassie, now eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have an adopted daughter whom they call Myrtle E., who is now sixteen years old and attend- ing school in Birmingham. Mr. Bowers is a Royal Arch Mason belonging to Birmingham Lodge No. 44. Ile votes the Democratic ticket. He and his estimable wife are regarded with respect by their acquaintances and have many warm friends.
E LISIIA R. CLARK is one of the veteran soldiers of the Civil War, having served through all the Virginia campaigns until 1864, and having suffered greatly through im- prisonment in rebel prisons during the latter part of his term of service. He was born in Lennox, Macomb County, Mich., March 3, 1847. He was reared on the farm and lived with an uncle, Leonard
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