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 28
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is green in the hearts of the few that remain, who will never cease to call her blessed.
In the fall of 1823 Capt. Parke bought of Mr. Shubad Conant the southeast quarter of section 33, Pontiac Township, paying therefor $3 per acre. To this latter he added forty-seven acres. In May, 1824, he built a log house, which his family occu- pied until 1832, when he built the house near the toll gate on the Detroit road, which is still stand- ing, and the farm is occupied by D. M. Ferry as a seed farm. This was located about one mile south of the village of Pontiac, which at that time con. sisted of about a dozen frame and a few log houses. Capt. Parke's first contract for surveying was in the winter of 1822, in township 4 north, range 11 east, and he commenced work seven miles south of Fenton. His second contract was in the vicinity of Adrian, while his later work ex- tended over different portions of Michigan, Wis- consin and Iowa. He ran all the town and most of the subdivision lines from Lake Huron to Sagi- naw Bay on the West and from Black River to Point aux Barques on the north. Nearly three winters were spent here. Messrs. Thomas & Chris- tian from Ohio had contracts, but after two weeks abandoned their work and reported at the Sur- veyor-General's office, declaring the country un- inhabitable and refusing to return.
Capt. Parke, who was never known to turn back from any enterprise once commenced, remained and completed their work as well as his own. The country was almost entirely low land, covered in the spring with water from melted snows, while dense cedar swamps abounded. For six or eight weeks in the spring the lands in the vicinity of the heads of Cass and Black Rivers were under water from knee to waist deep in many places, and the surveyors were obliged, while extending range and township lines, to carry their own blankets and provisions. At night they we" fortunate if they could keep dry on their beds, made of poles piled high and covered with hemlock boughs. The last United States surveying done by Capt. Parke was subdividing twelve townships in Iowa, which was completed in January, 1838.
The other United States surveyors residing in Michigan at this early date were John Mullet, Lu-
cius Lyon, Judge Burt, Sylvester Sibley and Ori- gen Risdon. Capt. Parke survived them all ex- cepting the latter. It may be interesting to many persons to learn what constituted the outfit of a surveying party sixty years ago. Two French ponies, that could live on one pint of corn per day with browse from young green trees and shrubs, carried the provisions for six persons from the nearest settlement-twenty, sometimes fifty, miles distant. Their driver, guided only by pocket compass and marked trees, drove through the wil- derness by day and at night slept by the side of some fallen tree, wrapped in his blanket. The cook prepared the unchanging meals: for breakfast fried salt pork, hot bread-made of wheaten flour, cold water, and yellow with salcratus-and strong green tea. The "left-over" pork and bread, carried by each man in his pocket, constituted the dinner, al- ways eaten on the march. Returning late at night, frequently walking several miles after concluding the day's work, they enjoyed their most delightful supper of hot bean soup and bread. There was no dyspepsia, and Capt. Parke never knew a case of sickness in his party, although the work was al- ways done in the coldest weather and the trips covered four or five months.
In 1845 Lucius Lyon, the Michigan . surveyor, was appointed Surveyor-General, and the office removed to Detrroit. Mr. Lyon had served one term as delegate to Congress from Michigan Ter- ritory some years previous, and one term after its admission as a State. When not engaged in his regular business Capt. Parke attended to his farm and was frequently engaged in county surveying. He also held for one term the office of Sheriff, to which he was elected about 1832. He was the third Sheriff of the county, William Morriss having been the first and Schuyler Hodges the second. As he was necessarily absent about every winter and the business distasteful to him, he appointed Orison Allen his Deputy and the latter performed nearly all the duties of the office and succeeded him at the close of his term of service.
In politics Mr. Parke had been an old-line Whig, but his abhorrence of slavery drew him early to the Republican party, of which he continued a most earnest and faithful adherent. Possessing
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great energy,indomitable perseverance and remark- able physical endurance, he was admirably fitted for the hardships incident to the surveyor's life. Ilis early training by religious parents in the school of New England morality, without any of its as- cetieism, doubtless aided in the formation of a character and presence in which were combined a dignified manner, a most amiable deportment, great sweetness of temper, the strictest truthful- ness and highest integrity. Ile was often heard to declare that a man's word should be as good as his bond under any and all circumstances, and that he never kept a person with whom he had made an engagement in waiting one minute.
After the death of his wife, in 1862, Capt. Parke made his home with his son-in-law, Willard M. Mc- Connell until his death, which occurred October 3, 1879, in the ninetieth year of his age. His danghter, Mrs. MeConnell, and son, John Il., sur- vive him. The younger daughter, wife of Levi Bacon, died in 1854. When seventy-six years of age Capt. Parke made a public profession of re- ligion and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Pontiac. Hopelessly afflicted with par- alysis for thirteen years, his intellect was scarcely elouded, his patience and faith unwavering; and coming to the close of his long and useful life he met the inevitable fate with saintly fortitude and Christian dignity, leaving to his friends the blessed assurance that "all is well."
E II. TOMPKINS is senior member of the firm of Tompkins & Williams, dealers in furniture and undertaking supplies. in Pon- tiac. The firm carries a heavy stock, having four rooms filled with well selected goods. Their en- terprise has grown to such an extent as to give them all the work they can conveniently handle, and they do the principal part of the undertaking in the city. Mr. Tompkins was born in Tomp- kins County, N. Y., July 18, 1839, and is the third of nine children comprising the family of George Washington and Martha (Barger) Tompkins. His parents were natives of Dutchess County and were
of English descent and French extraction. Ilis occupation was farming. Soon after their mar- riage the parents of our subject settled in Tomp- kins County, where the father died in 1876, in the seventy-second year of his age, and the mother in 1883, when seventy-eight years old.
Our subject attended the district school in his native county and completed his more advanced studies in Trumansburg Academy. He remained with his parents until he had attained his majority and then began farming on his own account. He carried on agricultural work in his native State until 1871, then came to Pontiac and for three years was a clerk in a hardware store belonging to Flower & Pitman. He then formed a partnership with Joseph Voorhees, under the style of Voorhees & Tompkins for the sale of furniture and under- takers' supplies. The firm carried on business three years, and Mr. Tompkins then bought his partner's interest and continued alone until 1885, when William E. Williams became his partner. The firm occupies two stores, 20x100 long, and two large warerooms, and their immense stock is being constantly depleted and replenished on account of a business which is the largest of the kind in this or the adjoining counties.
Mr. Tompkins was married in November, 1862, to Miss Nancy A. Voorhees, daughter of Peter Voorhees. one of the early settlers of this county. She died in 1875, leaving two children-Mattie C. and Mary Grace. The latter lived to be bnt eleven years old, and then joined her mother in the silent land. Mattie is the wife of Washington P. Green, whose home is in Oakland. In 1877 Mr. Tomp- kins contracted a second matrimonial alliance, wedding Elizabeth A. Green, danghter of Daniel Green, of this county. Mrs. Tompkins' parents were among the early settlers here and Mrs. Tomp- kins is a native of this county. The results of this marriage are a son and a daughter, named re- spectively Charlie H. and May.
In politics Mr. Tompkins is a Democrat. IIe is representing the Fourth Ward in the Common Couneil, and was formerly Supervisor from the Third Ward. He took an active part in establish- ing the electric light system in Pontiac and is one of the stockholders of the company, and was for
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several years its Secretary and Manager. He and his wife belong to the Presbyterian Church, have good standing in that religious society and among the people in general. Mr. Tompkins is enterpris- ing and honorable in his business relations, shows himself to be interested in the improvement of the eity, and bears his part in the social pleasures of the intelligent and upright circles.
AMUEL J. WILLSON. The beautiful home of the subject of this sketch attracts the eye of the traveler passing along the highway on section 16, of Royal Oak Township. Hle was born February 24, 1839. His father, James S. Willson was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., in 1799 and was a graduate of the Lancaster School there. His wife, Maria. to whom he was wedded in 1824, was a daughter of E. and Gennett (Campbell) Lan- sing. She was the fourth child and youngest daughter of that household. Hler parents were botlı natives of New York and the Lansing family was originally from Holland.
John Willson, the grandfather of our subjeet, was a farmer and a native of New York where he was born about 1765. He was a child at the time of the Massacre of Cherry Valley in 1776. Ilis wife, Plicbe Spencer, was of Scottish parentage. The great-grandfather, James Willson, was a native of Ireland, who came to America between 1750 and 1760 and was appointed high Sheriff of Albany County, N. Y., under King George II. Our sub- jeet's grandfather and grandmother, Jolin and Phoebe Willson, were the parents of nine children, three sons and six daughters, of whom James S. was the eldest. This son and his wife, Maria, were the parents of eleven children.
The son, Samuel J., left his home at Cherry Val- ley to attend school at Westfield Academy in Chautauqua County, and in 1860 went to Indiana and taught for one term. In the spring of 1861 he entered Wabash College, but as the Civil War just then broke out the boy dropped his books and shouldered his musket. He enlisted for a service of three months, April 21, 1861, in Company H,
Eleventh Indiana Volunteers. This was the cele- brated Zouave Regiment which Col. Lew Wallace commanded and it was raised in response to Presi- dent Lincoln's first call. At the expiration of the three months of enlistment, the young man imme- diately re-enlisted in the same company and regi- ment for a term of three years, and was com- misioned as Second Lieutenant.
Lieut. Willson was present at Ft. Donelson and at Shiloh. He was afterwards detailed to the Sig- nal Corps at Paducah, Ky., and in August, 1862, he resigned on account of ill health. He re-entered the service in November, 1862, as Captain of Com- pany K, Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteers. He was present at the battle of Chickasaw Bluff in Decem- ber, 1862, and was wounded in the head by a frag- ment of shell. In May, 1863, he was present at the battle of Magnolia Hill. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg and immediately after the fall of that fort went with Sherman to Jackson, Miss., and took part in the fight with Johnston. He returned to Vicksburg, and in August went with MeClernand's Thirteenth Army Corps to New Orleans. There this valiant young Captain was given command of a Pioneer Corps of the Ninth Division. Being sent to Brazier City, La., he was taken siek and returned to New Orleans, where he remained till his dis- charge in 1863. Two brothers of our subject also fought in the War of the Rebellion-Robert C. and Albert W. The latter died from wounds received at Chancellorsville.
After his discharge Capt. Willson returned to Westfield, N. Y. to find the wife whom he had chosen. They were married on February 3, 1864. The lady was Sarah E., daughter of Daniel and Ann G. (Gibson) Shove. Mr. and Mrs. Shove were natives of New York, and Daniel was the son of Eli and Sarah (Hungerford) Shove. Mrs. Shove's parents were of Irish descent.
Soon after marriage the young couple went to Indiana and made their home near Attica, but did not remain there long. Returning to New York they made their home there till the fall of 1867 when they went to Iowa and remained until 1874. In that year they came to Michigan and located on section 33, Royal Oak Township, on a rented farm of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1877 they
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came to the village of Royal Oak to make their home. Mr. Willson served for one year as Town- ship Superintendent of Schools and was Inspector of Schools for two years. In 1882 he received a back pension of 84,400, with which he bought a farm of forty acres where he now lives.
The subject of this sketch has served as Justice of the Peace for seven years and is now holding that office. In 1885 and 1886 he was employed in the office of the Secretary of State to assist in com- piling the census. He is also a Notary Public. Hle and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and earnest laborers in the Sun- day school. Mr. Willson has been Steward and Trustee in the church and has sat as lay delegate in the Annual Conference. Ilis politics are embod- ied in the platform of the Republican party and he delights to say that he cast his first vote for Abra- ham Lincoln and his last for Benjamin Harrison. Ile has served as delegate in County, Congress- ional, Legislative and State conventions,
A family of seven children have gathered about this worthy couple, they are: Charles G., born JJan- uary 26, 1865; John Jay, February 28, 1866; Mary, June 28, 1867; Sarah, September 11, 1868; Albert W .. September 28, 1869; Robert C., No- vember 14, 1873; and Anna, August 16, 1875. Sarah, Anna and Robert all died when young. Mary is the wife of Warren W. Ileavener. She lives in Royal Oak Township and has two children, Margaret and Eleanor. Albert W. married Jennie Willson, and lives in the village of Royal Oak ; they have two children. In 1830, Mr. Willson was the census taker of this township. He draws $24 per month pension which he richly deserves for the gallant service he rerdered his country in her hour of need.
TEPHIEN COOPER, a prosperous farmer and highly respected resident of Royal Oak Township, having his farm located partly in that township and partly in South- field, was born November 29, 1820, at Quogue, in Suffolk County on Long Island, N. Y. His father
was a farmer and a native of the same place where he was born in 1765. His wife, Hannah, was a daughter of Enoch and Mehitabel ( l'ost) Jagger. They were also natives of Long Island and were the parents of five children, of whom Hannah was second daughter and third child.
John and IIannah Cooper were blessed with eight children having an equal number of sons and daughters. Their second son. Stephen, eame with them to Wayne County, Mich., in 1833. John Cooper located land in Redford Township, and the deeds to his three hundred and twenty acres were signed by Andrew Jackson. He remained for forty years on this farm and it is still owned by his son John. The father was a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church, where both he and his excel- lent wife were active and consistent members.
When Stephen Cooper was a boy in Wayne County he lived near the trail of the Shiawassee Indians and often saw them as they passed on their way to and from Detroit. lle was not much of a huntsman from inclination, but was active in guarding his sheep and young cattle from the wolves and frequently saw large herds of deer and bears. Ile started for himself when twenty-one years of age and spent one winter in Long Island. The next spring when he returned West his father gave him eighty acres of woodland and he began the work of clearing the farm. Before he was married, at the age of twenty-six years, he had his farm in quite good condition and had built a house and barns. Ilis bride was Ann Eliza, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Crawford) Barclay. Mr. and Mrs. Barclay were New Yorkers and were the parents of four sons and one daughter.
To Stephen and Aun Cooper were given two children. Mary B. was born in October, 1852. She is the wife of E. C. Poppleton and resides at Birmingham. She is the mother of four children, all but one of whom are living. The second daughter, H. Jennie, was born in February, 1866, and is now a teacher in one of the high schools at Detroit.
In 1860 Mr. Cooper purchased land in Oakland County, seenring about ninety-eight aeres, one-half of which was improved. He rebuilt the house and improved all the buildings before moving his fam-
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ily to the new home. He has laid out about five miles of drainage tile on the farm. His faithful wife was called from him by death, June 5, 1876. and lies at rest in the Crooks cemetery in Troy Township. He has been Supervisor of Royal Oak Township for two terms, also Justice of the Peace for eight years and has seen three years service as Drainage Commissioner of the county. Ilis earli- est political affiliations were with the Whig party and his first Presidential candidate was Ilenry Clay. Later he was a Republican until the elec- tion of 1872, when he voted for the Democratie candidate and has since cast his presidential ballot for the Democratie nominee, while at the State and county elections he votes for the men rather than the politicians. He is a great worker in the church and Sunday-school, having been Clerk of the ses- sion of the Presbyterian Church where he has been an Elder for about thirty years. Ile is also Super- intendent of the Sunday-school and is ever a lib- eral contributor to all worthy objeets.
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C LAYTON McKENNEY, one of the pros- perons and energetie farmers of Novi Township, was born June 15, 1832, in On- tario, Canada. There he received a district school education and grew to manhood, learning the blacksmith trade and remaining at home until after he reached his majority. His father, Alex- ander McKenney, was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was born in 1793 in Schenectady, N. Y. He was a farmer and blacksmith by occupation. llis wife, Mary (Stringer) McKenney, was born in Welland County, Ontario, Canada, in 1801. They were married in Canada and made that their per- manent home. Ile died in 1865 and his widow still survives at the extreme age of ninety years. Seven of their eleven children are still living. The parents were both members of the Church of the United Brethren.
The marriage of Mr. McKenney took place Sep- tember 19, 1875. llis bride was Sarah Jane Bent- ley, a daughter of Benjamin and Christina (Stringer) Bentley. Their daughter Sarah was born April
20, 1841, in Ontario, Canada. She grew to wom- anhood, attending the district school in Oakland County, this State, and taking a year's schooling at Ypsilanti. She then taught school both in this county and in Clinton County. After marriage the young couple resided in Canada for a year and a half and then coming to West Novi, this county, made their home here for six years. He followed blacksmithing for that period of time and then re- moved to the farm where he now resides. He has two hundred and fifteen aeres of fine land in an excellent state of cultivation.
Nine years ago Mr. McKenney built the hand- some residence where he now lives, at a cost of $2,500. Ile also built an excellent blacksmith shop and built and repaired a tenant house. One child was sent to bless this union, Gertrude Ellen, who was born July 12, 1866. She is now the wife of John Erwin and resides in Commerce Township. She has one child, Christina. Mr. and Mrs. MeKenney are bothi active and efficient members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Walled Lake and he is Steward and Trustee in the same. The danghter has been a student at the Normal school at Fenton and has taught school in this county. Our subject takes deep interest in polities and also in every movement to promote temperance in the community. His political views are expressed in the platform of the Republican party. IIe has filled the office of Road Overseer. Ile has been school director for twelve years and has been fre- quently solicited to fill other offices of importance in the town, but refused, preferring to give his time and attention to home affairs.
B. PARKER, a farmer of Royal Oak Town- ship, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., June 8, 1816. His father, William M. Parker, was born in North Adams, Mass., in 1779, and went to Oneida County, N. Y, in 1793, where he soon afterward married Miss Lydia Gil- bert Bull, daughter of Asher Bull, of Connecticut, of the Bull family well-known in the Revolutionary War. This danghter. Lydia, was born in New Hart-
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ford, Conn .. in 1782 and went to New York with her parents in 1806.
William M. and Lydia Parker were the parents of eleven children. eight daughters and three sous, of whom our subject is the oldest son and eighth child. The family removed to Michigan in 1835 and in 1839 our subject was married to Harriet N. Castle, a daughter of Ileman and Nancy ( Wilmarth ) Castle. Mr. Castle was born October 30, 1789, in Westford, Vt., and was a carpenter and farmer. Ile was at Plattsburg in the War of 1812. His pa- rents were David and Sarah (Vickery) Castle. His wife was born at Westford, Vt., in 1792 and she became the wife of Ileman Castle July 7, 1812 and in 1818 they moved to Victor, N. Y. They were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, the latter being the wife of our subjeet. The Castle family came to Michigan in September, 1830.
Mr. and Mrs. Parker have been blessed by the birth of seven children, all of whom have grown to maturity and have taken their places in the work of the world. The eldest son R. A. Parker, born in 1843, is an attorney in Detroit. Julia HI., born in 1845 is the wife of D. E. Wilber of Ypsilanti. Lora E., born in 1817, is Mrs. C. Holser of Pontiac. Ella S., born in 1851, is the wife of John Benjamin of Royal Oak. Will HI., born in 1853, is a public lec- turer on mesmerism. Lydia V. born in 1857, is the wife of 11. S. Blodgett of Royal Oak. Jessie I. born in 1861. is the wife of John II. Keist, and lives on the farm at home.
Going back in the history of the Parker family. we find Ezra the grandfather of our subject a far- mer in Wallingford. Conn., where he was born in 1746. He had a Revolutionary experience for he went as an Orderly with Arnold to Quebec and was with Gen. Stark at Bennington, Vt, and Sara- toga. Ezra Parker moved to Royal Oak. Mieh. with his son William in 1835 and died there in 1842. His wife, Elizabeth Perry, was born in Massachu- setts in 1760, and died at Sangerfield, Oneida Coun- ty, N. Y. November 8, 1826. The early educa . tion of our subject was obtained in the common schools and afterward in an academy at Waterville, N. Y. When he first came to Michigan he came to Royal Oak Township, and then spent four years
in Genesee County, but returned to the old farm in Royal Oak. His first vote was for William Ilenry Harrison and his last for Benjamin Harrison. He now has one hundred and sixty acres of well-im- proved land. In 1858 he built the house where he resides at a cost of $3,000. During the war he was a member of the Union League. He has been a Justice of Peace for eight years and has filled the offices of Road Commissioner and Revisor of the Taxes.
HRISTOPHER FOX. Prominent among the citizens of Avon Township, was the gentleman whose name introduces this brief biographical notice and who was known for many years as the owner of section 4. Although not one of the first pioneers of this county he was identified with its growth for a long time and his upright life won for him the respect of the entire commu- nity. He was born in Northampton County, Pa., January 4, 1817, and was a blacksmith by trade. Ile was united in marriage with Polly S. Ross, No- vember 17, 1838, and removed to Michigan in 1860, dropping work at his trade and engaging in farm- ing. Ile was a very successful agriculturist and at the time of his death he owned three large farms. lle was a well-known and highly-respected citizen and when he passed from earth May 1, 1886, he was mourned by all who knew him. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania, August 8, 1816, still survives and makes her home with her son.
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