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 36
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This gentleman's political views were in accord- ance with the platform of the Republican party, and his religious belief was that embodied in the
tenets of the Methodist Episcopal Chureb. For many years he was Steward and Trustee in that chureb. His marriage took place in Ontario County, N. Y., May 3, 1829. Ilis bride, Josephine Case. was the fifth daughter and fourteenth child of James and Betsey (Hicks) Case, who were natives of Massa- chusetts. This lady was born in Bristol Township, Ontario County, N. Y., September 20, 1805, and came to Michigan when she was a young lady of some twenty-seven years. To her and her departed husband were given ten children.
The names of the children of our subjeet are: Nodiah C., who was born March 29, 1830, and died in the service of his country during the Civil War; Loretta E., born May 26, 1831, is the wife of P. Sherman, whose sketch will be found on another page of this ALBUM; Lewis C., who was born Jan- uary 4, 1833, is a resident of Kansas; Maria L. was born December 25, 1834, and is the wife of H. Benson, a resident of Cambridge, N. Y .; Hosea Hudson, born December 10, 1836, died August 14, 1855; Betsey N., the widow of Hicks Horton (de- eeased), was born January 24, 1839; Josephine, who was born March 2, 1841, died in early in- fancy; Dunean M., born December 16, 1842, re- sides in DeWitt, and is in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Martha I., born Sep- tember 17, 1844, is the widow of James Place, who was a soldier in the late war, and died in 1882; Elsie Olivia, born January 11, 1847, became the wife of Ezekiel Walters. She died August 31, 1880. Mrs. Ward is an earnest and conscientious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her husband left the farm to be used by her as long as she lives and made other provision for his children.
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HARLES T. BEMIS, of Rochester, is the pioneer paper manufacturer of this part of the State and as such is worthy of especial mention in this volume. Ilis inauguration of this industry on the banks of the Clinton River bas been followed up by others and there are now two flourishing plants engaged in paper manufacture at Rochester. The first machine used here by Mr.
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Bemis was made at Brattleboro, Vt., and had a thirty-six-inch cylinder. The capacity was from a thousand to twelve hundred pounds of paper daily, but after a time the out-put was increased and this was especially the case during the war.
The Bemis family originated in England and was established in the American Colonies some time before the Revolution. The parents of our subject were natives of Massachusetts, Amariah Bemis being born November 21, 1785, and Sally (Shumway) Bemis, December 11, 1787. The wife died in Springfield, Mass., July 30, 1862, and the husband passed away January 6, 1876. They had eight children and Charles S. is the fifth on the family roll. Of the others we note the following : Clarissa is the wife of Gardner Stratton; Sally N. married Daniel Dudley and is now deceased; Amariah N. lives in Odell, Ill .; Mary B. is the wife of the Rev. L. C. Collins in Norwood Park. Ill. ; Judith C. died in 1831 ; Isaac S. lives in Corunna ; Abijah is a resident of California.
Our subject was born in Stafford, Conn., July 15, 1819, and lived upon a farm until he was eight- een years old. lle then went to Springfield, Mass .. where he learned the trade of paper-making and there he carried on his work until 1853. when through correspondence with parties at Rockton, Ill., he was led to remove to that place and take charge of a paper mill. In 1857 he came to Roches- ter and in connection with B. F. Bissell bought a gristmill which they converted into a paper-mill. After a year Mr. Bissell sold out to George New- bury and Mr. Bemis then disposed of the plant to Barnes Bros., and went to Shiawassee County where he and Newbury built a paper-mill. The two gentlemen carried on the establishment three years, then Mr. Bemis sold out his interest and came back to Rochester. A year later he removed to Corunna. where he was engaged in the manu- facture of spokes about a year, and then returned again to Rochester. He has remained here perma- nently and is perhaps as well known as any resident of the place and has a good reputation far and near.
The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Bemis was celebrated by their family and intimate friends March 10, 1891. Mrs. Bemis bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Murphy and her father was
George Murphy, of Windsor, Conn. She has nobly borne her part in the anxieties and cares that have fallen to the lot of herself and husband, and re- joiced with him in every success. They are the parents of three children, but only lived to mature years. This is Minnie, who is the wife of George Newbury, of Detroit, a retired business man; Emma died July 9, 1849, and Alice October 10, 1856, both in infancy. Mr. Bemis gives his political adherence to the Democratic party. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order and enjoys the social gatherings of that fraternity and finds an oppor- tunity through it to exercise his benevolent feel- ings.
LFRED G. HADDRILL, brother of James T. Haddrill, whose biography is also given in this book, is one of the remarkably successful citizens of Orion Township. Hle was born in Oakland County, April 29, 1852. Ilis father, Isaac, came to America in 1839. As has been mentioned in the sketch of James, the father had a serious experience of shipwreck in crossing the ocean. Arriving at Oakland County he bought land both from the Government and from individuals, and built a log house and lived for a number of years in true pioneer style. Ile en- joyed greatly the hunting and fishing of those early days, and did not shrink from the hardships of pioneer life. Hle is now in his old age, in La- peer, Mich., enjoying good health and the inem- ory of past usefulness. Ile still has the confi- dence and esteem of all who know him. He was bereaved of his wife, Elizabeth Turk Haddrill, in 1878.
The subject of this sketch was born and reared in sight of his present home. His primary educa- tion was received in the district school. He continued assisting his father in clearing and im- proving the home farm until 1870, when he began farming a portion of the old farm on shares. He continued in this way for about eleven years. In 1881 he purchased of his father two hundred acres of land.
The marriage of our subject, in 1877, united
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him with Eva, daughter of John W. and Fannie (Conrad) Newman, of New York. Mrs. Haddrill was born in Orion Township, June 20, 1855. ller parents came to Michigan in the spring of 1836, and are still residents of Orion Township. They are so happy as to have all of their seven children still surviving to be a comfort to them. Four children have bless the home of our subject: Ira A., Ward L., Lee D., (deceased) and a little one who died in infancy. Mr. Haddrill is frequently a delegate to conventions of. the Democratic party. of which he is an adherent. For three years he acted as Township Treasurer and for two years as Highway Commissioner. He owns three hundred and seventy-five acres of choice land on sections 16, 20 and 28. Hle deals largely in all kinds of stock, and is an intelligent and judicious farmer and a man who has more than ordinary financial ability.
PENCER SOPER, a thrifty farmer and stock-raiser, has his home on section 32, Orion Township. He has been a factor in the agricultural prosperity of this county for a number of years, and as a boy and man has worked as a farmer and stockman. In former times he drove quite large herds of cattle to Detroit and he still buys some stock for feeding and shipping. The larger part of his herd. however, is raised on his own place and other animals are also raised here. The estate of Mr. Soper consists of one hun- dred and forty-three acres of fine land, on which every convenience may be seen. The dwelling is large and handsome and of modern design, built in 1884. The barn, which was put up some time be- fore, affords ample room for horses and fodder. Order prevails and good judgment is shown in the rotation of crops and the use of means of cultiva- tion and fertilization.
Mr. Soper traces the ancestral line back to Ger- many, but his father, Owen Soper, was born in New York in 1809. He came to Michigan in an early day and located on section 5, Pontiac Town- ship, where he was surrounded by Indians and wild game and white settlers were few, He made a
elearing, built a log house, and then continued the proccess of reelaiming a farm from the wilderness ; he died in 1858. His wife, a native of New York, born in 1816, bore the maiden name of Ann Hayes. Their family comprised nine sons and daughters and six survive. Mrs. Soper died in 1868, cheered in her last hours by a Christian hope, being a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Spencer Soper was born in the log house built by his father in Pontiac Township March 2, 1838, and attended school in a similar building. He aided his father to clear and improve the farm a's soon as he was old enough to wield the ax or the other im- plements used by the woodsmen and frontier farmer. When of age he began his personal career as a drover and followed the business five years, during which time he took many cattle to Detroit. In 1864 he turned his attention to farming, buying an interest in the oid homestead. When the estate was divided the place he now lives on fell to hint and thither be removed.
The lady who presides so efficiently over the home of Mr. Soper became his wife December 10, 1869. IIer maiden name was Henrietta Terry and she was born in Pontiac Township in 1841. The union has been a childless one. Mr. Soper, after giving due thought to political issues decided in favor of the Republican party and he casts his vote for and with it.
HIRISTOPHER COLE, a retired farmer of Orion Township, was born in Warren County, N. J., July 17, 1836. His father, who bore the same name and who was a native of the same county, was born in 1792. Ile came West in the spring of 1836, teaming it from his home to Lake Erie in Ohio, from there taking a boat to De- troit and journeying to Orion Township by wagon. He entered land which was in a wild, uncultivated state, huilt a log house and began clearing the tim- ber. Wild game and Indians abounded and De- troit was his only market. He died in 1873 in his eighty-second year. He was of German lineage. His wife, Leah Kinney, was born in New Jersey
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in 1799. She was the mother of seven children and died in 1858.
Mr. Cole is the youngest of the family, three of whom still survive. He worked for his father until he reached his twentieth year and always re- mained at home and cared for his parents in their old age. After his father's death he purchased the old homestead from the other heirs. The lady who became Mis. Cole bore the maiden name of Mag- gie E. Wyker. Their wedding day was August 1, 1871. The lady was born in New Jersey in 1847 and was the daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth (Phillips) Wyker, who came to Michigan in the '40s. One child, Grace L., was granted to Mr. and Mrs. Cole. She was born September 8, 1879. Mr. Cole is a Democrat in his politics. Ile has filled various positions of trust, being Supervisor for two years and Treasurer for four years. For seven years he was Treasurer of the Monitor In- surance Company, of Oakland County, and has fre- quently been a delegate to Democratic conventions in county, distriet and State. His wife was a devout member of the Episcopal church. llis broad and productive acreage is in good condition and well improved, and he has recently built large and sub- stantial barns. lle raises all kinds of stock. The death of his wife on Christmas day, 1880, was a severe blow to her faithful husband. Since then he has retired from active work and rents out most of his land.
RANK HOLSER. The future prosperity of this nation depends upon our young people. and in exact proportion to their enterprise, industry and principles of honor, will our country flourish. It is always a pleasure for the student of human nature and the biographer to record the events in the lives of those whose in- telligence and progressive spirit have placed them in the front rank of citizenship of their communi- ties. The gentleman of whom this brief sketch is written is numbered among the prominent resi- dents of Waterford Township, where he has made a name and a place for himself in social and busi-
ness eireles. Ile bas intelligent convictions in re- gard to politics, and ranks among the active young Democrats of the vicinity.
No more striking example of the result of per- sistent pursuit of a purpose and wise economy can be found than in the career of our German-Ameri- can citizens. The father of our subjeet, John llol- ser. was born in Germany March 28, 1814, and was reared in the Fatherland. There, upon attain- ing to years of maturity, he was united in marriage with Mary Forster, who was born in Prussia, Oet- ober 19, 1819. In 1849, six years after their mar- riage, the young couple embarked on a sailing ves- sel landing upon the shores of America, and after farming for eight years in New York came West to Michigan. Their voyage across the broad At- lantie was saddened by the death of one of their children.
Locating in Oakland County, John Holser pro- ceeded immediately to clear a farm from the heavy timber of Waterford Township, and with the assis- tance of his sons. made a comfortable home. Ile lived to see the country changed from a wilder- ness to the abode of peace and plenty, and was himself no unimportant factor in bringing about this desirable result. Religiously he was a consis- tent member of the Presbyterian Church, and in political matters gave his firm and unswerving al- legiance to the principles of the Democratic party. At his death in 1856, the county was deprived of one of its best citizens and a pioneer whose name and memory will be held in reverence so long as the history of the toils and privations of frontier life affords a pleasing theme for the pen of poet or biographer, and kindles in the heart of the young, gratitude and undying love for those to whom endless honor is due.
The children born to John Holser and his good wife were ten in number, two of whom are now deceased. Of the survivors one resides in Chi- cago, another in Switzerland, and the remaining six are residents of Michigan. They received ex- cellent common-school educations and were pre- pared for responsible positions in life. H. P. and Anna graduated from the Battle Creek College, while Louise and L. J. each attended the Pontiac High School two terms. They have all married
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and gone to homes of their own with the exception of Frank, who resides upon the old homestead with his mother. The latter is now in her seventy- second year, and at that advanced age retains full possession of her mental faculties. She witnessed the gradual growth of the county and experienced all the hardships that invariably attend pioneer existence.
Frank Holser, of this sketch. was born in Water- ford Township, this county, July 12, 1865, and passed his youth in much the usual manner of farmers' boys. He early assisted in the farm work and gradually took a greater share of the responsi- bility, until at the death of his father he became proprietor of the estate which comprises ninety- six acres on section 19. He is the only one of the family still single, and his household is presided over by his mother. By his practical skill and steady industry he is increasing the value of the farm and embellishing it with the various improve- ments that mark it as the property of a thrifty man. He displays forethought and good judgment in the conduct of his affairs and is highly esteemed throughout the community where he has always lived.
C HARLES P. GROW, the present Clerk of Oakland County, was born in Milford, No- vember 4, 1855. It will thus be seen that he is quite a young man, but his name is known among the politicians of the county and by all who are interested in her governmental affairs. Prior to his election to his present responsible position he was one of the conspicuous figures in social and political eireles in his native village, and since coming to Pontiac he has been taking his proper place among the residents of the county seat. Ile made his removal May 1, 1890, in order that he might be near his office and so fail in no wise in carrying it on in the most systematic and efficient manner.
In the paternal line Mr. Grow traces his ancestry to England, where the name was originally spelled Grosvenor. The English pronunciation was changed by degrees and the spelling differed from that of
the original cognomen, being made to correspond more closely with the sound, until after a few gen- erations it assumed its present form. The grand- parents, Elisha and Lois (Palmer) Grow, were na- tives of Connecticut, and for a time lived in Homer, N. Y. There their son, Abel P., was born Aug. 8, 1814. He came to this State in 1838, and settled on a farm in Waterford Township, this county, but after a few years removed to the village of Mil- ford, where he has since resided. He has now retired with a comfortable fortune, secured by lis own efforts, as he was but a poor man when he came to the State. His active years were princi- pally spent in work at the carpenter and joiner's trade. He votes the Republican ticket, but takes little interest in politics. He is a leading spirit in the Baptist Church at Milford.
The mother of our subject was born in Dry den, N. Y., August 4, 1816, and her parents were natives of the same State. She was a lady of strong char- acter, a careful and considerate mother and a de- voted wife. She belonged to the same church as her husband and when she closed her eyes in death January 25, 1890, she did so in the hope of a blessed immortality. She was the mother of six children, named respectively: Hattie, Janet, Lorain. Miranda, Emma and Charles P. All are deceased bnt Charles and Miranda. The latter is the wife of Charles E. Goodell, of Novi.
The early days of Charles P. Grow were passed in his native place and in its schools he obtained his fundamental instruction. He began his per- sonal career as Clerk and filled positions in Milford, Bay City and Lansing. After some practical knowledge in the line of business he became a student in Goldsmith's Business College at Detroit and was graduated from that institution in 1883. He resumed his clerical work and was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Milford when nominated on the Democratic ticket for County Clerk in 1890. He made a good race being elected by a majority of sixty-nine votes.
Mr. Grow has always been a Democrat. He cast his first Presidential ballot for Samuel J. Tilden. The day of his election to his present position was that on which he attained to bis thirty-fifth year. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Knights of
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Maccabees and the order of Tonti. Ile is a pleas- ant, agreeable man, well-informed and enterprising, and with acute perceptions by which he comes to rapid conclusions regarding persons and things.
Mr. Grow has a pleasant home, presided over by the lady who became his wife November 5, 1883. She bore the maiden name of Joanna Kennedy, is a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Duane) Kennedy and was born in Marion, Livingston County, Mich. At the time of her marriage her home was in Mil- ford. She is the mother of two children-Lucille M. and Francis A. - a bright lad and lassie who add much to the attractiveness of the home by their intelligence and activity. Mrs. Grow has a good education and is a well-bred lady.
L EWIS C. CARLTON. The agricultural regions of the l'nited States are the homes of many men who are now in prosperous circumstances, yet who began the battle of life with no armor except that afforded by the mind and spirit that actuated them. An example of this kind in Royal Oak Township is afforded by Mr. Carlton who owns a good farm on section 16, which is manifestly worth as much as others in this vicinity that have sold for $100 per acre. Ilis es- tate consists of eighty acres all under improve- ment and supplied with a line of good farm build- ings and such stock and machinery as befits the home of an energetie, progressive man. The property was bought by Mr. Carlton when it was in a wild state and he cleared and improved it. It is now one of the best improved farms in the com- munity and a view of it is shown on another page.
Before sketching the life of Mr. Carlton it may be well to say a few words regarding his parents. in order to better understand his hereditary traits and the circumstances which aided in molding his life. His father, Richard Carlton, was born in England in 1807 and adopted the occupa- tion of farming. He crossed the Atlantic early in 1830, and coming to Detroit entered the employ of Gen. Lewis Cass, for whom he named his first-
born. He worked for the General two years and during that time married Elizabeth, daughter of William and Elizabeth Davidson, who had crossed from England to America about the same time as himself. Soon after his marriage he was engaged in the grocery trade for a period of three years and then engaged in business as a butcher two years when he rented a farm and resumed his former occupation. Two years later he came to Royal Oak Township and for eight years carried on a rented place or. section 9, and he then bought eighty acres on the same section. He carried on his work there about ten years, then spent a few years in Birmingham, where he died in 1888. His wife preceded him to the silent land, breathing her last in 1876. They had two daughters and three sons. Mr. Carlton after becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States, cast his influence with the Republican party.
The subject of this biographical notice was born in Detroit April 3, 1832. Ile remained with his father until he was seventeen years old and then started out in life for himself as a fisherman on Saginaw Bay. After eight years on Lake lluron he went to Lake Michigan and for a year his head- quarters were at Grand Haven. Having wooed and won a life companion, he came to Oakland County and rented a farm in Royal Oak Township, but after three years took possession of the land he bought about 1855, and here he has remained, building up a good home. While engaged in the fisheries, Mr. Carleton had some hazardous experiences. On one occasion, while Captain of the fishing boat "Sal- tilla" of Au Sable, he was shipwrecked about five miles from the Au Sable River. Captain and crew were in the open lake about three hours, before they were picked up by another. boat. The time was early spring (April 4), and they were nearly chilled to death, their unexpected bath being in colder water than was at all agreeable.
The wife of Mr. Carlton was born in 1836 to John and Eunice (Taylor) Miller, and was chris- tened Elizabeth. She has been a life-long resident in this county and has quite an extended acquaint- ance. She is a woman of good judgment, kind- hearted and industrious, and she has been judicious in her management of household affairs and the
RESIDENCE OF LEWIS C. CARLTON, SEC. IG., ROYAL OAK TP., OAKLAND CO., MICH.
RESIDENCE OF A. S. PALMER, SEC. 5., MILFORD TP., OAKLAND CO., MICH.
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care and rearing of her children. She is the mother of six sons and daughters, whose names are Elizabeth, Lewwellin, Rozelia, Bird, Norah and Claud. The eldest child is the wife of John Hartrick, of Royal Oak Township. Claud died when twelve years old. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carl- ton belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Royal Oak. Mr. Carlton votes the Republican ticket.
Mrs. Carlton was the sixth in order of birth among the seven children born to her parents. Her father, Capt. Miller, was born in Romulus, N. Y., in 1796, and was of Scotch, Irish and French descent. At the time of the War of 1812 he was sixteen years old and was living with his widowed mother at St. Clair Flats, this State. The maiden name of his mother was Sally Swinney. Later, when living at Avon, this county, an invalid brother (a cripple of the war), a sister and his mother were dependent upon him for support. He took up from the Government two eighty-aere tracts of land, paying for the same by his earnings and those of the family, and with some help from his brother's pension. Much property was lost and much trouble occasioned by the Indians, who were very numerous.
The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Carlton were Deacon Lemuel Taylor and Sally Bordman, who came to Michigan in 1822. They with their entire family numbering nine children, settled in and around Stony Creek, this county, and their de- scendants residing in the same place are the lead- ing citizens of that part of the county to-day. Eunice A. (Taylor) Miller was born in 1803 in Cayuga County, N. Y., and survived Capt. Miller many years, dying in Birmingham in 1875, the wife of John Valentine. The parents of Mrs. Carlton were among the earliest settlers of Oak- land County, coming here in 1820, when the coun- try was a wilderness primeval, with no improve- ment whatever. Pontiac consisted of but one house, the hut of the Indian whose name it bears. Detroit consisted of only a few cabins in a most unpromising piece of marsh.
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