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 47
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Capt. Matthews was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fifth District of Michigan in December, 1865. He continued in this office until September, 1866, when he resigned to take a position in the regular army with the commission of Second Lientenant in the Four- teenth United States Infantry, having quarters in Camp McDowell in Arizona Territory. lle re- mained with his regiment until September, 1867, when he was removed, on account of ill-health to San Francisco, Cal. He resigned from the regular army in December, 1867, and came home in 1868. He was appointed Deputy United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan, and filled this position for nine years, from 1877 to 1886. Ile served faithfully in this capacity but was obliged to retire from it as he could not endure the neces- sary exertion.
The lady who presides so graciously over the home of Capt. Matthews became his wife March 12, 1851. She was Miss llelen Smith, of Troy Township, this county, a daughter of Hiram and Philena ( Andrews) Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one daughter at home with thein-Miss Ella E. Their other child, Minnie B., died when a little over one year old. Capt. Matthews is a member of Pontiac Lodge No. 21, A. F. & A. M .; of Oak- land Chapter, No. 5. R. A. M. ; of Pontiac Council
No. 2, and Pontiac Commandery No. 2, K. T. He has served as Secretary of both Chapter and Coun- cil, as Recorder in the Commandery and also as both Junior and Senior Warden in the same. He is also a member of the Dick Richardson Post, G. A. R. His large and comfortable residence is an ornament to the city and is situated at No. 39, Clark Street. Capt. Matthews was appointed Cen- sus Enumerator for the Fourth Ward and also as special agent for collecting manufacturing statis- tics for the city of Pontiac. Ile has been a Repub- lican sinee the formation of that party, voting for John C. Fremont and Abraham Lincoln.
OHIN DONALDSON, a well-known farmer, located on section 9, Troy Township, has made all that he has of worldly possessions by hard work and strict attention to his business affairs. He owns and occupies a well-im- proved farm of one hundred and forty-one acres, most of which is under the plow, and upon which good buildings of various kinds may be seen. He is a native of Ireland, born in 1823, and is the youngest son and sixth child of John and Nancy (Hill) Donaldson. His parents were of Irish birth and their last days were spent in their native land. They had four daughters and six sons. John re- ceived his education in his native place and in his boyhood learned the machinist's trade at Belfast. About the time he entered his teens he went to Scotland and found employment in the ore works. In his own land, September 22, 1847, he was mar- ried to Eliza Wilson, and about four years later he came to America and located in Baltimore, Md.
Mr. Donaldson remained in that city about four years, working in a coal yard, and then came to this county and for a time operated a rented farm. Hc hoarded his resources, and aided by the prudence of his wife, accumulated means with which to se- cure a home of his own. The first land he bought was on section 9, Troy Township, and he remained thereon five years. Hle then bonght another tract on the same section, which he sold and later pur-
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chased forty, eighty and sixty aeres in different parts of the township. He finally traded for the place on which he is now living.
To Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson eight children have come, of whom we note the following : Samnel lives in Southfield Township; Agnes is the wife of Thomas Donaldson; Mary is the wife of E. Graves ; John remains on the homestead; Elizabeth is the wife of James McKibbin, and now lives in Detroit ; William J. resides in Huron County ; Albert R. is living in Birmingham; and Joseph M. makes his home in Iluion County.
From the time he became an adopted citizen of the United States Mr. Donaldson has given his allegiance to the principles of Republicanism. A proof of his popularity in the local party is in- stanced in the fact that he was elected Magistrate by the receipt of every Republican vote in the township. Ile did not, however, accept the office, and the only way in which he has been a public servant has been as Roadmaster, in which capacity he has acted many years. Hle and his wife belong to the United Presbyterian Church, of which he is Trustee and Treasurer, and has been numbered among the workers for the cause since he joined it thirty years ago.
ERMAN BARTELS, JR., is a farmer of Royal Oak Township, who bears among his neighbors the reputation not only of en- ergy and success in his work, but also of being an honest Christian gentleman. His birth took place in Hanover, Germany, in 1821, and bis father, llerman, Sr., was born in the same place in 1784. The grandfather was Heury Bartels and he, as well as the father, died in the old country. The mother also, who bore the name of Anna Schirloh, died there at the age of fifty. two in the year 1835. She was one of two sisters and three brothers.
Ilerman Sr. and Anna, his wife. were united in marriage about the year 1814. Of their seven children three grew to manhood. When our sub- ect was but seventeen years old he began inde-
pendent work by clerking in a drug store. He then spent three years in a warehouse before com- ing to America, where he landed at New York, June 21, 1845. Ile worked in a grocery store in that city for three years, and then came to Mich- igan. Here. in Royal Oak Township, he made his home with Charles Jasper. The same year he bought eighty acres in the township of Warren, Macomb County. and after holding it for ten years sold and went to Sterling, Macomb County. Here he bought thirty aeres and made his home for five years before coming to Royal Oak Town- ship. He then bought one hundred aeres, to which he afterward added forty acres more, and remained upon it about twenty-five years. He then went on a farm of twenty aeres in another part of the town- ship, and after six years there came to his present home.
The marriage of Herman Bartels, Jr., with Jo- banna Maney took place in 1853. She was a daughter of Michael Maney and became the mother of one child, Herman, who died when an infant of five months, and this little one and his mother lie side by si+le in the cemetery near their home. The second marriage of Mr. Bartels took place in 1855. Ile was then united with Johanna E. M. Jacobs, daughter of Bernard Jacobs. She was the eldest of six children and the only daughter of her par- ents, who were natives of Saxe Weimar, Germany. To her were given four children: Charles was born in 1856; Anna, in 1858; Ellen, in 1860; and Otto, in 1864. Anna is the wife of Alfred Parks, of Warren, Macomb County, and is the mother of three children. Ellen died at the age of seventeen years, and Charles when a little one. Otto was married October 12, 1888, to Anna E. K. Hen- dricks, who is a daughter of John D. Hendricks, of Royal Oak, a native of Oldenburg, Germany. This young couple are earnest and devoted mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church and are the parents of one son, Ray Herman, born March 8, 1890. Otto is a Republican and cast bis first vote for Benjamin Harrison. His mother is buried by the side of her children, whom she fol- lowed to the spirit land in September, 1886.
The subject of this sketch started in life with no capital except his brain and brawn, and he has
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gained a handsome property. He gave to his mar- ried daughter a nice home of one hundred acres well supplied with buildings, and retains seventy- seven acres, where he now lives. For a number of years he has been one of the Trustees of the United Presbyterian Church, to which he belongs. He has been a Highway Commissioner. His first vote was cast for Taylor and his last for Harrison. His reputation for intelligence and probity is guaran- teed by all who know him.
OSEPH W. CHAPMAN, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Waterford Town- ship, owns and occupies a good farm of ninety acres on section 29, upon which he located in 1865. In the accumulation of his prop- erty his efforts have been ably seconded by the prudent management and wise counsel of his wife, whose loving heart and thrifty ways have made their dwelling place a true home. He himself has manifested unflagging industry, has pursued wise methods of cultivation and exhibited good judg- ment in determining the rotation of crops. He has ever endeavored to assist in the movements to ad- vance the interests of society and develop the ma- terial resources of this section of Michigan.
The father of our subject, Amasa D. Chapman, was born in Connecticut and emigrated to New York when young, where he followed the calling of a farmer. In 1822 he married Miss Hannab Aikin, a native of Massachusetts, and of the union two children were born -- J. W. and G. W., both residents of Waterford Township. A few years after their marriage the mother of our subject died, in 1825, in New York, while still in the prime of womanhood. In 1839 Mr. Chapman came to Michi- gan, settling in the township of Pontiac and clear- ing from the forest a comfortable home and a fine farm. There he resided about fifteen years, when he sold it at a fair profit and going to Kentucky, sojourned in that State about five years.
Upon his return to Michigan the father of our subject purchased a farm on section 33, Waterford Township, where he died December 1, 1882. He
was a man of fine characteristics, thoughtful and discriminating, and always considerate in his rela- tions to others. He was highly esteemed by all as one whose integrity of purpose held him to duty without regard to general considerations. These traits, with his well-known interest in all that per- tained to the growth of the township and his ener- getic co-operation with his fellow citizens in pushing forward any plans devised for the benefit of the community, made him very desirable as a factor in carrying on the public work.
In Genesee County, N. Y., J. W. Chapman was born June 8, 1823, and was at the age of two years deprived of his mother's loving care, she having died in 1825. The opportunities for education offered in his youth were limited, but he has be- come a well-informed man through reading and observation. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced to work for himself, and for two years worked by the month. Careful economy enabled him to purchase an unimproved farm in White Lake Township, and this he cleared and improved residing upon it for eight years and six months. He was successful in his efforts to cultivate and improve his farm, making of agriculture a science and devoting his entire attention to bis chosen calling.
After carefully improving this farm, Mr. Chap- man was enabled to sell it at a fair profit and bought land in Waterford Township, on section 17. Once more he commenced the labor of developing an attractive estate and for ten years resided upon this homestead. In 1865 he sold it and bought his present homestead on section 29. When he first came to this county wild game was plentiful and he became an expert hunter. For forty-nine win- ters in succession he hunted and trapped and prob- ably has killed more deer than any other resident of Oakland County. He has also killed five bears and a great many wolves. Politically he is a strong Democrat and has served as Road Commis- sioner twelve years. Socially he is a Mason.
The wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Catherine Crawford and was born in Ontario Connty, N. Y. She is the daughter of William and Mary Crawford, natives respectively of New York and Connecticut. Her parents came to Michigan
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in 1830, settling in Pontiac Township, where they passed the remainder of their lives. The father died in 1849 and the mother in 1854. Their fan- ily comprised eight children, all of whom are living in Michigan, excepting one who is in Missouri. Mr. Chapman and his estimable wife have one child, Ella, who married Ilerschel D. Parker. a groeer living at Flint, Mich. Mrs. Parker receive 1 an excellent education in Pontise High School and prior to her marriage was a teacher.
R OBERT D. SCOTT. One of the most flour- ishing and widely known manufacturing establishments in Pontiac is that of Mr. Scott, who makes a specialty of road-carts, carry- ing on business under the style of R. D. Scott & Co. The establishment is taxed to its fullest capacity and it is impossible to fill orders as rapidly as they are received. The principal points to which the vehicles are shipped are Chicago, Indianapolis, Coun- cil Bluffs, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Dallas and the Pacific Coast, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland ete. and they are largely sold by car lots for the jobbing trade. The Scott road-cart is one of the easiest riding vehicles of the kind in this State, and is built after models upon which Mr. Scott has secured valuable patents, he having invented the improvements by means of which he has built up a large trade.
Mr. Scott was born June 25, 1826, in Scotland. where his father, Robert Scott, was a modest farmer. In 1834 the family came to America and a loca ion was made on a farm in Eramosa Township, county of Wellington, Canada. After twenty years of residence there the father-Robert Scott returned to his native land and remained until 1875. He then came again to the Western Continent and spent the remnant of his days with a daughter in Canada dying in 1877, at the venerable age of nin ty- six years. The mother of our sul jeet die l on the Canadian homestead in 1848, in the fifty eighth year of her age. Her maiden name was Agne- Bal- mer, and she was a daughter of Robert Balmer. The children born to herself and husband were
seven in number-three sons and four daughters, and the subject of this sketch is the youngest.
The boyhood of our subject, up to his eighth year was spent in the land of his birth and he then crossed the Atlandie with his parent and lived in Canada lintil he had grown to manhood. Ilis school- ing was obtained principally in Canada and in the intervals of study he worked on the farm. At the age of eighteen years be left the parental roof and went to the town of Guelph, where he learned the carriage trade, with Robert Armstrong, a noted manufacturer who died in 1848. Mr. Scott then carried on the business for the widow a year, at the expiration of which time he bought out the business and for three years conducted the enterprise at the old stand. In 1832 he built a manufactory wherein he inade carriages and wagons until 1865. Hle then sold out an l moved to Lake Erie and to- gether with two partners gave his attention to the manufacture of lumber and staves, the enterprise proved unprofitable and Mr. Scott lost all his invest- ment. Ile therefore closed out the business and removed to Pontine, securing employment from Mutin Lowry. with whom he remained until March, 1866. when he again started in business for himself. He remained in Pontiac, and beginning his work on very bmited means, he once more devoted himself to the manufacture of wagons and carriages, and continued it until 1876, when his sons had grown up sufficiently to assist. He then went to Detroit, where he opene l a general repair shop, which he carried on two years. Returning to Pontiac, he bought a shop on Lawrence Street, and turned his attention to the manufacture of buggies and spring wagens. : work that he continued until 1888 when he gave his exclusive attention to the making of road-carts.
The marriage of Mr. Scott and Miss Elizabeth Ann Day was solemnized at the bride's home in Eramusa, Canada, June 14, 1849. The father of Mrs. Scott was Daniel Day, a native of Yorkshire, Eng and. To Mr. and Mrs. Seott have been born seven children-Agnes. Maria, Mary, William R., Louis W .. Phoebe and Nellie. Mary is the wife of Henry Ward, a prominent lumber manufacturer in Pontiac : Phoebe married Howard Stephens of Den- ver, Colorado; and Nellie is now Mrs. John King
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of Jackson, Mich. Lonis is deceased, having died in Denver in 1885. William is now engaged in business with his father. The family residence is a neat and substantial dwelling, which is kept in per- fect order by the housewifely skill of his daughter Maria to whose tender care is intrusted an invalid mother, and is the centre of a happy domestic and social life.
Politically Mr. Scott is now a Prohibitionist, but until 1885 he was strong in the faith of the Repub- lican party and he is still in sympathy with that organization on many questions, although he has decided that the liquor traffie is one that must be looked to if the nation is to continue its existence and its honor. Mr, Seott is very thorough in his researches for knowledge, making it a point to go to the bottom of every subject. He is possessed of strong will power, and takes a firm stand when once his plans are matured, and his decisions are not easily reversed. Both husband and wife are devo- ted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he having been identified with the denomination since 1854. They are highly respected by those who know them, and are regarded with a warmer feeling by many.
OHN BENJAMIN. The home of this gentle- man has always been on section 8, Royal Oak Township, where he was born December 24, 1842, and he has only been away from the homestead during the period in which he was serving his country in the South. He was reared in the manner customary to the sons of those who lived in the rural districts, obtaining his education in the common schools and acquiring good habits and steadfast principles under the instruction and guidance of his parents. Ilis father was at one time engaged in the manufacture of grain eradles and the lad learned the business. Hle aided his father in that and in farin work until 1864, when he enlisted in Company C, Thirtieth Michigan In- fantry. He was a fifer for the company, with which he acted a few months, when the command was
mustered out at Jackson in June, 1865, and he re- turned to the parental home.
At least two men in the direct line of ancestors have borne the same name as our subject and both were natives of New York. The grandfather lost his life during the War of 1812. The father was born in Monroe County in 1809 and married Ruth Ann Warner, who was born in Niagara County, June 4, 1819. She came to Michigan with her parents in 1828 and her marriage occurred in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin at onee located where their son is now living, taking possession of a tract of wild land and bringing it under cultivation. Mr. Benjamin had come to this State five years before his mar- riage. lle died here in 1878, and his widow is still living on the bomestead with her son. 1Ier other children are Levi, who died when twenty- one years old ; Mary, who remains at the old home; Asenath, wife of A. L. Perkins, whose home is in Southfield Township; and Julia H., wife of D. L. Campbell, of Royal Oak Township.
The gentleman whose name introduces these paragraphs was married in 1868 to Martha A. Campbell, who shared his fortunes ouly a few years, dying in 1872. The marriage was blest by the birth of one daughter, Mattie, who lived to be but ten months old. Mr. Benjamin contracted a second matrimonial alliance November 30, 1876. Ilis bride was Ella S. Parker, who was born in Royal Oak Township October 4, 1851. ller par- ents are Asher and Harriet N. (Castle) Parker, whose sketch will be found on another page in this ALBUM. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin are rearing a little girl who is called Elsie M.
The farm that our subject is successfully operat- ing consists of one hundred and sixty acres of well- improved land, and he and his excellent wife dis- pense the hospitality of their pleasant home with right good will. Mr. Benjamin has been School Assessor in his district twenty years, having been first elected in 1868. lle was Township Treasurer from 1876 to 1880, Supervisor from that date until 1883, and again from 1886 to 1890, was Constable one year and School Inspector four years. In fact he has held some official place since he was nine- teen years old. He has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic six years and
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has been connected with the Grange for sixteen years. Ile and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Royal Oak and both bear a part in the Sunday-school work. He has been Superintendent seven years, has been Church Stew- ard fifteen years and has also hield the Treasurer's office. For a score of years he has led the singing and in the capacity of chorister has done much to add to the attractiveness of the Sunday ser- vices.
A lithographie portrait of Mr. Benjamin appears on another page of this work.
G ILBERT M. SHATTUCK. A goodly number of men who have won a competence by their industrious work as farmers have now retired from active life and are spending their de- clining years in the thriving towns of Oakland County. One of this number in Pontiac is the gentleman above named, who for a number of years was one of the most prominent farmers and stock-raisers of Pontiac Township. Ile owned a fine tract of choice land one mile from Main Street, whence he removed to the city in 1888. Ile still owns the farm and gives some attention to looking after his financial interests in connection with that and other property, but does no active work thereon. It consists of three hundred acres of land which has been brought to a high state of cultiva- tion and supplied with first-class buildings. While living on the farm Mr. Shattuck was one of the principal breeders of thoroughbred Holstein cattle in the county.
The maternal ancestors of our subject emigrated from Ilolland to America early in the seventeenth century and located in the Hudson River Valley. In the vicinity of Auburn, N. Y .. Sarah Collier was born and reared, the date of her birth being in November, 1799. She married Alfre l Shattuck who was born in Massachusetts August 15. 1794, and whose parents were Joseph and Chloe (Scott) Shattuck, whose births occurred on the 3d of Oc- tober, 1749, and the 19th of October. 1756, re. spectively. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Shattuck made
their home in Steuben County., N. Y., until 1832, when they came to this State and settled on a farm near Plymouth, Wayne County. There the hus- band passed the remnant of his days and died August 13, 1847. His widow survived until Sep- tember 12, 1886. They were the parents of eight sons and four daughters, and the subject of this biographical notice is sixth on the family roll.
In the town of Cohocton, Steuben County, N. Y., May 9, 1828, our subject was born. Ile was but little more than an infant when his parents came to this State and he obtained his schooling in Ply- mouth, first attending the common and later con- ning his lessons in a select school. In the intervals of study he worked on the farm, remaining with his parents until he was of age when he started out for himself, first teaching school and then clerking in a general store for a time. Leaving the store he engaged in farming and after his marriage lie set- tled in Livingston County. Hle sojourned there but a short time then returned to the vicinity of his old home in Wayne County, and actively car- ried on farm work there until 1865. That year he bonght his property near Pontiac and labored upon it until he felt justified in taking his ease, and so came to town.
In 1855 Mr. Shattuck was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Donelson, the ceremony taking place at the bride's home in Waterford Township. Her parents, Ira and Mary (Shattuck) Donelson, were among the early settlers of Oakland County, having come here in 1827. They established their home in Waterford Township, became prosperous and influential and died full of years and honor. They were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their dwelling was the home of the itinerant minister during his visits to the locality and under its roof new settlers found wel- come and shelter. Mr. Donelson was always ready to assist the strangers in locating farms, placing his team at their service and giving his time in showing them over the country. Mr. Donelson and wife had six children-one daughter, Mrs. Shattuck, and five sons. The four eldest sons were Methodist ministers, and the Methodist Church now of Pontiac was organized at the house of Ira Donelson, in Waterford Township, fifty years ago
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by twelve members in the class, the church being subsequently transferred to Pontiac. Two of the ministers above spoken of are deceased. A daugh- ter reared by such parents could scareely be other than hospitable, whole-souled and generous-hearted, and Mrs. Shattuck is esteemed for the qualities which made her parents well beloved. Her chil- dren are a sou and daughter named, respectively, Florence M. and Charles Irs. The daughter is now living in Jackson, being the wife of J. J. Baker; they have one daughter. The son is carrying on his father's farm; he married Miss Maud Green, of North Farmington, Oakland County; they have one son.
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