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 55
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After taking advantage of the district school the subject of this sketch finished his education at the Dickinson Institute at Romeo, in 1861. In the fall of that same year he enlisted at Mt. Clemens in Company B, Fifth Michigan Infantry, and was sent to Ft. Wayne at Detroit, whence they went on to Washington. Ile entered the service as a private and came out as a Corporal, and took part in the following battles: Pohick Church, Va., the siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Glendale, Malvern Hill, the Second Bull Run, Georgetown, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, the Cedars, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Auburn Heights, Kelly's Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Po River, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. He was in the ser- vice for three years and received his honorable discharge at Petersburg.
Returning to Romeo our subject made his home with his father for a year and a half. In 1867 he located land at Hill, Wayne County. His marriage took place September 9,1868, his bride being Augus- ta A. Smith, who was born in West Bloomfield, this county, June 2, 1849. After marriage this young couple made their home in the township of Bloom- field, on a farm for one year, and in the spring of 1870 they removed to North Farmington, where he remained until the spring of 1875 when he went to Milford and remained for about seven months. December 14, 1875, he bought the hotel where he now resides. It is one of the finest hotels in the county and has many of the modern conven- iences being heated by steam throughout. He has put $5,000 in improvements upon the house since he took it and spares no pains or efforts to make his guests comfortable and contented. He was elected Supervisor of the township in 1883 and beld the position for four years, being a prominent
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man in the Republican party. He has been Trus- tee and President of the village for several years. He is identified with the Masonic order, Blue Lodge at Farmington. He belongs to the Union Veterans of Detroit, U. S. Grant Commandery, and was at one time its Treasurer. Ile was also con- nected with the Grand Army of the Republic at Farmington.
Mr. and Mrs. Owen have had two sons, Bruce S., who was born August 21, 1870, and Mark Perry, who died at the age of six years. Mrs. Owen's parents are Edad and Lura (Bigelow) Smith, who were natives of New York. and became early set- tlers of Michigan where they made their home in West Bloomfield Township.
ONATHAN C. LEONARD, a prosperous farmer living on section 15, Highland Town- ship, is the owner of a landed estate of nearly five hundred acres. Of this prop- erty three hundred and nineteen acres is located in this county, and one hundred and seventy in Ben- zie County. More than three-fourths of this estate is the result of his own good management and per serving industry, and even the tract that was left him by his father has been developed by himself, as it was covered with timber when it came into bis possession. On the home place may be found var- ious arrangements for the comfort and convenience of the family and those who carry on the work of the farm, and a glance over the broad estate affords pleasure to all who enjoy the beanties of nature when the fields are yellow with grain and the orchards bending with ripe fruit.
Jonathan Leonard. paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Rhode Island during the eighteenth century and made an early settlement in New York. There he was married in 1807 to Persis Hencher and reared a family of eight chil- dren. He took part in the War of 1812, with the rank of Captain. He and his wife belonged to the Free- Will Baptist Church. He died in Parma, January 4, 1868, at the venerable age of ninety- one years. His wife breathed her last July 24, 1863.
Harvey Leonard, son of the above-mentioned, was born in Parma, N. Y., and at the age of twenty-one years began working in a sawmill and carried on the business for quite a long period. He was married in his native county to Hannah, daughter of Ethan A. and Lavina (Lockwood) Clark, who were natives of the Empire State. In 1835 they came West and settled in Highland Township, this county, buying a large tract of land. In 1840 Mr. Leonard, leaving his family behind, went to Allegan County to work in a saw- mill and there he was accidentally killed about two years later. His wife died February 20, 1848. They left four children, named respectively, Will- iam E., Persis L., Jonathan C., and Harvey.
The subject of this biographical notice was born in the township of which he is now an honored resident. July 17, 1837, and was ten years of age when left an orphan. For two years his home was with his uncle William H. Leonard, and following this was an equal period with his uncle Jason Leonard. Ile then worked on a farm for Samuel Arthur at $6 per month, and followed this by operating land on shares for his uncle one year, the tract being in Clinton County. Young Leonard next entered the service of his older brother, Will- iam E., who was engaged in the fishing trade on Lake Huron, and after two years thus employed he returned to the township in which he was born and began to develop the one hundred acres of land bequeathed to him. For four years he worked for his board and devoted his days to hard labor in clearing and improving the property.
On New Year's day, 1860, Mr. Leonard was united in marriage with Amelia E., daughter of Edwin and Asenath (Newton) Haff. The bride's father came to this State many years ago, spent two years in this county and then went to Macomb, which has since been his home. He and his wife belong to the Baptist Church. Their family, in which Mrs. Leonard is the second child, includes also Susan A., Emily E., Phebe A., Lorenzo D., Albert A., Edwin R and Victoria L. Mrs. Leonard is a most estimable woman, devoted to the interests of her family, kind and agreeable as a neighbor, and understanding well how to make her home at- tractive. The children born to her are six iu num-
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ber, named respectively Edwin A., Flora L., Mark J., Nelson L .. Cora J. and Myra A. Two of the band have been carried to the tomb, Flora having died October 30. 1862, and Myra, January 4, 1879, at the age of eight years. Cora is now Mrs. C. W. Gordon and is the mother of one child Carlton L., and living at Ilighland Station; Edwin is likewise married ; be took to wife Miss Maggie Arthur and has two daughters Iva D. and Sadie P., and oe- eupies a home of his own, while the other two sons remain with their parents.
The first Presidential ballot cast by Mr. Leonard was in favor of Abraham Lincoln and he has never swerved in his allegiance to the Republican party. lle belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, being enrolled in Highland Station Lodge, No. 283. He has been Township Treasurer for two terms. He is a reliable, intelligent citizen, possesses good social qualities, and is well respected by his acquaintances. Mrs. Leonard and her son Nelson belong to the Congregational Church at Highland Station, while Edwin and his wife are connected with the High- Jand Baptist Church.
OHN C. DAVIS, a retired farmer residing at Pontiac, was born in Ulster County, N. Y., in the town of Olive, May 1, 1820. Cornelius Davis, his father, was born in the same county, March 6, 1791. Ile was the son of Andres Davis, who was a Revolutionary soklier, and Cornelius fought in the War of 1812. The mother of our subject was Agnes Winfield, who was born in Orange County, N. Y., March 13, 1793. She was a daughter of Abram Winfield, of English and German descent. Cornelius Davis and wife were married JJanuary 24, 1816. In 1836 they removed to Oakland County, Mich., bringing their horse and wagon with them and settled in Springfield Township. They bought a tract of seven hundred and twenty acres, new land. tim- ber and oak openings, on which they erected a house and built a sawmill. Mr. Davis operated his sawmill in connection with farming until his death, which occurred August 14, 1867. His wife had
been called from his side by death, May 14, 1844. They were the parents of nine children, namely : Andrew, (deceased ); Mary E., (deceased); Andres, (deceased) ; John C .; Thaddeus, (deceased ) ; Jerome Z .; James II .: Sarah J .. (deceased); and Isaac L. (deceased).
The subject of this sketch obtained his education in the schools of Ulster County, N. Y., and re- moved with his parents to Michigan in his sixteenth year. Ile worked on a farm until he reached the age of twenty-one. lle united his fortune for life October 14, 1843, with Sarah Griswold, of Coving- ton, N. Y., in which town she was born May 8, 1821, and where she grew to womanhood. She is is the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Hill) Gris- wold. Three brothers of the Griswold family came to this country from Holland in 1600. After marriage the young couple settled upon a farm of two hundred and seventy acres. Here they carried on general farming and also undertook merchan- dising in Davisburg which was named in the honor of the family and where they took charge of the Postoffice and the railroad station for the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad. Mrs. Davis is a woman of an unusual kindly disposition and was frequently called to assist undertakers in performing their solemn duties. She was called for far and wide to go into the country to care for the dead, and families every where appreciated keenly the comfort which they derived in having a woman's gentle hand per- form the last offices for their departed.
Mr. Davis was a Democrat, and he was of a Democratie family, his father and grandfather being of the kind which are said to be "dyed in the wool." After the election of Mr. Lincoln he was relieved from the charge of the Postoffice but con- tinued to mun his other branches of business at Davisburg until 1882, when he removed to the city of Pontiac. Here he leads a somewhat re- tired life looking after his varied business interests.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been blessed with nine children, eight of whom are living. Their names are as follows: Cornelius, (deceased ) ; Daniel L., a prominent merchant and attorney at Pontiae; Mary A., wife of Harvey Monroe; George M., a physi- cian in Duluth, Minn .; Harvey J., a resident of Pontiac; John J. C., a contractor and railroad
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builder at Duluth; Hiram G., a prominent attorney at Portland, Ore .; Joel H., a book-keeper; and Martha J. who is an invalid and resides at home.
Our subject was a member of a militia company and held a Lieutenant's commission which was is- sued by Stephen T. Mason, the first Governor of Michigan. It bore the date of September 15, 1838, and was for the first Company, Tenth Regiment, Fifth Brigade and Third District of the State Mili- tia. The pleasant residence of the family is at No. 186 Baldwin Street.
D AVID S. HOWARD. This name will he recognized by many of our readers as that of the present incumbent of the Mayor's chair in Pontiac. He was elected to his responsi- ble position in the spring of 1890 and is discharg- ing the duties pertaining thereto in a manner that wins the encomiums of many citizens. It would searcely be correet to say that no fault is found with his jurisdiction, as the city is yet to be known in which a public officer is entirely free from ad- verse criticism. In addition to the duties devolv- ing upon him as Mayor, Mr. Howard is acting as Deputy Clerk.
Before giving a brief outline of the life of Mayor Iloward it will not be amiss to make some mention of the work done by his father and of the charac- ters of his progenitors. He is the son of George W. and Harriet (Frew) Howard, the former of whom was born in New York in 1810 and was an extensive railroad contractor. He helped to con- struet many of the important roads in Pennsylva- nia and finally came West and was interested in the building of the Milwaukee Railroad. Retiring from his work he located in Pontiac. Here his wife died in 1879. She was born in Meadville, l'a., and was the daughter of Thomas F. and Rachel Frew. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Howard com- prised five children, and David S. was the third in order of birth. Mr. Howard is still living and a resident of Pontiac.
The natal day of David S. Howard was March 26, 1843, and his birth-place Meadville, Crawford
County, Pa. Going from Pennsylvania to Ohio with his parents, he attended school in Cleveland for a while and thence came to Pontiac in the spring of 1855. After spending some time here he entered the State Normal School in Ypsilanti, where he pursued his studies vigorously until the spring of 1861. He was roused from his peaceful pursuits by the mutterings of the storm-cloud and the Civil War had scarcely begun ere he had de- cided to give his strength to his country. He enlisted in Company E, Seventeenth Michigan Infantry, commanded by Col. W. W. Worthington of Jackson. The regiment was assigned to the Ninth Army Corps, then under the command of Gen. Burnside and later of Gen. George Mcclellan.
Mr. Howard had such experiences in the duties of camp life and marching, as are generally in- cluded in the lot of a soldier, and took part in two famous battles-the second Bull Run and South Mountain. During the latter engagement he was shot in the hip joint, while acting as Captain of the company. lle laid on the field two days and nights, and was then taken to the prison hospital where he was confined eight months. His health being seriously impaired he was sent home as unfit for duty, and early in 1863 was honorably dis- charged on a surgeon's certificate of disability. The first business in which he engaged after he was discharged was in Oil City, Pa., where he became Superintendent of the Oil Transportation Company. From the Keystone State he returned to Pontiac and in 1868 married Julia, daughter of Solon Comstock. They have three daughters living, viz .: Blanche, Emma, and Florenec; their son Albert is deceased.
After his marriage Mr. Howard established a permanent home and for twelve years was traveling salesman for a New York mercantile house. Ile then farmed two years and in 1889 having turned his attention to polities, was soon after elected to the mayoralty on the Democratic ticket. IIe is a man of a social nature, is a good conversationalist, well posted regarding the news of the day and topies of general interest, and is quite a popular member of society. Mrs. Howard is an educated, well-bred lady, who stands high in the circles which she frequents, and in her own pleasant home
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is a charming hostess. Mr. IToward is Vice Chan- cellor of the Knights of Pythias and Captain of the Uniformed Division. He is now President of the Water Board of Pontiac.
G AVIN LONG MUIR, a farmer of Bloomfield Township, was born in Rochester, N. Y., July 12, 1839. He is a son of Gabriel and Julia S. (Fitch) Longmuir, natives respectively of Scotland and Vermont. The former was born near Glasgow, and coming to America when abont nineteen years old located in Geneseo, N. Y., and later took up his residence in Caledonia, N. Y., where he and his brother John engaged in the brewing business. Later he went to Rochester and started the Longmuir Brewery and Malt House, which he managed for several years, retiring from it with about $60,000. Ile than turned his atten- tion to agriculture and milling at Chili, near Rochester, but he met with financial reverses and lost almost all he had made. Somewhat later he came West and spent his last years with his son Gavin. Ifis wife still survives him.
The subject of this sketch is one of five chil- dren. Their first child bore the same name as our subject and died in infancy. Their second son, Alexander, is a miller at Duluth, Minn .; Amelia II. is the wife of Wilson Brodie, of Nebraska, and Mary married Andrew Il. Porter, who is a farmer in this township. Our subject was reared in Roch- ester, N. Y., and there received a good common- school education.
At the breaking out of the Civil War Gavin Longmuir enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifth New York Infantry. In September, 1862, at the battle of Antietam, he was commis- sioned Second Lieutenant of his company, in which capacity he served until 1863, when his regiment was consolidated with the Ninety-Fourth New York, and he, being a junior officer, was mustered out and discharged. After spending a short time at home lie re-enlisted for one hundred days as Sergeant of Company G, Fifty-fourth New York Infantry, and
was discharged at the expiration of his term of service. Ile participated in the battles of Front Royal, Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock Station, Thoroughfare Gap, the seccond Bull Run, Chan- tilly, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericks- burg. Ile escaped both wounds and imprisonment.
In the spring of 1864 the young veteran came to Michigan and purchased his present farm of sixty acres in Bloomfield Township, known as "Bannockburn Stock Farm," Ile came to Michigan poor and worked by the month for money to make the first payments on his farm. Ile has experi- enced a great deal of misfortune but has triumphed over all adversities and is now one of the thrifty and prominent farmers of the town. Few farms excel his in productiveness and attractiveness. Ile has good barns and a splendid, iarge frame resi- dence, a view of which appears on another page. All his stock is thoroughbred except his horses and they are of a high grade. He has made thor- oughbred stock a specialty and receives premiums everywhere in his exhibits. He breeds Shropshire sheep and Devonshire cattle, while Berkshire hogs and Plymouth Rock chickens are also to be found on his farm.
Mr. Longmuir was united in marriage October 28, 1863, with Mary P. Roswell, of Chili, Monroe County. N. Y., where she was born April 22, 1841. She is a danghter of William and Francis (Gam- briel) Boswell, natives of England. Our subject and his wife have had three children: Selwyn B., John W. and Frank S. The latter is now the only surviving child and is sixteen years of age. Mr. Longmuir is a Republican in his political views, but has never taken an active part in political mat- ters. Ile is identified with the Free and Aceepted Masons.
OHN D. EVANS. The home of this enter- prising farmer is on section 12, Southfield Township, and his home farm consists of eighty acres. Ile has also a tract of ninety acres in West Bloomfield Township, his former home. Both tracts are well improved and bear such buildings as are expected among the fittings of
RESIDENCE OF GAVIN LONGMUIR, BREEDER OF DEVON CATTLE AND SHROPSHIRE SHEEP, SEC.8., BLOOMFIELD TP., OAKLAND CO. MICH.
RESIDENCE OF J. D. EVANS, SEC. 12., SOUTHFIELD TP., OAKLAND CO. MICH.
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the estates of prosperous men. The dwelling now occupied by Mr. Evans is a beautiful modern farm- honse, two stories in height, and was built in 1889 at a cost of 83,000. The interior finishings are of ash and oak and various arrangements have been made for the comfort and convenience of the oc- cupants. A view of this commodious residence appears on another page. Mr. Evans gives his attention to general agricultural work and is reap- ing the reward dne to his perseverance, thrift and energy.
Mr. Evans is one of the native born farmers of the county, his birthplace having been Southfield Town- słup and his natal day August 16, 1839. His father, Thomas Evans, was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, and emigrated to this country in 1832. The next year he came to Detroit and in 1836 he removed to Southfield Township and purchased a small tract on what was known as the primary school lands. By his industry and untiring perseverance he carved out of the dense wilderness a home. Some years since he removed to Redford, Wayne County, and thence to West Bloomfield, this county, where he spent his last days. He died September 22, 1881, aged seventy-seven years. He was genial, frank and hospitable. and generons to a fault, and in every relation of life was held in high esteem. Everyone in the vicinity knew "Uncle Tommy," as he was familiarly called, and knew him only to love. lle was married in 1834 to Margaret E. Evans, a native of the same Welsh shire as himself, but of a different family. She lived to the vener- able age of ninety-six years, eleven months, and breathed her last December 4, 1890. The parental family included but one child besides our subject -Mary J., now the wife of E. W. Reynold, of Armada, Macomb County, and proprietor of an hotel there.
John D. Evans obtained his first and only school- ing in District 10, Southfield Township; however his education did not cease when he left the school- room, but continued through self effort as that of every intelligent man must. Ile remained with his father ur il ne was twenty years old, then began working out by the month. A couple of years later he located in Troy Township, but after living there three years went to West Bloomfield Town-
ship, where he made his home a decade. Thence he came to his present home, retaining possession, however, of the old place. He has not been a seeker after public honors, but is careful to dis- charge the duties which belong to every loyal citi- zen, among which is that of exercising the right of suffrage, and his ticket is a Democratic one. He is a Mason, belonging to Birmingham Lodge No. 44. Ilis social qualities are excellent and he is a very agreeable and entertaining companion. His stand- ing is excellent, and his character and dealings are honorable and straightforward.
In 1861 Mr. Evans was married to Mary A. Keeney, a native of New York, who was four years old when her parents removed to this county. After almost twenty years of wedded life she closed her eyes in death, November 4, 1880. She had three children, but George W., the first-born, died young. Frank T., the second son and child, mar- ried Hattie Simpson and is living in Bloomfield Township; the youngest, Elmer W .. still lives in the home of his father. A second marriage was made by Mr. Evans in 1883, his bride being Miss Bell Mitchell. This lady was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1845, and is the sixth child of William and Mary A. (Kyle) Mitchell, who are now living in West Bloomfield Township, this county. Mr. Evans has held several minor offices such as School Director and held the office of Justice of the Peace for four years.
Le EVI NEWMAN was born on the old New- man homestead, in Orion Township, De- cember 13, 1857. His present home is a part of the property secured by his father and his farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres, where the soil is as fertile as one need wish. IJe is carrying on the work of a general farmer and has a well regulated estate, from which good crops and fat stock are sold. Ile built a fine frame house in 1887 and has all needful arrangements for the prosecution of his work. Ilis education was ob- tained in the district school and he has always worked on the homestead. lle was married in
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1884 to Miss Maggie Siple, who was born in Orion Township in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Newman have no children.
The father of our subject is John W. Newman, a venerable man who is still living on the land he settled upon when he came hither in pioneer times. le is now in his eighty-first year. having been born in New York January 12, 1811. His first residence here was a primitive log house, such as early settlers occupied, and his life for some time was one of unflagging industry and almost ceaseless toil. He hewed down trees, removed stumps, and broke the virgin soil, and little by little brought around him the appearance of civil- ization and the means of comfort. Wild ani- mals and game infested the forests and Indians roamed through it when Mr. Newman located here and for sometime afterward. He killed bear, deer and other animals and supplied his table with meats. Ile started in life with little means and accumulated a good property, which he has given to his children.
The mother of Levi and the wife of John New- man, was born in New York in 1816, and is still living. She was known in her maidenhood as Miss Fanny Conrad. She is one of those courage- ous, hopeful women who were lit wives of pioneers and whose influence upon the prosperity of this seetion cannot be estimated. She has seven chil- dren, all living, Levi being the youngest. That gentleman gives all his allegiance to the principles of Democraey. The young man and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church and are classed among the upright and worthy members of the community.
ETER W. SUTTON, one of the okl settlers of Rose Township was born, September 28, 1817, in Mansfield Township, Warren County. N. J. His father, John Sutton, was born in the Mohawk Valley, and was brought up to the trade of a saddler. Ile married in New Jersey, Joanna (Bird) Williamson. In 1833 he re- moved to Orleans County, N. Y., where he cleared
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