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 65
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himself thoroughly posted and gives his unquali- fied support to the Democratic party. Ife is not a member of any religions body but believes in the establishment and maintenance of churches and attends divine services in the Methodist Episcopal Church and supports it liberally. He is a plain. unostentatious man, moving along quietly, and is one of those who does more good than the world knows. He is outspoken, precise and firm, yet conrteous, and is a good conversationalist,
R OBERT K. TAYLOR, a prominent farmer of Oakland Township, was born July 23, 1817, in Warren County, N. J. His father, Benjamin, followed farming, and about the year 1827 removed to Northampton County, Pa., where he continued farming until his death, which occurred after the close of the Civil War. Hle was a Presbyterian in his religious belief. His father, William Taylor, of Dutch descent, died at the age of eighty-two years.
The mother of our subjeet bore the maiden name of Mary VanKirk. She was the mother of sixteen children, fourteen of whom lived to maturity and eight still survive. She ended her earthly career in 1868. Our subject is the fifth in this large fam- ily. Ilis education and training were received on the farm and in the district school. He remained at home until he reached his twenty-fifth year and accompanied his father to Pennsylvania, In 1844 he came to Michigan and worked by the year in Macomb County, for $132. He continued there for four years, but spent some time in Oakland Township, Oakland County. He purchased his first farm in Oakland Township, in 1847. Three years later he purchased an adjoining one, having disposed of the first. He exchanged one year later for the farm where he now resides. Most of this land was pretty well improved but he has added great improvements to it since.
The marriage of our subject took place in 1852. His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Low- rie. She was from Warren County, N. J. Their children are named-Marshall, Homer and Mary.
B. C.H. Spencer nr.20
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This family were bereaved of the wife and mother in December, 1884. Mr. Taylor is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and has been a delegate to county conventions. lIe is a Patron of Industry, in which he is considered an influential member. Ilis home place comprises two hundred and thirty- two acres, upon which he raises all kinds of stock. Ile came to Michigan with limited means and like many another has been the architect of his own fortunes.
B 2 C. H. SPENCER, M. D., a physician who enjoys the confidence of the people of Orion in a high degree, was born in this county November 10, 1859. He was reared in the village of Rochester, where he received his prelim- inary education, and at the early age of fifteen years he began his preparatory reading for his pro- fession. Thus early in life had he showed a decided inclination for the field of labor in which he is advancing in professional reputation and practical skill. After two years of study in the office of Dr. Wilson, he entered the Detroit Medical College, where he devoted himself earnestly to his studies for two years. After receiving a diploma from that institution he entered the Michigan College of Medicine, from which he was graduated in 1881. Ill health compelled him to go South, and he finally located at Monticello, Ark., where he had a fine practice for two years.
Returning to his native State the young physi- cian located in the pleasant village of Orion, where he has been conducting a fine practice. He has a practical nature and naturally good powers of ob- servation, and the course of study which he car- ried on developed bis faculties and gave him a fine equipment for the duties of his profession. His theoretical knowledge is matle practical and he is constantly on the alert to increase his skill and attain to better results in his endeavors to allevi- ate suffering and save life.
Dr. Spencer represents one of the early families in this county, his grandfather, Chancy Z. Spencer, having come bither from New York carly in the
'30s and located on a farm in Avon Township. In 1849 he crossed the "great American desert" and became a successful mine operator on the Pacific Slope. Ile died in San Francisco in 1883. His son, John H., father of our subject, was born in Gene- see County, N. Y., came to this county with his parents, and became a farmer. He crossed the plains to California about 1857 and during some three years was engaged in mining, meeting with suc- cess in his operations. Eight years later he visited Idaho, where he spent two years, then returning home he resumed his agricultural work. He died in 1875. He had held various township offices and was a well-known farmer and citizen. His wife, whose maiden name was Laura C. Riggs, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and .now makes her home with her son, the Doctor. She is about three score years of age.
Dr. Spencer was married April 27, 1886, to Miss Josie B. Laird of this county, a lady of superior intellect and social qualifications. They have one child, Laird, a bright boy, who was born August 9, 1887. Dr. Spencer is a Democrat, takes an act- ive part in local political matters and is well posted regarding the principles of the party and all things that have a bearing upon its policy. Ile has been a delegate to county and State conventions, and exerts a decided influence in party circles. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, is one of the Knights of the Maccabees and belongs to the Grange. Ilis portrait, presented on the oppo- site page, represents one of the most able physi- cians of the county as well as one of its most highly respected citizens.
ORTON HILTON, a successful farmer of Pontiac Township, has a fine faim consist- ing of one hundred and forty-four acres on section 1, and he also owns a valuable house and lot in Pontiac, where he lived fourteen years, while sending his children to school. In 1882 he returned to the farmn on which he first located in 1844. The property of which he then took possession had been entered from the Government by brothers
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who came hither about 1840, but no improvements had been made upon it prior to his purchase. It was covered with timber, and deer and other game abounded over its expanse. Mr. Ililton built a small shanty, ten feet square, in which he made his home temporarily, and from time to time he erected the buildings of which he stood in need, while bringing the land under thorough cultivation.
The Hilton family is of English descent, and the grandfather of our subject, David Hilton, was born in Connecticut, and died in the East in 1823. One of his children was Levi, who was born in New York and was a farmer there until some time in the '50s, when he came to this State. Ile began life poor, but left considerable property. He died in 1854 at the age of sixty-six years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. For many years he belonged to the Baptist Church. Ilis wife was Eunice Nelson, a native of Massachusetts, who died about 1865. They reared a large family, thir- teen children being born to them, and eleven growing to manhood and womanhood. Two only are now living.
Norton Hilton was born in Monroe County, N. Y., January 22, 1819, and reared upon a farm, receiving his education in the district school that was held in the primitive structure of that period. The year that he came to this county saw him mar- ried to Miss Fidelia Chapman, who was born in the same neighborhood as himself, March 27, 1824. Her parents were William and Mary (Van Vliet) Chapman, natives of Vermont and Pennsylvania respectively, who came to Michigan in 1828, and settled in Oakland Township. Mrs. Chapman died in 1845 and her husband in 1862. They had nine children, seven of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton have had nine children: Levi B., who be- longed to the Seventeenth United States Infantry, died in Salisbury prison during the Civil War; Eunice B., widow of Richardson Hough, lives in Waco, Tex., and owns a large tract of land in that vicinity ; Norman B. is a farmer in Wexford County. Tex. ; Norton D., Sarah E. and Ada are deceased; Farin N. farms on the liomestead; Fred D. is engaged in agriculture in Pontiac Township, and one child, unnamed, died in infancy.
Mr. Hilton enlisted in September, 1862, in Com-
pany C, Eighth Michigan Cavalry, Col. Stockton commanding. He became disabled while on a famous raid and for some time was totally blind. When partial sight was restored he was put on detached duty and served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out at Lexington, Ky., in May, 1865. He had been confined in Camp Nelson several months and during his army life served as Color Bearer and then as Commissary- Sergeant. His connection with the Civil War is commemorated in his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. He votes a straight Republican ticket. He and his wife belong to the Baptist Church, he having been a member since he was twelve years old and she for over forty years. Their reputation is enviable and their friends are many and true.
OHN SUTTON, who is engaged in farming in Pontiac Township, was born in Yorkshire, England, February 3, 1817. When six years of age he removed with his parents to Pres- ton, in Lancashire. His father, John Sutton, Sr., was born in the same shire in 1792, and was a spindlemaker by trade. The wife of that gentle- man bore the maiden name of Nancy Swindlehurst and the year of her birth was the same as his. He died in 1852 and she survived until 1869. Both held membership in the Church of England. They reared eleven children, seven of whom are now living, but only one besides our subject is in America.
lle of whom we write attended the common school until be was eleven years old, and then began to learn the trade in which his father was engaged. He followed it nearly forty years, and having be- come an expert, he had charge of as many as ninety men who worked under his direction and were paid by him. In this way he was able to earn good wages himself. He was married in 1839 to Miss Isabel Pomfret, an English lady, who was born September 17, 1817. To them were born twelve children, named respectively, James, Jo- seph, Jane Ann, Mary E., a second Mary E., John
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and William, a second John, Isabel and Thomas. Joseph, Jane, Mary E., John, William and Isabel are deceased, as are also two other children, who died in infancy unnamed.
The eldest son, James Sutton, came to America and established a home in Michigan. He served in the U'nion army through the Civil War and after its close returned to his native land, and was snc- cessful in persuading his parents to come to the New World. In 1866 our subject and his wife therefore set sail and reaching this county bought land on section 6, Pontiac Township. Here they have since made their home, pursuing a course of honest industry, and kindly, unassuming habits. The estate on which they live consists of one hun- dred and fifteen acres of choice land, and bears the necessary buildings. Mr. Sutton has always been a hard-working and industrious man, and his wife has borne her share in. the efforts to advance their fortunes by her good management and encourag- ing words. They have twenty-two grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
ILLIAM STEPHENS is one of the promi- nent citizens of Milford and one of its best-known dealers, his trade being in grain and produce. Ile is a native of the Emerald Isle and comes of families of the better class-land- owners and people of education and good breed- ing. Ilis grandfather, Michael Stephens, was Ser- geant and recruiting officer in the Yeomanry corps. Ile was remarkable for the strength of his voice, which could be heard a mile and a quarter. He was Grand Master of Masonry and his occupation was that of a gentleman farmer. Ilis grandfather was a native of Coventry, England, and established the family line in Ireland in 1690.
John Stephens, father of our subject, was born in County Armaugh, and after his marriage estab- lished himself in Cross Maglenn. He was a shoe- maker by trade. In 1842 he determined to come to America and with his wife and four children he sailed from Liverpool on the "Ayrshire." IIe landed in Quebec after a voyage of eleven weeks
and came direct to this county. One of the chil- dren died on Lake Erie. Mr. Stephens worked at his trade some years and finally bought a farm of one hundred acres in Commerce Township. Ile died there in 1884 when in his seventy-ninth year. Politically, he was a Democrat, and personally a liberal, generous-hearted man.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Hale, and she, too, was the descendant of a family that had lived in Ireland for several generations, but which sprang from England. She is still living on the homestead in Commerce Township with a son. She is now in the eighty .. fourth year of her age. She is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her father, Richard Hale, lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and two years and was never sick a day; he was a well-to-do farmer in Ireland.
William Stephens, who is the second in a family of ten children, six of whom grew to maturity, was born in Cross Maglenn, County Armaugh, Ireland, December 29, 1837. The first incident of unusual importance in his life was the passage to America during his childhood. He grew to maturity in this county, attending the district school, which was carried on under the rate- bill system, and where he used quill pens and read from the Ele- mentary Spelling-book and the New Testament; he had a decided taste for mathematics and made that study his hobby. At an early age he was set to work on the farm and there he remained, helping his father until after he had attained his majority. When twenty-five years old he began work at the carpenter's trade and in 1864 he spent six months in the Government employ as a carpenter at Nash- ville, Tenn., whence he came home, and the next year he went to the oil regions, where he and his brother Nicholas bored for oil and made $45,000, but lost it in other speculations. The brother died and William came home with the corpse and then engaged in carpentry in Commerce .Township. Eight years were devoted to the trade there and two years in Milford, and Mr. Stephens then began buying and shipping grain. He has been success- ful in this enterprise and it is one in which his fac- ulties are well exercised.
In Commerce in 1870 Mr. Stephens was married
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to Miss Mary Laughrey, a native of that place and daughter of early settlers here. Iler parents, Will- iam and Margaret Laughrey, were born in Scotland, and having emigrated, settled in Commerce in 1833. Mrs. Stephens is a woman of intelligence, skill in domestic arts, and kindly nature. She has two children-Nicholas and Lela Vesta, the former of whom is in the Class of '91 in the Milford High School.
Mr. Stephens belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Masonic order in Milford, and to the lodge of the Good Templars. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, holds the office of Trustee and has been a member of the building committee and otherwise prominent in forwarding its interests. Ile is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, keeping himself informed on all events of general interest, and many things not commonly conversed about, and has a wonderful memory, so that his extensive reading is not lost. In disposition he is jolly and good-natured, and he is one of the best of companions.
OSEPH JACKSON, a farmer on section 6, White Lake Township, is a citizen of enter- prise and'standing in the community. He is ever interested in matters of public im- portance. He with his good wife is an active mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, where he has been the Superintendent of the Sunday-school for five years. He has been a Republican until quite re- cently, and for two years past has voted the Pro- hibition ticket. Both he and his wife are intelli- gent and cultured, and at one time he was a teacher.
Our subject is a son of George Jackson, who was born in England. To him and his wife Ann (Moore) JJackson were born the following children : Joseph, Alice C., Caleb G. Alice is now Mrs. C. W. Crawford, and resides in Southfield Township. Caleb G. also resides on a farm in the same town- ship. Their father came to America about 1848 and settled in Wayne County, where he lived two
years before removing to Oakland County, his present residence. Here he settled on a farm of two hundred and nine acres. He is identified with the Grange, and is wide-awake to the interests of farmers. Both he and his wife find their religious home in the Baptist Church, and his political con- victions are with the Republican party.
The subject of this sketch was born March 15, 1850, in Detroit, and that same season be was brought to Southfield Township by his parents. Here he lived until 1880, when he moved onto the farm where he now resides. He worked his father's farm until he was thirty years of age. Ile was married in 1879, September 24, in White Lake Township, to Mrs. Josephine (Garner) Kellogg, a daughter of John Garner, a native of Sussex County, N. J. Her mother was Sarah (Coryell) Garner. To Mr. Jackson and wife have been born the following children: Leroy G., Carl F., Edna G., all living at home. His wife, by her previous mar- riage to Daniel Kellogg, had one danghter, Maud, who resides with Mr. Jackson.
Mr. Jackson now owns one-half interest in two hundred and twelve acres. He is a breeder of Shropshire sheep, and has quite a flock on his farm at present. He is one of the Knights of the Mac- cabees, and belongs to Dresser Tent No. 160. He was educated in the common schools, and supple- mented this by attendance at Hillsdale College one year.
S IMEON AINSLEY, an industrious and progressive farmer living on section 10, White Lake Township, has control of a fer- tile tract of one hundred acres. This prop- erty became bis by trade, he giving in exchange an eighty in another part of the township, where he had carried on his agricultural efforts for a time. Mr. Ainsley has been engaged in farm work from boyhood, and has a clear understanding of the means necessary to develop land and produce sat- isfactory crops. He was born in Pennsylvania, November 17, 1826, and was but a small boy when he came to this State with his mother aud step-fa- ther, since which time he has lived in this county.
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The father of our subject was Mifflin Ainsley, who was born and reared in the Keystone State, and died there years ago. llis wife, the mother of Simeon, bore the maiden name of Ann Starner. She was a daughter of George Starner, a native of Holland, who emigrated to Pennsylvania in an early day, and thence went to Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Ainsley had three children-Harriet, Mary J. and Simeon. After the death of the husband the widow made a second marriage, wedding Jedediah Collins, to whom she bore five daughters and one son, named respectively, Phebe, Nancy, Lucy A., Eliza, Melissa and William. The mother died in this county.
Since his boybood Mr. Ainsley has been making a living for himself. His first purchase of land was in Waterford Township, where he had a tract of sixty acres on which he lived two years. He then sold it and came to White Lake Township, where be has since made his home, carrying on his indus- trious efforts and pursuing the even tenor of his way as a reliable and law-abiding citizen. He is a Master Mason, enrolled on the roster of a lodge at Waterford. Politically he has always been a Dem- ocrat. The only public office he has held is that of Highway Commissioner, in which he bore himself creditably.
In Pontiac, on New Year's day, 1851, Mr. Ains- ley was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Rod- enbo, who was born in New York and was brought to this State when six years of age. IIer father, John Rodenbo, was born in New Jersey, but went from his native State to New York in early life. When he came to this State he took up eighty acres of Government land in Oakland Township, subse- quently added eighty acres to his farm and later sold forty. His wife bore the maiden name of Ilannah Swayze, and their children were Christo- pher, John, William, Archibald, Sarah A., Amanda, Amelia and Catherine. The mother of this fam- ily died in 1835, and the father subsequently mar- ried Catherine (Swayze) Simpson, a sister of his first wife. This union was blest by the birth of two children, Letitia and Abraham. Mr. Rodenbo died in 1861, and his widow in 1878.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ainsley there have been born six children, who were christened Jerome, Edgar,
Clarence, Florence, Alice and Grace. The two eld- est are deceased, and the rest are now established in their own homes. All live near their parents except Clarence, who resides in Grand Rapids.
IRAM WALTON. Nearly a decade has passed since this respected man departed to "the bourne whence no traveler returns." He was one of those hard-working, indns- trious men who, beginning life with limited means, advanced to competence, and while securing finan- cial standing, he had also gained the esteem of his acquaintances. He was born near Rochester, N. Y., March 5, 1816, and was of English extraction, al- though his parents were natives of the Empire State. His father, Simon Walton, died about 1854, leaving a widow who survived him some years. The family came to this county in 1832 and set- tled in Orion Township. Our subject was then a youth of sixteen years. Ile had received his pre- liminary education in the district schools of his native State, and continued to acquire knowledge as opportunity afforded after coming West.
Mr. Walton remained at home and gave his ser- vices for the good of the family until he was twenty-six years old, when he launched out for himself. His father gave him eighty acres of land on seetion 1, Pontiac Township, which he cleared and improved, and upon which he lived a number of years. In 1873 he sold the property and bought instead a fine tract of land on section 14, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. He built thereon a large, handsome farmhouse, substantial barns and other structures, and made such arrange- ments for the proper carrying on of his work, and the comfort of his family, as make the estate one of the best in the neighborhood. The well-fur- nished house, around which are manifest the refin- ing touches of a woman's hand, is still occupied by the widow and her daughter, Augusta.
In 1842 Mr. Walton was married to Miss Debo- rah Lewis, a native of Erie County, N. Y., born June 17, 1816. She is a daughter of Michael and Betsey (Spooner) Lewis, natives of New Jersey and
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Vermont respectively, and early settlers in this State. Mr. Lewis served in the War of 1812; he died in 1849, but his wife lived until 1880. Four of their nine children still survive, To Mr. and Mrs. Walton there came four children who were named respectively, Jannette, Augusta, Charles and Ida. The first and last named are deceased. Charles married Miss Edna Lessiter, and has two children -Hiram and Hazel. He is an intelligent young man, progressive and prosperous, and has charge of the homestead, the one hundred and ninety acres of which he is using to good advantage.
In his political views the late Mr. Walton was in sympathy with the Democratic party. He served as Justice of the Peace several years, and in that official capacity did much to advance good princi- ples and cultivate peace and order among the peo- ple. Ile died December 14. 1883. His widow, although quite advanced in years, is more active than many of her age, and takes a warm interest in the welfare of those around her.
EWIS A. YOUNG. Among the well devel- oped farms in Pontiac Township is one consisting of one hundred acres on section 31, belonging to the gentleman above named. The soil is as productive as can be found in the township, and the buildings upon it are substantial and sufficiently numerous to answer every want. This property was purchased by Mr. Young in the spring of 1881, and since that time he has made some substantial improvements upon it. He raises a variety of crops and good stock, the horses being especially fine. lle raises the Morgan strain and has several roadsters that are notable specimens of the breed. Mrs. Young has an ardent admiration for good equines and is an excellent judge of their merits. She is a fine horse-woman and keeps her seat on the back of a good traveler as well without a saddle as with it. She has had much to do with the proper training of the horses she rides, and sympathizes heartily in her husband's enterprises as a horseman.
Mr. Young was born in Allegany County, N.
Y., June 28, 1846. His grandfather, Ilenry Young, and a brother, came from Germany to this country and located in Tompkins County, N. Y., where farming was carried on by him until his decease, early in the '50s. The family of grandfather Young consisted of fourteen children, thirteen of whom lived to maturity, and the eldest was a soldier in the War of 1812. Ephraim, the father of our subject, was born the year that contest began and lived until the spring of 1884. He was the youngest member of the family. He was a Drum Major in the State Militia, served as Supervisor of his township, and was a prominent farmer and dairyman, well-known and highly esteemed. His wife was Phebe Burrows, who was born in New York in 1819 and is still living. Her father was Aaron Burrows of the Empire State. She is a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of her four children one daughter died yonng, and a son, Aaron, who was a member of the One Hun- dred and Thirtieth New York Infantry, died while in the service, at Trevilian, Ga., July 12, 1864.
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