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 67
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Since the war Mr. Owen has given his attention chiefly to agricultural work, but from 1878 to 1884 he kept a restaurant in Pontiac, and for one year be carried on a hotel in Rochester. Ile was mar- ried in 1852 to Miss Sarah S. Harris, a native of this county, who lived but a few years after their union. She died in 1856, leaving two children, William and John. In 1857 Mr. Owen became the husband of Miss Jane Harris, a sister of his former companion, and this union has been blest by the birth of four children, named respectively, George, Abbie, Sarah and Lillie. The parents of Mrs. Owen were Elisha and Orpha (Howe) Harris, natives of Vermont and New York respectively, who were among the first settlers in Pontiac Town- ship. They came to this State in 1821, and Mr. Harris died after thirty years' residence here. Mrs. Harris survived until 1885, reaching a ripe old . ; e.
Mr. Owen is connected with the Grand Army of
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the Republic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He votes the Democratic ticket and has sometimes been a delegate to conventions. He and his wife belong to the Episcopal Church. Mr. Owen is a clever, sociable man, to whom might well be given the title "a tip-top fellow."
OSEPII S. BAMBER, one of the progressive farmers of Highland Township, is located on a fertile tract of land on section 30. He is a fine type of the Englishman in his hered- itary traits, but by education and training is a thor- ough American. lle was born in Lincolnshire, February 4, 1835, and was but four years old when he accompanied his parents across the Atlantic. Since that time the years have been spent in Mil- ford and Highland Townships, this county, and he is thoroughly in sympathy with the progress of this part of the nation and has been a factor in its up- building.
Jobn Bamber, father of our subject, was the son of another John, who spent his entire life in Eng- land. The younger of the name came to this State in 1839, and made his home in Milford Township, where he lived until he was called from time to eternity in 1882. His widow, who is now eighty- five years of age, still occupies the old homestead with a daughter. On coming to the county Mr. Bamber took up a farm of fifty acres, which was sold, and he subsequently purchased one hundred and forty acres. He was a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church and with that denomination his widow is connected. Mrs. Bam- ber bore the maiden name of Susan Harrison. She is the mother of the following children: John, Robert, Joseph, Thomas, Ann, Susan, William, Harriet, Fanny and Warren W.
Our subject was an inmate of his father's home until he was twenty-three years of age, and during those years he became practically educated and well versed in agricultural duties. At the age men- tioned he bought land, upon which he is still living and with an affectionate and efficient wife took possession of the property. It consists of fifty-
three acres in Ilighland and eighty in Hartland Township, and forty acres have been added by a subsequent purchase, It bears a complete line of farm buildings and a commodious residence, and is adorned with orchards and small fruits. Since 1877 Mr. Bamber has paid considerable attention to rais- ing Spanish-American Merino sheep, and he has taken many premiums at State fairs and other ex- hibitions. Twice be carried off the blue ribbon from Detroit, and at Jackson and Saginaw he has won his share of prizes.
On November 4, 1857, Mr. Bamber was married to Sarah A., daughter of Noah P. and Elizabeth W. (IIyde) Morse. The bride's father was born in Norwich, Conn., in 1807, and came to this State in 1833, establishing his home in this county, where he remained until called hence, March 26, 1887. He was married April 1, 1832, in his native State, and during his early pioneer work here was encour- aged and aided by his good wife. She did not live to see the full result of their efforts, but died in 1845, leaving two children, Sarah and Mary E. May 22, 1845, Mr. Morse made a second marriage, wedding Elizabeth Prior, a native of Massachu- setts, but at that time a resident of Milford Town - ship, this county. This wife died in the year 1876. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and was Postmaster in Highland Township for many years. He was the first Assessor here, and at a period when his work covered six townships. When his daughter Sarah was married he sold the one hun- dred and thirty-three acres of land he possessed, to her husband, taking a life lease on the undivided half. Mr. Morse was a very well-bred man, was a life-long student, and had a better education than many, the curriculum he studied having included several languages. He was very radical in his po- litical views, and always supported the Republican ticket.
Mr. and Mrs. Bamber have had four children, who were named respectively, Herbert, Albert M., Mary E. and Sherman L. The eldest son was graduated from the Agricultural College at Lan- sing in 1881, and since 1883 has been in the employ of the Government as a Civil Engineer. After his graduation he entered the service of a railway com- pany in Utah, and then put in a year at the Michi-
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gan University, studyin_ for his profession. Hle next became an employe on the Wabash River un- dler Maj. Smith, and thence went to Western Vir- ginia near Greenboro, for one summer. On the Ohio River he was in an engineering force under Col. Merrill, and he then went to Baltimore, where he had charge of the construction of the Mosquito Inlet Lighthouse on the east coast of Florida and spent three years. Since that time he has been Su- perintendent of Lighthouse District, No. 4, with his headquarters at Philadelphia. The daughter is now the wife of Lesley A. Buel, to whom she was mar- ried in 1887, and resides in Minneapolis, Kan. Albert was completing his studies in the Agricult- ural College when stricken by a fatal illness, from which he died June 1, 1883; Sherman is also de- ceased, having breathed his last, December 29, 1877, in Highland Township.
Mr. Bamber is and always has been a Republi- can, and has taken an active part in local political affairs. Ile has been School Inspector several terms, and has held various township offices. lle was formerly connected with the Grange and he is always interested in those movements which prom - ise to promote the welfare of society, and increase the prosperity of the community. He and his wife have a large circle of acquaintances, and their friends are many and true.
0 LIVER H. P. GRIGGS is a well-known and influential farmer living in Avon Township. He is one of twelve children born to Philip P. and Rebecca (Cane) Griggs. With one excep- tion the children lived to years of maturity, and the one who passed away before attaining to man- hood was ten years old when called hence. Six are now living, all in New York except our sub- ject. The parents were born in Connecticut and New York respectively, and the one was of Welsh and the other of German extraction. Philip Griggs went from his native State to Vermont, and thence to New York in 1812. When the war began he was drafted and got in readiness for taking a place
in the ranks, but before he left home word arrived that he was not needed, as "the fight was settled."
The natal day of our subject was March 9, 1820, and his birthplace what is now Wyoming, but was then Allegany County, N. Y. He was christened Oliver Hazzard Perry in honor of the famous naval commander, whose victory at Put-in-Bay is a land- mark in history. Ile was brought up to farm work and gave his services to his father until the land on which they were living was entirely paid for. then set out in life for himself. Ile first operated rented land, then bought a farm, and in 1865 came to this State and located where he is still living. Ilis home farm consists of one hundred and forty acres and he has a tract of nearly two hundred acres close by. He has the reputation of being as good a farmer as any in Southeastern Michigan and his advice is considered sound and reliable. Ilis farm has been brought to a splendid condition of tillage and improvement and may well be called a fine property.
During the'40s Mr. Griggs came to this State to colleet a debt and found it necessary to remain all winter in order to succeed in getting the sum due him. He gave his attention to teaching during the winter and had among his pupils a Miss Lovina Kelley, to whom he became more attached than to the others, and whom he won for his wife. She was the daughter of Charles Kelley, a farmer in Lapeer County, who had gone thither in 1830 from Ogden, Monroe County, N. Y. She has shared tlie fortunes of our subject since October 19, 1845, when they became husband and wife. The union has been blest by the birth of five children : Elle- sif L., wife of Franklin Bates, who is engaged in farming near Grand Rapids; Charles K., who is in the grain trade in Rochester; Albert G., who oper- ates a farm near his father's; Nellie, wife of Elmer Carlton, dealer in stationery and wall paper in Portland, Ore .; and Jessie, who is now in Port- land also.
While he resided in New York Mr. Griggs held various offices. He was School Inspector four or five years; Township Supervisor two terms and Justice of the Peace seven years. He has been nominated for different positions in this State, but as he works with the minority he has not been
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elected, Democracy being the prevailing politics in his township. He is a stanch supporter of Repub- lican principles and sure that they are best adapted to the needs of the people and that through, them the country will rise more rapidly than otherwise. Mr. Griggs is a man of more than ordinary intelli- gence, has excellent judgment and is withal cour- teous and agreeable. His counsel is much sought and his opinions on matters of general interest are considered worthy of the careful thought of others. He comes of a long-lived family, the youngest of the brothers and sisters being now sixty-five years old, three having passed their threescore years and ten and two being more than four-score. His father died in his eighty-fifth year and his mother lived to be sixty-six.
LFRED WEBB, proprietor of Webb's Par- lor Meat Market in Pontiac, established his business in 1867. He has prospered in worldly affairs and has a nice property, consisting of a neat little farm of twenty acres and a fine brick residence of modern architecture on one of the pleasantest streets of the city. He was born in Berkshire, England, January 18, 1842, aud was the eighth in a family of ten children born to William and Caroline Webb, both of whom passed their days in their native land. The father was a carpenter and builder. Alfred attended school in Berkshire up to his eleventh year, when he was var- iously employed until he decided to seek his for- tune in America.
Bidding adieu to the laud of his birth young Webh crossed the Atlantic to New York City, whence be came direct to Pontiac in the summer of 1862. Soon after his arrival he was employed by the firm of Fox & Smith, commission dealers, with whom he remained about two years. The ensuing year was spent in the employ of Joseph Thorpe, who was engaged in the butchering business, and during that period Mr. Webb became familiar with all the departments. In 1867 he started in the business on his own account, forming a partnership with Albert Jeffrey, under the firm name of Jef-
frey & Webb. The partnership lasted twelve months, when the associates divided the stock and Mr. Webb continued the business. He owns a building 20x90 feet and two stories high, with an ice-house in the rear on Saginaw Street, No. 10, and has a large room in which to cut his meats, which is fitted up with all the latest appliances. He also supplies his market with ice from his own ice- house. He packs nearly all his meats for home trade. He has a large run of custom, gained by his long acquaintance with the people and his hon- orable dealings with his patrons.
The first wife of Mr. Webb was Eliza Rose, who was spared to him but four years. She left two children-George and Emma-the latter now the wife of John Whitfield, of Pontiac. The lady who now presides over Mr. Webb's home was born in England, but at the time of their marriage was re- siding in Pontiac. She bore the maiden name of Harriet Green. This union has been blest by the birth of four children, three now living, named re- spectively, Giles A., Edith H. and William P. Mr. Webb has served two terms in the City Council, representing the second Ward, and he is now a member of the Board of Water Commissioners. Politically he is a stanch Democrat and a firm be- liever in tariff reform. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
HARLES E. LOVEJOY. Prominent among the business men of Milford is Mr. Lovejoy who is engaged in the grocery and crockery business, and has other interests of importance. The brick block in which he carries on his trade was built in 1880 and is large and commodious, with a lodge room above, while the shelves of the store are well supplied with the best goods. Mr. Lovejoy has a farm of eighty-six acres on section 3, where all necessary improvements have been made, but he has only a general oversight of the place, it being operated by a renter. He owns another store besides the one he occupies.
Mr. Lovejoy is descended from an old Eastern family, and Washington County, N. Y., was the
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birthplace of his father, Matthew Lovejoy. That gentleman was but a boy when he came to this State, and for some time he was engaged in farming in this county. In 1870 he entered upon a mer- cantile career in Milford and after a time took his son, C. E., in as a partner. He died in September, 1881, at the age of fifty-seven years. Ilis father also spent his last years here and died at the ripe age of eighty-seven. Matthew Lovejoy married Ann McCall, a native of Scotland and daughter of Duncan MeC'all, an early settler in Highland Township, this county. She had but one child, the subject of this notice, and died in 1854 when he was not yet two years old. The father afterward married Miss Betsey Eddy, who is now living in Fenton.
Our subject. born in Milford Township, March 20, 1852. gained some knowledge of farin life during his boyhood years. He attended the district school and finished his studies in the High School at Mil- ford and when thirteen years old began clerking for his father. After four years of business life he became a member of the firm of Lovejoy & Son, which carried on business successfully until the death of the senior member, since which time affairs have been pushed by our subject alone. Mr. Lovejoy possesses fine business qualities and manages to keep himself very busy with the enter- prises before mentioned and the insurance business. collecting and conveyancing. He has been very successful as a grocery dealer, partly by reason of the pleasing address which makes him a general favorite.
At the bride's home in Milford, in 1874, Mr. Lovejoy was married to Miss Mary Gregg, who was born in Wayne County, this State, February 21, 1856. The pleasant home has been made still more attractive by the coming of five children, named respectively Bessie, Arthur, Scott, Earl and Beulah. Mr. Lovejoy has been Justice of the Peace four years and Notary Public for twelve years. Ile has been engaged in the insurance business since 1878, and represents six fire insur- ance companies. He has long been one of the Directors of the Milford Fair Association. He has been in office since he was twenty-two years old, having served as Township Clerk for a long time,
Trustee six years, and is now filling his second term as President of the Village. He is interested in the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders, the Royal Arcanum and the order Tonti. Ile is Secretary of the Masonic lodge and has been for five years, has three times represented his associate Odd Fel- lows in the Grand Lodge, and been Regent in the Arcanum and Treasurer of the Tonti. In politics he is a Democrat, has been delegate to county and State Conventions and a member of the County Central Committee. Ile is now erecting a house of modern style of architecture for a family resi- dence in the village of Milford.
8 ILAS II. DOUGLASS. There are many pleasant farm homes to be seen in Avon Township, any one of which a man may well be proud to own. Among these fine places is that of Mr. Douglass, whose well-tilled fields, substantial fences and commodious farm buildings betoken thrift and good management and give promise of a prosperous career. The estate consists of eighty acres, favorably located and especially adapted to stock-raising. Mr. Douglass makes a specialty of fine sheep and has some full- blooded Shropshires and other fleece-bearers of high grades which are well worthy the inspection of those who are interested in stock. He has also high grades of cattle, chiefly Short-horns,
As the patrony mic indicates, Mr. Douglass is of Scotch descent. Ilis parents, Samuel and Phebe (Hopkins) Donglass, were born in New Jersey and his father always lived in that State. He died Jan- uary 9, 1853; his widow died at the home of our subject, August 30, 1882. The parental family comprised ten children, but three only remain on earth-Silas H., Ebenezer and Emily. The last two named are living in Pontiac. Silas Douglass was born in Morris County, N. J., November 3, 1839, and up to the age of fourteen years lived on a farm in his native county, his father being an agriculturist. On the death of that parent he went to Bureau County, Ill., where he did farm work with his brother for a few years. In January, 1857,
Eness
Philander
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he came to this county and located on the farm that he afterward purchased. It belonged to a widow, Mrs. Corwin, and Mr. Douglass operated it in her interest until 1865. Since he bought the place he has continued his systematic work with good results.
Mr. Douglass was married February 21, 1872, to Amanda Hann, daughter of Philip Hann, form- erly of New Jersey. The only child born of the happy union was a son, Samuel, who died in July, 1886, at the age of eighteen months. Mr. Douglass combines with his farming operations the insurance business, being Treasurer of the Monitor Insurance Company, a mutual society of Oakland County, in which nothing but farm property is insured. He is a Republican, faithful and unswerving. He be- longs to the Knights of the Macabees. le and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church and wear their religion like an everyday garment, striving to do their whole duty and walk uprightly.
IIILANDER EWELL. It is doubtful if Oakland County contains another man of as advanced years as Mr. Ewell, who takes so active a part in the affairs of life, and if any, the number of such must be few. He is now in his cighty-third year, and is hale and hearty, as will be seen by a glance at his portrait on the oppo- site page. He looks after the business of his woolen mill, keeping his own books, and doing much labor of a more physical nature. IIe has been carrying on the woolen mill almost a score of years and prior to that time was engaged in farming which he still conducts. He has borne a part in the civil affairs of the sections in which he has lived and has shown the same consideration for the public as he man- ifests regarding his own finances, endeavoring to avoid unnecessary expenditure and prevent ex- travagance.
The Ewell name was established in America three generations before our subject, and its originators were from Scotland. John Ewell, the emigrant,
lived to be ninety-four years of age, and his re- mains were carried to the tomb by four of his great-grandchildren, he of whom we write being of the number and the only one now living. The next in the line of descent was a second John, who also was born in the old country and was a sea-far- ing man. In the third generation was Peleg, who was born September 30, 1784, in the old Bay State and died March 3, 1860. His wife bore the maiden name of Clarissa Curtis and was a native of New York, in which State they established their home.
Philander Ewell was born in Middlebury, N. Y., in what is now Wyoming but was then Genesce County. His natal day was March 3, 1809. He remained in his native place until he was of age, then came West and settled in "Macomb County, this State. He crossed the lake to Detroit, on a steamer, at a time when but four boats were en- gaged in the carrying trade between the lake ports. Mr. Ewell was engaged in farming until 1869, when he removed from Macomb to this county and took charge of the woolen mill. Hle is a painstaking and careful manager, who deals honorably with all and while endeavoring to advance bis personal in- terests, does not forget that others have rights as well as bimself and that their needs should be con- sidered and value given for that received.
Mr. Ewell was married to Miss Lydia A. Wells, October 13, 1831, and had the companionship of that capable woman until October 17, 1865, when she was called from time to eternity. Of the union have been born nine children-James Nelson, now living in Macomb County; Amanda Melvina, wife of Charles Bronson of Stony Creek, this county ; Samnel D., deceased; Andrew Jackson, who lives in Clinton County; Mary, wife of George Ward, in Portland, Ionia County; Sarah Ann, wife of Adolph Kroliek of Detroit; Viola, widow of J. S. Crittenden, now living in Montana; George, de- ceased; and Alexander P., who died in infancy. A second marriage was consummated by Mr. Ewell March 14, 1867, the bride being Mrs. Sarah M. Crittenden, who was born January 5, 1810. . This estimable woman shared his fortunes a decade, then entered into rest April 13, 1876. She was reared in the same county as her husband and both at- tended school together in their youth.
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In politieal matters Mr. Ewell has always affil- iated with the Democratic party. He was Super- visor ten years while living in Macomb County, and was a member of the legislature in 1855. At that time the sessions of that body were but forty days in length. the people being less extravagant in legislative affairs than in these later days. Mr. Ewell is a member of the Universalist Church. He lias twenty-seven grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren, of whom he is justly proud.
R ICHMOND C. SIMMONS has one of the fin- est farms and farm buildings to be seen in Novi Township. It was roughly cleared land when he took it, covered over with what Michigan farmers call "cat holes." These have all been leveled over and filled and he has done an immense amount of hard work to bring his property to its present status. His residence is a large brick building, with handsome tiled roof, and it is elegantly furnished throughout. He has also a very good, large barn and his magnificent orchard of twenty-five acres is not only an orna- ment but an advantage to his farm. Rows of shade trees line the farm along the road, and he has all the modern outbuildings, kept up in good style. All his property has come from small beginnings.
The father of our subject, Joshua Simmons, was born in Massachusetts in 1801. His wife was Han- nah Macomber and she was also born in Massachu- setts in 1807. They were married in New York and resided there until they came to Michigan in 1826 and settled in Livonia Township, Wayne County on an unbroken farm. The patent for this land was signed by President James Monroe, and dated 1824. Here he built a log shanty with three sides of logs and one side left open was closed by a blanket. He slept with his goods the first night under a basswood tree and his wife slept at the house of a neighbor one mile away. He arranged with her that he would fire a gun in the morning to assure her of his safety as she feared that his life might fall a sacrifice to the wild beasts. Neighbors were very few but Indians were abundant and
the only roads were Indian trails and the new paths laid out by the settlers marked by blazed trees. The nearest mill was Pontiac, twenty-one miles away. He was a poor man and when he had paid for his land he had exhausted his means. A former employer furnished him money for a cow, which he was to pay for when he could.
This one hundred and sixty acres of land became the permanent home of Joshua Simmons, and here he lived for fifty-seven years. He increased bis acreage in time and was for awhile quite a large landed proprietor. He was a tremendous worker and hewed the timber for the first mill in Farming- ington Township, also for the first grain barns that were erected in Livonia and Plymouth Town- ships, and for the first gristmill in the latter town- ship. Ile cleared off one hundred and twenty acres of his homestead and manufactured much maple sugar. He killed many a deer and an occasional wolf, but had no trouble with the Indians as he treated them with true friendliness. His death occurred in 1883 but his widow still survives and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Caleb Sprague, in Farmington Township. Ile was a gen- erous, open-hearted, open-handed man and was a stanch Democrat, and with his wife a member of the Universalist Church. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity and five of whom are now living, namely: our subject, L. W. Morell (widely known as Judge Simmons), Mrs. Sprague and Mrs. Springer. Their father at one time acted as Highway Commissioner.
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