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 73
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Dewey
Elizabeth
A. G. Dewey
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necticut. Agricultural pursuits were followed by the successive generations and our subject is a farmer by inheritance and training.
The father of our subject came to Michigan in 1833, driving through from his former home in a covered wagon. Ile entered eighty acres of land three miles northwest of Rochester, and there he lived out his days, dying September 16, 1880, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. Ilis widow, who was born in Clinton County, N. Y., November 13, 1806, is still in quite vigorous health, and her pres- ent home is with a daughter in Detroit. To them were born eleven children, three sons and eight daughters. The survivors are Martin, a resident of Macomb County; Edward, subject of this bio- graphical notice; Charlotte, widow of Henry Allen, whose home is in Geneva, Wis .; Rebecca, wife of Charles A. Baldwin, of Owosso, this State; Olivia, wife of Newton Baldwin, of the same place; Nettie, whose home is in Detroit; Julia, wife of William Burbanks, living in Petoskey ; Favor A., wife of Rollin Sprague of Detroit.
Although Edward Bromley was but four years old when his parents came West he retains a vivid recollection of the trip. They came through Canada, crossing into this State at Detroit, and from that point passed over a long stretch of cor- duroy road, built through the low ground. Mr. Bromley had the usual school privileges of the early territorial years and participated in the pleas. ures that were enjoyed by pioneer families as a re- lief to the danger and ardor of toil that beset them. When he had attained his majority he began work- ing away from home by the month, day or job, as opportunity offered, and at night fiddled for par- ties, finding much enjoyment in drawing the bow. When he was twenty-eight years old he established a home of his own on land he had previously bought in Jackson County. There he remained three years, then spent seven years in Macomb County. and subsequently bought a tract of one hundred and twenty acres. From that farm be re- turned to the homestead and after a time took pos- session of the Hamlin farm, and in 1872 bought the eighty-seven acres on which he has since been lo- cated.
The lady who became the wife of Mr. Bromley,
February 19, 1857, bore the maiden name of Mary Elizabeth Summers. Her parents, Jacob and Jane (Davidson) Summers, were born in New Jersey and came to this State in 1834, making a location near Utica. Mr. Summers died October 1, 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. Bromley four children have been born-Juliette, Josephine, Mary Elizabeth (de- ceased ), and Clinton A. The last uamed resides at home. Juliette is the wife of David W. Butts, a farmer near Rochester; Josephine married Judson Stiff and lives in Rochester.
While he resided in Jackson County, Mr. Brom- ley served as Township Treasurer. The first Presi- dential ballot he cast was for Franklin Pierce, and he still remains a straight Democrat. In carrying on his farin work he is industrious and sufficiently progressive to adopt new methods when by so do- ing he can increase the productiveness of his land or gain better crops than before. As a citizen, he is reliable and steady-going, and as a neighbor and friend he is respected as he deserves.
UGUSTUS G. DEWEY, a farmer on sec- tion 3, Bloomfield Township, was born in East Bloomfield, Ontario County, N. Y., June 13, 1830, but has spent his life fiom childhood in this county. He is now located on one of the finest farms in Bloomfield Township and is giving his attention to agricultural pursuits. Ilis property consists of one hundred and fifty-one acres which is marked by a full line of improve- ments, so substantial, well arranged and attractive in design as are seldom seen even in so fine an agricultural region as this. There are several large barns on the farm and the residence, which is built of brick, is also large and well designed and set in the midst of suitable adornments. In former years Mr. Dewey was a breeder of light harness horses, but at present he has almost entirely abandoned the business. Much valuable information regarding trotting-bred horses can be obtained from him, as he is one of the best-informed and most fluent talkers on "borse flesh" to be met with.
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The immediate progenitors of our subject were Berdsey and Sarah (Jersey ) Dewey, natives of New York, who came to this State in 1836 and set up their home in Macomb County. The next year they came to this county and for a time made Avon Township their residence, then removed to Troy and still later to Pontiac Township, and are now living in the city of that name. The father followed farming during his entire active life. He and his wife have been members of the Baptist Church for fifty years. They are of the same age, eighty-seven years. IIe is a Republican. They have nine children who bear the respective names of Isabella, Augustus G., Miles M., Laura, Eunice, llenry, Edwin B., Albert and Lucy.
The memories of Augustus G. Dewey reach back to his childhood's home in New York, which he left in his seventh year. From that time until he was of age his days were spent on his father's farm, and as he was the eldest son the eares of the family were shared by him when he was still quite young. He obtained but a limited education, and that in the district school, but he made good use of such opportunities as were afforded him to gain practica knowledge from other sources and is a well-in- formed man. He helped to clear and break raw land and took part in the varied labors in which his father was engaged, until he had attained to his majority, and then began working out as a farm hand, receiving 810 per month. His employer was Solomon J. Matthews of Troy Township, with whom he remained two years.
At the expiration of that period young Dewey bought eighty acres of land in Kent County, but a year later applied it in a trade for a threshing out- fit and began threshing in this county, He fol lowed the occupation fourteen years, during which time his home was on a rented farm in Avon Town- ship. In 1864 he bought the Northern Hotel in Pontiac and ran the same until March, 1866, when he sold out and bought his present farm. Ilis work since be came hither bas already been spoken of. A satisfactory degree of success has crowned his efforts in life and his home is one of which any man might well be proud. Mr. Dewey pays no attention to politics other than that which loyalty demands of every citizen. Ile has firm faith in
Republican principles and the ticket of that party is the one that receives his support.
Mr. Dewey was fortunate in his choice of a life companion and February 28, 1854, was married to Miss Elizabeth Hixon, at that time a resident of Shelby. Macomb County. She was born in Warren County, N. J., November 4, 1835, and is a daughi- ter of Richard and Mary (Fanckboner) Hixon, who came from that State to Michigan in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Dewey have had five children-George R., Leora B., Ellsworth, Della M. and Ralph B. The eldest son lives in Pontiac, and so does Leora, who is the wife of Alvin Knight. The youngest son is with his parents. Ellsworth and Della are deceased. Miss Della, who was one of the most talented young ladies of the county, died August 8, 1888, in the dawn of womanhood when eighteen years old. She was a graduate of the Pontiac High School, where she had been a general favorite, and she had already taken a prominent place in society and her friends were looking forward with high ex- pectations, as she gave promise of doing much good in the station in which she was placed. In- tellectual, refined and earnest, she made and re- tained friends and wielded an influence over her associates such as few young ladies exert.
Elsewhere in this volume are presented litho- graphic portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Dewey.
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C OL. JOSEPH SUMNER ROGERS, the founder and Superintendent of the Michi- gan Military Academy at Orchard Lake, was born at Orrington, Me., July 5, 1844. He is the son of Joseph and Joanna ( Harriman) Rogers, natives of Orrington, Me., where the father spent all his days, passing away in 1890. The ancestry of this family is traced back to Thomas Rogers, who came over in the "Mayflower" and settled in Massachusetts. The grandfather of our subject was also Joseph Rogers, and his father was Moses. The maternal grandfather was James Harriman, a native of Goffstown, N. H., who settled on Gov- ernment land in Maine, which was granted to his father, Peter, for services rendered in the Revolu- lutionary War.
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Col. Rogers' father was a stone-cutter by trade and took large contracts, as well as devoting a part of his time to farming. He was in comfortable circumstances and was a prominent man in his community. He and his good wife were lifelong members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their . children numbered six, and were named James, Jo- seph S., Belle, Sidney, Flora and Susie. They are all still living. Young Joseph remained upon the farm during the summers and attended school in the winter until he was sixteen years of age.
In April, 1861, being then in his seventeenth year, this youth left school to enter the volunteer service of the United States in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in Company A, Sec- ond Maine Infantry. This was the first regiment which left the State, and the first battle in which it took part was the first Bull Run. They went all through the Peninsular campaign, and at the sec- ond battle of Bull Run young Rogers was severely wounded in the head. After being disabled for a short time he rejoined his regiment, and at the termination of his period of enlistment he received an honorable discharge. Ilis taste for military life impelled him to again enter the service, and in September, 1864, he was appointed Second Lieu- tenant, Company L, Thirty-first Maine Infantry. October 17, 1864, he was promoted to the position of Captain of Company M, of the same regiment, and served with his regiment in the front of Petersburg in the Second Division, Ninth Corps, of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the capture of Petersburg and in the pursuit and capture of Lee, and received his final discharge at Bangor, Me., in July, 1865. lle was mustered out with the rank of Captain and Brevet-Major. This promotion of a mere boy in years speaks well for his military record. The character that could so well assert itself in the soldier is admirably re- flected in the discipline, the order and the execu- tive ability that mark the management of the Michigan Military Academy.
After the close of the War Maj. Rogers served as clerk in the War Department at Washington, 1). C., for one year, and then entered the Regular Army, October 1, 1867, as Second Lieutenant of the First Infantry. He saw duty at various points
in Louisiana and at Ft. Wayne, near Detroit. In 1874 he was detailed by the President as Professor of Military Science and Tactics in the Detroit High School.
The project of the military Academy was first conceived by Maj. Rogers while on duty in the Detroit High School and as military instructor of the Pelouze Corps, an organization of Detroit hoys. Ile came to Orchard Lake in that year in quest of a place for holding an encampment. Here he found what he desired, and his natural military enthusiasm led him to entertain the idea of estab- lishing here a military school. The general situ- ation was all that could be desired. The Cope- land property, as it was then known, was in the market at a reasonable figure. Negotiations were opened which resulted in the purchase of the property, comprising about one hundred acres of land, and its conversion to the uses of the Mich- igan Military Academy. The buildings were at that time sufficient for a beginning, and an Acad- emy was opened in September, 1877, with small financial means, but with faith and energy on the part of its projector as its chief capital stock. The school opened with six teachers including the Superintendent, and an attendance during the year of forty. The first commencement was held in June, 1878, at which one graduate, Edward McE. Benson, of Detroit, received the diploma of the Academy, he having entered with an advanced standing. The attendance has steadily grown from year to year until it is now a school of one hun- dred and seventy-seven cadets, with certainty of a larger attendance next year.
The full academic period is four years, divided into four classes. There is also a post-graduate course, making in reality five classes. Five courses of study are open to the election of cadets, viz: English, Academic, Scientific, Latin and Classical. The English course may be completed in three years, the studies being designed to fit graduates for the average business of life. The Academic Course comprises four years and is an extension of the English, giving more advanced instruction in the sciences with the option of Latin, German or French. It is designed to be a finished course short of the classics. The Scientific Course sup-
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plements the Academie Course so as to admit graduates to a scientifie course in any university. The Latin Course gives more attention to the lan- guages. The Classical Course fits the graduate for admission to the Classical Course in the University. and the Academy's diploma is accepted from ean- didates who apply for admission to the higlier col- leges without examination. Military science and taeties necessarily form a part of the instruction in cach course.
The Academy presents a complete military or- ganization of a battalion of four companies, under command of an officer of the United States army. detailed for duty at the institution. The battalion has its Adjutant. Quartermaster, Signal Officer, Sergeant- Major. Color Sergeant. band and trump- eters, and each company has its full complement of officers. This system involves a military dis- cipline and instruction as well as a thorough aca- demic work.
The officers and teachers reside in or near the Academy and have a continual oversight of the pupils, partaking of the family relations. While the Academy is not conducted in the interest of any religious denomination, its managers desire to make it decidely a Christian school. There are daily prayers in the chapel and religious services every Sunday which all the cadets are required to attend. The students are forbidden to use tobacco or to partake of intoxicants in any form. In no case are applicants received without proper tes- timonials of good moral character.
The students are in "cadet grey" similar to that of cadets at West Point. The charge for instruc- tion, room, board, washing. mending, fuel, lights, use of arms and equipments, etc., is 8450 per annum. The cost of uniforms and incidentals is about $150 per year. The circulars of the Acad- emy, which are supplied on application, give full information on this head.
The institution consists of six massive buildings, lighted by electricity and heated by steam through- out, and others are contemplated to accommodate the continually increasing patronage of this most excellent school. The castle, the family residence of the superintendent, is the only one of the original buildings left. The Barracks are of brick, 30x120
feet, and three stories high. The rooms are steam- heated and lighted with electricity. The building is finished in hardwood throughout and is prac- tically fire proof. Bath and washrooms are lo- cated in this building. To complete this building two new towers will be added, affording accommo- dation for two hundred cadets.
The new Academie building, 50x125 feet, three stories high, Is a massive building of the castel- lated order of architecture and contains the recep- tion room and offices of the Superintendent and Principal and Commandant, the assembly room, library, physical and chemical laboratory, and eight schoolrooms. It is pronouneed to be one of the most complete school buildings in the West.
The Mess Ilall is about 32x65 feet, one story high, and the kitchen adjoining is about 28x60 feet, two stories high. It has accommodation for about two hundred cadets. The windows of this building are of stained glass, the finest of any building of the place.
In the power house are located the boilers for heating and the engines and dynamos for the waterworks and for lighting. The water supply is drawn from Orchard Lake, a sheet of the purest of water some two miles in diameter.
The new Quartermaster's building in course of erection is 40x100 feet. In this building will be located the Quartermaster's office. the tailor, shoe and barbers' shops and the matron's room.
The riding hall for use in winter and stormy weather is a one-story building 160x85 feet with a truss roof, leaving the entire space free from ob- structions.
A number of guns and caissons for artillery practice occupy a depressed plateau in the fore- ground to the west of the buildings, imparting a decidedly warlike aspeet to the scene, while on a rise of ground above stands a huge mortar as if doing sentinel duty. To the equipment has also been added a Gatling gun. The grounds occu- pied by the buildings and the parade ground com- prise about thirty acres, and there are in addition seventy acres of the farm under cultivation.
The business management is in the hands of a Board of Trustees, consisting of the Hon. A. C. Baldwin and the Hon. J. D. Norton, of Pontiac;
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Gen. R. A. Alger, Col. Sylvester Larned and Col. Henry M. Duffield, of Detroit; and Col J. Sumner Rogers, of Orchard Lake.
Section 1225 of the revised Statutes of the United States authorizes the President, upon the application of any establisbed College or University within the United States, having capacity to edu- cate not less than one hundred and fifty male students, to detail an officer of the Army to act as President, Superintendent or Professor thereof. In pursuance of this authority Lieut. Frederick S. Strong, of the Fourth United States Artillery, has been thus detailed and holds the chair of Military Science and Tactics.
The State of Michigan, in a joint resolution passed by the Legislature, thus gives its endorse- ment to the institution:
WHEREAS, The General Government has recog- nized the Michigan Military Academy, at Orchard Lake, by detailing an officer of the regular army as one of its professors, and by supplying it with a full equipment of arms, ammunition and camp equipage,
And WHEREAS, The teaching of military science and tactics to the young men of this State will materially aid in the instruction of its militia; therefore,
Be it Resolved, By the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives of the State of Michigan that the Governor shall cause an annual inspection to be made of the discipline, courses of study, and gen- eral management of the institution ; and further,
Be it Resolved. That the graduates of the Acad- emy shall be eligible to appointment as Brevet Second Lientenants in the State troops, and may be commissioned and assigned to companies at the discretion of the Governor upon recommendation of the inspecting officers, not to exceed one for each company; And Further, the Governor is authorized to appoint and commission the Super- intendent as Colonel, and the Military Professor, Quartermaster and Surgeon, each as Major in the State troops.
Col. Rogers started this institution without cap- ital and now has one of the finest schools of the kind in the United States. About one-third of the cadets are from this State and the others from all parts of the Union and foreign countries. The Colonel's success in this enterprise is certainly very remarkable.
This gentleman is a Republican in his political
views, but has no time to devote to politics. He is a member of the Woodward Avenue Congrega- tional Church, at Detroit. He is a Free and Ac- eepted Mason of the Knight Templar degree in the Detroit Commandery; and a member of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, being con- nected with the Fairbanks Post, of Detroit. He is also a member of the Sons of the Revolution of the District of Columbia.
The lady who became Mrs. Rogers, September 11, 1866, bore the maiden name of Susan J. Wheeler. She is a daughter of John D. and Sarah (Jones) Wheeler, of Orrington, Me., where she was reared and educated. Her parents are no longer living, the father dying in Bangor and the mother in Detroit. To Col. and Mrs. Rogers have been given three children: Harry L., born June 29, 1867, now Quartermaster of the Academy and Major of State troops; Florence B., born Decem- ber 19, 1877, and died July 26, 1890; Frederick P., the youngest son, was born September 1, 1881.
HILIP CALKINS, of Holly, carries on a business in dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries and wall paper. He is one of the leading merchants of Holly and his store receives the patronage of many of the best class in the community. He was born in Gencsee Connty, N. Y., November 12, 1835, and is the son of Henry and Ann (Piper) Calkins, natives of New York; the former was by trade a wagon-maker. Of their children our subjeet is the only one now liv- ing. The mother died when Philip was only three years old and this motherless child was brought by his father to Fenton, Mich., where he was cared for by an uncle, Eber Weed. He remained with him and attended school until twelve years of age.
The subject of this sketch now left his uncle and went to Shiawassee County on foot. While walking along the road he was overtaken by a farmer named Chauncey Cook. who asked him to go with him. He remained with this kind farmer a year and a half, when Mr. Cook broke up his
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home and sent the boy to an uncle of Mr. Cook's. Here he remained six months, but being dissatisfied, he erept away by night with his clothes in a bundle on his shoulder. The boy came back to this county. where his grandfather was living in the township of Rose. Here he found his father, who decided to bind him out at farming to Caleb Everett. Ile was to remain with this farmer until he was twenty-one years old and to have in recom- pense for his labor, his clothes and three months' schooling each year and at the end of that time either eighty acres of land or a horse, bridle and saddle. He remained here four years, doing a man's work on the farm and receiving only three weeks' schooling each winter. HIe made up his mind to leave and started for the White Lake settle- ment, where his father was engaged in the wagon business. llere he attended school all winter, and the following spring he hired out on a farm in Rose Township at $9 a month. In the fall he went to Franklin Township, this county, and did chores for his board at Ilarvey Judd's and attended school through the winter. The next year he spent in the same way, farming in the summer and attend- ing school in the winter. The following spring he entered the employ of a sawmill company in Sag- inaw and Bay City. He had now educated himself sufficiently so that he was able to teach school the next winter in Commerce Township. He received $30 a month and boarded around. This must have seemed a princely fortune to the struggling youth.
In May, 1857, young Calkins went to Detroit and purchased a ticket for Kansas. Arriving there he found the country full of men and nothing to do, so he went to teaming for the Government, driving a wagon and six yokes of cattle with Govern- ment supplies across the plains. His trip was from Leavenworth, Kan., to Ft. Union, New Mexico, a distance of some six hundred miles. For this he received $30 a month. In the fall he hired out to chop wood on the banks of the Missouri River. He was taken sick with fever and ague and did not chop more than five cords of wood all winter. Ile again hired to the Government in the spring and took charge of a herd of six hundred cattle, driv- ing them to Salt Lake City. Quite a detachment of soldiers accompanied him as this was the year of
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the Mormon War. While recruiting his strength in Salt Lake City he boarded with a Mormon family.
1 The young man now went to Camp Floyd and hired himself to Capt. Clark, who had charge of the Com- missary department. In the spring he started with a party of thirty men for the gold fields of Pike's Peak. They went as far as Bridger and then all stopped except five, our subject being one of the five. They succeeded in reaching Ft. Laramie. Here three of the five, tired out by the long and wearisome journey, entered the employ of the Government. Mr. Calkins had two horses when he started from Salt Lake City, but by this time both had been stolen. His comrade had a horse and they both packed their goods on him and started for Pike's Peak. They reached Denver destitute of clothes and money, but heroically determined to go to work. This was in 1859.
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