Portrait and biographical album of Oakland County, Michigan, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 80

Author:
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman bros.
Number of Pages: 980

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 80

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The gentleman whose name introduces these par- agraphs, was born in the township that is still his home, and having been reared on a farm, gained a thorough knowledge of agricultural affairs and also learned all about the lumber trade. Ile pur- sued his studies in the district school, which gave him an opportunity to acquire a good fund of practical knowledge. In 1882. when not yet of age, he began his career in life as a farmer. The line estate he now owns is devoted to crops and stock, and all kinds of domestic animals are raised upon it. Not long after he began for himself Mr. Green embarked in lumbering with the results al- ready mentioned.

In 1882 Mr. Green was married to Sarah C. Walter, who was born in this county in 1866. She is a daughter of George W. and Mary ( Wyeoff) Walter, natives of this State, who are now living in Independence Township on a farm, Mrs. Green is a well-informed, agreeable woman, and is quite popular among her acquaintances. She has three children, named respectively, Jenny I .. Jay 1. and George W. Mr. Green is a Democrat and has been a delegate to county conventions. He is a mem- ber of the Board of Review and belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. He is possessed of more

701

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

than an ordinary fund of information, which he is quick to apply to practical purposes, and he has an abundance of the spirit expressed in the slang word "go-aheadativeness."

YLVESTER A. DEWEY, a dealer in coal, wood, flour, feed, lime and cement at Pon- tiac, was born in Canandaigua, Ontario County, N. Y., December 6, 1847. lle is a son of Miles and Margaret R. (Olivet) Dewey. The father was from Genesee County and the mother from Dutchess County, N. Y. The grand- father Dewey served in the Revolutionary War and his widow drew a pension np to the day of her death. The Dewey family is of English blood and the mother's side of the family is of Holland de- seent.

Miles Standish Dewey, the father of our subject, spent his active life in Western New York, and in his later days came to Michigan and died at Pon- tiac. The mother died in Detroit where she was visiting with a son. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living. Sylvester, our subject, passed his early days in the district school. He began his mercantile career by clerk- ing in a grocery store in his native town. He after- ward went to Elmira, N. Y., and after a while received an appointment to act as messenger, his ronte being from Washington to Manassas Gap and Culpeper, Va. He served about three months, completing his service in the spring of 1865.

Our subject now returned to his home in Canan- dlaigua, and in June, 1866, he came to Pontiac and bought grain on the street for Walter & Foster, and continued in this line of business for eight years for different parties. He then became a trad- ing salesman for a firm doing business in Phila- delphia, and for the Walker-McGraw Tobacco Company, or the Globe Tobacco Works, remaining in this line of work for two years. Ile then for three years clerked in the store of F. S. Stewart.

In 1878 Mr. Dewey entered the employ of his brother, as clerk and book-keeper at the Lord Ele- vator. In 1880 he bought this concern and in

1881 he formed a partnership with two friends under the firm name of Jewell, Kelley, & Dewey, for the purpose of operating mills and handling coal, wood, lime and cement, etc. For three years they carried on a large business until they decided to divide the affair between them, Mr. Dewey tak- ing the coal, wood, lime and cement, carrying on the business at the old stand. In 1888 he removed his office to No. 20 South Saginaw Street, where he may now be found.

In January, 1869, a marriage was solemnized be- tween Mr. Dewey and Emma Eugenie Going, daughter of Henry J. and Celesta (Beach) Going. This couple have two lovely and amiable daugh- ters, Clara B. and Lotta. Mr. Dewey has held the office of Treasurer of the First Ward for two terms. He is a member of the Pontiac Lodge No. 21, A. F. & A. M .; also the Knights of Pythias of the U'ni- form Rank; and a member of No. 3, I. O. O. F. Ile is also a member of the Cass Lake Aquatic Club and is a citizen whose judgment and opinion are highly esteemed by his neighbors. For twenty years he has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the city in which he resides.

UGUSTINE W. HIOVEY, one of the prom- inent citizens of Pontiac, and well known through that Congressional District, now fills the position of County Superintendent of the Poor, of Oakland County. He was born in Lima, Livingston County, N. Y., June 19, 1817, the oldest son of Levi and Betsey (Bishop) Hovey, both New Englanders. The mother was a daugh- ter of Asa and Christiana (Dart) Bishop, and was of French Huguenot stock. The Ilovey family came to America in 1630. Levi, the father of our subject, was a carpenter and joiner. He spent most of his life in the East, but died in New Orleans whither he had gone on a business trip. Ilis wif died in Lima, N. Y. She was the mother of three children, our subject. Charles, of Oakland County, and Jane, the wife of Isaac I. Voorhies. She died in Lapeer County, Mich.

The school days of our subject were spent in

702

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

Lima and at Temple Hill, where he attended the old Iligh School. At the age of thirteen years he went to learn the printer's trade in the office of the Livingston Journal, at Geneseo. Here he re- mained for two years and then went into the office of the Niagara Courier, at Lockport, where he re- mained until 1835. In the spring of 1836 he came to Pontiac, Mich., where he has since resided. Hle was first employed in the printing office of Samuel N. Gautt, who was editor of the Pontiac Herald. In 1838 he became managing editor of that paper. Ile then formed a partnership with S. W. Denton, and published the Pontiac Jacksonian, which he continued until the spring of 1814, when the firm of Denton & Hovey sold out the Jacksonian to Julius C. Smith and A. W. Adams. Until this change the paper was run on strictly Democratic lines.

Abandoning the newspaper business, Mr. Hovey in 1844 embarked in the drug trade, in which he continued for a period of forty years. lle is the oldest druggist now living in Oakland County. For many years he was associated with a Mr. Dean, un- der the firm name of Dean & Hovey, which com- pany was only dissolved by the death of Mr. Dean, April 1, 1883. Selling out, Mr. Hovey retired from the business, since which time he has been engaged in looking after his various interests. Ilis official life has been as follows: he wes clerk of the llouse of Representatives in 1811 and 1846-47-18-49. Also for three years he was a member of the local School Board, and in 1852 was made Superintendent of the Poor, which arduous position he has filled for a period of twenty-five years, and he is still holding the office at the pres- ent time.

Mr. Ilovey was married in May, 1840, to Janette Wilcox, daughter of Abner Wilcox, Jr .. of Liv- ingston County, N. Y. She died in 1812, leaving one little daughter, Gertrude, now Mrs. Stephen Baldwin, whose husband is largely interested in pine lands. Mr. Ilovey's second marriage occurred in April, 1847. He was then united to Laura Merrill, of Springfield, Oakland County, who was born in Orange County, N. Y. By this marriage one child was born, who is now deceased.

Politically our subject is a stanch Democrat, IIc

cast his first Presidential vote for Martin Van Bu- ren, and his last for Grover Cleveland. Ilis pleas- ant residence is situated on South Saginaw Street, and was erected in 1816. It has extensive grounds which are delightfully ornamented with trees and shrubs. The house stands on a terrace. Mr. Ilovey is now in his seventy-fourth year hale and hearty. He attends regularly to business as well as his official duties. He is of medium height, strongly built, and active on foot. He is now enjoying the prosperity which he attained in younger days.

B URNETT A. HORVITZ. Among the many causes that add to the population of the I'nited States by bringing to its shores peo- ple from foreign lands, not the least is the treatment received in other countries by those who are not in sympathy with the mass of the nation in religious or political belief. The cruel treatment and unjust persecutions to which the Israelites Russia have been subjected, is arousing the indigna- tion of the lovers of mankind, and has become a prominent topic of conversation in circles where Christian charity and brotherly kindness are pro- mulgated. It has caused the emigration of many a man who has songht an asylum in America, and found here a place in which to push his business affairs, and join with his fellow-men in advancing the mutual interests of the residents in the town he chose for his home. This class is represented in Rochester by the subject of this biographical no- tice.

Mr. Horvitz was born in Russia, October 6, 1859. and his parents, Samuel and Hannah (Starsky) Horvitz, were natives of the same Empire. The parental family included six children, of whom Burnett is the eldest. The father, who was a con- fectioner, crossed the Atlantic in 1867, located in Boston and sent for his family. Ile of whom we write, made his voyage to the New World in 1869, and remained with his parents until he had become a youth of fifteen years. Ile then began traveling and selling goods, and several States were visited by him in the prosecution of his calling. He finally

H. S. White.

705

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

stopped in Rochester in November, 1880, and has remained here, building up a fine trade. Ile car- ries a full line of dry goods and clothing, is shrewd in advertising and disposing of the same, and reaches out for and secures his share of the public patronage. Associated with him in business is his brother Max, who was born in Russia, February 22, 1864. The average sales made by the Messrs. Ilorvitz, amount to from $13,000 to $14,000 per annum. The father with the younger members of the family lives in Detroit, and he has retired from business.

Mr. Ilorvitz has given due consideration to the politieal questions that agitate the people, and has decided in favor of the Republican party. As a citizen he is held in esteem, as he is law-abiding, enterprising and intelligent, and in the social circles which he frequents he is deservedly popular.

R EV. HENRY SUMNER WIHTE, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Mil- ford, to which charge he was sent in the fall of 1890, has been engaged in the min- istry for several decades and has done efficient ser- vice for the cause of Christianity. He has been useful in his day and generation in other ways as well, and is a fit subject for representation in a biographical album. His portrait is also pre- sented to our readers. Without laying claim to perfection it can be said of him that his character and his life can be taken as models worthy of imi- tation and that they are good examples of strength and usefulness. Mr. White is descended from old New England families, being in the maternal line connected with Gen. Stark, of Revolutionary fame, and in the paternal line descended from the White family, of Puritan origin.

Newman Sumner White, father of our subject, was born in Rhode Island and in his manhood lo- cated at North Iloosick, N. Y., at the period of its early development. He was a mechanic and car- riage-builder and manufactured wagons and sleighs for years. He died in North Hoosick in 1843. The mother of the Rev. Mr. White was born in Paw-

let, Vt., and bore the maiden name Abigail Stark ; her father's name was Samuel. Her grandfather, Capt. John Stark, was a cousin of the renowned General and fought with that hero at Bennington. When the centennial of the battle was celebrated, Mrs. White, who was then almost fourscore, was sent for, she being the only living relative of Gen. Stark present. She was drawn to the grounds by four white horses and there met Gens. Grant, Sher- man and other heroes, to whom she was introduced with considerable ceremony and enthusiasm. She survived several years longer and died in Flint when eighty-nine years old. She reared her chil- dren carefully and took the place of the father they had lost, as well as she was able. She made a sec- ond marriage, wedding a Mr. Prentiss, and for some time her home was at Bennington, but the last few years of her life were spent with the family of our subject.

The Rev. Mr. White is the first-born of six children comprising his father's family. Ile was born at North Iloosick, on the old Bennington bat- thefield, April 7, 1828, and lived there until he was sixteen. Ile lost his father when he was fifteen years old and some months later went to White Creek, where he finished his apprenticeship as a carriagesmith-a trade he had already worked at somewhat. After a sojourn of two years he went to Troy, where he worked at his trade until 1848, when he removed to Concord, N. H. He had but $15, with which he rigged up an old shop he had rented, and began ironing carriages. He had been converted when sixteen years old and had led an active Christian life and shaped his course to study for the ministry. He took a four years' course of study at the Methodist Biblical Institute, since removed to Boston, and now the theological department of Boston University. At Concord he hired help and put in two hours each day and all of Saturday in the shop and so made money to pay Ins expenses through school. Ilis four years' course of study with the attendant expenses cost nearly $1,500, but he had plenty of means, being very successful in managing the shop. He was graduated from the College of Theology in Con- cord in 1852 with the honors of his class.

After completing his theological studies Mr.

706

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

White supplied the Danielsonville, Conn .. Metho- dist Episcopal Church for six months and in 1853 joined the Providence Conference and was stationed at South Manchester, Conn .. a year. During the time he brought to completion a new house of wor- ship. The next year he was sent to East Hartford, and he spent two years in charge of the Matthew- son Street Church, Providence. R. I. His next station was at New Bedford, Mass., where he built the large County Street Church, and the ensuing two years were spent over the Marlboro Street Church at Newport, R. I. The next charge of the Rev. Mr. White was the Broadway Church at Prov- idence, and just before the expiration of the two years which he was allowed there he became Chap- lain of the Fifth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. This was in January, 1863, and the following sum - mer while home on a furlough he procured one hundred tons of ice and $1.000 worth of stores and took them by Government ship to Newbern. N. C .. for the benefit of the soldiers of his regiment. Mr. White served in the army two years and was mus- tered out December 24, 1861, on account of the depletion of the regiment, which reduced the regi- mental staff.

May 5, 1864, Chaplain White was helping the boys with a twelve-pound Napoleon gun, on the railroad near Croton, N. C., when he was captured by the rebels. They could not understand how he used that machine for praying, which his Chaplain's epaulets showed was his especial work, and so he was sent with his comrades to Andersonville. He saw all the horrors of that notorious prison pen and did what he could to cheer the captives, even though he could not relieve their physical sufferings. Thence he was sent to Macon, Ga .. where an at- tempt was made to prevent him from praying for the President and the army and navy. A cannon was trained on him but he insisted that his captors had no right to interfere with acts of wor- ship. Capt. Tabb approached him with a guard and Mr. White drew that gentleman into an argument by propounding the proposition that he was inter- fering with religious liberty, and finally won him over. The party with which Mr. White messed was subsequently taken to Savannah, thence to Charleston, where he was under fire of the Swamp

Angel" and nineteen other guns for twenty days. On September 23, 1864, he was put on the steamer "Delaware" near Ft. Sumter and taken to Ililton Ilead. Ile was sent home on a furlough, but soon rejoined his regiment, although he was not in good health and was emaciated by the privations he had endured.

After his discharge from the army Mr. White was transferred to the Detroit Conference and his first charge was at Ann Arbor. Ile remained there three years and during that period a fine church was built by the congregation. Thence he was sent to Summerfield Church, Milwaukee, Wis., and after a year of pastoral work there became Presid- ing Elder for the Fond du Lac District of the Wis- consin Conference. He labored in that capacity four years, then returned to this State and was at Alpena, Marquette and Port Huron in succession. At Port Huron the church blew down during a storm and he rebuilt it. Mr. White was next sent to Remeo, then to Vassar and next to Flint, where he had the Garland Street Church for five years, the limit of service having been changed by the General Conference. Here again a church was put up under his guidance and the congregation estab- lished in a beautiful home. The next removal of our subject was to Milford.

The wife of the Rev. Mr. White bore the maiden name of Nancy Holmes Hutchison and their mar- ringe rites were solemnized in Francestown, N. Il., August 4, 1852. The bride was the third child of Stearns and Nancy (Huston) Hutchison and was born in Francestown. N. H., March 10, 1830. She was educated in the New Hampshire Conference Seminary at Sanbornton Bridge, where her active mind and desire for knowledge, together with her amiable character, endeared her to teachers and pupils. She has been a great help to her husband in his pastoral work, and as a hostess has made welcome the many to whom the dwelling of a min- ister is always open. She is very active in mission work, both home and foreign, and her name is often to be seen in religious papers where the work of the Boards is recorded. She is now serving her second year as Department Chaplain of the Wo- man's Relief Corps.auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic of Michigan. Her father was born in

707

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

Wilton, N. H., where her grandfather had located on coming from England. The latter entered a large tract of land in the two townships-Milford and Wilton-in Hillsborough County. Stearns Ilutchison was a farmer at Francestown and died there aged sixty-two. The mother of Mrs. White was a daughter of Caleb and Nancy (llolmes) Huston and in both lines was descended from old New England families; she died in New Hamp- shire.

Our subject and his wife have had seven children ; two died in infancy, Charles Henry when sixteen years old, and Alida Electa when eight. The living are Dr. Frank Newman White, a graduate of the University of Michigan in the medical depart- ment, and now in the employ of the Rumford Chemical Works of Providence, R. I .; George Sumner, first mate on one of the large lake steamers ; William Stearns, a graduate of Albion College and now Principal of the High School at Mt. Clemens.

The Rev. Mr. White is a very prominent Grand Army man and takes active part in all movements for the good of the order. At the State Encamp- ment at Bay City in 1888 he was elected Chaplain for the Department of Michigan and re-elected in Adrian in 1889. At Muskegon in 1890 he was again re-elected by acclamation. That year he was Aid- de-camp on Gen. Alger's staff at the National Encampment at Boston. Politically Mr. White is a stanch Republican and he is an earnest worker for temperance. Ilis best monument when he shall have entered into rest, will be found in the lives of those whom he has influenced for good and his best epitaph written in the hearts of his Christian and patriotic friends.

Le EVI B. COLVIN. The history of this county is best told in the record of the lives of its pioneers, and it gives us pleas- ure to place on the pages of this BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, these paragraphs concerning an early set- tler of this part of Michigan, who has passed the greater portion of his life within the borders of this county, and has greatly aided in developing its resources. He has a comfortable home and

substantial farm buildings on his estate, which is pleasantly located on section 32, Waterford Town- ship, and comprises one hundred and fifty-seven acres, mostly under cultivation.

A native of the Empire State, Mr. Colvin was born in Niagara County, July 6, 1822, and is the son of Nathan R. and Margaret ( Bacheldor) Col- vin, both natives of Vermont. The father cmi- grated to New York in 1813, and there engaged in farming. IIe did not, however, make his home there permanently, for in 1831, accompanied by his family, he started out for the new West, and after a tedious journey arrived in Michigan, where he took up a tract of Government land on section 32, Waterford Township. The deed to this farm, the most of which is still in possession of the fanı- ily, was signed by President Jackson. Mr. Col- vin was a hard-working, unassuming man, who never aspired to public honors, but devoted his attention exclusively to the development of his farm. Politically he was a Democrat, and was prominent in Masonic circles.

In early life the parents of our subject belonged to the Methodist Church, but later affiliated with the Church of Believers. They were excellent people and were highly estecmed throughout the community where they passed the closing years of their nseful lives. The father died in 1873, but the widowed mother survived until 1887, when she too, peacefully closed her eyes in death. The pa- rental family included three children, all now liv- ing in Oakland County. Our subject enjoyed very meager advantages in youth, as schools were few and opportunities of attending them equally lim- ited. Ile was reared to a stalwart manhood amid the pioneer scenes of this county and was early called upon to assist his father in developing a farm, and while doing so acquired a practical knowledge of farming in all its branches.

Mr. Colvin has not been unassisted in his labors, as by his marriage with Keziah E. Hodge he secured the active co-operation of a most ex- cellent helpmate. Mrs. Colvin is the daughter of Billings .I. and Eleanor ( Borden ) Hodge, natives of New York, who came to Michigan at a very early day and settled in the town of Commerce. Our subject owns a part of his father's farm, and by

708

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

industry and economy has made a comfortable home, which is ranked among the best in the town- ship. Of his marriage eight children were born ; all except one of whom reached years of maturity and are filling honorable positions in life. Emma A .. Mrs. Heath, who was born November 13. 1816, lives in California; Ellen, wite of the Hon. W. E. Carpenter. resides in Waterford Township, this county ; Homer is a well-known lawyer in Pontiac: Esther. who is single, lives with her parents and is a teacher, as is also Evangeline; Nathan Billings is a physician in Pontiac; E. Serepta is deceased; lliram C. is a teller in the Pontiac National Bank. The children received excellent educational ad van- tages in youth, and are prominent in the various communities where they reside.

Mr. Colvin was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Prohibitionist, and has served as a delegate to Prohibition conventions. In various official capaci- ties he has served the people, having been Justice of the Peace, Road Commissioner, and held other minor offices, He is a member of the Church of Believers, and they are people of warm hearts and noted for their kindness and hospitality. Mr. Colvin's honesty and integrity of purpose are as widely known as he, and when his word is passed all are cognizant of the fact that he will stand by it, whatever betides.

ORENZO D. RUGGLES. This worthy cit- izen of Highland Township is carrying on farm work on section 33. where he owns one hundred acres of land. ninety-five of which is under cultivation. By his own efforts, thirty acres of the tract was cleared and placed in condition for tillage, and under his supervision the house and barns were built and other arrangements made for the comfort and convenience of the occupants. A glance over the tract would lead to the belief that Mr. Ruggles understands his business well, and such is found to be the case. He was reared amid the surroundings of farm life and his active brain assimilated all the information possible regarding

his father's calling, together with a large store of other knowledge which he has found useful.

The Ruggles family was represented in Conneet- icut three generations ago, but the grandfather of our subject removed from that State to New York. In Brown County Noble Ruggles, the direct pro- genitor of Lorenzo D., was born and lived until 1834, when he came to this State. Ile bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which he brought his family the ensuing year. He was mar- ried in his native county to Anna Merchant, a native of Connecticut, and their family comprised the following named sons and daughters: Mary, John. Merchant, Lorenzo D., Amanda, Almon, Su- san, Lorena and Oscar. The last named died in Andersonville prison, and John and Merchant also served in the l nion army. Their father had been a musician in the War of 1812. Noble Ruggles was always engaged in farming, and in his native State he also carried on the lumber trade. He and his wife belonged to the Baptist Church.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of Oakland County, Michigan, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 80

Author: Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman bros. Number of Pages: 980

Author:
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman bros.
Number of Pages: 980