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 84
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The great-grandfather of our subject, Joshua Clapp, was the fifth in the direct line from Joshua
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Clapp, who landed in Boston about 1630, coming direct from England. The family made the New England States their home until the present cen- tury, and the name is still known in the East. The grandfather of our subject was another Joshua Clapp, who was born in Connecticut in 1750, and when about of age, married. His wife died within a decade, leaving him with four children. Two years after her decease, he was united with Mary Lawrence, daughter of John Lawrence, a Major in the Revolutionary Army, and a resident of Kill- ingly, Conn. This union was blest by the birth of five daughters and three sons, the fifth of whom was Zalmnon. Joshua Clapp was a combmaker, farmer and music teacher.
Zalmon Clapp was born in Connecticut, October 9, 1810, and in 1817 went to New York with his father. Ile lived in different places in that State until 1865, when he came West and established his home in Lyon Township, this county. Here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of partly im- proved land. lle was a carpenter as well as farmer. In 1837 he was married to Elizabeth B. Ross, a native of Otsego County, N. Y., born May 5, 1819. Hler parents were Joseph and Abigail (Clark) Ross, and her father was of Irish descent, and her mother a native of Connecticut. She was the eldest of their three children. Iler mother died in 1831, and the next year her father married Mar- garet Buchanan, of Otsego County. Zalmon and Elizabeth Clapp had four children, and the young- est is the subject of this biographical notice. The only other survivor is Lottie, wife of William Hug- gins, of Montcalm County. Mr. and Mrs. Zalmon Clapp have acted the part of father and mother to two boys besides their own children, Luther Far- num and James Wilson, the former living in Chi- cago, and the latter still with the family. The parents were Methodists in religious faith, and the father was a Whig, and later a Republican in pol- ities, although his first vote was cast with the Democrats, for Andrew Jackson.
The subject of this notice was born in Chautau- qua County, N. Y., October 9, 1847. His first educational work was done in the district school, and he took a higher course of study in the acad- emy at Ellington. Shortly before the completion
of the course he accompanied his parents to this State, and for several years he was on the farm, working with his father. The property was then rented for three years, and our subject spent that period as traveling correspondent for the Michigan Farmer. He then returned to the farm and has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1872 he bought forty acres on section 13, Lyon Township, and in later years increased his holding of real estate as circumstances made desirable.
In 1874 Mr. Clapp was married to Miss Hattie E. Johnson, daughter of the Rev. Oliver Johnson, of Ilarmony, Chautauqua County, N. Y. Her mother's maiden name was Mary Wood, and the family of which she was the eighth member, in- cluded nine sons and daughters. She was born February 26, 1848, in Ellington Township, Chau- tauqua County, N. Y. She was the subject of affec- tionate care and judicious training, and is a capable woman, of fine character. She belongs to the Free Will Baptist Church. Her father was one of seven sons, five of whom entered the Christian ministry. His mother was deaf and dumb.
Mr. Clapp is a stanch Republican, and has been an earnest worker for the party of his choice, and served as delegate to county and State con ventions. He began his political career as a voter for U. S. Grant. He has been Justice of the Peace, and is, in his official capacity as in private life, a lover of law and order, and a worker for that end. He is now serving his second term as Director of the Lin- coln Club, of Oakland County, and he was the first Vice-President of the Second District for that or- ganization.
OHN H. SNOW. Among the men who are keeping up the standard of the agricultural class in this county, may well be mentioned Mr. Snow, who is farming on section 13, Bloomfield Township. He was born in Birming- ton, September 13, 1843, and lived there until he had entered his teens. Ilis parents then moved ' onto what is now known as the Rundle farm, and re- mained there until 1865, when they removed to the farm of their son, our subject, and spent their last
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days with him. He had received a common-school education, and when ready to begin life for him- self, had followed the bent of his mind, which led him to become a farmer. He now has two hun- dred and twenty-five acres of land, two hundred of which is in a high state of cultivation. Bestdes marketing first-class crops, Mr. Snow is raising some thoroughbred sheep and a high grade of horses and cattle.
Alonzo Snow, father of our subject, was born in Massachusets, and came to this State in 1832. Prior to that time he had spent a score of years in Roches- ter, to which his parents removed when he was twelve years old. After a few weeks sojourn in Ypsilanti he walked to Birmingham. this county. where for a number of years he was engaged in the manufacture of fanning-mills with his father-in- law, John W. Hunter. He took no interest in poli- ties other than to gain an intelligent understand- ing of questions of the day, and he always voted a Republican ticket. fle was a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity. He died February 5. 1883. at the age of seventy-three years, his natal day hav- ing been December 25, 1810.
Alonzo Snow married Sarah A. Hunter, who was born in Detroit. but reared in this county. her par- ents, John W. and Margaret Hunter, having taken up the first quarter-section of land in Bloomfield Township, where the village of Birmingham is now located. Mr. Hunter carried on a foundry there. manufacturing threshing machines and fanning- mills for many years, He died in Waterford Town- ship, this county, several years after his wife had breathed her last in Birmingham. Mrs. Snow died in 1872, at the age of fifty-three years. She had bad seven children, but two of whom lived to years of maturity, John H. and Emily, the latter the wife of M. G. Shutes, of Birmingham.
The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, was married October 13, 1869, to Miss Emily E. Miller, of Bloomfield. She was born here June 28, 1848, and is a daughter of Abram and Margaret (Traphagen) Miller, the former of whom came to this county in 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Snow have but one child, a daughter, Mina A., a charming miss, now fifteen years old. Mr. Snow has held some of the minor township ofhees. In politics he is a Re-
publiean. His social qualities and kindly feeling find some outlet in the work of the Masonie order, to which he helongs, but more in individual pro- jects. Ile is respected as an honest man, good farmer and reliable citizen.
OHN K. ADAMS, a life-long farmer, whose pleasant residence and fine farm of two hun- dred and seventy-six acres is located in Bloomfield Township, was born in South- field Township, this county, February 1, 1844. His parents, Reuben and Emily O. (Tyler) Adams, natives of Livingston County, N. Y., and Hart- ford, Conn., respectively, came to Michigan early in the 10's, and two years afterward were united in wedlock in Southfield, which they made their home.
William Adams, the grandfather of our subject, was a man of means, and owned a large tract of land near Livonia Center, Livingston County, N. Y. Reuben Adams has been a farmer all his life, and is now the wealthiest man in Southfield Town- ship, and the wealthiest farmer in the county. Ile started with limited means, and his pluck, push and perseverance have given him a splendid financial success. lle has not, however, neglected higher matters in the pursuit of riches, but is a man of broad and thorough information, and has kept up in his reading with the affairs of the world. He is a Uni- versalist in his religious belief, and a Democrat in polities, and has held several town oflices. He is a stock-holder in the First National Bank at Pontiac, where he has been Vice-President. Ile had five chil- dren, namely: Charlotte, William W., John K., Julia and Arabella.
Our subject, John K., was reared in Southfield on the old homestead, and received a common-school edneation. Besides the splendid farm which he has in Bloomfield and Southfield Townships, he also owns eighty acres six miles north of Grand Rapids, ninety-eight lots on South Division Street, Grand Rapids, and valuable property in Oxford, Birming- ham and Detroit, and four briek stores in Saranac, Mich. Like his father, he is a Democrat in his
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political views. His home is one of the most de- lightful in the township. He is raising a good grade of stock, and has about forty-three acres of his land in Orchard.
An event of great importance in the life of our subject, took place February 15, 1870. It was his marriage with Julia C. Dustin, of Perrysburg, Ohio. She is a daughter of Dr. Nathaniel and Hannah (Smith) Dustin. Dr. Dustin was a native of Connectient, and was a physician and druggist at Perrysburg, where he ended his days. Ilis wife was a native of Pennsylvania. She still survives, and is passing her later years with her daughter, Mrs. Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have eight children: Emily J., Mabel C., Fred, Nellie, Reu- ben, Grace, Charlie and Margie. Both parents and children unite in an endeavor to make home the happiest place on earth.
J C. PREDMORE, a merchant of Orion, and one of the true-hearted and active citizens of that place, was born in Sussex County, N. Y., June 6, 1837. His father, Larson, was a native of the same county, where he first saw the light in 1812. He came to Michigan in 1849, and bought a farm in Orion Township. There he lived and operated this farm until in 1866, when he retired from active work. He died April 15, 1891.
The grandfather, Joshua Predmore, was a native of New Jersey, whence he came to Michigan in 1850, and resided here until his death in Brandon in 1855. The family is of English descent. The mother of our subject, Phoebe Maxwell, was born in 1815, and died in 1883. She was ever an earnest and active member of the Congregational Church. This worthy couple were the parents of two children, one son and one daughter. The sister of our suh- jeet was the wife of Naman J. Ingersoll, and died in Alabama, in 1890.
Mr. Predmore, the only son of the family, received the greater part of his education in log schoolhouses which were furnished with slab seats. This schooling was supplemented in the case of our
subjeet by attendance at the academy at Romeo, during 1856 and 1857. He remained on the farm until he was twenty years of age. In the fall of 1857 he accepted a position in a store at Romeo, with J. D. Standish. After six months with him he returned to the farm, but the following spring he moved to Romeo and purchased a livery estab- lishment. He carried it on for one year, and in the spring of 1859 he joined an expedition of sixteen men to go to Pike's Peak. They went with ox- teams and traveled fourteen hundred miles that summer. Ile spent two months in prospecting. In the summer of 1860 he decided to go to farming, and operated his father's farm.
The young man was not to remain long in peace- ful pursuits. The Civil War broke out, and the President called for troops. He enlisted Septem- ber 23, 1861, in the Eighth Michigan Infantry, under Col. Fenton. They were sent to Wilming- ton Island, next, to Ft. Pulaski, then on to James Island, in sight of Charleston. They then joined the Army of the Potomae and were engaged in the second battle of Bull Run, Chantilly, and South Mountain. Here he received a wound from a shell, and was sent to Findley Hospital, at Washington. After about a year he was transferred to the vet- eran Reserve Corps. When he had been in it a year he made an application for a commission in that corps. He passed the examination and was appointed by Lincoln Second Lieutenant, and was confirmed by the Senate. Ile served on Provost duty in Washington until the close of the war. Ile was at the theater about fifteen minutes after President Lincoln was shot there. Ilis detail of guard was placed on duty at the west entrance of the White House that day. He was present at the execution of Wirz, who is so universally exeerated as the keeper of Andersonville prison. He was or- dered home at the close of the war in the fall of 1865 to await orders.
In the spring of 1866 our subject was sent to Little Rock and given the district of Desha County, with headquarters at Napoleon as Provost Marshall. Ile was mustered ont of service January 1, 1868. He came home and engaged in the mercantile business, at which he has continued until the present time. In 1874 Mr. Predmore chose as his wife Sarah,
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daughter of Stephen and Harriet (Emmons) Tinker, of Plymouth, Mich. Mrs. Predmore was born in 1852, her father was from New York, and both parents are still living. One child, Frank, born June 24, 1883, was the result of this union. Mr. Predmore is a Democrat in his polities, and has served as Justice of the Peace, President of the village, School Inspector, and Reeorder. Ile is often a delegate to County, District and State Con- ventions, and has been on the School Board for ten years. He is a Knight of the Maccabees and has been a Mason for twenty-five years. Both he and his excellent companion are earnest and active members of the Congregational Church. Ile has carried an excellent line of merchandise and deals largely in farm produce. During the past fifteen years he has shipped from seventy-five to one hun- dred ear-loads of produce each year. Until quite recently he also carried on a cooper shop. Mr. Predmore is universally esteemed for his manly character, his business abilities and his war record.
LBERT W. CAMPBELL. The prosperity of those who have lahored in any arduous occupation, is a source of pleasure to their friends and well-wishers, and when such success is given to a young man that he can retire from business. it is confidently expected that after a season of rest he will make a wider and deeper mark in the world. The gentleman above named was formerly engaged in agricultural work. but in .July, 1890, sold his land and removed to Birming- ham, buying seventeen acres, where he now lives. This tract is being laid out in town lots, and adorned by handsome shade trees put out on both sides of the street, while the streets are being graded, and altogether this will be found a lovely place for a residence. The plat embraces sixty-two lots. Ilis former farm was eighty acres in extent, and was disposed of for $12.500, being purchased for the town site of Urban Rest. Mr. Campbell has a lovely home on Maple Avenue, furnished with quiet elegance and abounding in comforts, while luxuries are not unknown.
Mr. Campbell is one of the native-born citizens of this county, and belongs to a family whose his- tory is included in the sketch of Dr. John L. Camp- bell. Ile was born in Oakwood, April 6, 1855, and is a son of Welcome and Mary J. (Cheney) Camp- hell. He was reared on his father's farm in Royal Oak Township, and received but a common-school education. but as the schools of this section are ex- cellent, this was sufficient to fit him for the duties which lay before him in business transactions. He remained with his father until he was of age, then settled on a traet of land received from his parent, and followed farming until the property was chosen by the Cincinnati Syndicate for the site of their new summer resort. Since he removed to the vil- lage Mr. Campbell has not engaged in any busi- ness, but is waiting for a favorable opening, and taking time to make a wise choice.
June 7, 1877, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Martha Lee, of Odessa, County Lenox, Ontario, C'anada. She was born in that place, being a daugh- ter of Daniel and Zilpah ( Randolph) Lee, by whom she was carefully reared and well educated. Hus- band and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal ( hurch, and Mr. Campbell is connected with the Foresters and the Knights of the Maccabees. They have two children, Zilpah J. and Daniel W. Mr. Campbell is a member of the Republican party. Ile is a well-informed, courteous gentleman, active and enterprising, and capable of making good use of the means at his disposal.
AVID WILSON, one of the most enter- prising young farmers in this section of the State, is located on section 26, Lyon Township. He is a native of this town- ship, born April 25. 1866. His early education was obtained in the common schools, and he sup- plemented the course of study by a year's attend- ance at the State Normal School in Ypsilanti. In 1887 he went to California and worked a year, and in 1889, after his return from the coast, he bought half of the farm on which he is now living. His property is naturally productive, and has been so
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improved as to add to its intrinsic value, and a very satisfactory income is derived from the sale of the crops and stock raised thereon. Mr. Wil- son has much of the spirit of progress that animates the present generation, and he is ambitious to cx- cel in his work and get out of the old ruts when- ever a better path opens up before him.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was George W. Wilson, who was born in Seneca County, N. Y., in 1814, and in 1836 was married to Maria Nevis. That lady was born in New York in 1819. The year of their marriage the good couple came to Salem, this State, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land upon which they lived until 1868. They then went to Missouri and bought a farm, but after operating it five or six years, traded for an hotel at Walled Lake, this county. They carried on the hotel a few years, then traded it for a farm in Southfield Township. Their present home is at Walled Lake, however. Their family, which comprises six daughters and five sons, has never been broken into by death.
The eldest son and second child in the family above mentioned, is James, who was born in Salem, Washtenaw County, this State, July 26, 1840, and in 1863 established his own home. That year he married Cornelia Gage, second child of David and Melinda (Brown) Gage, who came hither from New York. To them have been born one daughter and four sons, of whom our subject is the second child and eldest son. In 1864 James Wilson bought eighty acres in Genesee County, and lived thereon two years, after which he traded it for a farm in Green Oak and was there one year. Ile then came to Lyon Township, this county, and bought one hundred and twenty acres on sections 19 and 20, and in 1887 he purchased two hundred and sixty acres, a part of which is now occupied by the son of whom we write.
In September, 1890. David Wilson was mar- ried to Miss Milly Hodgeman, daughter of William W. and Rozella (Spring) Hodgeman. The family of which Mrs. Wilson was the youngest member included also one son and two other daughters. She was born September 30, 1868, has a good edu- cation and a Christian character, being a member of the Methodist Church, with which Mr. Wilson
is also identified, and in which he fills the stations of Steward and Class-Leader. Mr. Wilson takes little part in political affairs, but belongs to the Prohibition party.
E LI S. WOOSTER is one of the farmers of Bloomfield Township, who was early inured to the cares and labors of farm life, and who from early boyhood has struggled to attain the prosperity which is now his. He was born in Liv- ingston County, N. Y., near Geneseo, September 25, 1826, and is the son of IIenman W. and Ruth (Hungerford) Wooster. The father was born in Vermont and the mother in Connecticut. Their marriage took place in Livingston County, N. Y., and they came to Michigan in 1829, and settled on a tract of land at Big Beaver in Troy, this county, which he took up from the Government.
In September, 1829, Henman Wooster sold his farm in Troy and bought one in Southfield from the Government. This is the land now owned by Frank Youngs and his son Alvin. He had not fairly got his farm work started when his health failed. For thirty years, and indeed, until the day of his death, he was partially laid aside from active work by ill health. His wife died at the home of his son Eli. The Wooster family came from Eng- land, the great-grandfather being an Englishman and settling in Virginia in Colonial days. The maternal grandparents were also of English origin and came from that country to New England.
The parents of our subject were earnest and use- ful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Only two of their children arrived at the age of maturity, these being Eli S. and Alvin II. The latter is a farmer in Southfield Township, this county. Owing to the father's illness the cares of the farm fell upon the eldest boy. At the early age of nine years he sowed ten acres of wheat, and from that time on he had the management of the old homestead, until the spring of 1858, when he sold his interest in the farm and bought one hun- dred and sixty-five acres where he now lives, and where he has ever since resided with the exception
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of three years which he passed in the village of Bir- mingham. He had the care of his father and mother until they died, and faithfully supported and cher- ished them during their illness. When the old farm was sold he bid it in, and this land together with what he had previously purebased makes one of the finest farms in the county. He also owns some very desirable property in Birmingham. All that he possesses he has acquired by dint of hard work, economy, and devotion to business. He is Republican in his political views, but pays little attention to politics. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, having taken a Master's degree at Birmingham.
In 1850 Mr. Wooster was married to Miss Martha Nixon of Southfield Township, this county. She was a daughter of William Nixon and was born in Southfield in 1832. Her death occurred in 1858, Six children have been granted to this union, namely : Arzina. Alzerna. Lavanda, Eugene, Ida and Martha, The second marriage of the gentle- man whose name heils this sketch united him with Miss Marian Beebe, of Pontiac, who was born in Southfield in 1839. She is a daughter of Erastus and Elizabeth (Grinnell) Beebe, and is the mother of three children, who are named. Erastus II .. James F. and Eli S. The Beebe family came from the Empire State and the old Bay State, the par- ents of the wife of our subject coming to Michigan in the old territorial days and being early pioneers in Southfield Township. They ended their days in Birmingham.
HHH
ENRY J. HAINES, one of the farmers of Bloomfield Township who has been the architect of his own fortune, by the prac- tire of economy and industry has con- quered poverty and adversity, and has a pleasant home on section 18. lle was born in Shelby. Macomb County, Mich .. October 30, 1837. His parents, Alson and Lois (Fellows) Ilaines. natives of the Empire State, were married in Mendon, Monroe County, N. Y., in December. 1831, and the same year came to Michigan and settled on a farm
in the town of Shelby, Macomb County, where they passed the remainder of their days. Alson Haines passed away April 3, 1889, at the age of four-score years, having been born July 15, 1809. llis wife preceded him to the other world in July, 1812. His second wife was Mrs. Laura D. (Stevens) Ilodge of Royal Oak, this county. She was the mother of live children, namely : Ermina, Sylvester, Emerson, Adelbert, and John C. F. By his third and fourth wives Mr. Haines had no ehil- dren.
Lois Haines, the mother of our subject, had four children, Cordelia, Esther, Henry J. and Alson. In their early days she and her husband saw hard times and did a great amount of pioneer work. He had only his ax and his strong right arm with which to make a home in the wild woods. He cleared up the farm and cultivated it until, at the time of his death he owned a productive farm and was other- wise in comfortable financial circumstances. lle was an earnest and helpful member of the Baptist Church and a sturdy Whig and later a Republican. lle was raised by his fellow-citizens to many of the minor township offices.
When young Henry was but eight years old he vent to live with his grandfather, Benjamin Haines, in Washington Township, Macomb County. Ilere he remained until the grandfather's death, which occurred when the boy was nineteen years of age. lle then began working out by the month on farms in Macomb County. In the year 1859, by indus- try and economy. he found himself in possession of $100. At that time there was quite an excite- ment in regard to the money in circulation; what was good one day was worthless the next. Mr. HIaines, therefore, sought the advice of Mr. Tins- man, a wealthy farmer living in the neighborhood, telling him he was afraid he would lose the money. Tinsman said to him, "I have a mortgage on a piece of property in Lapeer County of $300. 1 will will let you have it, take your $100 and your note for the balance." Ilenry said he would like to do it, but he had no way of getting money except working by the month, and he could give him no security. Mr. Tinsman replied, that a boy who had saved $100 working by the month was security enough for him; so Henry bought the
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