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 85
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108
PLAT of FARM
240. ACRES IN SEC. 18.
CLOVER
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP AND
OATS,
30. ACRES IN SEC.13. WEST
WHEAT,
SIWOOT
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP OAKLAND COUNTY MICH.
PASTURE.
PASTURE
CLOVERMEADOW
CRANBERRY LAKE
CORN
WHEAT.
HAINES L.
PASTURE
PASTURE.
BARLEY.
CRANBERRY LAKE
PASTURESCENE
RESIDENCE OF H. J. HAINES, SEC.18. BLOOMFIELD TP. OAKLAND CO.MICH.
DIIC
BARLEY
743
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
mortgage, giving his note for the $200, and work- ing by the month until he had paid the note and interest.
On February 7, 1861, Mr. Haines was united in marriage with Miss Eunice M. Dewey of Troy, this county. This lady is a daughter of Birdsey and Sarah (Jersey) Dewey, whose history will be found in this volume. Some time after his marriage Mr. Haines came into possession of a farm in Almont, Lapeer County, Mich., which he had taken on a mortgage. He lived on this land for a short time and then sold out and worked a farm on shares for a year. Two years atter that he rented land in Macomb County, and then for ten years farmed six hundred acres on shares. In 1876 he removed on to his present farm which he had purchased in 1872. He now has two hundred and seventy aeres most of which is in a high state of cultivation. He has several very large barns and other excellent outbuildings.
Mr. Haines erected his handsome two-story resi- dence in 1889 and a view of it appears in connec- tion with this sketch. 1Iis farm is one of the finest places in Bloomfield Township and he has attained it all by his own unaided efforts. He raises a good grade of stock and is giving considerable attention to the dairy business. Although a Republican in his views he has never taken any part in politics. Three children blessed the home of Mr. Haines, and they were named-Willie B., Marvel A., and Carrie M. Marvel A. married Mary E. Toms and they have a bright little girl-Eva Madge.
The following verses were written after the death of Alson Haines :
IN MEMORIAM.
A loved one gone, a spirit fled, Our father is numbered with the dead; We cannot wish him back again To share our toil and care and pain, But oh! it seems so hard to say- God's will be done.
We know our loss is his great gain, For now he is free from care and pain,
With the friends he loved, who had gone before; Ile is waiting for us on the other shore, In the land of everlasting day,
With the Holy One.
Ilis aged form, with anxious care
We have watched, and often breathed a prayer That he might be spared yet longer here.
To those who held his presence so dear, And who miss the pleasant smile to-day Of a loving one.
He has eradled our babes in his loving arms, And soothed their woes with artful charms, Till they dropped to sleep on grandpa's breast; Now that loving heart is forever at rest, And our children pause in their busy play, Whispering, "Grandpa is gone."
Yes, now he is gone and we are left,
Of a loved companion and father bereft; We shall meet him there on that bright shore Where pain and death will come no more; Then we with all our hearts can say, "God's will be done."
-L. V. Haines.
OHN H. WENDELL, an old resident of the county and one of its most progressive citizens, lives on section 15, Rose Town- ship. Ile was born in Niagara County, N. Y., April 3, 1836. He is the son of Joseph C., the son of John A. Wendell of Dutch descent. Tradition says that three brothers came to America, and settled, one in New York, one in the Lake Superior region, and one elsewhere in the West. This was in Colonial times.
The grandfather of our subjeet was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a farmer and a carpenter, and built the first barn in this township. lle eame here in 1836, after a journey across the lake with his family, landing in Detroit July 4. Ile worked at his trade and on the farm and died here at sixty years of age, having lived a life of Christian activity and industry, being a member of the Pres- byterian Church. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, and he represented this district in the early days. Ile also filled a number of township offices.
'The father of our subject came here by team. traveling through Canada, on the 4th of July, 1836, reaching Detroit in company with his wife and infant son and his brother Everett and wife,
744
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
both having teams, and moving in pioneer style. There were few settlers here then, and Indians, deer and bears abounded. He took up eighty acres of land from the Government, built a log shanty and a log underground barn. He cleared up eighty acres and at the time of his death owned two hundred and seventeen acres. He came here with no more means than sutliced to bring his family and live during the first year. He used to go to Detroit on foot to trade and bring home pro- visions on his back. The ground was so broken up with the traveling of ox-teams that he pre- ferred to go on foot. Ile was industrious, and besides farming worked at his trade as a shoemaker. Ilis death took place August 10, 1877. Ile was an adherent of the Democratic party and beld the office of Clerk of the Township for fourteen years. Ile was Treasurer a number of years, and Super- visor for nine years. He helped to lay out most of the roads in the township.
The marriage of Joseph C. Wendell to Marila Coffin was an occasion of great importance in the life of the young man. She was a native of New York, born there May 1, 1816. She reared a family of five sons and two daughters, namely : John II., Joseph H., Lorinda S., who died when sixteen years of age ; Jefferson, who died when nine years of age ; Worth W., Homer, and Betsey, Mrs. Gordon. The mother of these children lives in Holly with her daughter, Mrs. Gordon, making frequent visits to the old farm, stopping with her son, John H. Her father, Alva Coflin, was a soldier in the War of 1812. In the fall of 1836 he came West from New York State and located in Waterford Township and after- ward be removed back to New York, returning in the year 1858 to the home of a son. He died at the age of seventy years. Our subject was three months old when he came West with his parents. He re- members bearing the wolves bowl around the log cabin at night, and his playmates were httle Indian children. His schooling was conducted under the rate-bill system.
John Wendell bought land on section 16 this township, when he was twenty-one years old, only four acres of which was cleared. He cleared up the farm and sold it in 1880. His marriage took place in 1866, bis bride being Sarah J, Sharpmack, a
native of Ritchie County, W. Va., where she was born May 1, 1844. The two children who have been given to them are both living, Artbur A. and Mathew II.
Our subject has one hundred and eighty acres of his own land, and farms the homestead place and another farm. Altogether he operates four hun- dred and seventy-one aeres. He pays much atten- tion to stock-raising, and breeds Hambletonian and Percheron horses, having eleven head of fine blooded horses now in his stables. Ile has graded Durham cattle and Merino and half-blooded sheep. Both he and his estimable wife are earnest and efficient members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ile is a Democrat in his political views and has held the office of Township Treasurer for four terms.
OIIN A. SMITH is one of the thorough-go- ing farmers of Lyon Township, and one whose work is resulting in financial success. llis property is on section 21, and consists of the old Smith homestead of one hundred and twenty acres and thirty-five acres which he added to it in 1886. The buildings upon the farm are such as are usually to be seen, but a first-class wind- mill saves much strength and time in drawing water, and pipes from its reservoir conduct the fluid to the house and barn.
Mr. Smith is of Irish parentage, his father, Hugh Smith, having been born near Dublin in 1807, and his mother, Eliza Smith, about 1812. In 1832 Hugh Smith came to America and made a sojourn in New York, but after a time returned to his na- tive land, whenee he again came to America. He was married in 1810, and in 1842 removed to tris State. Two years later be settled in Lyon Town- ship. this county, buying eighty acres of land, but afterward securing one hundred and twenty acres. His family includes three danghters and four sons, and our subject is the eldest. Mr. Smith died in 1885. some years after his wife's deeease, she hav- ing passed away in 1872.
The gentleman whose name introduces these para-
7.15
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
graphis, was born in New York, February 21, 1842, and was but a few months old when brought to this State. He grew up amid rural surroundings, and received his education in the district school. Ile started in life for himself in 1867, having re- mained with his father for a while after he became of age. He bought eighty acres in Novi Town- ship, and set up his home there, remaining ten years, after which he sold out and bought the homestead on which his youth was passed.
The marriage of Mr Smith and Miss Elizabeth Thornton, of Novi Township, was solemnized at the bride's home in September, 1867. She was the youngest child of Charles and Charlotte (Cronk) Thornton, formerly of New York. She became the mother of three children. She died in 1877, and in the same year Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary Chesebrough, who was born in Otsego County, N. Y., and was the oldest of eleven children, comprising the family of William and Charlotte L. (Kople) Chese- brough. Mr. Smith votes the Democratic ticket, and the list of Presidential candidates for whom he has cast a ballot is headed by the name of McClel- lan, and is now closed by that of Grover Cleve- land. Ilis religious home is in the Methodist Church.
ILLIAM S. HORTON. Among the patri- otic citizens of Commerce Township, none is more notable for devotion to country and for sufferings endured for our flag than the gentleman whose name heads this biographical sketch. What he passed through in the prison pen at Andersonville, no words of ours can describe, and all was borne with a patient, uncomplaining spirit, and a devotion which may well excite the admiration of his countrymen.
Lewis A. Ilorton, the father of our subject, was born in 1808, in Seneca County, N. Y. His good wife bore the name in maidenhood of Henrietta Sager. She was born in 1810, in Steuben County, N. Y. After marriage they remained in New York until 1831, when they came West and settled in Webster Township, Washtenaw County, taking up
an unbroken farm from the Government. He par- tially improved the farm and lived there for about three years, when he returned to Steuben County, N. Y. In 1848 he again removed to Michigan, and settled on the farm where he resided until his death in 1882. Ile cleared off the larger part of it and put up the present buildings. He had a seri- ous misfortune resulting from a felon on his finger, and suffered three amputations. First his finger was taken off, then his hand to the wrist, and finally his forearm. The wound never healed. ITis widow still survives and is now past her four-score years. They were both members of the Free Will Baptist Church, at Sibley's Corners. He was a Democrat and greatly interested in politics, and was Justice of the Peace for years. Five of his eight children are now living.
The subject of this sketch was born March 13, 1833, in Washtenaw County, when Michigan was still a Territory. He received a good common school education, and taught for nine terms, which work he began when sixteen years old. Ile has pursued teaching during the winters a great deal of his life, farming in the summer. After the acci- dent which crippled his father, this young man took charge of the farm, and has continued to live here ever since, except for four years which he spent on a farm of his own in West Bloomfield Township. One hundred of his one hundred and sixty acres of land is under cultivation.
Anna Maleolm, a daughter of George and Jean- ette (Andrew ) Malcolm, became the wife of our subject, January 1, 1878. Mrs. Horton's parents were both natives of Scotland, who came to Amer- ica when young, and were married in June, 1827, in New York. There they resided until 1830, when they moved to Connecticut. In 1833 they came to Michigan and took a farm in West Bloomfield from the Government, the patent to which was signed by President Andrew Jackson. Ile thor- oughly improved that farm and died there Septem- ber 13, 1889, aged eighty-five years. Ilis good wife survives him, and now at the age of eighty- five years makes her home with our subject. Iler husband was Deacon in the Baptist Church, of which they were both members. He was a Justice of the Peace, and a member of the Republican
746
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
party from its formation. Of their nine children five are now living. Mrs. Horton was born De- cember 4, 1849, in West Bloomfield Township; she received a common school education. She is a member of the Baptist Church and sustains a con- sistent Christian character, both at home and in her church relations. She is devoted and affection- ate in the care of her feeble mother.
Mr. Ilorton is a Republican and is ever inter- ested in the progress of the principles of that party. Ile was School Inspector for many years, and lligh- way Commissioner. He is a member of the Milford Post, G. A. R., also a member of the Grange, of which he has been Secretary for many years, and holds a demit from the Masonic Order. Mrs. Hor- ton was "Flora" in the Grange. Both are members of the Good Templars Organization, in which he has served as Secretary, and also as Worthy Chief. She has been Financial Secretary in the same.
Angust 21, 1862, Mr. Horton enlisted as a pri- vate in Company II, Fifth Michigan Cavalry. He was promoted to the rank of a Corporal, and later to that of Sergeant. The regiment was organized at Detroit and sent to Washington, D. C. It was thence sent forward to Fairfax Court House, where they did picket and outpost duty. They took part in the Gettysburg campaign, then crossed the Potomae and took possession of certain gaps in Blue Ridge Mountains, operating in connection with the army of the Potomac, around the Chicka. hominy River. They then moved against Mosby's guerrillas through the Bull Run Mountains. Leav- ing the north side of the Rappahannock and cross- ing over in September, 1863, they drove the rebel cavalry through Culpeper Court House and over the Rapidan River. They then did picket duty along this river until the retreat of Gen. Meade.
The rebels surrounded Gen. Kilpatrick's division, to which he belonged, and they charged through the rebel lines and escaped. They now recrossed the Rapidan to Bull Run, then turned the rebels south ward again and followed them to Stevens- burg, doing picket duty on the north bank all winter, while "their friends the enemy" were doing the same duty on the south bank of the river. Crossing the Rapidan River, they took part in the battle of the Wilderness and went with Sheridan's
corps against Robert E. Lee, and later fought in the battle of Yellow Tavern, where Gen. Stewart was killed. They took part in a hard battle at Bottom Ridge, and in the fight at Malvern Hill, and then returned to the Army of the Potomac. At Beaver Dam station they recaptured five hun- dred Union men whom the rebels were taking to Libby Prison. After some half dozen sharp en- gagements our subject was taken prisoner of war by Hampton's Legion.
Mr. Horton's first experience in a rebel prison was at Libby Prison at Richmond, Va. After a few days he was removed to Andersonville, which prison pen he entered June 27, 1864. He had then had no food for forty-eight hours, and his first repasi consisted of a handful of corn meal mush. Ile was there for three hundred and twenty days, and contracted a disease which long afflicted him. In August, 1864, he was desperately sick. The boys carried him on a blanket to the prison gate and thence to the hospital, where he remained until paroled. He saw those raiders, who robbed other prisoners, hung in the pen, and he looked on from day to day while guards did their terrible work at the death line. He was paroled, and reached Jacksonville, Fla .. after walking sixty miles to Thomasville. He then marched back again to Andersonville. At this time he was stricken with moon blindness. They made a second attempt, and went north to Macon, Ga., and then back through Andersonville to Albany. Then again marched sixty miles and reached Thomas- ville, Ga., and from there to Jacksonville by rail. Thence they went to Annapolis, Md., and from there to Camp Chase, where they were dis- charged, June 12. 1865. Our soldier returned home broken down in health, and with his consti- tution permanently inpaired. Ile will never re- cover from the injuries received in Andersonville.
This brave soldier was one of the detachment who made such a desperate endeavor to dig a well. Two hundred and seventy of them joined together and secured a broken-handled shovel and an old water pail. With all the strings they had about them they made a rope. They then began to dig. much of the work being done with pieces of split canteens in addition to the old shovel. They
Eat. TRing R.L.
749
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
worked night and day, pulling the dirt up in the old pail with the poor excuse for a rope, which they had made. They dug down eighty-five feet and secured good water, which was a priceless boon to them. They enjoyed it for two or three days, and then the well caved in and their hard work was lost.
E A. P. RIKY, M. D. Among the profession- al men located in Orion, a leading position is occupied by Dr. Riky, whose portrait is presented on the opposite page, and who is the for- tunate possessor of a liberal education and a charac- ter that gives him the warm regard of his acquain- tances. He has a lucrative practice and a large following of those to whom his skill as a physician and his sympathy as a man have been grateful. Ile is comparatively young, having been born October 16, 1848, and he is a native of County Down, Ireland. His father was Robert A. Riky, who was appointed by the Crown as Magistrate and served as such until his death in 1853. at the age of forty-five years. Ile was held in very high esteem, especially by his tenantry, who erected a fine mon- ument in his honor in the churchyard at Moira, County Down. Ile was a member of the Church of England.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Susan Patterson and was the daughter of Will- iam Patterson, Commander in the Royal Navy of England, who served through the Napoleonic War. Gaandfather Patterson died at the ripe age of eigh- ty-three years. In 1860 Mrs Riky and her five children crossed the Atlantic and located near To- ronto, Canada. A tract of land was purchased, and on it the family were reared. The town of Shelburne, which is located on the Lake Iluron branch of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, was found- ed by this family, and Dr. Riky's brother is now in business there. The town has a population of twelve hundred.
Dr. Riky did not attend school in his boyhood, but was instructed by private tutors, and upon attain- ing his majority entered into business as a partner in the firm of E. Berwick & Co., who built the first busi-
ness block in the town of Shelburne. He sold his interest in 1879, and having read medicine with his brother-in-law, Dr. James of that place, he went to Detroit and continued his studies under Dr. H. F. Lyster, for three years. Ile was graduated from the Detroit College of Medicine in 1882 and prac- ticed his profession in that city about eighteen months. Ile then located in Orion, where his suc- eess has been very pleasing.
In 1885 Dr. Riky was united in marriage with Miss Lonisa Farrell, daughter of Charles Farrell of the Canada Malt Company of Detroit. Mrs. Riky is an intelligent, cultured lady, and with her husband holds membership in the Episcopal Church. During his residence in Detroit Dr. Riky was appointed instructor in Microscopy in the medical college. He has served as Health Officer in Orion several years. His political adherence is to the tenets of Democracy.
ILLIAM O. SYLVESTER, M. D., opened an office in Rochester in 1887, and is gain- ing ground among the people because of his theoretical knowledge, his care in diagnosis and treatment, and the personality that secures confi- dence in his judgment and interest in the suffering. The Sylvesters are an old New England family, and in the second generation prior to our subject were represented by Charles, who removed from New Hampshire to New York and bought land upon which he spent the rest of his life. The father of our subject bore the name of Enoch, was born in New Hampshire, and was nineteen years of age when he accompanied his father to the Empire State. There he married Sarah Cook, who was among the first white children born in Sparta Township, Livingston County, if not the first. Her father was a ship carpenter in his early life and later a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Sylvester came to this State in 1868 and located in Barry County, where the husband still lives. The wife died December 10, 1890, at the age of seventy-five years, six months and seventeen days.
750
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
Dr. Sylvester, who was the third in a family of nine children, was born at South Danville, Steuben County, N. Y., November 14, 1811. He was brought up on a farm, but had excellent educa- tional advantages, taking his higher studies in the academy at Rochester. He taught school one winter, but the war breaking out, he felt it his duty and privilege to tender his services to the Government. Hle enlisted July 22, 1862, and as a member of Company F. One Hundred and Forty- first New York Infantry, became an integral part of the Army of the Potomac. He worked with that division of the forces until the fall of 1863, when he was sent to Lookout Mountain. lle fought bravely in the battles of Chickahominy Swamp and Suffolk and was present at the battle of Gettysburg, but on that occasion the regiment was held in reserve.
The experience of Dr. Sylvester was that of most soldiers, ineluding dangers both seen and unseen, but he was fortunate in escaping wounds. While the regiment was acting under Hooker the boys took part in many engagements. At Peach Tree Creek over half the regiment was either killed or wounded and both there and at Atlanta Dr. Syl- vester had his clothes shot through. Ile went with Sherman to the sea, returned north through the Carolinas and took part in the Grand Review at Washington, ever discharging the full duty of a soldier and being able to participate in every en- gagement to which the command was sent. Ilis first promotion from the ranks was to the position of Corporal and after the capture of Atlanta he was detailed as a clerk at headquarters under Sur- geon-in-Chief James Chapman. Ile was discharged June 25, 1865, and returned to his native State, where he attended and taught school.
In 1866 Dr. Sylvester came to this State and located in Barry County, remaining on a farm a few months and then going to Kansas and buying property at Independence-the town being built up partially on his land. Ile read law and was admitted to practice in 1871, and three years later returned to this State and established his home in Grand Rapids. There he took a commercial course of study, also taught school, and practiced law in the office with Judge Sloughton. For a time he
traveled in the interest of Bissell & Co. In 1877 while engaged in teaching, he began reading medi- cine, and he subsequently attended the Ilomeopathic Medical College in St. Louis, Mo. Ile completed his medical course at Hahnemann College, Chicago, Ill., and was graduated in the class of 1885. llis funds being exhausted, Dr. Sylvester entered the service of an agricultural implement firm in St. Louis, but in the fall opened an office in Chicago, where he practiced about a year. Thence he went to Birmingham, this State, and from that place came to Rochester.
November 18, 1868, Dr. Sylvester was united in marriage with Miss Cora Electa Fleming, daughter of the Rev. Alanson Fleming. of Royalton, Ohio. A few years of happy wedded life were granted them, then death removed Mrs. Sylvester from earth. She breathed her last December 24, 1876, in Grand Rapids. She left one daughter who bears the name of Clara Louise. Dr. Sylvester is Secretary of the Masonic Lodge in Rochester, Sur- geon of William P. Everett. Post, No. 376, G. A. R., and is identified with the Good Templars organi- zation. In his political views he is in sympathy with the Republican party and his religious home is in the Congregational Church.
R EUBEN RUSSEL, a retired carpenter, con- tractor and civil engineer, who makes his home in Royal Oak, was born in Chautau- qua County, N. Y., January 27, 1825. Ilis father. Ichabod, was a farmer and a native of Con- necticut, where he was born about 1794. He went to New York with his parents when he was seven or eight years old, and in 1846 migrated to South- field Township, Oakland County. Four years later he came to Royal Oak Township, and about 1860, bought a farm of forty acres, upon which he re- mained until his death in 1869. When twenty-two years old this gentleman was married to Serua In- man, a daughter of Anson Inman. The latter and his good wife were natives of New England and the parents of four children.
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.