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 93
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
The married life of our subject began happily in 1857. His bride, Eliza J. Ritchey, was born in this county. Her parents John and Ann (Hamil- ton) Ritchey, were- natives of Ireland, and were
alfred Goodman.
813
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
pioneers in this region in 1836. Six children have blessed this home, three of whom are now living, namely : William R. married Libby Minoc, and is a farmer; John R. married Nelle I. Everts, and farms the home farm; Minnie J. married Leman Campbell. Our subject and his wife are Metho- dists in their religious belief, and Mr. Smith's po- litical affiliations are with the Democrats.
e7 LFRED GOODMAN, who represents a well-known family in Southeastern Michi- gan, is by occupation, farmer, hotel-keeper and dairyman. He makes his home in Royal Oak Township, although an owner of much valuable real estate, besides the Goodman Hotel, in Detroit. Ilis portrait is presented in connection with the following brief account of his life. The father of our subjeet, Stephen Goodman, was a Baptist minister and was born in August, 1799 in Middlesex County, England. He came to America in June of 1830, and proceeding directly to Michi- gan became the organizer of the first Baptist Church at Detroit. It was composed of four women and three men. He remained with them through the next two years, then went to Saline and after two years there bought a farm at Auburn where he located.
The Rev. Mr. Goodman traveled extensively over this part of Michigan and came to Troy in 1838, and buying a farm made it his permanent home. He also engaged in mercantile business at Troy Corners where he died in 1874. He had mar- ried in 1828 Jane Barrow, who became the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters. John S., who was a son by a former marriage, was born in 1822 in London; England. He studied at the University at Madison, N. Y., afterward at Hamilton, Ohio, and was graduated from the Uni- versity at Ann Arbor, fitting himself for mission- ary work. He was married in 1845 to Harriet Peters, daughter of Capt. Peters of Scio, Wash- tenaw County, Mich. This lady died in 1851 in Obio. After this he married Mary Price, who went with him in 1852 as a missionary to Africa.
They were located at a place one hundred miles south of Sierra Leone. In Africa one child was born to them which did not live.
They came home by way of London, England, in September, 1855, and the young missionary beeame pastor of the church at Flint, Mich. Two years later he went from there to Saginaw in 1857 and became the pastor of the Baptist Church. After serving in this capacity for three years he was made County Superintendent of Schools which office he held for nine years. His election was the result of an agreement between both parties as he was the choice of both and there was no opposition. He was also engaged in doing missionary work in the country while carrying on his educational matters. About this time he became identified with the order of Masonry and took the highest degree in Amer- ica that is granted. He officiated as Chaplain at the laying of the corner stone of the library build- ing in Detroit. This reverend gentleman diedl in November, 1884, mourned by all who knew him.
Our subjeet, the second son of the family, was born in London, England, May 22, 1829, and came with his parents to Detroit in 1830. 1Ie re- ceived his education as the boys of those days did, on the farm and in the log schoolhouse. In 1846 he started out as a peddler with a tin trunk, but he had not yet completed his education, and deter- mining to have more, he attended the Romeo Academy for three months in 1849. In 1850 he engaged in the business of furnishing plank to the Detroit & Birmingham Plank Road Company. In 1851 he was smitten with the gold fever and went to California, but came back in 1855 and went into business at Troy Corners. In 1859 he sold out and farmed for a year; next he went to Detroit and began the hotel business by the purchase and man- agement of the Grand River House and in 1868 he built the Hotel Goodman of which he is the pro- prietor.
The marriage of Mr. Goodman took place in 1856. His bride was l'enna II. Bradley, daughter of Wakeman Bradley, one of the first settlers and the first Supervisor of Royal Oak. Troy and Aron, when they were one township. He was also a teacher and was the first English clerk in Detroit. Two children bless the marriage of our subject
814
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
with Miss Bradley. Fred A. was born October 16, 1871, and when seventeen years old joined the Seott Guards. He now has charge of the Hotel Goodman, and is the youngest hotel manager in the United States. The daughter Nellie, who was born October 22, 1874, is attending school at Detroit and fitting herself for the stage. for which she has decided talent.
Our subject has one brother, William Goodman, who is a hardware merchant at Clare, Mieb. Two of his sisters, Mrs. Vorbies and Mrs. Julia B. Town, reside at Grand Island, Neb., and the third sister, Mrs. Luey B. Cutting, at Troy Corners. Mr. Goodman's experiences in going to California are of interest. He was one hundred and two days on the way from New York to San Francisco; was shipwrecked three times on the trip and was put on short allowance for fourteen days. lle is now making his home on the farm that was pre-empted by Wakeman Bradley in 1825, and the deed was signed by John Adams. Ile is attending to farm- ing simply because he is not content to be idle and finds it better for his health to continue the stirring life which has always been his. lle is a man of sterling qualities and broad intelligence, and has achieved large prosperity by close attention to business and by wise investment in Detroit prop- erty. The family is an old and well-known one and this gentleman feels a just pride in his talented children.
A portrait of Mr. Goodman appears in connec- tion with this record of the principal events of his life.
R OBERT JOHNSTON, M. D., established himself in Milford in the spring of 1866 not long after his return from Southern battle- fields, where he had gone into many dangers in his efforts to aid those who were suffering from the wounds made by shot or shell or the diseases incurred in eamp and on the march. He is one of the partners in a well-established drug business which was instituted in 1881 and is conducted under the style of Johnston & Crawford.
Dr. Johnston is descended from the Cameron
clan of Scotland, but his grandfather, Christie Johnston, was born in the North of Ireland. When a youth that gentleman came to America and located in Pennsylvania. Ile was a saddler and harness-maker and bis son Robert, father of our subject, learned the same trade and worked at saddlemaking for a number of years. Robert Johnston was born in Washington County, l'a., in 1790. Ile removed in 1842 to Ralls County, Mo., near Hannibal, and engaged in farming. In politics he was first a Whig and then a Republican. Ile was Justice of the Peace and held other local offices and was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church; he died in 1865. Ilis wife, formerly Rebecca Van Eman, was born in the same county as himself and was the daughter of a lumber maunfacturer there; her ancestors came from llol- land. She still lives and is now a resident of Monroe City, Mo. The parental family comprised four daughters and eight sons, and five of the latter took part in the Civil War. Maj. Andrew Johnston, one of the number, was killed at C'entralia, Mo.
Dr. Johnston, the sixth child of his parents, was born in Washington County, l'a., July 5, 1838, and went to Missouri when four years old. Ilis time was chiefly spent on the farm and his early education was obtained in a log schoolhouse under the rate bill system. Ile then entered Van Rens- selaer Academy at Big Creek, Mo., and when eighteen years old engaged in teaching. While teaching he studied medicine under the guidance of Dr. Robert Frazier of Madisonville, and after some preliminary reading entered the State Uni- versity at Keokuk, Iowa. The breaking out of the Civil War interrupted his peaceful pursuits and in September, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifth Missouri Infantry, Company A, and was mnstered in at Louisiana, Mo.
The first six months' service of Dr. Johnston was under Gov. Gamble, in Missouri, and he was honorably discharged in March, 1862. He went to Ohio and at once entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Medicine July 3 of that year. He at once went on duty at Camp Dennison as surgeon, having oversight of two
815
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
wards in the hospital, and on September 8, he received the Government appointment of Assistant Surgeon in the One Hundreth Ohio Infantry, which was attached to the Army of Ohio. Ile took part in scenes of danger and toil in Kentucky, Tennes- see and Georgia, after the Atlanta campaign re- turned toward the North in Thomas' command, and was present at Spring Hill, Franklin and Nash- ville.
During the battle of Limestone Bridge he was captured by Gen. Jackson's men and sent to Libby prison, where he was confined two months. The medical men were at this time usually released, but they were detained on account of the trial of Dr. Rooker, which involved the question of the Confederacy being a separate government, from September 24 to November 24. He then reported to his command, with which he remained until the close of the war and was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, July 3, 1865.
The experience of Dr. Johnston in surgery had been very useful to him and he was desirous of still further perfecting himself in that branch of his profession. After practicing until fall, he en- tered Bellevue Hospital in New York from which lie was graduated in the spring of 1866. Hle then came to Milford, which was quite a small place, without railroad communication with the surrounding country, and here he has remained doing such satisfactory work that it was not long before he had his hands and heart full. Ile is an advocate of the regular school of medicine. Wordly prosperity has been his and he is able to gratify his scholarly tastes, and his fine home con- tains a large collection of the best literary works. He owns a farm of six hundred and forty acres in Dakota.
In Penn Yan, N. Y., in 1871, Dr. Johnston was married to Miss Minnie Jacobus, a native of that city and a lady of more than ordinary mental cul- ture. She was graduated from the Academy in Penn Yan and for some years was engaged in teaching. She is the mother of five children- Ernest Van E., Robert E., Fred M., William D. and Minnie E. The oldest son is attending the Agricultural College at Lansing and the others are at home, Dr. Johnston has been a member of
the School Board for more than twenty years consecutively. 1Te is a demitted Odd Fellow and is Surgeon in the Grand Army Post of Milford. Politically, he is a stanch Republican and religiously a sincere Presbyterian. lle belongs to the Oakland County Academy of Medicine. He and his re- spected wife move in the best circles of society and their residence in Milford is considered an honor to the place.
C HARLES BROOKS, one of the American citizens of British descent who are a credit to the home of their parents' adoption, was born in Connecticut October 25, 1835. His father, John Brooks, was an Englishman and a silk weaver by trade in his native home. He came to America and located in 1832, and engaged in various occu- pations in New England. llis death occurred February 17, 1883, when he had reached the goodly age of seventy five years. lle was a zealous and warm-hearted member of the Baptist Church and brought his children up in the faith. His wife, Ann Brooks, who was taken from his side by death in 1857, also followed the trade of a silk - weaver. Of their large family of eleven children, all are living except one.
The subject of this sketch received a good dis- triet-school education, beginning it in New Eng- land and going on with it after his emigration to Michigan, which occurred when he was six years old. At that date, 1841, the country was new and wild. Deer were plentiful and Indians abounded. The boy went to school in a log schoolhouse and learned farming at home. After he became of age be undertook farming independently, and with his wonted energy. lle worked farms on shares for several years, thus making a beginning as many another young man has done. Ile has several times purchased farms and sold again as he found he could better himself. and in 1880 he located on his present tract of land on section 17.
When this young man was twenty-five years old he met a young lady, Sarah M. Lockwood by name, and becoming interested in her chose her as his
816
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
wife. They were married in 1860 and the following children erowned their union. They are all living except Rosina and Jessie. Those who survive are Charles W., Thomas D., Mary A., Addison R., Frank S., and Timothy L. This gentleman is a Dem- ocrat but does not mix much in political matters. His one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land and his beautiful home and fine farm build- ings carry out the testimony of his neighbors who say he is a "hustler."
RANK HARFF. Those who believe that comfort is not to be found in country life, have but to visit the home of the above- named gentleman, to see conclusive evidences to the contrary, and to learn that a farmer's family may have as tasteful surroundings as those found in the majority of city homes. The estate to which we allude is located on section 3, Bloomfield Town- ship, and lies three miles southeast of Pontiac. It is well stocked with thoroughbred Short-horn cat- tle and other stock of a high grade, and the build- ings which adorn the place are commodious and well designed, and include every convenience for household and farm work. The barn, which was erected at a cost of 83,400, is the largest in the county, being 120x50 feet with a ten foot base- inent. The residence is also one of the most com- modious and elegant in the county, and, with its rural surroundings is represented by a view on an . other page. It is a brick structure, with a large double "L," and all modern conveniences. Alto- gether, the estate is one of the finest in the township, and its value is increased by the fine system of water-works introduced and perfected by the owner.
Mr. Harff is one of our substantial citizens who clain Germany as their Fatherland, and he was born in Prussia, December 15, 1834. Of that coun- try his parents, George and Catherine Harff, were also natives and there they spent their entire lives. Of their six children our subject was the first-born and he was reared in his native place, receiving the advantages of a common-school education and as- sisting his father with the farm work. In 1850 be
set sail for the New World, and after an unevent- ful voyage of thirty-six days landed in the city of New York, whence he came West to Cleveland. lle arrived in the latter city with just three cents in his pocket and engaged to work upon a farm for $6 per month. At the time of his arrival he could not speak a work of English, but has now become proficient in the use of the language.
After remaining on the farm three months Mr. Harff procured work in a planing mill in the city of Cleveland for which he received eighty-five cents a day. llere he stayed for two years and then came to the pineries of Michigan and followed the occupation of a cook in the logging camps for one year. lle received no money at all for his work here, being cheated out of it. Hle then came to Detroit, and entering the employ of a vessel, acted as fireman to the engine, for a passage to Lake Superior. Ile remained several years in that part of the country, engaging in mining. At the time the war broke out he returned to Detroit, but not being able to obtain employment he went into the country and chopped several hundred cords of wood at thirty-six cents per cord.
Returning to Detroit he went to work on the docks, and continued there, loading vessels until the close of the war. He then began buying and selling old iron, hides, etc., in the Lake Superior regions. Ile followed this for two or three years making several thousand dollars by it. He then in company with William Smith of Detroit, started a tobacco and cigar factory. After losing $1,000 he closed this business relation and engaged in the manufacture of cigars and in wholesale dealing in liquor. Ile was engaged in this business at Detroit until April, 1878, when he sold it out and purchas ing his present farm moved on to it. He has since given all his attention to farming and stock-rais- ing.
The marriage of Mr. Harff took place October 8, 1859. Ile was then united with Eliza Dietz of Detroit, where she was born December 23, 1842. She is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Dietz, of Germany. They came to America at an early day and died at Detroit, Mich. Our subject and his wife have had four children, all of whom are liv- ing, namely-Fred H., Christina, Mary and Annie,
(FF)
RESIDENCE OF FRANK HARFF, SEC'S. 3 &10., BLOOMFIELD TP.,OAKLAND CO., MICH.
a
819
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
The son is still single and resides at home. Chris- tina is the wife of Joseph Range and lives in Parker, Turner County, S. Dak. She has five chil- dren, namely-Lizzie, Freddie, Minnie, Josie and Frances. Mary married Bruce Chatfield, a farmer in Troy, this county, and has one child, Ilazel. Annie married Wilber Lewis, a farmer in Pontiae Township, this county, and has one son, Frank. Mr. HIarff is a Republican in his political views, but takes no other part in polities than to east his ballot upon election day.
M ARCUS D. ELLIOTT,. one of the repre- sentative farmers of Rose Township, was born January 19, 1827, in the town of Florida, Montgomery County, N. Y. He is the son of Alexes and Elizabeth (Tripp) Elliott, natives of New York and Connecticut respectively. Our subject's grandfather, George Elliott, was a farmer who lived and died in Montgomery County. Ilere his son, Alexes, was born in 1800, and about the year 1830 he left this locality for Otsego County, the same State.
It was in the year 1844 that Alexes Elliott came to Michigan by lake and settled east of Holly, Oak- land County, where he resided until his death, in 1848. Both he and his good wife were earnest and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They reared seven children to be an honor and comfort to their parents. They were named: Nathan T., Polly Stadan, Celestia, Marcus D., Osear D., Calvin H. and Caroline. All these have established homes and families of their own. Their mother was a daughter of David Tripp, a farmer, who represented his home locality in the New York Legislature. Ile was a native of Rhode Island. He and his good wife, Mary Diekinson, were the parents of fifteen children, all of whom grew to maturity. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and has been almost entirely self-educated, for at nine years of age he left home to make his own
way in the world. At ten years he had advanced so that he received $3 a month as his wages, and he continued to work out until he was twenty-five. In 1846 he came to Michigan, and in 1852 he located on sixty aeres of land which belonged to his wife. In the spring of 1855 he traded this for one hundred and twenty acres on section 5, Rose Township. This was wild land, which he has cleared and splendidly improved. They now own one hundred and sixty aeres and have a fine briek residence and an excellent barn. He is a breeder of Hambletonian horses and French- Merino sheep.
In 1876 Mr. Elliott was elected to the Legisla- ture upon the Republican ticket. For twenty years he has been a delegate to most of the State con- ventions held by that party. His war experience began in the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in Bat- tery H, First Michigan Light Artillery. He took part in the battles of Point Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Vicksburg and Brown- ville, and was in the Meridian raid. He was struck by a shell during the siege of Vieksburg, but was not seriously injured. During 1864 he saw the smoke of battle at Kenesaw Mountain, Niekjack Creek, Atlanta and Jonesville. He received his honorable discharge in December, 1864. He had been promoted in March, 1863, to the rank of Second Lieutenant and after the siege of Vicks- burg to that of First Lieutenant, and the follow- ing spring received the commission of a Captain.
The following description of the battle of At- lanta is condensed from an account furnished by Capt. Elliott to a local paper:
"July 22 was the day of the famous battle of Atlanta. I was with the Third Division of the Seventeenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee. Maj .- Gen. Frank P. Blair was commanding the corps, and Brig .- Gen. M. D. Leggett was commanding the division. As all know, the gallant Gen. Mc- Pherson was commanding the army. The day was a beautiful one, clear and still, but warm. Bald IFill had been captured the day before by Brig .- Gen. Foree after a very tough struggle. Our battery participated in the charge and cap- ture, and after it was in the power of the Union forces our battery was located on the hill, but that same afternoon we vacated it, and it was then oe- cupied by Battery D, First Illinois, consisting of
!
820
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
four 24-pound how itzer guns, My command then took up a position about one hundred rods loft of Bald Ilill. We stopped there during the night intrenched,
"The guns of all the batteries were good. We had six guns, all of which were Rodman's steel- rifled cannon. They were the best guns in that. part of the army, if not in the entire service. The large amount of artillery practice that we had at Vicksburg made our men very proficient. We had the reputation of being a crack organization, and when we met the enemy, if our division was anywhere near the front, we were always called upon to fire the lirst shots.
"Two of our guns at 10 o'clock on the day in question were on the left of Murray's battery, under command of Lieut, William Justin. About 10 o'clock that morning Gens, McPherson, Blair and Leggettt, and Chief of Artillery W. S. WHI- iams rode past my command and asked me to ac- company them. They were talking of establishing a new line in front of the one then occupied, and
we rode half-way to Atlanta in selecting a site. We saw the rebels marching out of the town, and we thought they were evacuating. They had asked me to select a location for my battery. which I did, and it was arranged that a detail of infantry was to report to me immediately after dinner to dig intrenchments. Everything was as quiet as on Sunday, but I had just started for my dinner when I heard firing on our left rear in the direction of Decatur. I spoke of it to Capt. Will- iams, and asked him if I had not better have my horses harnessed ready for use. as I knew that should any troops be ordered forward we would be called upon to go to the front if it was decided to send artillery in that direction. He thought the suggestion a good one, and I issued the order and then went to dinner. I had just commenced my meal when hades was let loose upon my left. 1 jumped for my horse and got out just in time to see cannon balls rolling down the road thet led from the left. I ordered my drivers to mount and fall back immediately. We then started off to our right through a cornfield, with the rebels not twenty rods in our rear, yelling and shooting and commanding us to halt. But we didn't stop. I was riding by the last gun, the lead team of which was ridden by an Irishman named Jim Gordon. As I rode up to him I asked,
" .Jim, shall we halt?'
" .Divil a bit,' was his quick response. this is no place for us to halt.'
"We went on about five hundred yards when we came to an elevation which I thought was a good place to try to do something. I ordered a
halt and commenced firing right in our rear. Our stopping seemed to rally some of our forces. who had been started on the run by the rebels, and they began forming around us. When we first halted we had no support at all. We had been firing about fifteen minutes when a man came up and in- formed me that he was one of Murray's men and that the battery had been captured. lle wanted to help and I set him to work, and he kept at it faithfully all afternoon. I was naturally nervous about my other two guns, which were on Murray's left, but I had no time to make inquiry. It was two hours later when I learned that Lieut. Justin had not only escaped heing captured but was then in our rear and to our right doing effective work. Later be informed me personally that he had fired two rounds after Murray's guns had ceased and still made his escape from the enemy.
"We had many sharp fights and had others after- ward, but that afternoon was the hottest of all our experience. Between 12:30 and 4 o'clock, with four guns, we fired four hundred rounds of am- munition. Several of the men worked until they were exhausted and dropped where they stood. We began by firing in what had been our rear. When we cleared the enemy out in that direction we turned the guns toward the woods. Then we were attacked on our lank by a battery located on a slight elevation. But it took only about fif- teen minutes to clear them out. Our most deadly work was when we were charged by Cheatham's division. Our battery was supported by the rem- nants of an Indiana regiment. Our guns were loaded with a double charge of canister and the balls that the infantry had thrown from their re- peating rifles. Only a single man of the enemy reached us in two charges. His comrades were mowed down like grain."
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.