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 96
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ron and Ann Whitehead, who came to Michigan in 1837 and located in Waterford Township. Two of her brothers served honorably through the Civil War, and one of whom was killed.
Thirty-two years ago (1859) Mr. Leggett pur- chased the farm where he now resides, going in debt for the entire place. Through energy and in- dustry he removed the indebtedness, placed the estate under first-class improvements, and gradu- ally evolved a very pleasant home from the prime- val wilderness. His family is surrounded with all the comforts of life, and his children seem to have inherited his energetic traits of character and talent for business, for all are doing well in their chosen avocations. William H., the eldest in the and family, and May E., have had excellent musi- cal educations, and for nine years were under the personal supervision and instruction of Prof. C. A. Hoffman. Besides this William H. has spent two years in Paris perfecting himself in music. May E. is now teaching in the Detroit Conserva- tory of Music, having charge of the Violin Class, but being also very proficient on several other in- struments. Catherine M. keeps house for her fa- ther, the wife and mother having died in 1874. In all his dealings, Mr. Leggett is characterized by straightforward honesty and no man is more tho- roughly trusted than he. For his worthy life and the honorable part he has born in the development of the county he is held in high esteem.
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AMES M. LETTS. This gentleman is one of the respected citizens of Orion, but in ad- dition to his town property he owns a good farm just south of the village. He has been engaged in agricultural work for many years and has made it a rule of his life to raise a variety of stock as well as crops. He began his career in life with limited means, and success has crowned his efforts to obtain a good maintenance, and be able to join with his means as well as his sympathies in various lines of benevolent work. His paternal grandparents came from Holland to this country and established their home in Pennsylvania, There
his father, Hiram, was born, and thence he removed to New Jersey when about twenty years old. He was engaged in farming until his last illness, which oc- curred in 1881, when he was sixty-eight years old. lle was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife was a Baptist. She, too, was of Holland stock. Her name was Sarah Decker and she died about 1876. The parental family consisted of nine children, all still living.
The subject of this notice was born in New Jersey on the 16th of December, 1832, and re- ceived a district school education. He was reared amid the surroundings of farm life, and when of age left his parents' home to begin life for himself, and for four years farmed on rented land. In 1857 he came to this State, and during the next five years he was a renter in Oakland Township and County, and during that time hoarded his re- sources in order to buy property. Ile next bought land in the same township, but four years later sold it and purchased in Orion Township. There he made his home sixteen years, then traded for vil- lage property and took up his residence in town.
In the fall of 1856 Mr. Letts was married to Miss Mary A. Van Siekle, who was born in New Jersey in 1830. Her father, Richard Van Sickle, was a native of the same State as herself, and re- moved thence to Nebraska in 1873. He estab- lished his home. near Wahoo and died there in 1890. Mrs. Letts is an excellent housewife, is well-read and has a Christian character. She and her hus- band have been careful to give their children good school advantages and instill into their hearts prin- ciples of right living : and have also trained them in habits of industry and thrift. They have two sons and a daughter living; they lost their third child, Homer. The oldest son, James P., was grad- uated from the Detroit Medical College in 1882, located at Romeo and practiced four years and then went to Chicago, where he is now carrying on his professional work; Erastus is married and living on a farm in Oakland Township; Carrie is the wife of James V. Clark, a farmer in Orion Township.
After giving due consideration to political ques- tions, Mr. Letts cast in his influence with the Re- publican party and has seen no cause to change his
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faith and allegiance. He has served as delegate to conventions and otherwise aided the party of his choice in this section. Socially he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. In church circles Mr. Letts has been active and prominent for years, hav- ing united with the Methodist Episcopal denomin- ation when twenty-two years old, and always felt it to be his duty to do all that he could to promote the cause of Christianity. He has held various of- ficial positions in the church, and during the ab- sence of the minister in charge has often filled the pulpit, dispensing the Gospel message with clear- ness and persuasiveness. He has been Superinten- dent of the Sunday-sehool twenty years, and con- dacts one in Orion in the forenoon and drives out into the country in the afternoon. Ile has the thor- ough sympathy of his wife in his religious work, she, too, being a devoted member of the Methodist Church.
E NOS WEAVER. The life of this gentle- man, now a prosperous farmer of Avon Township, has been characterized by un- usual industry, as he began working away from home when he was but nine years old, at which time he received but $1 a month for his services. Ile gave his earnings to his father until after he had reached manhood, prior to which time he had be- come so skillful that he received $11 per month, large wages for that period. Little by little he has gained financial standing until he now possesses a well-improved farm of one hundred and ninety-six acres that is very valuable and is the source of a most satisfactory income.
Frederick Weaver, grandfather of our subject. was a German, who after his emigration to Amer- ica located in the Keystone State, and married Maria Bibighans. The date of the ceremony was September 12, 1797. The bride was a daughter of Martin Bibighaus, who was born in Ahbretshausen, Germany, in 1740, emigrated to America in the ship "Sally," and arrived at Philadelphia, October 29. 1770. Hle settled at Bedminster, Bucks County. where he farmed and carried on mercantile pursuits and acquired a large property. He died May 12,
1811, at the age of seventy years. A book is extant containing reminiscences of the descendants of John Bibighans, which shows that many of them have been persons of prominence. Among them were the Rev. Henry Bibighaus, a noted Pennsylvania divine; Dr. John Bibighaus, a prominent physician of Northampton County, and Dr. Charles H. Bibig- haus, of Bucks County, and also the Hon. Thomas M. Bibighans, Member of Congress in 1850 and 1852. They were all closely related to the Weav- ers.
Frederick Weaver, Jr., father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, and married Susan Houk, a native of the same State. They removed to Mich- igan in 1857, and located in this county where the husband died. They had thirteen children. and nine survive, viz: John, in Iowa; Enos, our sub- ject; Harrison, in Avon Township; Sylvanus, in Oxford, this State; Peter, near Rochester: Caro- line, widow of Joseph Wharton, in Flint; Irene, wife of Lewis Gardner. near Rochester; Catherine, wife of John Metz, in this county; and Susan, wife of John Featherstone, in Pontiac.
After he attained to his twenty-second year. Enos Weaver bought a span of horses and went to farming for himself. lle has for many years been operating the property that he has owned since 1881. and which was formerly held by John Kin- ney. The home of Mr. Weaver is presided over by a notable housewife, under whose oversight everything is kept in order, and good cheer is abundantly supplied. This estimable woman bore the maiden name of Elizabeth K. Davis, and was married to our subject December 31, 1857, by the Rev. William Mahan, a Methodist Episcopal min- ister. Mrs. Weaver is the daughter of George and Sidney ( Kinney) Davis, who came to this State in 1841. The record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Weaver, is as follows: Sarah J., born October 20, 1859, and now the wife of Elmer Brooks, a ranch- man in Rock County, Col .; John K., born January 9, 1862. died September 7, 1863; Jesse E., born March 23, 1866, now a telegraph operator in the employ of a railroad company at Denver, Col .; Frederick, born December 29, 1869, and still with his parents.
The first Presidential ballot cast by Mr. Weaver
RESIDENCE OF ENOS WEAVER, SEC. 25., AVON TP., OAKLAND CO.,MICH.
RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH REESE, SEC. 7., INDEPENDENCE TP., OAKLAND CO.,MICH.
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bore the name of James Buchanan, and from that day to the present he has voted for each successive Democratic candidate. Although he is not a poli- tieian in the sense of office seeking, he is one of the stanchest supporters of party principles, and does what he can as a private citizen to advance the canse. The industry that characterized Mr. Weaver in his early years, is still shown in the conduct of his estate, and it is a subject of congratulation that his labors are being rewarded as they are.
The attention of the reader is invited to a view of the home of Mr. Weaver, presented on another page.
OSEPH REESE, one of the self-made men of Independence Township, is also one of its most prosperous farmers. He is the son of John and Alice Reese, who were natives of Pembrookshire. Wales, where our subject was born December 8, 1839. When twelve years of age he came with his parents to America. They spent one year in Cleveland, Ohio, and then coming to Michi- gan, located on section 7, Independence Township. When the son arrived at his majority, he bought the farm on which his father had resided. He was compelled to go into debt for it, as he possessed only a small capital which he had earned by work- ing out at 88 per month. But he was young and ambitious. and bravely went to work to pay for his farm. By industry and fair dealing he has gained a reputation such as might be envied by any man. lle and his brother David have one of the finest improved farms in Independence Township. It comprises two hundred and twenty acres, and the improvements upon it are the best in the township, having cost over $15,000.
Mr. Reese has been twice married. His first wife was Anna Daniels, to whom he was married Feb- ruary 4, 1864. She died April 10, 1886. On No- vember 28, 1887, he was happily married to his present wife, who presides over his beautiful home, which is a marvel of taste and convenience, and a view of which is shown in this connection. The grounds surrounding the residence are handsome and well laid out. Mrs. Reese bore the maiden
name of Hettie Jefferson, and is the only child of Edwin and Amanda Jefferson, who reside in the village of Clarkston.
Mr. Reese is a very extensive farmer. Last year he sold over 82,200 worth of potatoes. From three acres of ground he marketed nine hundred and forty bushels. He attends to all the details of his farm personally. In politics he is a Democrat, and socially a member of No. 85, K. O. T. M. Ilis wife is an earnest and efficient member of the Methodist Church at Clarkston. His father came to Amer- ica a poor man, and reared & family of ten children, who are all doing well. He lived to reach the age of four score years, and died in Ohio in 1886, after having been bereaved in 1884, of his beloved wife, who died at the age of seventy years.
R OBERT SANDS. In the year 1838 this gentleman came to America with his bride, and after landing in New York came on to Milford and settled on a farm. After a time he traded for eighty acres on section 8, where he has remained and now has a beautiful home. The extent of the present estate is two hundred and forty acres, and various buildings have been put up, including barns, granaries, sheds, etc., all substantial and well arranged. The resi- dence now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Sands was built in 1878, at a cost of $2,000, and is of pleas- ing architectural design, tastefully furnished and set in the midst of pleasant surroundings. It is a brick, while another residence located on the west eighty is of frame and was put up by Mr. Sands himself.
Our subject is the only survivor in a family of twelve children born to Richard and Fanny ( Allen) Sands. His parents were natives of Lincolnshire and his father was a farmer. After the death of the latter the widow made a second marriage, but had no children. The son of whom we write was born in Lincolnshire, March 13, 1813, and grew to manhood there. He began life for himself when of age, although prior to that time he had worked out, even when quite young. When he
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started for himself he was engaged by the year until he came to America. Ilis first work was for a physician, and he was to receive half a sover. eign for six months and also his clothes; he re- tained the place two years: After his removal to this State and county he made his first home on section 16, Milford Township. The land he se- cured was oak openings, where no attempt at im- provement had been made. Ile built a log house and began clearing off the land, and had thirty acres under improvemement, which he traded for his present estate.
The new property was heavily timbered and as soon as a small clearing was made Mr. Sands put up a little frame house. He continued to hew down trees until one hundred and fifty acres had been denuded of their forest growth and brought nnder cultivation. He has brought the farm to a high state of development and is reaping satisfac- tory results from his work as a general farmer. When he reached Milford he was $23 in debt, but now he is in good circumstances. Ilis wife has ably assisted him by her prudent management in honsehold affairs and by her sympathy and wise counsel. Their marriage was solemnized February 5, 1838, prior to which time Mrs. Sands was known as Miss Ann Bamber. Her parents were John and Elizabeth (Crawford ) Bamber, natives of Lin- colnshire, England, and members of the farming community. They had six children, but Mrs. Sands is the only one now living. She was born April 3, 1813, in the shire in which her parents spent their lives.
Mr. and Mrs. Sands have had nine children, but five only are now living. These are: Richard, who was born on the 25th of November, 1839, married Ruth Weavers and has eight children ; Elizabeth, born April 6, 1842, is now the wife of Richard Marsh, of Brighton Township, and the mother of two children; Robert A., born July 21, 1844, mar- ried to Mrs. Sarah Bennett and having one child, Kate, by a former marriage to Viola Nicholson; Fanny M .. bern August 17, 1849, wife of William Sherwood and mother of one child; William A., born March 19, 1856, married to Ella Ballard, and having a family of three children.
Mr. Sands has always been a liberal supporter of
schools and very desirous of having good ones in the land. Ile is a Democrat, but in local elec- tions votes for the man best qualified to discharge the duties of office without regard to his political affiliation. He has been Road Overseer, but has not otherwise held office. Husband and wife united with the Episcopal Church in their native land. The sturdy characteristics of a "fine old English gentleman" are not better exemplified in this section than in the person of Robert Sands, and all who know his wife will accord to her equal merit.
b I'GH OSWALD, a prominent and success- ful farmer of Ilolly Township, was born in County Down, Ireland. Ilis father, James, and his grandfather, Thomas, both farmers lived and died in that county. The mother of our subject was Margaret Wilson. She became the mother of eight children, and seven of them grew to man's and woman's estate, namely: William, Thomas. Hugh, James, John, Jane, Mrs. Patterson, and Margaret, Mrs. Burton. The mother was a faithful adherent of the Protestant faith and died in Ireland after having reached the span of three- score years and ten.
The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days in Ireland and attended school there. Ile was the first of the family to leave the old country and seek America. To this country he came alone when eighteen years old. Ile was thirty-eight days making the ocean voyage. He located first in Ontario County, N. Y., and lived there for seven years, working by the month for one man. He came to America empty-handed. With money he earned in New York he came to Michigan in 1854 and bought the farm upon which he now resides. Upon this land was then situated a log house and no barn at all, no outhouses but a log stable with a straw roof. There were but a few acres cleared on the place. Mr. Oswald now has one hundred and seventy-two aeres, nicely improved with one : hundred and forty-five of them under cultivation.
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He raises stock and grain. He built his present neat home in 1870, and the big red barn in 1872, the other barn having been erected in 1866.
The marriage of our subjeet took place in 1853. His wife was Mary White, who was born in her busband's native county in Ireland. They have had three children who are all living and leading lives of usefuli ess to their families and the com- munity. Margaret married Andrew Gibson and lives in Saginaw County on a farm. Thomas is still at home and is serving his second term as High- way Commissioner of Holly Township. James is brakeman on the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway. The mother of these children was called away from earth in 1879. Mr. Oswald is a Democrat but takes no prominent or active part in politics.
HIOMAS F. FLYNN, a farmer on section 2, Highland Township, is a son of Thomas Flynn, whose father, Thomas, a native of Ireland, lived and died in the Emerald Isle. The father of our subject came to Quebee, Canada, in 1833, where he worked for two years at £12 per year. He left Ireland on account of oppressive laws and eame away in the night time. In 1835 he went to New York State and took up land from the Government, one hundred and sixty acres, on which he lived for thirteen years. He lived in Franklin County, St. Lawrence County and Seotts- ville, Monroe County, successively. His death took place in 1881, in Scottsville. His wife, who died September 7, 1874, bore him one child, Mary, in Ireland and eight in New York, who were named as follows: Catherine, John, Owen. Elizabeth, Thomas, James K., Annie and Patrick D. These children were reared in the .Roman Catholic belief and their parents gave them a good common-school education. Their father belonged to the State Militia in New York.
Our subject was born November 28, 1840, in Con - stable Township, Franklin County, N. Y. When eight years old he went to St. Lawrence County, and in 1864 he came to Michigan and worked one winter in the lumber woods and then went into the em-
ploy of the Detroit & Milwaukee Railway as a bridge builder, where he continued until 1868. For eighteen months he acted as foreman. His marriage took place in Pontiae September 23, 1867. His wife, Margaret . L., daughter of Maurice and Mary (Donahoe) Murray and was born May 14, 1844. Her parents were natives of Ireland, where they were married, and after the birth of one ehild, John, they came to America. Ilere their eight younger children were born, namely: John, Maurice, Michael, Mary, Thomas, Margaret, William, Mary.
Mr. Murray was a carpenter by trade and fol- lowed this avocation until he came to Michigan in 1844. He then settled in White Lake Township, Oakland County, where he lived until death called him hence, September 7, 1872. His wife followed him to the other life in May, 1873. The six children who have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Flynn are all still at home with their parents. They are: Mau- rice M., Thomas F., Mary A., Maggie A., C. Libby, S. Jenny.
Mr. Flynn came to Highland Township in 1868 and bought eighty acres of land, on which he still makes his home. In 1878 he added twenty acres and in 1885 he bought forty-four acres more and now owns one hundred and forty-four acres, all but ten of which are finely improved. Hle is a breeder of Percheron horses and Hampshire sheep. His sheep are of such pure blood as to be eligible to register. He and his wife are Roman Catholic in their belief and he is a Democrat in politics and always has been, but he is not a radical free trader, as he believes in tariff reform.
ARVEY II. INGERSOLL is a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., where he was born March 19, 1829. 1fis father, Henry, was a native of the same township, and was by occupation a farmer, and in politics a Whig. He was both Class-Leader and Steward in the Method- ist Episcopal Church, in which he was a great worker. His house was a home for ministers for
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many years. He came to Michigan in 1849 and died in Shiawassee County at the advanced age of eighty. four years. Ilis wife, Maria Grusbeck, was born in the same county as her husband and was the daughter of Hugh Grusbeck. She died at the age of fifty-four years, before the removal of the family West.
The subject of this sketeb was the oldest son in a family of nine children. He was reared in his native place and finished his education in the Sar- atoga Institute. He spent one year on a farm in Monroe County, and came to Michigan in 1848, and bought a farm in Lyon Township, this county. Here he made his home in a log house and set to work to improve the land. He owned two hun- dred and forty acres and lived upon this farm for twenty years. At the end of this period he sold out and bought the property where he now resides.
The first marriage of Mr. Ingersoll took place the year he came to Michigan. His wife was Jane A. Brown, a native of New York. She was taken from his side by death in November, 1882. He was married the second time in 1884. The present Mrs. Ingersoll bore the maiden name of Christina C. Dillon. She was born in Pittsford Township, Hillsdale County, Mich, Two children have blessed this union, Jennie M. and Mattie D., bright and beautiful children of five and seven years of age.
Mr. Ingersoll owas one hundred and sixty acres where he now resides and twenty acres in Lyon Township. Upon this finely improved land he is doing an excellent farming business. He is a good judge of the horse and also of cattle. and es- teems the Durham breed highly. Ile has one horse for which he has refused an offer of $500. Ilis cows, of which he has fourteen head, are as fine as any in the county. He deals extensively in hogs and is a good judge of them. lle has some- times sold as much as $700 worth of swine at a time. Ile has now on his farm some twenty-six head of fine hogs.
The gentleman of whom we write bad no money when he came to Michigan but went to work and by strict attention to business and unflagging in- dustry has acquired all that he now possesses. His success is worthy of note and of emulation. Hle is a Republican in his political views and bas never
voted any other ticket. He is an earnest and hard- working member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he acts as Steward, and he is a liberal contributor to all good causes.
ACOB DECOU, M. D., a physician of Orion, this county, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., April 21, 1835. His father, Abner DeCou, was born in Canada in 1807, and removed with his parents to New York when a lad. In 1837 he removed to Michigan and made his home in Washtenaw County, but remained there only about twelve years, as he returned to New York in 1846. He was a hard-working farmer and a man of character and probity. For forty-five years he was a member in good and regular stand- ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ilis death took place in 1885, at the advanced age of seventy- nine years. The grandfather, Z. F. DeCon, was a native of Maryland and was of French descent. The mother of our subject, Margaret Christman, was born in 1812, in New York State. She became the mother of seven children and is still living.
The subject of this sketch received his early ed- ucation in the district schools. He remained at home until he reached his majority, after which he worked out by the month for several years. He took a business course in Bryant & Stratton's Com- mercial College at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1859. After this he kept books for several years for a large firm in Northern Michigan. But he was not content to remain in a secondary position in commercial life. Ilis aspirations were for a professional career and he devoted all his spare time for a number of years to the study of medicine. At last he saw his way clear to enter college.
In 1874 he took a course of study in the Detroit Homeopathic College, making a special study of cancers. He is the originator of his own special method of treatment, which after fifteen years of practice has proven wonderfully successful. Dr. DeCou practiced for twelve years in Detroit, where he successfully treated hundreds of patients af- flicted with cancer. In 1888 in order to escape the
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