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 98
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The birth of our subject took place February 2,
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1821, in Roekland County, N. Y. He attended a select school in New York, after which he learned the trade of carpentry and started for himself in life at the age of eighteen. He was a natural me- chanic and loved his work, and worked at it for eight or nine years exclusively. In 1843 he came to Michigan and for four years he carried on his trade in the summer and taught in the winter.
Mr. Furman was married July 1, 1848, to Electa J. Oyshterbanks, a daughter of Aaron and Mary (Sibley) Oyshterbanks. They were both natives of Chenango County, N. Y., where they were born in 1804. They carried on a farm in Wayne County, until they came to Michigan in 1845 and made their home in Commerce Township on a partially improved farm, to which he afterwards added substantial improvements. His wife was called from his side by death in 1859 and in 1861 he was married to Nancy Carr, by whom he had one child, Jay. In 1868 he removed to Walled Lake where he died in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Oyshi- terbanks were members of the Free Will Baptist Church in which he served at one time as Clerk. lle was active in politics and a Republican in his views and vote. For forty years he served as a Justice of the Peace. ITis first wife presented him with seven children, four of whom are now living.
Mrs. Furman was born June 1, 1829, in Wayne County, N. Y., and received a good education finishing her schooling at the academy at Marion. She taught for some time after coming to Michi gan. After the marriage of this couple they set- tled upon a farm of sixty-three acres which had ten of it cleared. They added to it from time to time until they had one hundred and twenty-three acres most of which had been cleared by Mr. Fur- man from time to time. Ile designed and built the residence in which he makes his home and also all the barns, all the work on them being done by his own capable hand. Ile is now retired from active work upon the farm.
The five children of this family are as follows: Wilmarth A., born April 23, 1849, has married Emma L. Potter, by whom he has two children ; they make their home in Gratiot County. Florence A., born June 7, 1851, the wife of Charles Seaton, makes her home at Lockport, N. Y .: Ada E., born
October 15, 1853, the wife of Bradley Nicholson, lives at Brighton, Mich. ; Eugene B., horn April 5, 1856, married Martha Kellogg, by whom he had two children; they reside in Novi. Judd M., born December 19, 1858, is still unmarried and resides at home. To all have been given a good common- school education, The father has always taken an active interest in politics and is a Republican in his views and vote. He has been Justice of the Peace and Road Commissioner and in the early days filled the office of Pathmaster. He is temper- ance itself in his life and habits. He began empty- handed and has seen hard times, but has been a brave and persevering pioneer; although the family has endured great hardships it has been singularly blessed in one respect, as there has never been a death in the family. He has been a Director of the local School Board for four terms and is fre- quently a delegate to county and district conven- tions.
ILLIAM B. TAYLOR. This enterpris- ing gentleman, who is a resident of Waterford Township, is prosecuting agri- cultural pursuits with a degree of energy highly commendable. A native of this county, his course through life has been such as to reflect credit upon its citizenship. Ile has made farming his life work and has done well at his chosen calling, as is ap- parent to one who notes the condition of his farm, which is well ordered in every respect, provided with neat buildings and all the necessary machinery. Hle possesses in a large degree the sound intelli- gence, ripe wisdom and diseretion so necessary to full success in any walk in life.
Although not one of the earliest settlers of Michigan, Joseph Elliott Taylor, father of our sub- jeet, may properly be termed a pioneer of Oakland County, whither he came in 1850, and settled on section 29, Waterford Township. He was a native of New York, born in 1829, and was a man pos- sessing many sterling traits of character. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Caroline E. Bradt, was the daughter of Garrett Bradt, and was born in New York in 1830. Their family comprised
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four children, of whom the only survivor is Will- iam B., of this sketeh. The father became well known among the citizens of Waterford Township, where he occupied an enviable position in the es- teem of his fellow-men. Ile died in 1874, mourned not alone by his family but also by those who felt that by his death the county had lost one of her best citizens. The mother afterward married E. Stanley Smith, who is now deceased, having died in 1890, and she now makes her home with our subject.
The early recollections of William B. Taylor are associated with Waterford Township, where he was born November 1, 1860. Ile received a good common-school education in the district schools, and at an early age gained a practical knowledge of farming pursuits. At the age of twenty-four years he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie, daughter of Johnson S. and Sarah ( Melcher) Prall. Mr. and Mrs. Prall came to Oakland County in 1853. and there Mrs. Taylor was born in Pontiac, June 10. 1866. The mother died in 1868, but the father still survives. Of their ten children, the ma- jority reside in Michigan, and all in youth re- ceived good educations which prepared them for responsible positions in life.
Unto our subject and his estimable wife three children have been born, viz: Florence E .. who was born August 8, 1886; Morris E .. August 12. 1888, and Kate E., December, 13. 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are held in high esteem by their neighbors, and enjoy the friendship of a large cirele.
C HIARLES C. WALDO, one of the oldest cit- izens of Holly, has been for many years a Justice of the Peace in that village, and although more than eiglity years old he has the vigor and enterprise of a man in middle life. Ile has never had a suit reversed from his decision when carried up to the higher courts, and be has hield the position of Justice of the Peace for over twenty years. His thorough knowledge of the stat- utes and his sound judgment have saved an im-
mense amount of litigation to the citizens of Ilolly. Ile has been in the mercantile business in New York, Ohio, and Pontiac, Mich.
The subject of our sketch was born in Vermont in 1809, and is the son of Dr. Godfrey and Eliza- beth (Carpenter) Waldo, natives of Connecticut and New Hampshire respectively. The Doctor re- moved to New York and was in practice there for nearly half a century. Ile came to Michigan in 1838 and settled in the village of Birmingham, where he remained for five years and then retired from practice and made his final home in Pontiac, where he died in 1848 at the age of seventy-five years. His good wife died in Holly in 1872 at the venerable age of ninety-four years. They were both of French deseent. Their only surviving childl besides our subject is Margaret, now Mrs. Stephen Decatur, of California. The grandfather of our subject was Daniel Waldo, a Revolutionary hero. Ile was aid- de-camp to Gen. Putnam for one year. Then Gen. Washington placed him in charge of the Commis- sary Department, in which he remained until the elcse of the war. Like other members of the Waldo family he lived to a green old age, and died in the town of Pomfret, Conn.
le came to Holly in 1864 and purchased village property on the corner of Sherman and John streets. Ile was Treasurer of Oakland County from 1861 to 1866 and has been a member of the School Board and President of the village.
Although not a college-educated man, Mr. Waldo acquired a fine education in the common schools and academies of New York. Ile commenced life as a teacher, but in 1831 he began his mercantile career at linion, Broome County, N. Y. His first vote was cast for Gen. Jackson in 1828, and he bas followed his party with its ups and downs all these years. He says that he would like to live to vote once more for ex-President Cleveland for the first office in the gift of our people. He is a Mason and a Knight Templar. He is an earnestly relig. ious man and has been for fifty-seven years a stanchi member of the Presbyterian Church.
Onr subjeet was married in 1832 to Miss Ruth Seymour, of Broome County, N. Y. She died Sep- tember 20, 1865, leaving one son, A. Putnam Waldo, of Pontiac, Mich., who is engaged in the
PHILANDER J. WALTON.
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lumber business. His present wife, who was Mrs. Mary Axford, of Clarkston, is with him a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is one of the men that are an honor to any community. He is a man of broad ideas, and his word is law to the wrong- doer.
P HILANDER J. WALTON. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches," and while Mr. Walton has chosen the better part he has at the same time gained financial success. After many years devoted to tilling the soil he removed, in 1882, with his family, to the city of Pontiac, where they have a beautiful home at No. 34 Huron Street. A pioneer of this county, he has been a witness of its wonderful growth and has contributed his quota toward its development. In this volume we seek to perpetuate the memory of those who have been identified with the progress of Oakland County, and we present to our readers a portrait of Mr. Walton on the opposite page, to accompany the following brief account of his life.
Grandfather Jonathan Walton, a native of Wales, came to America in Colonial days and served during the entire Revolutionary War. John Walton, .father of our subjeet, was born in Rutland, V't., August 15, 1777, and was also an ardent patriot. Ile was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was pres- ent at the burning of Buffalo. His wife, Eleanor Nelson, was born in Massachusetts June 15, 1783, and was a daughter of John Nelson of that State. Her paternal grandfather was born in Ireland. The parents of our subjeet inaugurated the new century by choosing its beginning as their wedding day, being married January 1, 1800, in Lima, Liv- ingston County, N. Y. After their marriage they settled on a farin a few miles from Chili Corners. and later moved to the town of Ogden, where they sojourned until 1834.
At the above mentoned date John Walton, ac- companied by his family, removed as far west as Michigan and located in Oakland County, buying a partially improved farm in Bloomfield Township. The father, with the assistance of the other mem- bers of the family, commenced the improvement of
the land, erected good farm buildings and carried on stock raising and general farming. lle made a specialty of sheep, of which he kept an excellent flock. This place was the home of the father until he died in 1869, at the age of ninety-two. The mother was called from earth in 1862. These good people had gained many friends during their resi- dence in this county and at their death were widely mourned.
Eleven children came to the home of John and Eleanor Walton, eight of whom grew to the estate of manhood and womanhood. Two alone now sur- vive-Philander J., and Eleanor, the widow of Caleb llarris. Philander J. was born in Ogden Township, Monroe County, N. Y., September 11, 1827, and was only seven years old when he was brought by his parents to this county. His school advantages were good in comparison with what others enjoyed at that early day, and after attend- ing the district school for a time he went to Bir- mingham to school. Ile remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, aiding in the farm work and becoming a practical agriculturist.
On December 17, 1851, Mr. Walton was united in marriage with Miss Elmira S. Torrey, of Bloom- field Township. The bride was born in Buffalo, N. Y., November 11, 1830, and is the daughter of Charles and Mary (Van Dewater) Torrey. When she was three years old she was brought by her parents to this county, where her father settled in Pontiac Township. After their mar- riage the young couple settled on the old homestead, which had belonged to the father of Mr. Walton, and there they made a pleasant home. Mr. Walton engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of fine sheep, and also operated as a gen- eral farmer. One child blessed the marriage of our subject-Alice, who first married J. D. Thorpe, by whom she had one daughter, Mabel. She is now the wife of Freeman Wilson and they reside on the old homestead on section 2, Bloomfield Township, which has for so many years been the property of the Walton family.
In 1881 Mr. Walton was elected Ilighway Com- missioner. Politieally he is a staneh Democrat, voting for the men who are pledged to the support of the principles of that party. He cast his first
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Presidential vote for Cass in 1848 and his last vote for Cleveland. In 1885 he was elected Alder. man, and served three terms up to 1891, when he was chosen Supervisor of the Fourth Ward. In 1869 he was selected Treasurer of Bloomfield Township, and served with efficiency and faithful. ness until 1872. In 1881 he was elected llighway Commissioner, and filled this position, as all others, to the general satisfaction, lle still owns a fine farm of one hundred acres on section 1, Bloomfield Township, which is the old Torrey homestead. Ilis declining years are being pleasantly passed, free from labor and care, and surrounded by the friends whom he has made by honorable dealing and an upright life.
ENRY S. COX, M.D. This able physician and surgeon is confining his attention to sur- gery in which he manifests much skill. Hle is not able to endure the hard riding that a general practice entails, but has lost none of his former energy or coolness and decision. Ile is therefore perfectly qualified for surgical work. and he has many calls, having a reputation unexcelled in the locality. His home is in Franklin where he has resided since 1867. In addition to his record as a practicing physician and surgeon in time of peace, be has the additional repute gained on Southern battlefields and in the hospitals where the soldiers of the Civil War suffered for their devo- tion to principles. He entered the army in 1861 and served until the close of the war, first in the ranks and then as Hospital Steward and Assistant Surgeon. In recalling those trying days, we are prone to forget that the loss of life would have been incalculably greater had it not been for the heroes who worked under the yellow flag and dis- played a moral courage equal, if not superior, to that shown by those who marched up to the can- non's mouth.
The father of our subject was Peter Cox, a na-
tive of England, and a farmer by occupation. Hle was born in 1772, and in his early life reared, the children of two sisters, sending them to the acad- emy and giving them excellent advantages. After these duties had been performed he married Anna Norton, who was born in England in 1811. To them were born three sons and two daughters. The second son opened his eyes to the light near Bristol, England, July 2, 1826, and was christened Ilenry S. Ile pursued his studies in his native place, completing his literary course at the Alveston Ilouse. Ilaving decided to become a physician, he studied in the city of Bath prior to his emigra- tion which occurred in 1848. He came direct to this State and made his first home in Jackson. After a sojourn of about four months he went to Detroit and thence removed to Franklin. He bought a sawmill and carried it on two years, and then went to Ann Arbor to freshen up his professional knowledge preparatory to entering upon work in that line.
Returning to Franklin Dr. Cox felt called upon to join those who were enlisting under the old Hag, having as full sympathy with republican prin- ciples as though he had been a native of the United States. August 13, 1861, he was enrolled in Com- pany G, First Michigan Cavalry and was soon promoted to Corporal, then to Orderly Sergeant and to Acting Lieutenant. Ilis knowledge of medicine and surgery led to his becoming Hospital Steward and Assistant Surgeon, and as such be fin- ished his term of service and was honorably dis- charged June 16, 1865. The following September he located in Barry County, but after practicing there two years he returned to his old home at Franklin. He has been Justice of the Peace fifteen years and for the same length of time has held a place on the School Board. Ile is a Mason and has taken two degrees in the Chapter at Birming- ham. He has also been connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1852, Dr. Cox was married to Grace Trick, a native of this county, who died during the first years of his residence in Franklin. Their union was blest by the birth of five daughters, of whom we note the following: Nellie G., the first-born. died when she was seven years old; Mattie J. is
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living with her father; Almina married Robert T. Gamble of Southfield; Anna G. died when seven- teen years old; a second Nellie G. married Ilosea D. Beebe, of Southfield Township.
Z ALMON C. JONES, who resides on a fine farm on section 1, Novi Township, is the son of Daniel Jones, a Welsh farmer. Ilis mother was Hannah (Doane) Jones, a native of New Hampshire. The father came to America when a young man and made his home in Massa- chusetts. There he married and then went to Wyoming County, N. Y., where this worthy couple resided until death.
The subject of this sketch is the only surviving one of five children. of the parental family. He was born December 20, 1811, in Wales, N. Y. Ilis parents were members of the Baptist Church, and were active in church matters. The father was a Republican in politics. Our subject's grandfather, Jones, served in the Revolutionary War, and lived to the great age of ninety years. When twenty- one years old he began work for himself. Ile worked by the month for Gen. Wadsworth on the Genesee Flats in New York. One season he milked ninety eows and another season eighty.
The marriage of Mr. Jones took place January 15, 1839. His bride was Rachael Rouse, a daugh- ter of Simon and Polly (Cole) Rouse, both New Englanders. Mr. Rouse was a farmer and soldier in the War of 1812. The first home of Mr. and Mrs. Rouse was in New York State, where they settled upon an uncultivated and unbroken farm. Ile died in 1836 and she in 1865. Mrs. Rouse was twice married, and Mr. Rouse had contracted three matrimonial alliances. They were the par- ents of three children, two of whom are now living.
Mrs. Jones was born April 23, 1818, in New York State, and she received an excellent common school education at the hands of her parents. After marriage she and her young husband settled upon sixty aeres of land in Wyoming County, N. Y., where they resided for four years. In 1844 they removed to Michigan and took up eighty
acres of unbroken forest, building a log house and undertaking to subdue that portion of the wilderness which they had chosen for their new home. Besides the cultivation of his land the young man was obliged to work out for neighbors in order to earn money wherewith to purchase provisions.
Mr. Jones has added to his land from time to time and now has eighty acres of his one hundred under cultivation. In 1867 he built the beautiful residence in which he now lives at a cost of $1,200 cash, besides his own labor. All the improvements which appear upon this fine farm have been placed there by him and here he had made his home for forty-seven years. It was a wild country in its native state and required much hard labor to sub- due it, involving the removal of stumps and stones as well as the felling of trees.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been the parents of five children, four of whom are now living: Raw- son is married to Amanda Bennett and lives in Novi Township; Newell, is married to Asenath Gillett and lives at Walled Lake; they are the parents of five children; Clarke married Irene Ben- nett, and makes his home in Commerce Township; Alice is deceased; Elvira, wife of James Seamark, makes her home in Waterford Township. The parents are both members of the Baptist Church at Walled Lake, and their son Newell is a Deaeon in that organization. They gave to all their chil- dren the best common-school education which their location and times afforded. In politics our subject is a straight Republican and he has al- ways been a man of strictly temperate habits. Ile has now retired from active farming and is enjoy- ing his later years in peace and happiness, with the consciousness of a life well-spent.
E ZEKIEL DENNIS. Among the prominent farmers of Independence Township, none ranks higher in the estimation of the neigli- hors than the subject of this sketch, who resides on section 12, of Independence Township, and is the owner also of land in the adjoining township of Orion, in all about three hundred acres. IIe is
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the son of John and Diodema (Tingley ) Dennis, and was born in Sussex County, N. J., July 19, 1821. He was reared on the farm and when about twenty years of age, went to learn the trade of a carpenter, and served three years with Miles llar- den of Sussex County, N. J. He followed his trade for about seven years.
On the 18th of November, 1848, Mr. Den- nis wedded Miss Mary Decker, the daughter of James Decker. She was born in the same county with himself, July 3, 1824. This union was blessed with three sons: Amzi, born September 11. 1849, who married Augusta Hammond and resides on the homestead; Gabriel P., born June 17, 1854, and is married to Eva MI. Wiser. They reside in the town of Oxford, this county; John II., born May 15, 1860, married Mary Farrell. They also reside on the farm.
Mr. Dennis came to Michigan in 1851, and bought two hundred and fifteen acres of land in Independence Township, where he has ever since resided. Eight brothers and two sisters of Mr. Dennis all grew to manhood and womanhood, but Ezekiel is the only male representative now liv- ing. In political life Mr. Dennis has always been a Democrat and has been called upon to fill all the town offices of his township at different times and was Justice of the Peace for twenty-eight years. His beloved wife died July 8, 1887, and he now resides with his two sons on the old home- stend, where he enjoys all the comforts of a quiet and retired life. Ile contemplates a visit to the home of his childhood during the present summer.
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AMES 11. ROCKWELL, a successful farmer residing in Bloomfield Township, was born in the same township on a farm which ad- joins his, April 16, 1845. He is a son of .James M. and Eliza E. (Harff ) Rockwell, natives of Monroe and Rensselaer Counties, N. Y., respec- tively. They both came to Michigan with their parents when quite young and settled in this county. The paternal grandparents were John and Sarah (Leet) Rockwell, both natives of Con-
neeticut and early settlers in Monroe County, N. Y. They came to Michigan in 1827 and set- tled in Bloomfield Township on the farm now owned by Frank IIarff. A little later they bought a farm which is now owned by Alfred and Charles Rockwell. They were among the very earliest settlers and here ended their days.
The father of our subject was one of a family of eight children. At a very early day he settled on the farm where he ended his days, and which is now owned and occupied by his second wife and two sons. Under contract with the Govern- ment he built the Grand River Turnpike and also the Ft. Gratiot Pike. Ile was a man of consider- able means in his later years, having gained by his own efforts all of his fortune. Ile was an earnest Whig and later a Republican, but was never an as- pirant for any office. He was a well-read man and possessed of an unusually good memory. Both he and his good wife took an active part in church matters, being members of the Congregational Church.
The mother of our subjeet was born in Rens- selaer County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Newton) Ilarff, who were both natives of Vermont. They came to Michigan at an early day and settled in Troy, this county, . where they spent the remainder of their lives. The mother died April 22, 1848, at the early age of twenty-eight years. The father was afterward married to Zada A. Adams, of Rensselaer County, N. Y. Our subject was the only child of the first marriage. By the second marriage there were four children-Zada M., Sarah E., Alfred A. and Charlie L.
James was reared in this town and remained with his father until his death. He continued in the management of the old home until 1874, when he bought his present farm, which is known as "Ilickory Grove Stock Farm." He has one hundred and thirty acres of land all well improved, and is raising Jersey cattle. Ile has devoted bis life to farming and has been a successful farmer as the finc condition of his land and the excellent build- ings testify. A view of his home is shown else- where in this volume.
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