USA > Michigan > St Clair County > St. Clair County, Michigan, its history and its people; a narrative account of its historical progress and its principal interests, Vol. II > Part 2
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Mr. Sherman's ancestry of the Sherman name is traced back four- teen generations, to Thomas Sherman, of Diss, connty Norfolk, Eng- land, who died in the year 1493. Edmund Sherman, his immigrant an- cestor, came to America about the year 1633, and died at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1641. Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declara- tion of Independence, was a descendant of Captain John Sherman, who came to America at about the same time as his consin, Edmund Sherman. General William Tecumseh Sherman also was a descendant of Edmund Sherman. Vice President James Schoolcraft Sherman's immigrant an- cestor was Samuel Sherman, a cousin of Edmund Sherman.
Loren Albert Sherman was born on a farm in the township of Ben- nington, Wyoming county, New York, March 14. 1844. the youngest child and only son of Albert Clark Sherman and Mary Ann (Scotford) Sherman, to whom previously had been born three daughters. Albert Clark Sherman was born at Woodbury, Litchfield county, Connecticut, September 10, 1813. Mary Ann Scotford was born at Utica, New York, July 20, 1813, of English parentage. Mr. Sherman's paternal grand- mother was Percy Riley, of pure Irish blood. Albert Clark Sherman was a farmer at the time of his son's birth. and died six months later. Mr. Sherman's mother, after remaining a widow for nearly fourteen years. was married to John Holcombe, of Adams, Hillsdale county,
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Michigan, in the spring of 1858. Mr. Holcombe died four years later. She died in Port Huron. JJanuary 31, 1903, aged nearly ninety years.
In the fall of 1851 Mr. Sherman's mother removed with her family. including two daughters. one having died in infancy, to Michigan, locat- ing at De Witt. Clinton county, where her brother. John Seotford, a Con- gregational minister, then resided. Two years later the family removed to Olivet. Eaton county, that the children might have the advantages of schooling at Olivet Institute, which later became Olivet College.
At the age of fourteen years young Sherman found employment in a grocery store at Jackson, Michigan, and afterward in other mercantile establishments in that city. During the winter of 1860-61 he was a student at Hillsdale College. In the early summer of 1861 he returned to Jackson. and in the following August enlisted as a private in Com- pany G. First Michigan Infantry. The succeeding spring he was appointed hospital steward of the regiment. During the historie Seven Days battles he incurred disabilities which rendered him unfit for fur ther service, and he was honorably discharged at Harrison's Landing. Virginia, July 31. 1862.
Returning to Hillsdale county, Michigan, where his mother then resided. it was several months before Mr. Sherman's health and strength were sufficiently restored to permit him to take up any line of work. Late in November, 1862, he located at Adrian, Michigan, and engaged in the book and news business. A year later he was tendored and accepted a position in the business office of the Adrian Daily Erpositor, where he gained his initial experience in the field of enterprise in which he was destined subsequently to achieve marked success. Upon the retirement of Henry E. Baker from the editorship of the Expositor a year or two later, Mr. Sherman succeeded him, holding the position until the Detroit Daily Post was established, in the spring of 1866. He then removed to Detroit and became night and state editor of the Post, a few months later he was advanced to the position of managing editor by General Carl Sehurz. editor-in-chief of the paper. This position he retained for a year, when he resumed his former place as night and state editor, which he held until the fall of 1870.
At this point began Mr. Sherman's association with newspaper and general affairs in St. Clair county. Removing to Port Huron in October, 1870, he assumed the management of the Port Huron Weekly Times. In March of the following year he began the publication of the Tri- Weekly Times, and in the spring of 1872 established the Daily Times, the weekly edition being continued. Thereafter, until July 1. 1907. he was both editor and business manager of the paper, except for a period between 1875 and 1878. when James IT. Stone was its editor, until July 1. 1907, when he sold a controlling interest in its common stock to his son. Fred W .. who assumed the management of the paper. Mr. Sherman continuing as editorial writer. At the close of the year 1909 Fred W. Sherman sold his interest in the Times to Messrs. Ottaway and Weil, and it was consolidated with the Herald, the name becoming the Times- Herald.
With a well-disciplined mind and fortified by long association with men and affairs, Mr. Sherman is recognized as an especially able edi- torial writer, and through his utterances in the newspaper press he has wielded much influence in the guiding of public thought and action in
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eastern Michigan. His literary contributions have been numerous out- side of the editorial columns, and have included many interesting letters of travel and literary articles, the major portion of which have been published in the paper with which he has been so long identified. He has made a special study of psychic philosophy and has developed some original ideas in that line of inquiry. These are largely embodied in his published book entitled "Science of the Soul." Mr. Sherman has traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the West Indies, Europe, Egypt, India, Ceylon, Java, Japan, China, the Philip- pine Islands and Hawaii, and his letters descriptive of his travels have been most interesting and graphie, with a constant touch of originality, showing rare powers of observation and marked literary ability. He was in the city of San Francisco on the occasion of the disastrous earthquake and fire, in 1906, and later published a detailed account of his incidental experiences and observations.
As a citizen Mr. Sherman has ever stood as an exponent of the highest loyalty, progressiveness and publie spirit. He has given his influence and tangible co-operation in the fostering of movements and enterprises tending to advance the social and material welfare of his home city and county, and his mature judgment and excellent business ability have been exemplified in connection with publie interests as well as in his private affairs. To him is due the establishing of the first telephone exchange in Port Huron, of which he was its manager for fifteen years. He was for seventeen years manager of the city opera house, and among his many contribution to the city of his home was the erection of the fine Auditorium building, besides which he erected also the White build- ing, the Sherman building and the Rockspring bathhouse building. He was associated with other representative citizens of Port Huron in estab- lishing the first summer resort on the banks of the Beautiful St. Clair river, called "Idlewild," in the year 1880.
In politics Mr. Sherman has ever been a stalwart and effective advo- cate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, and he has been an honored and influential figure in its councils in Michigan. He continues his activities as a leader in political and gen- eral civie reforms, and those who know him best most fully realize the sincerity and integrity of the man and the wisdom of his advice and coun- sel in matters touching the general welfare of the community. He has been zealous in the promotion of the interests of his party. in the further- ance of good government and in fostering eivie and industrial progress. Ile served as chairman of the Republican city committee of Port Huron from 1871 to 1879; was twice a member of the Port Huron board of edu- cation, and was postmaster of Port Huron from April 1. 1899, to Deeem- ber 1, 1909.
Though maintaining a deep reverence for spiritual varieties and giv- ing his support to religious activities, Mr. Sherman is not formally identi- fied with any church organization and is liberal and tolerant in his views. He is affiliated with William Sanborn Post, No. 198, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he served as commander for two years; also with the Modern Maccabees and the Knights of the Maccabees of the World. He is identified with the National Press Association. the Michigan Press Association, the Michigan Republican Newspaper Association, the East- ern Michigan Press Association, and the Inland Daily Press Association.
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In the city of Adrian, Michigan, on the 6th of September, 1865, was solemized the marriage of Mr. Sherman and Miss Estella Caroline Ward, who was born in that city, on the 22d of January, 1848, and whose father, Josiah Ward, a native of New Hampshire, was one of the early and prominent members of the Michigan bar, engaged in the practice of his profession at Adrian. To Mr. and Mrs. Sherman were born three sons and one daughter. The two younger sons died in childhood. Frederick Ward Sherman, eldest of the children, was born in the city of Detroit. on the 3d of February. 1867. He was graduated in the Port Huron high school and thereafter was associated with his father in the publication of the Port Huron Times until it was consolidated with the Port Inrou Herald, as already noted, on the Ist of January, 1910. He is now editor and publisher of the Daily Independent, at Santa Barbara, California. His wife was Charlotte Esther Wolfe, of Port Huron. Their oldest son, Albert Wolfe Sherman, a graduate of the University of Michigan, now resides in Los Angeles, California. Their second son, Frederick Carl Sherman, a graduate of the United States naval academy, is an ensign in the navy. A third son died in infancy. Charlotte Esther is their youngest child. Mary Eleanor, still younger, is an adopted child.
Edith Ward, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Loren A. Sherman, is the wife of Ross L. Mahon. Their residence is the Sherman family home, 1433 Military street, Port Huron. They have one child. Estella L'Es- trange, born March 12, 1911. Mr. Mahon is treasurer of the Riverside Printing Company, of which Mr. Sherman is president.
JAMES HI. PRATT. A young man of excellent business capacity and judgment, James HI. Pratt. eashier of Goodells Bank, at Goodells, was officially connected with one of the more substantial private banking institutions of Saint Clair county. A native of this county, he was born in Riley township, October 6, 1884.
His father, Robert Mus Pratt, was born in London, Canada. Coming to Michigan when young, he has since lived the greater part of the time in Saint Clair county, being now a prosperous farmer and stock grower of Riley township. In Saint Clair county he married Anna Tuttle, also a native of Canada, and of the seven children that blessed their union six are living, as follows: Frank, engaged in farming in Sanilae county, Michigan, married Bessie Nestle ; Burt, a prosperous farmer of Riley township, married Myrtle Scribner ; Alice, wife of John Yeager, of Port Huron, Michigan ; James II., the special subject of this brief sketch ; Ella, living with her parents; and Charles, assistant cashier in Goodells Bank, One daughter, Lillian, died at the age of thirteen years.
Brought up in Riley township, James IT. Pratt attended the rural schools of his district until sixteen years old, after which he assisted for a while in the work of the home farm. Entering then the Dean Business College at Port Huron, he was graduated from that institution in 1907, and is also a graduate of four different correspondence schools. He has a good knowledge of law, having studied it for a year and a half, first in the offices of Avery & Shell, and later with Frederick B. Brown. For four months Mr. Pratt was bookkeeper and correspondence clerk for the firm of Meeker & Company, in Detroit, Michigan, but was forced to re- sign the position on account of ill health. He then went to work on his farm in Riley township, continning until the organization of Goodells
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Bank, when he was made its cashier. He afterward became one of the four partners of the firm of C. C. Peck & Company, which owned the Goodells Bank, Mr. C. C. Peck being president of the institution and Mr. Pratt was its cashier. The bank is one of the solid institutions of the county, having been founded on a substantial basis, the liabilities of the partners amounting to $100,000.
On April 1, 1912, Mr. Pratt resigned his position as cashier of Goodells Bank, his brother, Charles Pratt, succeeding him, and entered the automobile and real estate business in Detroit, Michigan, associating himself with the Suburban Motor Car Company and the Suburban City Company of Detroit.
HERBERT BENTON HITCHINGS. Conspicuous among the representa- tive business men of St. Clair county is H. B. Hitchings, of Capac, who is identified with the G. W. and F. T. Moore Bank in the capacity of cashier. He has shown marked discrimination in his part of the man- agement of the affairs of the institution and the personal integrity and high standing of the interested principals constitute its most valuable as- set and give assurance of its continued growth and prosperity.
Mr. Hitchings by the circumstance of birth belongs to the Dominion of Canada, his eyes having first opened to the light of day near St. Stephens, New Brunswiek, January 26, 1864. His father, A. L. Hitch- ings, was born March 1, 1836, near St. Stephens, and there resided until about forty years of age, when he went to Caribou, Maine, and there he still resides, making his home upon a farm. The mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Moore, and who likewise is a native of New Bruns- wick, survives. These admirable citizens are the parents of a family of six children, as follows: Herbert, of this review; Ernest, who was called to the life eternal at the age of fourteen; Mary, who is now the wife of Luther Hall and makes her home at Caribou; Aldice, a farmer, residing in the vieinity of Caribou; Everett, who makes his home at Caribou and engages in the great basic industry, and Gertrude, wife of Frank Hale, also a farmer at Caribou, Maine.
The early life of Mr. Hitehings was spent in New Brunswick and on his father's farm in Maine, where he learned life's first practical lessons and in the district school he received an educational training which has served as a foundation for his subsequent active and successful business career. At the age of twenty-two years he started out upon an independ- ent career, and came to Northern Michigan, where he engaged in the logg- ing business, continuing in this field of industry for four years. He then came to Capac, St. Clair county, and embarked in the banking busi- ness, with which he has ever since been successfully identified. Sound judgment, clear discernment and a faculty to look carefully into details are among his marked characteristics, while his integrity and high stand- ing in the world of business have won the esteem and confidence of all with whom he has dealings.
On the twenty-fourth day of September, 1890, Mr. Hitchings and Miss Clara Dinsmore, of Avoca, Michigan, were made man and wife. The Dinsmores originally came from New Brunswiek, but came to Michigan some fifty years ago and settled near Avoca on a farm. About eleven years ago they removed to Huron, Michigan, to live and their residence is now maintained at that city. Mrs. Hitchings is one of a family of nine
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children. Two of this number still reside beneath the parental roof-tree; one is at Coral ; one at Avora ; one in the west ; and one at South Bend, Indiana. They are in truth pretty well scattered over this country of ours. The happy union of Mr. Ilitchings and his estimable wife has been blessed by the birth of seven sons and daughters, namely : Helen, Marion, Herbert, David, Barbara, Ruth and Ralph.
Mr. Hitchings is a popular and enthusiastic lodge man, holding mem- bership in the Masons, the Maccabees, the Foresters and the Woodmen. Ile is a member of the school board of Capac and to its affairs he has brought the same faithfulness and efficiency that he manifests in his business enterprises. Ile takes a pardonable pride in promoting the prosperity of his town and his name appears in connection with a num- her of its most important public improvements. lle is still in the prime of life and is fortified with the laudable determination to press forward to higher accomplishments in commercial and financial avenues. The Hitchings' home is one of the most pleasant and hospitable in Capae and the members of the family oeenpy an enviable position in the affairs of the little eity.
WILL T. HENDRICK, D. D. S., of St. Clair, Michigan, who for many years has been successfully engaged in prospecting, is now largely in- terested in mining enterprises. During the twenty years that he has been a resident of St. Clair he has been associated with various business ventures and has also interested himself in political matters, and throughout his career has been known as a man of the highest integrity and business honor. Dr. Ilendrick was born at Honghton, Michigan, November 15, 1857, and is a son of William and Nancy ( Goodsell) IJen- drick, his father being for twenty-eight years a lawyer and judge of Houghton and Baraga counties, who retired from active life in 1887.
Dr. Ilendrick's early schooling was secured at Houghton, but when he was still a youth his parents removed to L'Anse, where he graduated from the high school in 1874. Ile was a student under his uncle, Dr. J. B. Goodsell, of Laingsburg. for a time, but in 1883 returned to L'Anse, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. Soon thereafter he began prospecting, and on coming to St. Clair in 1891 he retired from the dental field in order to give his whole attention to the other business. In 1903 he took a trip through old Mexico and Arizona, and now owns mueh valuable property throughout that section. While he has been identified with polities for many years and has served for a long period as chairman of the city Democratie committee, Dr. Hendrick has never been an office seeker, and the only times when his name has been men- tioned as a candidate for public preferment have been on several occa- sions when he was away from home. Ilis religions faith is that of the Episcopal church. Ile has a large acquaintance in and around St. Clair and is very popular with all who know him.
Dr. Hendrick was married May 30, 1884, to Miss Miranda E. Ilart. of Pieton, Ontario, daughter of James and Nancy (Burns) Hart. the former a farmer and land owner of Ontario who was also an extensive breeder of cattle. To this union there were born children as follows: Nancy A .; Sarah C., who married Edward Groulx, of Bay City, Mich- igan ; and John M. and James II., residing in St. Clair. The mother of the foregoing children died November 3, 1893, and on July 6. 1895. Dr.
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Hendrick was married to Miss Sarah Thompson, of St. Clair, daughter of Davis and Mary (Geneau) Thompson. Mrs. Hendrick's grandmother Geneau died in 1908, at the remarkable age of 105 years. Dr. and Mrs. Hendrick had the following children: Mary E., William D., Charles H., Frankie A., Richard F., Minnie C., Margaret C. and F. George.
HON. THOMAS HAMILTON PARKINSON. Among the families which have longest and most actively been identified with St. Clair county one of the best known is that represented by Hon. Thomas Hamilton Parkin- son, of Yale, who himself has conferred honor on the name and has long been prominent in the affairs of the county.
Thomas Hamilton Parkinson is a native of Ontario, Canada, and was born near the city of London, June 17, 1848. The family record is in many ways a remarkable one. His father was the late Captain Thomas Parkinson, an honored citizen and early settler of St. Clair county. The original home of the family was Ireland, and Captain Thomas was born in county Down, near the town of Seaford, August 4, 1793. His father was Robert Parkinson, who in 1820 brought his family to America and located in Genesee county, New York, where he lived until his death.
In 1823 Captain Thomas located in the township of London, seven miles from the city of that name, in Ontario. He was a pioneer of that section of Ontario. As a young man in his native country he had seen service as a yeoman in the British army, and during the rebellion of 1837 in Canada he was called into service and became captain of a company. continuing with the army until the close of the rebellion. In that way he earned the title by which he was always afterwards known. By oc- cupation he was a farmer, and became one of the substantial and repre- sentative citizens of his community.
Captain Thomas' wife, whom he married in Ontario, November 19, 1830, was Miss Mary McRobert. She was also a native of county Down, Ireland, where she was born March 20, 1803, a daughter of James Mc- Robert. In 1850 Captain Thomas and wife removed to Lampton county, Ontario, and in 1857 crossed the boundary and settled in St. Clair county, Michigan. The old home place, which for many years thereafter was identified with the Parkinson name, was in Emmet township, about two miles from the village of Brockway. He secured a large tract of land here and developed from the wilderness which then existed a good farm and home. As one of the early settlers in this part of the county he did much for the improvement of the locality, and until his death was a highly honored citizen. In politics he always adhered to the Re- publican party, though he never aspired to office.
In the annals of Freemasonry the record of Captain Parkinson is probably unique. He became a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 1009, in the town of Seaford, Ireland. December 27, 1813. he then not being twenty-one years of age. At that time the chartered lodges had the power to make by-laws, and it was by a special dispensation that he was admitted while under age. He was elected senior warden of this lodge in 1816, and in 1819 was elected junior warden, and was exalted to the Royal Arch degree and created a Knight Templar before leaving Sea- ford. He demitted April 10, 1821, and on December 27th of the same year assisted in installing the officers of a Masonic lodge at Parma, Mon- roe county, New York. On emigrating to Canada in 1823 he became
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a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 20, at Westminister, and largely through his work this lodge, which had been declining, was revived. In 1838 he assisted in forming Lodge No. 209 in what was then the village, now the eity of London, Ontario. The charter was granted to a number of old regular Masons of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. In 1840 he as- sisted in forming the first Royal Arch Chapter at London, and he was master of the first veil. During his career as a Mason he filled all the chairs in lodge, chapter and commandery, and in addition to his own record other members of the family contributed to the associations with this ancient craft. His great-grandfather had become a Mason early in the eighteenth century, his grandfather about 1750, his brother James in 1810, and his father in 1821. Ilis father took his degrees in Lodge No. 1009, and at the time his son James was the worshipful master and his son Thomas the senior warden, so that the sons had the honor of in- itiating, passing and raising the father.
Captain Parkinson passed away the 28th of July, 1888, and his wife on October 7, 1889. They were the parents of ten children, named as follows: Mary A., now deceased, who was the wife of John Hubbard : Robert, deceased : Nancy, deceased. who married John P. Brown ; Sally Jane, deceased, the wife of William Wees; James, deceased ; William J., a resident of Birmingham, Michigan; Margaret is the present wife of John Hubbard, whose first wife was her sister Mary ; Rebecca married. first, Stephen J. Wallace, deceased, and is now the wife of William Wees. the former husband of her sister Sally Jane; Henry, who resides near Yale ; and Thomas II., the youngest of the family.
Thomas Hamilton Parkinson was reared on his father's farm and has been a resident of St. Clair county since he was nine years old. Farming has been his vocation practically all his life, and he is one of the most successful of St. Clair county's agriculturists. His early education was obtained partly in Canada and partly in this county. He has always been a keen observer, has gained wide information on many subjects, and his judgment has been thoroughly respected by his fellow citizens.
On the 4th of December, 1878, he was married in this eounty to Miss Jane L. Shutt. She is a representative of one of the oldest families con- nected with the history of St. Clair county. She was born in Mussy township, near Capac, May 27, 1855, a daughter of Richard and Ann D. (Love) Shutt. Iler father, who was born in Lancashire, England, March 27, 1828, immigrated to the United States in 1848, and from that time until his death was a resident and respected citizen of St. Clair county. Mrs. Park'ison's mother was born in St. Clair county, July 13, 1831. a daughters of Robert and Jane (Barber) Love, who belonged in the pioneer class of this county. Richard Shutt and wife were married in April, 1854. and their ten children are named as follows: Jane L., who beeame Mrs. Parkinson : Christopher J., dereased ; Robert D., a resident of Tacoma, Washington ; Preston, deceased ; Ellen E., now deceased. who became the wife of George Proctor; Annie M., the wife of Dr. Duncan Paterson, of Capac; Mary A., unmarried, who makes her home on her father's old homestead : Eva, also unmarried and living with her sister Mary ; Margaret, deceased : and Wamsley P., who manages the old home- stead and resides with his sisters. The mother of this family passed away June 7. 1898, and the father on February 5, 1599.
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