BIOGRAPHIES - Pages 353-365

    
     JAMES WATERMAN HOPKINS. The gentleman of whom we shall attempt to give a biographical sketch in outline, was born in Argyle, Washington County, N.Y., May 14,1840. He has naturally an executive ability that has pushed him to the front so that he is well known wherever he happens to be. In the words of a breezy account given of the gentleman in one of the Lansing papers, not to know "Jim" is unpopular. He is the Grand Keeper of Records and Seals of the Knights of Pythias, of Michigan.

     The father of Mr. Hopkins was Dr. Freeman Hopkins, who was born in Argyle, Washington County, N. Y. His paternal grandfather, James Hopkins, who was a native of Rhode Island, was a blacksmith by trade. At an early day he removed to Washington County, N.Y., and there located on a farm of five hundred and sixty-five acres that is still in possession of the Hopkins family, Later he removed to Wayne County, N.Y., where he was a pioneer in the township of Sodus. He established the fashion there for gentlemen of wearing a shawl, by wearing a checked blanket over his shoulders on one of his trips from Wayne to Washington County. Interestingly original, he was amiable and companionable and liked by all the early settlers in the portion of the county where he lived. He graduated at Fairfield, N.Y., in 1831, and later took his degree as physician from a New York Medical College. Soon after he came to Michigan where he remained a short time at Albion and Kalamazoo, but he returned to Washington County N.Y., and later to Wayne County. All this time he was engaged in the practice of his profession.

     In 1845 our subject's father came again to Michigan and after a short stay at Albion he located at Kalamazoo and there practiced medicine until the fall of the year of 1866. At this time he removed to Otsego, and there his death occurred July 31, 1873. He was deeply mourned by many friends and acquaintances. Throughout life he was a strong adherent of the Republican party. Our subject's mother was Adeline M. Potter in her maiden days. She is a native of Argyle, Washington County, N.Y., being there born November 29, 1809. She is a daughter of Abel and Mary (Waterman) Potter, natives of Rhode Island. Later her father became a farmer in Washington County, N.Y. Mrs. Hopkin's paternal grandfather was Sand Potter, who was a native of Danbury, Conn. Her great-grandfather was Thomas Potter, also born at Danbury, Conn., and her great-great-grandfather was Daniel Potter, born at New Haven, Conn. He was the oldest son of Nathaniel Potter, who was born in New Haven, Conn., and Nathaniel's father was William Potter, who came from England to this country about the year 1735 in company with his brother John. Together they sailed from London on the sailing vessel "Abigail." On landing in this country they settled at New Haven, Conn., and there were the first settlers in America of this branch of the Potter family. Our subject's mother still resides in Argyle, N.Y. She is a woman of striking personality and is foremost in every good and progressive work that is undertaken at her home. She is a Baptist in her church preference.

     When Mr. Hopkins was only five years of age he removed with his parents from the county of his birth over to Wayne County, same State, and there he remained until he was thirteen years of age, at which time he with the whole family came to Kalamazoo, Mich., and that city he has called his home until moving to Lansing. The rudiments of his education were acquired in the district school of his native place, after which he graduated at the Kalamazoo College. He then went to Union College of Schenectady, N.Y., and graduated in the Class of '61, taking the degree of A. B. in the classical course. He took his degree of A. M. at the same college in 1864.

     With his sheepskin under his arm our subject came from college to Judge Giddings law office in Kalamazoo and tried to master the abstruseness of (354) Blackstone. Deciding that his affection for legal
lore was not so great that he could spend his life over musty law books, he drifted into journalism and took a reportorial position on the Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph where he remained three years. During that time he was elected Clerk of the township which at that time included the city. He held that office until 1866 and so well did he perform the duties of the office that his constituents decided that he was fitted for a more exalted position, and in accordance with this decision they made him Clerk of the county, which office he held until 1873 and in April of that year he was elected Justice of the Peace. This office he held for four years. In 1877 he was appointed village Clerk and Water Commissioner of Kalamazoo and continued in this office until 1883, at which time many of his friends concluded that such ability as his would develop better in the service of the State at large and so secured his appointment in the Secretary of State's office at Lansing, and this position he continued to fill until December 3, 1890, when the change in local government occurred and he was put upon the retired list.

     March 21, 1871, Mr. James W. Hopkins was married to Miss Cora L. Eaton, daughter of the late Col. Willard G. Eaton, late of the Thirteenth Michigan Infantry. Mrs. Hopkins is a native of Otsego, Allegan County, Mich., and was educated at Kalamazoo College, that State. Col. Eaton was killed during the late war it the battle of Bentonville, S.C. Our subject and his wife are the proud parents of two interesting children who are just now verging upon manhood and womanhood. The daughter, Bessie Lee Hopkins, is a graduate at the Michigan Female Seminary at Kalamazoo. She is a very lovely and attractive young woman and has inherited from both parents the best intellectual qualities as well as a pleasing and agreeable temperament. Willard F., the son, is a student at the Agricultural College at Lansing, and his friends will be greatly disappointed if he does not fulfill their high expectations for him for a brilliant future.

     Our subject's present official position occupies all his time. He travels a great deal in the interest of the society. He is a member of the Capital Lodge, S. O., No. 66, of Lansing and is Past Master; he also belongs to the Kalamazoo Chapter No. 13, R. A. M. and Peninsular Commandery, No. 28, at Kalamazoo. He became a Mason of the Thirty-second Degree October 30, 1866, and is a member of the Northern jurisdiction in the valley of Grand Rapids. For many years he has been on the standing committee of returns of Subordinate Chapter and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Lansing. Mr. Hopkins has attended the Supreme Lodge sessions at Cincinnati, Ohio, and also at Milwaukee, and has thereby gained an extensive acquaintance throughout the Supreme
jurisdiction. At one of the sessions of the Grand Lodge at Michigan, held it Grand Rapids, our subject's duties were extended and he was made an Inspector of Lodges, or rather a Grand Lecturer and his friends anticipate that under this new order of affairs the lodges of Michigan will be greatly stimulated and spring forward into new activity. Aside from being an active Pythian, Mr. Hopkins ranks high in the Masonic order. In his political preference he is strongly Republican, indeed, so radical is he that his party consider him one of the safest delegates that they can send to county and State conventions. Our subject has sustained a severe blow in his domestic relations by the loss of his wife who died August 6, 1880. She was a most estimable woman and a perfect lady.

     MRS. CARRIE LANGENBACHER. The lady of whom we write is intelligently and successfully supervising the estate which was left to her by her husband, and is accumulating year by year more property and making herself more fully felt as a prosperous property holder .

     Our subject is the owner of the Pearl Mills at North Lansing which she rents to the North Lansing Milling Company. She is also a large stockholder in the People's Savings Bank and also a stockholder of the City National Bank of Lansing. (357) She was born at Ann Arbor May 21, 1861, her honored parents being Christian and Barbara (Gauss) Breisch, of whom our readers may learn more in the sketch of Christian Breisch, which is to be found elsewhere in this ALBUM.

     The early childhood of Carrie Breisch was spent in Ann Arbor and when she was four years old she removed to this city and here received her education. She was married to Mr. Andrew Langenbacher, who was born in Liverpool, Ohio, the date of their wedding being January 20, 1884. The father of Mr. Langenbacher also bore the name of Andrew and he had his nativity across the sea in the German's Fatherland. He came to America many years ago and locating at Liverpool, Ohio, began a mercantile life there. It was about the year 1876 when he removed West, and locating in North Lansing engaged in general merchandising. In this line of business he continued until he bought the old mills at North Lansing from Mr. Rauser, and removing them to a different site rebuilt them and engaged in the milling business, putting in the new process roller machinery. He lost his wife and was married a second time to Miss Anna Louisa Graf and his third marriage united him with Mrs. Breisch, who since his death in January, 1885, has resided with Mrs. Langenbacher.

     The husband of our subject was born July 7, 1860, and had his early education and training in Liverpool, Ohio. After coming to Michigan he had the advantages for two years of the Agricultural College, after, which he attended Bartlett's Business College and then took charge of the Pearl Mills at North Lansing. He worked his way up and in 1884 had become the proprietor of the mill and engaged in the business independently. Up to the time of his death, which occurred September 5, 1886, he was considered the principal miller in Lansing. For a man of his time of life he was very prominent and remarkably popular and had already achieved financial success in his business. He belonged to the Royal Arcanum and in his political views and vote was in alliance with the Democratic party.

     The widow of this prosperous gentleman took charge herself of his business at the time of his demise and operated the mills for the first year, since which she has put in the hands of others. She first rented it to her brother, Christian Breisch, and since then to the North Lansing Milling Company. In 1888 she erected the pleasant home in which she resides on Capital Avenue, and there she and the two children, Andrew and Edith, form a harmonious and beautiful household. She is a lady of unusual refinement in taste and feeling and is of more than ordinary intelligence and occupies a position of influence in the social circles of Lansing.

     Mr. Hinchey was born in Rochester, N.Y., September 10, 1824, upon the day of Perry's victory. His father, Samuel Hinchey, was born at Ft. Edward on Lake Champlain, In Washington County, and the grandfather took part in the Revolutionary War. The father purchased a farm in Monroe County in the early days from Esq. Hawley, who laid out the Erie Canal. He became a successful farmer and a man of influence and died in Buffalo after reaching the age of four-score years.

     Lucy King was the maiden name of the mother of our subject. She was the daughter of William King (358) and was born in Pennsylvania on the Susquehanna River. Her father was an Englishman by birth. and after farming in Pennsylvania he became an early settler in Monroe County N.Y., where he had a large farm adjoining Rochester. He
also had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His daughter, Mrs. Hinchey, died in Michigan, where she was then living with her son in Livingston County. Of her five children he is the youngest, and was reared upon a farm and went to school in a log schoolhouse.

     In 1837, when Mr. Hinchey came to Michigan, the family accompanied him, traveling by the packet "Red Bird" to Detroit, then to Ypsilanti by rail, whence they teamed it to Scio, Washtenaw County. In 1839, the mother bought a farm in Pinckney Township, Livingston County, and he helped to improve and cultivate it until he reached the age of twenty years. He then removed to Dexter Township, where he opened a general store at Hudson; he also operated a cooper shop, employing eight hands and supplying with barrels the Hudson Mills. After selling this property he started in the show business, which he followed until 1875. The exhibition was classed under necromancy and ventriloquism and he exhibited in both halls and tents. He followed this business in various lines for a number of years, during which time he made a fortune, much of which he has given away. He was always generous in giving benefits to worthy objects and when the citizens of Pinckney wished to erect a house of worship, he gave the land and nearly one-half of the subscription.

     Throughout the years when he was in the show business, Mr. Hinchey made his headquarters and home in Pinckney; there he laid out some sixty acres of land which he disposed of by sale and gift. This land is known as J. W. Hinchey's First and Second Additions to Pinckney. He built up that town to a considerable extent and donated to the village what is known as Austin Park. In that town he was Justice of the Peace for twelve years and built the Globe Hotel at an expense of $12,000 during the days of the war. He traveled all over the United States and Canada and had a very wide acquaintance with all parts of our country.

     Besides property in Pinckney, Mr. Hinchey owned five hundred acres adjoining, which he carried on as a farm. In 1860 he began buying property in Lansing, where, in 1875 he located and established a real-estate office, making his home at the Franklin House, of which he was the manager. He built three stores on Washington Avenue, and a fine store in North Lansing. Besides the Franklin House he owned other property and a number of lots in the city. He was a fine driver and a lover of horses, and when he was in the business of ventriloquism he was said to excel any other man in that curious art. He had tenants upon all of his farms which are finely improved.

     Miss Cordelia J. Austin, who was born in Munday, N.Y., became the wife of Mr. Hinchey in Ypsilanti, but her wedded life was short, as she died in 1876, at Lansing. The second marriage of Mr. Hinchey took place in in Springport, Jackson County, May 3, 1879, where he was married to Miss Mary Kleine, who was born in Westphalia, Clinton County, this State. Her father, Querin Kleine, was born in Germany and came to America when a boy of twelve, locating with his parents in Westphalia, where he was engaged in farming. He is now residing in Woodhull on one of the farms belonging to the estate of our subject. His wife, whose maiden name is Victoria Ackeman, was born in Germany and met her husband after coming to Clinton County. She is a Catholic in her religious belief. Of her eight children, Mrs. Hinchey is next to the oldest and was born in 1858.

     Three children have blessed the home of our subject--John O., Cordelia and J. Wesley. For about twelve years Mr. Hinchey was Alderman and for two years served as President pro tem of the Board. For six years he was Supervisor of the First Ward and was always placed upon important committees, being on the Water Committee and the committee on Electric Lights. He was always in favor of improvements for the city and was a prominent man in his party, being a frequent delegate to the Democratic County and State convention. He was identified with the Free and Accepted Masons and the Royal Arch Masons at Pinckney, the Knights Templar in Howell, belonged to the Consistory at Detroit, and was also (359) connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Hinchey, who is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church here, is a great worker in the Ladies' Aid Society and the Missionary Society as well as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and is Vice-President of the first-named of these organizations. She is a lady of more than ordinary ability and efficiency and is much beloved by those who come within the bounds of her influence.

     IRA EDMONDS RANDALL. A man who in his boyhood worked his way through college and his professional course, and by dint of hard work and determination has attained to a handsome property while at the same time he has built up a reputation for character and probity, is a citizen worth having, and the story of his life is worth recounting. Such a one do we find represented by the name at the head of this paragraph.

     Mr. Randall was born in Erie County, N.Y., in the township of Concord, on the 2d, of June, 1850. The father, Robert G. Randall, was born in Rutland County, Vt., where his father, Caleb, was a Quaker farmer, of English descent. The family originated with three brothers who came from England and settled in Vermont and vicinity.

     At the age of thirty years the father of our subject removed from Vermont, where he had been a farmer, to Erie County, N.Y., and taking an improved farm he engaged in the dairying business, but in 1865 removed to Ripley Township, Chautauqua County, and farmed there until 1885, when he sold his property. In 1887 he decided to come West, and he now, at the age of eighty years, resides at Lansing. His early political affiliations were with the Whig party and he became an ardent Abolitionist and finally developed into a member of the Republican party.

     Ruth Edmonds was the maiden name of her who became the mother of our subject, and she was born in Rutland County, Vt., being a daughter of Ira Edmonds, a Quaker farmer of English descent. She died in New York, in Ripley Township, Chautauqua County, at the age of forty-nine. Of her four children, Ira, who bore her father's full name, was next to the eldest.

     This boy was reared in Erie County, where he had the advantages of the ordinary district school, and later when the family removed to Ripley, he attended the Ripley Academy, in which he continued until he reached the age of twenty years. It was in the year 1870 that he turned his face Westward and made Michigan his home, locating at Kalamazoo and working his way through Kalamazoo College, which he attended for two years, teaching during the winters. He then engaged in the study of law at Kalamazoo with H. F. Sevarance, Esq., now Supreme Judge of the United States District Court at Grand Rapids, and in 1875 he was admitted to the bar.

     The young attorney now located in Marshall, Mich., and formed a partnership with a Mr. Adams, until 1877, when he removed to Lansing and established his practice here. His legal business has finally given way to a considerable extent to his real-estate dealings, as he has accumulated a large property of his own in lands, and it takes most of his time to attend to those interests, besides handling to some extent pine lands and farm lands. He is now interested in farm lands in the North which he is improving, having improved three thousand acres, all of which belongs in one farm in Saginaw County. After putting it in excellent condition he sold it to H. P. Smith & Co., brokers of Saginaw, and he still owns some five thousand acres in the north of Michigan, in different counties. He is an enterprising man, and was the pioneer of the movement to drain the marshy prairie, and farm above mentioned.

     Mr. Randall put considerable money and thought at one time into the raising of Holstein cattle, but he is not now interested in that. He has done well also in handling lumber interests, and now owns several dwelling houses which he has built, besides his own beautiful home at No. 314 Chestnut Street N.

     The happy marital union of Ira E. Randall and Alice E. Farnham was solemnized in Brockton, (360) Chautauqua County, N.Y., in 1877. This lady was born in that pleasant village and is a daughter of A. J. Farnham, a prominent farmer there. Two children have blessed this union, Gay LaVergne and Meredith Snow. Mr. Randall is a member of the Knights of Pythias of the Uniformed Rank and also of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Royal Arcanum. He is strong in his attachment to the principles of the Republican party.

     ALBERT A. LUMBARD. The village of Leslie, Ingham County, can boast among her citizens a goodly number of men whose activity, ability and broad experience make them of value to the community and bring to them the respect of their fellow-citizens in other parts of the county, and perhaps there is no one of them more deservedly popular and influential than Mr. Lumbard who is Justice of the Peace and Pension Claim Attorney at Leslie, and whose war record during the days of the Civil War is an added factor in bringing to him the good will of all who know him.

     This gentleman was born in Stafford, Genesee County, N.Y., December 20, 1841, and is a son of Erastus and Eliza (Armstrong) Lumbard, natives of Vermont and New York respectively. The parents were married in Batavia, Genesee County, N. Y. and later took up their residence in Stafford, where they lived until 1843, when they came to Michigan and settled on a farm in Leslie Township, this county, where they both died. The father was a farmer all his life and a man in moderate circumstances. He served his township faithfully and creditably in several minor offices, and was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. Seven children made up their household, namely: William, Albert A., Elizabeth, Julia, Melvina, Orville and George.

     Albert Lumbard was only an infant when his parents removed to this, township, and therefore his life has been mostly spent within the confines of Ingham County. His home training on the farm and his district school education occupied him till manhood, and he was still helping his father upon the farm when the Civil War burst upon our country.

     Young Lumbard enlisted as a private in Company B, Seventh Michigan Infantry, August 14, 1861 and his regiment was made a part of the Army of the Potomac, Second Army Corps, First Brigade and Second Division. He participated in numerous skirmishes and on the 31st of May, 1862, at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va., he was wounded by a gunshot and his left hand was so injured as to render him unfit for service and he received his discharge in September.

     This disabled soldier now returned home. and received from Gov. Blair a recruiting commission and during the remainder of the war he served his company as Recruiting Officer. After the close of the conflict he was elected Constable when only twenty-one years old, and has continued to serve his township in that capacity for twenty one years being re-elected each year and is now serving his eighth year as Justice of the Peace.

     This gentleman began life with nothing, and has made all that he now possesses. He is interested in the Leslie Building and Loan Association and is a leading man. He is universally popular, and yet his popularity is of the kind that does not infringe upon his business capabilities as his frequent re-elections to positions of public service have shown. His record is really remarkable in this respect, as he has served his township ever since he reached his majority. He is a Republican in his political views and is connected with the Masonic order and also with that of the Odd Fellows, being identified with both the Emcampment and Subordinate Lodge. He is Past Commander of the Albert Dewey Post No. 60, G. A. R. at Leslie and has been an Adjutant for nine years.

     Mr. Lumbard was married March 20, 1872, being united with Miss Sarah Woodworth, of this county, who was born February 28, 1847. This lady is a daughter of Solomon and Betsey (Blake) Woodworth, who are natives of New York and Vermont respectively and who became early settlers in this section of Michigan when all was a vast wilderness. They remained here throughout their life time and their memory is respected by all who knew them. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lumbard are earnest and active members of the Baptist Church and their influence in every way is used for the upbuilding of society and the forwarding of the interests of morality and religion.

     J. A. TURNER. Lansing is now so old a city as to count among her genuine business men boys who were born and brought up within her confines, and she is proud to claim that there are none more truly enterprising, and more thoroughly equipped for the battle of life, than those which she has thus, nurtured from the hour of their nativity. Perhaps there is no one to whom she may point with more just pride than the man of whom we are now writing who is universally conceded to be all enterprising and public-spirited young man, and the most extensive grocer on Michigan Avenue.

     Our subject was born in Lansing, October 22, 1860, his father being Amos Turner, a native of Washtenaw County, Mich., and his grandfather, J. A., Sr., having been a farmer and an early settler in Washtenaw County. His father was retired upon the farm and came to Lansing when still a young man with his uncle, James Turner, who made North Lansing his home about the year 1847. The young man engaged as a clerk in his uncle's employ in a general store, and later went into a merchandise and produce business in North Lansing, building two brick blocks there. In 1879 he sold out this business and removed to Perry, Shiawassee County.

     After three years in Perry Amos Turner returned to Lansing and engaged in business here, putting in a stock of dry-goods and groceries at Nos. 117 and 119 Michigan Avenue. In 1888 he sold out the grocery department of his business to his son, J. A., and continued himself in the dry-goods business, transferring it to Seattle, Wash., where he, remained until he took the position of traveling salesman for the Michigan Condensed Milk Company, which he is still serving. He was Alderman and Supervisor of the First Ward for one term and was prominent in the Masonic order.

     The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Philena Barker, was born in Orleans County, N.Y., and was a daughter of an Englishman, James Barker, who located in that county. She is a devout and earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, and the faithful and judicious mother of four children, of whom our subject is the eldest.

     Having received the full advantages of the public schools of Lansing, and also having taken a course in the High School, J. A. Turner entered his father's store at the age of seventeen, as a clerk. He had been in the store more or less from a boy up and was thoroughly well prepared to take his place and to prove of value in the establishment. His first independent endeavor was made at Perry, before buying out his father's line of groceries here, which, as we have said, he did in 1888. He has continued to handle groceries exclusively and is building up a fine trade, so that he is now using two delivery wagons.

     The charming young lady who became the happy wife of this gentleman, in 1883, was called May Campbell in her maidenhood, and she belongs to a Battle Creek family. To their home have come two little daughters--Hattie and Helen, whose care and culture is the joy of their parents. This young man is a popular member of the order of Odd Fellows and also the Knights of Pythias, and his political views lead him to affiliate with the Democratic party.

     WILLIAM C. HINMAN. The advantages of a connection with and descent from people of character, culture and ability is not perhaps as thoroughly considered in this country as it is in lands where the heredity of property emphasizes the heredity of personal traits and character. The rebound from the tendencies of European institutions has led our people to under-value the wealth of inheritance and association (362) which comes in this way until they have been called to an appreciation of its value through the researches and declarations of social philosophers.

     The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch is connected on both his father's and mother's side with some of the best families who have made their mark upon the development of the State of Michigan, and he is not unappreciative of that fact and realizes that he is the recipient of benefits which have come in this way. He is now the City Clerk of Lansing, Ingham County, in which office he is serving his third term. He was born in this city December 15, 1849, his father, William Hinman, being a native of Mt. Morris, Livingston County, N.Y., in 1819, and his grandfather, Theodore, having come from his native State, Connecticut, to Livingston County, N.Y., when a young man and remained there through life.

     The father of our subject was the youngest of nine children, only one of them being now alive. After being educated in the common schools of Mt. Morris he came to Michigan in 1838 and located in Ypsilanti, where he clerked for Mr. Thompson. Later he went to Brighton as a clerk and later to Howell. In 1847 he came to Lansing and became a clerk for Bush & Thomas, merchants and real-estate men. Mr. Hinman sold all the lumber and material which went into the Everett House, which was then known as the Benton House, and also for the old capitol, as the firm then carried the largest stock outside of Detroit. May 18, 1849, the young man took the management of the Benton House, which was the leading hotel of the city, and managed it for ten years and finally purchased it and then sold it to Mr. Packard who changed the name to the Everett House. After this Mr. Hinman engaged in the dry-goods business alone on Washington Avenue and built a brick block adjoining the Hudson House, which is known as the Hinman or Union Block.

     Our subject's father continued in the dry-goods business up to 1871 when he sold it and has since engaged in farming and real estate. He owns thirty acres in the corporate limits of Lansing and one hundred and twenty acres in Leroy Township, which is a finely improved farm. He was married in the old Benton House, February 21, 1849, to Miss Sarah E. Bush, who was born in Danby, Tompkins County, N.Y., August 5, 1830. She is a daughter of the Hon. Charles P. Bush, who was born in Danby in 1809. The great grandfather of our subject is Richard Bush who was born in Stroudsburg, Pa., and located in Tompkins County, N.Y., where he died. His father was John Bush, and it is said of him that he fought twice for his country and once for his king.

     The Hon. Charles P. Bush was a farmer and speculator and he married before coming to Michigan His first trip to the West was in 1835, and in 1836 he came again and staid through the summer, buying Government land where Fowlerville now is. Having built a log house he returned to the East and in 1837 brought his family to the new home, but remained there less than a year when he sold out to Mr. Fowler and located in Genoa Township, Livingston County where he took a splendid farm of thirteen hundred acres and carried it on successfully, while at the same time he engaged in speculation and politics. He served in the State Legislature during the sessions of 1840 to 1845, and in 1846 became State Senator, serving during 1847 as President of the Senate, and by virtue of that office acting as Lieutenant-Governor. He administered the oath of office to the officers elect in the woods of Lansing before the old capitol was built. Some years later he was again sent to the State Senate and served for several terms. He was greatly interested in the removal of the capital from Detroit to Lansing. He was a born reader, a good orator and had a good store of information, being looked upon universally as one of the most promising men in the State.

     In 1847 Senator Bush came to Lansing and entered into partnership with Messrs. Thomas & Lee, buying a portion of land and platting it as an addition to Lansing, and built the old Benton House. In partnership with Mr. Thomas under the firm name of Bush & Thomas he engaged in general merchandising and they became the pioneer merchants of Lansing. Later he retired from business and died July 4, 1858. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, in which he was considered one of the strong pillars. His wife was Minerva Walker and she was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., and died in Lansing in 1886, being then seventy years old. She was an active and earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was looked upon as a "mother in Israel."

     The mother of our subject was the eldest in a family of five children and was carefully and judiciously educated, receiving her advance schooling in the private school of Mrs. E. J. Roberts, in Detroit. She became the mother of five children, William C. being her eldest and following him came Jennie, Addie L., Sarah E. and Eliza B., who are all at home with their parents with the exception of Sarah who died when very young. The education of our subject was gained in the Union School of Lansing and in 1869 he began work as a freight brakeman on the old Peninsular Railroad now known as the Chicago & Grand Trunk. Two years later he became a freight conductor and had his run between Lansing and South Bend, lnd., and later took service in the same capacity with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Road. After five months he was promoted to the conductorship of a freight train in which he was having good success when upon October 11, 1880, he met with a serious and terrible disaster.

     While engaged in coupling cars Conductor Hinman caught his left foot in the frog, that death trap of so many good railroad men. In his desperate efforts to free himself he pulled his foot from the boot with such force that the right foot swung over the track and in a moment the cruel wheels had crushed it. He was taken to the hospital at Mishawaka, Ind., where he remained for eight weeks and where he was under the necessity of having his leg amputated six inches below the hip. This put an end to his career as a conductor and he returned to Lansing and engaged in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad for five years as agent. after which he entered the service of the Lansing Lumber Company until April, 1888, when he received the election to the office of City Clerk, which he has held from that date to this. His first election was by majority of one hundred and six, his second by a a majority of seven hundred and eighty-one, and his third by a majority of six hundred and sixty-six. He is a true and faithful public servant and very efficient in his office, and receives the just praise of his fellow-citizens.

     The marriage of Mr. Hinman in June, 1885, took place in Lansing. The lady who then united with him her fortunes and her lot in life bore the maiden name of Mary E. Downs. She is a native of this city and her father, J. W. Downs, is an early settler here and is a well-known fruit-grower. He is an old veteran of the Mexican War and is highly respected both for his patriotic services and his excellent character. Mr. and Mrs. William C. Hinman have two lovely daughters--Addie and Sarah, who are the joy and delight of their fond parents. The family worship at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with which the parents are connected. The political views of Mr. Hinman lead him to rank himself with the Democratic party, in which he has great faith and for whose success he is active.

     ANDREW G. MARKHAM. The gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch is a farmer and stock-dealer, resident on sections 27 and 34, Vevay Township, Ingham County, and here he carries on a large and lucrative business in general farming and in the breeding, buying and selling of fine stock. Mr. Markham is a native of New York State, having been there born in Ontario County, Farmington Township, August 1, 1836. He is the son of Elisha W. and Olive (Gardner) Markham, both natives of New York. The father was a farmer in his native State and our subject was reared on a farm, receiving in the intervals of farm work what education he could acquire by attendance at school during the winter months.

     When our subject set out in life for himself, he began at first by farming on shares, which brought him in enough to live upon. To spur him on to the necessity of harder work, he was married November 20, 1857, to Miss Priscilla H. Knight, a daughter of John and Loretta (Mosher) Knight. (364) The young couple felt the necessity of prudence
and economy and laid by enough out of their earnings to purchase a tract of land. Those who have struggled as did he of whom we write, to acquire a bit of real estate, know how sweet is the sense of possession, and when he removed to Michigan in 1878, he was strengthened and encouraged to hard labor by the knowledge that there was a nest egg of forty acres back in Ontario County, N.Y.

     On seeing a promising tract that he could procure in his adopted State, he sold his first forty acres and purchased his present home place on section 27, which comprises eighty acres. He has since, at different times, added land to his original purchase until he now is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of as fine and fertile land as there is in the township. Our subject, like the majority of property owners to whom the political interest at large is also in individual interest, has been the greater portion of his life allied to the Republican party. He is now, however, a member of the Industrial party, feeling that the laboring class, being largely in the majority, should have all possible advantages of legislation.

     While in New York Mr. Markham served for several terms as Township Clerk, and he has several times been elected to office in this township, but having no ambition to hold public office, refused to qualify until the spring of 1891, when he was the popular and successful nominee of the Industrial party, insuring for it victory in his township. Our subject's wife died May 28, 1886. She had no issue.

     The original of our sketch is the oldest member of his father's family. One brother, William P., who lives in this township, is a farmer, having a good home, presided over pleasantly by an amiable wife. They are the proud parents of one child, by name Leeman, who is a young man having a home of his own in Monroe County, N.Y. He and his wife are the parents of two children. Elisha Markham, our subject's father, died in his native State, April 1, 1882. The mother's decease occurred June 14, 1876.

     Andrew Markham is what may be termed a self-made man, having had but few advantages and no material pecuniary assistance from his father. By industry, prudence and good management of his agricultural and financial affairs, he has become one of the prominently successful men of Vevay Township. He is highly respected in his township and among his fellow-citizens.

    FRED J. BROWN. Our subject, who is comparatively a young man, has been engaged for some time in business in which he has proved very successful. Energetic and industrious, to him in no small degree belongs the honor of making the success of the firm of Brown Bros., who are dealers in boots and shoes in Mason, Mich. The brothers are of German parentage, being sons of Charles F. and Mary (Stuth) Brown, both natives of Mechlenburg, Germany. They came to America in 1853 with their four children. Those who were born in Germany are Augustus F., Charles F., Fannie Louise and Frederick J. Augustus was born August 13, 1844, and having made Catherine Furtah his wife lives in St. Joseph, Mo.; he is a traveling salesman for a firm selling boots and shoes, and has been a manufacturer. He is the father of eight children. Charles F. and Fannie Louise are twins; the latter married Enos Furtah who is a wood worker and lives at New Baltimore, Mich. Our subject was born December 6, 1850; his father was a forester in Germany, which was considered there a very honorable position and one ranking high among the middle classes. After coming to this country he was employed as a laborer and farmer.

     Determined to give his children every chance that this country of freedom and equal rights offers to young men and women, he placed them in school and our subject; had the privilege of gaining a fair education. They also acquired outside of school much that has been of practical use to them and the sons have through industry and observation made themselves substantial business men. In 1858 the family came to this State and located at New Baltimore. He of whom we write began working in a mill and so employed himself (365) until twenty-one years of age, when he began clerking at New Baltimore, in which position he continued for some six years, acquiring during that time a reputation for attention to business and ease with customers that made him a desirable salesman and a valuable acquisition to a business house.

     Fred J. Brown was married March 18, 1875, to Miss Sallie M. Leonard, of Middleboro, Mass; she is a daughter of Fred and Phoebe D. (Sampson) Leonard, and was born in 1846. In 1876 our subject removed to Almont, where for two years he was engaged as a clerk. Then he went to Imlay City and clerked for one year at that place, after which he went into partnership with Herbert G. Thurston, and together the firm carried on general merchandising successfully for about two years. At the end of that time our subject became proprietor of a store at Lapeer, the county-seat of Lapeer County, and remained there for about five years as general manager. In 1886 he entered the present firm in equal partnership.

     Our subject's maternal grandfather, August Stuth, was a soldier in the German army during the trouble between France and Germany, at which time Napoleon led the French forces. The junior member of the firm of which our subject is one is Henry L. Brown, and he was born after his parents had come to this country, in Sandusky, Ohio, his birth taking place April 30, 1856. The young men are progressive and talented in a business way and show that they have received a good inheritance of brains as well as physical strength from their parents.