BIOGRAPHIES - Pages 425-435

     SAMUEL G. HOUGHTALING. The gentleman whose name we now present was born in Michigan in the old Territorial days. His first home was in Livonia, Wayne County, and the date of his birth September 3, 1827. His parents were Garrett and Lydia (Gates) Houghtaling, and the grandfather, Richard, who was born October 12, 1759, married a lady whose birth was May 11, 1766.

     The large household of the grandparents of our subject consisted of five sons and five daughters, namely, Mahala, Hannah, John, Peter, Margaret, Garrett, David, Harry, Henry, and Elizabeth. Their father passed from earth in Oakland County, June 13, 1834, and his wife followed him in April, 1853. They were both Presbyterians in their religious faith and active in church work. Garrett Houghtaling was born December 18, 1798, in New York, and left home when only fifteen years of age to learn the trade of a blacksmith. He married in New York and moved to Michigan, where he settled in Wayne County about the year 1825.

     The first land which was entered by the father of our subject consisted of forty acres, which he sold after a while and again entered eighty acres. About the year 1830 he moved to the township of Lyons, Oakland County, where he entered two hundred acres which he cleared and improved, and it was while living here that he was called to part with his faithful wife. He afterward exchanged that property for a farm in Green Oak, Livingston County, and upon that estate of three hundred and twenty acres he died, August 21, 1845. The first wife of Garrett Houghtaling and the mother of our subject and of his brother William, died in (429) 1835, and the second wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Thompson, had only one son, George E. She survived her husband and was afterward married to Alva Preston.

     Until he reached the age of eighteen years young Houghtaling made his home upon the farm and took his training in the district school. He then began to work for himself upon one hundred and twenty acres of his father's homestead, which he sold about the year 1851, before removing to Grand Rapids where he teamed for nine years. In 1858 he traded his house and two lots for one hundred and sixty acres on section 4, Cohoctah Township, Livingston. County, and this land he put into condition for culture. He exchanged ninety acres of swamp land for thirty acres of dry land and owns a round hundred acres. Besides carrying on his farm work he has operated a thresher for twenty years. In politics he is a Republican, but no office seeker.

     The first marriage of our subject was with Ruth E. Taylor, a Canadian by birth and a daughter of Abraham Taylor, a wagon-maker. Two children crowned this union, LaFayette J., and Frankie E. (deceased). The mother of these children died in February, 1858. The second wife was Melissa Palmer, and the marriage took place February 10, 1861. She was born in the township of Brighton, November 4, 1835, and is a daughter of William and Sally (Lane) Palmer, who were born in Onondaga County, N.Y., and came to Michigan in the spring of 1835, making their home in Brighton and entering a claim to eighty acres of land.

     In 1856 Mr. Palmer removed to Cohoctah and took up one hundred and twenty acres on section 16, which he at once proceeded to put in condition for cultivation. He was a prominent man in the township and an earnest Republican, (although at first he had been a Whig) and his neighbors placed him in several township offices. He died in Howell, in April, 1888, and his widow still survives. They were the parents of five sons and two daughters, namely: George, David, Christopher H., Andrew A., Boroughs, Melissa and Phoebe A. David and Christopher served their country in the Tenth Michigan Infantry, and the latter fell at Chattanooga in the summer of 1864; while the youngest son, Boroughs, died at the age of thirteen.

     In early life Mr. Palmer and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and later joined the church of the United Brethren. He was the only son of his parents, Abel and Hannah (Smith) Palmer, who came to Michigan in 1836. One child only, a daughter, Ellen, is the result of the second marriage of our subject. He has ever been prominent in social circles and is prominently identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

     JOHN C. HAWES, the proprietor of the Lansing Decoratum, is one of those men who have helped to lay the foundations for progress in the artistic part of home making in this city. His well-known taste, discernment and judgment have made him an authority in regard to questions of home adornment, and he has proved an educative power in Lansing, Ingham County. He is esteemed as one of the finest workmen in Michigan and his business, which is high grade decorating and fresco work, is to him an art, and to it he has devoted a lifetime of study and practice.

     Mr. Hawes was born January 1, 1852 in Conesus, Livingston County, N.Y. At the age of nine years he removed to Rochester, that State, where he continued his schooling, graduating in 1878 from Rochester Collegiate Institute. While still a school boy of fourteen years he was apprenticed as a decorator and frescoer. He carried on his studies and practiced his art at the same time, and in that way made his way through the institute and at the same time became a successful designer and architect. He acquired a refined and intelligent taste for decorating and became an artist in different lines, making a thorough study of every department of his work.

     Possessing unusual capabilities and determination Mr. Hawes easily kept ahead of his class, (430) although he practiced working half of each day and devoted the other half to his school duties, while at the same time he found it necessary to help to sustain his parents. His excellent health aided him in carrying out this plan, although he gave himself little rest, and his mind was so thoroughly aroused that he sometimes solved difficult problems in his sleep.

     After graduation, young Hawes continued in the decorating line and became well-known as a prominent and artistic designer, both in Rochester and at Dansville. At the latter place he remained until he removed to Lansing and had the control of fully half of the high grade decorating which was done. He is not conscious of having inherited his taste and skill but believes that he owes his success mainly to hard work and thorough conscientious study.

     In 1890 Mr. Hawes decided to come West and prospected through various States, making a tour of the prominent Michigan towns and finally decided that Lansing offered the best opening for his work. His object in removing to the West was to find a better business opening as he had learned by experience that the East was overcrowded. He therefore made his permanent settlement here on November 22, 1890, and established here the Decoratum. Besides doing artistic work in the lines of sign, fresco and general decoration he carries a well-selected line of paints and oils, wall paper, curtain and window goods, as well as artists' materials, and has the only special and complete line of high grade decorations in the city,

     Mr. Hawes employs some scores of assistants, superintending everything himself, but employing artists both East and West to do his work. He has finished some of the finest work that has ever been seen in the West, and the decorations of the Hotel Downey, just completed by him, are highly artistic and of great value not only to the proprietors of the hotel, but as a means of education to the masses. Some of the colors which he produces are unrivaled and are almost Pompeiian in their brilliancy and durability. At his place of business which is located at No. 306 Washington Avenue North, are submitted all plans for truly high grade decorations which are desired in this city. A scholar and a polished gentleman Mr. Hawes stands high in the social circles of Lansing.

     The lady who became the wife of Mr. Hawes June 8, 1879, at Lawrenceville, Pa., bore the maiden name of Louisa H. Hathaway. Her parents, Oremus and Dorethea, (Loucks) Hathaway, were born in Herkimer County, N.Y. The mother died n Buffalo. The father who was a stonemason went to California during the prevalence of the gold fever and died there. He helped to lay the brick and stone work on the Everett House one of the oldest buildings in Lansing. Mr. Loucks, the grandfather of Mrs. Hathaway, was a soldier in the War of 1812, Mrs. Hawes had her nativity in Cambria, N.Y., which is in Niagara County, and received her education at Wheatfield. Previous to her marriage she engaged in the millinery business with her aunt at Middleport. Mr. Hawes is a Republican in his political views but is too busy a man to pay much attention to public affairs.

     Seth Hawes, the father of our subject, was a farmer near Rochester, where he still resides, and his wife Ruby Bevins, was born in Livingston County, N.Y. Grandfather Cornelius Pell Hawes was born in Peekskill and was a cooper and a Captain in the War of 1812. The great-grandfather of our subject came from England, whence the family trace their lineage back to France. A lithographic portrait of Mr. Hawes accompanies this sketch.

     CHARLES W. STEVENS, is the manager of the Lansing Artificial Stone Company. This branch of business was established here by the gentleman whose name is above, in 1877. It was the first stone that was ever made here, our subject having become acquainted with the business in Jackson in 1874 which was not long after the invention of artificial stone. Believing Lansing to be a good point in which to introduce his business, he came here and has already been very successful. He succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations and soon found it to be best to (431) establish a stock company. This, however, proved to be an unfortunate step, for the management passed into inexperienced hands and the business which had promised so well did not prove to be a success. However, on their failure our subject was certain that a most prosperous business could be built up.

     After the closing out of the establishment mentioned in the opening paragraph, our subject again opened business for himself, he retaining the management. Since passing back into the hands of Mr. Stevens it has continuously grown in importance. He now has associated with him Messrs. L. C. Blood and W. S. Griswold. This industry comprises the making of artificial stones which are used in the erection of buildings, laying sidewalks, etc., and also sewer pipes and added to these are all kinds of ornamental work which is so extensively used in cemeteries, vases and statuary.

      This thriving company of stone-makers now have contracts for getting out fancy stone for fifty buildings in this city and employ a force of twelve men. Outside of this business our subject has made a number of inventions. This new process of making stone affords an opportunity for making many things in ornamental and imitation rustic work for which stone has never before been employed. It can be made of any color and any shape. The stone is ground up and repressed by such great force that it is harder than the original blocks. This process Mr. Stevens has procured a patent upon. He has also invented a conduit machine for making a combination of holes for electric wires in a continuous block of artificial stone. By this method it is possible to solve the problem of placing the wires underground for electrical motive power. The stones are pierced with any number of holes and the wires are passed from one to another as desired, in one continuous piece without joints. Our subject has just received a patent for this valuable invention. He has also overcome the difficulty of making pipe and there is no doubt that there are great possibilities for this new industry.

     Mr. Stevens was born in Blackman Township, Jackson County, this State, October 11, 1851. He is a son of John Stevens, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest settler in Jackson County, having now reached the age of four-score and four years. He settled in that locality in 1829 and still lives on the same farm which he took up from the Government and cleared. It has never changed hands and is one of the best farms in the county. He was born in New Hampshire and when only twenty-one years of age came alone to the woods of Michigan. Soon after coming here he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Stevens, like himself, a native of New Hampshire. To them came five children, four of whom are still living. They were all brought up on a farm. Both parents still survive and are surrounded by a portion of their children.

     Our subject attained his majority while still at home. His education was acquired in the district school. At the age of twenty-two years he went into the stone business and has ever since followed it giving it his whole attention. Mr. Stevens has a pleasant home of his own in Lansing, a charming little woman presiding thereover. His wife was, prior to her marriage, a Miss Edwinna McConnell of, Blackman Township. That happy event in which the two were made one, was celebrated April 4, 1882. They have two children who are at once the joy and care of their fond parents. They are by name, Maurice and Howard.

     ROBERT M. LAMOREAUX. The prosperity and progressiveness of Ingham County, and indeed of Michigan itself, is largely due to the unflagging efforts of the newspaper men of this section, who from the time the first printing press was set up in the Wolverine State have persistently and intelligently called the attention of investors to the riches to be found in the soil, the waters, the mines and the climate of Michigan. The resources of the State were here just as much in that early day as they are now, but of what avail would they have been to the people of the overcrowded East had they not been advertised in the columns of these newspapers. It is therefore with peculiar pleasure that the biographer responds to the call to give a sketch of the life of any one of the newspaper fraternity.

     (432) Mr. Lamoreaux, the editor of the Ingham County Republican, Which is published at Leslie, was born in Steuben County, Ind., February 8, 1865, his honored parents being Henry and Martha (Jones) Lamoreaux, whose native States are New York and Ohio respectively. They were married in Angola, Ind., and now make their home at Battle Creek, Mich. Henry Lamoreaux is in moderate circumstances and carries on a farm of eighty acres near Battle Creek, Mich. He has been a Republican all his life but has never been in office as he preferred to devote himself to his chosen vocation as a farmer. Both he and his good wife are earnest and conscientious members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the parents of four children: Charles, Robert M., Lee and Anna.

     The subject of this sketch is the second child in age in his father's family and grew up upon the farm in Scott Township, Steuben County, until he reached the age of eight years, at which time his parents moved to Fennville, Allegan County, Mich. and four years later removed to Calhoun County. The district school gave this boy his elementary education, which was supplemented by attendance upon the High School at Battle Creek. He remained with his father, assisting him upon his farm, and learning practical lessons of industry, perseverance and thrift until he reached his majority, when he determined to learn the printer's trade and entered the office of the Daily Noon, at Battle Creek, as an apprentice. He remained in that office for three years and subsequently worked at his trade in Kalamazoo, Decatur, and South Bend, Ind.

     Somewhat later the young printer conceived the idea of making in independent start in the newspaper line and going to Augusta, Mich., he purchased the Augusta Chronicle, which he published for a year and a half, after which he sold out and purchased the Galesburg Enterprise, at Galesburg, Mich. After operating this paper for a few months Mr. M. Lamoreaux went to Detroit and worked on the Evening News for a short time, after which he came on New Year's Day, 1891, to Leslie, and bought out the Ingham County Republican, the organ of the Republican party in this section, having at the time a circulation of five hundred. By his purchase he took entire charge of the paper and is now sole editor and proprietor.

     Mr. Lamoreaux, as is natural to one in his position, takes a keen interest in public affairs and is especially interested in the movements of the Republican party, which he represents. He is a warm advocate of temperance and a member of the order of Good Templars. His marriage which took place September 8, 1891, brought to his home Clara, a daughter of William and Maria (Connor) Wickham, of Calhoun County, Mich. Two years prior to her marriage Mrs. Lamoreaux was graduated in stenography and type-writing and has become a faithful partner in business with her husband. On November 1, 1891, Mr. Lamoreaux ventured still further in the journalistic tide and took possession of the Battle Creek Weekly Call. In Battle Creek he has taken up his permanent abode with office and household, and already ranks among the foremost citizens of the place.

     MICHAEL DOWD. The story of the poor boys who have landed on the shores. of America without a dollar in their pockets but who have through the wealth of our soil, the wonderful resources of nature, and their own inherent qualities of enterprise, industry and perseverance conquered a handsome fortune or a comfortable competency is a long and varied tale. Among these we may mention the one whose name we have just written, who was born in August, 1826, in County Longford, Ireland, in the town of Barry, and whose parents Peter and Ann (Mullen) Dowd, were also born in the same county.

     These parents brought up to mature years eight children, namely: Mary, Patrick, Bridget, Ann, Michael, James, Catherine and Margaret, and all of this large family, with the exception of the daughter Mary, have come to make their homes in the land of freedom. It was in 1848 when Michael Dowd came to the United States, and his journey occupied five weeks. He settled in Brooklyn, (435) N.Y., and there learned and practiced the trade of a mason, working in this line for seventeen years.

     The Western fever now took possession of Mr. Dowd, and in the fall of 1865 he came to Michigan and purchased eighty acres of fine land on section 26, Tyrone Township, Livingston County. This was then covered with forest, which he had removed, and he has brought it into a fine state of productiveness; and, still resides upon it. His marriage with Miss Catherine Ferrel took place June 18, 1852. This union took place in Brooklyn, N.Y. The father of Mrs. Dowd was Edwin Ferrel, who emigrated to this country from Barry, which was the native town of our subject. Three children blessed this union--Anna, who married Timothy Murphy, and has now died; Peter and Edward. Their mother passed from earth in 1857, and will be long remembered as a faithful wife and mother and a devoted member of the Roman Catholic Church. The second wife of our subject was Eliza Kinney, daughter of Christopher and Jane (Mulvey) Kinney. She also is a native of Barry, Ireland, and had come to this country some time before her union with. Mr. Dowd. Her six children are James, Christopher, Mary, Margaret, Rose and Catherine. These are all being brought up in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church, to which their parents belong.