284a.
 

Image of STODDARD W. TWICHELL

Image of MRS. S. W. TWICHELL

     Among those who may be appropriately called the founders of the town of Hamburg, the subject of this narrative occupies a prominent position. He was born in the town of Wolcott, New Haven Co., Conn., Dec. 27, 1806 He was the second in the family of Joseph and Phoebe (Atkins) Twichell, which consisted of seven sons. The elder Twichell was bred a merchant, but in the later portion of his life became a farmer. When Stoddard was sixteen years of age his father died, by which event he was thrown upon his own resources. He secured a situation in a button-factory, where he remained two years, when he went to Madison Co., N.Y.

     From this time until his emigration to Michigan, in 1833, he followed various occupations, in which he was moderately successful. At this time Michigan was considered a most desirable portion of the West, and Mr. Twichell, foreseeing the advantages of cheap land and a virgin soil, determined to come West.

     Accordingly, in May, 1833, he left his business and came to Hamburg. Being favorably impressed with the southern part of the town, he located eighty, acres of land. He remained during the summer and in the month of October following returned to Madison County, where he married Miss Dorcas Mathewson, a native of Smithfield. She was born April 3, 1810. They immediately returned to their new home, where they have since resided. The life of Mr. Twichell has been comparatively uneventful, and marked by few incidents save such as occur In the lives of most men. Two years subsequent to his settlement the town was erected, and he assisted in its organization. He was elected its first clerk, and has since held various positions of trust and responsibility, the duties of which he discharged with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen.

     Prominent points in the character of Mr. Twichell are his energy, thrift, and marked business ability. In his chosen occupation, that of a farmer, he has been eminently successful. Commencing life at sixteen, with only his natural resources for his capital, he has by his own unaided efforts secured a well-earned competency.

284b.
 

Image of Mr. Hobart A. TWICHELL

Image of Mrs. Hobart A. TWICHELL

     son of Joseph Twichell and Phoebe Atkins, was born in the town of Wolcott, New Haven Co., Conn., Aug. 9, 1820. The elder Twichell was born July 15, 1769. he married Electa Hopkins, July 8, 1770, by which union there were three children, -- Polly, Lois, and Hopkins. Jan. 13, 1803, Mrs. Twichell died, and he married Phoebe Atkins, Feb. 19, 1804. To them were born six sons, Joseph A., Stoddard W., Edward, William H., Dwight, and Hobart A. Mrs. Phoebe Twichell died Dec. 5, 1823, and in March following occurred the death of her husband.

     Hobart was reared by his sister Lois. He obtained a good common-school education, and was early taught lessons of industry and thrift, which have become salient points in his character. He was bred a farmer, which occupation he has since followed.

     At the age of twenty-five he came to Livingston County and purchased the place on which he has since resided, now one of the most valuable farms in the county, but then entirely unimproved. The finely cultivated fields and commodious buildings of to-day are the result of his own industry.

     Dec. 29, 1844, Mr. Twichell was married to Miss Hannah M. Wilner, of Portage, Wyoming Co., N.Y. She was born in Livingston Co., N.Y., Nov. 5, 1823. She was one of the pioneers of the county, and endeared herself to a large circle of friends by her sterling qualities of mind and heart. As a wife, mother, neighbor, and friend, she performed all her duties and obligations with personal unselfishness. Mr. and Mrs. Twichell were blessed with four children, three of whom are living,--Alcena P., now Mrs. Henry Depue; Lois C., now Mrs. G. J. Osgood; Deigracia (deceased), and Mortimer H.

     Mr. Twichell is possessed of much business acumen, good judgment, and keen discrimination; these qualifications, added to industry and a laudable ambition to attain prominence both in business and social circles, have resulted in his securing not only a well-earned competency, but a marked social position. He is esteemed by all for his innate kindness of heart, liberality, and proverbial hospitality.

     Among the brotherhood of Freemasons, Mr. Twichell occupies an elevated position. He is a member of the "Grand Sovereign Consistory" of the order of "Scottish Rites," a prominent member of the "Ann Arbor Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar," and of "Pinckney Chapter, No. 86, R. A. M." He is one of the oldest Masons in the county, and for four years was Master of the Livingston Lodge, No. 76.

     When we consider that he has been the architect of his own fortune, that all his duties both public and private have been honestly and faithfully discharged, and that he is enabled to spend the later part of his life in ease and retirement, free from the cares and anxieties of business, in the enjoyment of the undiminished confidence and respect of all who, know him, we must pronounce his a useful and worthy life.

285.
 

NAMING AND ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIP CIVIL LIST, ETC.

     At a meeting held previous to the organization of the township, to choose a name for it, 19 persons were present; 8 of them wished to call it Steuben, while 8 others preferred Lenox, and the remaining 3, who were Germans,* had no choice, until finally 8 of those who could not agree, gave the Germans the privilege of naming the township, consenting to vote with them. They chose the name of their native city; -- Hamburg,--and as such the town was organized. As, originally formed, it included the present township of Genoa, the organizing act being approved March 26, 1835. Genoa was taken off March 11, 1837.

      "The electors of the township of Hamburg met at the house of James Burnett--the place appointed in the law to meet--on the third Monday of April, eighteen hundred and thirty-five, for the purpose of holding their first township-meeting. The meeting organized by choosing Stoddard W. Twichell Moderator, and James Burnett Clerk of the meeting pro tem., and Christopher L. Culver Assistant Clerk, and after being sworn into office by George W. Dexter, Esq., opened the poll for choosing township officers. " ¥

     The following were the officers chosen, viz.: Supervisor, Christopher L. Culver; Township Clerk, Stoddard W. Twichell; Assessors, George Galloway, Daniel Hall, Lester Burnett; Collector, George Galloway; Directors of the Poor, Justus J. Bennett, Jesse Hall; Commissioners of Highways, Justus J. Bennett, Daniel B. Harmon, Augustus Hall; Constable, George Galloway; Fence Viewers, James Burnett, Christopher L. Culver, William H. Bennett; Poundmaster, James Burnett; Commissioners of Common Schools, Christopher L. Culver, Lester Burnett, Daniel B. Harmon; Inspectors of Common Schools, Lester Burnett, Stoddard W. Twichell, Christopher L. Culver, James Burnett, William H. Bennett; Overseers of Highways, James Burnett, Hiram Mason, Daniel Hall, Miner Kellogg.

     "Voted, That our township- meeting be adjourned to George Grisson's dwelling-house, for eighteen hundred and thirty-six, first Monday in April."

     In 1836, at the annual election, it was:

     "Voted, That fifty dollars be raised by tax for the purpose of building a bridge across the Huron River, near George G. Grisson's dwelling-house."

At the meeting for 1838 it was:

     "Voted That fifty-four dollars and twenty cents, with interest on the same from the first day of February, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, be raised by tax and paid to James Burnett, it being due him for building the bridge across the Huron River, near George G. Grisson's, in the town of Hamburg.

     "Voted, That fifty dollars be raised by tax for the purpose of building a bridge across the Huron River, on the State road, whenever it shall be ascertained that the State road has been laid out and established according to law."

     It appears to have been some time before the fact of this road being laid was definitely settled, for it was not until 1840 that it was finally concluded to raise the money, as witness the record for that year:

     "Voted, To raise fifty dollars to build a bridge across the Huron River, on the State road."

In the previous year it had been:

     "Voted, That the sum of fifty dollars be raised to build a bridge across the Huron River, between Christopher L. Culver's and George Galloway's."

     May 1, 1843--"At a meeting of the board held this day, pursuant to notice, it was agreed to fix the price of Five Dollars for 286. persons applying for licenses to keep tavern, and to storekeepers to retail liquors, &c, Samuel Case made the application, which was granted."

     May 3, 1843.--"By order of the majority of the board, granted a license to John Pickard to keep tavern; received his note of Five Dollars for the same,"

     Sept. 23, 1843, licenses were granted to George G. Grisson to keep tavern, and to Spaulding M. Case to sell liquors, wines, etc.

     The following is a list of township officer's from 1836 to 1879, inclusive:

VILLAGE OF HAMBURG

     In 1835, E. F. Gay, a merchant residing in Ann Arbor (afterwards of Howell, and father of Mylo L. Gay, now of that place), together with Amariah Hammond, purchased 30 acres of land of Jesse Hall, including a portion of the site of the present village. The purchase was made with the view of improving the water-power, and as soon as possible a dam was constructed and a saw-mill built. Subsequently, Mr. Gay disposed of his interest to Mr. Hammond, and the latter, in turn, sold to the Messrs. Grisson. This was one of the first water-privileges improved in Livingston County, but few antedating it, and Mr. Gay, in an address before the Pioneer Society, expressed the opinion that it was the very first. That is, however, an error, as will be found by reference to other pages in this volume.

     John Frederick Grisson, William Grisson, George G. Grisson, Samuel Grisson, and Ferdinand Grisson, brothers, from the city of Hamburg, Germany, all settled at different times in this township. The first two named came in the spring of 1834, after having stopped a short time in Oneida Co., N.Y., and were followed in the fall of the same year by their brother Ferdinand. George bought and settled north of the village, near the bridge across the Huron, and Ferdinand on the same side of the river, above and joining his brother, to whom he afterwards sold and moved into the village. J. F. Grisson lived in Ann Arbor and Detroit, and died in the latter place. William stopped only a short time in this country. George returned to Germany about 1873-74, and Ferdinand is the only one of the 286a.

Image of Mr. Elias Davis	Image of Mrs. Mary E. Davis
Image of Mrs. Mary E. Davis residence, Hamburg Michigan

     287. brothers now residing in town. John F. William, and Samuel are deceased.

      After selling his Huron River farm to his brother, Ferdinand Grisson purchased the Lester Burnett farm, including the site of the village, or most of it, and, in company with his brother, John F. Grisson bought Amariah Hammond's saw-mill (built by Hammond & Gay), and also built and opened the first store at the place. They erected the grist-mill and the hotel, which are now standing, and gave the latter to their brother William, who had been unfortunate and lost his property in the old country. The hotel is now known as the "Rogers House," George Rogers, proprietor. The grist-mill and saw-mill are yet in operation, the former having two run of stones, as originally it had. The first store burned down, but was rebuilt by the same parties who erected the first one; the second building is now used as a wagon-shop.

     The village plat of Hamburg was laid out April 27, 1837, on the west half of section 25, and recorded May 2d, following. Its proprietors; were John F. Grisson, Ferdinand Grisson, Isaac De Forest, Lester Burnett, and Elisha W. Brockway, one of the associate judges of Livingston County.

     Hamburg post-office was established in the neighborhood of 1840, with John Frederick Grisson as first postmaster. The present incumbent is Ferdinand Grisson, who has held the office since 1861, except during President Johnson's administration, when R. S. Hall was in charge.

     The early settlers in this locality were never long blessed with the presence of a physician among them, but had to secure the services of those living at Whitmore Lake. Samuel Grisson studied with Dr. Halleck at the place named, went to Geneva, N.Y., where he received his diploma, came to Hamburg and practiced a year or two, finally removing to Freedom, Washtenaw Co. One Dr. Goodenough, still a resident of some other portion of the county, was also here a short time, and Dr. Miller practiced a few months. These were all who ever settled in the village, which has no resident physician at present (1879).

VILLAGE OF PETTEYSVILLE

     Seth A. Petteys, a native of Montgomery Co., N.Y., and for three years. a resident of Rochester, Monroe Co., came to Michigan in May, 1836, with his father, Thomas Petteys, and settled in Putnam township, Livingston Co. Mrs. Petteys, Sr., died in that township, and her husband's death occurred in Hamburg, where he was living with his son.

     S.A. Petteys came to Hamburg in 1843, and built a carding and fulling-mill on the outlet of Walker Lake. In 1849 be added a run of stones, and did grinding in connection with his woolen manufactures. From 1843 to 1863, Mr. Petteys continued to operate his fulling-mill; but in the latter year he added a second run of stones, and converted the whole institution into a grist-mill. The building now standing is the one erected in 1843. Mr. Petteys engineered the work, being himself a millwright by trade, and in two months and six days from the time the first timbers were cut the mill was completed and running. The lumber was partly sawed at Leland Walker's saw-mill, in the north part of the township, and part was procured in Ingham County. The timbers used were cut on Mr. Petteys' own place, near the site of the mill. The building is three stories high, with a basement.

     In 1846, Mr. Petteys built a saw-mill, but removed it at a subsequent date, owing to the scarcity of timber. In 1860 he built a cider-mill, which is yet in use. Mr. Petteys also manufactures apple-jelly. In 1850 he built a blacksmith-shop. The place now contains a blacksmith-shop, a wagonshop, two stores, a post-office, a grist-mill, a cidermill (both owned by Mr. Petteys), and a school building. The village received its name from the following circumstance: Mr. Petteys procured some stencil-plates with which to mark his flour-barrels, and the person who made them, wishing some name for the mills, proposed "Petteysville," after the proprietor, and it was cut on the stencil-plate and adopted as the name for the settlement. No village plat has yet been laid, but Mr. Petteys has sold numerous building-lots, his object being to induce mechanics to settle here.

     The first store in the place was opened by David Hess in the building still occupied for like purposes by Samuel M. Fletcher.

     For a number of years, mail was received by the citizens of this locality at the Pinckney post-office in Putnam, but about 1863 Petteysville post-office was established, with Valentine Wiegand as postmaster, and that gentleman still continues to discharge the duties of the office. The first mail was carried by subscription.

     Mr. Petteys, who also built the grist-mills at Pinckney and Hamburg villages, discovered the site of Petteysville while, engaged at the second-named village, and subsequently purchased the, west half of the northwest quarter and the northwest quarter, of the northeast quarter of section 16, and upon a portion of this land his mills and the village are located.

     David Van Horn, living immediately south of Petteysville, came from the State of New Jersey in 1850 and settled upon the place he now occupies. William Williamson, now of Howell, had formerly 288. lived on the same farm, and still earlier it was occupied by Mr. Wilson.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES

     At Hamburg village, meetings were held at an early day by the Presbyterians, Universalists, and others, but no society had effected an organization until the formation of "St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church," with the Grissons and others among its prominent members. A frame church is owned by this society, which latter is in a fairly prosperous condition. It is the only one in the county except an organization of the same denomination which meets in the court-house at Howell. The Methodists also have a society and a church building at Hamburg. €

UNION CHURCH
PETTEYSVILLE

     In 1845 the Methodists held meetings at this village, in the building standing opposite the residence of Mr. Petteys, now used as a wagon-shop. The same building was a little later used for school purposes. After the new school-house was built the Methodists occupied it until the fall of 1878, a period of over thirty years. In the latter year a frame church was erected one mile north of the village. Rev. Mr. Sayre, a local preacher, and the first who held services here, went to California finally, and met his death at the hands of an assassin, whose object was to secure his money. The class at Petteysville was organized at some date succeeding the first meetings by Rev. Mr. Warren. The society held at one time a membership of over 40 The present pastor resides at Pinckney, in Putnam township, where he also has charge of a church. The building erected near Petteysville is a neat frame church, costing about $1500. It was built for use as a union church, but dedicated as a Congregational. That denomination and the Methodists hold their meetings in it, while all societies or sects have a right to occupy it as a place in which to hold religious services.

SCHOOLS

     The first school in the township of Hamburg was taught in a log school-house, one-fourth of a mile west of the site of the present frame building in District No. 1. The exact date is not recollected, nor the teacher's name.

     When, in the year 1835, Daniel B. Harmon located upon his land north of what is now Petteysville, he built a small shanty, which he occupied until a log house could be constructed. Some time in the same year, after moving into the house, a school was taught in the vacated shanty by a female teacher. The expenses of this school were paid by subscription, as it was before the district was organized.

     At Petteysville, in the summer of 1844, Mrs. George Mercer taught a school at her own house, and after that was closed the children were obliged to go two and a half and three miles to school, --sometimes to the "north district" and sometimes to the south district." In 1845 the daughter of Rev. Mr. Sayre taught a school in a building then standing on Mr. Petteys' place, afterwards converted into a dwelling. In the fall of 1846 a frame school-house, 18 by 26 feet, was built, and is still in use. The present district, No. 9, was organized about the same time. The term taught by Mrs. Mercer was the first school in the neighborhood, and it is remembered that she was an amiable and excellent teacher. The schools in the "north" and "south" districts--one north and the other south of Petteysville, hence their names had been in existence for several years before one was organized at the village.

     From the report of the school inspectors of the township for the year ending Sept. 2, 1878, the following statement is taken, showing the condition of the schools at that time:
 

CEMETERIES

     The township contains two cemeteries, one on section 19 and the other on section 25. The latter, located south of Hamburg village, was laid out on an acre of land taken from the farm of Jesse Hall. At an early day the "First Hamburg Burial Association" was formed, and still has charge of this cemetery. Ferdinand Grisson was for many years its president. The present officers are, President, James Cunningham; Vice-President and Secretary, Ferdinand Grisson; Treasurer, Dennis Cory; Sexton, William Potterton. In this ground repose the remains of many of the pioneers of the neighborhood, with others who were prominent at different periods in the history of the township. Among those, buried here are the following: 289.
 

RAILROADS

     Various projects have been considered for railways to cross this township and furnish an immediate market for the products of its farms. A proposition was submitted at one time to, have the Grand Trunk Railway continue its line through this town to pass within one mile of Hamburg Village, but, when the vote on the subject of raising $36,000 to aid the road was taken, the scheme was, defeated. The Michigan Air-Line Railway, to extend from Jackson to Port Huron, was afterwards talked of, the route being intended as a direct airline from the connection with the Grand Trunk Railway, at Port Huron, through to Chicago, June 19, 1869, pursuant to printed notice, an election was held to determine whether the sum of $18,000 should be raised by the township in aid of the road, and the result stood 128 votes in favor to 25 against. Bonds were subsequently issued, and it was confidently expected the road would, at once be built. It was graded from the west into the township of Putnam, and property in the village of Pinckney which lay on the route, advanced rapidly. The failure of the entire project caused the prices of property along the line to decline as rapidly as they had risen, and Pinckney especially felt the blow. 

     The bonds issued by Hamburg, as well as by other townships, were cancelled, and the people settled back into their former state of suspense and anxious waiting for the time when the iron horse should thunder through their domain and transport to distant markets the products of their broad acres. The extension of this road from Jackson to Niles is owned by the Michigan Central Railway, and is laid on almost the exact route originally surveyed. Grading was also, done at the eastern, end of the route, from Port Huron to Romeo.

CENSUS STATISTICS

     In 1837 the township of Hamburg contained A population of 490. Thirty-seven years later, in 1874, the number of inhabitants was 887,--males, 464; females, 423. From the State census for 1874 the following statistics are gathered:
 

     The following persons are among the many who have contributed information in this township, and to all who have thus aided sincere thanks are due and tendered: Daniel S. Bennett, of Ionia County, 290. son of Justus J. Bennett; Seth A. Petteys, Mrs. George Mercer, and others, at Petteysville; Hon. William Ball, Mrs. Stoddard W. Twichell, Ferdinand Grisson, Mrs. George Burnett, and others, at Hamburg village and vicinity, and others in various portions of the township. Indebtedness is also acknowledged to the Pioneer Society of the county, and to Hon. Edwin B. Winans, present judge of probate.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

MAJOR GEORGE MERCER

     Among the early settlers and prominent citizens of Hamburg the subject of this narrative during his lifetime occupied a conspicuous position. He was born in Devonshire, England, in 1795. His father, William Mercer, was a cloth-merchant, a successful business man, who gave his children

Image of
Major George Mercer

     liberal advantages, and reared a family of five children,--four sons and one daughter. George received a collegiate education, and was associated with his father in business until about 1820, when he came to this country, settling in New York City, where for many years he did business at an importer and jobber of cloths.

     His business ventures were unsuccessful, and in 1833 he went to Monroe Co., N.Y., and engaged in farming. Here he lived until 1836, when he removed to Hamburg, Mich., with his family, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he resided until his decease. The pioneer life of Mr. Mercer was one of unusual hardships and trials. Being city-bred and without practical experience as a farmer, he was beset with difficulties almost insurmountable. It is needless to say that, as a farmer, Mr. Mercer was unsuccessful, and a few years after, he accepted a situation as book-keeper in the drug and dry-goods house of W. S. Maynard, of Ann Arbor, where he remained for fifteen years.

     Oct. 26, 1831, Mr. Mercer was married to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Mary Williamson, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Mr. Williamson was a merchant, and came to Brooklyn in 1825, where he resided until his death, which occurred in May, 1827.

     Mr. Mercer was a man of more than ordinary ability and acquirements. He creditably filled many positions of trust. In 1846 he was elected supervisor, and for many years he served the town as magistrate and clerk. Mr. and Mrs. Mercer reared a family of five children, three of whom are living in the vicinity of the old home.

HON. WILLIAM BALL

     This gentleman, one of the prominent agriculturists of Livingston County, was born in Niles, Cayuga Co., N.Y. April 7, 1830. When six years of age his father emigrated with his family to Washtenaw County, settling in the township of Webster.

     William received but very little adventitious aid in making a future for himself; he obtained, however, a collegiate education, and inherited from his parents a robust constitution and industrious habits, and with these as his exclusive capital he commenced life for himself. After finishing his education he was for several years engaged in teaching, but the profession not proving congenial, and having a decided taste for farming, he resolved to make that his business for life. In 1858 he purchased, in the town of Hamburg, one hundred and forty-seven acres of land, which is a portion of his present farm of five hundred acres. As a farmer and stock-grower Mr. Ball has been very successful, and holds a deservedly prominent position among the leading farmers of the State. He is president of the Michigan Sheep-Breeders' and Wool-Growers' Association, and of the Livingston County Agricultural Society, and for two years has officiated as a director in the State and Central Michigan Agricultural Societies. He is extensively known as a successful, breeder of short-horns and Spanish Merinos, has done much to improve the sheep and cattle interests of Livingston, and his stock is considered among the best in this section of the State.

     Notwithstanding his extensive agricultural operations, 290a.

Image of
O. W. Sexton Residence,
Hamburg Michigan

     291. Mr. Ball has always manifested an interest in public affairs, and the people have shown their appreciation of his services by electing him to various positions of influence and responsibility, which he has filled with scrupulous fidelity. In his political belief he was originally a Whig, and upon the organization of the Republican party he espoused its cause, and has since labored in that organization. In 1863 he represented Hamburg upon the Board of Supervisors, where he was acknowledged an able and efficient member. In 1864 he was elected to the representative branch of the Legislature. In 1866 he was re-elected, serving as chairman on the committee of towns and counties. In 1874 he was elected county superintendent of schools, which position he filled acceptably until that office was abolished by act of the Legislature.

     In 1858, Mr. Ball was married to Miss Catherine, daughter of David B. and Sarah (Culver) Powers, who settled in Hamburg in 1831, and whose names are prominently associated with its early history.

     Mr. Ball is a self-made man, and one of whom the Latin phrase, "Faber sua fortunæ," is eminently true. Commencing life with only his natural resources for capital, he has in a few years attained an enviable position among the representative men of Livingston County.

DENNIS COREY

     was born in the town of Edinburg, Saratoga Co., N.Y., Jan. 18, 1824. His parents, John D. and Parney (Armstrong) Corey, had a family of thirteen children,--six sons and seven daughters. When Dennis was seven years of age his father came with his family to Michigan, settling in Wayne County.

     Dennis remained with his father until he was nineteen years of age, when he purchased his time, and commenced life for himself as a farm laborer. He followed that occupation, however, but a short time, subsequently acquiring the trade of an engineer, which he followed until 1852, when he purchased the farm upon which he now resides. The land for the most part was unimproved, and the fine farm of to-day, with its finely cultivated fields and commodious buildings, is the result of his own energy and industry. In 1854 he was married to Miss Luzette, daughter of Heman Lake, one of the town's first settlers. In 1858, Mrs. Corey died, and in 1860 he was married to Catharine Corey, of Otisco, Onondaga Co., N.Y., where she was born, December, 1824. By his first wife Mr. Corey had one child, Parney E, now Mrs. George Banghart. Mr. Corey has been successful, and his farm (a view of which we present on another page) evidences his thrift and enterprise.

ELIAS DAVIS

     was born in the town of Tyrone, Steuben Co., N.Y., in 1813. In 1834 he came to Michigan, and purchased eighty acres of land in the town of Hamburg, upon which he resided until his decease, June 30, 1845. He was married to Mary Ellen Myer, of Seneca Co., N.Y., where she was born, in the town of Lodi, Oct. 4, 1818.

     Mr. Davis was a successful farmer, and acquired, --by his own industry and good management, a valuable farm of two hundred acres, which he left to his widow and children. He had three children, viz., Caroline, now Mrs. Henry Poulsen, Deborah C., and Myer A.