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Hon. Daniel Upton, Sr. Hon Daniel
Upton, Sr., deceased, a highly esteemed pioneer settler of Michigan, who
throughout a long career of honored usefulness in the Wolverine State held
with efficiency and integrity high positions of trust, passed to his rest
at Muskegon Heights June 30, 1893, mourned as a public loss. Born in Newburg,
Dutchess County, N. Y., August 27, 1818, our subject was only seventeen
years of age when, a bright ambitious youth, he came with his parents to
Jackson, Mich., and from 1835 until his demise, a period of almost three-score
years, was as a leading citizen intimately associated with the development
of the great West. His father, Samuel Upton, a native of Providence, R.
I., survived his removal to Michigan many years, passing away about a quarter
of a century later, upon January 3, 1860. He was a man of upright character
and steadfast purpose and commanded the high regard of all who knew him.
The paternal grandfather, also Samuel Upton, was a long-time resident of
Rhode Island, making his home for many years in Providence. The Uptons
were originally subjects of Great Britain, but emigrated from England to
the United States in an early period of our Colonial history. The mother,
in maidenhood Charlotte Frost, born in Westchester County, N. Y., was the
descendant of a long line of English forefathers, the Frosts settling in
New England not long after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers.
Our subject passed the days
of childhood in his birthplace, and received a good common-school education
in the home district. His father was at one time a prominent woolen manufacturer,
and acquired a comfortable competence. The Hon. Daniel Upton, Sr., from
1859 to 1866 was widely known as the popular County Clerk of Jackson County,
and in 1866 was elected to the Legislature, being sent from the second
district of Jackson County to the House of Representatives, where he served
on important committees and faithfully discharged the duties entrusted
to him by his constituents. In the fall of 1867 our subject left his long-time
home in Jackson, Mich., and permanently located in Muskegon, where for
a twelvemonth he engaged in merchandising. Later he here conducted an extensive
and profitable real-estate business, continuing in the same until his death.
He had for many years been an expert on values of both inside and outside
property, and in all matters of local improvement was animated with enthusiastic
enterprise until the close of his life.. In June, 1891, upon the organization
and building of Muskegon Heights, he accepted the position as Clerk of
the Heights, and with rare ability transacted every detail of the business
devolving upon him until smitten by mortal illness. From 1876 until 1880,
Mr. Upton rendered most satisfactory decisions as Justice of the Peace
and Police Judge of Muskegon and efficiently holding this position as he
did the other offices with which the public honored him, possessed the
universal regard of his fellow-citizens.
Upon November 2, 1848, were
united in marriage Daniel Upton and Miss Mary E. Strong. The latter was
born in Lansing, Tompkins County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Edward and
Harriet A. (Egan) Strong, the former a native of Tompkins County, N. Y.
Her mother was a native of Johnstown, Fulton County, N. Y. Our subject
and his worthy wife became the parents of two sons and one daughter. Edward
S., the eldestborn, is a citizen of Lake Harbor, Mich.; Daniel, Jr., resides
in Muskegon; Cornelia C. is the wife of Charles Fett, of Fernadina, Nassau
County, Fla. Mrs. Upton, surviving, is a member of the Episcopal Church,
but our subject, clinging to the simple form of worship maintained by his
ancestors, was an Orthodox Quaker, a devout Christian man, whose rule of
life was to do unto others as he desired them to do unto him. A true friend
in the hour of need, a citizen of high principle and fidelity, the memory
of the Hon. Daniel Upton will long be precious in the hearts of many who
knew and loved him.
William H. Stevenson William H. Stevenson, Postmaster at Fruitport,
is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., and was born near the city of Syracuse,
July 31, 1830. He traces his ancestry to one of three brothers who emigrated
to America in company with William Penn and settled in Pennsylvania, where
the descendants for many generations resided. The family was prominent
in the Society of Friends, and possessed the noble traits of character
noticeable among the Quakers.
The father of our subject, William Stevenson, was
born in New Jersey, and emigrating to New York when a young man spent his
remaining years in that State, dying in Cayuga County. His wife, whom maiden
name was Sophia Clark, was born in the Empire State and died in Illinois,
whither she had gone with the intention of making her home with a son and
daughter. Her remains were taken back to New York and interred in the old
cemetery where several other members of the family had been laid to rest.
She was the mother of five sons and two daughters, all but one of whom
are still living.
The fourth in order of birth is the subject of this
sketch. A child of two years when his parents removed to Cayuga County,
N. Y., he was there reared to manhood, receiving his primary education
in the common schools and afterward attending the Auburn Academy and the
school at Aurora. On the 30th of November, 1859, he was united in marriage
with Miss Sarah A. Smith, who was born in Port Byron, N. Y., being a daughter
of Walter H. And Nancy Smith. Our subject and his estimable wife are the
parents of two sons and two daughters, namely: Augustus W.; William Clifton;
Anna B., the wife of Clarence D. Collins, a resident of Grand Rapids, Mich.;
and Jesse H., who is at home.
During the late war no resident of Auburn, N. Y.,
was more active than our subject in arousing the enthusiasm of every patriotic
son of America in our country's behalf. In 1861 he assisted in raising
Company B., Seventy-fifth New York Infantry, of which he was chosen First
Lieutenant. With the assistance of another gentleman he raised the Tenth
Company, which he organized for the service in the Union Army. Indeed,
he was so successful in securing recruits that he was sent back after going
to the front in order to raise another company, and of this, upon organization,
he was made Captain, serving in that capacity for about twelve months.
Finally he was compelled to resign on account of poor health, after having
very nearly suffered the loss of his sight. He participated in the bombardments
of Fort Pickers, being temporary commander of the company at the time.
During the year 1869 Mr. Stevenson emigrated from
New York to Michigan, and coming to Muskegon County, located in what is
now Fruitport, having previously purchased a large tract of land here.
Afterward he disposed of the major part of his possessions to what is known
as the Fruitport Company, although he still retains the ownership of valuable
property. He has witnessed the growth of the village and has been closely
identified with its progress. In 1887 he was appointed Postmaster under
the administration of President Cleveland, and served throughout the entire
period of President Harrison's administration and is still the incumbent
of the office. A number of years since he was appointed Township Supervisor,
and in 1890 was elected to that position; he has been re-elected each succeeding
year and is the present representative of the township upon the County
Board. Always an ardent Democrat, his first Presidential vote was cast
for Franklin Pierce in 1852, and he has since upheld the principles advocated
by the Democratic party. In religious matters he leans to the Congregational
Church, of which his wife is a member.
George T. Hitchcock
George T. Hitchcock,
the popular and efficient Superintendent of Lake Michigan Park, Muskegon,
Mich., is especially well adapted to meet the demands of the public position
which he occupies with intelligent ability and a practical knowledge, clearly
indicating that he is the right man for the place, and insuring to the
city the proper management and supervision of one of the most charming
garden spots of the State. Our subject is a native of Ireland, and was
born in County Wexford March 10, 1845. His paternal grandfather, Thomas
Hitchcock, by nativity an Englishman, when arrived at mature age removed
to Ireland, where, remaining until his death, he reared to self-reliant
usefulness his son and namesake, Thomas, the father of our subject. Thomas
Hitchcock, Jr., born educated and married in the Emerald Isle, was a man
of earnest purpose, energetic and enterprising, and finally determined
to try his fortune in the united States. Crossing the ocean and landing
safely upon American shores, he journeyed to Michigan and settled in Muskegon
County, where he passed peacefully away after a long life of busy industry,
in 1887. The mother, Ann (Keerfud) Hitchcock, likewise a native of Ireland,
emigrated with her husband and family to America, and died in 1885, in
Muskegon County.
Our subject, spending
the days of early boyhood in Ireland, there attended the common schools
and had arrived at thirteen years of age when he crossed the broad Atlantic
with his parents, and, eight and a-half weeks upon the voyage, safely landed
at last in Quebec, Canada. After settling with his father and mother in
Muskegon County, George enjoyed the benefit of instruction in the excellent
public schools of his home locality, and at a comparatively youthful age
self-reliantly beginning the battle of life, found occupation in a sawmill,
and for ten consecutive years ran a mill for the firm of Ryerson &
Hill. Our subject at the expiration of this length of time embarked in
the hotel business in Newaygo, and later successfully conducted a grocery
trade in the same town for three years. In 1875 Mr. Hitchcock made Muskegon
his permanent home, and not long after became Superintendent of the S.
C. Hall Lumber Company, and held the responsible position for six years,
giving faithful and intelligent service. In 1890 our subject was appointed
Superintendent of Lake Park, and has full supervision of the work and improvements
connected therewith.
In 1869 George T. Hitchcock
and Miss Fannie Bradley were united in marriage. She is a native of Connecticut,
and a daughter of John Bradley, likewise born in Connecticut and the descendant
of a long line of honored New England ancestry. The union of our subject
and his estimable wife has been blessed by the birth on one child, a daughter,
Margaret, an accomplished and attractive young lady, now the wife of Clarence
Power. Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock reside in a beautiful home pleasantly located
at No. 230 Beach Street, Muskegon. Our subject is fraternally associated
with the Maccabees, and affiliates with Tent No. 56. Politically, a strong
Republican and an ardent advocate of the party, Mr. Hitchcock has neither
time nor inclination to devote himself to the cares of public office, but
a true American citizen, is deeply interested in both local and national
issues, and in all matters pertaining to home enterprise and progress is
ever ready to lend a helping hand. Mr. Hitchcock and his wife are both
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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