Portrait and biographical album of Ingham and Livingston counties, Michigan, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties ... the governors of the state and of all the presidents of the United States.

416

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

when they removed to Geneva, Ontario County,
N. Y., and in October, 1835, came West. Here
they located at Ann Arbor, but in June, 1837,
came to this country and settled upon a new farm
in Iosco Township, Livingston County. Their
eldest son, George C., was the first settler in that
township, as he came there Iecember 25, 1835.
John and Annie Wood with their son Charles,
came to Putnam Township in the spring of 1845
and purchased one hundred and sixty acres which
was partially improved. The mother died February 6, 1860, and the father passed away March 28,
1864. Of their seven children two only are now
living —our subject and John M., who at the age
of seventy-eight years makes his home in Springfield, Mass., and who is connected with the publishing house of G. & C. Merriam, the publishers of
Webster's Dictionary and has been with them for
over forty years. He read proof on the International edition of the dictionary.
Our subject was nine years of age when he came
to Michigan and attended school at Ann Arbor
and later returned for a year and a half to Springfield, Mass., where he pursued his education. When
seventeen years old he began teaching school in
this county and also worked on his father's farm.
His happy married life began November 25, 1847,
his bride being Sarah A. Bullis, daughter of Charles
and Sarah (Halsey) Bullis, early settlers in this
county, who came here about the year 1839. They
were the parents of nine children, five of whom
still survive. Their daughter, Mrs. Wood was
born April 29, 1824 in Ghent Township, Columbia
County, N. Y.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been granted four
children, three of whom are now living, namely:
Julia A., wife of Isaac Pangborn; George Dwight,
who married Elvira J. Riddle and has two children,
and Jenny L., wife of A. F. Wegener, who is the
mother of two children. To these children the
parents gave the best common-school education
which they could command, and brought them up
in the faith and practice of the Christian religion,
being members of the Congregational Church at
Pinckney, of which body Mr. Wood is Clerk.
This gentleman has been a member of the local
School Board where his broad views of education

have made him a power for good. He has been
Master in the Grange and also Deputy Organizer
and has organized some forty or fifty granges
throughout the State. HIe began his political life
as a Whig and when fourteen years old was a
warm advocate of old Tippecanoe. Later he became
a Republican and has frequently sat as delegate in
county, Congressional and State conventions.
The public career of the Hon. -Mr. Wood was
marked by his election in the fall of 1874, to represent the Eighteenth District in the State Senate
of Michigan. That district then comprised Livingston and Shiawassee Counties. He was active
in the session of 1875 and opposed the repeal of
the old prohibitory law. He was a personal friend
of the Hon. Zach Chandler and was deeply disappointed when that gentleman was during that year
defeated in his race for the United States Senate.
Mr. Wood was enumerator of the United States
census in both 1880 and 1890. He has fully onehalf of his fine tract of three hundred acres under
cultivation and thoroughly enjoys superintending
his farm. He has remodeled and enlarged the
residence which was built in 1847 and has added
to the farm from time to time by purchase.
AMES MARKEY is the proprietor of Markey's Livery, located on Washtenaw Street,
East. He is also Chief of the Fire Depart( ment in the city, and in this capacity is one
of the most efficient officials in public service. He
was born in Bunker Hill, Ingham County, August
31, 1849, and is a son of Patrick and Ann (Cavender) Markey. The former was one of the first settlers in the township above mentioned, here marrying his wife in Loudon, in 1834, coming to this
county four years previous to that auspicious
event, during which time he lived alone on his
farm.
On first coming to the State, and locating on his
land, Patrick Markey found it wild and uncultivated, he however, devoted himself to the improve