Michigan historical collections. [Vol. 17]

REPORT OF THE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE. 155
For several years his daughters and their husbands, Wm. E. Taylor, of
Big Rapids, -and W. A. Sibley of Muskegon, tried to induce their
father to retire from the cares and responsibilities of business and
spend the remnant of his days in quiet with them, but he said
"No, I have prolonged my life by being busy, and shall continue to
write policies a~ long as I have strength to do so." This resolve he
kept, looking after the interests of some 18 insurance companies with
an energy and devotion that was wonderful in a man of his years.
Daniel Hubbell was born at Derby, Conn., May 15, 1809. When a
boy he moved with his parents to New York city. While there he
was married to Caroline DeHobe Phillips. He came to Michigan in
1839, settling first on the north bank of Lake Elizabeth, where he lived
until 1855, when he moved to Pontiac, and for quite a number of
years was a builder, planning arid doing a large amount of work. In
the early seventies he opened a fire insurance agency, when by hard
work and devotion to duties, companies came to him almost unsolicited,
until at his death his register showed 18, among them many of the
best of American and English campanies.
On Oct. 2, 1884, his wife died, leaving him alone and breaking up a
union in old age that was the embodiment of affection. Their church
was to them a home, and the altar a divine and sacred place, and
unless sickness or separation prevented, they communed in christian
peace and fellowship together; such was their earthly union, and in
Heaven they are united. They leave to their sorrowing daughters the
rich inheritance of lives spent in the service of their divine Master
and Redeemer. At the early age of 15 the deceased was convirted
and baptized in the faith of the Baptist church. June 4, 1842, Daniel
Hubbell and Caroline, his wife, united with the first Baptist church in
Pontiac, by letter of dismission and recommendation from the South
Baptist church of New York City. On the 6th of January, 1844,
Daniel Hubbell, Abner Davis and A. H. Peck, were chosen deacons.
This official relation he held continuously until his death. During all
these years he was active and earnest in the spiritual and temporal
interests of his chosen Zion. - His Christian principles and honor was
tested in the following incident related of him: at a business meeting
of the society an account was presented and payment asked; some one
in attendance suggested that the debt was cancelled by the statute of
limitation. The old man rose to his feet and in earnest words said,
"that an honest account against the Pontiac Baptist church never outlawed," when the claim was promptly audited. Such was the character
of the mari of whom we write. In,all business affairs his integrity