My Genealogy Hound

HON. HENRY CHAMBERLAIN. Among the eminent men of Michigan who have honorably worked their way to the highest position and won the richest reward by the exercise of patient perseverance, prominent mention belongs to the well-known gentleman whose name introduces this brief biographical notice, and who, throughout his long and useful career, has proved the power of conscientious labor and honest industry in elevating the individual and crowning his exertions with the most complete success. Now retired from public life, he is spending the afternoon of his days among such comforts and luxuries as were accumulated by the labor of former years.

For many years a resident of Three Oaks, Mr. Chamberlain is not, however, a native of Michigan, but was born in Pembroke, N. H., on the 17th of March, 1824. Tracing his ancestry back through several generations, we find Jacob Chamberlain was born in 1691, and married Miss Abigail Hassey, their union being blessed by the birth of the following children: John, Jacob, Samuel, Abigail, Sarah, Martha and Phoebe. The father of this family died in 1734, at the age of about forty-two years. The sixth child in his family was Samuel, who was born at Chelsea, Mass., in 1734, and married Miss Martha, daughter of Deacon Henry Mellen, of Hopkinton, Mass. They were the parents of a large family of children, whose names were Samuel, William, Moses, Sybeil, Elizabeth, Lydia, Patty and Joseph.

During the Revolutionary War Samuel Chamberlain enlisted in the defense of the Colonies, and served with distinguished bravery, winning the epaulets of a Lieutenant. About 1760 he removed from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, settling at Loudon, and there engaging in farming pursuits. About 1785 he removed to Beacham, Vt., where all his children were living, with the exception of Moses, who remained at the old homestead. His death occurred in 1802, when he had reached an advanced age. Of his children, the biographer wishes to record events of interest in the life of his son Moses, who was born at Hopkinton, Mass., on the 5th of October, 1757, and in childhood accompanied his parents to Loudon, N. H.

The marriage of Moses Chamberlain united him with Miss Rebecca, daughter of Amos Abbott, a prominent citizen of Concord, N. H., and nine children were born to the union: Rebecca, Judith, Patty, Amos, William, Moses, John A., Betsey and Samuel. Moses Chamberlain served in the War of the Revolution, as did also his brother William. The latter was aroused from bed on the night of the 21st of April, 1776, in order to hasten to his country’s defense, and served in the army until the close of the war, first as a private and later as a Lieutenant, participating in the battles of Princeton, Bennington and a number of minor engagements. In civic affairs he was also a man of great influence, and was one of the most prominent statesman of Vermont, being a member of Congress, and also serving as Lieutenant-Governor for many years. Moses Chamberlain, Sr., died on the 21st of October, 1811.

The father of our subject, Moses Chamberlain, Jr., was born on the 7th of February, 1792, at Loudon, N. H., where he was reared on a farm. He became a merchant of Pembroke, where he married Miss Mary Foster, the daughter of Abiel and Susanna (Moore) Foster. Her father, who was born in Canterbury, N. H., was a man of wealth and devoted his attention to superintending his valuable estate. The maternal great-grandfather of our subject was Abiel Foster, Sr., who was born in Andover, Mass., in 1735, and was graduated from Harvard University in 1756. In 1761 he was ordained a minister in the Congregational Church at Canterbury, N. H., and until 1779 devoted his attention to religious work, after which he became more closely connected with public affairs. He was a member of Congress under the Confederation for two years, and also after the adoption of the Constitution, with the exception of four years, until March 4, 1805, being one of the most prominent statesmen of his day. His death occurred on the 6th of February, 1806. The second marriage of Abiel Foster united him with Miss Mary Rogers, of Ipswich, Mass., who was the daughter of Samuel Rogers, a physician and a descendant of a long line of Congregational ministers of Ipswich.

For twenty years Moses Chamberlain, Jr., engaged in mercantile pursuits at Pembroke, N. H., whence he removed to Concord, the same State, and followed the mercantile business there for about eight years. In 1843 he came to Michigan, settling in Berrien County, upon a tract of land in Three Oaks Township, which he had entered from the Government in 1836. He entered eight hundred acres of land in this county, and was one of the most successful and prominent farmers of the community, with the progress of which he was closely identified until his death, on the 12th of February, 1866.

In the parental family were five children, three of whom are still living: Mellen C., a resident of Chelsea, Mass., and a retired lawyer, who for many years held the position of Librarian of the Boston City Library; Henry, of this sketch; and William, who is warden of the State Prison, at Jackson, Mich. Those deceased are Mary, the wife of H. E. Crosby, and Elizabeth, Mrs. John G. Mason. The father of this family was a devoted member of the Congregational Church and an active worker in religious enterprises, as well as in the cause of anti-slavery and temperance. A man of firm convictions, ardent in his support of the right, and equally courageous in his warfare against the wrong, he was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. He was a man of undaunted bravery, knowing no other fear than the fear of God. In his domestic relations he was tender and true, a loving husband and devoted father. As one of the earliest settlers of Berrien County, his name will be held in loving memory for generations yet to come and his labor in securing a good class of settlers for the village of Three Oaks entitles him to a high place among the pioneers of the place.

To such ancestors as these the subject of our sketch can point with pride, and many of the qualities which have contributed to his success are his by the right of inheritance. He received meagre educational advantages in his youth, attending the common schools but a short time, and at the age of sixteen spending six months in Pembroke Academy. In the great school of experience, as well as by self-culture and observation, he has gained a broad knowledge of the world, and is one of the best-informed men in the community. At the age of twelve he entered his father’s store, where he remained as clerk until became to Michigan at the age of twenty. Here he began the life of a backwoodsman upon section 15, Three Oaks Township, remaining on that place until 1850.

Coming during that year to the site of the present village of Three Oaks, our subject erected a log cabin, and at once commenced the work of clearing the land and improving the farm. He also devoted considerable attention to selling wood, which he cut from his place. In 1854 he built a store and embarked in the general mercantile business, becoming the pioneer merchant of Three Oaks, and continuing in the business until 1878. Meantime he also engaged in farming on an extensive scale, owning at one time about three thousand acres of land, and clearing the home farm of five hundred and forty acres. He still owns about five hundred acres in Three Oaks Township.

The first marriage of Mr. Chamberlain united him with Sarah J., the daughter of Vincent Nash, an early settler in Berrien County. She was born in Jefferson County, Ind., whence she came to Michigan in 1840, and in 1851 became the wife of our subject. One child was born of the union, Henry, who is now a clerk in Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs. Sarah J. Chamberlain died in June, 1852, and in November of 1856 our subject married Mrs. Rebecca Ames, the daughter of Jacob Vandecenter, of La Grange County, Ind., a prominent farmer and early settler of that county. Mrs. Chamberlain was born in Delaware County, Ohio, where her father had made settlement in 1816, migrating thither from Pennsylvania. At the age of six years she accompanied her parents to La Grange County, Ind., and received her education in the common schools and the Ontario Collegiate Institute of Indiana.

By his second marriage, Mr. Chamberlain became the father of three children, viz.: Mary, the wife of Edward K. Warren, of Three Oaks; Rebecca Belle, who married Lee Chamberlain, of Columbus, Ohio, a commission merchant of that city; and Paul, who is a mechanical engineer residing at Aurora, Ill. Our subject may well be proud of his children, who occupy positions of prominence in the social and business world. In his religious connections, Mr. Chamberlain is identified with the Congregational Church, and contributes liberally to its various enterprises, although he by no means withholds his support from the benevolent projects of other organizations.

This sketch would be very incomplete were no mention made of the political career of our subject, for he is, and for many years has been, one of the most prominent Democrats in the State. A few days after he was twenty-one years old, he was elected Supervisor of New Buffalo Township, and served in that position for four years. In 1849 he represented the county in the State Legislature. From 1853 until 1855 he was mail agent on the Michigan Central Railroad. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1850, in the old township of New Buffalo (the township of Three Oaks being a part of that township), and filled the office until 1872. In 1851 he was elected Supervisor of New Buffalo Township, and upon the formation of Three Oaks Township in 1856, he was chosen to represent it upon the County Board of Supervisors, filling the position for six terms. In 1864 he was candidate for State Senator, and two years afterward was candidate for the Constitutional Convention. In 1868 and 1870 he was candidate for Congress, and in 1874 was the Democratic nominee for the position of Governor of Michigan. In 1876 he was again nominated for Congress. At three different times he received the vote of his party for State Senator. He is now serving as a member of the State Board of Agriculture. In 1876 and 1892 he served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions.

In the Masonic fraternity Mr. Chamberlain has also been very prominent, and has been identified with the order since 1854. He was Grand Master of the State in 1872, and has served as Master of the lodge at Three Oaks. He is also a Knight Templar. It was under his direction that the first code of Masonic laws was originated, and from that day to this his interest in the organization has never waned. With agricultural organizations he is also prominently connected, and enjoys the distinction of having been Secretary of the meeting that organized the State Agricultural Society. Throughout the State he enjoys considerable distinction as an orator, and is original, polished and pleasing as a public speaker.