Re: Grow Families of Waterford, Oakland Co., MI

Transcription of Page 778 from: HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

Joseph B. Grow was born in Waterford township, Oakland county, Michigan, December 19, 1844. He is a son of Edwin and Percy (Hoyt) Grow, the former of whom was born in New York state, where he resided with his parents until he was ten years of age. Elijah Grow, father of Edwin, was a native of Connecticut and he removed to Michigan with his family about the year 1834. He located in Waterford township, Oakland county, where he purchased a farm, on which he resided during the remainder of his life time. Edwin Grow passed his youth on his father's farm and at the age of twenty-one years he purchased a farm in Waterford township. About that time he was married and he and his wife lived on the above farm until the latter's death, in 1864, when Mr. Grow removed to Highland, whence he later went to Vernon, Michigan. His demise occurred at Vernon about the year 1892. He and his wife became parents of nine children, six of whom grew to maturity and five of whom are living, in 1912, namely, Joseph, the immediate subject of this review; Briggs T. residing in the west; Sarah, wife of John Paton, of Commerce township, this county; Hurbert, of Otsego county, Michigan; and William, who resides at Vernon, Michigan. Ida passed to the life eternal when about twenty-three years old, the wife of James Lockwood.
To the public schools of Waterford township Joseph B. Grow is indebted for his educational training, the same including one year's attendance in the public schools at Clarkston. In the winter of 1864 he joined the Union army, enlisting for service in Company F, Twenty-second Michigan Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was a part of the Army of the Cumberland and he served until the close of the war, participating in a number of important engagements marking the progress of the conflict. After the close of the war and when peace had again been established Mr. Grow returned to Michigan, sojourning for about one year in Highland township, whence he came to Royal Oak township, here purchasing a farm and engaging in diversified agriculture, He has resided on his present fine estate of one hundred and sixty acres for the past twenty-five years and the same is in a high state of cultivation. It is located in section 26 and lies four miles southeast from Roya1 Oak.
In politics Mr. Grow is a stalwart Republican and he has been incumbent of a number of loca1 offices of important trust and responsibility. He has been a director of the school board for the past twenty seven years; was township supervisor for three years; and for twenty years was justice of the peace of Royal Oak township; and has also served as school inspector and town clerk. In their religious faith the family are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Royal Oak.
On December 24, 1869, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Grow to Miss Lorinda M. Campbell, who was born in Oxford. Oakland county in 1849 and came to Royal Oak township in about 1860. She is the daughter of Welcome Campbell; of Scotch descent. In regard to the five children born to M. and Mrs. Grow, the following data are here inserted,-Ida is deceased; Ella is the wife of Fred Perkins, of Highland Park; Mary Furgeson resides at the parental home; Clara is deceased; and Edwin lives at home and manages the Farm.