Biography of the Sabine family, Detroit, Wayne County Copyright © 1998 by Sandra McLellan. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ The Sunday News-Tribune January 21, 1897 P 15 THE SABINE FAMILY ----------------------------- MOSTLY ALL SADDLERS AND HARNESSMAKERS. ----------------------------- IN DETROIT SINCE 1833. ----------------------------- John Sabine, the Head of the Family, Was a Deacon and a Sweet Singer Israel. ----------------------------- "Sabine J., saddler and harnessmaker. 163 Jefferson avenue; residence, Beaublen street corner Lafayette street." "Sabine John, saddler, 23 Brush street." The first reference was that of John Sabine, and his place of business was on the north side of Jefferson avenue, five or six doors above Randolph street, opposite where the Biddle house now stands. The second reference was that of his son, John C. Sabine, who is still doing business in this city. The elder Sabine also had his advertisement in the directory (of 1837) which had a cut of a saddlehorse, and conveyed the information that "kept on hand and sold at wholesale and retail, at the lowest cash prices, saddles, bridles, harness, trunks, valises, mattresses, hardware, tree hames, whips, etc." JOHN SABINE John Sabine, the head of the family, was about five feet six inches in height and weighed about 150 pounds, stoutly built, with a large head, dark hair and complexion, dark hazel eyes, and was plainly but decently dressed. He was an Englishman, and retained the Anglican accent to his latest day, dropping and interpolating his H's in conversation; was very quiet and self-possessed, and rather slow in his speech and carriage. He was a whig, but took no great interest in party affairs, but was a devoted abolitionist, and a friend of the late William Lambert, a prominent colored citizen and both were fellow-workers in the anti-slavery cause, and aided many fugitive slaves across the river to Canada. He was born in Canterbury, Eng., in 1788, and was in business as a saddler. His wife, Maria Hix, whom he married in that city, was a native of Somersetshire. Her parents died when she was a girl, and she came to Canterbury to live with her uncle. They had nine children while in Canterbury. In 1831 times were very hard, and John Sabine determined to come to America, and landed in New York in the fall of that year. The family ascended the Hudson river in a steamboat, and getting off at Troy, crossed the river, and went by canal to Utica. At Troy the oldest son, John C. Sabine, stayed behind, and worked for one year, and then rejoined the family at Utica. Here the tenth and last child was born. In January, 1833, the oldest son, John C. Sabine, again left the family and after working at several towns on the way arrived in Detroit, where he has since resided. He returned to Utica in 1834, and brought his brother Alfred to Detroit. The family moved to Detroit the year following, and the elder Sabine started a shop in a basement on Woodward avenue, adjoining the southwest corner of Jefferson avenue. John Sabine afterward moved into the corner basement. Later he leased a lot on the north side of Jefferson avenue, between Bates and Randolph streets, from Maj. Jonathan Coarsely, and build a shop. For some time he did business in both places. Later he sold the last named building to his son-in-law, W. S. Blake, and leased a lot opposite where the Biddle house now stands, from Joseph Campau, where he put up another building, and moved into it. In rear of this house, in 1840, was erected the whig wigwam, a large log building, 40 by 50 feet, with a grindstone in front, a scythe hanging over the door, skins of raccoons tacked to the walls, strings of dried apples and pumpkins hanging from the rafters, and a barrel of cider in each corner, and a live bear. This wigwam held about 1,000 persons, and was always filled at the several meetings of the enthusiastic whigs. In 1837 he returned to Canterbury and brought his daughter, Sophia, to America. On the trip to England one of his fellow-passengers was Lewis Cass, then on his way to Paris as United States minister to France. Some time in the 40s he had harness shops on the west side of Woodward avenue, between Woodbridge and Atwater streets, and also in Amherstburg, Canada. His last place of business was on Woodward avenue in a store under the National hotel, now Russell house, where he continued in business until he removed from this city to Clarkston, Oakland county, in 1851. His first residence was a house rented from Frederick H. Stevens, on Lafayette avenue, next door to the southwest corner of Shelby street, the corner house being occupied by William F. Chittenden's blacksmith shop. His next residence, which he built himself, was on a 50-foot lot on the northeast corner of Bobbin and Champlain streets, the land being leased from Joseph Campau. When the lease expired he moved the house to No 87 Champlain street where he resided until he left here in 1851. The house is still standing. He was a member of the First Baptist church at the northwest corner of Fort and Griswold streets, sang in the choir, and was one of the deacons from 1847 to 1851. The present Walker block was remodeled from the third church built on the site. He was also one of the singers in the choir. He had a fine bass voice, and while in Canterbury received an offer of a good salary to sing in St. Paul's cathedral in London, but refused for the reason that he was a dissenter. In the historical and biographical sketches published at the half-century memorial exercises of the church, in September, 1877, he is alluded to as follows: A SWEET SINGER "John Sabine was one of the richly-experienced English Christians. Of even and genial temperament he was a man to be loved. Of ardent delight in the worship of the Lord's hours, he was a man for the pastor to prize. Gifted with a strength and ease of bass voice, that was mellower and sweeter than the organ's tone, the soul must have been clogged heavily indeed with earth that was not borne heavenward when he sang, as he always sang in the house of prayer and praise. His sweetness of song is talked about in old Canterbury today. But sweeter than his voice was his spirit , of which you might make choirs enough to lead the singing of Christendom, and never have a choir difficulty. He died the death of the righteous at Clarkston, in August, 1852." In the choir at that time was Solomon Davis, father of George S. Davis, of Parke, Davis & Co., who was the leader and played on the bass viol. This was the only instrument used in the choir, and some of the members objected to its use as ungodly. Other members were Amos T. Hall and his wife, who were the son-in-law and daughter respectively, of Solomon Davis; James A. Cole and his two sister; Thomas H. Armstrong, hatter, afterward a regalia manufacturer, and others. In his home life he was a kind father and husband, and kept up his English style of living, including the eating of four meals a day - at 7 a. m., 12 m., 6 p. m., and 9 p. m. At the last named meal he always drank a glass of whisky and water, which was the only liquor he drank during the 24 hours. He never accumulated much money but made a good living and reared his family respectably and never owned any real estate in Detroit except a lot on the northeast corner of Miami avenue and Wilcox street. This he bought from his son, John C. in 1836 for $400, and sold a short time afterward at a small advance. In 1851, being the 64 years of age, he retired from business and removed with his wife and youngest daughter, Lydia, to Clarkston, Oakland county, to live near his married daughters, Mrs. Maria Owen, Mrs. Mary Blake and Mrs. Sophie Foster, who all lived in that village. There he built a house and lived until his death a year afterward, on Aug. 25, 1852, aged 65 years. His wife died in Detroit on Feb. 20, 1871, aged 82 years and 6 months. THEIR CHILDREN John Sabine had 10 children, who were all born at Canterbury, except one, who was born at Utica, N. Y. (1) Mary Sabine, married Wm S. Blake in Utica, N. Y. He was a shoe dealer and came to this city with his wife and her family in 1836. Here he set up in business, but removed to Clarkston in 1842, and died there in 1877. She died in Detroit in 1887, leaving no children, and was buried at Clarkston. (2) John C. Sabine, born Nov. 29, 1815, still survives and carries on the saddlery and harnessmaking business at 331 Woodward avenue. His auto-biographical sketch appears next week. He went from Detroit to Canterbury in 1836, and there married Mary Booth Hagell, his boyhood love, whose father was the comptroller of Canterbury for many years. She died in Detroit, Dec. 11 1867, and in 1869 he married Mrs Matilda Keal, sister of his deceased wife. There have been no children by the second marriage. By the first marriage there were nine children. (1) Matilda Sabine, married W. F. Bellman, grocer, and died in 1866 leaving two children. (2) Mary Booth Sabine, married James Folsom, now janitor of the municipal building, and has one child. (3) James Woodward Sabine, born 1843, is a saddler by trade, but retired about 10 years ago. He lives in Detroit in the winter, and on his steam yacht in the St. Clair Flats in the summer. Unmarried. (4) John C. Sabine, Jr., born 1845, is a saddler, and works in his father's shop. Unmarried. (5) Elizabeth Ann Sabine lives with her sister, Mrs. Folsom, in this city. She was a teacher in the public schools for 25 years, has retired on a pension, and spends much of her time in charitable work. (6) Maria Susanna Sabine, born 1850, died unmarried in 1873. (7) Joseph Frederick Sabine, born 1853, was a saddler, and died unmarried in California in 1885. (8) Sophie Louisa Sabine, married William H. Thayer, of Bamford & Thayer, painters and decorators, and has two daughters. (9) Sabina Emma Sabine, died in 1860, aged 1 year. (3) William C. Sabine, born 1818, was a saddler, and was in business in Detroit from 1837 up to the time of his death. His wife, Elizabeth Keal, of Detroit, died in April, 1896. He was a member of the Second M. E. church of this city, and was a delegate from that church when the Young Men's Christian association was organized on Sept. 27 1862, at Young Men's hall. He left two sons, who both live in this city. (1) William H. Sabine is a clerk. He married Lois M. Knapp, and has one child, Lillian K. Sabine. (2) Lewis A. Sabine has no family. (4) Louisa Sabine, born 1820, died unmarried in Detroit in 1839, aged 19 years. (5) Sophia Sabine, born 1821, married Horatio Foster in Detroit, and died at Clarkston in 1863, leaving four children. (1) Frederick S. Foster is out west, and has not been heard from in ten years. (2) Anna Foster, wife of William R. Owen, Pontiac. (3) Mary B. Foster married Dr. Robert Le Baron, Pontiac, and lives there with her husband and three children. (4) Roland Foster, died unmarried in 1880. (6) Alfred Sabine, born in 1823, was a saddler by trade, and started in business for himself in 1856, and is still in business at 136 Grand River avenue. He married Mary Ann Towers, of Utica, N. Y., who died about a year afterward. His second wife, who still survives, was Martha Bliss, of Westfairlee, Orange county, Vt., whom he married in Boston in 1860. When Gov. Porter died in Detroit of cholera, in 1834, the news was distributed by handbills, and Alfred, then 11 years old, delivered them at the residences of citizens. When Michigan was admitted as a state, in 1837, a big bonfire was built at the intersection of Jefferson and Woodward avenues and Alfred was one of the boys who built it. They have four children. (1) Emma Florence Sabine is a teacher in the Detroit public schools. (2) Charles S. Sabine, is in business with his father in this city. (3) Charlotte M. Sabine, lives with her parents. (4) Edward B. Sabine, lives at Hackensack, N. J. He married Eola M. Kinsey, of Mariner's Harbor, Staten Island, N. Y., and has one child. (7) Maria Sabine, born 1824, married John G. Owen in Detroit. They afterward removed to Clarkston, and subsequently to East Saginaw. In the latter city Mr. Owen was a lumber dealer and was mayor in the '70s. She died in 1867, leaving nine children. (1) Maria E. Dunk, widow of Alfred Dunk, Saginaw. (2) John S. Owen, of Eau Claire, Wis. (2) Joseph D. Owen, Owendale, Mich. (4) Sophia S. Owen, who lives with her father in Saginaw. (5) Ella W. Owen, wife of W. B. Moore, Saginaw. (6) Wm C. Owen, Pontiac. (7) Edward A. Owen, New York City. (8) James Owen, Minneapolis, Minn. (9) Samuel F. Owen, Saginaw. (8) James Elvey Sabine, born in 1826, learned the jewelry business with Geo. Doty, in this city, and went to St. Louis in the early 40s. When the Mexican war began in 1846 he was a sutler's clerk, with a regiment at Santa Fe. He remained in that city, and was proprietor of a jewelry store, and was mayor. He afterwards removed to Winnemucca, Nev., and was in business there when he died in 1881. He married Mrs. Mary Crosby, of Lockport, N. Y., and left two children, Agnes G. and Horace F. Sabine, who now live their mother at Los Angeles, Cal. (9) Elizabeth Hicks Sabine, born in 1830, married Horatio Foster, after the death of her sister, Mrs. Sophia Foster. She has no children and is now a widow, and lives with her sister's daughter, Mrs. Mary B. LeBaron, at Pontiac. (10) Lydia J. Sabine, the only child born in America, first saw the light at Utica, N. Y., in 1833. She married Dr. Abram Heaton, of Lake Superior. They removed to this city, and the doctor practiced here until his death. She lives in Detroit with her two children, James S. and Marie Heaton. dz