My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS J. FAXON.
Thomas J. Faxon, one of the prominent farmers and substantial and representative citizens of Shawnee County, residing in section 12, township 12, range 16, in Tecumseh township and the owner of three fine farms aggregating 320 acres, is also a veteran of the great Civil War. Mr. Faxon was born August 1, 1839, in Raisin township, Lenawee County, Michigan, and is a son of Thomas J. and Delia (Faxon) Faxon.

The parents of Mr. Faxon were distantly related. The father was a native of Massachusetts and the mother, of Whitesboro, New York. The family is of Scotch-English stock and was established in New England at an early day, subsequently branching out into other sections. The parents of Mr. Faxon went to Michigan in youth, married there and also died there. They had five children, namely: Theodore S., of Adrian, Michigan; Thomas J., of this sketch; Mrs. Minerva Emma Worden, of Ypsilanti, Michigan; Mrs. Eliza D. Rogers, deceased, formerly of Adrian, Michigan; and Margaret, who died young.

Thomas J. Faxon remained on his father’s farm until 1858, when he went to Davenport, Iowa, and he was working on a farm in that vicinity when the Civil War broke out. When the call came for troops to defend the flag under which he had been born and which he had grown to love with true loyalty, he was one of the first to decide to offer his services and as soon as he could adjust his affairs he became a soldier in the Union Army. In August, 1861, he entered Company E, Second Reg., Iowa Vol. Cav., under Captain Kendrick and Colonel Elliott. The regiment was sent to St. Louis, to Cairo and then to New Madrid, then on to Shiloh, Corinth and Iuka and fought their way, with constant skirmishing, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mr. Faxon escaped serious injury and was with his regiment all the time with the exception of two weeks when he was held as a prisoner of war, having been captured at Holly Springs, Mississippi. After a faithful service of three years, he was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, in October, 1864. The war still continuing, Mr. Faxon reenlisted in April, 1865, at Detroit, in company A, Eighth Reg., United States Vet. Vol., under Capt. John D. Parkhurst and Colonel Monk. The closing of the war came soon after and Mr. Faxon did not see any more active service. The Eighth Regiment held an honorable place in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C.

Mr. Faxon then returned to Michigan and went into a grocery business with his father and brother at Adrian, where he remained for about four years and then came, in November, 1869, to Tecumseh township, Shawnee County, where he has resided ever since. He brought with him his family and household goods and settled on an unimproved tract of 160 acres. This land he fenced, broke and put under cultivation himself, later added more land and made the excellent improvements now noted, having a comfortable attractive home with pleasant surroundings. Formerly he devoted his land to the raising of both grain and stock but now gives his attention mainly to stock-raising alone.

Mr. Faxon was married October 9, 1867, to Maria C. Canfield, who was born at Kendall, Orleans County, New York, April 27, 1844, and is a daughter of Thomas S. and Miranda C. (Barnes) Canfield, natives of Connecticut and Vermont, respectively. Mr. Canfield died in Michigan, but Mrs. Canfield died in Shawnee County. To Mr. and Mrs. Faxon were born four children: Maggie M., who died aged 11 months; Ralph H., an educated young man with three years’ experience at Washburn College, who is private secretary to Senator Long,—he married Louise Winans, of Hutchinson, Kansas, and one child, a son, Wallace W.; Mira D., wife of Gilbert Griswold; and Bessie M., who lives at home. Mr. Griswold assists Mr. Faxon in the operation of his farm and he and wife have these children: Charles T., Florence I. and Walter F. Mrs. Faxon and daughters belong to Bethel Presbyterian Church; Mr. Faxon was a liberal contributor when the church was built. He is a member of Jesse Nelson Post, No. 62, G. A. R., of Tecumseh. Formerly he was affiliated with the Republican party but in later years has felt justified in voting independently, making a choice more of the man than the party. Mr. Faxon is a very well-known citizen and he and family are held in the highest respect in Tecumseh township.