Michigan Transportation History

Benjamin Follett

Public YpsilantiBankPersonBusiness

Birth and Family

Benjamin Follett was born in Batavia, New York, on August 10, 1819. While he was growing up he claims to have been "a carrier boy in a printing office."1 In 1838, his father Nathan Follett moved his family (including Benjamin) to Ypsilanti, Michigan.2 On September 23, 1841, Benjamin married Elvira Norris, daughter of Mark Norris.3 He and Elvira had one daughter, Alice Follett?, who married Edwin F. Uhl.

Business Life

Benjamin Follett's first employment (even before he was fully eighteen) was as the cashier for the Bank of Ypsilanti, incorporated on March 28, 1836. Here he was described by Theodore H. Hinchman? as "a worthy, conscientious and competent young banker."4 He served as the cashier there until the bank was sold to Theodore Romeyn?. It is not yet clear what Follett was doing between 1843 and 1852. In 1852, he started a new bank with Isaac N. Conklin? and Samuel Y. Denton?. This firm was called Follett, Conklin, & Co. and occupied an office on the second floor of, what later became known as, Carr's Hotel (which by the late 20th century and early 21st was Aubree's Pizzeria & Grill). Within a year though, Denton had resigned and was replace by Charles H. Tisdale. The year after that, the firm moved its location down to Michigan Avenue and into the Hewitt Block.5

On January 20, 1853, Follett along with Chauncey Joslin, M. A. Parks?, E. Samson?, Isaac Conklin?, and Delos Showerman incorporated the Ypsilanti Gas Light? company. The company was in operation by the summer.6

Also, at some point, Follett entered into the hospitality business buying the large Huron Hotel? at the west end of Depot Town and renaming it the Follett House.

Some sources also claim Follett was active in lumber.7

In 1850 or 1851, Follett seems to have entered into a partnership with Dr. Francis K. Rexford. Rexford was at a transition at this time as sources indicated that he left the practice of medicine in 1850. The nature of this partnership is unknown, but it appears to have been either retail or service oriented as Rexford had a storefront on Cross Street (perhaps even in the Follett building).8

By 1860, Follett was also operating as the local agent for the American Express Company and kept offices in the Yost, Tisdale, & Co?. store.9

In 1862, Follett, Conklin & Co. moved into a building further down on Michigan Avenue which later became the location of the First National Bank of Ypsilanti. Later that same year, Follett, Conklin, and Tisdale (if he was still in the partnership) dissolved their partnership and sold their location to the banking firm of E. & F. P. Bogardus. Follett soon found a new banking partner in Robert W. Hemphill. That partnership was known as B. Follett & Co. and was located in the Follett House. In 1865, following the death of Follett, Hemphill changed the name to Cornwell, Hemphill & Co?. and moved into an office in the Mormons Block? at the corner of Congress and Huron.10

In January of 1864, Follett, Conklin?, Asa Dow?, Daniel L. Quirk, and Cornelius Cornwell organized the First National Bank of Ypsilanti which was located in the same banking location of E. & F. P. Bogardus and previously Follett, Conklin.11 So, there appears to be some continuity between from Follett, Conklin, through E. & F. P. Bogardus, to the First National Bank. Later, Edgar and Francis P. Bogardus joined First National.

Follett had a huge reputation in Ypsilanti as an unimpeachable man of integrity. It is a mystery, therefore, why he went into banking.

C. R. Pattison editor of The Ypsilanti True Democrat noted that Follett's participation was "a sufficient guarantee of success" of any enterprise.12

There is an extensive listing of what was printed by the First National Bank Of Ypsilanti at the antique money website.

Politics

Follett was throughout his life a Democrat. In 1860, Follett was elected MayorMayor of Ypsilanti and served until the end of 1861. Also in 1860, Follett was selected to a part of the Michigan delegation to the Democratic National Convention. It's not clear from Bogardus's article whether Follett was a delegate to the first convention in Charleston (which broke down) or the second convention in Baltimore which nominated Stephen A. Douglas, or to both.

Social Life

Elvira and Benjamin Follett lived in a house on the northeast corner of River and Mill (Maple) Streets, Ypsilanti.13

Follet was the treasurer of the Ypsilanti Union School?.14

In 1864, Follett spoke at the inauguration of Ypsilanti's Highland Cemetery15 and was interred there less than six months afterwards.

Follett was also active in the Episcopal Church?. Assisting in organizing and the construction of a parsonage for the church in 1853 and doing the same when the church expanded its building in 1856 resulting the demolition of the original structure and the construction of a new and larger structure. He thereafter served for many years as an officer of the church.16

Follett also contributed to the construction of the Catholic church?.17

Follett also established the Wyandotte Lodge No. 10 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in September of 1845.18

Death

Benjamin Follett died December 26, 1864, while on a trip to Elmira, New York.19 He is interred in Highland Cemetery.

Notes

1. Ypsilanti True Democrat, April 1, 1864, and quoted in Dishrow, 5.

2. Nathan Follett was an indicted conspirator in the William Morgan Affair but was never tried.

3. Foster Fletcher, "Mayors of Ypsilanti, Part I, Ypsilanti Gleanings, October 1981, 8; C. R. Pattison's obituary of Follett notes that Benjamin left Ypsilanti shortly after arriving to return to New York, where he married "Alvira" Norris and returned to Ypsilanti in 1843. Ypsilanti True Democrat, December 30, 1864, transcription by Kurt, "Ypsilanti 1864, True Democrat Notes," PPNA Happenings, February 16, 2008.

4. Theodore H. Hinchman?, Banks and Banking in Michigan (Detroit: W. Graham, 1887), 23.

5. History of Washtenaw County (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), 1144.

6. Given the chronology, the Ypsilanti Gas Light Company was probably a manufacturer and distributor of coal or wood gas (History of Manufactured Fuel Gases and Coal Gasification); see also Foster Fletcher, "As It Was In The Beginning: An Ypsilanti Chronology," Ypsilanti Gleanings, February 1975.

7. Foster Fletcher, "Mayors of Ypsilanti, Part I, Ypsilanti Gleanings, October 1981, 8.

8. History of Washtenaw County (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), 1126.

9. Loomis & Talbott's Ann Arbor City Directory and Business Mirror (Ann Arbor, [Mich.]: G.W. Hawes, 1860), 89.

10. History of Washtenaw County (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), 1144.

11. History of Washtenaw County (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), 1144. The date is given as January 4.

12. Ypsilanti True Democrat, April 1, 1864, and quoted in Dishrow, 5.

13. Foster Fletcher, "Mayors of Ypsilanti, Part I, Ypsilanti Gleanings, October 1981, 8.

14. Loomis & Talbott's Ann Arbor City Directory and Business Mirror (Ann Arbor, [Mich.]: G.W. Hawes, 1860), 136.

15. History of Washtenaw County (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), 1160.

16. History of Washtenaw County (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), 1178.

17. History of Washtenaw County (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), 1150.

18. History of Washtenaw County (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), 1184.

19. Foster Fletcher, "Mayors of Ypsilanti, Part I, Ypsilanti Gleanings, October 1981, 8.

Sources

Bogardus, F. P. "Bankers of the Past and Present," in History of Washtenaw County.  Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881.

Disbrow, Dorothy A. "Early History of the Banks of Ypsilanti." Ypsilanti Gleanings, October 1979.
http://aadl.org/ypsigleanings/13521%%

Fletcher, Foster. "Mayors of Ypsilanti, Part I. Ypsilanti Gleanings, October 1981, 8-15.
http://aadl.org/ypsigleanings/13876%%

Loomis & Talbott's Ann Arbor City Directory and Business Mirror. Ann Arbor, [Mich.]: G.W. Hawes, 1860.

Citation: When referencing this page please use the following citation:

R. D. Jones, "Benjamin Follett," Michigan Transportation History (Ypsilanti, MI: 2020), www.michtranshist.info/.

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Page last modified on March 29, 2020, at 10:36 AM EST


Page last modified on March 29, 2020, at 10:36 AM EST