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COUNTY 
 
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OCEANA C 'UNTY 
 
 PIONEERSMBUSINESSMEN 
 
 OF XO-OAY 
 
 HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, STATISTICS AND 
 HUMOROUS INCIDENTS. 
 
 L M. HARTWICK and W. H. TULLER. 
 
 Pentwatku, Mioii.: 
 TKNTWATEll NEWS 8TEAM IMUNT. 
 
 \r'M. 
 

 
 -> u 
 
 ^ -J 
 
INTRODUCTORY 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY, 1800. 
 
 Although still in the infancy of its develoj)ment, Oceana County 
 possesses many advantages and attractions not enjoyed by other 
 counties in this great and growing State. It has passed from the 
 critical lumber stage of its existence, and is now fairly entered upon 
 a period of unsurpassed agricultural and horticultural prosperity. 
 Washed by the waters of Lake Michigan, the heat of summer and 
 the rigors of winter are modified, while the invigorating breezes 
 from this great body of water fan the villages and country, sweep- 
 ing away the germs of malaria, making a climate at once delightful 
 and healthy. 
 
 The surface is high and rolling, the soil rich sand loam, heavy 
 clay loam, and light sand. The change from one soil to another is 
 quite marked, and often in the same section all the different charac- 
 ters of soils are to be found. In some localities gravel and stone is 
 abundant, in others whole sections may be searched in vain for a 
 pebble. There are several extensive lime quarries, from one of 
 which, located at Shelby, lime of a very superior quality but of dark 
 color, is manufactured. There are also several extensive clay beds, 
 from which brick equal in appearance and quality to the celebrated 
 Milwaukee brick, are made, the most notable, perhaps, being locat- 
 ed upon the banks of Pentwater Lake, owned and worked by the 
 Middlesex Brick & Tile Co. 
 
 The aounty is divided by a range of hills running from the south- 
 west to the northeast, making two water basins. From the south- 
 eastern the White River, fed by numerous small tributaries, takes 
 its way to White Lake, while the two bi-anches of the Pentwater 
 River, North and South, flow through the northern and central 
 portions of the county and empty into Pentwater Lake. These 
 streams have been the lumberman's thoroughfare in the past for 
 transporting millions of feet of logs from Oceana's grand forests to 
 the insatiable maw of the great mills. The tributaries to these 
 main streams usually find their source in springs and consequently 
 furnish waters favorable for the propagation of brook trout, or 
 salmon. The grayling, next to the trout, perhaps, the most highly 
 prized by sportsmen, is native to these waters. In 1878 some en- 
 
10 OCEAXA COUXTY PIOXEEKS 
 
 terprising sportsmen purchased and planted in several of these 
 streams 2,000 brook trout. In 1880 9,000 more were planted and 
 in 1881, 75,000. The result of their labors has been astonishing, 
 and at the present time the streams of Oceana County furnish the 
 most delightful fishing waters tor sportsmen. Trout weighing from 
 two to four and a half pounds have been caught, and as many as 
 lifty in a day by one person. With the gradual abandonment of 
 the large streams by the lumbermen these fish are finding their way 
 thither, and during certaui seasons are found in great numbers. 
 The time is not far distant when these streams will have a national 
 reputation for their fish. There are several small lakes in the coun- 
 ty which abound with American pike, or pickerel, black bass, and 
 smaller fish of the same specie. Also muskallonge, bull-head and 
 silver eel. The banks surrounding these lakes are usually high and 
 being thickly studded with beech, maple, pine, hemlock and cedar 
 intermingled, form many romantic and jjicturesque places. Flocks 
 of wild duck and other water fowl annually visit these lakes. 
 
 The game of the county is of late years changing. Bear, deer and 
 fox have fired the ambition of local sportsmen in times past. Sto- 
 nes of succe.ss in hunting these animals are often heard. Few deer 
 or bear are now found although the fox is still caught. Mink and 
 muskrat are quite plentiful. Otter and coon are often found. Par- 
 tridge has always been plentiful, and of late quail and meadow 
 larks are beginning to fill the fields with their music. Squirrels were 
 unknown to our forests until quite recently, but are now becoming 
 a favorite game. Rabbits abound largely in localities. 
 
 For agricultural purposes the soil of this county is adapted to 
 the successful cultivation of a great variety of products. Hay, 
 corn, oats, wheat, rye, barley and peas are as successfully raised 
 here as in many of the southern counties of the State. Potatoes 
 and all kinds of vegetables are grown in perfection. Owing to the 
 peculiar character of the soil, potatoes are large, sound, mealy, 
 smooth and clean skinned. 
 
 It is perhaps the adaptability of soil and climate for fruit raising 
 that has given this section its greatest reputation. The "Michigan 
 Fruit Belt" is a strip of territory with a shadowy interior bounda- 
 ry, in which peaches are grown with a smaller per centageof failures 
 than elsewhere in the State.— (Michigan and its Resources.) This 
 strip extends along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan from Ben- 
 zie county on the north to Berrien county on the south, and being 
 from ten to twenty miles in width. By an examination of the map 
 of Michigan it will be seen that Oceana lies about midway between 
 the northern and southern extremes of this belt, and it has the 
 greatest projection into Lake Michigan of any portion of the State. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 11 
 
 From the'iayof the land" it has a most perfect atmospheric drain- 
 age. These things, together with its strong soil, mark it as a local- 
 ity peculiarly favored by nature for the successful production of 
 peaches and plums. In the scramble for wealth through the ave- 
 nues of tlie lumber trade which marked the eai'ly history of this 
 county, the above advantages were scarcely noticed. A few per- 
 sons, however, planted trees and were surprised to find them after 
 a few years bearing fruit each season and of a very superior quali- 
 ty. The experienced horticulturist would have noted the advan- 
 tages described above, but the actual settler did not realize them 
 until brought face to face with facts. Year after year told the same 
 story until orchard planting became the order of the day and to- 
 day thousands of acres are covered with thrifty growing trees. For 
 fifteen years in succession peaches have been picked from the same 
 trees by some of those who first planted orchards. During a period 
 of thirty years there has been only one season when peach buds 
 were destroyed by the winter cold. In 1889 the frosts of early 
 spring destroyed the peach buds in that portion of the fruit belt 
 that had for many years been relied upon by the commission men 
 of Chicago and Milwaukee, known as the St. Joseph and South Ha- 
 ven district, but Oceana County and a portion of Mason County 
 escaped this visitation and a heavy crop was gathered which bro't 
 good prices. Many a poor man with a few hundred bearing trees 
 found himself at the close of the season the possessor of a good 
 banking account. Fruit was purchased upon the tree in many in- 
 stances for from $2 to $3 a tree, and the purchaser realized from 
 25 to 100 per cent, on his investment. 
 
 In regard to health, carefully kept records extending over a peri- 
 od of 48 months indicate this to be one of the healthiest locali- 
 ties in the United States. From tables published elsewhere in this 
 work, showing population and deaths in the county, made from 
 public records and reports by Supervisors required by law, it ap- 
 pears that the rate of mortality for the county is .5.91 per thousand 
 of population. Fever and ague is very rare; scarlet fever, diphther- 
 ia and other contagious diseases seldom assume a malignant type. 
 The source of the Avater supply and the natural drainage of the 
 country undoubtedly contributes largely to the general good health 
 that is here enjoyed. 
 
 The population of the county is 17,000. Its assessed valuation 
 as determined by the Board of Supervisors at its October session 
 in 1889 is $3,440.82 1 . It has eighty-six school districts employing 
 teachers, and four Union Schools. The school buildings as a gener- 
 al thing are new, commodious, and furnished with modern appli- 
 
12 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 ances. There are twentj' church organizations having church edi- 
 fices. 
 
 There is invested in manufacturing enterprises over $500,000 
 capital. There are four banks, five flouring mills, and six news- 
 IDapers. The Chicago & West JNIichigan Railway traverses the coun- 
 ty from its southern boundary to Pentwater,its northern terminus. 
 It has one lake harbor located at Pentwater repaired and main- 
 tained by Government appropriation. The U. S. also has a Life 
 Saving Station and lighthouse established at this point, and a light- 
 house at Petite Pt. Au Sable. It has a fine large Court House 
 building located at Hart, the county seat, and a poor farm in the 
 same township, well improved, under a good state of cultivation 
 and with good, commodious buildings. 
 
 Standing uj)on the threshold of a new era in its development i\, 
 presents three prominent characteristics that have attracted gen- 
 eral attention and which will have great influence upon its future 
 growth and prosj^erity. We refer to its fish, fruit and health. It 
 has been known in the past principally for its lumber productions, 
 but from this time it will be known as the center ot Michigan's fruit 
 belt, the healthiest location in the State, and a favorite resort for 
 sportsmen. 
 
HISTORICA.L. 
 
 CHAPTER I.— NAME. 
 
 March 2, 1831, the Territorial Legislature of Michigan passed an 
 Act defining the boundaries of certain territory lying south of a line 
 between towns 12 and 13 north, and gave to the territory there 
 designated the name Oceana. This is the first public record of the 
 State whei'eiu this name appears, although we find evidence of its 
 being used to designate certain undefined territory of Michigan pri- 
 or to this Act of the Legislature. Who selected the name, or its sig- 
 nification, can only be conjectured. 
 
 It has been generally understood to denote the "watery location" 
 of this territory. Charles R. Brown, in his Government of Michigan 
 published in 1874 (page 30) gives the above as the origin of the 
 name. Page's History of Oceana County, published in 1882, says: 
 "This county received its name 'Oceana' in 1831, when it w^as laid 
 out by the Territorial Legislature. As the name signifies 'lying 
 alongside the ocean,' it may have been named from its position on 
 the great Ocean of Waters in Lake Michigan." (Page 93.) It also 
 says "that while it included its j^resent limits it was much more ex- 
 tensive." (Page 69.) The above appears to have been the accept- 
 ed idea of the origin and signification of the name, although we have 
 been unable to find any authority in.supijort of it except the mere 
 fact that old settlers became impressed with the idea and gave it as 
 the explanation. This much we do know, the name XJi'eceded to 
 this section any of the pioneers now living in the county. An inter- 
 esting fact in the study of this subject is the evident delusion that 
 Brown, Page, and even the old settlers labored under as to the lo- 
 cality to Avhich this name applied. All seem to have taken it for 
 granted that it was first used to designate territory including that 
 to which it now applies. By reference to Territorial Acts of 1831, 
 page 872, Sec. 8, it will be seen the name was given to territory ly- 
 ing south of this and including territory that at present forms four 
 towns in Montcalm County, eight towns in Kent, eight in Newaygo, 
 four and a fractional town in Muskegon, but did not include any of 
 the territory now embraced in Oceana County. The territory orig- 
 inally named Oceana embraced 834 square miles with only 17 miles 
 of shore line. The ijresent county has 582 square miles with 35 
 
16 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 miles of shore line. The most important point of the former in 
 early times was interior; of the latter, the shore. Hence the reason 
 "watery location" in the light of these facts loses much of its force. 
 A5ain, while Lake Michigan is one of the largest inland bodies of 
 water in the world, it has never been designated an ocean. There 
 is no place similarly situated on the ocean bearing the same name, 
 to suggest it. There is a small inland village in West Virginia 
 named Oceana, but it has ei post helium history, and is more likely 
 to have been named from thitj county, or from a similar cause. 
 
 It is possible that the name has an entirely different origin and 
 signilication. Without attempting at this time to settle the ques- 
 tion, we will simply give further details w itli reference to this name, 
 and leave it to the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. 
 
 The word Oceana was coined and first used by one James Har- 
 rington, a distinguished writer on the philosophy of government, 
 who was born in Rutlandshire, in 1(311. He was carefully educat- 
 ed and having completed a course in Trinity College, Oxford, he 
 traveled extensively, returning to England in 1646, when he was 
 named as one of the grooms of the bed-chamber to Charles I, who 
 ■was at that time being conveyed south from Newcastle as a prison- 
 er of Parliament, Though republican in his ideas, he secured the 
 confidence and respect of the King, who showed strong personal re- 
 gard for him. On the removal of Charles to the Isle of Wight, Har- 
 rington was prevented from accompanying him, and was for a short 
 time put in confinement because he would not swear to refuse as- 
 sistance to the King should he attempt to escape. His feelings of 
 respect also led him to accompany Charles to the scaffold the fol- 
 lowing year. — (See Ency. Brit.) 
 
 After Charles' death Harrington composed a work ujpon the the- 
 ory of state. While this work was of the nature of a romance, it 
 embodied his peculiar ideasof government. In this work he gaveto 
 an imaginary country the name of Oceana, and also entitled his book 
 Oceana. His views were well known and pleased neither royalists 
 nor republicans, and Cromwell, who was in the ascendency at that 
 time, learning of the intended publication, caused the manuscript 
 to be seized as it was passing through the press. Harrington, how- 
 ever, managed to secure the favor of the Protector's favorite 
 daughter, Mrs. Claypole, through whose influence the work was re- 
 turned to him, and which lie published in 1656, dedicated to Crom- 
 well.— (Ency. Brit.) 
 
 This work "Oceana," and the treatises, papers and pamphlets in 
 support and defense of it, embodied the author's idea of a model 
 commonwealth. The ideas were discussed and criticised. A club 
 for the propagation of them called the "Rota," was formed. This 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 17 
 
 caused Harrington's arrest by order of Charles II, on the charge of 
 conspiracy. He was never brought to trial, however, and was 
 finally removed bj^ his friends to a small island, where in 1677 he 
 died. For ten or more years following the publication of this work 
 it engrossed the attention of statesmen and priests, not only of 
 England but ot France, ajid many of the ideas therein exiDressed 
 have since been adopted by governments. 
 
 It was while the public attention of England and France was en- 
 gaged in discussing this work that the young Jesuit Missionary, 
 Jaques Marquette, of Laan, France, was preparing for his trip to 
 America to establish missions for the Society of Jesus. As he was 
 about to visit a country that possessed but crude notions of gov- 
 ernment, and as one of his objects was the civilization of savages 
 and bringing them under thecontrol and protection of law, it would 
 be quite natural for him to take with him such published works on 
 the theory of government as he desired, and it is not imj)robable 
 that "Oceana" was among his efiects. He arrived in Canada in 
 1666. In 1668 he founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie, on Lake 
 Superior, followed the Hurons to Mackinaw in 1671, and in 1673 
 in companjr with Louis Joliet, a native of Quebec, started on his 
 famous mission of discovery. The history of his trip from St. Ig- 
 nace to Gi'een Bay, up the Fox River, through Lake Winnebago, 
 thence to Portage, across the watershed to the Wisconsin, from 
 this to the Missis.sippi, down this to the mouth of the Arkansas, 
 back to the Ilhnois, up the Chicago, and finally back to Green Bay, 
 is familiar. AloO how, in the spring of 1675 he started along the 
 eastern shore of Lake Michigan, suffering in the last stages of con- 
 sumption, with only two white companions and a company of na- 
 tives, stopping at places where inland waters connected with Lake 
 Michigan, until finally on the evening of May J 9, 1675, he landed 
 and encamped on the banks of the stream just twelve miles north 
 of Pentwater that i« now known as the Pere Marquette. Here he 
 died and was buried, after having been only nine years in America. 
 The stream upon the banks of which his remains were interred, 172 
 years after the event, in commemoration of hmi was given his 
 name. 
 
 Who knows but that the word Oceana, which must have been as 
 familial' to him as any word of his language, and signifying many of 
 the ideas of government he taught his followers, with his name and 
 memory has been transmitted from generation to generation, until 
 finally it is selected to mark a locality intimately associated with 
 the closing hours of his life. If this last supposition should prove 
 true, Oceana means "a model commonwealth." 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 EARLY HISTORY. 
 
 The history of Oceana County from the earliest period of which we 
 have authentic information to the iDresent time, is the history of toil, 
 X)rivation, hardship and physical suffering i^eculiar to the develop- 
 ment of a new country. In many respects the history of the settle- 
 ment of one county in Michigan is so similar to that of another 
 that a mere change of names and dates is all that is necessary to 
 have a record of both. Prior to the year 1855, our information 
 concerning thB^locality now known as Oceana County is of a very 
 meager and unsatisfactory character. There is little doubt but 
 that as early as 1615 Lake Michigan had been visited by French 
 explorers. In 1668 Pere Marquette and Pere Claude Dablon found- 
 ed a mission at Sault Ste. Marie. In 1671 they established one at 
 St. Ignace. In 1673 Father Marquette explored a stream on the 
 eastern shore of Lake Micliigan to which he gave the name St. Jo- 
 seph. In April, 1675, he with two white companions and some na- 
 tives left the Illinois River in canoes, and coasted along the eastern 
 shore, stopping at places where the inland waters connected with 
 Lake Michigan, until the 19th of May, when, being greatly enfeebled 
 by the ravages of consumption, he made a landing just twelve miles 
 north of Pentwater and encamped on the banks of the stream 
 known among the natives as the Not-a-pe-ka-gon, meaning "river 
 Avith heads on sticks." Here he died and was buried, and after 
 many years his remains were removed to St. Ignace, where they 
 now repose. The river thus made historic, was over a century and 
 a half after his death, named the Pere Marquette, by which name 
 it is now known and designated on the maps of the State. 
 
 From the death of Pere Marquette until the year 1831 we find 
 but little among public records concerning this territory. The lit- 
 tle we do find is of a character tending to delay rather than stimu- 
 late development. May 6, 1812, Congress passed an Act requiring 
 that 2,000,000 acres of land should be surveyed in the then Terri- 
 tory of Louisiana, and a like quantity in the Territory of liUnois 
 north of the Illinois River, and the same quantity in the Territory 
 of Michigan, in all 6,000,000 acres, to be set apart for the soldiers 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 1^ 
 
 of the war with Great Britain. The following is the Surveyor Gen- 
 eral's report that relates to Michigan: 
 
 "The country on the Indian boundary line, from the mouth of 
 the great Auglaize River, and running thence for about fifty miles, 
 is (with some few exceptions) low, wet land, with a very thick 
 growth of underbrush, intermixed with very bad marshes, but gen- 
 erally very heavily timbered Avith beech, cottonwood, oak, etc.;. 
 thence continuing north, and extending from the Indian boundary 
 eastward, the number and extent of the swamps increases, with the 
 addition of numbers of lakes, from twenty chains to two and three 
 miles across. Many of the lakes have extensive marshes adjoining 
 their margins, sometimes thickly covered with a species of pine call- 
 ed 'tamarack,' and other places covered with a ooai'se, high grass, 
 and uniformly covered from six inches to three feet (and more at 
 times) with water. The margins of these lakes are not the only 
 places where swamps are found, for they are interspersed through- 
 out the whole country, and filled with water, as above stated, and 
 varying in extent. The intermediate space between these swamps 
 and lakes, which is probably near one-half of the country, is with a 
 very few exceptions, a poor, barren, sandy land, on which scarcely 
 any vegetation grows, excei:)t very small, scrubby oaks. In many 
 places, that part which may be called dry land is composed of lit- ' 
 tie, short sand-hills, forming a kind of deep basins, the bottoms of 
 many of which ai'e composed of a marsh similar to the above de- 
 scribed. The streams are generally narrow, and very deep, com- 
 pared with their width, the shores and bottoms of which are (with 
 a very few exceptions) swampy beyond description; and it is with 
 the utmost difficulty that a jjlace can be found over which horses 
 can be conveyed in safety. 
 
 A circumstance peculiar to that country is exhibited in many of 
 the marshes by their being thinly covered with a sward of grass, by 
 walking on which evinced the existence of water, or a very thin mud 
 immediately under their covering, which sinks from six to eighteen 
 inches from the j)ressure of the foot at every step, and at the same 
 time rising before and behind the person passing over. The mar- 
 gins of many of the lakes and streams are in a similar situation, 
 and in many places are literally afloat. On approaching the east- 
 ern part of the military lands, toward the private claims on the 
 straights and lake, the country does not contain so many swamps 
 and lakes, but the extreme sterility and barrenness of the soil con- 
 tinues the same. Taking the country altogether, so far as has been 
 explored, and to all appearances, together with the information re- 
 ceived concerning the balance, is so bad there would not be mor& 
 
20 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 than one acre out of a hundred, if there would be one out of a thou" 
 sand that would in any case admit of cultivation." 
 
 This report was so unfavorable that the 29th of April, 1816, 
 Congress passed an an act repealing so much of the law of the 6th 
 of May, 1812, as related to Michigan and provided for the taking 
 of 1,500,000 acres in Illinois north of the Illinois River, and 500,000 
 acres in the Territory of Missouri in lieu of the 2,000,000 acres 
 that could not be found in Michigan. 
 
 The effect of this report was such as to retard immigration to 
 Michigan for many years, and to give the Territory a reputation 
 for barrenness, sterility and a malaria infected atmosphere, that 
 to this day remains unchanged in the minds of many residents of 
 the Eastern States. The early western Pioneer shunned Michigan 
 as he would a pestilential country, and after being forced by a coni- 
 bination of circumstances, accidents, etc., some settled in the south- 
 ern i^ortion of the State, and finding the Surveyor General's report 
 erroneous as regards that portion, in all their conversation and 
 letters back to friends confirmed and strengthened the report as re- 
 gards the more northern portion of the State. Hence it was that 
 the tide of development moved north but slowly. 
 
 The fine forests of timber located near the shore of the great lake 
 first attracted the attention of lumbermen, and prior to 1831 a 
 few white men visited this locality to determine the value of its tim- 
 ber tracts and afterwards, in about the year 1848, due to similar 
 influences, the first attempt to make a permanent settlement was 
 made. In 1831 a person by the name of G. W. Rodebough, now a 
 resident of Jackson, Michigan, under authority of Governor Cass, 
 visited this section for the purpose of taking the census of the In- 
 dians. He is probably the only white person living who can trace 
 his visit to this county as far back as 1831. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 BOUNDARIES ESTABLISHED. 
 
 As intimated in the preceding chapter, the locality now designat- 
 ed upon the map of Michigan as Oceana County, is not the locality, 
 nor does it embrace any of the territory of Oceana County as orig- 
 inally defined by the Territorial Legislature. By an Act j)assed 
 March 2, 1831, the boundaries of Oceana were defined as follows: 
 "Beginning at the point where the line between ranges eight and 
 nine west intersects the line between townships eight and nine north; 
 thence west to the line between ranges twelve and thirteen; thence 
 north to the line between townships ten and eleven; thence west to 
 the shore of Lake Michigan; thence north on the shore of said lake 
 to the line between townships twelve and thirteen; thence east to 
 the line between ranges eight and nine; thence south to the place of 
 beginning, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county 
 by the name of Oceana." In 1838 the Gazeteer of Michigan, pub- 
 lished by John T. Blois, and which the Legislature gave the charac- 
 ter of an official publication by ordering the purchase of three hun- 
 dred copies, thus bounds Oceana County: "Bounded on the north 
 by the County of Mackinac; on the east by Montcalm; on the south 
 by the counties of Kent and Ottawa, and west by Ottawa and Lake 
 Michigan." This agrees with the Act of 1831, and at the same time 
 shows that the territory now embraced in Oceana County was at 
 that time included in Mackinac. 
 
 It appears that many who came from Milwaukee and other points 
 seeking Oceana County, by chance or direction following the shore 
 pushed through the narrow end and located in Mackinac county, 
 supposing that they were in Oceana. That trouble occurred by 
 reason of this is evident, as wo find the Legislature on March 28, 
 1850, passing an Act as follows: "All that portion of Oceana Coun; 
 ty not embraced within the limits of White River in said county, 
 and all the County of Mason be and the same is hereby attached to 
 the township of White River." From the wording of the above, it 
 is doubtful if the Legisture at this time understood the situation, 
 as the Act is ineffectual to attach the territory intended to be cov- 
 ered. 
 
 Feb. 13, 1855, an Act was passed reading as follows, viz.: "The 
 
24 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEEKS 
 
 county of Oceana shall be organized and shall comprise town- 
 ships thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen north of each of the 
 ranges numbered fifteen, sixteen, seventeen and eighteen west, and 
 the fractional townships numbered thirteen, fourteen and fifteen 
 north of range nineteen west," thus defining the boundaries of the 
 county as it exists at this time. By tlie same Act the following ap- 
 pears; "Three townships are hereby erected in the county of Oce- 
 ana to be called Pentwater, Stony Creelc and Claybanks. The 
 township of Pentwater shall comprise all of said county of Oceana 
 lying nortli of the division line between townships fifteen and six 
 teen north, and the first township meeting tlierein shall be lield at 
 the house of Edwin E. Cobb; the township of Stony Creek shall 
 comprise so mucli of tlie territory'' of said county as lies south of 
 said townsliip of Pentwater and north of the division line between 
 townships tliirteen and fourteen north, also sections one, two, 
 tliree, four, five and six of township tliirteen north of range eight- 
 een west, and tlie first townsliip meeting therein shall be held at the 
 house of Mr. Wlieeler at the Stony Creek mills, so called. The 
 township of Claybanks shall comprise tlie remaining portion of the 
 territory of said county of Oceana, and the first township meeting 
 therein shall be held at the house of John Barr." 
 
 From the time of the organization of the township of Stony Creek 
 the name selected by A. R. Wheeler for the Post Office, i. e.,Benona, 
 was used by the people to designate thetownship, and in Feb., 1857, 
 by Act of the Legislature, the name of the township was changed 
 from Stony Creek to Benona. 
 
 1857 — Dec. 28, the Board of Supervisors ordered the organiza- 
 tion of the town of Greenwood by taking what is now Greenwood 
 from Claybanks and what is nowNewfield from Benona. Also that 
 of Elbridge by taking what is now Leavitt, Elbridge, Hart and 
 Golden from Benona. 
 
 1860 — Feb. Otto was ordered to be organized by taking from 
 Claybanks its j^resent territory, and from Benona what is now Fer- 
 ry. Weare was at this time ordered organized out of territory that 
 now comprises the towns of Crystal and Colfax, and what is now 
 Golden and Hart was taken from Elbridge and ordered organized 
 as Hart. 
 
 1862 — Feb. Benona was divided, and that portion now known 
 as Benona was ordered organized as Leroy, and the portion now 
 known as Shelby I'etained the townshii) organization and name of 
 Benona. 
 
 1864— Aug. Golden was ordered organized out of Hart. 
 
 1865 — July. Crystal was ordered organized, taking from Weare 
 ■what is now Crystal and Colfax. 
 
 1866 — March. Newfield was ordered organized, taking the north 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAV. 25 
 
 half of Greenwood territory. The town of Grant was ordered taken 
 from Claybanks, and Leavitt from Elbridge. 
 
 1867— March 1. By Act of the Legislature the name of Leroy 
 was changed to Benona, and Benona to Shelby. 
 
 1868 — Oct. Reed township was ordered taken from Otto, and 
 Colfax from Crystal. 
 
 1869 — March 16. By Act of the Legislature the name of Reed 
 township was changed to Ferry. 
 
 1869 — April. Township of Colfax was organized out of the terri- 
 tory of Crystal. 
 
 At the session of the Board of Supervisors of Dec. 28, 1858, Jas. 
 Hanlon, Elmer H. Lord, Halvar H. Brady, A. Brady, T. Brady, 
 Carl Schenck, H. Hendrickson, O. E. Gordon, E. Brich, P. Bentson, 
 L. D. Eaton, L. N. Curtis, Jacob ^^isher and Martin Tyson petition- 
 ed the Board to set off to the town of Claybanks Sees. 1, 2, 3, 4. 5 
 and 6 of Benona. As this would make Claybanks the full town 13 
 north of 18 west, the petition appeared reasonable and just, and 
 the members at once voted unanimously to comply with the re- 
 quest. When the Board convened again in the afternoon of the 
 same day, objections to annexing Sec. 6 to Claybanks were quite 
 manifest, Benona not caring to lose so valuable a taxation clistrict, 
 and on motion to reannex it to Benona it carried, Alex. S. Ander- 
 son alone voting against the proposition. This closes the record of 
 the establishment of the boundaries of county and townships. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 1831 TO lSo5. 
 
 This territory remained an unbroken wilderness seldom visited 
 by a white man, unless in the Government employ, and then his 
 work was to simply scan the country from the deck of a vessel and 
 reporting from the vague impressions thus received. In 1840 by 
 Act of the Legislature this territory was attached to Ottawa for 
 judicial purposes, but it was several years before a white settler lo- 
 cated to take advantage of the Act. In 1848 two white men, "Dr. 
 Phillips and Mr. Hanson, took a look at the land along the beach, 
 with a view of locating lands, and they chose the jposition on the 
 clay-banks, on which their farms are now situated, for four reasons: 
 First, it was on the beach, where all travel was; second, there ex- 
 isted an Indian trail from the head of White Lake into what is now 
 J. D. S. Hanson's farm; then the land was a heavy clay loam and 
 remarkably fertile, and there were old Indian clearings altogether 
 of 200 or 300 acres in extent, in patches from half an acre to two 
 or three acres. Accordingly, in 1849, settlement began, so that at 
 the close of that year there were six families and several single men 
 on the Claybanks, which formed the nucleus of the settlement of 
 Oceana county. Of these the first band were: C. B. Clements and 
 wife, Asa C. Haggertyand wife, Alex. Pelett and wife. These are all 
 dead or removed but the wife of C. B. Clements, now the wife of 
 Thomas Byrne, himself among the earliest settlers, and still living 
 on the old John Barr farm. Mrs. Olive Byrne is therefore the old- 
 est settler, and is considered a truthful and intelligent lady. A. C. 
 Haggerty died in 1874; C. B. Clements went away, and, it is said, 
 was killed in the war. The first settlement was then in April, 1849; 
 next came Dr. Phillips and wife, and his father and mother in June, 
 A. W. Langworthy, in July; Richard E. Cater, in August; James 
 O'Hanlon, in September; Alex. S. Anderson, in November or De- 
 cember, all in 1849. Then followed James Fordham in February, 
 1850; John Barr, the first Sheriff of the county, in 1851. Of these 
 but few remain. Dr. Phillips, Richard E. Cater and James O'Han- 
 lon still survive. Mr. Cater was but a boy of seventeen when he 
 landed, and reports that small-pox, in 1849, threatened to break 
 up the little settlement. Dr. Phillips had engaged a Frenchman, 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 27 
 
 probably Alex. Pelett, to help him on his fcarm, but as the son of 
 Gaul had been a nurse in the small-pox hospital, in Detroit, he car- 
 ried infection in his clothing, and the first to be stricken down was 
 the doctor himself, and soon one after another was attacked, until 
 it ran through nearly all, but thanks to vigorous constitutions and 
 the doctor's care, they all recovered, although some will bear the 
 marks to the grave; Cater among the rest. A. W. Langworthy is 
 now in Traverse Bay, Alex. S. Anderson passed awaj' December 29, 
 1879, and there were, in 1849, besides those mentioned, two single 
 men, T. Byrne, still surviving, and James Flood, since dead. These 
 all settled along the beach in Claybanks township, between Flower 
 Creek and Whisky Creek. 
 
 The getting out of shingle bolts was also an inducement for men 
 to come into this country, and accordingly we find that at various 
 points this was the first thing attempted. About this time a Mr. 
 Graham got out shingle bolts along Stony Lake and on Little Point 
 Au Sable, and his death, in 1850, was the first death in this coun- 
 ty. Lorenzo D. Eaton, whose widow now resides on Anderson's 
 farm at Claybanks PostofRce, was one of the very earliest settlers. 
 He came from Wisconsin in 1849, toget out shingle bolts, and to pre- 
 pare for the settlement of his family. Accordingly we find him back 
 in November, 1850, and after considerable hardships, he got his 
 family into a log house, on what is now J. Gibbs' farm, at Black- 
 beriy Ridge, claimed to be the first log house in the county. But 
 before this, in 1849, Dr. Phillijjs built a frame house, and his father 
 another, used as a store at the mouth of Whisky Creek. R. E. Ca- 
 ter built one on lot No. 1, Section 17. The honor of erecting the 
 first log house may be assigned to A. W. Langworthy, on lot 3, Sec- 
 tion 17, and torn down in 1880; and the first frame to Dr. Phillips. 
 Among the very earliest marriages, doubtless the first was that of 
 A. C. Haggerty to Ellen Googins, who had to travel on foot all the 
 way to White River, where 'Squire Hulbert "jined" them in the ir- 
 revocable bonds of matrimony. Truly, true love did not run 
 smoothly even then. The Rev. Timothy Brigham, Methodist, 
 preached the first sermon, in Haggerty's house, and on week days 
 attended to the soles of his customers as a working shomaker, fol- 
 lowing the example of Paul, the tent-maker, in not being a burden 
 on the young community. The first surveyor who laid out the sec- 
 tions of this county was Mr. Rigdon; the first physician was Dr. 
 Pliillips, whose beat lay from Pere Marquette (Ludington) to IMus- 
 kegon, along the beach— rather an extensive run of practice. 
 
 By treaty at Grand Rapids, in 1835, and the establishment of a 
 land office at Ionia, in 183G, the lands north of Grand River were 
 brought in market in 1839. 
 
28 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Then, in I800, a treaty was made by which the tribes mentioned 
 surrendered their land on Grand River, and agreed to select a reser- 
 vation to the north, and accordingly m 1857-8 they shipped their 
 shattered bands, seventeen in all, at Grand Haven, on board the 
 steamer Ottawa, and Charles Mears, a large propeller owned by Mr. 
 Mears, came to Pentwater, the young men riding their ponies along 
 the beach, and made their way from Pentwater to their reservation 
 in "Injun" Town. They had selected a region twenty-four miles 
 from north to south, and six miles across, now the four towns of 
 Elbridge and Crystal in Oceana county, and Eden and Custer, in 
 Mason County, being Towns 1516, 16-16, 17-16, and 18-16. The 
 bands who lived on the Muskegon did not wish to journey far, and 
 so they chose a town uj) that river, now Holton — Town 12-15. 
 
 These towns wei-e high and rolling in many parts, in other por- 
 tions were broad and deep river valleys; all was fertile, and covered 
 with noble pine, or hardwood. Crystal streams of purest water ev- 
 erywhere penetrated the forests. These were alive with grayling, 
 perch and bass, and besides this they fertilized the land, and afford- 
 ed pure water to refresh man and beast. 
 
 These towns lay within a few miles of the lake, whither the Indian 
 •could go down and fish, and exchange his maple sugar to the trader 
 at the mouth of the Pentwater. Here was a happy hunting ground 
 for the peaceful bands of the once powerful "Ottawas," the feeble 
 remnant of the Pottawatamies, and the still weaker Chippewas, 
 who sold out their rights on Grand River. 
 
 This reservation — still spoken of as "Indiantown" — was chosen 
 with care and wisdom. It was away from white men for many 
 miles, and it would be, they fondly hoped, many years ere they would 
 be pressed out by the fatal encroachments of the ever-restless i^ale- 
 faces. 
 
 Let our readers picture to themselves the life of an Indian in these 
 forest glades that are now beautiful farms with waving fields of 
 grain. The wild beast disputed with him the right of possession. 
 Wolves were so numerous that it is related that one Bourget, the 
 a,dvanced scout of the commissioners in building the State road 
 from Muskegon to Grand Haven, on his journey killed and received 
 bounty money for 100 wolves, which he shot at night while he 
 camped surrounded by a camp-fire; his custom being— famous hunt- 
 er as he was— to imitate the howling ot the wolves, and shoot them 
 when they approached in the darkness, their fierce eyes glaring like 
 twin balls of lire. The earliest records of the county contain ac- 
 counts on every page for the payment of from $8 to §10 for every 
 wolf scalp brought in. The species of wolf was the large gray kind 
 about as large as a Newfoundland dog. The early settlers tell al- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 29 
 
 most uniformly of hearing them liowling and seeinir their footprints. 
 Some yet exist in Colfax. 
 
 Bears, too, were numerous, being of the common black species, 
 and some remain even yet. We hear of some carrying off hogs in 
 Crystal and Colfax. Bear skin and bear meat were objects of in- 
 terest to our red men. 
 
 Besides wolf and bear there were numerous herds of the red or 
 fallow deer, which found the wilds and brooks of Oceana an earthly 
 paradise. Many are the "deer" stories told by the early settlers in 
 all parts. Scarcely one but has been a mighty hunter, a Nimrod in 
 those days:— Dr. Hawley, of Hesperia, gave over counting his after 
 they numbered fiftj*, and Giles Townsend, of Newfield, is never tired 
 of fighting his deer battles "o'er and o'er again." Gay, of Crystal, 
 Sayles of Elbridge, and indeed all the white men that first came in, 
 hunted the "nierrie" deer. These deer were a source of food supply 
 to the early Indian. 
 
 Besides wolf and bear and deer and beaver, were countless num- 
 bers of marten, coons, mink, muskrat, otter and fisher and other 
 trapped game. The lynx and wild-cat also prowled in these woods, 
 and, in short, nature presented here a model hunting-ground. The 
 waters were full of choice fish; the air was full of edible birds, and 
 wild duck and pigeon, in their season, darkened the air "from morn 
 till noon and dewey eve;" The forest glades were full of the ani- 
 mals of the chase, and wild berries grew, as they do today, in count- 
 less profusion; the soil was easily tilled, and produced in abundance 
 to the simple cultivation of the squaws and the men enfeebled by 
 age, plentiful harvests of potatoes and Inditin corn. In fact, Na- 
 ture, seems here to have emptied her cornucopia upon these red 
 sons of the soil. 
 
 Such was the land chosen by the Aborigines, and the whites who 
 have nearly supplanted them in their birthrigVit, have reason to 
 feel happy in their selection of a settlement. 
 
 It may be interesting to know how the Indians supported them- 
 selves in this land. We have told how bountiful Nature was, and 
 as there were but seventeen small bands, not exceeding 1,300 in all, 
 it will be easily understood that there was no surplus ]pO]pulation 
 to feed. In summer they peeled hemlock bark, — mainly for Charles 
 Mears, of Pentwater, — picked berries and fished, and in thefall they 
 secured their potatoes and corn, then went to the hunt and to trap- 
 iping. In early spring they made astonishing quantities of maple 
 sugar, some nearly as white as good coffee sugar, this being chieHy 
 done by squaws and the extremely old men and the children, when 
 the men were off hunting and trapping." — Page's History of Oceana 
 County. 
 
 We copy the above as it corresponds very closely with our rec- 
 
30 OCEAXA COUNTY PIOXEEKS 
 
 ords covering the same period, and contains an interesting descrip- 
 tion of the establishment of the Indian Reservation in this county 
 and the relations existing between the early jpioneers and Indians. 
 There are some changes from the above quotation, and additional 
 information which will be noticed in the following pages. 
 
 The end of the year 1834 marks the close of the first era of devel- 
 opment, or settlement, of Oceana County. Those Tx-ho resided here 
 at that time are all entitled to the honor of first settlers. They all 
 came within a very few years of each other, and alike braved the 
 dangers and hardships of first penetrating the wilderness of an un- 
 forbidding aspect, and a country so far as was known at that time, 
 with an unpromising future. Some came as agents of others, who 
 failed wholly to compensate them for their trouble, and even neg- 
 lected tlie dear ones left behind in their care. Others came, imbued 
 with the sj)irit of adventure, to discover and hew out a home for 
 themselves. The central points of location were Stony Creek and 
 Pentwater. The territory was designated by another name. They 
 were without local Government, and to redress their grievances and 
 conflicting interests, or even to get married, were obliged to go be- 
 fore officers of White River township. One of the Justices of the 
 Peace of White River township at this time, whose jurisdiction 
 embraced the territory of this and Mason counties, was James Dex- 
 ter. He, although not residing in this county, by virtue of his ju- 
 risdictional authority, and the further fact that he acted as such 
 oliicer in cases arising in this territory, entitles him to the honor of 
 being the first Justice of the Peace in the county. 
 
 We will close the chapter with as complete a list as we have been 
 able to obtain of these who settled in this county prior to Janua- 
 ry, 1855: 
 
 ISlO— Cliauiicey B. Clements, dead, and wife, now Mrs. Olive Eyrne, living in county. 
 
 " Asa Ilaggerty and wife, dead. 
 
 " Dr. Thomas Fhillips and wife, living in the county. 
 
 " Tliomas Phillips, Sr. and wife, dead. 
 
 " Edwin II. Cobb, dead. 
 
 " James O'llanlon, dead. 
 
 " Andrew Kector, dead. 
 
 " Alex. S. Anderson, dead. 
 
 " A. W. Langwortliy and wife, removed. 
 
 " John Fordliam and wife, living in county. 
 
 " Tliomas 15yrne, living in county. 
 
 " L. D. Eaton, dead. 
 
 " Otis Heycock, dead. 
 1850— A. lirady and wife, living in county. 
 
 " Harvey Tower and wife, living in county. 
 
 " Timothy Brigham, 1st prejkcher, M. E. Cluuch. 
 
 " Jolm Parr, 1st Sheriff, dead. 
 
 " Mrs. John Barr, living in county. 
 
 " Mrs. h. I). Eaton, living in county. 
 
 " Alex Pelett and w ife, removed in 1853. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 31 
 
 " Lyman Flood, dead. 
 
 " Jitmes Cody and wife, removed. 
 
 " John Simmons, living in county. 
 
 " Pat Jordan, removed. 
 
 " Kichard E. Cater, living in comity. 
 
 " Mrs. Kober, removed in 1854. 
 1852— W'm. J. Haughey and wife, living in comity. 
 
 " WoodrutY Chapin, living in Silver Creek, N. Y. 
 
 " Airs. J. O'Hajilon, dead. 
 
 ', Owen Farrell, dead. 
 
 " Mrs. Owen Farrell. 
 
 " A. Huston, dead. 
 1853— A. R. Wheeler, dead. 
 
 Malcom Campbell, Chas. A. Eosevelt, dead, L. N. Curtis, Warren Wilder, Estes 
 
 Kich, James McNutt, Jasper Thompson, Henry Harris, Charles Blanck. 
 
 FIRST COURT HOUSE IN HART. 
 
 On the removal of the county seat from Wliisky Creek to Hart, 
 the above building, known as the old Corbin building, was utilized 
 for a Court House until the erection of the commodious building on 
 Court House Square, now used. This old relic of former times has 
 been changed in appearance by the addition of a wing on one side 
 and a shed on the other, and is now used in the business of evapo- 
 rating fruit. When used as a Court House it had no side door or 
 brick foundation, and there was a stairway at the back. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE EVOLUTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
 AND SOCIETY. 
 
 1855 finds us with two principcal sett]ement centers in the coun- 
 y, one located in Claybanks near the old sawmill built by Doctor 
 r'hillips, the other where the village of Pentwater now stands. 
 
 The two settlements were sixteen miles apart, with a wilderness 
 )etween. The road by the beach Avas the only open way of travel 
 ind at times it was very difficult to make the journey by this road 
 )n account of severe lake storms, driftwood, etc. The leading spir- 
 ts of the Stony Creek settlement were Doctor Phillips, A. R. Wheel- 
 )V, Harvey Tower, Alex. S. Anderson and others, while of the Pent- 
 vater settlement it was E. R. Cobb and Andrew Rector. The Clay- 
 )anks settlement, by reason of its proximity to White River and 
 ivilization, settled more rapidly than its northern rival, and when 
 .he time came, June 1, 1855, for the first Board of Supervisors to 
 neet, it required no trick to .establish the county seat at Stony 
 2veek which was done. 
 
 The following from the XJen of Harvey Tower, descriptive of the 
 icenes attendmg the organization of local government, we give in 
 lis own language: 
 
 "Just how our county machinery was put in motion, I presume 
 rery few ever heard. In February, 1855, the Act toi)rovide for the 
 organization of Oceana, Mason and Manistee Counties was passed by 
 he* Legislature, and the first election of our county olficers was held 
 it Stony Creek (now Benona) on the first Mondaj^ of April following. 
 
 The County Convention nominated John Bai'r for Sheriff, Amos 
 i. Wheeler Treasurer, Harvey Tower County Clerk and Register of 
 Deeds. The remainder of the ticket is not remembered. Charles A. 
 Ilosevelt aspired to the office of Sheriff, and Malcom Campbell to 
 ;hat of Clerk and Register, and vigorously pushed their claims in 
 ;hat direction, but after a spirited election the whole of the regu- 
 ar ticket was elected. The Act provided that when, bj* a certain 
 lay therein named, the Clerk and Register and Treasurer- elect 
 should file their oaths of office with each other, the official machin- 
 sry of the county should begin to move, having a legal existence. 
 3n the last day of the time allowed for filing said oaths, the officers- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEX OF TO-DAY. 33 
 
 elect, with several prominent citizens, met to consider the question 
 whether, after all, it was not better to remain attached to Ottawa, 
 for judicial purposes, as our taxes then were very light, than to in- 
 cur the much greater expense of supporting a separate county or- 
 ganization; but as the people had exjjressed a desire to organize, by 
 electing county officers, it was deemed best to perfect the organiza- 
 tion. 
 
 How the oath was to be administered was a question that seem- 
 ed greatly to trouble some of the knowing ones anxious to avoid 
 any error that would vitiate the proceedings, and insisting that 'the 
 officers must be sworn in on the Bible.' But to those uiDon whom 
 devolved the duty of qualifying, that day, there was a matter of 
 greater concern than the manner of administering the oath, the 
 nearest officer qualified to do that residing at White River, full fif- 
 teen miles distant, the only road being the sandy beach of Lake 
 Michigan. Before a conclusion was reached, the clock numbered 2 
 p. M., and it took another hour at least to obtain horses for the 
 journey. About three o'clock, Tower led off mounted on hiselegant 
 "Brutus," Wheeler closely following on his less showj'', but more 
 plucky "Old Rob." Arriving at White River, after some delay Jus- 
 tice J. D. Stebbins was found, who, going immediately to his office, 
 administered the oath with great dignity. Meantime the horses 
 had rested, and the officers, full fledged (save filing their oaths of- 
 ficial) mounted their steeds for home, which they reached about ten 
 minutes before 12, — just time enough to file their papers before the 
 time expired. 
 
 To say that the rain fell in torrents, would give but a faint idea 
 of the storm encountered on the 'home stretch' of that romantic 
 ride. I doubt if it ever rained harder since the time of Noah. The 
 clothing of the riders was wet through, and the water ran down, 
 filling their boots and running over in streams. Arriving at Stony 
 Creek, we found 'the fire fair-blazing and the vestment warn),' and 
 the new Treasurer, after his first official act of filing the Clerk's 
 oath, came from an adjoining room with glass and decanter in 
 hand, remarking as he api^eared: 'Tower, Idon't believealittle good 
 Bourbon would hurt either of us.' What could Tower do but take 
 a little? Ye teetotalers, say, say, ye severest, what would ye have 
 done?" 
 
 The Board of Supervisors, composed of E. R. Cobb, Pentwater 
 (there is no record showing the organization of Pentwater and 
 Cobbs' election as Sui^ervisor until the year following), A. S. An- 
 derson, Claybanks, and Warren Wilder, Stony Creek, with Har- 
 vey Tower as Clerk, met at the house of Alexander S. Anderson, 
 organized, ordered $300 raised for county purpose:-?, established by 
 
34 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 resolution the county seat on Sec. 8, Claybanks, known as Whisky 
 Creek, and adjourned. 
 
 Claybaxks. — This township was organized by authority of the Act 
 of the Legislature of Feb. 13, 1855, and the first election took place 
 on the 2nd day of April, 1855, the following persons being elected: 
 Supervisor, A. S. Anderson; Clerk, Timothy Brigham; Treasurer, 
 Thos. Phillips; Justices, A. S. Anderson, L. D. Eaton, James Smith; 
 Commissioners of Highways, Asa Haggerty,L. D. Eaton and James 
 Smith; Constables, R. E. Cater, John Fordham, A. C. Haggerty, L. 
 N. Curtis; School Inspectors; A. S. Anderson and James Cody. 
 
 Stony Creek.— The first township meeting was held at the house 
 of Amos R. Wheeler, in April, 1855. Harvey Tower was Chairman, 
 Warren Wilder and Estes Rich Inspectors of Election, and Malcom 
 Campbell Clerk. The following officers were elected: Supervisor, 
 Warren Wilder; Clerk, Malcom Campbell; Treasurer, James ^IcNutt; 
 Justices, A. R. Wheeler, Jasper Thompson, Henry Harris and Estes 
 Rich; Highway Commissioneis, W. Wilder, H. Tower and James 
 McXutt; School Inspectors, W. Wilder and H. Tower. 
 
 Pentwater. — The first town meeting was held in the house of E. 
 R. Cobb, April 7, 1856, when the township officers were elected, al- 
 though in the 1855 meeting of the Board of Supervisors Edwin R. 
 Cobb appeared and acted as Supervisor for Pentwater. At the 
 township election above mentioned the following officers were elect- 
 ed: Supervisor, E. R. Cobb; Clerk, James Dexter; Treasurer, Nor- 
 man Rogers: Highway Commissioners, A. Rector, J. D. Green and 
 N. Rogers; Constables, J. G. Blowers, N. Codner; School Inspector, 
 J. G. Blowers. The Inspectors of Election were E. R. Cobb, A. Rec- 
 tor, N. Rogers. SI 50 was voted for town expenses. 
 
 1856 — June 6. The Board of Supervisors met at Campbell & 
 Wheeler's store, Stony Creek, but E. R. Cobb being absent, it ad- 
 journed until June 18, then Alex. S. Anderson was absent and the 
 Board could do no business. The members jDresent caused him to 
 be specially summoned, but he refused to attend. The members 
 X3resent considered they had done all that was necessary and pro- 
 ceeded to hold the meeting. At this meeting the offices of Clerk and 
 Register were united. A wagon road from Pentwater River to Col- 
 ton's sawmill on white River, was ordered surveyed. 
 
 This year witnessed the organization of four school districts in 
 Stony Creek. The county increased rapidly this j'ear in popula- 
 tion. We now find among the records of Stony Creek the names of 
 H.Hendri.kson, J. and Nels Munson, A. Brady, Dr. Ira Jenks, W. 
 Thiele, L. Smith, H. D. Clark, L. Webber, W. H. Anderson, W^m. 
 Gardiner, S. Merrifield, J. A. VanTassel, John Stearns, H. and J. Kos- 
 ter, J. Froderson, Jas. Gibbs, Mrs. J. H. Sammons. In Claybanks, H. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 35 
 
 Brady, M. Smith, H. Wheat, M. IMcGulpin, :M. Tyson, Peter Bow- 
 man, Chas. McCune. In Pentwater we tind, Medard Levau.x, Ed- 
 ward Brooker, John Brookshes, James Brooker, Win. Jennuigs. 
 
 1857 — The county now begins to assume the air of a permanent 
 organization. In February by Act of the Legislature the name of 
 Stony Creek was changed to Benona. In November the Board of 
 Supervisors met. E. R. Cobb was absent, but the Board, compos- 
 ed of L. D. Eaton, Benona, and A. S. Anderson, Claybanks, did the 
 county business, equaUzed valuations, audited accounts, fixed sal- 
 aries and adjourned until Nov. 24. Cobb was still absent. C. A. 
 Rosevelt had removed and the office of Sheriff became vacant. A 
 special election was ordered for Dec. 29 to fill the vacancy. Also 
 that of Clerk in place of M. Campbell, resigned, and Treasurer in 
 place of A. R. Wheeler, resigned. 
 
 1858 — April 5. The township of Greenwood was organized. The 
 first meeting was held at the residence of Wm. R. Wilson, and the 
 following officers were elected: Supervisor Oliver Swain; Clerk, Cy- 
 rus W. Bullen; Treasurer, C. B. Moe; Justices, 0. Swain, Nelson 
 Wright, C. W. Bullen, Amos S. Wright; Directors of the Poor, Ben- 
 jamin Ish and Samuel C. Wood; Constables, Lachlan McCalluin, 
 Lyman Brown and B. Moe. School Inspectors, O. Swain and N. 
 Wright. 
 
 On the same day, at the house of S. G. Rollins, the towii;-liip of 
 Elbridge was organized and the first election held. The territory 
 comprised the four towns Golden, Hart, Elbridge and Leavitt, and 
 the number of votes polled at this meeting was 15. Dr. Ira Jenks 
 and H. H. Fuller were Inspectors of Election, H. H. Fuller and E. 
 G. Farmer, Clerks. The following town officers were elected: Su- 
 pervisor, S. G. Rollins; Treasurer, Ira Jenks; Clerk, H. H. Fuller; 
 Justices, H. H. Fuller, Ira Jenks, Victory Satterlee and S. G. Rol- 
 lins; Highway Commissioners, V. Satterlee and Nelson Glover; 
 School InsiDCCtors, Robert McAllister and Ira Jenks; Directors of 
 the Poor, Alex. Black and Ira Jenks; Constables, Caleb Green and 
 Daniel Went worth. 
 
 In May there was a special meeting of the Board of Sui>ervisors 
 and we find the following towns represented: Claybanks, A. S. An- 
 derson; Benona, L. D. Eaton; Pentwater, D. G. Wears; Greenwood, 
 Oliver Swain; Elbridge, S. G. Rollins. The meetingwascalled to ar- 
 range for jjrocuring abstracts from the U. S. Land ottice, but other 
 business was transacted, among which was the authorizing a ferry 
 at Pentwater across the channel. This was done upon the petition 
 of Henry C. Flagg (the present ferryman) and others. A deed of 
 
36 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 land from Rosevelt and Anderson for Court House Square and con- 
 tract to build jail was accepted. 
 
 The government-makers of the new countj', intent upon get- 
 ting the machinery of their new organization into working order 
 for the time being, foi'got that an important part of that organ- 
 ization was the Judicial Dei^artment until the following letter was 
 received, which points out the necessary first steps to be taken in 
 this direction, viz.: 
 
 Allegan, May 26, 1858. 
 Deak Sir: — Enclosed I send 
 you my appointment of terms 
 of Circuit Courts for the Ninth 
 Judicial Circuit; please file and 
 post copy as per note at the bot- 
 tom. Will you consult with 
 your Sheriff anci order a place 
 for holding your September term 
 incase you have no Court House. 
 The i^lace should be at the coun- 
 ty seat if practicable. Will you 
 also consult with the Sheriff and 
 Prosecuting Attorney and if you 
 determine it to be necessary, see 
 that Grand and Petit Juries are 
 duly drawn and summoned for 
 that term. At the proj^er time 
 you will please prepare your Calendar of cases, civil, criminal and 
 in Chancery, as also a proper Journal in blank for daily entries of 
 the Court. I make these suggestions supposing you may have had 
 but little practice in Court as Clerk. My address is "Allegan, Alle- 
 gan County, Mich." Any information you may desire as to your 
 oflicial duties I will cheerfully give on your application. Trusting 
 that our future personal intercourse may prove mutually agreea- 
 ble, I am yours, etc., 
 
 F. J. LiTTLEJOHN. 
 
 County Clerk of Oceana County." 
 
 Accordinglj' Sept. 21, of this year the Hon. Flavins J. Littlejohn, 
 Circuit Judge, accompanied by John H. Standish and W. T. How- 
 ell, attorneys of Newaj^go, and Wm.H. Parks, attorney from Grand 
 Haven, appeared at Whisky Creek, and the first Circuit Court of 
 Oceana County was formally opened by proclamation of the Judge. 
 Luther L. Alexander appears on the Eecords as Clerk. The Judge 
 apiTointed W. T. Howell Prosecuting Attorney, and the first case 
 was then ti'ied. It was an action of assumpsit in which John Bow- 
 
 judge F. J. LITTLEJOHN. 
 
AKD BUSINESS MEX OF TO-DAY. 
 
 37 
 
 man was plaintiff and Edwin R. Cobb and Andrew Rector were de- 
 fendants. It was tried without a jury and judgment for $128.17 
 and costs was rendered in favor of plaintiff. The first criminal case 
 apiDearing upon the Calendar was the case of People vs. Richard E. 
 Cater, trespass to personal pro^ierty and assault and battery. 
 The Prosecuting Attorney was allowed to enter nolle pros. Andrew 
 •Brady and Henry Hoffman were admitted to citizenship, and on 
 the same day we find the following order made by the Circuit Judge: 
 
 "In the matter of i:)roviding a jail for Oceana County, 
 It appearing to the Court that there is no jail or other suitable 
 place in said county for the confinement of persons charged with 
 the commission of crime, and upon application thereof by the Pros- 
 ecuting Attorney ot said county, it is hereby ordered, and the Court 
 does hereby designate and order that the jail of Ottawa County at 
 Grand Haven be used as the jail of Oceana County, also, until oth- 
 wise ordered." 
 
 September 29th, Court adjourned. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 EVOLUTION OF EVEXTS CONTINUED. 
 
 1859 — The county organized with five towns, a Circuit Court, and 
 a ra]pidly increasing i^opulation greets this year. At this time, how- 
 ever, a new element of social prosperitj^ begins to manifest itself. 
 Timothy Brigham, a shoemaker and an Elder in the M. E. Church, 
 had preached to the people in Claybanks, sowing the seed of reli- 
 gious truth, and in 1856 Joseph Elliott, an Indian Baptist preach- 
 er, appeared among the people and formed a class of whom James 
 Brooker and wife and C. A. Rosevelt were among the first members. 
 Then in 1858 came a Methodist minister by the name of Xaylor, 
 and in 1859 the Rev. Beard, whose Circuit embraced Mason and 
 Oceana counties. He perfected the organizations attempted, and 
 encouraged the pioneer workers by frequent visits and words of 
 cheer. 
 
 On the 5th day of April this year, the second term of Circuit 
 Court for this county convened, with Judge Littlejohn upon the 
 bench. In L.G.Rutherford's "Bench and Bar," published in Page's 
 History of Oceana County, we find the following description of this 
 term of Court: 
 
 "At this term a Sheriff seems to have been present, and that ev- 
 ery man might be provided for, he was allowed two assistants for 
 the term. John H. Standish was appointed Prosecuting Attorney, 
 a position which he held for three terms. Four cases were tried, 
 and a judgment for plaintiff rendered in each. That of Asa C. Hag- 
 gerty vs. Owen C. Farrell was tried before the first jui-y of the coun- 
 ty, drawn specially for this occasion, consisting of Henry Hend- 
 rickson, John Nelson, E. R. Cobb, H. C. Flagg, Allen Baker, Jason 
 Carpenter, Lyman Flood, Elbridge G. Farmer, William Underbill 
 and Richard E. Cater. At the September term of the same year, the 
 first attorney (Thomas M. Brady) was admitted to practice, but 
 it does not appear that he was ever actually engaged in practice, 
 and the writer is not aware of what became of him." 
 
 The Board of Supervisors held two sessions this year, the first 
 March 14, and the second December 27. It ordered the purchase 
 of a safe for the use of the county; also the laying out of a iDublic 
 
AXD BUSIXESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 39 
 
 laighway from Flower Creek to the north line of the county, near 
 Bass Lake. 
 
 1860— The local government is now well organized. The charac- 
 ter and mental ability of those instrumental in its formation was 
 3uch that no misappropriation of public funds, or serious blunders 
 ai^pear at this time to embarrass the new gos^ernment. It is a re- 
 markable fact that thus far unanimity seems to have marked all 
 the steps and the voice of wisdom to have controlled them. This 
 year adds but little to that of 1859. Immigration increases with 
 each year and consequently increasing advantages of civilization 
 and society become more apparent. One mail a week, however, 
 suffices to connect' the new settlements with the outside world. 
 This year the llev. H. M. Joy, Presiding Elder of the M. E. Church 
 for the Grand Rapids District, came to this county and made a spe- 
 cial effort to increase the spread of religious truths by organizing 
 classes at Whisky Creek, Benona and Ferry. 
 
 April 5, Squire T. Biggeras, after a two days trial in the Circuit 
 Court by the following jury, viz., Edwin R. Cobb, H. C. Flagg, David 
 Dill, Henry O'Niel, Adam Huston, Jas. T. Calant, Dugal Sivik, Jas. 
 Gibbs, Jr., Henry Hoffman, D. G. Weare, L. N. C urtis, Andrew Rec 
 tor, upon the charge of forgery, was found guilty. The next day af- 
 fidavits by Respondent and H. C. Flagg were filed, disclosing irreg- 
 ularities, and a new trial was ordered. It does not ajDpear of rec- 
 ord that he was ever tried again. 
 
 As far back as 1819 whisky had been sold on Sec. 17, Claybanks, 
 and occasionally at other places since, but only spasmodically and 
 surreptitiously. No regular saloon had been established at this 
 time, and no organized temperance effort made. Wolf scal^is bro't 
 $8. Interest on county orders which heretofore had been ten per 
 cent., is now seven per cent. Seven towns are now organized and 
 have representation on the Board of Supervisors. The Treasurer 
 has a salary of $400, the Clerk !?300, the Sheriff $.51^ the Judge of 
 Probate $100. Hiram E. Russell heads a petition to the Board to 
 form the township of Hart, which was granted. John Bean, Jr., 
 headed the ai)i)lication to organize the townshix? of Weare, which 
 was granted. 
 
 1861 — April 2, the township of Weare was organized at the River 
 House, and Myrtle B. High elected Supervisor, A. D. Boomer Clerk, 
 W. P. Harding, Treasurer. 
 
 April 9, the township of Hart was organized and the first election 
 held at the school house, on Sec. 17. Josiah Russell, long since de- 
 ceased, A. W. Peck, now an inmate of the insane asylum at Trav- 
 erse City, and Dr. Ira Jenks, at present residing at Shelby and near- 
 
40 OCExiiXA COUXTV PIONEERS 
 
 ly blind, were the Inspectoi's of Election. Josiah Russell was elect- 
 ed Supei'visor; A. W. Peck, Clerk, and C. W. Wilson, Treasurer. 
 
 The county now has a population of 1816. Eight organized 
 towns. Pentwater has increased to a settlement of sufficient im- 
 portance and magnitude to make the "want" of a newspaper ap- 
 parent, and a gentleman by the name of E. R. Powell furnishing the 
 necessarj' material and Frederick W.Ratzel the brains, combineand 
 on the 20th day of April, 1861, the Oceana Times appeared, with 
 the following salutatory: 
 
 "In assuming the res]ponsibilitiesof a puljlic journal, it is perhaps 
 unnecessary for the undersigned to say more at this time than that 
 he appears before you as an entire stranger, with a modest unas- 
 suming sheet, but that it is his intention to become a permanent 
 reisdent in Oceaua county, and grow with its growth, and strength- 
 en with its strength. This is a new enterprise, started at a time 
 when many persons would seeni inclined to doubt whether it could 
 be sustained. We have good reason to believe that it will be cor- 
 dially responded to by the iDeople, and if anything like the support 
 is yielded to it, which should be, there can be no doubt of the entire 
 success of the undertaking. 
 
 The Times will be republican in politics, and devote a large space 
 in its columns to the local intelligence, and the advancement of 
 the interests of our village and county. To our political oi)]ponents 
 we shall never use harsh language, but shall rather j)refer to be 
 moderate but firm, in the advocacy of our views, relying upon all, 
 whether political friends or enemies to give us their undivided sup- 
 port, knowing that the entire patronage of every resident of the 
 county, must be given us with a liberal hand to insure us that 
 amount of 'material aid' which will be necessary, to make the pa- 
 per wliat it should be— a useful advocate of the true interests of the 
 people of Oceaua County. With these few desultory remarks we 
 submit our cause into your hand-;, relying upon your liberal re- 
 sponse to this undertaking for a triumphant career. 
 
 F. W. Ratzel." 
 
 The village at the time this paper appeared was known as 3Iid- 
 dlescx, the name given by Charles Hears to the plat of land which 
 he recorded, and which land embraces that now lying west of Han- 
 cock street. Hears owned a large building near the present ferry 
 shanty, with a general store below and a large Hall and store room 
 above. The printing office was first located in the upper story of 
 this building. E. R. Powell, mentioned above, was a publisher at 
 Ionia, and had secured the printing of the list of lands delinquent 
 for taxes for Oceana, Hason and Hanistee counties, and as the 
 publication had to be made in this territory he supplied the mate- 
 
AND BUSIKESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 41 
 
 rial foi- Mr. Ratzel with the understanding that the property would 
 be his (Ratzel's) after the publication of the list of delinquent tax 
 lands as above mentioned. The paper appeared Avithout an ad- 
 vertisement in it for parties in Oceana County. The advertising 
 patrons of the first issue were all from Ionia, Detroit and Philadel- 
 phia. It appeared as a five-column folio, and in general typograph- 
 ical ap]pearance as well as matter, was a very creditable paper. At 
 this time there was one paper published at Muskegon, one at Grand 
 Rapids, one at Newaygo, and one at Traverse City. 
 
 1861— May 10, the propeller Mears arrived in Pentwater port, 
 bringing papers from outside as late as May 4th, which occasioned 
 general comment. 
 
 Incident.— May 23, one Frank Theis, of Pere Marquette, publicly 
 proclaimed in Lincoln, north of Ludington, that "he wished to see 
 the Southern army under Jeff. Davis whip the North, and hoiked 
 that afterwards he would hang every rej)ublican and negro Avho es- 
 caped higher than Haman.'" He gave utterance to many other like 
 treasonable sentiments which were lost amid the yells of the excit- 
 ed populace. Stones, brick-bats and other missiles were brought 
 to bear upon Mr. Theis' cranium, and in less time than it takes to 
 describe it, would have silenced him forever had it not been for the 
 timely interference of one Thos. Wood, who, after much difficulty, 
 quieted the mob by the statement that he was crazy and irrespon- 
 sible. He was then quietly advised to leave the place within fifteen 
 minutes, or hang. He left, taking it down the shore as fast as his 
 legs could carry him. On the 26th of July we again hear of him 
 creating a sensation. It appears that he went to Hart township 
 and hired out to Calvin Cheney to work upon the farm. That on 
 Sunday, while Mr. Cheney and family were at church, he broke open 
 Mr. Cheney's trunk and taking $278 in gold therefrom, left the 
 country. Deputy Sheriffs Wm. Webb and Wm. Merritt started at 
 once in pursuit and tracked him into Muskegon county whei-e they 
 found him in custody of a Mr. Andrews. They brought him back 
 with the money. He was brought before the Justice E. R. Cobb 
 and committed to jail to await his trial in the Circuit Court. Here 
 he plead guilty to the charge, stated that his name was Chas. Ran- 
 den instead of Frank Theis, and on the 5th day of Oct., 1861, was 
 sentenced to States prison for two years. This was the fir;-t inmate 
 of States prison furnished by Oceana County. 
 
 In 1858 the settlers in the vicinity of Whisky Creek celebrated 
 the 4th day of July in an imposing manner, but the first grand cel- 
 ebration of this day which gathered the pioneers from all parts of 
 the county and Mason County took place at Pentwater July ith, 
 
42 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 1861. Great preparation was made for this event, as will be seen 
 by the following list of officers which appeared on the bills: 
 
 President, Josiah Russell. 
 
 Vice Presidents, H. C. Flagg, Malcom Campbell, N. C. Smith, El- 
 nathan J. Reed, Jas. Scott, Abijah W. Peck, Nelson Green and Seth 
 Robinson. 
 
 Marshal, Wm. Webb; Assistant, Wm. INIerritt. 
 
 Chaplain, John Fletcher. 
 
 Reader, D. G. Weare. 
 
 Orators, C. W. Deane and H. Tower. 
 
 Committee, E. D. Richmond, Wm. Underbill; Chas. Rosevelt, M. 
 B. High, A. C. Randall, S. G. Rollins, Oliver Swain, Alex. S. Ander- 
 son, John Bean, Jr., Benjamin Reed. 
 
 July 15, a small coaster ran to Pentwater port and anchored in 
 the lake away from the dock. The appearance of this hooker ex- 
 cited the curiosity of the people by its suspicious appearance and 
 the actions of those on board. It was commanded by one Capt. 
 McKenzie. Tlie crew were uniformed with blue jackets and red 
 breeches. Finally curiosity became too great and some daring cit- 
 izens took a row boat and went aboard. They came back well 
 pleased with what they found, but would say nothing to give oth- 
 ers any information. Others went and returned maintaining the 
 same mysterious silence as to what they saw. Boat-load after 
 boat-load visited the craft and yet those who staid ashore remain- 
 ed in ignorance of what great attraction was on board this hooker. 
 It was noticed that some visited it several times and each time they 
 returned were more exuberant in their pleasure than before. Mon- 
 day morning solved the mystery. A goodly number of Pentwater's 
 citizens were found to be hilariously drunk. This craft had on 
 board a cargo of fortj^ rod whisky which was retailed out to the 
 visitors by the drink, and in jugs, bottles, etc. Many of the citizens 
 were indignant, but before anything could be done the captain 
 hoisted sail and, went north to Pere Marquette, where he succeed- 
 ed in getting himself arrested. This is probablj^ the first saloon in 
 Pentwater. 
 
 July 26, Wm. Harding, of Weare, discovered the appearance of 
 the army worm. 
 
 Sept. 24. — An incident illustrative of early justice among the In- 
 dians, occurred on this day. The Indians on the Reservation were 
 inclined to adopt civilized methods and manners, and when one 
 Au-she-wou-bou-ge-sick beat a squaw by the name of Kau-tau-bau- 
 sa-que so that she nearly died, the Indians instead of taking the 
 matter in their own hands and disposing of the case, sent a delega- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEX OE TO-DAY. 43 
 
 tion to the Prosecuting Attorney, C. W. Deane, who repaired at 
 once to the Reservation and caused a warrant to be issued by the 
 Justice, H. S. Sayles, for the arrest of the offender. The warrant 
 was served and the prisoner taken before his Honor. The Indians 
 from all parts of the Reservation gathered at the trial. The pris- 
 oner acknowledged his guilt, and the Justice, after consulting with 
 the Prosecuting Attorney and the leading red men present, imposed 
 a fine of $15 and costs. Upon this a general discussion took place 
 among the Indians and they finally voted to approve the judgment 
 of the Court, and all went away impressed with the justice of the 
 decision and a high regard for white man's Court and the law. 
 
 Peaches of a very superior quality are exhibited in Pentwater, 
 having been grown upon the River House farm owned by Charles 
 Mears and managed by H. C. Flagg. At this time we also find an 
 an account in the newspaper of a trotter owned by Mr. Flagg nam- 
 ed "Nelly," record not given. 
 
 Wm. Leach is teacher of the Indian school in the old mission 
 building erected by the U. S. Government on the Reservation near 
 H. S. Sayles' residence, which is illustrated on another page. 
 
 Sept. 2.5. — A grocery store is opened in Pentwater by a Mr. Wal- 
 radth, in which what was known as "wet goods" were keijt for sale 
 "on the sly." It created much excitement and the jiroi^rietor be- 
 ing threatened with prosecution, agreed to leave town. This is fol- 
 lowed within a few days by a stirring temperance lecture by Alonzo 
 Hyde, which is undoubtedly the first temj)erance effort made in the 
 county. That it was effectual appears from what follows: The 
 proprietor of the "new store" above mentioned did not leave town 
 as he promised, but continued and did ajjparently a thriving busi- 
 ness, and on the 10th day of October he was arrested and brought 
 before Justice Graham, charged with liquor selling, found guilty 
 and fined $10 and costs. This is the first prosecution and convic- 
 tion. The temperance effort inaugurated by Hyde continues, and 
 the new store continues. On the 25th of October the proprietor of 
 the store is again brought before the Justice, convicted and lined 
 $20 and costs. Dec. 13 he was arrested for the third time for the 
 same offense. The year closes with the store still in existence, and 
 the temperance advocates vigorously at work to sui^press it. 
 
 BoAED OF Supervisors, met in February of this year. A. J. Un- 
 derbill appeared as Supervisor from Pentwater, and offered a reso- 
 lution to move the county seat to Middlesex, which was tabled. 
 Seventy-six inhabitants of Elbridge petitioned the Board to rescind 
 its action creating the town of Hart, and on motion of Mr. I'nder- 
 hill the vote was rescinded on the ground that "it was unjust and 
 
44 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 would disfranchise tlie Indians." The county seat motion was 
 now taken from the table and the vote being taken resulted in a 
 tie, consequently failed to (^arry. Some doubt being expressed by 
 members of the Board as to the legality of the vote rescinding the 
 I'esolution ordering the organization of Hart, on motion, the mat- 
 ter was finally left with the Prosecuting Attorney. It seems that 
 he decided the rescinding vote illegal, as the township was organiz- 
 ed under the previous resolution. 
 
 Nov. 25 was the day set apart by the U. S. Government officials 
 to pay the Indians on the Reservation. The Hon. D. W. C. Leach, 
 Indian Agent, with his Assistant, a Mr. Smith, Came with the nec- 
 essary funds, the week previous, to Pentwater, from which place he 
 l^roceecled to the Eeservation. His appearance occasioned great 
 activity in all c[uarters throughout the county. Six or seven wag- 
 ons were loaded with merchandise and then the procession headed 
 by the Paymaster, started for the Reservation. It resembled a 
 great caravan, or as the Oceana Times speaking of it at the time, 
 says: "It might have been taken for a party of Pike's Peak gold 
 hunters." There were J. Godfrey and Julius Houseman, from 
 Grand Rapids, J. Morton, from Ionia, and about every business 
 man in Oceana County, as well as many others who went out of cu- 
 riosity, or in the hope of a lucky opportunity presenting itself to 
 enable them to get some of the red man's "gunio." Indian pay- 
 ment was a great event for the Indians, and a greater one for the 
 white settler. Indian payment over with, the country resumed its 
 normal condition. 
 
 1862.— In February, Col. John H. Standish, of Newaygo, and one 
 of the members of the first Bar of Oceana County, delivers a lecture 
 upon Spiritualism at Middlesex Hall, Pentwater. This is the first 
 tune the doctrine of Spiritualism was taught i;ithe county from 
 the rostrum. 
 
 The efforts to suppress the sale of lic^uor having proved unavail- 
 ing, on the 24th day of Februai^y, 1862, a society called the Wash- 
 ingtonian Total Abstinence Society, was formed with the following 
 officers: S. Graham, President; E. B. Burrington and L. D. Grove, 
 Vice Presidents; P. W. Ratzel, Secretary; E. R. Cobb, Treasurer. 
 
 An attempt is made this year to organize an Agricultural Society 
 for Mason and Oceana counties, to hold meetings at Pentwater. 
 The preliminary meeting was held and committee appointed, but 
 before the time for the committee to re^^ort a majority enlisted and 
 went to the war. The Agricultural Society failed because there was 
 no committee left to make a report. 
 
 April 28, Judge Littlejohn in the Circuit Court made an order di- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 45 
 
 recting the purchase of Green's Practice for the use of the Clerk ami 
 Court, and closing the order as follows: "The Board of Suiiervis- 
 ors will audit and allow its cost." 
 
 May 6.— L. D. Grove delivers a temperance lecture in Pentwater 
 and reports 120 mertjbers of the Temperance Association. 
 
 May 30.— Improved mail service now enjoyed by the people; mail 
 arrives semi-weekly. Meeting of the citizens of Pentwater to see 
 about improving the harbor. E. B. Burrington starts a brick yard. 
 A meeting of all the Masons in Oceana County is called at C. W. 
 Deane's ollice July 3rd, to make arrangements for organizing a 
 lodge. 
 
 July 20.— Andrew Rector Shot.— Orson A. Fuller, of Hart, com- 
 mitted an indecent assault u^Don a young giil 12 years of age, which 
 so excited the po^Dulace that a crowd gathered and went to Fuller's 
 house with the avowed intention of tarring and feathering him. 
 Fuller received the crowd with a loaded" gun that he fired in their 
 midst, killing Andrew Rector. Fuller the ne.xt day gave himself up 
 to Justice Andrus (not Dexter) and upon examination he was 
 discharged, he claiming that he fired the weapon in self-defense. 
 Immediately upon being discharged he was arrested for committing 
 an indecent assault upon the girl above mentioned. lie plead guil- 
 ty to the cliarge, and was fined five dollars and thirty days impris- 
 onment in the county jail. 
 
 September. — A camp meeting is lield at Ro.seville (Whisky Creek), 
 which is largely attended by old settlers and Indians. 
 
 H.C.FIagg, Manager for C. Mears, issues the first due bill, and the 
 l)aper in referring to the event heads its item "An Omen of Relief." 
 
 November. — Rev. Ahaz A. Darling makes appointmeiits for hold- 
 ing services in Oceanii County. 
 
 1S03. — January 0th a singing school is started at Pentwater by 
 Prof. Nioliolas. 
 
 Alonzo Hyde claims to have a full-blood .Vyereshire bull ar.d a 
 full-blood Suffolk i)ig. 
 
 Farmers complain of high prices and take steps to organize a 
 union store. This is the lirst attempt at organization of fai'mers 
 lor a common purpose. 
 
 In June of this year E. B. Clark opens a daguerrian and anil)ro- 
 type Gallery. 
 
 July.— Patriotism Among the Indians.— The patriotism of the 
 settlers had sent to the front a larger proportion of the able- 
 bodied men of the the county than many of the older counties. 
 The call for volunteers each time was promptly answered. On the 
 
46 OC'EAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 4tli day of July this year a great celebration was held at the Indian 
 Reservation. Lieut. E. V. Andress, 1st Mich. Sharpshooters, was 
 present and delivered the oration to the aborigines, after whom 
 Chief Pay-baw-nie (whoseportraitappearselsewhere) speaks. Louis 
 Genereau acted as interpreter on this occasion. The sj)eeches were 
 made to encourage the young braves to enlist, and so effectual were 
 thej' that twenty-five resj^onded by enlisting. These, led by Louis 
 Genereau, Jr., stepped forward and were sworn into the service of 
 the U. S. Government. On the Sunday following Lieut. Andress 
 marched them to Pentwater, accompanied by nearly all the Indians 
 on the Reservation. The scene at the departure of the steamer was 
 very interesting and affecting. Many of the squaws had come to 
 see them off, and there could be seen the old grey-headed squaw 
 taking leave of her son. A mother with a pappoose on her back 
 bidding her husband good bye after the Indian manner. In anoth- 
 er quarter a younger squaw casting shy glances at her departing 
 brave. As the boat left the dock three hearty cheers were given to 
 them and responded to by them. This company did good service 
 and several times reports of the gallant conduct of its members 
 came back. Some of them never returned, but gave their lives to 
 perpetuate the white man's government. 
 
 October 13.— Removal, of County Seat.— The following resolu- 
 tion was offered before the Board of Supervisors, viz.: 
 
 "Resolved, That the county seat be remov^ed either on the north 
 one-half of Sec. No. 17 Town 15 North of Range 17 West, or on the 
 south half of Sec. 8 of said town. And further Resolved, that the 
 Boarcl of Supervisors be a committee of the whole to locate the site 
 on one of the descriptions above mentioned in this resolution; and 
 further unless the said L. B. Corbin does give sufficient bonds to 
 the said county for one thousand dollars, if the county seat is lo- 
 cated on the northeast quarter of section seventeen in said town, 
 said resolution is null and void, and the said committee meet at L. 
 B.Corbin's grist mill on the last Thursday in October, at 10 o'clock 
 A. M. to locate said site." 
 
 On the adoption of said resolution the following is the A'ote: 
 
 YEAS. NAY.s. 
 
 H. C. Flagg, O. K. White, 
 
 Robert F. Andrus, Benjamin Hill, 
 
 Andrew J. Benson, Charles Camp. 
 
 Henry Hoffman, 
 Wm. H. Leach, 
 Wm. Weston. 
 
 The Board met again June 6, ISGl, and not deeming the countv 
 
AND BL'fJlXESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 47 
 
 seat legally removed by the above resolution, the followiiij- was in- 
 troduced, viz.: 
 
 "Resolved, That the county seat of Oceana County be and the 
 same is hereby removed so far as a vote of the Supervisors can re- 
 move it, from its present location, and that it be located on a lot 
 known and described as a lot containing two acres in a square 
 form, 31 rods south of the north line of section L7,To\vn 15 North 
 of Range 17 West, and bounded on the east by the now laid out 
 township road." 
 
 The vote on this resolution stood as follows: 
 
 YEAS. XAVS. 
 
 Henry C. Flagg, Wm. Weston, 
 
 Wm. H. Leach, Charles Camp, 
 
 Andrew J. Benson. Benjamin Hill. 
 
 Oliver K. ^Miite, 
 
 Robi:. Andrus, 
 
 Henry Hoffman. 
 
 At the same session it was moved and carried to submit the re- 
 moval of the county seat as above resolved to a vote of the peo- 
 ple. The vote of the people decided its removal in accordance with 
 the re:iolution of the Board. 
 
 From the breaking out of the rebellion until the surrender of Lee 
 and the linal triumph of the Union forces were assured, there was 
 no wavering or faltering in patriotic spirit among the settlers. The 
 first call for volunteers was answered with alacrity and more than 
 the county's quota on each subsequent demand was sent to the 
 front. No murmur escaped the peoj^le although more than Oceana's 
 share was called for. But when in November of this year it became 
 known that a draft for Oceana county would take place at the Pro- 
 vost's office in Grand Rapids, the disgrace was all the more keenly 
 felt because of the injustice of the draft. Clubs were formed of pat- 
 riotic volunteers who went to Grand Rapids to take the place of 
 those drafted whose families would suffer by the draft. The follow- 
 ing is the result of the draft: 
 
 Clayhanks—Monvoe Brown, Joseph Baker, E. W. Ferrill. 
 
 Greenwood— ^l. A. Frink, Alex. McLaren, Theodore Taylor, Ben- 
 jamin F. Jloe, James Ferguson, Edward Lore. 
 
 Leroy— Jeremiah Sullivan, Wm. J. Haughey, Martin Froderson. 
 
 Otfo— Theodore Reed, Wm. B. Law, Amos W. Putney. 
 
 Penfwafer— Chas.Gehrey, Wm.Ulrich, James Corlett, John Bam- 
 ford, Edward B. Flagg, Wm. Ijamplan, Peter Dolan, James Piper. 
 
 Hart— ^n\on N. Collins, Henry McQueen (deceased several months 
 before the draft took place), D. C Prosser, Wm. F. Lake. 
 
 TT'caro— Benjamin H. Cole, Henry Gay. 
 
48 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 The Beard Ci Supervisors met on the seventh day of December 
 following, and mildly but patriotically offered to the State the fol- 
 iowing protest: 
 
 Whereas, Since the present rebellion broke out it appears that 
 there is enlisted in the service of the U. S. ninety-four white men 
 who were citizens of the county of Oceana, in the State of IVIichigan, 
 and thirty-four Indians whom we regard as citizens of said county 
 and State, for which the said county has never received any credit, 
 
 Wherefore, Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors in session 
 assembled, appoint a committee of three to make a statement of 
 the above facts to the Governor of this State, and request him to 
 use his efforts in procuring for said county the proper credit, which 
 in justice. we are entitled to receive for such enlistments." 
 
 To show the spirit which actuated the iDeojjle at this time we 
 copy a resolution adopted by the Board of Sux^ervisors at this ses- 
 sion: 
 
 "Whereas, Our country is struggling to put down the most gigan- 
 tic rebellion ever recorded in history, and therefore it becomes nec- 
 essary to make an increase in our armies to eft'ect the above object 
 and to demonstrate to the world that a, republican form of govern- 
 ment can be sustained by that intelligence and patriotism which 
 are ever the concomitants of freedom, therefore 
 
 Resolved, That in order to eft'ect the above objects, that there be 
 raised i'l the county of Oceana the sum of three thousand two hun- 
 dred dollars, to be paid to men who may enlist into the service of 
 the United State.s in bonds of seventy-live dollars each to the 
 amount of one hundred and tifty dollars for each man who shall 
 thus enlist, when he is duly mustered into the service. Said bonds 
 shall be signed by the Clerk and Treasurer of said county, made to 
 bear se^en per cent, intei-est, one-half of the aggregate amount to 
 be paid on the first day of February, A. D. 1868, and the residue 
 on the lirst day of February, A. D. 1869, the interest on the whole 
 to be paid annuallj^ and the amount tobeincorporated in the gen- 
 eral ta;-:." 
 
 Catholicism in Claybanks. — We find record of the labors of Rev. 
 Father Schriner, of Muskegon, in behalf of the Catholic Church in 
 Oceana County this year, which is the first record noticed of a 
 public nature concerning the religious work of this church in the 
 county. At our earnest request Mr. J. G. Farrell, a gentleman of 
 education, and the son of Owen Farrell, at whose house the first 
 Catholic services were held in the county, has written the following 
 church history, which adds much to our information concerning it: 
 
 "The first Catholic services among the whites in the township of 
 Claybanks, were held in the house of Owen Farrell in the year 1857, 
 the Rev. Father Stannus, of Muskegon, ofliciating. The Catholics 
 of Claybanks then consisted of the families of Owen Farrell, John 
 Miller, Adam Schiller, Henry Teiclithesen, and Mrs. Wm. Leak. In 
 the spring of 1868 the same reverend gentleman paid Claybanks 
 his second and last visit, coming on foot, through what was then a 
 
AND JJU.S1XE.S3 MKN OF TU-IM')-. 4,9 
 
 trackless wilderness, from Muskegon, with an Indian for his !j;nide, 
 to minister to this meager (lock which liad not been au<^mented 
 during his absence, services being held at the same house as before. 
 
 The next Catholic priest to visit Claybanks was the Rev. M. 'M. 
 Marioq, of Muskegon, in June, 1862,. services being held in the same 
 place as before. During the yeai-s 1863, 1864 and 1865, Rev. Fath- 
 er Schriner, of Muskegon, attended the mission of Claybanks, hold- 
 ing services at the house of Thomas Kelley. 
 
 During the years 1866 and 1867, Claybanks was attended by 
 Rev. Henry Reeves, of Muskegon, 1868, 1869 and 1870 by Rev. 
 Wtn. Tahken, services lieing held at private houses. About the 
 close of 1870 a small school house on the farm of A. S. Anderson 
 was purchased by the Catholics, and was found more convenient 
 and commodious than x^rivate houses, although it but poorly an- 
 swered the purposes for which it was bought. 
 
 Father Herbstrit, of Big Rapids, lield services in this building, 
 which was now (although not entirely free from irony, the writer 
 thinks) called the 'church,' three or four times yeai'lj-, and was fol- 
 lowed by Rev. M. J. P. Dempsey, then of Ludington, and now the 
 efficient and talented Secretary of Bishop Foley, ot Detroit. 
 
 In the spring of 1882 Montague, Muskegon Co., was given a resi- 
 dent priest and Rev. Louis Baroux installed as its first pastor. 
 Father Baroux attended Claybanks mission once a month until 
 June, 1884, when he was succeeded by Rev. Edward I^eFevre. 
 Father LeFevre, recognizing the inadeciuacy of the building used 
 for church jDurposes to accommodate the growing congregation 
 and its inconvenient and undesirable location, it is due chieflj' to 
 his perseverance and tireless energy that the Catholicsof Claybanks 
 now own and occupy the tine frame church built during the summer 
 of 1885 on the farm of John ]\Iiller. 
 
 Father liefevre was succeeded in 1886 by Rev. J. G.^^"yss,and he 
 in 1887 by Rev. Father Willigan, the present pastor of Montague, 
 who holds services at Claybanks monthly. 
 
 The value of Church property is about .$1500.00. 
 
 Catholic population, 80. J. O. Farreli.." 
 
 1863— Sundry Notes.— Anson Freeman, said to be the first white 
 settler of Colfax appears. Hart builds a new school house. 
 
 Elbridge G. Farmer, after whom the township of Elbridge was 
 named, while working in Tabor's saw mill was struck by a piece of 
 grindstone, which burst, and for a time was supposed to be fatally 
 injured. He finally recovered and is, we believe, alive an<l residing 
 in the city of Grand Rapids at the present time. 
 
 Otto reports this year the organization of a Congregational 
 church with a membersliip of four persons. 
 
COURT HOUSE IN THE VIULAGE OF HART. 
 
 The above is a line representation ot tlie "new Court House," so- 
 called, erected on Court House Square. This building was built by 
 David Benham on a contract for $6,030.80, under the supervision 
 of a committee appointed by the Board of Supervisors, consisting 
 of David Johnson, Geo. W. Woodward, N. C. Smith, and J. A. Chel- 
 lis. It was completed and accepted by the Board in 1874. Since, 
 the building has been lengthened and otherwise improved, making 
 at the present time a large, well arranged and finely turnished Court 
 House, and is worth at least $10,000. There is a furnace in the 
 basement. The first floor is arranged in commodious offices for 
 Eegister of Deeds, Judge of Probate, County Treasurer, Sheriff, 
 County Clerk, Prosecuting Attorney, and vault. The upper floor 
 contains Court Room, Judge's Room and Jury Room. 
 
 It is situated in a beautiful park in the center of the village, con- 
 taining also a jail and residence for the Sheriff, band stand, and U. 
 S. signal service pole. Many young ornamental trees are growing 
 on the grounds. The water works mains have been extended to the 
 center of the grounds and two hydrants placed there. The park is 
 fast becoming a lovely and attractive place for amusement and 
 recreation in the summer season. 
 
CHAPTER \n. 
 
 RFXVRD OF EVEXTS-1SC4 to ISGS. 
 
 The Oceana Times was loyal to the Union. Every article refer- 
 rino; to the war that appeared in it bristled with ijatnotisin, and 
 from tlie commencement of hostilities until the close the Union Haj^ 
 adorned the head of its editorial column. Soldiers who enlisted re- 
 ceived tlatterino; notices of their conduct in battle. Touching obit- 
 uaries appeared for the brave men who died in hospital or wjre 
 killed in battle, and the names of those who answered the calls tor 
 volunteers were here entered, a record that will endure beyond the 
 lifetime of the most sturdy volunteer. We find at the beginning? of 
 the year 1864 the following, enlisted by C. A. Rosevclt from this 
 county and mustered into service at Grand Rapids, viz.: 
 
 John Herrington, Pentwater. 
 
 Wm. Robar, " 
 
 Henry Beebe, " 
 
 David Beebe, 
 
 G. W. Faulkner, 
 
 Chester L. Cai'penter, " 
 
 Chas. Brookfield, 
 
 Stephen Ilartwell, " 
 
 Henry M. Cook, Weare. 
 
 Charles Davis, ClaybanVs. 
 
 Anton Sever, " 
 
 Wm. Olinder, 
 
 Theodore F. Reed, Otto. 
 
 Wiliam Gillan, " 
 
 Henry Dodge, " 
 
 Louis A. Randall, Benona. 
 
 Samufl Wing, Hart. 
 
 Levi Power, " 
 
 The following are the names of those enlisted by liieut. A. Dt'inis: 
 
 Francis Dagle, Pentwater. 
 
 Charles Fletcher, Hart. 
 
 Aaron S. Moonej^ " 
 
 Jesse Mills, 
 
 Charles Scharriett, Weare. 
 
 Nelson Glover, Greenwood. 
 
52 OCEAXA COUXTY PIONEERS 
 
 This filled the quota, for Oceana County and saved it from draft. 
 
 Following close upon the above reports came "News from Bat- 
 tle," which we copy in full: 
 
 "Claybaxks, July 25, 18G4. 
 F. W. r.ATZEL, Esq., 
 
 Dear Sir: — Will you i3lease insert the following notices: 
 
 Killed at the battle of the Wilderness, before Richmond, May 11th, 
 1864, private Peter S. Chichester, of Co. B, 1st Regiment Michigan 
 Sharpshooters, aged 18 years and 7 months. 
 
 Died in Armory Sc^uare Hospital, Washington, D. C, of wounds 
 in the head received at the battle of the Wilderness, May 10th, 
 1804, private Oliver E. Perry, of Co. B, 1st Regiment ]Michigan S. 
 S., aged 18 years. 
 
 Killed, at the battle before Petersburg, Va., June 27th, 1 8G4, pri- 
 vate Francis Marion Perry (brother of the above), of Co. B, 1st 
 Regiment Michigan S. S., aged 20 years. 
 
 Killed, near Petersburg, Va., July 6th, 1864, Sergeant John Hus- 
 ton, of Co. B, 1st Regiment S. S., aged 22 years. 
 
 Thus have fallen, in early life, four young men of much promise. 
 All residents of Claybanks, they were intimate associates before 
 they left theu' homes for scenes of conflict in defense of our country. 
 Alike fired with holy patriotism, they could not be restrained; but 
 answering the 'bugle call' and shouting the 'Battle Cry of Freedom' 
 they went hand in hand and side by side to meet the foe. How no- 
 bly they have accomplished their task, the glorious record of the 
 gallant 1st Sharpshooters will attest. 
 
 But they have fallen, nobly fallen, facing the foe, but not to those 
 alone who return victors from the field of strife, shall be awarded 
 the meed of honor. 
 
 None shine brighter on the scroll of the Nation's glory than the 
 names of the noble Ellsworth and the gallant Lyon. Deeply en- 
 shrined in the hearts of their countrymen is the memory of those 
 who have nobly fallen sacrifices on the Nation's altar. 
 
 Two of them were in regular standing in the M. E. Church, a rela- 
 tion which had not been dishonored, while reports from tneir offi- 
 cers give intelligence that the others found peace with God not long 
 before their death. The hearts of the stricken parents are comfort- 
 ed with the thought that, 'though fallen, they have passed from 
 scenes of strife below to victory above.' Ira R. A. Wightmax." 
 
 Then came another call for 500,000 troops, and the apportion- 
 ment for the county was as follows: Greenwood, 5; Otto, 5; Leroy, 
 5; Claybanks, 6; Pentwater, 12 (with a credit of 4); Elbridge, 0; 
 Weare, 4; Hart, 9; Benona, 3. Hart was the first town to respond 
 with her full quota, and Weare next. 
 
AND HL'SINKSS MEN OF TO-DAV. 58 
 
 In August of this year Wesley White died of wounds received in 
 the battle of the Wilderness. 
 
 The Mud Hex — Charles JMears, under the imi^ression that the 
 north and south branches of Pentwater River were navigable if the 
 right kmd of a craft was employed for the purpose, set his invent- 
 ive genius at work, -which resulted in the building of the famous 
 Mud Hen. This boat was scow bottom, twenty-two by fifty-two 
 feet, with a large open space in the center. Before the machinery 
 ■was placed it resembled a large catamaran, except that it was sol- 
 id at both ends. In the center open jjlace was a large paddle-wheel, 
 a secondhand engine purchased from a Chicago junk shop and a 
 mill boiler constituted the machinery. The cost when complete "did 
 not exceed five hundred dollars," says Mr. II. C. Flagg, under whose 
 directions the boat was constructed. 
 
 It was expected that this novel craft would by reason of its light 
 draft and large paddle-wheel, easily crawl over shallow places 
 and thus render practicable the navigation of the South Branch, 
 at least as far as Hart. The craft was duly launched in the pres- 
 ence of many skeptical spectators, but she floated and was pro- 
 nounced by all to be 'safe.' Her peculiar build and antics in the 
 Avater caused her to be dubbed the "Mud Hen," by which name all 
 the old settlers knew her. 
 
 It was not a success in river navigation. It did, however, pos- 
 sess great propelling power and for several years was used in tow- 
 ing logs and vessels about Pentwater Lake. In fact, it was the first 
 tug owned and used on this lake. 
 
 The subsequent history of the Mud Hen is not without interest. 
 It was taken by Mr. Mears to Chicago, fitted up as a pleasure craft 
 and often chartered to sportsmen going north on a hunting trip. 
 Finally some one offered Mr. Mears ten acres of land near Wash- 
 ington Heights in exchange for the boat, which he accepted. Inves- 
 tigation showed the title to his land to be badly mixed and -conse- 
 quently he abandoned all interest in it, not even paying the taxes 
 upon it. A number of years later Chicago's rapid growth caused this 
 land to increase in value, and some gentlemen having purchased all 
 the other titles, finally paid Mr. Mears $12,000 in cash for his title. 
 Thus it will be seen that Mr. Mears realized handsomely upon his 
 Mud Hen. 
 
 Mysterious Disappearanxe.— Inthe latter part of July this year 
 (186i) an old gentleman from the southern part of Michigan came 
 to this county "looking land." He was supposed to have consid- 
 erable money on his person from the fact that he talked about pur- 
 chasing if he found just what suited him. It was about tlie lirst 
 
54 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 day of August that he came to the house of H. S. Sayles in Elbridge 
 and made inquirj'- concerning lands in that vicinity. Mr. Sayles 
 not being at home he started out to find him, following up an In- 
 dian trail running east, and this was the last that was seen or heard 
 from him. He was a Scotchman and was supposed to have come 
 from Washtenaw County. 
 
 An Adventure.— The 1-lth day of October this year jNIrs. W. H. 
 Cheney left Pentwater, mounted upon a trusty horse, for her home 
 near Hart. As she was aboutamilefromthe village a. man sudden- 
 ly sprang from behind some bushes into the road and tried to stop 
 her horse by grasping the bridle. He missed his hold, however, and 
 caught the martingale inste£id. Mrs. Cheney noticing this gave her 
 horse a cut with the whip and started at a gallop, draggingthe man 
 some two or three rods. He grabbed hold of her dress in the hope 
 of pulling her from the horse, but striking her horse again he was 
 obliged to relinquish his hold and fell by t!ie road. She reached 
 home all safe and sound, but minus a portion of her dress left in 
 the ruffian's clutch. 
 
 County Seat. — The vote on the removal of the county seat to 
 Hart, in accordance with the resolution of the Board of Supervis- 
 ors, resulted as follows: 
 
 For Ilomovjil. Ag;iiiist. 
 
 C 1 a y b a n k s 6 53 
 
 Weare 39 4 
 
 Greenwood 29 
 
 Pentwater 68 
 
 Otto 2 45 
 
 Leroy 3 51 
 
 Elbridge 15 33 
 
 Hart 73 G 
 
 Benona 23 2 
 
 229 223 
 
 Thus it will be seen that through the kindiy work of Pentwater 
 Hart obtained the county seat. 
 
 Hart, 1864. — The building on page 31 w.'us lirst occupied this 
 year as a county building. There were only two other buildings in 
 the village at this time, one Corbin's boarding house and the other 
 a house standing on the lot now occupied by C. E. Croff's residence. 
 
 The first Postmaster of Hart, Wm. H. Leach, received his com- 
 mission this year. 
 
 Small j)Ox appeared in Pentwater this year. 
 
 A school house was erected this year, on the southwest corner of 
 
AND BUSIXE.SS MEN Oi-^ TO-DAV. OO 
 
 section 10, Shelby, beiiij:; the second in the township. This build- 
 ing had a board floor and bai'k roof. The first school house was 
 built in 1862 on Sec. 18, with logs, elm bark floor and bark roof. 
 
 The first birth in the town of Weare, that of DeWitt C. Gay, oc- 
 curs in August of this year. 
 
 School District No. 1, town of Golden, was organized this year. 
 
 In tlie to.wn of Otto, this year, at a barn raising for C. New- 
 man, a young man by the name of Edwin Barber, was struck by a 
 falling plate and killed. He was the first to be interred in the town 
 cemetery. Dii3htheria appeared in thistown, causing severaldcaths 
 in the Evans family. 
 
 Oysters High.— The members of the County Board of Supervis- 
 ors while in session boarded at IMcNabb's store. It seems that ISIc- 
 Nabb had received some oysters but hadn't dished any up to the 
 Board as yet. Some of the members had a faiHng for oysters, and 
 one evening as the members were discussing the various problems 
 of State in the room that was used for general lounging purposes, 
 they were startled by the sudden appearance ot the landlord look- 
 ing wild and excited. Something serious must have happened— a 
 
 . secret plot— a crime committed— some one killed — a robbery; final- 
 ly he recovered, shouting, "Say, you fellers! where's them oysters?" 
 Blank expressions of wonder appeared upon the countenances of 
 some, but three of the members were noticed to chuckle sliglitly. 
 Pointing his finger at the three he said "there you are," and re- 
 treated. When the Board assembled the next morning the follow- 
 ing bill was among the accounts: 
 
 Oceana County to Landlord, J)r. 
 
 \ To Keg' of Oysters stolen by B., F. and M ■i'S CO 
 
 TliL-re being but nine oystens in tlie Iceg, I dccliict •'"'•^ 
 
 Leaving Balance .'isi 50 
 
 As the members did not wish the matter to go upon the records 
 they compromised with him. 
 
 1865.— All the machinery of government is in good working order. 
 Settlers are constantly arriving and centers of population begin to 
 a^ppear in various parts of the county. The first store is built in 
 Hart village this year, the first shingle mill in Pent water. The war 
 is closed and the soldiers who escaped its ravages return home 
 again. The events of the year are without special interest. The 
 liquor selling continues, and Mr. Hyde's temperance efforts re- 
 doubled. An excitement over the reported discovery of oil near 
 Pentwater is occasioned, but soon subsides to break out again at 
 intervals for several years following. The pigeons appear and make 
 business brisk during their stay. John Bean, Jr., in June of tins 
 
56 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 yearshipsthefirstSciweclshinglesfroniPentwater. TheBoard of Su- 
 pervisors purchase the Orange Ward farm of 160 acres, now owned 
 by A. D. YanWickle, for $4,800, and engage Mr. and Mrs. Ward as 
 overseers of the farm at $50 per month. Goodsell Bros, start a 
 hardware store in Pentwater, and a call was made in September 
 for a meeting of all the Masons in Oceana County at C. W. Deane's 
 office for the purpose of organizing a lodge of that fraternity. 
 Peaches and. plums fill the markets. At a meeting of the Board of 
 Supervisors in December of this year an attempt was made to re- 
 move the county seat to Middlesex which wasdefeated by one vote. 
 The first barber shop is opened in Pentwater by Geo. Elms. Gen- 
 eral prosperity is enjoyed at the close of the year. 
 
 1866. — Oil excitement breaks out earlj- this year at both Hart 
 and Pentwater. Afeeling of rivalry between thetwoplacesbeginsto 
 manifest itself. There are now 87 scholars enrolled at Pentwater 
 public schools. Another attempt was made this year to organize 
 an Agricultural Societj*. On settlement with the County Treasurer 
 Oliver Swain, a deficiency in his accounts of §85-4.58 is found, and 
 by resolution the Prosecuting Attorney is instructed to collect the 
 same of Mr. Swain b\' April following, or prosecute him. A gam- 
 bling den is discovered in Pentwater and broken up. Rev. Amos 
 Dresser now takes i^art in the temperance work. He reports 336 
 names to the Washingtonian pledge. Aug. 14 of this year occui's 
 the first meeting of Masons in Pentwater. Aug. 26, the M. E. 
 Church (since destroyed by fire) was dedicated. The county sells 
 its Poor Farm to A. D. YanWickle for $3,500. The village of Pent- 
 water becomes greatly excited over the selling of diseased meat by 
 its butcher. Oct. 12 Wm. Tuttle commits suicide. In November 
 Goodsell Bros, estabhsh a foundrj- in Pentwater. The year closes 
 Avith numerous whisky prosecutions started. 
 
 Anecdote. — During the month of Xovember, 1866, the Hon. A. 
 B. Turner, of Grand Eapids, then a> now editor and proprietor of 
 the Grand Eapids Eagle, having a cuiiosity to learn something con- 
 cerning the new territory north, made a trip through Oceana coun- 
 ty in the U. S. mail stage- Being a gentleman of intelligent appear- 
 ance, well dressed, and accompanying the mail, making frequent in- 
 quiries of the settlers, he was taken to be a government officer and 
 as such looked upon as an important personage. Afterwards 
 writing of this trip, he says: 
 
 "We draw up at a Postoffice. Here we are glad to get of? and 
 warm while the mail is changing. The contents of a large bag are 
 emptied on the floor, and the Postmaster and his wife are down in 
 the necessary posture, assorting the packages. We are in Oceana 
 
a:sd business mex of to-day. 57 
 
 county from which we have not heard the result of the election, 
 and we Open a conversation thus: 
 
 'Are 5'ou the Postmaster here?' 
 
 Keceiving an affirmative reply, we ask: 
 
 'How are political matters with you?' 
 
 Evidently understanding the question as referrins only to himself 
 and family, he promptly answers: 
 
 'We are republicans, sir.' 
 
 'Don't you support President Johnson?' 
 
 'Xo, sir' (very curtly). 
 
 Assuming an air of as much solemnity as possible, we remark 
 that the President has a right to the support of the office-holders 
 of the country, and that support is expected. 
 
 The P. M. here raises himself to an erect position, full six feet 
 high, and giving us a withering look, square in the face, emphatical- 
 ly says: 
 
 'Sir, we don't keep princi[)les for sale here; but you can have the 
 office if you like.' 
 
 The wife keeps her recumbency, but pauses in her work long 
 enough to give us a searching look over her spectacles and ejacu- 
 lates: 
 
 'Guess you'll luive hard work to find a Johnson nuinoii this road 
 to make a Postmaster of.' 
 
 Our solemnitj" here gives out, but before an explanation can be 
 made, to satisfy our friends that we are not an agent of the Presi- 
 dent on a 'bread and butter' mission we resume our seat in the 
 stage and proceed northward." 
 
 1867 — Februarj'. — Contract for building a new jail was let to H. 
 C. Flagg on behalf of Charles Mears for $3,500. At the December 
 term of the Board of Supervisors the committee reported the jail 
 completed. In accepting it the Board unanimously expressed its 
 aj)preciation of the manner in which the job was completed. 
 
 Village of Pextwater.— By special Act of the Legislature, ap- 
 proved March 16, 1867, the village of Pentwater became incor- 
 l^orated, and on the 8th day of April following held its first elec- 
 tion. There were two tickets in the field, viz.: a union ticket, and 
 working men's ticket. C. \V. Deane for Pi-esident and Oliver P. 
 Cook for Assessor were upon both tickets. The number of votes 
 I)olled was 181, and resulted as follows: 
 
 President, C. W. Deane 176 
 
 Scattering 5 
 
 Recorder, H. Douville, W. M 122 
 
 E. B. Flagg, U 59 
 
58 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Treasurer, John Highland, W. M 109 
 
 Bennett J. Gooclsell, U 71 
 
 Assessor, Oliver P. Cook 181 
 
 Trustees, D. C. Pelton, 2 years, W. M 110 
 
 I. N. Lewis, " " 118 
 
 Wm. H. Merritt " " 89 
 
 Jas. J.Kittriclge, 1 year " 121 
 
 A.Bryant, " " 107 
 
 J. M. Lacy, " " 73 
 
 H. C. Flags, 2 years, U 81 
 
 A. B. Judcl, " " 68 
 
 A. J. Underhill, " " 66 
 
 G.W.Maxwell, 1 year, " 61 
 
 John Bean, Jr., " " 83 
 
 James G. Gray, " " 60 
 
 Scattering 17 
 
 This made the first Board, Deane, Pelton, Lewis, Kittridge, Bry- 
 ant, Bean and Merritt. Politically Bean and Merritt were demo- 
 crats and the others republican. The result was hailed by the 
 workingmen as a great victory, and in the evening, jubilant over 
 their success they turned out en masse, formed a procession and 
 headed by a martial band marched through the streets cheering 
 and firing guns. The procession halted in front of different resi- 
 dences of their elected candidates, gave three cheers and marched 
 on. This was kept up until about eleven o'clock when the crowd 
 dispersed. Thus ended the first- election of the village of Pentwa- 
 ter, the first village of the county. 
 
 May 17.— Edwin R. Cobb visits Pentwater and threatens the 
 people, residing in the village who trace their titles to Charles A. 
 Rosevelt, assignee of Cobb & Rector, with suits. lie had previous- 
 ly brought suits claiming that he had been defrauded of his rights 
 and property by Rosevelt, but had been defeated. At this time he 
 threatened to commence again on another basis. As the matter 
 was afterwards adjudicated in both county and U. S. Courts, we 
 will give the history of this celebrated legal contest over Pentwater 
 titles under a separate head. 
 
 June 18. — DeHaven's Imperial Circus visits Pentwater and as it 
 is the first "show" that has ever visited the county, it draws the 
 people from all sections. The paper in speaking of the event esti- 
 mates that over one-half of the county's population was in Pent- 
 water on that occasion. The red men with squaws and pappooses 
 were all out in force. 
 
 July 4. — Hart village has its first celebration. It consists of din- 
 ner in the woods. s])eaking, )nusic, etc. 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 59 
 
 July 5.— For the first time a daily mail is now enjoyed at Pent- 
 water. This improvement in mail service is hailed as an omen of 
 future prosperity, and real estate suddenly takes an upward boom. 
 
 Base Ball,.— With the progress of events we here notice the or- 
 ganization of a Base Ball Club at Hart, which beins; the first regu- 
 larly organized club in the county we herewith give the list of olfi- 
 cers, viz.: President, Wm. Wigton; Vice President, Tj. G. Ruther- 
 ford; Secretary, W. II. Leach; Treasurer, T. J. Main; Directors, Ed- 
 ward Stone, M. A. Luther, John Dagle, John F. Cloud. This club 
 was apj)ropriatelj^ named the "Pioneer Base Ball Club." 
 
 CIVILIZING THE INDIANS. 
 
 Through statistics furnished by David K. Foster, himself a half- 
 breed and a teacher of the Government school at Crystal, we are 
 enabled to ascertain the success of the Government in its efforts to 
 civilize the Indians in this section. 
 
 The following account of how the Indians came to this county is 
 found in Page's Historj^ viz.: 
 
 "The Indians assembled at Grand Haven early in the fall of 1857 
 and were transported to the number of perhaps 700 or 800 with 
 their goods to Pentwater by the side-wheel steamer Ottawa, owned 
 in Grand Haven. When they landed, as many of them came from 
 inland towns, thej^ were much struck by the great sand hills, and 
 camped for a time around Pentwater Lake before going up to their 
 rv^servation. It was a remarkable sight to see how they would dis- 
 port in the sand hills— to see two nearly nude figures lock arms and 
 roll over 'and over from the to^D until they would land in the water. 
 They^found at that early day around Pentwater plenty of hunting 
 and fishing. 
 
 In the summer of 1858 the propeller C. Mears, owned by Charles 
 Mears, brought the balance of the Indian bands from Grand Haven 
 to Pentwater— about 500 or (300, making m all about 1,300. The 
 men rode,.their ]ponies along the beach. The principal chiefs were 
 Peshosiky, whose other name was Henry Clay, or the great orator; 
 Cob-mo o-sa, i. e., Great Walker; Shaw-be-co-ung, or -wings,' mean- 
 ing that he could soar as an orator; Pay-baw-me, who was a Cath- 
 olic and a lay reader; Cob-moo-sa being a pagan to the day of his 
 death, which happened when he was over 100 years old. Shaw-be- 
 co-ung was an Episcopalian, and was a good talker. Louis Gener- 
 eau was an interpreter and was half French. He was a Methodist 
 Episcopalian, but changed in his old age to Catholic, and married 
 Pay-baw-me's widow. Joseph Elliott, who with Genereau lived in 
 Elbiidge, was a full-blooded Indian and an interpreter. He was a 
 ilethodist, and it is said that he preached with considerable flu- 
 
60 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIOXKERS 
 
 ency. He gave the first sermon ever i-)reached in Pentwater in C. 
 Mears' boavding-house, the 'boys' to tlie number of 100 being pres- 
 ent, and paying in pork and i)otatoes as their tithe." 
 
 The Government caused Indian school houses to be built, one on 
 the northwest corner of Sec. 11, township of Elbridge, called the 
 Pay-baw-nie school house, one on the northwest corner of Sec. 17, 
 called the Genereau, one on the northeast corner of Sec. 27 of the 
 same township called the "Cob-moo-sa," and one in Crystal. S. 
 Fletcher had the contract for building these school houses and Josi- 
 ah Russell and son George worked with him in constructing; them. 
 
 THE PAY-BAW-ME SCHOOL, HOUSE. 
 
 This was located near H. S. Sayles' place, which has always been 
 a favorite place of rendezvous for the red man. The Government 
 teachers were James Haley, an Irishman and a strict Catholic who 
 came fron; Detroit. Mrs. H. S. Sayles, of Elbridge, and Eliza Foote, 
 an estimable lady who now resides in the city of Lansing. 
 
 The Cob-moo-sa school was taught first by the Rev. D. R. Lath- 
 am; then by John Bean, Jr., whovv'as followed byMrs. Arial Crosby. 
 
 The Genereau school was taught by W. H. Leach, D. W. Crosby 
 and John Smith, the latter being an Indian. 
 
 The Crystal school was taught by D. K. Foster, a half-breed, and 
 Charles Selkirk. 
 
 Mr. D. K. Foster gathered statistics showing the enterprise of the 
 Indians of INIason and Oceana counties in adopting civilized meth- 
 ods, from the first day of July, 1866, to the first day of July, 1867, 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 61 
 
 and filed the same with the Government. From his rei)ort we take 
 the following: 
 
 Bushels of Wheat raised S25 
 
 " Buckwheat " 150 
 
 Corn " 7J38 
 
 " Potatoes " 11,03L 
 
 " TurniiDS " 37 
 
 " Oats " J, 482 
 
 No. of Ponies 13j[ 
 
 " Cattle 54 
 
 " Swine 16-() 
 
 " lbs. Maple Sugar made 20,000 
 
 " Log Houses built 12(5 
 
 " Frame Houses 2 
 
 " Bark Wigwams 10 
 
 " Deaths 15 
 
 Value Lands Sold $3,220 
 
 1S67 — Fr.uiT.— For several years fruit of a very superior quality 
 had been supplying the local markets and exciting the admiration 
 of all. It even caused many to predict at this time Oceana'.s great 
 future as a fruit producing section, still very few made anj- attempt 
 even to cultivate fruit on a scale commensurate with the advanta- 
 ges of the county, already apparent. The men who supplied the 
 markets with fruit at this time are with one or two exceptions, the 
 men who are recognized as the leading horticulturists of today. 
 
 In September of this year wagon loads of i^eaches, plums and 
 pears were brought to Pentwater and sold to hookers, merchants 
 and peox'le of the village. Myrtle B. High at this time was raising 
 plums on section eight in Weare. He had also been very suc- 
 cessful in raising peaches on this place. E. B. Burrington, who al- 
 so lived in Weare, had an orchard that produced very line peaches, 
 and the River House farm then was regarded as the model fruit 
 farm. The trees were literally breaking down with peaches, and 
 they seemed to bear every year. The choicest varieties came from 
 this farm where to-day not a half dozen peach trees can be found, 
 and where fruit men of to-day regard. as the most unfavorable lo- 
 cality to be found in the county for fruit raising. Mr. Mears ship- 
 ped from this farm to Chicago in 1867 over 500 bushels of peaches. 
 
 W. P. Harding, of Weare, also raised a large quantity of fruit 
 this year, his pears exciting universal admiration. The River 
 House peach orchard above referred to had been set out just five 
 years, and this year the average yield was one bushel per tree. 
 
 CoNGREGATioxAE CHLRrii.— In November of this year tiie first 
 church bell of the county arrives by vessel and is placed upon the 
 
62 OCEANA COUXTY PIONEERS 
 
 dock. Every man, woman and child of the village visits the dock 
 dui'ing the day and inspects this new evidence of civilization. Each 
 visitor tested it by striking it with a hammer or some other hard 
 substance, and a continual ding dong was heard all day and late 
 in the evening. On the 30th day of Jan., 1868, the new church ed- 
 ifice which this bell was to adorn, Avas dedicated with appropriate 
 services, the sermon being delivered by the Rev. H. A. Reed, of Mar- 
 shall, assisted by several other ministers. Mr. E. D. Richmond 
 presented it with a new organ, and the Rev. Amos Dresser was in- 
 stalled as the first minister of this church. 
 
 Benona — The township of Leroy is changed to Benona. This 
 township is getting to be an important commercial town. A bridge 
 pier was built which increased the trade largely, and was said to 
 be one of the best on the lake shore at the time. Robert Rogers 
 was the builder of this i)ier, which cost $12,000. When completed 
 thei-e was fifteen feet of water at the end of it. Four steam vessels 
 stopped at the pier dail5^ There was a good wagon road from this 
 point to Shelby, Otto, Greenwood, and other points of the county 
 interior. Building progresses finely, and village lots are selling rap- 
 idly. 
 
 Sundry Notes. — In July H. H. Woods puts in the first soda foun- 
 tain at Pentwater. In November the schooner Kate Doak is wreck- 
 ed and two lives lost. 
 
CHAPTER Vlil. 
 
 RECORD OF EVEXTS-ISGS to 1873. 
 
 Teachers' Institute.— The first organized session of tlie teachers 
 of the county as a County Teachei't* Institute was held at Pentwa- 
 ter, the session concluding on the second day of January, 18(38. 
 It was largely attended, excited great interest, and gave a new im- 
 petus to educational matters all over the county. 
 
 There is little of special importance that occurs this year, and 
 ^Ye condense briefly the minor events as they occur, viz.: In Decem- 
 ber a winter stage line is established between Pentwater and White- 
 hall by Roddy & Collins.— A. M. U. express office is opened in Pent- 
 water with E.D.Richniond as agent. —The Chapter R. A.M. organized 
 at Pentwater. — Asash and blindfactory running, Nickersoiut Lewis 
 props.— We hear of the firm of Maxwell, Sands it Co. quite often in 
 connection with the manufactui'e of shingle. — A Lodge of Good 
 Templars is organized and officers installed at Hart. — The coldest 
 day of the winter of 1867-8 the thermometer showed 2^^° below ze- 
 ro. — Agricultural and Mechanical Association organized at Hart. — 
 Pentwater is designated a Port of Entry, and L. D. Grove ai^point- 
 ed U. S. Deputy Collector of Customs. — The Oceana Times enlarged 
 to a seven column folio. — E. Rice starts a newspaper in Pentwater 
 named the Democrat. — The schooner Travis, of Pentwater, wreck- 
 ed Sept. 2, off Grand Haven, and two lives lost.— Goodsell Bros.' 
 foundry burned Oct. 31. — T. R. Evans organizes a brass band in 
 Pentwater. — In December Goodsell Bros, commenced rebuilding the 
 foundry. — Dec. 26 John Rows was drowned in Pentwater Lake. — 
 The salary of the Circuit Judge being only .$.500, the Board of Su- 
 pervisors votes SlOO to the Hon. Moses B. Hopkins. 
 
 1869— Hart. — This village has increased in population and busi- 
 ness since our last mention of it. — Messrs. Culver it Slater have a 
 hardware stoi-e here with a large trade.— M. R. Chadwick has built 
 a building for a drug store.— Moore's Hotel is running with B. 
 Moore as landlord.— White it Knox are engaged in a general mer- 
 chandise business.— J. K. Flood it Co. are running a drug store.— 
 B. F. Huff is engaged in general merchandise trade.— Also W. H. 
 Cheney, M. L. it W. Leach, and Stover and Britton have a boot 
 
66 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 and shoe shop. — The county business in all its departments has in- 
 creased, -which makes business at the county seat lively during ses- 
 sions of the Circuit Court or Board of SuiDervisors. — April 30 of 
 this year the Oceana County Journal appears with Judson Ij. Pal- 
 miter as editor and proprietor. 
 Mr. Palmiter had been many 
 years an editor at Kendall ville, 
 Indiana, and having purchased 
 the material of the Ionia Dem- 
 ocrat, brought it to Hart and 
 started the publication of the 
 Oceana County Journal, a sev- 
 en colun?nfolio,and republican 
 in politics. This pjaper had 
 what was then styled "patent 
 insides," and was thus the first 
 county paper to make use of 
 ready print sheets. Jlr. Palmi- 
 ter, who thus appears before 
 Oceana County people for the 
 first time, was destined to be- 
 come a prominent factor in its 
 development. A sketch of his 
 life appe;irs under another head. 
 
 JL'BSON L. PALMITER. 
 
 Railicoad Talk. — The people became excited over projected I'ail- 
 roads having Oceana county as an objective point. The Lansing, 
 Ionia tt Pentwater Railroad began early in the season to coquette 
 with the people for right of way, bonus, etc. Later the Grand Rap- 
 ids & Northern road sent its agents out among the people, and 
 then the L. S. R. R. jDresented its advantages and claims. Ea-ch 
 line had its friends. Meetings were called and committees ap- 
 pointed who held conferences with the railroad officials for the dif- 
 ferent lines reported, but nothing was done beyond making surveys 
 and a great amount of speculation. The year dies and with it all 
 hope of securing a railroad. 
 
 Judge Hopkixs.— In September of this year Judge Moses B.Hop- 
 kins was taken ill and the next regular term of Court was not held. 
 On the 31st day of October he died. His death was due to a cold 
 caught by exposure to inclement weather in making his appoint- 
 ments. A sketch of his life ajjpears in the chapter entitled "Bench 
 and Bar." His death left the office of Circuit Judge vacant. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEX OF TO-DAY. 
 
 67 
 
 ■t-<^ 
 
 '^' a 
 
 AUGUSTINE H. UIDDiNGS. 
 
 Augustine H. (.iiddings was ap- 
 pointed Circuit Judge to fill the 
 vacancy occasioned by the death 
 of Judge Hopkins. Mr. Giddings 
 was a gentleman of commanding 
 appearance, courteous in his 
 bearing, firm in his convictions 
 of dutj% dignified upon thebench, 
 impartial and just in liis decis- 
 ions. Pie was a graduate of Yale 
 College, and was at the time of 
 hisai^pointment regarded as one 
 of tlie brightest and most prom- 
 ising lawyers of the State. His 
 appointment was a happy one 
 for this county, as it at once ele- 
 vated the standjird of legal eth- 
 ics and secured for the Courts of 
 law the proper respect of litigants and attornej'S. 
 
 The Xkwsfapers.— From the time the Oceana County Journal 
 was first issued at Hart, a bitter rivalry began to be manifested be- 
 tween that ijaper and the Oceana Times. This rivalry manifested 
 itself in sc;ithing editorials by the respective editors, bristling with 
 strong personal allusions. This was kept up until Nov. 1st of this 
 year, when Judson Palmiter, of the Journal purchased the Times 
 and forming a copartnership) with Amos Dresser, Jr., on the 12th 
 day of Novembei' the Times appeared with Palmiter it Dresser as 
 proprietors, and Amos Dresser, Jr., as editor. The iiersonal 
 sketches of these i)ersons appear elsewhere under head of ''The 
 Press." The Democrat, which was started the year before, did not 
 survi\e the year out, and 1870 dawns with the two papers. Times 
 and Journal, under practically the same management. 
 
 Mike Hayes. Manj-^of the old settlers will remember this char- 
 acter. He was a powerfully built man, quiet and liarmless when 
 sober, and a good hand in the lumber woods, but a perfect terror 
 to the community when intoxicated. He used to visit Pentwater 
 periodically, fill up with liquor and then set about destroying prop- 
 erty, fighting and otherwise terrorizing the people. His total disre- 
 gard of the consequences of his acts made him an indivi(bial to be 
 feared, and officers were loth to make complaint or attempt to ar- 
 rest him. Finally, however, about the latter part of July in this 
 year, a warrant was issued for "big Mike" as he was called, and 
 placed in the hands of James Roddy, Constable, himself a powerful 
 man and without fear. A tragedy was expected when Roddy start- 
 
68 OCEANA COUNTY PIOXEEKS 
 
 ed to make tlie ai'rest, but for some reason Mike quietly surrender- 
 ed wit J. out a struggle. Eoddy took possession of a large club which 
 Mike had and started with him for the Justice's office. On the way 
 Mike slyly drew a lai'ge knife and was slyly watching a favorable 
 opportunity of plunging it into the officer's breast, when some one 
 warned Roddy of his peril. He quickly turned about and brought 
 the club he had taken from Mike upon his head with terrific force, 
 felling him to the ground like an ox, making an ugly scalp wound 
 and rendering him unconscious. He was finally taken to the Doc- 
 tor's, his wounds dressed, then to the Justice's office, where he 
 plead guilty and was fined. This event seemed to break his spirit, 
 and although afterwards he was several tijnes arrested for disor- 
 derly conduct, his power as a terrorizor had x'assed. Licjuor made 
 a total wreck of him in a few years, and he finally dropped out of 
 the communit3^ Sevtiral years later report came that he was dead 
 but this was denied by some who were well acquainted with him. 
 
 1870— The Railroad.— The ^Michigan Central through James F. 
 Joy, took hold of the raih-oad project and made the citizens a 
 ]3roposition, which at a public meeting called for the purpose, was 
 fully endorsed and all other projects at once disappeared. The 
 name of the railroad was Grand Rapids & Lake Shore. This Com- 
 pany was organized in February, 1869, made survey of route from 
 Grand Rapids to Whitehall. The Company proposed if $80,000 
 stock should be pledged^ to organize in February, 1870, a road 
 through to Pentwater. In January of this year the following stock 
 was reported pledged: 
 
 Name. Address. Shares. Amt. 
 Outside the County 163 $16,300 
 
 A. A. Darling Hart 2 .200 
 
 L.G.Rutherford " 2 200 
 
 Barnard Putney " 1 100 
 
 John Grosse " 1 100 
 
 W. J. Britton " 1 100 
 
 W. D. Markham " J 100 
 
 James K. Cooper " 1 100 
 
 Richard Chadwick " 1 100 
 
 E. L. Craw " 2 200 
 
 C.P.Miller '^ 1 100 
 
 Frank Markham ,, 1 100 
 
 J. W. Hiles " 2 200 
 
 B. J. Beers " 2 200 
 
 David Benham " 2 200 
 
 Carried Forward 183 18,300 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. (39 
 
 ^ame. Address. Shares. Amt. 
 
 Brought Forward 183 $18,300 
 
 E. B. Clark Pentwater 3 300 
 
 A. Dresser, Jr " 3 ,'}()q 
 
 A. J. Griffin " o 200 
 
 L. W. Sieffy " 2 200 
 
 G. W. Imus " 2 200 
 
 E. L. Craw " is 1,800 
 
 J. Bean, Jr " 7 700 
 
 E. N. Dundass •' 2 200 
 
 A. Turner " 5 50O 
 
 L.E.Payne " 1 loo 
 
 B. J. Goodsell ■' 3 300 
 
 Charles Flood " 2 200 
 
 Samuel A. Browne " 18 1,800 
 
 James G. Gray " 2 200 
 
 A. J. Underhill " 3 300 
 
 Geo. Goodsell " 3 300 
 
 H. C. Flags " 3 300 
 
 E. Nickerson " 2 200 
 
 R. C. Kellogg " 2 200 
 
 E. L. Craw " 11 1.100 
 
 R. F. Dundass " 1 300 
 
 James Ellsworth " 1 100 
 
 S. W. Ponieroy " 1 100 
 
 J. Reid ^' o 500 
 
 L.D. Grove " 2 200 
 
 E. L. Craw " 5 500 
 
 A.Bryant " 3 300 
 
 E. L. Craw " 5 500 
 
 Total 300 $30,000 
 
 A subscription is also in circulation, pledging additional aid to 
 the road, provided it shall be completed to Pentwater on or before 
 the 1st day of June, 1871. 
 
 At the meeting in Pentwater where the above Pentwater stock 
 was taken, John Bean, Jr., A. J. Underhill were appointed dele- 
 gates to attend the annual meeting at Grand Rapids on Feb. Snl, 
 and James G. Gray and H. C. Flagg a committee to draft letter of 
 instructions and credentials. The delegates attended and return- 
 ing, made the following report, viz.: 
 
 Pentwater, Feb. 5, 1870. 
 Mr. Ei:)iTOR:— Having been chosen a delegate to attend a nu-eting 
 of Stockholders and Directors of the Grand Rapids & Lake Shore 
 Railroad Company, convened at the city of Grand Rapids the 3rd 
 
70 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 inst., I ask permission to communicate, through your paper, to the 
 people of Pentwater, an account of the proceedings of that meeting 
 and also what api^ears to me to be the prospect of our getting a 
 railroad into Pentwater. 
 
 After making inquiries as to the propositions and purposes of the 
 Michigan Southern Raih-oad Company, I came to the conclusion 
 that it would not pay to seek after new i3rojects, but ascertain if 
 the Grand Eapids ct Lake Shore Eailroad Company had the men 
 and means to carrj- out their project of building their road. I have 
 become well satisfied that the Company is composed of good sub- 
 stantial jnen; that the Michigan Central Railroad Com^Dany is in 
 earnest about the building of this road; and that it rests with the 
 people of Oceana County to say whether it will be built or not. We 
 are asked to raise by municipal donation, ten per cent, upon our 
 assessed valuation of the towns along the line, to aid in preparing 
 the road bed between this pkice and Whitehall; and after having 
 shown a disposition to do what we are able, I have no fear but 
 that the balance of the funds necessary to complete the grading of 
 the road, will be suiDplied on very short notice. I am assured from 
 sources that we can rely upon, that the balance will be subscribed 
 in forty-eight hours, after it is found to be necessarj' in order to 
 make up a deficiency of seventy-five or one hundred thousand dol- 
 lars to complete the road from here to Whitehall. 
 
 The meeting at Grand Rapids was well attended? All api^eared 
 to be in earnest, and their looks and actions meant business. The 
 meeting was called to order by Hon. Lowell Hall, President. Di- 
 rectors ]present, W. F. Wood, H. J. Hollister, Thos. Hiffon, Geo. 
 Sinclair, and represented by proxy S. R. Sanfoid, Chauncy Davis, 
 and several others. There was in attendance — several stockhold- 
 ers, a good delegation from Hart, and Mr. Bean and myself from 
 Pentwater. The delegations from Pentwater and Hart were invit- 
 ed to state their views in regard to the extension of this road, and 
 as to the probable amount of aid that would be given: which was 
 responded to by Bean and myself, and Mr. Russell and Rutherford 
 from Hart, stating that aid by the way of stock subscription and 
 municipal donation, could be relied upon to the amount of eightj^ 
 thousand dollars in Oceana CountJ^ Several gentlemen stated 
 that the proposition of Oceana County was liberal, and if that 
 amount could be relied upon, no ditficultj- would be found in ob- 
 taining subscribers for the balance of funds necessary to complete 
 the grading and laying of ties. The charter was then amended so 
 as to read as follows: — 
 
 'The said railroad is to commence at such point in the city of 
 Grand Rax»ids, as the President and Board of Directors shall deter- 
 
AND BLSIXICS.-; MKX OF TO-JiAY. 71 
 
 mine; running thence to the village of Lauiont, thence to tlie village 
 of Nunica, thence to Fruitport, thence to ^Muskegon, thence to the 
 village of Whitehall, thence to the village of Pentwater, bj' the way 
 of section seventeen in township of Hart, Oceana County.' 
 
 A committee of three was aj)pointed to draft by-laws and jiresent 
 same at the next meeting of stockholders. L. Patterson, IT. J. 
 Hollister, and Mr. Nelson were named as such committee. 
 
 The President and Mr. W. F. Wood were appointed as commit- 
 tee to employ Mr. Brewster, to commence the survey immediately, 
 between Whitehall and Pentwater. 
 
 The Secretary was directed to notify all the stockholders not 
 present, of the meeting to be held on the 9th inst. 
 
 One Director was apjjointed for Hart, and one for Pentwater, 
 which will bg chosen at the ne.xt meeting. It now remains for us of 
 Oceana County to do what we are able to do in this matter, and 
 we need have no fear as to the result, knowing as we do, that we 
 have the Michigan Central Railroad Company to back us up, and 
 that it is their object and purpose to reach Pentwater harbor. 
 
 Respectfully Yours, A. J. Undkrhili.." 
 
 On the 17th of February Ransom Gardner, in the interest of the 
 Lake Shore R..R., visited Pentwater. A mass meeting was called 
 and he stated the advantages to the county of his line. He was ac- 
 companied and assisted by Senator Williams, of Allegan, E.P.Fer- 
 ry, of Grand Haven, and L. G. Mason, of Muskegon. The citizens 
 desired Mr. Gardner to make his loroposition in writing, which he 
 did as follows, viz.: 
 
 "Cosmopolitan Hotel, Whitehall, ]\Iich., Feb. 17, 1S70. 
 To the Citizens of Pentwater— Gentlemen : 
 
 Providing your people decide to give your aid and undivided 
 suiDport in favor of Our Road, upon receiving official notice of such 
 decision, and the aid being secured to the legal amount allowed to 
 be voted by the resi:)ective towns through which we i^ass, and such 
 reasonable amount of stock subscriptions as you may be able to 
 take, we shall at once commence the construction of Our Road 
 north from Muskegon, and we are able to pledge you its comple- 
 tion to your place upon the same liberal terms for traffic and trav- 
 el, as we have already secured, and at as early a date as the time 
 already named, viz.: Oct. 1, 1871, and earlier if possible. 
 
 It now rests with you when we shall commence. 
 
 Respectfullv Yours, etc., R. Gakdneu, 
 
 Pres't M. L. S. R. R. Co."' 
 
 Having obtained this letter, correspondence was had with Mr. 
 Joy, and as a result the Grand Rapids and Lake Shore R. R. pledg- 
 ed the completion ot the road through to Pentwater by July 1, 
 1871, and at a meeting held in Hart, March 21, at which Josiah 
 
72 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Russell was Chairman, the G. R. & L. S. R. R. was decided upon as 
 the one the people would support. But it seems that the jjeoi^le 
 were still divided in their preferences, and another meeting was 
 called at Pentwater early in April, at which it was practically de- 
 cided to vote the aid for the G. R. & L. S. R. R. The result of the 
 vote at the polls was largely in favor of aid to the railroad, and 
 this settled all further controversy. The contracts were let for 
 grading, and active work all along the proposed route commenced. 
 
 Shortly after the election voting bonds to the railroad, the Su- 
 preme Court decided the law permitting such action unconstitution- 
 al, which had a tendency to discourage further efforts in building. 
 
 Private subscriptions were at once solicited and the work pro- 
 gressed. 
 
 During the season an agreement was entered into between the 
 three companies on the shore of Lake Michigan between Manistee 
 and New Bufialo, to consolidate under one management. The road 
 between New Bufialo and Pentwater to be completed Jan. 1, 1871, 
 and the link between Pentwater and Manistee to be completed af- 
 terwards. The new organization to be known as the Chicago & 
 Michigan Lake Shore Railroad Co. 
 
 The am.ount of aid voted at the spring election and affected by 
 the Supreme Court decision was $16,300. The Company agreed to 
 accept $10,000 in stock and donation outside of the amounts giv- 
 en by S. A. Browne, Charles Mears and Maxwell & Caswell and to 
 complete ifc by June 1. 1871. -Great rivalry existed between Pent- 
 water and Hart, and through the influence of some of the lea.ding 
 Pentwater citizens the line of the proposed road did not touch 
 Hart village and reached Pentwater on the south side of Pentwa- 
 ter Lake. The road was graded and trains run to Pentwater dur- 
 ing the early part of 1872. In 1881, the name of the road was 
 changed to the Chicago & West Michigan Railway Company. La- 
 ter, Hart's enterprising citizens, by subscribing $12,000 and se- 
 curing right of way and depot grounds, induced the Company to 
 build a spur from Mears to Hart four miles long. 
 
 The Chicago & West Michigan Railway Co. is one of the most 
 powerful railroad corporations in the State. 
 
 Hesperia Village, 1870. — Two years prior to this date a single 
 log cabin on the river bank marked the site of the village of Hes- 
 peria. 1870 finds it with about fifty buildings and two hun- 
 dred inhabitants. There are three dry goods stores, owned by 
 Weaver & Co., D. J. Foster, and A. P. Bigelow; a grocery and pro- 
 vision store, owned by L. P. Whitney ct Co.; a shoe shop, a black- 
 smith shop and a saw mill; a three-story hotel with J. W. Bowen, 
 j)ro]prietor. The village is located upon the line between Oceana 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 73 
 
 and Newaygo counties, Main street running with the Hue. It is 
 putting forth every energy to secure a raih'oad. 
 
 Orders at a Premium.— Pentwater, in common with most lum- 
 bering towns at this time, Avhen navigation was closed had little 
 money in circulation. "Orders" for goods drawn by one firm upon 
 another, and "due bills" formed a large i^art of the circulating me- 
 dium. A merchant from anothervillage visited Pentwater, and in 
 conversation with a resident noticed one of these "orders" in his 
 hand. 
 
 "What's that?" he inquired. 
 
 "That IS Pentwater currencj'," was the reply. 
 
 "We don't have any such our way," remarked the merchant, 
 ready for a bargain. "What'll you take for it?" 
 
 "Four dollars," was the reply. 
 
 The merchant noticing that it was drawn for eight dollars, and 
 having heard of great discounts offered for cash, concluded to in- 
 vest and counted out the money, without thinking to glance at the 
 back where appeared an indorsement of four dollars and ten cents. 
 He did not discover the joke until he presented his order in pay- 
 ment for eight dollars' worth of trade and had to come down with 
 four dollars and ten cents in addition to his order. 
 
 Politics and the Times.— The Oceana Times at this i^eriod ap- 
 peared with Palmiter S: Dresser as proprietors, and Mr. Dresser 
 editor and manager. Both were republican. The regular republi- 
 can convention to nominate county oliicers was held and consider- 
 able strife was manifest and bitterness engendered by the respect- 
 ive candidates. There were forty-three votes cast and the follow- 
 ing ticket was nominated, viz.: Sheriff, Wm. Webb; Clerk and Pteg- 
 ister, Daniel W. Crosby; Treasurer, John R. Butler; Prosecuting 
 Attorney, J. M. Fiice; Circuit Court Commissioner, F. W. Ratzel; 
 Surveyor,. Xelson Green; Coroners, Joseph Walker and Louis Gen- 
 ereau. 
 
 At this time Mr. Dresser accepted and published articles written 
 by F. W. Eatzel in answer to articles appearing in the Oceana Co. 
 Journal, published by Mr. Palmiter, and as the above ticket did 
 not give general satisfaction, a bolt was oi-ganized in which Mr. 
 Dresser took part, and which resulted in nominating another tick- 
 et, styled the independent ticket, as follows: Sheriff, Ilervey S. 
 Sayles; Clerk and Register, Amos Dresser, Jr.; Treasurer, P. R. Cii- 
 dy, and the rest of the republican ticket was renominated. Messrs. 
 Sayles, Crosby and Butler were elected. Immediately after the in- 
 dependent convention, war broke out between Messrs. Palmiter & 
 Dresser, which culminated later in the year by Mr. Palmiter ob- 
 
74 OCEAXA COUNTY PIOXEEns 
 
 taining an injunction prohibiting jNIr. Dresser from publisliing 
 the Times. Mr. Dresser obtained a like injunction against Mr. Pal- 
 miter, and for some sixty days no paper was published in Pentiva- 
 ter. Jan. 20, 1871, however, Mr. Dresser having obtained through 
 the efforts of friends sutficient funds had purchased new material, 
 retaining the old subscription list, issued the first copy of the East 
 Shox'e News, an eight column tolio, and sent it to old subscribers. 
 The bitterness engendered between the two partners continued for 
 several years, and the matter was brought before the Courts sever- 
 al times, but never disi.)0sed of. A compromise was effected which 
 settled all the legal questions involved. The Times material which 
 came to Mr. Palmiter's possession, was in 1872 used in starting 
 the Times again at Pentwater, with Wm. Warner as editor. In the 
 spring of 1873 Mr. Palmiter sold the plant to W. S. Piatt and W. 
 Sutherland. Mr. Sutherland sold to G. E. Mathews, and the Times 
 continued to be published by this firm, until in the spring of 1874, 
 when it was removed to Fremont Center and used in publishing the 
 Fremont Times. 
 
 Mr. Dresser continued the publication of the News until May 12, 
 1871, Avhen he associated with himself J. E. Rastall, who, however, 
 only remained until December of the same yea;-. Jan., 1872, Clark 
 Taylor, of Ionia, became half owner with Mr. Dresser. The name 
 of the paper was in May, 1872, clianged to Pentwater News. In 
 Jan., 1873, Mr. Taylor was succeeded by A. T. Lyon, of Penn Yan, 
 N. Y. Jan., 1874, the form of the paper was changed to a six col- 
 umn quarto. In Dec, 1874, Lyon retired, and in Nov., 1875, W. 
 E. Porter appeared as proprietor vrith Mr. Dresser. He sold his in- 
 terest to W. J. Canfield, in Feb., 187(3, who in Oct., 1879, purchas- 
 ed IMr.Dresser'sinterestandconducted thepublication until Mai-ch, 
 1880, when he sold to L. M. Hart wick, the present editor and pro- 
 prietor. Jan. 1, 1888, S. Andrus purchased a half interest in the 
 plant, but sold out to his partner, Mr. Hartwick, in September of 
 the same year. 
 
 Chief Joseph Pay-baw-me died on the 4th day of May, 1870. A 
 portrait and sketch of his life will n .)pear elsewhere. 
 
 1870— The Board of Supervisors meet this year with sixteen 
 towns represented. The committee on the matter of Mr. Swain, a 
 former Treasurer reported $600 paid and $399.53 still due. 
 
 1871.— After the completion of the jail building in 1868, the up- 
 per story was made use of. by the county for holding terms of Cir- 
 cuit Court, meetings of Board of Supervisors .and other public bod- 
 ies. This year the Board of Supervisors ordered the building of an 
 addition to the jail building. In June of this year the county pur- 
 chased of Jacob Schrumpf 120 acres of land, including certain chat- 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEX OF TO-DAY. 75 
 
 tels Upon it for the sum of $5,200, to be used for County Poor 
 Farm. 
 
 Accidents and Incidents.— Jean. 20th Wm. Maynard, of Clay- 
 banks, was helping Charles Passenger, of Shelby, dig a well. They 
 had got down about seventy-one feet when Mr. Passenger conclud- 
 ed not to go any deeper, and they commenced taking up the curb- 
 ing. Mr. Maynard was in the bucket at work taking out the curb- 
 ing from the bottom and had got up to within thirty-five feet of the 
 toj), when the sand commenced caving in from behind the curbing. 
 This let the curbiijg where Mr. Maynard was working loose, and be- 
 fore assistance could be rendered the well filled up, burying him. 
 Plis lifeless body was not reached until the evening of tlie 23r<:l of 
 January. He was found standing in the bucket as though in the 
 act of taking up curbing. 
 
 On the 2-J:th day of April, the same year, H. H. Cole, of Crystal, 
 went down into his well thirty-two feet deep, to recover a bucket 
 which had been accidentally dropped. He stepped on one of the 
 bottom stones and it gave waj'' and the whole well caved in upon 
 him, settling down six feet from the toj^, thus making a depth of 
 twenty-six feet of earth and stones above him. D. R. Walters, a 
 scientific well. digger came and cautiouslj^ removed the stones and 
 earth above him and in twelve and one-half hours reached him. 
 When found a stone weighing 25 lbs. was resting directly on his 
 head, and stones and earth were pressing him on all sides as close 
 as could be, from his feet to his shoulders. Strange to say he had 
 his senses during the wliole of the time that elapsed before his re- 
 lief, and for four hours before he was reached he could be heard 
 X-raying, and by conversing with him his exact situation learned. 
 When released from his perilous j)Osition he was found to be bruis- 
 ed but not seriously injured, and is today alive and a resident of 
 Crystal township. He attributes his deliverance "directly to the 
 help of God." 
 
 On the night of JNIarch the ninth, fire broke out in Bacon & Jen- 
 sen's store, Pentwater, and speedily spread, destroying the build- 
 ings on the south of it until all the buildings on the west side 
 of Hancock street, from Fifth street to the Postoflice were destroy- 
 ed, being five buildings. Three buildings on the same ground were 
 burned in 1874, and the entire block was destroyed by fire in Sep- 
 tember, 1889. 
 
 Small Pox.-On thellth/layof November, astranger madeappli- 
 cationforaroomat the Northwestern Hotel, I'entwater, (the buikl- 
 ingwhich has been remodeled and is now the bankbuilding) kept by 
 W.S.Dumont. His apijearance indicated that he was very poor and 
 sick. Mr. Dumont, after seeing him comfortably provided for, se- 
 
76 ocEAXA cou>;ty pioneers 
 
 cured the services of Dr. Bills, who treated him for an affection of 
 the throat -with which he appeared to be suffering. Later in the 
 day he grew worse and during the night died. Upon examination 
 of his effects, a coarse bag containing seventeen twenty dollar gold 
 pieces was found, and a pocket book containing $8.50 in currency. 
 A pocket memorandum book was found upon which was the name 
 of John Thuln, and another inemorandum indicating that he had 
 traveled in California, Louisiana, and elsewliere. He was buried 
 Sunday following, many citizens accomjpanying his remains to the 
 grave. Afterwards the photographer, Mr. Justus Koon, who took 
 a photograph of the dead stranger, was taken witli small pox and 
 died. Mr. Walradth and wife of the hotel were also taken with it 
 and died. The undertaker and many others who visited the place, 
 as well as all tlie inmates of the hotel, were taken with it, but after 
 a time recovered. There were fifty-one cases, all told, in Pentwa- 
 ter. There were also cases in Golden, Crystal and Ferry. Bills 
 known as the small jjox bills were xjresented to the Board of Su- 
 pervisors for allowance as follows: Pentwater, $2,930.98, and 
 other towns bringing the total to $3,666.01, which after much di- 
 plomacy and many investigations was allowed. 
 
 On the 30th day of December, this year, the telegraph linie having 
 been completed through to Manistee, the first message was trans- 
 mitted from Pentwater and the first message received at Pentwater. 
 A Miss Casto was the first operator. She was succeeded by M. A. 
 Rice, the present operator, in May, 1872. 
 
 1872. — The Eldked Shingle Mile. — The largest shingle mill in 
 the State, and reputed as being the largest in the U. S.in the spring 
 of 1872, was known as the Eldred mill of Pentwater. It contained 
 nine shingle machines and its daily capacity was 270,000. The 
 mill buildings consisted of two j)arts, one 50x80 feet, and the other 
 30x100 feet. It was located near the place now occupied by the 
 Chicago & West Michigan Railway Co.'s water tank. In connection 
 with the mill was a large boarding house and several dwelling hous- 
 es for the employes. Eighty men and twenty girls Avere emj)loyed 
 in the mill. On the night of May 6th this large mill took fire and 
 was entirely consumed. It was not rebuilt and its loss was a se- 
 vere blow to Pentwater. Pentwater had recently purchased the 
 steam fire engine Oceana, and this was the first fire occurring after 
 its purchase. It was x^owerless to save the mill, but it did save the 
 other buildings near it. 
 
 Bank. — The first bank in the county was started by J. G. Gray 
 and Rice & Ambler, under the name of Gray Bros. & Co., in the fall 
 of 1870 and was kept in the rear end of Gray's drug store, now the 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAY. 77 
 
 P. 0. building. Afterwards I. J. Gray purchased J. G. Gray's interest 
 and moved the bank into tlie httle building now occupied by M. A. 
 Rice as a jewelry store. In the spring of 1872 Samuel A. Browne 
 & Co. became interested in this institution. It was then organized 
 as the Oceana County Bank, S. A. Browne elected President, W. E. 
 Ambler Vice President, and I. J. Gray Cashier. In 1875 S. A. 
 Browne and W. E. Ambler retired. In 1877 Messrs. F. Nielsen and 
 W. E. Ambler became the sole proprietors of this bank with all its 
 franchise, having purchased the interest of I. J. Gray. The name was 
 changed to that of Nielsen & Co. Mr. Nielsen acted as cashier and 
 general manager. Being a gentleman of well defined business hab- 
 its, strictly honest, accurate, and having the confidence of the com- 
 munitj^the business under his management has increased until the 
 firm of Nielsen & Co. ranks as one of the first houses in the county 
 as regards its financial standing. This firm was the first to build 
 a fire and burglar proof vault, and to adopt the now popular time 
 lock. 
 
 TuE Wreck of the Schooner Souvenir. — On the night of Nov. 
 26, 1872, the weather being mild and iDleasant, the schooners Souve- 
 nir and ]Minnie Corlett, owned in Pentwater and manned from this 
 port, left harbor loaded, boundforChicago. Theformer wasladened 
 with 800,000 shingles, and the latter with lumber in the hold and 
 sciuare timbers on deck. At about 11 o'clock p. m. the wind veer- 
 ed suddenly to the northwest and soon increased to a terrific gale, 
 accompanied with blinding snow and the mercury dropped to zero. 
 The next morning the Souvenir was discovered near the Claybanks 
 south of Ludington, going on the outer bar ^Yith one man on deck 
 at the wheel, but no one else in sight. There was no life crew to 
 help, and the sea would not permit the venture to reach the vessel. 
 Those on shore signalled the man on deck to tie a line about his 
 body and let the other end fioat ashore. He signalled back' "No," 
 either being unable to make the effort or thinking it useless. About 
 noon Wm. Girard, the lighthouse keeper at Ludington, succeeded 
 in reaching the vessel in a small boat, going alone, no one having 
 the courage to accompany him. He found the man yet alive but 
 unconscious, and he breathed but a few moments afterwards. He 
 was the last of the crew, the rest were all gone. The rigging and 
 deck load were gone and the spars had fallen aft and still remained 
 on deck. It was Frank Whitcomb who stood at the wheel and 
 perished in sight of land and help. The crew was as follows: Chas. 
 Craine, Captain; Frank Whitcomb, INIate; John Perry, Steward; 
 Charles Dagle, Peter Hallene, Puchard Moore and Thomas Thayer, 
 seamen. 
 
 The Minnie Corlett being scow built, washed high and dry upon 
 
7S OCEAXA COUXTY PIOXEEKS 
 
 the shove and all escaped with their lives, hut some with hadly fro- 
 zen feet and hands. Peter Drevis, now a resident of Pentwater was 
 on bo'ard the Corlett and had his limbs and ears badly frozen. 
 
 The event was described in verse by Prof A. J. Woods, of the 
 Pentwater Union Schools, as follows: 
 
 THE LOSS OF THE SOUVENIR. 
 
 Gone was summer witli its sunshine, witli its mild and favoring gales, 
 And the cliilling blast of autumn with its suow and sleet prevails; 
 
 Fierce and still more fierce the west wind beat against our wave- washed shore; 
 And the lake gave fearful warning none must tempt its dangers more. 
 
 But the gallant hardy seamen, used to toil, to dangers bred, 
 Laugliing at the winds and billows, viewing storms witli naught of dread,— 
 
 Heeded not the warning given, manned their gallant craft once more, 
 Bade adieu to friends and kindred, and prepared to (luit the shore. 
 
 ^^'hile, as if to lure them onw^'d, milder blew the winds that day. 
 And the raging, restless billows sunk again to sportive play; 
 
 And to those who watched and waited for their loved ones came no fear. 
 When by brave men manned and guided, sailed the gallant Souvenir. 
 
 But no man can read the secrets Nature chooses to withhold ; 
 
 "Winds and waters scorn man's prowess and refuse to be controlled; 
 And before the uigh.t was ended, ere they reached their destined port. 
 
 Winds and waves in all their fury made the fated bark their sport. 
 
 What those brave boys met and suffered through that long and fearful uiglit, 
 Wlien the mad sea came upon them in its wild, resistless miglit, 
 
 How they toiled, till chilled and helpless, powerless to combat tlie waves. 
 They were swept from olf their vessel, and consigned to watery graves. 
 
 \\'hether all went down togetlier, or were s\\ept off one by one; 
 
 Wliether in tlie night tl;ey perished, or held out till rise of sun;— 
 God in mercy only knowetli, it is not for us to know, 
 
 Best it is we may not fathom every fearful sight of \voe. 
 
 All we know is, that ere midday, torn, dismantled, tempest-tossed, 
 At the sport of winds ami billows, there was thrown upon oin- coast,— 
 
 All that evermore might greet us, of that vessel staunch and true. 
 Which but yesternight departed, with tlie Souvenir from view. 
 
 Of the seven brave men who manned lier, only one now trod the deck, 
 W'hen uiwn the shore she drifted, an imsiglitly, .shapeless wreck; 
 
 And he, too, when home seemed nearer, when the help of man seemed nigli. 
 Bruised and crippled, chilled and helpless, he could only gasp and die. 
 
 ]Mourn we for the loved departed, taken in their pride away; 
 
 iJIourn we witli the stricken kindred who are with us here to-day. 
 ;May we be by grace enabled, as our liearts witli anguish swell. 
 
 To take home the warning given, knowing "God dotli all things well." 
 
 1873— Hemlociv Bakk Exteact.— Messrs. Johiison & Goodell vis- 
 ited the central and northern portion of Michigan with a patent 
 process for extracting the liquid from Hemlock bark, which extract 
 it was said was all that wAs necessary to be u.sed in tanning hides, 
 etc. They proposed to start factories, put in local managers, etc. 
 It ]promised big money and quite a number from Pentwater invest- 
 ed in the Hemlock Bark Extract business. After about six- 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 79 
 
 ty days, however, the bottom dropped out of the enterprise and 
 those who invested began to investigate, and although the patent- 
 ees made good promises, the enthusiasm died out and in a year's 
 time the enterprise dropped and the patentees failed. The prod- 
 uct wouldn't sell. 
 
 M. E. Church Dedicated at Hart.— The M. E. Church Trustees 
 at Hart had erected a new church. On the eighth day of February 
 there was an indebtedness of $800, and it was estimated that it 
 would require $300 to finish the tower. Doctor Perrine, of Albion 
 College, came and on Sunday, the ninth day of February preached 
 a sermon, after which eight hundred dollars was collected or pledg- 
 ed, and in the evening another sermon by the Doctor and more sub- 
 scriptions taken, and the church was then dedicated according to 
 the ritual formula, and the Rev. C. H. Howe installed as pastor. 
 
 On the evening of May 12th the Congregational Society of Shelby 
 adopted articles of association and elected the following persons 
 as officers, viz: Alexander Pittenger, Parley 11. Cady, Rhodes Wil- 
 letts, E. J. Shirts and E. B. Gaylord, Trustees; Jarvis Fleming, 
 Clerk; Geo. W. Pij^er, Treasurer. 
 
 Judge Giddings.— This year an attempt was made to impeach 
 Judge Giddings for neglecting his official duties. The Board of Su- 
 pervisors of Oceana County at once passed a resolution approving 
 of the manner in which he had discharged the duties of his office in 
 this county, and affirming that his removal would be a public ca- 
 lamity. The Bar of Oceana County took similar action, and fur- 
 ther i^rogress in the impeachment movement came to a halt. 
 
 At the December session of the Board of Supervisors an attempt 
 was made by Messrs. Charles Mears and S. Odell to secure the re- 
 moval of the county seat to Mears. This was followed by an efTort 
 to remove it to Shelbj'. On the motion to remove to Shelby the 
 vote stood eight yea and eight nay. Failing to carry, it was then 
 decided to erect county buildings at Hart, provided the people of 
 Hart would give $2,500. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 PIGEONS— WOMEN'S CR USADE—DEFALCA TION—PENTWA - 
 
 TER'S TITLE CASES— SUNDRY MATTERS FROM 
 
 1873 to 1875. 
 
 Providential Visitation. — Pentwater, with its fine harbor, in- 
 land lake and tributary streams, the north and south branches of 
 Pentwater River, penetrating the kimber regions interior, early be- 
 came a principal settlement, and as regai'ds its commercial trans- 
 actions and its manufacturing interests, it still leads all the other 
 settlements of the county. By reason of its location it becomes 
 the natural business center for those occu^jying the fine farming 
 lands of South Mason County, Crystal, Weare and Golden town- 
 ships of Oceana County, although separated from these sections by 
 from two to four miles of land of a lighter character. Its recogniz- 
 ed advantages were its harbor and its interior connections by riv- 
 er, thus enabling lumbermen to conduct their operations at this 
 point with the greatest advantage. Hart possessed an excellent 
 natural water power. In early times a water power was regarded 
 as the one thing necessary and essential to the starting of a village 
 in a new territorj^ If it had nothing else, a water power assured 
 success. It was undoubtedly this fact that led to the selection of 
 the jjresent site of Hart village. It fact, it was this power that was 
 utilized for the first grist mill ot the county. A fine territory cov- 
 ered with an excellent body of hardwood timber surrounded it. 
 Hardwood lumbering at this time was not thought of, and its tim- 
 ber was regarded as an incumbrance rather than as a source of 
 wealth, and millions of feet of logs fed the flames in great heaps to 
 make room for raising crops. The water power and the county seat 
 made Hart the thi-iving village we find it in 1874. . 
 
 Shelby had no lake harbor, or pine forests tributary to start it. 
 It had no water power or county seat. In fact it had nothing but 
 a hilly territory of excellent farming land, but not highly regarded. 
 For years it had been the half-way stopping place for travelers 
 from Whitehall to Pentwater, and some of its pioneers regarded 
 that tact of itself as of suflicient importance to induce them to start 
 a village here. Cotemporaneous with the building of the railroad 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAY. 81 
 
 the vill.aije of Barnett was platted. The advantage.-* of railroad 
 communication with the outside world and the novelty of it, stir- 
 red up the enthusiasm of its citizens and the embryo village made 
 rapid progress. But the effect soon died away and a period of de- 
 cline was becoming painfully manifest, when the most singular 
 event in the history of the county occurred. Just as the little vil- 
 lage was sinking into the Slough of despond, came a visitation that 
 appeared jjrovidential in its coming and was wonderful in its re- 
 sults. It was in the spring of 1874: that the first great llightof wild 
 pigeons to this section occurred. They selected a locality within a 
 few miles of the village for their nesting place. The news went 
 abroad and nearly every train from the south brought sportsmen 
 by the score, and with them came plenty of currency. Everyone 
 became a pigeon hunter or dealer. They were caught and shipped 
 by the barrel, in coops, and thousands were fed for a later market. 
 It is estimated that this business realized to the people of Shelby 
 over $50,000 in one season. The express company gave its agent, 
 Mr. A. Z. Moore, ten x^er cent, of charges for handling pigeons, and 
 his fees for the season were $630.29, and many were shipped by 
 freight, or carried to other points for shipment. The effect of this 
 season's work was that of an elixir. It put new life into all tlie en- 
 terprises that had been started. In 1876 the pigeons came again 
 in greatly increased numbers. The fame given to this little inland 
 village as the locality of the greatest pigeon roost in the U. S. gave 
 it for a time a national notoriety. This year there were shipped 
 1,781 barrels and 1,982 coops of pigeons, and 2,000 dozens were re- 
 tained and fed. The agent's percentage this season amounted to 
 $1,553.30. It is estimated that there were over 700,000 birds 
 shipped, and that over five hundred strangers found shelter in Shel- 
 by and vicinity during the stay of the pigeons. The golden shower 
 thus poured upon the village was expended in local improvments, 
 and farms were rapidly cleared up, the population increased, and 
 the village became the equal of its rivals in importance and busi- 
 ness. Having placed the village squarely upon its feet, the pigeons 
 sought new C[uarters and never returned again in numbers. Later 
 another period of depression seemed settling upon the place, when 
 the wonderful adaptability of its soil tor potato culture was dis- 
 covered and farmers commenced the cultivation of this tuber in 
 great quantities. This brought bu.vers from distant places, as the 
 potatoes here marketed were of a superior size and quality, and 
 were grown in great quantities. For several years it was noted as 
 the greatest potato market in Northern Michigan. Still later its 
 hills, which in early times were regarded with disfavor by the set- 
 tlers, were found to be the ideal fruit sections, and at the present 
 the peach and plum orchards ot Shelby and vicinity have extended 
 
82 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 the fame of this burg to many States. The stories told of Oceana 
 County's Iruit productions are familiar, and find a full verification 
 in the yearly productions of the orchards surrounding the village 
 of Shelby. 
 
 The above is an etching from a photograph of a limb broken 
 from a plum tree in Mr. E. J. Shirts' orchard at Shelby. It is not 
 an exaggeration of the appearance of plum trees ladened with fruit, 
 but on the contrary exhibits the average. Thousands of plum 
 trees in the orchards of Oceana County would never sustain the 
 fruit that yearly appears ux^on them unless suj)ported by many 
 props. 
 
 Women's Temperance Crusade.— On the evening of Dec. 22, 
 1873, Dio Lewis, a Boston physician and lyceum lecturer, delivered 
 m Music Hall, Boston, a lecture on "Our Girls." The following night 
 he delivered a lecture at the same place on "Temperance." He told 
 how in a New England manufacturing vill.age a band of women had 
 driven from their midst the rum traffic by a crusade of prayer and 
 song. Following this lecture a number of ladies signed the follow- 
 ing compact: 
 
 "We, the ladies whose names are hereto appended, agree and re- 
 solve, that with God's help, we will stand by each other in this 
 work, and persevere therein until it is accomplished, and see to it, 
 as far as our influence goes, that the traffic shall never be revived." 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OV TO-DAY. 83 
 
 Then they started out and visiting drug stores and saloons pray- 
 ed, sang, and entreated until one by one the dealers gave in and 
 signed the pledge already prepared. The spirit ot the movement 
 was caught up by other sections and in a few weeks it had spread 
 over a great portion of the Northern States. In the spring of 18T4 
 it reached Oceana County, and in the latter part of March an or- 
 ganization was perfected at Pentwater, with the following officers: 
 President, Mrs. G. D. Lee; Vice Presidents, Mrs. J. G. Gray, Mrs. G. 
 W. Fisher, Mrs. A. Dresser, Jr.; Secretary, Mrs. G. W. Maxwell; 
 Treasurer, Mrs. Chas. Lamont; Executive Committee, Mrs. L. F. 
 Waldo, Mrs. Sewall Moulton, Mrs. A. E.Andrus, ]\Irs. Geo. Good- 
 sell, and the oflicers of the Society ej officio. It started out with a 
 membership of nearly one hundred. On Sundays appropriate ser- 
 mons were preached, reterring esijecially to the movement. At the 
 regular prayer meetings the prayers were in behalf of it, and the 
 work commenced. Saloons were visited, and the proprietors en- 
 treated to abandon the traffic. Prayers and song took place. In 
 some instances they were refused entrance to the saloons and they 
 took up their position on the sidewalk in front. 
 
 At a mass meeting called at Gardner's Hall for the purpose, just 
 prior to the township election, the following ticket was nominated: 
 Sui^ervisor, Edwin Nickerson; Clerk, John H. Bouton; Treasurer, 
 Mark A. Rice; Justice, Charles K. Whittington; Commissioner of 
 Highways, Wm. B. 0. Sands; School Inspector, John Ripley; Drain 
 Commissioner, L. M. Thorp; Constables, M. S. Perkins, P. U.Gard- 
 ner, Wm. H. Bailey, Geo. B. Elms. 
 
 At the republican caucus on Wednesday night following, the en- 
 tire ticket was endorsed. A citizens' caucus was called and nomi- 
 nated the following ticket: Supervisor, H. C. Flagg; Clerk, John S. 
 Reynolds; Treasurer, F. Nielsen; Justice, J. Fegan; School Inspect- 
 or, L. D. Grove, full term; E. A. Wright, to fill vacancy; Drain Com- 
 missioner, E. Irons; Constables, W. A. Rounds, G. F. Piper, E. 
 Moody, A. H. Palmer. 
 
 C. R. Whittington declined to run and G. W.Grant was placed on 
 the ticket in his stead. The election resulted in the success of the 
 women's ticket, with the exception of Town Clerk. R. M. Mont- 
 gomery (since Judge of Kent County) was Prosecuting Attorney. 
 The old prohibitory law was on the statute books, and Mr. Mont- 
 gomery informed the ladies that if complaints were made and evi- 
 dence furnished him, he would prosecute. Complaints were made 
 before Justice Hartwick and the cases were prosecuted with vigor 
 and defended with equal vigor, the eloquent R. A. Montgomery, 
 now of Lansing, Mich., being the attorney employed for that pur- 
 pose. No ordinary room would hold the crowds that assembled 
 
84 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 to see the trials, and the Opera Hall was utilized for a Court room. 
 Many convictions resulted and the saloon business became so un- 
 profitable that many devices were resorted to to evade prosecution. 
 Some of the saloons advertised buttermilk for sale and the propri- 
 etors insisted that no intoxicating liquors were sold by them. Still, 
 people would buy buttermilk and get intoxicated, and one prosecu- 
 tion was had where the evidence disclosed that buttermilk alone 
 was purchased, but a prominent physician upon cross-examination 
 stated that the buttermilk contained intoxicating qualities, and a 
 conviction resulted. 
 
 About this time the basement of the building now occupied by P. 
 Dreves, was fitted up with a device to evade the law. Entering an 
 0]pen door the visitor found himself in a small room in one corner 
 of which was placed a rudely constructed wheel, only one-half of 
 which appeared in sight, with the following placard directly above: 
 
 : PUT YOUE MO^'EY IN THE WHEEL : 
 : AND : 
 
 : CALL FOR WHAT YOU WANT. : 
 
 A little to one side was a smaller card, containing this additional 
 direction: 
 
 '. PUT THE GLASSES IN THE WHEEL. : 
 
 On the walls on either side were several cards containing the in- 
 formation that "All drinks must be paid for on delivery." "Posi- 
 tively no credit given to any," etc. 
 
 This makeshift called forth the following poetic effusion from the 
 Grand Rapids Times: 
 
 Shoost put your money on der vlieel, for vhat you vants den call, 
 
 It works sliust like der fishing reel, but bobs rount in der vail, 
 Und pnngs you prandy, rye, or gbin, cigars, lager peer, or vine— 
 For glittering liaunts of vice und sin in Pentvater you can't find. 
 
 Der bartenter his name vas Chase, but who revolves der vheel 
 In our model town no von can blace ; consequently anypodies vill not squeal. 
 
 In der leedle nook you blace a dime, (der liddle vheel goes round,) 
 Call vhisky— presto glass on time.— Pentvater ish der model town. 
 
 The prosecutions were so effectual that on the 19th day of June 
 the last saloon closed its doors and the man with the wheel depart- 
 ed for Wisconsin. Then the women added another stanza to the 
 above poetry, which read as follows: 
 
 Der vimmins dey got after Chase, mit his revolving vheel. 
 And make it hot for him in dis blace, if anypodies vouldn't squeal. 
 
 So he shumped up trough de dirty floor out of his hole in der vail, 
 Und made for Visconsin shore, petticoats, vheel und all. 
 
 The effects of the crusade were apparent for years, although the 
 saloons gradually crept into existence again as active crusade work 
 ceased. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 85 
 
 The crusade reached Hart April 4th, and a course sunilar to that 
 in Peutwater was pursued. One VanKuren was keeping a saloon 
 and after being visited by the ladies he promised to quit if they 
 would pay him $2.5. Some of the men backing the ladies told them 
 to accept his proposition, and the ladies supposing that the men 
 suggesting the idea would furnish the money, made the promise. 
 VanKuren shut up for a while, but not getting his money, opened 
 again, but was finally induced to quit the business. 
 
 Oceana County Agricultural Society.— On several occasions 
 attempts had been made to organize a County Fair Association. 
 For one reason or another all had failed until in February, 
 1870, a meeting was called at L. G. Rutherford's office in Hart, 
 which was attended by several business m.en of Hart and a number 
 of farmers. The meeting was called to order and Hazen Leavitt, 
 of Leavitt, made Chairman, and J. Palmiter, Secretary. A per- 
 manent organization was decided upon, and the following officers 
 were elected: President, James E. Reed; Vice President, Alexander 
 Pittenger; Secretary, J. Palmiter; Directors, Hazen Leavitt, A, 
 R. Wheeler, O. K. White, Caleb Davis, Jr., W. J. Tennant, Theo- 
 dore Taylor, Wm. J. Sprigg, J. J. Kittridge and S. A. Browne. It 
 was decided to issue 500 shares of capital stock at .$10 a share. 
 
 The first fair was held in Hart, Sept. 21 <fe 25, 1872, and was a 
 success in every particular. In 1873 a three days' Fair was held, 
 which was also a success. The Board of Supervisors voted $205 
 and a tax of one-tenth of a mill on the dollar was allowed. In 
 1874 the Association purchased of Wigton A Bosworth on con- 
 tract, the ground since used by it for holding Fairs. It has held 
 Fail's on these grounds every year since purchasing, with more or 
 less success, as the weather was favorable or unfavorable. Its last 
 meeting, held in 1889, wa§ very successful, and the organization 
 may now be recognized as one of the permanent institutions of the 
 county. 
 
 The Peach Defalcation.— In April, 1873, Josephus S. Peach, a 
 farmer residing in Hart township, possessing the confidence of the 
 people, having to all appearance lived the life of an hone.st, upright 
 citizen, was nominated and elected Township Treasurer. At the 
 close of this term when he settled with the Township Board, a bal- 
 ance of $1,252.02 was found due from him to the township, but it 
 was supposed that he had the funds in his possession and the mat- 
 ter was not inquired into. He was renominated in 1874 and re- 
 elected. Did the business without exciting any suspicion of irregu- 
 larity. In September, just before leaving home temporarily, he 
 made arrangements with Mr. A.S.White to pay what orders .should 
 be presented to him, and Mr. White continued to do so until about 
 
86 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 $400 had accumulated. After the last roll was placed in his hands 
 he refused to accept orders in payment of taxes unless the holders 
 would allow him four per cent, for collection, and by this means he 
 collected a larger j)roportion of the taxes in money than ever had 
 been done before. Just before Christmas he settled with several 
 gentlemen to whom he was indebted, and on Christmas day closed 
 his account with Mr. White for the orders he had paid, and depos- 
 ited a small amount. 
 
 Christmas day being the last day he was expected to be in his of- 
 fice to receive taxes, nothing was thought of his leaving immediate- 
 ly thereafter to make, — as he said, — a short visit to friends in the 
 southern part of the State. His wife desired to accompany him, 
 but he made plausible excuses for not acceding to her request, and 
 left her with the understanding that he would return in a few days 
 and that shortly after she should take a trip outside. 
 
 He left about $100 with his wife to pay any orders that might be 
 presented in his absence, and told her she had better not receive 
 any money in payment of taxes until he should return. She ac- 
 cordingly refused, but finally relented and took in and deposited in 
 the bank about $400 before the final development took place. 
 
 His bondsmen to the county were Otis W. Knox and RoUin R. 
 Wheeler, and to the township Jesse B. Garwood and Wm. J. Sprigg. 
 About the first of January, 1875, Mr. Garwood received the fol- 
 lowing letter: 
 
 "Dec. 31, 1874. 
 Mr. J. B. Garwood:— As you know, the whirl-a-gig of time often 
 brings about changes, of which mortals never dream. Jesse, as 
 you have been in our family longer and know more of our family 
 affairs than any other man, I make free to tell you more. First, I 
 shall never come back to Michigan for seme reasons best known to 
 Mollie (his wife) and myself. I want you to dispose of my proper- 
 ty, both real and personal, to the best advantage. Jesse, I don't 
 want any one, neither the township of Hart, to lose one dollar on 
 my account. I had of necessity to take some money that did not 
 belong to me. I think there is enough property there to make all 
 right. God bless you all. 
 
 The train that carries this letter, also takes me out of the State 
 of Ohio. 
 
 This from your erring Friend, J. S. Peach." 
 
 The receipt of this letter created the greatest excitement that had 
 ever been known in Hart, and appeared like a thunder-bolt from 
 the clear sky to his bondsmen. An investigation followed and it 
 was found that he was a defaulter to the amount of $2,275.51 of 
 the township funds, and $1,350.00 of the county funds. It also 
 appeared that in a number of instances he had received money and 
 
AND BL'SIXESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 87 
 
 given receipts for taxes without making any record of tlie transac- 
 tion. 
 
 Shortly after the above denouement one of his bondsmen receiv- 
 ed a letter from a Mr. Baldwin, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, stating; that 
 Peach was in tliat place. Acting upon this information steps were 
 at once taken to secure Peach's arrest. It then became known 
 that Peach's past record was of an unsavory character. It seems 
 that he liad at one time resided in Ohio, near neighbor to this Mr. 
 Baldwin. Eacli had a wife of his own, but Peach becoming enam- 
 ored with the wife of his neighbor, Baldwin, finally left tlie country 
 witli her and came to Micliigan. This was the last that was seen 
 of him in Ohio until after liis defalcation in Hart. It also appears 
 tliat he made arrangements to live again with the wife he had so 
 basely deserted, but was prevented from carrying his phins mto ex- 
 ecution by the sudden appearance of officers and bondsmen from 
 Hart, and he made haste to depart. 
 
 He was followed by a detective through Teimessee, Alabama and 
 Georgia, and finally back to Tennessee, where he was arrested at 
 . Sparta, and a telegram sent to his bondsmen, who started at once 
 for him, followed the next day by 0. K. White, Sheriff. The detec- 
 tive after arresting Peach lodged him in the jail of Sparta, and 
 walked to Tullahoma (over 50 miles) to send the telegram. He re- 
 turned on foot and upon his arrival was met by a bitter complaint 
 concerning the unsuitable condition of the jail, and finally consent- 
 ed to. remove him to a hotel where the jailer agreed to assist in 
 guarding him. After removing him to the hotel the detective was 
 drugged and Peach escaped into the mountains. Messrs. Sprigg 
 and Knox at this time were within twenty-two miles of Sparta and 
 Sheriff White about thirty miles behind following them. After a 
 couple of days fruitless search Sheriff White returned home. Dur- 
 ing the summer following the Sheriff received two or three commu- 
 cations inquiring how much would be paid for Peach, but beyond 
 this nothing has ever been heard from him since his escape. 
 
 The Board of Supervisors oflered a reward of $300 for Peach's 
 arrest. It also authorized the commencement of a suit against the 
 township of Hart to recover the moneys belonging to the county, 
 embezzled by Peach. Judge Brown rendered judgment in favor of 
 the county and against the township for $1,800. This case was re- 
 moved to the Supreme Court by L. G. Rutherford, attorney for the 
 township. The Supreme Court reversed the judgment because the 
 action had been improperly brought, but in the same decision inti- 
 mated that the township was liable to the county and should 
 spread the amount on its next tax roll. That the proper remedy 
 to compel this action was by man Jamu.s-. This remedy was I'esort- 
 edto by the county and the amount of $1,330 with about ^400 
 costs and expense, was subsequently levied and collected. 
 
88 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Pentwater Titles Settled. — Elsewhere appears the record of 
 the burning Eldred's mill and its serious influence upon the growth 
 of Pentwater. This was followed by another event that in its dis- 
 astrous effects was still more calamitous. 
 
 In 1849 Andrew Rector and Edwin R. Cobb purchased from 
 the U. S. Government certain lands in the township of Pentwater, 
 including that now occupied by the village. Afterwards, on the 9th 
 day of April, 1859, having become involved, they made a deed of 
 assignment to Charles A. Rosevelt, by which deed they purported 
 to convey all their property, real and personal, to said Charles A. 
 Rosevelt, as appears by the following clause in said deed, viz.: * * 
 "Witnesseth, that the said parties of the first part, in considera- 
 tion of the premises, and the sum of one dollar to them in hand 
 paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is 
 hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, covenanted, releas- 
 ed, assigned, transferred and set over by these presents, do grant, 
 bai'gain, sell, covenant, release, assign, transfer and fcct over unto 
 the said Charles A. Rosevelt, of the second part, and to his heirs 
 and assigns forever, a/I and singular, the lands, tenements, heredit- 
 aments and appurtenances situated, lying and being in the State of 
 Michigan, and more particularly described in a schedule hereto at- 
 tached and marked 'A,' " — . This deed appears to have been execu- 
 ted on the same day and pre- 
 sented to Alexander S. An- 
 derson, Register of Deeds, for 
 record. On pages 374, 375 
 and 376 of Liber 'A' of Deeds, 
 the deed is recorded at length 
 and on page 429, following a 
 statement by the Register 
 that the following are sched- 
 ules 'A,' 'B,' and 'C,' referred 
 to in the deed recorded on 
 pages 374, 375 and 376, ap- 
 pears the record of these 
 schedules, the date of record 
 3^.. ])eingSep. 29, 1859. 
 
 By examination of sched- 
 ule 'A,' referred to in deed, 
 for a n?ore specific descrip- 
 tion of the lands assigned, it 
 appears that forty acres, in- 
 cluding that on which the 
 principal portion of the vil- 
 
 /-e- 
 
 ALEXxlNDER S. ANDERSON. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 89 
 
 lageof Pentwater was located, was not included. As nearly all the 
 people owning lots in this territory traced their titles through 
 Charles A. Rosevelt as Cobb & Rector's assignee, the validity of the 
 assignment deed was essential to the protection of their titles. 
 
 Sometime subsequent to the making the deed of assignment, but 
 IDrior to this period (1873), Edwin R. Cobb, claiming that Rosevelt 
 had abused his trust and defrauded Cobb & Rector, in order to se- 
 cure what he considered his rights, brought suit in theCircuit Court 
 and attacked the validity of the assignment deed, but we cannot 
 find that he denied the execution. He failed to establish his claim, 
 and many of the people whose titles came through Rosevelt, learn- 
 ing of the result supposed that settled the matter and established 
 their titles beyond Cjuestion. 
 
 In 1873 Daniel E. Corbett, Isaac E. Messmore, Eugene Vaughn, 
 Benjamin Luce and Seth Holcomb, all residents of Grand Rapids, 
 having learned of the omission appearing in the schedule 'A,' of the 
 description of forty acres, quietly went to work and purchased of 
 Cobb & Rector's heirs, quit claims. Rumors of the combination of 
 these Grand Rapids speculators and its purchases being whispered 
 about caused some uneasiness, but it was said, "that's the same 
 old matter of Cobb's, and has been settled once. It can amount to 
 nothing." Still the uncertainty caused outsiders to hesitate before 
 investing in Pentwater real estate, and following upon the heels of 
 the burning of Eldred's mill, caused the general depression to be 
 more severely felt. To add to this feeling of depression and inten- 
 sify matters, early in 1874 Mr. D. E. Corbett appeared in Pentwa- 
 ter, and on behalf of the Grand Rapids syndicate above referred to, 
 asserted full ownership over the property within this territory, esti- 
 mating its value at several hundred thousand dollars. He offered to 
 deed to residents who desired it for what he stated was a reasona- 
 ble price, but which was regarded as nearly the full value of the 
 property. He claimed that inasmuch as the forty acres was not 
 inserted in the schedule 'A,' that Cobb & Rector retained title to 
 this, and as he and those he represented had purchased the Cobb & 
 Rector title, they were absolute owners. On the other hand, hav- 
 ing through attorneys looked up the matter, the citizens claimed 
 that the general words of assignment in the deed, viz: "All and sin- 
 gular the lands, tenements, hereditaments and appuruenances situ- 
 ated, lying and being in the State of Michigan," conveyed all the 
 land that Cobb & Rector owned in Michigan, without reference to 
 
 the schedule. . 
 
 Mr. Corbett admitted that the clause would have been suHicient 
 had it not been for the fact that the general ^ords of assignment 
 were immediately followed by a reference to schedule 'A' for a more 
 particular description. This he claimed deprived the general clause 
 
90 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 of the effect claimed for it by the citizens. The decisions of the 
 Courts being in support of this theory, it did look as though Mr. 
 Corbett was master of the situation, and a few compromised with 
 him by buying quit claims, but the great majority x'efused to deal 
 with him. 
 
 A suit in ejectment was commenced by James S. Post against 
 Emanuel Rich, and Mr. Post having a similar title to the Grand 
 Eapids parties, and backed by them the case was pushed to an 
 early decision, in order to frighten the people into acced- 
 ing to their demands. Before trial had been reached in the Rich 
 case, to accelerate matters three more ejectment cases were 
 brought against James G. B. Atwood, A. Brillhart, John At- 
 wood and Louis M. Hartwick. Through the same influence the 
 Grand Rapids dailies published long articles purporting to describe 
 the situation, and which did have the effect of making Pentwater's 
 titles notorious. Improvements stopped, business lagged, people 
 lost interest in the place, and it soon became apparent that the ti- 
 tles must be settled at once or the village was doomed. About this 
 time, L. M. Hartwick, a co-defendant in one of the ejectment suits 
 above noticed, and with his partner, Mr. L. D. Grove, an attorney 
 for the defendants in the other cases, began a careful investigation 
 of the records, spending several days in the Register's office for that 
 purpose, and when he returned he announced to his partner, Mr. 
 Grove, his belief that if the original deed could be found the missing 
 description would appear in it, as he claimed to have found other 
 errors in Mr. Anderson's work that warranted the suspicion that 
 Mr. Anderson had failed to record all the deed contained. Mr. 
 Grove adopted the idea at once and set about trying to find the 
 deed. Being a pioneer attorney of the county he was acquainted 
 with all the persons who had anything to do with Cobb & Rector's 
 matters, and in the course of a few weeks he succeeded in getting a 
 letter from Wm. Parks, of Grand Haven, who stated that for one 
 hundred dollars he would undertake to find the deed. Of course it 
 was not known whether the deed would possess any value to the 
 defendants or not, and finally he informed Mr. Parks that if he 
 would allow him to look at the deed, if it contained what he want- 
 ed and expected Grove & Hartwick would pay the hundred dollars. 
 He replied that the deed could not be inspected until paid for. Af- 
 ter some consultation it was decided to purchase it, and it was 
 sent by Mr. Parks to his son Albert, who at that time was Station 
 Agent at Pentwater, and to whom the money was paid, and from 
 whom the package containing deed, schedules, etc., was received. 
 
 It was a moment of great expectation when the package was 
 opened in the office of Grove & Hartwick. To prevent the possibil- 
 ity of intrusion the doors were locked. Grove opened the package. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 91 
 
 took out the schedule, and after inspecting it a moment commenced 
 to dance a hornpipe. "What is it, Grove?" inquired Hartwick. 
 *-Our fortune is made," he replied. "It's all right, the description 
 is here. 'Twas Anderson's blunder that caused its omission on the 
 Record. Why, see here, he just skipped one line and that line de- 
 scribes the land." True enough, such appeared to be thefact. Now 
 it seemed to be an easy matter to clear Pentwater's titles. With 
 "occupancy and the deed" the Record was not feared. But now 
 came thequestion of how to make "the fortune" Grove had jtroijh- 
 esied. Finally it was decided to say nothing about the deed, but 
 offer to clear the titles tor the village in the disputed territory for 
 $1,000. The offer was made, but the people in mass meeting, while 
 satisfied with the price, wanted assurance that it could be accom- 
 plished. This assurance could not be given without disclosing the 
 deed, consequently no arrangement was made and Rice, Ambler & 
 Montgomery were employed to defend the people's titles on behalf 
 of the village. Mr. Grove, provoked at what he styled the foolish- 
 ness of the people, went to Grand Rapids, and after a consultation 
 withMr.Corbett returned to Pentwaterwithaproposition from him 
 to retain Grove & Hartwick, paying a large retainer and requiring 
 no work, but simply to keep the deed out of sight. Grove <.t Ilart- 
 wick's clients were to be protected by quit claims from Corbett et 
 al. Mr. Hartwick refused to accept the retainer, and shortly there- 
 after the firm of Grove & Hartwick dissolved. Mr. Hartwick re- 
 tained possession of the deed and appeared in the cases of Hart- 
 wick, Atwood and Brillhart, and Grove acted thereafter with the 
 Grand Rapids parties. In the meantime the Rich case had been 
 tried and decided in favor of plaintiff, the deed not having been in- 
 troduced in evidence. A new trial under the statute was granted, 
 and in the course of time the other cases of Atwood, Brillhart and 
 Hartwick took the same course, the only fight being upon the ques- 
 tion of improvements, and after obtaining the construction of the 
 Court of the statute governing improvements and judgment render- 
 ed for i3laintiffs, new trials were allowed, and the cases stood as be- 
 fore. 
 
 The Rich case was pressed for trial by Mr. Corbett, who now 
 showed his full hand by appearing as attorney and conducting the 
 trial. The trial was finally entered upon and R. M. Montgomery, 
 of the firm of Rice, Ambler & Montgomery, assisted by C. I. Walk- 
 er, of Detroit, defended it. The i^laintiffs through Mr. Grove 
 had become informed of the possession by defendants of the deed 
 and Avhat it it contained, and had already formulated a theory to 
 defeat its effect, viz.: That the schedule which contained the de- 
 scription of land omitted in the Records, not having been actually 
 attached to the deed and delivered with it, was not entitled to be 
 
92 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 admitted in evidence as proof of conveyance, and the fact that the 
 deed and schedules were on separate papers and recorded in differ- 
 ent places in the Record, was relied upon in support of this theory. 
 On the trial of this case the defendants' attorneys sought to intro- 
 duce the Records in order to show notice, but were refused by the 
 Court. They were afterwards permitted to introduce them as sec- 
 ondary evidence. The plaintiff, thinking that the Court in admit- 
 ting the Record erred, made but little opposition to the further 
 progress of the case, and judgment was rendered for defendant. 
 Plaintiff immediately removed the case to the Supreme Court, 
 which sustained the judgment of the Court below, but as the only 
 question raised before the Supreme Court was upon the admissibil- 
 ity of the Records, the validity of the assignment deed was not 
 passed upon, and it did not settle the question of title. 
 
 During the trial of this case in the Circuit Court an incident oc- 
 curred that was of sufficient moment to require notice in this con- 
 nection. The original deed of assignment was introduced in evi- 
 dence and passed ujj to Judge Giddings, and lay upon his desk as 
 the Court adjourned for dinner. When the Court convened after 
 dinner the deed could not be found and there was considerable com- 
 motion caused, as the result of the suit depended upon it. The 
 members of the Bar looked at each other, and finally glanced at 
 L. D. Grove, whom, by reason of his interest in the case and state- 
 ments before made claiming proprietorship in the deed, the mem- 
 bers suspected of having taken it. Grove's face remained "childlike 
 and bland" under the searching scrutiny of a dozen pairs of eyes. 
 Finally the stillness of death seemed to i^ervade the Court room. 
 Judge Giddings arose and with a dignified bearing no other man 
 could assume, raised his hand and bringing it down upon the desk 
 with force, said: "I find as a matter of fact that the deed was plac- 
 ed there (indicating the desk) by the hand of the Court, and that 
 it was removed from there by the hand of Lyman D. Grove. I find 
 as a conclusion of law that the hand of Lyman D. Grove must put 
 it back there forthwith." It is needless to say the deed was re- 
 turned. 
 
 This incident reaching the ears of some Pentwater people, and re- 
 alizing the slender thread upon which their titles depended, a 
 meeting was called, and a delegation headed by Stillman Parker 
 was sent to Hart with instructions to importune the Court to take 
 and keep the custody of the important deed. The delegation ap- 
 peared in Court, other business was suspended temporarily and 
 the request was made of the Court by Mr. Parker. The Judge hav- 
 ing ascertained that the Grove & Hart wick interest in the deed had 
 been purchased, at their request made an order, first that the deed 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 93 
 
 be re-recorded, and that the Register take custody of it and allow- 
 no person to have it except upon the written order of the Court, 
 and it is supposed to be in the custody of the Register at this time. 
 In the trial of the Rich case the Records were excluded and defend- 
 ants defended relying solely upon the deed and the occupancy of 
 the premises. The plaintiffs would not accept the result as conclu- 
 sive and commenced an action against School Dist. No. 1 in the U. 
 S. Courts. This case was defended by Rice, Ambler & Montgomery 
 and C. I. Walker. On the trial J. H. Standish testified that he 
 drew up the deed and attached the schedule to the deed before it 
 was executed and delivered, he borrowing a pin from a female pres- 
 ent for the purpose of attaching the papers. The papers had pin- 
 holes in them indicating that they had been attached as testified. 
 Alexander S. Anderson, the Register, also testified that when the 
 deed was left with him for record he was under the impression that 
 the papers were attached. That the reason he did not record the 
 schedule with the deed was because he thought it unnecessary, but 
 afterwards changing his mind recorded it as appears on the records. 
 The following is the decision as rendered by Judge Withey: 
 
 The Court, luiving examined the special fiiuling of the jury in the above-entitled 
 case, and having considered the matter tlierein submitted for its judgment and opin- 
 ion, renders the following judgment therein— that is to say: 
 
 First— That Cliarles A. Eosevelt ac(iuired the title in fee, by the deed of assignment 
 from Kector and Cobb, of and to the premises in question, and tlie defendant ae(iiiir- 
 ed from Kosevelt the title which he received from Kector and Cobb. 
 
 Second— Tliat as defendant was in possession, under a claim of title, from I8*;n up 
 to and including the time of purchase by plaintiff and commencement of suit, plaintill 
 purchased with notice of defendant's claim and title, and it does not matter whether 
 Uie record title was in defendant or not, so long as the conveyance from IJector and 
 Cobb to Eosevelt and the conveyance from Eosevelt to defendant were operative as 
 deeds of conveyance of the premises. Defendant's possession, under claim of title, is 
 notice to every one, and as effectual for defendant's protection as record notice. 
 
 Third-As to the schedule of property, the jury having found that there was 
 such a schedule, and annexed to and delivered with the deed, the Court sees no 
 occasion to discuss the question of schedule in any of its relations to the case. If 
 there was a schedule and it contained a description of the premises in question (and 
 it did under the testimony and finding of the jury), then by the act of execution and 
 delivery of those papers title passed to the assignee. Title once shown to have pass- 
 ed could not get back to Eector and Cobb without conveyance. Tlie fact tiiat the 
 schedule was by the Eegister of Deeds, or some one, detached from the deed, or that 
 it was not recorded with the deed as it should have been, or the fact tliat the schedule 
 was altered by additions to or subtractions from it, after both deed and schedule liad 
 been delivered into the Eegister's office, cannot affect the question whether title 
 passed to Eosevelt by delivery of deed and schedule in the first instance duly and 
 properly executed by Eector and Cobb. 
 
 Finally, the Court is of the opinion that upon the whole case as found by the jury. 
 the defendant is not guilty, etc. Let judgment be entered in form accordingly, with 
 costs, against the plaintiff, and in favor of defendant. S. ^jj^J/J" j^lige. 
 
 This settled all the titles of the occupied lands in Pentwater but 
 did not settle that of the vacant lots. W. E. Ambler was employ- 
 ed by the township to perfect the titles for the unoccupied lauds, 
 
94 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 and he at once filed a number of bills in Chancery to quiet title of 
 occupied premises, knowing that under the decisions already ren- 
 dered he had clear cases. These suits were accumulating costs to 
 the Grand Rapids peojjle very rapidly, and Mr.Corbett, after fight- 
 ing the costs awhile, called for terms of capitulation. Terms made 
 by Mr. Ambler were by quit-claims for all vacant lots in Pentwater 
 on which they claimed title, and then he would receipt for costs. 
 This was carried out and Pentwater's titles became perfected and 
 forever settled. 
 
 We find this year (187.5) the firm of Sands & Maxwell, which 
 has heretofore received brief notice, occuj^ying the above building 
 and doing a business that gives promise of the great institution it 
 afterwards became. The House was established in 1862 under the 
 name of Hart & Maxwell, and Geo. W. Maxwell was foreman. In 
 1866 the firm dissolved and George continued the mercantile busi- 
 ness. In April, W. B. 0. Sands became his partner. In 1871 N. F. 
 Harris became a partner, and in 1872 he retired. In 1875 Geo. 
 W. Maxwell died and E. G. Maxwell became a partner. The mer- 
 chandise sales of this House in 1875 were $128,653.73; its lumber- 
 ing business $144,782.25. The further history of this House will 
 appear under the history of the Pentwater Bedstead Factory. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Citizens' Exchange Bank— Fruit Organizations— Death ofL. D. Ea- 
 ton—Trotting Stock— Death of Judge Giddings— Jennie Mills' 
 Disappearance— Death of Judge Littlejohn— Suicide of I. 
 H. Cogswell— Wreck of the Lamont—Alonzo Irons 
 Mystery, Etc. 
 
 Citizens' Exchaxge Baxk.— The growing demand for a bankiwg 
 house at the county seat, was in the year 1874 duly considered by 
 A. S. White, J. K. Flood and F. J. Russell, gentlemen each of whom 
 possessed abundant means and an honorable standing with the 
 people. A bank organized with this combination would make a 
 strong and safe institution. The only question to be considered 
 was "would it pay?" It was finally decided, however, to risk it, 
 and on the 30th day of November, 1874, the Citizens' Exchange 
 Bank was organized with the above named persons equal partners, 
 and A. S. White manager. The house was a success from the start 
 and the business went far beyond the expectations of its owners. 
 The deposits have reached a figure upwards of $50,000. Being a 
 private banking house, the individuals are liable to the extent of 
 their individual property, and as each member of the firm is pos- 
 sessed of considerable means, its reliability is unquestioned. Its 
 correspondents are The Chemical National Bank of New York, one 
 of the wealthiest banks in the U. S.; The Third National Bank of 
 Detroit, and The Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids. Cieorge 
 Alverson, an afifable and courteous gentleman, has been as!«istant 
 cashier in this house for eight j'ears. 
 
 Fruit Associations. — We have noticed the growing importance of 
 thefruititem of Oceana's productions. Knowledgeof its culturefor 
 profit, however, was vague. The reputation of this section as es- 
 pecially adapted to its culture was confined to the county. For 
 the double purpose of acquiring information in i-egard to fruit cul- 
 ture and extending the reputation of the locality by making proper 
 fruit exhibits, a Pomological Society was organized with the follow- 
 ing named i^ersons actively identified with it, viz.: D. L. Garver, C. 
 A. Sessions, A. H. Judd, Wm. Swingle, E. J. Shirts, F. J.Russell, L. 
 Chubb, T. Taylor and J. M. Teeple. Profitable meetings were held 
 during this season, then the intei-est waned and the Society ceased 
 to exist. March 2, 1878, another organization was perfected at 
 
96 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 # 
 
 Pent water, called the West Michigan Horticultural Society, with 
 many of those in the other Society and several new members. This 
 continued to grow and meetings were held at Pent water, Hart and 
 Shelby that wei'e largely attended. Interest increased, exhibits 
 were made under its auspices at the State and other Fairs, and the 
 reputation of the county for its adaptability for fruit culture at- 
 tracted general attention. The State Horticultural Society held 
 its spring meeting the following year at Pentwater, which was very 
 successful, and new life was instilled into the rank and file of horti- 
 culturists throughout the county. This organization after accom- 
 plishing much, like its j)i'edecessor finally ceased to exist. The 
 fruit interest continued to grow and extend, and the necessity of 
 an organization was apparent. Some of the old members, assisted 
 by younger material, put their shoulders to the work again and re- 
 vived the old Horticultural Society and placed it upon a good sub- 
 stantial basis. Through its influence statistics have been secured, 
 exhibits made at Detroit, Lansing and other places, and the repu- 
 tation of the locality spread abroad until the attention of people 
 in many States has been attracted toward Oceana County. It is 
 still in existence and preparing for great work the coming season. 
 
 Death of Lorenzo D. Eaton. — On page 27 we refer to Lorenzo 
 D. Eaton as one of the first settlers of this county. He was born 
 
 in New York State, March, 
 1827, where he passed his 
 early daj'^s and arrived at 
 man's estate. Nov. 24, 
 1842, he was married in 
 New York State to Rebecca 
 Bragg. He removed to Wis- 
 consin and was living at 
 Waukesha when a man by 
 the name of Kelly, of Mil- 
 waukee, who claimed to 
 have land in Oceana Coun- 
 ty, Michigan, engaged Mr. 
 Eaton as foreman to take 
 a gang of men and go upon 
 it and get out shingle bolts 
 for him. Kelly promised 
 to provide for his family 
 during his absence. Under 
 LORENZO D. EATON. this arrangement, in 1849 
 
 Mr. Eaton appeared in what was then the almost unbroken wilder- 
 ness of Oceana. He had been here at work about three or four 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-nAY. 97 
 
 months when an Indian brought a message to him from a friend 
 living at White River, informing him that the land he was at work 
 on did not belong to Kelly, and that the U. S. Marshal was after 
 him. He immediately started on foot back to his home in Wiscon- 
 sin, where after a journey of three hundred n^iles, enduring great 
 hardships, he arrived only to find that Kelly had wholly neglected 
 his family, and that they were in a condition of destitution and 
 suffering, and had it not been for his timely return would liave 
 starved. 
 
 In 1850 he was again engaged by Kimball and Burchard to come 
 to Oceana County and superintend their work in getting out shin- 
 gle bolts. This time he brought his family with him. They came 
 on a vessel and anchored at night off Stony Creek. He left the ves- 
 sel and went ashore to get a scow to take off his family and sup- 
 plies, but he had scarcely reached shore when a storm arose, and it 
 becoming apijarent that the vessel could not maintain her moor- 
 ings, Mrs. Eaton and family and a very tew provisions were placed 
 in a small boat and sent ashore. This was on the 3rd day of No- 
 vember, 1850. The storm continued in great fury for three days 
 and nights; rain and snow falling upon these pioneers who were 
 without shelter except that which was rudely constructed at the 
 time. He remained a resident of the county during.his life. He, in 
 after years, became a land locater and as such engaged his services 
 to different persons. In the spring of 1876 he formed a copartner- 
 ship with a young man by the nameof Sammons, (son of J. H. Siim- 
 mons,) who w'as locating lands in the Upper Peninsuhi. In July of 
 this year they had made a trip to the forests and returned to On- 
 tonagon, where Mr. Eaton secured passage on the ill-fated steamer 
 St. Clair. The vessel took fire and burned to the water's edge. Mr. 
 Eaton, with others, in attempting to make shore was drowne<l, and 
 his body never recovered. He left his wife and seven children to 
 mourn his loss. He was devoted to his family, a good father, kind 
 husband and member of the M. E. Church. He was a member of 
 the Odd Fellows' organization, and politically a democrat. 
 
 Oceana's Trotting STOfK.— In every locality, cotemporaneous 
 with its growth comes the horseman. The horse is man's best 
 friend in improving a new section, and in contributing to his pleas- 
 ure and convenience afterwards. Oceana county early developed 
 a class of horsemen who did all in their power to increase the speed 
 qualities of their animals. There were S. A. Browne, Wm. Webb, 
 Jas. Malcom, Ed. Worden, and others, each of whom owned horses 
 said to be fast, and many a race was trotted upon the ice to test 
 the speed of contestants for favor. 
 
 In the winter of 1871 and 1872, Doctor I). G. Weare, a druggist 
 
98 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 of Pent water and the person in whose honor a township was nam 
 ed, brought in a three-year-old chestnut colt, which he asserted was 
 a direct descendant from Sherman Morgan, and which he named 
 Oceana Chief. He used to appear upon the streets driving this colt 
 every day. The awkward, shainbling gait of the animal only served 
 to excite the ridicule of local sportsmen, and the Doctor and his horse 
 were made the butt of many a jest. He finally hired one Wm. Sny- 
 der to train it, paying Snyder sixty dollars per month. This also 
 caused many unfavorable remarks, as the payment of $60 per 
 month to care for a horse was considered simply ridiculous.. The 
 Doctor's efforts, however, to bring this animal into prominence as 
 a trotter were unsuccessful, and he finally sold it to Chas. Nichols, 
 a lumberman, for $700, receiving a part of the consideration and 
 the balance to be paid when the pedigree was furnished. He fur- 
 nished a part of the horsw's pedigree, but as it had some bad omis- 
 sions Mr. Nichols refused to pay the balance. A suit resulted which 
 was before the Courts for several terms and finally decided against 
 him. Nichols placed the horse in the hands of John Boga, his son- 
 in-law, to train and drive. 
 
 In 1875 S. A. Browne brought to his^Pentwater stables a beauti- 
 ful black mare named Lady Turi)in, which at the Rochester, N. Y., 
 races this year.had won first money, making a record of 2:23. The 
 bringing of this horse to Pentwater stimulated the interest before 
 manifested to fever heat, and The Driving Park Association pre- 
 pared its grounds for great races, to follow. The course had been 
 opened the year previous and inaugurated by the celebrated 
 Small Hopes and other horses making a track record of 3:08. Un- 
 der Boga's management the "Chief" began to develop wonderfully 
 and in 1875 had won a race in three straight heats over the best 
 local horses, and already sportsmen were beginning to look upon 
 him as the coming horse. 
 
 Aug. 15, 1876, a race upon the Driving Park Association's 
 grounds, Pentwater, for a purse of $250, with $125 as first premi- 
 um, was advertised, free for all. The following is thedescrij)tion of 
 the race: 
 
 "For this race seven horses were (started: 
 
 1st, 1- g Ked Oak. 2iul, c s Oceaiica Chief. 
 
 3ra, IVy s W Morrell. 4th, b'yg Gen. McArtlmr. 
 
 5th, b m Flossy. Cth, bl'k g John Barney. 
 
 7th, b"y g Eoadmaster. 
 
 There was considerable difficulty in getting a fair start, each driv- 
 er seeming determined if possible, to have the advantage if he could 
 get it. After scoring several times, they were given the word 'go,' 
 and it was known that the fastest horse would win this race, if 
 jockyiugiad shown itself in some of the others and great interest 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 99 
 
 was manifestbd; every stump and mound convenient was used by 
 the spectators in order to get a better view. The remark was re- 
 peatedly made that 'the Chief was a bad breaker,' and 'if he would 
 only keep his feet,' showed the interest taken in the result— and 
 when they had reached the quarter post and the Chief did break, a 
 look of dismay among his friends was visible; but he soon 'got down 
 to business,' and came in the winner of the heat in 2:40, amid loud 
 huzzas. 
 
 The call was made for the second heat, and after a half dozen fu- 
 tile attempts the horses were finally sent ott" in tine style. Oceana 
 Chief soon went to the front, and maintamed his position without 
 a skip, notwithstanding the daring attempt of Barney to throw him 
 off his feet. The Chief came in the winner of this, the second heat, 
 in 2:37^2, the fastest time thus far made. 
 
 The Chief had now won two of the three heats, and won them by 
 fair and honest work, and his many friends were anxious lest the 
 drivers of the other horses in the race should so manipulate affairs 
 that he would be taken at a disadvantage. He had already taken 
 two heats, 'would he take the third and end the race?' The horses 
 were called and as in both the other heats, considerable time was 
 spent in scoring, and when the word 'go' was given, they went off in 
 fine style, and as the Chief again got the lead and opened quite a 
 gap, the excitement was intense. The efforts of the police to 'keep 
 quiet,' and preserve order was respected to a certain extent — but 
 when the Chief came down the home-stretch and under the string 
 leading the whole posse by a full length, there went up such a shout 
 from the crowd, as only those can give who have restrained their 
 feehngs from a sense of duty, and all were jubilant over the result. 
 
 Tinu'-2 :40— 2 :3T! j— 2 :42." 
 
 From this time on Oceana Chief grew in favor. He was alternate- 
 ly placed in races and kept in the stud. On the Saginaw track he 
 made a record of 2:23, equalling Lady Turpin's Rochester record, 
 and which at the time was one of the best records made by a horse 
 in his class. 
 
 Some of Mr. Browne's friends becoming jealous of the growing fa- 
 vor of Oceana Chief, made arrangements for big races on Pentwa- 
 ter Driving Park grounds in June, 1878, at which time noted horse.s 
 from outside were induced to come and enter the free for all. and 
 combine to deSeat the Chief. The race came off, and the following 
 
 were the entries: 
 
 1 Little Dan, s g-F. D. Clark Grand Rapids. 
 
 4 ( K-t'Aun Chief, c s-Jolin Boga » ,'• nV 
 
 5 Siiabler, c g— M. A. Jones «nHm' 1 iko" 
 
 6 .Jessie, c m-Bates & Harper '''ma- .'J,,,." 
 
 r I.adv Tniesdell. b ni-Tlios. Merrill i , n, lmo ' 
 
 8 Frank, bav g-John Connelly Ludnifeiou. 
 
 L.orc. 
 
100 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 The first heat the Chief won fairly. The next heat the combina- 
 tion forced the Chief back and permitted Russ Ellis to take it. The 
 excitement now became oreat as the undisguised acts of the jocky 
 to beat the Chief became manifest. The Chief's position was the 
 outside. He started at a gait that was soon crowding the pole 
 horses, and as he worked for the pole the jockeys played in front of 
 hijn. Boga then turned out, taking the outside, trotted without a 
 break right round the field and came under the wire a good winner, 
 and acknowledged by the shouts of the spectators. The other heat 
 was easily won by him, and Oceana's superioritj^ as a trotter was 
 established and never afterwai'ds questioned by local sportsmen. 
 
 Nichols became involved and the ownership of the horse changed 
 several times from one member of his family to another, and was 
 also heavily mortgaged. In 1880, about sixteen miles fi'om Grand 
 Kaxiids, he was taken sick and died. It was thought by man j^ that 
 he did not die but was sijirited away to get rid of the incumbra^nces 
 upon him. It is certain, however he never appeared again in this 
 section. He left a numerous progeny, some of which like- 
 wise became quite noted. Maggie Knox, owned by 0. W. Knox, of 
 Hart, was sired by the Chief, and made a record of 2:24:J:(. As there 
 are many horses in this vicinity that trace their record through the 
 Chief, we herewith give his pedigree so far as known: 
 
 ( By Sherman Morgan 
 r By Hill's Black Hawk - 
 Sire of ( 
 
 I Ethan Allen, 2:2514 
 ( By Nero '| Bell of Saratoga, 2 :29 
 fBy Aldrich Colt- | Lancet, l-.ib^. 
 
 Oceana j ( Young America, 2:23 
 
 Chief, 2:23) 
 
 [Thoroughbred. 
 
 Dam of Clifton Boy, 2 :2:i 
 
 To S. A. Browne, however, is due great credit for giving to this lo- 
 cality an enviable reputation for its trotting stock. He became 
 proprietor of a fine farm in Golden, which he named the Golden 
 Stock Farm, and here brought and kept many horses of a fine 
 strain of blood and wide reputation. Here also he bred many fine 
 animals that have since become distinguished. Among those bro't 
 here by Mr. Browne, was Indicator, 2:23}^; Gold Dust, 2:29; Grand 
 Hambletonian (stallion), 2:28i^; Spinella, 2:30; Shadow, 2:27; Ab- 
 dallnh Belle; Richmond Belle; Peru Belle, 2:27; Lady Humphrey, 
 2:34; Scotia, 2:30; Amethyst; Sea Bird; Lady Arnold; Susie Wilkes; 
 Soprano; Spiletta; Indiana, 2:39, and the young stallion Grand 
 Sentinel, which was one of the finest horses ever brought to Michi- 
 gan, and afterwards acquired almost national reputation. He has 
 one son, Grand Sentinel, Jr., owned by Asa M. Pringle, of Golden, 
 which has a numerous progeny, for the benefit of which we herewith 
 give the following history: 
 
AND BUSINKSS MEX OF TO-DAY. 101 
 
 "Grand Sentinel, 2:27i.^, son of Sentinel, 2:29;^, brother to Volun- 
 teer, was bred by John R. Richardson, Lexington, Ky.; got by Sen- 
 tinel, out of Maid of Lexington, by Mambrino Pilot, 2:34t,', son of 
 Mambrino Chief. Grand Sentinel, was, without being a very h;ind- 
 some horse, one of good parts, and very speedy and resolute. Hut, 
 like his sire, he died just at the outset of a successful stud career. 
 On the 8th of January, 1887, while playing in his paddock, he slip- 
 ped on an icy spot and falling sustained injuries to his kidneys 
 which led to acute inflammation and culminated in his death. His 
 sire, Sentinel, died at the early age of ten years, and Grand Senti- 
 nel at thirteen years. But their line is achieving greatness, and 
 promises to live on radiantly." 
 
 Judge Giddings Dies.— Augustine H. Giddings, whose portrait 
 appears on page 67, closed his earthly career in the saddest possi- 
 ble manner in a Philadelphia hospital, in the latter jjart of the 
 year 1876. He ascended the bench of the Judicial Circuit to which 
 Oceana County was i^art, in 1869, upon the death of Judge Hop- 
 kins. By liis urbane manners, dignified bearing and courteous 
 ways he secured the respect and esteem of all with whom he came 
 in contact. He was, however, addicted to the use of intoxicating 
 drinks, and to tliis terriblehabit that held him in its vicelike chains 
 and from which he made many a heroic struggle to free himself, was 
 due his failure to obtain the highest reward to the ambitious disci- 
 ple of the law, namely, a position on the Supreme Bench, and his 
 deatli among strangers while yet in the prime of life. His a j)petite 
 seemed to take possession of him at long intervals, between which 
 he never tasted liquor, but when the desire came upon him nothing 
 could prevent his gratifying it. He realized the disgrace which his 
 course brought upon him, and several times during a half lucid in- 
 terval, attempted suicide. Notwithstanding the fact that Court 
 business was seriously interfered with by his acts, wherever he ai> 
 peared he was accorded unusual marks of esteem by attorneys and 
 litigants. He died without having been married, but many people 
 sincei'ely mourned his departure. 
 
 County Treasurer Dies.— Aug. 23, 1877, Henry G. Hoffman, 
 one of the pioneer settlers and County Treasurer, died, and the of- 
 fice was thereby made vacant. INIr. Hoffman's son and Deputy at 
 once took charge of the office and was performing the duties satis- 
 factorily when he too, was taken ill and died. The Board of Su- 
 pervisors at its session in October elected John R. Butler, who 
 served the balance of Mr. Hoffman's term. 
 
 Jennie Mills' Disappearance.— Jennie Mills, of Pent water, was 
 a young lady of attractive personal appearance, and had many 
 
102 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 friends among the young people. She was employed as help in the 
 family of J. G. Gray at the time of which we write, i. e., Christmas, 
 1877. Many preparations for Christmas festivities had been made 
 among which was a social party which she expected to attend. Al- 
 ways of a sunny disposition, it was remembered that on Christmas 
 eve. she appeared even more gay than usual as she exhibited, to 
 friends the gifts she had received. She received a visit from a gen- 
 tleman friend in the evening and parted with him about nine o'clock, 
 nothing having occurred to give any clue to her subsequent disap- 
 pearance. The next morning her clothes and jewelry were found on 
 her stand, and the following note, but she had disappeared: 
 
 "Pentwater, Mich. 
 Dear Charley 
 
 You may think I am A foolish girl to think of you 
 as I do but I will not try to explain matters here or any place else 
 But Remember the past and don't forget Jen unless you find one 
 who is a Better Friend to you than she was for Jen has loved you 
 Beyond Reason But she will soon be at Rest and you can take a 
 Boat Ride over her to morrow with Pleasure I suppose But when 
 you come to morrow night Jen will not open the door for you and. 
 Charley is the only one who knows the Reason I will bid you a long 
 farewell. Wishing you comfort and Hapj)iness for ever 
 Your true friend, 
 
 Jennie Mills." 
 
 It was supposed she had thrown herself into the lake, but no 
 trace of her ever came to the surface. Then it was thought she had 
 wandered away in a fit of temporary insanity, and searching par- 
 ties scoured the country in vain. Rumors of her having been seen 
 in Canada and elsewhere were heard again and again. Many be- 
 lieved that she was still alive. The evidence of her drowning was 
 very slight and few believed that she died in that manner. Sept. 
 5, 1885, a man by the name of Niel St. Clair, of Howard City, while 
 cutting hoop poles near Wood Lake, found the skeleton of what 
 appeared to be a young woman. The left side of the skull had been 
 crushed in, indicating a violent death. The skeleton had evidently 
 lain there several years. There had been no disappearances in the 
 vicinity to account for its presence. There was nothing found with 
 it to mark its identity. There were many Pentwater people who 
 thought the letter published above was merely a blind and that 
 she did not commit suicide as indicated, but was taken away and 
 disposed of in some manner, but no evidence to prove the suspicion 
 ever came to light, unless there was a connection between the find- 
 ing of the skeleton and Miss Mills' disappearance. Near thirteen 
 years have passed and the mystery of her death is as great as it 
 was the next week after her disappearance. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 103 
 
 Hart Argus.— November 8, 1887, L, A. Mclntyre, a doctor at 
 Hesperia, and a Mr. Frink, a resident of the same place, started 
 the Argus at that i^lace. Dr. Mclntyre conducting it. At this time 
 there seemed to be an opening for another paper at Hart owing to 
 dissatisfaction expressed at the course of the Journal, and in April, 
 1878, the office was removed to Hart, Mr. Frink retiring, and the 
 paper became the Hart Argus. It received a fair patronage and 
 continued as a republican paper under Mr.McIntyre's management 
 until Sept., 188-1, when it was purchased by Mr. E. S. Palmiter, 
 its present owner and proprietor. It immediately, under his man- 
 agement, became the organ of the prohibition party and has advo- 
 cated the principles of that party to the present time. 
 
 Dog Tax.— The Legislature had passed an Act requiring the as- 
 sessment of a dog tax and providing for its collection. The Super- 
 visors of the different towns were met by a perfect howl of indigna- 
 tion by dog owners, who declared they would not submit to it, etc. 
 When tlie Board convened in October each Supervisor had the 
 same experience to relate, and as a result the following remarkable 
 resolution was adopted by a vote of nine to seven: 
 
 "Whereas, The present law authorizing a tax on dogs is believed 
 to be unconstitutional by all — and. 
 
 Whereas, The said tax is oppressive and burdensome on that 
 class of our people least able to bear the same — and, 
 
 Whereas, There are but very few sheep in the county to be wor- 
 ried or killed by dogs, and. 
 
 Whereas, The protection of sheep seems to be the prime object 
 of said law, now, therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, By the Board of Supervisors of the County of Oceana 
 that the Supervisors of the several townships of this county be in- 
 structed not to assess the Dogs in their several townshii)s." 
 
 Hawley's Mill Explodes.— Apt-il 16, 1879, without previous 
 warning the boilers in Hawley's sawmill, Shelby, burst into hun- 
 dreds of pieces, portions of the same being hurled over forty rods 
 distant. The dome and two large pieces of the boiler weighing 
 about a ton each, were thrown high in the air and dropped about 
 two hundred feet away. The engine bed dug out, turned over and 
 thrown half around. Many timbers were shivered to pieces. Near- 
 ly all the machinery below was destroyed and a perfect wreck 
 made. James Curtis Rider, the engineer, was instantly killed. E. 
 C. Hurd, head-sawyer, while filing a saw, and E. F. Gook were bad- 
 ly cut in the head. George Getty, H. Benedict, Sylvester Elliott 
 and John Vradenburg each had narrow escapes. Low water is 
 supposed to have been the cause. The damage was about $(i,000. 
 
 Death of I. H. Cogswell.— The subject of this sketch was born 
 
104 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 in Auburn, N. Y., in the year 1813, coming from there to Marshall 
 in 1851, where he remained one year. Leaving that place he mov- 
 ed into Eaton County, where after two year's residence he came to 
 Newaygo County, near the line. This was in 1856. In the spring 
 of 1859 he emigrated to Kansas, and after a four years' stay re- 
 turned to this point again, and after about one year moved across 
 the line into Greenwood, Oceana County, where he lived until the 
 tragic event which is hereafter described occurred. He was a man 
 of commanding appearance, highly sensitive on questions of honor, 
 and was resj)ected and loved by all who knew him. He had been 
 Judge of Probate for Newaygo County one term, and after coming 
 to Greenwood was made Supervisor of that township, which posi- 
 tion he held for five consecutive terms, and had just entered upon 
 the sixth. 
 
 The home he lived in was a log structure with a board lean-to, or 
 shanty, situated on section one of Greenwood township. On the 
 death of J. D. Stebbins, a lumberman in that vicinity, he was ap- 
 pointed administrator of the estate. He had been notified by 
 Jndge of Probate F. J. Russell, to appear before the Probate Court 
 on Monday, the 30th day of June, 1879, and render his account as 
 administrator. The amount of estate to be accounted for Avas 
 about §2,000. It was not thought that there was any shortage 
 when matters were figured out. Neil McCallum, his son-in-law. and 
 Lachlan McCallum were his bondsmen. In April he had made a 
 proposal to Judge Russell to settle, which was refused, and on the 
 26th day of June he went to Lachlan McCallum in hopes of getting 
 the matter straightened out, but he was not at home. He came 
 home under the impression that his administration was suspected 
 and would be attacked, and the next day he spent in figuring. 
 The 28th he also remained at home and did nothing but look over 
 the figures and help his wife about the house. The next day was 
 Sunday. He had spoken for a horse to go to Hart Monday for a set- 
 tlement. He claimed he had everything but some money due from 
 Lachlan McCallum, and that appeared to worry him. On Sunday 
 morning, the 29th, about sunrise he made a fire in the stove and 
 then asked his wife to go with him into the room, and when he got 
 there he took four jDackages of money and a book and put them in 
 the stove and burned them, in spite of his wife's entreaties not to 
 do so. He said, "I'll show them a trick the devil never did." Af- 
 ter he had burned the money he took a pa^Der and going to the clos- 
 et lighted the clothing. Mrs. Cogswell tried to throw a dress out of 
 doors but he prevented her. He said he was tired of life and want- 
 ed her to go with him. She inquired, "How will we go?" "I will 
 have to kill you first," he said. He had a razor in his hand. She 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-PAY. 105 
 
 refused, and he followed her out of doors and said "The money is 
 gone and we must go." He implored her to come with him. He 
 said he was going to his grave. He then went into the house again 
 and returning came out with a pocketbook in his hands and throw- 
 ing it at his wife, said, "That is your wheat money." He then went 
 in and that was the last ever seen of Isaac H. Cogswell. The house 
 was burned to the ground. The coroners' verdict was "Death by 
 deliberately walking into his burning house." The community was 
 divided in opinion as to his being dead, many claiming the fire was 
 only a blind, and that he had left the country. This opinion lost 
 its force as year after year rolled by and nothing was ever heard of 
 him. He was sixty-six years of age when his tragic death occurred. 
 
 Bull, of the Woods.— John S. Hyde, a machinist, musician and 
 genius, imbued with the same idea that actuated Charles Mears in 
 1864, namely, that the navigation of the South Branch of Pent wa- 
 ter River was practicable, set about the construction of a scow-bot- 
 tom boat, to be propelled by steam. The boat was constructed 
 with esjpecial reference to the accommodation of passengers and the 
 carrying of freight between the two villages, Hart and Pentwater. 
 Mr. Hyde completed his boat and in addition to making several 
 l)leasure excursions from Pentwater, he actually did make several 
 trips, but as the Wigton grist mill when requiring the water, left 
 the stream so shallow that the boat was obliged to lay for hours 
 at a time waiting for water, this made it too expensive, and Mr. 
 Hyde after trying ineffectually to secure the natural water of the 
 stream at stated periods, abandoned his enterprise. He still as- 
 serts that with the natural How of water he would have made the 
 navigation of the river practical and profitable to both jjlaces. 
 His boat was "dubbed" the "Bull of the woods." Unlike the Mud 
 Hen, described on page 53, it did not prove a profitable investment, 
 
 Mrs. Gainer Captures a Horse-thief.— Gilbert Brayton stole 
 a span of horses and set of double harness from Messrs. Sweet ife 
 Taylor's mill in Ludington, on Saturday night, Sept. 27, 1879, 
 about 10 o'clock, and going across to the village, took a double 
 wagon and hitching his team to it, drove off. As near as can be as- 
 certained, he traveled until about 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon with- 
 out stopping, and it is very doubtful if any one knows just what 
 roads he took up to this time in his efforts to balHe his pursuers 
 and elude pursuit. But the pangs of hunger now compelled him to 
 stop at "Mother Gainer's" for dinner, and this finished, he a^am 
 set forth, going to Crystal Valley, Hart, Smith's Corners. Pentwa- 
 ter, and then east and north, until at 2 o'clock Monday morning, 
 he was back at the very place where he took dinner the day before. 
 
106 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 He had evidently been bewildered, and had in the 12 hours made a 
 complete circle. 
 
 Just after he had been to dinner at Mother Gainer's on Sunday, 
 SherifJ Moulton came hurriedly along, and telling the tale of the 
 theft and offering $25 for the thief, he greatly excited the old lady, 
 who had unconsciously given shelter to the scoundrel, and now was 
 not slow in giving all the information possible which might lead to 
 his capture. "Drive, Sheriff, drive like h— 1," she concluded, "and 
 j^ou'll catch him." 
 
 On Brayton's return he seemed in haste to depart, but Mother 
 Gainer called him to one side and told him she was a fortune teller, 
 that she knew everything that he had done from the day he was 
 ten years old, and everything he would do up to the end of his mor- 
 tal career, and that she would prove it by telling him a fact known 
 only to themselves, and then looking him full in the face she said: 
 
 "You stole those horses." 
 
 Brayton did not attempt to deny it, and she then told him she 
 would buy the team of him, but he would have to go with her to 
 Pentwater after the money. He seemed loth to consent, but final- 
 ly did so. On the way he got ready to jump from the wagon sever- 
 al times, but Mother Gainer was too wide awake to j)ermit any- 
 thing of the kind and safely brought him to the village, where Con- 
 stable Roddy stood ready to escort him to jail, having been warn- 
 ed by Sheriff Moulton who had followed Brayton in all his wander- 
 ings as far as Smith's Corners, where he lost the trail. 
 
 Mother Gainer said she exjpected Brayton would attempt to es- 
 cape before he was brought to Pentwater. 
 
 "But," said she, "I made up my mind if he jumped from the wag- 
 on I would fall on top of him, and holler like the devil." 
 
 Sheriff Moulton had his prisoner safely in his own custody before 
 noon, and took him to Ludington where he had his examination 
 and was bound over for trial. 
 
 Wkeck of the Mercury.— Nov. 20, 1879, the citizens of Pent- 
 water were startled by the information that the schooner Mercury, 
 ladened Avith 250,000 feet of lumber, cleared from Ludington to 
 Chicago, was going to pieces in the heavy sea south of Pentwater, 
 and that the crew were in imminent peril of their lives. The beach 
 was soon lined with people anxious to assist the crew ashore. The 
 sea that was running was so heavy that not a boat could be found 
 that would ride the breakers a minute. The telegraph wire between 
 Pentwater and Ludington was down and help from there could not 
 be secured. The line was repaired finally and a message sent, and 
 about twelve o'clock that night Capt. H. B. Smith, with the little 
 steamer Magnet, brought a volunteer life crew from Ludington with 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 107 
 
 the life boat in tow, and all the men were rescued. In the after- 
 noon, ijrior to the arrival of the Magnet, the crew on the ill-fated 
 bark tried in vain to float a line ashore, and a skif! was manned 
 by three brave men, Henry Hawkins, Frederick Sorenson and father, 
 and an attempt was made to reach the end of the line. They got 
 near enough for Hawkins to grasp the end of the line when the skit! 
 capsized and all three were thrown into the water. The two So- 
 rensens reached the shore in an exhausted condition, while poor 
 Hawkins became entangled in the line and sank to rise no more. 
 The sailors drew the body near the Mercury, but the line breaking 
 the body was lost, and was never recovered. 
 
 Capt. H. B. Smith, for his gallant conduct that night in braving 
 the terrible sea that rolled with his little steamer, was afterwards 
 rewarded by a medal for gallantry, by Act of Congress. 
 
 The Wreck of the Lamoxt. One of the most terrible lake ca- 
 tastrophes that ever occurred near Pentwater was the wreck of the 
 tug Geo. Lamont and the loss of all on board, March 14, 1880. 
 Some time previous C. R. Whittmgton and P. H. Adams purchased 
 and brought to Pentwater the tug Gem, repaired and fitted it up 
 for general tugging business upon the lake. From the time the Gem 
 arrived a rivalry sprang up between the owners of the tugs Mes- 
 senger and Lamont and the Gem. The s^jirit of rivalry was main- 
 tained and strengthened by bantering, hectoring remarks by each 
 and the circulation of false stories concerning the seaworthiness of 
 the respective crafts. At last it culminated in an agree- 
 ment for a race to take place next day. The Lamont was a small 
 tug of less than five tons burthen, while the Gem was about ten 
 tons. Statements of all kinds were circulated and side bets made, 
 and the captains were each wrought up to such a pitch of excite- 
 ment that nothing short of a catastrophe to start with would have 
 stopped them. 
 
 The fatal Sunday dawned with a heavy sea rolling in, and every- 
 thing being in readiness they started upon the race. The persons 
 on board the Gem were Captain P. H. Adams, John Millidge and 
 Moore Hardway, and on board the Lamont were Captain Charles 
 Lamont, his son Georgie, a lad of about twelve years, and Palmer 
 Hill. It was evident from the start that the Lamont was no match 
 for the Gem in such a sea, yet she ploughed along through the 
 breakers in a vain endeavor to keep up. Many people watched 
 them until they were a couple of miles out, and not being able to 
 see them longer on account of the falling snow, returned to their 
 firesides. About the middle of the afternoon the Gem came back, 
 having made the trip and returned. Upon inquiry as to the La- 
 mont, Adams stated that when about four miles out she turned 
 
108 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 about, and as he supposed, returned to Pentwater, as the snow en- 
 veloped her so he could not see her any great distance, and he had 
 not seen her since. The people ot Pentwater immediately scoured 
 the beach and about three miles north the Lamont was discovered 
 wrecked, with no sign of anyone on board. The bodies afterwards 
 came ashore and were interred in the village cemetery. Mr. La- 
 mont was one of the best engineers in the place, a good mechanic 
 and a daring sailor. Many a time has he breasted the rolling 
 waves with a tug to relieve some vessel in distress, or aid them in 
 making port. He seemed to be absolutely without fear. 
 
 Death op Judge Littlejohn. — Ex-Judge Flavins J. Littlejohn, 
 whose portrait appears on page 36, and who was the first Judge 
 occupying the bench in Oceana County, died at his residence in Al- 
 legan, Michigan, in May, 1880, of senile disease of the bladder. For 
 many years the Judge presided over a circuit extending from Alle- 
 gan along the lake shore north to the straits, and rode the circuit 
 with lawyers who attended the Court in its journeyings. Many 
 hardships and privations were encountered and endured in the ear- 
 ly times. County seats were not even "flag stations," but the ap- 
 proaches to the local seats of justice were through paths where no 
 vehicle could be drawn and travel was on horseback or afoot, and 
 it was a lucky trip that was without meeting with mishaps in the 
 shape of swollen rivers, bridgeless, forest fires, or blockades of fall- 
 en trees. As settlers came in the judicial circuit was divided and 
 sub-divided until at present there are several formed out of the orig- 
 inal territory traversed by the late Judge. His reputation was un- 
 blemished and his decisive manners coupled with good, practical 
 judgment and legal attainments created a strong personal friend- 
 ship and great respect for his decisions, approximating to almost 
 infallibility. We recollect a time when if a question was to bej)lac- 
 ed at rest all that was necessary was to quote the venerable Judge's 
 opinion — that settled it beyond cavil. For many years he had 
 been in feeble health yet had continued to practice law after his re- 
 tirement from the bench, as his condition would permit — died in 
 the harness. The last visit to our county that we are aware of 
 was in 1875, when he assisted in the trial of the case of Post vs. 
 Rich, which involved the title to quite a portion of the village of 
 Pentwater. He was bright and lively as of yore, but said w^ork 
 tired him; still he was hapj)y to meet old time friends once more 
 and spent the most of the night in talking of the old times and ac- 
 quaintance, and laughed as heartily as any one at the recalling of 
 jokes and ludicrous scenes, and recounted many that came to his 
 mind. Indeed, this was one of his favorite pastimes. He is the 
 author of "Legends of Michigan and the Old Northwest," which 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAV. 109 
 
 abounds with anecdotes of the old pioneer hfe of our State and 
 which has met with favor all over our country as a narrative of 
 border experiences. He was a man of decided political opinions, 
 yet although an ardent democrat he could recognize the right of 
 others differing with him, and grant to them the same privileges 
 that he claimed for himself. Truthfully may we say he was a pure 
 and upright Judge and a genial gentleman. 
 
 Shelby Independent.— Judson Palmiter, founder of the Oceana 
 Co. Journal, and at one time one of the proiDrietors of the Oceana 
 Times, having removed the material of the old Times office to Shelby, 
 started the first paper in that village, which appeared on the 10th 
 day of April, 1880. The name of the paper was the Shelby Inde- 
 pendent. February 9th, 1884, Frank W. Newman purchased the 
 plant and has since conducted the paper. Under Mr. Palmiter's 
 management it professed to be independent in politics, but Mr. 
 Newman made it an out-and-out republican paper, and has contin- 
 ued it as such. 
 
 The Alonzo Irons Disappearance.— On Friday, June 3, 1881, 
 one of the most mysterious cases of disappearance that ever occur- 
 red in the county, took place. Alonzo Irons, a young man whose 
 home was in Pentwater, and who was highly regarded by all who 
 knew him, having been employed by Nickerson & Collister to act as 
 manager and store-keeper for them at Crystal, disappeared very 
 mysteriously on the above date, and although people from all sec- 
 tions turned out in numbers and scoured thecountry,and notwith- 
 standing the fact that large rewards were offered and a Pmkerton 
 detective employed for some time, a solution of the mystery has 
 never been reached. 
 
 In brief, the facts are as follows: On the day mentioned, after 
 having eaten his dinner, he, in company with a young man by the 
 name of Fisher, started from the mill with the intention of going to 
 the house of a Mr. Chase to pay for some hay that had been pur- 
 chased of him for Nickerson Sz. Collister. The young man who ac- 
 companied him was going part of the way to deliver some axes to 
 the Johnson brothers, who were making bolts in the woods. Wb.iie 
 they were walking along the string holding the axes broke and they 
 fell, one of them cutting Fisher's heel. They stopped and bound 
 up the wound, and Mr. Fisher came back. Irons taking the axes 
 went on alone. He delivered the axes at the shanty and then pro- 
 ceeded towards Chase's. He never reached Chase's house, and has 
 never been seen by his friends since leaving the Johnsons. 
 
 We herewith publish the detective's report of his investigations, 
 as it has been seen by but few persons, and will give addition- 
 al information concerning the efforts made to find Irons: 
 
110 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 PiNKERTON'S NATIONAL DETECTIVE AGENCY. 
 
 L. G. Rutherford, Attorney at Law, Hart. 
 
 Dear Sir:— According to your request an operative was detailed to proceed to 
 Hart, Mich., to see you and make investigations in relation to the disappearance of a 
 young man by the name of Alonzo Irons on June 3rd. Irons being the foreman for 
 Nickerson & Collister, proprietors of a saw mill in the woods 13 miles from Hart. 
 
 Wednesday, June I5th, 1881. 
 
 At 9 a. m. Operative C. left Chicago for Hart, where he arrived about 10 p. m. of 
 the same day. He immediately called upon you and received a statement of the case 
 as far as then known. 
 
 Tliursday, June l6th, 1881. 
 
 C. left Hart this morning, liaving received a letter of introduction from you to a 
 Mr. Taylor in the vicinity of the saw mill where Irons worked. Arriving at the saw 
 mill, C. saw the new foreman. Glover, who said that he knew Irons well; that he left 
 the mill Friday, June 3rd, directly after dinner, without his coat, to go and see a man 
 named Chase about some hay, and was seen three or four miles up the road by some 
 bolt cutters, since which time he had not been seen. His accounts were all riglit and 
 tliere was money due him by the firm. If nothing had happened to him he should 
 have returned the same afternoon at 6 p. m. to take the men's time. Tliere was a 
 dance that evening at an Indian's named Coxsheegan, and Irons was heard to say 
 that he was going to attend it. After gathering a good deal of information of this 
 sort, C. went to see King's wife. * * C. found her after a good deal of lumting 
 among the Indians, at the house of a man named Cotton, and asked her to account 
 for her time during the day on which Irons disappeared. Slie said she and her husband 
 were at home all day with his little boy. In the afternoon Nelse Olcutt came and 
 staid to supper, and went away about nine in the evening. She could not account for 
 the blood which ^^■as found on the floor, but for the bullet hole through the window, 
 she said that her husband locked her out one night and she broke the window with a 
 stick trying to get in. 
 
 Friday, June 17tii, 1881. 
 
 C. left Hart again this morning and went up to see King. He found him at his 
 house with his little boy. King was sick, but got up and seemed very willing to an- 
 swer C.'s questions. His statement was to the effect that himself, his wife, the little 
 boy, and a fellow named Olcutt were at iiome all of Friday afternoon and evening. 
 His wife was mailing a dress, and none of them vicre away from tlie liouse only up to 
 the cross-roads where the lioys had a bonfire in the evening. A man named ^'aughn 
 who lives with his family a few rods further down, on the opposite side of tlie road, 
 testified to the same thing. King showed C. what had been said to be a bullet hole 
 in the window, and he at once saw that it was not made by a bullet, Init liy a stick 
 close to the bottom of the pane. As to the spots of blood on tlie floor. King said that 
 he remembered having opened a blister on his foot and a few drops of blood fell on 
 the floor and chair. He showed C. the place on his foot where a large burn had re- 
 cently healed. On making inquiry of Taylor, where King worked, C. learned that he had 
 burned his foot on a stump which was yet on fire. C. asked King a good many ques- 
 tions about his wite, and he said he had done the best he could for her, but that she 
 had brought him into disgrace, and he could not take her back. He came away from 
 Ada on her account. He did not know that Irons had been intimate with his wife, 
 and he would not be able to recognize him if he passed him on the road. He felt sure 
 
 that C was intimate with his wife, and if he caught C or any one else fooling 
 
 around his house at night, he said he would shoot them, and he believed the law 
 would sustain him. He told C. that he did keep his wife out one night when she 
 came back with another man who hung about the gate. This was the night slie broke 
 tlie window trying to get it. D. feels sure had there been any disturbance at King's 
 that Vaughn's, who live a few rods away, would have heard in. C. then went to the 
 mill where Irons was foreman, and saw Crowfoot, with whom Irons was quite inti- 
 mate. Crowfoot was willing to tell all he knew, and talked quite freely of the affair, 
 but he did not think that Irons ever had anything to do with King's wife, * * * 
 C. managed by a great deal of questioning to draw out the fact that two Indians, at 
 
AXD BL^SINESS ME\ OF TO-DAY. HI 
 
 least, had thieatened Irons' life, one by tlitMianu' of Lew Doniini.k. Crowfoot lii,l 
 heard tluit Irons vam in tlie store alone with tliis "Itli of .luiy ahout a nionth at'o 
 when Loni(! Kaptiste, an Indian and 4tii of Jnly-s hrother-in-Iaw.eame in and ordered 
 her ont and drove her into tlie rain, and then turning to Irons tlneateiied lo kill hjin 
 Jennie was with Irons in the store all the morning of June :h-d, the day he (lisii.p.-ir' 
 ed. She had been working for Mrs. Kellogg, tlie wife of tlie boarding boss, win, turn- 
 ed her away immediately after. Jenine left the cainp al)out an lioiu- before Irons 
 bnt went in a different direction. Louie Baptiste has two brothers, Joe and .Miteliell ' 
 and as they were working in the mill C. went in and took a look at them. He iiretend- 
 ed not to notice them, but they ajipeared very uneasy and did not take f heir eyes oft 
 from him while he was there. The other Indians working tliere dul not seem in the 
 least suspicious. Louie and Joe were both at work the day Irons left, but Mitchell 
 left that noon and was pretty drunk. Irons did not show u|) at the dance at • 'o.xshee- 
 gawn's. After supiier at Taylor's, C. drove over to see Teter Starr, but gained no ad- 
 ditional information. 
 
 Saturday, June I8th, ISSL 
 C. went up to the mill this morning and almost the lirst man he saw v.as Crow- 
 foot, who told him that Johnny Gesucks, ai\ Indian, asked Inni (piietly what C. would 
 give to know who killed Irons. C. had anticipated this rpiestion and liad posted 
 Crowfoot what to say. Crowfcjot told Gesucks that he thought C. would give SGOO or 
 $1,000. From this and other incidents suspicion points strongly to the Indians. C. 
 then drove to Crystal, and saw Jennie Hiumaii,tlie sipiaw who is married to an Indi- 
 an named Sabbee or Shawbee, who works in the Crystal .saw mill. He di<l not ques- 
 tion her or let her know who he was, as he merely wislied to locate her. He next 
 drove across the country to see Hank Kidder. Kidder with one of the liajitiste Indi- 
 ans, found a place back of King's house and down in a swampy i)lace whieJi they claim- 
 ed was the scene of a struggle, and Kidder's little boy and Joe l!a|)tiste each found a 
 silver half dime and a nickel; also what they claimed to be mustache hairs tliat were 
 scratched off by the body being dragged under the fence. The hair Kidder had die 
 only had one,) was black and long, whereas Irons' niustaclie was only i)erceptible and 
 about a cream color. Kidder impressed tlie operative as a blow-hard, and he is in- 
 clined to think that he either "i)lanted'' these coins for the iturpose of creating a talk, 
 or that they were dropped by tlie searchers, as they were found about a week after 
 Irons disappeared. Today, on his return to Hart, ('. saw :\Ir. John Bean, the County 
 Surveyor and an old settler, who is thoroughly conversant with the woods. 
 
 Yours truly, Allkx 1'inkk.ktox. 
 
 L. G. Rutherford, Esq., Attorney at Law, Hart, Mich. 
 
 Dear Sir:— The following is the continuation of your report: 
 
 Sunday, June iTtli, 1S8L 
 C. went to King's place this morning and had a talk with him : C. also examined 
 the spot back of his place where the money is said to have been found. Tlie ground 
 was torn up and the grass considendily scratched, but this, of course, was di>ne by 
 the searchers, as there are several reliable men who made an earlier search and they as- 
 sured C. that there was no sign of any struggle. C. has examined King Uioronglily 
 and separately trom his wife, and is convinced that he had nothing to do with the 
 murder and that he knows nothing of it. C. thinks that jealous Indians did the work. 
 C. saw the Vaughn family who live across the street from the Kings. The families 
 are very intimate and the Vaughns are reliable. They say King and his w ife and lit- 
 tle boy were about home all of the day that Irons disapiicarcd and they ct>rroborate 
 King's story in various ways. C. went again to see if he could discover any smell In 
 the woods where young Sayles claimed to have sinelled soniething, but C. was unable 
 to find anything. C. went over to Bean's mill and saw Ira Fritz and Bleck Crowfoot 
 and others. C. ran a rumor down about the Sweeney's, who keei) a store and sell 
 wiiLsky at the mill on the sly, bnt it amounted to nothing. A good many .say that 
 these Indians have not grit enough to commit ninrder, but C. has found several men 
 w ho have been nearly killed, w hen taken unawares, for .some little offense, and \:ui- 
 Brocklin, foreman of the shingle mill and a reliable man, said tliat the Indians are 
 
112 OCEAXA COUNTY PIOXEEliS 
 
 just like wolves, cowardly and treacherous. Xow and then a decent one is found. C. 
 returned to Sayles' and staid all nl<;ht. 
 
 Wednesday, June 20th, 1881. 
 C. went to Bean's mill early this morning and VanUroeklin told him that Austa- 
 liasong, an old Indian and a relialjle one, had found a trail near Paybama Lake that 
 he wished C. to look at. Van Broeklin is an old trailer and he said that the Indian's 
 word is reliable, and C. asked him if he would go and show him (C.) the trail. He 
 said he would. During the talk the villainous faces of Joe and Louis Baptiste were 
 watching C, but he paid no attention to them. YanBrocklin borrowed Shonagee- 
 sick's river boots for C. and they started on what proved to be a sixteen mile tramp. 
 YanBrocklin and C. with Austahasong and his son and two other Indians left camp 
 and after walking about seven miles came to the marsh near Paybama Lake. It Is a 
 wild, desolate place and they saw several bear tracks. After they waded through the 
 swamj) a long distance tliey came to the trail. Austah gave a grunt and pointed to it. 
 They then \\cnt to the place in the woods where it starts and followed it down to the 
 creek where it crossed, and then through the swamp grass to within three or four 
 rods of Paybama Lake, where It could not be seen on account of the luiture of the 
 ground. C. saw that a soft, heavy body had been dragged over it towards the lake. 
 It looked as if a bag of wheat or oats had been dragged over the place. It certainly 
 was no canoe. C suggested a bear or deer, but could see at once that if it were either 
 hair would have been left on the trail. Austah said "If bear or deer trail go from 
 lake." One of the Indians suggested that a bundle of light wood for burning in a 
 jack-light was dragged there, and Au-tah laughed at dragging light wood a 
 Ion"- wav through water ^^ hen there was plenty of it on the banks of the lake ; besides 
 where the trail started there was no light wood. The trail led to within a few rods of 
 a canoe that Austah made over a year ago, and it has been on the lake ever since. C. 
 got into the canoe and paddled around the lake, which is small but deep and shut in 
 by thick woods all around ; he could see the bottom in some places covered with moss 
 aiid weeds, but that was only on the edge. After making the circuit of the lake C. di- 
 rected the party to go back and see if they could find anything in the shape of a trail 
 leading from the place where the body was dragged. Tliere were three little smokes 
 or small fires where the trail began, and after searching about for some time Austah 
 and YanBrocklin found the tracks of persons leading away from the trail and also the 
 same tracks deeply indented pointing towards the trail. 0. was a little skeptical 
 about the identity of these tracks, but he could see that they were old and deep, as if 
 a heavy body had been carried. After about two hours' work the Indians followed 
 the track to the old w'agon road cut down to the swamp from the main road and about 
 half a mile from where Irons was last seen. There was just one faint wagon track on 
 this road, and all said that the road had not been used for months. It certainly looks 
 as if a body had been carried in a wagon as far as the road goes and then slung from 
 a pole or carried on a litter to a lonely place near the swamp and then dragged to the 
 lake, taken in the canoe and thrown into the water. C. did not rely on his own opin- 
 ion entirely, but on that of experienced woodsmen like Austah, YanBrocklin and oth- 
 ers, all of whom said that nothing could be dragged by a hunting and fishing party 
 that would make a similar trail. One Indian, Bailey, differed, but he is a Catholic 
 and Austah is a Methodist. The other is a Pagan and agreed with Austah. 
 
 Tuesday, June 21st, 1S81. 
 This morning C. saw John Bean and he was going up to see Lon Yates where Mrs. 
 King was stopping. C. decided to go with him. On the way up with Bean, C. decid- 
 ed to drag the lake Thursday, going to Pentwater to-morrow after the tools. When 
 they arrived at Yates' C. found that Mrs. King had gone w ith Yates' peddler and did 
 not know where. On his return C. stoi)ped at Monroe Wicks', where Olcutt works, 
 but he was not there. C. had a talk with Mr. Holt, a neighbor just across the road, 
 who had heard Olcntt's story, and believed it. Further down the road C. met Mr. 
 Wicks and he .said Olcutt was strictly truthful and he believed him. Olcutt was at 
 King's from two in the afternoon until nine in the evening with King, his v^^ife, and 
 Willie, King's son. C. drove on and met one of the Supervisors. On driving by Cot- 
 ton's near Bean town, C. saw Mrs. King. They had a talk and she said she would 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 11 3 
 
 like to 8-0 to Hart, and C. invited Her to ride <l<mn witl. l.im as tl.at woul.l lmv,- i,i„, 
 a.v opportunity to tallc witl. l.er. She said sl.e wonld «o. and after f. drove over 
 lie mill, on the way baek he pieked lu-r n,.. She told V. a Kood deal of h.r past life 
 how she was arrested when Vi years old for being a prostitute. She said she would' 
 never go l.aek to King, but was going to Cran.! Rapids or A.la, her fornu-r lion..- si... 
 told C. she was going to get some of King's notes into her liands and sell s.)mi.- „f his 
 horses If she eould, and invited V. to come and see her at (Jraud Ka|.lds ( )n •irrivinu- 
 
 at Hart C. got supper for her and got her a n and bought her a ron.b. button-lu.ok 
 
 and several little trifles. 
 
 , , , Wednesilay, June 22nd, Isrfl. 
 
 C. heard today that Louie Baptisle beat his wife some time ago for havhi - *' 00 
 which she could not account for and he swore that Irons was at the bottom of it" This 
 came through Billy General, an Indian. C. spread the report that he was to drive 
 to Paybama Lake and drag it on Thursday, and then asked Auslah to watch and see 
 if any one came there before then. C. then drove to I'entwati'r witii Kd. Irons and 
 met Mr. Nickerson, one of the proprietors of the mill, wiio inomised to do evcrytliin- 
 he could to aid in the matter. Keturning to 15ean-town C. took supper at Capt Irons" 
 C. saw Lou's boots and learned that Ed. wore them while searching. This accounts 
 for the tracks on King's oat field. 
 
 Thursday, June 23rd, 1881. 
 
 This morning after makinga very efficient diag, ('. assisted by his party commen- 
 ced to drag the Paybama Lake. They worketl hard all day, but did not liiid anything 
 to reward their efforts. 
 
 Friday, June 24th, 18.S1. 
 
 They resumed dragging this morning and continued till 3 p. m. with no .success. 
 
 VanBrocklin, who is an old sailor and fisherman, was the best man C could haw Iiad. 
 
 They found another little lake close by and decided to drag it when they got a better 
 
 »"'S- Yours Truly, Ai.r.K.v Plvkkihon. 
 
 T -^. T> ,, ... ., ('HU-A(;o, Jidy Uth, 18,si. 
 
 L. G. RuTHEnFOKD, Esq., Attorney at Law, Hart, .Mich. 
 
 Dear Sik:— The following is a continuation of Mr. Coe's report : 
 
 Satui-day, .Tunc 2.')th. ISS|. 
 
 This morning C. went over into Mason county to see Joe Adams, a man wiio took 
 a prominent part in the search for Irons, and who i)ioi)osed to lynch King. ('. met 
 him near his house and had a long talk with him, and there seemed to lie still better 
 cause for suspicion against the Haptiste boys. Billy (ieneral, an intelligent Indian 
 who lives near him, thinks that Louie Baptiste, if not guilty, at least kn<tws something 
 about the disappearance of Irons. Johnny Pete, a sou of old Pete Pnckanobanaw, 
 took his father and mother over to the town of Elbridge, either the day before or on 
 the morning of the disa])pearaiice of Irons. Johnny Pete was said to have been with 
 the Baptiste boys late in the night in which Irons disappeared. After they had come 
 back, a few' days after the disappearanc ', from searching for Irons, .loe Adams 
 asked Louis Baptiste why he did not assist in the search, and Baptiste said: "What 
 for you ask me'.' I no killum Irons." C. then drove back to camp where . Johnson 
 and several Swedes who had lately arrived, were stopping. These were the men who 
 last saw Irons, a short distance beyond Bean's camp. Johnson was willing to tell all 
 lie knew. He .said that Irons was walking along the road a little after 4 o'clock m the 
 afternoon. He walked slowly as if thinking of something, with his head down and one 
 hand behind his back. These men were sitting 011 a log smoking and did not speak 
 to Irons nor did he notice them. C. then returned to Bean-town. 
 
 Sunday, Juno2fJtli. 
 
 Today C. went down to Hart to write up his reports, which he is iimil>le to ilo In 
 
 the woods. 
 
 Monday, .June '.'7tli. 
 
 Cleft Hart early this morning and went to the mill and took a walk over into 
 
 Mason county to see Adams. He was not at home, butt", foimd him In the woods 
 
 talking to Billy (reneral and several other Indians. C. ami Adams walked bark t'> 
 
 the house and in a short time were joined by Billy CJeneral. Billy siud in substance 
 
 the same as Adams told C. on .Saturday. He said that the Indiana woiUd not kill a 
 
114 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 man for money, but they would -do so for revenge. He seemed to think that Lonis 
 BaiJtiste acted strangely when talkhig to Adams. He promised to try and find out 
 where Johnny ruckanobanaw went with his team on the night before Irons disap- 
 peared. He thought he couldn't do much because the Indians seemed to be suspicious 
 of liim. General agreed to come to Hart Wednesday or Thursday. On liis way back 
 C. stopped at Crystal and saw Ira Ford, a Constable of that place. C. asked him if he 
 knew anyl)ody who could be trusted to rope in with Jennie Sawbee. Mr. Ford sug- 
 gested a French Indian named Louis Tremblee, and said he would do all he could to 
 assist C. 
 
 Tuesday, June 28th, 1881. 
 
 C. came to tlie conclusion that it would be impossible to rope in with the Indians 
 on account of their imperfect knowledge of English and the fact that they will not 
 talk about each other. He decided that the only way to do was to arrest the wliole 
 party, and then either trust to their giving each other away or imprison them togetli- 
 er and have a hole cut in the ceiling of tlieir cell and have Niley Sayles, who speaks 
 the Indian language, and Billy General concealed in the room aboye to listen to tlieir 
 talk. C. went to Hart today for tlie purpose of submitting this plan to tlie autliorities 
 there. They approved of it, but it was finally decided tliat C. should question the ])ar- 
 ties who are suspected as soon as he could get Sayles to act as an interpreter. He is 
 away, but will be back in a short time and C. will then see wliat can be done with the 
 Baptiste boys and Jennie, c. tlien went back to Bean-town and spent the day in get- 
 ting all the information lie could about tlie suspected parties. He learned that Louis 
 Baptiste had nearly killed a white man named Betsy in Pentwater two years ago, 
 which shows tliat he is of a bad disposition. 
 
 Wednesday, June 29th, 1881. 
 
 Today C. went over to Crystal to see if Ford had learned anything about the mat- 
 ter from Jennie. He said that Treml)lee had had her out the night before but could 
 get nothin'i' out of her in regard to the matter. C. then returned to Bean-town. He 
 is trying to find out how Austaliasong found tlie trail by Payljama Lake in such a des- 
 olate place. C. learned that an old squaw, the graudmotlier of tlie Baptistes, dreamed 
 that she saw two men carrying a body through the swamp and .iust as theyv.ere about 
 to sink it in Paybama Lake she woke up. C. will try to find out whether the old lady 
 dreamed this, or really knows anything about it. He will also try to find out who 
 started the story that Louis Baptiste gave his wife a whipping on finding out that she 
 had $3.00. C. also got a letter from Mrs. King asking him to come an d see her in Grand 
 Rapids. {'. learned that she hul said before leaving that C. was pretty cute but she had 
 not told !iim everything she knew. 
 
 Thursday, June 30th, 1S81. 
 
 C. went to Hart today and waited for Billy General, but he did not come. About 
 noon Adiims came and said General had refused to come, saying tliat he could not af- 
 ford to pay the expense. Adams ottered to pay his expenses, but he would not come, 
 as he seems to be afraid to tell what he knows. 
 
 Friday, July 1st, 1881. 
 C. started this morning, taking Sayles with him, to see Jennie. He found her in 
 bed. She refused to talk until C. tlireatenod to arrest her when she became more 
 tractable. C. asked her when she last saw Irons. She said the day he left she was in 
 the store with him. She said that she knew tliat he was going away in the afternoon. 
 C. said, "Well, wliat time was it you met him in tlie woods." She said she did not meet 
 him ; she left Bean-town after he went. Slie went to Jolin Cotton's near by, and after 
 staying a little while went over to Shagonaliee's house. This is true. C. asked her how 
 long she staid at Sliagonabee's. Slie said two weeks. This was a lie as she was arrest- 
 ed three days after at Crystal. Sue said she knew nothing about Irons. They then 
 went over to Grossman's mills where old man Bailey lived. Bailey is the Indian who 
 was with C. on the trail at Paybama Lake. He says he is certain that the body was 
 dragged there. He thought tliat Johnny Coby, an Indian now at White River, started 
 tlie story about Louis Baptiste finding his wife witli two dollars. C. then went over to 
 Bean-town. He had a talk with Louis Baptiste who acted very strangely and contra 
 dieted himself several times. C. asked him if he had ever had any trouble with Irons. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-nAV. 115 
 
 He said that the Indians all loved Irons as he was so good to them C nsked lilm 
 where he went last Tuesday. He said lie went to see Charlie General, who was a nolo- 
 nous druukard and sui)i)osed to he a hrother of Hilly General. He said he told Ini 
 Fritz that he went to Mason County, as he wanted him to think !iis horse was a "ocl 
 one, as he wanted to buy it of him Ira had said that Louis had followed them xvlien 
 they went to Mason County. Louis said that on the nijilit Irons disai.i)eared he went 
 home and went to bed; he dichrt f;o to the (bmee at Cox.seKan's bcause lie was tired. 
 It IS the lirst time he missed a dance anywhere. He said he didn't know anytldn},' 
 about his wife getting .$2.00 from Irons. He said his brother Mit-hell was at tl"i.' mdl 
 that afternoon. VauBroekliu, foreman iu tlie mill, says that Mitchell left the mill at 
 noon with Charley Pete. C. then saw Charlie I'ete wlio seemed very nervous wliile C. 
 was talking to him. He denied having been away from the mill on Friday, .Tune :iril, 
 and stuck to it. Mr. S^icer, who lives near by, says that he was in the store the day 
 before Irons disappeared, and Louis Baptiste was there also and was talking in an an- 
 gry manner to him. * * Irons came from behind the counter in a threatei' lug 
 manner and said: "What's that you sayV Louis said that he iniglit be mistaken. 
 They spoke a few words in the Indian tongue and then Louis went away, but they were 
 both angry. C. then went to see Louis" wife. Fourth of July was there also." .Mrs. 
 Baptiste was very anxious to know who told C. that Irons had given her two dollars, 
 and seemed very indignant at it. * * C. asked Louis' wife what time Louis 
 came home and where lie went after supper on the night of Irons' di.saiiiiearanee. She 
 said he went to bed after supper as he was tired. Ira Fritz will swear that he saw Lou- 
 is go towards home at supper time and then come back. He hung around ui.til dusk 
 and then left. C. then went to see Mitchell Baptiste. He was not at home. His wife 
 said that Mitchell went to bed on tlie night of the disappearance right after supper. 
 Louis Shagoubee's wife was there and C. asked how long Jennie staid at lier house af- 
 ter Irons disaopeared. She said two nights. Tliis is true. C. waited some time for 
 Mitchell, but he did not come and C. went back to Sayles". 
 
 C. thicks that the result of his inquiries among the Indians shows that they must 
 know something about the matter or they would not lie so about it. Sayles, wlio at 
 first did not believe that the Indians knew anytliing about it is now inclined to think 
 that they know more aI)out it than they will tell. 
 
 Yours Respectfully, Ai.i,k.\ I'inkkuto.v. 
 
 A Sad Accident at Crystal.— A vci-y sad accident occurred at 
 Crystal Valley on the evening of July 31,1879. Two boys, the 
 sons of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. McClure, were both drowned in the mill 
 pond, a small body of water covering about two acres. Geo. P. 
 Quinn, son of Mrs. McCkire by a former husband, a lad of 
 about fourteen years of age, and Warren McClure, son of Mr. Mc- 
 Clure by a former wife, nine years of a^e, were the victims. They 
 ■were both bright hids having many friends who predicted for them 
 a bright future. The circumstances of the affair were briefly these: 
 On the evening named the boys cam^from school and requested of 
 their fcXther, who was sick in bed, permission to go in srt-imniing. 
 He consenting, they repaired to the mill pond and were seen at 
 about six o'clock playing in the shallow water. This was the last 
 seen of them in life. The fact that they did not come to supper 
 •?\-as commented upon, but the parents concluded they had gone af- 
 ter the cows and so the matter rested until dusk, when a search 
 was instituted which resulted in the finding of both bodies in the 
 pond. Warren was lying upon his back in about eight feet of wa- 
 
116 OCEANA COUKTY PIONEERS 
 
 ter, while George was clinging to him face down. The supposition 
 was that Warren had gone beyond his depth and George in at- 
 tempting to assist him also perished. The affair cast a gloom over 
 the community for many days. 
 
 The Scandinavian, Evangelical, Lutheran Church op Oceana 
 County. — Among the pioneers of Oceana County there were a few 
 Scandinavians who settled in what are now Benona andCIaybanks 
 townships. Coming from countries having a State Church, and 
 where the principles of Christianity are early and firmly inculcated 
 into the mind, it is but natural that early in their pioneer life they 
 should yearn to establish among themselves the church of their 
 fathers. In the summer of 1862, urged by their inherent desire, 
 they sent an invitation to Rev. Hatlestad, of the Augustana Syn- 
 od, to visit them. He came, and on the 10th of August, 1862, 
 they met for the first time in these almost unbroken wilds for wor- 
 ship. Accustomed as they had been in the Old World to regularly 
 attend services, how must it not have thrilled them as again they 
 bowed in prayer, and, with the moaning of the Great Lake wafted 
 calmly throuuh the solitudes of the primeval wilderness surround- 
 ing them on every side, as accompaniment, they again sang the 
 psalms they had sung in youthful days. 
 
 In the afternoon of the same day, they held a meeting to organ- 
 ize a Church, at which the following persons united and formed the 
 Church whose name appears at the head of this sketch: 
 
 Anders H. Brady and wife Ingeborg. 
 
 John Munson and wife Fredericka. 
 
 Andrew H. Brady and wife Julia. 
 
 Henry Hendrickson and wife Martha. 
 
 Tollef Hendrickson and wife Nicoline. 
 
 Tollef Brady and wife Gurine. 
 
 Halvor H. Brady and wife Nicoline. 
 
 Nils Haroldson and wife Maren. 
 
 Christopher Knudson and wife Isabella. 
 
 Ole Fergesen and wife Oline. 
 
 Halvor H. Brady. 
 
 Annetta Brady. « 
 
 Christopher Omholdt. 
 
 A constitution was adopted in part, and Henry Henriekson, An- 
 ders H. Brady and John Munson were elected deacons. 
 
 In 1865, thirteen members were added, and in 1866 the balance 
 of the constitution was adopted, the organization completed and 
 eleven persons admitted to membership. 
 
 The following is a list of those who have served the Church as 
 pastors: 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OE TO-DAY. 117 
 
 Eev. J. Nesseth from the organization until 1868. 
 
 Rev. J. C. Jacobsen from 1868 until 1870. 
 
 Rev. T. H. Wald from 1870 until 1878. 
 
 Rev. O. Amble from 1878 to 1884. 
 
 Rev. H. Z. Hvid from 1881 until 1885. 
 
 Rev. S. Olsen from 1885 until 188(). 
 
 Rev. J. SiTSther from 1886 until 1887. 
 
 Rev. O. C. Baker from 1887 and continuing. 
 
 Ih 1869, Tollef Brady sold the Church three acres oi land and 
 gave it two acres. The same year one acre of this was dedicated 
 to a grave yard. Already, fine monuments mark the resting places 
 of many who have been closely connected with the interests of the 
 Church. Foremost among these maybe mentioned Ander.s II. Bra- 
 dy and John Munson, two of the first deacons. 
 
 In 1884, a neat litt^ church was built, in Claybanks. It is 50 
 feet long, 32 feet wide and 18 feet high, with the addition of a ves- 
 try in the rear. The steeple, of ancient architectural design, is 12 
 feet sciuare and 64 feet high. The cost of the edifice and its furni.<Ii- 
 ings was about $2,000. 
 
 At present the membership exceeds two hundred, and the Church 
 is in a healthy and prosperous condition. 
 
 The Makin Murder.— On the 11th day of October, 1884, .Tas. A. 
 Barker, or Al. Barker, as he was known, shot and killed his broth- 
 er-in-law, Willie Makin, in the presence of his wife, Makin's sister, 
 and Jesse Howe and son. The shooting took place from Barker's 
 barn, whither Makin and his sister had gone to get a gi-ist which 
 Barker had ground at Pentwater the day before for Makin. Bar- 
 ker stood in the open door with a stick in his hand, and as Makin 
 stepped upon the bridge he struck him over the head with the stick 
 breaking it. Makin then stepped one side as if to pick up a stone 
 and started up the bridge again, when Barker commenced liring up- 
 on him, one of which shots took effect, hitting Makin in the breast, 
 causing almost instant death. Jesse Howe, who witnessed the 
 tragedy, brought the news to Hart and officers immediately start- 
 ed after and arrested Barker at a neighbor's house near by. He 
 was under the influence of liquor and had a revolver on his person 
 fully loaded. The trial took place in the February term of Court 
 following, and being the first murder trial in the county, e.xcited 
 considerable attention. The Prosecuting Attorney, C. B. Stevens, 
 and the Hon. F. W. Cook, of Muskegon, conducted the prosecution; 
 L. G. Rutherford and Hon. W. E. Ambler thedefense, J udge Rainsdell 
 presiding. He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 
 ten years in Jackson State's prison. 
 
 Several efforts were made to secure his pardon, but were iinavail- 
 
118 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 ing. The murder was cold-blooded and heartless, but there were 
 many extenuating circumstances brought to light. Had he not 
 been under the influence of liquor, however, the murder would nev- 
 er have occurred. 
 
 On the 81st day of January, 18S8, Barker died in State's prison, 
 o'f typhoid fever. 
 
 Pentwater Furniture Factory.— We remember when we first 
 came to Northern Michigan hearing the oft-repeated expression: 
 "Yes, its a lively town now and will be for a few years, but what 
 will be done when all the pine is gone?" 
 
 While Oceana County has never been much of a pine timber point 
 as compared with her neighbors on the north and south, still her 
 first manufactures were of the saw mill species, and while in the 
 main, the development of agriculture has gradually followed the 
 lumber period, still the question of maintaining and increasing vil- 
 lage growth must be by furnishing labor for men, and if steady thrift 
 is secured some new manufactures must succeed the lumber mills. 
 Pentwater took its first step in attempting to solve this problem 
 in the spi'ing of 1882, when a few of her enterprising citizens reach- 
 ed the determination to give over their efforts to induce foreign 
 capital to come to their assistance, and resolved that they Avould 
 make the venture unaided. It was arranged between Sands tt ]Max- 
 well, Nickerson & Collister, and Nielsen & Co., three of the princi- 
 pal firms, that they Avould contribute twelve thousand dollars of 
 the amount necessary to start a furniture factory, and with this 
 as a -leader" Messrs. Fred Nielsen, W. E. Ambler and E. Nickerson 
 undertook to rai-se the necessary funds by a general subscription 
 to capital of a joint stock company. 
 
 It was a great undertaking when we consider the small number 
 and ability of the citizens to invest in the enterprise. After some 
 hard and persistent work, about $32,000 was subscribed and the 
 company incorporated. On the 2oth day of May, 1882, the stock- 
 holders met at the office of W. E. Ambler and organized by electing 
 Edwin Nickerson, William B. 0. Sands, Edgar G. Maxwell, Thomas 
 Collister, Fred Nielsen, Jacob Fisher, John Jeffries, Directors. Wil- 
 liam E. Ambler was elected, but declined to serve and was excused. 
 The Board of Directors organized by electing W. B. O. Sands, Pres- 
 ident; E. Nickerson, Vice President; J. Jeffries, Sec'y; Fred Nielsen, 
 Treasurer. 
 
 Director Nickerson offered the following resolution: 
 "That W. E. Ambler is hereby appointed as the agent of the 
 company to purchase of Hon. Charles Mears certain ground for the 
 use of the company, as he shall deem advisable and for the best in- 
 
GAZETTEER OF THE VILLAGE OF PENTWATER. 
 
 Churches.— Congregational. M. E. Church. Kev. 
 A. L. Coors, Pastor. Kai)tlst. Rev. M. L. Mar- 
 vin, Pastor. St. James Mission, T-ay Reader, 
 (;. H. Cleveland, M. ])., Catholic Church, no 
 Resident Priest. 
 
 Schools.— Union. Prof. F. O. Wickhain, Princi- 
 pal. Assistant, Miss McBurney. Grammar, 
 Jennie Boutoii. Intermediate, Jessie Eaion. 
 2nd Intermediate, Etta Burr. Primary, Mrs. 
 Mary Ilerrington. 
 
 Secret Societies.— See Page IM and following. 
 
 Attorney's.— Wm. E. Ambler, L. M. Hartwick, 
 W. H. Tuller, Charles R. Johnson, H. W. Harp- 
 ster. 
 
 Physicians.— G. O. Switzer, M. D., Eclectic. G. 
 H.Cleveland, M. I)., Regular. C.W.Cramer. 
 M. 1)., Homeopathic. 
 
 Bankers.- Nielsen & Co. 
 
 Merchandise General.— Sands & Maxwell Lum- 
 ber Co., C. Mears. A. J. Underbill. F. O. 
 Gardner. 
 
 Hardware.— C. F. Lewis & Co. 
 
 L)ruggists.-E. A. Wright, F. W. Fincher. 
 
 Furniture.— C. R. Whittington. 
 
 Books and Stationary.— C. C. Ambler. 
 
 Jeweler.— M. A. Rice. 
 
 Photographer.— O. W. Stone. 
 
 Millinery and Dre.ss Making.— Mrs. C. D. Pool. 
 Miss. M. Nash. Mrs. C. H. Smith. Dressmak- 
 ing, Mrs. L. Bane. Miss Glover. Ida Wal- 
 radth. 
 
 ResUiurant and Boarding.— Mrs. G. Wm. Grant 
 R. Golden. ' 
 
 Pentwater News.-L. M. Hartwick, Prop. 
 
 Bakery— C. N. Wise. 
 
 Hotels.— Inius House, E. W. Elliott, Prop. For- 
 est House, W. S. Dnmont, Prop. Lake View 
 House, W. C. Adkins, Prop. 
 
 Weaver.— Mrs. E. Long. 
 
 Billiards.— P. Dreves. 
 
 P. O.-H. H. Bunyea, P. M. 
 
 Saloons. —A. Fisher. T. Weidensee. 
 
 Barbers.- C. Meaux. B. A. Smith. J. Cahlll. 
 
 Clothing.— Wm. Klingbeil. 
 
 Livery.— Wm. A. Rounds. 
 
 Painters.— J. Jeifery. L. O. Vincent. G. W. 
 Davis. 
 
 Manufactories.— Pentwater Bedstead Co., Sands 
 & Maxwell, Props. Middlesex Brick & Tile 
 Co., Foundry and Water Works, E. J. Birk- 
 ett, Prop. Tables, Wagons and Agricultural 
 Implements, J. Halstead. Table Slides, J. S. 
 Bird. Flouring Mill, Nickerson & CoUister. 
 Planning and Carpenter, Labonta & Mero. 
 Saw Mills, Sands & Maxwell Lumber Co., F. 
 O. (Jardner, A. J. Underhill. Shingle, C. H. 
 Chapman. Oceana County Canning and Evap- 
 orating Co. 
 
 Blacksmithing.— Wm. Ticknor, J. Halstead. 
 
 Fishermen.— A. Warner, A. Cutler, J. Cutler, M. 
 D. Pool, Robt. Venn, M. H. Putnam. 
 
 Boat Line. — Pentwater and liUdington, twice 
 each day. Steamer Geo. W. Sanford Jr. 
 
 Railway.— C. & W. M. Two passenger trains 
 daily. 
 
 Fire Department.— Geo. Flood Chief. 
 
 Atlethtic Club.— Niel VanAllsburg, President. 
 
 News Agency.— Wm. M. Hartwick. 
 
AND BL'SIXESS MKK OF TO-DAY. 119 
 
 terests of tlic company, paying therefor such sum as he may think 
 proper," &c. 
 
 Mr. Ambler visited Chicago and purchased for the company the 
 present site, paying therefor $2,000 in stock and $300 cash. The 
 company commenced building without delay. A fine factory .50.\;- 
 100 feet, four stories high, with brick boiler and engine room was 
 erected and the very best of new machinery jiut in. The first bill 
 of furniture as disclosed by sale book was on Ajiril 12, 1883, "8 
 Beds, $21.00." 
 
 Furniture was shipped all over the U.S. and a large trade worked 
 up. Only one fault was found, and that was, the goods were too 
 well made for such cheap furniture. The comi^any employed froni 
 50 to 100 men. 
 
 The grave mistake made was the investment of too much capital 
 stock in the factorj' and leaving the company practically without 
 any working capital. The annual statement of 1884 shows of the 
 capital stock of $32,750, the amount then invested in buildings, 
 real estate and machinery to be $28,32.5.94, leaving the company 
 to borrow all necessary funds for operating. This, together with 
 experionce purchasing iit\a.Bt created a deVjt beyond the ability of 
 the company to meet, and on Nov. 11, 188/3, the factory was sold 
 to the Sands & Ma.xwell Lumber company, and the mortgage debt 
 thus extinguished and the stock of Sands & Maxwell cancelled. 
 This left the Pentwater Furniture Company with the stock on hand 
 and bills receival;le to meet current debts and balance to divide 
 among stockholders. The Sands & Maxv.ell Lumber Company 
 commenced operations Jan. 1, 1887, under the name of Tiie Pent- 
 water Bedstead Company. 
 
 Since this company has taken possession of the factory it 
 has pushed the business in its usual way, which is to crowd to 
 the fullest capacity and increase facilities as fast as business will 
 warrant: During the winter of 1887-8 it built a two-story brick 
 addition, 48x164 feet, to tlie works, which is connected with the 
 main building by a tramway from the second stories. As we have 
 stated, the first order was received April 12, 1883, and was for 8 
 beds, $21.00. Now the company furnishes work for one hundred 
 hands, runs full time and is receiving orders as fast as they can be 
 filled. In 1889 the company used in this establishment two mil- 
 lion feet of lumber and expects to use three millions this year. Its 
 sales in 1889 amounted to $84,833.78, and the furniture was ship- 
 ped to all parts of the country, a c^uantity going to California. 
 The present shipments are about $10,000 per month. It has 
 an order from Denver, Col., at this writing, for a ten car lot. Mr. 
 Sands personally suijerinteuds the factory, while Mr. J. H. Boutou 
 acts as shipping clerk. 
 
120 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY SAVINGS BANK. 
 
 July 2, 1885, the Oceana County Loan and Security Company 
 was organized at Hart, Mich., and the following Directors elected: 
 
 I 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 121 
 
 L. McGraft, L. N. Keating, C. T. Hills, of Muskegon; Charles E. 
 Lawrence, of Hillsdale; W. B. O. Sands and W. E. Ambler, of Pent- 
 water; E. D. Richmond, of Hart. The authorized capital was 
 $100,000. The Board of Directors organized by selecting the fol- 
 lowing officers: President, W. E. Ambler; Vice President, C. T. 
 Hills; Secretary, E. D.Richmond. The purpose of the organization 
 was to invest its capital in first mortgages and other securities on 
 long time and hold these papers for sale to any person wishing to 
 make investments. The cut on previous page shows the home of- 
 fice as first established. It is fire-proof and detached, built of brick 
 and stone, with iron roof, cornice and shutters, 30x-i0 feet, with 
 French plate glass front. It is highly and elegantly finished inside 
 with native woods, has a vault 10x10 feet, with Hall & Co.'s fire 
 proof doors, time lock, &c. Oct. 31, 1887, some of the stockholders 
 sold to the present owners, and it was reorganized under the State 
 banking law as the Oceana County Savings Bank. It now has 
 .$70,000 capital paid in; surplus, $4,614.76; undivided jn'ofits, 
 $6,409.31. The Board of Directors for 1890 are C. T. Hills, A. L. 
 Carr, E. D. Richmond, C. H.Hackley, L. N. Keating, A. A. Dunton, 
 D. J. Mathews: President, C. T. Hills; Vice President, A. L. Carr; 
 Cashier, E. D. Richmond; Assistant Cashier, W. N. Sayles. 
 
 The Banking House of Chukchili^, Oakes & Co., at Shelby, 
 was organized July 1st, 1883, with a paid up capital of $10,000, 
 which has since been increased each year. The business has proved 
 a very satisfactory one to those engaging in it and has paid a fair 
 dividend. At the organization Walter H. Churchill was elected 
 President; Samuel W. Webber, Vice President, and Dustin C. Oakes, 
 Cashier, and these gentlemen have continued to discharge the du- 
 ties of the respective offices since. The firm have a large fire-proof 
 vault containing a large burglar and fire-proof safe, with time locks. 
 The office is in the new Opera Block and is furnished with all mod- 
 ern improvements for safety and convenience. Thegentlenien com- 
 posing the firm are all well known, and being possessed of a large 
 amount of real and other property in this and other counties in 
 the State, as well as good names for business integrity and honesty 
 no person need have any fear of disaster in doing business with 
 Churchill, Oakes & Co. 
 
 Oceana Co. Tribune.— Some members of the gi-eenback party re- 
 alizing the advantages of a party organ to represent their views 
 during the jjrogress of a campaign, in Hept., 1886, organized a joint 
 stock company comjjosed of leading greenbaekers, and installing F. 
 Towns, a young man of editorial experience, as editor, commenced 
 the publication at Hart, of the Oceana County Tribune, a seven 
 
122 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 column folio. While Mr. Towns was editor, W. Wigton, I. D. Reed 
 and James Brassington were the real managers. Afterwards Mr. 
 Towns retired and I. D. Reed became editor, which position he held 
 until 1889, when he also retired and James Brassington became 
 editor and manager, with Frank VanValkenburg, an experienced 
 printer, as chief assistant. The paper is now recognized as an or- 
 gan of the democratic as well as greenback party. It is well edited 
 and X3resents a fine appearance. Mr. Brassington is a practicing 
 attorney and devotes only a portion of his time to the manage- 
 ment of the paper. 
 
 Shelby Herald. — Harry M. Royal, a young man reared in the 
 village of Shelby, who served his early aiDprenticeship in the Inde- 
 pendent office of that place, afterwards occupying an important 
 position in the office of the Tradesman, at Grand Rax^ids, estab- 
 lished and in the month of May, 1888, issued the first number of 
 the Shelby Herald. It is a six column folio, well edited, clean in 
 appearance and bristling with locals each week. It is independent 
 politically and receives a good patronage. The editor is a young 
 man of promise and thoroughly alive to the interests of his village. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 MUNICIPALITIES. 
 
 PENTWATER. 
 
 The township of Pentwater is the extreme northwestern town in 
 the county and is designated as Town 16 North, Range 18 West. 
 It comprises only fifteen sections of land. It is divided into two 
 parts by the channel and little lake. The village is located on the 
 north, east and west sides of the lake. The principal improvements 
 and property value are located on the east and north side. The 
 place was first settled by Edwin R. Cobb and Andrew Rector, as 
 api^ears elsewhere. The name is undoubtedly a corruption 
 of the wox'dspe7322ed water, indicating the little lakeui:)on the banks 
 of which the settlement was made. The following is a list ot the 
 Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers of the township to 1890: 
 
 Supervisors.— E. R. Cobb, 1856-7; D. G. Weare, 1858; Henry C. 
 Flagg, 18o9-'61-2-3-J:-5-6; A. J. Underbill, 1860-'73; Edgar D. Rich- 
 mond, 1867-8; Sewall Moulton, 1869; F. W. Ratzel,1870; Stillman 
 Parker, 1871; G. W. Imus, 1872-5-6-'89; E. Nickerson, 1874; John 
 Fegan, 1877-8; A. Brillhart, 1879; S. W. Buuyea, 1880-1-2; E. A. 
 Wright, 1883; H. H. Bunyea, 1884-6-8; W. L. Tilden, 1885; Henry 
 Hurley, 1887. 
 
 Clerks.— James Dexter, 1856-7; E. R. Cobb, 1858; E. D. Rich- 
 mond, 1859-'60-'75-6; Charles W. Deane, 1861; Andrew M. Dahl, 
 1862; F. W. Ratzel, 1863-5-6; E. C. Hildreth, 1864; Henry H. 
 Woods, 1867; E. E. Edwards, 1868.-9-'70; R. L. Rice, 1871-2; Hen- 
 ry F. King, 1873; John S. Reynolds, 1874; A. J. Underbill, 1877; 
 E. B. Clark, 1878-'80-9; W. P. Lee, 1879; W. H. Tuller, 1881-5-6- 
 7-8; H. A. Gross, 1882-3-4. 
 
 Treasurers.— Norman Rogers, 1856-7; W. P. Harding, ISoS; J. 
 G. Blowers, 1859; Wm. Webb, 1860-1-2; W. H. Merritt, 1863; B. 
 R. Hall, 1864; Thomas Craine, 1865-6; W. B. 0. Sands, 1867-8; E. 
 W. Bovee, 1869-'70; W. A. Rounds, 1871-2-3; Mark A. Rice, 1874- 
 5-6; H. H. Bunyea, 1877-8-'80; A. Sorensen, 1879; A. W. Newark, 
 
124 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 1881; J. H. Bouton, 1882-3-6; C.R.Whittington, 1881-5; F. Smith, 
 1887-9; Otto Grant, 1888. 
 
 Village of Pentwater. — Since the platting of Pentwater village 
 its history may properly be divided into three periods, which the 
 words inSatioD, depression, and healthy growth aptly designate. 
 The first was the lumber period, the two branches of Pentwater 
 River reaching many miles into the famous pine lands north and 
 south, the fine harbor shielded from the heavy lake winds made it 
 a desirable point to manufacture lumber and it grew rapidly, too 
 rapidly in fact, for the pine becommg exhausted its mills thinned 
 out and lumbermen sought other fields. About this time a sj'ndi- 
 cate of speculators at Grand Rapids discovering that there was a 
 flaw in Pentwater's recorded titles bought up quit claims from the 
 heirs of the original owners and commenced a number of ejectment 
 suits against those in possession. This caused the period of de- 
 pression and Pentwater acquired the name of being a dead town. 
 But the cloud upon the titles was removed by the Courts. It was 
 soon discovered that it was almost entirely exempt from malarial 
 influences and that serious illness was uncommon. Then a bed of 
 very fine clay for brick or tile was discovered extending 
 three-fourths of a mile along the banks of the little lake. The at- 
 tention of the lumberman being diverted from pine it was noted that 
 the beech, maxDle, cherry, ash, basswood and elm timber near 
 Pentwater was of a very superior grade for the manufacture of fur- 
 niture, wagons, etc., and we begin to enter again upon the third pe- 
 riod of healthy growth. A Chicago capitalist, Mr. Charles Mears, 
 organized the Middlesex Brick & Tile Co., which having laid out 
 some seventy-five thousand dollars in making ready to develoj) the 
 clay plant, is now manufacturing and sending to Chicago on its 
 own scows and barges the finest common brick made, and employs 
 some 80 hands. The Pentwater Furniture Co., and the Pentwater 
 Bedstead Co., employing as many more, sprang into existence, fol- 
 lowed by the Halstead Wagon Works, the Pentwater Novelty and 
 Iron Works, and the Oceana Co. Canning & Evaporating Co. Dur- 
 ing this time improvements of all kinds have been taking place in 
 every part of the village. New and fine residences erected, small 
 manufacturing or trading enterprises developed into large pros])er- 
 ous institutions, and on the main street large brick blocks, and at 
 the present time indications for a remarkable growth are good. 
 The village has a steam fire engine and a good system of water 
 works, a paid fire department, maintains a night watch, has one of 
 the best union schools in the North, and the following church or- 
 ganizations: Methodist, Congregational, Baptist, Episcopal and 
 Catholic, all of which worship in edifices of their own. The village 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 125 
 
 is beautifully located ui)on and half surrounded by Pent water 
 Lake, and within eighty rods of Lake Michigan, but separated from 
 it by high hills covered with evergreens the year 'round, making it 
 one of the most romantic and picturesc^ue villages on the shore. 
 It, aside from being a popular resort in summer for tourists, inva- 
 lids and sportsmen, is the natural shij)ping outlet for the county, 
 and through it a large proportion of the county's wonderful fruit 
 products have to pass to reach the outside world. 
 
 It is the health of the place, however, that makes it especially de- 
 sirable as a place of residence. During the prevalence of di]phtheria, 
 scarlet fever, typhoid fever and kindred diseases that have been so 
 fatal in other portions of the State, Pentwater has been almost 
 entirely exempt. There have been developed but two cases of ty- 
 phoid fever here in several years, and in each instance the disease 
 was contracted elsewhere and the patient brought here and cured. 
 
 In the winter season fishing upon the ice is a favorite pastime, 
 and in the summer cisco, herring, perch, bass and pickerel are 
 caught by the basketful. 
 
 The Pentwatek News. — On i)age 40 ajipears an account of 
 establishment of the first 
 newspaper of the county, the 
 Oceana Times. It was pub- 
 lished at ^liddlesex, now a 
 part of Pentwater. The 
 founder was Mr. F. W. Rat- 
 zel, whose portrait, through 
 the courtesy of his brother- 
 in-laws Mr. E. B. Flagg, we 
 are enabled to present to 
 our readers. On page 73 
 appears additional history 
 of the paper and the sale by 
 Mr. Ratzel. Mr. Ratzel, af- 
 ter disijosing of his interest 
 in the paper, engaged in mer- 
 cantile pursuits, and in '79 
 removed to Manistee, where 
 in the latter part of Janua- 
 ry, 1885, he died. 
 
 Mr. Hartwick, the jjres- 
 ent proprietor, in 1885 jDur- 
 
 the 
 
 F. w. ratzel, 
 
 chased the brick block which is herewith represented, and mo 
 the j)lant into it. 
 
 ved 
 
126 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 PENTWATER NEWS BLOCK. 
 
 It occupies the whole of the first floor and basemeut. In June, 
 1887, there was put in an Olds gasoline steam engine, and the job 
 press was run by steam. In January, 1888, a Proutj- pov.-er press 
 was added and at the present time the paper has a circulation of 
 1200, a good advertising and job patronage. 
 
 Water Works. — -In May, 1SS8, the following named persons con- 
 stituted the Common Council of the village of Pentwater, viz.: Pres- 
 ident, L. M. Hartwick; Recorder, Chas. M. Underbill; Treasurer, 
 Chas. R. Whittington; Trustees, D. C. Wickham, Wm. Kuhn, Thos. 
 Collister, Mark A. Rice, Alvin Warner and James E. Grover. At 
 the second meeting of the new Council the President recommended 
 taking steps looking towards the putting in a system of water 
 works. A committee was apjDointed, consisting of the President, 
 D. C. Wickham and T. Collister, who after making inquiries and 
 formulating a system, made a report which with some variations 
 was afterwards adopted. The question upon a iDroj)osition to 
 bond the village was submitted to a vote of the people and carried, 
 only fourteen votes appearing against it. The contract was let to 
 M. Walker, of Fenton, for putting in pumps, capacity 1,500,000 
 gallons, and about two miles of cast-iron mains, as follows: From 
 pump house to Hancock street, eight inch main: from Third to Sev- 
 nth on Hancock, six inch main; from Seventh to Ninth on Han- 
 cock, and from Third to Second, four inch; from Hancock to Rush 
 on Seventh, from Second to Eighth on Wj^the, from Hancock to 
 Rutledge on Third, from Fifth to First on Rutledge, and from x^ump 
 house to Bedstead Co.'s works, four inch. Crosses were put in at 
 
AKD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 127 
 
 every street crossing and gates at intervals along the line of mains, 
 16 Ludlow hydrants were placed. A contract was made with E. J. 
 Birkett, proprietor of the foundry, to furnish the power and run 
 same for five years. The system was completed and the test made 
 Jan. 11, 1888. Prior to the completion of the contract a vacancy 
 was created on the Council by the removal of Wm. Kuhn, and at a 
 special election Geo. W. Imus was elected to fill the vacancy. 
 Messrs. Rice and Birkett j)erfected and put in an electrical fire 
 alarm, and by the time election occurred again the system, barring 
 some minor details, was completed. The cost for mains, crosses, 
 gates, hydrants, etc., was $7,843.76. The total cost about ten 
 thousand dollars. 
 
 RESIDENCE OP W". E. AMBLER, PEXTWATER. 
 
 Middlesex Brick & Tile Co.— For many years the Hon. Chas. 
 Mears advocated the advantages and feasibility of manufacturing 
 clay products at Pentwater, insisting that the clay banks on the 
 north shore of Pentwater Lake, at the east limit of the village, was 
 unrivalled in its quality and location for easy shipment, and at 
 last he succeeded in interesting gentlemen from Chicago sufficient- 
 ly to make a tour of inspection, which has resulted in confirming 
 all that Mr. Mears has ever claimed, and in fact, exceeding his ex- 
 
128 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 pectations, and to his persistent energy and abiding faith in the 
 
 scheme is due the fact that in July, 1883, the Middlesex Brick & Tile 
 
 Company was incorporated, 
 with a capital of sixty thou- 
 sand dollars. Charles Mears, 
 Harvey Cockell, of Chicago; 
 W. E. Ambler, Fred Niel- 
 sen and F. O. Gardner, of 
 Pentwater, Directors. Under 
 Mr. Cockell's supervision 
 docks were built, buildings 
 erected, machinery purchas- 
 ed and put in, a tug built, 
 and the same year some brick 
 wei*e manufactured. It was 
 the plan of Mr. Cockell to dry 
 the brick under cover by ar- 
 ficial heat, so that the clay 
 could be kept moving from 
 the time it left the banks un- 
 til it reached the last kiln 
 where the brick were burned. 
 M. D. GiKARD, RECORDER, '89. There were some defects in 
 
 the system of curing and the product was not of as good quality as 
 
 expected but as the institution 
 
 was passing through its ex- 
 perimental stage the courage 
 
 of the investors did not fail 
 
 them, but greater and more 
 
 extensive preparations than 
 
 ever were made for work the 
 
 next season. April 9, 1884, 
 
 however, the works took fire 
 
 and all the buildings and 
 
 some of the machinery were 
 
 destroyed. This was an un- 
 fortunate blow and resulted 
 
 afterwards in Mr. Cockell 
 
 selling his stock and retiring 
 
 from the management. The 
 
 Board was reorganized with 
 
 Mr. Mears in control. Henry 
 
 Hurley was made manager 
 
 and the works again^started 
 
 E. B. CLARK, ASSESSOR, '89. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEX OF TO-DAY. 
 
 129 
 
 up. The brick were cured by the weather under cover and 
 then transferred to the kilns and burned. The product now was a 
 very fine quality of common brick that found ready sale. The 
 Company employed from eighty to one hundred hands during the 
 summer season. In 1889 Mr. Hurley died and his successor has 
 not yet been selected. 
 
 RESIDENCE OF W. B. O. SANDS, PENTWATER. 
 
 Parks. — Several times in years jjast knots ot our citizens have 
 casually discussed the x>i'03ect of making some improvements at 
 Bass Lake, agreeing that with a small outlay a x^leasant drive of 
 about three and a half miles from the village could be had, nice pic- 
 nic grounds in the shady woods, and boating, bathing and fishing 
 in the lake, yet some way nothing had been done for want of a 
 "starter." In July, 1886, three of our villagers talked the matter 
 over, and it resulted in procuring a team, and Mr. Perkins, Dr. 
 Cleveland and Mr. Ambler paid a visit to the lake and after looking 
 over the ground decided to test the feeling of the good folks and see 
 ^Yhat could be accomialished. The land wanted belonged to Hon. 
 Chas. Mears, of Chicago. Mr. Mears favored the project and made 
 the generous jproposition to convey the land to the Comjiany for 
 the nominal sum of seventy-five dollars and take that amount of 
 stock in the Companj-. Whereui^on articles of incorporation were 
 
130 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 prepared and in less than a M'eekfrom the time of the first talk and 
 
 without any fuss or furor, 
 the Company was organized, 
 and six hundred dollars of 
 the one thousand stock tak- 
 en, outside of Mr. INIears' sub- 
 scription of three shares. The 
 following named gentlemen 
 signed the articles of incorpo- 
 ration, viz.: Sands & Maxwell 
 Lumber Co., W. E. Ambler, 
 E. A. Wright, Fred Nielsen, 
 Jacob Fisher, A.J. Underbill, 
 H. H. Bunyea, W. L. Tilden, 
 Geo. W. Imus, F.O. Gardner, 
 Labonta & Mero, L. M. Hart- 
 wick, E.Nickerson, Thos. Col- 
 lister, M. S. Perkins, M. A. 
 G. o. swiTZEB, HEALTH OFFICER '89. Rice, G. H. Cleveland, Wm. 
 Moody, Smith Brothers, J. W. Loomis, C. W. Cramer, C. R. Vvhit- 
 tington, F. W. Fincher, W. A. Rounds. 
 
 Monday evening following 
 ameetin,^ of stockholders was 
 held at the Pentwater News 
 office and the election of Di- 
 rectors resulted as follows: 
 W. E. Ambler, Fred Nielsen, 
 J. Fisher, H. H. Bunyea, G. 
 W. Imus, M. S. Perkins and 
 L. M. Hartwick. 
 
 The next day the Directors 
 organized by electing, Presi- 
 dent, W. E. Ambler; Secreta- 
 ry, L. M. Hartwick; Treasu- 
 rer, Fred Nielsen. 
 
 The report of the Board of 
 Directors at the annual meet- 
 ing in 1887 showed $800 re- 
 ceived from sale of shares, all 
 
 of which was expended on m. a. rice, trustee. 
 
 the grounds; roads leading from Pentwater to the grounds were re- 
 paired and put in fair condition; the grounds cleaned of rubbish 
 and underbrushed; a large Greek cross shaped pavilion finished in- 
 side and out has been erected, also kitchen and and store room; a 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 131 
 
 boat house and docks for landing; two bath houses; two croquet 
 
 grounds made; swings and rustic benches placed in portions of the 
 
 grounds; a w'ell with pump; 
 
 ten fine row boats placed in 
 
 the boat house; an ice house, 
 
 etc. Afterwards Messrs. Fred 
 
 Nielsen and W. E. Ambler built 
 
 fine cottages on the grounds. 
 
 The park is a very popular 
 
 place for pic-nic gatherings. 
 During the summer of 1888 
 
 a proiect for organizing an 
 
 Odd Fellows' Park Associa- 
 tion was started in this place. 
 
 Its iDurpose was to purchase 
 
 and tit up grounds where 
 
 menibers of the order with 
 
 families and friends could go 
 
 and enjoy themselves in rest 
 
 and recreation, and where G. v.'. iMUS, trustee. 
 
 Lodges could picnic and summer reunions take place. The grounds 
 
 selected were twentj'-three acres on the east side of what is known 
 
 as the Big Bayou of Pentwater 
 Lake, extending .south and tak- 
 ing in the point. Nature has 
 been very lavish in preparing 
 these grounds for park purposes. 
 The natural lay of 'the land is 
 picturesque, and from its great- 
 est elevation a view of the vil- 
 lage. Lake Michigan, the little 
 lake and many miles of finij land- 
 scape is obtained. It is covered 
 with shrubbery of oak, pine, 
 ground hemlock, and nearer the 
 water, cedar. Several lovely 
 grottos are located on the 
 grounds in which are springs of 
 ice-cool, crystal water, xjure and 
 tasteless. Its nearness to Lake 
 Michigan exempts it from the 
 
 ,.;!E^S 
 
 J. M. CAHILE, TRUSTEE. 
 
 mosquito pest during warm weather, while it is far enough remov- 
 ed to be protected from severe lake winds by intervening hills. It 
 is within a mile and a half of the depot, and a mile of the village. 
 The Big Bayou furni.'shes the best of fishing waters and the only 
 
132 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 good trolling gi'ounds in the lake. Pentwater Lake, as is well 
 known, is remarkable for its high banks and deep water, which fur- 
 nishes the secret of the total exemption from malaria. By its pe- 
 culiar shap3 it fui'nishes the finest body of water on the shore for 
 yachting, rowing and other aquatic sports, and being connected by 
 a short channel with Lake Micliigan gives the opportunity of enjoy- 
 ing excursions right from tlie grounds into this beautiful body of 
 water. Many yachts, row boats and steam craft are owned at Pent- 
 water whicli can be secured for use by the Association until it gets 
 craft of its own. It was intended to secure at least one hundred 
 members with one share each. 
 
 May 10, 1S89, the Park Association was organized by the elec- 
 tion of the following Board of Directors: E. T. Mugford, I. C. Ford, 
 Wm. Cooper, T. H. Baker, Wm. G. Fisher, L. M. Hartwick, W. H. 
 Tuller, Wm. Hudson, C. M. Underbill, G. O. Switzer, C. W. Cramer. 
 Some seventy shares were i)ledged. During the year 1889 a large 
 pavilion was erected, several acres of ground cleared, several tine 
 springs developed, walks built., a dock built, grottos made accessi- 
 ble by walks, etc., and a start made, wliich, if continued, will make 
 it a very fine park. 
 
 Pentwater HEAiiTH Record.— The death rate among adults 
 throughout the civilized world averages about 11 per thousand of 
 X)opulation. In the State of Michigan it is about 8. In the county 
 of Oceana, 6. In the village of Pentwater during the year 1889 
 there were nine deaths among adults, or an average of about five 
 per thousand of population. 
 
 The following is a table of deaths from all causes from one year 
 old and upwards, occurring in Pentwater since Jan.. 1, 1882, to 
 Jan. 1, 18U0: 
 
 '8-2. 'S3. 'S4. 'So. '86. 'ST. '88. '80. 
 
 Coiisiimpuon 2 4 7 2 3 2 3 2 
 
 Old Age 13 2 10 5 2 3 
 
 Heart 1 2 1 1 1 
 
 Diop.sy ; 1 1 i 1 
 
 Fever 1 1 1 
 
 Aeckleiits 2 1 1 u i o 
 
 Kidney Trouble I O 
 
 Scarlet Fever l o o o u 2 
 
 Cliildliirth 1 o o 
 
 Pjii'iiiysis 1 
 
 {inwt-r 10 :i 
 
 Negleet 1 o 
 
 Cholera Morbus U 1 o o 
 
 Softening of Brain o o o i o o 
 
 Uiiihtheria o o o o 
 
 Inilaninuition of Bowels i o 2 
 
 Kupture of Blood Vessel i o o 
 
 Consumption of Blood O o " O 
 
 General Debility o o o o i o 
 
 10 11 12 5 11 12 11 
 
 I 
 
PENTWATER.— RESIDENCE OF E. G. MAXWELL. 
 
 FAY-RAW-.MK 
 
 Pay-ba\v-me, the noted chief, is de- 
 scribed as a man of medium height, 
 keen of ej^e, spare and darl<. When 
 young he was one of the wildest of his 
 tribe, but when about middle age he 
 was converted to Christianity. He is 
 said to have been a man of ability, 
 and could preach a tellingsermon. He 
 was for years Town Treasurer of El- 
 bridge and kept everything straight, 
 but in a ijeculiar Indian fashion by hi- 
 eroglyphics and in the Indian tongue. 
 He was the head of the Catholi<; bands 
 and read on Sundays. He was a mo- 
 nogamist and had no issue. His wid- 
 ow married Louis Genereau. He died 
 in L8T0. a man of about sixty years 
 of age. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 133 
 
 The following table shows the mortality by months, covering the 
 same period: 
 
 '82. '83. '84. '85. '80. '87. '88. "80. 
 
 Jaiuiiiry 1 2 10 2 2 2 
 
 Febnuuy 2 i -> 2 1 o 
 
 March 12 2 10 
 
 April 2 10 2 3 3 
 
 May 1 12 10 10 
 
 June 1 1 1 1 1 
 
 July 2 10 2 12 
 
 August 2 10 10 
 
 September 3 o 1 l 2 
 
 October 2 o 2 2 
 
 Xoveniber l o 3 
 
 December l i 1 o 
 
 10 11 12 5 G 11 12 11 
 
 From May 17, 1888, to Jan. 1,1890, a x)eriod of twenty months, 
 there was just one death between the ages of one and twelve years. 
 
 TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE OP SHELBY. 
 
 The first meeting of the town, which was at first. Stony Creek, 
 was at Wheeler's Mills, on the first Monday in April, 1855; Harvey 
 Tower, Chairiran. This being the first election of the township, 
 the electors went into caucus, and proceeded to nominate officers, 
 after which they adjourned one hour. Thej'then proceeded to poll 
 the votes, polls closing at "half-past 3 o'clock." $75 was voted to 
 defray town expenses. There were sixteen votes cast, in all, and 
 the elections were practically unanimous. 
 
 In 1862 the town of Shelby (called then Benona), was set off by 
 itcelf, and there were but eight voters, and all voted for Bird Nor- 
 ton as Supervisor. 1863 and 1861 seem to have been years of con- 
 fusion, as the officers were always resigning. In the latter year 
 there were eleven voters. In April, 1870, a vote was taken to give 
 aid, to the amount of $7,195.20, to the G. R. & L. S. R. R., which 
 was carried, but owing to some legal flaw never i3aid. The peojjle 
 of Shelby built the depot, at a cost of $1,200.— Page's History of 
 Oceana County. 
 
 The following is the list of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers, to 
 the present time: 
 
 Supervisors— Warren Wilder, '55; Wm. Gardner, '56; L. I). Ea- 
 ton, '57-8; S. E. Knowles, '59; H. Hoffman, '60-'61; Bird Norton, 
 '62; Wm. Weston, '63; Silas C. Powers, '64; Warren Vradenburg, 
 '65; Walter H. Churchill, '66-'85; Parley R. Cady, '67-8-9; Andrew 
 Maples, '70-1-2; George W. Woodward, '73-4-5-6-7-9-'80-2-4; A. 
 H. Bearss, '78; W. H. Barry, '81-3; Jesse Bearss, '87-8-9. 
 
 Clerks.— Malcolm Campbell, '55-6; Henry Hoffman, '57; D. M. 
 Merrifield, '58; George Semback, '59; Wm. Weston, '60-1-2; E. W. 
 
134: OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Elliott, '63; A. C. Randall, '64; Orrin Deming, '65-6-7-8; W. H. 
 Churchill, '69-'70-l-2-3-4-7-'81; H. O. Bickford, '75-6; Alpheus NefE, 
 '78-79-80; Manly C. White, '82; F. A. Pitts, '83; W. E. Osmun, '84; 
 F. W. Newman, '85-6-7; F. M. Myers, '88; T. T. Usborne, '89. 
 
 Treasurers.— James McNutt, '55-6-'60-l-2; John Stearns, '57; 
 L. M. Curtis, '58. Wm. Gardner, '59; James A. Hall '63; Alva Bab- 
 cock, '64; R. Vradenburg, '65: Calvin S. Reed, '66; O. G. Marvin, 
 '67; James S. Runner, '68; A. H. Beai'ss, '69-'72; David Stringham, 
 '70-1; Alex Pittenger, '73-4-5-6-7-8; Parley R. Cady '79-'80; A. Z. 
 Moore, '81-2; Rufus W. Wheeler, '83; D. H. Rankin, '84; George 
 Dewey, '85-6; C. J. Fleming, '87-8-9. 
 
 Village of Shelby. — We have headed this article Village of 
 Shelby because that is the name under which was incorporated in 
 1882 a thriving village on the C. & W. M. R. R., on Sec. 17 of the 
 township of Shelby. There are two village plats, one of which was 
 made in 1871 and named Barnett, and another south of this plat- 
 ted in 1873 by Martin L. Sweet and Andreas Bevier, and named 
 Shelby. The business part of the village and the more populous 
 residence part is upon the plat or village of Barnett. If a man 
 were to jiurchase a lot in this plat, not knowing the name, he would 
 be surprised upon examining his deed to find he had been deeded a 
 lot in the village of Barnett. There was something of a joke i3erpe- 
 trated when this name was given to the village of Barnett. At the 
 time it was platted there was a brakeman by the name of Barnett 
 on the railroad who proposed to pay the expenses of platting if the 
 proprietors would name it after him. His proposition was accept- 
 ed, but when he was called upon for the fees he asked if it had been 
 recorded, and being answered in the affirmative laughed and de- 
 clared he was merely joking, but was much obliged for the honor 
 conferred upon him. Thus the village became Barnett, while the 
 postoffice and railway station were named Shelby, and as the lat- 
 ter name is the one generally used in referring to the village and the 
 one under which it was incorporated, many being ignorant of the 
 fact that any other name exists, we have used it at the head of this 
 brief sketch. 
 
 The first settlement that had any appearance of developing into 
 a village was made at what is known as "Churchill's Corners." 
 Hei'e Mr. W. H. Churchill built a house during the summer of 1864 
 on the northwest corner of section sixteen. This was followed by 
 a blacksmith shojD built by Alpheus Neff in 1868; a genei-al mer- 
 chandise store built by Jas. Williams in 1869, and a drug store 
 built by a Mr. Adams in the spring of 1870. All of these buildings 
 were on section sixteen, except the latter, which was across the 
 road on section nine. It might be well to mention in passing that 
 when Mr. Churchill settled here in Feb., 1864, there were but eleven 
 
AND BLTSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 135 
 
 .^^ 
 
 ■\V. H. SHIRTS, TRUSTEE. 
 
 voters in tlie township. Tliis little village did considerable busi- 
 ness. Here the postoffice of 
 Shelby was first located with 
 Mr. Churchill as Postmaster, 
 commencing Dec. 15, 18G6, 
 who continued to hold the po- 
 sition for nineteen years and 
 nine months. Here travelers 
 were entertained by Mr. Chur- 
 chill, who may be named as 
 the first hotel keeper of Shel- 
 by. The State road built in 
 1865-6 ran j)ast this little 
 cluster of buildings, and a 
 great many passengers were 
 carried over it from Whitehall 
 to Hart by that veteran stage 
 driver, James Roddy. Horses 
 were changed at this place and 
 taking all things into consider- 
 ation, it was far from a dead town. 
 In the fall of 1871 the railroad was surveyed and grading begun, 
 
 and the spot selected for a 
 depot being some distance 
 from the little settlement, it 
 left a space between sufficient- 
 ly large with land upon the 
 other side of the road bed to 
 plat a village, and Samuel A. 
 Browne, A. Pittenger, Jas. G. 
 Gray and 0. Demmg decided 
 to take advantage of the op- 
 portunity and ]plattedand re- 
 corded the village of Barnett. 
 That building might be coni- 
 !■ pelled to commence near the 
 ':; railroad depot and not mere- 
 ^' ly contmue in that du-ection 
 : from the Churchill settlement 
 they left the land adjoining 
 the settlement in blocks, re- 
 fusing to sell single lots. The 
 J. WRIGHT, TRUSTEE. scheme was successful and 
 
 building began near the depot. The first store building on the plat 
 
136 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 variety store 
 
 was built by Mr. E. J. Shirts in the winter of 1871-2, on lot 1 of 
 block 18. In the spring of 1872 Messrs. Churchill & NefE built a 
 hardware store on lot 20, block 14. Since then building has gone 
 steadily forward and today we find a flourishing village filled with 
 fine edifices and progressive business men. The following from a 
 copy of the Pentwater News published in 1873, shows the condi- 
 tion of Shelby at that time: 
 
 "The village of Barnett in Shelby township, started last year, 
 seems to be building, just now, quite rapidly. W. H. Churchill, the 
 Postmaster of Shelby has removed the office to Barnett station — 
 where it presents a very neat and imposing appearance — and, in 
 company with Mr. Neff, Mr. Churchill is keeping a hardware and 
 E. J. Shirts, lately of Lansing, is keeping a 
 small dry goods store, and is 
 now arranging to build quite 
 a capacious one. Mr. Wil- 
 liam Branch, in company 
 with another gentleman, has 
 just opened a boot and shoe 
 store, and all seem to be in 
 prospect of doing a good bu- 
 siness. Dr. C. F. Sweet is 
 building a new drug store, 
 and G. W. Woodward, Esq., 
 the newly elected Supervisor, 
 is about erecting a grain ware- 
 house for the purpose of buy- 
 ing and storing farmers' pro- 
 duce. This will be quite an 
 important feature of the 
 town, as the opening of a 
 cash market for produce is a 
 very great help to any village. 
 E. H. CUTLER, TRUSTEE. Messrs. Malcolm & Williams 
 
 have a very fiwe mill in operation here, and thousands of dollars 
 have been paid by different jDarties for logs, this winter, to be sawed 
 up into lumber by this mill. Messrs. Williams & Son are about 
 putting up a new store, and will, as soon as it is finished, remove 
 their stock of goods into it from their present location at Shelby 
 Corners. Stumps are very thick in the village of Barnett, but time 
 and labor will soon efface them, and Bcxrnett maj^ ere long be a 
 very pleasant village." 
 
 From this time the village continued to grow. We have shown 
 on pages SO and 81 of this book how the pigeons came at an op- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 137 
 
 G. W. WOODWARD, ASSESSOR, '89. 
 
 portune moment to help out their dull times, and today Shelby is 
 one of the most thriving villages in the county. Hart owes much 
 of its imiDortance to the coun- 
 ty seat; Pentwater to its 
 lake outlet, but Shelby owes 
 all to the energy and public 
 spirit of her business men. 
 Today we find within her lim- 
 its two beautiful places of 
 worship, Methodist and Con- 
 gregational, and one of the 
 finest school edifices in the 
 county. There are well es- 
 tablished Lodges ot Masons 
 and Odd Fellows; a Rebekah 
 Lodge; G. A. R. Post; Camjj 
 of Sons of Veterans; Wo- 
 man's Relief Corps, and Sal- 
 vation Army. For fire pro- 
 tection it has a well organized 
 fire department, a Button steam fire engine made at Waterford, N. 
 Y., with good engine house, one thousand feet of hose with one cart 
 
 and other necessary appurte- 
 nances. The water in steamer 
 is kept warm from the furnace 
 in the Opera House block. The 
 water supply consists of nine 
 large reservoirs and numerous 
 small ones located in different 
 parts of the village. The vil- 
 lage is in a healthy locality 
 where the best of water is ob- 
 tained, is pleasantly situated 
 and a desirable place for a 
 home; and as a business i^oint 
 is surrounded with a beautiful 
 farming country fast develop- 
 ing, which must continue to 
 improve the village as the sur- 
 roundings improve. Among 
 T. H. BAKER, CLERK, '89. the many fine buildings now in 
 
 the village may be mentioned the new Opera House block, the 
 Churchill block, and the residences of W. H. Churchill, D. C. Oakes, 
 D. H. Rankin, R. H. Wheeler, Geo. E. Dewey, and many others. 
 
138 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 The village of Shelby was incorporated in 1885 and the first elec- 
 tion held May 4th. The Board of Inspectors was composed of G. 
 W. Woodward, W. H. Churchill, A. E. Souter and Alex. Paton. 
 The first President elected was Geo. B. Getty, who served one year. 
 F. W. VanWickle was the next, serving from 1886 to 1887. Geo. 
 B. Getty again from 1887 to 1889, and Geo. E. Dewey from 1889 
 to the present time. The present Council is composed as follows: 
 President, Geo. E. Dewey; Trustees, E. H. Cutler, Wm. Butler, Jep- 
 tha Wright, A. Z. Moore, W. H. Shirts and H. L. Andrus; Clerk, 
 Thos. H. Baker. Their election occurs on the second Monday of 
 March. 
 
 The following is a list of business firms represented in the village: 
 
 A. G. Avery, General Store. 
 
 D. Bejeoii, Harness, &c. 
 
 Mrs. H. O. Biekford, Millinery. 
 
 H. Brotlierton, Wagons and Sleighs. 
 
 E. N. Brown, Blacksmitli. 
 
 Will. Butler, Stave ]Maniifacturer. 
 
 E. G. Cavanagli, Physician. 
 
 Churchill, Oakes & Co., Bank. 
 
 W. H. Churchill, Justice, &c. 
 
 H. C. Crossman, Lumber and Saw Mill. 
 
 M. L. Ferris, General Store. 
 
 C. W. Fisher, Groceries, &c. 
 
 Jas. Forbes, Drayman. 
 
 R. G. Forbes, Livery. 
 
 E. B. Gaylord, Hardware. 
 
 " " Fruit Evaporator. 
 
 G. B. Getty, Lumber Dealer. 
 W. L. Griffin, Lumber Dealer. 
 Hanover «& Co., Merchant Tailors. 
 J. A. Harrison, Blacksmith. 
 
 *' " Wagons and Sleighs. 
 
 J. H. Hetley, Prin. School. 
 Mrs. F. O. Howe, Millinery, &c. 
 H. Johnston, Boots and Shoes. 
 A. E. McKlnnon, Hardware, &c. 
 Ben. J. Moore, Boots and Shoes. 
 C. C. Moore, Jewelry, &c. 
 J. H. Moore, Lumber Dealer. 
 J. B. Moore, Boots and Shoes. 
 Moore's Hotel, Moore Bros. 
 Martha Neff, Dressmaking. 
 Mrs. F. W. Newman, Independent 
 E. H. Norton, IMcats. 
 W. L. Paige, Eestauraiit. 
 
 Paton & Andrus, Saw Mill. 
 
 F. n. Payne, Groceries. 
 
 Peck & Cutler, Handles. 
 
 F. A. Pitts, Groceries and Meats. 
 
 Pitts & Wood, Photos. 
 
 Eankin House, Fred Sandbcry, Prop. 
 
 D. H. Eankin, Charcoal. 
 
 D. Eankin & Co., Drugs. 
 
 Eankin & Dewey, Gen'l Store. 
 
 L. Eatlibone, Barber and Cigars. 
 
 D. A. Kced, Blacksmith. 
 
 H. W. Eeid, Auctioneer. 
 
 C. H. Eose, Cigars, &e. 
 H. M. Eoyal, Herald. 
 
 J. W. Eunner, Drugs and Books. 
 R. Sabin, Physician. 
 
 D. G. Scroggs, Attorney. 
 
 Shelby Furt. Co., F. A. Scott, Mgr. 
 Shelby Roller Mills Co., Flour, &c. 
 Shirts Bros., Groceries. 
 Smith & Crossman, Millinery. 
 A. E. Souter, Justice and Ins. Agt. 
 S. Spellman, Blacksmith. 
 W. S. Stringham, Drugs, &c. 
 C. F. Sweet, Physician. 
 J. A. Tillotson, Barber. 
 
 C. H. Tullar, Furt. and Jewelry. 
 T. T. Usborue, Harness. 
 
 D. Yanwort, Drayman. 
 
 F. W. A'anWickle, Drugs & Groceries. 
 ]{. Walton, Blacksmith. 
 Wheeler Bros., Gen'l Store. 
 
 F. W. Wilson. Physician. 
 
 G. W. Woodward, Justice. 
 
SHELBY.— OPERA BUILDING. OPERA HALL IN SECOND STORY. CHURCHILL, OAKES 
 
 it CO., bank; D. H. RANKIN & CO., STORE; W. H. CHURCHILL, JUSTICE 
 
 office; D. E. MCCLURE, school examiner, FIRST 
 
 STORY. building IS HEATED BY 
 
 STEAM. 
 
 SHELBY.— RESIDENCE OF \V. H. CHURCHILL. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 139 
 
 DAVID RICHARDS. 
 
 The above is the picture of a pecuHar characteiMvho lives in Shel- 
 by. His name is David Ricliards, and for many years he has been 
 laboring under the delusion that he is the President of the C. & W. 
 M. E'y Co. He^has been humored in his delusion by citizens and 
 railroad employes. He is on hand when trains arrive, gives orders. 
 
140 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 hires and discharges men as though he was an actual official. The 
 medals upon his coat and vest have been presented to him by R. 
 E. employes and he wears them with j)ride. He claims the bank 
 and moneyed men about town are holding back $1,000,000 of sal- 
 ary accumulated in his 15 years' as railroad president. He also 
 tells how long it took him to build the Niagara bridge, and that he 
 built it as high as the river was wide, and then pushed it down, the 
 opposite end landing on the pier exactly as he had planned. He 
 decorates himself with all imaginable badges and insignia of office, 
 and usually walks through the train at Shelby, asking for sugges- 
 tions from the passengers how to improve his road. Everybody 
 who travels on this line knows "Davey." 
 
 HART TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE. 
 
 In the spring of 1856 Nelson Glover settled on the farm on which 
 he still resides, and the same spring there also settled a man with 
 his family just across the river from him, named William Dunham, 
 and east of Glover on the same side of the river, was Jacob 
 Schrumpf, another Scotchman named McAllister, and also Joseph 
 Booth, and a Mr. Green. In the same spring Dr. Ira Jenks came 
 from Kent, in company with two other men, wending his way via 
 Ci'oton, on the Muskegon, across the Marengo Plains, through the 
 wilderness, with a pocket compass, to the lake shore below Pent- 
 water, and two sawmills and a boarding-house, with one partly 
 built, was all there was then of Pentwater. Dr. Jenks came up the 
 woods, and called on Mr. Glover. In June he came again, and 
 chopped on his place, having had to cut a road four miles into his 
 place. His bark shanty had no floor, no door, no windows, and 
 the bark had curled so that one could put one's head out of the 
 cracks, if one wished. In about three weeks, Geo. W. Light and Ed- 
 ward Davis, with their families, settled on what is now VanWick- 
 le's place. Judge Eussell, with his two sons, Hiram and George, 
 came in for a few weeks, and did some chopping on their place this 
 season, but the Judge and his family did not move in until 1859. 
 In the spring of 1857 there were ten families, — N. Glover, W. Dun- 
 ham, J. Schrumpf, J. McAllister, S. Rollins, James Brooker, Ira 
 Jenks, V. Satterlee, G. W. Light, E. Davis, H. H. Fuller. 
 
 W. H. Leach put up the first frame dwelling in the village, and 
 was the first postmaster, succeeded by the present Circuit Judge 
 Russell. Robert McAllister was the first stage, as he carried the 
 mail on his back from Pentwater to White River. If he had pas- 
 sengers, it is not known how he carried them, as even "the boot" 
 of the stage was full. After this, the mail was carried by one man 
 and three horses. The man rode one horse and the two remaining 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 141 
 
 horses brought up the rear. Until 1876 the peojple of Hart got 
 their mail at Pentwater. In 1869 Collins & Roddy carried the 
 mail. The Methodist Episcopal Elder A. A. Darling was the first 
 preacher. In 1869 Elders Crane and Pratt preached in Huff's Hall 
 and a church was commenced that year. H. Brooks and Miss Et- 
 tie VanWickle were the first teachers in the new union school. B. 
 Moore erected and kept the first hotel. Nelson Green was the first 
 Judge of Probate, followed by Josiah Russell, Charles Camp, and 
 Amos Crosby, etc. Nelson Green was the first County Surveyor, 
 succeeded by Josiah Russell, and then H. C. Hawley. Tyler Gar- 
 mer was the first jailer, succeeded by O. P. Fortner. J. Palmiter 
 published the first news^Daper. In 1869, 36,036 pounds of maple 
 sugar were made in this town. The first Episcopal service in Hart 
 was in 1869, by the Rev. Dr. Pitkin. 
 
 G. Rollins, Daniel Wentworth and Mr. Spoor, who were among 
 the earliest settlers of Hart, were three ship carpenters, who came 
 to build a vessel for C. Mears, at Pentwater, and Rollins came in 
 first and picked out land for himself and the others. It was his 
 house that the first town meeting of Elbridge was held in, that 
 town then including four towns. Rollins and S^^oor are dead, and 
 Mr. Wentworth is in Maine, visiting the scenes of his boyhood. — 
 Page's History of Oceana County. 
 
 Supervisors. — Josiah Russell, '61-2; Robert F. Andrews, '63-5; 
 David L. Garver, '64; Abijah W. Peck, '66; Theron S. Gurney, '67; 
 Ahaz A. Darling, '68-9-'70; William J. Sprigg, '71-2; David John- 
 son, '73-1; Enoch T. Mugford, '75-6-7-8-9-' 80-1-2-3-1-5-6-7-8-9. 
 
 Clerks.— Abijah W. Peck, '61-2: Leonard E. Clark, '63; Peleg A. 
 Hubbard, '61; William H. Cheney, '65; William H. Leach, '66; Wil- 
 liam A. Peck, '67; John M. Rice, '68; Theron S. Gurney, '69-'70-l; 
 Charles W. Slayton, '72; Marcus H. Brooks, '73-4-5-6-7-8; James 
 H. Slater, '79-'80-2-3-4; C. A. Gurney, '81; W. P. Sackrider, '85-6; 
 F. H. Edwards, '87-8-9. 
 
 Treasurers.— Charles W.Wilson, '61; Daniel M. Wentworth, '62- 
 4-5; Nehimiah Miller, '63; George B. Rollins, '66-'82; David Ben- 
 ham, '67; Frederick G. Reading, '68-9; John Westbrook, '70-1-2-5; 
 Josephus S. Peach, '73-4; Peleg A. Hubbard, '76: Mills H. Bosworth, 
 '77-8; William D. Markham, '79; Isaac D. Reed, '80; G. L. Crumb, 
 '83-4; W. Stitt, '85-8-9; J. A. Collier, '86-7. 
 
 Village of Hart.— The village of Hart is located hi the midst 
 of the finest farming lands of the county. It is the product and 
 active evidence of the development of Oceana's farming and fruit 
 interests. Cotemporaneous with the clearing up of farming lands, 
 the raising of wheat, potatoes and fruit for which the county is no- 
 ted, came into existence and grew the i^leasant and attractive vil- 
 
142 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 lage of Hart. The village is situated on high ground sufficiently un- 
 dulating to give it a pleas- 
 ing appearance. The South 
 Branch of Pentwater River 
 runs thro' it on the north, 
 while east and west several 
 small brooks of clear, crys- 
 tal water, which have their 
 origin in springs, run thro' 
 the village and empty into 
 the river. These streams 
 abound with speckled trout, 
 salmon and grayling, and 
 during trout season the vil- 
 lagers enjoy the rare sport 
 of trout catching without 
 the usual discomforts at- 
 tending such sport. It has 
 also become noted through- 
 out the State, and sports- 
 men come evei-y season, fill- 
 ing the hotels while the sea- 
 H. .J. CHADWiCK, PRESIDENT, 1889. son lasts. Although a large 
 
 commodious hotel is here, they are frequently compelled to lodge 
 
 regular guests in private 
 
 families to accommodate 
 
 visiting sportsmen. 
 It is the county seat, the 
 
 location of the county 
 
 fair, has the largest flour- 
 ing mill in the county, one 
 
 which cost some $60,000 
 
 to build, two banks, three 
 
 newspapers, one fruit 
 
 evaporator, and a num- 
 ber of business houses, all 
 
 of which apparently are 
 
 doing a good business. It 
 
 has a village government, 
 
 having been incoi'porated 
 
 under the laws of the State 
 
 in 1885, and enjoys the 
 
 advantages of a fine sys- w. e. thorp, trustee. 
 
 tern of Avater works. Its main street has been graded and paved. 
 
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,— 1889. 
 
 HART. — RESIDENCE OF JAS. K. FLOOD. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 143 
 
 Its business buildings have mostly been built or rebuilt within a 
 a period of twelve years, and 
 are neat in appearance. 
 
 Many fine residences have 
 been built here in the past 
 twelve years that are models 
 of architectural beauty. Few 
 places present the home fea- 
 ture as well as Hart. The 
 majority of its business men 
 have grown with the county, 
 and made their accumula- 
 tions here. The spirit of en- 
 terprise is apparent in all its 
 public improvements. Its 
 l^eople are generous, courte- 
 ous, hospitable and intelli- 
 gent. For several years it 
 has successfully maintained a 
 literarj' society and Chatau- 
 
 quareadingcircle. The farms j. a. collier, marshal, '89. 
 
 surrounding the village are well imi^roved and are classed among 
 
 the best in the county. The 
 village is in the center of Oce- 
 ana's best fruit lands, and al- 
 so near her celebrated trout 
 streams that attract outside 
 sportsmen. It has the finest 
 hotel in the county, a large 
 brick block finely finished and 
 elegantly furnished, under the 
 management of a jjopular 
 and genial landlord. Itsprin- 
 ciiDal looints of vantage are 
 its water power, its fruit lands 
 and its trout streams. Its 
 pure water and healthy cli- 
 mate make it a desirable 
 place of residence. 
 
 E. T. MUGFORD, Assessor, '89. 
 
 Fire Department— The Hart Fire Department is in a prosper- 
 ous condition. It was first organized as a Hook and Ladder Com- 
 
144 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 pany, and afterwards as a regular Fire Department. The organi- 
 zation was perfected Aug. 4, 1886, with John F. Widoe as Chief. 
 The Department consists of 20 members, besides the Chief. Wm.N. 
 Sayles is the present Chief. The Chief is appointed by the Council. 
 
 Water Works. — Hart has the Walker system of water works, 
 put in at a cost of $4,500. The main is about one-third of a mile 
 in length, with seven hydrants. Can throw four streams eighty 
 feet high at one time. Accepted by the Council Oct. 18, 1886. 
 
 Hart Improvement Company (Wigton House Block). — The orig- 
 inal stockholders were: 
 
 Warren M. Wigton, J. K. Flood, F. J. Kussell, 
 
 Geo. Rhodes, E. B. Gaylord, D. J. Mathews, 
 
 M. A. Lnther, Wm. J. Sprigg, a. K. Chappell, 
 
 David Jolnison, L. P. Hyde, H. P. Parsons, 
 
 A. S. Wliite, Trustee ; E. P. Wigton, T. S. Gurney, 
 
 Isaac Ford, J. F. Widoe, Helen A. Gurney, 
 
 Orson Kelley, C. W. Slayton, E. S. Houghtaling, 
 
 Lydia L. Richmond, J. D. S. Hanson, E. D. Kiclimond. 
 
 A. S. White. 
 The capital stock was $10,000. There were nine Directors, the 
 first Board consisting of the following named gentlemen: 
 
 T. S. Gurney, Warren M. Wigton, E. B. Gaylord, 
 
 F. J. Russell, David Johnson, D. J. Mathews, 
 
 A. S. White, J. F. Widoe, J. K. Flood. 
 
 Wm. H. Bailey leased the hotel for five years. 
 
 Atticonian Society. The Atticonian Literary and Debating So- 
 ciety was organized in May, 1881, with the following officers: 
 
 President, George Alverson. Secretary, H. J. Chadwick. 
 
 Vice President, Chas. A. Gurney. Treasurer, Chas. R. Johnson. 
 
 Prophet, Geo. A. Mclntyre. 
 
 Reorganized Sept. 27, 1888, with the following officers: 
 
 President, John O. Ricliniond. Secretary, Robert R. Gale. 
 
 Vice President, J. D. S. Hanson. Treasurer, J. F. VanValkenburg. 
 
 Present officers: 
 
 President, George Alverson. Secretary, Harry Thorpe. 
 
 Vice President, C. W. Slayton. Treasurer, J. D. S. Hanson. 
 
 Present membership, 20. This Society is in a flourishing condi- 
 tion and has had considerable influence in its way since its organi- 
 zation. Has secured many excellent lecturers here. 
 
 Hart Union School. — The following are the names of teachers 
 
 and number of pupils in each department of the Hart Union School: 
 
 Principal, F. E. Young; Assistant, Miss LaVange Brooks; No. pupils, 84. 
 Intermediate, Miss Emma McRae; Assistant, Miss Docia Griswold; No. pupils, 81. 
 Primary, Miss Maggie Palmiter; No. i)upils, G4. 
 Total enrolled, 229. 
 
HART. — RESIDENCE OE HON. T. S. GURNEY. 
 
 HART.— WIDOE BASE BALL CLUB. 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN Oh" TO-DAY. 
 
 145 
 
 Chatauqua Circle. Hart has a Chataiiqua Circle, which was or- 
 ganized in October, 1885, with a membership of seven, and tlie fol- 
 lowing officei'S: 
 
 rresitleiil, Mrs. A. A. Duiitoii. Secretiiry, Miss CaiiiL' Wiutoii. 
 
 Tieasiuer, Miss Laura Jiutler." 
 
 At present there are nine members, with the following officers: 
 
 President, Mrs. J. V. Caliill. 
 Critic, Mrs. Nell Kussell. 
 
 List of graduates: 
 
 Seeretary, Mrs. J. K. Klood. 
 Treasurer, Jlrs. H. J. Holmes. 
 
 Mrs. A. A. Duiiton, 
 Mrs. .1. K. Flood. 
 :Mrs. (,'lias. A. Guriiey, 
 
 Mrs. C. K. Croft, 
 Mrs. J. V. Cahill, 
 ]\Iiss Emma R. Thorp, 
 
 Mrs. Nell Kussell, 
 George Alversou, 
 Mrs. 11. .1. Holmes. 
 
 Business Houses. — The following is a list of the business houses 
 of Hart: 
 Wm. D. Aekerson, Photographer. 
 Am. Express Co., T. J. Main, Agt. 
 Argus. E. S. Palmiter, Prop. 
 Lemuel Atwood, Physician. 
 Geo. K. Bates, Hardware. 
 
 Charles Bergman, Painter and Paper 
 Hanger. 
 
 John A. Billings, I\Ieat Market. 
 
 W. W. Bosworth,Saw & Shingle Mill. 
 
 James Brassington, Attorney. 
 
 M. H. Brooks, Attorney, C. C. Com'r. 
 
 F. Bunnell, Agt. C. & W. M. P. R. 
 
 J. E. Butler. Dep. Keg. Deeds and Ah- 
 stract Wfflce. 
 
 Cady & Gurney, Druggists. 
 
 H. J. Chadwiek, Physician, Drugs. 
 
 Marvin Chandler, Drayman. 
 
 Citizens' Exchange Bank. 
 
 James A. Collier, Postmaster. 
 
 Mrs, M. N. Collins, Dressmaker. 
 
 Geo. Cooper, Car. & Wagon Builder. 
 
 Wm. Cooper, Carpenter, Sherift'. 
 
 F. L. Corbin, Livery. 
 
 Harry Cornell, Dentist. 
 
 Mrs. W. T. Covell, Millinery. 
 
 Robert Currie,Carpeiiter and Shi|) Tim- 
 ber Jobber. 
 
 A. A. Dunton, Jr., Physician. 
 
 Frank H. Edwards, Painter. 
 
 Daniel Field, 151acksmlth. 
 
 James K. Flood. Lumber. 
 
 Griswold & Cahill, Hardware. 
 
 Tlieron S. Gurney, Attorney. 
 
 J. D. S. Hanson, Pros. Attorney. 
 
 Hart Journal, S. Edsou Prop. 
 
 Hart Leather Leg. Co.,E. I). Kichniond 
 Manager. 
 
 Hart Mnfg. Co., Lumber. 
 
 Henry H. Hatch, Physician. 
 
 Nelson Henion, Painter. 
 
 Henry J. Holmes, Cari>euter. 
 
 E. S. Houglitaling, (Jrocer. 
 
 John Knickerbocker, Drayman. 
 
 Mrs. O. W. Knox, Music Teacher. 
 
 Otis W. Knox, Dry Goods. 
 
 A. Larnard, Blacksmith. 
 
 H. Marshall, Re-staurant and Bakery. 
 
 Mathews & Chappell, Lumber Dealers. 
 
 Charles Meaux, Barber. 
 
 C. C. Messenger, Drug Slore. 
 
 Frank A. Morton, Fruit Evaporator. 
 
 A. E. jMotley, General Store. 
 
 Mugford & Servis, Pump M'fg'rs. 
 
 Oceana Co. Tribune, J. Brassington 
 
 Manager. 
 Mrs. H. P. Parsons, Dressmaker. 
 H. 1'. Parsons, Jeweler. 
 Mrs E. P. Pearl, Dressmaker. 
 Mrs. Nellie Pepplc, Restaurant. 
 Mrs. J. O. Richmond, Dressmaker. 
 J. O. Richmond, Jeweler. 
 Kidell & Collins, Ca- penters. 
 Rhodes & Leonard, (ieneral Store. 
 
 (P. ot I. Store.) 
 F. J. Russell, Attorney. 
 Ryerson & Dempsy, Meat Market. 
 Mrs. Nina Sackrider, Millinery. 
 W. P. Sackrider, Attorney, Co. Clerk. 
 S. A. Shufelt. Saloon. 
 Cyrenus Slaglit, Gen'l Mercliandise. 
 Jas. U. Slater, Harnessmaker. 
 Jas. H. Slater, Shoemaker. 
 A. Smith, Saloon. 
 Mrs. C. B. Stevens, Dressmaker. 
 
 C. B. Stevens, Attorney. 
 Stitt & Sanford, (irocers. 
 Wm. E. Thorp, General Store. 
 INIiss Anna Waller, Drt'ssmaker. 
 Waller & Son, Blacksmiths. 
 
 D. C. Wickham, Register of Deeds. 
 Wm., Wideman, Slioemaker. 
 John F. Widoe, Clothing. 
 Wii^'ton House, W. 11. Bailev, Prop. 
 Wigton v*t Boswortb, Flour Mills. 
 Williams Bros., l$arbers. 
 
 (U'orge Wyckoft", Co. Treasurer. 
 
146 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 The following named gentlemen have been President of Hart vil- 
 lage: W. M. Wigton, '85; Theron S. Gurney, '86; Daniel Landon, 
 '87; John F. Widoe, '88; H. J. Chadwick, '89. The present Coun- 
 cil is composed as follows: President, John F. Widoe; Trustees, 
 Wm. E. Thorp, H. H. Gilliland, Chas. E. Leonard, Jas. H. Slater, 
 John Westbrook, Geo. Dennison; Clerk, F. H. Edwards. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OP CLAYBANKS. 
 
 Claybanks was the first townsliip in the county to be settled and 
 the history of the county for many years is the history of the town- 
 ship. Wlien the county was organized it was one of the three big 
 townships, and included the territory of Claybanks, Grant, Otto 
 and Greenwood. The territory included within its i^resent limits 
 embraces some of the oldest and best farms in the county. In its 
 early history the ]n-ospects were good for a large and prosperous 
 village being located within its limits, but events so shaped them- 
 selves as to cause the villages ot the county to be located elsewhere. 
 It has four school buildings and two fine church edifices. The Ro- 
 man Catholic an<l Scandinavian churches are described at length on 
 pages 48 and L16. The first Postoffice in the township was locat- 
 ed at Whisky Creek and called Claybanks. Flower Creek Postoffice 
 is also kept on Sec. 27. 
 The following is the list of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers: 
 
 Supervisors: — A. S. Anderson, 
 '55- 6- 7- 8- '64- 5- 6- 7- 8-9'70-l-5 
 Nelson Green, ' 59-'60; Jason Car- 
 penter, '61-2; 0. K. White, '63 
 Harvey Tower, '72-3; M. Baker 
 '74-6-7-8-9-'80; Joel D. Linsday 
 '81-2-4-5; Geo. C. Myers, '83-6-7- 
 8-9. 
 Clerks . — Timothy Brigham, 
 •\ '55-6; James Cody, '57; Jeremi- 
 ■^ miah Collins, '58-'61; Jason Car- 
 -f penter, '59-'64-5; A. A. Lillie, 
 '60-6; Malcolm Campbell, '63; 
 S.G.Huston, '67-8-9-'70-4; Mar- 
 tin Baker, '71-2; Horace H. 
 Keyes, '73; Hugo Deyman, '75- 
 ^y' -^-^-yi^- 6-7-8-9-'80-4-5-6-7-8-9; 0. E. 
 
 * ''fc^iaC Huston, '81-2-3. 
 
 GEO. c. MYERS, SUPERVISOR, '89. Treasurers.— Thomas Phillips, 
 '55; C. A. Rosevplt, '56; Owen Farrell, '57; Barton Haggerty, '58-9; 
 E. B. Burrington, '60; O. C. Perry, '61-2-3-4-5-6; M. B. Lillie, '67- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 147 
 
 8-9-'70-l; O. E. Huston, '72; A. S. AMderson, '78-4-6; Andrew Bra- 
 dy, '75-7-8; Joel D. Linsday, '79-"80; Seneca Fuller, '81-2-5-6; J. G. 
 Farrell, '83-84; I. Haggerty, '87-8-9. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OF WE ARE. 
 
 April 2, 1860, the township of Weare was organized. The act of 
 organization took place at the house of Charles Mears on what is 
 known as the River House farm. The township is composed of 36 
 full sections of land which in an early day was considered princi- 
 pally valuable for its timber. It has all the varieties of soil men- 
 tioned in Chapter I, and more recent improvements have demon- 
 strated the fact that its soil is adapted to the succes.sful raising of 
 all farm products grown in Michigan. Fruit can be raised success- 
 fully on fully one-third of the lands of tlie township. At the present 
 time the cultivation of fruit is occupying the attention of manj', al- 
 though heretofore it has not engaged the attention of the farmers 
 as generally as in the townships of Shelby and Hart. Some of the 
 finest farms and most successful farmers of the county are in this 
 township. We herewith jjresent our readers with a view of a repre- 
 sentative farm in South \\'eare: 
 
 Residence of Joseph Schaner, Sec. 29. 
 
 The township was named after Dr. Daniel G. Weare, who settled 
 on Sec. 27 in 1855. There are no villages in the township but there 
 are five fine school buildings, two of which are built of brick and 
 
148 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Avell furnished with modern school furniture. There are three fine 
 church buildings, M. E , Baptist, and Catholic. 
 
 The following is the list of Su- 
 pervisors, Clerks and Treasur- 
 ers: 
 
 Supervisors. — Myrtle B. High, 
 '60-2-'70; Norman C. Smith, '61- 
 5-6-7-8-'73-4-5-6- 7- 8- 9- '80- 1-2; 
 A. J. Benson, '63; A. J. Smith, 
 '64; E. P. Gregory, '69; George 
 Tiffany, '71; Samuel Graham, 
 '72; P. Cramer, '83; R. C. Rob- 
 erts, '84; E. M. Roberts, '85; A. 
 L. Carr, '86-7-8-9. 
 
 Clerks.— A. D. Boomer, '60; F. 
 VonHolmrich, '61; Jas. Dexter, 
 '62; James R. Mooney, '63-4; D. 
 R. Gifford, '65-6-7; John Glad- 
 ing, '68; D. Fulton, '69-'70-l-2- 
 4-5-6; James Walker, '73; R. C. 
 Roberts, '77; E. M. Roberts, '78- 
 9-'80-l; S. Andrus, '82-3-4; P. 
 Rasmusson, '85-6-7-8-9. 
 
 Treasurers.— F. J. Hartman, '61; Hiram Blowers, '60-3; W. Jen- 
 nings, '64-8-'70-l-2-3-4-5-6-7; E. B. Burrington, '65; Jas. Walker, 
 '66; N. Snyder, '67; S. R. Wilson, '69; Jos. Schaner, '78-9; H. Le- 
 fevre, '80-1-3-4-7-8; C. M. Jensen, '82; G. B. Dikeman, '85-6-9. 
 
 A. L. CARR, SUPERVISOR, '89. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OF BENONA. 
 
 Intimately associated with the histoi'y of this township is the 
 honored name of Ferry. The first saw mill erected in the county 
 was built in the year 1849 by the Rev. Wm. M. Ferry and his son 
 the Hon. T. W. Ferry. It was built at the mouth of Stony Creek 
 and was run by water power. Benona village was here started biat 
 aside from a Post office, a store, and a few other buildings, there is 
 no indication of a village. It is a very picturesque and healthy lo- 
 cality, and the lake and streams entermg it furnish excellent fish- 
 ing. It is a popular locality with visiting sportsmen. 
 
 The name Benona was selected and given to the Stony Creek 
 Postoffice by A. R. Wheeler. It is a very pretty name and was 
 probably the name of some locality of another State familiar to 
 Mr. Wheeler. • If it is a corruption of the word "Benoni," signifying 
 "child of grief," it is hardly appropriate for the territory it marks. 
 Although the township was originally Stony Creek and embraced 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 149 
 
 Shelby, Newfield and Benona of today, and although it has been 
 used to make three other towns, and also suffered the loss of its 
 name, Shelby having for a time been called Benona, still as regards 
 its beautiful farms, intelligent citizens and great frnit interests, its 
 schools and churches, it is to be congratulated and ought not to 
 have its name interpreted to signify grief. This township, like Clay- 
 banks, is the home of many of the earnest pioneers of the county 
 and was the scene of their earliest labors. Some have passed away 
 but many still remain in the enjoyment of the beautiful country 
 their labors have developed. 
 
 The following is the list of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers: 
 
 Supervisors. — H. Hoffman, 
 '62-3-7- '70-1-2-3-4-5-6; A. 
 R. Wheeler, '64-5-6-8-9; Jos. 
 H. Sammons, '77-8-9; Chas. 
 A. Sessions, '80-1-2-3-4-5; W. 
 H.Fleming, '86-7-8-9. 
 
 Clerks.— Wm. F. R. Smith, 
 '62-3-4; Alonzo Hyde, '65-6; 
 G. Powers, '67-8; George E. 
 Conklin, '69; Edwin G. Ever- 
 deen '70-l-2-3-'80-l-2-8-9; Ja- 
 cob Snell, '74-5-6; G. Thiele, 
 '77; J. B. Applegate, '78-9; B. ^: 
 Thiele, '83-4; C. A. Williams, ^ 
 '85; W. H. Anderson, '86; F. '-^ 
 Myers, '87. 
 
 Treasurers. — H. Hendrick- 
 son, '72-3-4-5 6-7-'75-7-8; H. 
 
 Hoffman, '68-9; A. R. Wheel- w. h. Fleming, super\ 
 er, '70-1-2-3-4-6; David Graham, '79; James Gibbs, '80- 
 OUnder, '81-2-6-7; J. B. Thompson, '83-4; W. H. Flem 
 
 ISOR, 
 8-9; \V 
 ing, '8 
 
 89. 
 illiam 
 
 TOWNSHIP OF GOLDEN. 
 
 We have before described the organization of this town, but the 
 history of the manner in which it came to be organized and named 
 has never been correctly given. One of the earliest settlers of this 
 township was William J. Haughey, Avho thus describes the settle- 
 ment and organization of the town: 
 
 "Well, as pine gave out, some of the settlers moved north to El- 
 bridge, now Golden. At that time Mr. Henry Hartman and myself 
 
150 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 wanted more pine land, and it so happened we both got the same 
 man to help us look it up, Tom Bearss, now living in Barry Coun- 
 ty. Well, by some means Henry got the idea that I was after his 
 land, then you should see fun, Hartman following me. Finally we 
 compared notes and found we were after different descriptions; we 
 then shook hands, took our lager and were sworn friends. We two 
 were now going into a new township to open it up to settlement. 
 Mr. J. Barnhart moved to Round Lake, Mr. Asa Pringle, William 
 Pringle and A. F. Bemis settled near by. Our first election was 
 held in a log school house southeast of Hart, going by compass. I 
 finally blazed a trail through the woods. 
 
 Well, we wanted to have a town of our own, so friend Barnhart 
 and others got up a petition to the honorable Board of Supervis- 
 ors to set us off from Elbridge and call the new town— well, the Su- 
 l^ervisors could not read the name; our friend, the County Clerk, 
 Mr. E. D. Richmond, could not make it out, and as Mr. J. Barn- 
 hart wrote it, it was referred to him, but the writing had got cold 
 and he could not tell what it was. I ha^jpened to come in about 
 this time, when it v>'as proposed to call it the township of Haughey, 
 as I was supposed to be the oldest inhabitant. By my request it 
 was to be named Golding." 
 
 The name Golding was the maiden name of Mr. Haughey's moth- 
 er. By some error the name upon the records appears Golden in- 
 stead of Golding, and as such it is known to this day. 
 
 There are portions of the township in which the soil is light and 
 sandy, but there are other portions where it is good for general 
 farming purposes, and fruit raising. Some of the most success- 
 ful fruit orchards of the county are located in this township. The 
 celebrated Stanhope orchard is located on section 2, the Golden 
 Stock farm on section 12, the Branch's orchards are on section 21, 
 A. M. Pringle"s and B. C. Knapp's on section 24, and Caleb Davis' 
 on section 22. There are many other farms equally as good, but 
 these through the public reports have become specially noted. The 
 village of Mears is also located in this town upon the C. & W. M. 
 R'y and is one of the most extensive shipping points for fruit in the 
 county. There have been several saw mills in the township, but 
 with its fine timber all but one have disai^peared and farming and 
 fruit raising constitute the chief employment of the people. Char- 
 coal making has been a great industry at a point about one-half mile 
 north of the village, the kilns being a part of the Rankin system. 
 These kilns have enabled farmers and fruit raisers to clear their 
 lands without expense, and have furnished the locality with curren- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 151 
 
 cy that has materially lessened the burdens of those engaged in im- 
 proving lands. 
 
 List of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers: 
 
 Supervisors— J . Barnhart, '0-5- 
 6; E. J. Sparks, '67; W.M. Prin- 
 gle, '68; C. Davis, '69-'70-l-2; J. 
 K. Howe, '73-4; Geo. Wyckoff, 
 '75-6-7-8; Clark B. Genung, '79' 
 '87-8; George A. Wagar, '80-1-2; 
 E. E. Allen, '83-4; R. T. Morris, 
 '85-6; J. F. Gumming, '89. 
 
 C7eWis.— Alfred C. Wilson, '65; 
 Hiram J. Wilson, '66; H. S. 
 Bronson, '67; E. Goodman, '68; 
 G. C. Hannum, '69-'70-l; Wm. 
 Hiles, '72-3-4-5-6-7; Samuel J. 
 Sparks, '78 (resigned in October) ; 
 E'. H. Hotchkiss, from October, 
 '78-9-'80-l-2-5-8; W. F. Downing 
 '83-4; A. Tennant, '86-7; C. A. 
 Campbell, '89. 
 
 Treasurers. — W". J. Haughey, 
 '65; Asa M. Pringle, '66-8; Wm. 
 Hiles, '69; H. Howorth, '70-1-2- 
 
 3-4-5-6; R. T. Morris, '77-8-9-'83-4; A. M. Pringle, '80-1; C. B. Ge- 
 nung, '82; Geo. Wyckoff, '85; E. Stanhope, '86-7; E. E. Allen '88: 
 H. M. Branch, '89. 
 
 J. F.CUMMING, SUPERVISOR, '89. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OF ELBRIDGE. 
 
 The Christian name of one of Oceana's jiioneer settlers was se- 
 lected as the name for this township. Elbridge R. Farmer, now an 
 old man residing in Grand Rapids, is the person who was thus hon- 
 ored. The territory included within the limits of the township is 
 noted as the last camping ground of the red man in this vicinity. 
 The township ranks sixth in the value of its assessable property. 
 Its soil is heavy and in agricultural ]pursuits it is making rapid 
 strides to the front. Hervey S. Sayles and the Hon. D. W. Crosbj', 
 are among the first white settlers. 
 
 "The first Sunday school in Elbridge was commenced in 1870, in 
 the cedar school house, by the American Sunday-School Union. W. 
 J. Tennant was the first Superintendent, and has continued in of- 
 fice until the i^resent, with the exception of two years, when V. E. 
 Kerr held the position. The children were nearly all Indians, there 
 being four white families at that time in the town— Sayles, Crosby, 
 
152 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Cochran and Tennant. Among the pleasant reminiscences of the 
 organization, might be mentioned the one of the Indians attending 
 the schooh Indian children, having heard that there was going to 
 be a Sabbath school, came from all parts of the town to see what 
 kind of an institution it was. They came marching into the school 
 house, with their bows and arrows, and accompanied by their dogs. 
 They were instructed as well as could be done, to leave their bows 
 and arrows at home, so the next time they came with nothing but 
 their dogs. During the exercises, one of the dogs looked in at the 
 ^oor and growled, which caused nearly all in the house to laugh. 
 One of the Indian boys did not like such actions, and as soon as he 
 got out of doors he gave the dog a kick, but no sooner had he done 
 that, than the owner of the dog fell to kicking him, and by the time 
 the Superintendent got out of doors to stoj) it, they were having a 
 regular knock-down fight." — Page's History of Oceana County. 
 
 List of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers: 
 
 iSiqjervisors. — S. G. Rollins, '58 ; Setli T. Robinson, '.19; Josiali Russell, 
 
 'o9-'60-l : J. Bean, '63; W. H. Leach, 
 '63; PI. S. Sayles, '64 5 6-7 8 '85 ;D. 
 W. Crosby, '69-'70-'81-3 3 4-6-7 8; 
 W. J. Tennant, '71-3-3; T. G. Houk, 
 '74-5-6-7-8-9- -80; D. J. Hill, '89. 
 
 C^e?•^•s.—H. H. Fuller, "58; Thos. 
 W. Farrell, '59; Henry B. Burrill, 
 '60; A. W. Peck. "61 ; VV. H. Leacli, 
 '62; Ariel Crosby, '63; Hazen Leav- 
 itt, '64; D. W. Crosby, '65-6-'74 5-6- 
 7-8 9; Olney Bishop, '67; C. C. Coch- 
 ran, '68 9; W. J. Tennant, '70 ; Jas. 
 N. McCreary, '81; J. R. Thompson, 
 '72-3; Jas. H. Wyman, "80; Jesse 
 Weirich, '83-3 ; G. May, '84; J. Ten- 
 nant, '85-6-7-8 9. 
 
 2'reasurers. — Ira Jenks,'58; James 
 R. Mooney, '59; Charles B. Wilsou^ 
 
 '60 1; Joseph Babahmuseh, '62; H. S. Sayles, '(•.3-'76-7-9-'80: Seth T- Rob-' 
 
 inson,'64-5 6; Joseph Pdyba-raa, '67 8 9-'70; Charles E. Hickey, '71 3-3; 
 
 Louis Genereau, "74-5; James H. Wyman, '78; William N. Sayles, '81; A. 
 
 C. Shepherdsou, '82; C. Leak, '83 4 9; G. May, "85 6; D. J. Hill, '87 8. 
 
 D. J. HILL, SUPERVISOR '89. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OF LEAVITT. 
 
 The township of Leavitt derived its name from its first white set- 
 tler, Hazen Leavitt, hale and hearty, although in his eighty-fifth 
 year. 
 
 For many years this has been considered a back town of the 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 153 
 
 county, but the building of the Butters ct Peters raih'oad to Stet- 
 son from Ludington, caused the village of Walkerville to be plat- 
 ted, the growth of which has been the most I'emarkableof any in the 
 county. 
 
 There ai*e many fine farms in this township, of which the L. Tj. 
 Taylor and C. W. Leavitt are the most noted. 
 
 Residence of L. L. Taylor, Leavitt. 
 
 WALKERVILLE. 
 
 Much has been said and much written regarding the wonderful 
 growth of cities and towns in the West, but probably as remarka- 
 ble a growth as many of those may be found in our own county. 
 Walkerville is a village of today and the prospects are that the 
 sudden growth of the town is also a permanent growth. In 1883 
 Fayette Walker, who owned a mill at this point, platted a village 
 and named it Walkerville. It is located upon parts of sections 
 three and ten, of Leavitt township, the section line road between 
 these sections being the main street of the village. When first plat- 
 ted the growth was slow, it being only within the past three years 
 and since the arrival of the Butters Sc Peters railroad that the 
 town has boomed. It is located near a bad swamp which will not 
 conduce to the good health of its inhabitants, but the village itself 
 is situated upon high ground, with a broad main street bordered 
 by walks uj^on either side. The town has a very decidedly new as- 
 pect, some of the later buildings being as yet without paint, and 
 others showing the recent application of the brush. As usual in 
 new towns many of the storebuildings have residence rooms above. 
 By means of the railroad mentioned the citizens have daily direct 
 
154 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 communication with Ludington, and much trade goes that way. 
 The name of the Post office is Stetson, and Mr. J. E. Doty is the 
 genial Postmaster. Of business places, there are now two meat 
 markets, two hotels, two general merchandise establishments, two 
 drug stores, a saw and feed mill, two blacksmith shops, a hardware 
 store, a barber shop, a shoe shop, a livery barn and a saloon. The 
 M. E. society have commenced the erection of a church edifice. 
 They have a good school, and taking it all in all, Walkerville is a 
 thriving town which, if its last year's growth is equaled each year 
 hereafter, will soon rival the other villages of the county. It is 
 surrounded by a splendid farming country which will undoubtedly 
 give permanancy to the growth of the village. 
 
 List of Supervisors, Clerks 
 and Treasurers of Leavitt: 
 Supermsors. — 
 
 Y. E. Clark, '65 7, H. Good- 
 Tich. '68 9, A. C. Gowdy, 70-1-3 3, 
 David Scott, 74 5-6-7 8, W. b\ 
 Palmiter, '79-'80, J. Bogiie, '81- 
 2 3-4-5-6-7, A. B. Holt. "88, Win. 
 Hiilyard, '89. 
 C7t" /.•«.— 
 
 G. G. Scott, '82, G. H. Mem- 
 field, •83-4-5-6-7 9, John Kobin- 
 8011, "88. 
 IVeasurers. — 
 
 William VaugLn, '82, William 
 Hilyard, '83-4 8, B. Craker, '85, 
 0. Andreas, '86-7, J. Guklings, 
 •89. 
 
 WM. nrLYAED, SUPERVISOR, '89. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OF NEWFIELD. 
 
 This township was organized as an independent township under 
 its present name in 1866. The origin of the name is thus explained 
 in Page's History of Oceana County, by Joseph W. Sweet, an early 
 settler of the place: 
 
 "A number of the settlei's chanced to be in his house, and a prop- 
 er name for the shortly to be organized town was discussed. El- 
 bridge Green wished it to be called Greenfield; Alex. McLaren pro- 
 posed Sweet-town, which was modestly declined, on the part of Mr. 
 Sweet, who, in turn, suggested Perrytown, in honor of old Booth 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY 
 
 155 
 
 Perry, the fix-st settler in the town, but at last the name of 'Xew- 
 field' prevailed, and was inserted in the i^etition." 
 
 List of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers: 
 
 Superci!<ors. — Henry C. Havv- 
 ley, "66 7-8 9 '75-6-7-8 9 '81-3, J. 
 W. Duimin.ii, '701 2, J. N. Cbel- 
 lis, '73-4, J. E. Phiio, '83-4-5-6-7- 
 8-9. 
 
 Clerks.— Cha.v\eh H. Potter,; '66- 
 7 9-'72, Charles Strobridge, '68- 
 H. C. Havvlev. '70, H. K. Bush, 
 '71, J,W. Dunnincr, '73-4-5 6 7. 
 O. A. Rowland, '78- '84, I. H. Bar- 
 low, '80, Charles Perkins, '81, W. 
 Flemino, '82 3, J. F. Bush. '85, 
 A. T. Kowland, '88, A. A. Math- 
 erson, '87, A. C. Eldridye, '84 9. 
 
 Ireasurers. — Joseph W. Sweet 
 '66 7-8, M. A. Frink. '69, B. F. 
 Marqiiick, '70-1-2-3, S. Atherton, 
 '74 5, J. McGill, Jr., '76-7, G. D. 
 Webster, '78 9-'80, P. Monroe. 
 '81-2, John McCowen, '83. Chas. 
 E. Strobrido-e, '84-5, O. A. Row- 
 laud, '80-7, M. Ressefruie, '88-9. 
 
 J. E rmi.o. sui'ERvisoK, '89. 
 
 VILLAGE OF HESPEKIA. 
 
 The village of Hesperia is located on the south side of White Riv- 
 er, X3artly in Oceana and x:)artly in Newaygo counties. That por- 
 tion located in Oceana county is in the township of Newfield. The 
 main street of the village is the county line, this dividing not only 
 the business but the residence portion nearly in the center. Being 
 in the center of a rich farming country with no other villages very 
 near, there is but one reason why it has not grown much faster 
 than it has, and that reason is its lack of railroad communication 
 with the outside world. Efforts have been made at various times 
 to secure a road, but thus far they have been unsuccessful. In 
 spite of this drawback Hesperia has become a thriving village and 
 includes among its business men many energetic and enterprising 
 citizens. The village was platted and recorded in 1866, T. L. Wa- 
 ters being the Surveyor. The land was owned by John P. Cook 
 and Daniel Weaver. An addition has since been added upon the 
 south by O. A. Rowland. The first log house was built in 1857 
 and the first frame house in 1866. The lirst settler on the Oceana 
 side was J. W. Sweet. A saw mill was erected in 1866, a flouring 
 
156 OCEAKA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 mill in 1871, and anotlier in 1882. The village was incorporated 
 in 1883, and the following named gentlemen have had the office of 
 President: Daniel Weaver two years, H. C. Hawley two years, H. 
 K. Bush two years, and the present incumbent is Dr. L. E. Norton. 
 The village at present contains two grist mills, one saw mill, a 
 stave mill, a grist mill which also does planing and general work, a 
 bee hive factory, six combined dry goods and grocery stores, two 
 hardwares, two drug stores, two meat markets, one milliner, four 
 blacksmith shops, two liveries, three hotels, one newspaper the 
 Hesperia "News", a barber shop, a gent's furnishing establishment, 
 a furniture store, two jewelers, and a shoe shop. There are four 
 practicing i^hysicians and one lawyer located here. There are three 
 church edifices, Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist Episcopal, 
 and four religious organizations. About 1885 the village made a 
 contract with W. J. Tennant to put in waterworks tor fire purpos- 
 es, and it now has a good system. There are five hydrants. The 
 power isfurnished by Webster's sawmill and direct pressure is used. 
 The pumps are rotary. There is a well regulated fire department 
 of which Mr. L. S. Weaver is Chief. The department is composed 
 of two hose companies of thirteen men each, and is equipx^ed with 
 two carts and other necessary appliances. The one thing that the 
 people pride themselves upon more than any other is their graded 
 school. They have a fine school building and a good corps of tea.ch- 
 ers composed of Mr. Will S. Millard as principal, and three assist- 
 ants. The Postoffice at present is located on the Newaygo side 
 Avith Mr. W. C. Simmons as Postmaster. Hesperia is quite a town 
 for secret and other societies, there being at present in operation 
 and in flourishing condition a Masonic Lodge with a branch of the 
 order of the Eastern Star, an Odd Fellows' Lodge, a Post of the 
 Grand Army of the Republic with a Woman's Relief Corps in con- 
 nection, and a Camp of the Sons of Veterans. They also have a 
 Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen with a membership 
 of twenty. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OP FERRY. 
 
 The township of Reed was organized pursuant to a resolution of 
 the Board of Supervisors in April, 1869. The Reeds, Elnathan J. 
 and Theodore F., were prominent in securing the organization of 
 the town and the name of Reed was given to it. Afterwards, by 
 Act of the Legislature the name was changed from Reed to Ferry 
 in honor of the Hon. T. W. Ferry, U. S. Senator. A Postoffice was 
 established on the northeast quarter, of section twenty-eight, nam- 
 ed Reed, a school house built, a saw mill, grist mill, store and 
 
 I 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 157 
 
 church added, and quite a thriving village is now located here, the 
 center of a fine tract of farming lands. 
 
 The soil of the township varies from light to heavy, and its tim- 
 ber is excellent. The township has passed its lumber period and is 
 now entering upon a more successful and permanent development. 
 The following is the Gazetteer of the village: 
 
 B. F. Archer, Hardware. 
 Charles B. Archer, Tinshop. 
 Frank Carpenter, Wagonmaker. 
 
 0. L. Cederquist, Shoemaker. 
 
 Fox Bros., Livery, and stage to Shelby. 
 
 Wm. E. Gunn, Blacksmith. 
 
 John M. Heim, Eagle Hotel and Helm's Hall. 
 
 Orion Hightower, Groceries. 
 
 Dr. L. Irish & Co., Drugs. 
 
 Nathan Irish, Ferry House and Meat Markets. 
 
 Mrs. P. A. Jackson, Barber. 
 
 W. R. Mathews, Real Estate and Loan. 
 
 Mrs. Manderville & Co., Millinery. 
 
 Powers Bros., Grist and Saw Mill. 
 
 1. ]M. Young & Co., Groceries and Dry Goods. 
 
 List of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers: 
 
 Supervisors. — B. F. Reed, 
 '69-'70-l; T. F. Reed, '72-3; 
 R. P. Ferris, '74-5; D. Lan- 
 don, '76-7-8-9-'80-l-2-3-4; B. 
 F. Archer, '85; G. M. Smith, 
 '86; E. L. Benton, '87-8-9. 
 
 Clerks.— T. Smith, '69-'70; 
 Chas. Gaylord, '72; T. P. 
 Landon, '73-'87-8; E. L.Ben- 
 ton, '74-6-7-8-9-'80; Gus. M. 
 Smith, '75-'82-3-4; Chas. W. 
 Powers, '81-6-9; W. E. Gunn, 
 '85. 
 
 Treasurers.— J. F. Evans, 
 '69; Levi Powers, '72; Daniel 
 Landon, '73-4-5; G. M. Smith, 
 '76-7-8-'80-l; T.H.Pittenger, 
 '79; E. L.Benton. '82-4; J. A. 
 
 Chellis, '83; W.E. Hightower, E. l. benton, supervisor, '89. 
 85-6; W. W. Powers, '87; J. H. Critchett, '88-9. 
 
158 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 TOWNSHIP OE CRYSTAL. 
 
 In the winter of 1865, Jared H. Gay, who had been a settler since 
 July, 1861, made an effort to have the town set off from Weare. 
 There not being enough legal voters, he contracted to deed lands 
 on section 16, to George Lammon, Charles Willet and Albert 0. 
 Aldrich. A remonstrance against separation was got up by par- 
 ties in Elbridge and Weare, but Mr. Gay employed Chas. W. Deane, 
 a lawyer of Pentwater, to advocate his cause, and was successful. — 
 Page's History of Oceana County. 
 
 Jared H. Gay is probably the first permanent white settler of this 
 town. He has been prominent in the offices of the town ever since 
 and is still a resident of it. The beautiful and appropriate name 
 of Crystal was selected by his wife. The beautiful crystal streams 
 of water for which it is noted suggested the name to Mrs. Gay. 
 
 In its eai'ly history Crystal was the lumberman's pride, and soon 
 became ravaged by the voracious mills. Lately it is developing as 
 an agricultural town. Its brooks of clear, cold water fed bj- springs 
 abound with trout. The Butters & Peters R. R., as it is known, 
 runs from Ludington thro' this townshijp to Stetson, in the town of 
 Leavitt. Ci-ystal Valley is the name of its village which has a pop- 
 ulation of about 200. Mail by stage tri-weekly. It has an M. E. 
 Church building, Odd Fellows' Hall, general store, saw mill, hotel, 
 wagon shop, harness shop, shoe shop, etc. 
 List of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers. 
 
 Supervisors. — Dr. Jas. J. Kit- 
 tridge, '66-8-9; William Murch, 
 '67; Geo. C. Crouch, '70; Jas. 
 Corsaut, '71; Charles Willet, 
 '72-3-'83; Henry Cogill, '74-5-6 
 7-9-'80-l-2-4-8; T. T. Jones, 
 '78-'85-6-7-9. 
 
 Clerks.— B. K. Foster, '66-7; 
 William Murch, '68-9; Moses F. 
 Stone, '70; Geo. Lammon, '71; 
 Henry Cogill, '72-3; F. B. Kit- 
 tridge, '74; Joseph Cogill, '75; 
 J. Webster, '76-7; C. A. Noble, 
 '78-9-'80-8; E. F. Avery, '81-2- 
 '84; I. C. Harwood, '83-5; B. F. 
 Stone, '86; J. H.Chadwick, '87; 
 P. B. Harwood, '89. 
 
 Treasurers. — Jared H. Gay, 
 '66-7-8; Henry Cole, '69; Paul 
 Bushaw,'70; J. J. Kittridge, '71-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-'81-4; F. B.Kittridge, 
 
 T. T. JONES, SUPERVISOR, '89. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 159 
 
 '79-80; D. P. Kelly, ■82-3-5-G; A. O. Aldrich, "ST-S; Charles Corn- 
 stock, '89. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OF GREIONWOOD. 
 
 H. D. Clark was the lir.st settler, and located in the extreme south- 
 east corner,' closely followed by L. and A. IMcCalliini, Amos Wright, 
 Tj. T. Brown, B. Ish, and others. Oliver Swain and Judge Camp 
 followed soon after, settling in the extreme northeastern part, and 
 B. F. Moe located midwaj^ between the two settlements. 
 
 The town was slowly settled, as it was a dense lumbering region, 
 and only as the lower portions of the country, bordering on White 
 River, began to be exhausted of their timber, did Greenwood begin 
 to be sought out by the early lumbermen. Situated on the south 
 branch of the White River, it was possible by means of pole boats, 
 to transport the settlers and their effects to the Rapids, and to 
 team thence to their future homes by means of oxen, or oftener, by 
 the forest trails, on the backs of the .settlers and their obliging 
 neighbors. Goods were often thus brought up from the mouth of 
 White River, where there was early a settlement, with the usual ac- 
 -companiment of a sawmill, store, and the inevitable saloon or two. 
 Sometimes, a settler and his family Avith their household effects, 
 were dumped down on the north side ot Muskegon Lake, to make 
 their way the best they coidd, by foot, to White River Postoffice, 
 and thence by pole boats up the \Miite River, or bj' ox team, and 
 often in fording the streams they stood in imminent danger of 
 drowning. 
 
 Another mode of entering the country was by the way of Neway- 
 go. 
 
 The first settler was Henry I). Chirk. He is still hale and hearty, 
 and enjoying the fruits of his labors on a beautiful farm in the ex- 
 treme southeastern corner of the county, on section 36. He made 
 his way into his present lot in September, 1835, and built a rude 
 shanty of score blocks and bark, and commenced to make a clear- 
 ing. After about five weeks of lonely blessedness, he heard, one 
 evening, the welcome sound of a human voice — that of Amos Wright 
 who asked if he wanted companj'. One may be sure that never 
 was Robinson Crusoe so delighted at finding Friday, as Clark was 
 to hear the cheery sound of a human voice, and to grasp the hand 
 of Wright and that of the sturdy, honest Scotchman who ac- 
 companied him, Mr. Lachlan McCallum, now one of the best farm- 
 ers in the county. Messrs. Wright it McCallum came in October, 
 1855. They had met by accident, in Jolm Ball's office, in Grand 
 Rapids, and found land in Greenwood. Lyman J. Browne came in 
 about the same time. When H. D. Clark r;ii.sed his log house, he 
 
160 
 
 OCEANA COrXTY PIONEERS 
 
 had to scour the country tor nine miles around to get men enough 
 to assist in the raising. Archibald McCallnm, who was afterwards 
 a martyr in the war, came about the same time as Lachlan, his 
 brother, and the two worked in the lumber woods." — Page's Histo- 
 rj- of Oceana County. 
 
 On page 103 appears the account of the Cogswell tragedy, which 
 convulsed the citizens of Greenwood with horror. 
 
 The township was organized in April, 1858, and the name Green- 
 wood selected as being expressive of the ajDpearance of her forests. 
 An attempt was made to name the town Oliver in honor of an old 
 settler, Oliver Swain, but failed. 
 List of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers: 
 
 iSupervisors. — O. S wain, '58- 
 9-'60-l-2; Chas. Camp, '63- 
 4-5-6-7-part of '79-'86; Hen- 
 ry F. Cushman,'68-9-'70-l-3; 
 Joseph Stevens, '72-'80; I. H. 
 Cogswell, '74-5-6-7-8-9; Ben- 
 jamin F. Hermance, '81-2; A. 
 ivi. Phelps, '83-1-5; Chas. Ser- 
 fling, '87-8-9. 
 
 ■ Clerlis. — Cyrus W. Bullen, 
 '58-9; Lachlan McCallum, 
 '60-l-'75-6-7-8; J. M. Swain, 
 '62-3; Chas. E.Sischo, '64; R. 
 F. Wells, 65-6-7-8-9-'70-l; O. 
 F. Williams, '72; A.M.Phelps 
 '73-4-'87-8; C. Serfling, '79- 
 '80-1-2-3-4-5-6; B. F. Her- 
 mance, '89. 
 
 Treasurers. — Craig B. Moe, 
 '58; Benjamin Ish, '59-'60-l-2; Ezra I. Rugg, '63; Henry C. Hawley, 
 '64-5; Joseph Stevens, '66-7-8-9-'70-l-5-6-7-8-9; H. F. Cushman, 
 '72; Enos Scott, '73-4; Rudolph Bell, '80-1; A. M. Phelps, '82-9; B. 
 F. Hermance, '83-4; H. D. Clark, '85-6; R. Avers, '87-8. 
 
 C. SERFLING}, SUPERVISOR, '89. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OF OTTO. 
 
 This township comxDrised its present territory and that of Ferry. 
 It was organized and held its first election in 1860. In 1868 the 
 township of Reed (now Ferry) was organized, taking the north half 
 of Otto. This left Otto very weak as its land was principally valu- 
 able for its timber, and a large portion of it was owned by,non-resi- 
 dents. Although with the growth of the county it has gradually 
 muroved, its progress has been slow. Its vote is only about 26, 
 
 I 
 
AND BUSINESS AFKN OF TO-DAY. 161 
 
 and its assessed valuation is $51,000, the lowest of any town in 
 the county. It derived its name, Otto, from the German "Otiio." 
 
 List of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers: 
 
 Supervisors.— E. J. Reed, '60-1; B. Hill. '62-3-4; B. F. Reed, '65; 
 J. F. Evans, '66-7-8; S. B. Potter, '69: Jacob Williamson, '70-4-5- 
 6-'81-2-3-4-6-7-8-9; Robert Pointer, '7L-2; L. H. Shaw, '73; O. E. 
 Fogg, '77-8-9-'80-5. 
 
 C/er7vs.— Timothy Smith. '64-5-7; Daniel Williams. '66: Cliarles 
 Rathbun, '68; E. O. Peck, '69; L. B. Shaw, '69-70-1; J.Williamson, 
 from July, "72; S. B. Potter, '73-4-5-6-7-8-9-'80-l-2-3-4-5-7-8-9; E. 
 E. Ellis, '86. 
 
 Treasurers.— J. F. Evans, '63-4; J. M. Haines, '65; J. Hinds, '66- 
 7; G. R. Quick, '68; J. Gowell, '69; J. Williamson, from Nov., '69, 
 to March, '70'-85; E. H. Ellis, '70; W. Duke, part of '71; O. Adams, 
 '71-2-3-4-5-6-'86-7; O. E. Fogg, '76-7-'84-8; S. B. Stephenson, '78; F. 
 Newman, '79-'80-2-3; C. Newman, '81. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OF GRANT. 
 
 The township of (Jrant is located in the south tier of towns of 
 Oceana Countj', Mich., and is the legal subdivision known as Town- 
 ship No. 13 north, of Range No. 17 west, and was subject to entry 
 at the United States Land Office at Ionia, Midi. 
 
 The townshiii was oi'ganized Dec. 31, 1866. The tlrst township 
 meeting was held on the lirst day of April, 1867, at the house of 
 Jason Carpenter, at which meeting O. K. White was elected Super- 
 visor, Jason Carpenter, Clerk, and Henry \V. Turk, Treasurer, each 
 receiving twenty-seven votes — all that were polled. The first set- 
 tlement was made by Fernando Seaver. in the then township of 
 Claybanks, Ottawa County, on section 31, in 1851, followed bj' 
 William Winderknecht and John Brocker, soon after. Alfred Pope 
 also settled on the same section, on the farm now owned and occu- 
 pied by Harvej- Tower, in 1856. The same year Alonzo Green 
 made a settlement on section 30. In May, 1857, O. K. White set- 
 tled on section 7, after opening nearly six miles of road. In the 
 fall of 1857, the first election was held for the election of county of- 
 ficers for Oceana County. Jason Carpenter made a settlement on 
 section 5, in 1859, and De.xter M. Wiieeler settled on section 4, in 
 1800; John Smith on same section, in 1861. ]\Iilo H. Sweet made 
 a settlement on section 6, Henry W. Turk on section 9, Alonzo 
 Smith and James Baker on section 10, the same year. At this time 
 wolves were thick and quite familiar, so much so that John Brock- 
 er tells us that when he had got his shanty so far completed as to 
 move into it, with a blanket for a door, one of the fello./s pushed 
 his head through the door and took a survey of the interior of the 
 
162 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 shanty. It was evidently satisfactory to him, t'ov he trotted away 
 with the utmost indifference when the family entered a jprotest 
 against his company. 
 
 0. K. White says: "In November, 1861, four of the fraternity 
 ]paid us a visit. They were heard near the house in the afternoon, 
 so near, indeed, that the children took to the house for fear of 
 tliem. About 8 o'clock in the evenino the ball was opened in good 
 earnest, and they kept up their howling the entire night, approach- 
 ing the house and then retreating. The music was fearful, and ef- 
 fectually jDrevented sleep in that house. An infant, scarcely four 
 months old, exhibited signs of fear, although held in her mother's 
 arms. I was unable to scare them away, with any means at hand, 
 although I tried repeatedly. I imagined there might be at least a 
 dozen, but tracks in the liq;ht snow revealed the fact that there were 
 only four.'" — P.ii;e".-< History of Oceana County. 
 
 This to\vnslii|) \va< named after the the great Union General by 
 the organizers, who were adniii-ers of him long before the people of 
 the country at 1 ir,e had beu:un to fully appreciate his services. 
 List of Snper\is()rs, Ckn-ks and Treasurers: 
 
 Supervisors.— . K. White, 
 •67-8-9-'70-l-4; N.Green, '72; 
 H. W. Turk, '73; H. H. Hand, 
 '75-6; Harvey Tower, '77; M. 
 H. Sweet, '78-9-'80-l-2-3-4-5- 
 6-7-8; E. S. Randall, '89. 
 
 Clerks. — J. Carpenter, '67; 
 L. W. Bennett, '68; D.Hecor, 
 '69; H. S. Marble, '70; J. S. 
 Osborn, '71; A. Sainsbury, 
 '72-3-4-5-6-8-9- '80-1-2-3-4- 5- 
 6-7-8-9; A. White, '77. 
 
 Treasurers. — Hy. W. Turk, 
 '67-8-9-'75; L. B. Godfrey, 
 '70-1; B. F. West, '72-3: N. 
 Green, '74; J. M. Keyes, '76; 
 M. H. Sweet, '77; 0. K. White, 
 '78; F. Seaver, '79-'80; F. A. 
 E. s. HANDALL, SUPERVISOR, '89. Foster, '81-2-7; J. G. John- 
 son, '83 4; F. A. Robbins, '85; E. D. White, '86; J. B. Conger, '88-9. 
 
 TOWNSHIP OF COLFAX. 
 
 This is anothei- patriotic town, named in honor of an illustrious 
 Vice President. The township is a close competitor with Otto for 
 the smallest number of inhabitants of any town in the county. It 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAV. 
 
 108 
 
 is, however, still possessed of valuable pine lands, and some ;joo(l 
 for fanning purposes. Its assessed valuation in 11S80 was $154.- 
 000. Calvin Woodwortii, a patriarch in appeaiance. is the oldest 
 living resident of the town. He located theiv in 1804, and has 
 been an active factor in all its public intei-csts ever since. His son 
 is the ijresent Supervisor. 
 
 List of Supervisors, Clerks and Treasni-ei-s: 
 
 Siiporvisors. — (1. C. Benton, 
 '09-'7O; C. Woodworth, '71- 
 2-3-'82; Fayette Walker, "74- 
 o-0-7-8-9-'80-l: J. :M. Bald- 
 win, 3-4-5-0-7-8; C. A. Wood- 
 worth, '89. 
 
 Chrlis.—X. S. Perrins. '09; 
 J. B. Winans, '70-5; S. A. 
 Blanchard, '71-e-"82; Alfon- 
 so C. Gowell, '72-3-4; Andrew 
 .T.Cole, '77-8-9-'80-I; T. W. 
 Dragi,'00, '83-4-5-0-7-8-9. 
 
 Treasui'ers. — ^-A. Freeman, 
 '09-'77-8-9-'80; F. Walker, 
 '70-1-2-3-4; A. Draggoo, '75- 
 0-'81-2; Calvin Woodworth, 
 '83; Rufus Jewell, '84; C. A. 
 Woodworth, '85-0; Fred. E. 
 Woodworth. "87-8-9; 
 
 c. A. woonwoiiTH, sii'J':rv:sor, "89. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 SECRET AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS. 
 
 MASONIC. 
 
 Freeniasonrj", tVoin the tiineot the organization of the first Lodge 
 in 1866, lias niaiiitaiiierl a steady, healthy growth, there now being 
 four flourishing lodges of Free and Accepted Masons, besides a 
 Chapter of Royal Arch JNIasons and a Council of Royal and Select 
 Masters. There are also in the county two Chapters of the Order 
 of the Eastern Star, one at Hesperia, Eureka Chapter No. 188, and 
 one at Hart, Hart Chapter No. 60, with 66 members. The four 
 lodges have an aggregate membership of 274, among them being 
 some of the leading men of the county.' They all have good lodge 
 rooms, t he one at Pentwater, owned by the order, being especially 
 commodious, well furnished, and conveniently arranged. 
 
 OCEANA LODGE NO. 200, F. & A. M. 
 
 "Was organized at Pentwater in 1866. The preliminary meeting 
 
 was held at Middlesex Hall 
 
 on June 12, 1866. The next 
 meeting was a called commu- 
 nication at same place on 
 Aug. 14, 1866, and the first 
 regular communication was 
 held on Aug. 21, 1866. The 
 following were the charter 
 members of the lodge, and it 
 maybe observed that the on- 
 ly one of them now living at 
 Pentwater is Ebenezer B. 
 Clark: 
 .T. Boyuton, W. H. Sibley, 
 
 Rev. G. D. Lee, E. B. Clark, 
 I). C. Pelton, M. Gloyd. 
 
 The first officers were: 
 .T. Boynton, W. M. 
 A. B. Jialtl, Sec. G. Goodsell, Treas. 
 
 G. W. IMUS, Tth P. M. 
 W. 11. Sibley, S. W. S. \V. Foiueioy, J. D. 
 
 I 
 
AND BL'SIXESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 165 
 
 The following are Past Masters 
 E. E. Edwards, R. L. Hardy, L. 
 xy, G. W. Imus, O. H. Dean, 
 Stuart Mackibbin. 
 
 The present oiUcers are: 
 
 K. B. Flagg, W. M. 
 
 J I. A. (iiant, S. W. 
 
 J. Halstead, J. W. 
 
 F. Nielsen, Treas. 
 
 E. B. Clark, Sec'y. 
 
 M. V. Badgley, S. D. 
 
 O. H. Tayer, J. D. 
 
 Anthon Jensen, Tyler. 
 
 Geo. H. Cleveland, Cliap. 
 
 C. M. Underliill, A. H. Palmer, 
 
 Stewards. 
 
 The stated communications ''- 
 are held on the Tuesday on 
 before full of moon, at Ma- 
 sonic Hall. 
 
 The present members are as 
 follows: 
 
 , in the order named: J. Boynton, 
 D. Grove, J. M. Rice, W. E. Dock- 
 
 W. E. Ambler 
 Joini Bloore 
 M. Bundy 
 
 M. S. Ainslie 
 C. W. Brown 
 ('. ][. ChapiiKin 
 
 E. B. FLACC, \V. 1\I. 
 
 X. Eiljeuberg 
 A. H. Palmer 
 
 J. K. MeClurc 
 ^V. A. IJounds 
 
 O 
 
 H. DEAN, 8th P. M. 
 
 y. Badgley, 
 , H. Browne 
 
 H. U.-an 
 J. Fegan 
 H. M. Cibscm 
 J. Halstead, 
 C. W. Hills 
 Anllion Jensen 
 J. J. Kittriilge 
 Wr. Kl.ngUeil 
 Wm. Age 
 C. M. Baker 
 J. H. Bouton 
 Hiram Brink 
 (J. II. Cleveland 
 E. B. Flagg 
 H. A. (Jrant 
 Otto Grant 
 \\'\». Hiuls m 
 
 E. M, Hartwi -k 
 J. C. Jensen 
 Wm. Knlni 
 I. X. Lewis 
 
 F. E. Moody 
 S. Maekibbiu 
 C^Pool 
 Peter Kieliter 
 C. Scversen 
 Wm. Webb 
 
 r. Mero 
 I. M. lUee 
 
 Hobart Brink 
 
 A. l!abr 
 
 M. Ewald 
 John Fisher 
 J. G rover 
 J. Hagestrom 
 Carl Hanson 
 Peter Jensen 
 Fred Knhn 
 A. O. Aldrieli 
 W. H. B:iiley 
 H. H. 15nnyea 
 F. Binnie 
 
 E. B. Clark 
 Jnlins Demers 
 Jaeob Fishi-r 
 
 F. Goodsell 
 M. Hardway 
 
 G. W. Imns 
 C. \\. Johnson 
 W. A. Kidni 
 A. Lafronier 
 C. E. Moody 
 E. Xiekerson 
 O. D. Itichards 
 G. G. Senback 
 A. Stn'ensi-n 
 A. J. Underbill 
 C. Zibball 
 Nielsen 
 
 I 
 
 W. B. O. Sands 
 
 O. II. Tayer 
 
 C. M. UndLThiU (!eo. Waiiie 
 
1G6 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 WIGTOX T.OrCJE NO. 251, F. it A. .M. 
 
 Was organized at Hart on the 
 
 W. E. THOllP, Stli I'. M. 
 .Tolni Ellit»tt, J. W. 
 
 The following have l)een 
 Worshipful Masters during 
 the years as named: 
 
 J. M. Rice, '68; W. S. 
 Pratt, '69; W. H. Walker, 
 '70; L. G. Rutherford, ^71- 
 2; David Johnson, '73-4:-S- 
 9-'80-l-2; W. Coolidge, '75- 
 6; Wni. J. Britton, '77; W. 
 E. Thorp, '83; E. D. Rich- 
 mond, '84; E. T. Mugford, 
 '85-6-7; A. L. Carr, '88-9. 
 The present officers are: 
 
 A. L. Can-, W. M. 
 
 T. J. Collins, S. W. 
 
 L. P. Hyde, J. W. 
 
 T. J. Main, Treas. 
 
 W. N. Sayles, Sec"y. 
 
 A J. Felter, S. I). 
 
 John Cavy, .1. U. 
 
 F. H. Edwards, Tyler. 
 
 W. Coolidfie, Caa|). 
 
 J. S. Hyde, Organist. 
 
 7th day of May, 1868. The char- 
 ter members were as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 J. M. Kiee 
 
 John p:iliott 
 
 A. E. Palmiter 
 
 VV. H. Walker 
 
 1). Benhani 
 
 L. G. Paithevford 
 
 W. Coolidge 
 
 H. C. Mason 
 
 Byron S. Pratt 
 
 M. K. Chadwick 
 
 Jas E. Williams 
 
 Wm. Wigton 
 
 "Wni. H. Leaeh 
 
 K. E. Collins 
 
 A. Mason 
 
 The following have since 
 died: A. E. Palmiter, Jas. 
 E. Williams, Win. Wigton 
 and K. R. Collins. 
 The first officers were: 
 
 J. M. Rice, AV. M. 
 Byron !S. Pratt, S. W. 
 M. E. Chadwirk, See'y. 
 
 
 E. T>. RICHMOND, 9th P. M. 
 
AND BUSIXESS MEX OF TO-DAY 
 
 167 
 
 The stated coiiiniunic-ations 
 on or before the full of moon, 
 ton block and is nicely fur- 
 nished throughout; and the 
 financial standing is good. 
 The members Jan. 1, 1890, 
 were as follows: 
 
 ot this lodge are on the Wednesdays 
 The lodge hall is located in the Wig- 
 
 c. M. Avciy 
 G. C. Unullcy 
 A. L. Ciur 
 M. >'. Collins 
 Win. J. Cole 
 H. L. Deviiic 
 .1. K. Flood 
 \V. H. i;;iilcy 
 Tyler Caiiiiei' 
 W. K. Collier 
 .Toliii Carj;i!I 
 T.J. Collins 
 1). (i. Krvin 
 O. A. Franibi's 
 1). B. Ilntchins 
 T. G. Honk 
 David .lolmson 
 G. L. Lacey 
 J. MeFayden 
 Wni. .I.MclIae 
 
 M. H. Hrooks 
 W. Co liilj^e 
 J. G. Caiy 
 J. V. Cahill 
 H. J. Chadwick 
 F. H. Edwards 
 D. Benliani 
 M. H. Chadwick 
 A. K. Chappell 
 (J. L. Ciunili 
 C. Conistock 
 A. A. Dnnton 
 A. J. Felter 
 .1. A. Franil)es 
 H. J. Holmes 
 L. P. Hyde 
 O. W. Knox 
 N. Miller 
 L. A. Blelntyre 
 J. C. Tierce 
 
 K. T. IMUGFOKl), Kith P. ISI. 
 
 S. I Mass 
 n. E. Knssell 
 R. \V. IJiddell 
 ^\^m. Shater 
 W. N. Sayles 
 Wni. Thorp 
 T. A. Tice 
 \V. M. \ViKton 
 Elmer Wyekoft 
 H. B. Hatch 
 A. G. Hyatt 
 L. E. Johnson 
 
 E. T. Mn^t'ord 
 T. J. Main 
 
 A. W. Peek 
 
 F. J. Itnssell 
 K. y. Hoberts 
 Levi Stuik 
 Clias. .Sackrider 
 W. II. II. Turner 
 T. C. Tinner 
 (ieo Wyekolf 
 
 W. 11. 
 
 L. <i. Kutlierlord 
 M. i\I. Knmsey 
 J. W. Kiddell" 
 W. Stitl 
 ^Vnl. SnydiM- 
 W. E. Tiior). 
 (ieo. Tate 
 \V. H Waters 
 C. A. flnrney 
 F. W. Hnhhard 
 J. H. Hyde 
 A. ISlason 
 S. McFwen 
 Will MeUae 
 n. Palmer 
 F. I). Kiehnioiid 
 H. S. Sayles 
 c. W. slayton 
 J. E. Smith 
 .Joseph Tyler 
 W. L. Tilileii 
 A. S. White 
 Wi-ton 
 
 A. L. (APR, W. M. 
 
168 
 
 OCEANA COUXTY PIONEERS 
 
 BENONA LODGE NO. 289, P. & A. M. 
 
 This lodge was organized under dispensation from the Grand 
 Master, Oct. 7, 1870, at Benona, and a charter was issued by the 
 
 Grand Lodge, January 
 12, 1871. The following 
 were charter members: 
 
 Clias. H. Howe 
 H. Hottmaii 
 K. Sabin 
 (I. Coiikliu 
 
 Win. Olincler 
 Win. Anderson 
 A. R. Wlieelei" 
 T. Barber 
 
 the 
 
 RICHARD E. CATER. 3rd P. M. 
 
 work un ier th^^ chai'ter w i? th3 
 Kichard E. Cater. 
 
 The following brothers have 
 held the position of Worship- 
 ful Master: Chas. H. Howe, 
 Henry Hoffman, Richard E. 
 Cater, John Thompson, A. Z. 
 Moore and \Vm. H. Barry. 
 
 The present officers are: 
 
 A. Z. Mnore, W. M. 
 W. M. (lardiner, S. AV. 
 A. R. McKiniion, .T. W. 
 Hugli Jolnis^on, Treas. 
 
 D. E. McClure, Sec'v 
 I. D. Hull, S. 1). 
 
 E. D. Cliittenilcn,.!. O. 
 H. W. Hutchinson. Tyler 
 
 H. W. Rcid. H. C. Grimu, Stewards. 
 
 The lodge was moved from 
 Benona to Shelby village on 
 Feb. 3, 1877, and now meets 
 in its comfortable hall, situat- 
 ed in the upper story of the 
 Churchill Sz Phelps brick block. 
 
 The first officers of 
 Lodge were: 
 
 Chas. H. Howe, W. M. 
 
 Ransom Sabin, S. W. 
 
 Wni. Olindcr, J. AV. 
 
 A. R. Wheeler, Treas. 
 
 Henry Hoffman, Sec'y 
 
 Geo. Conkhn, 8. D. 
 
 Wm. Anderson, J. J). 
 
 Thos. Barber, Tyler 
 
 L. H. Moore, Deji. Grand 
 
 Master, on June 9, 1871, 
 
 instituted and dedicated 
 
 the lodge, and the first 
 
 conf.^-rin^ the third degree upon 
 
 WM. H. BARRY, 6th P. M. 
 
 The nights of meeting are the Tues- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 169 
 
 A. R. MCKIXXOX, J. \V. 
 
 days _^ on or before full of 
 moon. The lodge is in a 
 flourishing condition, and 
 numbers among its mem- 
 bers some of the best men 
 in the county. Arrange- 
 ments have been made to 
 place the portraits of de- 
 ceased members upon the 
 walls of the lodge room and 
 among others will be that 
 of Hon. A.R. \Yheeler look- 
 ingdovvn upon the workings 
 of the lodge he helped so 
 much to oi'ganize. 
 
 The following is a list of 
 the present members: 
 Iliirry L. Andrus 
 
 Win. H. Aiulerson 
 Alaiisoii Beckwith 
 Newton L. IJird 
 
 W. M. GAKDINEK, S. W. 
 
170 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIOXEERS 
 
 Eclward F. Coon 
 S. A. Butts 
 Joliathan Critcliett 
 Ira U. Hull 
 Joseph Lyttle 
 Tlios. rittenger 
 E. J. Shirts 
 Win. A. Tyler 
 .Toliu F. Cumming 
 Geo. B. fietty 
 Angus Kennedy 
 Andrew Oleson 
 Chas. A. Sessions 
 Chas. H. Tullar 
 
 Alljert G. Avery 
 \V. H. Churchill 
 Geo Everdeen 
 G. B. Hiteheock 
 Irvin W. Loomis 
 Dan'l H. Rankin 
 I. L. Staples 
 F. W. Wilson 
 Geo. E. Dewey 
 E. W. Iluteliinson 
 W. Larrabee 
 David C. Russell 
 J. D. M. Shirts 
 
 Charles Wi 
 
 .T. B. Applegate, 
 Wm. C'onijjton 
 W. Myron Gardiner 
 Israel Hull 
 A. K. MeKinnon 
 Henry W. Reid 
 F. A. Scott 
 J. W. Warner 
 Martin Foster 
 Elmer Higlitower 
 A. Z. Moore 
 Angus D. Rankin 
 A. Sigourney 
 itson Elias 
 
 Wni. H. Barry 
 Ell)ert Chittenden 
 Ira F. (Jifford 
 Hugh Johnston 
 Win. Olinder 
 Ransom Sabin 
 John Thompson 
 Egltert Cliittenden 
 H. C. Griffin 
 Stephen Inman 
 Dan'l E. McClure 
 Alfred E. Souter 
 A. J. Stewart 
 Wightman 
 
 HESPERIA LODGE NO. 346, F. cfe A. M. 
 
 The dispensation for the institution of the lodge at Hesperia was 
 granted on Oct. 27, 1874, and the charter was granted Jan. 24, 
 1875. The following were the charter members: 
 
 Philip H. Weaver Lealand G. Weaver Sylvanus Atherton Jacob Carlisle 
 
 Joseph W. Sweet J. W. Dunning Nathan Heath 
 
 Alvin Decker Sliepard Til)bitts 
 
 The following became the first officers of the lodge: 
 
 Philip H. Weaver, W. M. J. W. Dunning, S. W. Lealand (4. Weaver, J. W. 
 Philetus Munroe, Treas. J. F. Howard, Sec'y 
 
 The Worshipful Masters in the order in which they served were as 
 follows: P. H. Weaver, J. W. Dunning, Chas. Stark, John Smith 
 and Orvil E. Morton. 
 
 The present officers are: 
 
 J. W. Dunning, W. M. Chas. Stark, S. W. A. L. Scott, J. W. 
 
 Ephraim Utley, Treas. E. R. Haight, Sec'y P. H. Weaver, S. D. 
 
 Phineas Brown, J. D. R. S. Burt, Tyler Chas. Wilcox. W. C. Mull, Stewards. 
 
 The stated communications of this lodge are on Friday of each 
 month on or before full of moon, in ^lasonic Hall, in J. W. Dun- 
 ning's store building on the Oceana Co. side of Main Street. They 
 have a very nice hall, pleasantly located and neatly furnished. 
 They have buried two members since Jan. 1, Philetus Munroe and 
 Horace Carbine. The members Jan. 1, 1890, were as follows: 
 
 Phineas Brown 
 Jas. Colwell 
 (!eo. W. Ferguson 
 O. Z. Hawley 
 E. S. Nortli 
 John Smith 
 Epliraiin Utley 
 W. I. Biilson 
 .r. W. Dunning 
 E. R. Haight 
 O. E. INIorton 
 Jos. OHara 
 J. W. Sweet 
 
 Geo. R. Boyer 
 Benj. Candee 
 Wm. (iregson 
 M. M. Mansfield 
 Fred Xe\\inan 
 E. B. Slocum 
 Chas. Wilcox 
 
 E. R. Bulson 
 Alvin Decker 
 O. D. Hawley 
 J. McCosh 
 O. A. Rowland 
 
 F. B. Seymour 
 P. H. Weaver 
 
 Win. Brown 
 Paul Dodge 
 H. C. Hawley 
 P. Munroe 
 B. Patterson 
 Geo. S. Seymour 
 U. S. Wea^'er 
 John D. Croy 
 Nebraska Dodge 
 J. P. Harley 
 Niel McCallum 
 A. L. Scott 
 Chas. E. Strobridi; 
 
 Burr Bettis 
 A. W. Dowdell 
 Nathan Heatli 
 Benj. F. Moe 
 Chas. Stark 
 S. B. Stevenson 
 R. S. Burt 
 Horace Carbine 
 Wm. Fleming 
 Wm. C. Mull 
 Chas. Newman 
 Myron Stark 
 Ezra Siiauldiiig 
 
 S. y. Walker 
 
 I 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 171 
 
 OCEANA niAPTER NO. 56, R. A. M. 
 
 Located at Pentwater, was instituted on Feb. 11, 1868, with the 
 foUowing charter members: 
 
 Rev. 
 
 ]5. F. Doughty 
 J. Boyiiton L. E. Payiu 
 
 Since the oi'ganization of 
 the Chapter there have been 
 130 members. B.F. Dough- 
 ty was the first High Priest 
 and the following in order 
 named have held that posi- 
 tion: J. M.Rice, W.E.Dock- 
 ry, L. G. Rutherford, and 
 Fred Nielsen. 
 The present officers ai-e: 
 D. C. AVickhain, H. 1". 
 Fieil Xiclsen, Kinj; 
 .las Ci rover, fSeiibe 
 K. Xii'kersoii, Treas. 
 J. H. Houton, Recorder 
 (i. AV. Iiiiiis, C. ol JI. 
 K. H. Flasij;, 1'. S. 
 The stated convocations 
 of the Chapter are the third 
 Monday of each month, at 
 ^lasonic Hall, Pentwater. 
 
 FRED NIELSEN, P. H. 
 C. \V. Deaiie L. I). Grove 
 
 C. A. Noble 
 
 C. Mason A. ]Mason 
 
 E. \V. Wordeii 
 
 D. C. WICKHAM, H. P. 
 
172 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 The list of present members is as follows: 
 
 W. E. Ambler Wm. H. Barry Hobert Brink 
 
 Watson Ciirroll E. F. Coon 
 
 Jacob Fisher G. A. Franibes 
 
 G. W. Inuis Antlion Jensen 
 
 C. L. Moody Jas. McClure 
 
 Alva rainier W. A. Konnds 
 
 F. W. Wilson Geo. Warner 
 
 John Bloore Frank Binnie 
 
 Chas. Conistock deo. Donaldson 
 
 C. H. Chapman 
 M. Ewald 
 John Hagestrom 
 A. E. McKinnon 
 C. A. Noble 
 John Thompson 
 Chas. W. Brown 
 Wm. H. Cheney 
 John Fisher 
 Wm. Hudson 
 F. E. Moody 
 A. Olesen 
 
 O. H. Tayer 
 
 R. Flanders 
 Peter Jensen W. A. Knhn 
 
 A. Z. Moore D. E. McClure 
 
 J. W. Tollok F. J. Rnssell 
 
 1). C. Wickham 
 
 Wm. H. Browne 
 O. H. Dean 
 Jas. Grover 
 Wm. Kuhn 
 Fred Nielsen 
 W. B. O. Sands 
 J. H. Bouton 
 E. D. Chittenden 
 E. B. Flagg 
 W. Myron Gardiner 
 Nels Liljenberg 
 E. Nickerson 
 A. Sorensen 
 Wm. Webb . 
 
 OCEANA COUNCIL NO. 27, R. & S. M. 
 
 Was instituted at Pentwater Feb. 3, 1869, and to the present 
 time there have been 71 members. The Past T. I. M's are J.Boyn- 
 ton, J. M. Rice, Fred Nielsen, W. E. Doclcry and D. C. Wickham. 
 The present officers are: 
 G. W. Imus, T. I. M. O. H. Dean, D. M. E. B. Flagg, P. C. W. 
 
 Fred Nielsen, Treas. J. H. Bouton, Recorder W. E. Ambler, Capt. G. 
 
 F. E. Moody, Con. of C. Jas. Grover, Steward I. N. Lewis, Sentinel 
 The stated Assemblies are the second Mondaj^ of each month, in 
 Masonic Hall, Pentwater. 
 The present membershiiD is thirty-seven. 
 
 ODDFELLOWSHIP. 
 
 The fraternity of Odd Fellows at this time is very strong in Oce- 
 ana County, yet it is but a few years since the organization of the 
 first lodge at Hart in 1879. At that time it was with much difli- 
 culty that the Grand Master could be prevailed upon to issue adis- 
 pensation for the institution of that lodge, he being fearful that it 
 could not live. Bro. H. J. Holmes, of Hart, has a letter from him 
 in regard to the matter, in which he so expresses himself, giving as 
 a reason for such fear that tlie county was too new to support a 
 lodge. But the growth of Oddfellowshiphas been on n. j)ar with the 
 growth of the county generally, and that is simply phenomenal. 
 From the small beginning made at that time, a lodge of seventeen 
 members, has grown the present strength of the order in the coun- 
 ty, which is represented by six lodges in good working condition 
 with an aggregate membership of 342, and owning property to the 
 amount of thousands of dollars; besides two Encampments and 
 four lodges of the Degree of Kebekah. 
 
 41 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 173 
 
 H. J. HOLMES, 1st P. (A. 
 
 OCEANA LODGE NO. 327. 
 
 The first lodge in the county was organized at Hart, June 10, 
 1879, with i\ve charter members 
 as follows: 
 
 H. J. Holmes 
 A. Hoisin^ton 
 Thomas Hull 
 J. A. Collier 
 Lorenzo Brooks 
 After admitting a number of 
 Ancient Odd Fellows and intiat- 
 ing othei's, the following became 
 the first officers of the lodge: 
 H. J. Holmes, X. G. 
 J. A. Collier, V. G. 
 T. S. Gurney, Sec. 
 A. Hoisington, Treas. 
 Thomas Hull, W. 
 Loren/.o Brooks, C. 
 The Noble Grands in succession to the i)resent time have been 
 as follows: 
 
 H. J. Holmes, J. A. Collier, 
 Andrew Hoisington, Lorenzo 
 Brooks, T. S. Gurney, James 
 McVean, C. A. Gurnej-, E. P. 
 Wigton, R. W. Henderson, C. 
 A. Campbell, A.Corliss, E. H. 
 Hotchkiss, Robert Currie, L. 
 C. Parnin, H. J. Servis, I. C. 
 Ford, G. E. Mathews, C. B. 
 Stevens, W. P. Sackrider, J. 
 Clin, Alex. Wright, William 
 Cooper, C. E. Croft", and E. T. 
 INIugford. 
 
 The present officers are: 
 
 Robert Currie, N. G. 
 Benj. Martin, V. G. 
 W. P. Sackrider, Sec. 
 H. J. Servis, P. Sec. 
 J. A. Collier, Treas. 
 John Clin, W. 
 Wm. Cooper, C. 
 E. T. Mugford, P. G. 
 
 J. A. COLLIKR, 2nd p. G. 
 
174 
 
 OfEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 The Lodge meets on Saturday evenings in their new hall, recent- 
 ly purchased, in the 
 Chadwick and Denni- 
 son block. The lodge 
 is well supplied with 
 necessary regalia and 
 other appurtenances, 
 and has money in the 
 treasury. The follow- 
 ing is a list of mem- 
 bers: 
 
 E. E. Allen 
 C. A. Adams 
 
 F. Besensen 
 E. L. Brooks 
 Lorenzo Brooks 
 S. A. Butts 
 J. A. Collier 
 C. A. Campbell 
 J. A. Cole 
 Wm. Cooper 
 R. L. Crosby 
 Edson Collins 
 R. A. Chapin 
 
 THliRON S. GUIINKY, 5th P. G 
 
 Robert Cun-ie 
 C. E. Ci-ofc 
 Geo. Cooper 
 Judson Collins 
 Geo. Dennison 
 T. Downing 
 E. Dyer 
 Jos. Evans 
 Ed. Ervin 
 W. T. Evans 
 I. C. Ford 
 A. W. French 
 G. E. Franibes 
 James Franklin 
 R.Franklin 
 E. A. Fuller 
 C. A. Gurney 
 T. S. Gurney 
 E. S. Houghtaling 
 M. Huftile 
 
 C. A. GURNEY, 7th P. G. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 175 
 
 J. D. S. Hanson 
 R. W. Henderson 
 Milton Hiles 
 Frank Hitchcock 
 A. Hoisington 
 E. H. Hotclikiss 
 H. S. Kinney 
 John Knickerbocker 
 Benjamin Martin 
 James McVean 
 L. D. Miller 
 H. Miller 
 Jesse Mills 
 Charles Morgan 
 E. T. INIngford 
 Jolin Mugford 
 John Olin 
 Peter Nelson 
 James Peckham 
 A. M. Pringle 
 
 H. J. SERVIS, loth p. G. 
 
 'Te - ' nif)>" 
 
 r. B. STEVENS, 18th p. Ci 
 
 Wm. Wear 
 C. K.Williams 
 Alex. Wright 
 
 L.C. Parnin 
 J. A. Phillippo 
 Ira Richmond 
 C. B. Reamer 
 J. W. Robinson 
 A. Skillen 
 H. J. Servis 
 W. P. Sackrider 
 Ed. Stansberg 
 C. N. Sowers 
 M. W. Satterlee 
 W. A. Sanford 
 C. B. Stevens 
 W. N. Sayles 
 N. G. Sayles 
 Carl Schrumpf 
 W. J. 6ervi.s 
 A. W. Shufelt 
 P. Thomas 
 Jesse Tennant 
 W. J. Towning 
 A. J. Wright 
 E. P. Wigton 
 
17G 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEER.- 
 
 l^^/fP"' 
 
 W. P. SACKRIDER, 19th P. G. 
 
 w:m:. COOPER, 22nd p. c^ 
 
AND BL'rflXESS MKN' OF TO-DAY. 
 
 ■^^^'■^fc'^"^^^ 
 
 E. T. MTGFORJJ, 24:th P. G. 
 
 HE.-PErUA LODGE NO. 334. 
 
 Was organized at Hesperia, Nov. 20, 1879, with the following as 
 charter members and first officers: 
 
 W. S. Stevens, X. G. W. S. Millard, V. G. 
 
 G. R. Boyer, Sec. Israel Clark, I. G. 
 
 P. Munroe, Treas. 
 
 The Xoble Grand.s to the pi'esent time have been as follow.s: W. 
 S. Stevens, W. S. Millard, John Smith, Israel Clark, H. C. Hawle.y, 
 G. R. Boyer, W. B. Chandler, L. E. Norton, J. B. Smith, J. Jack- 
 son, W. C. Mull, John Ash. E. R.Haight, W.Balcom, E. J.Bennett, 
 James Gordon, Galen Xorthrui). 
 The present officers are: 
 W. H. Turner, N. G. E. J. Philo, V. G. 
 
 A. C. Eltridge, Sec. W. C. Mull, Treas. 
 
 Israel Clark, P. Sec. G. Xorthrup, P. G. 
 
 The lodge meets on Saturday evening in Odd Fellows' Hall, on 
 the west side of Main Street. They own a lot which cost SI, 500 
 and report S400 in funds. The number of members in good stand- 
 ing on Jan. first was sixty-seven; the names we have not been able 
 to secure. 
 
178 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 SHELBY 
 
 Dulling the summer of '80 
 the few Odd Fellows resid- 
 ing at Shelby, notably Geo. 
 B. Getty and Otis A. Elli- 
 ott, agitated the question 
 of estabUshing a lodge there. 
 After talking the matter 
 over and seeing the different 
 members of the order, a 
 meeting was finally called 
 at the Elliott House and 
 steps were taken to organ- 
 ize. As a result a lodge was 
 instituted under dispensa- 
 tion on Aug. 30, 1880, and 
 a charter received Feb. 18, 
 1881. Thefollowing became 
 charter members: 
 
 0. K. White 
 W. H. Dunn 
 W. F. Lewis 
 
 1. B. Bowerman 
 I. \\'interstien 
 
 LODGE, NO. 344. 
 
 w. F. LEWIS, 3rd p. Q. 
 Chas. Babcock, Moses Burk, 
 
 W. H. DUNN, 1st P. G. 
 
 Geo. B. Getty 
 
 Moses W. Burk 
 
 D. W. Dodd 
 
 Otis A. Elliott 
 The first officers of the lodge 
 were: 
 
 W. H. Dunn, N. G. 
 
 O. K. White, V. G. 
 
 0. A. Elliott, Sec. 
 
 Geo. B. Getty, P. Sec. 
 
 Wm. F. Lewis, Treas. 
 
 O. F. Hill, W. 
 
 Moses Burk, C. 
 
 Beer Pittenger, Chap. 
 The following have held the 
 office of Noble Grand in the 
 order named: W. H. Dunn, 
 O. K. Wliite, W. F. Lewis, O. 
 F. Hill, C. P. Rathbone, Geo. 
 B. Getty, Wm. Woodland, 
 Milo H. Sweet, E. H. Cutler, A. E. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAV. 
 
 179 
 
 Souter, F. E. Reamei-, H. B. Hobby 
 W. Newman, D. Flynn and J. A. Hav 
 
 ■''0ff^'' 
 
 O. K. WHITE, 2nd p. G. 
 
 Wallace Babcock 
 F. J. Chalker 
 W. L. Culver 
 John Cramer 
 Orrin Crowfoot 
 W. H. Dunn 
 Frank Deming 
 J. D. Evans 
 Daniel Flynn 
 R. G. Forbes 
 E. B. Gaylord 
 Chas. Getty 
 Geo. B. Getty 
 H. J. Goodenrath 
 M. A. Gilbert 
 H. Hendrickson 
 Dennis Hinchen 
 H. B. Hobby 
 H. W. Harpster 
 
 , A. D. Rankin, T. H. Baker, F. 
 rison. The ]present officers are: 
 
 C. E. Abraham, N. G. 
 
 F. M. Meyers, V. G. 
 
 Elmer Tyler, Sec. 
 
 M. Sargent, P. Sec. 
 
 A. C. Kocher, Treas. 
 
 H. B. Hobby, W. 
 
 F. E. Reamer, C. 
 
 J. A. Harrison, P. G. 
 
 The lod£;e meets on Sat- 
 urday evenings, in the Chur- 
 chill and Phelps block, on 
 Main street. The financial 
 condition is good, having 
 $.500 invested in supplies, 
 and a surplus of §600. The 
 membership Jan. 1, 1890, 
 was as follows: 
 
 C. E. Abraham 
 
 J. E. Baker 
 
 J. Beam 
 
 T. H. Baker 
 
 Fred Baker 
 
 Eli Beam 
 
 Warren Beam 
 
 C. V. RATHBONE, 5th P. O. 
 
180 
 
 OCEANA COUXTY PIONEERS 
 
 GEO. B. GETTY, 6th P. G. 
 
 J. A. Harrison 
 H. Johnston 
 A. C. Kocher 
 
 E. Lambert 
 A. A. Lewis 
 W. F. Lewis 
 Albert Lintz 
 Albert Long 
 W. F. Mitchell 
 F.M. Meyers 
 ^larshall Meyers 
 S. Matney 
 
 F. W. Newman 
 Jerry Pigeon 
 A. M. Prosser 
 Delos Prosser 
 A. D. Rankin 
 Chas. P. Rathbone 
 Frank Roberts 
 Peter Rankin 
 
 F. E. Reamer. 
 Robert Rowley 
 
 D. A. Reed 
 M. H. Sweet 
 A. E. Souter 
 J^. A. Shirts 
 M. Sargent 
 Bert Thiele 
 Elmer Tyler 
 Chas. VanWickle 
 Wm. Woodland 
 Chas. Wilson. 
 
 WM. WOODLAND, 7th P. G. 
 
AND BUSIXESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 181 
 
 E. H. CTTLER, 11th P. G 
 
 A. E. SOUTER, 12th P. G. 
 
182 
 
 OCEAKA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 ^^f^- 
 
 F. E. REAMER, 13th P. G. 
 
 T. H. BAKER, 16th P. G. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-I)AV 
 
 183 
 
 J. A. HARRISON, 19th P. G. 
 
 C. E. ABRAHAM, X. G. 
 
184 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 F. M. MEYERS, V. G. 
 
 PENTWATER LODGE NO. 378. 
 
 Pentwater Lodge was organized April 27, 1883, with the follow- 
 
 A. E. BURGESS, 2nd P. G. 
 
 1 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 185 
 
 ing charter members: Daniel Calkins, A. E. Burgess, Otto Grant, 
 C. J. Heath and W. S. Reed. 
 
 The first officers were: 
 
 D. Calkins, N. G. 
 
 A. E. Burgess, V. G. 
 
 L. M. Hartvvick, Sec. 
 
 Otto Grant, P. Sec. 
 
 W. S. Reed, Treas. 
 
 Alvin Warner, W. 
 
 Robert Venn, C. 
 
 The following have 
 held the office of Noble 
 GrandfollowingD. Calk- 
 ins, who served until 
 Dec. 31, 1883: A. E. 
 Burgess, L. M. Hart- 
 wick, C. W. Cramer, G. 
 O. Switzer, Otto Grant, 
 Robert Venn, A. War- 
 ner, M. F. Hyde, J. B. 
 Steele, Thos. Morin, A. Jacobs and W. H. Tuller. 
 
 L. M. HARTWICK, 3rd P. G. 
 
 The present officers are: 
 
 C. M. Underbill, N. G. 
 
 W. E. Hodges, V. G. 
 
 C. P. Barnard, Sec. 
 
 M. F. Hyde, P. Sec. 
 
 T. Morin, Treas. 
 
 J. H. Bouton, W. 
 
 Peter Jensen, C. 
 
 W. H. Tuller, P. G. 
 The lodge meets on Satur- 
 day evenings in their own hall 
 which is in the upper story 
 of the Pentwater News 
 block. The lodge owns the 
 upper part ot the block and 
 also the lot in the rear. It 
 has besides this property 
 about $500 in ready mon- 
 ey. Probably no lodge in 
 the county is better situat- 
 ed than this lodge. 
 
186 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 The following were members Jan. 
 
 G. O. SWITZER, 5th p. G 
 
 C. W. Cramer 
 E. B. Comstock 
 0. F. Compton 
 H. Cutler 
 
 W. S. Dumont 
 E. A. Daggett 
 Peter Dreves 
 G. V. Dunn 
 T. Erickson 
 Frank Girard 
 
 D. B. Gardner 
 M. H. Gannon 
 M. D. Girard 
 Otto Grant 
 Wm. Hudson 
 J. W. Hurley 
 T. J. Haughey 
 Jens Hanson 
 Chas. Hitchcock 
 L. M. Hartwick 
 H. D. Hartwick 
 
 E. W. Hodges 
 Erie Huftile 
 Gustav Hanson 
 M. F. Hyde 
 
 1, 1890: 
 
 Chas. Anderson 
 Sam'l Andrus 
 J. Brookshes 
 C. P. Benedict 
 E. N. Briggs 
 J. H. Bouton 
 Niel Browne 
 C. P. Barnard 
 Aleck Browne 
 Fred Brown 
 J. H. Brill 
 A. E. Burgess 
 Peter Browne 
 Clare Cross 
 Jeff Cutler 
 George Cook 
 Thomas Carney 
 A. Cutler 
 
 OTTO GRANT, 6th P. G. 
 
 W. E. Hodges 
 Fred Hanson 
 
AND BUSINESS MKN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 187 
 
 Eddy O. Irons 
 M. L. Johnson 
 Peter Jensen 
 A. Johnson 
 A. Jacobs 
 Wm. Klingbeil 
 Harry Lodge 
 David Mills 
 W. R. Maxfield 
 Ira Munson 
 0. W. Marsh 
 Charles Maynard 
 Charles Martins 
 Thos. Morin 
 Theodore Merc 
 Thomas ]\Ierriani 
 A. L. Nichols 
 Fred Nj^gaard 
 A. M. Perkins 
 Charles Palmer 
 
 M. F. HYDE, 9th V. G. 
 
 THOMAS MOKIN, 11th V. G 
 
 Alvin Warner 
 James Warrington 
 
 Hans C. Peterson 
 
 Cedric B. Randall 
 
 8. E. Russell 
 
 M. Routly 
 
 W. A. Rounds 
 
 John Reid 
 
 W. L. Stoddard 
 
 W. J. Sloan 
 
 M. A. Sloan 
 
 Fred Sorensen 
 
 G. O. Switzer 
 
 N. C. Smith 
 
 James B. Steele 
 
 Frelan Smith 
 
 William H. TuUer 
 Andrew P. Tnttle 
 L. O. Tupper 
 Chas. M. Underhill 
 Robert Venn 
 James Wright 
 George Wright 
 George Warrington 
 John J. Wakefield 
 
188 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 '-^-,}ffr 
 
 CHARLES M. UNDERHILL, N. G. 
 
 CRYSTAL VALLEY LODGE NO. 386. 
 
 Organized at Crystal Valley, April 29, 1887, started out with the 
 following as charter members: 
 
 Charles Comstock George Vine 
 
 J. H. Beckwith F. A. Bristol 
 
 Albert Kenyon 
 
 The first officers were: 
 J. H. Beckwith, N. G. Charles Comstock, V. G. 
 
 A. Kenyon, Sec. F. A. Bristol, P. Sec. 
 
 George Vine, Treas. 
 
 J. H. Beckwith held the office of Noble Grand until Dec. 31, 1887, 
 and the office has been filled as follows for term ending as follows: 
 Chas. Comstock, June 30, 1888; F. A. Bristol, Dec. 31, 1888; J. H. 
 Beach, June 30, 1889, and M. O.Fisher, Dec. 31, 1889. 
 The present officers are as follows: 
 Charles A. Lammon, N. G. W. G. Fisher, O. G. 
 
 F. B. Kittridge, Sec. L. C. Brewster, P. Sec. 
 
 Charles Comstock, Treas. 
 The lodge meets on Saturday evenings at their hall in Crystal 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 189 
 
 Valley, which is owned by the lodge. Probably no lodge in the 
 county can show a better record than this. Starting with but five 
 charter members, in less than three years it has grown into a sub- 
 stantial, flourishing lodge, with a niembershij) of 35, and this, too,, 
 in a very small town. 
 
 The names of the present 
 members are as follows: 
 
 A. 0. Aldrich 
 
 Alex Amily 
 
 F. A. Bristol 
 
 J. Beckwith 
 
 Oliver Barney, Jr. 
 
 L. C. Brewster 
 
 Charles Ballard 
 
 H. M. Beadle 
 
 J. H. Beach 
 
 C. W. Brown 
 
 J. Cleveland 
 
 E. J. Cleveland 
 Charles Comstock 
 
 F. B. Comstock 
 
 G. H. Darling 
 Wm. Darling 
 J. Demerest 
 David Dunn 
 Eugene Davis 
 M. 0. Fisher 
 Wm. G. Fisher 
 Earl Fisher 
 A. G. Hyatt 
 C. A. Lammon 
 E. S. Rogers 
 
 M. O. FISHER, 5th p. G. 
 
 Reno Fisher 
 Albert Jones 
 W. A. Mason 
 
 Silas Steadman 
 
 Elmer GafEord 
 F. B. Kittridge 
 Martin Nielsen 
 George Vine 
 
 Charles Willet 
 
 Warren Willet 
 
 STETSON LODGE, NO. 390. 
 
 Was organized Sept. 5, 1889, at Walkerville, with the following 
 charter members: T. J. Sherlock, Edwin Stansberry, B. F. Stone, 
 J. ]\r. Tennant and Elisha North. 
 The following were the first oHicers: 
 B. F. Stone, N. G. T. J. Sherlock, V. G. 
 
 J. M. Tennant, Sec. E. S. North, Treas. 
 
 The present officers are: 
 T. J. Sherlock, N. G. E. Stansberry, V. G. 
 
 Raymond Ross, Sec. George North, Treas. 
 
190 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 The meetings are held on Thursdays at Sherlock's Hall. The 
 prospects for this lodge are good, and there is no reason 'why, lo- 
 cated as it is, it should not increase and multiply. The member- 
 ship is as follows: 
 
 Robert Bunting Mr. Mosher George North 
 
 E. S. North Mr. Perry Raymond Ross 
 
 T. J. Sherlock Edwin Stansberry B. F. Stone 
 
 Mr. Tuttle J. M. Tennant Hiram Webb Wm. Webb 
 
 HART ENCAMPMENT, NO. 12 
 
 Located at Hart, was organized on Jan. 31, 1881, by Grand 
 Representative Norman Bailey, with the following charter members: 
 
 J. A. Collier C. A. Gliuney T. S. Guiney A. Holsingtoii 
 
 Jas. McVeau E. P. Wigtoii Diuiiel Calkins 
 
 The first officers installed were: 
 
 J. A. Collier, C. P. 
 T. S. Giirney, S. 
 
 A. Hoisington, S. W. 
 C. A. Gurney, Treas. 
 
 II. J. Holmes, H. P. 
 Daniel Calkins, .J. W. 
 
 The following have served as Chief Patriarchs in the order named: 
 J. A. Collier, H. J. Holmes, T. S. Gurney, James McVean, J. A. Col- 
 lier, C. A. Campbell, Alex. Wright, C. A. Gurney, A. Hoisington, Ira 
 C. Ford, L. M. Hartwick, H. J. Servis, Robert Currie, John Olin, E. 
 S. Houghtaling, W. P. Sackrider, Geo. Dennison, F. A. Scott and C. 
 E. Croff. 
 The loresent officers are: 
 
 Itobeit Cunie, C. P. E. S. Houghtaling, S. W. 
 
 W. V. Sackrider, S. H. .1. Servis, F. S. 
 
 Jolin Olin, .J. W. 
 
 The meeting nights are the first and third Thursdays of each 
 month, in Odd Fellows' Hall. The encampment is well equipped, 
 is clear of debt and has money in the ti'easury. The present mem- 
 bers are as follows: 
 
 T. H. Baker 
 
 "\Vm. Cooper 
 
 Ira C. Foi'd 
 
 E. B. Gavlord 
 
 C. K. Williams, H. 1'. 
 J. A. Collins, Treas. 
 W. J. Servis, I. S. 
 
 S. A. Butts 
 Robert Currie 
 O. E. Croff 
 T. S. Gurney 
 A. Hoisington 
 Clias. Morgan 
 H. J. Servis 
 M. H. Sweet 
 
 L. Brooks 
 
 A. Comstock 
 
 Geo. Dennison 
 
 M. H. Gannon 
 
 R. W. Henderson E. S. HonghtalinL 
 
 John Olin 
 
 F. A. Seott 
 
 W. P. Sackri 'er 
 
 E. S. Rogers 
 C. B. Stevens 
 W. X. Sayles 
 
 J. A. Collier 
 Chas. Comstock 
 C. A. Gurney 
 H. J. Goodeuiath 
 M. L. Johnson 
 X. C. Smith 
 W. L. Stodtiaril 
 W. J. Ser\is 
 
 E. C. Whitina 
 
 C. K. Williams 
 
 LAKESIDE ENCAMPMENT, NO 109 
 
 Was organized at Pentwater, February 7th, 1887. A number of 
 Pentwater brothers belonging to the Hart Encampment and find- 
 ing it inconvenient to attend the meetings, hence decided to form 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 191 
 
 an encampment at home. The encampment started with the fol- 
 
 1 owing charter members: 
 
 L. M. Hartwick AV. H. Tuller ('. AV. Cniincr Thomas Moiiii 
 
 M. F. Hyde J. H. Beckwith Wm. Kliiigbeil CI. O. Swiuer 
 
 The following were installed as the first officers: 
 
 L. M. Hartwick, C. 1'. W. H. Taller, S. W. ('. W. Cramer, II. P. 
 
 C. O. Switzer, S. M. F. Hyde, F. S. Thos. Moriii, Treas. 
 
 J. H. Beckwith, J. W. J. B. Steele, (i. 
 
 The Chief Patriarchs have been as follows, tor terms expiring on 
 date named: L. M. Hartwick, June 30, '87; W. H. Tuller, Dec. 31, 
 87; C. W. Cramer, June 30, '88; G. O. Switzer, Dec. 31, '88; T. Mo- 
 rin, June 30, '89; M. F. Hyde, Dec. 31, '89. 
 
 The following are the present officers: 
 
 W. E. Hodges, C. P. Otto flraiit, S. AV. E. N. Briggs, H. P 
 
 M. F. Hyde, S. t'ha.s. Anderson, F. S. W'm. Kliiigbeil, Treas. 
 
 .1. B. Steele, .T. W. L. O. Tiipper, G. 
 
 The encampment meets each alternate Tuesday evening in Odd 
 Fellows Hall. It is well situated financially and otherwise, having 
 all necessary working material and fine regalia. The present mem- 
 bers are: 
 Chas. Anderson .1. Brookshes Xiel Browne E. N. Briggs 
 
 . I. H. Beckwith C.W.Cramer Peter Dreves Otto Grant 
 
 1). B. (jardner F. Girard ISI. D. Girard W. E. Hodges 
 
 L. M. Hartwick M. F. Hyde Eddy O. Irons A. Jacobs 
 
 Wm. Kliiigbeil T. jVIero T. Moriii A. M. Perkins 
 
 H. C. I'etersen S. E. Kussell F. Smith J. B. Steele 
 
 (J. O. Switzer W. H. Tuller L. O. Tiiijper Geo. Warrington 
 
 DEGREE OF REBEKAH. 
 
 Integrity Lodge No. 58, D. of R. The first lodge organized in the 
 county, was organized at Shelby on Oct. 14, 1882. The Noble 
 Grands in succession have been, Wm. F. Lewis, Maria J. Gilbert, 
 Geo. B. Getty, Jane E. Sweet, M. H. Sweet, A. Hoisington and Ida 
 Ij. Reamer. The present Noble Grand is jNIrs. C. E. Wilson. The 
 ijodge meets on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each 
 month in Odd Fellows Hall. The jDresent membership is twenty- 
 live. 
 
 Deborah Lodge No. 93, D. of li. Was instituted at Pentwater, 
 IMay 5, 1886, by P. G. ]M. Harrison Soule. The following persons 
 have been Noble Grands: L. M. Hartwick, Mrs. Jennie Smith, 
 Mrs. Mary I. Hyde, Mrs. Emma Briggs, Mrs. INIary E. Grant, and 
 ^liss Esther Browne (no\v*Mrs. Knapp). Present Noble Grand 
 ^Irs. Sarah Tuttle. Meetings are held on alternate Tuesday even- 
 ings at Odd Fellows Hall. Present membership si.\ty-two. 
 
 lUiby Lodge No. 109, D. of R. Organized March 26, 1888, at 
 Crystal Valley. Past Grands are J. H. Beckwith, Mrs. C. A. Beck- 
 
192 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 with, Mrs. L. C. Brewster, and Mrs. Ag^ie Barney. Present Noble 
 Grand Libbie Cole. The meetings are held on alternate Tuesday 
 evenings, at Odd Fellows Hall. Present membership forty. 
 
 White River Valley Lodge No. 86, D. of R. Is located at Hes- 
 peria. The present Noble Grand is Clara Mull. Membership sixtj^. 
 
 GRAND ARMY POSTS. 
 
 I 
 
 COMMANDER DEPARTMENT OF MIClIiaAN, 1887, 
 
 The old soldiers living in Oceana Counjty, following the example 
 of others have banded themselves together for mutual benefit and 
 assistance in case of need; and we find six well organized and flour- 
 ishing Posts within its limits. There are also several ladies' Relief 
 Corps and several Camps of Sons of Veterans. Following we give 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY 
 
 193 
 
 the leadiii}^ points of interest in regard to these organizations, with 
 a list of the members of the Posts and Camps, ui the order of their 
 organization . 
 
 JOE MOOICEU POST NO. 20 
 
 Is located at llart, and was organized Angnst 10. ISSl, with the 
 following charter mem- 
 bers: 
 
 I. D. Reed 
 
 J. H. Slater 
 
 L. G. Rutherford 
 
 W. R. Collier 
 
 W. E. Thorp 
 
 G. L. Crumb 
 
 J. V. Cahill 
 
 C. W. Slayton 
 
 C. E. Croft- 
 
 F. H. Edwards 
 
 J. A. Collier 
 
 Wm. J.'McRae 
 
 Daniel Calkins 
 
 Myron Hammond 
 
 Chauncey Griswold 
 
 L. C. Parnin 
 
 W. H. Waters. w. e thoiu', 1st i*. com. 
 
 The lirst officers of the Post were: 
 
 W. E. Thorp, Com'd'r 
 
 C. \V. Slayton, S. V. Com. 
 
 I. D. Reed, J. V. Com. 
 
 J. H. Slater, Adjt. 
 
 J. V. Cahill, Q. M. 
 
 W. R. Collier, Sur. 
 
 G. L. Crumb, Chap. 
 
 L. G. Rutherford. O. D. 
 
 W. J. McRae. O. G. 
 
 C. E. Croff, S. M. 
 
 F. H. Edwards, Q. M. S. 
 Mr. W. E. Thorp held the of- 
 fice of Commander during the 
 balance of the year '81, and al- 
 so during '82-3 and 1. J. V. 
 Cahill was Commander in '85; J. 
 A. Collier, "86: J. H. Slater, •'ST; 
 J. V. CAHILL, 2nd p. co.m'd'u. H. J. Holmes, '88, and D. C. 
 
194 
 
 0CEA2JA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Wickham, '89. The present officers, mustertd at first meeting in 
 
 JalUlarJ^ 1890, are: 
 
 Geo. B. Dikeman, Com. 
 
 F. H. Edwards, S. V. Com. 
 
 W. A. Biirngs, J. V. Com. 
 
 J. H. Slater, Adjt. 
 
 II. J. Holmes, Q. M. 
 
 P. H. Chappell, Sur. 
 
 Geo. B. Rollins, Chap. 
 
 J. B. Winans, O. D. 
 
 (Jeo. Wells, O. G. 
 
 J. A. Collier, S. M. 
 
 M. A. Luther, Q. M. S. 
 
 The Post meets at Odd Fel- 
 lows Hall in the village of 
 Hart, on the second and 
 I'ouvth Mondays of each 
 month. The financial condi- 
 t ion of 1 he Post is good, and 
 it stands as one of the most 
 J. A. COT^LIER, 3rd p. com'd'r. Substantial and solid Posts 
 of the county. 
 
 '/; .- 
 
 J. H. SLATER, Ith P. com'd'r. 
 
AND HL'SlNKrt.-; MKS OF TO-DAY. 
 
 195 
 
 H. .]. HOLMKS, 5tll P. COM'd'k. 
 
 D. c. \vicKHA>r, Gth p. com'd'r. 
 
 The following were membei-s, J;in. 1, '90: 
 
 Co. ue;4t. 
 
 E. E.Allen H 2 
 
 J. W. Althouse A 3 
 
 F. Besenson 1 59 
 
 C. F. Ballon K 92 
 
 S. S. Branch K 8 
 
 J. C. Beddinger I 12 
 
 state. 
 
 Bran eh 
 
 Ohio 
 
 c. 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 Ills. 
 
 
 N.Y. 
 
 
 Ohio 
 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
196 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEEES 
 
 Co. Rpfrt. State. Branch. 
 
 W.A.Billings M 21 Pea. C. 
 
 C. O. Bishop F 39 Wis. I. 
 
 N. Benedict F 18 Mich. I. 
 
 W\ R. Collier H 8 Mich. I. 
 
 J. V. Cahill G 10 Wis. I. 
 
 C. E. Croff C 17 Ills. C. 
 
 .T.A.Collier B 115 N.Y. I. 
 
 J. G. Cary Ind. Bat. Ohio L. A. 
 
 B.F. Campbell C 18 Mich. I. 
 
 P.H. Chappell H '20 Mich. I. 
 
 C. A. Campbell K 2 Conn. H.A. 
 
 Pat Corcoran H 2 N.Y. C. 
 
 P. Carter I 7 Mich. I. 
 
 G. B. Dikeman \ 151 N.Y. I. 
 
 G. F. Dennison L E. tt M. Corps. 
 
 F.H.Edwards 1 7 U.S. I. 
 
 A.Evans C 3 Mich. L. A. 
 
 A.Fletcher A 26 Mich. I. 
 
 H. H. Feiaht E 138 Pa. I. 
 
 W. H. Flory I 3 Mich. C. 
 
 " K 8 Mich. C. 
 
 A. Farmer K 13 Mich. I. 
 
 C. Fletcher A 26 Mich. I. 
 
 W. H. Fuller D 30 Mich. I. 
 
 G.A. Frambes B 59 Ohio I. 
 
 C. Griswold F 2 Ohio H.A. 
 
 S.M.Gilbert D 83 Pa. I. 
 
 Nelson Glover A 26 ]Mich. I. 
 
 S.W.Gilbert B 83 Pa. I. 
 
 L.L.Gardner K 2 U.S. C. 
 
 H.J.Holmes G 10 Wis. L 
 
 B.Holscher G 100 N.Y. L 
 
 D. B. Hutchins D 111 N.Y. L 
 
 Wm. Hobbs B 8 Wis. I. 
 
 George Hill L 5 N.Y. C. 
 
 L. A. Hammun A 28 Wis. I. 
 
 J. Knickerbocker J) 9 Mich. I. 
 
 M.A.Luther C 76 N.Y. I. 
 
 T.M.Lander Bat K 2 Ohio A. 
 
 A. H. Larnard V 6 Ohio I. 
 
 H 23 Ohio I. 
 
 W. J. McRae B.it. M 2 Ills. A. 
 
 Gus May G 49 N.Y. L 
 
 G. L. McCartv K 20 Wis. L 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 197 
 
 Co. Kejit. State. J'.iaiioli. 
 
 F. A, 3Iorton — 9 Ind. I. 
 
 L. C. Parnin I 59 Ind. I. 
 
 J. D. Painter I 12 Mich. I. 
 
 A. Petrie H 21 N. Y. I. 
 
 T. Pinder A 8 Ills. C. 
 
 H. P. Parsons C 49 Mass. I. 
 
 L. G. Rutherford H 189 X.Y. I. 
 
 C. Richter D 8 Mich. I. 
 
 G.R.Rollins B 100 Ind. I. 
 
 R. W. Riddell F 120 N..Y. I. 
 
 L. Renninger H 37 Ohio I. 
 
 W. A. Rounds C 16 U.S. C. 
 
 J. H. Slater K 83 Ills. I. 
 
 R.L.Shaw I 1 Mich. C. 
 
 Henry Sample I 28 Mich. I. 
 
 Henry Sage A 107 Pa. I. 
 
 R. R. Sanford G 1 Mich. S. S. 
 
 O. W. Stever G 30 Wis. I. 
 
 (). Stebbins D 98 N.Y. I. 
 
 W.E. Thorp D 21 N.Y. I. 
 
 George Tate A 7 Mich. I. 
 
 C.W^ Taylor F 14 Ills. I. 
 
 T.C.Turner A Ohio H. A. 
 
 W. H.H.Turner C 153 Ind. I. 
 
 H.D.Tucker E 7 Wis. A. 
 
 S. Thorp F 118 Ind. I. 
 
 J. R. Thompson F 4 Mich. C. 
 
 J. B. Winans H 20 Ohio I. 
 
 C.W. Weeks C 83 Pa. I. 
 
 I). C. Wickhani H 129 N.Y. I. 
 
 — 8 N.Y. A. 
 
 George Wells D 60 N.Y. I. 
 
 John Westbrook A 104 N.Y. I. 
 
 A. Wasson K 84 Ind. I. 
 
 J. A.Weyant K 19 N.Y. I. 
 
 SHIELDS POST, NO. 68 
 
 Was organized at Shelby, June 27, 1882, with the following char- 
 ter members: 
 
 G. W. Woodward V\'. II. Dunn Nathan Adams 
 
 W. H. Churchill :\Ianly C. White Wm. H. Barry 
 
 Hiram C. Morris E. F. Coon CJeo. B. Getty 
 
 Win. ]M. Payne A. Fleming Sam'l Wright 
 
 Peter Pasinger R. F. Ames 
 
198 
 
 VCEA'SX COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 G. W. WOODWARD, Ist P. C. 
 
 H. Eddy, 1889. 
 
 The present officers are: 
 
 L. D. Wildey, Com. 
 
 Hiram C.Morris, S.V. Com. 
 
 Dennis Hinchen, J. V. Com. 
 
 J. D. Randall, Adjt. 
 
 W. H. Barry, Q. M. 
 
 N. B. Farnsworth, Sur. 
 
 Sam'l Wright, Chap. 
 
 Philo Penfield, O. D. 
 
 A. Fleming, 0. G. 
 
 Nathan Adan:is. S. M. 
 
 Thos. Twining, Q. M. S. 
 
 The Post meets on the lirst 
 and third Mondays of eacli ; 
 month, at Hedges' Hall, on 
 Main street, Shelby. The 
 standing of the Post is good, 
 finances are in good shape 
 and the interest of the mem- 
 bers in its meetings is made 
 apparent by the attendance. 
 
 Thefirst officers of the Post 
 were: 
 
 G. W. Woodward, Com. 
 
 W. H. Dunn, S. V. Com. 
 
 Nathan Adams, J. V. Com. 
 
 W. H. Churchill, Adjt. 
 
 Manly C. White, Q. M. 
 
 W. H.Barry, Sur. 
 
 Hiram C. Morris, Chap. 
 
 E. F. Coon, 0. D. 
 
 G. B. Getty, 0. G. 
 
 Jas. McKay, S. M. 
 
 W. M. Payne, Q. M. S. 
 
 The Commanders have been 
 as follows during the years 
 named: G. W. Woodward, 
 1882; W. H. Dunn, 1883; W. 
 H. Barry, 1884-5; Nathan 
 Adams, 1886; D. O. Vaughn, 
 1887; W. H. Dunn, 1888; G. 
 
 W. H. DUNN, 2nd p. c. 
 
AXI) BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 199 
 
 V>'. H. BARRY, 3rd P. C. 
 
 
 GEO. H. EDDY, 6th P. C. 
 
200 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 The following comprises the membership, Jan. 1, 1890: 
 
 Co. Regt. State. Branch. 
 
 Nathan Adams H 11 Mich. I. 
 
 Ralph F.Ames F 151 Pa. I. 
 
 W.H.Barry A 1 Mich. L. A. 
 
 O.A.Brown I 20 Mich. I. 
 
 Frederick Butzer F 24 N.Y. C. 
 
 Alonzo Beckwith I 39 Wis. I. 
 
 W.H.Churchill G 15 Mich. I. 
 
 E. F.Coon I 99 N.Y. I. 
 
 Wm. Compton E 6 Mich. C. 
 
 JohnCurren H 21 :Mich. I. 
 
 Francis Conroy C 12 Mich. I. 
 
 A.L.Cobb B 1 Mich. E.&M. 
 
 Jas. B. Dorrance C 11 ]Mich. C. 
 
 David Dill F 5 Mich. C. 
 
 G.H.Eddy D 33 N.Y. I. 
 
 John Eaton A 21 Ohio I. 
 
 Ezra Elliott B 8 Ills. C. 
 
 A. Fleming H 11 Mich. C. 
 
 W.H.Fleming K 1 Mich. I. 
 
 H 11 Mich. C. 
 
 C.W.Fisher C 3 Pa. C. 
 
 N. B. Farnsworth B 9 Mich. I. 
 
 A 19 Mich. I. 
 
 George B. Getty D * 45 Pa. I. 
 
 Leander Godfrey C 111 Pa. I. 
 
 Dennis Hinchen B 97 N.Y. I. 
 
 JohnW.Inman H 2 Ohio C. 
 
 Orlow Inman C 176 Ohio I. 
 
 Thomas Kelly I 8 N.Y. C. 
 
 Edward Kinney E 1 Mich. E & M. 
 
 James S. Knowlton B 1 Mich. L. A. 
 
 Sam'l S.Lewis I 112 N.Y. L 
 
 John Little A 1 Col. C. 
 
 Hiram C. Morris H 107 N.Y. I. 
 
 J.N.Marvin C 17 Ind. L 
 
 Edward M. Moody A 110 N.Y. I. 
 
 Joel W.Morse F 142 Ind. I. 
 
 Geo. W. Morehouse j: 101 N.Y. I. 
 
 Wm. M.Payne D 5 Mich. C. 
 
 Peter Pasinger L 4 Mich. C. 
 
 Alex. Pittinger K 8 Ohio I. 
 
 Philo Penfield B 1 Ohio L. A. 
 
 Francis A. Pitts M 10 Mich. C. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 201 
 
 Co. 
 
 B.G. Pen-in G 
 
 J. D. Randall A 
 
 LeGrand Rathbone D 
 
 Edwin S. Randall C 
 
 Wm. H. Reamer G 
 
 Wm. P. Shafei- A 
 
 Ransom Sabin H 
 
 Stephen Stonehouse H 
 
 J. P. Smith G 
 
 " A 
 
 Thos. Twining F 
 
 Ross Vradenburg F 
 
 G. W. Woodward D 
 
 G 
 
 Samuel Wright F 
 
 Jeptha Wright B 
 
 B.^S. Wade F 
 
 L. D. Wildey C 
 
 Simeon R. Wright G 
 
 Regt. 
 
 State. 
 
 Branch 
 
 100 
 
 Pa. 
 
 I. 
 
 13 
 
 Mich. 
 
 I. 
 
 11 
 
 Mich. 
 
 c. 
 
 13 
 
 Mich. 
 
 I. 
 
 24 
 
 N.Y. 
 
 T. 
 
 26 
 
 Mich. 
 
 I. 
 
 2 
 
 Mo. 
 
 C. 
 
 27 
 
 Mich. 
 
 I. 
 
 2 
 
 Mich. 
 
 c. 
 
 10 
 
 Mich. 
 
 c. 
 
 57 
 
 Ohio 
 
 I. 
 
 1.5 
 
 Mich. 
 
 I. 
 
 1 
 
 Mich. 
 
 E.&M. 
 
 21 
 
 Mich. 
 
 I. 
 
 14 
 
 Ind. 
 
 I. 
 
 12 
 
 Ind. 
 
 C. 
 
 13 
 
 Mich. 
 
 I. 
 
 18 
 
 Mich. 
 
 I. 
 
 17 
 
 Mich. 
 
 I. 
 
 R. M. JOHNSON POST, NO. 138 
 
 Located at Ferry, was organized in ^fay, 1883, with the follow- 
 ing named persons as charter 
 members: 
 
 John Archer 
 Daniel Landon 
 Alvin B. Decker 
 Benjamin F. Archer. 
 John M. Heim 
 Simeon R. Wright 
 Theodore P. Landon 
 Henry Dodge 
 A. W. Sparks 
 J. ]\r. Keeney 
 A. Eitniear 
 The Post was mustered by 
 W. E. Thorp, of Hart, and 
 the following were elected as 
 the first ofiicers: 
 John Archer, Com. 
 T. P. Landon, S. V. Com. 
 Henry Dodge, J. V. Com. benj. p. archer, 1st p. c. 
 
202 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 J. M. Keeney, Adjt. 
 
 Dan'l Landon, Q. M. 
 
 A. W. Sparks, Chap. 
 
 John M. Heim, S. M. 
 
 Jos. Mallison, Q. M. S. 
 
 These officers held their of- 
 fices during 1883-4. Benja- 
 min F. Archer was Command- 
 er in '85; Theodore P. Lan- 
 don in '86; E. O. Peck in '87; 
 B.F.Archer again in '88, and 
 Geo. W. Newton was elected 
 for '89 but held only a short 
 time when he resigned, and 
 Orrin Weiswell was elected 
 and served the balance of the 
 term. The following took 
 their offices in Jan., '90: 
 
 Paul Dodge, Com. 
 
 T. P. Landon, S. V. Com. 
 
 E. o. PECK, 3rd p. c. 
 
 J. M. Heim, J. V. Com. 
 W. R. Matthews, Adjt. 
 Henry Dodge, Q. M. 
 Frank Dunn, Chap. 
 B. F. Archer, O. D. 
 A. B. Decker, O. G. 
 
 The Post meets on the first X'S/^ ^li^ 
 
 and third Saturdays of each i'lf^f) <Z.^^^ 
 
 month in Heim's Hall. The ^mk*''^'^ 
 
 members take a lively inter- _^ J ^miVK ^^)^ 
 
 est in the affairs of the Post, -^'^^^i'^^^^^'^hX^ '^15 
 
 the meetings are well attend- j^ ^^^m ^K^ \\§i ll^^l^^^ 
 
 ed and the general condition ^^ '^mslmk J^^^^ 
 
 of the Post, financial and ^ 
 
 otherwise, is good. ^)SS^^Bir/'7/A MmssiMmiSSSi^^^x-'' 
 
 The following were members x^^^»^ ^n«M^^^^*:' 
 
 Jan. 1, 1890: ^ 
 
 ORRIN WEISWELL, 4th P. C. 
 
 Co. Eept. State. Branch. 
 
 John Archer G 1 Mich. I. 
 
 Benj. F. Archer G 4 Mich. C. 
 
 Samuel Apple L 99 Ohio I. 
 
AKD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 203 
 
 Co. 
 
 J. H. Critcbett A 
 
 Alvin Decker M 
 
 Henry Dodge G 
 
 Paul Dodge H 
 
 Frank Dunn N 
 
 A. H. Dickerson E 
 
 A. Eitniear K 
 
 H. Frees A 
 
 Samuel Frees A 
 
 E. M. Fessenden I 
 
 J. M. Heim G 
 
 D. S. Hindes F 
 
 Levi Joslin K 
 
 Hiram Keech F 
 
 T. P. Landon I 
 
 Joseph Loomis F 
 
 James Mendham E 
 
 W. R. Matthews C 
 
 Joseph ^Nlallison H 
 
 George W. Newton I 
 
 James Osborne M 
 
 P. W. Parish F 
 
 Chas. Royle H 
 
 A. W. Sparks I 
 
 S. B. Stephenson E 
 
 Orrin Weiswell D 
 
 Jacob Williamson I 
 
 Jesse Walker H 
 
 Ite^t. 
 
 Stiito. 
 
 IMancli. 
 
 100 
 
 Ind. 
 
 I. 
 
 9 
 
 Mo. 
 
 C. 
 
 1 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 99 
 
 Ind. 
 
 
 2 
 
 N.Y. 
 
 B. 
 
 7 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 169 
 
 Ohio 
 
 
 100 
 
 Ind. 
 
 
 100 
 
 Ind. 
 
 
 105 
 
 Pa. 
 
 
 38 
 
 Ohio 
 
 
 5 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 2 
 
 Ohio 
 
 B. 
 
 14 
 
 X.Y. 
 
 
 2 
 
 Pa. 
 
 
 4 
 
 Ohio 
 
 
 7 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 11 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 11 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 20 
 
 N.Y. 
 
 
 2 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 5 
 
 Jklich. 
 
 
 9 
 
 ^Vis. 
 
 
 3 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 19 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 1 
 
 3Iich. 
 
 
 91 
 
 N.Y. 
 
 
 21 
 
 Ohio 
 
 
 cjen'l sill post, no. 299 
 
 Located at Crystal Valley, was organized March 7, 1885, with 
 the following charter members: 
 T. T. Jones Alva Darling Wilson Cole 
 
 A. O. Aldrich M. Huff ^ E. W. Chadwick 
 
 J. H. Beach E. F. Avery Wni. H. Poe 
 
 S. W. Steadman D. F. Cummins Ale.\ A)nily 
 
 Ira Puffer. 
 The first oflicers of the Post were: 
 
 T. T. Jones, Commander. Alva Darling, S. V. Com. 
 
 Wilson Cole, J. V. Com. E. F. Avery, Adjt. 
 
 A. O. Aldrich, Q. M. W. H. Poe, Sur. 
 
 J. H. Beach, Chap. E. W. Chadwick, 0. D. 
 
 M. Hufif, 0. G. S. W. Steadman, S. M. D. F. Cummins, Q. M. S. 
 
204 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 T. T. Jones held the office of Commander for three years, and J. 
 
 H. Beach for two years. The 
 present officers are: 
 
 Ira Puffer, Commander. 
 
 Jay Whittaker, S. V. Com. 
 
 Stephen Manly, J. V. Com. 
 
 S. W. Steadman, Adjt. 
 
 J. H. Beach, Q. M. 
 
 Wm. H. Poe, Sur. 
 
 E. F. Avery, Chap. 
 
 T. T. Jones, 0. D. 
 
 D. F. Cummins, O. G. 
 
 D. P. Kelly, S. M. 
 
 A. 0. Aldrich, Q. M. S. 
 
 The Post meets on the sec- 
 ond and fourth Thursdays of 
 each month at Crystal Val- 
 ley. The finances are in good 
 shape and the Post is gener- 
 ally x^rosxDerous. 
 
 T. T. JONES, 1st p. C. 
 
 The following is a list of the present membership: 
 
 Co. Eegt. State. Braneli. 
 
 A. O. Aldrich K 182 Ohio I. 
 
 E.F.Avery G 70 Ills. I. 
 
 Alex. Amily A 26 Mich. I. 
 
 J. H. Beach I 1 Mich. L. A. 
 
 David Beadle F 1 Mich. L. A. 
 
 Wilson Cole F 11 Pa. C. 
 
 E. W. Chadwick E 1 Ind. H.A. 
 
 D. F. Cummms C 11 Mich. C. 
 
 E 11 Mich. I. 
 
 Alva Darling G 20 Mich. I. 
 
 David Demerest I 1 Mich. L. A. 
 
 M. Huff C 13 Mich. I. 
 
 T.T.Jones B 4 Mich. I. 
 
 D.P.Kelly E 1 Mo. Eng. 
 
 Stephen Manly E 13 Mich. I. 
 
 W. H. Poe F 1 Mich. L. A. 
 
 Ira Puffer K 19 Mich. I. 
 
 Richard Roberts G 3 N.Y. C. 
 
 S.W. Steadman C 21 Mich. I. 
 
 Jay Whittaker H 15 Mich. I. 
 
 Smith Welch H 50 N.Y. Eng. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 20^ 
 
 JOHN P. REYNOLDS POST, NO. 52 
 
 Was organized at Pentwater, Oct. 22, J 887, with sixteen cliartor 
 members, as follows: 
 
 C. O'Brien 
 E. Nickerson 
 George Warrington 
 H. C. Hart 
 Edward Brooker 
 E. D. Mathews 
 
 D. Swarthout 
 J. E. Hall 
 A. Jacobs 
 C. B. Randall 
 O. H. Dean 
 Philo Barnard 
 Wm. Buchanan 
 A. J. Underbill 
 H. H. Bunyea 
 T>. B. Gardner 
 
 A. J. UNDERHILL, 2nd P. C. 
 
 G. V. Dunn, J. V. Com. 
 W. S. Dumont, Q. M. 
 
 c/' 
 
 E. NICKERSON, Ist P. C. 
 
 The first oflicers were as 
 follows: 
 
 E. Nickerson, Com'd'r. 
 A. J. Underhill,S.V.Com. 
 O. H. Dean, J. V. Com. 
 H. H. Bunyea, Adjt. 
 
 D. B. Gardner, Q. M. 
 Geo. Warrington, Sur. 
 J. E. Hall, Chap. 
 
 A. Jacobs, O. D. 
 ^ C. O'Brien, O. G. 
 C. B. Randall, S. M. 
 Philo Barnard, Q. M. S. 
 
 E. Nickerson filled the of- 
 fice of Commander in 1887- 
 8, and A. J. Underbill in 
 1889. The officers muster- 
 ed in 1890 were as follows: 
 
 H. H. Bunyea, Com'd'r. 
 
 A. D. Maxfield, S. V. Com. 
 William E. Gill, Adjt. 
 H. C. Hart, Sur. 
 
206 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 :\r. L. :\Iarvin, Chap. E. N. Briggs, O. D. 
 
 Wni. K abler, O. G. O. H. Dean, Q. M. S. 
 
 On Jan. 24, 1890, this Post was called to mourn the loss of its 
 Adjutant, Wm. E. Gill, who was summoned to answer to the last 
 roll call in that commonwealth where battlefields are forgotten and 
 peace reigns forever. 
 
 This Post meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each 
 month in G. A. R. Hall in the Mears block. The general condition 
 the Post is good. 
 The following were members Jan. 1, 1890: 
 
 Co. Kc'gt. state. Branch. 
 
 H. H.Bunyea B 10 Mich. C. 
 
 E.N. Briggs A 9 Mich. C. 
 
 B. F. Browning C 122 Ohio I. 
 
 Wm. Buchanan I 42 Mo. I. 
 
 Edward Brooker 60 Ball. Vet. R. Corps. 
 
 Philo Barnard D 105 Ohio I. 
 
 Wm. Coppell — 3 U. S. I. 
 
 O.H. Dean A 21 Mich. I. 
 
 W. S. Dumont C 2 Vet. R. Corps. 
 
 G.V.Dunn K 81 Ind. I. 
 
 D.B.Gardner D 166 Ohio I. 
 
 F.O.Gardner E 10 Ohio C. 
 
 E. S. Griswold C 3 Mich. I. 
 
 W.E.Gill K 4 Mich. I. 
 
 James Greer C 97 Ohio I. 
 
 H.C.Hart I 14 Ohio I. 
 
 J.E.Hall K 22 Vt. R. C. 
 
 J. W. Hurley K 3 N.Y. C. 
 
 M. Huftile F 100 Ohio I. 
 
 J.C.Harrison C J22 Ohio I. 
 
 George Holton — 16 Mich. I. 
 
 A.Jacobs E 151 N.Y. I. 
 
 J. C. Jacob K 35 Pa. I. 
 
 W. F. Kahler C 97 Ohio I. 
 
 Peter Labonta C 14 Mich. I. 
 
 Edward Mathews K 35 Wis. I. 
 
 •A.Mathews C 1 AVis. H.A. 
 
 A. D. Maxfield F 14 Mich. I. 
 
 M.L.Marvin F 13 Mich. I. 
 
 E. Xickerson E 3 Mich. I. 
 
 C. O'Brien H 1 Pa. H,A. 
 
 M.S. Perkins M 11 Mich. C. 
 
 A. H. Palmer C 48 Ind. I. 
 
 C.B.Randall K 8 Wis. I. 
 
26 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 87 
 
 Ills. 
 
 
 8 
 
 N.Y. 
 
 C. 
 
 14 
 
 Ohio 
 
 
 -i 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 2G 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 1 
 
 Oliio 
 
 H.A. 
 
 18 
 
 Mich. 
 
 
 AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 207 
 
 Co. K('Kt. State. Rraucli. 
 
 I). C. Reed H 8 Mich. Bat. 
 
 James Roddy A 
 
 W. B. O. Sands I 
 
 D. Swarthout F 
 
 A . Savige G 
 
 T. TenvilHger E 
 
 A. J. Underhill A 
 
 Geo. Warrington Mar. 
 
 X. B. Wilson L 
 
 E. A. Wright G 
 
 DAN. LANDON POST, NO. 397 
 
 Was organized at Walkerville, Dec. 20, 1888. The Post meets on 
 the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. G. W. North was 
 the first Post Commander and has held the position to the present 
 time. The present officers are: 
 
 G. W. North, Commander. Samuel Bowles, S. V. Comdr. 
 V. Carpenter, J. V. Comdr. Jas. Carter, Q. M. 
 W^ B. DeLong, Chap. W. M. Wicks, O. D. 
 
 David Carter, 0. G. Ezra Woodward, S. M. 
 
 A. J. Painter, Q. M. S. 
 The following is a list of the members, Jan. 1, 1890: 
 
 Co. llvgt. state. Brancli. 
 
 Geo. Anson H 13 :\Iich. I. 
 
 Samuel Bowles D 86 N.Y. I. 
 
 Stephen Beebe H 4 Pa. I. 
 
 David Carter D 7 Mich. I. 
 
 J.E.Carter F 1 Mich. Eng. 
 
 V.E.Clark D 9 N.Y. I. 
 
 V. Carpenter G 126 Ohio I. 
 
 VV. DeLong I 12 Mich. I. 
 
 Geo. Inman K 40 Iowa I. 
 
 T. J. Knowles I 1 U. S. Vet. Eng. 
 
 Lucius M. Keyes ; E -4 Mich. C. 
 
 A.O.Lowe H 7.5 Pa. L 
 
 M. V. Leach C 1 N.Y. L. A. 
 
 B. F. :Mc.Mahon F 30 Ind. I. 
 
 Wm. McDonalls F 88 Ind. L 
 
 Hiram Mack F 140 N.Y. I. 
 
 Geo. W. North I 177 Ohio I. 
 
 A. J. Painter F 25 Mich. I. 
 
 Wm. Rumsey H 13 Mich. I. 
 
 David Stafford D 83 Pa. I. 
 
208 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Co. Kest. State. Burncli. 
 
 Win. Spoon B 10 Mich. C. 
 
 Levi Vaughn C 33 N.Y. I. 
 
 H 39 N.Y. I. 
 
 W. M. Wicks U. S. S. Iosco. 
 
 Ezra Woodward D 68 N.Y. I. 
 
 MARK SATTERLEE CAMP, NO. 28— S. O. V. 
 
 Of Hart, was organized Jan. 8, 1886, with the following charter 
 members: C. A. Gurney, J. W. Landon, W. R. McRae, Chas. Wil- 
 liams, Wni. Griswold, W. H. Chappell, M. W. Satterlee, Frederick 
 Fowler, Chas E. Summers and Albert Akin. 
 
 The first officers were: C. A. Gurney, Capt.; Chas. Williams, 1st 
 Lieut.; M. W. Satterlee, 2nd Lieut.; J. W. Landon, 1st Sergt.; W. 
 R. McRae, Q. M. Sergt.; Wm. Griswold, Chap.; W. H. Chappell, 
 Sergt. of G.; Frederick Fowler, Color Sergt.; C. E. Summers, Camp 
 G.; Albert Akin, Picket G. 
 
 M. W. Satterlee was Captain in 1887; John W. Landon in 1888, 
 and W. H. Chappell in 1889. 
 
 The present officers are: A. H. Landon, Cajjt.; Calvin Hobbs, 1st 
 Lieut.; J. W. Laudon, 2nd Lieut.; W. F. Dennison, 1st Sergt.; F.M. 
 Sage, Q. M. Sergt.; W. H. Chappell, Chap.; F. J. Hutchins, Sergt. of 
 G.; J. M. Landon, Color Sergt.; Chas. Hobbs, Camp G.; Wm. Mills, 
 Picket G. 
 
 The members Jan. 1, 1890, are as follows: C. A. Gurney, J. W. 
 Landon, Wm. R. McRae, Wm. Griswold, W. H. Chappell, C. E. Sum- 
 mers, J. M. Landon, E. L. Luther, Calvin Hobbs, A. H. Landon, F. 
 J. Hutchins, W. W. Huftile, Fred Taylor, Henry Huftile, Edmund 
 Hart, Geo. Wolf, J. H. Creviston, Alfred Tate, G. A. Tate, W^m. J. 
 INIills, F. M. Sage, W. F. Dennison, Alvah Beach, Elmer Beach, 0. 
 W. Wolf, F. W. Edwards, H. A. Hutchins, Geo. W. Kelly, Ira C. 
 Carter, W. G. Hardy, C. H. Hobbs, E. A. Mack, W. H. Mack, S. S. 
 Hersey and Jas. E. Carter. 
 
 The Camp meets on the second and fourth Fridays of each month 
 in Odd Fellows' Hall. The financial condition of the Camp is good. 
 Its members take an interest in the meetings, and altogether it is a 
 flourishing organization. 
 
 MARVIN GII.SON CAMP NO 60— S. O. V. 
 
 Located at Shelby, was organized on the 30th daj' of Aug., 1886, 
 with the following charter members: 
 
 F. H. Randall, Arthur Adams, Chas. E. Getty, Geo. W. Rogers, 
 Edward Fleming, Frazier Bulkley, C. C. Fisher, Carlos Eddy, G.H. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 209 
 
 Woodward, Wni. Ames, W. F. Gillett, II. J. Goodenrath, DeEstian 
 Coinpton, Guy Vaughn. 
 
 The first officers were: H. J. Goodeni-ath, Capt.; C. E. Getty, 1st 
 Lieut.; Wm. Ames, 2nd Lieut.; F. H. Randall, 1st Sergt.; G. H. 
 Woodward, Q. M. Sergt.; Frazier Bulkley, Chap.; Guy Vaughn, 
 Sergt. of G.; Geo. W. Rogers, Color Sergt.; W. F. Gilbert, Camp G.; 
 DeEstian Compton, Picket CJ. 
 
 H. J. Goodenrath was Captain in 1887; Chas. E. Getty in 1888; 
 Arthur Adams in 1889, and the present officers are: D. C. Oakes, 
 Capt.; Peter Eddy, 1st liieut.; Frazier Bulkley, 2nd Lieut.; Fred 
 Smith, J St Sergt.; Ed. Morris, Q. M. Sergt.; Geo. Rogers, Chap.; A. 
 Adams, Sergt. of G.; F.H. Randall, Color G.; Fred Sabin, Picket G.; 
 Wilber Adams, Cor. G. 
 
 The following was the membership on Jan. 1, 1890: Arthur Ad- 
 ams, Wilber Adams, Frazier Bulkley, Vene Barber, H. Compton, 
 Chas. Churchill, Peter Eddy, C. C. Fisher, Edward Fleming, Chas. 
 E. Getty, D. C. Oakes, DeForest Payne, Frank H. Randall, Chester 
 Robbins, Geo. Rogers, Frank Scoville, Fred Sabin, Fred Smith, C. 
 C. Twining, Chas. Vradenburg, J. C. Wade, H. J. Goodanrath, Ed. 
 Morris. 
 
 The Camp meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each 
 month at Hedges' Hall. It is in good financial condition and pros- 
 j)ering. 
 
 We append the following as many of the members reside in this 
 county: 
 
 -JOHN A. DIX POST, NO. 9 
 
 Located at Hesperia, was oi'ganized and mustered Oct. 11, 1879, 
 with the following charter members: 
 
 W. C. Simmons, Robt. Binns, A. H. Deits, 
 
 N. D. Holt, F. R. McKeen. 
 
 Mr. W. C. Simmons was the first Commander, holding the office 
 until 188G, when H. E. Waterman held for one year, and W. C. Sim- 
 mons again until Jan. 1, 1890. The i)resent officers are: 
 A. M. Phelps, Comdr. Amasa Deits, S. V. Com. 
 
 W. H. Potter, J. V. Com. H. E. Waterman, Adjt. 
 
 G. S. Carlisle, Q. M. Chas. Hess, Surg. 
 
 J. J. Howell, Chap. C. R. Reynolds, O. D. 
 
 J. R. Wyman, O. G. Geo. Robbins, S. M. 
 
 Wm. Gilbert, Q. M. S, 
 The Post meets every alternate Saturday evening at G. A. R. 
 Ilali, over L. E. Norton's drug store on the Newaygo side of Main 
 
210 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 street, at 7:30 o'clock. The Post is in good condition. The follow- 
 ing were members Jan. 1, 1890: 
 
 Co. Eegt. State. Branch. 
 
 W. I. Bullson G 2 Mich. C. 
 
 Geo. R. Boyer B 1 Mich. E.&M. 
 
 G.S.Carlisle E 9 Mich. C. 
 
 A. H. Deits G 8 Mich. I. 
 
 W.Davis D 16 Wis. I. 
 
 Jas. Frink K 12 Vt. I. 
 
 E. M. Fessenden I 105 Pa. I. 
 
 Wm. Gilbert I 7 Mo. C. 
 
 N.D.Holt K 133 N.Y. I. 
 
 E. R. Haight B 3 Mich. J. 
 
 J. J. Howell I 10 Mich. C. 
 
 M.W.Holmes G 27 Mich. I. 
 
 T. C. Haynor B 12 Ills. I. 
 
 Chas. Hess F 35 N.Y. I. 
 
 H.C.Jenny D 4 Mich. C. 
 
 L. P. Jacquay D 129 Pa. I. 
 
 S. Kempfield I 11 Mich. J. 
 
 A. Knowles B 105 Ohio I. 
 
 G. W. Kenyon B 4 Mich. I. 
 
 Thos. Lockard D 44 Ills. I. 
 
 I. A.Labert 2 Wis. A. 
 
 F. R.McKeen C 2 Me. I. 
 
 A.C.Martin F 4 Iowa I. 
 
 M. T^r. Mansfield B 8 Mich. I. 
 
 A.M.Phelps K 4 Mich. C. 
 
 W.H.Potter E 3 Mich. C. 
 
 Geo. Robbins D 186 N.Y. I. 
 
 W. C. Simmons B 5 Iowa C. 
 
 E. Spaulding H 6 Mich. C. 
 
 G. Townsend A 6 Mich. C. 
 
 J. R. Wyman C 2 Mich. C. 
 
 H. E. Waterman I 186 N.Y. I. 
 
 AVILL B. CHANDLER CAMP, NO. 114 
 
 Located at Hesperia, v»'as organized Nov. 4, 1887, with the fol- 
 lowing as charter members: R.E.Bennett, J. B. Robbins, G.L. Barn- 
 hart, J. L. Gilbert, W. E. Wyman, E. L. Haynor, J. H. Dailey, W. 
 W. Robbins, A. E. Howell, Oglive Morton, J. F. Kempfield, Ralph 
 Carlisle, C. B. Mansfield, H. J. Phelps, H. E. Phelps, Elmer Carlisle, 
 Wm. Webster, G. Kempfield, F. W. Tillotson and B. W. Robbins. 
 
 The firot officers were: R. E. Bennett, Capt.; J. B. Robbins, 1st 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 211 
 
 Lieut.; G. L. Barnhart, 2nd Lieut.; J.Gilbert, 1st Sei-gt.; R.Car- 
 lisle, Chap.; J.H. Dailej-, Sergt. of G.; J.Kempfield, Color Sergt.; W. 
 E. Wyman, Camp G.; H. E. PheliJS, Picket G. 
 
 R. E. Bennett held the office of Captain until the lore.sent year. 
 The present officers are: G. L. Barnhart, Capt.; A. E. Howell, 1st 
 Lieut.; Elmer Carlisle, 2nd Lieut.; B. W. Robbins, 1st Sergt.; E, R. 
 Parkton, Q. M. Sergt.; L. Gilbert, Chap.; R. Carlisle, Sergt. of G.; J. 
 Kempfield, Color Sergt.; W. Wyman, Camp G.; H. E. Phelps, Picket G. 
 
 The following is a list of members Jan. 1, 1890, viz.: R. E. Ben- 
 nett, G. L. Barnhart, J. L. Gilbert, L. T. Gilberc, W. E. Wyman, E. 
 L. Haynor, J. H. Dailey, W\ W. Robbins, B. W. Robbins, C. C. 
 Mansfield, A. E. Howell, J. H. Kempfield, Elmer Carlisle, Ralph 
 Carlisle, H. J. Phelps, H. E. Phelps, E. R. Parkton, Ezra Spauld- 
 ing, Warren Spaulding, Sherman Davis, John Dunn, John White- 
 head, Cieo. McGahn, Hollis Hoi^kins, Fred Darlington, Geo. Rosier, 
 Rodolph Kinney, S. S. Radley and Lyman Spaulding. 
 
 The Camp meets each alternate Saturday evenins;, at seven 
 o'clock, in Grange Hall, over drug store of L. E. Norton. The 
 Camp is in a flourishing condition and as an auxiliary to the Post 
 is doing its part in relieving the distress of veterans and their fam- 
 ilies. 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY VETERAN ASSOCIATION. 
 
 There had been in existence for a number of years an organiza- 
 tion known as the "Oceana County Soldiers' and Sailors' Union." 
 On March 13, 1880, a meeting was called at the Court House in 
 Hart, the Pi-esident of the Union, Dr. J. B. McPherson, occupying 
 the chair, when the old organization was abandoned and a new one 
 formed under the name of the "Oceana County Veteran Associa- 
 tion." The object of this Association is to bring old soldiers and 
 sailors together, thus creating a closer relation and more fraternal 
 feeling among them. The first officers elected were: D. C. Wickham, 
 President; J. B. McPherson, Vice President, with eight others; W. 
 E. Thorp, Sec'y, and A. J. Underbill, Treasurer. At this first meet- 
 ing one hundred and fifty-seven soldiers and sailors joined the As- 
 sociation. In August, 1880, another meeting was held, at which 
 time G. W. Woodward was elected President, and H. J. Holmes, 
 Vice President. At a meeting held Nov. 10, 1881, W. E. Thorp be- 
 came the President, and E. F.Coon, Vice President. Au<:. 16, 1882, 
 a meeting was held at Camp Houk, which name, however, was not 
 given to the grounds until the following year. At this meeting the 
 same officers were elected. The next meeting occurred Aug. 81, 
 1883, at the place which was then named Camj) Houk. The offi- 
 cers elected were: E. F. Coon, President, and Daniel Landon, Vice 
 President. The annual meetings have since been held each time at 
 
212 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Camp Honk. Aug. 29, 1884, the same officers were elected. Aug. 
 28, 1885, T. G. Houk, President, and Nathan Adams, Vice Presi- 
 dent, were elected. Sept. 3, 1886, the same officers were elected. 
 At this meeting it was decided to purchase the land ui^on which 
 the Association had been meeting, and in pursuance of this I'esolu- 
 tion the Trustees purchased the northeast quarter of the north- 
 east quarter of section thirty-two of the township of Elbridge, for a 
 consideration of three hundred dollars. At the annual meeting, 
 Sept. 3, 1887, Nathan Adams was elected President, and Alva Dar- 
 ling, Vice President. Aug. 31, 1^:88, W. H. Barry become Presi- 
 dent, and J. R. Thompson, Vice President. July 5, 1889, Geo. B. 
 Dikeman, of Weare Township, was elected President; Geo. H. Ed- 
 dy, of Shelby, Vice President; J. A. Collier, of Hart, Secretary and 
 Treasurer; D. C. Wickhani, Pentwater, W. R. Collier, Elbridge, W. 
 H. Barry, Shelby, Trustees, they being the officers at the present 
 time. The present membership is eighty-nine. 
 
 The meetings of the Association have been very successful and 
 among the residents of the county, not only soldiers but civilians, 
 the annual reunions have been very enjoyable affairs. The Asso- 
 ciation has laid out considerable money upon the grounds and they 
 are fast becoming a favorite resort in the county. 
 
 PATRONS OF INDUSTRY 
 
 OF NORTH AMERICA, 
 
 Were organized by F. W. Vertican, in Port Huron, Mich., and the 
 first Subordinate Association was organized in 1887, at Port Hu- 
 ron, Mich. Jan. 1, 1889, there were 270 Associations with a mem- 
 bership of 20,000. Jan. 1, 1890, there were 1,600 Associations 
 with a membership of 100,000. The first Association m Oceana Co. 
 Avas organized in Sept., 1889, and the last meeting of the County 
 Association, held at Shelby, Jan. 29, 1890, there were 28 Subordi- 
 nate Associations in the county, with a membership of 1545. The 
 officers of the County Association are: President, W. F. Lewis; 
 Secretary, J. R. Grant; Treasurer, L. L. Taylor. 
 
 The object of the P. of I. is the protection and education of the 
 farmers and laboring men not included in trades unions, and the 
 growth of the Society has no parallel in American history. 
 
 The Pations' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Oceana, Newaygo and 
 Muskegon Counties, was organized June 30, 1876, with headquar- 
 ters at Fremont, Mich., and is commonly known as the Farmers' 
 Insurance Company. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 213 
 
 Ciipital 
 or Aiiit. 
 Insured. 
 
 No. No. Ass'ts. Ni).» 
 
 Years. Losses. Ass'ts. in Mills. Members. 
 
 1876 105 $ 130,860 
 
 1877 242 315,445 
 
 1878 421 531,401 
 
 1879 1 1 2 549 711,021 
 
 1880 7 1 1 640 856,841 
 
 1881 1 733 1,020,591 
 
 1882 2 837 1,214,296 
 
 1883 10 1 1 940 1,424,229 
 
 1884 10 2 4 1018 1,506,665 
 
 1885 6 1091 1,589,036 
 
 1886 15 2 3 1194 1,791,336 
 
 1887 9 1 1 1255 1,905,210 
 
 1888 7 1 2 1372 1,984,687 
 
 1889 10 1 1 1648 2,157,423 
 
 The President is Jolin Barnhart, of Hesperia; Secretary, A. O. 
 White, of Fremont; Directors for Oceana Co., C. A. Sessions, L. Mc- 
 Callum and R. E. Southwicl:. 
 
 The Company has been very successful in its business transac- 
 tions, and lias done business for fourteen years without ]iti<jation. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVE AND JUDICIAL. 
 
 The territory of which Oceana County has formed a part has 
 been represented in Congress since 1865 by four persons, three of 
 whom secured national reputations. The first was the 
 Hon. Thomas W. Ferry, son of the Rev. Wm. Ferry, the pioneer 
 lumberman of the county. Mr. Ferry was always a leader, and on 
 several occasions while occupying important XDOsitions he demon- 
 strated his ability and statesmanship to the eminent satisfaction 
 of his constituents and the people. He served as Congressional 
 Representative for this territory from 1865 to 1871, when he was 
 called to the U. S. Senate by vote of the State Legislature. Here 
 he also served with marked ability from 1871 to 1883. His resi- 
 dence was Grand Haven, but he had many intimate personal friends 
 in Oceana County who knew him in the trying pioneer days devot- 
 ed to lumbering at Stony Creek. From 1871 to 1873 W.D.Foster, 
 of Grand Rai^ids, was the Member. He was followed in Congress by 
 the Hon. Jay A. Hubbell, who also commanded great influence from 
 the outset of his Congressional career. His residence was the Up- 
 per Peninsula, but he made every section of his District the object 
 of his attention, and to him and his influence is largely due the 
 large appropriations received for Pentwater harbor improvements. 
 He served from 1873 to 1883, and during this time was honored 
 by being made a member of the National Republican Committee. 
 He was forcible, active and shrewd, and to secure his support for a 
 measure was considered a great advantage. He was unfortunate 
 in being selected as the especial object of attack by the democrats 
 and civil service reformers. After his retirement from Congress he 
 served his District in the State Legislature, where he was a promi- 
 nent figure. 
 
 Following Mr. Hubbell came General Byron M. Cutcheon,of Man- 
 istee, who is the present Member, and who has represented this 
 District since 1883. General Cutcheon was born in Pembroke, N. 
 H., in 1836. At the age of 13 he entered the Pembroke Academy, 
 
AND BUSINESS MKN OF TO-DAY 
 
 215 
 
 taught school at the age of 17, and shortly removed to Michigan, 
 locating at Ypsilanti. Became jjrincipal of Birmingham Academy, 
 in Oakland County, in 1857. Entered the T'niversity of ]Michigan 
 and graduated as a men^ber of the class of '61, when he accepted 
 the position of Professor of 
 Ancient Languages, etc., in 
 the Yjisilanti High School. 
 He entered the military ser- 
 vice in 18G2. Was Second 
 Lieutenant 20th JNIichigan 
 Infantry, July 15, 1862. 
 Captain, July 29, 1862. 
 Major, October 14, 1862. 
 Lieutenant Colonel, Novem- 
 ber 16, 1863. Wounded in 
 action at Spottsylvania 
 Court House, Va., May 10, 
 1861. Brevet Colonel U. 
 S. Volunteers, Aug. 18, '64, 
 "for gallant service at the 
 battle of the Wilderness, 
 Va., and Spottsylvaniji, 
 Va., and during the opera- 
 tions before Petersburg, 
 Va." Colonel 27th Michi- 
 gan Infantry, November 12, 
 1864. Resigned March 6, 
 '65. Brevet Brigadier Gen- 
 eral U. S. Volunteers, March 13, '65, "for conspicuous gallantry at 
 the battle of the Wilderness, Va." He commanded the 2nd brig- 
 ade, 2nd division, 9th army corps, from October 16, '65, until the 
 date of his resignation, having been compelled to leave the service 
 on account of sickness in his family. 
 
 At the close of the war he entered the law school of the Universi- 
 ty of Michigan, graduating in March, 66. Admitted to the bar at 
 Ann Arbor in '66. Practiced law at Ionia in '66-7, when he remov- 
 ed to Manistee. 
 
 On March 20, '67, he was appointed a member of the Board of 
 Control of Railroads. In '66 he was appointed President of the 
 Michigan Soldiers' Home Commission by the Governor. In '68 he 
 was a Presidential elector from this State. In '70 he was chosen 
 City Attorney by a Democratic Council. City Attorney of Manis- 
 tee in '71, and Prosecuting Attorney of that county in '73-4. In 
 '75 he was elected Regent of the State University for the term of six 
 
 BYRON M. CUTCHEOX, M. C. 
 
216 OCEANA COUXTY PIONEERS 
 
 years. He was elected to the 48th, 49th and 50th Congress, and 
 again re-elected to the 51st Congress by a vote of 23,026 to 18,651 
 for Hiram B. Hudson, democrat, and 2,476 for Lathrop S. Ellis, 
 prohibitionist. 
 
 STATE LEGISLATURE. 
 
 The following are the names and terms of service of Oceana's ve'p- 
 resentatives in the State Legislature: 
 
 SENATE. 
 
 Nelson Green Claybanks, Mich '61-2-3-4 
 
 James B. Walker Benzonia, " '65-6 
 
 IsraelE. Carleton Muskegon, " '67-S-9-'70 
 
 Wales F. Storrs Coopersvill? " '71-2 
 
 Edgar L. Gray Newaygo, 
 
 Marsden C. Burch Hex'sey, 
 
 Wni. E. Ambler Pentwater, 
 
 Shubal F. White Ludington, 
 
 Ed. E. Edwards Fremont, 
 
 Theron S. Gurney Hart, 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 
 Charles W. Deane Pentwater, 
 
 Israel E. Carleton Muskegon, 
 
 Nelson Green Claybanks, 
 
 A. R. Wheeler Benona, 
 
 O. K. White : Grant, 
 
 Amos Lewis Shelby, 
 
 James E. White Pentwater, 
 
 T. G. Houk Elbridge, 
 
 Daniel G. Crosby Elbridge, 
 
 I 
 
 '73-4-5-6 
 
 ' '77-8 
 
 ' '79-'80-l-2 
 
 •' '83-4 
 
 ■' '85-6-7-8 
 
 TIVES. 
 
 ich 
 
 '89-'90 
 
 '67-8 
 
 '69-'70 
 
 '71-9 
 
 ' '73-4-5-6 
 
 ' '77-8 
 
 ' '79-'80 
 
 ' '81-2-3-4 
 
 ' '85-6-7-8 
 
 
 '89-'90 
 
 PERSONAL. 
 
 Of the Senators above named Edgar L. Gray, who still lives in 
 Newaygo, has always been a prominent figure in local politics. He 
 is a lawyer by profession and a successful practitioner. In the Sen- 
 ate he was a leader and secured many concessions for his locality. 
 
 Marsden C. Burch, who followed Mr. Gray, appeared before the 
 nominating convention as a candidate in ojiposition toR. M.Mont- 
 gomery, who was an aspirant for the same position. Mr. Burch's 
 residence was Hersey, Osceola Co. He was young and at this time 
 unknown outside his county. In the nominating convention, how- 
 ever, he was victorious, defeating Mr. Montgomery by a very few 
 votes. At the polls he was also successful, and served his term 
 with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY 
 
 217 
 
 His opponent in convention, Mr. Montgomery, became his stead- 
 fast friend, and after his return from Lansing engaged in the prac. 
 tice of law with him at Grand Rapids. Mr. Burcli has since been U. 
 S. District Attorney, and is now Circuit Judge at Grand Rapids. 
 
 WiUiam E. Ambler, of Pentwater, who followed Mr. Burch, was 
 born at Medina, Ohio, Dec. 
 18, '45, and resided there 
 until his parents removed 
 to Hillsdale, Mich., in '59. 
 He entered Hillsdale College 
 but in '(55 left that institu- 
 tion, going to Albion College 
 where he graduated in the 
 scientific course. In '66 he 
 entered the law school at 
 Albany, graduated, and was 
 admitted to practice. In 
 '67 he finished the classical 
 course at Adrian College, 
 graduating with the degree 
 of A. B. The same fall he 
 established himself as a law- 
 yer at Minneapolis, Minn., 
 but in '68 returned to Mich- 
 igan and began the practice 
 of law at Pentwater, where 
 
 he continues to reside. He has been President ot the village, and is 
 a member of the firm of Nielsen ct Co., bankers. In '70 Adrian 
 College conferred on him the degree of A. ]M., and in '75 Hillsdale 
 College did likewise. Mr. Ambler is now serving his second term as 
 Trustee of the latter institution. He was elected a Senator in '78, 
 and was re-elected in '80 by an increased majority. He was Pres- 
 ident pro tern, of the Senate during his last term and chairman of 
 the important Committee on Ways and Mean.'j. At the time Gen- 
 eral Cutcheon was nominated for Congress at the Reed City conven- 
 tion in '82, Mr. An? bier, although not a candidate, was the choice 
 of the entire Oceana County delegation, and would have been the 
 .second choice of the Muskegon delegation. By his declining to allow 
 his name to be used and requesting the delegation to support Gen- 
 eral Cutcheon, it had the effect of making the General's nomination 
 unanimous. Upon the death of Judge of Probate Landon, Governor 
 Luce appointed him Judge of Probate for Oceana County. He is 
 now actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Pentwater 
 and is oneofitsmost enterprising citizens nearly every manufactory 
 
 WM. E. AMBLER, 7th SENATOR. 
 
218 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 and public improvment being largely indebted to his energj' and 
 financial sujjport. 
 
 Shubal F. White, of Ludington, who followed Mr. Ambler, was a 
 fine lawyer and regarded as a man of attainments. He gained for 
 himself considerable notoriety throughout the State during the ses- 
 sion of '83, bj' securing the passage of the village "local option 
 clause" without the opponents to such action being aware of the 
 fact until the bill became a law. Mr. White is now practicing law 
 in Duluth. 
 
 Ed. E. Edwards, formerly a pioneer resident of Oceana County, 
 but at the time of his nomination a resident of Fremont, Newaygo 
 Co., was brought forward by the temperance element ot the party 
 and nominated in answer to its demands. In the Senate he ful- 
 filled all the pledges made to his constituents and was found to be 
 a ready, willing and effective worker for temperance legislation. He 
 commanded influence aud was successful in securing favorable leg- 
 islation for his locality. He was returned with almost no op- 
 position in his party and by an increased majority at the jjolls. 
 Theron S.Gurney, of Hart, present Senator, was born at Chester, 
 
 Geauga County. Ohio, 
 in '36. He finished his 
 academic course at 
 Willoughby, Ohio, Uni- 
 versity, and graduat- 
 ed from Ohio State 
 and Union Law Col- 
 lege at Cleveland, Ohio 
 in '62. He was prin- 
 cipal of Chardon, 0., 
 Union Schools from 
 
 '63 to '65, and came 
 to Hart, Oceana Co., 
 in '66, and has follow- 
 ed the practice of law 
 at that place ever 
 since. Mr. Gurneyhas 
 held the office of Su- 
 pervisor one term. 
 Town Clerk four terms, 
 Village President one 
 term, and Co. Clerk 
 and Register of Deeds 
 two terms. He was elected to the State Senate in '88. 
 Charles W. Deane, the first Representative of Oceana County in 
 
 THERON S. UURNEY, PRESENT SENATOR. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY- 
 
 219 
 
 the State Legislature, was the pioneer lawyer of the county, and as 
 has appeared elsewhere in this work, was prominent in its early de- 
 velopment. He is now a resident of Chicago where he practices his 
 profession. 
 
 Nelson Green, the fii"st State Senator and thiid Representative of 
 this county in the House, was a typical pioneer. He was a man of 
 more than ordinary ability and his advice was often sought. He 
 served his people with credit. He has Ions: since been gathered to 
 his fathers. 
 
 Amos R. \Mieeler was the fourth Repi-esentative elected in this 
 county. He was born in Cavendi.sh, Vt., Sept. 12, '15, of Scotch 
 and English ancestry. In '53 he engaged in lumbering in Benona 
 with a Mr. Campbell. Afterwards he became interested with Ira 
 Minard and Sons, of St. Charles, 111., and continued the manage- 
 ment of this business until the day of his death. 'He married Jan. 
 15, '■40,Phidelia Randall, by whom he had five children all of whom 
 died except one daughter. He held many local offices and was very 
 poiDular with the people. He served two terms in the State Legis- 
 lature. He died at his home in Benona Feb. 7, '88, in the 68th 
 year of his age. His wife followed him some live years thereafter. 
 
 Oliver K. White, Representative tVom Oceana County in '77, was 
 born in Chnton County, N. 
 Y., Feb. 13, '31, removing 
 three months subsequently 
 to Erie County, wherehe re- 
 ceived a common school ed- 
 ucation. In '52 he remov- 
 ed to Cattaraugus county, 
 where for two years he held 
 the positions of Township 
 Superintendent of Schools 
 and Justice. In '57 he re- 
 moved to Michigan and set- 
 tled in Grant, where he still 
 resides. He has been Su- 
 pervisor six years, and was 
 Sheriff of Oceana County 
 during '75-6. In politics a 
 republican. 
 
 J^ff^ 
 
 O. K. WHITE, 5th REPRESENTATIVE. 
 
220 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 AMOS LEWIS, 7th REPRESENTATIVE. 
 
 Amos Lewis, Representa- 
 tive from Oceana County 
 in '79, was born March 6, 
 '21, at Highland County, 
 Ohio. He moved to La- 
 X5orte County, Indiana, in 
 '36, and to Oceana County, 
 Michigan, in '66, where he 
 is a farmer. Pohtics, na- 
 tional. 
 
 James White, republican, 
 of Pentwater, engaged in 
 shingle mill business, con- 
 tested the election in the 
 fall of '80 with Amos Lewis 
 on the fusion ticket and de- 
 feated him by a small ma- 
 jority. He was a bright 
 member, and was quite a 
 prominent figure in the 
 House. It was his vote that defeated Bagley for the U. S. Senate 
 and elected 0. D. Conger. Mr. White with his family now reside at 
 Kalamazoo. 
 
 Theodore G. Honk, Rep- 
 resentative from Oceana 
 County in '85 and '87, was 
 born in Seneca County, O., 
 Aug. 2, '33. Renaoved to 
 Kent County in '50. He 
 has followed various occu- 
 pations, farming, ship and 
 house carpentering, brick 
 making, and sailing. En- 
 listed as a private in Co. A, 
 old third Michigan volun- 
 teer infantry, in the spring 
 of '61; re-enlisted in the fall 
 of '63; waspromoted to the 
 rank of Corporal; was 
 wounded at Cold Harbor, 
 Va., June, '64, and honor- 
 ably discharged in August, 
 '65. Returned to Kent Co. 
 and engaged in farming. Re- 
 
 T. G. HOUK, 8th REPRESENTATIVE. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 221 
 
 moved to Oceana County in the spring of '73. Has been elected 
 Supervisor seven years in succession. Has held the office of Justice 
 of the Peace and School Inspector. A republican. 
 
 Daniel W.Crosby, present 
 Rei^resentative from Oce- 
 ana County, was born at 
 Barrington, Yates Co., N. 
 Y., in '33. In earlier years 
 he was a teacher, but is now 
 a farmer. He has been a 
 resident of Michigan twen- 
 ty-eight years; has been Su- 
 IDerintendent of Schools one 
 term, Township Clerk eight 
 years, Supervisor nine years 
 County Clerk and Register 
 of Deeds two years. He 
 voted on crutches for John 
 C. Fremont and Abraham 
 Lincoln, and has voted for 
 every republican nominee 
 for President since that time. 
 
 D. W. CROSBY, PRESENT REP. 
 
 
 THE JUDICIARY 
 
 BENCH AND BAR OF OCEANA COUNTY. 
 
 In Feb. IS.io, the Legislature i)assed an act erecting a Judicial 
 Circuit, embracing not only the counties of Oceana and Muskegon, 
 the ijresent Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, but also those of Ottawa 
 and Kent and the territory north indefinitely. The history of the 
 organization of a Circuit Court in Oceana County and its first term 
 appears on page 36. The big Circuit, as it has until recently been 
 known, has been divided from time to time until at last we find 
 Oceana County with Muskegon County constituting the Fourteenth 
 Judicial Circuit of Michigan. The Judges who have occupied the 
 Bench in this county in regular line are as follows: Flavins J. Lit- 
 tlejohn, Moses B. Hox)kins, Augustine H. Giddings, Michael Brown, 
 Frederick J. Russell and Albert Dickerman. 
 
 Upon the inside of the cover of the first journal used, and dated 
 
222 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Sept. 21, 1858, appear the following names, constituting the first 
 Bar of Oceana: W. T. Howells, Newaygo; J. H. Standish, Neway- 
 go; Wm. H. Parks, Grand Haven. 
 
 The '•Anderson House,'' Claybanks, used as the first Court House 
 
 of the County. 
 
 The following are the attorneys that have become members of the 
 Bar since: 
 
 Charles W. Deane 1859 
 
 Lyman D. Grove x\pril 10 1861 
 
 Frederick J.Russell Sept. 20 1866 
 
 William Crosby June 17 1868 
 
 Theron S. Gurney 
 
 Daniel H.Sumner June 26 1868 
 
 Nathan Crosby 
 
 John M. Rice 
 
 A. H. Dunlap Sept. 21 3 868 
 
 Amos Crosbj^ 
 
 William E. Ambler Sept. 24 1868 
 
 Edward E.Edwards March 8 1870 
 
 Robert M.Montgomery July 12 1870 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 223 
 
 Marcus H.Brooks July 12 1870 
 
 Louis M. Hartwiek March 1872 
 
 Rollin Rice 1872 
 
 David Rice Sept. 27 1872 
 
 Alfred H. Nelson April 1873 
 
 Richard A. Montgomery 1873 
 
 John S. Reynolds Dec. 12 1874 
 
 William H. Hubbard, Jr Dec. 14 1875 
 
 William H. Tuller June 6 1876 
 
 WillardB. McPherson March 15 1877 
 
 Charles P. Barker July 29 1880 
 
 Charles A. Gurney June 21 1881 
 
 James Brassington June 1882 
 
 Cyrus B. Stevens June 13 1882 
 
 Henry W. Harpster 1883 
 
 C. D. Bickford Sept. 1885 
 
 John D. S. Hanson Feb. 23 1^86 
 
 Charles R. Johnson Aug. 28 1886 
 
 Philip H. Travis Jan. 1887 
 
 Ned E. Whitney May 2 1887 
 
 William E. Osmun March 5 1887 
 
 William P. Sackrider Oct. 31 1H87 
 
 N. E. Burrows Nov. 21 1887 
 
 J. P. Ackerson Nov. 21 18«7 
 
 Edward O'Brien Jan. 9 1888 
 
 Judge F. J, Russell, in a paper read before the Oceana County 
 Pioneer Association, June 7, 18S6, thus describes three of his pred" 
 ecessors upon the Bench: 
 
 "Judge Littlejohn has seen 
 more of pioneer service than any ^- ^v^v^^^,^ 
 
 Judge in the State. He made A ' V\|\w 
 
 his ]pilgnmage north and south fe.^vj v\| 
 
 over his circuit, with a small 
 
 llock of attorneys followmg him \^J '- , ^^yc 
 
 spring and fall, usuallj' traveling i ■^'TV'''-- "^^^^^ 
 
 on hoi'seback and crossing the S Ji^s-K M^^ 
 
 streams as best he could. Usu- ^^ "^ ^:)VxA 
 
 ally in his time after Court until f^ t^^ atf^f iV UL 
 
 late at night he might be seen in ^ ,.^'pWzmliMI^^S^^l^^ 
 the Court Room, surrounded by " ' ' 
 
 the attorneys in attendance, 
 telling stories to amuse them- ' 'MHHtf' /' 
 selves and a good crowd of spec- 
 tators. He died at Allegan." '^^ ^' '"'"''^^ 
 
 Judge Littlejohn's first term 
 of Court was held Sept. 21, '58, 
 andhis last term Sept. 20, '66. v. .r. littlejohn, Ist jldge. 
 
224 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 "Judge Hox^kins, on account of sickness, was unable to hold 
 many terms of Court, and died at Grand Haven before the expira- 
 tion of his term." 
 
 Judge HoiDkins' first term was June 18, '67, and last term June 
 8, '69. 
 
 "Judge Giddings had a very 
 pleasing address and was a pol- 
 ished gentlemjm. Itis said that 
 his first official act was to order 
 the Prosecuting Attorney to dis- 
 miss the cause of The people 
 against Augustine H. Giddings. 
 He said he knew something of 
 the facts of the cause, and he 
 thought it but due to the re- 
 spondent that the cause should 
 be dismissed, and that a nolh 
 prosequi should be entered ac- 
 cordingly. He died in Philadel- 
 phia while yet Judg9." 
 L. G. Rutherford, in Page's 
 History thus describes Judges 
 Giddings, Brown and Russell: 
 "Judge Giddings was a graduate of Yale College, and had receiv- 
 ed a complete legal education. He was regarded by all who knew 
 him as one of the ablest jurors in the State; but too great a love 
 for strong drink partially destroyed his usefulness, and no doubt 
 prevented him from rising to the highest judicial honors. He died 
 in Philadelphia while attending the Centennial exhibition in 1876." 
 Judge Giddings' first term was held March 8, 1870, and his last 
 term June 10, lh76. 
 
 "Hon. Michael Brown, of Big Rapids, was appointed to fill the 
 vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge Giddings. and having 
 served to the end of the term, he was reelected without opp)Osi- 
 tion. He made a gooci judge, and while he had his enemies, as have 
 all public men, the writer, who was in acti\-e practice before him 
 during all the time he was on the Bench, takes great pleasure in re- 
 cording that Judge Brown was always a patient, honest and able 
 judge. He resigned Jan. 1, 1881, for the reason that the mean sal- 
 ary of $1,500 per anniun would not allow him to serve any longer." 
 Judge Brown's first term was held March, 1877, and his last term 
 Dec, 1880. 
 
 "Hon. Frederick J. Russell, of Hart, was ajapointed to fill the 
 unexpired term, and at an election ordered, he was, in April, 1881, 
 
 '^c. rv^ 
 
 A. H. GIDDINGS, 3rd JUDGE. 
 
AXI) BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 225 
 
 elected by the jx'ople, the 
 opposition not having nom- 
 inated any one to oppose 
 liim. Judge Russell was 
 born in ]Mich'gan, and has 
 been a resident of Oceana 
 C o u n t y for t wen ty-t wo 
 years. As a judge he is well 
 liked by all. He is a man 
 of strong sense, and a hard 
 worker, — qualities w hie h 
 well become a judge." 
 
 Judge Kussell's first term 
 of Court was held ISIarch, 
 1881, and his last term in 
 Dec, 1S87, covering a peri- 
 od of nearly seven years' 
 service, and during wliich 
 some of the most ve.xed le- 
 gal questions coming before 
 the Court during its e.xist- 
 ence ajji^eared and weredis 
 liosed ot Judtie Ru^^ell 
 
 A. DKKEK.MAN, ()th .lUIXiE. 
 
 til seventeen years of age, going 
 
 K. .1. RUSSELL, 5th .Junoi:. 
 
 was of rugged, robust build, 
 and was always promptly on 
 hand to atten<l to the peo- 
 ple's business. He developed 
 as a judge rapidly while in of- 
 fice, and it has been truthful- 
 ly remarked thcXt he retired 
 from the Bench just in the 
 prime and vigor of his useful- 
 ness. At the close of his last 
 session the Bar of Oceana 
 gave a banquet at theWigton 
 in Hart, at which time a fine 
 gold-headed cane was present- 
 ed him in token of the esteem 
 in which he was held by mem- 
 bers of the Bar. 
 
 The Hon. Albert Dickermau 
 6th Judge, was born in Mason- 
 ville, Delaware Co., N. Y., in 
 1810, and lived on afarm un- 
 to district school in winter and 
 
226 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEEKS 
 
 working on farna in summer. At the age of seventeen lie re- 
 moved with his family to the township of Nevvberg, near Cleve- 
 land, Ohio, and most of the time thenceforth until the war com- 
 menced, was either teaching or studying. 
 
 He was teaching in Missouri when the war commenced. Return- 
 ed to Ohio where he continued his studies, teaching at the same time 
 for another year. In July, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the 
 105 Ohio Infantry. In the spring of 1863 he was appointed Adju- 
 tant of the regiment and served in that cax^acity until the war clos- 
 ed. His reiginient belonged to the Fourteenth Army Corx^s, and 
 was under Thomas, finally with Sherman. 
 
 At the close of the war he studied law at Cleveland, Ohio, and lo- 
 cated at Hillsdale, in this State, in August. Held several minor of- 
 fices there, was elected and served one term as Judge of Probate. 
 1880 was elected to the State Senate from Hillsdale county and 
 served in the regular session of the Legislature in 1881, and in the 
 special session of 1882. In the spring of 1883 he removed to Mus- 
 kegon where he has since practiced his profession. Mr. Dickerman 
 is a gentleman of pleasing appearance, dignified and courteous in 
 his bearing. A good lawyer and makes a good judge." 
 
 Mr. Dickerman held his first term in Jan. 1888, and is still upon 
 the Bench. He is clear-headed, cool, deliberate and courteous. He 
 is conscientious in the ]performance of his duties. 
 
 To t he members of the Bar of Oceana County we will refer briefly. 
 
 CharU.s W. Deane, undoubtedly the first resident attorney in the 
 county, and was the first elected Prosecuting Attorney. He enlist- 
 ed in the Union army and served with distinction during the war, 
 coming out a Major. He was a good walker and a good storyteller 
 and wa.^ quite popular. He is now practicing in Chicago. 
 
 Lyman D. Grove was the next attorney on the list. In his early 
 practice he was active and energetic. From 1862 to 1868 he held 
 the offices of Circuit Court Commissioner and Prosecuting Attorney. 
 He afterwards was a candidate for office many times, but de- 
 feated. He, too, was a good walker and during campaigns would 
 travel the county on foot soliciting votes. He was regarded as well 
 posted in law, but had an awkward delivery that prevented his ac- 
 quiring a prominent po!>ition as a lawyer. He is now a resident of 
 Poplar Bluffs, l\Io. 
 
 Nathan Crosby is well remembered as a popular and efficient 
 lawyer. He had a large practice and always maintained the confi- 
 dence of his clients. He held the offices of County Clerk and Regis- 
 ter of Deeds two terms. He died at Hart early in the seventies. 
 
 Amos Crosby, his brother, practiced with him and was a kind, 
 courteous and pleasing gentleman. He held the office of Judge of 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAV. 227 
 
 Probate from 1868 to 1872. After his brother's death he removed 
 to Albion, ]\Iichigan, where a few years later he died. 
 
 John M. Rice is thus spoken of by Judge Russell in his paper be- 
 fore the Pioneer Societj'^: "John M. Rice enjoyed an extensive prac- 
 tice and was closely identified with the legal proceedings of the coun- 
 ty during his residence here. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney 
 of Oceana County; is now a resident of Cadillac, where he was elect- 
 ed Circuit Judge, which oflice he resigned after a few months of offi- 
 cial duty. While with us he enjoyed the confidence of a large circle 
 of acquaintances and had the respect of all who knew him." He re- 
 moved from Pent water to Cadillac in the year 1881 and engaged in 
 the ijractice of law there, after which he was made Circuit Judge and 
 which position he filled for a time, finally resigning because of insuf- 
 ficient salary. He was also engaged in the banking business with 
 his brother-in-law in Cadillac. Owing to circumstances beyond the 
 firm's control he lost all his jjroperty. He is now a resident of Los 
 Angeles, Cal. 
 
 R. M. Montgomery, studied with F.J. Russell and after bis ad- 
 mission to the Bar opened an office at Pentwater under the firm 
 name of Russell & Montgomery. He early displayed qualities of a 
 good lawyer and rose rapidly in his profession until he stood at the 
 head of the Oceana County Bar. He held the office of Prosecuting 
 Attorney two terms and made a good record. He removed 
 to Grand Rapids where he held the office of Deputy U. S. 
 District Attorney. Afterwards Judge of Kent County, which last 
 position he filled with great honor to himself. He is now enjoying a 
 lucrative jjractice in the city of Grand Rajoids, and is regarded as a 
 leading member of the Bar. 
 
 R. A. Montgomery, a cousin of R. M., and a brother of M. V. 
 Montgomery ai:)pointed by President Cleveland Cotnmissioner of 
 Patents, and later Judge of the District ot Columbia, appeai'ed in 
 Oceana as a young attorney with a mi^id quick, active and well 
 stored. He had a fine flow of language, and often in the trial of 
 causes became eloquent. He remained in Oceana only a few years 
 and then removed to Lansing, where he formed a copartnership 
 with his brother, M. V. Here he soon acquired di.stinction and is 
 regarded as one of the best lawyers in the capital city. 
 
 William E. Ambler of Pentwater, from his first advent to the 
 county to the present time has held a prominent and leading posi- 
 tion among the attorneys. He is full of enei"gy and aml)itious, yet 
 careful, systematic and methodical. His practice has undoubtedlj' 
 included as many important cases as that of any other attorney 
 in the county. While he has a fine address and never loses by his 
 appearance before Court or jury, he is as careful in arranging the 
 
228 (XEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 details of bis case and securing evidence as thouab everything de- 
 pended ui^on tbis. He has been eminently successful, and now en- 
 joys a leading practice. He was twice elected State Senator, to 
 which reference has been made under another head. 
 
 T. S. Gurney, at present State Senatoi-, has also enjoyed a fine 
 practice. His early practice was general but of late years it has 
 been largely on the Chancery Calendar. He is a tine penman and 
 having been elected Clerk and Register for 1872-4gave the records a 
 fine appearance. He here laid the foundation of bis subsequent 
 great loaning business which has yielded him abundant returns. 
 He is still engaged in the i:)ractice of law at Hart. 
 
 L. G. Ilutherford is another pi'ominent figu'eof the State of Mich- 
 igan who developed himself m Oceana County. His career as a sol- 
 dier, and in the Grand Army since the war is too well known to re- 
 peat here. The positions whicli he has held have brought him a 
 widespread reputation, and given him a standing in the democrat- 
 ic party of Michigan near the front rank. As a lawyer he early dis- 
 played natural ability, especially in his examination of witnesses 
 and presentation of facts to a jury, that develoxjed with experience 
 in the Courts and soon placed him at the head as an examiner 
 and advocate. Of late years he commands a large practice in Oce- 
 ana County. He removed to Grand Rapids in 1888, and now 
 enjoys a large and growing practice in that city. He was elected 
 and served the county as Prosecuting Attorney and as such bro't 
 many criminals to justice. 
 
 E. E. P^dwards, whom we have referred to under another head, 
 was an attorney who, although not enjoying as large a practice as 
 some mentioned, always commanded by his appearance the .atten- 
 tion and respect of Court and jury. He removed from Pentwater 
 to Allegan early in the seventies, from there. toPremont, Newaygo 
 County, where he enjoyed a fine practice, and from there in 1889 to 
 ^Minneapolis, Minn., where he formed a copartnership with Charles 
 P. Barker for the practice of law. 
 
 M. H. Brooks is a lawyer possessing snore of the Cjualities of a 
 judge than an advocate. He has held the office of Justice of the 
 Peace of Hart almost continuously since his admission to the Bar, 
 and has probably tried more causes as Justice than any other Jus- 
 tice in >«ortherri Michigan. He has also held the office of Circuit 
 Court Connnissioner several terms. 
 
 A. H. Nelson came to Oceana in 1878, and commenced the prac- 
 tice of law. He did not have a lavge i)ractice, but was very popu- 
 lar with all the members of the Bar. He was twice elected Prose- 
 cuting Attorney, and once Circuit Court Commissioner. Several 
 yeart- aco he removed to Ogden. Utah, where he engaged in the ab- 
 
AXI) BrSINKSS MEN OF TO-]:)AY. 229 
 
 stract and real estate business and speedily accumulated a compe- 
 tence. He is at present President of the Board of Trade at Ogden, 
 as well as one of its most popular citizens. 
 
 L. M. Hartwiek, of Pentwater, practiced law before the Courts of 
 Oceana from 1872. He held the olftce of Circuit Court Commiss- 
 ioner one term, was appointed Prosecuting Attorney upon the resig- 
 nation ofL. G. Rutherford, served the balance of his term, was elect- 
 ed and served another term. Has since Mcirch, 1880, published the 
 Pentwater News, which he still owns and publishes. 
 
 R. Rice we have no record of, but he is thouglit to be practicing in 
 the Eastern States. 
 
 David Rice did not practice in Oceana, but commenced practice 
 in Cadillac where he was quite successful. 
 
 John S. Reynolds is now a resident of Chicago, being one of the 
 proprietors and managers of a successful theater in that city. 
 
 W. H. Hubbard, Jr., was quite successful as a young lawyer, and 
 was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1878. He removed from the 
 county before his term expired, and is now successfully manaaing a 
 newspaper in Southern Michigan. 
 
 W. H. Tuller has not engaged in the practice of law since his ad- 
 mission, but for many years was F. Nielsen's Assistant in Nielsen it. 
 Co.'s bank. He has held many local offices and for several years 
 has been Secretary and Treasurer of the State Fireman's Associa- 
 tion. 
 
 W. B. IMcPherson is engaged in the practice of law at ^lanistee, 
 Michigan. 
 
 Charles P. Barker has a tine practice in Minneapolis, Minn. 
 
 C. A. Gurney, who for two terms held the office of Circuit Court 
 Commissioner, has abandoned the profession and is now engaged in 
 the drug business at Hart, ^Iich. 
 
 James Brassington is one of the county seat's busy lawyers and 
 is never disheartened at failure in the Court below. He is often 
 found in the Supreme Court with his cases and quite often comes 
 out with flying colors. 
 
 H. W. Harpster has been actively in practice in the County for 
 several years. Is well read and successful. ITe has been for a year 
 and over an assistant in the Hon. W. E. Ambler's oflice. 
 
 C. D. Bickford came here a young lawyer from Hillsdale. His 
 pleasing ways and courteous practice soon won for him hosts of 
 friends. He also was associated with Hon. T. S. Gurney, the tirm 
 name being Gurney, Bickford & Travis. Just in the promise of a 
 line career he was cut off by de;ith and sincerely mourned. 
 
230 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Cyrus B. Stevens is a lawyer of careful, methodical habits that 
 insures success when he once decides to commence x^roceedings. He 
 is well informed and his counsel often sought. He filled the office 
 of Prosecuting Attorney two terms, successfullj- performing its du- 
 ties. It was his fortune to prosecute the first murder case that oc- 
 curred in the county. 
 
 John D. S. Hanson is the son of one of Oceana's earliest pioneers. 
 Was admitted to the Bar in Feb., 1886, and elected Prosecuting 
 Attorney in 1888. He has secured many convictions and been re- 
 markably successful in preparing his papers. 
 
 Charles R. Johnson is engaged in the express and insurance busi- 
 ness at Pentwater. Still he occasionally appears in Courts. 
 
 Philip H. Travis, after his admission to the bar , entered into co 
 partnership with T. S. Gui'ney. He soon acquired a prominent po- 
 sition, but with the idea of adding to his store of information he 
 entered the LawDept.of the Universitj^at Ann Arbor in Oct., 1889- 
 
 W, E. Osmun is located at Montague; is Village President and has 
 a large Chancery and general practice. 
 
 Wm. P. Sackrider devotes the whole of liis time to the perform- 
 ance of the duties of the office of County Clerk, to which he was 
 elected in 1888. He is a fine penman, courteous and accommodat- 
 ing, and is popular alike with attorneys and i^atronsof the office. 
 
 N. E. Burrows went West to ijractice and after a short tinie 
 was taken ill and died. 
 
 J. P. Ackerson is i^racticing at Hesperia. 
 
MEMBERS OF OCEAXA ('<)(' XT Y PRESS ASSOCIATION. 
 
 H. M. UOYAL, 
 
 SShelby Herald 
 
 L. M. HARTWICK, 
 
 Pentwater News. 
 
 F. VanVALKENBURG, 
 
 Oceana Tribune. 
 
 S. KDSON, 
 
 Hart Journal. 
 
 E. S. PALMITER, 
 
 The Argus. 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 PICTORIAL GALLERY OF PIONEERS AND BCSIXESS MEN 
 
 OF TO-DAY. 
 
 Arraiisod Accordiiis to Date of Settlement in the Couniw 
 
 ^ 
 
 MRS OLIVE BYRXE— 1849. 
 
 Olive Byrne was born at Middlebury, Addison Co., Vt., in 1828. 
 She is entitled to the honor of having been the first white woman 
 that came to what is now 
 Oceana Co. She was married 
 in 1845 to Chauncey Clem- 
 ents, and came with him to 
 this county about the middle 
 of Ai^ril, 1849. At that time 
 there were no "neighbors" 
 nearer than White River ex- 
 cepting the Indians. About 
 six weeks after she came the 
 families of Dr. Thos. Phillips 
 and his father came, settling 
 about two miles away, being 
 her then nearest neighbors. 
 She lived first upon the R. E. 
 Cater place now owned by 
 Mr. Joseph Lee. It was a 
 lonesome time for all at that 
 time, the great lake upon one 
 side with the wilderness upon 
 the other. The Indians were 
 
 generally friendly and not dilficult to get along with excei^t when in- 
 toxicated. They would occasionally get possession of some fire- 
 water and then pandemonium was let loose. There were no roads 
 
 MRS. OLIVE BYRXE. 
 
232 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIOXEERS 
 
 through the wootls excei^ting Indian trails. What provisions were 
 needed that could not be raised were procured by boat, often from 
 traders who made it a business to trade along the shore. One of 
 the first of these traders was W. Chapin, afterwards for a number 
 of years aresident of Pentwater. In the fall it was necessary to lay 
 in enough provision to last until navigation of the lake was prac- 
 ticable in the spring. The long winters were especially lonesome 
 times to these early pioneers, with the lake covered with floating 
 ice; and often with the snow piled in mountain drifts around the 
 cabin. Mrs. Byrne endured all these inconveniences as did many 
 others who settled soon after she came, but she has braved them 
 all and continued to i*eside to the present time near her first home. 
 On June 15, 18.50, she was married to Thomas Byrne. They live 
 within sight of the lake in the township of Claybanks, being com- 
 fortably situated. The subject of this sketch has had two children, 
 a son and a daughter. Mr. Byrne is also an early settler of the 
 county, and as interesting a dinner hour as has ever been passed 
 was one passed by the writer in the company of A. Brady, 3Ir. and 
 Mrs. Bj'rne, listening to their reminders to each other of incidents 
 of those early days when they first came to Oceana Co. 
 
 DR. THOS. PHILLIPS— 1819. 
 
 Dr. Thomas Phillips was 
 born in New Brunswick, Apr. 
 1,1817. He is a son of Thos. 
 and Elizabeth Phillips. At 
 the age of seven years he, with 
 his parents, moved to Cana- 
 da where he remained until 
 1817, then coming to Ionia, 
 Mich. After about a year he 
 came to White Lake, near 
 Whitehall. Having previous- 
 ly with John Hanson, Walter 
 Duke and others explored the 
 lake shore and interior of 
 what is now Oceana County 
 and finding lands that were 
 in every way satisfactory, 
 early in the summer of 1819 he 
 came with his family to Clay- 
 banks. Mr. Phillips built the first saw mill in the county (a frame 
 one) at Stony Creek for Rev. W.Perry. After settling at Claybanks 
 he divided his time between agriculture and the practice of medi- 
 cine. The doctor was married July 13, 181.5, to Emaline Bowman 
 
 DK. THOS. PHILLIPS. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 233 
 
 by whom he had seven child- 
 ren, six sons and one daugh- 
 ter. His first wife dying, in 
 1873 he was married to Mrs 
 Anna M. Haggerty, who'>e 
 maiden name was Vandeven- 
 ter, she being a daughter of 
 Abrani and Charry Vande- 
 venter. She was born in New 
 York State, Nov. 16, 1821 
 By a previous husband she i>r> 
 the mother of eight daughterb 
 Mr. and Mrs. PhilUps are 
 passing their declining years < 
 on their farm on Sec. 21 , Cl.iy ^ 
 banks, loved and respected' 
 by all who know them. He 
 has been ottered many official 
 positions but as a rule has 
 refused to accept them. He 
 has, however, served as Treas- 
 urer of his township, and as anna m. philt.ips. 
 Deputy Sheriff of the county. To him and a very few others belong 
 the honor of being the first settlers of the county. He has seen many 
 days and nights of laborious toil but can now honestly exclaim "I 
 havedone myjiart in making the wilderness to blossom as the rose." 
 
 ALEX. S. ANDERSON— 1841>. 
 
 Alex. S. Anderson, a man 
 who exerted a positive influ- 
 ence in the early affairs of 
 this county, was born, as 
 nearly as can be ascertained, 
 in the State of Maine, on the 
 23rd day of March, 1811. Of 
 his early life nothing is known 
 excepting that he resided for 
 some time in his native State 
 and spent considerable time 
 in traveling about over the 
 United States. In Dec, 18-49, 
 he came to Oceana County, 
 and from that time his histo- 
 ry can be traced. He began 
 work for Dr. Phillips who was 
 then building a mill at Stony 
 Creek for Rev. W. Ferry. He 
 worked for Mr. Phillips until 
 
234 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEEKS 
 
 the fall of 1850, when he went to lumbering for Mr. Ferry. A year 
 later he took charge of the mill and continued to run it for two 
 years. He then moved to Claybanks and commenced farming 
 which he followed until his death, which occurred Dec. 29, 1879. 
 He was buried in the Claybanks cemetery. Mr. Anderson was po- 
 litically a democrat. He was known as a man of positive opinions 
 and exerted an influence in all the affairs of the county, and more 
 especially in his locality. In 1855 he was elected Supervisor of his 
 township and held that office for eleven years almost continuously. 
 Upon the Board of Supervisors he possessed an influence as great 
 as any other member. He was Treasurer of his township for three 
 years. In 1858 he was elected Clerk and Register of Deeds of the 
 county; and it was his mistake while in that office that caused the 
 people so much trouble and money in their title suit mentioned on 
 page 88 of this book. In 1860 he was elected to the office of Coun- 
 ty Treasurer, holding that office one term. 
 
 \ ANDREW BRADY — 1850. 
 
 Andrew Brady, the subject of this sketch was born near Dram- 
 men, in Norway, on the 4th 
 day of Feb., 1836. His par- 
 ents were Hans and INIaren 
 Brady. He continued to re- 
 side with his parents ujpon 
 their farm until the age of 14 
 years, when the whole family 
 came to this country and di- 
 rect to Michigan, reaching 
 Muskegon in Sept., 1850. The 
 family there divided for a 
 short time, the men and boys 
 walking and the mother and 
 one sister coming on by sail 
 vessel to the mouth of White 
 River. From there they all 
 walked through the dense for- 
 est to the southeast corner of 
 what is now Grant township, 
 Oceana Co.,ai'riving there on 
 the 12th day of Sept., 1850. The members of his family coming in 
 at that time were his father and mother, his brother Halvor now 
 located on Sec. 2, Claybanks, having a farm of 80 acres, 70 acres 
 improved, with good buildings; his brother Tollof now located on 
 Sec. 2, Claybanks, having a farm of 70 acres, 60 improved, with 
 good buildings; his sister Hanna, afterwards married to Ole Gordon 
 
 ANDREW BRADY, 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 235 
 
 but now dead. His brother Otto M. and sister Julia were left at 
 Milwaukee where the sister still resides, being the widow of Captain 
 Jack Saveland and in good circumstances. His brother Otto after- 
 wards canie to this county, was married to Janette INTyers and was 
 killed in the woods in J 870. 
 
 After reaching this county Mr. Brady commenced work for Harry 
 Hulbert on what is known as big creek. Worked there one year, at 
 which time the mill dam broke away, washing the foundation from 
 under the mill. The result of this was that the firm Avas unable to 
 pay the men. leaving the Bradys with nothing to live upon e.xcept- 
 ing a few potatoes that they had raised. Fever and ague set in, all 
 the family being sick. After Andrew became better he went to work 
 on White River. Coming back in about a month he found his fath- 
 er had died and been buried. 
 The only provisions they had 
 were potatoes and salt. IMeet- 
 ing an Indian in the woods, 
 one day, having a deer he had 
 just shot, Andrew traded his 
 gun tor the deer, thus furnish- 
 ing meat for sometime. Dur- 
 ing the fa II thebo5''s succeeded 
 in getting work at the mouth 
 of White River, where the 
 family went for the winter. 
 In the spring Andrew came to 
 Whisky Creek, to work for L. 
 D. Eaton, with whom he staid 
 until fall. At that time the 
 family came back to Sec. 10, 
 Claybanks, built a shanty and mk.s. a. bradv. 
 
 during the winter, being over-persuaded by others, cut timber from 
 government lands and made shingles. In the spring of 1853 the 
 boys had about six hundred dollars' worth of bolts and shingles 
 piled ui^on the beach, when^along came the Deputy U. S. Marshal 
 and took them all, with others. Andrew then went as a sailor up- 
 on the lake. Sailed that summer and the next. In the winter of 
 1851:-5 resided in Milwaukee. Came here again in the spring of '55, 
 worked making shingles that summer and in the following winter 
 bought from the government one hundred and twenty acres on Sec. 
 1 and 3, Claybanks, and commenced making a farm. In July, 1859 
 he married Miss Julia Brady, who was born Dec. 21, 1839, near 
 Drammen, in Norway, her parents being Anders H. and Hellen Bra- 
 dy. She came to America and to Oceana County in Aug., 1853. 
 Her x)eople had a sad experience in crossing the ocean, the mother 
 
236 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 and a brother dying of ship fever and being buried in Mihvauiiee. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Brady have had two children, a son who died while 
 an infant, and a daughter born Jan. 23, 1862, now the wife of Nich- 
 olas Thorson. 
 
 Mr. Brady has been Highway Commissioner several times. Treas- 
 urer four years and is now Justice of the Peace in his Township. 
 
 He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of land on Sec. 3, 
 Claybanks, and Sec. 34, Benona, in one farm. Has 76 acres under 
 improvement; an orchard of 8 acres, a part being among the oldest 
 orchards in the county. Principally apples. He has a commodi- 
 ous two-story frame house, the upright 20x28, with addition 14x24; 
 a barn 46x58; a horse barn 22x33; besides henhouse, etc. Is en- 
 gaged in general farming. 
 
 Mr. Brady is a man who by hard work and close attention to his 
 affairs has illustrated the fact that honest endeavor will bring its 
 just reward. He is generally looked uj) to and respected by all. 
 
 t 
 
 HARVEY TOWER— 1850. 
 
 Harvey Tower was born in Rutland Co., Vt., March 3, 1817. He 
 
 received his education at the 
 common schools, Prof. Al- 
 len's school at Vergennes and 
 the Troy Conference Academy 
 at West Poultney, Vt. He 
 came to Jackson Co., Mich., 
 in Oct,, 1839, and made 
 teaching his principal occupa- 
 tion for six years. He then 
 moved to Barry Co. and en- 
 gaged in inercantile business. 
 In 1846 he was married to 
 .Miss Laura L. Mallette, of 
 Woodland, Barry Co. In 
 1850 he came Avith his family 
 to Oceana Co., where he has 
 since been engaged in making 
 shingles, shingle bolts, and in 
 saw mill business. In 1865 
 he commenced his present oc- 
 cupation, farming. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Tower elev- 
 en children have been born: Ru (deceased), Emma (Huston), Ada 
 (Hanson), Lee, Don, Uri, Ward, Ina (deceased), Effie, Emmor and 
 Joseph. 
 
 H. TOWER. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 237 
 
 Though seldom an aspirant for official honors, Mr. Tower has 
 been elected to the offices of County Clerk (being the first County 
 Clerk of the county), Judge of Probate, County Treasurer, and was 
 declared elected to the office of County Surveyor by the Board of 
 Canvassei's but declined to qualify, not thinking himself legally 
 elected. He has also held the offices of Supervisor of Benona, Clay- 
 banks and Grant townships; and was api^ointed and served as cen- 
 sus enumerator of Grant and Otto in 1880, and of Grant in 1884. 
 Mr. Tower has had an influence in the history of this county that 
 will be felt as long as the county endui'es. 
 
 MRS. LAURA L. TOWER— 1850. 
 
 Mrs. Laura L. Tower was born in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, 
 Mich., Feb. 18, 1829. At that 
 
 time Ypsilanti was a mere ham- 
 let. When thirteen years of age 
 she moved with her parents, to 
 Woodland, Barry Co., jNlich. 
 When only fourteen years of age 
 she commenced teaching, being 
 the first teacher in Woodland. 
 From that time until her mar- 
 riage she followed that i^rofes- 
 sion. She was married to Har- 
 vey Tower Dec. 16, 1816; and 
 has since, like all true and loyal 
 wives, followed the fortunes of 
 her husband. Mrs. Tower has 
 seen pioneer life, and experienc- 
 ed itsdiscomfortsand hardships 
 in three different counties of our 
 
 MRS. LAURA L. TOWER. 
 
 State, which is a rare occurrence for a lady of her age. It seems a 
 waste of words for us to say that now she is widely known and uni- 
 versally loved and respected. 
 
 MRS. L. D. EATON— 1850. 
 
 Mrs. Rebecca Eaton was born March 23, 1823, in the State of 
 Vermont. She is the daughter of John F. and Betsey Bragg. She 
 was married Nov. 24, 1842, to Lorenzo D. Eaton, and came with 
 him to Oceana County in Nov., 1850. At that time there were 
 very few residents of the territory now known as Oceana Co. and 
 she had some thrilling experiences during those early years in our 
 history. She is the mother of eight children, five sons and three 
 daughters, of whom three sons and two daughters are still living. 
 
238 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 She at present resides with her son, Wm. A. Eaton, on what is 
 known as the Anderson i^lace on Whisky Creek, in the township of 
 
 Claybanks. Her son owns 
 thephiceand is ensjaging quite 
 extensively in fruit raising. 
 To the apj)le orchard already 
 on the place he has added 
 during the past year 250 
 peach, 100 plum and 115 
 pear trees. The house in 
 Avhich they live has been of 
 historical interest in the 
 county, being the building in 
 which was held the first Cir- 
 cuit Court for this county. 
 
 :\IRS. J,. ]J. EATON. 
 
 LORENZO T>. EATON— 1850. 
 
 
 See pa^e 66 for sketch. 
 
AND BUSINESS MKN OF TO-DAY 
 
 239 
 
 UICHAUD E. CATEK— 1850. 
 
 llichard E. Cater was born in Clarence, Erie Co., N. Y 
 1832. Settled in Oceana 
 County in 1850. In Oct., '53, 
 he was married to Miss E. J. 
 .Stewart, of Rainham, Out., 
 from whom he was afterwards 
 divorced. In 1877 he niar- 
 lied Mrs. Esther J. Bezzo, of 
 Claybanks. He was quite a 
 prominent character in early 
 times. He was a mamber of 
 Co. P., Fifth Mich. Cav. dar- 
 ing the war. His health has' 
 been very poor since. I's now 
 almost helpless, and is cared 
 for by another old pioneer of 
 New Era, Mrs. Jane E. Rouse. 
 
 E. CATER. 
 
 March 6, 
 
 ADAM HUSTON— 1852. 
 
 Adam Huston, one of the earliest settlers of Oceana County, was 
 
 born at Sanford, York Co., 
 Maine, Dec. 1, 1816. He 
 was one of a family of eight 
 children, only one of whom 
 is now living, Frances, wid- 
 ow of Benjamin Linscott, 
 who now lives at Flower 
 Creek, this county. ]Mr. 
 Huston's early life was 
 spent with his parents up- 
 on their farm. In 1852 he 
 tii'st came to Oceana Coun- 
 ty and located on Sec. 27, 
 Claybanks. It is needless 
 to call attention to the fact 
 that at that timethiscoun- 
 ty was an almost unbroken 
 wilderness and that it fell 
 to his lot to endure his 
 sliare of the trials and pri- 
 ADAM HUSTON. vations of those pioneer 
 
240 
 
 OCEAN A COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 days. He continued to reside there until his death, wliich occurred 
 June 0, 1886, on the tarni he located and cleared. He died of heart 
 disease, from which he had sufiered for several years. That old pi- 
 oneer preacher, Rev. A. A. Darling, preached the funeral sermon 
 from n Timothy, 4:7, and his remains now rest in Mount Hope 
 cemetery, Claybanks. He was a member of the Methodist Church 
 and a conscientious Christian. In politics he affiliated with the re- 
 iDublicans. ^Ir. Huston cut and put in the first logs that were ever 
 run down White River. He was known as a hard-working man, 
 public spirited and enterprising. He took a great interest in the es- 
 tablishment and maintenance of good schools and similar concerns. 
 Dec. 8, 1836, INIr. Huston was married to Miss Eliza A. Lord, at 
 Boston, Mass. Mrs. Huston was born at Portland, Maine, Nov. 8, 
 
 1814. She came to this Co. 
 with her husband and sliar- 
 ed with him in making a, 
 home for themselves and 
 family in the woods. Among 
 the incidents of those times 
 one is especially remember- 
 ed, not because of tlie harm 
 that came of it, but because 
 of the fact that harm was 
 escaped where dangers were 
 all around. In 1854 while 
 out berrying .slie became 
 lost in the woods where now 
 IS the northeast corner of 
 Grant, and remained out 
 all night, the woods being 
 full of wolves, bears, and 
 even panthers. At the 
 breaking out of the war the 
 love of her country ruled her and she said to three brave boys, 
 "go."' Alas! only one returned. She still lives, at present residing 
 with her daughter, Mrs. H. Myers, at Cranston. INIr. and Mrs. Hus- 
 ton were the parents of seven children, Lucy E., now Mrs. Buell, re- 
 siding at INIuskegon; William H., John, Phebe E., Orin E., Chas. F. 
 and Julia 0., now jNIrs. Myers, residing at Ci-anston. Orin E. and 
 Chas. F. reside at Flower Creek, and Wm. H. and John sleeiJ on 
 Southern battle fields. Such is a very brief sketch of the lives of 
 two of Oceana County's pioneers. Though they never trod the 
 halls of i)rinces or tickled the ears of a vain world with fine speech- 
 es, yet their lives are eloquent. Eloquent with good works and 
 good results of honest labor; and when we look around us and be- 
 
 MRS. A. HUSTON. 
 
AND BUSIXESS MKK OF TO-DAY 
 
 241 
 
 liokl the niatei'ial prosperity we enjoy, let us not foryet tliat to 
 such as these we owe it. 
 
 ORIN E: TIUSTOX 
 
 Orin E. Huston was born 
 at Cuniberhmd, Me., Dec. 5, 
 IS-tT. He is a son of two of 
 Oceana County's earliest pio- 
 neers, Adam and Eliza A. 
 Huston. He came with his 
 parents to Oceana Co. in De- 
 cember, 18o2, and lived with 
 tliem ui^on the farm on Sec. 
 27, Claybanks, until the _. ... 
 breaking out of the war when 
 he enlisted as a private in Co. 
 K. 23rd Mich. Vol. Inf., and 
 served two years and three ^ 
 months. At the time of his 
 enlistment he was but sixteen 
 years of age and was the 
 youngest soldier carrying a 
 musket in his regiment. He 
 l)articipated in the battles of 
 
 -18.'52. 
 
 fo:^'-^'' 
 
 MRS. O. E. HU.STON. 
 
 O. E. HUi^TOX. 
 
 New Hope Church, Lost jNIoun- 
 tain, Kennesaw Mountain, 
 Ga., Columbia, Duck River, 
 Spring Hill, Franklin, Nash- 
 ville, Tenn., Fort Anderson, 
 Town Creek and Wilmington, 
 N. C. Returning home in 
 June, 1866, he remained on 
 the old homestead until 1870 
 when he made a start on Sec. 
 34, Claybanks, Avhere he now 
 has 240 acres, 100 acres un- 
 der imj)rovement, with an or- 
 chard of 400 apple and luO 
 pear and plum trees. That 
 he is an energetic, pushing 
 man his surroundings show. 
 June 5, 1870, he married the 
 daughter of two pioneers of 
 the county, viz., Miss Emma 
 Tower, daughter of Harvey 
 
242 
 
 OCEANA COUXTY PIONEERS 
 
 and Laura Tower. She was born in this county Dec. 27, 1850. 
 She Hved with her parents in Benona, Pentwater and Claybanks 
 until her marriage. She was among the first of Oceana's lady teach- 
 ers, connnencing to teach when 1.5 years of age, teaching in Ferry, 
 Benona and Claybanks. Mr. and jMrs. Huston are the parents of 
 7 children, 3 sons and 4 daughters. They had in their earlier 
 days no school advantages but those afforded l)y the common 
 schools of the county, which in those times were none of the best. 
 No people in their part of the county now take a greater interest in 
 school affairs than they. They ]Dossess in a marked degree the es- 
 teem of their neighbors and acquaintances. Mr. Huston has been 
 honored by his fellov,' townsmen with the offices of Township Clerk 
 and Treasurer. 
 
 WJLLIA.AI J. HAUGHEY— 1852. 
 
 The following is the sketch of Wm. J. Haughey as told by himself: 
 
 "Was born in the High St., 
 Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday, 
 Dec. 2, 1832. When about 4 
 years of age we moved to 
 London, England. Came to 
 New York in May, 1848. My 
 father died in Memphis, Tenn. 
 Came to Milwaukee in July, 
 1849, and to Oceana in the 
 summer of 1852. Early in 
 1852 I kept a retail boot and 
 shoe store in Wilmington, 
 Delaware. When peaches 
 were ripe hucksters would 
 come to the store and sell 
 them, half a peck for 5 cts. 
 I then determined to try 
 peaches in Oceana Co. When 
 I came to the county I had a (piantity of pits which I planted. 
 Thus the first peach planting in the county by a white man was 
 )ny work. Also in 1853 I sent for and planted the first flower seeds 
 and I set out the first ap]Dle trees one of which is now living on the 
 old O'Hanlon farm. There are one or two of the old peach trees 
 still living. INIy mother has sold peaches from these at 25 cts. each 
 that measured 9^2 inches around, and with one or two exceptions 
 they [have borne every year. Some one will find this knowledge 
 worth ten times the x^rice of the book, viz.: That when your bud- 
 ded stock fails your seedlings will give you a crop. 
 
 WM. -J. HAUGHEY, aged 30 yrs. 
 
AND HUSIXESS IMEX OF TO-DAV 
 
 243 
 
 Wlien I fame to Claybanks the settlers were all shingle and bolt 
 makers or fishermen. I'sually each man engaged in all three occu- 
 pations. Every one, however, was willing to share with a neighbor 
 his last i)otato or piece of pork, or for want of thb above go fishing 
 and divide the liaul. We sent to Milwaukee and Cliicago then for 
 our supplies, including whisky; but little was raised here then. I 
 have started and cleared three farms, and slept in the snow to 
 make roads from LeRoy to Pentwater. 
 
 Have served the jpeople as Constable, Justice, Treasurer, Highway 
 Commissioner, School Inspector, School Director and Postmaster. 
 Was married to Miss Catherine Anna Clark, at St. Louis, April 19, 
 1855, and with my wife came back to Michigan the same year. 
 
 Have been blessed with seven children, as follows: Maria Eliza- 
 beth, William James, Tliomas Jefi'erson, Anna Jane, Lucy Clark, 
 Lottie iNIargaret, Wilhelniina (deceased). 
 
 Was drafted in Nov., 1863, for Co. F, 2nd Mich. Cav. Served 
 about ten days, furnished a substitute and was discharged. 
 
 Built two saw and shingle mills. Kept store since ISOi. Of late 
 years kept meat n:iarket and grocery store. My mill was burned in 
 1871; rebuilt and sold to E.D.Richmond & Co. in 1873. Moved to 
 Pentwater and kept the Sherman House; was burned out in the INI. 
 E. Church fire and lost all but my grit. Was burned out again by 
 a gambler in 1889, but am still hammering away. In 1873 signed 
 the crusade pledge and have never tasted alcohol since. Same year 
 quit using tobacco, which I had used from childhood. 
 
 I live in hoj)es of seeing Oceana County prosperous, fruitful and a 
 prohibition county."' 
 
 MKS. W.M. J. HAl'GHEY. 
 
 Mrs. Catherine Anna Haughey 
 was born May 30, 1835, in Bai- 
 rn ah an. County Longford, Ire- 
 land. Came to America in the 
 fall of 1841. Settled in Potts- 
 ville, Schuylkill Co., Pa. In '52 
 removed to St. Louis, Mo., 
 where both father and mother, 
 Patrick and Mary Clark, died of 
 cholera. She met Mr. Haughey 
 there and was married to him 
 by Rev. Father P. J. Ryan, 
 at the Cathedral, April 
 19, 1855. They came to 
 ^Michigan on their wedding trip 
 to visit ^Ir. Haughey 's mother, 
 
 IlAfcnKV 
 
2.11 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONKERS 
 
 thiMi living in Oceana Co. She induced the young couple to settle 
 iio.-i f her, and Mr. Haughey bought land, settled down and commenc- 
 ed to clear. He planted corn, potatoes, squash, carrots, jieas, 
 b:.:ns, &.C. He believed in trying to raise crops, and did. How 
 nice it seemed to get a mess of sweet corn for dinner, or a mess of 
 potatoes or squash. Mr. H. cleared about two acres by hand that 
 she helped to log, and without a team. She helped him pile brush, 
 roll logs, etc. They have partly cleared three farms, one on Sec. 6, 
 Benona; one on Sec. 17, Golden, and one on Sec. 2, Hart. Seven 
 childi-en blessed the union, five girls and two boys, all living but the 
 youngest, Wilhelmina, whom "God gave and whom God has taken 
 away; blessed be the name of the Lord." She died Aug. 16, 1875, 
 of scarlet fever. 
 
 Mr. and ]Mrs. Haughey have done their full share for Oceana Co., 
 and while not enjoying in full measure the fruits of their labor, they 
 have the satisfaction of knowing that tlirough their work others 
 find enjoyment. Both are residents of Pentwater at this time, 
 pleasantly situated. 
 
 MARIA o'hanlon— 1852. 
 Alalia Goldie was born in Dawn, Patrick County, Ireland, Mar. 
 
 10, 1816. Removed to Glas- 
 gow, in 1826. Was married to 
 John Haughey, shoemaker, in 
 Glascow, on the 8th day of Aug. 
 1831. There were two chfidren 
 born to them, one William J. 
 Haughey, and one Maria, who 
 died in Glascow. Her husband 
 died in Memphis, Tenn., after 
 their removal to America. Re- 
 moved to America in 1848. She 
 was married again in ISIilwaukee 
 in the summer of 1852 to Jas. 
 O'Hanlon, and shortly thereaf- 
 ter removed with her husband 
 to Claybanks, Oceana Co. ^Ir. 
 O'Hanlon was born in Lurigan, 
 Ireland, and came to Claybanks in 1819, which after his marriage 
 became his permanent home. He was ]jrominently identified with 
 the early history of the county and held many of the local oflices. 
 It is said that Mrs. O'Hanlon owned the first cow brought to the 
 county, taught the first two terms of school in Claybanks, and was 
 the person for whom the township of (Jolden was named. 'Mv. 
 O'Hanlon died April 9, 1887, and INIrs. O'Hanlon March 14, 1888. 
 
 MRS. .J. o'hanlon — aged 46. 
 
AXI) BUSINESS >[EX OF TO-DAY 
 
 24:5 
 
 JOHN .M U N S OX— 1 8 .") 4 . 
 
 Jolni Mnnson was born in 
 Ulrika, Sweden, May 11, '29. 
 He was the eldest child of 
 Muns and Anna Hanson, and 
 X^assed his childhood in his 
 native place, with his broth- 
 ers Xels and August, and his 
 sister Anna. Following the 
 national custom the sons be- 
 came known as John, Nels 
 and August Munson. Anna 
 afterward married Swen An- 
 derson, and now lives in the 
 township of Claybanks, not 
 far from her brothers, Nels 
 and August, who also made 
 for them sel ves homes in 
 America, far from the graves 
 of their j^arents, who are 
 buried near the old home in 
 
 .MliS. JOHX MINSOX. 
 
 ^lessrs. Holver and Tolef Biady. I 
 
 JOHX MUXSOX. 
 
 Sweden. 
 
 At an early age John ]\Iun- 
 son began to earn his way in 
 the world, and as he grew 
 older, the desire to seek his 
 fortune in the New World 
 grew stronger, and the sum- 
 nier of his twenty-fifth year 
 marked an epoch in his life. 
 He had now, by dint of hard 
 labor and self-denial accumu- 
 lated enough to pay his way 
 to America, and in Aug., '51, 
 he reached Chicago. Not 
 meeting with success in the 
 city he soon crossed over to 
 Michigan, where he began 
 work for Mr. Harvey Tower, 
 of Claybanks. getting out 
 shingle bolts. After a short 
 time he left ]Mr. Tower and 
 performed the same labor for 
 n 18oo he bought 40 acres of 
 
246 OCEAXA COrXTY PIONEERS 
 
 land in the township of Chxybanks, and began getting out shingles 
 and shingle bolts for himself. Disposing of this to his brother Xels 
 he bought, in 1856, 160 acres in the townshijD of Benona, where be 
 passed the remainder of his life. He immediately began clearing 
 and improving his new purchase. He first built a small log house 
 in which he lived until the new and commodious frame structure 
 now the home of the family was erected in 1864. 
 
 Nov. 0, 1861, Mr. Munson was mai'ried in Benona to ]Mrs. Fred- 
 erika Lun Peterson, formerly of Lunberg, Sweden. Mrs. IMunson 
 was a daughter of Swen and Christina Lun, and came to Oceana 
 Co. Aug. 30, 1861. ^Ir. and ]\Ii's. Munson labored to improve their 
 surroundings, and to build up a home founded upon mutual love 
 and faith, which but grew tlie stronger as the years advanced. 
 
 In 1879 he bought 80 acres more, adjoining his original purchase 
 on the north. Hen; j\Ir. Munson toiled away the months and years 
 literally carving his home out of the j)rimeval forest; and as acre 
 after acre was cleared, he began to see the results and enjoy the 
 fruits of his labors, and to gather about bun some of the comforts 
 of life. As the crops increased it became necessary'to put up build- 
 ings in which to store the harv^ests, and granary, horse barn and 
 hay barn, together with cattle sheds and outbuildings were erected 
 in succession. 
 
 In the midst of his labors, at a time when the future seemed so 
 full of the realization of his hopes, Mr. Munson was called home. 
 While at work in oat-harvest he was prostrated by a sunstroke, 
 and after but one week's illness, he died Sept. 4, 1883, in the ooth 
 year of his age. 
 
 He left a wife, still living at the old homestead in Benona, and 
 eight children to mourn his loss. He was buried from the Scandi- 
 navian Church, Claybanks, Sept. 6, 1883, Elder Chic, of Montague, 
 and Rev. Hvid officiating. His children, in order of birth, are 
 Frank A., John C, Sophia M., Nettie J., Osear L., Osear F., Her- 
 man ()., Mary H. and Edward G. All are living except Osear L., 
 who died Aug. 15, 1873. Sophia M. was married to Rev. Charles 
 Coors, Nov. 27, 188U. 
 
 INIr. ^Nlunson was a self-educated man, of sound judgment, honest, 
 faithful and God-fearing. Quiet and somewhat diffident in manner, 
 he was a man thoroughly liked and resi:)ected wherever known. For 
 forty-six years he had been a member of the Lutheran Church, and 
 taught its precepts by his daily walk. A member of no secret order 
 he made his own way, winning all men for his friends. In politics 
 he was a republican, although not given to much fruitless discus- 
 sion. A kind, indulgent father, and tender, affectionate husband, 
 Mr. Munson was deeply loved by his family, and in dying he not on- 
 ly left his family comfortably well off in this world's'goods, but be- 
 
AND BUSIXKSS MEX OF TO-l)AV 
 
 2r, 
 
 queathed them an inheritance of inestimable value, a good name, 
 sijotless and above rei^roaeh. 
 
 ENOCH T. MUGFORD— 1854. 
 
 Enoch T. ^lugford was born in Portland, ]Me., J 
 settled in Chicago in 1852, 
 following the trade of car^^en- 
 ter and joiner. Settled in 
 Oceana County in 1854, iirst 
 locating at Pentwater, where 
 he followed the occuj)ations 
 of tishing and lumbering. In 
 1858 he removed to Hart 
 township, where he has since 
 resided. iMarch 1, 1851, he 
 mar]'ied Martha Jane Nutter, 
 who was born in Wolfsboro, 
 N. H., Sept., 1828. She came 
 to Oceana County with her 
 husband, and with him has 
 endured the trials and enjoy- 
 ed the pleasures of jpioneer 
 life. Ten children were born 
 to them, only four of whom 
 survive. Mr. Musford is a 
 
 an. 14, 1829. 
 
 MRS. K. T. :MUGFOaD. 
 
 E. T. MUGFOKl). 
 
 man of positive convictions, 
 and possessed of great men- 
 tal force. Had he educated 
 himself in one of the jjrofes- 
 sions in early life he would 
 have attained eminence. As 
 it is, he has alwaj's been a 
 l)rominent figure in his locali- 
 ty. In April, 1890, for the 
 sixteenth time in succession 
 was he elected Supervisor of 
 Hart township. He is a 
 ]irominent Mason, Odd Fel- 
 low, and a member of differ- 
 ent farmer's organizations. 
 Has been prominent in organ- 
 izing and maintaining the 
 Oceana Co. Pioneer Associa- 
 tion. He owns a small fax-m 
 
248 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 in Hart township, but is not engaged in farming. He was appoint- 
 ed Postmaster of Hart by President Cleveland, which office he held 
 until recently. He is still in the enjoyment of health and has the 
 promise of many years of usefulness. 
 
 CHARI.ES BLAXCK— 18.54:. 
 
 Charles Blanck was born in Germany, August 30, 1812. His par- 
 
 ents' names were Carl and Maria. 
 
 CHARLES BLANCK. 
 
 In early lite he married Sophia 
 Schumacker, by whom was 
 born to him three sons and 
 three daughters. His wife and 
 children are all dead, he alone 
 surviving. He came to Oceana 
 County in August, 1854. 
 Cleared a farm north of Pent- 
 water, suffered and struggled 
 with the other pioneers. He 
 has held local township offi- 
 ces several times, and is now 
 village ferryman for Pentwa- 
 ter. He lives by himself, is 
 kindly disposed and ready to 
 crack a joke with any one. 
 He has one brother and one 
 sister in the Old Country and 
 one sister in this country, but 
 has not seen or heard from 
 any of them in inany years. 
 
 WILLIAM A. OLINDER— 1855. 
 
 William A. Olinder, son of Frederick and Uoratha Olinder, was 
 born in Sweden, June 19, 1835. He came to Oceana County July 
 14, 1855, and worked in saw mills summers and driving team win- 
 ters until 1880, when he moved on to his farm in Benona town- 
 ship, where he now resides. He enlisted in Bat. B, 1st ]\Iich. L. A. 
 as a private, serving 18 months to the close of the war. He joined 
 the Masonic order at Pentwater in 1867, and helped to organize 
 Benona Lodge No. 289, at Stony Creek, of which he was a char- 
 ter member. Since then the lodge moved to Shelby where it now 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 249 
 
 meets. In June, 1889, he 
 joined the Shelby Lodge No. 
 34:4, I. O. 0. F. March 2, 
 1880, he married Mvs. Sarah 
 L. Morse, avIio was born at 
 Upton, Oxford Co., ]\Iaine, 
 Feb. 15, 18-45. She is a 
 daughter of Samuel and Nan- 
 cy C. Grover. Apr. 15,1867, 
 she was married to Y. X. 
 Morse, and is the mother of 
 three children, two sons and 
 one da\ighter by him. Mar-; 
 ried in 1880 to Mr. Olinder, ' 
 having been six years a wid- 
 ow. ^Ir. and Mrs. Olinder 
 now have a line home. The 
 farm consists of 160 acres of 
 which 120 are under good 
 cultivation. He threshed in 
 1889 one thousand, three 
 
 'Wyi. OLINDER. 
 
 hundred and ninety bushels 
 of grain. Their house is, up- 
 right 16x26, wing 16x24, 
 both parts 18 feet high, con- 
 taining twelve rooms, with 
 cellar under the whole; wood- 
 house 14x28; cattle barn 
 46x60; horse barn 30x40; 
 granary 16x24; corn crib 
 9x30; hoghousel6x32; sheep 
 shed 18x40; and well house 
 10x18 with windmill. 
 
 MKS. W.M. OI.IXDER. 
 
 hii:am e. urssELL— 1855. 
 Hiram E. Russell, son of .Tosiah Ilussell, and one of Oceana's ear- 
 liest pioneers, was born in New York in 1830. He moved to Michi- 
 
250 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEEKS 
 
 gan when six years old. 
 
 At the age of ten with his parents, moved 
 to Otisco, Ionia Co., where 
 they resided a short time, 
 and^ thence to Greenville, 
 which they found but a vast 
 wilderness. They spent sev- 
 eral years here engaged in 
 milhvrighting and rafting 
 lumber on the Flat and 
 Grand Rivers, from Green- 
 ville to Grand Haven. In 
 185.5 he came to Oceana Co. 
 At this time not even the In- 
 dians had reached this fer- 
 tile region, or but few whites. 
 The i3lace where Hart now 
 stands was one solid growth 
 of forest. He followed the 
 section lines from Whisky 
 H. E. RussEi.i.. Creek until he arrived at the 
 
 place he now occupies. He 
 
 at once began the laborious 
 
 task of clearing away the 
 
 forest and converting the 
 
 proud old wilderness into a 
 
 home, where he lived a 
 
 bachelor's life until 1865, 
 
 when he was married to 
 
 Betsey E. PoUey, who Avas 
 
 born in Lee Co., Iowa, 
 
 in 1843. In 1815 she mov- 
 ed with her parents, Daniel 
 
 and Hannah Polley, to Ash- 
 tabula Co., Ohio, where she 
 
 resided until 1861, when 
 
 she came to Oceana County 
 
 and taught school until 
 
 February, 1865, when she 
 
 was married to Mr.Eussell. 
 
 They have two children, one 
 
 son and one daughter. 
 
 Mr. Kussell has a farm con- 
 sisting of 210 acres of which 200 acres are cleared and 20 acres of 
 
 this is set to fruit trees. He is engaged in line stock raising as well 
 
 as fruit growing. He has filled several j)laces of public trust in the 
 
 way of township and county oflices. 
 
 MRS. H. E. KUSSELIi. 
 
AND BUSINESS MRX OK TO-DAV. 
 
 251 
 
 ISAAC HACiGERTV— 185<) 
 
 Isaac llagiierty. a son of 
 )rra and Kebekah Hagger- 
 ;y, ^Yas born in Oneida Co., 
 ST. Y., Aug. 10, 1828. He 
 eft New York State in 1856 
 ;oing to Cliicago where he 
 .•emained one summer, then 
 'oming to Oceana County 
 n the fall of 1856. He im- 
 nediately commenced cleav- 
 ing up a farm and continu- 
 ed ux)on the farm until '61, 
 rthen he enlisted in Co. B, 
 5th ^Visconsin Infantry 
 and served three years. At 
 the expiration of his term 
 of enlistment hereturned to 
 this county to his farm. 
 Since then his occupation 
 has been farming. ^Mr.Hag- 
 ijerty is a man much respect- 
 ed by his neighbors, and has 
 
 'ff^ cf"' 
 
 ISAAC HAGGEUTV 
 
 been two years Treasurer of 
 Claybanks township. Oct. 
 10, 1852 he was married 
 to INIiss Elizabeth Salmon, 
 a daughter of Heman and 
 Betsey Salmon, who was 
 born at Hamburg, Erie Co., 
 N. Y., Jan. 13, 1830. They 
 have one child, a son, who 
 is now living at home and 
 assisting his father with the 
 farm work. Mr. Haggerty's 
 present residence is on the 
 SWI4 of the SW14 of Sec. 25, 
 Claybanks, which he has 
 under fine improvement 
 with a large, comfortable 
 house and commodious 
 l)arns find out buildings. 
 
 -MKS. I. IIAOOEUTY. 
 
252 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIOXEERS 
 
 JAMES G. FARUELL — 1856. 
 
 James G. Farrell, an Oceana County production, was born in 
 Claybanks, June 29, 1856. His parents were Owen and Catherine 
 Farrell. The subject of our sketch was born and raised upon a 
 farm and has always followed that business. He has been elected 
 by his fellow townsmen to the position of Superintendent of Schools 
 two terms and Treasurer two terms. As a public officer he has al- 
 ways given good satisfaction to all. He takes a great interest in 
 educational matters and has taught school winters for the past 
 nine years. He is a good writer, many of the racy articles in the 
 different county papers being from his pen. He is a young man of 
 whom the people of his section are justly proud. 
 
 Tin. IKA JEXKS — 1856. 
 
 Dr. Ira Jenks was born Sept. 4, 1808, in the township of Homer, 
 Cortland Co., N. Y. When he was nine years of age his parents re- 
 moved to the township of Scipio, Cayuga Co., remaining there one 
 year, then removing to the township of Sheldon, Genesee Co. From 
 
 thence, after another year, 
 removing to Middlebury, 
 now Wyoming Co., remain- 
 there till the subject of this 
 sketch was 24 years of age. 
 At the age of 21 Ira took 
 upon himself the entire re- 
 sponsibility of his father's 
 family, consisting of three, 
 besides his sister and her 
 two children. At 20 he 
 learned the shoemaker's 
 trade. In the Patriot war 
 in '38 he was in active ser- 
 vice in the artillery as a 
 fifer. At the age ot 36 he 
 received an injury in one 
 hand and wrist that par- 
 tially crippled him for life. 
 DR. IRA JEXKS. At this time he began the 
 
 study of medicine. At the 
 age of 37 he was married to Miss Direna L. Davis, with whom he 
 became acquainted while doctoring lier mother, 40 miles from 
 home. In 1846 they removed to the township of Portland, Ionia 
 Co., Mich. Their experience there was a severe one as he was sick 
 a whole vear with ague and acute bronchitis, and his wife with ma- 
 
AXn BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAV. 233 
 
 larial fever over 4 months. This exiierience of sickness and want 
 while at Portland was the most severe and trying of any in their 
 lives. 
 
 In 1848 he removed to Roxland, Eaton County. At about this 
 time he obtained a warrant for IGO acres of land for his services in 
 the Patriot war. 
 
 In 1850 he removed to Greenville, INIontcalm Co., remaining three 
 years. From thence to North Oakfield, Kent County, in 1853, and 
 from thence in ^Nlay, 1866, he began his work as a "pathfinder" in 
 the Oceana Co. wilds. He soon located his lands in Hart township 
 on what is known as Prospect Hill, his nearest neighbor then being 
 A. C. Kandall, at Shelby Corners. The interesting vicissitudes con- 
 cerning his experience in this county as a xjioneer would fill a vol- 
 ume, and are better known to many of the citizens of this county 
 than can be chronicled in the short si^ace allotted in this volume. 
 Physically Dr. Jenks was a "man of iron." Since the age of 21 he 
 has been an active member of the Baptist Church, having been a 
 deacon over 40 years. 
 
 Tlie Dr. was in every sense of the word a self-made man. He was 
 a conversationalist of great ability, instructive and entertaining. 
 For the last few years his eyesight has been gradually failing till he 
 is now nearly blind, ^t the age of 81 he is in the full jiossession of 
 all the faculties of his mind, and he says he can walk a mile as quick 
 as he ever could. Having been intimately acquainted with Elder 
 Darling about 30 years, he has arranged with him to preach his fu- 
 neral sermon, choosing for his text, Job 14:14: "If a man die shall 
 he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I Avait till 
 my change come." He has his tombstone placed where his wife, 
 who died eight years ago, is lying, and in faith and liojoe awaits the 
 day of his coming rest from earth's tempestuous labor, care and 
 sorrow. 
 
 .JOHN D. HAXSOX— 1850. 
 
 John D. Hanson, one of the early settlers of this county, and the 
 very first to select and purchase land, was born in Christiana, Nor- 
 way, in the year 1818, and sailed to America when but a young 
 man, and first settled in ^lilwaukee and afterwards, in the year 
 1843, he located in Whitehall, Mich., going in the lumber business 
 with Charles INIears, and for several years sailing and owning ves- 
 sels himself. It was while sailing that he discovered the great Clay 
 Banks country, and where he afterwards located what is now known 
 as the "Hanson farm," the first land located and purchased in Oce- 
 ana Co., and whereon he moved in the year 1836. He had improv- 
 ed and cleared up the farm previous to his moving on the same. 
 
 He moved his family from Whitehall to Claybanks in a yawl boat 
 
254 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 in the month of ]May. He sent to lonici to be ground the tirst wheat 
 ever grown in the county, and it took nine days to make the trip. 
 
 His farm house was always headquarters for the lawyers and 
 judges, and many were the jokes and stories told and pleasant eve- 
 nings spent at his house while the county seat was located at Whis- 
 ky Creek. He was always prominent in the politics of the county 
 and was a republican with strong convictions. He held the office 
 of Deputy U. S. Marshal for several years, and was Consul to Nor- 
 way and Sweden for a number of years. 
 
 MRS. BETSEY HANSON. 
 
 ;Mrs. Betsey Hanson was born at Ivingsl)urg, Norway, in the year 
 1823. Her parents dying when she was but a small child she was 
 
 left to the care of an uncle. 
 At the age of about 16 she 
 left Norway for America with 
 her uncle and landed at Mil- 
 waukee, Wis. There she re- 
 sided for a i^eriod of about 5 
 years, wnen she was married 
 to her late husband, John D. 
 Hanson, when she removed 
 directly to Whitehall, INIich. 
 This was about the year 1845, 
 her husband having been in 
 business there with Charles 
 Mears for several years lum- 
 bering. She was the first 
 white woman to see White- 
 hall, or White Lake as it was 
 then called, and lived two 
 months before any other 
 white woman arrived, and 
 her neighl)ors and visitors were found among the Indians, which 
 language she could speak fluently after she had lived there a short 
 time. She lived there until the year 1856, when she 
 removed with her husband and family to CI ay banks where 
 she has since i-esided. She is the mother of nine children, seven of 
 whom are still living: 3Irs. G. C. Myers, Charles H., John D. S., My- 
 ron W., Wintield S., and Fremont M., all of this county, and Mrs. 
 Lillie L. Peck, of Montague. Since childhood she has been a mem- 
 ber of the "Lutheran Episcopal Church." 
 
 Li^/T/f"^ 
 
 elf' 
 
 MRS. BETSEY HANSON. 
 
AND lUSIXESS MEN OF TO-DAY 
 
 255 
 
 JOHN ]). S. HANSON — 1856. 
 
 John D. S. Hanson was born Jan. 1, 1852, at Wliiteliail, Mich. 
 He lived there until four years later, when he moved with his i:)ar- 
 ents to Claybanks, this Co., on what is known as the "Hanson 
 farm"' on the banks of lake Michigan, and oneof the most beautiful 
 sites on the eastern shore of said lake. Here he lived and grew up 
 to manhood, going to school, teaching school and working on the 
 farm alternately, with two years at Hillsdale College, this State, 
 until the year 1876, wlien he became proprieter of the old home- 
 stead through the sickness of his father, John I). Hanson. Here he 
 had good success as a farmer, and held the offices of Constable, Su- 
 l)ervisor and School Inspector until the year 1882, when he was 
 elected to the ofhce of Sheriff, 
 and on Jan. 1st, he leniovcd 
 with his family to Hart, the 
 count}' seat, where he still re- 
 sides. In 1881 he was re-elect- 
 ed to the oOice of Sheriif by 
 an increased inajority. He 
 also held the office of Deputy 
 V. S. ^Marshal for several 
 years. While holding the of- 
 lice of Sheriff he devoted all 
 his spare time to the study of 
 law, being encouraged thereto 
 by Hon. F. J. Kussell. then 
 ("ircuit Judge, and in the year 
 1885, after a thorough exam- 
 ination by the Hon. W. E. 
 Ambler, of Pentwater, Hon. 
 F.W.Cook, of Muskegon, and 
 <;en. L. G. Rutherford, of 
 Hart, as committee, was ad- 
 
 jnitted to the Bar of Oceana County as a full-Hedged attorney and 
 solicitor. In 1886 he'was nominated for County Clerk, but was de- 
 feated by 31 votes. He was appointed Clerk of the Senate Commit- 
 tees on Cities and Villages and Counties and Townships, in the 
 Michigan Legislature of 1887, which position he held during the ses- 
 sion with ability. In; Jan., 1888, he entered the law ofiice of M. H. 
 Brooks, Esq., to study and practice law, and at the convention of 
 same year was nominated and afterwards elected to the ofhce of 
 Prosecuting Attorney, the duties of which he is nosv performing 
 with success. In Jan., 1889, he was appointed Probate Clerk by 
 the Hon. W. H. Chun-hill, Probate Judge for Oceana County, which 
 
 .1. 11. S. HANSON. 
 
256 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 appointment he still holds. Is Village Attorney of Hart. Was 
 census enumerator for Claybanks in 1880. In politics Mr. Hanson 
 is and always has been a republican, and a firm believer in the 
 American policy of protection. In habits he is strictly temperate 
 in all things. Though not a member of any Church, he believes in 
 the doctrines taught by the disciples of Christ, and the Sabbath 
 will invariably find him in the Church. On the 22nd day of Oct., 
 1876, he was married to Miss Ada Tower, a neighbor and acquaint- 
 ance from early childhood, and a most estimable and cultivated 
 lady. 
 
 Mrs. Ada Hanson, 
 
 ff 
 
 MRS. J. D. S. HANSON 
 
 the M 
 four of 
 D wight 
 
 E. Church. The union 
 whom are now living: 
 Hanson. 
 
 :MRS. JOHN D. S. HANSON. 
 
 daughter of Harvey and Laura Tower, of 
 Grand View, Oceana Co., 
 Mich., was born in rhetown- 
 ship of Benona, this coun- 
 ty. She received her educa- 
 tion in the district schools 
 of Benona, Pentwater and 
 Claybanks, and attended 
 the union school of Hart, 
 under the tutorship of Prof. 
 S. Edson, and finished her 
 education in the high school 
 of Grand Rapids, Mich., 
 under Prof. Milner. She be- 
 gem teaching school at the 
 age of 16 years, and taught 
 eighteen terms, nine of them 
 being in one school house. 
 
 She was married to John 
 
 D. S. Hanson Oct. 22, 1876, 
 
 at Whitehall, Mich., by the 
 
 Rev. D. M. Ward, pastor of 
 
 has been blessed with six children, 
 
 Laura B., Edith B., Vernie I. and J. 
 
 a'^^J// Wji^/^y'i^ 
 
 -•fH' 
 
 AMOS C. RANDALL— 1856. 
 
 Amos C. Randall was born in Yates County, New York, Feb. 8, 
 1818. He settled in Shelby township, Oceana County, May 1, '56. 
 In 1869 he settled on section 11, Hart township, where he has since 
 resided. Has been Town Clerk, Highway Commissioner and Justice 
 of the Peace. The latter office he held three terms. Was married 
 to Sophronia Anderson, Feb. 26, 1840. To them were born five 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAY. 
 
 257 
 
 sons and one daughter. One son, Lewis L., died in 1864 from dis- 
 ease contracted in the U. S. service during the rebellion. Mr. Ran- 
 dall is still living, although in teeble health. 
 
 EDGAR D. RICHMOND — 1857. 
 
 Edgar D. Richmond was born to Edmund and Olive Richmond in 
 Euclid, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, ^lay 5, 1837. His early life was spent 
 upon his father's farm. In 1840 he entered the Shaw Academy in 
 East Cleveland, and remained two years. After this he clerked in 
 a dry goods store until the spring of 1857, when he came to Pent- 
 water to work for Charles Mears. Mr. Richmond remained in chai'ge 
 of Mr. Mears' store until 1862, when he and Woodruff Chapin went 
 into business at Pentwater. After two and one-half years they 
 took in John Bean, Jr., as partner and together bought out Hart, 
 Maxwell ct Co. In 1862 they built a shingle mill and sawed the 
 first shingles on the shore. They afterwards sold out to Phillips & 
 Browne. He was also in 
 1872 in partnership with 
 Mr. F. W. Ratzel in general 
 merchandise, and still later 
 with his brother-in-law, Mr. 
 Dunwell. He removed to 
 Hart in 1877 where he has 
 continued to reside. He is 
 now a large stockholder 
 and cashier of the Oceana 
 Co. Savings Bank at Hart. 
 Also owner of some of the 
 
 finest fruit and stock farms 
 
 in tlie county. 
 Aug. 3, 18o9, at Ionia he 
 
 married Miss Josex^hine M. 
 
 Rounds, by whom he had 
 
 two sons, Eddie and Willie, 
 
 both of whom are dead. 
 
 Mrs. Richmond died July 6, 
 
 1866. Nov., 1869, he mar- 
 ried jNIiss Lydia L. Dunwell, 
 
 of Allegan Co., by whom he.has had four children, two of whom, a 
 
 daughter, Olive, and a s<!)in, Jerome, are living, and two, a daughter 
 
 Daisy, and a son, are dead. 
 Mr. Richmond has been Postmaster at Pentwater, held several 
 
 townshii> and village olfices, been elected and served five terms as 
 
 Clerk and Register of Deeds." His nomination upon the republican 
 
 E. D. RICHMOMD. 
 
258 
 
 OrEAN-A COJN'TY PIJXEEiS 
 
 ticket always added strength to the ticket. He is popular with all 
 classes. Is enterprising and one of the most sympathetic friends in 
 case of sickness or distress. 
 
 CHRISTIAN MILLER JENSEN — 1857. 
 
 Christian ^liller Jensen was born in Denmark, March 26, 1826. 
 
 His pai'ents were Jens and 
 ISIaren Miller Nelsen. and 
 following the custom of that 
 country his name became 
 Jensen (Jens' son). His 
 early years were spent in 
 his native counti'y where he 
 became a sailor among a 
 nation of sailors On A^^r. 
 13, 1H52, he was married 
 in Denmark to Frederekke 
 ^I. A. Halstibroe, who has 
 proved a faithful wife to 
 him during all these years, 
 bearing him five children, 
 two sons and three daugh- 
 ters. They moved upon 
 the farm where they now 
 c. M. JENSEN. li^'t? on April 10, 1858. He 
 
 landed at Pentwater Oct. 
 
 13, 18.-)7, with $80 in his 
 pocket, without any experi- 
 ence in farming, having al- 
 ways been a sailor, but with • 
 a stout heart and determin- 
 ed purpose. The result of 
 these qualities is a fine farm, 
 in fact one that attracts uni- 
 versal attention from all who 
 have occasion to pass over 
 the main traveled road from 
 Pentwater to Lvidington thro' 
 North Weare, composed of 
 300 acres, 125 improved, 
 with a good bearing orchard 
 to which he has recently add- 
 ed, a large well built house mrs. c. m. jensen. 
 and other good buildings. _jMr. Jensen has gone through the trying 
 
AND HUSIN'ESS MEN OF TO-DAY 
 
 259 
 
 experiences of jpioneer life, in coJiipaiiy with his fait lifiil helpmeet, 
 but, as he states, looliing back along the track he lias followed he 
 has nothing to regret in coining to Oceana Co., and is well satisfied 
 with the results of the labor and hardships of early settlement. It 
 is needless for us to call attention to the fact that Mr. and Mrs. 
 Jensen are respected by all who know them, as their wide circle of 
 friends and acquaintances are well aware of it. 
 
 OLIVER K. WHITE— 1857. 
 
 Oliver K. Wiiite was born in Peru, Clinton Co.. X. V., Feb. 15, 
 1831. He is a son of Hosea and .Vnna White. \\'lien l)ut three 
 months of age he removed with his parents to Erie Co.. X. Y., where 
 lie remained until reaching his majoiity. in tiie mean time receiving 
 a common school educa- ,„~^ 
 
 tion. After comnig of age 
 he moved to Cattaraugus Co, 
 where for two years beheld 
 the positions of Township 
 Superintendent of Schools 
 and Justice of the Peace. 
 In It- 57 he came to Oceana 
 Co., locating in thethen wil- 
 derness of Grant township, 
 "where he opened up a new 
 farm where hehas since con- 
 tinued to I'eside. He lias 
 cleared and improved his 
 farm and now has a fine 
 place with good buildings, 
 including a large and com- 
 modious house. Mr. White 
 has been honored by the 
 residento of his townsliip 
 with the oflice of Supervis- 
 or six years, and by the Co. 
 by the offices of Sheriff dur- 
 ing 1875-6, and Reijresent- 
 
 ative in the State Legislature during 1877-8. He lia> aLso held the 
 offices of School Inspector, Commis.sioner, and County Surveyor. 
 He has always discharged the duties of his variou- positions with 
 fidelity and strict honesty, thus winning hi.-< way liom one position 
 to another. Mr. White was married in 1852 to .Mi.ss Nancy Bart- 
 lett, who came with him to Oceana Co. and has proved a faithful 
 and loving wife and mother. They now have six children, three 
 sons and three daughters. • .>• -• 
 
 '•■^#^ 
 
 H."" 
 
 O. K. WUIIK 
 
260 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 MRS. O. K. WHITE. 
 
 JASON CARPENTER— 1857. ■ 
 
 Jason Carpenter was born in the township of Ira, Rutland Co., 
 
 Yt., near the foot of theGreen 
 . Mountains, May 28, 1S20. 
 His father's name was Saraur 
 el Carpenter, and his moth-;, 
 ei'^'s niaiden name was Rox^i- 
 lana Newton. He graduated 
 from what was known as the 
 "Tower School House" at the 
 a£;e of ten years in the "A, B 
 C and the multiplication ta- 
 ble." He was compelled to 
 walk two and one-half miles 
 over a high range of moun- 
 tains to school. In the fall 
 of 1834 he, with his parents, 
 moved to what was then the 
 far West, Ohio, and settled 
 J. CARPENTER. near Sandusky City. There 
 
 they lived until April, 1836, when they came to ^Michigan and locat- 
 ed in Armada, Macomb Co., 40 miles north of Detroit. After help- 
 ing his father to pay for his farm, upon which he lived until his 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 261 
 
 death, Jason, at the a^eof nineteen years, left the paternal roof and 
 embarked upon life's ocean for himself, his strong hope being his 
 sails and his taithful ax serving as a rudder. For some years he 
 drifted with the tide of circumstances until in 1847 he found him- 
 self in Grand Rapids where for the time being he cast anchor. Mr. 
 Carpenter still remembers with what astonishment the natives wit- 
 nessed his de.xterity with his ax. In 1850 he was married to Miss 
 Larissa A. Loomis, the faithful partner of his life to this time. She 
 was born at Independence, Alleghany Co., N. Y., in 182.5. Her par- 
 ents wore Andi'ew and Lau- 
 ra S. (Clark) Loomis. When 
 she was yet a babe her par- 
 ents moved to Exeter, Lu- 
 zerne Co., Pa., where they 
 remained until l^'-39, w hen 
 they ca-me to Walled Lake, 
 Oakland Co., IMich. There 
 they lived two and a half 
 years, then removed to the 
 town of Walker, Kent Co., 
 about seven miles north of 
 Grand Rapids. There she 
 lived with her parents until 
 her marriage with Mr. Car- 
 Ijenter in 1850, coming with 
 him to Oceana Co. in 1^57. 
 Since then she has faithful- 
 ly borne her share of the fa- 
 tigues and difficulties of pioneer life. In June, ] 587, Mr. Carpenter 
 with his wife, came to Oceana Co., locating in Claybanks. At that 
 time the county was almost an unbroken wilderness, giving new- 
 comers a prospect of plenty of hard work. That they have done 
 their part in making the "wilderness to blossom as the rose" no 
 one can doubt when he sees the proofs in their present surround- 
 ings. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have had a famUy of two sons and 
 three daughters. Mr. Carpenter has followed farmiwg as a rule, 
 but was in mercantile business in Berlin, Ottawa Co., one year, and 
 one year in this county. He has been honored by his fellow citizens 
 with a number of offices, having been Township Clerk, Conmiission- 
 er of Highways, and two years Supervisor of Claybanks. His home 
 for the past twenty years has been on Sec. 20, Shelby township. 
 His residence is one that attracts attention from all passers by. 
 
 .MRS. J. CARPENTER. 
 
262 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 J03IAH RUSSELL 
 
 Josiah Russell was born at Newry, 
 
 .TOSIAH RUSSELL. 
 
 his family to this county. He 
 was a pioneer in fact, held 
 many ot the local offices nec- 
 essary to the organization of 
 the dift'erent municiijal de- 
 l^artments of government. 
 He held the office of Judge of 
 Probate and County Survey- 
 or. It was due to his influ- 
 ence as much as any one per- 
 son that tiie county seat was 
 removed to Hai-t. He died 
 at Hart, April 25, 1874. 
 
 Harriet Russell, the wifo of 
 Josiah Russell, whose maiden 
 name was Eggleston, was born 
 at Colbrook, Litchfield Coun- 
 ty, Conn., Aug. 30, 1808. 
 She was the faithful compan- 
 ion of her husband through 
 
 ,—1858. 
 
 Oxford Co., Maine, A^jril 25^ 
 1804. In early life he settled 
 where the city of CTreenville 
 now stands. He was elected 
 County Judge of Ionia and 
 Montcalm counties and open- 
 ed the first Court of Record 
 in the latter county. He 
 served one term in the Michi- 
 gan Senate, declining a re- 
 nomination for that oHice. 
 In 1856 he was induced by 
 the report of a rich lead mine 
 to come to this county, and 
 l)eing well pleased with its ag- 
 licnltural prospects he locat- 
 ed on the west half of the sec- 
 tion where the village of Hart 
 now stands, but which owing 
 to the sickness and deatli of 
 his son George, was allowed 
 to revert to the government. 
 In March, 1858, he removed 
 
 HAIiUIET RUSSELL. 
 
AND BUSINESS MKN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 203 
 
 all his pioneer experiences in Ionia, Montcalm and Oceana counties. 
 She was the mother of ten children, of whom the Hon. Fred. J. Rus- 
 sell was one, and H. E. Russell, a prominent farmer and stock-rais- 
 er, of Hart, is another. She lived to a "ood old age loved and re- 
 spected hy all who knew her, and died at Hart, June 27, 1884. 
 
 HON. FREDERICK J. RUSSELI-. 
 
 The Hon. Frederick J. Russell was born at Orion, Oakland Coun- 
 ty, Mich.. Oct. 7, 1841. He was the si.\th child and fourth son of 
 Josiah and Harriet Russell. As a boy he had but few educational 
 advantages. The country was new and school facilities entirely 
 lacking. Later on the country imi^roved, his father prospered and 
 school advantages began to be realized. About this time his father 
 lost his propertj-, then for the first time young Frederick realized 
 the importance of XJi'ejiaring himself for his manhood's career. He 
 then attended school at Cook's Corners, Ionia County, where he 
 had for a school companion the present Justice of the Supreme 
 Court, Allen B. Morse. While 
 attending this school he did 
 chores for his board. After- 
 w;irds he taught school win- 
 ters and attended the State 
 Normal at Ypsilanti during 
 tlie summers of 1861-2. He 
 enlisted Auij. 8, 1862, in the 
 21st ]Mich. Inf., but was re- 
 jected by the examination 
 board on account of the con- 
 dition of his health. The fol- 
 lowing spring he was taken ill 
 with consumption and pro- 
 nounced by the physicians 
 beyond hope of recover}'. He 
 however, in spite of all pre- 
 diction.s, did recover and has 
 since enjoyed good health. 
 He borrowed law books from 
 John ^lorse, father of Judge 
 Morse, and commenced the 
 study of law. Was admitted 
 
 to the Bar Sept. 20, 1866, before Judge Littlejohn. He was first 
 appointed, in January, 1867, Clerk of the Probate Court, and at 
 the election in 1868 was nominated for the office of Circuit Court 
 Commissioner, I'eceiving, in the ensuing election, J ,060 votes to his 
 
 HON. F. J. RL'SSELL. 
 
264 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 opponent's three; and in 1870 he was re-elected by 930 votes, his 
 opponent receiving 4. Soon after the expiration of his term in this 
 office, in 1871, he was appointed Judge of Probate, and in the elec- 
 tion in November, 1872, was elected to that office, and was again 
 elected Judge of Probate, Nov. 7, 1876. He was on Jan. 5, 1881, 
 appointed by Governor Jerome, Judge of the Fourteenth Ju- 
 dicial Circuit, which was then composed of Oceana, Muskegon, Ne- 
 waygo and Mecosta Counties, to fill a vacancy caused by the resig- 
 nation of Judge Michael Brown; and at the ensuing election he was 
 nominated and elected to that position without opposition. He 
 served in this capacity until January, 1888; then, at the expiration 
 of his term, he retired to private life, again taking up the practice 
 of the law, and, in addition, looking after his other interests. Since 
 1865 he has been engaged in farming at Hart and has been very 
 successful. To him more than any other one person is due the in- 
 troduction of Shorthorn cattle and Merino sheep into Oceana Co. 
 He is also largelj' interested in various business enterprises, both 
 at Hart and Muskegon. In 1875 he engaged in the banking busi- 
 ness and is now one-third owner in the Citizens' Exchange Bank, at 
 Hart, the pioneer banking institution of that place. In 1883 he as- 
 sisted in organizing the Merchant's National Bank, of Muskegon, 
 and is a member of its Board of Directors. He was one of the prin- 
 cipal organizers and the first President of the Hart Improvement 
 Company, a cori^oration organized to buij^d a hotel and make oth- 
 er improvements in the town, which has successfullj^ accomplished 
 its objects. He was also one of the organizers of the Muskegon 
 Electric Light Company, of which he is Vice President; and he was 
 a liberal subscriber and active worker in inducing the Chicago and 
 West Michigan Railway Company to extend its road to Hart, 
 which was done in the summer of 1880. He assisted in organizing 
 the Oceana Countj'' Agricultural Society, and was its President for 
 a number of terms, finally declining a re-election. He joined the 
 Masonic order November 25, 1868, and on April 8, 1879, became a 
 Knight Templar. He was instrumental in securing, for the erection 
 of the Congregational Church, large subscriptions, in addition to his 
 own handsome donation, and actively aided in the work, of which 
 the present beautiful church structure is the result. In xDolitics he 
 is a republican, and has been a delegate to many State Conventions. 
 He has taken an active part in political matters, his voice being 
 frequently heard on the stump in the interests of his party, and 
 never without good effect. 
 
 MRS. CAROLINE WiGTON— 1858. 
 
 Caroline H. Wigton, daughter of Josiah and Harriet Russell, was 
 
AND BUSIXESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 265 
 
 MRS. WM. WIGTOX. 
 
 born ill Otisco, Ionia County, 
 Mich., Sept. 30, 1844. She 
 lived with her parents and 
 <!ame to Oceana County with 
 them in 1858. On the 1st 
 day of Feb., 1864, she was 
 married to Sergeant Wesley 
 Ij. White, who had enlisted in 
 the 8th Michigan Infantry in 
 Sept., 1860, who was wound- 
 ed at the battle of the Wd- 
 derness, IMay 7, 1864, and 
 died at Campbell Hospital, 
 Washington, Aug. 24, 1864, 
 and is buried in the National 
 Cemetery at Arlington 
 Heights. On the 26th day of 
 Jan., 1869, she was again 
 married to William Wigton, 
 son of Mahar Wigton, who 
 died Sept. 24, 1872. She re- 
 sides with her brother, F. J. Russell, and has for a number of years. 
 DAVID DILL— 1858. 
 
 David Dill, son of Clinton 
 and Ann Dill, was born in 
 Jackson Co., Pa., March 18, 
 1838. Ten years later he 
 moved with his parents to 
 Milwaukee, Wis., where he re- 
 mauied until 1853, when he 
 started out for hipiself. In 
 1857 he came to iNIichigan lo- 
 cating at Muskegon, where he 
 'lived until 1858 when became 
 to Oceana Co., locating in 
 Claybanks township. He at 
 once went to work building 
 Shim a home, being compelled 
 to do all liis work by hand as 
 there were no roads over 
 __ , which to bring a team. He 
 '/^^ procured his pi'ovisions as 
 others did and backed them 
 DAVID DILL. from stony Creek to his place. 
 
266 
 
 OCEANA COUXTV PIOXEERS 
 
 He continued improving his home until 1862, when he enUsted in 
 
 Co. F. 5th jNIich. Cav. and 
 went to the front. He was 
 assigned to the Army of the 
 Potomac and took i^art in 
 all its battles until the spring 
 of 1864, when he u'as sent to 
 the Shenandoah Valley with 
 Sheridan. There he took 
 part in the various battles- 
 and skirmishes until the sur- 
 render of Lee. He took part 
 •during his army life in 46 bat- 
 tles and twice that many skir- 
 mishes. At the close of the 
 -J war he returned to this Co., 
 -^'Zrwhere he left his family, and 
 '~' returned to farming which he 
 ^-Cj^7 ;i/has since continued. In 1871 
 // 1'/™^ l^g l^,^(j X^l^Q misfortune to lose 
 Ijy Hre nearly all his buildings, 
 etc., excexit the log house. In 
 1858 Mr. Dill was married to 
 [Miss Lucha L. Taylor, who 
 Avas a daughter of Giles and Saniantha Taylor, and was born Feb. 
 1, 1844, in the State of Ohio. With her parents she came to Ran- 
 som Center, Michigan, in 1849, and in 1856 to Muskegon, where she 
 ■was living at the time of her marriage. She came with her husband 
 to this countj'in 1858 and remained on the farmduring his absence 
 in the Army. Mr. and Mrs. Dill lia\ e raised a family of four daugh- 
 ters and three sons. They are now living in the enjoyment of the 
 fruits oftheir earl}^ labors and hardships, and are respected by all 
 who know them. 
 
 WM. MYRON (fARDINER. 
 
 Wm. Myron Gardiner was born at Stony Creek, in Oceana Coun- 
 tj', Feb. 4, 1858, his i^arents being William and Rufena Gardiner, 
 Avho still live in Benona. Mr. Gardiner is familiar with Oceana Co. 
 history, having spent the greater portion of his life within its bor- 
 ders. He was for a time grain buyer in the Star mills, Grand Rap- 
 ids. Was salesman for Wheeler Bros., at Shelby, for three and a 
 halt years, and for Paton & Andrus, at the same place, for four 
 years. At present he is engaged in the grain, flour and feed busi- 
 ness at Shelby. He is in every sense of the word a self-made man, 
 who by industry and application to business has made foi' liimself 
 
 MRS. DAVID DII.L. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY 
 
 267 
 
 and family a pleasant and comfortable home. He is essentially an 
 Oceana County prodiution and the county may well be proud of 
 such a son. He is a leader 
 among the Masonic fraterni- 
 ty, being a memV)erof Benona 
 Lodge No. 289, F. & A. M., at 
 .Shelby; Oceana Chajjter No. 
 56, 1\. A. ]\r., at Pentwater, 
 and Apollo Commandery No. 
 31, K. T., at Ludington. He 
 is the present S. W. of Beno- 
 na Lodge, and an active, eai 
 nest member. He enjoys the 
 confidence and respect of all 
 who know him. He is em- 
 phatically a domestic man, 
 tinding his greatest pleasure ~ 
 with wife and children in the 
 pleasant home he has provid- 
 ed for them. In hisefforts t o 
 make home happy he is abl> 
 seconded by his woilhy witt^ 
 Mr. Gardiner was married 
 April 27, 1880, to .Miss Lilian 
 
 Elliott, and three sons and one daughter now gather about his 
 fireside. 
 
 FREDERICK W. POPKEY — 1858. 
 
 Frederick W. Popkey was born in West Prussia, Feb. 2, 1851. 
 His parents were Frederick William and ]\rary Louise PojDkey. He 
 came to Oceana Co. in 1858 with his parents, and at the age of 
 eight j-ears commenced helping his father to clear up the land where 
 he now resides in Claybanks. When tlieycame upon the land there 
 was not a stick of timber cut. With his small ax the subject of our 
 sketch began pioneer life by cutting small trees and trimming, and 
 tis he gi'ew older and stronger gradually came to hold his own with 
 the men. He has assistsd in clearing every acre ot the eighty acre 
 farm he now lives upon. On April 1, 1870, he wtis married to Miss 
 Adelaide Hill, and there have been born to them six children, two 
 sons and four daughters. 
 
 ANDREW J. LNDERHILL — 1858. 
 
 Andrew J. Underbill, son of Bartow and Eleanor Underbill, was 
 born Sept. 27, 1832, at Brooklyn, N. Y. Resided at his birthplace 
 until about six years of age, then moved to Sutlolk Co., where he 
 
 W.M. M. CiARDIXER. 
 
268 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 lived until coming to Detroit, Mich., in 1844. Resided at Detroit 
 and other places with his parents until about 1857, when they 
 
 came to Grand Haven, and 
 from there to Muskegon. In 
 1858 the subject of our sketch 
 came to Pentwater where he 
 engaged in fishing, which he 
 followed until 1863, when he 
 enhsted in Co. A 26th Mich. 
 Inf., as Orderly Sergeant. On 
 March 13, 1863, he was bre- 
 vet ted 2nd Lieut., and re- 
 signed on Oct. 10, 1863, re- 
 turning to Pentwater. He 
 then engaged in mercantile 
 business, was afterwards P. 
 M. for a number of years. He 
 has since, to the present time 
 been engaged in general ]iier- 
 chandise and lumbering, now 
 having a store at Pentwater^ 
 A. J. UNDERHiLL. and is the owner of two lum- 
 
 ber and shingle mills. He was elected Supervisor of Pentwater 
 township in 1860, and again in 1873, and was one year appointed 
 by the Township Board. In 1877 he was elected Clerk of the town- 
 ship. In the village he has held the positions of Trustee six years, 
 and President in 1878 and 1889. Mr. Underbill has always taken 
 a strong interest in G. A. R. matters, having been Commander of 
 the Pentwater Post in 1887. As a business man he is energetic and 
 public spirited. Married Aug., 1864, to Miss Elizabeth Pringle, 
 who died June 24, 1880. He has four children: Charles M., Grace, 
 Herbert F. and Jessie. 
 
 THOMAS COBLISTER— 1858. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in the Isle of Man near the 
 city of Pearl, on the 7th day of May, 1836, and died in Pentwater, 
 Mich., Nov. 22, 1889, at the age of 53 years, 6 months and 15 days. 
 
 Of the early life of Mr. Collister but little is known. When only 
 eleven years of age he was apprenticed on board a merchant saiUng 
 vessel and for some six years followed the life of a sailor. While 
 the vessel lay at anchor at Quebec, Canada, he and a companion 
 conceived the idea of running away, and watching a favorable op- 
 portunity made their escape, and remained concealed until after the 
 vessel left port. Then he engaged his services to a stevedore for 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAY. 
 
 269 
 
 whom he worked a year or more. One day he was startled by the 
 appearance of a vessel painted white, a sight he had never witness- 
 ed before, and on going aboard found it was a lake vessel. He ship- 
 ped aboard of it and after a tnne landed at Port Huron. Here he 
 fell in with Henry Webb, Sr., who was luniberingin that section, and 
 engaged his services to him. He followed Mr. Webb to Oceana Co. 
 He located at Pentwater in 1858, and engaged in fishing. In com- 
 pany with James Corlett he built the schooner Minnie Corlett. In 
 1860 he married Mrs. Jane Woolman, sister of Edwin Nickerson, 
 Avhich union was blessed with one child, a daughter. After only two 
 years of married life Mr. Col- 
 lister was left a widower, in 
 which state he continued five 
 years. On the 15th day of 
 Oct., 1873, he was married 
 to Miss Mary Tuttle, who for 
 16 years was a devoted wife 
 and loving companion, and 
 who during his long illness 
 was untiring in her efforts to 
 mitigate his sufferings. 
 
 In 1869 heformed a copart- 
 nership with his brother-in- 
 law, E. Nickerson, and engag- 
 ed in lumbering, manufactur- 
 ing flour, etc. The firm, also, 
 with Capt. Peterson, owned 
 the schooner Winnie Wing, 
 one of the most successful ves- 
 sels on the lake. In business 
 the firm was successful and ranked high in business circles. 
 
 He has held many of the village offices and was a member of the 
 Common Council when he he died. He was also a prominent Odd 
 Fellow, and for several years was Treasurer of Pentwater Lodge 
 No. 378. 
 
 MOSES D. GIRARD— 1858. 
 
 Moses D. Girard was born at Detroit, Michigan, Aug. 28, 1856. 
 He is a son of Dominique and Rose Girard. In 1858 he first came 
 to Oceana County with his parents, remaining at Pentwater about 
 
 TIIOS. COLLISTER. 
 
270 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 two years, then going to Joli 
 et, Ills. He remained there 
 until 1868, when he returned 
 to Peniwater, since which 
 time he has worked in shingle 
 mills and with his father un- 
 til about three years ago, 
 when he engaged as clerk in 
 the store of C. Mears at Pent- 
 water, where he has since re- 
 mained. In the spring of 
 1889 he was elected without 
 opposition to the office of 
 Village Recorder. He is 
 known as an enterprising 
 young man who by energetic 
 endeavor has made his own 
 way in the world thus far. 
 
 EDWIN L. BENTON— 18.58. 
 
 Edwin Ij. Benton was the only son of Orrin and ^Mary Benton, 
 pioneer settlers of the town- 
 ship of Ferry in this county. 
 He was born Aug. 20, 1847. 
 He came with his parents to 
 ^Michigan and settled at White 
 River in 1855, and with them 
 removed to Ferry in 1858. 
 Sept. 12, 1886, he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Nellie G. Devine, 
 by whom he has one son. He 
 is a successful farmer and bu- 
 siness man. He has often 
 been honored by his township 
 with local offices, and was its 
 Supervisor in 1889. In the 
 spring of lb70 he was elected 
 and is now serving as Justice 
 of the Peace. 
 
 E. L. BENTON. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 271 
 
 JANE E. ROUSE — 1858. 
 
 Jane E. Rouse, the daughter of John and Sabia Moore, was born 
 at Brancliport, Yates Co., X. Y., June 5, 1829, and April 2, 1848, 
 was married to Daniel Rouse. Her early life was uneventful and in 
 many respects similar to that of many others. From the time of 
 her marriage until the break- 
 ing out of the rebellion her 
 life was happy and the family 
 Ijrosperous. With her hus- 
 band she came to Oceana Co. 
 in 1858. She endured the 
 trials and privations of early 
 days with a stout heart, and 
 when the war broke out and 
 her husband enlisted under 
 Capt. Chas. Deane and went 
 away she assumed the charge 
 of their farm of 160 acres and 
 the care of her eleven child- 
 ren. When the war was over 
 her husband came back, but 
 he had lost all inclination for 
 farming and home life. He 
 finally received a pension and 
 then left his wife and compan- 
 ion of his early struggles 
 alone with the family and a 
 mortgage on tht farm. She 
 
 was obliged to give up the farm, and since 1883 has suj^ported her- 
 self by nursing. Mrs. Rouse has considerable poetic talent and at 
 the old settlers' reunions her poems are listened to with interest. 
 She is the mother of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. 
 Her pi'esent home is at Montague. 
 
 W'" 
 
 JANE E. ROUSE. 
 
 WILLIAM WEBB — 1859. 
 
 William Webb, son of Henry and Rose Webb, was born at Que- 
 bec, Can., on Aug. 2, 1831. He came to Oceana Co. in 1859, ar- 
 riving at Pentwater on IMay 1st of that year. He came from Port 
 Huron in a covered wagon in company with his father, mother, 
 brother Frank, Asa Pringle and wife and William Pringle. Soon 
 after reaching Pentwater he purchased lot 4 of block 6 in the village 
 and built him a house and cooper shop. He made barrels for the 
 fishermen and others for some time. In 1861 he was appointed a 
 Deputy Sheriff of the county under J. J. Tapley, Sheriff. One of his 
 
272 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 first official acts of importance was the arrest of Orson A. Fuller, 
 of Hart, for the killinj^ of Andrew Rector (see page 4i5). Mr. Webb 
 describes Fuller as one of the most hardened criminals he ever had 
 under arrest during his official career. Another case was the ar- 
 rest of a Southerner who robbed old Mr. Cheney of $550. He was 
 living on what is known as the Cheney farm in the township of Hart 
 where the robbery was committed. Mr. Webb was called in the 
 night and before morning was at Cheney's home, found the robber's 
 track at daylight and captured him at Carleton's mill on White 
 River before night, getting all the money. The man was subse- 
 quently sent to Jackson by Judge Littlejohn. He was a cool fellow 
 for when the Judge pronounced his sentence he arose and 
 thanked him, saying the sentence would not expire before the war 
 was over, hence he would not be compelled to be a target for either 
 
 party. In 1862 Mr. Webb 
 was elected Sheriff of Oceana 
 County, and again in 1864. 
 After beinu out one term he 
 was agaui elected in 1868 
 and renominated in 1870 but 
 was defeated at the polls by 
 eight votes caused by a bogus 
 ticket. In 1862 he was ap- 
 pointed a Deputy Provost 
 Marshal for the Western Dis- 
 trict of Michigan, under Capt. 
 Norman Bailey as Provost 
 Marshal. He served in this 
 capacity during the war and 
 was in Milwaukee on his way 
 to Beloit after a deserter when 
 the news of Lee's surrender 
 was received there. The joy 
 manifested by the citizens of 
 that city can only be appreciated by those who saw it. The wild- 
 est e.xcitement prevailed. That night everything that would burn 
 was used m making bonfires regardless of property rights of own- 
 ers. Men took each other'.s hats and coats to feed the fires, and 
 probably such a scene of excitement was never before witnessed. 
 Mr. Webb found his man and delivered him at headquarters. He 
 was immediately sent to Sylvania, Ohio, after another deserter who 
 was also safely delivered at headquarters. These two arrests clos- 
 ed his services as Deputy Provost Marshal. Soon after the office 
 was discontinued and upon parting with Capt. Bailey and the oth- 
 er members of the force, the Captain complimented liim by saying 
 
 WM. WEBB. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN* OF TO-DAY. 
 
 273 
 
 to him: "Webb, you are one of my Dei^uties wlio never permitted a 
 prisoner to escape." In 18H8 he was apx)ointed Deputy U. S. Mar- 
 shal for the Western District of Michigan, under James Henry, U. 
 S. Marshal, and served under him until INIar. 4, 1875. On the 3rd 
 of the following April he was again appointed under John Pai'ker, 
 the new Marshal, and served under him until his death in 1880, 
 thus serving in that capacity for twelve years. Mr. Webb was also 
 census enumerator in 1870 for the counties of Mason and Oceana. 
 During the years of 1860-1-2 he held the office of Treasurer of Pent- 
 water township. In 1865 he started a store at Pentwater and 
 continued that business for six years. In 1880 he commenced lum- 
 bering at Bass Lake where he continued for three years. In ly85 
 he entered the employ of Butters & Peters Salt & Lumber Co. at 
 Ludington as foreman, and is still engaged with them. In 1851 
 Mr. Webb was married to Miss Esther Bemis, by which union two 
 sons and four daughters were born to him. In 1885 he had the 
 misfortune to lose his wife, an estimable lady. In 1888 he was 
 again married. Looking back over the years he has passed in Oce- 
 ana County, comparing the condition of the county when he first 
 came, a dense primeval forest with only a trail through it for a 
 wagon road, with what it is today, one of the most prosperous 
 counties, of its age, in the State, he feels j)roud of the fact that he 
 Avas one of its pioneers. As an officer Mr. Webb may also be proud 
 of the fact that he never permitted a bondsman to suffer because 
 of his neglect of duty, or a prisoner to escape by reason of his care- 
 lessness. 
 
 CHARLES DUMAW— 1859. 
 
 Chas. Dumaw, a son of Ju- 
 lius Dumaw, was born Nov. 
 30, 1830, at Plattsburg, N. 
 Y. He was raised upon a 
 farm and has always made 
 farming his business. In May 
 1859, he came to Oceana Co., 
 locating on Sec. 8, Weare 
 township, where he now has 
 a farm of 320 acres, with 80 
 acres improved. He has a 
 small house, a barn 40x50 
 feet and horse barn 22x32 
 feet. He has an orchard of 4 
 acres, principally apiple. Mr. 
 Dumaw has always been a 
 hard-working, industrious 
 man; and has held the offices 
 
274 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 of Highway Commissioner and Justice of the Peace, and is now a 
 member of the School Board of his District. In 1854 Mr. Dumaw 
 married Miss Julia A. Labough, and they have had nine children, 
 seven sons and two daughters, in order as follows: Alice, now Mrs. 
 Chas. Maynard, residing at Pentwater; William, Charles, Claude, 
 Broomfield, Everett, Emmet, Bert and Lilian. 
 
 ASA M. PRINGLE — 1859. 
 
 Asa M. Piingle was born in Fredericksburg, C. W., June 19,1833. 
 Was married to Caroline Webb, Dec. 8, 1858, who bore to him eight 
 children, five sons and three daughters. Mr. Pringle moved to Oce- 
 ana Co. May 1, 1859, and has been engaged in farming, lumbering 
 and fruit raising. He now owns a fine farm in the township of 
 Golden, where he still resides. His companion passed into the be- 
 yond a few years since. He has ever been an active factor in his 
 locality. Has been Deputy Sheriff, Commissioner of Highways, 
 Justice of the Peace, Township Treasurer and School Inspector. 
 Concerning the county he thus speaks for himself: "I will say to the 
 old pioneers of Oceana that if they are well situated here they had 
 better be contented where they are. I have traveled about 8,000 
 miles through the Western countries. I have seen beautitul places 
 but you consider everything, and it is hard to beat old Michigan 
 very much. I have noticed that aVjout nine out of ten who leave 
 Oceana County come back as soon as they can get back, and it is 
 not a vei-y bad sign for this county. There are a great many chan- 
 ces yet to make money, and a good many ways to lose it. I like 
 some of the Western countries very much, but a good many por- 
 tions ot it I do not like." 
 
 JOHH LEAK— 1859. 
 
 John Leak, a son of William 
 and Mary Leak, was born in 
 Claybanks, Oceana Co., Mich., 
 June 9, 1859. He was born up- 
 on a farm and has made farm- 
 ing his business except during 
 the past six years, during which 
 time he has been engaged in car- 
 penter work and framing. He is 
 looked upon as a good workman 
 and has succeeded in obtaining 
 considerable work in that line. 
 A native of the township where 
 he resides, he has done his fair 
 proportion, for his age, in mak- 
 ing the township what it is, and 
 the good people, recognizing this 
 fact, have honored him with the 
 office of Treasurer of the town- 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAV, 
 
 275 
 
 ship at the spring election of 1889. Through a mistake of the print- 
 er his name was omitted from the Hst of Treasurers on page 147 of 
 this book. Mr. Leak married Miss Annie Brower on Nov. 13, 1883 
 and four children, one son and three daughters, havebeen born to 
 them. Long may he live to assist in and witness the growth and 
 prosperity of the county that claims him as a worthy son. 
 
 HEUVEY S. SAYLES— 1860. 
 
 Hervey S. Sayles, the subject of this sketch, was born at Stillwa- 
 ter, Saratoga Co., N. Y., June 27, 1827. He is a son of John and 
 Catherine Sayles. He came to this State in 1848, and spent twelve 
 years at Round Prairie, Kalamazoo Co., and on June 12, 1860, 
 came to Oceana Co., locating 
 in Crystal township. In 1861 
 he moved upon his present 
 location in Elbridge township 
 he being the first white settler 
 in the township. He began 
 trade with the Indians which 
 he continued for some time. 
 In 1874 he commenced farm- 
 ing which business he has fol- 
 lowed to the j)resent time. 
 INIr. Sayles has always been 
 much respected by all who 
 knew him. and has been in- 
 trusted with the duties of va- 
 rious offices which he has con- 
 scientiously discharged. He 
 was elected Treasurer of El- 
 bridge in 1863 and four times 
 thereafter. He was elected 
 Supervisor in 1864 and for 
 four consecutive years there- 
 after. In 1870 he was elected to the office of Sheriff of the county, 
 and again in 1872, serving four years. On April 8, 1852 he was 
 married to Miss Phebe H. Kinney, in Kalaiiazoo Co. She came 
 with him to this county and has endured many hardships but thro' 
 them all has assisted her husband with cheerfulness. They have 
 three childien, two sons and one daughter. 
 
 H. S. SAYLE> 
 
 WILLIAM X. SAYLES 
 
 -1860. 
 
 William N. Sayles, known from one end of Oceana Co. to the oth- 
 er as Nila S.ivles, was born at Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo County, 
 
276 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Mich., Jan. 21, 1857, 
 
 He is a pioneer and a son of pioneers, his 
 parents being Hervey S. and 
 Phebe H. Sayles, now resi- 
 dents of Elbridge. Nila came 
 to this county in June, 1860, 
 and has resided here since. 
 His earlier years were spent 
 in the backwoods of Elbridge 
 where he was a pupil at the 
 Indian Mission school; after- 
 wards he attended school at 
 Hart village. He has been 
 engaged in various occupa- 
 tions from work at scaling 
 and book-keeping to manager 
 of lumber camps and stores. 
 He has held the office of Treas- 
 urer of Elbridge and in 1886 
 was elected County Clerk, 
 w. N. SAYLES. which office he filled with cred- 
 
 it. Just previous to the expirat'on of his term of office as Clerk he 
 became interested in the Oceana Co. Savings Bank at Hart, and 
 when his term expired accepted the position of Asst. Cashier of that 
 institution which he still fills. On Oct. 16, 1889, he married Miss 
 Mary V. Booklass, of Coldwater. 
 
 ANDREW JACKSON— 1860. 
 
 Andrew Jackson, whose 
 portrait is given herewith, 
 was born Jan. 12, 1840, at 
 North Shenango, Crawford 
 Co., Pa. His parents were 
 Alexander and Betsey Jack- 
 son. He is one ot the pio- 
 neers of Oceana County, being 
 familiar with the hardships 
 and struggles of an early day 
 having been a resident among 
 us since Jan. 1, 1860. He 
 has always followed farming 
 as a business; and as a pio- 
 neer farmer has done his fair 
 proportion of work in remov- 
 ing the heavy timber of this 
 county and preparing the soil 
 
 A. JACKSON. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 2T 
 
 for agricultural uses. To such as he. the pioneer farmers, the coun- 
 ty owes more of a debt of gratitude than to those men who have 
 always resided at the villages making a living by furnishing supx)lies 
 to workmen. The business men are a necessary factor in all coun- 
 tries, but it is the man who takes his ax uito the woods that really 
 makes the wilderness to blossom. On Jan. 12, 1861, he was mar- 
 ried to Mary Jane Gray, and four children have blessed theii' union 
 two sons and two daughters. 
 
 GEORGE C MYERS— 1861. 
 
 George C. Alyers was born at Grand Haven, Ottawa Co.. Mich., 
 Jan. 21, 1848. His parents, Cornelius and Catherine Myers, now 
 reside near him in Claybanks. He came to Oceana in the fall of '61 
 and since then has been engaged 
 in farming and school teaching. 
 On Oct. 7, 1874, he married Miss 
 Lena S. Hanson, a sister of J. 
 D. S. Hanson, now Prosecuting 
 Attorney of the county. They 
 have a family of four children, 
 three sons and one Haughter. 
 Mr. Myers has held many posi- 
 tions of trust among them, Su- 
 pervisor five years, Justice eight 
 years. Superintendent of Schools 
 four years, and has been a mem- 
 \)er of the County Board of 
 School Examiners eight; years, 
 now holding that position. 
 When such positions are repeat- 
 edly given a man it goes without 
 saying that the duties have been G. c. my'ers. 
 
 faithfully iierformed. He now 
 
 has a nice farm with good improvements, situated in the northeast 
 corner of the township of Claybanks. His friends are as numerous 
 as his acquaintances. 
 
 AHAZ A. DARLING— 1862. 
 
 Ahaz Allen Darling, one of the pioneer preachers of Oceana coun- 
 ty, was born in Wastenaw Co., Mich., Feb. 6, 1834. His parents 
 were Simeon and Nesiah Darling. He came to this lake shore in the 
 fall of 1861 as a Methodist Missionary to Manistee. Then on Oct. 
 21, 1862, he came to this county, making his home at Pentwater, 
 and preaching at Lincoln and Claybanks in Mason Co., at Pentwa- 
 
278 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 ter, two places in Weare, two in Hart, one in Ferry, four in Shelby, 
 two in Benona, and two in Claybanks in Oceana Co. At that time 
 there was no church building in the county. Mr. Darling preached 
 at Ludington the first sermon by a Protestant minister. It was 
 preached to a few fishermen and mill men. For the services that 
 Mr. Darling rendered to the Pentwater mission he received the mag- 
 nificent salary of $300 per annum. Leaving his wife at home alone 
 he would start out upon his trips, fording rivers, lying in the woods 
 over night when lost, and enduring hardships innumerable. He 
 would ride a horse where possible and when not would luake his 
 way on foot, following Indian trails and the Government blaze on 
 trees. There were no grist mills and when visitingasettler he would 
 
 take his turn at grinding 
 wheat or corn in a hand mill. 
 The people were universally 
 kind and did what they could 
 toward the support of the 
 Gospel. Mr. Charles Mears, 
 H. C. Flagg and wife and Mr. 
 S.Moulton Mr. Darling espec- 
 ially -remembers for their 
 kindness to him. Many who 
 were not noted for piety 
 would put themselves out to 
 do the missionary a favor. 
 In those dciys the ministers at 
 Conference shrank from such 
 appointments as great calam- 
 ities. Mr. Darling came to 
 love the jjeopleand the woods 
 and although twice sent to 
 better charges, would at the 
 end of a year ask to be re- 
 turned to the sandy shore of 
 Lake Michigan and wilds of Oceana Co., now a land of fruits and 
 plenty. We would be glad to fill many pages with accounts of his 
 experiences, but space will not permit. Mr. Darling married March 
 2.5, 1860, Miss Catherine M. Wilco.x, and six sons and two daugh- 
 ters have been born to them in Northern Michigan. INIr. Darling 
 has held the position of Supervisor of Hart township and Superin- 
 tendent of Schools for the county. For the past ten years he has 
 spent part of his time at work at the carpenter trade. A man 
 known throughout the county and loved and respected wherever 
 known, is what can truthfully be said concerning him now. He says 
 
 J00^^' 
 
 A. A. DARLING. 
 
AND BUSINESS MKX OF TO-DAY, 
 
 279 
 
 "Wife and I are contented here," and what can a man have any- 
 where better than "sweet content?" 
 
 JOHN BAMFOKD— 18(32. 
 
 John Bamford was born at Nottingham, Kng., Sept. 30, 1827. 
 
 His parents were James and 
 Hannah Bamford. He left 
 England April 18, 1854, from 
 Liverpool, and arrived at 
 Chicago June 1, 1851. He at 
 once opened a game and fruit 
 store and continued in that 
 business until 1862. On June 
 9th of tiiat year he landed at 
 Pentwater and went to work 
 for Mr. C. Mears, with whom 
 he continued until 1869 when 
 he purchased forty acres of 
 land on section 18, Weare 
 township, and building a 
 shanty among the timber 
 moved upon it. His business 
 previous to coming to Amer- 
 ica had been that of a design- 
 er and di-aughtsman of lace 
 patterns, hence he went upon 
 his farm in the woods with no 
 knowledge of farming. After 
 many years of hard labor he 
 now has a farm with thirty 
 acres improved and twenty 
 acres free of stumi^s. He ha.s 
 made quite a business of mar- 
 ket gardening, raising quanti- 
 ties of strawberries. He has 
 a comfortable frame house 
 14x26 with wing 12x28, and 
 considerable i^ersonal proper- 
 ty. He has been School Di- 
 rector for three terms. June 
 11, 1848, he was married by 
 
 Dr. Brookes, Vicar of St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, Eng.,to Miss 
 Emma Daiker, a daughter of John and ]Mary Darker, who was born 
 at Nottingham, England, Feb. 14, 1828. Mrs. Bamford came with 
 
 MRS. J. BAMFORD. 
 
280 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 her husband to Oceana Co. and has been an efficient helpmeet to 
 him during the years thej' have been here. They pride themselves 
 today upon the fact tliat they do not owe one penny, beUeving with 
 the poet that "an honest man's the noblest work of God."' 
 
 STEPHEN SPELL:\rAN — 1862. 
 
 Stephen Spellman, a son of John and Dorcas Spellman, was born 
 at Wadsworth, Medina Co., O., 
 in 1851. In 1862 he came to 
 this county and lived on section 
 29, of Hart township. He fol- 
 lowed farming until 1860 when 
 he began horseshoeing which he 
 still continues. In 18S9 he be- 
 came interested in a drug store 
 at Shelby, where he now resides. 
 Married Miss Matilda White, of 
 Golden, and has three children, 
 two sons and one daughter. Mr. 
 Spellman has always been a 
 hard-working man, and by hard 
 labor has accumulated what he 
 possesses. He has made many 
 friends in Shelbj' since residing there. s. spellman. 
 
 A. p. PETERSON — 1862. 
 
 Andle P. Peterson was born Feb. 24, 1860, at Chicago, 111. He is 
 a son of Nels and Fredrike Peterson. He is one of the pioneers of 
 Oceana County, having come here in 1862. He was raised upon a 
 farm and is now engaged in farming in Claybanks township. June 
 12, 1887, he married Miss Anna B. Johnson, and they have no 
 children. Mr. Peterson is an industi'ious young man and is fast 
 making for himself and family a comfortable home. 
 
 ABRAHAM H. BEARSS— 1863. 
 
 Abraham H. Bearss was born hi the Province of Ontario, Can., 
 July 17, 1841, his parents being Joseph and Susa Bearss. He came 
 to this county in 1863 and began work in the lumber woods, 
 which he continued for two years. In 1864 be purchased eighty 
 acres of land on section 15, township of Shelby, which he cleared 
 up and ^^here he has since resided. The first seed sown on the place 
 was procured by going fifty miles with an ox team. There is some 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-UAY, 
 
 281 
 
 difference between his first and last taxes. His first tax was $3.81; 
 
 his last $155.40, and the 
 improvements made by him 
 can be estimated in the 
 same ratio. He certainly 
 has a fine place. In May, 
 1865, he returned to Cana- 
 da, and was married at 
 Dunville, Ont., to Phebe 
 Ott, and among the pleas- 
 ant reminiscences of those 
 times was the housewarm- 
 ing the neighbors gave him 
 and his bride upon the 
 Christmas eve. after com- 
 ing home. They have had 
 five children, one son and 
 four daughters. Mr. Bearss 
 has held the offices of High- 
 way Commissioner, Town- 
 ship Treasurer, Supervisor, 
 and is now Co. Superinten- 
 dent of the Poor. 
 
 A. H. BEAKSS. 
 
 CHARLES P. R.A.THBONE— 1863. 
 
 Charles P. Rathbone was 
 born at Coneatville, Craw- 
 ford Co., Pa., April 15, 1851. 
 He is a son of Jerome R. and 
 Elvira Rathbone. He came 
 to Oceana County with his 
 mother and family in May, 
 1863, settling in Ferry. Soon 
 after coming here his two 
 brothers, James H. and Le- 
 Grande, enlisted in the army, 
 Jas. H. in Co. E 3i'd Mich. 
 Cav., and LeGrand in Co. D 
 10th Mich. Cav. James H. 
 Rathbone died INIar. 17, '87, 
 of an illness contracted while 
 in the army. It was a hard 
 struggle for the family to 
 keep the wolf from the door, but the boys remaining at home work- 
 
 C. p. RATHBONE. 
 
282 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 ed manfully and discharged theiv duty faithfully, supporting their 
 widowed mother and four younger brothers and sisters. At that 
 time they were compelled to back most of the necessaries of life 
 from Whitehall. The subject of our sketch has lived through the 
 •'suffering times" of the county and now surrounded with the com- 
 forts of life remembers his early struggles and hardships as a "story 
 ry that is told." He is an honored member of the Shelby Lodge 
 No. 344 I. 0. 0. F., being one of its Past Grands. He has been for- 
 tunate in his marital relations, having married Jan. 4, 1874, Mary 
 A. Dooley, of Kalamazoo, who has proved a loving, faithful wife. 
 They have two children, daughters: Carrie, born Sept. 15, 1876, 
 and Nellie, born Sept. 1, 1878. Both were born in Shelby. Mr. 
 Rathbone was the first Marshal of Shelby village, and has been 8 
 years Constable of Shelby township. 
 
 BENJAMIN S. GARVER— 1863. 
 
 Benjamui S. Garver was born on the 7th day of July, 1851, at 
 Spencer, Medina Co., Ohio. 
 He is a son of David L. and 
 Nancy Garver, now residing 
 near Hart. He came to 
 Oceana Co. in July, 1863, 
 and has since resided here, 
 being engaged in school 
 teaching, farming and fruit 
 raising. On Dec. 25, 1874, 
 he married Miss Pittinger, 
 and they now have four 
 children, three daughters 
 and one son. In the spring 
 of 1888 Mr. Garver became 
 interested in the Oceana 
 Canning and Evaporating 
 Co. at Pentwater; and has 
 been the manager of the bu- 
 siness since, besides being 
 one of the heaviest stock- 
 holders. His hobbies are 
 the development of the 
 
 fruit niterests of the county and the improvement of our public 
 roads. He takes a great interest in fruit raising and is considered 
 an authority upon that subject. He has probably done more than 
 any other man ot his age and means in the county to build up our 
 fruit interest and to urge the desirability of better country roads. 
 
 B. S. GARVER. 
 
AXl) BCSIXESS MEN OF TO-DAY 
 
 283 
 
 HIRAM RARROX— 18G3. 
 
 Hiram Barron was born in Stark County, Oliio, in tlie year 1831. 
 He is a son of Geoige and Cliar- 
 lotte (Carnes) Barron. In 1852 
 he was married to Miss Mary J. 
 Porter, and three children have 
 been born to them, one son and 
 two daughters. On April 25, 
 1863, he arrived in Oceana Co., 
 commen(!ing at once to make 
 him a home, at the same time 
 making shingle bolts for a living. 
 He was a hard worker, doing 
 long days' work, much of his 
 clearing being done by the light 
 of log tires. Besides farming he 
 does more or less lumbering. 
 He has never sought public of- 
 fice. He is a man with numei'- 
 ous friends and acquaintances. 
 His farm, which is located on 
 Sec. 3 of Hart township and Sec. 
 34 of Weare, consists of 200 
 
 acres of which J 20 are located in Hart and 80 in Weare. The 80 
 acres referred to he took up from Government and is the homestead. 
 He has 140 acres improved, and the farm constitutes one of the 
 finest stock farms in the county. "Hi," as Mr Barron is familiarly 
 called, is a veritable i)ioneer. He bears his age well, and is still as 
 fond of and can enjoy a pratical joke as well as thirty years ago. 
 
 H. BARRON. 
 
 WALTER H. CHURCHII.I.— 1804. 
 
 Walter H. Churchill was born at Batavia, CJenesee County, N. Y., 
 April 27, 1838. His parents were Samuel and Eliza Churchill. His 
 early life was spent upon his father's farm and the log school house 
 was a feature of that life. He continued to i-eside upon the farm 
 until arriving at the age of manhood, when he determined to start 
 out in life for himself. Believing that the West offered advantages 
 not possessed by the East, he decided that in the West he would 
 seek his future home. He arrived in Oceana County on Feb. 14, 
 1864, locating at once in the township of Shelby. At that time the 
 county was a wilderness and he became one of its earliest pioneers. 
 After coming here he enlisted in Co. G 15th ISIich. Inf., and took up 
 his line of march for the front. At the close of the war he returned 
 to his home in this county and has since resided in Shelby and vi- 
 
284 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEEUS 
 
 cinity. When the Shelby Postoffice was estabUshed in 1866 Mr. 
 Churchill was appointed Postmaster, which position he continued 
 to hold for nineteen years and nine months. He has held positions 
 of trust in his township since its organization, among them being 
 Township Clerk seven years, Treasurer one year, Justice twenty 
 years. Supervisor two years, and in 1888 was elected Judge of Pro- 
 bate of the county, which position he now holds. He has also been 
 Secretary and Treasurer of the Oceana Co. Veteran Association. 
 In business matters Mr. Churchill has exercised great shrewdness 
 and tact and from the small start made in 1864 he has become the 
 possessor of considerable means. By an honorable, upright course 
 he has won the respect and esteem not only of those associated 
 
 with him, but also of those 
 with whom he has had busi- 
 ness transactions. His busi- 
 ness relations have been va- 
 ried. He was engaged in the 
 hardware business in 1872 
 with Mr. A. Neff. He after- 
 wards was engaged in the 
 boot and shoe business. In 
 1883 the banking house of 
 Churchill, Oakes and Co. was 
 formed in which he became 
 President and still holds the 
 position. In 1886 the Beno- 
 na Lumber Co. was formed 
 with Mr. Churchill as its Sec- 
 retary, and in 1888 he also 
 became the Secretary of the 
 Shelby Improvement Co. To 
 dwell upon his social and 
 l^ersonal qualities is useless 
 in this connection as he is well known in all parts of the county. 
 His residence and grounds are among the finest in the village, a 
 view of which appears elsewhere in this book. Mr. Churchill has 
 been three times marrieil. In 1859 he married Miss Jane Green. 
 In 1869 he was married to Lucada A. Carter, and in 1874 to Sa- 
 rah A. Hamlin. He has had five children, three sons and two 
 daughters, only one of whom is now living, Charles L. His present 
 wife is a lady of refinement and exerts herself to make home pleas- 
 ant and its occupants happj'. Thej^ have an adopted daughter, 
 Mamie, who is the pet of the household. 
 
 Lu/T/r 
 
 W. H. CHURCHILL. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 285 
 
 CALVIN A. WOODWORTH— 18G4. 
 
 Calvin A. Woodworth was 
 born on the first day of July, 
 1848, in Ashtabula Co., O. 
 He is a son of Calvin and Su- 
 san A. Woodworth, who were 
 the second family to settle in 
 the township) of Colfax where 
 they still reside. They set- 
 tled in Colfax on Oct. 22, '64. 
 The subject of our sketch thus 
 early in life was made ac- 
 quainted with the toils and 
 privations of i^ioneer life. 
 Amid the native forests his 
 character was formed and 
 Mother Nature was his teach- 
 er. He is now a man respect- 
 ed and trusted by his towns- 
 men. Has been Treasurer 
 and is now Supervisor of the 
 township. On Dec. 22, 1875, 
 he married Miss Jennie Robertson, and three children have blessed 
 their union, two sons and one daughter. Since 1876 he has follow- 
 ed farming for a livelihood. 
 
 C. A. WOODWORTH. 
 
 -T. W. RUNXER- 
 
 U^fi''' 
 
 -1864. 
 
 James Wallace Runner was 
 born at Jerusalem, Yates Co. 
 N. Y., May 5, 1852. His par- 
 ents were James S. and Nan- 
 cy A. Runner. He came to 
 Oceana Co. with his parents 
 in 1864, the coming of this 
 family, which included seven 
 children, occasioning the for- 
 mation of a new school dis- 
 trict (No. 2 of Shelby) which 
 at this time has a school pop- 
 ulation of 489. The farm up- 
 on which the family settled 
 is still known as the J. S. 
 Runner farm, and is at pres- 
 ent occupied by Mr. J. M. 
 Runner, a brother of James 
 W. The subject of our sketch 
 
286 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTV PIONEERS 
 
 followed fcarniing and teaching until 1877, when he enp;aged in his 
 present business, drugs and stationery, at Shelby village. By strict 
 attention to business he has succeeded in establishing a good trade 
 and has secured to himself a wide circle of intimate friends. He has 
 held the position of Assessor of the school district, a position re- 
 quiring good judgment and one usually conferred because of a repu- 
 tation for lionesty and integrity. On Nov. 6, 1875, Mr. Runner 
 Avas married to Amelia E. Loomis,and two sons have been born to 
 them. 
 
 JOHN M. RUNNER— 1864. 
 
 John M. Runner was born at Cameron, Steuben Co., N. Y.«, July 
 13, 1856. He is another of the sons of James S. and Nancy A. 
 Runner. He came with his parents and family to this county in 
 1864. He has always followed the business of farming and is now 
 living upon and working the J. S. Runner farm. He is one of a fam- 
 ily that has cilwaj'S boi'ne a good name for honesty and industry 
 wherever known, and is not behind the other members in this re- 
 spect. On April 8, 1880, he was married to Miss Millie Carpp, of 
 Van Buren Co. Two children, both boys, have blessed their union, 
 coining to make glad the hearts of their parents who take great 
 pride in them. 
 
 MVRON A. GILBERT— 1864. 
 
 Myron A. Gilbert was born 
 Dec. 28, 1845, at Canaan, 
 Wayne Co., Ohio. He is a 
 son of J. W. and Rachel De- 
 Moss Gilbert. In 1855, with 
 his parents, he moved to Me- 
 dina Co., Ohio, and in 1864 
 came to Oceana Co., arriving 
 in Pentwater on April 18th. 
 They lived one year on what 
 is known as the Fuller farm 
 in the township of Hart. In 
 the spring of 1865 they mov- 
 ed into Benona (now Shelby) 
 |on the Geo. Piper farm. That 
 summer Mr. J. W. Gilbert 
 built one of the best log houses 
 ever built in the county, and 
 also a small blacksmith shop. 
 M. A. GrLBERT. In the early winter of 1866 
 
 he went back to Ohio to see "the girl I left behind me,"' and on Jan. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 287 
 
 1, 1867, was married to Miss M. J. INrcConaughy. In Feb. of the 
 same year he brought his bride to this founty and has since ret^id- 
 ed here. In Feb., 1868, they moved upon the northeast quarter of 
 section 31, Shelby, where they now live. His patent for this land 
 was signed by President U. S. Grant. ]Mr. Gilbert is the father of 
 four daughters and one son. Three daughters and the son are now 
 living u])on the old farm, which consists of ninety acres of land, sev- 
 enty acres of which is well adapted for fruit rai.-^ing. He has already 
 twelve acres of peaches, petirs, plums and other fruit, yiv. Gilbert 
 is an enthusiastic member of Shelby Lodge Xo. 344: I. O. O. F.. and 
 is highly respected by all. He spends much of his time at Siielby 
 village being engaged in well digging and putting in and repairing 
 Ijumps. 
 
 HENRY ABSON— 1864. 
 
 Henry Abson was born in Yorkshire, England, Aug. 26, 1^44. 
 Hi.s parents were Anthony and ]\Iai\v Abson. He came to Oceana 
 County in 1864 and settled in the then backwoods of Lea\ itt town- 
 ship. In the fall of 1864 he helped to cut the now well tra\eled 
 road from Hazen Leavitt's to what is known as Sayles and Bean 
 marsh. In Jan. 1865, he went to reside with Dr. J. J. Kittrub'e at 
 Crystal, where he remained until Oct. of the same year, in the mean- 
 time chopping the first ten aci-es upon Mr. Kittridge's farm ami as- 
 sisting in building his house. After leaving Crystal in tlie fall of 
 1865 he returned to Pennsylvania where he remained until 186U 
 when he again came to this county and located in Lea\itt whei-e he 
 still resides. He has held the offices of Township Clerk and Treas- 
 urer and is a man generally respected by all who know him. ]Mar. 
 18, 1865, he was married to Miss Ellen Ij. (iilbei't and tiiey have 
 had born to them two sons and one daughter. 
 
 .JESSE BEAKSS— 1865. 
 
 Jesse Bearss was born at Welland, Ont., in 1837. His parents' 
 names were Joseph and Susan Bearss. He came to Oceana County 
 in 1^65. Bought his present home in Shelby township in 1867 and 
 the following year commenced its improvement. In 186s he mar- 
 ried Miss Libbie Morningstar,of Welland, Ont., and there wereborn 
 to them three children, t^YO daughtei'S and one son. On Dec. 18, 
 1876, his wife died. Dec. 29, 1870, he was again married. Miss 
 Fannie Beam, of Welland, Ont., became his second wife and bore 
 him two children, one son and onedaughter. Feb. 1 1 , 1883, he had 
 the misfortune to again lose his wife. On ^larch 2, 1886, he mai-- 
 ried his present wife, INIiss Anna Lord, of Erie. X. Y.,and one daugh- 
 ter has been born to them. 'Mr. Bearss chopped the timber on the 
 
288 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 land wiiere the SlielI)V 
 
 ^L•hool house now stands. He became a citi- 
 zen ot the United States June 
 18, 186-^. In 1870 he was 
 elected Highway Commission- 
 er and held the office eleven 
 years. In iSTOelected School 
 Inspet'tor, holding that office 
 three years. Elected Justice 
 in 1881, held tlie oflice three 
 years. In 18-5 was elected 
 Super\-isor of Shelby, which 
 office he still holds. I'pon the 
 Board of Sui)ei'visors he is an 
 uiiinential inemher. He has 
 been a hard workeraiid ]iian\" 
 are the hunting and tishing 
 expeditions that lie has tak- 
 en. He is of jovial disposi- 
 tion, iiK'lined to look upon 
 the lu'iglit side of life at all 
 j:hsse bearss. times. 
 
 wiLi.iA^t a. rounds— 18(35 
 
 William A. Kounds was 
 born at Garrettsville. Portage 
 Co.. Oliio, Nov. 1. 1>48. He 
 is a son of William and Lou- 
 isa Kounds. At the iireaking 
 (;ur of tlie rebellion he enlist- 
 ed in Vo.C KJth U. S. Jn f.and 
 t^erved to the close of the wai 
 On July G, 18f;>5 he landed m 
 Pentwater and has made his 
 home here since then wii h t he 
 exception of a short time 
 He tii's^t commenced woi'k at 
 Pentwfitcr for Richmond lV 
 Bean, and atteiwards foi 
 Sands & iNlaxwell. He wah 
 also engaged for sometime m 
 i-unning a<li-ay line at Pent- 
 water and for six years had 
 charge of Slocum's coal dock 
 for tlie Eiigelmann line. In 
 
 ssf^:'^:^**. 
 
 W. A. ROUND.S. 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEX OF TO-DAY. 
 
 289 
 
 the spring of 1.SS8 he purchased a hvery bu-iiiiess and has since fol- 
 lowed that business. He ha.s the only li\ei'y and leed stable at 
 Pentwater and also runs a stage line between Pentwater and Lud- 
 ington during the winter season when the boats cannot run. He is 
 a member of Oceana Lodge No. 200 P. & A. M., Oceana Chapter No. 
 56 R. A. M., and of Pentwater Lodge No. 878 L 0. O. F. May 29, 
 1867, he married ^Nliss Emma Graham, and they have since had 
 three children, two sons and one daughter. One of the sons has 
 since died. Mv. Rounds has held the positions of Deputy Sheriff of 
 the county. Treasurer and Constable of tlie townshii), and Village 
 Marslial. As a police officer he is not excelled, having always been 
 considered one of the best in the township. 
 
 CHARLES SERFLING— 1805. 
 
 Charles Serfling, born in Germany; Dec. 31. I'^oO, i-: a son of Her- 
 man and Emma Serfling. He 
 came to America at the age 
 of thirteen years, and to Oce- 
 ana Co. in the year I860, in 
 June. Mv. Serfling has been 
 engaged in farming .-ini-e com- 
 ing to tins county. At the an- 
 nual election in 1879, he was 
 elected Township Clerk of 
 Greenwood and re-elected 
 each year thereafter until >7 
 when he was elected to the of- 
 fice of Supervisor which office 
 he still holds. On June 7, '75 
 he married Mary B. Devj'er, 
 and their family now consists 
 of two sons. When an officer 
 is re-elected term after term c. sicrflixg. 
 
 for twelve years, wecan draw 
 
 but one conclusion and that is that he has proven himself to l)e an 
 efficient and faithful officer. 
 
 JACOB WILI.IAM.SOX— 1865. 
 
 Jacob Williamson, the pre'^ent Supervisor of Otto Township, was 
 born Jan. 3, 1836, at Milna. Jeff. Co.,N. Y. His parents were John 
 and ^Margaret Williamson. He enlisted in the army in Co.C 94th N. 
 Y. Vols., and was in the battles of Cedar Mountain. Chancellorville, 
 Mine Run, Cold HarV^or and before Petersburg. He is now a mem- 
 ber of R. M. Johnson Post No. 138 of Ferry, lie was one of the 
 
290 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 earlier settlers of Oceana Co., coming here in Oct., 1865. He has 
 been honored in his township by nearly all the different offices, hav- 
 ing been Supervisor fourteen years. Treasurer two yeai's. Clerk one 
 year, Supt. of Schools two years and Highway Commissioner. In 
 all of the offices he has discharged his duties faithfully and with 
 ability. His occupation is that of a farmer. Aug. 4, 1857, he mar- 
 ried Tryphena Becker, and one son has blessed their union. As a 
 member of the Board of Supervisors he has an influence that is ac- 
 knowledged by all. 
 
 WILLIAM MCMILLAN— 1865. 
 
 William INIcMillan, one of the early settler.s of the township of 
 Golden, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, on the 3rd day of 
 Feb., 1835. His parents' names were David and Susan McMillan. 
 
 He came to America m 1863, 
 and after spending some time in 
 Lenawee Co., 3Iich., and in Indi- 
 ana he came to Oceana Co. in 
 Nov. 1865. He soon located in 
 Golden township and commenc- 
 ed the erection of a log house 
 and the clearing up of his land 
 This log house he continued to 
 occupy for fifteen years and then 
 had things in such shape that he 
 could afford a better one, build- 
 ing one of the most commodious 
 fran^ie houses in the township. 
 He has always remained upon 
 the same farm improving and 
 adding to it, and now has 160 
 acres of land on section eight. 
 On one three acre piece he has 
 500 peach trees, and on anoth- 
 er three acres he has plums, ap- 
 ples, etc. Hs raises annually from 300 to -lOO bushels ot wheat 
 and 200 to 300 bushels of oats. He is a man esteemed by all >,ho 
 know him, and the confidence of his neighbors has been manifested 
 by making him Director of School District No. 2 for the past fifteen 
 years. In 1867 he was married to Miss Mary White, and si.v child- 
 ren have been added to the family, two sons and four daughters. 
 
 SIDNEY S. BRANCH— 1865. 
 
 Sidney S. Branch was born in York, Medina Co., Ohio, Feb. 20, 
 
 WM. MCMILLAN. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAV. 
 
 291 
 
 1842. His father, Levi H. Branch, was an old pioneer of the State 
 
 having niovefi there at an early age, with his pai-ents, from Genesee 
 
 County, N. Y. His mother was from Massachusetts. On May 26, 
 
 IbOl, Mr. Branch enlisted in the 8th Ohio Vols., and served over 3 
 
 years. He was in the battles of Winchester, Antietani (where he 
 
 was wounded in the head), Chancellorville, Ciettysl)nrg, IMine Run 
 
 and the Wilderness, where he 
 
 was wounded in tlie heel. He 
 
 was mustered out July 13, 1864. 
 
 He remained in Ohio about a 
 
 year, and in I860 settled on 
 
 section 21, Golden townshi}), 
 
 Oceana County, ^Nlich., where he 
 
 has since lived. He married, Nov. 
 
 22, 1873, Miss Anna M.Hudson 
 
 of LaPorte Co., Ind., by whom 
 
 he has two children: Edna E.born 
 
 Oct. 27, 1876, and Eda M., boi'n 
 
 April 23, 1879. Mii^s Hudson 
 
 was born in Laporte County, 
 
 End., Jan. 10, 1844. Her father 
 
 was a farmer and carpenter, and 
 
 in easy circumstances. Mr. 
 
 Branch has a very fine farm, his 
 
 s^iecialty being truit growing. s. s. branch. 
 
 DANIEL W. CROSBY— 1864. 
 
 Dan'l W.Crosby wa« born 
 at Barrington, Yates Co.,N. 
 Y., Oct. 1, 1833. He is a 
 son of Selah and Frances 
 Crosby. His early years 
 were passed upon a farm un- 
 til of age. He then taught 
 School as his health would 
 Ijermit until 1866. He came 
 to this county in April, '64, 
 and has ressided here and is 
 identified with the pro^^peri- 
 ty of I he county since tliat 
 time. He came heie as a 
 teacher to ihe Indians and 
 taught in the Cob-moo-sa 
 school liouse. Has held va- 
 rious ollices, and is nowRep- 
 
 - (.'" 
 
292 
 
 OCEAKA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 resentative in the State Legislature from this county. In 1880 was 
 census enumerator, and I'epresented this county on the last State 
 Eciualization Board. Mari'ied Oct. 6, 1863, Agnes Colestock, and 
 has five children, three sons and two daughters. See page 221. 
 
 FREDERIK NIELSEN— 1865. 
 
 Frederik Nielsen was born at Aaarhuus, Denmark, Europe, Nov. 
 16, 1844. His early training was of the strict character peculiar 
 to European countries, but laid the foundation for business habits 
 that has brought success to him in later years. He received agood 
 education while at home and became prolicient in different lan- 
 guages incluling the German and English. He came to Pentwater 
 in 1865, which at that period contained many residents natives of 
 Norway, Sweden and Denmark. These people selected Mr. Nielsen 
 as their spokesman and adviser in all their intricate transactions 
 arising under their new social and government relations. In 1871 
 he visited his old home in Denmark and returninu became a mem- 
 ber of the firm of C. Jensen tt Co. The business of this firm was 
 successful. It l:)uik tlie first l)rick store in Pentwater. It com- 
 
 FREDERIK NIELSEN. 
 
 nianded a large trade and in 1877 was dissolved by mutual con- 
 sent. The same year with \Vm. E. Ambler he engaged in banking 
 business under the firm name of Nielsen & Co. (see page 76). He 
 acted as cashier and general manager for this institution, which 
 has attained an en\iable reputation and which he stili manages. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 293 
 
 In 1872 he married Nina ^NI. Bacon, who lias proved to him a lov- 
 ing and faithful helpmeet. Two daut;liters have been born to them 
 who are now just entering womanhood. One, Cecil, is a gi-aduate 
 of Pentwater Union Schools, and at present attendiuLj theRockford 
 Ills., Seminary. The other, Viva is .still with her parents. 
 
 In 1871 he joined Oceana Lodge No. 200 P. & A. M.,and has since 
 advanced to membership in the following branches: Chapter and 
 Council, Pentwater; Muskegon Commandery; Tlie DeWittCliiiton 
 Consistory (32nd degree). Grand Rapids, and Saladin's Temple, 
 Grand Rapids. 
 
 Politically he is a democrat, although not an active partisan. 
 He is not an office seeker, but has many times been honoied by of- 
 fice. He has served on the school Board from l-TO to the pieseiit 
 time, except one year. Has been Village President live yeais. ha v- 
 ing been elected to that office each of the li\e years in succession 
 and without opposition. 
 
 Mr. Nielsen is patriotic, charitable and entei'prisinir. He is a loy- 
 al citizen of his adopted countrj- and takes an active interest in irs 
 affairs. His charity is unostentatious, but of a ( haractt'i- t hat is 
 appreciated by its recipient. Every public enter[)rise in t iip \-illaij;e 
 has found a ready backer in him, to which he has conti-ilint ed not 
 only in money but his active inllufnce. He cnj )ys a lar^i' cinle of 
 friends who respect him not only for his social (pialities, Imi bis 
 sound and practical views. 
 
 t'HAUT.ES M. L".\r)i:iaiiLi^— 18(5.1. 
 Charles M. I'nderhill, son of A. .1. and Kliza!)eth Cnderliill, was 
 born at Pentwater, on i>ec. 
 25, 186."), where he has since 
 resided. He received his edu- 
 cation at tlie Per.twater Hi^h 
 School, graduating in lf-84, 
 being the first male to grad- 
 uate from that institution, 
 attended the Michigan Agri- 
 cultural College at Lansing 
 one year, and the Metropoli- 
 tan College at Chicago, one 
 winter. In 1887-8 he was 
 elected and served as Record- 
 er of the village of Pentwater 
 and is now Supervisor of the 
 township. He is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity and 
 a leadinsi member of the I. O. 
 
294. 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEEUS 
 
 O.F. fraternity, being the present Noble Grand of Pentwater Lodge 
 No. 378. He is an Oceana Count j- production that the county need 
 not be ashamed of, being a young man of good business abihty and 
 possessing many friends. 
 
 JONATHAN H. CRITCHETT — 1866. 
 
 Jonathan 11. Crit-chett was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, Dec. 3,. 
 1843. His pni-ents were Benjamin and Sarah Ann Critchett. When 
 three years of age remo\ed with his parents to Dekalb Co., Ind. He 
 remained at h(>nie woiking on a farm until Aug., 1862, when he en- 
 listed in Co. A 100th Ind. Vols. While in the armj^his parents died 
 and the home was sold, the other members of the family being scat- 
 teivd to seven ditferent States. He returned from the army to De- 
 kall) Co. and took up his residence with a sister. Afterward he re- 
 moved to Alien Co., where he made his home with relatives until his 
 marriniie on Feb. 13, 1866, to jNIary Hurnie. Soon after his mar- 
 riage he came to Oceana Co., homesteaded eighty acres of land, 
 cleared some, planted spring crops and went to Indianaforhis wife, 
 arriving lu-re auain July 7th. Remained on homestead two years, 
 sold out and in company with others went to Missouri. Returned 
 
 liere in Nov.,lfr'68, purchas- 
 ed forty acres neai- his old 
 home and moved on the 
 place the same month, into 
 a twelve bj- sixteen board 
 shanty. His effects when he 
 returned from Mo. were con- 
 tained in two old trunks. 
 Sold this place in spring of 
 1883 for $2,500, and soon 
 nftei- purchased tlie farm of 
 E. O. Peck, in Ferry town- 
 ship, wheie he now lives. 
 His wife died March 21, '87, 
 leaving seven sons, five of 
 whom continued to reside 
 with their father until he 
 was married again. Dec. 25, 
 1889, he was married to 
 Miss Morr, of Hesperia. Mr. 
 Critchett has been a member 
 of the ]M. E. and U. B. Chuirhes, in which he was Class Leader and 
 Sunday School Superintendent. Has held various small offices of 
 trust in his township. Was fleeted Township Treasurer in 1888-9. 
 
 J. H. craTCHETT. 
 
AND BUSINESS MKN OF TO-DAV 
 
 291 
 
 HARVEY J. CHAinVIfK— 186G. 
 
 Harvey .Teinipr Chadwick, M. D., son of M. R. Diadwick. M. D.. a, 
 son of R. I\[. Chad wick, re- 
 ciuiting oflicer in the British 
 army, was V)orn at ]\[t. Aetna 
 Ind., Feb. 11, '1857; came to 
 Hart in '66; began the study 
 of medicineat ITyearsof age; 
 attended Rush Medical Col- 
 lege, Chicago, at 19; graduat- 
 ed at the Michigan College of 
 Medicine in Detroit at the age 
 of 21 years. He was elected 
 by his class Vice President of 
 the jMichigan College of Medi- 
 cine Ahimiii Association; was 
 made a men) her of the iNIichi- 
 gan State Medical Society; la- 
 ter became a member of the 
 Pere^Iarquette Medical Socie- 
 ty. Passed the examination 
 of the Michigan State Board 
 of Pharmacy. Was elected 
 by his townshij) Health Offi- 
 cer and School Inspector, and has been President of the Villaee of 
 Hart. He married Laura Estelle Teeple, Oct, 1. 1885. Their little 
 daughter Eva, now three years of age, makes them happy. 
 
 WILIJAM VAUCJHAX— 1866. 
 
 William Vaughan was born 
 in the State of New York, 
 June ^', 1835. He is a son of 
 Thomas W. and Elmina 
 Vaughan. On Sept. 20, 1862, 
 he married Elizabeth Wash- 
 er and they have had a fami- 
 ly of eight children, three sons 
 and five daughters. Mr. 
 Vaughan came to this county 
 at a comparatively earlj-day 
 Aug. 3, 1866, and has done 
 his portion towards reducing 
 the wilderness to civilization. 
 His business previous to com- 
 ing here was lumbering and 
 river-drivi'ig, but since he has 
 
 H. .7. CHADWICK. 
 
296 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEEIiS 
 
 confined Inmself to farming. The confidence of the people has been 
 manifested by his election to the office of township Treasurer which 
 he held for two terms. He is a man of firm convictions, a free 
 thinker and considers free thought necessary to the preservation of 
 a republican form of government. 
 
 CHARLES R. WHITTINGTON — 18-59. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, 
 England, Jan. 12, 1835. His father was accidentally killed before 
 our subject's birth. In 1845 his mother married again a man by 
 the name of Dove, and tlie same year came to America, bringing 
 Charles. He lived in Port Huron fourteen years and moved to 
 Pentwater Sept. 6, 1859, and commenced work for Charles Mears 
 
 at $20 per month. Out of 
 his wages he had to board 
 liimself and family. On Sept. 
 27, 185G, he married INliss 
 Jane Whittington,an estima- 
 ble lady, who has shared with 
 him the trials of pioneer life, 
 and borne him three children 
 one son and two daughters, 
 all grown to man and woman- 
 hood ajid happily situated. 
 
 Mr. Whittington mo\'ed his 
 family upon the land he now 
 owns on Sec. (i. Hart town- 
 ship, in the winter when the 
 snow was several feet deep 
 and for six weeks his wife nev- 
 er saw <a white person. He 
 helped clear the Asa Pringle 
 farm, the first clearing made 
 in the vicinity of INIears. He 
 helped put the first load of dn-t on the old mil! dam at Hart, and 
 was a member of the noted Peck's logging crew which was never 
 beaten in a fallow. 
 
 He is a good business man, is comfortably situated, has a pleas- 
 ant home and is liighly esteemed. He helped to organize the first 
 Fire Department in Pentwater which he belonged to tor ten years, 
 and of which he was Foreman of Hose five years and Chief three 
 years. Has been Township Treasurer two years. Village Treasurer 
 three years, and member of the Common Council eight years. 
 
 C. R. WHITTINGTON. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 297 
 
 EDWARD B. PLAGG— 1860. 
 
 Edward B. Flagt;, the son of Henry C. and Lucy H. Flagg, was 
 born in Hartford, Conn., June 11, 1H42. His ancestors were of the 
 old puritan stock, one of them (Brewster) having come to America 
 in the 3Iay Flower. The son 
 of one of the most prominent 
 of the county's pioneers, he 
 also has figured largely in the 
 social and municipal develop- 
 ment of the county. He came 
 to the. county in 1860, and 
 has since, with the exception 
 of a few short intervals, re- 
 sided here. June 21, 1802, 
 in Chicago, he married Carrie -..:,-r£r-' 
 Johnson. The union has 
 been blessed with four child- 
 ren, two daughters and two 
 sons. He has tilled many of 
 the local offices in the village; 
 has served tive terms as ^'il- 
 lage Recorder, and is at the 
 present time a member of the 
 Common Council. In 1888 
 he joined Oceana Lodge No. 
 
 200 F. ik A. .M.,and has since passed the different chairs and is now 
 serving as Master of the Lodge. Mr. Flagg has an active niind, a 
 reliable memory, is a good penman, accurate and quick in figures. 
 He is at present assistant to Mr. Nielsen in Nielsen A: Co.'s bank. 
 
 KDWIX XICKEIiSOX— 1805. 
 Edwin Nickerson, son of Elihu and ^lary Nickerson, was born 
 ]March IT, 1835, in Canada West. Wlieu three yejirs of age moved 
 with his parents to Cattaraugus County, New York, where they re- 
 mained for al)out two years, then v.-ent to Lake Co., Ind.. remain- 
 ing there until 1848, when they came to Allegan Co., Mich. At the 
 breaking out of the war he enlioted in Co. E 3rd Mich. Inf. and serv- 
 ed two years and ten months as Sergeant. At the close ot the war 
 in June, 1865, he came to Pentwater where he has since resided. 
 Mr. Nickerson's earlj- life was spent upon farms; after coming to 
 Pentwater he became interested in the planing mill which he contin- 
 ued forabout five years, then formed a copartnership with Thos. 
 Collister in the lumber business, which he has since continued. In 
 1876 the firm built a grist mill at Pentwater, which was burned in 
 1884, and a new and larger mill was immediately built upon same 
 
 E. B. FLACiG. 
 
298 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONKERS 
 
 she and roller process ma- 
 chinery put in. ]Mr. Nicker- 
 son has ahvaj's been a*public 
 spirited man, energetic in his 
 business affairs. He has been 
 Supervisor of his township 
 one term, and President of 
 the village three terms. Has 
 also served upon the School 
 Board eight years. He was 
 married Dec. 24, 1873, to- 
 j\Iiss i\Iaria A. Carmichael. 
 They now have two children, 
 Stella and Nettie. 
 
 NICKERSOX. 
 
 JOHX M. CAHILL — 1864. 
 
 John M. Cahill was born in Limerick Co., Ireland, June 21, 1842,. 
 to Daniel and INIary Caliill. He received a good common school ed- 
 ucation and emigrated to America in the Hummer of lSn.3. He went 
 direct to Washington, D. C.,and 
 found employment in the Quar- 
 ter Master's Dept., where he re- 
 mained one year, then went to 
 Chicago, staid a few montlis and 
 moved to Pentwater, Oceana 
 Co., arriving Dec. 31, 1864. In 
 April, 1865, he enlisted in the 
 Quarter Master's Dept. and was 
 detailed for duty at Little Rock, 
 Ark., where lie was discharged 
 for disability in Aug. of the same 
 year. Afterwards he worked in 
 the hunber woods, saw mills and 
 on the river driving logs. In '73 
 he went to Chicago and was em- 
 ployed upon the regular police 
 
 force until 1 76, when he again j. m. cahill. 
 
 returned to Pentwater, broken in health. He regained his health 
 and has since resided here. Since his return he has kept saloon and 
 for two years a barber shop. Aug. 27, 1868, he was married to 
 Katie McAndrew, of Lower Canada, and after her decease, Feb. 27^ 
 1881, he married Ellen McAndrew, of the same place. Seven child- 
 ren, three sons and four daughters, have been born to hmi. He is 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 299 
 
 a democrat and quite a politician. Has held tlie positions of Har- 
 bor blaster, Justice of the Peace, and is at pi-esent a member of the 
 Common Council. 
 
 HENRY .1. :marsi[— 1802. 
 Henry J. INIarsh was born 
 
 at Clarendon, Ruttana Co., 
 
 Vt. and is a son of Henry 
 
 and Sarah L. Marsh. He 
 
 came to Oceana County in 
 
 1862, and since that time has 
 
 spent more or less of his time 
 
 in the county, and since 1880 
 
 has resided here permanent- 
 ly. He is a man who has 
 
 made many friends and pos- t^^ 
 
 sesses much inHuence in his 
 
 section. He resides and has 
 
 a store at what is known as 
 
 Marshville ni Benona town- 
 ship, being also Postmaster 
 
 of the office of that name. 
 
 His wife is a lady of much re- 
 finement of person and nian- 
 
 nei'S. She was born in New h. .j. :^[ARSH. 
 
 York C-ity, and is a daughter 
 of Theophilus L. and Anna 
 Smith Houghton. She hrst 
 came to this county in May, 
 1880. :Mr. and Mrs. Marsh 
 have a tine home, their house 
 being large and commodious, 
 a landmark in that section. 
 Mr. Marsli owns a large tract 
 of land in Benona. 
 
 MRS. H. J. :\IARSH. 
 
300 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 T. S. GURNEY — 1866. 
 
 See page 218. 
 
 A. L. CARR— 1866. 
 
 A. L. Carr was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Feb. 6, 1841; set- 
 tled in Weare, section 36, in 1866. He is quite an extensive farmer 
 
 paying considerable attention 
 to fruit culture, having some 20 
 acres of different varieties. Mar- 
 ried, Feb. 8, 1865, Amelia L. 
 Hazelton, who was born in St. 
 Lawrence Co., N. Y., May 28, 
 1843, and died Feb. 1, 1875, 
 leaving three childi'cn. Bower M., 
 Etta P., Edgar A. Second mar- 
 riage, March 1, 1876, to Naomi 
 A. Ervin, who was born in Cam- 
 den, Ont., Jan. 31, 1846. Mr. 
 Carr is a Director and Vice Pres- 
 ident of the Oceana Co. Savings 
 Bank. He is a prominent Ma- 
 son, having been Master of Wig- 
 ton Lodge No. 251, three years. 
 
 A. li. CARR. 
 
 WM. COOPER— 1 866. 
 William Cooper, son of Jas. K. 
 and Eleanor Cooper, was born 
 at Vienna, Ont., July 8, 1851. 
 In Nov., 1866, he came to Oce- 
 ana Co. and settled in Elbridge. 
 He has always been an active, 
 public spirited man and has been 
 honored with various offices, 
 now being Sheriff of the county, 
 and has served as Under Sheriff. 
 He owns one of the best forties 
 in Elbridge and also ten acres 
 Avithin the limits of Hart village 
 where he now makes his home. 
 He is improving his land as fast 
 as x>ossible, and is setting out 
 fruit trees of different varieties 
 upon both x^laces. His business wm. cooper. 
 
 now in connection with his duties as Sheriff' is that of a contract- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 301 
 
 or and builder. On Jan. 1, 1873, he was married to ]Miss INI. Han- 
 num, and they now have two children, a son and a daughter. Mr. 
 Cooper lias given good satisfaction as Shei-it?, and has made during 
 his residence in the county many warm personal friends. 
 
 EDWARD B. GAYLORD— 1866. 
 
 Edward B. Gaylord was born 
 at Harpersfield, N. Y., June 9, 
 184:5. His parents were Levi S. 
 and Julia A. Gaylord. He came 
 to this county in Oct., 1866 and 
 engaged in farming. Juh' 19, '80 
 he began the hardware business 
 at Shelby village which he has 
 since continued together with 
 carrying on his farming opera- 
 tions. He has been twice Ti'eas- 
 urer of the county in which office 
 he gave the best of satisfaction. ,^ 
 On ^farch 17, 1870, he married 
 Miss Miranda Jackson and four 
 children, two sons and two 
 daughters have been born to 
 them: Truman P., Grace B., 
 Gladys and E. Gardiner. Mar. e. b. gaylord. 
 
 12, 1881, they had the misfortune to lose by death their daughter 
 Grace B. As a straightforward business man Mr. Gaylord has al- 
 ways stood high in his community. As a gentleman all are pleased 
 to make his acquaintance, and as a pui)lic spirited citizen he has 
 exercised a positive influence on the histor}^ of the county. 
 JOEI. D. lixsday — 1866. 
 
 Joel D. Linsday, son of Da- 
 vid and Anna Dayton Lins- 
 day, was born in Onondaga 
 Co., N. Y., Oct. 5, 1822. He 
 came to Michigan in 1836, 
 settling in Branch Co., where 
 he assisted in building the 
 first log house in Butler town- 
 ship in that county. He re- 
 members distinctly one inci- 
 dent that happened to him 
 while living there by which he 
 was frightened nearly out of 
 his senses. While on his way 
 to the shanty one day to jire- 
 pare dinner, he espied an In- 
 dian with his gun leveled at 
 
302 
 
 OCKANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 him. He was not note.i before that as a rapid runner, but thereaf- 
 ter h's fame in that hne was much increased. He considers it the 
 greatest "i-unning effort" of his Ufe. He came to this county on 
 Oct. 81, 186G, and located in the township of Claybanks, section 
 25, where lie has since resided. He has always followed the busi- 
 ness of farmuig. He now has a fine farm with good improvements, 
 including one ot the finest farm residences in the township. The 
 voters of his township have made him at different times Su^Dervisor, 
 Clerk, Tieasurer and Justice, the latter office being held by him for 
 24 years. On May 6, 1846, he married Polly H. Peabody, who 
 died Aug. 25, 185(3. On July 4, 1857, he married Eunice A. 
 Draper. He has been the father of seven children, four sons and 
 three daughters. He'is now well along on the journey of life and in 
 looking back can see many places where he has contributed his 
 share to make the roses bloom. 
 
 .JAMES E. PHILO— 1866. 
 
 James E. l^hilo was boi'ii at Frankfort, Herkimer Co., N.Y.,I\rar. 
 
 3, l*-'43, being a son of Elisha 
 R and Phebe Philo. At the 
 age of ten years he coir.menc- 
 ed life upon a canal, continu- 
 ing that occupation until he 
 was twenty years of age. He 
 then started West after put- 
 ting in nearly a year in the 
 Quartermaster's Department 
 in the armj'. He worked at 
 any occupation that would 
 yield him good wages, reach- 
 ing Oceana Co. Nov. 1, 1866. 
 Since coming here he has 
 worked in lumber woods and 
 taught school. May 3,1868, 
 he married Samantha Hol- 
 comb. They have had five 
 children, two sons and three 
 daughtei's. For the past 12 
 years IMr. Philo has been en- 
 gaged in teaching and farming. He has held a number of offices in 
 his township, among them Superintendent of Schools, Justice and 
 Sup)ervisor. He is now a member of the Board of Supervisors from 
 the township of Newlield. ]Mr. Philo is in every respect a perfect 
 gentleman and a man whose opinions being founded upon good 
 sense, command attention. 
 
 J. E. PHILO. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 303 
 
 FRANK O. GARDNER— 1800. 
 
 Frank O. Gardner, today one of the leading business men of Pent- 
 water, was born in Medina Co., Oliio, Feb. 28, 1844. He is a son 
 of Henry and Elizabeth Gardner. He came to the townshii^ of 
 Golden, Oceana Co., in Nov., 1866, and for two years was en^raged 
 in working in the lumber woods, clearing land and building houses. 
 He then bought what was known as the ''Dutch Boys" mill and has 
 since that time been engaged 
 in manufacturing lumber and 
 shingles. Some time later 
 the mill burned and he came 
 to Pentwater and iDurchased 
 the Bailey it Worden mill and 
 opened a general merchandise 
 store. He has since continu- 
 ed a resident of the village of 
 Pentwater where he now o\\ n^ 
 considerable property and 
 continues in the mill business 
 also running a general store, 
 at which he enjoys a good 
 trade. Mr. Gardner has al- 
 ways been a public spirited 
 man but has positivelj' de- 
 clined to accept i^olitical of- 
 fices. He has since startm<; 
 in business employed an a\- 
 erage of thirty men continu- 
 ously. He donated the land, 
 hauled the lumber and logs 
 
 for the second and third school houses built in the township of 
 Golden. He also served his country in her time of need, being 1st 
 Sergeant of Co. E, 10th Ohio Cav., and in Co. K, 84th Ohio Inf., 
 serving in all 1,118 days. ]May 31, 1874, he was married to ]\Iiss 
 Carrie A. Aubrey, at Pentwater, and four children have born to 
 them, three sons and one daughter. Mr. and 'Sha. Gardner are 
 highly respected by all who know them. 
 
 ..,>J'^^' 
 
 F. O. GARDNER. 
 
 JOHN B. GEBHART— 1866. 
 
 John B. Gebhart was born at Lebanon, Pa., Sept. 17, 1819. His 
 j)arents were John and Barbara Gebhart. His father was a farmer 
 iind shoemaker, going about from house to house for the latter 
 purpose. The family moved to Montgomery Co., Ohio, when our 
 subject was si.x years of age. There he continued to live ux^on the 
 
304 
 
 OCEAXA COUXTY PIOXEEHS 
 
 farm until of age when he rented the farm and did business on his 
 own account for six years. He then bought the farm and carried 
 it on for another six years, then sold and moved to Huntington 
 Co., Ind., where he lived four years, then sold and came to Oceana 
 Co., arriving here Oct. 14, J 866. He came here because it was 
 healthy here. At that time there were not to exceed a dozen houses 
 
 ui Hart village. After com- 
 
 ing here he lived one season 
 on the Ben Eeed farm, one 
 summer on the Whittington 
 farm, and then on section 29, 
 Hart, where he remained one 
 year. He then bought tax ti- 
 tle on forty acres on section 
 30, Hart, where he now lives. 
 The second year thereafter 
 he secured homestead papers 
 on that and an adjoining for- 
 ty. As soon as he had one 
 and one-half acres cleared he 
 commenced setting fruit trees 
 plums, pears and peaches, 
 and now has two peach trees 
 ' '^ of these first he set that have 
 borne peaches since they were 
 four years old and measure 
 11 and 12^2 iiiches respective- 
 ly' in diameter. He has kept adding to the orchard and now has 23 
 acres of peaches, four acres of apples and jDeaches, and six acres of 
 plums, all bearing. He is one of the men who have made a success 
 of fruit raising, and now has a fine fruit farm with convenient and 
 commodious buildings. In 1843 he married Angeline Philabaum, 
 Avho died in 1889. They had nine children, seven sons and two 
 daughters. 
 
 JEPTHA WKIGHT— 1866. 
 
 JeiJtha Wright was born in Steuben Co., Ind., Dec. 7, 1847. His 
 j)arents were Heiman and Jemima Wright. At the breaking out of 
 the war he enlisted in Co. B, 12th Ind. Cav., and served as a i^ri- 
 vate nearly thirty-three months. During his service in the army he 
 had the misfortune to lose his right eye, an honorable scar of which 
 any one might be proud. At the time he was serving in the army 
 of the Cumberland and was at the time engaged in a scouting expe- 
 dition in the vicinitj' of Huntsville, Ala., at a place known as the 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 305 
 
 "Bif^ Cone." The squad he was with was aniliuslied l)y "Bush- 
 whackers."' The fighting for a time was fast jind furiou.^, and in 
 the melee Mr. Wright received a wound in the iiead which deprived 
 him of his right eye, was wounded in the hip bj'a ball from a heavy 
 rifle and his horse was killed and fell upon him. The rebels drew 
 him out from under his horse and proceeded to divest him of spurs, 
 boots and clothing, thinking he was dead. After forming their com- 
 panies which had been .scattered by the companj' to wliich Mr. 
 Wright belonged cutting its way out of the ambush, the leader of 
 the Bushwhackers discovered that he was alive and assisted him to 
 a mud-i3uddle where he washed off the blood and entertained him 
 with the news that the ball had penetrated his skull and that he 
 could not live. He also in- 
 formed him that he wanted 
 to send a message to the 
 Union forces, and if he would 
 like to undertake it he might 
 do so. Mr. Wright consent- 
 ing he informed him where he 
 could fin(i a horse at a plant- 
 ation near bj*. After much 
 ditiicult}- and great suffering 
 he succeeded in reaching the 
 Union linesat Vienna, a small 
 inland town twelve miles from 
 Brownsborough, ujjon the 
 railroad. He was well pleas- 
 ed to again get back with the 
 boj's in blue, but was compell- 
 ed to lie at the stockades from 
 July 8th until the middle of 
 August, when he was taken 
 to Huntsville, the ball ex- 
 tracted from his hip, and 
 then sent to a hospital in 
 
 Nashville. In Oct., 186-1, he was able to return home upon a fur- 
 lough, and remaining home but thirty days he returned to the front 
 and was mustered out June 1, 186.5. We uisert this sketch of Mr. 
 WriL;ht"s experiences because it gives an idea of the sufferings so 
 many of our brave boys endured at the front. In March, 1866, 
 Mr. Wright came to this county, locating m Shelby township. On 
 Nov. 30, 1871, he married Miss Mary L. Vradenburg and they now 
 have two children, a son and a daughter. They now reside on Sec. 
 nine, having twenty-four acres of land all improved, and commodi- 
 ous house and other buildings. He also has about seven acres of 
 
 ^.^# 
 
 J. WRIGHT. 
 
306 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 orchard. The farm is within the Hmits of Shelby villa^je and Mr. 
 Wright is one of the present members of the Common Council. He 
 is a member of Shields Post No. 68, G. A. R., Shelby. 
 
 SAMUEL E. T^EWIS— 1866. 
 
 Samuel E. Lswis. a son of Moses and Harriet Lewis, was born at 
 Fredonia, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. He was for three years a soldier 
 fighting in defense of his country's honor, being a member of Co. I, 
 112th N. Y. Inf. In April, 1866, when this county was in its infancy 
 he came here and has since made his home among us, now resid- 
 ing upon a farm in the township of Benona. On March 18, 1867, 
 he married Miss Adelle Wilson, and two sons have born to them. He 
 is now well situated and possessed of many friends. 
 
 MRS. WILLIAM TUTTLE— 1866. 
 
 ]Mrs. William Tuttle was 
 the daughter of John and 
 Margaret (Williams) Hughes, 
 her father an Englishman and 
 her mother a native of Nortli 
 Wales. She was born in N. 
 Wales, March 3, 1811, and 
 came to America with her 
 parents Oct. 25, 1832. They 
 settled on a farm near Pal- 
 myra, Portage Co., Ohio, 
 where she married William 
 Tuttle. In 1851, with her 
 husband she moved to Mich- 
 igan and located on a large 
 farm south of Ionia, where 
 they lived until 1866, when 
 they moved to Pentwater. 
 Mr. Tuttle died in Pentwater 
 shortly after their ai'rival. 
 She has two daughters Mrs. T. 
 Collister and Mrs. P.Hanifin, 
 and one son, Andrew P. She 
 is still in the enjoyment of 
 good health and bids fair to 
 
 :mrs. w.m. tuttle 
 
 comfort her children many years. 
 
 MRS. THOMAS COLLISTER — 1866. 
 
 Mrs. Thomas Collister was born in Palmyra, Portage Co., O. She 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 307 
 
 isadaughterofWm. (deceased) and Elizabeth Tiittle, now living with 
 her, and was born Feb. 4, 
 1852. She moved witli her 
 parents to INIichigan in 1851, 
 south of Ionia, where she 
 spent her youthful daj-s. Her 
 father's liealth began to de- 
 cline and he was advised to 
 make his residence near the 
 lake, and moved to Pentwa- 
 ter in 1866, she accompanying 
 her parents. lie did not sur- 
 vive long, however. Mrs. Col- 
 lister became a Christian in 
 early life. She lived with her 
 married sister, Mrs. Hanitin, 
 until her marriage. She wtis 
 married to Thomas Collister 
 Oct. 15, 1873, and remained 
 his fnitliful, loving compan- 
 ion until death called him, 
 which took place Nov. 22, 
 18Si). 3Ir. Collister left his 
 widow in comfortable circum- 
 
 
 mrh;. t. collister. 
 
 stances. She is still a resident of Pentwater and much esteemed. 
 
 J. W. ROBINSON. 
 
 ROBINSON— 1866. 
 
 John W. Robinson was born 
 at South Bend, Ind., April 1, 
 1856. He arrived with his 
 pai-ents in Oceana Co. on the 
 2()th day of Oct., 1866. In 
 1870 he engaged in shingle 
 manufacturing which busi- 
 ness he followed until May, 
 1886, when he bouf;ht out 
 the mercantile business of 0. 
 C. Stetson, at Walker\ ille. 
 which he has contmued u^i to 
 the present time. His busi- 
 ness has gradually increased 
 from the tnne of his first tak- 
 ing possession of it. In 1886 
 he did over $12,000: 1887, 
 
308 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 $20,000, and 1888, $25,000 business. He has been so long in the 
 county that he is well acquainted with pioneer life. He was at the 
 first town iiieetingof Leavitt,and in the fall of 1866 when ten years 
 of ;ige assisted in cutting a road a distance of seven miles to their 
 homestead. In 1878, Aiiril 2nd, he married Miss Nellie E. Morris, 
 a daughterofReesT. ]N[orris of Golden. Tliey have one child, a son. 
 
 CALEB B. DAVIS — 1866. 
 
 Caleb B. Davis, son of John and Betty Davis, was born on the 
 21th day of Feb., 1809. in Monongalia Co.. Va. In his early man- 
 hood he became a minister of the gospel of our blessed Lord and 
 has preached many sermons during his life. On Dec. 16, 1831, he 
 
 was married to Sarah Wag- 
 ner, and ten children, six sons 
 and fourdaughtei's have been 
 born to them. After liis mar- 
 riage he commenced farming, 
 which he has continued to 
 tlie present tijue. In 1866 lie 
 made this county his home 
 and has seen much of the past 
 struggles of its pioneers. He 
 expresses himself as much 
 pleased with the county on 
 account of the good agricul- 
 tural advantages, health and 
 climate, and states that if he 
 had another life, to lead he 
 would spend it all here. Full 
 of years and the memory of 
 pleasant days he still lives to 
 enjoy the friendship and es- 
 teem of those who surround 
 him. 
 
 ('. B. DAVIS. 
 
 .JOHX R. BUTLER— 1866. 
 
 John R. Butler was born at Andover, Ohio, June 17, 1835, to 
 Geo. and Rutli Butler. He acquired a good commercial education 
 but chose farming for his occupation. He came to Oceana County 
 in May, lb 66, settling in the township of Hart. He improved and 
 still owns a very fine farm situated about one mile from the village. 
 Politcally he is a republican, but by reason of a pleasing address, 
 frank and cordial ways he is very popular with all classes. He has 
 held the office of County Treasurer thirteen years, and always per- 
 
AND businp:ss men of to-day. 
 
 309 
 
 formed the duties to the sat- 
 isfaction of the people. After 
 beiny re-elected treasurer sev- 
 eral times he took up his res- 
 dence permanently in the vil- 
 lage, -where he has built and 
 with his wife enjoys one of 
 tlie finest houses in the coun- 
 ty. Since 1870 he has been 
 engaged in the abstract of ti 
 tie business, he and T. S.Gui- 
 ney owning the only set of ab- 
 stract books in the county 
 Dec. 17, 18.57, Mr. Butlei 
 was united in marriage to 
 Delia M. Baker. The union 
 Avas a liappy one. One daugh- 
 ter was born to them, who is 
 now the wife of a rising young 
 attorney in Minneapolis, 
 Minn. Socially Mr. Butler is 
 one of the most agreeable of 
 i:)ersons, and his jjresence al- 
 Avays adds to the pleasure of any social gatherin; 
 although just in the prime of vigorous manhood. 
 
 J. n. BUTI.ER. 
 
 He is quite gr;iy 
 
 wiIjLIam f. lewis— 1866. 
 
 William F. Lewis was born in 
 Cliautauciua Co., N. Y., Dec. 12, 
 1829. Settled in Shelby, Sec. 
 31, 1866. Married, March 24, 
 1852, to Eliza Frazine, who was 
 born Aug. 8, 1828, and died Mar. 
 3, 1882. Three children. AVm. 
 F., born Sept. 15, 1853, died 
 Feb. 11, 1869; George, born 
 Sept. 26, 1855, died Aug. 21, 
 1876; Eugene, born March 17, 
 1860, and married, Apr. 20, '81 
 to Alzine Green, who was born 
 in Noble Co., Ind., May 2, 1860. 
 Has been Pres. of Oceana Co. 
 Ag. Society, N. G. of I. O. O. F., 
 and is now Pres. of the Co. As- 
 >?ociation of P. of I. 
 
310 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 William Hiles w 
 
 WILLIAM HILES — 1867. 
 
 as born at Dryden, Tompkins Co., N. Y., July 22, 
 1821. He is a son of John 
 and Rosanna Allbright Hiles. 
 On Jan. 23, '53, he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Roxy A. Culver, 
 a daughter of Rev. Simon 
 B. and Betsey Vincent Cul- 
 ver, and was born at Hart- 
 ford, Cortland Co., N. Y., Ju- 
 ly 4, 1H36. The result of this 
 union has been four children, 
 two sons and two daughters. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hiles came to 
 Oceana County in May, 1867 
 and he engaged in Lumbering 
 which he continued until '80, 
 when he retired from active 
 business. That Mr. Hiles was 
 an engeretic business man is 
 evidenced by the fact that he 
 has accumulated sufficient of 
 
 WM. HILES.. 
 
 this world's goods to main- 
 tain him during his declining 
 years without the necessity 
 of toil. He now resides at 
 Shelby during the summer 
 months and spends the win- 
 ters South. It is no exagger- 
 ation to state that no i^er- 
 sons in the county enjoy 
 more fully the respect and es- 
 teem of their acquaintances 
 than Mr. Hiles and the niem- 
 bers of his familv. 
 
 ,<»-'^-- 
 
 11 
 
 MRS. WM. HILES. 
 
 ARCHIE R. MCKINNON— 1867. 
 
 Archie R. McKinnon was born at Masonville, Delaware Co. N. Y. 
 
AND BU.-!INESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 311 
 
 A. R. MCKIXXOX. 
 
 April 24, l6ol. His jjai'eiits were Archibald and Cordelia L. Mc- 
 Kinnon. He came to Oceana County in the autumn of 1867, and 
 commenced clearing up a farm on Sec. 26, Hart tovvnship. He af- 
 terwards took a position with the Chicago it West Michigan 11. K. 
 Co. and was for six years one of its most popular conductors. La- 
 ter he j)urchased a hardware business at Shelby where he is now lo- 
 cated. On Jan. 27, 18S6, he was married to Miss Jessie McQuar- 
 rie, a lady who is now a great favorite in Shelby society and else- 
 where where known. They have no children. 
 
 Mr. McKinnon is acquainted with i:)ioneer life, having done his 
 share towards driving back the forests, clearing fifty acres of land. 
 He is acquainted with toil and is one of those who never hesitate 
 to put their shoulders to tlie v»'heel when necessarj\ He is widely 
 known, not as Mr. McKinnon, but as "Archie." Being the soul of 
 honor, with frank and engaging manners, to know him is to be his 
 friend. A good citizen, an lionorable business man, and withal a 
 self-made man, long may "Archie" live to enjoy the friendship of the 
 numerous friends who surround him. 
 
312 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 CLARK A. NOBLE— 1867. 
 
 Clark A. Noble was born in theStateof New York, July 21,1839, 
 
 being tlie son of Cliauncey N. 
 and Nancy Noble. He came 
 to Oceana Co. in Jan., 1867, 
 locating first at Pent water 
 and later at Crystal Valley. 
 He married in May, 1869, 
 jNIiss Linn Richards who was 
 boi'n in Pennsylvania, July 
 1, 1818. Her parents were 
 Geo. W. and Mary B. Rich- 
 ards. Mr. Noble previous to 
 1875, was engaged in book- 
 keeping, clerking, insurance 
 and patent right business. 
 Since 1875 he followed the 
 business of a scaler. He was 
 for several years Postmaster 
 at Crystal Valley. He has al- 
 so been Superintendent of 
 Schools, School Inspector and 
 Township Clerk of Crystal 
 township. Mr. Noble died 
 from the effects of LaGripx^e, April 12, 1890, leaving wife and three 
 children, two sons and one daughter, to mourn his loss. 
 
 C. A NOBLE. 
 
 W. D. Ackerson is a 
 verine and a pioneer of this 
 county. Born Jan. 22, 1819 
 in thetownshipof INIetamora, 
 Lapeer Co., and residing with 
 his parents, for different jperi- 
 ods of time, in several places 
 in the counties of Oakland, 
 Wayne and Kent; Mar. 22, 
 1867, he arrived at Hart, 
 having been four days on the 
 road, driving two cows from 
 Paris, Kent Co., his father 
 (A. G. Ackerson) bringing 
 the rest of the family and 
 some goods through with the 
 
 W. D. ACKERSON— 1867. 
 Wol- '^. : 
 
AND BUSINESS MEX OF TO-DAY. 
 
 313 
 
 team; having; moved in most of the goods and a year's i^rovisions 
 the previous winter. Since ]Mr. Ackerson has been one of us he has 
 spent the most of his time farming summers and teaching school 
 winters until six years ago, when he engaged in his present occuioa- 
 tion, photography. Many of the cuts in this book are copies of hi.s 
 work. On Dec. 1, 1883, he married ]Miss Mattie Davis, of White- 
 hall, Muskegon Co. He met with a clear loss of §450 in the great 
 Hart iire of Jan. 13. 1889, which was a severe loss for him, but 
 aside from the loss by fire, he has donewliat no other photographer 
 ever did in Hart; he has made a living at his business, and has 
 worked up so good a trade that it is now considered one of the 
 best locations in the State. 
 
 DEWITT C. BENJAMIN— 18(37. 
 
 DeWitt C. Benjamin was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Feb. 20, 1852. 
 He is the eldest son of Ebene- 
 zer A. and Margaret Benja- 
 min who reside in Weare 
 township. He was raised up- 
 on a farm and has followed 
 that vocation up to the pres- 
 ent time. He came to Oce- 
 ana Co. in April, 1867, and 
 has resided here continuous- 
 ly since. On May 22, 1889, 
 he was married to JNIiss Lib- 
 bie Sage whose parents also 
 reside in Weare. He has been 
 School Inspector of his town- 
 ship. He now owns eighty 
 acres of land on Section 17, 
 Weare, upon which he has a 
 comfortable house and a 
 small barn. There is also up- 
 on his place an orchard of 
 three hundred bearing trees, 
 peach, ajjple, plum and pear. 
 
 There is an improvement of forty-si.x acres altogether. He is known 
 as a hard-working and honest man, having many friends among his 
 neighbors and acciuaintances. 
 
 D. C. BENJAMIN. 
 
 JOHN WESTB ROOK— 1807. 
 
 John Westbrook was born in Castile, Wyoming Co., X. Y., Sept. 
 27. 1811. He is a son of S. K. and Maiy Westbrook. He is also 
 
314 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 jiffTf 
 
 J. WESTBROOK 
 
 one of the old soldiers of our civil war, bearing an honorable wound 
 
 which is noticeable to all who 
 meet him. He was a mem- 
 ber of Co. A, 104th N.Y.Vol. 
 Inf. in which he served as a 
 private about fifteen months. 
 From Aug. 9th to Sept. 17th 
 he was in seven battles and 
 lost a leg at the battle of An- 
 tietam. In April, 1867, he 
 came to Oceana Co., where he 
 has since resided. On Sept. 
 26, 1^68, he married Phebe 
 A. Ballon, and they have one 
 son and one daughter. jNIr. 
 Westbrook's business has 
 been that of a glove-maker 
 and farmer. At x^vesent he is 
 engaged in the manufacture 
 of broom handles. He has 
 held several offices, such as 
 Justice of the Peace, Town- 
 ship Treasurer, Highway Commissioner, Deputy Sheriff and Council- 
 man. As an upright, honorable man his word is as good as his bond 
 and no one hesitates to take either; hence it is not necessary for 
 us to state that his friends are legion. 
 
 JOSEPH TYLER— 1867. 
 
 Joseph Tyler was born at 
 Sturgis, Mich., Dec. 24, 1835. 
 He came to Oceana County 
 in 1867, and commenced the 
 clearing of a farm and cleared 
 seventy acres half way be- 
 tween Hart and Shelby vil- 
 lages. In 1882 he sold his 
 farm and engaged in the hard- 
 ware business at Shelby where 
 he continued for four years, 
 then selling his business to 
 Mr. A. R. McKinnon. He 
 built and now owns the store 
 building. He also owns a 
 farm of 100 acres known as 
 the old Peterson farm on the 
 town line one and one-half 
 
AND BUSINESS ME>f OF TO-DAY. 
 
 315 
 
 miles east of the State road in Shelby township. He lives in Shel- 
 by village, while his son Elmer conducts the farm. 'Mv. Tyler has 
 been twice married. In 1859 to Roselia Blanchard, by whom he 
 has one son and one daughter, the daughter now residing in Califor- 
 nia. His first wife dying in 1876, in 1877 he married his present 
 wife, Janette Stevens, by whom he has one son. Mr. Tyler has al- 
 ways taken an interest in public affairs and in 1886 was elected 
 Sheriff of the count}'. He has many friends in all parts of the Co. 
 
 CHART>ES W. FISHER— 1889. 
 
 diaries W. Fisher was born in Carbon Co., Pa., July 24, 1842. 
 His parents were Jacob and Mary Fisher. At the the breaking out 
 of the war he enlisted in Co. C, 
 3rd Penn. Cav. as a private 
 and served three years and 
 one month. In 18G6, Dec. 
 19th, he married INIiss Han- 
 nah J. Selser, and three chil- 
 dren, one boy and two girls, 
 now constitute their family. 
 In June, 1867, he came to 
 Oceana Co., si^ending about 
 a year at Pent water, then re- 
 turning to Pennsylvania 
 where he became Asst. Supt. 
 of the Lehigh Valley Coal Co. 
 He continued in that business 
 for about ten years when he 
 returned to this county, lo- 
 cating at Shelby and engag- 
 ing in the hotel business, and 
 for four 3'ears was known as 
 landlord "Wes," being a pop- 
 ular landlord with all classes. 
 
 About a year ago Mr. Fisher quitted the hotel business to engage 
 in the general mercantile business in which he still continues, and is 
 meeting with fair success. He has been elected Constable of his 
 township, and in March, 1890, was elected a Trustee of Shelby vil- 
 lage. He is an ardent G. A. R. man, a warm-hearted citizen, and a 
 kind husband and father. He enjoys as much as any man in Shel- 
 by the esteem and friendship of his neighbors. 
 
 .TAMES H. SLATER — 1867. 
 
 James H. Slater, the subject of this sketch, is a native Wolverine, 
 
 C. W. FISHER. 
 
316 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 having been born at Xiles, Berrien Co., Mich., Nov. 12, 1882. He 
 is a son of Henry J. and Lucy Slater. He came to Oceana Co. Aug. 
 
 15, 1867. He has followed 
 
 different occupations, having 
 been a grocer, hardware mer- 
 chant and shoemaker. He is 
 now engaged in the manufac- 
 ture of artificial limbs, at 
 which business he is kept bu- 
 sy, having more work in this 
 line than one not acquainted 
 with the business would sup- 
 pose. Oct. 3, 1852, he w-as 
 married to INIiss Clarissa E. 
 Wager, and one son and two 
 daughters have blessed their 
 union. JNIr. Slater has done 
 his part toward the mainte- 
 nance of the Union of the 
 States, having served as a 
 private in Co. K, 83rd Ills. 
 Inf. from Aug. 1,1862, to Ju- 
 ly 5, 1865. He is at present 
 prominent in G. A. R. affairs 
 and is one of the Past Commanders of Joe Hooker Post, at Hart. 
 As a civilian he has been called to various places of trust and hon- 
 or, among them Township Clerk, Village Clerk and Village Marshal. 
 He is a man who possesses in a marked degree the respect and es- 
 teem of all. 
 
 MARTIN BAKER— 1867. 
 
 Martin Baker, the subject of this sketch, was born in Chautaucxua 
 Co., N. Y., March 20, 1829. He was one of five children of Thomas 
 and Paulina Baker. His father died in Ripley, N. Y., April 14, '84, 
 and his mother at Barcelona, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1889. Mr. Baker liv- 
 ed with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, when the 
 California gold excitement attracted him and he decided to try his 
 fortune in the West. In 1852 he returned to his home and shortly 
 afterward married Miss Azubali Graham. In 1854 he came to 
 Michigan, settling in Hillsdale Co. where he engaged in photogra^Dhy 
 remaining until 1859. In that year he removed to Ripley, Chau- 
 tauqua Co., N. Y., and entered into the grocery and hardware busi- 
 ness. He was successful in this business and continued it until '67, 
 ■when he sold out and came to this county, locating in Claybanks, 
 where he purchased a half interest in his brother Joseph's farm; also 
 
 J. H. SLATER. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 317 
 
 conducting; a small tinshop. At this time he built the house -where 
 his family now reside. He resided upon the farm until the fall of 
 
 1880, when he removed to 
 Montague, where on Aug. 26, 
 
 1881, he died. The remains 
 were brought to Claybanks 
 and buried in Mount Hojie 
 cemetery. The funeral ser- 
 mon was j)reached by that 
 old i)ioneer minister, Rev. A. 
 A. Darling. Mr. Baker Avas 
 honored and respected by all 
 who knew him. He was for 
 several j^ears Supervisor of 
 his townshij), and a leading 
 member of the Grange. He 
 left to ]nourn his death, a 
 Avidow, one son, Frank L., 
 three brothers, Levi, Joseph, 
 and John W. Baker, and one 
 sister, Mrs. John Barber, all 
 now residents of Claybanks. 
 
 MARTIN BAKER. 
 
 EDWIN O. PECK, JR. — 1867. 
 
 Edwin O. Peck. Jr. 
 
 wns born at Williamsfield, Ashtabula Co.,0., 
 Jan. 11, 1840. At the age of 
 nine years he moved with his 
 parents to Richmond, same 
 county, where he remained 
 upon a farm until 1860. On 
 Oct. l-lth of that year he was 
 married to ^Iiss Adelaide Lan- 
 don, of Crawford Co., Pa. 
 His effects at that time con- 
 sisted of a horse and buggy, 
 which were sold to purchase 
 household goods. In Aug., 
 1863, he enlisted in Co. M, 
 2nd Ohio H. Art., leaving his 
 wife and babe in the care of 
 his and her parents. After 
 2 years of soldier life he was 
 E. o. PECK. mustered out of the service 
 
318 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 at Nashville, Tenn. That same day, his babe, then three years old, 
 died. In Sept., '73, he in company with his father, came to Oceana 
 Co. There was at that time but one frame building, the old Court 
 House, in Hart. He staid here about a week, then walked from 
 Amos Putney's house in Ferry to Ferrysburg and took the train 
 for home in Ohio. In Sept., 1867, he returned to Ferry where he 
 lias since resided. In April, 1873, his wife died leaving two little 
 girls to his care, Maud E., aged six years and Laura J., aged four 
 years. Mar. 29, 1874, he married Miss Matie Vanetten, and in Oct. 
 1877, their only child, Alida May, was born. His eldest child, 
 Maud E., was married Feb. 20, 1887, to Henry Heim. Her health 
 began to fail previous to her marriage, and on Dec. 23, 1889, after 
 enduring with Christian fortitude much pain and suffering, she was 
 called home where "the weary are at rest." Apr. 10, l!?87, Laura 
 J., his second daughter was married to Edwin D. Thomas, of Con- 
 neaut, Crawford Co., Pa. Mr. Peck has been an eye witness and an 
 earnest helper of the development of Oceana Co., it being a wilder- 
 ness when he came to it. He was a delegate to the County Conven- 
 tion that gave E. J. Reed the nomination for Sheriff, and since that 
 time has taken an earnest interest in ]iolitics. His party owe him 
 much for the work he has done in its behalf. He has held the ofiices 
 of Supervisor, Highway Commissioner two terms, Justice two 
 terms. Constable, and is now Deputy Sheriff. Most of his time in 
 the county has been sjient iTi the lumber woods and on liverdrives. 
 He was Superintendent of the White River drives one year, making, 
 three drives in one season, something that he claims has never been 
 accomplished before or since. This was during the summer of the 
 Mu.r>kegon strikes and the strikers offered to work for him at reduc- 
 ed wages, but he refused to take them, continuing to keep the wages 
 of his men up, thus securing the esteem of his men and good work. 
 
 EDWARD p. GREGORY— 1867. 
 
 Edward P. Gregory was born at Guilford, Vt., Aug. 20, 1830. He 
 is a son of Stephen and Hannah Gregory. He remained at the 
 l^lace of his birth until he was thirty-five years of age, then enlisted 
 in Co. I, 8th Vt. Inf., and was mustered in as sergeant and served 
 three years. He was at the battle of Port Hudson, La., which was 
 an almost continuous fight for forty daj^s. After the close of the 
 Avar he went to Nebraska whei'e he remained about one year, then 
 coming to Oceana Co. in 1867, locating on Sec. 29, Weare town- 
 ship, where he has since resided. He now has eighty-four acres of 
 land, fifty-four under improvement. On Sept. 23, 1868, he was 
 married to Miss Fannie F. Smith, a sister of N. C. Smith, of ^^'eare. 
 Mr. Gregory has been Supervisor one term, Highway Commissioner 
 
AXl) BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAY, 
 
 319 
 
 one term, and five yeai's a member of the School Board. He is 
 known in Ijis section as an honest, upright man, whose word is as 
 good as his bond. 
 
 CHARLES LAMONT— 18(58. 
 
 Charles Lamont, familiarly known as Captam Lamont, was born 
 near JNIontreal, Canada, Dec. 25, 1833. His parents were Lewis 
 and Helen Lamont, both of whom are dead, the mother dying in 
 1874 and father in 1885, both at Goderich, Can. He had one 
 brother, who is now located 
 at Seattle, Wash., and is a 
 man of means. No sisters. 
 Mr. Lament's early days 
 were spent at his birthplace 
 and in the city of Buffalo, N. 
 Y., where in 1864 he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Harriet Bates. 
 In early life he commenced 
 steamboating, and soon be- 
 came master of a steamboat, 
 which business he followed 
 until his death. In 1868, in 
 taking a tug around thelakes 
 he ran in at Pentwater for 
 fuel, and finding business good 
 decided to remain, sending 
 for his family. He continued 
 in that business until March 
 
 14, 1880, when he was drown- c. lamont. 
 
 ed. Mr. Lamont left a family consisting of a wife (now Mrs. H. 
 Mohrdiek), three daughters and two sons, Ethia, now Mrs. John- 
 ston, living at Seattle; Edith, now Mrs. Hutchinson, living at Pent- 
 water, and Charles Guy, Rutherford and Hattie, living witii their 
 mother at Pentwater. Mr. Lamont was known as an open-hand- 
 ed, free-hearted man, and in consequence of these traits possessed 
 many friends where known. 
 
 FAYETTE WALKER— 1868. 
 
 Fayette Walker was Ijorn at Warsaw', N. Y., Aug. 24, JS3S; and 
 is the son of Hiram F. and Alinira A. Walker. He was married on 
 Nov. 10, 1868, to Phebe I. Hoisington, on the same day started 
 for the West, and on Nov. 20th, found himself in the Township of 
 Leavitt, this county. Jan. 1, 1869, he commenced keeping house 
 on the S. W. ]^ of Sec. 2, where he lived one year. Then moving to 
 
320 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Sec. 22, Colfax, he remaiued until the fall of 1880. He then remov- 
 ed to Sec. 8, Leavitt, buying 
 a saw mill of Geo. Holt and 
 A. C. Stetson, which he con- 
 tmued to own and run until 
 the fall of 1882, then selling 
 to Dunham Ross. In '83 he 
 l)l<itted the now thriving town 
 of Walkerville and in 1884 
 built the mill he now owns 
 and runs, which consists of 
 saw, shingle, planing and feed 
 mill. In '78, Jan. 4, his wife 
 died, and Nov. 30, 18S2, he 
 was again married, this time 
 to Florence Hunger. Both 
 his wives were formerly of 
 Warsa w, N. Y., his birthplace. 
 He IS the father of five child- 
 ren four sons and one daugh- 
 ter. Mr. Walker has added 
 materially to the prosper- 
 F. WALKER. ity of his section, and the 
 
 town that bears his name 
 
 bids fair to become one of the leading villages of the county. 
 
 RALPH F. AMES— 1868. 
 
 Ralph F. Ames was born in 
 Scio, Alleghany Co., N. Y., 
 Aug. 28, '38, and was a son 
 of Abner A.and Louisa Ames. 
 He enlisted in Sept., 1862, in 
 Co. F. 1.51 Pa. Vol. Inf., and 
 served for twelve months. He 
 says "served my government 
 without squealing or kicking 
 for $13 per month and took 
 my pay in greenbacks." In 
 '60 came to this county and 
 has made his home here since. 
 He began life as a farmer in 
 1856, and has followed that 
 worthy occupation since. 
 Oct. 29, 1856, he married 
 Tirzah A. Chappell, and on 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN' OK TO-l)AY. 
 
 321 
 
 Dec. 2, 1863, he was again married, this time to Eunice M. Bigelow, 
 and he is the father of twelve children, five sons and seven daugh- 
 ters. ]Mr. Ames prides himself upon his adherence to one political 
 party through thick and thin. He has always been a republican. 
 
 JACOB FISHER— iSnS. 
 
 Jacob Fisher was born at \Villiamsi)ort . Pa.. Sept. 7. 1S4(5. He 
 is a son of Jacob and Mai'y Fisher. He lived with his i)a rents until 
 the age of 22 years, receiving a common .sehool education. He came 
 to Oceana Co. in May, 1868, 
 and since that time has been 
 engaged in various occupa- 
 tions. He was for some time 
 the landlord of the Imus 
 House at Pentwater, where 
 he was very popular with the 
 traveling pubHc. For a num- 
 ber of years he has owned 
 and run the steamer Wm. H. 
 Browne between Pentwater 
 and Ludington. Always a 
 gentleman and considerate of 
 the safety and comfort of his 
 passengers, he has been ena- 
 bled to do a good business in 
 this line and rumor says has 
 made money. He is a promi- 
 nent member of the Masonic J. fisher. 
 fraternity and the confidence 
 
 of the citizens of Pentwater has been manifested by hi.-' election as 
 Village Trustee. He was married in 1.^.^1 to Frances Amond, of 
 Grand Rapids. They have no children. 
 
 GEORGE W. IMUS— 1868. 
 
 George W. Imus was born in Bennington <'n.. V' . .'nly 14. 1^40, 
 and, like Stephen A. Douglas, emigrated voiiml!. coini;!.; to Michigan 
 when only four j-ears of age. He traces his ancestry back to revo- 
 lutionary times, his grandfather, William Imus, having been a sol- 
 S^ dier in that war, and his father, Alonzo, a soldier of the war of 
 1812. Upon coming to Michigan MTTTnuis settled with his parents 
 in Kent Co. near the now flourishing city of Grand Rapids, then a 
 small village of about 1,500 population. He attended district 
 school winters until fifteen years of age. then goin.i to Albion College 
 Avhere he remained three years. After leaving college he engaged in 
 
322 
 
 0("KANA COUNTY PIONEKliS 
 
 teachin::; which lie ^•oiitiimel until 1865, when he was mariied. He 
 
 then engaged in farming for 
 three years at the exjii ration 
 of which he sold his farm and 
 came to Oceana Co., locating 
 at Pentwater. He then en- 
 gaged in the mercantile busi- 
 ness until 1872, when he pur- 
 chased the weW known "Imus 
 House" at Pentwater, which 
 he still owns and which he has 
 kept most of the time. Mr. 
 Imus has held several offices 
 of trust, among which are 
 School Trustee, Village Trus- 
 tee and Supervisor of Pent- 
 water Township. His family- 
 consists of a wife and two 
 daughters, Georgia P. and Al- 
 berta J. L. Mr. Imus is also a leading member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity and one of the Past Masters of Oceana Lodge No. 200 F. & 
 A. M. He is also identified with the A. O. U. W. organization. He 
 is a mail of sound judgment and has given good satisfaction as a 
 Supervi or. 
 
 EDWARD A. WRIGHT— 1868. 
 
 Edward A. Wright, son of 
 Austin and Lydia Wright, 
 was born June 22, 1844, in 
 Hillsdale Co., Mich. He resid- 
 ed with his parents on a farm 
 until 1861, when he enlisted 
 in Co. G, 1 8th Mich. Vol. Inf. 
 and served as an Orderly 
 under Gen. R. S. Gi-angerfor 
 three years. After leaving the 
 army he returned to Hillsdale 
 Co., andshortly went to East- 
 man Business College, PouLili- 
 keepsie, N. Y. Leaving Col- 
 lege he returned to Jones ville, 
 Hillsdale Co., where he then 
 accepted a position in the 
 drug store of R. S. Varnuni 
 & Co., where he learned the 
 drug business. After leaving 
 
 A. WRIGHT. 
 
AND BUSINESS MKN OF TO-DAV. 
 
 323 
 
 the drug store, in ls6s he came to Oceana. Co., locatiiifj at Pentwa- 
 ter, where he soon engaged in the grocery and bakeiy l)usiness whicli 
 he continued for four years, then formed a copartnership with C. 
 W. Brown in the drug business. In 1876 he bought out his part- 
 ner's interest and has since continued the business alone. Mr. 
 Wright has been elected to various public offices, among them being 
 Supervisor of Pentwater two terms, Recorder of the village six 
 years and one year Trustee. He has always discharged the duties 
 of his offices without fear or favor, and has been urged to accept 
 others which he has declined. Manned Oct. 4, 1868, to Miss Eva 
 Tuller, and their family now consists of a daughter, Edna, born 
 March 4, 1877, and son, Willie, born Jan. 6, 1883. 
 
 HEXRY HURLEY— 18 68. 
 
 Henry Hurley was born at Belleville, Ont., Feb. 8, 1868. He was 
 one of seven children of Den- 
 nis and Ann Hurley. Of the 
 family there are still living 
 his mother at Belleville, Ont., 
 one brother, Jeremiah, and 
 one sister, INIary. The s\ib- 
 ject of our sketch spent his 
 early days at his birthplace 
 with his parents upon a farm. 
 In the sjiringof 1862 he came 
 to Michigan, living at Sagi- 
 naw a. short time and from /; 
 there drifting about until in 
 June, 1868, he came to this ^fi, 
 county, landing at Pentwater ',,• 
 where he engaged at his trade '■' 
 that of a carpenter, for a few 
 months, then as a foreman 
 upon the government piers 
 for Mr. C. Mears, and later 
 receiving the ai^pointment 
 
 from the Government of Superintendent of the work. In June, '72, 
 he accepted the position of Superintendent of Mr. Mears' lumber 
 business at Silver Lake on Little Pt. Au Sable. Here he continued 
 until 1884, when he returned to Pentwater to take charge of the 
 Middlesex Brick & Tile Co. business, continuing as the manager of 
 that business until his death. His death wa.-< very sudden and to- 
 tally unexpected. For some time he had been subject to strange 
 feelings, shortness of breath and weak spells. The night before he 
 
 H. HURLEY, 
 
324 
 
 (HE AN A COUNTY PiONEEUsi 
 
 died lie hnd severe chills and cold sweats, but was feeling; better in 
 the morning and in the evening seemed as well as usual. He retired 
 to rest at lii^ usual hour on Sunday evening, Apr. 28, 1889, his wife 
 not rtrtiring at the same time. He had been in bed about half an 
 hour when she hearing unusual sounds from him ran into his sleeping 
 room and found him in the agonizies of death, and in about five 
 minutes his spirit had departed. Mr. Hurley was married May 24, 
 '64, to Mary A. Donovan, who survives him, now residing at Mears. 
 He was the father of three children, Thomas J., Henry J. and John 
 F., who still survive. He was born and bred in the Catholic faith 
 to which he clung during life. He was buried by that denomination 
 Rev. Father Willigan officiating, May 1, lHb9. In his lifetime Mr. 
 Hurley affiliated politically with the democratic party, and an evi- 
 dence of his populai'ity is to be found in the fact that he was elect- 
 ed Su]>ervisor of Pentwater township which was at that time a re- 
 l^ubliran township. Slow to anger, but withal strenuous in defense 
 of his own and others' rights. Mr. Hurley possessed many warm 
 personal fi'iends to whom the announcement of his sudden death 
 was a i.ie.'it shock. 
 
 JOHN H. MOORE— 1868. 
 
 Jnl,:! •;. ]Moore, a son of Benjamin and Hannah Moore, was born 
 
 in Washtenaw Co., Mich. He 
 came to this county in 1868, 
 and has resided here since 
 that time. In 1878 he start- 
 ed in the lumber business and 
 was for six years manager of 
 the lumber dejiartment for 
 Wheeler & Bros, at Shelby. 
 He with D. R. Watters built 
 the Blooming Valley saw mill 
 which was burned in 1881. 
 Was also engaged forC. Rolpli 
 one year in the lumber busi- 
 ness. He bought the Shelby 
 grist mill in 1888, and the 
 next year formed the Shelby 
 Roller Mill Co. and together 
 with Mr. McLeod built the 
 Shelby roller mills, afterwards 
 selling h's interest to Mr. G. B. Getty. At present he is engaged in 
 lumbering. Mr. Moore was married in 1876 to Miss MaryC. Cutler 
 and now has two children, a son, Floyd, and daughter, Eda. Mr. 
 
 J. A. MMOllK. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAY. 
 
 325 
 
 Moore has seen considerable of pioneer life, enduring its hardships 
 and enjoying its sports. He has had many a pleasant time hunt- 
 ing bear by day and deer by night, and believes that pioneer life is 
 not all hardship. He is now well satisfied with his surroundings 
 and not inclined to grumble. 
 
 THOS. KELLY— 1868. 
 
 Thomas Kelly was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Jan. 31, '45. 
 His parents were John and Betsey Kelly. At the commencement 
 of our late civil war he enlisted in Co. I, 8th N. Y. Cav., and was 
 mustered as 1st Corporal, serving three years and two months. 
 Dec. 22, 1867, he was married to Miss Lucinda Prosser, who has 
 borne him one daughter who has since died. Nov. 3, 1868, he came 
 to Oceana Co., coming here at an early day in our history. Always 
 incapable of fear, what he 
 lacked in the advantages that 
 money brings he made up in 
 energy and pluck. Almost 
 continually in office, having 
 been Under Sheriff, Constable 
 and Village Marshal for many 
 years. No storm ever blew 
 hard enough to deter "Tom"' 
 from the execution of a duty. 
 He was the princii)al in fer- 
 retingoutthat great burglary 
 case in which C. Mears' store 
 at Meai's, and later, A. G. 
 Avery's store at Shelby were 
 burglarized and a large quan- 
 tity of goods stolen. Mr. 
 Kelly's shrewdness and cor- 
 rect management of the case 
 
 would liavedonecredit to an exjierienced Pinkerton detective; near- 
 ly all the stolen goods being returned to their owners. "Tom" is a 
 great lover of good horses and at present the happy possessor of 
 Goldwin, registered in Wallace's Register 8979, and a very x^romis- 
 ing animal; having cost him about $1,000. J. I.C. and Phallos are 
 half uncles to Goldwin who promises to equal the performances of 
 his illustrious relatives. In the enjoyment of the fruits of hai'd la- 
 bor he still resides in the county where he has made what property 
 he possesses. ]Mr. Kelly is now living at Shelby where he has a wide 
 circle of friends and acquaintances. 
 
 T. KELLY. 
 
326 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 WESLEY AND BERTIE ROLPH — 1868. 
 
 Wesley and Bertie Rolph, sons of Wm. and HannaRoIph are now 
 in i^artnership on tlie old home farm on the road between Shelby 
 and Hart villages. They are both pioneers of the county. Wesley, 
 born at Fullerton's Corners, Perth Co., Can., May 29, 1868, came 
 with his parents to this county in the fall of 1868, and Bertie was 
 born in this county in Slielby township, April 13, 1870. Their 
 father was a carpenter and farmer, and since his death they have 
 run the farm. It is now one of the best farms in the township. 
 The boys have won the i-espect and confidence of their neighbors. 
 
 WM. E. AMBLER — 1868. 
 
 See page 217. 
 
 MARK A. RICE— 1869. 
 
 Mark A. Rice was born at Greensburg, Trumbull Co., Ohio, Mar. 
 1, 1846. He is a son of Allen and Sophia Rice. He resided with 
 
 his parents at his birthi^lace 
 until eight years of age, and 
 at different places in Ohio 
 and Penn. until about 1858, 
 Avhen they came to Hillsdale, 
 Mich. Here he resided for 
 eight or nine years during 
 which time he was for 
 a short time a student 
 in Hillsdale College. While 
 there he learned the jeweler's 
 trade and later took up teleg- 
 raphy, securing a position on 
 the air line road. He contin- 
 ued this for a short time and 
 then secured a situation with 
 INIr. A. Gleason in the busi- 
 ness of die sinking. This he 
 was engaged at for four years 
 after which lie came to Pent- 
 water, in June, 1869, on a visit and decided to remain, making his 
 home here since. He commenced here as a watchman in the Moul- 
 ton & Flagg mill one season, filed for two years and then went to 
 work at the jewelry business with Mr. Jesse Root. When the rail- 
 road came he took the telegraph station up town and has held it 
 ever since. Finally he took the express also, and Mr. Root leaving 
 
 M. A. RICE. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 327 
 
 he after a time started a jewelry business of his own and has gi'ad- 
 ually added to it until at present he carries a good stock and does 
 a good business. He was one of the sufferers by the fire of Sept. 20, 
 1889, losing his building and considerable of his stock. On Aug. 6, 
 18S0, he married Mrs. ]Martha Craine, and one daughter, Marga- 
 ret, has been born to them. Mr. Rice has held the positions of Vil- 
 lage and Township Treasurers, and is now a member of the Com- 
 mon Council. A jovial, whole-hearted man he jDossesses many 
 friends. 
 
 GRIN WISWELL— 1869. 
 
 Orin Wiswell was born in Windham Co., Vt., in 1833. His par- 
 ents were James and Betsey Wiswell. He was raised upon a farm, 
 enjoying only the usual school benefits enjoyed by farmer's sons. 
 In 1859 he was married to 
 Frances S. Freeman, and 
 two sons have been born to 
 them. He was one of those 
 who answered to the call of 
 his country in her time of 
 I)eril; and went to the front 
 in Co. D, 4th Regt. Mich. Cav. 
 Heserved 22 months as a pri- 
 vate of that Co. He came to 
 Mich, in '56, located in Neway- 
 go Co. moving into Oceana Co. 
 Oct., 1869. He is familiar 
 with pioneer life, although his 
 first experience was not in 
 this county, but over the line 
 in Newaj-go Co. He has all 
 his life been engaged in farm- 
 ing, and is known as an hon- 
 est and upright man. He has 
 been honored by the electors 
 of his township with the i)Osi- 
 
 tion of Superintendent of Schools. He now has a farm on section 
 34, Ferry, of forty acres with thirty improved. Mr. Wiswell is a 
 member of R. M. Johnson Post No. 138, at Ferry, and has held the 
 office of Commander therein. 
 
 O. WISWELL. 
 
 JOSEPH SCHANER— 1869. 
 
 Joseph Schaner was born at Detroit, Mich., March 10, 1842. His 
 parents, Nicholas and Catherine Schaner, were of German descent. 
 
328 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 J. SCHANER. 
 
 structions. In addition to the 
 broad acres of land Mr. Schaner 
 has a tine brick residence, a view 
 of \Yhich is given on page 147 of 
 this book, three commodious 
 barns, a steam thresher and feed 
 miU. Mr. and Mrs. Schaner have 
 always been known as hard- 
 working, economical people, full 
 of push and energy. As a busi- 
 ness man Mr. S. is well known, 
 his word being as good as his 
 bond, and any man wanting work 
 is lucky to secure it of him as it 
 ahvays means cash. They have 
 had ten children, seven sons and 
 thi-ee daughters. 
 
 On Oct. 6, 1864, he married 
 Christina Wehren, who was 
 born in Holland, Aug. 21, '47 
 her parents being Lorenz and 
 Marie Wehren. Twenty days 
 after they were married they 
 arrived in Oceana Co. and lo- 
 cated upon their present farm. 
 At that time there were but 
 eighteen acres cleared, but 
 now there are 100 acres clear- 
 ed and free from stumps. He 
 may boast, without fear of 
 contradiction ot having one 
 of the finest farms in the coun- 
 ty. Where stumps abound 
 so universally as they do in 
 the county it is a pleasure to 
 "aze upon his broad fields, 
 smooth and clear of all ob- 
 
 MRS. J. SCHANER. 
 
 CHRISTIAN ANDREAS — 1869. 
 
 Christian Andreas was born at Niederdunzebach, Prussia, July 
 14, 1830. His parents were Conrad and Annie Andreas. He came 
 to America March 21, 1864, and settled in Ohio remaining there 
 until he came to this county April 16, 1869. He purchased 80 
 acres of school land on Sec. 16, in Leavitt township, and sent for 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAY. 
 
 329 
 
 his wife after he had raised a small log house. At that time there 
 were only sixteen settlors in the township. When he first came he 
 worked in lumber woods to support his faniily until he could clear 
 enough land on which to 
 raise his living. His nearest 
 point for trading was Pent- 
 w.ater, from which place he 
 backed his provisions. The 
 country was full of wild 
 beasts. One incident he 
 well remembers. One day 
 his children were out gather- 
 ing beech nuts and a bear 
 came into their midst. The 
 parents saw the af?air and 
 were thoroughly frightened. 
 The children that they might 
 not see the bear threw their 
 clothing over their heads, and 
 the bear went on without mo- 
 lesting them, to the great joy 
 
 C. ANDREAS. 
 
 of the ijarents. He worked four 
 years at first without any team, and 
 logged eight acres by hand. On June 
 18, 1853, he was married to Mary- 
 Schmidt, who was born in Prussia, 
 Feb. 12, 1828, being a daughter of 
 Henry and Christiana Schmidt. She 
 came to this county in June, 1869, 
 'and from that time to the present has 
 been a faithful helpmeet to her hus- 
 band. Her father was a farmer, and 
 at the age of sixteen years she com- 
 menced to work out and proved so 
 faithful that in ten years she changed 
 places but twice. When her husband 
 has been sick she has taken the child- 
 ren with her and gone into the logging fallow. She suffered from 
 fear of wild bea.sts and from loneliness considerable. She remem- 
 bers a terrible thunder storm in the middle of one night when she 
 was alone with the children, she gathered them in the middle of 
 the room expecting each moment the house Avould be destroyed. 
 They have six children, five sons and one daughter, who is now the 
 wife of Levi Vaughan. Mr. Andreas and his present surroundings 
 
 MRS. C. ANDREA? 
 
330 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 are illustrations of what pluck and energy will accomplish. When 
 he reached this county he had eleven cents left in his pocket. Now 
 he has 160 acres of land, J 00 under improvement; a two-story 
 house 18x26 with addition 16x16; woodhouse and shop 16x26; 
 barns 32x72 and 32x40; granary 20x2'^; wagon shed 18x20; ma- 
 chine houses 18x30 and 18x24; hog house 16x20. Farm fenced 
 with board fence. 21 head of cattle; 7 horses; 12 sheep; 10 hogs; 
 11 swarms of bees, and altogether one of the best appointed farms 
 in the township. His father, 89 years old Nov., 1889, lives with 
 him. 
 
 RANSOM SABIN — 1869. 
 
 Ransom Sabin was born in New York, June 19, 1836, being a son 
 of Ransom and Jane Sabin. He enlisted in Co. H, 2nd Missouri 
 Cav. and for nearly two years cared for the sick and wounded sol- 
 diers in hospital at Benton 
 Barracks, St. Louis, Mo. In 
 May, 1869, he came to Oce- 
 ana Co. and since coming here 
 has followed his profession of 
 physician and surgeon. He 
 owned a drug store at Beno- 
 na which was burned in 1870. 
 For fifteen years he lias resid- 
 ed at ShelbJ^ The first fifteen 
 years of his experience in this 
 county were full of hardships 
 •and toils, riding day or night 
 rain or shine, over new and 
 poor roads. His health fail- 
 ing he spent x^art of two win- 
 ters in the South, returning 
 to Shelby summers. Besides 
 attending to his professional 
 duties he has found time to 
 invent a folding pail, folding 
 baths and a portable pantry. He is also author of a book entitled 
 "Home Pleasures," published at Battle Creek, Mich. Mr. Sabin was 
 married in 1859 to Ann E. Prine, who died in 1861. Again mar- 
 ried in 1862 to Louisa M. Boll, who died in 1880. In 1886 he mar- 
 ried Elvira S. Halleck, his present wife. He has three children, two 
 sons and one daughter. 
 
 FRANKLIN M. MEYERS— 1869. 
 
 Franklin M. Meyers, born at Independence, Iowa, Feb. 4, 1859^ 
 
 R. SABIN. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 331 
 
 is a son of Peter and Betsey A. Meyers. He came to Oceana Co. on 
 Aug. 20, 1869, and has since 
 resided in Benona and Sliel- 
 by. In 1883 he liad the posi- 
 tion of Assistant Postmaster, 
 in 1887 was Clerk of Benona 
 township and in 1888 was 
 Clerk of Shelby township. 
 May 11, 1885, he married 
 Miss Emma Boughner, and 
 their union has been blessed 
 with one child, a son. Mr. 
 Meyers is now connected with 
 Messrs. I. E. Ilgenfritz and 
 Sons as their agent for the 
 sale of fruit trees and other 
 nursery stock in this county. 
 He has been a success in the 
 business because of his push 
 and energy. He is widely and 
 favorably known and has 
 
 many friends. He is a leading member of Shelby I^odge No. 341, I. 
 O. 0. F., having just finished a term of office as Secretary and com- 
 menced a term as Vice Grand of that lodge. 
 
 F. M. ISIEYERS. 
 
 BENJAMIN F. ARCHER— 1869. 
 
 Benjamin F. Archer was 
 born at Jamestown, Indiana. 
 His parents were Beniamin 
 and Sophronia Archer. When 
 three years old he came with 
 his parents to Branch Co., 
 Mich., and lived there until 
 1861, assisting his father in 
 clearing a farm summers and 
 attending district school win- 
 ters. Being in a new country 
 and with limited means, his 
 chances for an education were 
 not good. On April 9, 1861, 
 in response to his country's 
 call, he enlisted in Co. C, 1st 
 Mich. Inf. as i^rivate and 
 served three months, the 
 
332 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 time for which he enlisted. Discharged in Aug., 1861, returned 
 home. The following February, his father, then 57 years of age, 
 enlisted in Co. A, 15th Mich. Inf. and was killed at the battle of 
 Shiloh. In July, 1862, the subject of our sketch again enlisted, this 
 tmie in Co. G, 4th INIich. Cav., for three years, as a private. He 
 served the full time, being in 25 hard fought battles besides many 
 skirmishes, having two horses killed under him, but being fortunate 
 enough to escape without a scratch. He was dischai'ged as Com- 
 missary Sergeant, July 8, 1865. It was his regiment that captured 
 Jeff. Davis. Nov. 1,1866, he was married to Miss Eunice J. Barber, 
 of Quincy, Mich. They have had nine children, seven sons and two 
 daughters. On Feb. 4, 1869, with all of his effects in one wagon, 
 consisting of some bedding, a few dishes, and three months' provis- 
 ions, he started for Oceana Co. arriving here on the eleventh of the 
 same month. He first settled on Sec. 36, Ferry township, where he 
 has cleared up a farm of fifty acres which he still owns and man- 
 ages. That section was then covered with a very heavy growth of 
 beech and maple timber. The farn:i is now well fenced, with good 
 orchard and buildings. In 1886 he moved to Ferry village and en- 
 gaged in the hardware business, being the first and only hardware 
 in Ferry, which business he still follows. In 1887 he opened a tin 
 shoiD in connection and manufactures nearly all the tin handled in 
 the shop. His oldest son, Charles B., runs that part and is now 
 one of the best tinners in the county. Mr. Archer has taught two 
 successful terms of school. Has been Supervisor, Treasurer and 
 Justice of the Peace in his township, and Notary Public. In 1887, 
 was appointed Postmaster at Ferry. 
 
 MRS. EUNICE J. ARCHER. 
 
 Mrs. Eunice J. Archer was 
 born in Branch Co., March 17, 
 1850. Her parents' names were 
 Alson and Phebe Barber. Mrs. 
 Archer was the youngest of nine 
 children. Her mother died when 
 she was but seven years of age, 
 leaving the family much broken 
 up. When nine years old she 
 left home to live wdth an uncle 
 with whom she lived two and a 
 half years, then going back to 
 keep house for her father, the 
 older children being grown up 
 and scattered. Five of her 
 brothers responded to the call 
 for troops and went into the 
 army. After about another 
 year and 'a half she left home 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAY. 
 
 333 
 
 and worked by the week in different places until the fall of 1866, 
 when she met and married Mr. Archer. Since then the years have 
 been sj^ent in a wife's work and a mother's duty. For two years 
 she owned a millinery shop, but her health failing she was compell- 
 ed to sell out. She then went to Ann Arbor for treatment, spend- 
 ing four weeks there and having two operations performed. Since 
 then her health has been slowly improving. She has suffered much 
 from ill health, but has borne her sufferings with fortitude. 
 
 JAMES A. AVEYANT— 1869. 
 
 James A. Weyant was born Jan. 13, 1843, in Brutus, Cayuga Co. 
 N. Y. His father, George Weyant, was born March 28, 1808, in Or- 
 ange Co., N. Y. Moved to Cayuga Co. in 1834, where he purchased 
 
 a farm of 100 acres. In May 
 of the same year he married 
 Amanda Mapes and they liv- 
 ed upon the same farm, where 
 James A. Was born, over fif- 
 ty years. The subject of our 
 sketch was named after his 
 grandfather, James Weyant, 
 Avho was a Quartermaster in 
 the U. S. army in the war of 
 1812, and lived to be over 80 
 years of age. James A. spent 
 his early days on his father's 
 farm attending district school 
 until sixteen years of age 
 Avhen he went to an academy 
 for two years. At this time 
 the war broke out and he en- 
 listed in the fall of '61, in the 
 19th N. Y. Inf., which afterwards became the 3rd N. Y. Light Art., 
 and served in the campaign in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina 
 and South Carolina, participating in several sharp engagements. 
 Received an honorable discharge at the expiration of his term, June 
 2, 1863. With health injured from exposure, and especially by the 
 malaria of the swamps of North Carolina, being quartered in and 
 about Newberne, N. C, for nearly a year, he returned to his home 
 and remained with his father off and on until Jan. 1, 1S67, when he 
 was married to Miss Phebe V. Green, of Highland Mills, Orange Co., 
 N. Y. In Dec, 1860, he came to Oceana Co., living in Weare until 
 fall of '70, when he moved into Elbridge. Taught school in Hart 
 township m 71-2, and in Elbridge in '72-3. In '72 he purchased 80 
 
 J. A. WEYANT. 
 
334 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 acies of land on Sec. 24, Hart, where he now resides. Mr. Weyant 
 was converted in early life uniting with the M. E. Church at Hart 
 June 19, '70. In '74 he received a license and began to preach the 
 gospel, preaching in Elbridge, Crystal, Leavitt, Colfax, Ferry and 
 other localities until Sept., '76, when he was appointed pastor at 
 Freesoil, Mason Co., where he remained one year. He was at Cad- 
 illac '77-H, Fyfe Lake '79, Spencer Creek '80-1, Bear Lake '82-3, 
 Milbrook '84, Browne '8.5, Danley '86-7, Coral, '88, Saranac 89. 
 In '78 he was ordained a Deacon and in '82 an Elder. He^jreached 
 thirteen successive years, receiving during the time about three hun- 
 dred niembei's besides other tokens of acceptable work. Sept. '89, 
 his health failing he returned to his home in Hart township, suffer- 
 ing from throat difficulties Mr. Weyant has three children, two 
 sons and one daughter; Fred N., now a junior in Albion College, 
 James E., residing at home, and Sarah A., also at home. Having 
 shared somewhat largely the cares and hardships of pioneer life 
 conserves to make him a friend to those struggling in new localities. 
 
 CHARLES R. JOHNSON~1870. 
 
 Charles R.Johnson is the eldest of four children, two boys and 
 
 two girls, born to David and 
 Lydia E. Johnson. He was 
 born at Hastings, Mich., June 
 2, 1862. Moved with his par- 
 ents to Olivet, Eaton Co., 
 Mich., where he lived until 
 eight j^ears of age, when they 
 moved to Hart, Mich., this 
 occurring in 1870. His fath- 
 er engaged in the hardware 
 business. He attended the 
 high school at Hart and took 
 a two years course in the Ag- 
 ricultural College at Lansing. 
 In 1888, April 14th, he enter- 
 ed the Hon. W. E. Ambler's 
 law office as a student, and 
 was admitted to practice in 
 1887. He remained with Mr. 
 Amliler until Jan., 18S9. Nov. 1, 1889, he purchased the insui'- 
 ance business of J. W. Loomis, was also appointed express agent 
 and is now engaged in the practice of the law, and managing the in- 
 surance and express business. In Jan., 1890, he married Miss Jen- 
 nie Lewis, a daughter of one of Pentwater's first settlers, Mrs. I. N. 
 Lewis. 
 
 ry/i!i::'W:-:''>:: 
 
 7. 
 
 C. R. JOHNSON. 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 335 
 
 OLA UK B. 
 
 Clark B. Genung, of Golden, 
 ben Co., N. Y., March 20, '48. 
 His parents' names were N. 
 E. and Sophia Gennng. He 
 came to Michigan in 1869, 
 and Dec. 18, 1870, to Oceana 
 Co. March 18, 1H68 he was, 
 married to Emma V.EoIsom, 
 who died Oct. 10, 1^79, leav- 
 ing three children, one daugh- 
 ter and two sons. Nov. 9, 
 1880, ]\Ir. Genung married 
 Jennie L. Baker, who was 
 born in Erie Co., N. Y., Feb. 
 13, 1861, and the daughter of 
 M. C. Baker, a pioneer of the 
 Co. One son and one daugh- 
 ter have been born to them. 
 
 INIr. Genung is a hard-work- 
 ing, enterprising and energetic 
 man. Since locating in tlvs 
 
 GENUNG— 1870. 
 
 Oceana Co., Mich., was born in Steu- 
 
 r. B. GENUNG. 
 
 county he has been engaged in 
 lumbering and farming. He 
 owns a tine, well improved farm 
 located next to the village of 
 Mears. When he moved upon 
 the place there was not a house 
 in sight. He has an orchard of 
 1,.300 fruit trees growing, and in 
 1890 sets 500 more. The 
 popular breed of Poland China 
 swine was first introduced into 
 Golden by him, and it is an open 
 question if he was not the first 
 to bring pure bloods of this 
 breed into the county. He has 
 held the following official posi- 
 tions in his township, viz.: Treas- 
 urer two years; Supervisor three 
 years, and Justice of the Peace 
 four years. 
 
 MRS. C. B. GENUNG 
 
 iffcfi' 
 
336 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 MARTIN S. PERKINS— 1870. 
 
 Martin S. Perkins was born in East Penfield, now Webster, Mon- 
 roe Co., N. Y., Nov. 15, 1832. He lived m that county until Sept. 
 1841, when with his parents he moved to Coldwater, Branch Co., 
 Mich. As a boy M. S. was of a combative disposition, until July, 
 
 1848, when he met a lad from 
 Ohio, by the name of Smith. Af- 
 ter they had been together a few 
 minutes Martin's father came 
 along and assisted him home. 
 His mother thought algood deal 
 of him and plastered him up so 
 that he was able to attend 
 school the next winter. He re- 
 .v.^ membered the event distinctly 
 ""■ ' until about the j^ear 1883, when 
 he met another fellow by the 
 name of Kilbeck. He weighed 
 only 210 lbs. After this meeting 
 H.C. Flagg led him home andlie 
 has since been a quiet 'citizen. 
 
 Aug. 1(), 1852, he married Ma- 
 ria J. Tibbits, who was born in 
 Ihe town of Plymouth, Wayne 
 
 M. S. PKRKIXS. 
 
 Co. Mich., on the 2nd day of 
 Nov., 1832. Six children have 
 been born to them,foui'or whom 
 are still living. They also re- 
 joice in having thirteen grand- 
 children. They lived in South- 
 ern Michigan until 1868, when 
 they moved to Mason Co. and 
 built a mill at Bass Lake. Liv- 
 ed there two years and tlien 
 moved to Pentwater where they 
 have since resided. Since living 
 m Pentwater ISIr. Perkins has 
 worked for Moulton & Flagg two 
 years. Underbill one year, run 
 
 MRS. M. S. PERKINS. 
 
 the ferry two years, was in the livery business two years, and now 
 runs the 'bus, carries mail, handles baggage, etc., and insists that 
 he is still young and happy. He has been a republican in politics 
 since the birth of the party, and has held many local offices 
 conferred by the same. During the war he enlisted in Co. M, 11th 
 
AND BUSIKESS MEN OF TO-DAV. 
 
 337 
 
 Mich. Cavalry at the formation of the regiment. Was prom )ted to 
 2nd Lieut. Feb 1, 1864, and again iDromoted to 1st Lieut on the 
 14th daj' of November, the same year, and resigned the 24:th day 
 of June, 1865, at the consolidation of the 11th with the 8th regi- 
 ment. 
 
 L. E. JOHNSON — 1870. 
 
 Louis E. Johnson was born in Barry Co.. ^licli., June 17, 1863, 
 and IS the second son of David and Lydia E. Johnson. His father 
 will be long remembered in this county as one of its most effii'ient 
 Judges of Probate. The subject of our sketch came to this county 
 with his parents in July, 1870, and has resided here since. On Nov. 
 13, 1887, he married Miss Minnie L. Tilden. He held the position 
 of Deputy Co. Clerk in 1887. His 
 trade is that of a tinner, having 
 spent a number of years in learn- 
 ing it and in clerking in a hard- 
 ware store thus fitting himself for 
 his i^resent business. Nov. 2U, 
 1889, he opened a hardwai-e 
 store at Walkeiville where he 
 still remains. It is liisintention 
 to always be on deck with a full 
 line of heavy and shelf hardware, 
 windows, sash, doors and blinds, 
 glass, putty, oils, paints, etc., 
 plows, harrows, mowers, reap- 
 ers and binders and all kinds of 
 agricultural implements, wag- 
 ons, sleighs and cutters will be 
 furnished of any make desired. 
 A complete line of parlor and 
 heating stoves always in stock. 
 
 He will make a specialty of tin and sheet iron work, er. \e troughs 
 and general repairing. So far as style and quality of work and 
 goods, prices, and in fact reasonable satisfaction are concerned he 
 guarantees them. By strict attention to business, prompt dispatch 
 of any work entrusted to him and one price to all he hopes to merit 
 and receive the patronage of the residents in his vicinity. He ex- 
 tends a general invitation to all to call. 
 
 L. E. JOHNSON. 
 
 WILLIAM J. TENNANT — 1869. 
 
 William James Tennant, the subject of this sketch, was born in 
 the city of Glasgow, Scotland, on the 5th dny of Feb., 1839. Hig 
 
338 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 parents were William and Rachel Tennant. He resided there until 
 the month of Feb., 1848, when he emigrated, with his parents, to 
 America. Was married Sept. 12, 1858, to Jane Covenej', oldest 
 daughter of Joseph Coveney, of Buchanan, Berrien County, Mich. 
 Came to Oceana Co. with his family on the 10th day of May, 1869, 
 and settled in the township of Elbrid^e, where he now resides, it be- 
 ing then an almost unbroken wilderness. As a public servant he 
 has held the office of Justice 12 years, Township Clerk one year. 
 Supervisor three years. One year while Supervisor was cliosen 
 Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. In all of these offices has 
 discharged his duties with a clear record. He has raised a family 
 of seven children, three boys and four girls. Four of his children 
 have been successful teachers in the public schools of tlie county. 
 His son William, twenty-four years of age, was killed by the falling 
 of a windmill tower at Mears on July 13, 1883. The rest of his 
 children are living at this time. Sixteen years of his hfe were spent 
 at carpenter and joiner work, and twelve years trying to clear up a 
 farm. Seven years ago he commenced the business of putting down 
 tubular wells and erecting windmills, at which he is engaged at the 
 present time, having made a successful record. His work may be 
 found all over this county, and part of Mason and Newaygo coun- 
 ties, and parties in need of that kind of work need never be afraid 
 to employ him for they will be sure to get a good job. 
 
 EZEKIEL, J. SHIRTS— 1871. 
 
 Ezekiel J. Shirts was born at New Lisbon, Columbia Co., Ohio, 
 Marfh 1 o, 1825. His parents were Samuel and Eliza Shirts. He 
 moved io Indiana in 1845, but returned in 1847. In 1853 he en- 
 
 g.aged in the grocery business 
 which he continued for three 
 years; then worked at his trade 
 carpenter and jonier. In 1864 
 he located at Lansing, Mich, en- 
 gaging in the mercantile busi- 
 ness there until 1871, when he 
 moved his stock to Shelby. He 
 built the first store building on 
 the village plat, putting in the 
 first stock of goods. At that 
 time only three families re- 
 sided on the ijlat. He had to 
 pay the freight upon his goods 
 at Whitehall, there being no de- 
 pot or agent at Shelby until la- 
 ter. He has since made Shelby 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 339 
 
 his home and is now engaged in buying wool, fruit, etc., for ship- 
 ment. Mr. Shirts was Deputy Sheriff si.x years in Ohio and Ind. 
 and has held the same position four years in this county. Married 
 July 10, 1852, Miss Elizabeth Imhoff, who was born Jan. 2G, 1835, 
 in Wayne Co., Ohio. They have had four children, three sons and 
 one daughter. Mr. Shirts had four brothers in the army and was 
 himself active in recruiting, now holding three certificates as Cap- 
 tarn. He has held the appointment of Notary Piil)lic for twenty- 
 five years. 
 
 ALBERT G. AVERY— 1871. 
 
 Albert G. Avery was born at Poquitaniick, Conn., Feb. 2, '43. 
 His parents were Erastus and Caroline Avei-y. lii the fall of 1869 
 he went to work for C. Mears 
 at Lincoln, Mason Co., and 
 continued in his employ at 
 different points for nearly six 
 years. He has lived in vari- 
 ous places in this county. 
 Pent water, Mears and Hes- 
 j)eria. Also resided for a time 
 at Whitehall. He came to 
 this county in the spring of '71 
 and in '81 located at Shelby, 
 engaging in the gen'l merchan- j*^ 
 dise business which he has 'Iv 
 since followed successfully, ^ 
 being able at this time to dis- 
 count all purchases. In reli- 
 gion Mr. Avery is a INIetho- 
 dist, but in belief holds the 
 doctrine of the universal sal- 
 vation of the whole human 
 
 race. In politics he was raised and lived a republican for years, 
 but now holds the opinions of a reformei-. He married at Pent- 
 water, Dec. 25, 1871, Loranda T. Hills. As a business man he is 
 exact and prompt. As a gentleman the peer of any, and as a citi- 
 zen pul)lic-spirited and open-handed. 
 
 -. j.yy/ji/iyf/ee 
 
 A. G. AVKRY. 
 
 LEWIS L. TAYLOR— 1871. 
 
 Lewis L. Taylor was born at Otego, Otsego Co., N. Y., Apiil 8, 
 1829, his parents being John C. and Mercy Taylor. He remained 
 on the farm with his parents at his birthplace until six years of age 
 when tliey moved to Erie Co., Pa. Here he remained with his par- 
 
340 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 L,. L. TAYLOR. 
 
 ents until the ageof seventeen years, when he branched out for him- 
 self, going to Clarion County and commencing work in the lumber 
 ■woods. He remained at that work for about six years and then 
 went into the square timber business in Warren County, which he 
 continued tor four years. Working at different things in different 
 places for a short time, he then became a pilot upon the Tionesta 
 Creek, piloting lumber and logs. He continued at this employment 
 for about twelve years, then going from one business to another 
 until 1871, when he came to Oceana Co., locating on Sec. 7, Leavitt, 
 and has since been engaged in farming. He now has one of the best 
 farms in the county, consisting of 240 acres, 200 acres improved, 
 ■with a large and commodious house, two large barns, with various 
 outbuildings. Mr. Taylor married Aug. 28, '57, Miss Emilj- J. Red- 
 dington, by whom he had two children, Frank W., who was injured 
 in the woods Jan. 23 and died Feb. 1, 1884, and Mercy A., who is 
 now the wife of Raymond Ross, living on Sec. 12, Elbridge. His 
 wife died March 31, 18<32, and he was again married Sej)t. 10, '69. 
 
AND BL'SIN'ESS MEN OF T(J-DAY. 
 
 34:1 
 
 MRS. L. L. TAYLOR. 
 
 His second wife was ]Mi>. liUcy A. Po!T (Ha!!) and they have had 
 four children, 'Emily J., Lenor;i V., C'l arlts L. and Fiank W., all of 
 whom are living at home. Mrs. Lucy A. Taylor was born in Erie 
 Co., Pa., Jan. 5, 1845. She lived upon a farm with her parents un- 
 til she was mai-ried in 1865 to Daniel W. PofT, by whom she has 
 one child, Daniel W., now living in Ptrry Co., Miss. Her tlrst hus- 
 band died in Oct., 1868. Mrs. Taylor has always been a careful, 
 frugal housewife, and has fully done her share in a'jcumulating what 
 they now possess. Mr. Taylor has always been a pushing man. 
 ■what might be termed a "hustler." He has irade several small for- 
 tunes during his life and now possesses sufficient to keep him the 
 balance of his days in comfort. He has held the office of .histice 
 and was for three years Superintendent of the Poor I'oi- Oceana Co. 
 He has never sought pul)lic office, but when holding any has dis- 
 charged its duties fearlessly. 
 
 THEODORE p. I AVDOX— 1S71. 
 
 Theodore P. Landon, now a resident of Ftuy, was born in Con- 
 neat township, Crawford Co., Pa., Au ■. 9, 1-39. His pai'ents wei'e 
 
842 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Daniel and Nancy Landon. Another son of this same couple was 
 Daniel Landon, who died while filling the office of Judge of Probate 
 of this county in 1887. Mr, Landon enlisted as a private in Co. J, 
 2nd Pa. Cav., in which he served fifteen months. In 1871 he came 
 to Oceana Co. He has been Justice of the Peace eight years and 
 township Clerk two years, of Ferry township. By trade he is a car- 
 penter and joiner but his present business is Notary Public, real es- 
 tate agent and clerk in store. Mr. Landon possesses manj' friends 
 and acquaintances and is a man who is universally esteemed. He 
 is a prominent member of the G. A. R. and has been honored with 
 different offices in that organization and been offered more that he 
 would not accept. 
 
 SAMUEL D. POSTER — 1871. 
 
 Samuel D. Foster, farmer and fruit grower in Benona township, 
 first saw the light of day in the town of Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y., 
 May 23, 1850. His parents' names were Ozias and Josephine. He 
 actiuired a good common school education and adopted farming as 
 his occupation. He came to Oceana Co. in 1871 with C. A. Ses- 
 sions. He married Lettie J. Easton, who has borne to him five 
 children, four sons and one daughter. He has a fine fruit farm lo- 
 cated on sections five and eight, being in all 160 acres, wherehe now 
 lives. He has 1,850 trees growing, 1,500 peach and the rest apple, 
 plum and cherry. In the spring of 1890 he set 1,100 more trees. 
 Of the 120 acre farm he has 90 acres improved and 1\^ of the 40 
 acres. Mr. Foster is a clever calculator, energetic and pushing. He 
 has made a success of his business although still a young man. 
 
 EBENEZER B. 
 
 CLARK— 18G3. 
 
 Ebenezer B. Clark was 
 born in Lower Canada, near 
 Montreal, m '31, March 9th. 
 He comes of Welsh and Irish 
 stock. He acquired a good 
 education. In 1861 he came 
 to White River, and in 1863 
 he moved to Pentwater and 
 started the first ijhotograph 
 gallery in the county. Many 
 of the daguerreotypes taken 
 by Mr. Clark are still to be 
 found in the homes of the old 
 pioneers. In 1867 he was 
 elected Justice of the Peace 
 and has seen twenty-two 
 years continuous service in 
 that office. He has also been 
 
AND BUSINESS MKN OF TO-DAY 
 
 343 
 
 Township Clerk several times, and Village Assessor. He is a gentle- 
 man of engaging appearance and is quite popular with the people. 
 He is public-spirited and always lends a helping hand in developing 
 the interests of Pentwater and vicinity. He has three sons who 
 are living. 
 
 DEWITT C. WICKHAM— 1872. 
 
 DeWitt C. Wickhani is the name of one who from one end of the Co. 
 to the other is popularly known as "Geo." Wickham. He was born 
 Dec. 7, 1H43, at Yates, Orleans Co., N. Y., to Samuel K. and Lucy 
 A. Wickham. He received a good common school education and 
 was preparing himself for one of the professions when the war broke 
 out and uj)on call for volun- 
 teers he enlisted in the army, 
 serving three years in the 
 129th Inf. and 8th N. Y. Art. 
 He enlisted as a private and 
 came out as 1st Lieut, of Co. 
 A, of the latter regiment. In 
 1872, Oct 22, he came to 
 Pentwater. Has been Supt 
 of U. S. Gov. Works since '74 
 In 1886 he was elected Regis- k-; 
 ter of Deeds for Oceana Co ,t 
 and in 1888 re-elected by a . 
 largely inci'eased majoritj 
 He has held the office of Trus 
 tee of the village of Pentwatt i 
 six years, and been a membt i 
 of the School Board for six 
 years. In politics he is a re- 
 IDublicanof thestalwart kind. 
 
 Has an oi^inion upon political issues and is ready at all times to 
 give it. He is a forcible and eloc[uent speaker, and his services up- 
 on the platform are in frequent demand. Dec. H, lb73, he married 
 Addie M. Connell, who has been to him a faithful, loving wife. The 
 union has been blessed with four children, two of whom, one daugh- 
 ter and a son are living. JMr. Wickham has left the impress of his 
 character and work upon the locality, nearly every public improve- 
 ment haxing received his support and active services. 
 
 D. C. WICKHAM. 
 
 PETER HANSEN— 1872. 
 
 Peter Hansen was born in Denmark, May 26, 1837. He is a son 
 of Hans and Anna Marie Peterson. He came to Oceana Co. in '72, 
 
344 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 P. HANSEN. 
 
 comprises 173 acres, 55 acres 
 cleared. There is also an or- 
 chard of two acres containing 
 various kinds of fruit trees. 
 They have a one-story frame- 
 house, a frame barn 50x50 
 feet, and a granary 20x30 
 feet, besides other buildings. 
 Mr. Hansen is considered as 
 one of the substantial farm- 
 ers of his section, and both 
 he and. his estimable wife are 
 highly respected. 
 
 and in the following year com- 
 menced farming on section 7 
 of Weare township. Previ- 
 ous to that time he had been 
 a laborer. He has held the 
 oftice of Justice of the Peace 
 in Weare and takes a strong 
 interest in the schools of his 
 township. Oct. 25, 1863, he 
 married Anna Christine Nel- 
 son, who was born in Den- 
 mark March 23, 183S. She 
 is a daughter of Nels and. 
 Anna Marie Mortensen. She 
 has been a dressmaker. They 
 have two children, a son and 
 a daughter. Their farm on 
 section seven, Weare, is in a 
 fine state of cultivation and 
 
 ■"^^ 
 
 /^f'"' 
 
 MRS. P. HANSEN. 
 
 LOUIS M. HARTWICK— 1872. 
 
 Louis M. Hartwick is the son of William M. and Mary L. Hart- 
 wick. He was born at Mishawaka, Ind., Feb. 14, 1848, and lived 
 there until eleven years of age, when he accompanied his parents to 
 Kansas, then a new State and the scene of many^a bloody struggle 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-UAY. 
 
 345 
 
 L. M. HARTWICK. 
 
 between the contending factions of pro-slavery and free-state men. 
 He came to Micliigan in 1860 and settled in Pent water, Oceana Co. 
 in January, 1872. He acquired Lis education in the Mishawaka 
 Higli Schools, Hillsdale College, and the Michigan University. He 
 graduated from the law department of that institution March 30, 
 1870, the youngest member of his class. March 16, 1870, upon ex- 
 amination in open Court, conducted by Judge Joslin, Judge Beakes 
 and Robert Fraser, he was granted a certificate of admission to the 
 Washtenaw County Bar._ H« practiced law in Jonesville, Mich., 
 two years, then removed to Pentwater where he has since resided. 
 Politically he is a republican, having never voted any other tick- 
 et. He has held the following otlicial iDositions in Oceana Co., viz.: 
 Justice four years, U. S.Dep.Coll. of Customs five years, Village Re- 
 corder one year, Village Attorney seven years, Village President one 
 year, County Supt. of the Poor two years. Circuit Court Commis- 
 sioner two years, Prosecuting Attoiney three j-ears. Mar. 1, 1880, 
 he purchased and has since conducted the publication of the Pent- 
 water News. Dec. 17, 1871, he married Alice A. Tuiler, of Jones- 
 ville, which union has been blessed with three children now living: 
 Louis W., Royal T., and Lilian M. He has one brother, H. D. 
 Hartwick, a resident of Weare, and two sisters, ]Mrs. S. Andrus, of 
 
346 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Hart, and Mrs. Rose Hart wick Thorpe, of San Diego, California, 
 now living. 
 
 GEORGE WYCKOFF— 1872. 
 
 George Wyckoff, of Golden, Michigan, is a native of Ohio, the son 
 of Jacob and Hannah Wyckoff. He was born in Geauga Co., Dec. 
 3, 1832. He acquired a good common school education. For 
 many years he engaged in lumbering and land looking. It was the 
 
 =5^ 
 
 G. WYCKOFF. 
 
 latter occupation that bro't 
 him to Oceana County in Ju- 
 ly, 1872. He owns a fine 
 farm, picturesquely located 
 upon the beautiful little lake 
 known as Round Lake. He 
 is of a jovial disposition and 
 enjoys life as he goes along. 
 Aug. 23, 1856, he mai*ried 
 Sarah H. Tice, who still con- 
 tinues his loving and faithful 
 helpmeet. Two children have 
 been born to them, both sons 
 now grown to manhood. 
 Since locating in Oceana Co. 
 his business has been farming 
 in which he has been very suc- 
 cessful. He has been Super- 
 visor of his township four 
 years and Treasurer of Oce- 
 ana County four years. 
 
 GEORGE W. WOODWARD— 1872. 
 
 George \V. Woodward was born in Ellerj^ Chautauqua Co.,N. Y., 
 Feb. 3 7, 1825. His parents were i)aniel and Margaret Woodward. 
 He came to Michigan in 1843 and in 1845 moved to Ottawa Coun- 
 ty where he remained until 1872, \\ hen he came to Oceana Co. and 
 located at Shelby. In 1845 he was married to Roana Nowlen who 
 died soon afterwards, and in February, 1852 he married Martha 
 Bullen, his present wife. He now has three children living, one son 
 and two daughters. His daughter Ida has long been known in the 
 county as an earnest and effective temperance worker. In 1861 
 Mr. Woodward enlisted as a private and served his country as one 
 of her bravest soldiers for nearly four years. He was promoted 
 from the ranks to Sergeant, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, 
 Captain and Major, each time for meritorious conduct on the field 
 of battle. He is now a prominent member of the G. A. R. and 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 347 
 
 has held the office of Coni- 
 jnander of Shields Post. In 
 civil life he has been honored 
 with numerous offices, having 
 been elected and held in Ot- 
 tawa, Kent and Oceana Coun- 
 ties the following offices: 
 Treasurer of Ottawa Co. one 
 term; Supervisor, 11 terms: 
 School Inspector, one term; 
 Justice, three terms; Town- 
 ship Clerk, one term; Post- 
 raaster,thi'ee timesin as many 
 places; Deputy Sheriff and 
 jailer three years; Township 
 Treasurer three terms; High- 
 waj' Com'r, one term; Village 
 Assessor one term; Village 
 Trustee, one term; and has 
 
 held appointments as Notary Public nearly all the time for 
 years. He now holds four of the above offices. 
 
 G. W. WOODWARD. 
 
 forty 
 
 JOSIAH CLEVELAND. 
 
 Josiah Cleveland, son of Jedediah and Phebe A. Cleveland, was 
 
 born in Randolijh, Cattarau- 
 gus Co., N. Y., Feb. 15, 1840. 
 He came with his parents to 
 Lenawee Co., Michigan, when 
 quite young, and lived in this 
 State until he was of age. He 
 then went to Fullerton Co., 
 O., where he carried on busi- 
 ness for two years, then re- 
 turning to this State and has 
 resided here nearly all of the 
 time since. In Jan., 1872, he 
 came to this county and was 
 for a long time engaged in the 
 blacksmith and wagon-mak- 
 ing business at Pent water. 
 In April, 1880, he started the 
 same business at his farm on 
 section 32 of Crystal town- 
 j. CLEVELAND. ship whei'e he is doing a fair 
 
348 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 business. Mr. Cleveland has been identified with the Odd Fellows' 
 Lodge at Crystal Valley since its organization, and is an active, en- 
 thusiastic member. He married July 4, 1863, Margaret M. Lepper 
 and they have one son and an adopted daughter. 
 
 TIMOTHY T. JONES— 1872. 
 
 Timothy T. Jones, Supervisor of Crystal townshij), was born in 
 Portage Co., Ohio, in the year 1841. His parents were John and 
 Margaret Jones. At the very commencement of the civil war he en- 
 listed in Co. B, of the old 4th Mich. Inf., and served for four years, 
 
 one month and six days. He 
 was at the first battle of Bull 
 Run and at the surrender of 
 Gen. Lee. He was present for 
 duty every day except when 
 home on a furlough. This is 
 a record of service that few 
 can show. In the fall of '72 
 he came to this county and 
 engaged in farming in Crystal. 
 He is a prominent G. A. R. 
 man, being a Past Command- 
 er of the Crystal Valley Post. 
 He has always taken a great 
 interest in public affairs and 
 his suggestions in his town- 
 ship are usually followed. He 
 has been Justice of the Peace 
 ten years. Elected Coronor 
 of the county but failed to 
 qualify. He was elected Supervisor in 1878 and again in 1885-6-7- 
 8-9. Married Miss Rowena Aldrich and has had six sons. 
 
 T. T. JONES. 
 
 EGBERT N. BRIQGS. 
 
 At Rochester, N. Y., July 1, 1844, Caleb C. and Hattie Briggs re- 
 joiced over the birth of a son, the subject of our sketch. Of his ear- 
 ly life but few events out of the usual channel occurred. He enjoyed 
 about the same privileges as other children and improved them as 
 other children of his time. He possessed a sunny disposition and 
 was ever popular with his companions. He removed from Jackson 
 County, Michigan, to Oceana County in 1872, and has since resided 
 here. Dui-ing the war he enlisted in Co. A, 9th Michigan Cavalry 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 349 
 
 and served two years, seven 
 months and oneday, andwas 
 honorably discharged. Since 
 comin? to Oceana County he 
 has been engaged in lumber- 
 ing and farming at Crystal, 
 and later running a dray line 
 at Pentwater. He married 
 Miss Emma Willets, a daugh- 
 ter of one of Crystal's pio- 
 neers, and one son still living 
 has blessed the union. He is 
 a member of the order of Odd 
 Fellows and has held offices 
 in that organization. He is 
 also an enthusiastic member 
 of the G. A. R. and with his 
 amiable wife contributes 
 largely to the social enjoy- 
 ments of both orders. 
 
 E. N. BRIGGS. 
 
 THOMAS MORIX— 1872. 
 
 Thomas Morin, mason and plasterer, of Pentwater, Mich., remov- 
 ed to Oceana Co., Nov. 26, 
 1872, and has made Pentwa- 
 ter his home since. He is a 
 native of Quebec, Canada, 
 having been born to Isaac 
 and Martha Morin, June 6, 
 1852. He left Canada when 
 but eleven years of age, went 
 to Providence, R. I., and 
 drifted about from one place 
 to another until in 1870 he 
 ..settled in Detroit. He resided 
 there two years then came to 
 Pentwater. He was first em- 
 ployed as a lumber sorter 
 ^ and afterwards apprenticed 
 himself to P. Sheridan and 
 learned the mason's trade, 
 which occupation he has since 
 T. MORIX. followed, most of the build- 
 
 ings of Pentwater erected within the past ten years showing his skill 
 
350 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 as mechanic. Nov. 26, 1874, he married Eunice S. Hill, of Pentwa- 
 ter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orin Hill. He is an enthusiastic mem- 
 ber of the order of Odd Fellows and has passed most of the chairs 
 in each branch of the order. In the spring election of LbOO he was 
 elected Villac;e Trustee. 
 
 JOHN H. BOUTON— 1872. 
 
 John H. Bouton, the subject of our sketch, was born Jan. 24, 
 1848, at Rensselaerville, Albany Co., N. Y. His parents were Har- 
 ry and Betsey E. Bouton. He resided with his i^arents until twen- 
 ty years of age, at which time his father died. He remained in New 
 York State, living at various places until 1872, when he came to 
 Oceana Co., locating at Pentwater where he has since resided. He 
 
 secured a ]position as clerk in 
 a dry goods store where he 
 continued for about four 
 years. Afterwards clerked 
 for the Pentwater Lumber 
 Co. three yeai's, and was enr 
 gaged in the same capacity 
 for different tirms and in car- 
 j)enter work until 1884 when 
 he became shippinti clerk in 
 the Furniture Factory where 
 he still continues. As an em- 
 jploye he has always given 
 satisfaction. Mr. Bouton has 
 alwaj^s taken a lively interest 
 in public affairs and has been 
 entrusted with a number of 
 township offices, among them 
 being Constable and Treas- 
 urer three terms and has been 
 ten years a member of the republican Township Committee. Under 
 the village governniiut he has been Mar.-jhal, Trustee and Treasur- 
 er, the latter two terms. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity 
 and has held the office of Secretary in Oceana Chapter No. 56 for 
 thirteen years, Secretary of Oceana Council No. 27 for twelve years 
 and Secretary of Oceana Lodge No. 200 two years. He is also an 
 active member of Pentwater Lodge No. 378, J. 0. O. F., and for 
 fourteen years an active member of the Pentwater Fire Depart- 
 ment. Married Sept. 2, 1875, to Miss Cynthia S. Tuller, and they 
 now have thi^ee children: Raymond T., born Aug. 11, 1876; Flor- 
 ence A., born June 14, 1882; Gertrude S., born April 27, 1884. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 351 
 
 FRANCIS \V. FINCHER— 1872. 
 
 Francis W. Fincher entered upon this world's stage at Hudson, 
 Lenawee Co., Mich., May 1, 1855. When but a child he went with 
 his parents to Hve on a farm in New York State. Receiving there 
 a limited education at the district school, with his tamily he came 
 to Pentwater in April, 1S72. Arriving at Montague they waited 
 three days for the railroad to be repaired, and finally, after a very 
 rough ride in a freight car from that place, reached Pentwater April 
 12th, about midnight. His first summer here was spent in a shin- 
 gle mill. The following winter .,^_ 
 he attended the high school, at 
 the close of which he entered the 
 Oceana Co. Bank where he re- 
 mained a few months and then 
 entered the drug store of Page & 
 Jesson as clerk. Hereheremain- 
 ed until the fall of 1875, when 
 he went to Chicago, attending 
 during the winter of ls75-6 a 
 course of lectures at the Chicago 
 College of Pharmacy. The sum- 
 mer of 1876 was spent at Mus- 
 kegon, clerking in a drug store. 
 The following spring Mr. H. F. 
 Hastings having purchased the 
 stock of drugs from Page <k. Jes- 
 son, he took charge of the store 
 until the fall of 1877, when in 
 company with A. W. Newark 
 he purchased the business and 
 
 continued the same until September, 1880, when 'Mr. Newark retir- 
 ed. The drug business which Mr. Fincher now conducts is the old- 
 est established house of its kind in Oceana Co., having been started 
 by Mr. James G. Gray in 1866. He was married Feb. 20, 1884, to 
 Miss Ida M. Whittington, of Pentwater. Although a young man, 
 by personal attention, integrity and uprightness in all his dealings, 
 Mr. Fincher stands tod;ij- among the substantial business men of 
 the countv. 
 
 F. W. FINCHER. 
 
 < 
 
 CHARLES A. HAWLEY— 1872. 
 
 Charles Andross Hawiey, fruit grower, Shelby, was born in Bridge- 
 port, Vt., May 22, 1831. He was the oldest of six children. His 
 mother died when he was but twelve years of age. The fivechildren 
 died one after another until his oldest brother, Samuel F., and the 
 
352 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 last except himself, died April 20, 1876, aged 44 years and five 
 months. While a lad of eleven he engaged himself with his father's 
 consent to a farmer and lived with him three years working for his 
 board, clothes and three months' schooling each year. At the age 
 of fourteen years he hired out to the same man for $4 i^er month, 
 worked summers and attended school winters until seventeen years 
 of age. Then engaged himself to another farmer until 21 years of 
 age for $100, board, clothing and three months' schooling each 
 
 year. Lived with him four 
 years and received the school- | 
 ing and clothing, but not the j 
 $100. He continued working 1- 
 for farmers until March 21, 
 1855, when he married Miss 
 Electa Edwards Weaver, a 
 very intelligent, Christian 
 young lady, highly esteemed 
 as a successful teacher and 
 worker. They have three 
 sons living, Samuel F., Ed- 
 ward Wm. and Joseph. Mr. 
 Hawley is a self-made man. 
 He first started for himself 
 by purchasing a farm, paying 
 a XDortion down, and then be- 
 cause of the extreme hard 
 times of 1857 was obliged to 
 surrender it. He then worked 
 in a lumber yard in Chicago, 
 first as laborer, then as clerk, lumber insj^ector, and finally dealer 
 in hardwood lumber, when the great fire of 1871 came and swept 
 away his lumber yards and employment, although his home in Park 
 Ridge escaped. Sept. 28, 1872, he came to Shelby, made a contract 
 with Malcolm & Williams to saw two million feet of hardwood logs, 
 and during the winter advanced them $2,000 with which to build a 
 mill. Aug. 27, 1873, he and Joseph Clark bought three-fourths' 
 interest in the mill, and in December the other fourth. Afterwards 
 he bought Mr. Clark's interest. After various unfortunate experi- 
 ences with the mill and his former associates, April 16, 1879, the 
 boiler exploded (see page 103) . In seventy-one days from the time 
 he commenced to remove the rubbish he was sawing again. Aug. 
 18, 18S6, this mill burned, and with it a feed mill and many new 
 machines added. Mr. Hawley and Alexander Pittenger did much 
 to make Shelby a growing village. Mr. P. would sell Jots on time, 
 and Mr. H. would furnish the lumber to build with, taking work or 
 
 i 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-PAY. 
 
 353 
 
 logs in pay. Many a j)erson coming to Shell)y got hi* fi. -it .«t;ivt by 
 Mr. Hawley furnishing him work. In 18-1 he purcli.is.'d ^■ighty 
 acres near the village, and afterwards forty acres more, and after 
 manufacturing lime ui)on the place has transformed it into a model 
 fruit farm. He now has 5,000 healthy trees living and expects to 
 set out 2.000 more next year. He ha.s line buildings upon his place 
 and although he has seen hard times everybody wishes him we!!. 
 
 ALBERT Z. MOOUE— ISTl). 
 
 Albert Z. ]Moore, or as he is known to his friends, ".\1 " Moore, 
 was born at China, Kennebec Co., Maine, being a son of Robert and 
 Lorania Moore. He has followed several occuparion«, being for 
 seven years engaged in the business of tanning leather, eleven years 
 in the railroad business most of the time as station agent at Shel- 
 by, and at present being engaged in the hotel business at Shelby as 
 landlord of the Moore Hotel. He is one of Oceana's most genial 
 and hosi)itable citizens. His friends are limited only by his ac- 
 quaintance, as every one with whom he comes in contact is im- 
 pressed at once by the engaging manner he possesses. He is a gen- 
 tleman of high and generous impulses, liviim .-imong his fi-iends. qui- 
 et and unassuming, he v^'ins and holds tluir esteem i)y his true 
 manliness of character. He came to Oieniia Count y in 1872. and 
 has since resided at Shelby. He has been two terms Treasurer of 
 his township. He is the present W. M. or Bnirina IjOfl^e No. 289, 
 of Shelby, and there is no better posted ISr.ison in Xoi-thei'ii >iichi- 
 gan than he, nor any who takes more pi-ide in the prosperiiy of the 
 order. Married in 1877 to Miss Jennie Poijejoy. Xo chiMreu. 
 
 MARCUS H. BROOKS 
 
 Marcus Harrison Brooks was 
 born in Lansing, Tompkins Co., 
 N. Y., in lt-37. His parents 
 were Mark Hargen and Elizabeth 
 Brooks. His father was born in 
 Conn. Our subject received his 
 education at Grotten, Moravian 
 and Plomer Academies. At the 
 latter institution Prof. Clark, 
 celebrated as the author of ^ 
 Clark's grammar, was his pre- 
 ceptor. Mr. Brooks started in f; 
 life as a teacher at seventeen '/^ 
 years of age and followed this 
 occupation until he was twentj'- 
 nine years of age. He read law 
 while teaching, was examined 
 and admitted to the bar July 
 
 -18(37, 
 
354 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 12, 1870. April 14, 1859, he married Anna Richards, who was 
 born and p;revv to womanhood in Tioga Co., Pa. The union was a 
 happy one and three sons and one daughter are still living to com- 
 fort and bless them. Politically Mr. Brooks has always been a re- 
 publican. He IS now serving his fourth term as Circuit Court Com- 
 missioner. Has been Justice of the Peace in Hart since April, 1868, 
 and served as Justice in Pennsylvania seven years. He has also 
 been a member of the school Board at Hart since 1868, and Direct- 
 or except one term. Has been Township Clerk several times. Mr. 
 Brooks has been a careful, methodical business man, is pleasantly 
 and comfortably situated, enjoys a large Justice business and is of- 
 ten en'^aged as counsel and advisor in the settling of conflicting 
 interests where the parties do not wish to engage in litigation. 
 
 THEODORE G. HOUK — 1873. 
 
 See page 220. 
 
 GEORGE R. BATE— 1873. 
 
 George R. Bate was born in Hudson, Hillsdale Co., Mich., June 
 16, 1850. His parents were George and Mary Bate. He lived with 
 
 his parents until the age of 
 fourteen years when he 
 branched out for himself, se- 
 curing a situation in a hard- 
 ware store in Adrian, where 
 he continued for one year. 
 He then went into a hardware 
 store at St. Josejah where he 
 remained until 1873. At that 
 time he came to Pentwater 
 and went to work upon a tug 
 ^|with his brother-in-law, Chas. 
 ^Lamont, where he learned en- 
 -;gineering the first year and 
 ^obtained a license the next. 
 He continued upon the tug 
 three years. After being in 
 business at Petoskey several 
 years he returned to Oceana 
 County and purchased the 
 hardware business of Mathews & Chappell at Hart; in which busi- 
 ness he is now engaged, carrying a full line of heavy and shelf hard- 
 ware and hardware notions. In 1879 he was married to Miss Es- 
 telle Moore, of Ha.rt, a daughter of B. Moore. They have one child, 
 
 G. R. BATE. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 355 
 
 a son. IMr. Bate is a quiet and unobtrusive gentleman, but withal 
 has a wide circle of acquaintances and friends. As a business man 
 he commands the respect and confidence of those with whom he 
 comes in contact. 
 
 JOHN A. COLLIER— 1873. 
 
 John A. Collier, born at St. Johnsville, N. Y., Oct. 3, 1840, is a 
 son of .lohn and Harriet P. Collier. He is one of those men who, 
 when their country needed their strong arms, went to the front and 
 did their duty without flinching. Apiii 17. l^ei, he enlisted in the 
 3rd Mass. Vol. Inf. for three months and served ten days over his 
 time before being discharged. He then went to New York State and 
 on July 11, 1862, enlisted as 
 a private in the 115th N. Y. 
 Vol. Inf. for the term of thi'ee 
 years. In August, 1862, he 
 was promoted to Corporal; 
 in October to 3rd Sergeant; 
 May, 1863, to 1st Sergeant; 
 Nov., 1864, to 2nd Lieut., 
 and June. 1865, to 1st Lieut. 
 and Adjutant. He was en- 
 gaged in thirty battles and 
 skirmishes and was slightly 
 wounded several times. He 
 served the three years less 
 one month and was honora- 
 bly discharged. On Sept. 7, 
 1868, he was married to Miss 
 Myra J. Hicks. They have 
 two children, a son and a 
 daughter. Mr. Collier came 
 to Oceana Co. Nov. 4, 1873, 
 
 and has smce resided at Hart where the greater part of the time he 
 has followed blacksmithing. He has held the offices of Conr table. 
 Justice and Treasurer in the township, and Village ]Marphal. Upon 
 the recommendations of leading citizens of Hart, he has recently 
 been appointed Postmaster of that village. He is present Secreta- 
 ry and Treasurer of Oceana Countj' Veterans' Association. 
 
 J. A. CO'^LIER. 
 
 JOHN F. WIDOE— 1873. 
 
 In October, 1873, a young man of good address, with an air of 
 business about him, came to this county and in 1877 opened a 
 small clothing store in Hart. This was the first attempt made by 
 
356 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PION'EERS 
 
 any one ^o run an exclusive clothing store, and many predicted 
 
 failure. The predictions fail- 
 ed and our young clothier 
 succeeded. His business grew, 
 and he grew in favor with it 
 until today it is recognized 
 as one of the principal busi- 
 ness institutions of Hart and 
 heis enjoying his second term 
 as INIayor of the village. The 
 name of the person referred 
 to is John F. Widoe, and he 
 was born at Danville, Ohio, 
 March 18, 1856. Sept. 4, 
 1886, he married Cora East- 
 man. They have one child, a 
 
 ''''^'V^^^^^^^^^^^^^S^^^^^^^^^i^-' daughter, Iva. to comfort 
 
 them. Mr. Widoe has ever 
 enjoj'ed the confidence and es- 
 teem of the people of Hart, 
 and has held many local of- 
 i 1 \n>i)i fices. He is public spirited 
 
 and hab contLibu^td lai^elj to the general prosperity of the village. 
 
 WILLIAM WOODLAND— 1873. 
 
 William Woodland, son of 
 John and Margaret Woodland, 
 was born at Perth, Canada, Dec. 
 31, l>-42. He came to Grand 
 Rai'ids, Mich., in Nov., lb^65, 
 where he woi'ked in the construc- 
 tion of the G. R. ct I. R. R. thro' 
 Grand Rapids. Went to La- 
 mont in 1867, where he remain- 
 ed two years, then going West 
 and engaging in Inmhering which 
 he followed until August, 1872, 
 when he returned to Michigan. 
 He came to Oceana Co. in May, 
 1873, and engaged in farming 
 which he h.-is continued to follow 
 to the present time. When he 
 first came to Shelby, in 1873, 
 there was but one hotel, one 
 
 WM. WOODLAND. 
 
AND BUSINESS MKN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 357 
 
 hardware and Postoffice, one mercantile establishment, a j)eanut 
 stand, school house, depot and saw mill in the village. He furnish- 
 ed some of the timber and contributed money toward building the 
 Congregational Church. He also helped to build the M. E. Church. 
 At the time the church frame was raised the ladies furnished a din- 
 ner at Hedges' Hall and he pronounced it an excellent one. Mr.W. 
 was Highway Commissioner two years and School Director six 
 years. He married at Lamont, Aug. 23, 1872, Miss Mary Roberts, 
 and they have had six children, but have lost by death their oldest 
 son and youngest daughter, leaving them three sons and one daugh- 
 ter. 
 
 WILLIAM H. DUNN — 1873. 
 
 William H. Dunn was born in Wayne Co., INIich., July 14, 1812. 
 He was one of our Union soldiers in the war of 1861, having been a 
 member of Co. K, 27th Mich. 
 Inf. Since the institution of 
 G. A. R. Posts in this county 
 he has always taken a great 
 interest in their growth and 
 general advancement. He is 
 one of the Past Commanders 
 of Shield's Post at Shelby. 
 By occupation he is a farmer 
 owning a tine farm in Shelby 
 township. He came to this 
 county in April, 1873, and 
 has since taken a prominent 
 l^art in the affairs of the coun- ; 
 ty, and more especially of his ^ 
 township. He is a leading 
 member and Past Grand of >:, 
 the Shelby Lodge I. O. O. F. t\ 
 His political doctrine is 'home 
 protection to labor as well as 
 manufactures must be our 
 national policy.' In the 
 House of RejDresentatives of 
 the State in 1889, he was 
 
 made Sergeant-at-Arms, in which capacity he acted until its ad- 
 journment. He now holds a position on the capitol jjolice force at 
 Wasihington, D. C. Marritd April 10, 1861, Dema L. Doolittle. 
 One child, a son. 
 
 ELIAB S. HOUaHTALINU~1873. 
 
 Eliab S. Houghtaling was born at Green Oak, Oakland Co., Mich., 
 
 AV. H. DUNN. 
 
358 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 May 22, 1848. His parents were W. 0. and P. E. Houghtaling. 
 When three years of age he, with his parents, removed to a farm 
 three miles northeast of Grand Rapids. Here he attended district 
 
 school winters and worked upon 
 the farm summers until sixteen 
 years of age; after which time 
 attended the Grand Rapids High 
 School and the Grand Rapids 
 Commercial College. Like many 
 other young men he tlien engag- 
 ed in teaching school. He taught 
 in Kent Co. several winters; and 
 in 1873, at the solicitation of 
 friends he came to Crystal Val- 
 y ley, this county, for the purpose 
 of teaching that school, which 
 he taught two terms. While 
 teaching at Crystal Valley he 
 met Miss Sadie A. Sackrider and 
 in Octol)er, 1874, he married 
 her. They have had born to 
 them one child, a son. After his 
 marriage he returned to Grand 
 Rapids where he engaged in farming for two years, then embarking 
 in manufacturing business. This business not proving as remuner- 
 ative as could be desired, he gave it ujj and again came to Oceana 
 Co. in 1883, locating at Hart and establishing his present business. 
 He is proprietor of what is known as the "Star Grocery," and deals 
 in groceries and provisions, foreign and domestic fruits and all ar- 
 ticles usually found in a first class establishment of this kind. Mr. 
 Houghtaling is known as a shrewd, careful and conscientious busi- 
 ness man. He is now a member of the Village Council and is a 
 prominent member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, having the titles 
 of P. G. and P. C. P. in that order. 
 
 HOUGHTALING. 
 
 GEORGE E. DEWEY — 1873. 
 
 Geoi'ge E. Dewey is a son of George and Harriet Dewey and was 
 born in Penn Line, Crawford Co., Pa., July 31, 1854. He resided 
 at bis birthplace until thirteen years of age, when he moved to Kel- 
 loggsville, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where he worked at cheesemaking 
 summers and attended school winters until 1873, Avhen he came to 
 Oceana Co. He located first at Crystal Lake where he run the 
 Crystal Lake mill for seven years; then came to Shelby village and 
 formed a copartnership with Mr. M. C. White, under the name of 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAV, 
 
 359 
 
 G. E. DEWEY. 
 
 White & Dewey, in the general mercliandise business. This he con- 
 tinued until 18S4, when they dissolved partnership and he became 
 a member of the firm of Ran- 
 kin & Dewey in the same bu- 
 siness which he has since fol- 
 lowed. The subject of our 
 sketch has been generally 
 prosperous in his business af- 
 fairs, accumulating consider- 
 able property. The firm is 
 now located in the new Opera 
 House Block and doing a bu- 
 siness of $40,000 per annum, 
 starting with a business of 
 $10,000 per annum. :\h 
 Dewej^ was elected Trea^urei 
 of Shelby township in J8b<o, 
 and again in 1886. In the 
 village he has been a Trustee 
 since its incorporation ex- 
 cepting 2 years, Village Tieas- 
 urer 1 year, and was Presi- 
 dent in 1889. He is an act- 
 ive Mason, and a public spirited man; now Treasurer of the Shelby 
 Improvement Association. Married in November, 1882, to Miss 
 Kate Rankin and they have three children, two ^ons and one 
 daughter. 
 
 CHARLES E. MCCLURE— 1 873. 
 
 Charles E. McClure was born 
 in Edinboro, Erie Co., Pa., Aug. 
 2, 186 L. His x^arents' names 
 were William and Eliza Mc- 
 Clure. He lived with his par- 
 ents at the place of his birth 
 until he was twelve years of 
 age, when the family came to 
 Oceana Co., landingat Pentwa- 
 ter and going by team to El- 
 bridge township. After 1 year 
 removed to Crystal Valley and 
 during several years worked in 
 shingle and sawmills there and 
 at Hamlin and Manistee. He 
 then decided to become a sail- 
 
360 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 or and shipped aboard a I^ake Micliigan craft and sailed upon that 
 lake several years. During this time he was twice shipwrecked, 
 once at Pilot Island and again at Round Island in Green Bay. Af- 
 ter leaving the lake he shipped aboard an ocean sailing craft at New 
 York. While on salt water he visited France, England, Germany, 
 Spain, New Zealand, West Indies and Mexico. He again met with 
 shipwreck while in the Gulf of Mexico. Deciding to give up sailing 
 he left his boat at New York and went to Dakota. After starving 
 there thirteen months he returned to Michigan and in 1885 located 
 in Leavitt and commenced farming. Dec. 22, 1886, he married 
 Miss Anna Jensen and they now have one child, a daughter. He 
 still owns forty acres of land on Sec. 7, Leavitt, of which twenty 
 acres are improved. In 1889 he engaged in business at Walkerville 
 where he is still located. For a young man he has had an eventful 
 life; but is satisfied that in Oceana Co. he can do as well as any- 
 where. 
 
 DANIEL, E. MCCLURE— 1873. 
 
 Daniel E. McClure was born at Gerrard, Pa., Oct. 2o, 1853. His 
 
 parents were William and Eliza 
 McClure. While living in Penn- 
 sylvania he worked in the lum- 
 ber woods and at farming for 
 the i^urpose of paying his way 
 at the Edinboro State Normal 
 School which he attended two 
 years, fitting himself for teach- 
 ing. He came to Oceana Co. in 
 Sept., 1873, and while "looking 
 about him" sui)ported himself 
 by farm work. He then secur- 
 ed a situation and taught 
 school for seven years in Ne- 
 waygo and Oceana Counties, 
 two years in country districts, 
 four years as Principal of Shel- 
 by schools, and one year as 
 principal of Hesperia schools. 
 Having saved enough money 
 to warrant his attending some institution of learning with the idea 
 of improving his education, he went to Valparaiso, Ind., to attend 
 the Normal School from which he graduated. In 1882 he 
 accepted a position with Harper & Bros, as salesm.anof their series 
 of school books, traveling in Michigan, Minnesota, Dakota, Kan- 
 sas, Wisconsin and Illinois. He continued in this business until 
 
 D. E. MCCLURE. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 361 
 
 1889, having been very successful, his success being evidenced by an 
 increase of salary from year to year. In 1876, Aug. 16, he married 
 Miss Julia E. Rathbone. Their family now consists of two daugh- 
 ters and one son. Mr. McClure has been Township Superintendent 
 of Schools, and in 1889 was elected Secretary of the County Board 
 of Examiners for Oceana Co., which position he now holds. The 
 subject of our sketch is pi'e-eminently a self-made man, having from 
 his early boyhood been compelled to depend upon his own resources 
 for his education and support. 
 
 WILLIAM H. TULLER— 1873. 
 
 William H. Tuller, only son of Wm. and Alvira Tuller, was born 
 at Jonesville, Hillsdale Co., Mich., Feb. 12,1855. When nine years 
 of age his father died and he was sent away from home to live with 
 relatives. When thirteen yeai'sof age he returned to Jonesville and 
 began work in the woolen mills Avhich he continued with slight inter- 
 
 W. H. TULLER. 
 
 mission until seventeen, when he became janitor in the union school. 
 At this time he acquired what education he has, excepting a few 
 months at a time in counti-y schools while living with relatives. In 
 the spring of 1873 he came to Pentwater where he began life as a 
 teamster in the woods, later clerking in a drug store, and in the 
 winter of 1873 commencing the study of law with Grove it Hart- 
 wick. Attended the Law Department of the State University at 
 
362 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Ann Arbor in the winter of 1874-5 and 1875-6, graduating in spring 
 of 1876, and being admitted to the bar in this county soon after 
 graduating. He then formed a partnership with L. M. Hartwick 
 which continued but six months. Was one winter with R.M.Mont- 
 gomery and in about 1879 entered the law office of W. E. Ambler 
 where he continued about two years, gradually working into a 
 knowledge of banking business, and finally about 1881 engaging 
 with Nielsen & Co., Bankers, where he continued until July, 1889, 
 with a break of onlj^ about a year in 1SS6-7. In the fall of 1876 he 
 was appointed Dejiuty Collector of Customs for the port of Pentwa- 
 ter, which office he held until 1885. In 1878 he was elected Justice 
 of the Peace, holding one term. In 1881 he was elected Clerk of the 
 township, and again in 1885-6-7-8. He has also been School In- 
 spector of the township and a member of the Common Council of 
 the village. He has been identified with the Pentwater Fire Depart- 
 ment for fifteen j'ears, holding the office of Chief for five years; also 
 being the i^resent Secretary of the Michigan State Firemen's Asso- 
 ciation, this being his fifth term. Mr. TuUer was married in April, 
 1877, to Miss Ida A. Newark, from whom he parted by mutual con- 
 sent in 1885. On May 17, 18S8, married Miss Mai*y E. McClure and 
 they have had one child, W. Ma.ck, born March 24, 1889; died May 
 21, 1890. 
 
 THOMAS H. BAKER— 1874. 
 
 Thomas H. Baker was born Aug. 13, 1858, at St. George, Brant 
 
 Co., Ont. His parents were 
 Thos R. and Elizabeth Ba- 
 ker. He learned the tinner's 
 trade when quite young. In 
 1874 he came to Oceana Co. 
 July 2, 1880, he was married 
 to Miss Lottie M. Phelps, of 
 Jefferson, Ohio. They have 
 two children, a son and a 
 daughter. Mr. Baker has al- 
 ways followed his trade 
 working in Shelby four 
 years for Joseph Tyler and 
 four years for Archie R. 
 McKinnon. By close ap- 
 XDlication to business and 
 strict economy he has ac- 
 cumulated some means and 
 T. H. BAKER. has recently jDurchased a fruit 
 
 farm. He is a 3'oung man with many friends. Has twice been 
 
AND BUSINESS MEX OP TO-DAY. 
 
 363 
 
 elected Clerk of the village of Shelby, and in the Odd Fellows Lodge 
 has held the position of Noble Grand. 
 
 WILLIE H. SHIRTS— 1874. 
 
 "Willie H. Shirts was born cat Bryon, Ohio, April 15, 1860, and is 
 a son of E. J. Shirts. He came to Oceana Co. May 1, 1874, and has 
 made Shelby his home most 
 of the time since. He was, 
 however, a clerk in S. H. Las- 
 ley & Co.'s store at Montague 
 for three years. On May J , 
 188 L, he began business at 
 Shelby with his brother, J. D. 
 M. Shirts, as grocers, which 
 they still continue, doing a 
 good business. The subject 
 of our sketch is a, young man 
 of good address, well thought 
 of in his locality. He was 
 elected Village Treasurer in 
 
 the spring of 1887, and re- ^.^^=. n,' '"" '^^'' "y^ 
 
 elected to the same office in 
 1888. In 1889 he was elect- 
 ed a Trustee of the village, 
 which office he now holds. w. ii. shirts. 
 
 Oct. 1, 1883, he was appoint- 
 ed local agent of the American Express. Co. and still continues to 
 discharge the duties of that position. He was married, at Monta- 
 gue, June 8, 1382, to ^Margaret M. Raby, and one child, a daughter, 
 now contributes to the happiness of their hreside. 
 
 WILLIAM H. BAKUV— 18(4. 
 
 William H. Barry was born in Orleans Co., X. Y., Feb. 8, 1845. 
 His parents were John and Mary jNL Barry. He was brought up 
 upon a farm and has followed that occupation nearly all his life. 
 He came with his parents to Girard, Branch Co., Mich., in 1852, 
 where he continued to reside most of the time until 1874. He 
 taught school one winter and cut and run logs two years in Allegan 
 Co. He spent one summer in Manistee loading lumber vessels. 
 During the war he served as a private in Bat. E, 1st INIich. L. Art. 
 from Oct. 4, 1864, to July 30, 1865. He came to Oceana County 
 in June, 1874, and began choi^ping on farm in Shelb}'- township in 
 August of the same year. Has since then worked some in the lum- 
 bir woods and mills in this county. In 1882 he engaged in keeping 
 
364 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 bees and now has 102 colonies. 
 He owns and partly works a 
 farm of forty acres in Shelby, 
 and one of eighty acres in Gold- 
 en. Mr. Barry was elected Con- 
 stable in 1877; Supervisor in 
 1881 and 1883, and Trustee of 
 his school district. He has al- 
 ways been a leader in whatever 
 he undertakes. Among the 
 I Grangersjof the county he is a 
 man of influence; is a leading 
 member of the Masonic Lodge 
 at Shelby, and also of the G. A. 
 R. Post. 
 
 W. H. BARRY. 
 
 WILLIAM. P. SACKRIDER— 1874. 
 
 Williani P. Sackrider was born at Norwich, Can., Oct. 28, 1864. 
 His parents were Charles and Catherine Sackrider. He moved with 
 his parents to Grand Rapids, 
 Mich., in 1871, and to Oceana 
 Co., locating at Hart, in '74. 
 In 1880 he graduated from 
 the Hart Union School, and 
 commenced teaching. In '82 
 he graduated from Valparai- 
 so, Ind., in the teacher's 
 course, and continued school 
 teaching until Jan. 1, 1887, 
 when he entered the law office 
 of L. G. Rutherford, at Hart, 
 and began the study of law ^ 
 Was admitted to the bar Oct 
 31, 1887, and at once entered 
 into partnership with Mr 
 Rutherford in the i^ractice of 
 that profession. HewasDep 
 uty County Clerk in 1888, 
 and at the fall election was 
 elected Clerk of the county. 
 
 W. p. SACKRIDER. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 365 
 
 which office he is now filling, discharging its duties to the abundant 
 satisfaction of all who have business with the office. March 24, '87, 
 he was married to Miss Nina Bailey, at Hart. Mr. and Mrs. Sack- 
 rider are possessed of many warm personal friends whom they have 
 made by their courteous manners. 
 
 EDGAR H. HOTCHKISS— 1874. 
 
 Edgar H. Hotchkiss, son of Cyrus and Asenath Hotchkiss, was 
 born at Colebrook, Litchfield Co., Conn., June 12, 1S30. He at- 
 tended common schools until the age of twelve years, since which 
 time he has only been to school three daj's. He came to Michigan 
 the loth day of Oct., 1868, locating at Fennville, Allegan Co., where 
 he remained working at his trade, carpenter and joiner, until he 
 came to Oceana Co. He arrived in this county April 15, 1874, lo- 
 cated in Golden township where he has since resided, working at his 
 trade until 1884, when he was apx^ointed express agent at Mears, 
 which position he still holds. In 1852 he voted for Franklin Pierce 
 that being the only democratic vote he ever cast. In 1856 voted 
 for John C. Fremont. In October, 1878 he was elected Township 
 Clerk to fill vacancy, and was re-elected in 1879-'80-l-2-5-8. He 
 has also held the office of Justice of Peace 7 years. He has taken a 
 great interest in Odd Fellowship and is one of the Past Grands of 
 Hart Lodge. As a temperance worker he is known over the coun- 
 ty having always been i)rominent in that line of work. Married 
 Oct. 13, 1850, Miss Susan Hotchkiss and they have had three chil- 
 dren, one son and two daughters. 
 
 OTTO W. MARSH— 1874. 
 
 Otto W. INIarsh, son of Wm. M. and Cynthia Marsh, was born at 
 Jackson, Wayne Co., Ohio, Dec. 18, 1851. He came to Oceana Co. 
 in 1874, and lived with his uncle, Mr. E. A. Benjamin, in Weare for 
 two years. In 1876 he moved to Pentwater where he has since re- 
 sided, excepting two years in Kansas. He made up his mind that 
 he did not like Kansas, and that Michigan was good enough for 
 him. He has followed teaming for a number of years and has the 
 record of drawing the largest load of lumber ever hauled from Crys- 
 tal to the docks at Pentwater. It scaled five thousand feet at Crys- 
 tal Valley. He is now proprietor of the Pentwater Transfer and 
 Dray Line, and is doing a good business, making it a point to go to 
 the dej)ot every day. On Oct. 3, 1876, he was married to Miss Su- 
 sanna Sage, a daughter of Henry Sage, of Weare. They have two 
 children, a son and a daughter. 
 
 AZWELL E. BURGESS— 1875. 
 
 Azwell E. Burgess was born in Canada, June 4, 1835. His par- 
 
360 
 
 OCKAXA COL'N'n' PIONEERS 
 
 A. /.. BL'RGES.S. 
 
 ents were William A. and Nancy A. Bnraess. He 1ms been a sailor 
 for the past forty years. Was master of the -'Siiartan," that bro't 
 supplies to Cobh it Rector at Peiitwater in 1854. He ha.s since 
 been master in sailinj: Vfsst-ls and steam liarge.s, being for three 
 years back, mastei- of \ he barge Daisy Day. He came to this coun- 
 ty Oct. 21, 187o. and has since resided here. He has held the offi- 
 ces of Overseer of Higliways and Trustee of School District. He is 
 a leading member of Pentuater Lodge No. 378, I. O. O. F., and one 
 of its Past Grands. On Dec. 24, 1862, he was married at St. Jo- 
 seph, Berrien Co., to Mary I*]Ii/a Reynolds, who was born May 16, 
 ll543, at Lawrence, Van Buren Co., Mich. They have had seven 
 children, three sons and four daughters, all living and three married. 
 
 CORNELIUS W. CIIAMEK— 1875. 
 
 Cornelius W. Cramer was born at Sharon, Washtenaw Co., Mich., 
 on the 10th day of .\pnl, 1848. He is a son of Peter and Ar- 
 temisia Cramer. His father now resides in North Weare. The sub- 
 ject of our sketch removed with his parents to Woodland, Barry 
 Co. in 1>"'52, where he resided until 1^64, when he removed to Hast- 
 ings, Mich., where he nttendeil the high school. He was married 
 April IT), ls73, to Miss Phel)e Kinckerliacor, of Rutland, Barry Co. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 367 
 
 He taught school in Barry 
 Co. during six winters, work- 
 ing at the cai'penter's trade 
 summers. He was one of the 
 pioneer carpenters of Cadil- 
 lac, helping to frame and 
 build some of the first build- 
 ings there. When he went 
 there in 1872 there was but 
 one frame house there. He 
 studied medicine with Mr. E. 
 F. Brown at Hastings in 1874 
 and during the winter of '7 A- .5 
 was a student at the medical 
 department of the University. 
 In March, 1875, he came to -'--v; 
 Pentwater and began the 
 practice of medicine as a ho- 
 meopath, which he has since 
 continued, working up a good 
 practice. In February, 1886, 
 he graduated from the Hahn- 
 emaun JNIedical College at Chicago 
 Oct. 28, 1875. 
 
 / 
 
 ,^m'' 
 
 C. W. CRAMER. 
 
 He has one son, Fred W., born 
 
 ALFRED E. SOUTER — 1875. 
 
 Alfred E. Souter was born at Wingfield Castle, Suffolk Co., Eng., 
 March 23, 1851. He is a son of Thomas and ]N[ary Souter and was 
 raised upon a farm. In August, 1875, he came to Oceana County 
 and located upon a farm near Carpenter's scliool house. In 1883 
 he began his present business at Shelby, viz.: insurance, real estate 
 and collecting. Mr. Souter has been always energetic in busmess af- 
 fairs and a leader among his associates in other matters. He is 
 one of the Past Grands of Shelby Lodge No. 344, I. O. O. F. In the 
 first I. 0. G. T. Lodge organized at Shelby he was for six terms W. 
 C. T. In the township he is now serving his second term as Justice. 
 Has been Village Attorney and Trustee of the graded school. In 
 religious matters he is an earnest worker and for eight years has 
 been Trustee of the M. E. Church. Mr. Souter married July 
 2, 1&75, Miss Susie A. McClentic, who was born near Port Dover, 
 Ont., July 9th, 1885. Her father died when she was about one 
 year of age, leaving the care and sujiport of a family of five children 
 to her mother, who proved equal to the occasion and suc- 
 ceeded in giving them a fair common school education. Mrg. 
 
368 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 A. E. SOUTEK. 
 
 E. Church and its auxiliaiy 
 societies. She has also been 
 an active member of the W. 
 C. T. U., and the Rebelcah 
 Lodge at Shelby. Her great- 
 est pride and most pleasant 
 Avork is in the care and edu- 
 cation of her little family of 
 children, consisting of four 
 sons and one daughter. Mrs. 
 Souter appreciates, -with just 
 reason, her j)leasant home 
 which she has helped tobuild. 
 Having known the privations 
 and hardships of p)ioneer life 
 she can more fully realize the 
 blessings of her present sur- 
 roundings. With "Mrs. Grun- 
 dy" she has no acquaintance. 
 
 Souter came to Michigan with 
 her mother at the age of elev- 
 en years. At the age of six- 
 teen she began teaching school 
 and taught thirteen terms, 
 nearly half of them in one dis- 
 trict. She came with her hus- 
 band to this county and set- 
 tled with him upon their 
 woods farm. She afterwards 
 taught the Carpenter school 
 three terms and the Piper 
 school, district No. 1, one 
 term, during which time she, 
 with the help of Mr. S., did 
 the housework at home. She 
 was a charter member of and 
 held the office of Treasurer in 
 the first lodge of I. O. G. T. 
 organized in Shelby. She has 
 for ten years been a member 
 and earnest worker in the M. 
 
 MRS. A. E. SOUTER. 
 
 FRANK W. NEWMAN— 1869. 
 
 Frank W. Newman was born in Eaton County, Mich., Jan. 21, 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 369 
 
 1S59. Ten years latei' his parentt; niovr(] to Oceana Co., whi-'-e for 
 the most part Mr. N. has since resided. His education was oitain- 
 ed in a common t^chool and on a farm. Prom lb78 to 1881 lie as- 
 sisted his father in a general store, located at first in Shelby and la- 
 ter in Coopersville. Returning to Shelby in Nov. 1881, he taught 
 school during tlie winter, and the following year entered the emploj' 
 of Judson Paimiter, then proprietor of the Shelhy Indepenueni, as 
 "devil," local reporter and general in.inager of that sheet. Spent 
 the winter of l.-SS-l inChii'a- 
 go at the case. Returning in 
 February, l-Sl, he purchas- 
 ed the office of the Independ- 
 ent, and has since been its 
 i:)roprietor until his death, 
 which occurred Mar. 2, 1890 
 In November, 1881, he wa^ 
 married to JMiss Florence A. 
 Grousbeck, of Ellington, 
 Minn. He was elected to the 
 office of Township Clerk three 
 years on the republican tick- ~ 
 et. I'nder JMr. Newman's 
 management the Inde])endent 
 has been an aggressive repub- 
 lican pnper, taking an actne 
 part in the campaigns of "8i, 
 '86 and '88. On the tardl 
 an ardent protectionist, and 
 supporting the submi.>^sion of 
 
 a prohibitory amendment to the Constitution of the State, and 
 working for its success when submitted in 1887. A hearty support- 
 er of prohibition by counties when the amendment had failed, and 
 to the last had an abiding faith that the republicans of the State 
 will give the people some temperance legislation that will be satis- 
 factory to the great masses of temperance people. 
 
 F. W. NEWMAN. 
 
 BENJAMIN MOOUE— 1868. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was by birthright a Quaker, having 
 been born of Quaker parents, John and Mary Moore, in Sadsbury, 
 then in Lancaster, but now in Chester County, Pa., on the 2Hth 
 day of Oct., 1814. His education was limited, bring acquired at 
 the common schools, and his earlj' life uneventful. On the 20th 
 day of Nov., 1839, he took to wife Hannah Harlan, at the Quaker 
 church in Sadsbury, according to the ordei-, aixl until death parted 
 
370 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 them they remained a true 
 and devoted couple. His wife 
 was born on the 22nd day of 
 Jan., 1819, in Newport ville, 
 Pa. Mr. Moore remained a 
 Quaker in belief until a few 
 years before his death when 
 he became a Spiritualist. He 
 had four sons and one daugh- 
 ter. The eldest son died at 
 the age of 22 years. The oth- 
 er children are still living. He 
 was by trade a carpenter. He 
 never was conspicuous in pol- 
 itics, but was a Garrisonian 
 abolitionist, and always a 
 friend to the slave and the 
 oppressed wherever found. 
 The first time he ever voted 
 was for Harrison in 1840. 
 He also voted for the loved Lincoln. He came to Oceana Co. in the 
 fall of 1868, settled in Blooming Valley and for many j^ears kept an 
 accurate record of rain and snow fall, temperature, etc., a table of 
 ■which appears elsewhere. He died at Shelliy, July 22, 1886, great- 
 ly respected by all who knew him for his honesty and fan- dealing. 
 His wife is still living. 
 
 B. MOORE. 
 
 willia:m f. 
 W'lliam F. Hillyard was 
 born at Troy, Ashland Co., 
 Ohio, Feb. 14, 1847. He is a 
 son of Martin and Johana 
 Hillyard. He came to Oceana 
 Co. in lo76, locating in Leav- 
 itt, where he has since resid- 
 ed, and where ^he now owns 
 and works a farm of eighty 
 acres. He has been Tr-easur- 
 er three terms and Supervis- 
 or one term. He is an indus- 
 trious, persevering man and 
 is gradually accumulating this 
 world's goods. On Jan. 1, 
 1868, he married Miss Ellen 
 Plumley, and four children, 
 three sons and one daughter, 
 have blessed the union. As a 
 
 hillyard— 1876. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 371 
 
 public officer ]Mr. Hillyard has always given good satisfaction and 
 as a neighbor is agreeable and pleasant. 
 
 RICHARD E. SOUTHWICK — 1876. 
 
 Richard E. Southwick, the son of Josiah and Huldah (Hawiey) 
 Southwick, was born in Erie Co., N. Y., Ai)ril 27, 1852. He is the 
 eighth generation from Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, who 
 came from England to America in 1636 and settled at Salem, Mass. 
 The family were Quakers and nearly all farmers. Mr. S. came to 
 
 Oceana County in 1876, and 
 bought a farm on Sec. 22, El- 
 bridge. Jn 1877 he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Emma Rogers, 
 daughter of Isaac and Eliza 
 (Mills) Rogers, of Ottawa Co., 
 Mich. They commenced pio- 
 neer life in a log house; their 
 ^ stock consisting of one cow 
 and a yoke of oxen. He now 
 has as good a stock and fruit 
 farm as any in the county, 
 comprising 120 acres, lioth 
 he and his wife taught school 
 before and after marriage; 
 and he was two years Suj^er- 
 intendent of Schools in El- 
 bridge. He is one of the Di- 
 rectors and Agent of the Far- 
 mers' Insurance Co. ^Ir. S. 
 believes that education is es- 
 sential to SI farmer, and that to be successful one must learn the 
 trade and use more judgment and brains than in any other occupa- 
 tion. His children are J. Rogers, Bertha Sopha, Lulu and Richard I. 
 
 K. E. SOUTHWICK. 
 
 WILLIAM ELMER THORP— 1876. 
 
 W. E. Thorp, as he is known throughout the length and breadth 
 of Oceana County, like many of those whose sketches have before 
 ai^peared is a nativeof New York State. He was born at Sherman. 
 N. Y., Jan. 14, 1841. to Alfred and P'rances R. Thorp. He received 
 the usual advantages of common school education and engaged in 
 school teaching and clerking. When the war of the rebellion l)i oke 
 out he enlisted as a private in Co. D, 21st N. Y. Inf., and served 2 
 years, ^^'as in the U. S. Navy as a landsman 9 months and was 
 honorably discharged. Since the war he has taken an active inter- 
 
372 
 
 o:eana county pioneers 
 
 est in G. A. R. matters and has 
 done as much as any one man 
 in Oceana Co. to secure veteran 
 organizations m the county. 
 The G. A. R. record published 
 elsewhere, shows what positions 
 he has held in the order. Pos- 
 sessing a good commercial edu- 
 cation he was especially compe- 
 tent to fill the position of Assist. 
 Adjt. Gen'l of the Dept. of Mich. 
 G. A. R., to which he was appoint ■ 
 ed by Comdr. Rutherford; owing 
 to the successful conduct of that 
 department has received many 
 flattering testimonials from his 
 comrades. He married Helen 
 M. Sheldon, an estimable lady, 
 
 Jan. 7, 1868, who is still his faithful companion. He came to 
 Oceana Co., May 1, 1876, and in September of the same year en- 
 gaged in the mercantile business at Hart, which he has since suc- 
 cessfully conducted. Mr. Thorp is an ardent democrat and has of- 
 ten been honored 'with nominations by that party, the most nota- 
 ble being the nomination in 1886 for Representative in the State 
 Legislature. He has held the office of Village Trustee of Hart one 
 term. Mr. Thorp is a genial, whole-souled gentleman, who not on- 
 ly seeks to enioy life himself, but contributes all in his power to the 
 comfort and pleasure of others. He still resides at Hart. 
 
 W. E. THORP. 
 
 RAYMOND ROSS — 1877. 
 
 Raymond Ross, son of Dunham and Savina Ross, was born in 
 Bradford Co., Pa., June 30, 1852. He can;>e to this county in June, 
 
 1877, and bought eighty acres of wild land on Sec. 12, Elbridge, 
 which he has since been engaged in clearing and working, at the same 
 time doing carpenter work when opportunity offered. He now has 
 sixty acres improved with an orchard of 600 peach, 200 apple trees 
 and 100 grapevines. He is a member of the Stetson Lodge I. O. O. 
 F. and is one of the best posted of its members. Married Jan. 13, 
 
 1878, to INIiss ]Myrtie A. Taylor, and they now have five children, 
 thi^ee sons and two daughters. 
 
 :n[elvin o. fisher— 1877. 
 
 Melvin 0. Fisher was born at Mendon, St. Joseph County, Mich., 
 June 2, 1856. He is a son of William G. and Sarah A. Fisher, now 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 373 
 
 M. O. nSHEU 
 
 residing in Crystal township. 
 He came to Oceana County iu 
 March, 1877, and is now re- 
 siding at Crystal tRwnship. 
 He has held the office of School 
 Inspector two terms and that 
 of Highway Commissioner 
 one term. He is an active 
 member of the Odd Fellows' 
 fraternity, having just finish- 
 ed his term as Noble Grand 
 of Crystal Valley Lodge No. 
 386. Has also been Treasu- 
 rer of that Lodge. He has 
 followed farming generallj'for 
 a livelihood, but has also 
 learned the carpenter trade. 
 "Mel," as he is familiarly 
 called, has many friends and 
 is accounted a good feliow by 
 all his acquaintances. 
 
 JOHN V. CAHILL— 1877 
 
 John V. Cahill was born at Al- 
 den, Erie Co., N. Y., May 8, '40. 
 He is the son of Patrick and El- 
 lenor W. Cahill. June G, 18G7, 
 he was married to Lydia E. 
 Miers. Mr. Cahill has been a 
 farmer and mechanic and is now 
 a member of the firm of Griswold 
 & Cahill, carrying a general line 
 of hardware, at Hart. He has 
 been a soldier, having enlisted 
 as a private in Co. G, 10th Wis. 
 Inf. and serving three years. He 
 was wounded at the battle of 
 Perrysvilie, Ky. As a G. A. R. 
 man he stands high, having been 
 Commander of Joe Hooker Post 
 at Hart, also having'held other 
 offices in that organization. He 
 has been a resident of this coun- 
 ty since November, 1877, and probably no business man in the 
 county has the confidence of the public to a greater e.xtent than he. 
 
 J. V. CAHILL. 
 
374 
 
 OCEANA COUXTY PIONEERS 
 
 RICHARD V. WANMER — 1877. 
 
 The 1 subject of this sketch was born 
 N. Y., April 24, 1857, the son 
 of Uriah and Elizabeth Wan- 
 mer. His boyhood daj^s were 
 silent upon a farm. He came 
 to Oceana Co. Dec. 27, 1877, 
 and worked out upon a farm 
 until the spring of '82, when 
 having purchased a forty acre 
 farm near the celebrated Geb- 
 hart fruit farm, conniienced 
 the business of fruit raising, 
 and today he owns one of the 
 model fruit farms of thecoun- 
 ty. His peach and plum or- 
 chards cover a large portion 
 of his farm. Although still a 
 young man he has secured for 
 himself a fine home and com- 
 petence, and established a 
 reputation as one of the most 
 successful fruit raisers of the 
 
 in Schenectady > 
 
 
 R. V. WANMF.R. 
 
 county. Feb. 20, '84, he married Miss Mate Stark, who has borne 
 to him two children, one son and one daughter. 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY CORNELL— 1877. 
 
 "Harry" Cornell, as he is 
 familiarly known, was born at 
 Hamilton, Ont., Feb. 2, '54, 
 the son of William and Eliza- 
 beth Cornell. He visited Oce- 
 ana Co. Dec. 15, 1877, while 
 traveling from place to place 
 as a dentist. The advanta- 
 ges offered by Hart for a resi- 
 dent dentist induced him to 
 locate there. Oct. 9, 1879, 
 he married Miss Minnie Palm- 
 iter, and together this hapjjy 
 couple occupy a fine home in 
 Hart village, blessed by one 
 'child, a daughter. Mr. Cor- 
 nell is one of the best dentists 
 in Northern Michigan and is 
 the only one located in the 
 
 ^^^=^/l' 
 
 W^^'' 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 375 
 
 county. His main office is at Hart, but he visits both Pentwater 
 and Shelby weekly. Had he adopted the theatrical profession he 
 would have made a success, as he is a natural actor and possesses 
 unusual dramatic talent. He is manager and proprietor of Palmi- 
 ter's Opera Hall, and to him our peojDle are indebted for the ap- 
 pearance in the county of many fine troupes. Mr. Cornell has 
 made a success in business, and enjoys a wide circle of friends. 
 
 JOHN M. HEIM— 1877. 
 
 John M. Helm was born at Wittemburg, Germany, his j)arents 
 being Michael and Mary Heim. He was married in New York City 
 to Mary Shelcup, who died in 1875. They had seven children, four 
 sons and three daughters. In 1876 he m.arried Agnes Whitcomb, 
 whose i)arent's names were William and Mary Anderson; they have 
 had no children. Mr. Heim, besides serving four years in the Ger- 
 man army before coming to this country, has been a Union soldier 
 serving as private twenty-eight months in the 72nd and 38th Ohio 
 
 Inf. He is now a prominent 
 and enthusiastic G. A. R. 
 member, and has held the of- 
 fice of S. Y. By trade he is a 
 cabinet maker and joiner, 
 serving an apprenticeship of 
 fourteen years; and following 
 his tx'ade altogether for for- 
 ty years. Before going into 
 the army he had provided 
 his family with a home; but 
 coming home from the war 
 sick, and his whole family be- 
 ing sick, he lost his home. He 
 then decided to come to Oce- 
 ana Co. in Aug. 1877, arriv- 
 ing herewith nothingof value 
 excepting an old team. Nev- 
 er having farmed and being 
 no judge of land he located in 
 the openings of Otto, where 
 he soon starved out. He 
 then homesteaded 160 acres one-half mile east of Ferry on the 
 "flats," a large portion of the land being under water. Afterwards 
 he drained the land into White River. He and the boys worked 
 hard and saved and they soon had a good farm. He gave each of 
 the boys who were with him 40 acres, gave his daughter $300, and 
 
 J. M. HEIM. 
 
376 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 sold the forty on which the buildings were located for §1,500, and 
 moved into Ferry. In 1884 hebuilt the hotel building in which he is 
 now located, known as the "Eagle Hotel." In 1888 hebuilt a large 
 store building withhall above known as "Heim's Hall." Mr. Heim 
 has always been a public spirited man and an evidence of that fact 
 is the Baptist Church, the only church building in Ferry, a large 
 share of the expense of which has been borne by him. 
 
 CHARLES F. LEWIS — 1878. . 
 
 Charles F. Lewis, son of Charles E. and Ann E. Lewis, was born 
 at Lyons, Ionia Oo., Mich., Nov. 11, 1876. He came to Pentwater 
 in August, 1878, a^nd was for three years thereafter a clerk m the 
 
 Pentwater Lumber Compa- 
 ny's stores. After leaving 
 there he was appointed a 
 route agent on the F. & P.M. 
 R. R., Avhich position he held 
 but a short time when he re- 
 ceived the appointment of 
 Postmaster at Pentwater in 
 '81. He continued in that 
 position for six years, giving 
 good satisfaction to all con- 
 cerned. After leaving the P. 
 O. he became a member of 
 the firm of C. F. Lewis & Co., 
 general hardware dealers, and 
 has since managed the busi- 
 ness for the firm. Mr. Lewis 
 is a young man of good prin- 
 ciples, capable, honest and 
 energetic, and under his management the business has prospered. 
 Married April 1, '81, to Lizzie L. Webb, and thej- now have two 
 children, a son and a daughter. 
 
 C. F. LEWIS. 
 
 GEORGE B. GETTY— 1878. 
 
 George B. Getty, the subject of this sketch, was born in Jackson, 
 Pa., Oct., 1847. He is a son of Henry and Anna O. Getty. At the 
 age of seventeen years, in 1864, he enlisted in Co. D, 45th Pa. Vet. 
 Vol. Inf., serving until the close of the war, being discharged with 
 his regiment in July, '65. He then returned to Pennsylvania, en- 
 gaging in the lumber business, which he continued until the spring of 
 '78, when he came to Shelby, this county. He went, as engineer, 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 377 
 
 with E. Remick to East Golden for that season, subsequently with 
 C. A. Hawley until '83. In that year the Shelby Lumber Company 
 was formed, comi^osed of George B. Getty, E. H. Cutler and Charles 
 Rolph. They purchased and rebuilt the Williams saw mill and 
 about a year later I\Ir. Get- 
 ty purchased the entire 
 property, adding a planing 
 mill and other improve- 
 ments, and successfully op- 
 erated the same until Aug. 
 3, '89, when the mill and 
 entire stock of lumber was 
 destroyed by fire. The en- 
 tire loss was about $25,000 
 Mr. Getty losing about 
 $14,000 with only $2,000 
 insurance. This was a M'- 
 vere loss to him, but in H' 
 wise discouraged he turned 
 his attention to his farm, 
 just north of the village, 
 formerly known as the Ran- 
 dall farm, and proceeded to 
 build thereon a comforta- 
 ble farm house, warmed 
 
 throughout by steam, one of the best farm houses in the county. 
 Here, surrounded by a loving family, consistuig of a wife, three sons 
 and a daugliter, he expects to round up the journey of life. ^Ir. 
 Getty is a part owner of the Shelby Roller Flouring Mills, and one 
 of the stockholders of the Shelby Improvement Company, owner of 
 the Opera House block. He was the first President of the village 
 and has been twice re-elected to the same office. Was one of the 
 first movers in organizing, and a charter member of, Shelby Lodge 
 No. 344, I. 0. O. F.; also of Shields Post No. 08, G. A. R., and 
 Ritch Command No. 28, Union Veteran Union, besides holding mem- 
 bership in several other benevolent organizations. Mr. Getty is 
 well and favorably known, enjoying the esteem and confidence of a 
 host of friends in Shelby and throughout the county. 
 
 G. B. GETTY. 
 
 HEXRY SAGE— 1878. 
 
 One of Weare's successful farmers is Mr. Henry Sage, who was 
 born in Naiisea, Somersetshire, England, to Samuel and Elizabeth 
 Sage, Sept. 6, 1828. He emigrated to America in 1852, and for 
 many years was engaged in mining in Pennsylvania. In October 
 
378 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEKKS 
 
 H SAGE. 
 
 '54, he was married to Mrs. 
 Mary L. Bainton, who was 
 born at Bradford, Wilt- 
 shire, England, April 8, '22, 
 her father's name beingWil- 
 liam Taylor. She was first 
 married to Samuel Bain- 
 ton, and after his decease 
 to Mr. Sage, as above. On 
 the 26th day of January, 
 '62, Mr. Sage enlisted in the 
 107th Pa. Vols., served un- 
 til Pec. 2, '62, when he was 
 discharged on account of 
 wounds received in battle. 
 Sept. 25,' 64, he again enlist- 
 ed and served until July S, 
 '65 when he was discharged. 
 He held the office of Corpo- 
 al. Mr. Sage came to Oce- 
 ana County and settled ui> 
 on the place he now owns 
 
 on the 4th day of June, 
 '78, his wife following him a 
 year later. They have six 
 children, one son and five 
 daughters, all living. This 
 worthy couple have done 
 their shai'e of hard work 
 and have made their farm 
 one of the finest in Weare. 
 They possess the confidence 
 of the business community 
 and the respect of their 
 neighbors. 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 379 
 
 H. J. HOLMES. 
 
 HORACE J. HOLMES — 1878. 
 
 Horace J. Holmes, a son of Abner G. and Hepsey B. (Davis) 
 Holmes, was bom in Erie Co., Pa., Dec. 19, 1822. At the com- 
 mencement of the civil war, April 19, '61, he enlisted in Co. G, 10th 
 Wis. Vol. Inf., as a private and served for three years. Was ap- 
 pointed Second Lieut, by E. D. 
 Townsend, Asst. A. Gen'l, U. S. 
 A., Dec. 14, '64. As a soldier 
 Mr. Holmes saw some severe 
 service. He came to this coun- 
 ty April 4, '78, and has since 
 resided at Hart. By profession 
 he is an architect and builder, 
 and since March, '87, he has 
 been engaged in book-keeping, 
 also doing architectural work. 
 In 1847 he joined the I. O. O. F. 
 and afterwards became a char- 
 ter member of Oceana Lodge No. 
 327, at Hart, and its first Noble 
 Grand. In 1851 he joined the 
 Masonic fraternity, in '71 became a Knight Templar, and in '74 re- 
 ceived the Council degrees. In '67 he became a member of the G. A. 
 E. and was in '88 Post Commander of Joe Hooker Post No. 2(3, at 
 Hart. Mr. Holmes was married June 9, '61, to Catherine C. Cahill, 
 who bore him six children, three sons and three daughters. 
 
 F. COON— 1879. 
 
 Edward F. Coon was born 
 at Spofford, Onondaga Co., 
 N. Y., Aug. 6, 1842. He is a 
 son of J. V. R. and Clarine 
 Coon. At the commencement 
 of the war he enlisted in Co. 
 1, 99th N.Y., and served three 
 years. He came to Oceana 
 Co. in '79 and settled at Shel- 
 by, where he remained until 
 about two years ago »> hen he 
 ^ accepted a position as trav- 
 
 eling salesman with the Capi- 
 tal Wagon Co., of Lansing, 
 which position he still holds. 
 On Sept. 13, '86, at LaGro, 
 Ind.,he was married to Mary 
 M. Kellar, who makes her 
 
 EDWARD 
 
380 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 home at Shelby while her husband is upon the road. Mr. Coon is 
 deservedly popular with all classes, being of a genial disjposition and 
 always ready with a i^leasant word for any he may meet. In '81-2 
 Mr. Coon held the office of Vice President; and '83-4 of President of 
 the Oceana County Veteran Association. 
 
 
 FRANK W. WILSON— 1879. 
 
 Jessie Rankin, a daughter of 
 D,H. and Christine Rankin. 
 She was born Feb. 3, '67, at 
 Marquette, Mich., and came 
 to Shelby, Aug. 4, '79. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Wilson now have 
 one daughter, Gracie, born 
 Oct. 24, '88. Mr. Wilson is a 
 well read and consequently 
 successful physician. He and 
 his wife enjoy the esteem of 
 then' numerous acc[uaint- 
 ances. 
 
 Frank W. Wilson was born 
 at Tilbury, East Canada, 
 Feb. 9, 1855. He is a son of 
 Andrew and Maria Wilson. 
 His early life was spent in 
 Canada. In 1876 he entered 
 the regular department of 
 medicine of the University of 
 Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from 
 which he graduated in the 
 spring of '79. He then came 
 to Shelby and ojpened an of- 
 fice for the practice of medi- 
 cine and surgery, where he 
 has since remained following 
 his profession. On Mar. 26, 
 1884, he was married to Miss 
 
 MRS. F. W. WILSON. 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 381 
 
 JOHN F. GUMMING— 1879. 
 
 John F. Cumming was born in 
 Delaware Co., N. Y., March 11, 
 1853. He is a son of John and 
 Sarah Cumming. Came to Oce- 
 ana Co. April 3, '79, and has 
 resided here. From Aj)ril, '84, 
 for one year was engaged intend- 
 ing the Little Point Au Sable 
 Lighthouse. He, with Geo.Cran- 
 dall, started a democratic news- 
 paper, and while he was engaged 
 at other work to procure funds 
 to keep the i^aper "booming," 
 Mr. Crandall became discourag- 
 ed and left the State, giving the 
 paper a natural death. He is at 
 present engaged in clearing a 
 farm tor fruit. Was Postmas- 
 ter during the last six months 
 of Cleveland's administration. 
 
 .;■ ^>; 
 
 J. F. CUMMING. 
 
 MRS. J. F. CUMMING. 
 
 Was Justice of the Peace one 
 term and Supervisor in 1SS9. 
 Married July 4, 1873, to Clar- 
 enda James who was born at 
 Birmingham, Eng., Dec. 25, '53, 
 being a daughter of David and 
 Jane James. She came to Amer- 
 ica when four years of age and 
 lived with her parents at Brook- 
 lyn for ten years. Her father 
 was an iron moulder by trade. 
 She was several years a member 
 of the Plymouth Church Sunday 
 School. 
 
B82 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONKERS 
 
 GEORGE H. EDDY — 1879. 
 
 George H. Eddy, son of Moses and Sarah Eddy, was born in Cat- 
 taraugus Co., N. Y., Oct. 9, 
 1837. He was for two years 
 a soldier serving in Co. D, 33d 
 N. Y. Inf. Since leaving the 
 army he has taken a great in- 
 terest in anything that con- 
 cerned the soldiers. He was 
 Post Coininander of Shields 
 Post No. 68, at Shelby, dur- 
 ing 1889. Previous to 1879 
 he followed the business of a 
 mechanic, but in that year he 
 came to Oceana County and 
 began farming for a living, 
 
 ^ which he has since followed. 
 
 "", Married in 1863 to Emily A. 
 
 , Lang, and now has three chil- 
 dren, two sons and a daugh- 
 ter. 
 
 G. H. EDDY. 
 
 CHARLES E. 
 
 Charles E. Converse was 
 born in Monroe Co., N. Y., 
 Oct. 14, 1841. His parents' 
 names were Joseph E. and 
 Sarah Converse. He came to 
 Oceana Co. April 15, 1879, 
 and located in Ferry town- 
 ship on Sec. 8. He has been 
 a successful school teacher 
 having taught in all thirty 
 terms in N. Y. and Mich. On 
 Nov. 15, 1865, he married 
 Lucy McLouth, and they 
 have had born to them eight 
 children, seven sons and one 
 daughter. Mr. Converse has 
 held the positions of Justice 
 
 CONVERSE— 1879. 
 
 C. E. CONVERSE. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAV. 
 
 383 
 
 of the Peace and Superintendent of Schools. He is a nian well 
 known in the county where he also has many friends. He is one of 
 tho.se who has added his brain and muscle to the development of 
 the county, now pos.sessing a good home showing signs of thrift and 
 enterprise. 
 
 CHARLES A. GURNEY— 1879. 
 
 Charles A. Gurney was born in Geaugr. Co., Ohio, June 0, 1853, 
 his parents being A. D. and Mary Gurney. In 18.54 he came with 
 his parents to Tuscola Co., Mich. He attended the Tuscola High 
 School, paying his way by 
 teaching winters and graduat- 
 ing at the head of his class. 
 In 1879 he came to Oceana 
 Co. and taught school for his 
 support while studying law. 
 Was admitted to the bar 
 June 26, 1881. Hewaselect- 
 ed Circuit Court Commission- 
 er in 1882, and again 1881. 
 Has also been Township 
 Clerk. On Dec. 11, 1888, he 
 was married to Carrie M. Wig- 
 ton, and now rejoices in the 
 title of pater familias, having 
 recently'been presented with 
 a son. He is a leading mem- 
 ber of the Masonic and Odd c. a. gurney. 
 Fellows' orders and Sons of Veterans' Camp. Whatever he under- 
 takes he puts his strength into and pushes to the front. At present 
 lie is proprietor of a drug store at Hart. 
 
 DAXIKL H. RANKIN— 18(9. 
 
 Daniel H. Rankin was boi-n in Dundee, Province of (Quebec, Cana- 
 da, July 12, 1831, being a son of Hugh and Jeimette Rankin. At an 
 early age he moved with his parents to London, Ont., where he re- 
 mained until I860, at which time he came to ISIichigan, settling at 
 Mar(]uette. Here he engaged in the manufacture of charcoal, which 
 V)usiness with others he has continued to follow to thejjresent time. 
 jNIr. Rankin came to Shelby, Oceana Co., in 1879, where he still re- 
 sides. Since living at Shelby he has been engaged in the business of 
 making charcoal for the Spring Lake Iron Co., making an average 
 of 90,000 bushels a month at the kilns at Shelby and INIears. He 
 's also a member of the fn-m of Rankin Sz Dewey, at Shelby, doing a 
 
384 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 5; i~^Ji^ > tt^ 
 
 general merchandise business . 
 Mr. Rankin was married Sep. 
 22, 1867, to Christie Rankin, 
 who was born in Montreal, 
 Can., Oct. 21, 1838. They 
 now have six children, Kittie, 
 now Mrs. Geo. E. Dewey, An- 
 gus D., Daniel D., Jessie, now 
 Mrs. F. W. Wilson, Burt J., 
 and Mary, all of of whom are 
 residing at Shelby. They 
 have lost one child by death, 
 Duncan, born Sept. 26,1865, 
 who died Oct. 12, 1867. 
 
 ^^'-^^^'^ 
 
 D. H. RAXKIX. 
 
 OSCAR H. DEAN— 1879. 
 
 Oscar H. Dean, son of Henry and Calystia Dean, was born in De- 
 troit, Mich., Au;:;;. 6, 1836. When two years of age he moved with 
 his parents to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he made his home until 
 l!-5s, when he moved to Ionia, 
 
 where he was engaged for three 
 yt'Mi's \n running a dry goods 
 store. Enlisted Aug. 1, 1861, as 
 private in Co. A, 21st Mich. Inf.; 
 was soon after transferred to 
 Quartermaster's Dept. as Ser- 
 geant, and served until Dec. 31, 
 1861, when he was discharged (!'' 
 
 for disability. He then returned ^^ - ^ 
 to Grand Rapids and engaged in ^p 
 a Gents' furnishing establish- ^ 
 ment. Continued about one ~ 
 year in that business, then went 
 to Ionia and was in busmess 
 there until Sept., 1879, when he 
 came to Pentwater, where he en- o. h. dean. 
 
 gaged in business for the Pent- 
 water Lumber Co., afterwards buying the stock and running the 
 busmess for himself until 1886, when he sold to F. 0. Gardner. Mr. 
 
 .-^^ 
 
AND BUSINESS .MliN OF TU-IJAY 
 
 385 
 
 Dean was- Village Trustee of Ionia for four yeai's. Has been .Justice 
 of tlie Peace and Village Trustee at Prntwater. and in July, 1887, 
 was appointed Postmaster, which position he held until June 1, 
 1890. He is in all respects a perfect ticntlenian and has numerous 
 friends in the county. Married, Dec. 23, 1861, to Miss Alice J. 
 Johnson, of Ionia, a daui>hter of Eth.m S. and Jane B. Johnson, he 
 hein^ a prominent man in that localiry. Mr. and ?*Irs. Dean are 
 prominently identilicd with tiic E[)is(Oi),il SucieLy and are known 
 as active workers. i\Ir. Dean is also an active Mason, one of the 
 Past Masters of Oceana Lodge No. 2Ui>. 
 
 CHARLKS V>-. .7AY— 1 8(1. 
 
 Ciiarles W. Jay, whose portrait ax^pears below, was a man of re- 
 markable intellectual ability, and wlio ilurinc; a residence in the Co. 
 extending over a period of af)Our twelve years, was a prominent 
 character, although he did not achieve success in his chosen occu- 
 pation, farming and fruit raisiuL'. He was born in New Jersey in 
 1815. He thus describes his 
 early life: '• 'I was born of 
 poor but respectable par- 
 ents.' My father was a shoe- 
 maker, and waxed poorer 
 and poorer with the yearly 
 increase of his family, until 
 he could hardly make both 
 
 ends meet. His sole means /../.■ 
 
 •<'■■ 
 of support was his trade, at /^ 
 
 which he hammered away 
 
 day and night, in order to 
 
 get the upper hand of the 
 
 hard necessity that tacks'd 
 
 all his energies. At last, by 
 
 unrelieved confinement, he 
 
 was assailed by a stitch in 
 
 the side, the thread of life 
 
 parted asunder, and my 
 
 worthy progenitor paid the c. w. jay. 
 
 only debt that he could not 
 
 elude by the statute of limitations— the deljt of Nature. 
 
 My father's semi-occasional treatment of my.^elf affords a strik- 
 ing illustration of the law of cause and effect. The only positive 
 recreation in which he indulged, was in treating me to 'black-sfrap,' 
 that he might stirrup my naturally slu;:^4i-h te-mperament. And be- 
 
386 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 hold the result, a''ter I arrived to man's estate, the only real free- 
 hold I ever held or inherited! Searcelj' a month has jiassed, in all 
 the years since, in which I have not found myself completely 'strap- 
 ped!' At the age of ten years I commenced the battle of life, with 
 feeble hands, and a rebellious heart. I became a 'bearer-ofE' in a 
 brickyard, at four dollars per month, finding my own boardl The 
 work was hard, very hard, and the memory of those long and bit- 
 ter days, in which my little hands were never without great, pain- 
 ful blisters, and my young heart became hourly more calloused in 
 its sfiisibiiities, is not a i)icture to look upon with pleasure, or even 
 uith that indifference to past suffering, which time so humanely 
 softens down in the recollection of those who have passed through 
 deejj and troubled waters. All through the long summer months, 
 from (lawn of day to the evening twilight of the same, did I carry 
 the tempered clay in the moulds, bending down to deposit the green 
 brick.s upon the smooth fioor of the yard, without rest or intermis- 
 sion, save a little half hour for a cold dinner, until back and heart 
 ■were alike broken, and the spirit of my young life drunken up with 
 silent and unavailing sorrow." 
 
 Mr. Jay became an editor and a public speaker of note in the 
 East. He was successful in both undertakings, but failing to real- 
 ize his ambitious longings he was cast down and afterwards used 
 his rem:ii kable abilities more as a diversion than with any practi- 
 cal end i.i view. He came to Oceana County and settled in Benona 
 near whar is known as Sammons' Landing, and engaged in clearing 
 up his la id and farming, afterwards turning his attention to fruit 
 raising, ia which, from his own account, he was not successful. 
 From his advent into the county, although living with his family 
 miles dis ant from any settlement, he soon became a noted person- 
 age. Articles from his trenchant and humorous pen appeared in 
 the local papers, and O, P. Dildock (his nam de plume) soon had a 
 reputation as a humorist and critic extendingfar beyond the limits 
 of the county. The writer of this was j)ersonally acquainted with 
 him, and upon a visit to his home was royally entertained and en- 
 joyed a rare intellectual treat. He was an eloquent speaker upon 
 any subject, political or moral, and his services upon the platform 
 were often in demand. His conversation and his writings, however, 
 all indicate a disappointed ambition. In appearance he resembled 
 greatly Horace Greeley, and many of his personal attrilnites re- 
 minded one of the great editor. He married in 1841. Mrs. C. A. 
 Sessions, of Benona, Mrs. Alice J. Sundt, of Washington, and Chas. 
 Jay, of Benona, are his children. On Sunday, Dec. 7, 188J, Mr. 
 Jay passed over the silent river and his faithful wife and compan- 
 ion followed him within an hour's time on the same day. 
 
AND BUSINESS MKX OF TO-DAV. 
 
 387 
 
 DANIEL S. RAN'KIN— 1880. 
 
 Daniel S. Rankin was born 
 in Lower Canada, Dec. 13, 
 1853. His parents were Sam- 
 uel and Jennette Rankin. He 
 came to Oceana Co. in 1880, 
 and located at New Era in 
 general merchandise business. 
 In 'b3 he removed to Shelby 
 where lie is now located. In 
 July, '•-i"', he married Miss 
 Jennie Willson. Mr. Rankin 
 is now interested in the livery 
 business with his cousin Dun- 
 can J. Rankin under the linn : 
 name of D. J. Rankin & Co.; 
 also indruj^ business, the firm 
 being D. S. Rankin tt Co. He 
 is also interested in the old 
 Elliott House, which has been 
 recently repaired and general- 
 ly renovated. He came to 
 Oceana Co. a comparatively 
 poor man and by hard labor, 
 
 honesty and economy has accumulated a comfortable fortune. 
 He is known as one of Shelby's most enterprising and energetic cit- 
 izens. 
 
 FRANK E. REAMER— 1880. 
 
 Frank E. Reamer was huiii a:- 
 Orwell, Oswego Co., N. Y.. Xov. 
 26, 1852, being a sonot William 
 H. and Lucy P. Reamer. He 
 came to Oceana Co. in Sep., '80, 
 seven montlis after his parents, 
 and settled in Shelby village 
 where he still makes his home. 
 He is engaged in general mason 
 work and building, and is a very 
 successful workman in that bu- 
 siness, upright, honorable and 
 possessed of the confidence of 
 the pul)!ic. He is a leading mem- 
 ber of Shell)y Lodge No. Sli, I. 
 O. O. F., one of its Past Grands, 
 
 D. S. RANKIN. 
 
 ■^>ir- rilr^^K^- 
 
388 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 and Representative to the Grand Lodge. He is never wearyfof 
 working for the growth and advancement of the order, which is 
 gaining in influence and membership. "Frank," as his neighbors 
 all call him, is by hard work and his gen"al treatment ot those with 
 whom becomes in contact building up a substantial business and 
 creating a wide circle of friends. Has been Constable and Deputy 
 Sheriff. Married, Feb. 18, '84, to Miss Ida L. Loomis, and now has 
 three children, two sons and one daughter. 
 
 IRA A. RICHMOND— 1880. 
 
 Ira A. Richmond was born in DeKalb Co., Ind., April 10, 18.59. 
 His parents" names were William and Marie Richmond. He came 
 to this county in '80, and with his parents settled upon the farm he 
 
 now owns on .Sec. \'S, town- 
 ship of Golden. This is one 
 of the finest farms in the 
 township, and since his ftith- 
 er's decease, which occurred 
 several years since, has been 
 under the management and 
 control of the subject of our 
 sketch. Before going upon 
 this farm, while in Indiana, 
 ;\Ir. Richmond was engaged in 
 the mercantile business. He 
 is a prominent Odd Fellow 
 and held in high esteem by 
 the order. Dec. 11, lirTO, he 
 married Ida L. Portner. The 
 , ,, a .^gsp \\ j^c;^^ -\\ union was a happy one and 
 
 p!''^ '• ■^:. \ r^!^^ ,/ . one son and one daughter 
 
 ' ^-'■-' "■■ '■ -' .■'.i^pf ... have been born to them. ]Mr. 
 
 Richmond, while nOt a pio- 
 I. A. Ririi.MONi). neer, has done much to im- 
 
 prove the standard of farm- 
 ing in the <'oniity. and always takes a lively interest in those things 
 that tend to ini[)rove the condition of farmers. 
 
 F. L. PECK— 1880. 
 
 F. Tj. Peck was horn at Lancaster, Ei-ie Co., N. Y., Jan. 8, 1^41. 
 He is ; lie second sun and fourth child of Joseph and Mary A. Peck, 
 the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New York State. His 
 father was a cai-nenter and worked on the mill at Stony Creek for 
 Minard it Conklin.! in '6.'}; liis family living in DeKalb Co., 111., from 
 
AND BUSINESS MKN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 389 
 
 'oJ: to 'G4, when they remov- 
 ed to Grand Rapids, thence 
 to New York 'State where he 
 died Mar. 10, '71. The sub- 
 ject of our sketch was in the 
 employ of C. C. Comstock at 
 Grand Rapids three years, a 
 member of the firm of Konkle 
 & Peck, wooden ware and 
 handles, at Caledonia, Kent 
 Co., for ten years. On Dec. 
 31, '70, he was married to 
 Esther C. Lane, who was born 
 Aug. 27, "53, at Spi'ing Lake, 
 Ottawa Co. They have two 
 children, Florence M., born 
 Nov. 22, '71, and Claud F., 
 born Dec. 4, '77. Mr. Peck 
 is a leading member of the 
 Odd Fellows and an energetic 
 business man, being now a 
 
 member of the firm of Cutler & Peck, liandle manufact 
 business at Shelby. 
 
 F. L. PECK. 
 
 urers doing 
 
 DENNIS HINCHIN — 1880. 
 
 Dennis Hinchin, son of 
 John and Mary Hinchin, 
 was born in the (;ity of Que- 
 bec, Can. When five years 
 of age he came to tlie United 
 States. He is another of 
 our old soldiers, having en- 
 listed in Co. B, 97tli N. Y. 
 Inf., in Nov., '61, and serv- 
 ing unt'il June 23, '(55. He 
 was wounded at Spottsyl- 
 vania, Va., and taken pris- 
 oner May 8, '<54. and re- 
 mained in rebel prisons un- 
 til exchanged March 4, '65. 
 :^^ He came from Ijewis Co.,N. 
 Y., to this county in 1880 
 ^ [,. , and located upon a farm 
 fjfj^ C^^ near New Era, where he still 
 I'esides. He has held the 
 
 f 
 
390 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 offices of Constable and Highway Commissioner. Was married in 
 Pittston, Penn., in '72, and has five children, sons. Mr. Hinchin is 
 possessed of many friends and all speak of him in the highest terms. 
 
 MRS. CLAKINA E. COON— 1880. 
 
 Mrs. Clarina E. Coon was an Edwards, a descendant of Alex. Ed- 
 wards, who emigrated from Wales in 1640 and settled in Spring- 
 field, Mass. His son Nathaniel, born June 25, 1657. His son, Na- 
 thaniel Jr., V)orn July 26, 1694. His son, Ebenezer, born April, 
 1727. His soil, Alanson, born Jan., J 766. Clarina, his dtiughter, 
 born Feb. 23, lS10,in Skeneatles, N. Y. Her mother was Elizabeth 
 McKay. Clarina was a twin, the youngest (but one) of eleven chil- 
 dren. Married Artemas Weaver, Oct. 7, 1^30, who died Feb. 23, 
 
 1836, by whom she had two 
 daughters. Electa Edwards 
 and Jane Eliza. Jane Eliza 
 died when ten months old. 
 She married J. V. R. Coon 
 April 21, 1840, who died Sep. 
 11, 1874, by whom she had 
 one son, Edward F. For 
 many years she resided in the 
 immediate vicinity of her 
 birthplace, Skeneatles, N. Y. 
 In after life she made her 
 home with her daughter. Elec- 
 ta Edwards, wife of C. A. 
 Hawley, in Chicago. Since 
 about the year 18^0, she has 
 resided in Shelby, making her 
 home with her daughter, and 
 her son, E. F. Coon. Grand- 
 ma Coon has the honor of making four generations in one family: 
 herself, Mrs. C. A. Hawley, her daughter; E. W. Hawley, her grand- 
 son, and Frankie, her great-grandson. She was eighty years old 
 the 23rd day of Feb., 1890. Has one sister three years her sen- 
 ior. Her brother, Thaddeus Edwards, died in Skeneatles, N. Y., 
 May 8, 1890, aged 95 years and 5 months. From her youth she 
 has been a very useful Christian woman. Almost a natural nurse, 
 she has been with the sick night and day assisting to save the lives 
 of many. Always interested in the reforms of the day. Once an 
 assistant agent at a station on the underground R. R. to run slaves 
 into Canada. Notwithstanding her advanced age she enjoys good 
 
 MRS. C. E. COON. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAY. 391 
 
 health. Yery intelhgent and interesting, is good company and has 
 a host of friends. 
 
 HENRY HAKTER— 1880. 
 
 Henry Harter was born in Harmony, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 
 1815, and lived there until the age of ten years, when he moved 
 with his parents to Crawford Co., Penn. Parents' names are Jared 
 L. and Cynthia E. Harter. He is the eldest of seven cliildren all of 
 whom are living at present writing. Was married in l!^69 to Eliza- 
 beth Turner, daughter of Leland and Sarah Turner. Has five chil- 
 dren, one son and four daughters. Came to Oceana Co. in 1880; 
 bought eighty acres of land on section one, township of Claybanks. 
 Moved into the woods and had to chop and clear away a i)lace to 
 build a house. Began to build in April, 18S1, and had to shovel 
 away three feet of snow to set down blocks to set a house uj)on 
 and moved in before windows or doors were hung; might almost be 
 classed as a pioneer. He has now about fifty acres down, and 28 
 of it cleared. Has set out 125 apple and 75 peach trees. 
 
 HENRY L. HODGES— 1880. 
 
 Henry L. Hodges was born at Watertown, N. Y., June 10, 1811, 
 and is a son of Stephen and INIary Hodges. On Ajiril 7, 1880. he 
 came to Oceana Co. and purchased a farm described as the north 
 half of the southeast quarter of Sec. 30, of the township of Elbridge. 
 Here he has continued to reside and has improved it until now he 
 has 10 acres under cultivation with three acres of orchard and good 
 comfortable farm buildings. He is an old soldier, having seen ser- 
 vice in Co. H, 1st N. Y. Light Art. one year, and as Captain in Co. 
 G, 14th N. Y. Heavy Art. two years and three months. He has 
 been two years Highway Commissioner of his township. INIarried 
 Nov. 29. 1859, to Lucy Campbell, by whom he had twelve children, 
 nine sons and three daughters. He had the mi.sfortune to lose his 
 wife in June, 1882. 
 
 MARION L. FERRIS— 1882. 
 
 Marion L. Ferris was born in Broome Co., N. Y., April 30, 1854, 
 being a son of Albert G. and Betsey (Conklin) Ferris. In Nov., '80, 
 he came to this county and jjurchased a farm in the townshiiJ of 
 Shelby, two and one-lialf miles from Shelby village. This he clear- 
 ed up and resided on same until Oct., '88, when he came to Shelby 
 and engaged in selling merchandise, where he has since continued. 
 On Nov. 3, '80, was married to Miss Addie M. Kibbe, a daughter of 
 David J. and Rachel B. (Cotton) Kibbe, who was born May 5, '60, 
 in Potter Co., Penn. She has always been a faithful, loving wife 
 
392 
 
 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 and fond mother and is justly jproud of her two boys, aged respect- 
 ively eight and six years. 
 
 HENRY J. SERVIS— 1881. 
 
 Henry J. Servis, son of Thomas and Mary Servis, was born in 
 Lower Canada in 1840. He came to Oceana Co. in May, '81, and 
 has since resided at Hart, where he has been engaged as a carpenter 
 
 and builder. In former years 
 he followed sailing and ship- 
 building for a livelihood. At 
 present he is engaged in the 
 pump business. Mr. Servis 
 has been noted for his great 
 interest in Odd Fellowship, 
 having joined Sacarisa Lodge 
 No. 307, at Lewiston, N. Y., 
 in 1874 and transferred by 
 card to Oceana Lodge No. 
 327, at Hart in '83. Became 
 a member of Hart Encamp- 
 ment No. 12, in '84. In both 
 of these societies he has held 
 numerous offices and is now 
 a P. G. and P.C. P. Married 
 in '61 to Mfitilda Russell and 
 has four children, three sons 
 and one daughter. 
 
 H. J. SERVIS. 
 
 HENRY W. HARPSTER 
 
 Henry W. Harpster was 
 born at Delta, Eaton Coun- 
 ty, Mich., May 16, 1856, be- 
 ing the youngest child of Eliz- 
 abeth and Daniel Harpster, 
 is of German descent. Lived 
 on his father's farm until he 
 Avas 16 years of age. He re- 
 ceived his education at the 
 Charlotte Union School and 
 Olivet College. Commenced ; 
 the study of law in '79 with 
 Hon. D. P. Sagendorph, of 
 Charlotte, Mich. Finished 
 his legal education at the law 
 department of the Michigan 
 
 -1881. 
 
AND BUSINKSS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 393 
 
 State University. Came to Oceana County in the summer of '81. 
 Was married to Carrie M. Darling in Oct., 'b3. Went to Shelby and 
 commenced the practice of law in the spring of '85. Continued to 
 pi'actice at Shelby until Jan., '89, when he moved to Pentwater and 
 associated with W. E. Ambler, where he now lives. He has been 
 successful, as a rule, in his cases, and may justly be considered as 
 one of the best read hxwyers of the county. 
 
 LELAND C. BREWSTER— 1881. 
 
 Leland C. Brewster was born in Mansfield, Tioga Co., Pa., Aug. 
 15, '50. His XDaients were Luther H. and Olive P. Brewster. The 
 subject of our sketch has followed farming the greater jpart of his 
 life. July 20, '69, he married Victoria E. Watkins, in Tioga Co. 
 They have had three daughters. 
 Minnie E., one of them, is now 
 the wife of Ervie Cleveland and 
 resides at Crystal Valley. Nov. 
 3, '81, Mr. Brewster came to 
 Oceana Co. to unite his fortunes 
 with the other residents of this 
 Co. For the past six years he 
 has presided over the destinies 
 of Crystal Valley's only hotel, 
 the "Brewster House." He is 
 much attached to the doctrines 
 taught by Odd Fellowship and 
 follows their precepts. He is a 
 member of the Crystal Valley 
 Lodge in which organization he 
 has just completed a term of of- 
 fice as its Permanent Secretary. 
 
 A jovial, good-hearted, level-headed gentleman, long may he exist 
 to cheer the weary and refresh the hungry. 
 
 L. C. BREWSTER. 
 
 CHARLES E. ABRAHAM— 1881 . 
 
 Charles E. Abraham, son of William H. and Elizabeth Abraham, 
 was born at Edinboro, Pa., Jan. 11, 1861 . He came to this coun- 
 ty Sept. 15, '81, locating at Shelby, where he has since resided, en- 
 gaged in carpenter work summers and teaching winters, excepting 
 the winter of '66-7, spent in Kansas City, Mo. By hard and un- 
 ceasing labor he has succeeded in making for himself and family as 
 nice a home as any could wish, comprising an acre and a half on 
 the main thoroughfare of Shelby, with a large comfortable house, 
 and the grounds covered with fruit of all kinds. Since coming to 
 
394 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Shelby he has had an unfortu- 
 nate and sad experience in the 
 death of both parents, who lie 
 buried in the Shelby cemetery. 
 Mr. Abraham is an active mem- 
 ber of the M. E. Society. Also 
 of Shelby Lodge No. 344, I. 0. 
 O. F., in which he takes great in- 
 terest, and in which he has held 
 all the imi^ortant offices, being 
 now Noble Grand. Married Nov. 
 2, '83, to Miss Ella Shirts. Two 
 daughters have blessed their 
 union. 
 
 C. E. ABRAHAM. 
 
 FRANK E. YOUNG— 1881. 
 
 F]"ank E. Young, one of the successful educators of Oceana Coun- 
 ty, was born to J. A. and E. 
 E. Young, at Lodi, Columbia 
 Co., Wis., Aug. 17, 1858. He 
 received a good education 
 and since Sept. 20, '81, has 
 been engaged in school teach- 
 ing. He has been principal of 
 the Hart Union Schools for 
 several years, giving the best 
 of satisfaction. He came to 
 this county in '81, and has 
 held, in the county, the offices 
 of School Inspector, and 
 Chairman of the Co. Board 
 of School Examiners. Sept. 
 24, '78, he was happily mar- 
 ried to Miss Sarah E. Hol- 
 comb. Mr. Young is a gen- 
 tleman of sterling principles, 
 and in his daily life commands 
 the respect of all who know 
 him. He takes a lively interest in all matters j)ertaining to intel- 
 
 F. E. Y'OUNG. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-UAY. 
 
 395 
 
 lectual improvement, and is regarded as one of the first educators 
 of tlie county. 
 
 WILLIAM E. MERRILL— 1879. 
 
 William E.Merrill was born in 
 Springfield Co., Maine, Feb 14, 
 1853. Removed to Rock Coun- 
 ty, Wis., with his parents in '69, 
 and in '79 came to Oceana Co., 
 where he has since resided. The 
 first five yeai's of his life in Oce- 
 ana Co. was spent in the employ 
 of Sands tt Maxwell as Night 
 Watchman. Since that time he 
 has been employed on a fruit 
 farm of his own, and growinti 
 fruits of all kinds, for which occu- 
 pation he has a natural aptitude, 
 even while a boy growing straw- 
 berries which one year netted 
 him .$150. He was married in 
 '81 to Mrs. Anna Messeni^er, who w. e. merrill. 
 
 was born in Wood Co., Ohio, 
 May 15, '52, removing to 
 Oceana Co. in '79. 
 
 MRS. W. E. -MERRILL. 
 
396 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 ED^VARD H. CUTLER— 1881. 
 
 Edward H. Cutler was born in Westminster, Canada, July 21, 
 
 '50. His parents' names were 
 David and Sarah Cutler. He 
 settled in Shelby in '81, and 
 engaged in the manufacture 
 of lumber. In '87 he com- 
 menced manufacturing 
 broom-handles in company 
 ■with F. L. Peck, and has 
 made a success of the busi- 
 ness. He is regarded as a 
 good, safe business man and 
 a public spirited citizen. He 
 has served four years as Vil- 
 lage Trustee, is a prominent 
 Odd Fellow and has held 
 many offices in the order. To 
 his energy is largelj' due the 
 organizing and maintenance 
 of an efficient Fire Depart- 
 ment in Shelby. Jan. 1, '71, 
 B. H. CUTLER. he was married to Miss Mary 
 C. Knowlton, and two daughters have been born to them. 
 
 CYRUS B. .STEVENS— 1881. 
 
 Cj'rus B. Stevens was born at 
 Avon, Lorain Co., Ohio, Jan. 9, 
 '50. He is a son of Ransom F. 
 and Finetta M. Stevens. After 
 attending common schools until 
 the age of seventeen he attended 
 school at Oberlin, Ohio, and 
 Hillsdale, Mich., from '67 to '70. 
 Like many other young men he 
 then engaged in teaching, at the 
 same time studying law. He 
 continued this until '80, when 
 he engaged in the practice of the 
 law. On May 6, '81, he came to 
 Oceana Co., locating at Hart, 
 where in '82 he formed a copart- 
 nership with Hon. T. S. Gurney. 
 He remained with Mr. Gurney 
 
 Wi^'^' 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, 
 
 397 
 
 until '85, when his healtli tailing he went South where he remained 
 until '86. In that year he returned to Hart and has since been en- 
 gaged there in the law business. On Au£;. 5, '75, he was married to 
 Miss Addie Drinkall. They have no children. Mr. Stevens has won 
 the esteem of those with whom he has come in contact. He has 
 been Township Superintendent of Schools three years, Justice of 
 the Peace three j-ears and Prosecuting Attorney of this county four 
 years. As Prosecutor he was always ready and prompt in the dis- 
 charge of his duties. As a genial gentleman he has many friends 
 and few enemies. 
 
 MARION FRANK HYDE — 1881. 
 
 ]\Iarion Frank Hyde was born in Royalton township), Berrien Co., 
 Mich., Nov. 21, 1858, his parents' names being ^John V. and Cath- 
 erine M. Parmenter. His mother died Feb. 9, 1861, at Berrien 
 Si^rings, and he was adopted 
 by John W. and Rebecca L. 
 Hyde, April 11, '61. In the 
 fall of '62 he removed with 
 his adopted parents to Val- 
 paraiso, Ind., where he at- 
 tended school. In the fall of 
 '71 the family removed to 
 Muskegon and in 1876 to 
 Leslie, Ingham Co. In Nov., 
 '81, he came to Oceana Co., 
 and Jan. 29, '82, entered the 
 Pentwater News' employ as a 
 job printer. He soon came 
 to be known as a first class 
 pressman and was given 
 charge of the press work of 
 the office, which position he 
 
 held with scarcely a day's .m. f. hyde. 
 
 loss of time until May 3, '90. IMr. Hyde belongs to the Odd Fel- 
 lows' order. Subordinate, Encampment and Rebekah lodges, and has 
 passed all the chairs in both Encampment and Subordinate lodges. 
 May 27, '83, he was married to Mary Isabel Grant, of Pentwater, 
 who was a compositor in the News office, and who had been a faith- 
 ful emj)loye of the office since May 26, '71, and who still continues 
 as head compositor of the office. Two children, a daughter, 
 Beatrice, and son, Harold Frank, have been born to them. 
 
 DAVID J. HILL— 1882. 
 
 David J. Hill is the son of Graham and Deborah Hill, and was 
 
398 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 D. J. HILL. 
 
 born in Canada, April 13, 1829. 
 He came to this county March 
 25, '82, becoming a resident of 
 Elbridse township, where he en- 
 gaged in farming. He soon be- 
 came quite pron)inent in the af- 
 fairs of the township and has 
 been elected and served the 
 township acceptably as Treasu- 
 rer and Supervisor. Nov. 29, 
 '52, he married Mary J. Bolton, 
 which union has been happily 
 blessed with three sons and five 
 daughters. Mr. Hill is a pleas- 
 ant gentleman whom one delights 
 to meet and to know. He is 
 pleasantly situated and com- 
 
 mands the esteem and respect of his neighbors. 
 
 W. H. FLEMING— 1882. 
 
 W. H. Fleming was born at Romulus, Seneca Co., N. Y., July 3, 
 1837. Oct. 8, '44, he moved with his parents to North Adrian, 
 Mich., where he resided the most of the time until '59. In that year 
 he went to Ypsilanti, where a 
 part of the time he attended 
 school, expecting to fit him- 
 self for teaching, but the war 
 breaking out he decided to 
 offer his services to the Gov- 
 ernment. He enlisted in Co. 
 K, 1st Mich. Inf., and at the 
 first battle of Bull Ivun, July 
 21, '61, was taken prisoner 
 He was held as a i^risoner ->i>zx'/ 
 of war by the Confederates-, '^^^mr^t A. '"'-- "^''^^^BkNiv 
 ten montlis when he was ex- 
 changed, mustered out and .^^^^^^'^^^y 7^^ ///If 
 came home. On Dec. 30, 62, •^'^^^^^^^C^~^ / v^^^; 
 he was married to Emily H " ^^^^^^ifev I y^^ ''^'■' ^■•£' 
 Crane, of Ypsilanti. The fol- 
 lowing year, on Oct. 10, he 
 again enlisted, this time in w. h. Fleming. 
 
 Co. H, 11th Mich. Vol. Cav., 
 and was mustered in as first Sergeant. He was severely wounded 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 399 
 
 at the battle of Saltville, Va., in Sept., '64, and again received a 
 slight wound at Marion, Va., in Dec, '64. He was mustered out 
 Aug. 10, '65, and returned home. He then for thirteen years resid- 
 ed in Bay Co., holding the office of Supervisor in tliat county seven 
 years. Sept. 1, '82, he came to Oceana Co. and is now serving his 
 fourth term as Sujoervisor of Benona, where he has resided since. 
 
 ALEXANDER PATON— 1882. 
 
 Alexander Paton was born at 
 Galston, Scotland, Dec. 22, '48. 
 He is a son of David and Chris- 
 tian (Woodburn) Paton. He 
 first saw Oceana Co. in 1870, be- 
 fore the railroad was built, and 
 pux'chased land near Shelby. He 
 came permanently in '82 and 
 located at Shelby. In business 
 he followed farming until '75. 
 After coming to Shelby engaged 
 with H. L. Andrus in mercantile 
 business which they continued 
 for about six years, then going 
 into their present business, saw 
 and planing mill, under the firm 
 name of Paton & Andrus, and 
 doing a good business. Married 
 Oct. 20, '70, Hattie M. Wilson. 
 
 No children. Mr. Paton has many good qualities and a host of 
 friends and has done his share toward the prosperity of Shelby. 
 
 A. PATON. 
 
 GEORGE O. SWITZER— 1882. 
 
 George O. Switzer, son of George H. and Mary J. Switzer, was 
 born March 8, 1854, at North East, Erie Co., Pa. Lived there with 
 his iDarents until '60, when the family came to Barry Co., Mich. 
 There he resided with his parents upon a farm, attending high school 
 at Hastings, until he reached man's estate, when he started out for 
 himself. He taught school two winters in Barry and two winters 
 in Lake County. Had some experience in pioneer life in Lake Coun- 
 ty, having done more or loss work in the lumber woods. In '76 he 
 began the study of medicine at Cedar Creek, ^lich., and in '81 grad- 
 uated from the Bennett Medical College, of Chicago. Located at 
 Ludington in the si:)ring of '81, and the following year removed to 
 
400 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Pentwater where he has since 
 followed his j)i'ofession, hav- 
 ing a large jDractice. He is a 
 prominent member of the I. 
 O. O. F. fraternity and is a 
 Past Grand of Pentwater 
 Lodge No. 378. He has been 
 Health Officer of Pentwater 
 township and vUlage for a 
 nnniber of years and is at 
 present a member of the 
 School Board. Married Aug. 
 25, '76, to Miss Addie Morth- 
 land. One daughter, Allie, 
 comprises their family. 
 
 G. O. SWITZER. 
 
 ORSON F. WICKHAM— 1882. 
 
 Orson F. Wickham, son of George and Susan A. Wiekham, was 
 born in Orleans Co., N. Y., Feb. 18, 1864. He came to this county 
 in Sept., '82, and in October 
 began woi'k for Sands & Max- 
 well as book-keeper at Homer 
 Lake, where he continued un- 
 til Nov., '84, when he came 
 to Pentwater. On Jan. 1, 
 '85, he commenced as head 
 book-keeper for the same firm 
 in their Pentwater office, and 
 is still engaged Nvith them. 
 The length of time spent with 
 this firm shows the satisfac- 
 tion given by Mr. Wickham 
 in one of the, if not the most, 
 busy olfice in the county. 
 The duties are arduous and 
 require constant attention. 
 Mr. W. is always at his post; 
 when absent it can always be 
 presumed that he or his fam- 
 ily are sick. He was married Sept. 12, '86, to Miss Etta Webb, a 
 daughter of William and Esther Webb, old residents of Pentwater. 
 They now have one child, a daughter. 
 
 O. F. WICKHA:Nr. 
 
AND BL'SIXESS MEN OF TO-DAV. 
 
 401 
 
 BEXJAMIX F. STONE— 1882. 
 
 Benjamin F. Stone was born in Ciinada, Feb. 22, 1848, his par- 
 ents being Andrew and Ann Stone. He came to Michigan in 1865 
 and in May, 1867 was married to Alice Winegar, of Kent Co. In 
 1882 he came to this county and woiked at his trade and at mill 
 work at Pentwater and Crystal Valley, finally locating at Walker- 
 ville. He is now engaged in the furniture and undertaking busmess 
 at that jilace. He is the father of five children, two sons and three 
 daughters. Mr. Stone, while at Crystal Valley, was elected to the 
 offices of Justice and Township Clerk, and at Walkerville has been 
 a leader among the Odd Fellows. He is a charter member of the 
 Stetson Lodge and was its first Noble Grand. He is deserving of 
 and undoubtedly will secure a good trade in his new venture. 
 
 BENJAMIN C. KNAPP— 1882. 
 
 Beniamin C. Knapp, a son of William Knapp, was born in New 
 Yoi'k, Sept. 25, 1828. He had been engaged in lumbering before 
 coming to this county; but in June, L882, came here and located in 
 Golden near INIears Station, and at once began tiie culture of fruit. 
 He now has a fine fruit orchard and each year gathers in the shek- 
 els from his peaches. Married Feb. 5, 1848, Elizabeth Harnier, 
 and has had nine children, five sons and four daughters. Mv. 
 Knapp has been Director of his school district and is a man pos- 
 sessing the confidence and respect of his neighbors. 
 
 FRANKLIN A. SCOTT--1S83. 
 
 Franklin A. Scott was born 
 at Stockholm, St. Lawrence 
 Co., N. Y., Dec. 29, 1832. 
 His parents were Ozias and 
 Lucinda Scott. Mr. Scott 
 left the State of New York in 
 '53 and came to Barry Co., 
 Mich. First came to Oceana 
 Co. in '63, but remained here 
 only a short time when he re- ... 
 turned to Barry Co. In '67 .^ 
 he came to Muskegon Co. and ^^ 
 again to Oceana Co. in 18b3, ^^' 
 locating at Shelby where he "^ ;. 
 has since resided. He was 
 drafted into service in the re- 
 bellion, but was not assigned 
 
 F. A. SCOTT. 
 
402 
 
 OCEANA CXDUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 to any company or regiment, but did duty in commissary depart- 
 ment until discharged. Previous to coming here he was engaged at 
 different times in selling goods, and farming. Since residing at Shel- 
 by he has been manager for the Shelby Furniture Co., a furniture 
 and undertaker's establishment. He has been twice married, first 
 in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., to Harriet M. White, bj'^ whom he had 
 a son, and second at Shelby, to Emma Williams by whom he has 
 one child. He has held the office of County Coroner, and is a mem- 
 ber of Whitehall Lodge No. 138, D. of R., No. 58, Hart Encamp- 
 ment No. 12, and Canton Gurney No. 14, I. O. O. F., and Benona 
 Lodge No. 289 F. & A. M. Mr. Scott is a man possessing a great 
 many personal friends, a good business man and a leader in what- 
 ever he undertakes. 
 
 OTTO GRANT— 187.5. 
 
 Otto Grant was born in Sweden, Europe, Dec. 12, 1840, his par- 
 ents' names being Niels and Caroline Grant. He early in life be- 
 came a sailor and in 185.5 went to South America as such. He has 
 
 with the exception of a few 
 short intervals, followed that 
 occupation since. He has 
 visited England, Germany, 
 France, Denmark, Spain, It- 
 aly, China, East and West 
 Indies, South America and 
 California. Has been master 
 of a vessel fourteen j'earsand 
 at the present time is master 
 of the steamer Saugatuck, 
 plying between Pent water 
 and Chicago.. He is regarded 
 as one of the best captains 
 on the lakes. May 17, '69, he 
 ... married Mary E. Ka'hler, and 
 8 children have been born to 
 them, seven of whom are liv- 
 ing. He is prominent in both 
 the Masonic and Odd Fellow 
 orders. In the latter he has 
 passed the prmcipal chairs 
 and been Representative to the Grand Lodge. As a citizen he is 
 highly regarded, his word being accepted without question. He has 
 served the township as Treasurer one term and declined a second 
 nomination. 
 
 OTTO GRANT. 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 403 
 
 GEORGE RHODES— 1883. 
 
 George Rhodes was born in England in 1840. He came to Cold- 
 water, Mich., when a boy; and at the breaking out of the war en- 
 listed April, 1861, in Co. C, 1st Mich. Inf. He was at Ale.xandria, 
 Va., with his regiment when Col. Ellsworth was shot for hauling 
 down the rebel flasj. He was in 
 the first battle of Bull Run, July 
 21, '6J, and while taking care of 
 his wounded captain, upon the 
 field, was taken prisoner. He 
 was kept in Southern prisons 
 until the following June when he 
 was exchanged and returned to 
 his home in Coldwater where he 
 engaged in the boot and shoe 
 business. In the spring of '83 
 he, withhis family cameto Hart, 
 this countj% where he engaged in 
 his present business. He has 
 been a member of the School 
 Board of Hart for six years. He 
 was also one of the first Trus- 
 tees of the village of Hart. He 
 is now engaged in the mercantile 
 business and enjoys a good trade. 
 
 GEO. KHODES. 
 
 He aims to please all customers 
 
 and to give full value for all money invested at his counters. 
 
 CHARLES H. TULLAR— 1883. 
 
 Charles H. Tullar, the son of Simeon and Sarah Tullar, was l)orn 
 Jan. 14, 1852, at Jordan, Onondaga Co., N. Y. He received an ac- 
 ademic education in his native town. He was for two j-ears assist- 
 ant Postmaster there. Afterwards he moved to Nashville, Tenn., 
 where he served as book-keeper for the Singer Sewing Machine Co. 
 From there he went to Detroit, Mich., then to Chicago, 111., finally 
 came to Plainwell, Mich., where he engaged in the furniture and un- 
 dertaking business with A. H. Hill. Came to Shelby, this county, 
 July 2, 1883, and has since been engaged in and has successfully 
 conducted a furniture and undertaking establishment at this place. 
 He is married and has one daughter named Bernice. Has served 
 two terms as Coroner. 
 
 WILLIAM M. HARTWICK — 1878. 
 
 William M. Hartwick was born at Brockville, Canada, Oct. 12, 
 1824. His i)arents' names were Morris and Elinor Hartwick. He 
 
404 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 moved with his x^arents to Mishawaka, Ind., when about fourteen 
 years of nc'p. There he learned the tailor trade, and adopting the 
 custom of young tailors at that time traveled from place to place 
 working at his trade a few months in each place. It was while on 
 one of these trips that he met Mary L. Wight, daughter of the first 
 
 white settler in Jonesville, 
 
 Thaddeus Wight, whom he 
 married. He came back 
 to Mishawaka and start- 
 ed in business. Was reason- 
 bly successful, but in '58 lost 
 his property through signing 
 with another. He then mov- 
 ed to Kansas, staid a couple 
 of years, then moved to Litch- 
 field, Mich., where he kept a 
 shop and was for many years 
 the village tailor. From this 
 point in '78 he removed to 
 Oceana Co., where he has 
 since resided. For several 
 years he has been proprietor 
 of the Pent water news agen- 
 cy, and his is a familiar face 
 to every resident of the vil- 
 lage. The children of Wil- 
 liam and Mary Hartwick are 
 Louis M., at present a resident of Pentwater and editor of the 
 Pentwater News; Rose Hartwick Thorpe, of San Diego, Cal., wide- 
 ly known as the author of "Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night;" Her- 
 bert D., a successful farmer in Weare; Mrs. Ellen Andius, wife of S. 
 Andrus, farmer and fruit raiser, of Hart, and Lillie, who died at 
 Pentwater, July, '»7. 
 
 W. ]Nr. HARTWICK. 
 
 DUSTIN C. OAKES — 1883. 
 
 Dustin C. Oakes was born in Sherman township, St. Joseph Co., 
 Mich., June 19, 1853. He is a son of David, Jr., and Mercy S. 
 Oakes. His early life up to the age of eighteen years was sx)ent up- 
 on a farm. His education was obtained in the common schools 
 and the Agricultural College at Lansing, where he attended four 
 years. Afterwards taught school and "operated" a farm for five 
 years and was seven years in a bank. In '^3 he came to Shelby 
 and engaged in the banking business as a member of the firm of 
 Churchill Oakes & Co., acting as Cashier. He has held jjositions 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 405 
 
 of trust, having been for two years Supervisor of Lyons township, 
 Ionia Co., Deputy Clerk of loni.a Co. one term under R. D. Sessions, 
 and. is the present Village President of Shelby. As a business man 
 Mr. Oakes is promj^t and energetic and the banking business under 
 his management has been successful, the firm possessing the entire 
 confidence of the i^ublic. Socially Mr. Oakes is without blemish, a 
 courteous gentleman. He was married in 1876 to Miss Nora Kel- 
 ly, and one child, a daughter, has blessed the union. 
 
 EDMUND S. RANDALL— 188-4. 
 
 Edmund S. Randall was born at Mon'istown, St. Lawrence Co., 
 N. Y., Oct., 16, 1S45. He is a son of Silas and Sarah A. Randall. 
 He moved with his x^arents 
 to Kent Co., INIich., in '51, 
 Avhere he remained until the 
 war broke out. Nov. 19, '61, 
 he enlisted as a private in Co. 
 C, 13th Mich. Vet. Vol. Inf., 
 and served until July 25, '65. 
 After having served his coun- 
 try for nearly four years he 
 returned to his home in Kent 
 Co. and resided there until 
 '79, when he removed to 
 Lawrence Co., Tenn. Re- 
 maining in Tennessee until 
 '84, he again came to Mich., 
 arriving in Oceana Co. in 
 Sept. of that year. On Dec. 
 25, '67, he married Laura 
 M. Lewis, and they have one 
 son and three daughters. He 
 
 has followed farming for a living and is now engaged in that oc- 
 cupation in the township of Grant. In the spring of 'f9 the elect- 
 ors of Grant manifested their confidence in him by electing him to 
 the office of Supervisor, which office he now holds. He has made a 
 good man upon the Board and the confidence of the people was in 
 no wise misplaced. 
 
 JOHN A. HARRISON— 1884. 
 
 John A. Harrison was born in London, Out., Feb. 21, 1861; his 
 parents' names being John and Hanna Harrison. He learned the 
 blacksmith trade and has made that his busmess. On Oct. 2, '83, 
 
 RANDALL. 
 
406 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 he was married to INIiss Ro- 
 sena Doak; and is now the 
 father of one child, a son, 
 Gordon L. On Apr. 7, '84, 
 he came to Oceana Co. and 
 started in business at Shelby 
 in Dec, '85. He now has a 
 blacksmith and wagon shop 
 and deals in cutters, buggies, 
 Ijlows, etc. By close atten- 
 tion to business and fair deal- 
 ing he has added to his busi- 
 ness from to time, and has 
 possessed himself of a nice 
 home. The appreciation in 
 which he is held by his fellow 
 townsmen has been manifest- 
 ed by his election as a mem- 
 ber of the Common Council 
 of the village. He also stands 
 well among his brother Odd 
 
 Fellows, his term as Noble Grand of the Shelby Lodge expiring Dec. 
 
 31, '89. He is of the class of men we are pleased to welcome to our 
 
 State and county. 
 
 J. A. HARRISON. 
 
 A. L. THOiSIAS— 1884. 
 
 A. L. Thomas was born in Oakland Co., Mich., June 29, 1859, 
 being the son of Homer A. and Betsey Thomas. He resided in Oak- 
 land County and vicinity until the spring of '79, when with his par- 
 ents he went to Davis Co., Kansas. There for two and a half years 
 he followed farming, but tiring of that occupation he returned to 
 Michigan. Shortly afterwards he secured a position with the C. & 
 W. M. Ky. Co., with which he has remained since. He worked at 
 various places as agent and telegraph operator until Sept. 24, '84, 
 •when he came to Pentwater to take charge of the station, which 
 position he still holds. June 26, '83, he was married to INIollie E. 
 Bissell, of Oakland Co. They have no children. The time he has 
 spent in the employ of the one company shows him to be a diligent 
 and faithful employe. He and his wife are known as a gentleman 
 and lady of high character with whom it is a pleasure to meet, and 
 no door is closed against them. 
 
 O. W. STONE— 1885. 
 0. W. Stone, photogra^jher, was born in Washtenaw Co., Mich., 
 
AND BUSINESS MKX OF TO-DAY. 
 
 407 
 
 O. W. STONE. 
 
 Feb. 7, 18oS. His parents' names were James and Elizabeth (Kel- 
 sey) Stone. March 22, 1885, Mr. Stone married Miss Ida Kennej-, 
 an estimable lady who has borne to him one child, a daughter, who 
 was born Oct. 7, '88. He came to Oceana County Nov. 15, '85, 
 and opened a photograph gallery. He is a member of the M. E. 
 Church, an honest, upright citizen, commanding the respect of all. 
 Hehas.been verj'- successful in his business and owns the building 
 he occupies. 
 
 JOHN W. BAKER— 1885. 
 
 John W. Baker, son of Tliomas and Lucinda Baker, w-as born in 
 Ripley, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Sept. 29, '47. Previous to coming 
 to this county he was engaged in the drug business. On June 15, 
 '85, he came to this county and located in Claybanks, moving up- 
 on his present farm in the fall of that year. He has held the posi- 
 tion of Justice of the Peace. He married, Sept. 27, '71, Miss Phi- 
 linda Jones. They have no children of their own but have adopt- 
 ed a daughter. 
 
 GEORGE HENRY CLEVELAND— J 885. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is a native of Michigan, having been 
 born to Charles M. and Susan A. Cleveland, at Adrian, Mich., Feb. 
 13, 1862. He received his early education in his native city and 
 
408 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 afterward took a three year course in the medical department of 
 the Michigan University, from which he graduated with the class of 
 '82. After this he practiced at Coleman, Mich., one year, then in 
 Lansing, from which place he removed to Pentwater in June, '85. 
 Since coming to Pentwater he has held the position of School In- 
 spector. Been Chairman of the Board of Div. Surgeons for the C. & 
 W. M. Ry. Co., and for several years Secretary of the Pere Mar- 
 quette Medical Society. Mv. Cleveland married Jennie A. Jollj% at 
 Ann Arbor, Mich., May 18, '80, which union was a happy one and 
 has been blessed with two bright sons. In religion Mr. Cleveland is 
 a Protestant Episcopalian, and Lay Reader of St. James Mission 
 Chapel. 
 
 FRED SMITH — 1880. 
 
 Fred Smith, whose portr 
 
 F. SMITH. 
 
 ait appears herewith, was born at Hud- 
 son, Lenawee Co., Mich., June 
 19, lf:!60. His parents were 
 Joseph L. and Margaret 
 Smith. When about one 
 year of age they moved to 
 Clayton where our subject 
 spent his boyhood days. In 
 April, '80, he came to Pent- 
 water, and for the past five 
 yeai'S has been in the employ 
 •of Sands & Maxwell Lumber 
 Co., a very popular clerk. He 
 is an active member of the 
 Pentwater Athletic Club, and 
 has been one of the most effi.- 
 cient members of the Pent- 
 water Fire Department. Is 
 popular among the boys for 
 his genial ways. 
 
 JOSEPH LEE— 1886. 
 
 Joseph Lee, a son of John and Mary Ann Lee, was born m Bev- 
 erly township, Wentworth Co., Ont., April 13, 184.5. He engaged 
 in the business of a general contractor in Hamilton, Canada, pre- 
 vious to coming to Oceana County. In '86 he settled in Claybanks 
 upon the old R. E. Cater farm, where he is very pleasantly situat- 
 ed. He is an energetic, pushing man and in 'a7 in order to facili- 
 tate the shipment of his and others' lumber, bark and farm prod- 
 ucts, built a pier into Lake Michgian. He is a genial, hospitable 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OV TO-DAY. 
 
 409 
 
 gentleman, to which fact the 
 ■writer can testifj'. Coming 
 to his place during a pouring 
 rain the writer was urged to 
 "put out" and stny to din- 
 ner and fifter dinner was urg- 
 ed to stay longer until the af- 
 ternoon was well sj)ent, the 
 time being enlivened with 
 cheerful and instructive con- 
 versation with ]Mr. Lee and 
 his estimable lady. ]Mr. Lee 
 married Dec. 24, '67, Miss 
 Rosanna Peregrine, and they 
 have six childi-en, four sons 
 and two daughters. 
 
 .JOHN A. TILLOTSON— 1887, 
 
 John A. Tillotson, son of James and Ellen Tillotson, was born in 
 
 Quebec, Can., Jan. 5, '47. He 
 came to this Co. Aug. 27, '87, 
 and located in ShelbJ^ car- 
 rying on his trade of barber 
 and hair dresser. He is now 
 located in the Rankin House, 
 having a neat sho^Dand is do- 
 ing a good business. He has 
 had many years' experience 
 and been employed in some 
 of the best shops and is now 
 in a positian to guarantee 
 satisfaction to his customers. 
 He exprtsses himself as much 
 pleased with the i^eopie there 
 and has decided to make his 
 permanent liome there, to 
 that end having purchased a 
 house and three lots, which 
 
 he is adorning. Marritd Nov. 3, '73, to AnnieXeacok and has had 
 
 four children, two sons and two daughters. 
 
 J. A. TILLOTSON. 
 
410 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 ROBERT L. BUNTING — 1887. 
 
 Robert L. Bunting was born Aug. 10, 1836, in Erie Co., Pa., being; 
 the son of William and Mary A. Bunting. On Dec. 2, 58, he was 
 married, at Cherry Valley, Ashtabula County, Ohio, to Betsey L. 
 Brown. The result of this union has been eight children, four sons 
 and four daughters. On Aug. 7, '62, he enlisted in Co. I, 105th reg- 
 iment Ohio Vol. Inf., and again on Aug. 2S, '64, he enlisted in Co. B 
 1st U. S. V. Eng. Mr. Bunting is a mason by ti'ade, and has suc- 
 ceeded in accumulating some property. In 'b7 he came to Oceana 
 Co. and built the first hotel in Walkerville when that thriving 
 burg was in its infancy. On May 13, '88, he entered the hotel as 
 landlord and still conducts that business. He is a man who is re- 
 spected by all who know him; and the traveling public may be sure 
 of a warm welcome and good entertainment at his place of business. 
 
 AVILLIAM R. MATTHEWS. 
 
 William R. Matthews was born Jan. 13, 1843, in Branch County, 
 Mich. He is a son of Sidney S. and Susan Matthews. His parents 
 came to Branch Co. in '34, about three years before the Indians 
 were removed from there, coming from Ontario, N. Y. The subject 
 of our sketch is an old soldier 
 having been a private of Co. 
 C, 11th Mich. Inf., and serv- 
 ing three years. He was in 
 hospital in Chattanooga, 
 Tenn., for five months after 
 his term of service expired, 
 and has been a constant suf- 
 ferer since. He has held the 
 offices of Commander, S. V. 
 C, J. V. C, S. M. and Adjt. 
 He has traveled considerably 
 having been in nineteen differ- 
 ent States, and now express- 
 es himself as best pleased 
 with his present surround- 
 ings. He came to this coun- 
 ty May 8, '80, locating at 
 Ferry, where he now has a w. R. Matthews. 
 
 real estate and loaning agency, also doing Notary Public work. He 
 is contented with Ferry and is endeavoring to settle and build up 
 the village and township. He is prepared to offer inducements to 
 any who wish to locate in the southeastern portion of Oceana Co., 
 and any business in his line will receive iDrompt and careful atten- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 411 
 
 He solicits correspondence. Married Dec. 20, '68, to Miss Mary 
 A. Coon, and they now have one child, a daughter, L. Estella Mat- 
 thews. 
 
 LORENZO BRIGGS MITCH RI^L— 1888. 
 
 Lorenzo Briggs Mitchell, known as the 'farmer poet,' was born in 
 Brookfield, Wis., March 13, 1849. He married Miss Sarah E. 
 VanNess, of Geneva, Wisconsin, at the latter place. In one 
 year from his marriage, to a daj', they arrived at the home 
 of Mr. Levi Powers, of Ferry township, who lived adjoining the 
 then unbroken forest which is now their beautiful country home in 
 Hart township. The first years of their pioneer life were fraught 
 with many hardships and discouraging circumstances, as the total 
 cash on hand upon arriving at their new home was .'?18. But per- 
 severance, economy and an 
 indomitable will on the part 
 of each has surrounded them 
 with many of the comforts, 
 not to say luxuries of life. 
 
 Mr. Mitchell's love of liter- 
 ature, and especially poetry, 
 he attributes largely to the 
 influence of his grandmother, 
 Mrs. Sarah Porter, who, in 
 his youthful days read and 
 repeated from memory, poe- 
 try to him for hours at a 
 time. Mr. Mitchell's original 
 readings have been the unique 
 feature of many an Oceana 
 Co. audience, notably at fairs, 
 soldiers' reunions, old set- 
 tlers' meetings, etc. In this 
 connection it is not too much 
 to say that his eulogistic po- 
 em on U. S. Grant is one of the finest jjroductions of its kind in our 
 language. Mr. Mitchell is also a writer of music, being represented 
 in many of the S. S. song books of the day by pieces of his own, 
 words and music. In these times, when musical MSS. are i-ejected. 
 by hundreds where one is accepted, it speaks of a musical and liter^ 
 arj^ ability of a high order when nearly all his efforts in this direc- 
 tion are accepted and published. Mr. M. has now seven published 
 sheet music songs, all his own words and music. It would seem 
 that his ambition in this particular hne was to outdo his rivals 
 whose productions represent both literary and musical work. 
 
 L. B. MITCHELL. 
 
412 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Mr. M. has four children living: Ethel M., now the wife of Mr. Al- 
 fred Woodland, of Shelby; Edwin L., Neva L., and Winnie E. An 
 infant son, aged two months, died Jan. 10, 1887. Mr. Mitchell's 
 home, with his interesting children, and literary and musical sur- 
 roundings is the delight of his friends and those of his much esteem- 
 ed wife. Among such as have ever shared their hospitality, their 
 joint ability to pleasantly entertain goes without saying. 
 
 Taken altogether, L. B., as his friends call him, is a man of whom 
 our county may justly be proud. He is "not a "strait jacket" in 
 any sense of the term, and he is not bound nor influenced by sects, 
 creeds, clans or societies. He thinks, acts and speaks for himself 
 and is as free in all matters of thought and action as though no 
 clans among men existed. He says that life is too short and he has 
 too much to do to give them due attention. In his personal habits 
 Mr. M. is a true rex^resentative of temperance, being a total ab- 
 stainer from tobacco and all intoxicants. 
 
 AMOS DRESSER, JR. 
 
 Editor of Pentwater News from Jan., 1871, to Oct., 1879. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE 
 IN OCEANA COUNTY. 
 
 "Navkl Hill."— In Decembei-, 1S57 or 1S58, the Highwaj- Com- 
 missioners employed Harvey Tower, now a resident of Grant town- 
 ship, to survey a highway from the present north line of Hart to 
 the south line of Shelby townships, which with slight deviations 
 was adopted by the State Road Survey. The party consisted of 
 H. Tower, Geo. Light, Jas. McXutt, A. C. Randall and Henry Hoff- 
 man, the last named Township Clerk. They ran from north to 
 south on the section line between sections 4 and 5. Nearly two miles 
 north of Shelby village they came to a long steep hill at the foot of 
 which thej' halted. While considering whether to change the course 
 or not, McXutt called Randall's attention to a tree and said it was 
 about as large as his (Randall's) body. Randall x^ro tested that the 
 tree was not so large. They finally bet a dollar, j)ut the stakes in 
 Tower's hands and chose him as judge. Of course he had to deter- 
 mine by actual measurement. The snow was about twenty inches 
 deep and very light, the day cold. When he asked Randall to strip 
 to be measured he hesitated, but saw he must submit or lose his 
 dollar. Tower wore a pair of mittens heavily fringed all over, and 
 used a large string in the operation which unfortunately (for Ran- 
 dall) fell into the snow several times before the measurement was 
 completed, and was as often recovered with the shaggy mitten la- 
 den with snow and reapplied to his "goose pimpled" body, causing 
 a deep sigh and the injunction "Tower, be spry; it's mighty cold 
 here." Tower, deeply moved with symi^athy for the object of his 
 care, in his great haste and clumsy mittens, dropped and recovered 
 from the snow again and again the measuring-tape (with care to 
 load it well with snow) and applied it to the bare body of the shiv- 
 ering and waiting sportsman. The measurement completed, our 
 shivering friend hurriedly brought his pants, which had dropped to 
 his ankles while his hands held up his shirt to facilitate the meas- 
 
T 
 
 414 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 urement, to their position, only to find that McNutt, careless of ev- 
 erybody's comfort but his own, swinging his feet to keep them warm 
 had filled the seat of Esq. Randall's pants with snow. Then went 
 up (or down) the imprecations of the Squire mingled with the piti- 
 less shouts of the company. 
 
 Kandall lost the bet, and the money was voted to Dr. Jenks who 
 had entertained them gratuitously the night previous. By this 
 time the needle had settled and while on their course up the hill, 
 Hoffman broke out with "You'm funny devils; Tower what do ve 
 name dis hill?" Tower, without halting, and keeping his eye stead- 
 ilj' on his object at the top of the hill, quickly answered: "This ia 
 Navel Hill." Hoffman responded "0! yes, dot is it. I puts 'im on 
 de book" (township record), and there it stands to this day. 
 
 VoTE-UM-CROPBY— In 1866 Nathan Crosby was nominated by the 
 republicans to the office of Clerk and Register, and William Wigton 
 by the Democrats. During the campaign there was great strife be- 
 tween the friends of both candidates to secure the Indian vote. 
 The VVigtons then, as later, ran the grist mill at Hart and supplied 
 the country 'round about with flour. It soon became noised about 
 among republicans that the Indians were receiving unusual favors 
 at the mill and it was whispered that it was a scheme to secure the 
 Indian vote for Wigton. Whether this was true or not it had the 
 effect of stirring to gi'eater vigilance the friends of Crosby, and when 
 some Indians came to town again they were approached and the 
 inquiry made as to their trading their votes for flour. One brave 
 spoke up for the rest and said: "We like um Wigton flour, but we 
 vote-um-Crosby." And the result proved it to be true, as Ci-osby 
 was elected by a good majority. 
 
 The Indian Idea. — Skin-esse was an Indian. He wanted to buy 
 some red calico for his squaw but ho had no money. O. W. Knox 
 offered to sell him the goods and take his gun as security for the 
 pay. This pleased him. He took the goods and agreed to pay in 
 thirty days. Knox tried to impress upon his mind the importance 
 of paying on tinie or the gun would be sold. "Me pay um," said 
 Skin-esse. The time had nearly expired and Knox meeting the In- 
 dian called his attention to the fact that unless payment was nmde 
 at the time the gun would be sold. "Me pay um goods. If me 
 don't pay um goods when time up you begin to sell um gun. Me 
 pay fore you get um sold." 
 
 Short and Sweet. — The following is a fac siniile copy of a war- 
 rant issued by one of Oceana County's pioneer Justices of the Peace 
 for the arrest of a man charged with theft, and which the officer, 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 415 
 
 actually carried with him for his x^i'otection in making the arrest 
 and returned to the Court with defendant in custody. It read as 
 follows: 
 
 "Fetch him, d — n him." 
 
 John Bean, Jr., Justice of the Peace. 
 
 Pioneer Scrap.— It is well known, to the pioneers ot Claybanks, 
 at least, that an Indian burying ground is situated on the farm 
 formerly owned by John D. Hjj,nson, deceased. When the writer's 
 mother came to CLaybanks in 18.52, she observed two graves in the 
 burying ground which from being covered with a canopy of bark 
 and cloth she judged must be occupied by bodies that m life were 
 regarded, by the Indians, at least, as of more than ordinary impor- 
 tance. On inquiry she was told that one was the grave of a Chiefs 
 squaw, the other that of a Catholic goriest who had died while on a 
 visit to the Indians. Being at Chicago the next summer, 1853. &he 
 spoke of the matter to Rev. Fr. Kin'sella, who in turn told her that 
 (luring the administration of Bishop Quarter, first Catholic Bishop 
 of Chicago (about 1844 or 1845), two Indians, who had come 
 from north ot Muskegon, around Lake Michigan in a canoe, 
 called at the Bishop's residence and said that a priest had died 
 while ministering among them and asked what they should do with 
 the body. They were told to go home and bury the body in their 
 own cemetery. If this theory be correct, Catholic services were held 
 among the Indians of Claybanks before the advent of the whites. 
 
 The First jMui>e.— In 1858 the pioneer mule of the county jout in 
 its appearance at Pentwater. His prominent features and musical 
 voice at once caj)tivated Mr. H. C. Flagg, Mr. Mears' foreman at 
 Pentwater, who by adroit fiszuring and the exchange of his Indian 
 pony secured from its owner absolute title in hisniuleship.and from 
 that time to the present said mule has been a resident of the coun- 
 ty, and we believe is still in the enjo\''ment of good health. At that 
 time the Board of Supervisors was composed of four individuals rei)- 
 resenting the four big towns of the county, and held their delibera- 
 tions at Whisky Creek, at which place the county seat was then lo- 
 cated. Mr. Flagg was Supervisor of Pentwater, and thinking to 
 add somewhat to his influence upon the Board by the exhibition of 
 a little style, saddled and bridled his new purchase, booted and 
 spurred, mounted it and started down the beach road to Whisky 
 Creek to attend the annual meeting. Happyjin the thought of pos- 
 sessing an animal the like of which had never been seen in these 
 parts, he jogged along hununing snatches of Indian love songs and 
 maturing plans for the removal of the county seat to Pentwater. 
 
416 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Arriving at the hill near the place now owned by J. Bloore, he start- 
 ed down. It was quite steep and a long distance to the bottom and 
 the mule stop^jed to deliberate. "Stop, will you?" said Flagg driv- 
 ing the spurs into his flanks. That mule, true to the characteristics 
 of his race, instead of starting just elevated his posterior members 
 and Flaggat the same time. Being on an inclined plane with its head 
 pointing downwards, Flagg could not keep his seat, but went right 
 out in the air, going down, down, down, his arms and legs trying to 
 perform the offices of wings, and at last struck sand at the bottom 
 considerably shaken up but no bones broken. Looking back he 
 could just discern the nuile disappearing over the brow of the hill. 
 He finished the journey on foot, returned home on foot, and with a 
 number of mill men scoured the country in search of the mule, but 
 finally gave it up as lost. At the end of nine days, however, the 
 mule without saddle or bridle, quietly walked into town and thence- 
 forth was used for mill duty. The mule referred to in the above 
 sketch is one of the mules which Mr. P. Easmusson,of Weare, drove 
 for a nufnber of j'ears. 
 
 Plain Enough. — Lawyers are proverbially bad writers, and 
 Grove was no exception. On one occasion, many years ago, he wrote 
 a letter to Abijah Peck, of Hart, in i-elation to some matter of trif- 
 ling importance and not receiving an answer at -the time he e.xpect- 
 ed, the circumstance passed entirely from his mind. 
 
 Peck received the letter, but was unable to decipher a single word 
 of its contents, or discover the identity of its author. He took it 
 home and each member of his family tried a hand at it, but failed 
 to make out anj'thing intelligible. Some of his neighbors hearing 
 about it, called in and puzzled their brains over it with the same 
 result. And as curiosity became excited, nearly every man in Hart 
 called upon Peck and requested a perusal of the famous document, 
 but nothing satisfactory resulted. Finally some one advised Peck 
 to take it to a lawyer, pay him for translating it, and the mystery 
 of its contents would be solved. 
 
 Acting upon this advice he took the letter to Grove but before 
 giving it to him made the following inquiry: 
 
 "Mr. Grove, are you an expert at deciphering bad writing?" 
 
 "I can read anything that contains a single principle of jpenman- 
 ship," replied Grove. 
 
 "Then be kind enough to read that for me," said Peck, handing 
 him the letter. 
 
 Grove took it, and after scrutinizing its contents carefully a few 
 minutes, handed it back with the remark: 
 
 "I think I told you that I could read anything that contained a 
 single principle of penmanship, but my dear sir, this letter does not 
 
 I 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAV. 417 
 
 contain an approximation towards a single principle of penman- 
 ship, and all that I am able to glean from its contents is that the 
 writer is either a fool or wtis drunk at the timeof writing it." 
 
 "Perhaps this enveloxje will aid j-ou a little," said Peck des^pond- 
 ingly- 
 
 Grove glanced at the envelope, turned red and pale by turns, and 
 said excitedly, "Let me see the letter again. Ahl to be sure! Why, 
 it is as x^lain as ABC. It is good writing. Any fool ought to be 
 able to read that. That is a letter I wrote you last spring concern- 
 ing the election." 
 
 Taken at his word.— R. M. Montgomery, a prominent member 
 of the Oceana County Bar in 1872, and a rising attorney, was seat- 
 ed in his office one day busily engaged in preparing a brief, in his 
 great "Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce" suit, when his cogitations were in- 
 terrupted by a rap at his door, and in answer to his "come in," the 
 door opened and in stalked a fair representative of the "auld sod" 
 who handed Montgomerj' a dirty paper possessing some of the es- 
 sentials of a promissory note, \\ith the inquiry: 
 
 "Air yees Misther Montgomery, the Liar?" 
 
 "If you mean Lawyer," gruflly responded Montgomery, "yes." 
 
 "Tiiin will ye be afther casting yir eye over this bit of paper and 
 tell me when the intrist is due?" 
 
 "Certainlj^, sir," says Montgomery, "it is due on the 12th day of 
 December next." 
 
 "And how the d—1 is that, whin ISIisther Hartwick towld me it 
 was due now?" 
 
 "If Mr. Hartwick told you it is due now, he was mistaken," re- 
 plied Montgomery. 
 
 "And isn't Misther Hartwick a good Liar?" 
 
 "Oh yes," returned Montgomeiy, "he is a verj^ good Lawyer." 
 
 "And sure and I thought so, and as ye say he is a good Liar, and 
 as he didn't say you was one, I'll believe you and take his advice. 
 The top of the morning to you, Misther Montgomery, good day!" 
 
 A Ministerial Incident.— In the early days of Pentwater's history 
 when lumbering was the principal occupation of its residents, sa- 
 loons flourished, but religious denominations had a hard struggle 
 to even secure fair congregations on the Sabliath. The Rev. J. B. 
 Prichard, well known to our people today, was one of the pioneer 
 laborers in this behalf in Pentwater, and recognizing the difficulties 
 determined upon a bold stroke to secure better congregations. He 
 caused a number of handbills to be printed, stating that he would 
 hold religious services at a place named, on certain days and re- 
 
418 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 questing the peoijle to "turn out."' These handbills he posted him- 
 self in every business house in the place, and in order that none 
 might be slighted he concluded to visit the saloons also. Stepping 
 into a saloon which was conducted by Geo. Schmidt, he was sur- 
 prised to see the number of people there gathered. Four tables 
 with four n)en at each table engaged in playing a game which he 
 "did not understand," and the bar tender busily engaged in supply- 
 ing the players with drinks. Inquiring for the proprietor, Mr. 
 Smith promptly presented himself, when he showing him one of his 
 notices asked him if he could post it up in the room. "Yah; puts it 
 up vafe you vants it," says George. "But," says the minister, "I 
 want it right up there," pointing to a place on the wall behind the 
 bar, over the bottles, "and how am I going to get it there?" "Dot's 
 right; I fix you," and Schmidt rolled out a keg of beer for him to 
 stand on. "Dere; you shust get right up on dot. It von't tip you 
 over if you don't meddle niit vat is in it." The reverend gentleman 
 passed through the ordeal of laboring behind the bar of a saloon 
 on top of a beer keg, without being tipped over and was rewarded 
 with good congregations thereafter. 
 
 A Justice's High Authority— One of Hart's early business men 
 was elected Justice of the Peace. He was a shrewd, careful business 
 man, but had a vague conception of the law or his duties as an ofti- 
 cial. One day shortly after he had qualified, a prominent attorney 
 witli whom he was well acquainted and in whom he had the utmost 
 confidence, appeared before him and stated to him that the duties 
 of liis office required that he should keep an open eye and whenever 
 he detected any one violating the law should restrain or punish the 
 party. The attorney then called his attention to a couple in the 
 township of Ferrj' who were notoriously living in adultery, and 
 asked him to issue an injunction restraining them. He finally con- 
 cluded 'twas his duty to do so and the attorney made complaint 
 setting forth the facts, and he finding a form actually issued a writ 
 of injunction against the offending parties and insisted upon the of- 
 ficer serving it. The joke got out after a time, and it is said that 
 ever after all matters of that nature were referred to M. H. Brooks, 
 Esc^., while he confined himself to the duties of his private business. 
 
 How the Thief Outwitted a Pioneer. — E. T. INIugford had lost 
 an ox and vowed vengeance on the first cattle thief he caught. This 
 was along in the sixties. Shortly after registering the above vow 
 he attended a Good Templar's Lodge at Pentwater and returning 
 late at night drove straight byD. L. Garver's place. The full moon 
 shed its refulgent rays o'er hill and dale and his lonely ride caused 
 him to ruminate on the depravity of the human race. As he arriv- 
 ed at the foot of the hill south of Garver's he cast his eyes to the 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OP TO-DAY. -119 
 
 crest and behold, the full moon as it shone through the tree to^is 
 disclosed a man leading a cow by a rope. "Ah, ha!" soliloquized 
 Mugford, "there he comes. Not satisfied with stealing my ox he has 
 returned and is leading away my cow. I will keep my promise and 
 retribution I will have, providing I am the stouter." When they 
 approached each other Mugford sprang from his buggy and with his 
 left hand grabbed the ropewhile his rightclutched thethief's throat. 
 They clinched and fell to the ground with Mugford on top, and in a 
 few seconds he had "winded" the thief. What are you leading ofl 
 my cow for?" he inquired. "It is not your cow, nor never was," he 
 replied. On taking a second look Mugford discovered his mistake. 
 The sweat acttially potired from him as he begged pardon. The vic- 
 tim of his onslaught explained that he lived in Riverton, Mason Co. 
 Had a brother at Grand Haven who wrote to him that if he would 
 come there he would give him a cow and he was driving it home. He 
 said that when he arrived at Shelby he only had two shillings, that 
 he purchased some crackers and cheese; some feed for his cow, rest- 
 ed a while, and had got this far on his road. The penitent Mugford 
 importuned him to go home with him and have a good night's rest, 
 but he declined, saying his wife and children would expect him. 
 About four o'clock the next morning a man rapped on Mr. Mug- 
 ford's door and on entering inquired if he had seen any one leading 
 a cow by. He said he lived in Shelby, and some one had stolen his 
 cow the night previotis. Mr. Mugford then related his experience of 
 a few hours previous, and the man followed on but never found his 
 cow. 
 
 His First and Only Treat.— A. S. White, the gentlemanly and 
 courteous manager of the Citizen's Exchange Bank at Hart, w.-.s in 
 the early history of that village engaged in tlie dry goods bu>iness 
 with Mr. 0. W. Knox, under the firm name of White & Knox. T heir 
 store was on the then main street, still called Main Street, alt In lUgh 
 deserted by business houses. Directly across the way Flood kept 
 a drug store. Mr. White, although not orthodox, is a man of ex- 
 emplary habits, and was never known to gamble, drink, "set 'em 
 up," engage or take part in a questionable act. On one occasion 
 early in the seventies Russell and Knox got the joke on White and 
 insisted upon his treating. They bantered and bluffed until he 
 finally relaxed and agreed to it. They went across the way to the 
 drug store and the following took place: 
 
 Mliite — "Jim, the boys have got it on to me and I want to tveat 
 them. Got anything good to drink?" 
 
 Flood — "No; since the crusade I hav'n't kejDt any liquor." 
 
 Wliitt^ — "Hav'n't you got some wine?" 
 
 Flood— "'So, hav'n't a drop; but I'll tell you. I have something 
 
420 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 here," jjointing to a low of vinegar bitters bottles, "you can see 
 Avliat it says on the labil, 'no vile pro]perties.' I think it is just 
 A\hat you want," and he winked. 
 
 White — "All right; let us have some." 
 
 A bottle was taken down, opened and Knox and Russell took a 
 tjood drink and White appeared to, also. In a few minutes they 
 were gagging and spewing the ^^tuff and in the intervals wondering 
 ■why ^Vhite made no face over it. Then for the first time they real- 
 ized 1 hat White had taken Flood into his confidence and put up a 
 job on them by treating them to the vilest compound in the store. 
 
 Coffin I"]>TKni'RisE. — A number of years ago, before ^Iv. Whit- 
 tington hung out his sliingle as undertaker for this community, car- 
 p)enters were frequently called upon to perform the duties of such, 
 and on one occasion our old friend Pete Labonta was waited upon 
 by a delegation of Indians, who wanted a coffin for one of their 
 tribe who had just passed to the happy hunting grounds. Pete, 
 nothing loth to the making of a few dollars, even out of poor Lo, 
 took the job, and in a short time delivered to the delighted red men 
 a beautiful black coffin ornamented with a red stripe about four 
 inches wide around the center of the coffin. In a few days thereaf- 
 ter he had another order, tlien another and another, until they be- 
 gan to come in so fast, that thinking he had struck a bonanza, he 
 abandoned all other enterprises and undoubtedly would have made 
 his fortune out of it, had not grave suspicions been aroused about 
 this time that there was something wrong on the reservation to oc- 
 casion such a fearful mortality among the Indians. Investigation 
 proved that the delighted red men were killing off the old and sick- 
 ly merely for the pui'iDOse of burying them in style in a black coffin 
 with a red stripe around it. 
 
 « 
 Warm Meals.— Following close upon the removal of the county 
 seat from Whisky Creek to Hart was the opening of the first res- 
 taurant in that i^lace, by one Barnard Putney; which event was 
 made public by the appearance of a modest home-made sign over 
 the door, reading, "Warm Meals." Barnard was one of that pecul- 
 iar class of individuals who seem to have been created on purpose 
 for people to play jokes upon, and many were the "sells" the wise- 
 acres about the Court chronicled against him, all of which he took 
 good naturedly and apparently without any idea of retaliation. 
 
 Among those who delighted to run upon poor Barnard was L. D. 
 Grove, one of the pioneer attorneys of the county, and who never 
 seemed satisfied until he had played some joke upon Barnard be- 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY. 421 
 
 foi'e the visiting attorneys fi'om Grand Rapids or Grand Haven. 
 
 One day an important suit was upon trial, and quite a delegation 
 of outside attorneys Avere present. During]?an intermission Grove 
 regaled them with stories of the tricks he had played upon the i-es- 
 taurant keeper, and finally when the hour of noon apj^roachcd in- 
 vited judge and attorneys over there to dine with him at his ex- 
 pense, promising rare sj)ort. On entering, Grove said: 
 
 "Barney, I see you advertise 'warm meals;' bestir yourself and 
 prepare warm meals for five." 
 
 "There's another notice you overlooked, Mr. Grove, probably," 
 replied Barney; "I must have my pay in advance, $1.25 for five." 
 
 "All right," laughed Grove, winking to his companions, "here's 
 your cash." 
 
 Barnard moved meekly about and seating them at the table 
 placed before them five saucers and five bottles of pepper-?auce, 
 saying "Help yourselves, gentlemen, you'll find these will make 
 ^yarm meals." 
 
 It is needless to add that the attorneys enjoyed the "rare sport" 
 and Grove never heard the last of it. 
 
 Barney a Caniiidate. — After Barney's success in turning the joke 
 upon Grove he became for a time quite a lion among the attorneys. 
 They told him it never would do for a man of his ability and shrewd- 
 ness to be engaged in such a menial occupation; that he had the 
 natural qualifications for a first class lawyer and advised him to 
 procure a copy of Tiffany's Justice Guide and study law. Thereaf- 
 ter he donned a legal air, studied Tiffany and attended all sessior.s 
 of the Circuit Court with i-egularity. Finally in 1870, after the 
 nominations for county offices had been made and a serious bolt in 
 the republican party announced, some of the attorneys told Bar- 
 ney that if he would announce himself as an independent candidate 
 for Sheriff in a proclamation and scatter it well throughout the 
 county, he could be elected. Scarcely 48 hours had elapsed after 
 receiving this information before the following proclamation ap- 
 peared and was distributed by Barney in person: 
 "Pentwater 1870. 
 B. Putney for Sherif. 
 
 To the People of Oceana County: 
 
 You have read in the papers that I were going to run for Sherif, 
 and the reason why I intended to have told you all personally. But 
 on account of sickness in my familey I have Ben obliged to stay at 
 home, Hoping that if this mesage should reach you that it might 
 Explain the matter satisfactory, in april 1863 I abandoned my 
 trade as gunsmith in ashtabula County Ohio an came to this state 
 
422 OCEAXA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 an Invalid tending to consumtion and after Being here three years 
 I began to improve in health, as out door Employment and sport- 
 ing in the Woods was all the medsin that I used or kneded. in 1869 
 I thought I wer Entirely Well and commenced Business again as 
 gunsmith and at present I am forced to Believe that if I wer to con- 
 tinue the Business three Weeks Longer Without rest or out Door 
 Employment mj- fate would result in a case of Confirmed Consum- 
 tion, therefore I am Forced to resort to some other Employment 
 and having acted as constable one year has proved to me that the 
 office of Sherif would be the Most appropriate situation for me. I 
 Consider my legal learning sufficient to carry me through, the Most 
 of you know that I am cajDable of giving counsil and practising law 
 you might suppose that I should resort to that practis for a Living 
 But the question is here prematurely answered, on account of a se- 
 vere chronic Dificulty of my throat Broncail tubes and organs of 
 sxDeech I am again cut off From Employment in that Direction. 
 Now Friends and Strangers if I Wer a single man like I Wer one 
 year ago and Nobody but Myself to Support I never Would ask 
 any of you to lend a Vote to Enstall me in office. But Now the case 
 Different I have a Wife and three Orphan children to feed, Clothe 
 and Schoo.l to which I have so far Done properly and Wish to Con- 
 tinue But my health having failed I have Began to have the Blews 
 some and this is one of my ingenious tacts to Bring about Means. 
 
 Now Gentlemen Friends and Strangers as I am personaly ac- 
 quainted With the most of you I feel assured that you will Believe 
 the above Statement to be tru and worthy, and I will Further say . 
 if I was to ask you for a Bushel of Wheat you could with i)ropriety 
 say j'^ou had not got any to spare. But you can all spare me a 
 Vote and not feel any loss of it, and it Will not pay your taxes. 
 
 N. B. you will beon Lection Day thronged with several influential 
 Politicians Who will beg of you to vote for twostought able Bodied 
 men who are now Merchants and able to do any kiijd of Business 
 in any place, or live without work. But my familey Eats for supper 
 ■what I Earn through the Day and Now I appeal to your Christians 
 spirits and Consider a Word to the Wise is sufficient. 
 
 Barnard Putney." 
 
 Alas! for Barney's hopes. The great Indian trainer of Elbridge, 
 Hevvey S. Sayles, was elected. 
 
 A Slip of the Tongue.— Judge Giddings, although famed for the 
 dignity with which he i^resided over the trial of cases, often destroy- 
 ed the dignity of the attorneys by the flashes of wit that he some- 
 times indulged in. 
 
 During one of his terms of Court there was a case on trial which 
 involved the construction of a certain statute. L. D. Grove repre- 
 
AXD BUSINESS MEX 9F TO-DAY. 423 
 
 sented tlie i^laintiff and L. M. Hartwickthe defendant. The discus- 
 sion was quite animated on l)oth sides, each party insisting with 
 considerable warmth and volubility upon that construction most 
 favorable to his client, when the Judge, with a comical twinkle in 
 his eye, gave his decision, with his usual urbanity, as follows: 
 
 "Gentlemen, the issue in this case having by stipulation of the 
 parties been narrowed to a construction of this statute, and the 
 discussion having been quite exhausting-i\-e, it will take but a few 
 minutes to dispose of the case. I shall, without any hesitancy, sus- 
 tain the construction contended for by Mr. Hartwick, it api^earing 
 to me that the language employed by the Legislature to express its 
 intention is very plain and unambiguous (with a comical glance to- 
 wards Grove); so plain that the nay-faring man though a fool need 
 not err therein." 
 
 The Bar were convulsed, and Grove, very red in the face, springing 
 to his feet inquired: 
 
 "Do I understand your Honor to insinuate that Jam a fool?" 
 
 "Oh, no," replied the Judge blandly. "By no means, Mr. Grove. 
 That was purely a lapsus linguse." 
 
 Squire Weatherbee — Scjuire Weatherbee will be remembered bj' 
 the pioneers as the Squire of early days before whom they were 
 wont to appear and adjust their little differences. He was a typi- 
 cal Yankee, tall, raw-boned, slow of speech, methodical in his move- 
 ments, and as they used to say, "terrible sot in his way." He 
 was, however, strictly honest and detested anything like trickery or 
 dishonesty in others. Shortly after his qualifying as Justice of the 
 Peace he was called upon to issue a summons in trespass, which he 
 did, givingit to the ofiicer with minute instructionsas to the manner 
 of service. The document was duly served and returned, and on 
 the return day L. D. Grove appeared for the Plaintiff and T. S. 
 Gurney for the Defendant. Mr. Gurney, upon looking at the sum- 
 mons discovered that the damage claimed was $300 instead of $100, 
 simply called Mr. Grove's attention to it. Mr. Grove, after exani- 
 ining it, stated to the Court that on account of a fatal error in the 
 summons, he should ask to have the case discontinued. The J. P. 
 straightened back, and putting on a severe, dignified expression, 
 said: Mr. Grove, I want you to understand this Court drawee! 
 that ere summons, and he knows its right. Yer can't squash any 
 suits on a summons that I drawed. We will go on with the trial, 
 gentlemen." After considerable vigorous talk on the part of Grove 
 coincided in by Gurney, the case was finally discontinued, but his 
 Honor never could understand the reason. 
 
 Supreme Court Over-ruled.— It was during the period of Squire 
 
424 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Weatherbee's reign that Charles W. Deane, the first Prosecuting At- 
 torney of the county and who was said to be the owner of a vol- 
 ume of the Michigan Reports, was engaged in the trial of a case be- 
 fore his Honor which was hotly contested. Upon the question of 
 the admission of a certain paper in evidence the attorneys differed 
 as to the law and proceeded to argue the question to the Court. 
 It was the critical point upon which Deane's case depended and af- 
 ter his opponent had finished he rose to his feet and delivered a 
 speech that for forensic eloquence "capped the climax" of anything 
 that had ever been heard in "these parts," winding up by a refer- 
 ence to his Mich, report and read a decision that sustained his po- 
 sition, and feeling that he had driven home a clincher, took his 
 seat while a triumphant gleam from his eye shot across the table 
 to his crestfallen antagonist. Imagine, then, his astonishment 
 when the Squire, straightening himself back, said: "All very prop- 
 er, my dear sir. The SujDreme Court has a right to believe just as 
 she d — n pleases, and I'll do the same. In this case I thmk the Su- 
 preme Court is wrong." 
 
 Apologized. — Many years ago two prominent attorneys of Pent- 
 water, W. E. Ambler and R. M. Montgomery, engaged in the trial of 
 a cause before his Honor, Ed. E. Edwards, Esq., became considera- 
 bly excited over the discussion of a question of the admission of ev- 
 idence, when getting pretty close together they abandoned the legit- 
 imate line of their argument and seizing one another by the shoul- 
 ders, commenced waltzing about the room in a lively manner. The 
 Court interfered at this point, and as soon as quiet was restored, 
 intimated that an apology from each would be in order before the 
 regular business of the Court would be resumed. Silence reigned for 
 awhile when Montgomery, with the evidence of contrition upon his 
 countenance, rising slowly from his seat stated that he was sorry 
 for the x^art he had taken in the disgraceful scene; that upon reflec- 
 tion he could see where he was in the wrong, and trusted the Court 
 w'ould pardon him. The Court bowed serenely as IMontgomery 
 took his seat, and smiled encouragingly upon Ambler to arise and 
 do likewise. After a few moments A. arose and said that he, too, 
 was sorry for what had taken place, and that upon sober second 
 thought he, too, could see where Mr. M. was in the wrong, and 
 trusted that the Court would grant Mr. M.'s request and pardon 
 him, as he had already done. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 STATISTICAL. 
 
 COUNTY OFFICERS SINXE 1855. 
 
 Sheriff.— L. D. Ecaton, '55-8; A. Rector, '56; J. Tapley, '60; Wm. 
 Webb, '62-4-8; E. J. Reed, '66; H. S. Sayles, '70-2; O. K. White, 
 '74; O. P. Fortner, '76; W. R. Collier, '78-'80; J. D. S. Hanson, 
 '82-4; Jos. Tj^ler, '86; Wm. Cooper, '88. 
 
 Clerk ^xd Register— H. Tower, '55; L. S. Anderson, '56; A. S.An- 
 derson, '58; E. D. Richmond, '60-2-4-'76-8-'80-2-84; N. Crosby, 
 '66-8; D. W. Crosby, '70; T. S. Gurney, '72-4; W. N. Sayles, Clerk, 
 '86; W. P. Sackrider, Clerk, '88; D. C. Wickham, Register, '86-8. 
 
 Treasurer.- A. R. Wheeler, '55; H. Tower, '56; Estes Rich, '58; A. 
 S. Anderson, '60; O. Swain, '62; W. H. Leach, '64-6; J. R. Butler, 
 '68-'70-2-4-8-'80; H. Hoffman, '76; E. B. Gaylord, '82-4; G. Wy- 
 ckofl, 'S6-8. 
 
 Judge of Probate.— J. Russell, '60; C. Canii), '64; A. Crosby, '68; 
 F. J. Russell, '72-6; D. Johnson, '80; D. Landon, '84; W. E. Am- 
 bler, '88, to fill Landon's term; W. H. Churchill, '88. 
 
 Prosecuting Attorney.— C. W. Deane, '60; L. D. Grove, '62-4-6; J. 
 M. Rice, '68-'70: R. M. Montgomery, '72-4; A. H. Nelson, '76; W. 
 H. Hubbard, '78; L. G. Rutherford, '80, resigned in '82; L. M. 
 Hartwick, appointed to fill vacancy, and elected in '82; C. B. Ste- 
 vens, '84-6; J. D. S. Hanson, '88. 
 
 Circuit Court CoimissiONER.— C. W. Deane, '60; L. D. Grove, '62- 
 '64-6; F. J. Russell, '68-'70; A. H. Nelson, '72-4; M. H. Brooks, 
 '76-8; L. M. Hartwick, '80; C. A. Gurney, '82-4; M. H. Brooks, 
 '86-8. 
 
426 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 VITAL STATISTICS. 
 
 Births and deaths in Oceana Conntj' in the years 1887, 1 
 1889, from official reports by Supervisors: 
 
 , 1887 
 
 .Births 
 
 ..283 
 
 Deaths 104 
 
 
 1888 
 
 (( 
 
 ..284 
 
 li 
 
 96 
 
 
 n889 
 
 y — 
 
 ..284 
 
 11 
 
 103 
 
 
 Total 3 years 
 
 ..851 
 
 
 303 
 
 
 *14 towns. 2 
 
 not Teported. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Births and deaths in 1889, reported: 
 
 
 
 
 
 BIRTHS. 
 
 
 
 DEATHS. 
 
 
 Pentwater...Male 
 
 17 Female 
 
 15 
 
 Male 
 
 6 Female 
 
 14 
 
 Hart " 
 
 12 " 
 
 15 
 
 
 6 " 
 
 7 
 
 Shelby " 
 
 26 " 
 
 14 
 
 
 4 " 
 
 1 
 
 Golden " 
 
 11 
 
 6 
 
 
 4 " 
 
 5 
 
 Claybanks... " 
 
 9. 
 
 9 
 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 Benona " 
 
 19 " 
 
 13 
 
 
 3 " 
 
 2 
 
 Elbridge " 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 
 2 '■ 
 
 1 
 
 Newfield " 
 
 10 
 
 17 
 
 
 7 " 
 
 6 
 
 Weare " 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 
 2 " 
 
 2 
 
 Ferry " 
 
 5 '' 
 
 7 
 
 
 7 " 
 
 3 
 
 Grant " 
 
 7 " 
 
 10 
 
 
 " 
 
 2 
 
 Crystal •' 
 
 11 " 
 
 4 
 
 
 4 " 
 
 4 
 
 Colfax " 
 
 " 
 
 3 
 
 
 1 " 
 
 2 
 
 Otto " 
 
 3 " 
 
 1 
 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 Totals : 
 
 L51 133 
 
 POPULATION. 
 
 
 .52 
 
 51 
 
 1850— 300 
 
 U. S. Census. 
 
 
 
 
 
 1860— 1,816 
 
 !( (( 
 
 
 
 
 
 1864— 2,373 
 
 ii a 
 
 
 
 
 
 1870— 7,222 
 
 c( a 
 
 
 
 
 
 1880—11,699 
 
 11 (< 
 
 
 
 
 
 1881-14,519 
 
 State " 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 1890—18,500 
 
 Estimated from School Census. 
 
 
 
 POSTOFFICES. 
 
 
 
 
 Pentwater, 
 
 Shelby, 
 
 Hart, 
 
 
 Mears, 
 
 
 Grand View, 
 
 Allen Creek, 
 
 Benona, 
 
 Holstein, 
 
 
 Bird, 
 
 Houseman, 
 
 Claybanks, 
 
 Rothbuiy, 
 
 
 Cranston, 
 
 Stetson, 
 
 Crystal Val. 
 
 , Smith's Corners 
 
 Elbridge, 
 
 Woodburn, 
 Flower 
 
 Ferry, 
 Creek. 
 
 
 Hesperia, 
 
 
AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY 
 
 427 
 
 VOTE ON PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR. 
 
 President. 
 1856— Fremont Rep 82 
 
 Buchanan Dem 21 
 
 1860— Lincoln Rep 192 
 
 Douglass Dem 158 
 
 1861— Lincoln Rep 356 
 
 ]\IcClellan Dem 177 
 
 1868— Grant Rep 1080 
 
 Seymour Dem 405 
 
 1872— Grant Rep 1158 
 
 Greeley D cfc L 196 
 
 O'Connor 51 
 
 1876— Hayes Rep 1365 
 
 Tilden Dem 599 
 
 Cooper GB 29 
 
 1880— Garrield Rep 1481 
 
 Hancock Dem 482 
 
 Weaver G B 501 
 
 1884— Blaine Rep 1637 
 
 Cleveland Dem 661 
 
 Butler GB 552 
 
 St. John Pro 357 
 
 1888— Harrison Rep 1726 
 
 Cleveland Dem 1426 
 
 Fisk Pro 434 
 
 Streeter UL 23 
 
 Governor. 
 
 Bingham 83 
 
 Felch 21 
 
 Blair 191 
 
 Barry 159 
 
 Crapo 354 
 
 Fenton 179 
 
 Baldwin 1079 
 
 Moore 412 
 
 Barley 1159 
 
 Blair 225 
 
 Croswell 1368 
 
 Webber 554 
 
 Jerome 1401 
 
 Holloway 542 
 
 Woodman 491 
 
 McKeever Pro 25 
 
 Alger 1597 
 
 Begole 1218 
 
 Preston 647 
 
 Luce 1718 
 
 Burt 1421 
 
 Cheney 443 
 
 Mills 25 
 
 TEMPERATURE TABLE 
 
 showing extremes of cold and heat. Record made by B. Moore, 
 Shelby. Table covers extreme yeai's: 
 
 
 isro 
 
 
 1 1 1^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 T 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 r^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 yi^ 
 
 o . 
 
 ^^ 
 
 f 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A 15 
 
 
 A 
 
 1872 
 
 A B 
 
 A B 
 
 1876 
 
 A B 
 
 1S78 
 
 A B 
 
 Jamiaiy 
 
 FelJiiuiry 
 
 March 
 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August 
 
 September . . 
 
 October 
 
 November. .. 
 Deceuilter. .. 
 
 n 3 
 
 15 
 
 3 
 3«t 34 
 
 :«Gb 
 :iS 73 
 (57-1 
 12 70 
 2006 
 3121 
 752 
 3;J4 
 
 20 51 
 2lt42 
 1.^::: 
 27 27 
 20 14 
 10 12 
 
 842 
 11 30 
 
 52 
 144".l 
 20 
 
 4(2i> 
 13 28 
 
 20 55 
 13 49 
 13 34 
 
 72 '20 
 
 61; 28 
 :8 
 
 20 33 
 
 2138 
 
 7 52 
 
 ,»5|57 
 
 2.5 56 
 
 24 loo 
 
 17176 
 
 7'74 
 
 8,72 
 
 1064 
 
 1!I44 
 
 1032 
 
428 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 RAIN FALL — INCHES. 
 
 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. 
 1870— l;'i^....O ....1 ....3 ,...5 ....6%....6' ....5%. 
 
 1871— 4 ....1 ...A%...A%....2%. 
 
 1872— .... % l%....6%...A}i....l%...A%. 
 
 1873— %.... %....S%....9%....Q ....1%. 
 
 1874— 1.... ^^....l;'^....l"....3i^....3"....3 ....11^. 
 
 1875— ....1^^....5"....3 ....71^.... 61^. 
 
 1876-21/... .2 .... i^....li^....4 ....6%....6 ....1%. 
 1877— -^....3 ....31^.. ..6 ....!%... .5 . 
 
 1878- 
 
 ... %....3 ....5'^....4-^....4^....2^....3%. 
 
 Sep. 
 ...6 . 
 
 ...2%. 
 
 ...13. 
 
 ...5 . 
 
 ...3^. 
 
 ...3%. 
 ..A%_. 
 
 1870- 
 1871- 
 1872- 
 1873- 
 1874- 
 1875- 
 1876- 
 1877- 
 1878- 
 
 Qpt. 
 
 - 0.. 
 
 - 0.. 
 
 - 2.. 
 -14.. 
 
 - 1.. 
 
 - 1.. 
 
 - 1.. 
 
 - 0.. 
 -13.. 
 
 E. V. Wanmer, 
 
 B. C. Knapp, 
 J. B. Gebhart, 
 
 C. A. Sessions, 
 John Near, 
 
 C. A. Hawley, 
 
 H. S. Eliiott, 
 
 N.B.Farnsw'th 
 E. F. Ames, 
 A. Tennant, 
 S. S. Branch, 
 
 E. Stanhope, 
 
 C. F. Hale, 
 
 SNOW FALL— INCHES. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 . 7.. 
 
 .17.. 
 .34.. 
 .51.. 
 .22.. 
 
 . 6.. 
 .17.. 
 .27.. 
 
 .IK.. 
 
 Dec. 
 ..38... 
 
 ..171^. 
 
 ..34.'. 
 
 . 8. 
 .19. 
 .28. 
 .64. 
 .5%. 
 
 Jan. 
 ..42. 
 
 ..41. 
 
 ..22. 
 
 ..23. 
 
 ..40. 
 
 ..35. 
 
 ..10. 
 
 ..28. 
 
 ..18. 
 
 Feb. 
 ..15... 
 
 ..18... 
 
 ..17... 
 .. 6%. 
 .. 7... 
 ..18^4 
 ••2li 
 .. 0... 
 ..11... 
 
 Oct. Nov. 
 
 ...8i^....li^., 
 
 ...2y,....i%.. 
 
 ...l]i....2%.. 
 ...2%.... %.. 
 ...3 ....2^., 
 ...5%.... %.. 
 ...2%...A%. 
 ...9%....3 .. 
 ...6%...1% 
 
 Mar. 
 ..46... 
 
 .. 4... 
 
 ..25... 
 
 ..131^. 
 
 ..13... 
 
 ..14... 
 
 ..24^^. 
 
 ..27... 
 
 Dec- 
 •13^ 
 ■2% 
 
 ■2% 
 
 Apr. 
 ... 9 
 
 . 3 
 
 .34 
 
 ■^% 
 . 4 
 . 7 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 A FEW ORCHARD REPORTS— 1888-9. 
 
 450 bu. Peaches, sold for $ 225.00 
 
 1300.00 
 
 Plums, " 275.00 
 
 202.00 
 
 Peaches, " 2500.00 
 
 3000.00 
 
 725.00 
 
 '89- 
 '88— 
 '89— 
 
 650 
 130 
 101 
 '88—2000 
 '89--2600 
 '88— 350 
 '89— 300 
 '88— 500 
 '89- 950 
 '88— 650 
 '89—1000 
 
 '88— 
 '89— 
 '89— 
 '89- 
 '89— 
 
 197 
 631 
 360 
 500 
 203 
 
 '88—1000 
 '89—1158 
 '88— 683 
 '8 9— 809 
 '88—1200 
 '89—1300 
 
 Plums, 
 Peaches, 
 
 750.00 
 
 565.00 
 1200.00 
 
 900.00 
 2000.00 
 
 397.50 
 1631.24 
 1064.70 
 1000.00 
 
 400.00 
 
 900.00 
 1750.00 
 
 785.00 
 1267.35 
 1800.45 
 3200.00 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Anct'dote 56 
 
 Agiifultuval Society 85 
 
 Apolos'izcfl 424 
 
 Boundaries 21 
 
 Benona 24 C2 148 
 
 Banks 77 95 120 121 
 
 Bull of the woods 105 
 
 Benona Lodge No. 289 F. & A. M IGS 
 
 Barney a Candidate 421 
 
 Crystal 24 158 
 
 Colfax 25 1C2 
 
 Claybauks 25 34 146 
 
 CircuitCourt 36 38 
 
 Catholicism in Claybanks 48 
 
 Crystal Valley Lodge No. 38G I. O. O. F. .188 
 
 Coftin Enterprise 420 
 
 County Otheers 425 
 
 Dog Tax. 103 
 
 Deborah Lodge No. 93 D. of K Wl 
 
 Dan Landon Post No. 397 207 
 
 Early History 18 
 
 Elbridge 35 151 
 
 Ferry Township 25 150 
 
 First Settlers 26 30 
 
 Fourth of July 41 
 
 Fruit 6195 
 
 First Mule, The 415 
 
 Few Oreharil Keports, A 428 
 
 Golden 24 149 
 
 Game 29 
 
 Greenwood 35 159 
 
 Grant 161 
 
 Grand Army Posts 192 
 
 Gen'l Sill Po.st Xo. 209 203 
 
 Hart Township 39 51 140 
 
 Hart Village 63 141 
 
 Hayes, ]\Iike 07 
 
 Hesperia 72 155 
 
 Ho))kins, Judge 66 
 
 Hawley's Mill 103 
 
 Horse Thief Captured 105 
 
 Hart Inii)rovement Company 144 
 
 " Attieonian Society 144 
 
 " l^nion School 144 
 
 " Chantauijua Circle 145 
 
 " Business Houses 145 
 
 Hesperia Lodge Xo. 346 F. & A. M 170 
 
 " " " 3.34 1. 0.0. F 177 
 
 Hart Encampment No. 18 I. O. O. F...190 
 
 How the Thief Outwitted a Pioneer .418 
 
 His First and Only Treat 419 
 
 Introductory 9 
 
 Indians 28 42 44 59 
 
 Indian Patriotism 45 
 
 Irons, A., Disapjiearance 109 
 
 Integrity Lodge No. 58 D. of II 191 
 
 Indian Idea, The 414 
 
 Jail 37 
 
 Joe Hooker Post No. 26 103 
 
 John F. Keynolds Post No. 52 205 
 
 John A. DixPost No. 9 209 
 
 Judicial 221 
 
 Justice's High Authority, A 418 
 
 Leroy 24 
 
 Lamont, Wreck of io7 
 
 Leavitt 152 
 
 Lakeside Encamp. No. 109 I. o. o. F..190 
 
 Mud Hen 53 
 
 Minnie Corlett, Wreck of 77 
 
 Mills, Jennie, Disappearance loi 
 
 Mercury, Wreck of 106 
 
 MeClure, Warren, Death of 115 
 
 Makin Murder 117 
 
 Middlesex Brick & Tile Co 127 
 
 Masonic 104 
 
 Mark Satterlee Camp No. 28 S. O. V.. .206 
 IMarvin Gilson Camp No. 60 S. O. V.. .208 
 
 Ministerial Incident, A 417 
 
 Name 13 
 
 Newfleld 24 154 
 
 Newspapers 40 67 103 109 121 122 125 
 
 Navel Hill 413 
 
 Otto 24 160 
 
 Organization 30 
 
 Oceana Times 40 73 
 
 Orders 73 
 
 Oceana Lodge No. 200 F. & A. M 164 
 
 Chapter No. 56 K. A. M 171 
 
 " Council No. 27 1{. & S. M 172 
 
 Oddfellowship ir2 
 
 Oceana Lodge No. 327 I. O. O. F 173 
 
 Oceana Co. Veteran Association 211 
 
 Population 1890 11 
 
 Pent water Township 3i 123 
 
 Peaches 43 
 
 Pentwater Village 57 124 
 
 Pigeons go 
 
 Peach Defalcation 85 
 
430 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS 
 
 Peiitwa ter Titles 88 
 
 " Kuniiture Factory llS 
 
 Parks 129 
 
 Lodge No. 378 I. O. O. F 184 
 
 Patrons of Industry 212 
 
 Pioneer Scrap 415 
 
 Plain Enough 41G 
 
 Population 426 
 
 Postofflces 426 
 
 Quinn, George P., Death of 115 
 
 Keed 25 
 
 Kector, Andrew, Shot 45 
 
 Removal of County Seat 4r> 54 
 
 Rebellion .51 
 
 Railroad CH G8 
 
 Ruby Lodge No. 1C9 D. of R 109 
 
 R. M. Jolnison Post 1 38 £01 
 
 Representative 214 
 
 Rain Fall 428 
 
 Surveyor General's Report 19 
 
 Stony Creek 34 
 
 Small Pox 75 
 
 Souvenir, ^yreck of 77 
 
 Scandinavian E. L. Church IIG 
 
 Shelby Township 133 
 
 Shelby Village 134 
 
 " Business Houses 138 
 
 Lodge No. 344 I. O. O. F 178 
 
 Stetson Lodge No. 390 I. O. O. F 189 
 
 Shields Post No. 68 197 
 
 State Legislature 21G 
 
 Short and Sweet 414 
 
 Slip of the Tongue, A 423 
 
 Squire Weatherbee 4;:i3 
 
 Supreme Court Over-ruled 423 
 
 snow Fall 428 
 
 Trotting Stock 97 
 
 Taken at His Word 417 
 
 Temperature Table 427 
 
 Vote-um-Crosby 414 
 
 Vital Statistics 426 
 
 Vote on President and Governor 427 
 
 Weare 39147 
 
 Whisky 42 
 
 Women's Crusade 82 
 
 Wigton Lodge No. 251 F. & A. M 166 
 
 White River Valley Lodge 
 
 No, «GD. ofR 192 
 
 Will B. Chandler Camp No. 114 S. O. V..210 
 Warm Meals ■ 420 
 
 INDEX OF PORTRAITS AND SKETCHES. 
 
 Anderson, A. S 8s 2S3 
 
 Ambler, W. E., Residence 127 
 
 Abraham, C. E 183 3f 3 
 
 Archer,B. F 201 331 
 
 Mrs. B. F 332 
 
 Ambler,W.E 217 
 
 Abson, H 287 
 
 Ackerson, W. D 312 
 
 Ames, R. F 320 
 
 Andreas, C 328 
 
 Mrs. C 329 
 
 Avery, A. G 339 
 
 Baker, T. H 137 182 3G2 
 
 Benton, E. L ]57 270 
 
 Barry, W. H 168 199 363 
 
 Burgess, A. E 184,365 
 
 Byrne, Ohve 23i 
 
 Brady, Andrew 234 
 
 Mrs. A 235 
 
 Blanck, Charles 248 
 
 Bamford, John 279 
 
 Mrs. J 279 
 
 Bearss, A. H iSl 
 
 Barron, H 283 
 
 Bearss, J 287 
 
 Branch, S. S 291 
 
 Butler, J. R 308 
 
 Benjamin, D. C 313 
 
 Baker, M 316 
 
 lU-iggs, E. N 348 
 
 Bouton, J. H 350 
 
 Brooks, M. H 303 
 
 Bate,G.R 354 
 
 Brewster. L. C S93 
 
 Baker, J. W 407 
 
 Court House 31 50 222 
 
 Clark, E. B 45 138 34a 
 
 Cogswell,!. H 103 
 
 Cahill, J. M 131 298 
 
 Cutler, E. H l-'-G IM 393 
 
 Chadwick, H. J 142 395 
 
 Collier, J. A 143 173 194 355 
 
 Carr, A. L 148JG7 300 
 
 Cummins, J. F 151331 
 
 Mrs. J. F 381 
 
 Cater, R. E IGS 239 
 
 Cooper, Wm 176 300 
 
 Cramer, C. W 185 366 
 
 Cahill, J. V 193 373 
 
 Cutcheon, B. IM 215 
 
 Crosby, D. W 221291 
 
 Carpenter J 2G0 
 
AND BUSINESS MKN OF TO-DAY. 
 
 431 
 
 Carpenter, Mrs. J — 261 
 
 Collister, Thos 269 
 
 Mrs. T 3()7 
 
 Clmrcliill, W. H 283 
 
 Critchett, J. H 294 
 
 Cleveland, J 347 
 
 Cornell, W.H 374 
 
 CoonE.F 379 
 
 Converse, C. E 382 
 
 Coon, Mrs. C.E 390 
 
 Cleveland, (J. H 407 
 
 Darling, Uev. A. A 45 277 
 
 Dean, O. H 165 384 
 
 Dunn, W. H 178 198 .isr 
 
 Dickernian, A 225 
 
 Dill. David 2C5 
 
 " Mrs. D 2G6 
 
 Dumaw, Charles 273 
 
 Davis, C'.B .308 
 
 Dewey, G. E 358 
 
 Dresser, A. Jr .412 
 
 Eaton, L.D 96238 
 
 Mrs. L. D 237 
 
 Eddy, Cx. H 199 382 
 
 Fleming, W. H 149 398 
 
 Elagg, E. B 1(55 297 
 
 Fisher, M. O 189 .373 
 
 Farrell, J. G 252 
 
 Fisher, C.W 315 
 
 " Jacob 321 
 
 Foster, S.D 342 
 
 Fincher, F. W 351 
 
 Ferris, M. L. and Wife 391 
 
 Giddings, .ludge A. H 67 79 1012^4 
 
 (iirard, M.D 128 270 
 
 (iardiner, W. M 169 2C7 
 
 (iurney, T. S 174 218 
 
 Gnrney, C. A 174 38;^ 
 
 (ietly,(!. H 180376 
 
 (;rant,Otto KsG 402 
 
 Garver, B. S 282 
 
 (iilbert, M. A 286 
 
 tJaylord, E. B 301 
 
 Gardner, F. O :}03 
 
 Gehhart, J. B 5:03 
 
 Gregory, E. P 318 
 
 Gennng, Mr. & Mrs. C. B 335 
 
 Hoffman, H.G 101 
 
 Hill, D. J 152 39.S 
 
 Hillyard, Wm. F ir>4 370 
 
 Holmes, 11. J 173195 379 
 
 Harrison, J. A 183 405 
 
 Hartwiek, L. M 1&5 345 
 
 Hyde, M. P 187 397 
 
 Hoiik, T. G 220 
 
 Huston, Mr. & Mrs. Adam 23n240 
 
 Mr. &Mrs. O. E 241 
 
 Haughey, Mr. & Mrs. W.H 242 243 
 
 Haggerty, Mr. & Mrs. Isaac 251 
 
 Hanson, Mr. & Mrs. John D 2.53 254 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. J. D. S 255 256 
 
 Hiles, Mr. & Mrs. Wm 310 
 
 Hurley, H 323 
 
 Hansen, Mr. & Mrs. Peter 343 344 
 
 Hawley, C. A :i51 
 
 Houghtaling, E. S 357 
 
 Hoteliki.ss, E. H 365 
 
 Heim, J. M 375 
 
 Hinehen, D 389 
 
 Harter, H 391 
 
 Hodges, H. L 391 
 
 Harpster,H. W 392 
 
 Hartwiek, W. M 403 
 
 Imus,G. W 131164321 
 
 JonesT.T 158204 348 
 
 Jenks, Ira 252 
 
 Jensen, Mr. & Mrs. CM 258 
 
 Jackson, A 276 
 
 Johnson, C. K 334 
 
 L. E 337 
 
 Jay, C. W 385 
 
 Kelly, Thos 325 
 
 Knapp,B.C 401 
 
 Littlejohn, Judge F. J 36, 108 223 
 
 Lamont, Capt. Chas 107 319 
 
 Lewis, W.F 178 309 
 
 Lewis, Amos 220 
 
 Leak, John 274 
 
 Linsday, J. 1) 301 
 
 Lewis, S. E 30G 
 
 Landon,T. P 341 
 
 Lewis, C. F 376 
 
 Lee, J 408 
 
 Mugtord, Mr. & Mrs. E. T. .143 167 177 247 
 
 Myers, Geo.C 146 277 
 
 McKinncm, A. R 169 311 
 
 Myers, F. M 184 331 
 
 Morin, Thomas 187 349 
 
 Munson, Mr. & Mrs. John 245 
 
 McMillan, Wm 290 
 
 Marsh, Mr. & Mrs. H. J 299 
 
 Moore,J.H 324 
 
 Moore, A. Z 353 
 
 McClure, C.E 3.i9 
 
 d". E 3tiO 
 
 Marsh, O.W 365 
 
 Moore, B 369 
 
 Merril, Mr. & Mrs. W. E 395 
 
 Matthews, W. 11 410 
 
 Mitchell, L.B 411 
 
 Nielsen. Fred 171292 
 
 N ickerson, E 205 297 
 
 Noble, C. A 312 
 
 Newman, F. W 309 
 
 Oceana Co. Savings Bank 120 
 
 O'Hanlon, Mrs. J 244 
 
432 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY PIONKERS 
 
 Olinder, Mr. & Mrs. W. A 248 
 
 Oakes,D.C 404 
 
 Pay-baw-me School House 60 
 
 Palmiter, J. L C6 
 
 Pentvvater News Block 126 
 
 Philo, J. E 1 55 302 
 
 Peck,E.O 202317 
 
 Phillips, Mr. & Mrs. Thos 232 23t 
 
 Popkey,F.W 267 
 
 Priiigle, A. M 274 
 
 Peterson, A. P 280 
 
 Perkins, Mr. & Mrs. M. S 336 
 
 Peck, F. L 389 
 
 Paton, A 399 
 
 Ratzel, F. W 125 
 
 Rice, Mark A 130 326 
 
 Richards, Dave 139 
 
 Randall, E. S 162 405 
 
 Richmond, E. D 166 257 
 
 Rathhone, C. P 179 281 
 
 Reamer, F. E 183 387 
 
 Rutherford, L. G 192 
 
 Russell, F.J 225 263 
 
 Mr. & Mrs. H. E 249 250 
 
 Randall, A. C 256 
 
 Russell, Mr. & Mrs. Josiah 202 
 
 Rouse, Jane E 271 
 
 Runner, J. W 285 
 
 " J.M 286 
 
 Rounds, W.A 288 
 
 Rohinson, J. W 307 
 
 Rolph, W. and B 326 
 
 Ross, Raymond 372 
 
 Rankin. D. H 383 
 
 Rankin, DS 337 
 
 Richmond, Ira A 488 
 
 Rhodes, George 403 
 
 Sands & Maxwell's Store 94 
 
 Switzer.G. O 130 186 399 
 
 Shirts, W.H 135 363 
 
 Schaner, Joseph, Residence 147 
 
 Serfling, C 160 289 
 
 Servis, H. J 175 392 
 
 Stevens, C. B 175 396 
 
 Sackrider, W. P 176 364 
 
 Souter, Mr. and Mrs. A. E 181 367 368 
 
 Slater, J. H .194316 
 
 Sayles, H. S 275 
 
 Sayles, W. N 275 
 
 Spellman,S 230 
 
 Schaner, M r. & Mrs. J 327 328 
 
 sabin, R 330 
 
 Shirts, E.J 338 
 
 Southwick, R. E 371 
 
 Sage, Mr. & Mrs. H 377 378 
 
 Stone, B. F 401 
 
 Scott,F.A 401 
 
 Stone, 0. W 407 
 
 Smith, F 408 
 
 Thorp, W. E 142 166 193371 
 
 Taylor, L. L., Residence 153 
 
 Tower, Mr. & Mrs. II 236 237 
 
 Tuttle,Mrs.W 306 
 
 Tyler, J 314 
 
 Tennant, W. J 337 
 
 Taylor, Mr. & Mrs. L. L 339 :341 
 
 Tuller, W. H 361 
 
 Tullar,C.H 403 
 
 Thomas, A. L 406 
 
 Tillotsou, J. A 409 
 
 Underhill, C. M 188 293 
 
 Underbill, A. J 205 268 
 
 Yauglian, Wm 295 
 
 Wright, J 135 304 
 
 Woodward, G. W 137 198 347 
 
 Woodwoi th, C. A 163 285 
 
 Wickham, D.C 171 195 343 
 
 White, O. K 179 219259 
 
 " Mrs. O. K 260 
 
 Woodland, William 1 8o 356 
 
 Wiswell, O 202 327 
 
 Wigton, Mrs. C 265 
 
 Webb, William 271 
 
 Williamson, J 289 
 
 Whittington, C. R 296 
 
 Westbrook, J 314 
 
 Walker, F 319 
 
 Wright, E. A 322 
 
 Weyant, J. A 333 
 
 Wyckofl, G 346 
 
 Widoe, J. F 355 
 
 Wanmer, R. V 374 
 
 Wilson, Mr. & Mrs. F. W 380 
 
 Wickham, O. F 4oO 
 
 Young, F. E 394 
 
 306 90 
 

 **'% 
 
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