OF PROMINENTmp REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 
 
 OF THE COUNTY 
 
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 gHE greatest of English historians, Macaiji-ay, and one of the most brilliant writers of 
 the present century, has said : '-The history of a country is best told in a record of tlic 
 lives of its people." In conformity with this idea the 1'ortuait ano Uiocuaphicai, 
 AijiUMof tliis county has been prepared. Instead of going to nuist^' records, and 
 taking therefrom dr}' statistical matter that can be appreciated by but few, our 
 corps of writers have gone to tiie people, the men and women who have, bj' their 
 enteri)risc and industry, brought the county to a rank second to none among those 
 comprising this great and noble State, and from tiieir lips have the story of their life 
 struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelli- 
 gent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the 
 imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by 
 industry and economy have .accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited 
 advantiiges for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with an 
 iulluence extending througiiout tiie length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who 
 have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and wliose names have 
 become famous. It tells of those in everj' w.alk in life who have striven to succeed, and 
 records how tiiat success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of man}', very 
 many, who, not seeking tlie applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their waj-,'" content 
 to Iiave it said of them a-s Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "the}' have done what 
 they could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left the plow and the 
 anvil, the lawyer's oflice and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's 
 call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how tlwough their efforts the Union was restored and peace 
 once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not 
 be lost upon those who follow after. 
 
 Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a s.acred treasure, from tlic fact 
 that it contains so much that would never find its w^ay into public records, and which would otherwise be 
 in.accessible. Great care h.as been t.aken in tiie compilation of the work and every opportunity possible 
 given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers Hatter them- 
 selves that thej- give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition totlie biograph- 
 ical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given. 
 
 The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the 
 publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to give the 
 information necessary to compile a sketch, while othei's were indifferent. Occasional!}' some member of 
 the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such -opposition the support of the interested 
 one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though repeated calls were made 
 at their residence or place of business. 
 
 CHAPMAN BROS, 
 CincAoo, July, 1891. 
 
GOVERNORS of MICHIGAN, 
 
 AND OF THE 
 
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FIRST I'RESIDENT. 
 
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 HE Father of our Country was 
 W horn in Westmorland Co., Va., 
 ''^ Feb. 2 2, 1732. His parents 
 were Augustine and Mary 
 (Ball) Washington. The family 
 to which he belonged has not 
 been satisfactorily traced in 
 England. His great-grand- 
 father, John Washington, em- 
 igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
 and became a prosperous 
 planter. He had two sons, 
 Lawrence and John. The 
 former married Mildred Warner 
 and had three children, John, 
 Augustine and Mildred. Augus- 
 tine, the father of (ieorge, first 
 married Jane Butler, who bore 
 him four children, two of whom, 
 Lawrence and Augustine, reached 
 maturity. Of six children by his 
 second marriage, George was the 
 eldest, the others being Betty, 
 Samuel, Joiin Augustine, Charles 
 and Mildretl. 
 Augustine Washington, the father of George, died 
 in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
 eldest son, Lawrence, he be(]ueathed an estate on 
 llie Putomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
 and to George he left the parental residence. George 
 received only such education as the neighborhood 
 sciiools afforded, save for a short time after he left 
 school, when he received private instruction in 
 niathemai'cs. His spclliuii was rather defectiv* 
 
 Remarkable stories are told of his great physica.; 
 strength and development at an early age. He was 
 an acknowledged leader among his companions, and 
 was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- 
 ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. 
 
 AV'hen George was i4years old he had a desire to go to 
 sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, 
 but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
 abandon«d. Two years later he was appointed 
 surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 
 this business he spent three years in a rough frontier 
 life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very 
 essential to him. In 175 r, though only 19 years of 
 age, he was api)ointed adjutant with the rank of 
 major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
 active service against the French and Indians. Soon 
 after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother 
 Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They 
 soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence 
 died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
 who did not long survive him. On her den-:ise the 
 estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. 
 
 Uix)n the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten- 
 ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was 
 reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- 
 tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to 
 Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
 a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
 cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- 
 ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- 
 western Pennsylvania. Tiie distance to be traversed 
 was between 500 and 600 miles. \\ inter was at Ivir.d, 
 and the journey was to be made wii!iout mi!ii:irv 
 escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The 
 
GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 
 irip was a perilous one, and several limes he came near 
 losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished 
 a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment 
 of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- 
 mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was 
 commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was 
 then begun against the French and Indians, in which 
 Washington took a most important part. In the 
 memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- 
 dock's defeat, Washington wks almost the only officer 
 of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the 
 day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock 
 tvere disabled early in the action, and Wasliington 
 alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter 
 to his brother he says: "1 had four bullets through 
 my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
 unhurt, though death was levelin" my companions 
 on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was 
 not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken 
 direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
 him. 
 
 After having been five years in the military service, 
 and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he 
 look advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and tlie 
 e.<i)ulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, 
 CO resign his commission. Soon after he entered the 
 Legislature, where, altliough not a leader, he took an 
 active and important part. January 17, 1759, he 
 married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy 
 widow of John Parke Custis. 
 
 When the British Parliament had closed the port 
 if Boston, the ciy went up throughout the provinces 
 that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
 It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- 
 gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- 
 deljjhia.Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, 
 |)eaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
 ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the 
 Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of 
 England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- 
 cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the 
 first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- 
 mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and 
 resixjnsible office was conferred upon Washington, 
 who was still a memberof the Congress. He accepted 
 it on June 19, but u])on the express condition that he 
 receive no salary. He would keep an exact account 
 of expenses and expect Congress to pay them and 
 nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to 
 trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the 
 fortunes and liberties of the people of this country 
 were so long confided. The war was conducted by 
 him under every possible disadvantage, and while his 
 forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every 
 obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion 
 and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
 nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 1783, Washington, in 
 a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his 
 
 commission as commander-in-chief of the army to 
 to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He 
 retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed 
 his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all 
 connection with public life. 
 
 h\ February, 1 789, \\'ashington was unanimously 
 elected President. In his presidential career he was 
 subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new 
 government ; trials from lack of confidence on the pan 
 of other governments ; trials from want of harmony 
 between the different sections of our own country; 
 trials from the impoverished condition of the country, 
 owmg to the war and want of credit; trials from the 
 beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His 
 clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and 
 wliile perhaps this alone kept our government from 
 sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to 
 attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and 
 very annoying. 
 
 At the expiration of his first term he was unani- 
 mously re-elected. At the end of this term many 
 were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely 
 refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 
 1797, at the ex[>iraton of his second term as Presi- 
 dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there 
 his few remaining yeais free from the annoyances of 
 public life. Later in the year, however, his reijose 
 seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France. 
 At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to 
 take command of the armies. He chose his suli- 
 ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- 
 ters in the field, which he superintended from his 
 home. In accepting the command he made the 
 reservation that he was not to be in the field until 
 it was necessary. In the midst of tliese preparations 
 his life was suddenly cut off. December i 2, he took 
 a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling 
 ill his throat, produced inflammation, and terminate^ 
 fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- 
 teenth his body was borne wi'h military honors to its 
 final resting place, and interred in the family vault at 
 Mount Vernon. 
 
 Of the character of Washington it is impossible to 
 speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- 
 miration. The more we see of the operations of 
 our government, and the more deeply we feel the 
 difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, 
 the more highly we must estimate the force of his tal- 
 ent and character, which have been able to challenge 
 the reverence of all parties, and principles, and na- 
 tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits 
 of the glol)e, and which we cannot but believe will 
 be as lasting as the existence of man. 
 
 The person of Washington was unusally tan, erect 
 and well proportioned. His muscular strength was 
 great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry'. 
 He commanded respect without any appearance o< 
 haughtiness, and ever serious without b^ing dull. 
 
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 OHN ADAMS, the second 
 rresideiU and the first Vice- 
 1'ri.bidcnt of the United States, 
 w IS born in Braintree ( now 
 Quincy ),Mass., and about ten 
 ^^ miles from Boston, Oct. 19, 
 1735 His great-grandfather, Henry 
 Adams, emigrated from England 
 about 1640, with a family of eight 
 sons, and settled at Braintree. The 
 parents of John were John and 
 Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His 
 father was a farmer of limited 
 means, to which he added the bus- 
 iness of shoemaking. He gave his 
 eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
 tion at Harvard College. John 
 graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
 school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a 
 ■'school of affliction," from which he endeavored to 
 gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
 study of law. For this pur[X)se he placed himself 
 under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He 
 had thought seriously of the clerical profession 
 but seems to have been turned from this by what he 
 termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
 jils, cf diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,'' 
 of the operations of which he had been a witness in 
 his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
 profession, iwssessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
 ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- 
 ;ive jx)wers. He gradually gained practice, and in 
 1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
 and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his 
 marriage, (r7fi5), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa- 
 tion turned him from law to jxjlitics. He took initial 
 steps toward lioldin^, :i town meeting, and the resolu- 
 
 tions he offered on the subject became very populai 
 throughout the Province, and were adopted word for 
 word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos- 
 ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous 
 and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and 
 was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- 
 islature) in 1770. 
 
 Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegate.^ 
 from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, 
 which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himself 
 by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad- 
 vocated the movement for independence against th? 
 majority of the members. In May, 1776, he mcved 
 and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies 
 should assume the duties of self-government. He 
 was a prominent member of the committee of live 
 appointed June 11, to prepare a declaration of inde- 
 pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but 
 on Adams devolved the task of battling it through 
 Congress in a tiiree days debate. 
 
 On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
 was passed, while his soul was yet warm with th? 
 glow of e.xcited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife 
 which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated 
 Ijy the spirit of ])rophecy. "Yesterday," he says, "t'ne 
 greatest (juestion was decided that ever was debated 
 in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or wil 
 be decided among men. A resolution was passed 
 without one dissenting colony, ' that these United 
 States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- 
 pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of 
 July, 1776, will be a memorable eroch in the history 
 of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated 
 by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary 
 festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of 
 deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty 
 God. It ought to be solemnized willi jxamp, shows. 
 
*4 
 
 JOHN ADAMS. 
 
 games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations 
 from one end of the continent to the other, from this 
 time forward for ever. You will think me transported 
 with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of 
 the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to 
 maintain this declaration, and support and defend 
 these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the 
 rays of Ught and glory. 1 can see that the end is 
 wurth more than all the means; and that posterity 
 will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I 
 ho[ie we shall not." 
 
 In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a 
 ddlegate to France and to co-operate with Bemjamin 
 Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in 
 the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money 
 from tlie French Government. This was a severe trial 
 to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, 
 compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
 posed him to great peril of capture by llie British cruis- 
 ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 
 1779. In September of the same year he was again 
 chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- 
 ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce 
 with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet 
 might be found willing to listen to such proiX)sels. He 
 sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
 Holland, where he negotiated imix)rtant loans and 
 formed important commercial treaties. 
 
 Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed 
 Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, 
 toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed 
 threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- 
 tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he 
 was advised to goto England to drink the waters of 
 Bath. While in England, still drooping anddesiiond- 
 ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
 urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to 
 negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was 
 delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through 
 storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,he made the trip. 
 
 February 24, 1785, Congress ap]X)inted Mr. Adams 
 envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face 
 to face the King of England, who had so long re- 
 garded him as a traitor. As England did not 
 condescend to appoint a minister to the United 
 States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom- 
 plishing but little, he sought permission to return to 
 Iiis own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. 
 
 When Washington was first chosen President, John 
 Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at 
 home and abroad, was chosen Vice President. Again 
 at the second election of Washington as President, 
 Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- 
 ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was 
 elected President,though not without much ojiposition. 
 Serving in this office four years,he was succeeded by 
 Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics. 
 
 While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great 
 
 French Revolution shook the continent of Europe, 
 and it was upon this point which he was at issue with 
 the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson. 
 Mr. Adams felt no symjiathy with the French people 
 in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
 jx)wer of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
 class of atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it. 
 On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly 
 enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence or- 
 iginated the alienation between these distinguished 
 men, and two powerful parties were thus soon organ- 
 ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies 
 were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
 sympathy with France. 
 
 The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more 
 moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the 
 old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling 
 had died away, -and he had Ijegun to receive that just 
 appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
 after death. No one could look upon his venerable 
 form, and think of what he had done and suffered, 
 and how he had given up all the prime and strength 
 of his life to the public good, without the deepest 
 emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar 
 good fortune to witness the complete success of the 
 institution which he had been so active in creating and 
 supporting. In 1824, his cup of hai}piness was filled 
 to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the higliest 
 station in the gift of the people. 
 
 The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half 
 century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the 
 signers of that immortal instrument left upon the 
 earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is 
 well known, on that day two of these finished their 
 earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkalile as 
 to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
 Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning 
 of the fourth lie found himself too weak to rise from 
 his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the 
 customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- 
 dependence FOREVER." Wlien the day was ushered 
 in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
 he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew 
 what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
 ious fourth of July — God bless it — God bless you all." 
 In the course of the day he said, "It is a great and 
 glorious day." The last words he uttered were, 
 "Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- 
 signed his spiiit into the hands of his God. 
 
 The personal appearance and manners of Mr. 
 Adams were not particularly prepossessing. His face, 
 as his portrait manifests,was intellectual ard expres- 
 sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and his 
 manners were frequently abnipt and uncourteous. 
 He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor 
 the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked 
 the manners and address of Jefferson. 
 
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THIRD PRESIDENT. 
 
 27 
 
 HOMAS JEFFERSON was 
 
 ^^ born April 2, 1743, at Shad- 
 ^^well, Albermarle county, Va. 
 His parents were I'c'.er and 
 Jane ( Randolph) JclTorson, 
 the lornier a native oi Wales, 
 and the latter born in Lon- 
 don. To them were born six 
 daughters and two sons, of 
 whom 'I'homas was the elder. 
 When 14 years of age his 
 father died. He received a 
 most liberal education, hav- 
 ing been kei)t diligently at school 
 from the time he was five years of 
 age. In 1760 he entered William 
 end Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat 
 of the Colonial Court, and it was the obodeof fashion 
 a.id splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
 years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine 
 horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he 
 was earnestly devoted lo his studies, and irreproacha- 
 able in his morals. It is strange, however, under 
 such influences.that he was not ruined. In the sec- 
 ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
 explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, 
 society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had 
 previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
 hbuvs a day to haid study, allowing himself for ex- 
 ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out 
 of the city and back again. He thus attained very 
 high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso- 
 phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and 
 (keek authors he read with facility. A more finished 
 scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls; and 
 
 there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a 
 more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. 
 
 Immediately upon leaving college he began the 
 study of law. For the short time he continued in the 
 [iractice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
 guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a 
 lawyer. Hut the times called for greater action. 
 The policy of England had awakened the spirit of 
 resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged 
 views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
 him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen 
 a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 
 1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- 
 ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow 
 Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, Ih.MC 
 was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, which 
 commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and 
 beauty. This s[)ot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
 home; and here he reared a mansion of modest ye* 
 elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon 
 became the most distinguished resort in our land. 
 
 In 1775 he was sent to the Colonial Congress, 
 where, though a silent member, his abilities as a 
 writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he 
 was placed uiwn a number of important committees, 
 and was chairman of the one apixjinted for the draw- 
 ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- 
 mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 
 Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. 
 Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was apiwinted 
 to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
 a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
 gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made 
 in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 
 4, 1776, What must have been the feelings of that 
 
28 
 
 THOMAS JEFFERSON. 
 
 man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — 
 who was charged with the preparation of that Dec- 
 laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of 
 America, was also to publish her to the world, free, 
 ijoverign and independent. It is one of the most re- 
 markable papers ever written ; and did no other effort 
 uf the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
 sufficient to stamp his name with immortality. 
 
 lu 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to 
 Patrick Henry, ^s Governor of Virginia. At one time 
 the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to 
 Moniicello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five 
 minutes elapsed after tlie hurried escape of Mr. Jef- 
 ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- 
 sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never 
 very good, was much injured by tliis excitement, and 
 in the summer of 1782 she died. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
 Two years later he was appointed Minister Plenipo- 
 tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
 in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State 
 in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned 
 Jan. r, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 
 dent, and four years later was elected President over 
 Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 
 1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, 
 and George Clinton, Vice President. 
 
 The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- 
 tion was disturbed by an event which threatened tlie 
 tranipiility and peace of the Union; this was the con- 
 spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
 to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled 
 ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a 
 military expedition into the .Spanish territories on our 
 southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there 
 a new republic. This has been generally supposed 
 was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been 
 generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
 doubt that they were of a far more dangerous 
 character. 
 
 In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
 which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
 to retire from political life. For a period of nearly 
 .'^orty years, he had been continually before the pub- 
 lic, and all tliat time had been employed in offices of 
 the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- 
 voted the best part of his life to the service of his 
 countiy, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
 declining years required, and ujxjn the organization of 
 the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- 
 well forever to public life, and retired to Monticelio. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole 
 families came in their coaches with their horses, — 
 fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and 
 nurses,— and remained three and even six months. 
 Life at Monticelio, for years, resembled that at a 
 fashionable watering-place. 
 
 The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver- 
 
 sary of the Declaration of American Independence, 
 great preparations were made in every part of th'.' 
 Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and 
 the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity 
 of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer.. 
 and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara- 
 tion, to participate in their festivities. But an ill- 
 ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
 had been continually increasing, compelled htm to 
 decline the invitation. 
 
 On the second of July, the disease under which 
 he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced 
 state that his medical attendants, entertained nc 
 hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly 
 sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next 
 dny, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
 him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
 the tjiird of July, he expressed the earnest wish tha'. 
 he might be permitted to breathe the airof the fiftieth 
 anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose 
 dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, 
 burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
 ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble 
 life ! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- - 
 the day which his own name and his own act had 
 rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
 festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, 
 as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, 
 was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life. 
 
 Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- 
 dred s])irit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear 
 him company, left the scene of liis earthly honors. 
 Hand in hand they had stood forth, the chamin'onsof 
 freedom; hand in hand, during the dark and desper- 
 ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and 
 animated their desponding countrymen; for half a 
 century they had labored togetiier for the good of 
 the country; and now hand in hand they depart. 
 In their lives they had been united in the same great 
 cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
 divided. 
 
 In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
 above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
 were light, his hair originally red, in after life became 
 white and silvery; his coini>lexion was fair, his fore- 
 head broad, and his whole coui^tenance intelligent and 
 thoughtful. He jwssessed great fortitude of mind as 
 well as personal courage ; and ;.:s command of tem- 
 per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends 
 never recollected to have seen him in a passion. 
 His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- 
 affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that 
 all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
 sation he was fluent, eloquent and entluisiastic ; and 
 his language was remarkably pure and correct. He 
 was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is 
 discernable the care with which he formed his style 
 upon the best models of antiquity. 
 
FOURTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 31 
 
 spHQES nj^DISOI]. 
 
 \J AMES MADISON, "Father 
 4j of the Constitution," and fourth 
 President of the United States, 
 was born March 16, 1757, and 
 died at his Iioine in \'lri;inia, 
 ■^ June 28, 1836. Tlic name of 
 James Madison is inseparaM) con- 
 nected with most of the important 
 events in that heroic period of our 
 country during which tiie founda- 
 tions of this great republic were 
 laid. He was the last of the founders 
 of the Constitution of llie United 
 States to be called to his eternal 
 reward. 
 
 The Madison family were among 
 the early emigrants to the New World, 
 landing u[X)n the shores of the Chesa- 
 ])eake but 15 years after the settle- 
 ment of Jamestown. The father of 
 James Madison was an opulent 
 planter, residing \\\io\\ a very fine es- 
 tate called "Montpelier," Orange Co., 
 Va. The mansion was situated in 
 the midst of scenery highly pictur- 
 esque and romantic, on the west side 
 of South-west Mountain, at the foot of 
 Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of 
 Jefferson at Monticello. The closest personal and 
 jwlitical attachment existed between these illustrious 
 men, from their early youth until death. 
 
 The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted 
 mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
 18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
 Here he applied himself to study with the most im- 
 
 prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, but three 
 hours' sleep out of the 24. His health tluis became so 
 seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor 
 of constitution. He graduated in 1771, with a feeble 
 body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a 
 mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning 
 which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsf 
 quent career. 
 
 Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
 law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. 
 This educational course, the spirit of the times in 
 which he lived, and the society with which he asso- 
 ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong 
 love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work ol 
 a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of 
 mind, and his frail health leading him to think that 
 his life was not to be long, he directed especial atten- 
 tion to theological studies. Endowed with a nimd 
 singularly free from passion and jirejudice, and with 
 almost unequalled i)owers of reasoning, he weighed 
 all the arguments for and against revealed religion, 
 until his faith became so established as never to 
 be shaken. 
 
 In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
 was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to 
 frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
 (1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly. 
 He refused to treat the whisky-lovir.g voters, and 
 consequently lost his election ; but those who had 
 witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the 
 modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
 and he was appointed to the Executive Council. 
 
 Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were 
 Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison retnained 
 member of the Council ; and their appreciation of his 
 
32 
 
 JAMES MADISON. 
 
 Mitellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not 
 a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year 
 1780, he was elected a member of the Continental 
 Conjiress. Here he met the most illustrio'is men in 
 our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of 
 ihe most conspicuous positions among them. 
 
 For three years Mr. iVIadison continued in Con- 
 gress, one of its most active and influential members. 
 In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was 
 elected a member of the Virginia Legislature. 
 
 No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the 
 utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na- 
 tional government, with no power to form treaties 
 which would be binding, or to enforce law. There 
 was not any State more prominent than Virginia in 
 the declaration, that an efficient national government 
 must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison 
 carried a resolution through the General Assembly of 
 Virginia, inviting the other States to appoint commis- 
 sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss 
 this suliject. Five States only were reiiresented. The 
 convention, however, issued another call, drawn up 
 by Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their 
 delegates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draft 
 a Constitution for tlie United States, to take the place 
 of that Confederate League. The delegates met at 
 the time appointed. Every State but Rhode Island 
 v?as represented. George Washington was chosen 
 president of the convention; and the present Consti- 
 tution of the United States was then and there formed. 
 There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- 
 tive in framing this immortal document than the mind 
 and the pen of James Madison. 
 
 The Constitution, adopted by a vote 8r to 79, was 
 to be presented to the several States for acceptance. 
 But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected 
 we should be left Ijut a conglomeration of independent 
 States, with but little [wwer at home and little respect 
 abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven- 
 tion to draw up an address to the people of the United 
 States, expounding the principles of the Constitution, 
 and urging its adoption. There was great opposition 
 to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and 
 went into effect in 1789. 
 
 Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- 
 yientatives in the first Congress, and soon became the 
 avowed leader of tlie Republican party. While in 
 New York attending Congress, he met Mrs. Todd, a 
 young widow of remarkable jxiwer of fascination, 
 whom he married. She was in person and character 
 queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied 
 so prominent a position in the very peculiar society 
 which has constituted our republican court as Mrs. 
 Madison. 
 
 Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under 
 Jefferson, and at the close of his administration 
 was chosen President. At this time the encroach- 
 ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. , 
 
 British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and 
 our flag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison 
 was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiiing 
 in his disposition, war had no charms for him. But the 
 meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood 
 boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought 
 to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. 
 A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the 
 crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- 
 ance he selects any number whom he may please to 
 designate as British subjects ; orders them down the 
 ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- 
 deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the 
 battles of England. This right of search and im- 
 pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce 
 the British cabinet to relinquish. 
 
 On the i8th of June, 1812, President Madison gave 
 his approval to an act of Congress declaring war 
 against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter 
 hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country 
 in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on tiie 4th 
 of March, 1813, was re-elected by a large majority, 
 and entered upon his second term of office, 'iiiis is 
 not the place to describe the various adventures of 
 this war on the land and on the water. C)ur infan'. 
 navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grap- 
 pling with the most formidable power which ever 
 swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest 
 by the appearance of a British flett, early in February, 
 1813, in Chesa|>eake Bay, declaring nearly the whole 
 coast of the United States under blockade. 
 
 The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me 
 ditator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit- 
 ish force of five thousand men landed on tiie banks 
 of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa- 
 peake Bay, and inarched rapidly, by way of Bladens- 
 burg, upon Washington. 
 
 The straggling little city of Washington was thrown 
 into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict 
 at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the 
 metropolis. The whole populaticn fled from the city. 
 The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the Wfiite 
 House, with her carriage drawn up at the doer to 
 await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers 
 in a council of war. He met our troops utterly routed, 
 and he could not go back without danger of being 
 captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential 
 Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in 
 Washington were in flames. 
 
 The war closed after two years of fighting, and on 
 Feb. 13, 1815, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1817, his second term of 
 office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair 
 to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- 
 tiful home at Montpelier, and there ,yassed the re- 
 mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the 
 age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- 
 son died July 12, 1S49. 
 
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FIFTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 35 
 
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 prrjES n]oi]itOE. 
 
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 AMES MONROE, the fifili 
 Presidentof The United States, 
 was born in Westmoreland Co., 
 Va., April f8, 1758. His early 
 life was passed at the place of 
 nativity. His ancestors had for 
 niany years resided in the prov- 
 11 e in which he was born. When, 
 :_;^ I It 17 years of age, in tlie process 
 i/A/fw of completing his education at 
 William and Mary College, the Co- 
 lonial Congress assembled at Phila- 
 deli)hia to deliberate upon the un- 
 just and manifold oppressions of 
 Cireat Britian, declared the separa- 
 tion of the Colonies, and promul- 
 gated the Declaration of Inde])en- 
 dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly 
 probable that he would have been one of the signers 
 of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
 school and enlisted among the patriots. 
 
 He joined the army when everything looked hojie- 
 less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased 
 from day to day. The invading armies came [wuring 
 in ; and the tones not only favored the cause of the 
 mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
 who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con- 
 tsnding with an enemy whom they had been taught 
 to deem invincible. 'l"o such brave spirits as James 
 Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through 
 difficulty and danger, the United States owe their 
 political emancipation. The young cadet joined the 
 ranks, and esixjused the cause of his injured country, 
 with a firm determination to live or die with her strife 
 
 for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- 
 ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and Whitt 
 Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it llec' 
 before its foes through New Jersey. In four montlis 
 after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots 
 had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
 Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
 ing upon tlie enemy he received a wound in the left 
 shoulder. 
 
 As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro- 
 moted a captain of infantry; and, having recovered 
 from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
 receded from the line of jiromotion, by becoming an 
 officer in tlie staff of Ixird Sterling. During the cam- 
 paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Brandy 
 wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued 
 aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his 
 position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a 
 regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
 owing to the exhausted condition of the State. U[)on 
 this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
 that peiiod Governor, and pursued, with considerable 
 ardor, the study cf common law. He did not, however, 
 entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; 
 but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun 
 teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 
 
 In 17S2, he was elected from King George county, 
 a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by tha». 
 body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive 
 Council. He was thus honored with the confidence 
 of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having 
 at this early period displayed some of that ability 
 and a[)titutle for legislation, wiiich were afterwards 
 employed with unremittirg energy for the public good, 
 
36 
 
 JAMES MONROE. 
 
 he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of 
 ihe Congress of the United States. 
 Deeplyas Mr. Moiiroefelt the imperfections of the old 
 Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
 Thinking, with many others of the Republican [larty, 
 '.hat it gave too much power to the Central Government, 
 and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- 
 tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm 
 supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition 
 secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member 
 of the United States Senate; which office he held for 
 four years. Every month the line of distinction be- 
 tween the two great parties which divided the nation, 
 the Federal and the Republican, was growing more 
 distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep- 
 arated them were, that the Republican party was in 
 sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a 
 strict construction of the Constitution as to give the 
 Central Government as little power, and the State 
 Governments as much power, as the Constitution would 
 warrant. The Federalists sympatiiized with England, 
 and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con- 
 stitution, which would give as much power to the 
 Central Government as that document could possibly 
 authorize. 
 
 The leading Federalists and Republicans were 
 alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the 
 good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
 pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
 James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
 building up this majestic nation, which is destined 
 to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com- 
 bination of their antagonism was needed to create the 
 light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was de- 
 nounced as almost a demon. 
 
 Washington was then President. England had es- 
 poused the cause of the Bourbons against tlie princi- 
 ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn 
 into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. 
 Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
 tween these contending powers. France had helped 
 us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms 
 of Europe were now coml)ined to prevent the French 
 from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
 than that which we had endured. Col. Monroe, more 
 magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
 whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in 
 their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
 and noble nature. He violently opposed the Pres- 
 ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
 magnanimity. 
 
 Washington, who could appreciate such a character, 
 developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
 by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de- 
 nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister 
 of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr. 
 Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention 
 in Fr£ince with the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 
 
 Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon- 
 roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the 
 office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to 
 co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
 the vast territory then known as the Province of 
 Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- 
 tained from Spain. Their united efforts were suc- 
 cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen 
 millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and 
 district of Louisiana were added to the United States. 
 This was probably tlie largest transfer of real estate 
 which was ever made in all the history of the world. 
 
 From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- 
 tain from that country some recognition of our 
 rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
 odious impressments of our seamen. But Eng- 
 land was unrelenting. He agam returned to Eng- 
 land on the same mission, but could receive no 
 redress. He returned to his home and was again 
 chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
 to accept the position of Secretary of State under 
 Madison. While in this office war with England was 
 declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and dating 
 these trying times, the duties of the War Departmeni 
 were also put upon him. He was truly the armor- 
 bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
 business man in his cabinet. Upon the return of 
 [jcace he resigned the Department of War, but con- 
 tinued in tlie office of Secretary of State until the ex- 
 piration of Mr, Madison's adminstration. At the elec 
 tion held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had 
 been chosen President with but little opposition, and 
 upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four years 
 later he was elected for a second term. 
 
 Among the important measures of liis Presidency 
 were the cession of Florida to the LInited States; the 
 Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.' 
 
 This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe 
 doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that 
 time the United States had recognized the independ- 
 ence of the South American states, and did not \\ish 
 to have European powers longer attempting to sub- 
 due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine 
 is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt 
 on the part of European powers to extend their sys- 
 tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous 
 to our peace and safety," and "that we could not 
 view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing 
 or controlling American governments or provinces in 
 any other light than as a manifestation by European, 
 powers of an unfriendly disposition toward the United 
 States." This doctrine immediately affected the course 
 of foreign governments, and has become the approved 
 sentiment of the United States. 
 
 At the end of his second term Mr. Monroe retired 
 to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 1830, 
 when he went to New York to live with his son-in- 
 law. In that city he died, on the 4th of July, 1831 
 
S/X TH PRESIDENT. 
 
 39 
 
 
 
 (~»HN OUINCY ADAMS, the 
 ixlli President of the United 
 'Slates, was boni in the rural 
 home of his honored father, 
 John Adams, in Quincy, Mass., 
 on the iith cf July, 1767. His 
 mother, a woman of exalted 
 worth, watched over his childhood 
 during the almost constant ab- 
 sence of his father. When but 
 eight years of age, he stood with 
 his mother on an eminence, listen- 
 ing to the booming of the great bat- 
 tle on Bunket s Hill, and gazing on 
 upon the smoke and flames billow- 
 ing up from the conflagration of 
 Charlestown. 
 
 When l)ut eleven years old he 
 took a tearful adieu of liis mother, 
 to sail with his fatner for Europe, 
 through a fleet ol hostile British cruisers. The bright, 
 animated boy spent a year and a half in Paiis, where 
 his fatlier was associated with Franklin and Lee as 
 minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted 
 the notice of these distinguished men, and he received 
 from them flattering marks of attention. 
 
 Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this 
 cour.try, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again 
 ]ol.n Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he 
 applied himself with great diligence, for six months, 
 to .:;tudy; then accom pained his father to Holland, 
 where he entered, first a school in .\msterdam, then 
 the I'niversity at Leyden. Aliout a year from this 
 time, in 1781, when the manly boy was but fourteen 
 yea's of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min- 
 ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 
 
 In this school of incessant lalxjr and of enobling 
 culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned 
 to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
 Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the 
 winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed 
 his studies, under a private tutor, at Hague. Thence, 
 
 in the spring of 1782, he accompanied his father I.- 
 Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance 
 with tlie most distinguished men on tlie Continent 
 examining arciiitectural remains, galleries of paintings 
 and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again 
 became associated with the most illustrious men of 
 all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal 
 themes which can engross the human mind. Afte" 
 a short visit to England he returned to Paris, ana 
 consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785, 
 when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
 man of eighteen, v. lio had seen much of the world, 
 and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a 
 residence with his father in London, under such cir- 
 cumstances, must have been extremely attractive 
 Init with judgment very rare in one of his age, he ])re- 
 ferred to return to .America to com|)lele his education 
 in an American college. He wished then to study 
 law, that with an honorable profession, he might be 
 able to obtain an independent support. 
 
 Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty 
 he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be- 
 ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- 
 [lointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
 Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached 
 London in Octol)er, where he was immediately admit- 
 ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney 
 assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with 
 Gieat Brilian. After thus spending a fortnight i. 
 London, he proceeded to the Hague. 
 
 In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal a.^ 
 minister jileniixjtentiary. On his way to Portugal 
 upon arriving in London, he met with despatches 
 directing him to the court of Beiiin, but recpiestirg 
 him to remain in London until he should receive his 
 instructions. A\'hile waiting he was married to a; 
 American lady to whom he had been previously en- 
 gaged, — Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter 
 of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in london; 
 a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom- 
 lilishment which eminently fitted her to move in tii« 
 elevated sphere for which she wi»« c'«s'voe'l- 
 
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 
 
 He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; 
 where he remained until July, 1799, when, having ful- 
 filled all the purjxjses of his mission, he solicited his 
 recall. 
 
 Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
 Ihe Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then 
 was elected Senator of the United States for six years, 
 from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his 
 ability and his experience, placed him immediately 
 among the most prominent and influential members 
 of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern- 
 ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- 
 ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
 sulting our flag. There was no man in America more 
 familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon 
 these points, and no one more resolved to present 
 a firm resistance. 
 
 In 1809, Madison succeeded Jeflerson in the Pres- 
 idential chair, and he immediately nominated John 
 Quincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign- 
 ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
 at Boston, in August, 1809. 
 
 While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- 
 dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
 history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
 European system of weights, measures, and coins ; to 
 the climate and astronomical observations ; while he 
 Kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and 
 Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a 
 more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. 
 All through life the Bible constituted an important 
 part of his studies. It was his rule to read five 
 chapters every day. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the 
 Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr. 
 Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- 
 erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he 
 sailed in June, 1819, forthe United States. On the 
 1 8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his 
 home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon- 
 roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary 
 of State. 
 
 Some time before '.he close of Mr. Monroe's second 
 term of oflice, new candidates began to be presented 
 for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought 
 forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. 
 Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and 
 sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
 ceived ninety-nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; 
 William H. Crawford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirty- 
 seven. As there was no choice by the people, the 
 question went to the House of Representatives. Mr. 
 Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and 
 he was elected. 
 
 The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
 ;ombined in a venomous and persistent assault upon 
 Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
 *fee past history of our country than the abuse which 
 
 was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this 
 high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was 
 an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
 scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- 
 try, than that of John Quincy Adams ; and never, per- 
 haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- 
 lously and outrageously assailed. 
 
 Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab- 
 stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising 
 early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in 
 Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, 
 seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said 
 that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
 own fire and applying himself to work in his Ubraiy 
 often long before dawn. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired 
 from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew 
 Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- 
 dent. The slavery question now began to assume 
 Ix)rtentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
 Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- 
 abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- 
 main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was 
 elected representative to Congress. For seventeen 
 years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre- 
 sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to 
 do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of 
 " the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in 
 the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
 self bound to no party. Probably there never was a 
 member more devoted to his duties. He was usually 
 the first in his [ilace in the morning, and the last to 
 leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
 be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. The 
 battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against 
 the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime 
 in Its moral daring and Ireroism. For persisting in 
 presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he 
 was threatened with indictment by the grand jury, 
 with expulsion from the House, with assassination . 
 but no threats could intimidate him, and his final 
 triumph was complete. 
 
 It has been said of President Adams, that when his 
 body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
 fourscore years, yielding to the simi)le faith of a little 
 child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before 
 he slept, the prajer which his mother taught him in 
 his infant years. 
 
 On the 2ist of February, 1848, he rose on the floor 
 of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the 
 speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by jiaraly- 
 sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. 
 For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to 
 the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
 ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
 said " This is ihe end of earth ;"then after a moment's 
 pause he added, ^\T am content" These were the 
 last words of the grand "Old Man Eloquent." 
 
SE VENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 *S 
 
 
 ->£ac£/©#§-~e,ifl_t»» 
 
 -vuie^/S^—s^^^ss' 
 
 
 NDREW JACKSON, the 
 seventh President of the 
 ' United States, was liorii in 
 Waxhaw settlement, N. C, 
 March 15, 1767, a few days 
 after his father's death. His 
 parents were poor emigrants 
 from Ireland, and took up 
 their abode in Waxhaw set- 
 tlement, where they lived in 
 deepest ixsverty. 
 Andrew, or Andy, as he was 
 universally called, grew up a very 
 rough, rude, turbulent boy. His 
 features were coarse, his form un- 
 gainly; and there was but very 
 little in his character, made visible, which was at- 
 tractive. 
 
 When only thirteen years old he joined the volun- 
 teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 
 1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and 
 imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer 
 ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am 
 a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of 
 the dauntless boy. 
 
 The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate 
 dIow at the head of the helpless young prisoner. 
 Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- 
 ful gashes, — one on the hand and the other ujxjn the 
 head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert 
 with the same demand. He also refused, and re- 
 ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which ([uite 
 disabled him, and which probably soon after caused 
 his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and 
 were finally stricken with the small-jxax. Their 
 mother was successful it. obtaining their exchange. 
 
 and took her sick boys home. After a long illnosc 
 Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon 
 left him entirely friendless. 
 
 Andrew supiwrted himself in various ways, s i;ha3 
 working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and 
 clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he 
 entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, 
 gave more attention to the wild amusements of the 
 times than to his studies. In 1788, he was ai)i>ointed 
 solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of 
 which Tennessee was then a part. This involved 
 many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of 
 every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear, 
 and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish 
 witfi the Sharp Knife. 
 
 In 1 79 1, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who 
 supposed herself divorced from her former husband. 
 Creat was the surprise of both parties, two years later, 
 to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been 
 definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage 
 ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur- 
 rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. 
 Jackson into disfavor. 
 
 During these years he worked hard at his profes- 
 sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, 
 one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- 
 ially disgraceful. 
 
 In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then 
 containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the 
 people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a con- 
 stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven 
 counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates. 
 The new State was entitled to but one member in 
 the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jack-^ 
 son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he 
 rode to Philedelphia, where Congress then held its 
 
44 
 
 ANDRE IV JACKSON. 
 
 sessions, — a distance of about eight hundred miles. 
 
 Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- 
 cratic party. Jefferson was his idol. He admired 
 Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr. 
 Jackson took his seat, Gen. Washington, whose 
 second term of office was then expiring, delivered his 
 last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a 
 complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson 
 did not approve of the address, and was one of the 
 twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to 
 say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been 
 " wise, firm and patriotic." 
 
 Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States 
 Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. 
 Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court 
 of his State, which position he held fjr six years. 
 
 When the war of 1812 with Great Britian com- 
 menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair. 
 Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was 
 an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who 
 would do credit to a commission if one were con- 
 ferred ujwn him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson 
 offered his services and those of twenty-five hundred 
 volunteers. His offer was accei^ted, and the troops 
 were assembled at Nashville. 
 
 As the British were hourly expected to make an at- 
 tack upon New Orleans, where Gen. Wilkinson was 
 in command, he was ordered to descend the river 
 with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson. The 
 expedition reached Natchez; and after a delay of sev - 
 eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
 She men were ordered back to their homes. But the 
 energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire 
 devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him 
 golden opinions; and he became the most popular 
 man in the State. It was in this expedition that his 
 toughness gave him the nickname of " Old Hickory." 
 
 Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. 
 Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman 
 made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in 
 which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged, 
 he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
 lingering ui«n a bed of suffering news came that the 
 Indians, who had comljined under Tecumseh from 
 Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set- 
 tlers, were committing the most awful ravages. De- 
 cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with 
 his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in 
 a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- 
 tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an 
 army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama. 
 
 The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on 
 one of the bends of the Tallapoosa River, near the cen- 
 ter of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. 
 With an army of two thovisand men. Gen. Jackson 
 traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven 
 days. He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or 
 Horse-shoe, on the 27th of March. 1814. The bend 
 
 of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of 
 tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow 
 neck the Indians had constructed a formidable breast- 
 work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, 
 with an ample suplyof arms were assembled. 
 
 The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des- 
 perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When 
 bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
 deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- 
 ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was 
 awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the 
 river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
 they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
 rios were killed A few probably, in the night, swam 
 the river and escaped. This ended the war. The 
 power of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold 
 plunge into the wilderness, with its terriffic slaughter, 
 so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants 
 of the bands came to the camp, begging for peace. 
 
 This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- 
 centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the 
 allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will 
 than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian 
 campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he 
 was ap|)ointed major-general. 
 
 Late in August, with an army of two thousand 
 men, on a rushing march. Gen. Jackson came to 
 Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed 
 a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort, 
 and from both ship and shore commenced a furious 
 assault. The battle was long and doubtful. At length 
 one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. 
 
 Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little 
 army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, 
 And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued, 
 was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won 
 for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his 
 troops, which numbered about four thousand men, 
 won a signal victory over the British army of about 
 nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
 loss of the British was two thousand six hundred. 
 
 The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men- 
 tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824, 
 he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however, 
 successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected 
 for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he 
 assumed the reins of the government, he met with 
 the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of 
 his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
 perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of 
 her death he never recovered. 
 
 His administration was one of the most memorable 
 in the annals of our country; applauded by one party, 
 condemned by the other. No man had more bitter 
 enemies or warmer friends. At the expiration of his 
 two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where 
 he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Mr. Jack- 
 son's life were that of a devoted Christian man. 
 
^ 7 ^/Z^^ ^-Z^J U<^€^z.^ 
 
EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 1^ 
 
 
 ARTIN VAN BUREN, the 
 cii^hth President of the 
 United States, was born at 
 Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 
 1782. He died at the same 
 [ilace, July 24, 1862. His 
 body rests in the cemetery 
 at Kinderhook. Above it is 
 I plain granite shaft fifteen feet 
 high, bearing a simple inscription 
 about halt way up on one face. 
 The lot is unfenced, unbordered 
 or unbounded by shrub or flower. 
 
 There is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren 
 of romantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged 
 in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
 political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many 
 signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those 
 incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
 cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
 and were among tiie earliest emigrants from Holland 
 to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
 residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
 also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
 ligence and exemplary piety. 
 
 .-fe was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- 
 usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the 
 age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies 
 in his native village, and commenced the study of 
 law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven 
 years of study in a law-office were reipiired of him 
 Vjefore he could be admitted to the bar. Insjnred with 
 d. lofty ambition, and conscious of his ])Owers, he pur- 
 sued his studies witii indefatigable industry. After 
 s^iending si.\ years in an office in his native village. 
 
 he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted hi> 
 studies for the seventh year. 
 
 In 1S03, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years ot 
 age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- 
 lage. The great conflict between the Federal and 
 Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van 
 Buren was from the beginning a ix)litician. He h.-.d, 
 perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the 
 many discussions which had been carried on in his 
 father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with 
 Jefl'erson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused I he 
 cause of State Rights ; though at that time the Fed- 
 eral party held the supremacy both in his town 
 and State. 
 
 His success and increasing ruputation led him 
 after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, tlu 
 county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years 
 constantly gaining strength by contending in tlu- 
 courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
 the bar of his State. 
 
 Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. 
 Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for 
 beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short 
 years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump- 
 tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep over 
 her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was 
 an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record 
 of those years is barren in items of public interest. 
 In t8i2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to 
 the State Senate, and cave his strenuous KU[)ix)rt to 
 Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1815, he was ap- 
 pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved 
 to Albany, the capital of the State. 
 
 'iVhile he was acknowledged as one of the most 
 piominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had 
 
48 
 
 MARTIN VAN BUHEN. 
 
 the moral courage to avow that true democracy did 
 not require that " universal suffrage" which admits 
 the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of 
 governing the State. In true consistency with his 
 democratic principles, he contended that, while the 
 path leading to the privilege of voting should be open 
 to every man without distinction, no one should be 
 invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were 
 in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue 
 and some property interests in the welfare of the 
 State. 
 
 In 182 1 he was elected a member of the United 
 States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat 
 in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
 native State. His course in this convention secured 
 the approval of men of all parties. No one could 
 doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
 interests of all classes in the community. In the 
 Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
 conspicuous position as an active and useful legislator. 
 In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the 
 Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to 
 ihe Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- 
 termined opposer of the Administration, adopting the 
 "State Rights" view in opposition to what was 
 deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. 
 
 Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof 
 the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his 
 seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United 
 States contributed so much towards ejecting John O. 
 Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing in il 
 Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether 
 entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- 
 garded throughout the United States as one of the 
 most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians. 
 It was supposed that no one knew so well as he how 
 to touch the secret spiings of action; how to pull all 
 the wires to put his machinery in motion ; and how to 
 organize a political army which would, secretly and 
 ste.-^Uhily accomplish the most gigantic results. By 
 these lowers it is said that he outv/itted Mr. Adams, 
 Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results wliich 
 few thought then could be accomplished. 
 
 When Andrew Jackson was elected President he 
 appointed Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This 
 position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
 appointed Minister to England, where he went the 
 same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, 
 refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned 
 
 home, apparently untroubled ; was nominated Vice 
 President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election 
 of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and 
 fiowns for none, he took his place at the head of that 
 Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination 
 as ambassador. 
 
 His rejection- by the Senate roused all the zeal of 
 President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor- 
 ite ; and this, probably more than any other cause, 
 secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu 
 tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- 
 ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. 
 Jackson as President of the United States. He was 
 elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the 
 retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the 
 canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van 
 Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. 
 Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred 
 upon him the power to appoint a successor." 
 
 His administration was filled with exciting events. 
 The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in ■ 
 volve this country in war witli England, the agitation 
 of the slavery question, and finally the great commer- 
 cial panic which spread over the country, all were 
 trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- 
 tributed to the management of the Democratic party, 
 and brought the President into such disfavor that he 
 failed of re election. 
 
 With the exception of being nominated for the 
 Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848, 
 Mr. Van Buren lived quietly uiion his estate until 
 liis death. 
 
 He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, 
 and living within his income, had now fortunately a 
 competence for his declining years. His unblemished 
 character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned 
 jjatriotism, and the distinguished positions which he 
 had occupied in the government of our country, se- 
 cured to him not only the homage of his party, but 
 the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 
 4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from 
 the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald, 
 he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics 
 of the country. From this time until his death, on 
 the 24th of July, r862, at the age of eighty years, he 
 resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of 
 culture and of wealth; enjoying in a healthy old 
 age, probably far more happiness than he had befort; 
 experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life- 
 
/cT. /^ y/<^yiA^ 
 
 "H-^ 
 
NIJSTTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 J< 
 
 ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
 
 SOM, the ninth President of 
 the United States, was born 
 at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773. 
 His father, Benjamin Harri- 
 son, was in comparatively op- 
 ulent circumstances, and was 
 one of the most distinguished 
 men of his day. He was an 
 intimate friend of George 
 Washington, w as early elected 
 a member of the Continental 
 Congress, and was conspicuous 
 among the patriots of Virginia in 
 resisting the encroachments of the 
 British crown. In the celebrated 
 Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- 
 rison and John Hancock were 
 both candidates for the office of 
 speaker. 
 
 fMr Harrison was subsequently 
 chosen Governor of Virginia, and 
 was twice re-elected. His son, 
 i William Henry, of course enjoyed 
 
 in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
 intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- 
 ing received a thorough common-school education, he 
 entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated 
 with honor soon after the death of his father. He 
 ciien repaired to Philadelphia to study medicine under 
 the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of 
 «obert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
 signers of the Declaration of Independence. 
 
 Jl>on the outl)reak of the Indian troubles, and not- 
 withstanding the 'emonsttances of his friends, he 
 ai)andoPfd his medical studies and tnteretl the army, 
 .laving obtained \ commission of Ensign from Presi- 
 
 dent Washington. He was then but 19 years old. 
 From that time he passed gradually upward in rank 
 until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose 
 death he resigned his commission. He was then a))- 
 pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This 
 Territory was then entitled to but one member in 
 Congress and Caiit. Harrison was chosen to fill that 
 [xjsition. 
 
 In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory 
 was divided by Congress into two portions. The 
 eastern [X)rtion, comprising the region now embraced 
 in the State of Ohio, was called '" The Territory 
 north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which 
 included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
 Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil . 
 liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap 
 iwinted by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
 Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
 Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over ahnost as 
 extensive a realm as any sovereign uixjn the globe. He 
 was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
 vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now 
 rapidly increasing white population. The ability and 
 fidelity with which he discharged these rcsiionsible 
 duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four 
 times apjxiinted to tliis office — first by John .Adams, 
 twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- 
 dent Madison. 
 
 When he began his adminstration there were but 
 three white settlementsin that almost boundless region, 
 nofr crowded with cities and resotinding with all the 
 tumult of wealth and traffic. Oneof thesesettlements 
 was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at 
 Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the tliiid a French 
 settlement. 
 
 The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrisoi. 
 reigned was filled with many tribes of Indian.^. Abou- 
 
5* 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 
 
 the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers, 
 of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them. Or.e of 
 these was called Tecumseh, or " The Crouching 
 Panther;" the other, Olhwacheca, or " The Prophet." 
 Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man 
 of great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomit- 
 able perseverance in any enterprise in which he night 
 engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm, 
 and had long regarded with dread and with hatred 
 the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting- 
 grounds of his fathers. His brother, tlie Prophet, was 
 anorator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored 
 Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which 
 they dwelt. 
 
 But the Prophet was not merely anorator: he was, 
 in the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested 
 with the superhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a 
 magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter 
 the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went 
 from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent 
 by the Great Spirit. 
 
 Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
 the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe- 
 canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. 
 October 28, 18 12, his army began its march. When 
 near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made 
 tlieir appearance and inquired why Gov. Harrison was 
 approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a 
 short conference, arrangements were made for a meet- 
 ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace. 
 
 But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with 
 the Indian character to be deceived by such protes- 
 tations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- 
 campment, he took every precaution against surprise. 
 His troops were jwsted in a hollow square, and slept 
 upon their arms. 
 
 The troops threw themselves upon the ground for 
 rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his 
 loaded musket liy his side, and his bayonet fixed. The 
 wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in 
 the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
 tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It 
 was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In 
 t!ie darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi- 
 ble, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all 
 tlie desperation wliich superstition and passion most 
 liighly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the 
 little army. The savages had been amply provided 
 with guns and ammunition by the English. Their 
 war-whoop was accompained by a shower of bullets. 
 
 The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the 
 light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
 jus yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubting a 
 sjjeedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's 
 troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them 
 until day dawned : they then made a simultaneous 
 charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing be- 
 fore them, and completely routing the foe. 
 
 Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked 
 to the utmost. The British descending from the Can- 
 adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but 
 with their savage allies, rusliing like wolves I'rom the 
 forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- 
 ing, plundering, scalping, torturing, the wide frontier 
 was plunged into a state of consternation which even 
 the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive. 
 The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the 
 forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra- 
 tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made 
 the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. 
 Under these despairing circumstances. Gov. Harrison 
 was appointed liy President Madison commander-in- 
 chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake 
 Detroit, and to protect tlie frontiers. 
 
 It would be difficult to place a man in a situation 
 demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but 
 General Harrison was found equal to the position, 
 and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re- 
 sponsibilities. 
 
 He won the love of his soldiers by always sharing 
 with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while 
 pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a 
 valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket 
 laslied over his saddle. Tliirty-five Britisli officers, 
 his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle. 
 The only fare he could give them was beef roasted 
 before the fire, without bread or salt. 
 
 In 1 81 6, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member of 
 the National House of Representatives, to represent 
 the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an 
 active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with 
 force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested 
 the attention of all the members. 
 
 In i8ig, Harrison was elected to tlie Senate of 
 Ohio; and in 1824, as one of tlie presidential electors 
 of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
 same year he was chosen to the United States Senate. 
 
 In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison brought him 
 forward as a candidate for the Presidency againsi 
 Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of 
 Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nominated by his 
 party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
 by the Whigs, with John Tyler for the Vice Presidency. 
 The contest was very animated. Gen. Jackson gave 
 all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but 
 his triumph was signal. 
 
 The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster 
 at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most 
 brilliant with which any President had ever been 
 surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- 
 istration more flattering, or tlie hopes of the country 
 more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
 joyous prospects. Gen. Harrison was seized by a 
 pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sick- 
 ness, died on the 4th of April; just one month after 
 his inauguration as President of the United States. 
 
'"hO^ 
 
TENTH PRF.SIDENT. 
 
 55 
 
 OHN TYLER, the tenth 
 I'residentof the United States. 
 He was born in Charles-city 
 Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He 
 was the favored child of af- 
 fluence and high social po- 
 sition. At the early age of 
 twelve, John entered William 
 and Mary College and grad- 
 uated with much honor when 
 but seventeen years old. After 
 graduating, he devoted him- 
 self with great assiduity to the 
 study of law, partly with his 
 father and partly with Edmund 
 Randolph, one of the most distin- 
 guished lawyers of Virginia. 
 
 At nineteen years of age, ne 
 commenced the practice of law. 
 His success was rapid and aston- 
 ishing. It is said that three 
 months had not elapsed ere there 
 was scarcely a case on the dock- 
 et of the court in which he was 
 not retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he 
 was almost unanimously e'ected to a seat in the State 
 Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- 
 cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of 
 Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he 
 was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the 
 unanimous vote or his county. 
 
 When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected 
 a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and 
 ably with the Democratic I'arty, opposing a national 
 bank, internal improvements by the General <^»ove'-n- 
 
 ment, a protective tariff, and advocatmg a strict con* 
 struction of the Constitution, and the most careful 
 vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress 
 were so arduous that before the close of his second 
 term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his 
 estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, 
 however, soon after consented to take his seat in the 
 State Legislature, where his influence was powerful 
 in promoting public works of great utility. With a 
 reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen 
 by a very large majority of votes, Governor of his 
 native State. His administration was signally a suc- 
 cessful one. His {Xjpularity secured his re-election. 
 
 John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed 
 man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the 
 United States. A ix)rtion of the Democratic party 
 was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, 
 and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent, 
 considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient 
 l)0|)ularity to succeed against the renowned orator of 
 Roanoke. Mr. Tjler was the victor. 
 
 In accordance with his professions, upon taking his 
 seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi- 
 tion. He opjXDsed the tariff; he sjxjke against and 
 voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren- 
 uously op]X)sed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- 
 ing all projects of internal imi)rovements by the Gen- 
 eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. 
 Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen. 
 Jackson, by his opjiosition to the nullifiers, had 
 abandoned the principles of the Democratic party. 
 Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record 
 in perfect accordance with the principles which he 
 had always avowed. 
 
 Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of 
 l;is profession. There was a :pl:t i'l the Deiv.ocraiii- 
 
JOHN TYLER. 
 
 party. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef- 
 fersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered comph- 
 ments upon him. He had now attained the age of 
 forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In con- 
 sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri- 
 vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; and it was 
 not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice 
 of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan- 
 tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, 
 for the better education of his children ; and he again 
 look his seat in the Legislature of Virginia. 
 
 Hy the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national 
 convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in 
 7839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har- 
 rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of 
 the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- 
 ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
 convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- 
 ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa- 
 thy with the Whig party in the Noith : but the Vice 
 President has but very little power in the Govern- 
 ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre- 
 side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- 
 pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a 
 Democratic Vice President were chosen. 
 
 In T841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- 
 dent of the United States. In one short month from 
 that time, President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler 
 thus .cund himself, to his own surprise and that of 
 the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
 chair. This was a new test of the stability of our 
 institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
 country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler 
 was at home in Williamsburg when he received the 
 unexpected tidings of the death of President Harri- 
 son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of 
 April was inaugurated to the high and responsible 
 office. He was i^laced in a position of exceeding 
 delicacy and difficulty. All his long life he had been 
 ojiposed to the main principles of the party which had 
 brought him into power. He had ever been a con- 
 sistent, honc;t man, with an unblemished record. 
 Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should 
 he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- 
 sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own.'' or, 
 on the other hand, should he turn against the party 
 which had elected him and select a cabinet in har- 
 mony with himself, and which would oppose all those 
 views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub- 
 lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- 
 vited the cabinet which President Harrison had 
 selected to retain their seats. He reccommended a 
 day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and 
 bless us. 
 
 The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the 
 incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States. 
 The President, after ten days' delay, returned it with 
 his veto. He «uggested, however, that he -.vould 
 
 approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he 
 proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
 privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. 
 It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
 with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. 
 It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- 
 ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M. 
 Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely 
 touched the pride of the President. 
 
 The opposition now exultingly received the Presi- 
 dent into their arms. The party which elected him 
 denounced him jjitterly. All the members of his 
 cabinet, e.xcepting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs 
 of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a 
 meeting and issued an address to the people of the 
 United States, proclaiming that all political alliance 
 between the Whigs and President Tyler were at 
 an end. 
 
 Still the President attempted to conciliate. He 
 appointed a new cabmet of distinguished Whigs and 
 Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party 
 men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, 
 forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus 
 the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra- 
 tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The 
 land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Whigs 
 and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more, 
 however, he brought himself into sympathy with his 
 old friends, the Democrats, until at the close of his term, 
 he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr. 
 Polk, the Democratic candidate for his successor. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the 
 harassments of office, tothe regret of neitherpnrty, and 
 probably to his own unspeakable relief. His first wife, 
 Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; 
 and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married, 
 at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of 
 many personal and intellectual accom[)hshments. 
 
 The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly 
 in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For- 
 est, Charles-city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in 
 his manners, richly furnished with niformation from 
 books and experience in the world, and jx)ssessing 
 brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle was 
 the scene of unnsual attractions. With sufficient 
 means for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he 
 might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few 
 friends who gathered around him, were it not for the 
 storms of civil war which his own principles and 
 jxilicy had helped to introduce. 
 
 When the great Rebellion rose, which the State., 
 rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal- 
 houn had inaugurated. President Tyler renounced his 
 allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- 
 erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress; 
 and while engaged in active measures to destroy, b^ 
 force of arms, the Government over which he had 
 once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 
 
RLE VENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 59 
 
 JAMES Hi. FDl.aL 
 
 
 AMES K. POLK, the eleventh 
 ^' fLl'resident of the United States, 
 
 ?was born in Mecklcnbnrg Co., 
 N. C, Nov. 2, 1795. His par- 
 H~^ y^>> "^"'^ v/ere Samuel and Jane 
 Fil's^i/ (Kno.\) Polk, the former a son 
 
 .,«-'„ , <n ^^j- Qj^j Thomas Polk, who located 
 at the above place, as one of the 
 first pioneers, in 1735. 
 
 In the year 1006, with his wife 
 and children, and soon after fol- 
 lowed by most of the members of 
 the Polk famly, Samuel Polk emi- 
 grated some two or three hundred 
 miles farther west, to the- rich valley 
 of the Duck River. Here in the 
 midst of the wilderness, in a region 
 which was subsequently called Mau- 
 ry Co., they reared their log huts, 
 and established their homes. In the 
 hard toil of a new farm in the wil- 
 derness, James K. Polk spent the 
 early years of his childhood and 
 youth. His father, adding the [)ur- 
 suit of a surveyor to that of a farmer, 
 ' gradually increased in wealth until 
 
 he became one of the leading men of the region. I lis 
 mother was a superior woman, of strong commcm 
 sense and earnest piety. 
 
 Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
 reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain 
 a liberal education. His mother's training had made 
 him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- 
 uality and industry, and had insi)ired him with lofty 
 principles of morality. His health was frail ; and his 
 father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a 
 
 sedentary life, got a situation for him behind th» 
 counter, hoi)ing to fit him for commercial pursuits. 
 
 This was to James a bitter disai)ix)intment. He 
 had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
 were irksome in the e.xtreme. He remained in this 
 uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his 
 earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made 
 arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon 
 after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. With 
 ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
 forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half 
 years, in the autumn of 181 5, entered the sophomore 
 class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel 
 Hill. Here he was one of the most e.\emplary of 
 scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
 himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
 service. 
 
 He graduated in 181 8, with the highest honois, be- 
 ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both in 
 mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
 three years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this 
 tin)e much imi)aired by the assiduity with which he 
 had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of 
 relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the 
 office of Feli.x Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk 
 renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who 
 resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
 miles from Nashville. They had probably beer 
 slightly acquainted before. 
 
 Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican 
 and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same jwliti- 
 cal faith. He was a [wpular public speaker, and was 
 constantly called ufwu to address the meetings of his 
 party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that 
 he was jxjpularly called the Napoleon of the stump. 
 He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and 
 
6o 
 
 /AMES K. POLK. 
 
 courterus in his bearing, and with that sympathetic 
 nature in the joys and griefs of others which ever gave 
 him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected 
 to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his 
 strong influence towards the election of his friend, 
 Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States. 
 
 In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah 
 Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was 
 altogether worthy of him, — a lady of beauty and cul- 
 ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a 
 member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave 
 to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that 
 for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con- 
 tinuec- in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, 
 only iHat he might accept the Gubernatorial chair 
 of l»^nnessee. In Congress he was a laborious 
 mei«ber, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was 
 always in his seat, always courteous ; and whenever 
 he s|X3ke it was always to the jwint, and without any 
 ambitious rhetorical display. 
 
 During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was 
 Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused, 
 and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr. Polk per- 
 formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
 tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
 passed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of 
 March, 1839. 
 
 In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a 
 candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was 
 elected bv a large majority, and on the 1 4th of Octo- 
 ber, 1839, look the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
 his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
 didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur- 
 ated President of the United States. The verdict of 
 the country in favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted 
 its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the 
 administration of President Tyler was to affi.\ his sig- 
 nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the 
 3d of March, approving of the annexation of Te.xas to 
 the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
 as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, 
 Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and 
 left the country, declaring the act of the annexation 
 to be an act hostile to Mexico. 
 
 In his first message, President Polk urged that 
 Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- 
 ceived into the Union on the same footing with the 
 other States. In the nieantime, Gen. Taylor was sent 
 
 with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was 
 sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the 
 western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly 
 two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, 
 where he erected batteries which commanded the 
 Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated 01: 
 the western banks. 
 
 The anticipated collision soon took place, and wai 
 was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The 
 war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration 
 with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first 
 called one of "observation," then of "occupation,' 
 then of " invasion," was sent forward to Monterey. The 
 feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly 
 and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement 
 alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. 
 It v/as by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration 
 that the war was brought on. 
 
 'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was 
 prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands. 
 We now consented to peace u|X)n the condition that 
 Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
 all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- 
 ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of 
 Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. Tliis 
 was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the 
 size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen 
 majestic States to be added to the Union. There were 
 some Americans who thought it all right : there were 
 others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution 
 of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and 
 more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this 
 money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. 
 
 On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from 
 office, having served one term. The next day was 
 Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated 
 as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the Capitol in the 
 same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- 
 ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to 
 Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
 He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, 
 and his health was good. With an ample fortune, 
 a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties 
 of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years 
 of trancpiility and happiness were before him. But the 
 cholera — that fearful scourge— was then sweeping up 
 the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, 
 and died on the 15th of June, 1849, in the fiftv-f(,urth 
 year of his age, greatly mourned by* his countrymen. 
 
#' 
 
 G--C>/2^:::k^^yy''J^ 
 
TWELFTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 63 
 
 
 \CHARV TAYLOR, twultih 
 
 1 resident of the United Slates, 
 
 ''was born on the 24tli of Nov., 
 
 1784, in Orange Co., Va. His 
 
 , ^^ _, 1 uher. Colonel Taylor, was 
 
 ""^ijv^^y^ a Virginian of note, and a dis- 
 ^"^21^/ iniguished patriot and soldier of 
 the Revolution. When Zachary 
 was an infant, his father with his 
 wife and two children, emigrated 
 to Kentucky, where he settled in 
 the pathless wilderness, a few 
 miles from Louisville. In this front- 
 ier home, away from civilization and 
 all its refinements, yjung Zachary 
 ,-ould enjoy but few social and educational advan- 
 taaes When six years of age he attended a common 
 school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, 
 other remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 
 acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and 
 manifested a strong desire to enter the anny to fight | 
 the Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There 
 is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his 
 childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation. 
 In 1 80S, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
 the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
 army ; and lie joined the troops whicli were stationed 
 at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after 
 this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
 from one of the first families of Maryland. 
 
 Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng- 
 land, in 18 1 2, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been 
 promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort 
 Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above 
 Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
 ness by Gen. Harrison,on his march to Tippecanoe. 
 It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, 
 kd by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken 
 
 company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of 
 whom were sick. 
 
 Early in the autumn of 18 12, the Indians, stealthily, 
 and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. Their 
 apiiroach was first indicated by the murder of two 
 soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
 made every possible preparation to meet the antici- 
 pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of 
 forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, 
 wavinga white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
 in the morning their cliief would come to have a talk 
 with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
 to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
 Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
 them at a distance. 
 
 The sun went down ; the savages disappeared, the 
 
 garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
 
 midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips 
 
 in the forest around, followed by the discharge of 
 
 musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
 
 and well, sprang to his iwst. Every man knew that 
 
 defeat was not merely death, but in the case of ca{>- 
 
 1 ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- 
 
 I ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can 
 
 conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- 
 
 I ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses- 
 
 Until si.x o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict 
 
 continued. The savages tiien, baffled at every ix)int, 
 
 and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. 
 
 Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the 
 
 rank of major by brevet. 
 
 Until the close of the war. Major Taylor was placed 
 in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
 service. He was sent far away into the depths of the 
 wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which 
 empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
 to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
 best could. There were no books, no society, no iu- 
 
 1^. 
 
64 
 
 ZACHARY TAYLOR. 
 
 tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful 
 years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of 
 colonel. In the Black Hawk war, which resulted in 
 the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor 
 took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. 
 
 For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged in 
 the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and ni 
 employments so obscure, that his name was unknown 
 beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance. 
 In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to comjjel 
 the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
 tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, 
 iiac' promised they should do. The services rendered 
 he:c secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of 
 the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated 
 tc :he rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon 
 after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com- 
 mand of the United States troops in Florida. 
 
 After two years of such wearisome employment 
 amidst the everglades of the peninsula. Gen. 'Faylor 
 obtained, at his own request, a change of command, 
 nnd was stationed over the Department of the South- 
 west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, 
 Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters 
 at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family 
 to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. 
 Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, 
 from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty 
 imposed upon him. 
 
 In 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land 
 between the Nueces and Rio Grande, tlie latter river 
 being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
 by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico 
 was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
 Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the 
 Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet 
 was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name 
 was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
 the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and 
 Buena Vista in which he won signal victories over 
 forces much larger than he commanded. 
 
 His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
 simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, 
 \.\\t sobri(jue/ of "Old Rough and Ready.' 
 
 Tiie tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista 
 ;pread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The 
 name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The 
 Whig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- 
 ful po])ularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un- 
 lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
 Presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- 
 nouncement, and for a time would not listen to it; de- 
 claring that he was not at all qualified for such an 
 office. So little interest had he taken in jMlitics that, 
 for forty years, he had net cast a vote. It was not 
 without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen 
 who had been long years in the public service found 
 •hiir claims set aside in behalf of one whose name 
 
 had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo 
 Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena 
 Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- 
 marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made." 
 
 Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine 
 writer His friends took possession of him, and pre- 
 pared such few communications as it was needful 
 should be presented to the public. The popularity of 
 the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- 
 umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, — 
 Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren. 
 Tliough he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
 old man found himself in a very uncongenial jxjsition, 
 and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. 
 His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably 
 tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party 
 was pushing its claims with tireless energy , expedi- 
 tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was 
 pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery 
 stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found 
 the political conflicts in Washington to Le far more 
 trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or 
 Indians. 
 
 In the midst of all these troubles. Gen. Taylor, 
 after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little 
 over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of 
 but little over five days, died on the 9th of July, 1850. 
 His last words were, " I am not afraid to die. I am 
 ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
 universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- 
 pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
 affections of the people; and the Nation bitterly la- 
 mented his death. 
 
 Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with 
 Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful 
 description of his character: — " Wiih a good store of 
 common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- 
 larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse 
 with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- 
 quence. The frontiers and small military posts had 
 been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
 rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
 plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
 dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the 
 tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
 chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat 
 a little on one side of his head ; or an officer to leave 
 a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out- 
 side liocket, — in any such case, this critic held the 
 offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse), 
 whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phrase, 
 'touch with a pair of tongs.' 
 
 "Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
 worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a 
 sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter 
 unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. Inshor^ 
 few men have ever had a more comfc^rtaiiie, laboi- 
 saving contempt for learnirg of every kind." 
 
u^-oC: ^ ^-ci^(^^P'i.ixru) 
 
THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 6r 
 
 ^, I ♦' MILLftRH FILLMnRE. -^ | 
 
 -e-f 
 
 
 4-si. 
 
 II.LARD FILLMORE, ihir- 
 % teenth President of the United 
 ' States, was born at Summer 
 Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on 
 tlie 7th of January, 1800. His 
 father was a farmer, and o\v- 
 -.""''■ f'^i^ ing to misfortune, in humble cir- 
 cumstances. Of his mother, tlie 
 daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, 
 '^\ of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been 
 said that she [xjssessed an intellect 
 ofveryliigh order, united with much 
 personal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
 position, graceful manners and ex- 
 quisite sensibilities. She died in 
 1831 ; having lived to see her son a 
 young man of distinguished prom- 
 ise, (hough she was not permitted to witness the high 
 dignity which he finally attained. 
 
 In consecjuence of the secluded home and limited 
 raeans of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
 vantages for education in his early year.i. The com- 
 mon schools, vvhith he occasionally attended were 
 very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce 
 and expensive. Tiiere was nothing then in his char- 
 acter to indicate the brilliant career u[X)n which he 
 was about to enter. He was a plain f;irmer's boy ; 
 intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
 influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
 and had laid the foundations of an upright character. 
 When fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
 some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of 
 Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. 
 Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some 
 
 enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
 village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
 to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- 
 ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with 
 books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate 
 and the selections which he made were continually 
 more elevating and instructive. He read history, 
 biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- 
 kindled in his heart a desire to be something more 
 than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- 
 coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, 
 educated man. 
 
 The young clothier had now attained the age of 
 nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance 
 and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened tha'. 
 there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample 
 pecuniary means and of benevolence, — -Judge Walter 
 Wood, — who was struck with the prepossessing ap- 
 pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint- 
 ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and 
 attainments that he advised him to abandon his 
 trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
 young man replied, that he had no means of his own, 
 no friends to help him and that his previous educa- 
 tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
 so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to 
 take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
 money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
 offer was accepted. 
 
 There is in many minds a strange delusion abou'. 
 a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to 
 be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- 
 lege. But many a boy loiters through university hall ; 
 *nd then enters a law office, who is by no means as 
 
OS 
 
 MILLARD FILLMORE. 
 
 well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was 
 Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- 
 mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during 
 which every leisure moment Jrad been devoted to in- 
 tense mental culture. 
 
 In 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he was 
 admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He then 
 went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
 practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, 
 his practice of course was limited, and there was no 
 opportunity for a sudden rise in fortune or hi fame. 
 Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great 
 moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station 
 she might be called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers. 
 
 His elevation of character, his untiring industry, 
 his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, 
 gradually attracted attention ; and he was invited to 
 enter into partnership under highly advantageous 
 circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in 
 Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, 
 he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the 
 State of New York, as a representative from Erie 
 County. Though he had never taken a very active 
 part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
 the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, 
 and he found himself in a helpless minority in the 
 Legislature , still the testimony comes from all parties, 
 that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
 unusual degn e the respect of his associates. 
 
 In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in 
 the United States Congress. He entered that troubled 
 arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our 
 national history. The great conflict respecting the 
 national bank and the removal of the deposits, was 
 then raging. 
 
 His term of two years closed ; and he returned to 
 his profession, which he pursued with increasing rep- 
 utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
 he again became a candidate for Congress ; was re- 
 elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past expe- 
 rience as a representative gave hmi strength and 
 confidence. The first term of service in Congress to 
 any man can be but little more than an introduction. 
 He was now prepared for active duty. All his ener- 
 gies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every 
 measure received his impress. 
 
 Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and 
 his popularity filled the State, and in the year 1847, 
 he was elected Comptroller of the State. 
 
 Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
 years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
 Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- 
 siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to 
 find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
 dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
 waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old 
 soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles 
 with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
 proclaimed in trumpet-tones all over the land. But 
 it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
 ticket some man of reputation as a statesman. 
 
 Under the influence of these considerations, tlie 
 namesof Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
 the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
 President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
 signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, 
 Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
 Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States. 
 
 On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but 
 about one year and four months after his inaugura 
 tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- 
 stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- 
 dent. He appointed a very able cabinet, of which 
 the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. 
 
 Mr. Fillmore had very serious difficulties to contend 
 with, since the opposition had a majority in both 
 Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate 
 the South ; but the pro-slavery party in the .South felt 
 the inadequacyof all measuresof transient conciliation. 
 The population of the free States was so rapidly in- 
 creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
 evitable that the power of the Government should 
 soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
 famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
 Fillmore's adminstration, and the Japan Ex[ieditioii 
 was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Fill- 
 more, having served one term, retired. 
 
 In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
 idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten 
 by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
 retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
 he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that 
 his sympathies were rather with those who were en- 
 deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
 Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
 cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. 
 He was thus forgotten l)y both. He lived to a ripe 
 old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. 
 
FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 7' 
 
 ^=5 <^- ,^«L^>r^ ? 
 
 „?^.#Ca _ 
 
 ■^ .• \^ir ^FHflNKLIN PIERCE.^ ^H^lli^ 
 
 KANKLIN PIERCE, the 
 fourteenth President of the 
 'L'liited States, was born in 
 llillsborough, N. H., Nov. 
 23, 1804. His father was a 
 RevoUitionary soldier, who, 
 with liis own strong arm, 
 hewed out a home in the 
 wilderness. He was a man 
 of inflexible integrity; of 
 strong, though uncultivated 
 mind, and an uncompromis- 
 ing Democrat. The mother of 
 Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
 could desire, — an intelligent, pru- 
 dent, affectionate. Christian wom- 
 an. Frankliii was the sixth of eight children. 
 
 Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- 
 erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
 love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
 loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors 
 looked upon him with pride and affection. He was 
 by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words, 
 doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
 which taught him what was agreeable. Without de- 
 veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural 
 devotion to books, he was a good scholar; in body, 
 in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy. 
 
 When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he 
 entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was 
 one of the most ]X)pular young men in the college. 
 The purity of his moral character, the unvarying 
 courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 
 
 genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
 There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
 address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
 gree studied: it was the simple outgushing of his 
 own magnanimous and loving nature. 
 
 UiX)n graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
 commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
 Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of 
 tiie State, and a man of great private worth. The 
 eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his 
 father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant 
 jxalitical career into which Judge Woodbury was en- 
 tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
 nating yet perilous path of political life. With all 
 the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. 
 Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the 
 practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected 
 to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
 he served for four yeais. The last two years he was 
 chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 
 
 In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
 a member of Congress. Without taking an active 
 part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty 
 and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom 
 he was associatad. 
 
 In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
 he was elected to the Senate of the United States; 
 taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced 
 his administration. He was the youngest member in 
 the Senate. In the year 1834, he married Miss Jane 
 Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
 plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
 station with which her husband was honoied. Of the 
 
7« 
 
 FRANKLIN PIERCE. 
 
 three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with 
 their parents in the grave. 
 
 In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame 
 and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his 
 residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. 
 President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed 
 Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States; but 
 the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous 
 professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
 state of Mrs. Pierce's health. Pie also, about the 
 same time declined the nomination for governor by the 
 Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
 Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of 
 brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his 
 troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. 
 He took an important part in this war, proving him- 
 self a brave and true soldier. 
 
 When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native 
 State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- 
 cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- 
 nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, 
 very frequently taking an active part in political ques- 
 tions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery 
 wing of the Democratic party. The compromise 
 measures met cordially with his approval; and he 
 strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- 
 mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious 
 sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- 
 guished as a " Northern man with Southern principles.'' 
 The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- 
 quently regarded him as a man whom they could 
 safely trust in office to carry out their plans. 
 
 On the i2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- 
 tion met in Baltimore to- nominate a candidate for the 
 Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
 and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a 
 two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown 
 for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
 brought forward his name. There were fourteen 
 more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly 
 gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
 received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
 other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was 
 the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with 
 great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- 
 sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their 
 electoral votes against him • Gen. Franklin Pierce 
 was therefore inaugurated President of the United 
 States on the 4th of March, 1853. 
 
 His administration proved one of the most stormy our 
 country had ever experienced. The controversy be 
 tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its 
 culminating point. It became evident that there was 
 an "irrepressible conflict " between them, and that 
 this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half 
 free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- 
 ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
 the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every 
 year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
 of the Union were borne to the North on every South- 
 ern breeze. 
 
 Such was the condition of affairs when President 
 Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term 
 of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- 
 ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded 
 by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
 the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
 Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
 ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
 unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
 cated those measures of Government which they ap- 
 proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had 
 rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be 
 able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped 
 him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
 tired to his liome in Concord. Of three children, two 
 had died, and his only surviving child had been 
 killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and his 
 wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
 ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
 hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
 alone in the world, without wife or child. 
 
 When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
 vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
 Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he 
 had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to 
 that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been 
 allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
 or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- 
 ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until 
 the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
 1869. He was one of the most genial and social of 
 men, an honored communicant of the Episcopal 
 Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen- 
 erous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the al- 
 leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns- 
 people were often gladened by his material bounty. 
 
'Zl^77..^J (^^Z/UO 
 
 ^Qz/p2.€^^9^/^ 
 
I'IFTEBNTH PRESIDENT 
 
 75 
 
 ~.n: 't^i;gi^^i^iiS'<!^ .n':.^':n ':.u':.NV.n-'..'><'f.;ii'^'^'^'^'^'^'^'^«^'^'^^ 
 
 ■•■i'.."i'.;i'.."i';fei'^t£^'j'. 
 
 <<ifc^C^^SS>i^iH'^i>c^C\H'.ft^.\'^.,^ 
 
 I§) 
 
 fe' :.-t-. 
 
 AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- 
 teenth President of the United 
 States, was born in a small 
 frontier town, at the foot of the 
 eastern ridge of the Allegha- 
 nies, in Franklin Co., Penn., on 
 the 23d of April, 1791. The place 
 where the humble cabin of his 
 f.itlier stood was called Stony 
 I'l.itter. It was a wild and ro- 
 mantic si)ot in a gorge of the moun- 
 tains, with towering summits risiTig 
 grandly all around. His father 
 was a native of the north of Ireland ; 
 a poor man, who had emigrated in 
 1783, with little property save his 
 own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married 
 Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
 and, with his young bride, jjlunged into the wilder- 
 ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
 clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
 form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se- 
 cluded home, where James was born, he remained 
 for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
 advantages. When James was eight years of age, his 
 father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where 
 his son was placed at school, and commenced a 
 course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His 
 progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
 entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- 
 veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among 
 the first scholars in the institution. His application 
 to study was intense, and yet his native powers en- 
 
 .abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with 
 facility. 
 
 In the year 1809, he graduated with the highest 
 honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of 
 age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
 athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
 an e.xuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately 
 commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, 
 and was admitted to the bar in 181 2, when he was 
 but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
 in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
 with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but 
 twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
 cessfully defended before the State Senate one of the 
 judges of the State, who was tried upon articles of 
 impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally 
 admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; and 
 there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
 crative practice. 
 
 In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a 
 candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for 
 ten years he remained a member of the Lower House. 
 During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
 tried some important case. In 1831, he retired 
 altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac- 
 ([uired an ample fortune. 
 
 Gen. Jackson, \\\)o\\ his elevation to the Presidency, 
 ap)X)inted Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The 
 duties of his mission he performed with ability, which 
 gave satisfaction to all parties. Uixjn his return, in 
 1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
 Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, 
 Clay, Wright and ("alhoun. He advocated tlie meas- 
 ures pttuxjsed by President Jackson, of milr/ng repri- 
 
»fl 
 
 JAMES BUCHANAN. 
 
 sals against France, to enforce the payment of our 
 claims against that country; and defended the course 
 of the President in his unprec lented and wholesale 
 removal from office of those wl.j vere not the sup- 
 porters of his administration. Upon this qii>"stion he 
 was brought into direct collision with \\. "^iay. 
 
 He also, with voice and vote, advocated e^ 'ng 
 
 from the journal of the Senate the vote of cenbure 
 against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. 
 Earnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the 
 District of Columbia, and urged the prohibition of the 
 circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United 
 States mails. 
 
 As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- 
 cated that they should be respectfully received; and 
 that the reply should be returned, that Congress had 
 no power to legislate upon the subject. " Congress," 
 said he, "might as well undertake to interfere with 
 slavery under a foreign government as in any of the 
 States where it now exists." 
 
 Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
 Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, 
 took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of 
 the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing 
 the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed 
 territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross 
 the Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration 
 of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the 
 account of the course our Government pursued in that 
 movement. 
 
 Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with 
 the party devoted to the perpetuation and extension 
 of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind 
 to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his 
 cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1050, 
 which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
 u|)on his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. 
 Buchanan with the mission to England. 
 
 In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven- 
 tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The 
 political conflict was one of the most severe in which 
 our country has ever engaged. All the friends of 
 slavery were on one side ; all the advocates of its re- 
 striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre- 
 mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- 
 reived 1 14 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 
 174, and was elected. The ]x>pular vote stood 
 1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On 
 March 4th. 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. 
 
 Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 
 vears were wanting to fill up his threescore years and 
 ten. His own friends, those with whom he had been 
 allied in political principles and action for years, were 
 seeking the destruction of the Government, that they 
 might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a 
 nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. 
 In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be- 
 wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin- 
 
 ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in 
 their assumptions. As President of the United States, 
 bound by his oath faitiifully to administer the laws 
 he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, 
 unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- 
 lic. He therefore did nothing. 
 
 The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
 nominated Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer 
 in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery 
 party declared, that if he were elected, and the con- 
 trol of the Government were thus taken from their 
 hands, they would secede from the Union, taking 
 with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
 Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of 
 the United States. 
 
 Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slavery 
 party was such, that he had been willing to offer thein 
 far more than they had ventured to claim. All the 
 South had professed to ask of the North was non- 
 intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- 
 chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- 
 operation of the Government to defend and extend 
 the institution. 
 
 As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders 
 claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- 
 ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of 
 the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental im- 
 becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
 declared that Congress had no power to enforce its 
 laws in any .State which had withdrawn, or which 
 was attempting to withdraw from the Union. This 
 was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with 
 his hand upon his sword hilt, he exclaimed. "The 
 Union must and shall be preserved!" 
 
 South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly 
 three months before the inauguration of President 
 Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. 
 The rebel flag was raised in Charleston : Fort Sumpter 
 was besieged; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals 
 were seized ; our depots of military stores were jilun- 
 dered ; and our custom-houses and post-offices were 
 appropriated by the rebels. 
 
 The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
 Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked 
 on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
 and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- 
 ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- 
 ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
 scepter. 
 
 The administration of President Buchanan was 
 certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- 
 perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with 
 pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame, 
 that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows 
 of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came 
 from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's 
 banner should triumph over the flag of the rebellior. 
 He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, i863. 
 

^--^^ 
 
 <^ 
 
 <2.^-"^^32^^T^ 
 
StXT&BNTIi PHas/DflN'T. 
 
 19 
 
 % i ABRAHAM > ^i>1i^<^ < LINCOLN. > % 
 
 ^^S^ 
 
 CRAHAM LINCOLN, the 
 sixteenth President of the 
 >United States, was born in 
 Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 
 1809. About the yean 7 80, a 
 man liy the name of Abraham 
 Lincohi left Virginia willi his 
 f imily and moved into the tlien 
 wildsof Kentucky. Only two years 
 after this emigration, still a young 
 man, while working one day in a 
 field, was stealthily approached by 
 an Indian andshot dead. His widow 
 was left in e.xtreme poverty with five 
 little children, three boys and two 
 girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
 boys, was four years of age at his 
 father's death. This Thomas was 
 the father of .\braham Lincoln, the 
 President of the United States 
 whor.e name must henceforth foi-ever be enrolled 
 with the most prominent in the annals of our world. 
 Of course no record has been kept of the life 
 of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among 
 the ixx)rest of the (Mor. His home was a wretched 
 log-cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. 
 Education he had none; he could never either read 
 or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for 
 himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his 
 starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend- 
 .ess, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- 
 self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a 
 *7il)orer in the fields of others. 
 
 When twenty-eight years of age he buili a log- 
 cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
 daughter of another family of jwor Kentucky emi- 
 grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their 
 second child was Abraham Lincoln, the subject of 
 this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble 
 woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn 
 a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. 
 "All that I am, or hoiie to be," exclaims the grate- 
 ful son " I owe to my angel-mother. 
 
 When he was eight years of age, his father sold his 
 
 cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana Where 
 two years later his mother died. 
 
 Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated 
 community around hiu). He could not have had a 
 better school than this to teach him to put thoughts 
 into words. He also became an eager reader. 'I"he 
 books he could obtain were few ; but these he read 
 and re-read until tliey were almost committed to 
 memory. 
 
 As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family 
 was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and 
 griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister 
 Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- 
 ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and 
 soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr. 
 Thomas Lincoln sold out his scpiatter's claim in 1830, 
 and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. 
 
 'Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
 With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
 another log-cabin. Alirahani worked diligently at this 
 until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their 
 small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when 
 he announced to his father his intention to leave 
 home, and to go out into the world and seek his lor- 
 tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
 liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of 
 education and was intensely earnest to improve his 
 mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin 
 which ardent spirits were causing, and lei ame 
 strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- 
 cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in 
 Ciod's word, "Thou shall not take the name of the 
 Ixjrd thy (lod in vain;" and a profane expression he 
 was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His 
 morals were i)ure, and he was uncontaminated by a 
 single vice. 
 
 Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired laborer 
 among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, 
 where he was employed in building a large flat-boat. 
 In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down 
 the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- 
 sissippi to New Orleans. Whati.-ver Abraham Lin- 
 coln imdertook, he performed so faithfully as to give 
 great satisfaction to his employers. In this adven- 
 
Bo 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon 
 his return they placed a store and mill under his care. 
 
 In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he 
 enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He 
 returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 
 yeaTs of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
 was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew 
 Jackson the apiX)intment of Postmaster of New Salem, 
 His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he 
 received he carried there ready to deliver to those 
 he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon 
 made this his business. In 1834 he again became a 
 candidate for the Legislature, and was elected. Mr. 
 Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He 
 walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of 
 Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and 
 began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
 sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 
 one hundred miles lo Vandalia, then the capital. In 
 1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it 
 was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- 
 moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. 
 His success with the jury was so great that he was 
 soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. 
 
 In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. 
 Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question. 
 In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, 
 in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became 
 one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's 
 speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- 
 test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 
 notable part of his history. The issue was on the 
 slavery question, and he took the broad ground of 
 .he Declaration of Independence, that all men are 
 created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
 test, but won a far higher prize. 
 
 The great Republican Convention met at Chicago 
 on the i6th of June, i860. The delegates and 
 strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- 
 five thousand. An immense building called "The 
 Wigwam," was reared lo accommodate the Conven- 
 tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes 
 were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame 
 as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most 
 orominent. It was generally supposed he would be 
 the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
 the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then 
 dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the 
 bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him : 
 and aslittle did he dream that he was to render services 
 to his country, which would fi.x upon him the eyes of 
 the whole civilized world, and which would give him 
 a place in the affections of his countrymen, second 
 cnly, if second, to that of Washington. 
 
 Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 
 electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
 constitutionally elected President of the United States. 
 The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this good 
 
 and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was 
 greater than upon any other man ever elected to this 
 high position. In February, 1S61, Mr. Lincoln started 
 for Washington, stopi)ing in all the large cities on his 
 way making speeches. The whole journey was frought 
 with much danger. Many of the Southern States had 
 already seceded, and several attempts at assassination 
 were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- 
 more had arranged, ujxjn his arrival to" get up a row," 
 and in the confusion to make sure of his death with 
 revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled 
 the plot. A secret and special train was provided to 
 take him from Harrisburg, through Baltimore, at an 
 unexpected hour of the night. The train started at 
 half-past ten ; and to prevent any possible communi- 
 cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con- 
 federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had 
 started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
 reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated, 
 although great an.xiety was felt by all loyal people. 
 
 In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
 to Mr. Seward the Department of State, and to other 
 prominent opponents before the convention he gave 
 inqMrtant positions. 
 
 During no other administration have the duties 
 devolving upon the President been so manifold, and 
 the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to 
 the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and 
 feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in 
 his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, lie 
 learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
 determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
 trials, bo*h personal and national. Contrary to his 
 own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the 
 most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
 rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, 
 with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he 
 had left Springfield, in 1861, however, plans had been 
 made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim 
 to one of them. April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, 
 was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It 
 was announced that they would Le present. Gen. 
 Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- 
 ing, witli iiis characteristic kindliness of heart, that 
 it would lie a disappointment if he should fail them, 
 very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
 the play an actor by the name of John ^Vilkes Booth 
 entered the box where the President and family were 
 seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the 
 next morning at seven o'clock. 
 
 Never before, in the history of the world was a nation 
 plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler. 
 Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless 
 anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was 
 in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a 
 model. His name as the savior of his country will 
 live with that of Washington's, its father; his country- 
 men being unable to decide which is the greater. 
 
c 
 
 '>:^^-5^^t^<2;^^ 
 
SEVENTEENTH PKESWEAT. 
 
 8j 
 
 A ix o \< \y,h\ >in((i>f:3yDJiM3 
 
 
 t>(^' 
 
 NDRRW JOHNSON, seven- 
 teenth President of the United 
 Slates. The early life of 
 Andrew Johnson contains but 
 the record of ixjvcrty, destitu- 
 tion and friendlessness. He 
 / was born December 29, 1808, 
 in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
 belonging to the class of the 
 " [Hjor whites " of the South, were 
 in such circumstances, that they 
 could not confer even tiie slight- 
 est advantages of education ujxjn 
 %<? their child. When Andrew was five 
 I years of age, his father accidentally 
 lost ills life while herorically endeavoring to save a 
 friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew 
 was a ragged boy about the streets, supiwrted by the 
 labor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
 her own hands. 
 
 He then, having never attended a school one day, 
 and being unable either to read or write, was aj)- 
 prenticcd to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
 was in the habit of going to the tailor's shoj) occasion- 
 ally, and reading to the boys at work tiiere. He often 
 read from the speeches of distinguished I'.ritish states- 
 men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
 than ordinary native ability, became much interested 
 in these speeches; his ambition was roused, and he 
 was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 
 
 He accordingly ai)plied himself to the alphabet, and 
 with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen, 
 learned his letters. He then called ujxjn the gcntle- 
 rean to borrow the book of sjieeches. The owner, 
 
 pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the book 
 but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
 into words. Under such difficulties he pressed oi- 
 ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve houi-s 
 at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest 
 and recreation to devote such time as he could to 
 reading. 
 
 He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located af; 
 Cireenville, where he married a young lady who pos 
 sessed some education. Under her instructions he 
 learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
 in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
 the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
 ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
 alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which 
 position he held three years. 
 
 He now began to take a lively interest in political 
 affairs; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
 to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
 member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
 see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. 
 He became a very active member of the legislature 
 gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 
 1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van 
 Huren's claims to the Presidency, in opixssition to thosv 
 of Oen. Harrison. In this cam[)aign he acquired much 
 readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
 his reputation. 
 
 In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, ^6 
 was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
 elections, held that imiwrlant ix>st for tea years. In 
 1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
 was re-elected in 1855. In all these res))onsible ix)si- 
 tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abi'.- 
 
84 
 
 ANDREW JOHNSON. 
 
 ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- 
 ing classes. In 1S57, Mr. Johnson was elected 
 United States Senator. 
 
 Years before, in 1S45, he had warmly advocated 
 the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
 reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- 
 ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable 
 sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
 and become merged in a population congenial to 
 themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- 
 promise measures, the two essential features of which 
 were, Jhat the white people of the Territories should 
 be permitted to decide for themselves whether they 
 would enslave the colored people or not, and that 
 the *'ree States of the North should return to the 
 South persons who attempted to escape from slavery. 
 
 Mr. Johnson was neverashamedof his lowly origin: 
 ou the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that 
 he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," 
 said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget 
 that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam 
 was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- 
 ior was the son of a carpenter." 
 
 In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of i8u;, jie 
 was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
 Presidency. In 186 r, when the purpose of the South- 
 irn Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
 stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
 must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever 
 cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly 
 imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
 Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the 
 Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, r862, ap- 
 pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he 
 established the most stringent military rule. His 
 numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 
 
 1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United 
 States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 
 
 1865, became President. In a speech two days later 
 he said, " The American people must be taught, if 
 ?hey do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
 must be punished ; that the Government will not 
 always bear with its enemies ; that it is strong not 
 only to protect, but to punish. * * The people 
 must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
 crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole 
 administration, the history of which is so well known, 
 was in utter itjt;onsistency with, and the most violent 
 
 opposition to, the principles laid down in that speech. 
 
 In his loose policy of reconstruction and general 
 amnesty, he was opposed by Congress; and he char- 
 acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
 defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In 
 the beginning of 1 868, on account of "high crimes 
 and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
 removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
 ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- 
 ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 
 
 It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
 months. A test article of the impeachment was at 
 length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
 certain that as the court voted upon that article so 
 would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced 
 the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
 sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
 quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
 him. The change of one vote from the not guilty 
 side would have sustained the impeachment. 
 
 The President, for the remainder of his term, was 
 but little regarded. He continued, though impotent'y, 
 his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
 think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- 
 dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- 
 alleled since the days of Washington, around the name 
 of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
 The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
 President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was 
 there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
 mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
 nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
 in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
 politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting 
 struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
 nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
 gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special 
 session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of 
 March. On the 27th of July, T875, the ex-President 
 made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter 
 Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
 apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- 
 ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
 stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
 He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 
 2 A.M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
 eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
 with eveiy demonstration of respect. 
 
7^^.' 
 
 ::^ 
 
EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 8r 
 
 LYSSES S. GRANT, the 
 % eighteenth President of the 
 ■J '^United States, was born on 
 V the 29th of April, 1822, of 
 . 5 Christian parents, in a luinible 
 '■''^ home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
 banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
 his father moved to George- 
 town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
 mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
 received a common-school edu- 
 cation. At the age of seven- 
 teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
 the Military Academy at West 
 Point. Here he was regarded as a 
 solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of 
 sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
 as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the 
 middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
 fantry to one of the distant military jxists in the Mis- 
 souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
 solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
 Indians. 
 
 The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was 
 sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first 
 battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
 for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
 Resacade la Palma, his secoTid battle. At the battle 
 of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
 he performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
 horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
 munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along 
 a route ex|)osed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
 Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
 grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging w^n one 
 gide of the anii»Al, ran the gauntlet in entire; safety. 
 
 From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
 to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
 preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he 
 was ap[X)inted quartermaster of his regiment. At the 
 battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a 
 first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
 pultepec. 
 
 At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
 turned with his regiment to New York, and was again 
 sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
 discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
 tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
 Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
 Oregon, for the prot,ection of the interests of the im- 
 migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
 Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
 States; and having married, entered u[X)n the cultiva- 
 tion of a small farm near St. IvOuis, Mo. He had but 
 little skill as a fanner. Finding his toil not re- 
 munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
 the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- 
 lena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings 
 of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears 
 of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — 
 "Uncle Sam has educated me for the army; though 
 1 have served him through one war, I do not feel that 
 I liave yet repaid the debt. 1 am still ready to discharge 
 my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword 
 and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 
 
 He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- 
 unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, 
 the capital of the State, where their services were 
 offered to Gov. Yates. Tiie Governor, impressed by 
 the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Caj)t. 
 Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
 volunteer organization that was being formed in the 
 State in behalf of the Government. On the 15th of 
 
88 
 
 ULYSSES S. GRANT. 
 
 June, 1 86 1, Capt. Grant received a commission as 
 Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
 unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who 
 had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such 
 that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
 General and was placed in command at Cairo. The 
 rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth 
 of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- 
 peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The 
 rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
 stripes were unfurled in its stead. 
 
 He entered the service with great determination 
 and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
 ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond 
 he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and 
 effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- 
 prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry 
 won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight 
 at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
 victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was 
 immediately made a Major-General, and the military 
 district of Tennessee was assigned to him. 
 
 Like all great captains, Gen. Grant knew well how 
 to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
 pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
 terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
 siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
 unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
 thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
 non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most 
 severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, 
 and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. 
 
 Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with 
 Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- 
 ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
 his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
 was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid 
 of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and 
 by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas- 
 ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then 
 followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
 Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels 
 were routed with great loss. This won for him un- 
 bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- 
 ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
 general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. 
 He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials 
 and enter upon \hp duties of his new office. 
 
 Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of 
 the army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National 
 troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal 
 capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- 
 stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- 
 sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole 
 continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these 
 majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
 Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
 were burdened svith closely packed thousands. His 
 plans were comprehensive and involved a series of 
 campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- 
 ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
 render of Lee, April 9, 1865. 
 
 The war was ended. The Union was saved. The 
 almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
 Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
 vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
 the country brought him conspicuously forward as the 
 Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 
 
 At the Republican Convention held at Chicago. 
 May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the 
 Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
 majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 
 electoral votes. 
 
 The National Convention of the Republican party 
 which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, 
 placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term 
 by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
 cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 
 electoral votes being cast for him. 
 
 Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant 
 started upon his famous trip around the world. He 
 visited almost every country of the civilized world, 
 and was everywhere received with such ovations 
 and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
 as well as public and official, as were never before 
 bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. 
 
 He was the most prominent candidate before the 
 Republican National Convention in 1880 for a re- 
 nomination for President. He went to New York and 
 embarked in the brokerage business under the firm 
 nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, 
 wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to 
 the penitentiary. The General was attacked with 
 cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like 
 manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as 
 General of the Army and retired by Congress. The 
 cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 
 1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of 
 the illustrious General. 
 
s. 
 
 ^-^-.^^ 
 
NJNETEKNTII rKESWF.NT. 
 
 9» 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 3 
 
 UTHERFORD B. HAYES, 
 the nineteenth President of 
 the United States, was born in 
 Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
 most three months after the 
 -^ death of his father, Rutherford 
 Hayes. His ancestry on both 
 the paternal and maternal sides, 
 was of the most honorable char- 
 acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
 as far back as 12S0, when Hayes and 
 Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
 tains, fighting side by side with 
 Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
 Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
 nobility, owned extensive estates, 
 ' and had a large following. Misfor- 
 :flne ov'.-i<aking the family, George Hayes left Scot- 
 land in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Gjnn. His son 
 Cleorge wat born in Windsor, and remained there 
 during his lij'e. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
 ried Sarah L;e, and lived from the time of his mar- 
 riage until his death in Sinisbury, Conn. Ezckiel, 
 son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac- 
 turer of scythe-j at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
 son of E/.ekiel ai.dgrandfatherof President Hayes, was 
 l)orn in New Haven, in .\ugust, 1756. He was a fanner, 
 l)lacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
 Vermont at an uiiknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
 where he f stablished a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
 erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was 
 
 born. He was married, in September, 181 3, to Sophia 
 Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
 grated thither from Connecticut, they having been 
 among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
 Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 
 1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders 
 of Norwich. Botli of her grandfathers were soldiers 
 in the Revolutionary War. 
 
 The father of President Hayes was an industrious 
 frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me- 
 chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock- 
 ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to 
 undertake. He was a member of the Church, active 
 in all the benevolent enter|)rises of the town, and con- 
 ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
 the close of the war of 1812, for reasons inexplicable 
 to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 
 
 The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day 
 when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways, 
 was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was 
 first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter 
 mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
 in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial 
 fever, less than three months before the birth of the 
 son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- 
 reavement, found the sujiport she so much needed in 
 her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
 household from the day of its departure from Ver- 
 mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted 
 some time before as an act of charity. 
 
 Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 
 
RVTHHRPORD B. HAVESi- 
 
 subject of this sketch was so feeble at birtli that he 
 was not expected to live beyond a month or two at 
 most. As the months went by he grew weaker and 
 weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in- 
 quiring from time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died 
 last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on 
 familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the 
 boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of 
 him, said in a bantering way, " That's right ! Stick to 
 him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't 
 wonder if he would really come to something yet." 
 
 "You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You 
 wait and see. You can't tell biit 1 shall make him 
 President of the United States yet." The boy lived, 
 in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy 
 death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was 
 drowned, he became, if isossible, still dearer to liis 
 mother. 
 
 The boy was seven years old before he w<;nt to 
 school. His education, however, was not neglected. 
 He probably learned as much from his mother and 
 tister as he would have done at school. His sjmrts 
 were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
 his sister and her associates. These circumstances 
 tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo- 
 sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
 of others, which are marked traits of his character. 
 
 His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest 
 in his education; and as the boy's health had im- 
 proved, and he was making good progress in his 
 studies, he projwsed to send him to college. His pre- 
 paration commenced with a tutor at home; but he 
 was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the 
 Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
 tered Kenyon College in 1838, at the age of sixteen, 
 and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. 
 
 Immediately after his graduation he began the 
 study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esip, 
 in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in 
 Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter 
 the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
 mained two years. 
 
 In 1845, after graduatmg at the Law School, he was 
 admitted to the liar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly 
 afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law 
 with Ralph 1'. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- 
 mained three years, acquiring but a limited practice, 
 and apparently unambitious of distinction in his pro- 
 fession. 
 
 In 1849 he mdved to Cincinnati, where his ainbi- 
 tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
 ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
 this period, had a powerful influence upon his subse- 
 quent 'ife. One of these was his marrage witli Miss 
 Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
 Chilicothe; the othev was his introduction to the Cin- 
 cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its 
 members such men as'^hief Justice Salmon P.Chase, 
 
 Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 
 others hardly less distinguished in after life. The 
 marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as 
 everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our 
 Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
 and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did 
 more than she to reflect honor upon American woman, 
 hood. The Literary Cluo brought Mr. Haye3 into 
 constant association with young men of high char- 
 acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the 
 qualities so long hidden by his bashfulne^s and 
 modesty. 
 
 In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judg; o\ 
 the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac- 
 cept the nomination. Two years later, the office ot 
 city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Co'jncil 
 elected him for the unexpired term. 
 
 In iS6r, when the Rebellion broke out, he was af 
 the zenith of his professional V.f.. His rank at the 
 bar was among the the first. But the news of the 
 attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take mo 
 arms for the defense of his country. 
 
 His military record was bright and illustrious. In 
 October, 1S61, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
 in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 7gth Ohio 
 regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
 and go among strangers. .Subsequently, however, h*^ 
 was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle 
 of South Mountain he received a wound, and while 
 faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude 
 that won admiration from all. 
 
 Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after 
 his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and placed 
 in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
 and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles 
 of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was 
 promoted Brigadier-Genernl. He was also brevetted 
 Major-General, "for gallant and distinguished services 
 during the campaigns of 1864, in West Virginia." In 
 the course of his arduous services, four horses were 
 shot from under him, and he was wounded four times 
 
 In 1S64, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from 
 the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem- 
 ocratic. He was not present during the campaign, 
 and after his election was importuned to resign his 
 commission in the army ; but he finally declared, " I 
 shall never come to Washington until I can come by 
 the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1S66. 
 
 In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio, 
 over Hon. Allen G. Thurman, a popular Democrat. 
 In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton. 
 He was elected Governor for the third term in 1875. 
 
 In 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Repub- 
 lican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a 
 hard long contc'st was chosen President, and was in 
 augurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
 full term, not, h.!" wever, with satisfaction to his party. 
 but his administration was an average ov-.t 
 
TiVKN TIE TJl riiESlDENr. 
 
 *5 
 
 f w +^;:;c*s;s#S:s*s:s<*<^;::54>-:::;j'*'T::;r«*'-;;;:.-«'f'::>s-?::::-~>i;:;;^ 
 
 ^'^' I JiPE^S: A. (iARF'mi,!!, i 
 
 *-s;;?«»»j::;j<*^i::SH^;:;j*^";c4^:::;f-»--;:::r'-^::;j'i^;::r-*'^;:::-'9'T;;:;'^ ■ 
 
 AMES A. GARt'IELD, twen- 
 tieth President of the United 
 i-i«irM»r ^ States, was born Nov. lo, 
 N 4^5^^>0 /I 1831, in the woods of Orange, 
 ^ Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
 
 ents were Abram and Eliza 
 (Ballon) Garfield, both of New 
 .ngland ancestry and from fami- 
 lies well known in the early his- 
 '' I, tory of that section of our coun- 
 try , but had moved to the Western 
 Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
 ment. 
 
 The house in which James A. was 
 born was not unlike the houses of 
 poor Ohio farmers of that day. It 
 I.'.: about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- 
 MULW the logs filled with clay. His father was a 
 lard working farmer, and he soon had his fields 
 .:learcd, an orchard i)lanled, and a log barn built. 
 The household coin[)rised the father and mother and 
 heir four children — Mehetabel, Tliomas, Mary and 
 ames. In May, 1823^ tlie father, from a cold con- 
 .. -acted in heli)ing to put out a forest fire, died. At 
 his time James was about eighteen months old, and 
 '"homas about ten years old. No one, ])erhaps, can 
 .vU how nuuh James was indebted to his biotlier's 
 toil and self sacrifice during the twenty years suc- 
 ceeding his father's death, but nndoubledly very 
 much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
 itis live in Solon, O., near their birthplace. 
 
 The early educational advantages young Garfield 
 enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of 
 tnem. He l.d)ored at farm work for others, did car- 
 penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that 
 would bring in a few dollars to -aid his widowed 
 mother in he' struggles lo keep the little fan ily to- 
 
 gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his 
 origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
 gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they 
 ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor 
 the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly 
 greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the 
 sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
 of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
 sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, 
 modest gentleman. 
 
 The highest ambition of young Garfield until \\t 
 was about sixteen years old was to be a captain of 
 a vessel on Lake Eiie. He was anxious to go aboard 
 a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She 
 finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the 
 understanding, however, that he should try to obtain 
 some other kind of employment. He walked all the 
 way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city 
 After making many applications for work, and trying 
 to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
 success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
 Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. Here- 
 mained at this work but a short time when he wen' 
 home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
 about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
 Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in 
 the meantime, and doing other work. This school 
 was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of 
 which church he was then a member. He became 
 janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way 
 He then became both teacher and jiupil. He soon 
 " exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the 
 fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which 
 he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hon- 
 ors of his class. He afterwards relumed to Hiram 
 College as its President. As above staled, he eaily 
 united with the Christian or Dici])les Church at 
 Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
 ber, often preaching in its |)ulpit and places where 
 he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, Presidert of 
 Yale College, says cf him in reference to his reli^io.i : 
 
9« 
 
 JAMES A. GARFIELD. 
 
 " President Garfield was more than a man of 
 strong moral and religious convictions. His whole 
 history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to 
 man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and 
 faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs 
 of liis being, and to a more than usual degree. In 
 my judgment there is no more interesting feature of 
 his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of 
 Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
 sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian 
 communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
 and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to 
 the less stately and cultured Christian communions 
 in which they have been reared. Too often it is true 
 that as they step u[)ward in social and political sig- 
 nificance they step upward from one degree to 
 another in some of the many types of fashionable 
 Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the 
 church of his mother, the church in which he was 
 trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an 
 evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec- 
 tarian charity for all 'who loveour Lord in sincerity.'" 
 
 Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss 
 Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. ii, 1858, who proved herself 
 worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
 mourned. To them were born seven children, five of 
 whom are still living, four boys and one girl. 
 
 Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856, 
 in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three 
 years later he began to speak at county mass-meet- 
 ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he 
 was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio 
 Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland, 
 and in 1861 was admitted to the bar. The great 
 Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, 
 and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
 talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re- 
 ceived his commission as Lieut. -Colonel of the Forty- 
 second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 
 14, 1861. He was immediately put into active ser- 
 vice, and betore he had ever seen a gun fired in action, 
 was placed in command of four regiments of infantry 
 and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the 
 work of driving out of his native State the officer 
 '^Humphrey Marshall) reputed to be the ablest of 
 those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given 
 to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- 
 ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
 ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him 
 Brigadier-General, ^xn. 10, 1862; and as "he had 
 been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years 
 before, so now he was the youngest General in the 
 army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloli, 
 in itsoperations around Corinth and its march through 
 Alabama. He was then detailed as a member of the 
 General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John 
 Porter. He was then ordered to report to Gen. Rose- 
 crans, and was Assigned to the " Chief of Staff." 
 
 The military history of Gen. Garfield closed with 
 
 his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won 
 the stars of the Major-General. 
 
 Without an effort on his part Geij Garfield wa» 
 elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the 
 Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
 had been represented in Congress for si.xty years 
 mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua 
 R. Giddiiigs. It was not without a struggle that he 
 resigned his place in the army. At the time he en- 
 tered Congress he was the youngest member in that 
 body. There he remained by successive re- 
 elections until he was elected President in 1880. 
 Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since 
 the year 1864 you cannot think of a question whicii 
 has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a 
 tribunel of the American people, in regard to whicl 
 you will not find, if you wish mstruction, the argu- 
 ment on one side stated, in almost every instance 
 better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 
 the House of Representatives or on the hustings by 
 Mr. Garfield." 
 
 Uix)n Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to 
 the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the 
 same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
 party for President at the great Chicago Convention. 
 He was elected in the following November, and on 
 March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
 ministration ever opened its existence under brighter 
 auspices than that of President Garfield, and every 
 day it grew in favor with the people, and by the first 
 of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- 
 liminary work of his administration and was prepar- 
 ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams 
 College. While on his way and at the deix)t, in com- 
 pany with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind 
 him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. 
 The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the 
 assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
 left coat sleeve of his victim, but inflicting no further 
 injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was 
 " the shot that was heard round the world " Never 
 liefore in the history of the Nation had anything oc- 
 curred which so nearly froze the blood of the peop!e 
 for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- 
 ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and 
 was at the summit of his power and hope. For eighty 
 days, all during the hot months of July and August, 
 he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained 
 master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent 
 bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
 noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the 
 very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
 ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept. 
 19, 1883, at Elberon, N. J., on the very bank of the 
 ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous. The 
 world wept at his death, as it never had done on the 
 death of any other man who had ever lived \ipon it. 
 Tlie murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- 
 cuted, in one year after he committad the foui deed. 
 
TiVEJSTY. FIRST PRESIDENT. 
 
 
 HESTER A. ARTHUR, 
 
 •«3"'" ■ jJfrrO/ Tl^) ^n'^^^'^'y"'^'^^'' Pf'^^'''-'-"^ of the 
 
 T* 4; i-^l^A vXj. i'J* United States, was torn in 
 
 Franklin Courty, Vermont, on 
 
 the fifth of Oc'ober, 1830, and is 
 
 the oldest of a family of two 
 
 sons and five daughters. His 
 
 father was the Rev. Dr. William ( 
 
 Arthur, a Baptist cJ'.-rgyman, who 
 
 emigrated to tb.s countr)' fro:n 
 
 the county Ant dm, Ireland, in 
 
 his i8th year, and died in 1875, in 
 
 Newton ville, neai Albany, after a 
 
 long and successful ministry. 
 
 Young Arthur was educated at 
 Union College, S( henectady, where 
 he excelled in all his studies. Af- 
 I T ter his graduation he taught school 
 ||] in Vermont for two years, and at 
 the expiration cf that time came to 
 New York, with $500 in his jwcket, 
 and entered the office of ex-Judge 
 E. D. Culver as student. After 
 I being admitted to the bar he formed 
 a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, 
 Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
 in the West, and for three months they roamed about 
 in the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
 but in the end returned to New York, where they 
 hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success^ 
 ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
 loon afterward marred the daughter of Lieutenant 
 
 Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
 sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
 recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
 sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's 
 nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two 
 children. 
 
 Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity 
 in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, 
 brought to recover jxjssession of eight slaves who had 
 been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior 
 Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon, 
 athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
 his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
 they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
 that they could not be held by the owner under the 
 Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
 the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the 
 Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. 
 Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
 to represent the People, and they won their case, 
 which then went to the Supreme Court of the United 
 States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause 
 of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs 
 Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
 tlie emancipation of the black race. 
 
 Another great service was rendered by General 
 Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, 
 a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth 
 Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. 
 General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
 verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- 
 ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
 on their cars, and the other car companies quickly 
 
CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 
 
 followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
 nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per- 
 sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all. 
 
 General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention 
 at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. 
 Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the 
 Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- 
 ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed hmi Engineer- 
 in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec- 
 tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- 
 ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
 great service to the Government during the war. At 
 the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
 practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. 
 Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney 
 of New York, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
 tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
 tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able 
 lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
 not indeed one of national extent. 
 
 He always took a leading part in State and city 
 politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of 
 New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- 
 ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 
 20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. 
 
 Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential 
 ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous 
 National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 
 June, 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political 
 convention that ever assembled on the continent. It 
 was comiX)sed of the Jsading politicians of the Re- 
 publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and 
 fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
 respective candidates that were before the conven- 
 tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- 
 ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur 
 for Vice-President. The campaign which followed 
 was one of the most animated known in the history of 
 our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of 
 the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his 
 party made a valiant fight for his election. 
 
 Finally the election came and the country's choice 
 >vas Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
 March 4, 1881, as President and Vice-President. 
 A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
 President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
 came terrible weeks of suffering, — those moments of 
 anxious suspense, when the hearts of all civilized na- 
 
 tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re- 
 covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- 
 able patience that he manifested during those hours 
 and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 
 fering man has often been called upon to endure, was 
 seemingly more than human. It was certainly God- 
 like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. 
 Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his 
 credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
 desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to 
 serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
 ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
 in deed or look of this man, even though the most 
 honored jxisition in the world was at any moment 
 likely to fall to him. 
 
 At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
 field from further suffering, and the world, as never 
 before in its history over the death of any other 
 man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of 
 the Vice President to i-ssume the responsibilities of 
 the high office, and he took the oath in New York. 
 Sept. 20, i88r. The position was an embarrassing 
 one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
 eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, 
 what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
 lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
 greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
 and many important measures were to be immediately 
 decided by him ; and still farther to embarrass him he 
 did not fail to realize under what circumstances he 
 became President, and knew the feelings of many on 
 this point. Under these trying circumstances President 
 Arthur took the reins of the Government ;\i his own 
 hands ; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of 
 affairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so 
 wisely that but few criticised his administration. 
 He served the nation well and faithfully, until tlie 
 close of his administration, March 4, 1885, and was 
 a popular candidate before his party for a second 
 term. His name was ably presented before the con- 
 vention at Chicago, and was received with great 
 favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity 
 of one of the opposing candidates, he would have 
 been selected as the standard-bearer of his party 
 for another campaign. He retired to private life car- 
 rying with him the best wishes of the American peo- 
 ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory 
 to them and with credit to himself. 
 
 J 
 
CyT^i^^^^y:^ CZ-C^uC^Ccyty^JC 
 
TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT. 
 
 »«•} 
 
 .:vSr<i»^,K<rt^,;i 
 
 ^r^iS'J'-E^S-ij^-Ei 'C i& g !g<j>g!'^#»g K ^ S~ ij* X' ;g ' 
 
 
 ^;^ 
 
 
 TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- 
 LAND, the twenty- second Pres- 
 ident of the United States, was 
 liorn in i<S37, in the obscure 
 town of Caldwell, Essex Co., 
 N. J., and in a little two-and-a- 
 half-story white house which is still 
 standing, characteristically to mark 
 the humble birth-place of one of 
 America's great men in striking con- 
 trast with the Old World, where all 
 men high in office must be high in 
 origin and born in the cradle of 
 wealth. When the subject of this 
 sketch was three years of age, his 
 father, who was a Presbyterian min- 
 ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, 
 by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to 
 Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a 
 larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most 
 straggling of country villages, about five miles from 
 Pompey Hill, whore Governor Seymour was born. 
 
 At the last mentioned place young Grover com- 
 menced going to school in the " good, old-fashioned 
 way," and presumably distinguished himself after the 
 manner of all village boys, in doing the things he 
 ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of 
 all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he 
 .arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the 
 capacity of the village school and expressed a most 
 
 emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this 
 his father decidedly objected. Academies in those 
 days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to 
 become self-supporting by the quickest possible 
 means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed 
 to be a position in a country store, where his father 
 and the large family on his hands had considerable 
 influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services 
 the first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to 
 receive $100 the second year. Here the lad com- 
 menced his career as salesman, and in two years he 
 had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness 
 that his employers desired to retain him for an in- 
 definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- 
 hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or 
 eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. 
 But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- 
 ville, he went with the family in their removal to 
 Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a 
 high school. Here he industriously pursued his 
 studies until the family removed with him to a point 
 on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a 
 village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Ulica, 
 N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching 
 but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, 
 and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a 
 small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an 
 asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for twoi 
 years, and although he obtained a good reputation in 
 this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his 
 
I04 
 
 S. GKOVEN CLEVt.LAND. 
 
 calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order, 
 he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going 
 to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as 
 there was some charm in that name for him; but 
 before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to 
 »sk the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted 
 stock-breeder of that place. The latter did not 
 speak enthusiastically. "What is it you want to do, 
 my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study 
 law," was the reply. " Good gracious ! " remarked 
 ihe old gentleman ; " do you, indeed .'' What ever put 
 that into your head? How much money have you 
 got?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got 
 any." 
 
 After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a 
 place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a 
 year, wiiile lie could "look around." One day soon 
 afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, 
 Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told Ihem what he 
 wanted. A number of young men were already en- 
 gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and 
 he was finally permitted to come as an office boy and 
 have the use of the law library, for the nominal sum 
 of $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for 
 his board and washing. The walk to and from his 
 uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although 
 the first winter was a memorably severe one, his 
 shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had 
 none — yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. 
 On the first day of his service here, his senior em- 
 ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him 
 with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's 
 where they all begin." A titter ran around the little 
 circle of clerks and students, as they thought that 
 was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; 
 out in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume. 
 Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland 
 exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for 
 chasing principles through all their metaphysical 
 possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do 
 it," was practically his motto. 
 
 The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was 
 ejected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in 
 which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell 
 to his duty to inflict capital pi'-.ishment upon two 
 cjiniinals. In 18S1 he was elected Mayor of the 
 City of Buffalo, on the Democratic ticket, with es- 
 pecial reference to the bringing about certain reforms 
 
 in the administration of the municipal affairs of that 
 city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his 
 performance of duty has generally been considered 
 fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- 
 reted out and magnified during the last Presidential 
 campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in 
 a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui- 
 tous street-cleaning contract : " This is a time for 
 plain speech, and my objection to your action shall 
 be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of 
 a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme 
 to betray the interests of the people and to worse 
 than squander the people's money." The New York 
 Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- 
 land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- 
 upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire 
 State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882^ 
 and his administration of the affairs of State was 
 generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if 
 any, were made very public throughout the nation 
 after he was nominated for President of the United 
 States. For this high office he was nominated July 
 ir, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at 
 Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. 
 Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, 
 Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he 
 was elected by the people, by a majority of about a 
 thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- 
 lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- 
 land resigned his office as Governor of New York in 
 January, 18S5, in order to prepare for his duties as 
 the Chief Executive of the United States, in which 
 capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of 
 March, 18S5. For his Cabinet oflScers he selected 
 the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State, 
 Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware ; Secretary of the 
 Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York ; Secretary 
 of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts ; 
 Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, of New 
 York; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, of 
 Mississippi; Postmaster-General, William F. Vilas, 
 of Wisconsin ; Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of 
 Arkansas. 
 
 The silver question precipitated a controversy be- 
 tween those who were in favor of the continuance of 
 silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr. 
 Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his 
 inauguration. 
 
tA^^ 
 
 ^2>-^>^'^a-i>t2^tJ*--z^ 
 
 1 
 
TWENTY-THIUD PKKSIDENT. 
 
 ••o*o-®V'<V®-"»*0" 
 
 NJAMIN HARRISON, tlie 
 \ , twcnl^'-tliiid President, is 
 fci> the descendant of one of tlic 
 historical families of this 
 country. The head of the 
 family was a Major General 
 Harrison, one of Oliver 
 Cromwell's trusted follow- 
 ers and fighters. In tlic zenith of Crom- 
 well's power it became the duty of this 
 Harrison to particiiiate in the trial of 
 Charles I, and afterward to sign the 
 death warrant of the king. He subse- 
 quently paid for this with his life, being 
 hung Oct. 13, ICGO. His descendants 
 came to America, and the next of the 
 family that appears in history is Benja- 
 rr.iu Harrison, of Virginia, great-grand- 
 father of the subject of this sketch, and 
 after wliom he was named. I5enj;unin Harrison 
 was a mcmlier of the Continental Congress during 
 the years i774-5-C, and was one of the original 
 signers of the Declaration of Independence. He 
 was three times elected Governor of ^'irginia. 
 Geo. William Hcniy Harrison, the son of the 
 
 distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a suc- 
 cessful career as a soldier during the War of 1812, 
 and with -a clean record as Governor of the North- 
 western Territory, was elected President of the 
 United States in 1840. His career was cut short 
 by death within one month after liis inauguration. 
 President Harrison was born at North Beud, 
 Hamilton Co., Ohio, Aug. .^0, 1833. His life up to 
 tiie time of his graduation by the Miami University, 
 at Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a coun- 
 try lad of a family of small means. His father was 
 able to give him a good education, and nothing 
 more. He became engaged while at college to tho 
 daughter of Dr. Scott, Principal of a female school 
 at Oxford. After graduating he determined to en^ 
 ter upon the study of the law. He went to Cin 
 cinnati and then read law for two years. At the 
 expiration of that time young Harrison received th3 
 only inheritance of his life; his aunt dying left him 
 a lot valued at #800. He regarded this legacy as & 
 fortune, and decided to get married at once, taks 
 this money and go to some Eastern town an I be- 
 gin the practice of law. He sold his lot, and with 
 the money in his pocket, he started out witii bis 
 young wife to fight for a place in the world. Me 
 
108 
 
 BENJAMIN HARRISON. 
 
 decided to go to Indianapolis, wliich was even at 
 lli.'it time a town of promise. He met with sligbt 
 encouragement at first, making scarcely anything 
 the first year. He worlicd diligently, applying him- 
 self closely to his calling, built up an extensive 
 practice and took a leading rank in the legal pro- 
 I'essiou. lie is the father of tvvo children. 
 
 In 1860 Mr. Harrison was nominated for the 
 position of Supreme Court Reporter, and then be- 
 gan liis experience as a stump speakej He can- 
 vassed the .State thoroughly, and was elected by a 
 handsome majority. In 18G2 he raised the 17th 
 Indiana Infantry, and was chosen its Colonel. His 
 regiment was composed of the rawest of material, 
 out Col. Harrison employed all his time at first 
 mastering military tactics and drilling his men, 
 when he therefore earae to move toward the East 
 with Sherman his regiment was one of the best 
 'Jrilled and organized in the arm}'. At Resaca he 
 especially distinguished himself, and for his bravery 
 •'t Peachtree Creek he was made a Brigadier Gen- 
 Lral, Gen. Hooker speaking of him in the most 
 vomplimentary terms. 
 
 During the absence of Gen. Harrison in the field 
 lie Supreme Court declared the office of the Su- 
 preme Court Reporter vacant, and another person 
 was elected to the position. From the time of leav- 
 iig Indiana v/ith his regiment until the fall of ISGi 
 ne had taken no leave of absence, but having been 
 nominated that year for the same office, he got a 
 thirty-day leave of absence, and during that time 
 made a brilliant canvass of the State, and was elected 
 for another term. He then started to rejoin Shcr- 
 iL:an,buton the way was stricken down with scarlet 
 .ever, and after a most trying siege made his way 
 to the front in time to participate in the closing 
 xcidents of the war. 
 
 In 1868 Gen. Harrison declined re-election as 
 ;eporter, and resumed the practice of law. In 1876 
 £e was a candidate for Governor. Although de- 
 eated, the brilliant campaign ht made won for him 
 a National reputation, and he was much sought, es- 
 peciaLy in the East, to make speeches. In 1880, 
 as usual, he took an active part in the campaign, 
 and wf<,c elected to the United States Senate. Here 
 he served six j^ears, and 7/as known as one ol the 
 dblest men, best lawyer^ und stronges' debaters in 
 
 that body. With the expiration of his Scnatoiua 
 term he returned to the practice of his profession, 
 becoming the head of one of tiie strongest firms ia 
 the State. 
 
 The political campaign of 1888 was one of the 
 most memorable in the history of our country. The 
 convention which assembled in Chicago in June and 
 named Mr. Harrison as the chief standard bearer 
 of the Republican party, was great in every partic- 
 ular, and on this account, and the attitude it as- 
 sumed upon the vital questions of the day, chief 
 among which was the tariff, awoke a deep interest 
 in the campaign throughout the Nation. Shortly 
 after the nomination delegations began to visit Mr. 
 Harrison at Indianapolis, his home. This move- 
 ment became popular, and from all sections of the 
 country societies, clubs and delegations journeyed 
 thither to pay their respects to the distinguished 
 statesman. The popularity of these was greatly 
 increased on account of the remarkable speeches 
 made by Mr. Harrison. He spoke dail}' all through 
 the summer and aulunni to these visiting delega- 
 tions, and so varied, masterly and eloquent were 
 his speeches that they at once placed him in the 
 foremost rank of American orators and statesmen. 
 
 On account of his eloquence as a speaker and his 
 power as a. debater, he was called upon at an un- 
 connnqply eariy age to take part in the discussion 
 of the great questions that then began tj agitate 
 the country. He was an uncompromising ant! 
 slavery man, and was matched against some of ILe 
 n-,ost eminent Dem(,cratic speakers of his State. 
 No man who felt the touch of his blade detired t(^ 
 be pitted with him again. With all his cloq-ence 
 as an orator he never si)okc for oratorical effect, 
 but his words alwavs went like bullets to the mark 
 He is purely American in his ideas and is a spier 
 did type of the American statesman. Gifted witl. 
 quick perception, a logical mind and a ready tongue, 
 he is one of the most distinguished imi)rom|)tu 
 speakers in the Nation. Many of these speeches 
 sparkled with the rarest of eloquence and contained 
 arguments of greatest weight. Man}' of his terse 
 statements have already become aphorisms. Origi- 
 nal in thought, precise in logic, terse in statement, 
 yet withal faultless in elf)quenco, he is recognized as 
 the sound statesman and brill iau: orator o- tn^ day 
 

 ^#^ 
 
 . _y 
 
/ ^^f 
 
GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 'OS 
 
 
 STEPHEN T. M^SOM. 
 
 
 p^'i«^*-s,..^.aiOTzrav. aj^^ 
 
 I^^ 
 
 TEPHEN T. MASON, the 
 first ( lovcrnorof Michit'an, was 
 a sou of Gen. John T. Mason, 
 of Kentucky, but was born in 
 Virginia, in i8i2. At the age 
 of 19 he was appointed Secre- 
 tarj' of Michigan Territory, and 
 served in that capacity during the 
 administration of Gov. George B. 
 Porter. Upon the death of Gov. 
 Porter, which occurred on the 6tli of 
 July, 1834, Mr. Mason became .Act- 
 ing Governor. In October, 1835, he 
 was elected Governor under the St ate 
 organization, and immediately en- 
 tered u|)on the performance of the 
 duties of the office, although the 
 State was not yet admitted into the Union. After 
 the State was admitted into the Union, Governor 
 Mason was re-elected to the jwsition, and served with 
 credit to himself and to the advantage of the State. 
 He died Jan. 4, 1843. The princii)al event during 
 Governor Mason's official career, was that arising from 
 the disi:uted southern boundary of the State. 
 
 Michigan claimed for her southern boundary aline 
 running east across the peninsula from the extreme 
 soulhern [wint of Lake Michigan, e.xtending through 
 Lake Erie, to the Pennsylvania line. This she 
 claimed as a vested right — a right accruing to her by 
 compact. This compact was the ordinance of 1787, 
 Jie parties to which were the original 13 States, and 
 *.he territory northwest of the Ohio; and, by the suc- 
 cession of parties under statutory amendments to the 
 ordinance and laws of Congress— the United States on 
 *.he one part, and eacli Territory northwest of the 
 Ohio, as far as affected by their [)rov!sions, on the 
 
 other. Michigan, therefore, claimed it under the ])rior 
 grant, or assignation of boundary. 
 
 Ohio, on the other hand, claimed that the ordinance 
 had been superseded by the Constitution of the 
 United States, and that Congress had a right to regu- 
 late the boundary. It was also claimed that the 
 Constitution of the State of Ohio having described a 
 different line, and Congress having admitted the State 
 under that Constitution, without mentioning the sub- 
 ject of the line in dispute. Congress had thereby given 
 its consent to the line as laid down by the Constitu- 
 tion of Ohio. This claim was urged by Ohio at 
 some periods of the controversy, but at others she ap- 
 peared to regard the question unsettled, by the fact 
 that she insisted upon Congress taking action in re- 
 gard to the boundary. Accordingly, we find that, in 
 18 1 2, Congress authorized the Surveyor-General to 
 survey a line, agreeably to the act, to enable the people 
 of Ohio to form a Constitution and State government. 
 Owing to Indian hostilities, however, the line was not 
 run till i8i8. In 1820, the question in dispute 
 \inderwent a rigid examination by the Conmiittee on 
 Public Lands. The claim of Ohio was strenuously 
 urged by her delegation, and as ably opiX)sed by Mr. 
 Woodbridge, the then delegate from Michigan. The 
 result was that the committee decided unanimously 
 in favor of Michigan; but, in the hurry of business, 
 no action was taken by Congress, and the question 
 remained open till Michigan organized her State gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 The Territory in dispute is about five miles in 
 width at the west end, and about eight miles in width 
 at the east end, and extends along the wh.ole north- 
 ern line of Ohio, west of Lake Erie. The line claimed 
 by Michigan was known as the " Fulion line," and 
 that claimed by Ohio was known as the" Harris line," 
 
io6 
 
 STEPHEN T. MASON. 
 
 from the names of the surveyors. The territory was 
 valuable for its rich agricultural lands; but the chief 
 value consisted in the fact that the harbor on the 
 Maumee River, where now stands the flourishing city 
 of Toledo, was included within its limits The town 
 originally bore the name of Swan Creek, afterwards 
 Port Lawrence, then Vestula, and then Toledo. 
 
 In February, 1835, the Legislature of Ohio [jassed 
 an act extending the jurisdiction of the State over 
 the territory in question; erected townships and 
 directed them to hold elections in April following. It 
 also directed Governor Lucus to appoint three com- 
 missioners to survey and re-mark the Harris line; and 
 named the first of April as the day to commence the 
 survey. Acting Governor Mason, however, anticipated 
 this action on the part of the Ohio Legislat\ire, sent 
 a special message to the Legislative Council, appris- 
 ing it of Governor Lucas' message, and advised imme- 
 diate action by that body to anticipate and counteract 
 the proceedings of Ohio. Accordingly, on the 12th 
 of February, the council passed an act making it a 
 crimmal offence, punishable by a heavy fine, or im- 
 prisonment, for any one to attempt to exercise any 
 official functions, or accept any office within the juris- 
 diction of Michigan, under or by virture of any au- 
 thority not derived from the Territory, or the United 
 States. On the 9th of March, Governor Mason wrote 
 General Brown, then in command of the Michigan 
 militia, directing him to hold himself in readiness to 
 meet the enemy in the field in case any attempt was 
 made on the part of Ohio to carry out the provisions 
 of that act of the Legislature. On the 31st of March, 
 Governor Lucus, with his commissioners, arrived at 
 Perrysburgh, on their way to commence re-surveying 
 tlie Harris line. He was accompanied l)y General 
 Bell and staff, of the Ohio Militia, who proceeded to 
 master a volunteer force of about 600 men. This 
 was soon accomplished, and the force fully armed and 
 equipped. The force then went into camp at Fort 
 Miami, to await the Governor's orders. 
 
 In the meantime. Governor Mason, with General 
 Brown and staff, had raised a force 800 to 1200 
 strong, and were in possession of Toledo. General 
 Brown's Staff consisted of Captain Henry Smith, of 
 Monroe, Inspector; Major J. J. Ullman, of Con- 
 stantine, Quartermaster ; William E. Broadman, of 
 Detroit, and Alpheus Felch, of Monroe, Aids-de- 
 camp. When Governor Lucas observed the deter- 
 mined bearing of the Michigan braves, and took note 
 
 of tlieir number, he found it convenient to content 
 himself for a time with " watching over the border." 
 Several days were passed in this exhilarating employ- 
 ment, and just as Governor Lucas had made up his 
 mind to do something rash, two commissioners ar- 
 rived from Washington on a mission of peace. They 
 remonstrated with Gov. Lucus, and reminded him of 
 the consequences to himself and his State if he per- 
 sisted in his attempt to gain possession of the disputed 
 territory by force. After several conferences with 
 both governors, the connnissioners submitted projwsi- 
 tions for their consideration. 
 
 Governor Lucas at once accepted the propositions, 
 and disbanded his forces. Governor Mason, on the 
 other hand, refused to accede to the arrangement, and 
 declined to compromise the rights of his people by a 
 surrender of possession and jurisdiction. When Gov- 
 ernor Lucus disbanded his forces, however, Governor 
 Mason partially followed suit, but still held himself 
 in readiness to meet any emergency that might arise. 
 
 Governor Lucus now supposed that his way was 
 clear, and that he could re-mark the Harris line with- 
 out being molested, and ordered the commissioners 
 to proceed with their work. 
 
 In the meantime. Governor Mason keiit a watch- 
 ful eye upon the proceedings. General Brown sent 
 scouts through the woods to watch their movements, 
 and report when operations were commenced. When 
 tiie surveying party got within the county of Lena- 
 wee, the under-sheriff of that county, armed with a 
 warrant, and accompanied by a jxisse, suddenly made 
 his appearance, and succeeded in arresting a portion 
 of the party. The rest, including the commissioners, 
 took to their heels, and were soon beyond the dis- 
 puted territory. They reached Perrysburgh the fol- 
 lowing day in a highly demoralized condition, and 
 reixDrted they had been att.acked by an overwhelm- 
 ing force of Michigan malitia, under comniand of 
 General Brown. 
 
 This summary breaking up of the surveying party 
 produced the most tremendous excitement throughout 
 Ohio. Governor Lucas called an extra session of the 
 Legislature. But little remains to be said in reference 
 to the "war." The question continued for some time 
 to agitate the minds of the opposing parties; and the 
 action of Congress was impatiently awaited. Michigan 
 was admitted into the Union on the condition that 
 she give to Ohio the disputed territory, and accept 
 in return the Northern Peninsula, which she did. 
 
^"J^yT/z^-cM^^p^ 
 
SECOND GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 
 • -j — t-&5lLLIAM ^OODBI^IDGB.-^— |" > 
 
 * ^'J,-; 
 
 ^^^m?^ 
 
 II.LIAAr WOODRRirxiE, 
 fe jijiscconc] Governor of Michigan, 
 was horn at Norwich, Conn., 
 Aug. 20, 1780, and died at 
 3 Detroit Oct. 20, 1861. He 
 ■ ,jx was of a family of three brothers 
 '" ' and two sisters. His father, 
 Dudley VVoodbridge, removed to 
 Marietta, Ohio, aliout 1790. The 
 life of Wm. Woodbridge, by Chas. 
 Laiinian, from whicli this sketch 
 is largely com |)iled, mentions notli- 
 ing concerning his early education 
 beyond the fact that it was such as 
 was afforded by the average school 
 yh of the time, except a year with the 
 French colonists at Oalliiiohs, 
 where he acquired a knowledge of 
 1 i ''^'^ French language. It should 
 be liorne in mind, however, that 
 iiome education at that time was 
 an indispensable feature in the 
 training of tiie young. To this and 
 and to a few studies well mastered, 
 is due that strong mental discipline which has served 
 as a basis for many of the grand intellects that have 
 a<lorned ar.d iielped to make our National history. 
 Mr. Woodbridge studied law at Marietta, having 
 as a fellow student an intimate personal friend, a 
 ycung nian subseipiently distinguished, but known 
 at tliat lime sim[)ly as Lewis Cass. He graduated at 
 the law scliool in Connecticut, after a course there of 
 nearly three years, and began to practice at Marietta 
 in 1S06. In June, 1S06, he married, at Hartford, Con- 
 neiticiit, Juleanna, d.iughler (jf John Trumbell, a 
 distinguished author and judge; and author of llie 
 
 peoni McFingal, wliich, during a dark period of the 
 Revolution, wrought such a magic change ujjon the 
 spirits of the colonists. He was happy in his domes ■ 
 tic relations until the death of Mrs. \S ., Feb. 2, 19, i860. 
 
 Our written biographies necessarily speak more 
 fully of men, because of their active participation in 
 public affairs, but human actions are stamped upon 
 tlie page of time and when the scroll shall be unrolled 
 the influence of good women \\\io\\ the history of the 
 world will be read side by side with the deeds of men. 
 1 low much success and renown in life many men owe 
 to their wives is probably little known. Mrs. W . en- 
 joyed the best means of early education tliat the 
 country afibrded, and her intellectual genius enabled 
 her to improve her advantages. During her life, side 
 by side with the highest type of domestic and social 
 graces, she manifested a keen intellectuality that 
 formed the crown of a faultless chaiacter. She was 
 a natural jxjet, and wrote quite a large number of fine 
 verses, some of which are preserved in a jjrinted 
 memorial essay written upon the occasion of her 
 death. In this essay, it is said of her "to contribute 
 even in matters of minor im]X)rtaiice, to elevate the 
 reputation and add to the well being of her husband 
 in the various stations he was called upon to fdl, gave 
 her the highest satisfaction " She was an invalid 
 during the latter |X)rtion of her life, luit was patient 
 and cheerful to the end. 
 
 In 1807, Mr. W. was chosen a representative to the 
 General Assembly of Ohio, and in (809 was elected to 
 the Senate, continuing a member by re-election until 
 his removal from the State. He also held, by a|>- 
 lK)intment, during the time the office of Proseculing 
 Attorney for his county. He took a leading ])art in 
 the Legislature, and in 181 2 drew u|iatle<laration and 
 resolutions, which passed the two houses Mnaminously 
 
WILLIAM WOODBRIDGE. 
 
 aiid attracted great attention, endorsing, in strongest 
 aiid most emphatic terms, the war measures of I'resi- 
 dent Madison. Daring the period from 1S04 to 1S14 
 the two law students, Woodbridge and Cass, liad be- 
 come widely separated. The latter was Governor ot 
 tlie Territory of Michigan under tlie historic "( rovernor 
 and Judges" plan, with the indis[>ensable re(iuisite of a 
 Secretary of the Territorry. This latter ixjsition was, 
 in 18 1 4, without solicitation on his part, tendered to 
 Mr. W. He accepted the position with some hesita- 
 tion, and entered upon its duties as soon as he could 
 make the necessary arrangements for leaving Ohio. 
 The office of Secretary involved also the duties of 
 collector of customsat the port of Detroit, and during 
 the frequent absences of the Governor, the dischargeof 
 of his duties, also including those of Superintendent 
 of Indian Affairs. Mr. W. officiated as Governor for 
 about two years out of the eight years that he held the 
 office of Secretary Under the administration of "Gov- 
 ernor and Judges," which the people of the Territory 
 preferred for economical reasons, to continue some time 
 after tlieir numbers entitled them to a more popular 
 representative system, tiiey were allowed no delegate 
 in Congress. Mr. VV., as a sort of informal agent of 
 the people, by corresiMndence and also by a visit to 
 the National capita!, so clearly set forth the demand 
 for representation by a delegate, that an act was 
 passedin Congressin [Sigaulhorizingone tobechosen. 
 Under this act Mr. W. was elected by the concurrence 
 of all parties. His first action in Congress was to secure 
 the jjassage of a bill recognizing and confirming the 
 old French land titles in the Territory according to 
 the terms of the treaty of peace with Great Britain 
 at the close of the Revolution ; and another for the 
 construction of a Government road througli the "black 
 swamps" from the Miami River to Detroit, thus open- 
 ing a means of land transit between Ohio and Micli- 
 igan. He was influential in securing the passage of 
 bills for the construction of Government roads from 
 Detroit to Chicago, and Detroit to Fort Gratiot, and 
 for the improvement of La Plaisance Bay. Tlie ex- 
 pedition for the exploration of tlie country around 
 Lake Superior and in the valley of the Upper Mis- 
 sissippi, projected by Governor Cass, was set on foot 
 by means of representations made to the head of the 
 department by Mr. W. While in Congress he stren- 
 uously maintained the right cif Micliigan to the stri]) 
 of territory now forming the northern boundary of 
 Ohio, which formed the subject of such grave dispute 
 between Ohio and Michigan at the time of the ad- 
 mission of the latter into the Union. He served 
 but one term as delegate to Congress, de- 
 clining furtlier service on account of personal and 
 family considerations. Mr. \V. continued to discharge 
 the duties of Secretary of the Territory up to the time 
 its Government passed into the "second grade." 
 
 In 1824, he was appointed one of a board of 
 commissioners for adjusting private land claims in 
 
 the Territory, and was engaged also in the practice of 
 his profession, having the best law library in the Ter- 
 ritory. In 1828, upon the recommendation of the 
 Governor, Judges and others, he was appointed by the 
 President, J. Q. Adams, to succeed Hon. James With- 
 erell, who had resigned as a Judge of what is conven- 
 tionally called the "Supreme Court" of the Terntory. 
 This court was aiiparently a continuation of the Terri- 
 torial Court, under the "first grade" or "Governor and 
 Judges" system. ,\lthough it was supreme in its ju- 
 dicial functions within the Territory, its jxjwers and 
 duties were of a very general character. 
 
 In 1832, the term of his appointment as Judge ex- 
 piring. President Jackson appointed a successor, it is 
 supposed on political grounds,much to the disappoint- 
 ment of the public and the bar of the Territory. The 
 partisan feeling of the time extended into the Terri- 
 tory, and its people began to think of assuming the 
 dignity of a State government. Party lines becom- 
 ing very sharply drawn, he identified himself with 
 the Wliigs and was elected a member of the Conven- 
 tion of 1835, which formed the first State Constitution. 
 In 1837 he was elected a member of tie Si ate Senate. 
 
 This sketch has purposely dealt somewhat in detail 
 with what may be called Judge W's. earlier career, 
 because it is closely identified with tlie early his- 
 tory of the State, and the develojiment of its politi- 
 cal system. Since the organization of the State Gov- 
 ernment the history of Michigan is more familiar, and 
 hence no review of Judge W's career as Governor 
 and Senator will be atteni|ited. He was elected Gov- 
 ernor in 1839, under a popular impression that the 
 affairs of the State had not been prudently adminis- 
 tered by the Democrats. He served as Governor but 
 little more than a year, when he was elected to the 
 Senate of the United States. 
 
 His term in the Senate practically closed his polit- 
 ical life, although he was strongly urged by many 
 prominent men for the Whig nomination for Vice 
 President in 1848. 
 
 Soon after his appointment as Judge in 1 828, Gov- 
 ernor W. took up his residence on a tract of land 
 which he owned in the township of Spring Wells, a 
 short distance lielow what was then the corporate lim- 
 its of Detroit, where he resided during the remainder 
 of his life. Both in his public papers and private 
 communications, Governor A\'. sliows himself a mas- 
 ter of language; he is fruitful in simile and illustra- 
 tion, logical in airangenient, hapjiy in the choice and 
 treatment of topics, and terse and vigorous in ex[)res- 
 sion. Judge W. was aC'ongregationalist. His opinions 
 on all subjects were decided; he was earnest and 
 energetic, courteous and dignified, and at times ex- 
 hibited a vein of fine humor that was the more at- 
 tractive because not too often allowed to come to the 
 surface. His letters and addresses show a deep and 
 earnest affection not only for his ancestral home, but 
 the home of his adoption and for friends and family. 
 
GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 "3 
 
 ''J'l JOHN S. BARRY « 
 
 OHN STEWARD BARRY, 
 ^Governor of Michigan from 
 3, 1842, to Jan. 5, 1846, 
 id from Jan. 7, 1850, to Jan. 
 1852, was born at Amlierst, 
 N. H., Jan. 29, 1802. His par- 
 ts, John and Ellen (Steward) 
 1j irry, early removed to Rocking- 
 h im, Vt., where he remained until 
 lis. became of age, working on his 
 fatlier's farm, and pursuing his 
 studies at the same time. He mar- 
 ried Mary Kidder, of (Irafton, Vt., 
 and in 1824 went to Georgia, \'t., 
 where he h.:d < harL'eof an academy 
 for two years, meanwhile studying 
 law. He afterward practiced law in 
 that State. While he was in Georgia he was for some 
 lime a member of the Governor's staff, with the title 
 of Governor's Aid, and at a somewhat earlier period 
 was Captain of a company of State militia. In 183 1 
 lie removed to Michigan, and settled at White Pigeon, 
 where he engaged in mercantile business with I. W. 
 Willard. 
 
 Eour years after, 1S34, Mr. Barry removed to Con- 
 
 stantine and continued his mercantile pursuits. He 
 became Justice of the Peace at White Pigeon, Mich.^ 
 in 1S31, and held the office until the year 1835 
 Mr. Barry's first public office was that of a member 
 of the first constitutional convention, which assembled 
 and framed the constitution upon which Michigan 
 was admitted into the Union. He took an important 
 and prominent part in the proceedings of that body, 
 and showed himself to be a man of far more than 
 ordinary aliilily. 
 
 Upon Michigan being admitted into the Union, 
 Mr. Barry was cliosen State Senator, and so favorably 
 were his associates impressed with his abilities at the 
 first session of the Legislature that tiiey looked to him 
 as a party leader, and that he should iiead the State 
 ticket at the following election. Accordingly he re- 
 ceived the nomination for Governor at the hands 
 of his party assembled in convention. He was 
 elected, and so ixjpular was his administration that, in 
 1842, he was again elected. During these years 
 Micliigan was embarrassed by great financial diffi- 
 culties, and it was through his wisdom and sound judg- 
 ment that the State was finally placed uiwn a solid 
 financial basis. 
 
 During the first year of Gov. Barry's first term, the 
 University at \n\\ Arbor was opened for the reception 
 
JOHN STEWARD BARRY. 
 
 of students. The Michigan Central and Michigan 
 Southern railroads were being rapidly constructed, and 
 general progress was everywhere noticeable. In 1842, 
 the number of pupils re))orted as attending the public 
 schools was nearly fifty-eight thousand. In 1843, a 
 State land office was established at Marshall, which 
 was invested with the charge and disposition of all 
 the lands belonging to the Stale. In 1844, the tax- 
 able property of the State was found to be over 
 twenty-eight millions of dollars, the tax being at the 
 rate of two mills on the dollar. The expenses of the 
 State were only seventy thousand dollars, while the 
 income from the railroads was nearly three hundred 
 thousand dollars. At this time the University of 
 Michigan had become so prosperous that its income 
 was ample to pay the interest on the University debt ; 
 and the amount of money which the State was able 
 to loan the several progressing railroads was one 
 hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Efforts were 
 made to increase the efficiency of the common schools 
 with good results In 1845, when Gov. Barry's sec- 
 ond term expired, the population of the State was 
 more than th':ee hundred thousand. 
 
 The constitution of the State forbade more than two 
 consecutive terms, but he was called upon to fill the 
 IX)sition again in 1850 — the only instance of the kind 
 in tlie history of the State. He was a member of the 
 Territorial Legislature, of the Constitutional Conven- 
 tion, and afterward of the State House of Represent- 
 atives. 
 
 During Mr. Barry s third term as Governor tire Nor- 
 mal School was established at Ypsilanti, which was 
 endowed with lands and i)laced in charge of a board 
 of education consisting of six persons. A new con- 
 stitution for tlie government of the State was also 
 adopted and the ''Great Railway Conspiracy Case ' 
 was tried. Tliis grew out of a series of lawless acts 
 which had been committed upon the property of the 
 Michigan Central Railroad Company, along the line 
 of their road, and finally the burning of the depot 
 at Detroit, in 1850. 
 
 At a setting of the grand jury of AVayne County, 
 April 24, 185 I, 37 men of the 50 under arrest for this 
 crime were indicted. May 20, following, tlie accused 
 parties appeared at the Circuit Court of Wayne, of 
 which Warner Wing was resident judge. The Rail- 
 road Company employed ten eminent lawyers, in- 
 cluding David Stuart, John Van Annan, James A. 
 Van Dyke, Jacob M. Howard, Alex. D. Fraser, Dan- 
 iel Goodwin and William Gray. The defendants were 
 represented by six members of the State bar, led by 
 William H. Seward, of New York. The trial occupied 
 four months, during which time the plaintiffs exam- 
 ined 246 witnesses in 27 days, and the defendants 
 249 in 40 days. Mr. Van Dyke addressed the jury 
 for the prosecution; William H. Seward for the 
 defense. 
 
 The great lawyer was convinced of the innocence 
 
 of his clients, nor did the verdict of that jury and the 
 sentence of that judge remove his firm belief that his 
 clients were the victims of purchased treachery, 
 rather than so many sacrifices to justice. 
 
 The verdict of " guilty " was rendered at 9 o'clock 
 p. M., Sept. 25, 185 I. On the 26th the prisoners were 
 put forward to receive sentence, when many of them 
 protested their entire innocence, after which the pre- 
 siding judge condemned 12 of the number to tlie fol- 
 lowing terms of imprisonment, with hard labor, within 
 the State's prison, situate in their county : Ammi 
 Filley, ten years; Orlando L. Williams, ten years; 
 .\aron Mount, eight years; Andrew J. Freeland, eight 
 years; Eben Faniham, eight years; William Corvin, 
 eight years; Richard Price, eight years; Evan Price, 
 eight years; Lyman Champlin, five years; Willard 
 W. Champlin, five years; Erastus Champlin, five 
 years; Erastus Smith, five years. 
 
 In 1840, Gov. Barry became deeply interested in 
 the cultivation of the sugar beet, and visited Europe 
 to obtain information in reference to its culture. 
 
 He was twice Presidential Elector, and his last 
 public service was that of a delegate to tlie National 
 Democratic Convention held in Chicago in 1864. 
 
 He was a man who, throughout life, maintained a 
 high character for integrity and fidelity to the trusts 
 bestowed upon him, whetjier of a public or a private 
 nature, and he is acknowledged by all to have been 
 one of the most efficient and [wpular Governors the 
 Slate has ever had. 
 
 Gov. Barry wa's a man cf incorruptible integrity. 
 His opinions, which he reached by the most thorough 
 investigation, he held tenaciously. His strong con- 
 victions and outspoken honesty made it impossible for 
 him to take an undefined position when a princi[)le 
 was involved. His attachments and prejudices were 
 strong, yet he was never accused of favoritism in his 
 administration of public affairs. As a speaker lie was 
 not remarkable. Solidity, rather than brilliancy, char- 
 acterized his oratory, which is described as argument- 
 ative and instructive, but cold, h ird, and entirely 
 wanting in rhetorical ornament. He was never elo- 
 quent, seldom humorous or sarcastic, and in manner 
 rather awkward. 
 
 .Although Mr. Barry's educational advantages were 
 so limited, he was a life-long student. He mastered 
 both ancient and modern languages, and acquired a 
 thorough knowledge of history. No man owed less 
 to political intrigue as a means of gaining posi- 
 tion. He was a true statesman, and gained public es- 
 teem by his solid worth. His political connections 
 were always with the Democratic party, and his opin- 
 ions were usually extreme. 
 
 Mr. Barry retired to private life after the beginning 
 of the ascendency of the Republican party, and car- 
 ried on his mercantile business at Constantine. He 
 died Jan. 14, 1S70, his wife's death having occurred a 
 year previous, March 30, 1869. They left no cliildren. 
 
c/^^^il^Ai 
 
 J 
 
GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 "7 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 -^^x^^^ 
 
 \j LPHRUS FELCH, the third 
 Q\ Cioveriior of Michigan, was 
 1^,. ., ___^_ J ;,. l>orn iu Limerick, Maine, Sep- 
 '"^ rJM. ©^' VSj. ^ icniber 28, 1806. Hisgrand- 
 If^«^ fatlier, Abijah Felcli, was a sol- 
 Z''*^ dicr in the Revolution ; and 
 wlien a young man, having will) 
 others obtained a grant of land be- 
 tween the Great and Little Ossi[)ee 
 ' Rivers, in Maine, moved to that re- 
 gion when it was yet a wilderness. 
 The fatiier of Mr. Felch embarked in 
 mercantile life at Limerick. He was 
 the first to engage in that business in 
 that section, and continued it until 
 his death. Tiie death of the father, 
 followed within a year by the death of 
 the motlier, left the subject of this sketch, then three 
 years old, to the care of relatives, and he found a 
 home with his paternal grandfather, where he re- 
 mained until his death. Mr Felch received his early 
 education in the district scliool and a neighboring 
 academy. In 1821 he became a student at Phillips 
 Exter Academy, and, subsequently, entered Bowdoin 
 College, graduated with the class of 1827. He at 
 once began the study of law and was admitted to 
 [)ractice at Hangor, .Me., in 1830. 
 
 Hg began the practice of his profession at Houlton, 
 Me , where he remained until 1833. The severity 
 of the climate impaired his health, never very good, 
 and he found it necessary to seek a change of climate. 
 He disiKJsed of his library and started to seek 
 a new home. His intention was to join his friend. 
 
 Sargent S. Prentiss, at Vicksburg, Miss., but on his 
 arrival at Cincinnati, Mr. Felch was attacked by 
 cholera, and wiien he had lecovered sufficiently to 
 permit of his traveling, found that the danger of the 
 disease was too great to permit a journey down the 
 river. He therefore determined to come to Michi- 
 gan. Hi; first began to practice in this .State at Mon- 
 roe, where he continued until 1843, when he removed 
 to Ann Arbor. He was elected to the State Legisla- 
 ture in 1835, and continued a member of that body 
 during the years 1836 and 1837. While he held this 
 office, the general banking law of the State was enact- 
 ed, and went into operation. After mature delibera- 
 tion, he became convinced that the proposed system 
 of banking could not [)rove beneficial to the public 
 interests; and that, instead of relieving the people 
 from the pecuniary difficulties under which they were 
 laboring, it would result in still further embarrass- 
 ment. He, therefore, oi)posed the bill, and jxjinted 
 out to the House the disasters which, in his opinion, 
 were sure to follow its passage, 'i'he public mind, 
 however, was so favorably impressed by the measure 
 that no other member, in either branch of the Legisla- 
 ture, raised a dissenting voice, and lait two voted with 
 him in opix)sition to the bill. Early in 1838, he was 
 appointed one of the Bank Commissioners of the 
 Slite, and held that office for moie than a year. Dur- 
 ing this time, the new banking law had given birth to 
 that numerous progeny known as "wild-cat" banks. 
 Almost every village had its bank. The country was 
 flooded with depressed "wild-cat" money. The ex- 
 aminations of the Bank Commissioners brought to 
 light frauds at every point, which were fearlessly re- 
 
ii8 
 
 ALPHEUS FELCH. 
 
 ported to the Legislature, and were followed by crim- 
 inal prosecutions of the guilty parties, and the closing 
 of many of their institutions. The duties of the of- 
 fice were most laborious, and in 1839 Mr. Felch le- 
 signed. The chartered right of almost every bank 
 had, in the meantime, been declared forfeited and 
 the law repealed. It was subsequently decided to 
 be constitutional by the Supreme Court of the State. 
 In the year 1842 Governor Felch was appointed 
 to the office of Auditor General of the State; but 
 after holding the office only a few weeks, was com- 
 missioned by the Governor as one of the Judges of the 
 Supreme Court, to fill a vacancy caused by the resig- 
 nation of Judge Fletcher. In January, 1843, he was 
 elected to the United States Senate for an unexpired 
 term. In 1845 he was elected Governor of Michigan, 
 and entered u|X)n his duties at the commencement of 
 Ihe next year. In 1847 he was elected a Senator 
 in Congress for six years ; and at once retired from 
 the office of Governor, by resignation, which took 
 effect March 4, 1847, when his Senatorial term com- 
 menced. While a member of the Senate he acted on 
 tlie Committee on Public Lands, and for four years 
 was its Chairman. He filled the honorable position 
 of Senator with becoming dignity, and with great 
 credit to the State of Michigan. 
 
 During Governor Felch's administration the two 
 railroads belonging to the State were sold to private 
 corporations, — the Central for $2,000,000, and the 
 Southern for $500,000. The exports of the State 
 amounted in 1846 to $4,647,608. The total capacity 
 of vessels enrolled in the collection district at Detroit 
 was 26,928 tons, the steam vessels having 8,400 and 
 the sailing vessels 18,528 tons, the whole giving em- 
 ployment to 18,000 seamen. In 1847, there were 39 
 counties in the State, containing 435 townships ; and 
 275 of these townships were supplied with good libra- 
 ries, containing an aggregate of 37,000 volumes. 
 
 At the close of his Senatorial term, in March, 1853, 
 Mr. Felch was appointed, by President Pierce, one of 
 the Commissioners to adjust and settle the Spanish 
 
 and Mexican land claims in California, under tlie 
 treaty of Gaudalupe Hidalgo, and an act of Congress 
 passed for that purpose. He went to California in 
 May, 1853, and was made President of the Commis- 
 sion. The duties of this office were of the most im- 
 portant and delicate character. The interest of the 
 new State, and the fortunes of many of its citizens, 
 both the native Mexican jwpulalion and the recent 
 American immigration ; the right of the Pueblos to 
 their common lands, and of the Catholic Church to 
 the lands of the Missions, — the most valuable of the 
 State, — wereinvolved in the adjudicationsof this Com- 
 mission. In March, 1856, their labors were l)roujiht 
 to a close by the final disposition of all the claims 
 which were presented. The record of their proceed- 
 ings, — the testimony which was given in each case, 
 and the decision of the Commissioners thereon, — 
 consisting of some forty large volumes, was dejwsited 
 in the Department of the Interior at Washington. 
 
 In June of that year. Governor Felch returned to 
 Ann Arbor, where he has since been engaged piinci- 
 pally in legal business. Since his return he has 
 been nominated for Governor and also for U. S. Sen- 
 ator, and twice for Judge of the Supreme Court. But 
 the Democratic party, to which lie lias always been 
 attached, being in the minority, he failed of an elec- 
 tion. In 1873 he withdrew from the active practice 
 of law, and, with the exception of a tour in Europe, 
 in 1875 has since led a life of retirement at his home 
 in Ann Arbor. In 1877 the University of Michigan 
 conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. For 
 many years he was one of the Regents of Michigan 
 University, and in the spring of 1879 was ap[X)inted 
 Tappan Professor of Law in the same. Mr. Felcli is 
 the oldest surviving member of the Legislature from 
 Monroe Co., the oldest and only surviving Bank Com- 
 missioner of the State, the oldest surviving .^uditor 
 General of the State, the oldest surviving Governor of 
 the State, the oldest surviving Judge of the Supreme 
 Court of Michigan, and the oldest surviving United 
 States Senator from the State of Michiuan. 
 
GO VERNORS. 
 
 I WIILMAM \. ©1 
 
 ?'S:s*>s:s*-s;s*-s:s<*^;:j"«>-s::j'1' 
 
 ILLIAM L. GREENLY^ 
 
 ^Governor of Michigan for the 
 year 1S47, was born at Hamil- 
 ton, Madison Co., N. Y., Sept. 
 18,1813. He graduated at Un- 
 ion CoHege, Schenectady, in 
 1831, studied law and was ad- 
 mitted to the bar in 1S34. In 
 1836. liaving removed to Mi< lii- 
 ^ gar, he settled in Adrian, whLre 
 lie has since resided. The year 
 following his arrival in Michigan 
 he was elected State Senator and 
 jf> served in that capacity until 1839. 
 PU In 1845 hewaselectedLieut.Gov- 
 ' , ernor and became acting Governor 
 by the resignation of Gov. Felch, 
 who was elected to the United 
 States Senate. 
 I The war with Mexico was brouglit 
 
 to a successful termination during Gov. Greenly 's 
 administration. We regret to say that there are only 
 few records e.xtant of the action of Michigan troops 
 in the Mexican war. That many went there and 
 fought well are points conceded ; but their names and 
 nativity are hidden away in United States archives 
 
 and where it is almost impossible to find them. 
 
 The soldiers of this State deserve much of th^ 
 credit of the memorable achievements of Co. K, 3d 
 Dragoons, and Cos. A, E, and G of the U. S. Inf. 
 The two former of these companies, recruited in this 
 State, were reduced to one-thiid their original num- 
 ber. 
 
 In May, 1846, the Governor of Michigan was noti- 
 fied by the War Department of the United States to 
 enroll a regiment of volunteers, to be held in readi- 
 ness for service whenever demanded. At his sum- 
 mons 13 independent volunteer companies, 1 1 of 
 infantry and two of cavalry, at once fell into line Of 
 the infantry four companies were from Detroit, bear- 
 ing the honored names of Montgomery, Lafayette, 
 Scott and Brady upon their banners. Of the re- 
 mainder Monroe tendered two, Lenawee County three, 
 St. Clair, Rerrien and Hillsdale each one, and Wayne 
 County an additional company. Of tiiese alone the 
 veteran Bradys were accepted and ordered into ser- 
 vice. In addition to them ten companies, making the 
 First Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, springing 
 from various parts of the State, but embodying to a 
 great degree the material of which the first volunteers 
 was formed, were not called for until October follow- 
 ing. This rcgimcr.t was soon in readiness and pro- 
 ceeded by orders from Government to the seat of war. 
 
1 
 
M^ 
 
 — 4 
 
 ^-^.^-^'^^yZ^-C'Ci^^A^ /^ Ciyiyvd-X^-^t-^'t-^^ 
 
GO VERNORS. 
 
 
 
 "^(s^^J^F 
 
 HE HON. EPAPHRODI- 
 TUS RANSOM, the Sevenili 
 Governor of Michigan, was a 
 native of Massachusetts. In 
 ' that State he received a col- 
 legiate education, studied law, 
 and was admitted tu the bar. 
 Removing to Michigan about 
 the time of its admission to the 
 Union, he took up his residence 
 at Kalamazoo. 
 
 Mr. Ransom served with marked 
 ability for a number of years in the 
 tate Legislature, and in 1837 he was ap[iointed As- 
 Kiatc Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1843 he 
 'as promoted to Chief Justice, wliich office he re- 
 lined until 1845, when he resigned. 
 Shortly afterwards lie became deeply interested in 
 le building of plank roads in the western portion of 
 le Stale, and in this business lost the greater portion 
 f the projierty which he had accumulated by years 
 f toil and industry. 
 
 Mr. Ransom became Governor of the State of 
 iichigan in the fall of 1847, and served during one 
 erm, performing the duties of the office in a truly 
 tatesmanlike manner. He subsecpiently became 
 'resident of the Michigan Agricultural Society, in 
 ihich iwsilion he dis[)layed the same ability that 
 
 shone forth so prominently in his acts as Governor. 
 He held the office of Regent of the Michigan Univer- 
 sity several times, and ever advocated a liberal policy 
 in its management. 
 
 Subsequently he was appointed receiver of the 
 land office in one of the districts in Kansas, by Pres- 
 ident Buchanan, to which State he had removed, and 
 where he died before the e.xpiration of his ttrm of 
 office. 
 
 We sum uj) the events and affairs of the State un- 
 der Gov. Ransom's administration as follows: The 
 Asylum for the Insane was establised, as also the 
 .\sylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind. Both of 
 these institutes were liberally endowed with lands, 
 and each of them placed in charge of a board of five 
 trustees. The appropriation in 1849 for the deaf and 
 dumb and blind amounted to $81,500. On the first 
 of March, 184S, the first telegraph line was com- 
 pleted from New York to Detroit, and the first dis- 
 patch transmitted on that day. The following figures 
 show the ))rogress in agriculture : The land reported 
 as under cultivation in 184S was 1,437,460 acres; of 
 wheat there were [jroduced 4,749,300 bushels; other 
 grains, 8,197,767 bushels; wool, 1,645,756 [XJirnds; 
 maple sugar, 1,774,369 pounds; horses, 52,305; cat- 
 tle, 210,268; swine, 152,541; sheep, 610,534; while 
 the flour mills numbered 228, and the lumber mills 
 amounted to 730. 1847, an act was passed removing 
 the Legislature from Detroit to Lansing, and temi)o- 
 lary buildings for the use of the Legislature were im- 
 mediately erected, at a cost of §12,450. 
 

GO VERNOKS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 "9 
 
 ■=s^- .^4L<i:»^ ^ 
 
 ^spS'.i-iS>j>r^ , •>->5=; , ^ 
 
 ^>.f..t..t..t.t...jtjo.t.jM».t».t.-AAA.t,.i:i-.t.i^ H 
 
 OBERT McClelland, 
 
 (lovernor of Michigan from 
 Jan. 1, 1852, to March 8, 1853, 
 was l)orn at Greencastle, Frank- 
 ®nfT " • '>^ lii^ Co., Penn., Aug. i, 1807. 
 \.^C'-';' Among his ancestors were several 
 Xl officers of rank in the Revohition- 
 ary war, and some of his family con- 
 nections were distinguished in the 
 war of 1812, and that with Mexico. 
 His father was an eminent j)hysiciaii 
 and surgeon who studied under Dr. 
 Renj. Rush, of Philadelphia, and 
 I)racticed his profession successfully 
 until six months before his death, at 
 tlie age of 84 years. Although Mr. 
 VIcClelland's family had been in good circum- 
 stances, when he was 17 years old he was thrown 
 upon his own resources. After taking the usual pre- 
 liminary studies, and teaching school to obtain the 
 means, he entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle, 
 Penn., from which he graduated among the first in 
 bis class, in 1829. He then resumed teacliing, and 
 laving completed the course of study for the legal 
 )rofession, was admitted to the bar at Chambersburg, 
 Penn., in 1S31. Soon afterward he removed to the 
 :ity of Pittsburgh, where he practiced for almost a 
 rear. 
 In 1833, Mr. McClelland removed to Monroe, in 
 
 the Territory of Michigan, where, after a severe ex- 
 amination, he became a member of the bar of Michi- 
 gan, and engaged in practice with bright prospect of 
 success. In 1835, a convention was called to frame 
 a constitution for the proiX)sed State of Michigan, of 
 which Mr. McClelland was elected a member. He 
 took a prominent i)art in its deliberations and ranked 
 among its ablest debaters. He was apixiinted the 
 first Bank Commissioner of the State, by Gov. Mason, 
 and received an offer of the Attorney Generalship, but 
 declined both of these offices in order to attend to his 
 professional duties. 
 
 In 1838, Mr. McClelland was elected to the State 
 Legislature, in which he soon became distinguished 
 as the head of several imixjrtant committees. Speaker 
 J>n> tempore, and as an active, zealous and efficient 
 member. In 1840, Gen. Harrison, as a candidate for 
 the Presidency, swept the country with an overwhelm- 
 ing majority, and at the same time the State of Michi- 
 gan was carried by the Whigs under the popular cry 
 of " Woodbridge and reform " against the Democratic 
 [)arty. .\t tiiis lime Mr. McClelland stood among the 
 acknowledged leaders of the latter organization ; was 
 elected a member of the State House of Rei)resenta- 
 tives, and with others adopted a jjlan to regain a lost 
 authority and prestige. 
 
 This party soon came again into power in the State, 
 and having been returned to the State Legislature M.-. 
 McClelland's leadership was acknowledged by his 
 election as Speaker of the House of Representatives 
 
ROBERT McClelland. 
 
 in 1843. Down to this time Michigan had consti- 
 tuted one congressional district. Tlie late Hon. Jacob 
 M. Howard liad been elected against Hon, Alpheus 
 Felch by a strong majority; but, in 1843, so tiioroiighly 
 liad the Democratic party recovered from its defeat 
 of 1840 that Mr. McClelland, as a candidate forCon- 
 gress, carried Detroit district by a majority of about 
 2,500. Mr. McClelland soon toc'i a prominent po-;i 
 lion in Congress among the veteians of that body. 
 During his first term he was placed on Committee on 
 Coir'i'eice, and organized and carried through what 
 neri known as the " Harbor bills." The continued 
 confidence of his constituency was manifested in his 
 election to the 29th Congress. At the opening of this 
 session he had acquired a National reputation, and so 
 ■?vorably was he known as a parlimentarian that his 
 name was mentioned for Speaker of the House of Rep- 
 jesentatives. He declined the offer in favor of J. W. 
 Davis, of Indiana, who was elected. During this term 
 he became Chairman of Committee on Commerce, in 
 which position his leports and advocacy of imi)ortant 
 measures at once attracted public attention. The 
 members of this committee, as an evidence of the es- 
 teem in which they held his services and of their 
 personal regard for him, presented him with a cane 
 'vhich he retains as a souvenir of the donors, and of 
 his labors in Congress, 
 
 In 1847, Mr. McClelland was re-elected to Con- 
 tjress, and at the opening of the 3olh Congress be- 
 came a member of the Committee on Foreign Rela- 
 iions. While acting in this capacity, what was known 
 as the " French Spoliation Bill" came under his spe- 
 cial charge, and his management of the same was such 
 as to commahd universal approbation. While in 
 Congress, Mr McClelland was an advocate of the 
 •ight of petition as maintained by John Q. Adams, 
 wher the petition, was clothed in decorous language 
 and presented in the proper manner. This he re- 
 garded as the citizens'constitutional right which should 
 not be impaired by any doctrines of temporary expe- 
 diency. He also voted for the adoption of Mr. Gid- 
 dings s bill for the abolishing of slavery in the District 
 of Columbii Mr. McClelland was one of the few 
 Democrrts associated with David Wilmot, of Penn- 
 sylvania, in bringing forward the celebrated "Wilmot 
 Proviso, " with a view to jirevent farther extension of 
 slavery ir^ new territory which might be acquired by 
 ihe United States. He and Mr. Wilmot were to- 
 gether at the time in Washington, and on intimate 
 .-.nd confidential terms. Mr. McClelland was in sev- 
 eral National conventions and in the Baltimore con- 
 vention, which nominated Gen. Ciss for President, 
 :.'i 1848, doirig valiant service that year for the elec- 
 tion of that distinguished statesman. On leaving 
 Congress, in 1848, Mr. McClelland returned to the 
 practice of his profession at Monroe. In 1S50 a 
 convention of the State of Michigan was called to 
 revise the State constitution. He was elected a 
 
 member and was regarded therein as among the ablest 
 and most experienced leaders. His clear judgment 
 and wise moderation were conspicuous, both in the 
 committee room and on the floor, in debate. In 1850, 
 he was President of the Democratic Stateconvention 
 which ado|)ted resolutions m sup)X)rt of Henry Clay's 
 famous compromise measures, of which Mr, McClel- 
 land was a strong advocate. He was a member of 
 the Democratic National convention in 1852, and in 
 that year^, in company with Gen Cass and Governor 
 Felcli he made a thorough canvass of the State. 
 He continued earnestly to advocate the Clay com- 
 promise measures, and took an active part in the 
 canvass which resulted in the election of Gen Pierce 
 to the Presidency 
 
 In 1S5 [, the new Stat; constitution took effect and 
 it was necessary that a Governor should be elected 
 for one year in order to prevent an interregnumj and 
 to bring the State Government into operatir ". under 
 the new constitution, Mr McClelland was elected 
 Governor, and in the fall of 1852 was re-elected for 
 a term of two years, from Jan, i, 1853. His admin- 
 istration was regarded as wise, prudent and concilia- 
 tory, and was as popular as could be expected at a 
 time when party spirit ran high. There was really 
 no opix)sition,and when he resigned, in March, 1853, 
 the State Treasury was well filled, and the State 
 otherwise prosperous. So widely and favorably had 
 Mr. McClelland become known as a statesman that on 
 the organization of thecabinet by President Pierce, in 
 March, 1 85 3, he was made Secretary of the Interior, in 
 which capacity he served most creditably during four 
 years of the Pierce administration. He thoroughly 
 re-organized his department and reduced theexpend- 
 iturco He adopted a course with the Indians which 
 relieved them from the impositions and annoyances 
 of the traders, and produced harmony and civilization 
 among them. During his administration there was 
 neither complaint from the tribes nor corruption among 
 agents, and he left the department in perfect order 
 and system In 1867, Michigan again called a con- 
 vention to revise the State constitution Mr. McClel- 
 land was a member and here again his long experi- 
 ence made him conspicuous as a iirudent adviser, a 
 sagacious parliamentary leader. As a lawyer he was 
 terse and pointed in argument, clear, candid and im- 
 pressive in his addresses to the jury His sincerity 
 and earnestness, with which was occasionally mingled 
 a pleasant humor, made him an able and effective 
 advocate. In speaking before the people on political 
 subjects he was especially forcible and happy. In 
 1870 he made the tour ofEurope, which, through his 
 extensive personal acipiaintance with European d'p- 
 lomates, he was enabled to enjoy much more than 
 most travelers. 
 
 Mr. McClelland married, in 1837, Miss Sarah 
 R. Sabin,of Williamstown, Mass. They have had 
 six children two of whom now survive. 
 
'm 
 
GOVERNORSi OF MICHIGAN'. 
 
 «33 
 
 ANDREW P4R10Ni, 
 
 NI)Ri;\\ I'ARSONS, (luvcr- 
 nor of Michigan from Marcli 
 1S53 to Jan. 3, (855, was 
 1 orn in tlic town of Hoosiik, 
 County of Rensselaer, and 
 State of New York, on the 2 2cl 
 d)y of July, 1S17, and died }\\\\^ 
 6, 1S55, at the early age of 3.S 
 years. He was the son of John 
 Parbons, horn at Newburyport, 
 H(Mass., Oct. 2, 1782, and who was the 
 sonof Andrew Parsons, a Revolutionary 
 soldier, who was the son of Phineas 
 Parsons, the son of Samuel Parsons, 
 a descendant of Walter Parsons, Ixirn 
 in Ireland in 1290. 
 Of this name and fivmily, some one hundred and 
 thirty years ago, Bishop Oilson remarked in his edi- 
 tion of Camden's Britannia: "The honorable family 
 of Parsons have been advanced to the dignity of 
 Viscounts and more lately Earls of Ross." 
 
 The following are descendants of these families : 
 Sir John Parsons, born 1 481, was Mayor of Hereford; 
 Robert Parsons, born in 1546, lived near Bridgewater, 
 England. He was educated at Ballial College, Ox- 
 ford, and was a noted writer and defender of the 
 Romish faith. He established an English ('ollege at 
 Rome and another at Valladolia. Frances Parsons, 
 born in 1556, was Vicar of Rothwell, in Notingham; 
 Bartholomew Parsons, born in 161 8, was another 
 noted member of the family. In 1634, Thomas Parsons 
 was knighted by Charles I. Joseph and Benjamin, 
 brothers, were born in Great Torrington, England, 
 
 and aicoMiiiaiiietl their f.ither and others to New 
 Ivigland about 1630. .Sauiuel Parsons, born at Salis- 
 bury, Mass., in i7<j7, graduated at Harvard College in 
 1730, ordained at Rye, N. H., Nov. 3, 1736, married 
 Mary Jones, daughter of Samuel Jones, of Boston, 
 ,Oct. 9, 1739, died Jan. 4, 1789, at the age of 82, in 
 the S3rd year of his ministry. The grandfather of Mary 
 Jones was Capt. John Adams, of Boston, grandson 
 of Henry, of Braintree, who was among the first set- 
 tlers of Massachusetts, and from whom a numerous 
 race of the name are descended, includii:.g two Presi- 
 dents of the United States. The Parsons have be- 
 come very numerous and afe found throughout New 
 England, and many of the descedants are scattered 
 ill all parts of the United States, and especially in 
 the Middle and Western States. Governor Andrew 
 Parsons came to Michigan in 1835, at the age of 17 
 years, and si)ent the first sinnmer at Lower Ann 
 .\ri)or, where for a few months he taught school which 
 he was compelled to abandon from ill health 
 
 I le was one of the large number of men of sterling 
 worth, who came from the East to Michigan when it 
 was an infant State, or, even prior to its assuming 
 the dignity of a State, and who, by their wisdom, 
 enterprise and energy, have developed its wonderful 
 natural resources, until to-day it ranks with thei)roud- 
 est States of the Union. These brave men came to 
 Michigan with nothing to aid them in the conquest 
 of the wilderness save courageous hearts and strong 
 and willing hands. They gloriously concpiered, how- 
 ever, and tc them is due all honor for the labors 
 so nobly performed, for the solid and sure foundation 
 which they laid of a great Commonwealth. 
 
134 
 
 ANDREW PARSONS 
 
 In the fall of 1835, he explored the Grand River 
 Valley in a frail canoe, the whole length of the river, 
 from Jackson to Lake Michigan, and spent the following 
 winter as clerk in a store at Prairie Creek, in Ionia, 
 County, and in the spring went to Marshall, where he 
 resided witii his brother, the Hon. Luke H. Parsons, 
 also now deceased, until fall, when he went to Shia- 
 wasseCounty,then with Clinton County, and an almost 
 unbroken wilderness and constituting one organized 
 township. In 1837 this territory was organized into 
 a county and, at the age of only 19 years, he (An- 
 drew) was elected County Clerk. In 1S40, he was 
 elected Register of Deeds, re-elected in 1842, and 
 also in 1844. In 1846, he was elected to the State 
 Senate, was appointed Prosecuting Attorney in 1848, 
 and elected Regent of the University in 1851, and 
 Lieutenant Governor, and became acting Governor, 
 in 1853, elected again to the Legislature in 1854, and, 
 overcome by debilitated healtli, hard labor and the 
 resixsnsibilities of his office and cares of his business, 
 retired to his farm, where he died soon after. 
 
 He was a fluent and persuasive si)eaker and well 
 calculated to make friends of his acquantances. He 
 was always true to his trust, and the whole world 
 could not persuade nor drive him to do what he con- 
 ceived to be wrong. When Governor, a most power- 
 ful railroad influence was brought to bear upon him, 
 to induce him to call an extra session of the Legisla- 
 ture. Meetings were held in all parts of the State 
 for that purpose. In some sections the resolutions 
 were of a laudatory nature, intending to make him do 
 their bidding by resort to friendly and flattering words. 
 In other places the resolutions were of a demanding 
 nature, while in others they were threatening beyond 
 measure. Fearing that all these influences might 
 /ail to induce him to call the e.Ktra session, a large 
 sum of money was sent him, and liberal offers ten- 
 dered him if he would gratify the railroad interest of 
 the State and call the extra session, but, immovable, 
 he returned the money and refused to receive 
 any favois, whether from any party who would at- 
 tempt to coiru'-t Mm by laudations, liberal offers, or 
 
 by threats, and in a short letter to the people, after 
 giving overwhelming reasons that no sensible man 
 could dispute, showing the circumstances were not 
 "extraordinary," he refused to call the extra session. 
 This brought down the wrath of various parties upon 
 his head, but they were soon forced to acknowledge 
 the wisdom and the justice of his course. One of 
 his greatest enemies said, after a long acquaintance: 
 "though not always coinciding with his views I never 
 doubted his honesty of purpose. He at all times 
 sought to perform his duties in strict accordance, 
 with the dictates of his conscience, and the behests 
 ofhisoath." The following eulogium from a politcal op- 
 ponent is just in its conception and creditalile to its 
 author: "Gov. Parsons was a ixjlitician of the Dem- 
 ocratic school, a man of pure moral character, fixed 
 and exemplary habits, and entirely blameless in every 
 public and private relation of life. As a ix)litician he 
 was candid, frank and free from bitterness, as an ex- 
 ecutive officer firm, constant and reliable." The 
 highest commendations we can pay the deceased is 
 to give his just record,— that of being an honest man. 
 In the spring of 1854, during the administration of 
 Governor Parsons, the Republican party, at least 
 as a .State organization, was first formed in the LTnited 
 States "under the oaks" at Jackson, by anti-slavery 
 men of both the old parties. Great excitement pre- 
 vailed at this time, occasioned by the settling of 
 Kansas, and the issue thereby brought iqi, whether 
 slavery should exist there. For the purpose of permit- 
 ting slavery there, the " Missouri compromise " (which 
 limited slavery to the south of 36" ya) was re- 
 repealed, under the leadership of Stephen A, Douglas. 
 This was repealed by a bill admitting Kansas and 
 Nebraska into the Union, as Territories, and those who 
 were opposed to this repeal measure were in short 
 called " anti-N'ebraska" men. The epithets, "Ne- 
 braska" and "anti-Nebraska," were temporally em- 
 ployed to designate the slavery and anti-slaveiy 
 parties, pending the desolution of the old Democratic 
 and Wiiig parties ;md the organization of the new 
 Democratic and Republican parties of the present. 
 
GO VEIi^rOKS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 '37 
 
 'V^i ytav>t!3j>,s»i ;.'in.'.';.'> 
 
 ,' ; i'. ; I'^tgSit^'sgi'^t^ j'<; Ji 
 
 m KiNSLRY ©. BlNQHAM. m 
 
 Yf\ 
 
 
 INSLEY S. BINGHAM, 
 Governor of Michigan from 
 1855 to 1859, and United 
 States Senator, was born in 
 Camilhis, Onondaga Count)', 
 N. v., Dec. 16, iSoS. His 
 father was a farmer, and his own 
 early hfe was consequently de- 
 voted to agricultural pursuits, Inii 
 notwithstanding the disadvan- 
 tages related to the acquisition 
 of knowledge in the life of a farmer 
 he managed to secure a good aca- 
 demic education in his native State 
 and studied law in the office of 
 Gen. James R. Lawrence, now of 
 /: Syracuse, N. Y. In the spring of 
 ^ I S33, he married an c'stiniable lady 
 who had recently arrived from Scot- 
 land, and ol)eying the impulse of a 
 naturally enterprising disposition, 
 he emigrated to Michigan and 
 purchased a new fann in company 
 with his brother-in-law, Mr. Robert 
 Worden, in Green Oak, Livingston County. Here, on 
 the border of civilization, buried in the primeval for- 
 est, our late student commenced the ardious task of 
 preparing a future home, clearing and fencing, put- 
 ting up buildings, etc., at suih a rate that the land 
 
 chosen wa.5 soon reduced to a high state of cultivation. 
 
 Becoming deservedly prominent, Mr. Bingham was 
 elected to the office of Justice of the Peace and Post- 
 master under the Territorial government, and was the 
 first Probate Judge in the county. In the year 1S36, 
 wlien Michigan 1 ecanie a State, he was elected to the 
 first Legislature. He was four times re-elected, and 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives three years. 
 In 1 846 he was elected on the Democratic ticket, Rejv 
 resentative to Congress, and was the only practical 
 farmer in that body. He was never forgetful of the 
 interest of agriculture, and was in particular opposed 
 to the introduction of " Wood's Patent ("ast Iron 
 Plow " which he completely prevented. He was re- 
 elected to Congress in 1848, during which time lie 
 strongly opposed the extension of slavery in the 
 territory of the United States and was cominitted to 
 and voted for the Wilmot Proviso. 
 
 In 1S54, at the first organization of the Republican 
 party, in consecjuence of his record in Congress as a 
 Free Soil Democrat, Mr. Bingham was nominated 
 and elected Governor of the State, and re-elected in 
 1856. Still faithful to the memory of his own formei 
 occupation, he did not forget the farmers during his 
 administration, and among other profits of his zeal in 
 their behalf, he became mainly instrumental in the 
 establishment of the Agricultural College at Lansing. 
 
 In 1859, Governor Bingham was elected Senator in 
 Congress and took an active part in the stormy cam- 
 p.iign in the election of Abraham Lincoln. He wit- 
 
'38 
 
 KINSLEY S. BINGHAM. 
 
 nessed the commencement of the civil war while a 
 member of the United States Senate. After a com- 
 paratively short life of remarkable promise and pub- 
 lic activity he was attacked with appopiexy and died 
 suddenly at his residence, in Green Oak, Oct. 5, 1861. 
 
 The most noticable event in Governor Bingham's 
 first term was the completion of the ship canal, at the 
 Falls of St. Mary. In 1S52, Angust 26, an act of 
 Congress was approved, granting to the State of Mich- 
 igan seven hundred and fifty thousand acres of land 
 for the purpose of constructing a ship canal between 
 Lakes Huron and Superior. In 1853, the Legislature 
 accepted the grant, and provided for the appointment 
 of commissioners to select the donated lands, and to 
 arrange for building the canal. A company of enter- 
 prising men was formed, and a contract was entered 
 into by which it was arranged that the canal should 
 be finished in two years, and the work was pushed 
 rapidly forward. Every article of consumption, ma- 
 chinery, working implements and materials, timber 
 for the gates, stones for the locks, as well as men and 
 supplies, had to be transported to the site of the canal 
 from Detroit, Cleveland, and other lake ports. The 
 rapids which had to be surmounted have a fall of 
 seventeen feet and are about one mile long. The 
 length of the canal is less than one mile, its width one 
 hundred feet, depth twelve feet and it has two locks 
 of solid masonary. In May, 1855, the work was com- 
 pleted, accepted by the commissioners, and formally 
 delivered to the State authorities. 
 
 The disbursements on account of the construction 
 of the canal and selecting the lands amounted to one 
 million of dollars ; while the lands which were as- 
 signed to the company, and selected through the 
 agency at the Sault, as well as certain lands in the 
 Upper and Lower Peninsulas, filled to an acre the 
 Government grant. The opening of the canal was 
 an important event in the history of the improvement 
 of the State. It was a valuable link in the chain of 
 lake commerce, and particularly important to the 
 interests of the Upper Peninsula. 
 
 There were several educational, charitable and re- 
 formatory institutions inaugurated and opened during 
 Gov. Bingham's administrations. The Michigan Ag- 
 ricultural College owes its establishment to a provision 
 of the St.ite Constitution of 1850. Article 13 says, 
 " The Legislature shall, as soon as practicable, |)ro- 
 vide for the establishment of an agricultural school." 
 For the purpose of carying into practice this provision, 
 legislation was commenced in 1S55, and the act re- 
 quired that the school should be within ten miles of 
 Lansing, and that not more than $15 an acre should 
 be paid for the farm and college grounds. The col- 
 lege was opened to students in May, 1857, the first of 
 existing argricultural colleges in the United States 
 Until the spring of i86i,it was under the control 
 of the State Board of Education; since that time it 
 has been under the management of the State Board 
 
 of Agriculture, which was created for that purpose. 
 
 In its essential features, of combining study and 
 labor, and of uniting general and professional studies 
 in its course, the college has remained virtually un- 
 changed from the first. It has a steady growth in 
 number of students, in means of illustration and 
 efficiency of instruction. 
 
 The Agricultural College is three miles east of 
 Lansing, comprising several fine buildings; and there 
 are also very beautiful, substantial residences for the 
 professors. There are also an extensive, well-filled 
 green-bouse, a verj- large and well-equipped chemical 
 laboratory, one of the most scientific apiaries in the 
 United Stales, a general museum, a meseum of me- 
 chanical inventions, another of vegetable products, 
 extensive barns, piggeries, etc., etc., in fine trim for 
 the purposes designed. The farm consists of 676 
 acres, of which about 300 are under cultivation in a 
 systematic rotation of crops. 
 
 Adrian College was established by the Wesleyan 
 Methodists in 1859, now under the control of the 
 Methodist Church. The grounds contain about 20 
 acres. There are four buildings, capable of accom- 
 modating about 225 students. Attendance in 1S75 
 was 179; total number of graduates for previous year, 
 121 ; ten professors and teachers are employed. Ex- 
 clusive of the endowment fund ($80,000), the assets 
 of the institution, including grounds, buildings, furni- 
 ture, apparatus, musical instruments, outlying lands, 
 etc., amount to more than $137,000. 
 
 Hillsdale College was established in 1855 by the 
 Free Baptists. The Michigan Central College, at 
 Spring Arbor, was incorporated in 1845 It was kept 
 in operation until it was merged into the present 
 Hillsdale College. The site comprises 25 acres, 
 beautifully situated on an eminence in the western 
 part of the city of Hillsdale. The large and impos- 
 ing building first erected was nearly destroyed by fire 
 in 1874, and in its place five buildings of a more 
 modern style have been erected. They are of brick, 
 three stories with basement, arranged on three sides 
 of a cpiadrangle. The size is, respectively, 80 by 80, 
 48 by 72, 48 by 72, 80 by 60, 52 by 72, and they con- 
 tain one-half more room than the original buildmg. 
 
 The State Reform School. This was established 
 at Lansing in 1855, in the northeastern portion of the 
 city, as the House of Correction for Juvenile Of- 
 fenders, having about it many of the features of a 
 prison. In 1859 the name was changed to the State 
 Reform School. The government and dicipline, have 
 undergone many and radical changes, until all the 
 prison features have been removed ejfcept those that 
 remain in the walls of the original structure, and 
 which remain only as monuments of instructive his- 
 tory. No bolts, bars or guards are employed. The 
 inmates are necessarily kept under the surveillance of 
 officers, but the attempts at escape are much fewer 
 than under the more rigid regime of former days. 
 
a~^j2^ J^A^L^^u-w^-^----^ 
 
GO VKRXORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 OSES WISNER. Governor of 
 ^Michigan from 185910 1861, 
 'was born in Springport, Cayu- 
 ga Co., N Y., June 3, 1815. 
 
 - ^ ,- . . . r-r^ His early education was only 
 
 itf Xfe ■j/^'^' what could be obtained at a 
 ' '"'^ 5 common school. Agricultural labor 
 ind frugality of his parents gave 
 him a piiysical constitution of imus- 
 ual strength and endurance, which 
 Mwas ever preserved by temperate hab- 
 its. In 1837 he emigrated to Michi- 
 n*J^ gan and purchased a farm in Lapeer 
 Wy^ County It was new land and he at 
 \^L once set to work to clear it and plant 
 y^ crops. He labored diligently at his 
 task for two years, when he gave up 
 the idea of being a farmer, and removed to Pontiac, 
 ( )akland Co. Here he connnenced the study of law 
 in tlie office of his brother, George W. Wisner, and 
 Kufus Hosmer. In 1841 he was admitted to tli2 bar 
 and established himself in his new vocation at the 
 village of Lapeer. While there he was appjxjinted 
 by Gov. Woodbridge Prosecuting Attorney for that 
 <ounty, in which capacity he acquitted himself well 
 and gave promise of that eminence he afterward at- 
 tained in the profession. He remained at Lapeer but 
 a short time, removing to Pontiac, where he became 
 a member of a firm and entered fully u]X5n tlic 
 pr.iciice. 
 
 In (Kilitics he was like his talented brother, a Whig 
 oV ihc Henry Clay stamp, but with a decided anti- 
 slaver) bias. His (iractice becoming e.xtensive, he 
 
 took little part in politics until after the election of 
 Mr. Pierce to the Presidency in 1852, when he took an 
 active part against slavery. As a lawyer he was a 
 man of great ability, but relied less ujxjn mere book 
 learning than upon his native good sense. Libeial 
 and courteous, was he yet devoted to the interest of 
 his client, and no facts escaped his attention or his 
 memory which bore upon the case. He was no friend 
 of trickery or artifice in conducting a case As an ad- 
 vocate he had few equals. When fully aroused by tiie 
 merits of his subject his eloquence was at once grace- 
 ful and powerful. His fancies supplied the most 
 original, the most jxainted illustrations, and his logic 
 became a battling giant under whose heavy blows the 
 adversary shrank and withered. Nature had be- 
 stowed upon him rare qualities, and his powers as a 
 iwpular orator were of a high order. 
 
 On the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 
 1854, repealing the Missouri compromise andoi>ening 
 the Territories to slavery, he was among the foremost 
 in Michigan to denounce the shamful scheme. He 
 actively participated in organizing and consolidating 
 the elements opjKjsed to it in that State, and was a 
 member of the popular gathering at Jackson, in July, 
 1854, which was tlie first formal Republican Conven- 
 tion held in the United States. At this meeting the 
 name " Republican " was adopted as a designation of 
 tlie new party consisting of Anti-slavery, Whigs, 
 Liberty men. Free Soil Democrats and all otiiers op- 
 iwsed to the e.xtension of slaverj' and favorable to i's 
 expulsion from the 'I'erritories and the District of 
 Columbia. At this convention Mr. W. was urped to 
 accept the nomination for .\ttomey General of the 
 
142 
 
 MOSES WISNRK. 
 
 State, but declined. An entire State ticket was nom- 
 inated and at the annual election in November was 
 elected by an average majority of nearly 10,000. 
 Mr. W . was enthusiastic in the cause and brought to 
 its support all his personal influence and talents. In 
 his views he was bold and radical. He believed from 
 the beginning that the political power of the slave- 
 holders would have to be overthrown before quiet 
 could be secured to the country. In the Presidential 
 canvass of 1856 he supjxjrted the Fremont, or Re- 
 publican, ticket. At the session of the Legislature of 
 1857 he was a candidate for United States Senator, 
 and as such received a very handsome support. 
 
 In 1858, he was nominated for Governor of the 
 State by the Republican convention that met at De- 
 troit, and at the subsequent November election was 
 chosen by a very large majority. Before the day of 
 the election he had addressed the people of almost 
 cveiy county and his majority was greater even than 
 that of his popular predecessor, Hon. K. S. Bingham. 
 He served as Governor two years, from Jan. i, 1859, 
 lo Jan. I, 1861. His first message to the Legislature 
 was an able and statesman-like production, and was 
 read with usual favor. It showed that he was awake 
 to all the interests of the State and set forth an en- 
 lightened State policy, that had its view of the rapid 
 settlement of our uncultivated lands and the -devel- 
 opment of our immense agricultural and mineral re- 
 sources. It was a document that reflected the highest 
 credit ujxjn the author. 
 
 His term having e.xpired Jan. i, 1861, he returned 
 }o his home in Pontiac, and to the practice of his 
 profession. Tliere were those in the State wlio 
 counselled the sending of delegates to the peace con- 
 ference at Washington, but Mr. W. was opposed to all 
 such temiK>rizing expedients. His counsel was lo 
 send no delegate, but to prepare to fight. 
 
 After Congress had met and passed the necessary 
 .egislation he resoKed to take part in the war. In 
 the spring and summer of 1862 he set to work to 
 raise a regiment of infantry, chiefly in Oakland 
 County, where he resided. His regiment, the 2 2d 
 Michigan, was armed and equipped and ready to 
 march in September, a regiment whose solid quali- 
 ties were afterwards proven on many a bloody field. 
 Col. W's. commission bore the date of Sept. 8, 1862. 
 Before parting with his family he made his will. His 
 regiment was sent to Kentucky and quartered at 
 
 Camp Wallace. He had at the breaking out of the 
 war turned his attention to military studies and be- 
 came proficient in the ordinary rules and discipline. 
 His entire attention was now devoted to his duties. 
 His treatment of his men was kind, though his disci- 
 pline was rigid. He possessed in an eminent degree 
 the spirit of command, and had he lived he would 
 no doubt have distinguished himself as a good 
 officer. He was impatient of delay and chafed at 
 being kept in Kentucky where there was so little 
 prospect of getting at the enemy. But life in camp, 
 so different from the one he had been leading, and 
 iiis incessant labors, coupled with that impatience 
 which was so natural and so general among the vol- 
 unteers in the early part of the war, soon made their 
 influence felt upon his health. He was seized with 
 typhoid fever and removed to a private house near 
 Lexington. Every care which medical skill or the 
 liand of friendship could bestow was rendered him. 
 In the delirious wanderings of his mind he was dis- 
 ciplining his men and urging them to be prepared for 
 an encounter with the enemy, enlarging upon the jus- 
 tice of their cause and the necessity of their crush- 
 ing the Rebellion. But the source of his most poig- 
 nant gnet was the prospect of not being able to come 
 to a hand-to-hand encounter with the "chivalry." 
 He was proud of his regiment, and felt that if it could 
 find the enemy it would cover itself with glory, — a 
 distinction it afterward obtained, but not until Col. W. 
 was no more. The malady baffled all medical treat- 
 ment, and on the 5th day of Jan., 1863, he breathed 
 his last. His remains were removed to Michigan and 
 interred in the cemetery at Pontiac, where they rest 
 by the side of the brave Gen. Richardson, who re- 
 ceived his mortal wound at the battle of Antietam. 
 Col. W. was no adventurer, although he was doubtless 
 ambitious of military renown and would have striven 
 for it with characteristic energy. He went to the war 
 to defend and ujjhold the principles he had so much 
 at heart. Few men were more familiar tjian he with 
 the causes and the miderlying principles that led to 
 the contest. He left a wife, who was a daughter of 
 Gen. C. C. Hascall, of Flint, and four children to 
 mourn his loss. Toward them he ever showed the 
 tenderest regard. Next to his duty their love and 
 welfare engrossed his thoughts. He was kind, gen- 
 erous and brave, and like thousands of otheis he 
 sleeps the sleep of the martyr for his country. 
 
J^ (j-4n^\^ 
 
GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 '45 
 
 
 '>- 
 
 )) ^- .t A .t.*..t..jt«-*.t..t.,.-t 
 
 :V±v.t„i, * A.t., Avtvi A ±, A*,±, A, .t.~t.r Kt«.1'.*^.+»^^ 
 
 -B^.JB 
 
 ^^sf^. "•''vs^SP^ 
 
 USTIN BLAIR, Governor 
 1^1 of Michigan from Jan. z, 
 iS6i, to Jan. 4, 1865, and 
 kown as the War Governor, is 
 uid illustration of the benifi- 
 i cnt influence of republican in- 
 ' blitutions, having inherited neith- 
 er fortune nor fame. He was horn 
 in a log cabin at Caroline, Toinp- 
 knis Co., N. Y., Feb. S, 1818. 
 His ancestors came from Scot- 
 land in the time of George I, and 
 for many generations followed the 
 ■Sl^ pursuit of agriculture. His father, 
 George Hlair, settled in Tompkins 
 County in 1809, and felled the trees and erected the 
 first cabin in the county. The last 60 of the four- 
 score and four years of his life were spent on that 
 spot. He married Rhoda Blackmail, who now sleeps 
 with him in the soil of theold homestead. Thefirst 
 17 years of his life were spent there, rendering his 
 father what aid he could ajxan the farm. He then 
 spent a year and a half in Cazenovia Seminary ])re- 
 paring for college; entered Hamilton College, in 
 Clinton, prosecuted his studies until the middle of 
 the junior year, when, attracted by the fame of Dr. 
 Noit, he changed to Union College, from which he 
 graduated in the class of 1839. Upon leaving col- 
 iege Mr. Blair read law two years in the office of Sweet 
 & D.avis, Owego, N Y., and was admitted to practice 
 va i?54i, and the same year moved to Michigan, locat- 
 
 ing in Jackson. During a tennx)rary residence in 
 Eaton Rapids, in 1842, he was elected Clerk of Eaton 
 County. At the close of the official term he returned lo 
 Jackson, and as a Whig, zealously csixjused the cause 
 of Henry Clay in the campaign of 1844. He was chosen 
 Repiesenialive lo the Legislature in 1845, at which 
 session, as a member of the Judiciary Committee, he 
 rendered valuable service in the revision of the gen- 
 eral statutes ; also made an able report in favor o{ 
 abolishing the color distinction in relation to the elec- 
 tive franchise, and at the same session was active in 
 securing the abolition of capital punishment. In 1848 
 Mr. Blair refused longer to affiliate with the Whig 
 party, because of its refusial to endorse in convention 
 any anti-slavery sentiment. He joined the Free-soil 
 movement, and was a delegate to their convention 
 which nominated Van Buren for President that year. 
 Upon the birth of the Republican party at Jackson, 
 in 1854, by the coalition of the Whig and Free-soil 
 elements, Mr. Blair was in full sympathy with the 
 movement, and acted as a member of the Committee 
 on Platform. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney 
 of Jackson County in 1852 ; was chosen State Senator 
 two years later, taking his seat with the incoming Re- 
 publican administration of 1855, and holding the 
 [X)sition of parliamentary leader in the Senate. He 
 was a delegate to the National Convention which 
 nominated Abraham Lincoln in i860. Mr. Elair 
 was elected Governor of Michigan in i860, and re- 
 elected in 1S62, faithfully and honorably discharging 
 the arduous duties of the office during that most mo- 
 
146 
 
 A US TIN BLAIR. 
 
 meiUous and stormy period of the Nation's life. Gov. 
 Blair possessed a clear comprehension of the perilous 
 situation from the inception of the Rebellion, and his 
 inaugural address foreshadowed the prompt executive 
 policy and the administrative ability which charac- 
 terized his gubernatorial career. 
 
 Never perhaps in the history of a nation has a 
 hrigliter example been liid down, or a greater sacri- 
 fice been made, than that which distinguished Mich- 
 igan daring the civil war. All, from the " War Gov- 
 ernor." down to the poorest citizen of the State, were 
 animated with a patriotic ardor at once magnificiently 
 sublime and wisely directed. 
 
 Very early in 1861 tlie coming struggle cast its 
 shadow over tlie Nation. Governor Blair, in his mes- 
 sage to the Legislature in January of that year, dwelt 
 very forcibly upon the sad prospects of civil war; and 
 as forcibly pledged the State to support the principles 
 of the Republic. After a review of the conditions 
 of the State, he passed on to a consideration of the 
 relations between the free and slave States of the 
 Republic, saying: " While we are citizens of tlie State 
 of Michigan, and as such deeply devoted to her in- 
 terests and honor, we have a still prouder title. We 
 are also citizeas of the United States of America. By 
 this title we are known among the nations of the earth. 
 In remote quarters of the globe, where the names of 
 the States are unknown, the flag of the great Republic, 
 the banner of the stars and stripes, honor and protect 
 her citizens. In whatever concerns the honor, the 
 prosperity and the perpetuity of this great Govern- 
 ment, we are deeply interested. The people of Mich- 
 igan are loyal to that Government — faithful to its con- 
 stitution and its laws. Under it they have had peace 
 and prosperity; and under it they mean to abide to 
 the end. Feeling a just pride in the glorious history 
 of the past, they will not renounce the equally glo- 
 rious hopes of the future. But they will r.ally around 
 the standards of the Nation and defend its integrity 
 and its constitution, with fidelity." The final para- 
 graph being: 
 
 " I recommend you at an early day to make mani- 
 
 fest to the gentlemen who represent this State in the 
 two Houses of Congress, and to the country, that 
 Michigan is loyal to the Union, the Constitution, and 
 the laws and will defend them to the uttermost; and 
 to proffer to the President of the United States, the 
 whole military jxiwer of the State for that purixjse. 
 Oh, for the firm, steady hand of a Washington, or a 
 Jackson, to guide the ship of State in this perilous 
 storm ! Let us hope that we will find him on the 4th 
 of March. Meantime, let us abide in the faith of our 
 fathers — ' Liberty and Union, one and inseparable, 
 now and forever.' " 
 
 How this stirring appeal was responded to by the 
 people of Michigan will be seen by the statement 
 that the State furnished 88,1 1 1 men during the war. 
 Money, men, clothing and food were freely and abun- 
 dantly supplied by this State during all these years of 
 darkness and blood shed. No State won a brighter 
 record for her devotion to our country than the Pen- 
 insula State, and to Gov. Blair, more than to any 
 other individual is due the credit for its untiring zeal 
 and labors in the Nation's behalf, and for the heroism 
 manifested in its defense. 
 
 Gov. Blair was elected Representative to the 
 Fortieth Congress, and twice re-elected, to the Forty- 
 first and Forty-second Congress, from the Third Dis- 
 trict of Michigan. While a member of that body he 
 was a strong sujJiXJtter of reconstruction measures, 
 and sternly opposed every form of repudiation. His 
 speech upon the national finances, delivered on the 
 floor of the House March 21, 1868, was a clear and 
 convincing argument. Since his retirement from Con- 
 gress, Mr. Blair has been busily occupied with his e.x- 
 tensive law practice. Mr. Blair married Sarah L. 
 Ford, of Seneca County N. Y., in February, 1849. 
 Their family consists of 4 sons — George H., a postal 
 clerk in the railway mail service; Charles A., partner 
 with his father; Fred. J. and Austin T., at home. 
 Governor Blair's religion is of the broad type, and 
 centers in the "Golden Rule." In 1883, Gov. Blair 
 was nominated for Justice of the Supreme Court 
 of the State by the Republican pirty, but was defeated. 
 
c/^^P^:^^^^ /V-, {^aJiycr-^ 
 
GO VERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 HENRY K. CRAPO* 
 
 IIM' 
 
 'm. 
 
 \ ENRY HOWLANDCRAPO, 
 (1) Governor of Michigan from 
 
 f' "1865 to 1869, was born M;iy 
 24, 1804, at Dartinoutli, hris- 
 tol Co., Mass., and died at 
 Flint, Mich., July 22, 1S69. 
 He was the eldest son of Jesse 
 and Phitbe (Howland) Crapo. 
 His father was of French descent 
 and was very poor, sustaining his 
 ) family i>y the cultivation of a farm in 
 Dartmouth township, which yielded 
 \ nothing beyond a mere livelihood. 
 His early life was consequently one 
 of toil and devoid of advantages for 
 intellectual culture, but his desire for 
 an education seemed to know no bounds. The in- 
 cessant toil for a mere subsistence uixjn a compara- 
 tively sterile farm, had no charm for him ; and, longing 
 for greater u.sefulness and better things, he looked for 
 them in an education. His struggles to secure this 
 end necessitated sacrifices and hardships that would 
 have discouraged any hut the most courageous and 
 persevering. He became an ardent student and 
 worker from his boyhood, though the means of carry- 
 ing on his studies were exceedingly limited. He 
 sorely felt the need of a dictionary; and, neither having 
 money wherewith to i)urchase it, nor being able to 
 procure one in his neighborhood, he set out to compile 
 one for himself. In order to acijuire a knowledge of 
 the English language, he cojned into a book every 
 word whose meaning he did not comprehend, and 
 U[K)ii uieeting the same word again in the newspapers 
 and looks, wlricli came into his hands, from the 
 
 context, would then record the definition. Whenever 
 unable otherwise to obtain the signification of a word 
 in which he liad become interested he would walk 
 from Dartmouth to New Bedford for that purixjse 
 alone, and after referring to the books at the library 
 and satisfynig himself thoroughly as to its definition, 
 would walk back, a distance of about seven miles, 
 the same night. This was no unusual circumstance. 
 Under such difficulties and in this manner he com- 
 piled ([uite an extensive dictionary in manuscrip*^ 
 which is believed to be still in existence. 
 
 Ever in pursuit of knowledge, he obtained fwsses- 
 sion of a book upon surveying, and applying himself 
 diligently to its study became familiar with this art; 
 which he soon had an opportunity to practice. The 
 services of a land surveyor were wanted, and he was 
 called uixjn, but had no compass and no money with 
 which to purchase one. A compass, however, he 
 must and would have, and going to a blacksmith shop 
 near at hand, \\\pn the forge, with such tools as he 
 could find in the shop, while the smith was at dinner, 
 he constructed the compass and commenced life as a 
 surveyor. Still continuing his studies, he fitted him- 
 self for teaching, and took charge of the village school 
 at Dartmouth. When, in the course of time and un- 
 der the pressure of law, a high school was to be 
 opened, he passed a successful examination for its 
 principalship and received the appointment. To do 
 this was no small task. The law recpiired a rigid 
 examination in various subjects, which necessitated 
 days and nights of study. One evening, after con- 
 cluding his day's labor of teaching, he traveled on foot 
 to New Bedford, some seven or eight miles, called 
 upon the preceptor of Friend's .\cadeniy and passed 
 
15° 
 
 HENRY HOWL AND CRAPO. 
 
 a severe examination. Receiving a certificate that 
 he was quahfied, he walked back to his home the 
 same night, highly elated in being possessed of the 
 acquirements and recjuirements of a master of the 
 high school. 
 
 In 1832, at the age of 28 years, lie left liis native 
 town and went to reside at New Bedford, where lie 
 followed the occupation of land surveyor, and oc- 
 casionally acted as an auctioneer Soon after becom- 
 i.ig a citizen of this place, he was elected Town Clerk, 
 Treasurer, and Collector of ta.xes, which office he held 
 until the municipal government was changed, — about 
 fifteen years, — when, upon the inauguration of the city 
 government, he was elected Treasurer and Collector 
 of taxes, a position which lie held two or three years. 
 He was also Justice of the Peace for many years. 
 He was elected Alderman of New Bedford ; was 
 Chairman of Council Committee on Education, and 
 a; such prepared a report uiion which was based the 
 order for the establishment of the free Public Library 
 of New Bedford. On its organization, Mr. Crapo was 
 chosen a member of the Board of Trustees. This 
 was the first free public library in Massachusetts, if 
 not in the world. The Boston Free Library was es- 
 tablished, however, soon afterwards. While a resident 
 in New Bedford, he was much interested in horticul- 
 ture, and to obtain the land necessary for carrying out 
 his ideas he drained and reclaimed several acres of 
 rocky and swampy land adjoining his garden. Here 
 he started a nursery, which he filled with almost every 
 description of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, 
 flowers, etc. \\\ this he was very successful and took 
 great pride. He was a regular contributorto the New 
 England Horticultural Journal, a position he filled 
 as long as he livctl in Massachusetts. As an indica- 
 tion of the wide reputation he acquired in that field 
 of labor, it may be mentioned that after his death an 
 affecting eulogy to his memory was [ironounced by the 
 President of the National Horticultural Society at its 
 meeting in Philadel[)hia, in 1869. During his resi- 
 dence in New Bedford, Mr. Crapo was also engaged 
 in the whaling business. A fine barque built at Dart- 
 mouth, of which he was part owner, was named the 
 "H. H. Crapo" in compliment to him. 
 
 Mr. C. also took part in the State Militia, and for 
 several years held a commission as Colonel of one of 
 the regiments. He was President of the Bristol 
 County Mutual Fire Insurance Co., and Secretary of 
 the Bedford Commercial Insurance Company in New 
 Bedford; and while an officer of the municipal gov- 
 ernmenthecompileJ and published, between the years 
 1836 and 1845, five numbers of the New Bedford 
 Directory the first work of the kind ever published 
 there. 
 
 Mr. C. removed to Michigan in 1856, having been 
 induced to do so by investments made principally in 
 pine lands, first in 1837 and subsequently in 1856. 
 He took up his residence in the city of Flint, and en- 
 
 gaged largely in the manufacture and sale of lumber 
 at Flint, Fentonville, Holly and Detroit, becoming 
 one of the largest and most successful business men 
 of the State. He was mainly instrumental in the 
 construction of the Flint & Holly R. R., and was 
 President of that corporation milil its consolidation 
 with the Flint & Pere Marquette R. R. Company. 
 He was elected Mayor of that city after he had teen 
 a resident of the place only five or six years. In 
 1862 he was elected State Senator. In the fall of 
 1864 he received the nomination on the Republican 
 ticket for Governor of the State, and was elected by a 
 large majority. He was re-elected in 1866, holding 
 the office two terms, and retiring in January, 1869, 
 having given the greatest satisfaction to all parties. 
 
 While serving his last term he was attacked with a 
 disease which terminated his life within one year 
 afterwards. During much of this time he was an in- 
 tense sufferer, yet often while in great pain gave his 
 attention to public matters. A few weeks previous 
 to his death a successful surgical operation was jier- 
 formed which seemed rapidly to restore him, but he 
 overestimated his strength, and by too much exertion 
 in business matters and State affairs suffered arelapse 
 from which there was no rebound, and he died July 
 iZ. 1869. 
 
 In the early part of his life, Gov. Crapo affiliated 
 with the Whig party in politics, but became an active 
 member of the Repul)lican party after its organization. 
 He was a member of the Christian (sometimes called 
 the Disciples') Church, and took great interest in its 
 welfare and prosperity. 
 
 Mr. C. married, June 9, 1825, Mary A. .Slocuni, 
 of Dartmouth. His marriage took place soon after 
 he had attained his majority, and before his struggles 
 with fortune had been rewarded with any great meas- 
 ure of success. But his wife was a woman of great 
 strength of character and possessed of courage, hope- 
 fulness and devotion, qualities which sustained and 
 encouraged her husband in the various pursuits of 
 his early years. For several years after his marriage 
 he was engaged in teaching school, his wife living 
 with her parents at the time, at whose home his two 
 older children were born. While thus situated he 
 was accustomed to walk home on Saturday to see 
 his family, returning on Sunday in order to be ready 
 for school Monday morning. As the walk for a good 
 part of the time was 20 miles each way, it is evident 
 that at that period of his life no common obstacles 
 deterred him from performing what he regarded 
 as a duty. His wife was none the less consci- 
 entious in her sphere, and with added responsibilities 
 and increasing requirements she labored faithfully 
 in the ])erfo'-mance of all her duties. They had 
 ten children, one son and nine daughters. His son, 
 Ho;i. Wm. W. Crapo, of New Bedford, is now an 
 honored Rejiresentative to Congress from the First 
 Congressional District of Massachusetts. 
 
^£>i^t^^ /^ <^c^oC>U--tr. 
 
GOn-.RXORS OF .\f/CII/GAX. 
 
 ibi 
 
 >sm~ 
 
 "^^ ■^^nj!.\j--^.' 
 
 ■ gs'^'j 
 
 
 ENRY P. BALDWIN, Gov- 
 ernor of Michi'an from Jan. 
 4, 1869, to Jan. I, 1873, IS a 
 lineal descendant of Nathan- 
 iel Baldwin, a Puritan, of Buck- 
 inghamshire, England, who set- 
 tled at Milford, Conn., in 1639. 
 His father was John Baldwin, 
 a graduate of IJartmouth Col- 
 lege. He died at North Provi- 
 dence, R. I., in 1826. His 
 paternal grandfather was Rev. 
 Moses Baldwin, a graduate of 
 Princeton College, in 1757, and the 
 first who received collegiate hon- 
 ors at that ancient and honored institution. He died 
 at Parma, Mass., in 18 13, where for more than 50 
 years he had been [.-astorof the Presbyterian Church. 
 On his mother's side Governor B. is descended from 
 Robert Williams, also a Puritan, who settled in Kox- 
 bury, Mass., about 1638. His mother was a daughter 
 of Rev. Nehemiah Williams, a graduate of Harvard 
 College, who died at Brimfield, Mass., in 1796, where 
 tor 21 years he was pastor of the Congregationalist 
 Church. The subject of this sketch was born at 
 Coventry, R. I., Feb. 22, 1814. He received a New 
 England common-school education until the age of 
 i; years, when, both his parents having died, he be- 
 came a clerk in a mercantile establishment. He re- 
 mained there, employing his leisure hours in study, 
 until 20 years of age. 
 
 At this early period Mr. B. engaged in business on 
 iiis own account. He made a visit to the West, in 
 1837, which resulted in his removal to Detroit in the 
 spring of 1838. Here he established a mercantile 
 house which has been successfully conducted until 
 the present time. Although he successfully conducted 
 
 a large business, he has ever taken a deep interest in 
 all things affecting the prosi)erity of the city and 
 State of his adoption. He was for several years a 
 Director and President of the Detroit Young Men's 
 Society, an institution with a large library designed 
 for the benefit of young men and citizens generally. 
 An Episcoi)alian in religious belief, he has been 
 prominent in home matters connected with that de- 
 nomination. The large and flourishing parish of St. 
 John, Detroit, originated with Governor Baldwin, who 
 gave the lot on which tlie parish edifice stands, and 
 also contributed the larger share of the cost of their 
 erection. Governor B. was one of the foremost in 
 the establishment of St. Luke's Hospital, and has 
 always been a liberal contributor to moral and relig- 
 ious enterprises whether connected with his own 
 Church or not. There have been, in fact, but few- 
 public and social improvements of Detroit during the 
 [last 40 years with which Governor B.'s name is not 
 in some way connected. He was a director in the 
 Michigan State Bank until the expiration of its char- 
 ter, and has been President of the Second National 
 Bank since its organization. 
 
 In r86o, Mr. Baldwin was elected to the State 
 Senate, of Micliigan ; during the years of i86i-'2 he 
 was made Chairman of the Finance Committee, a 
 member of Committee on Banks and Incorporations. 
 Chairman of the Select Joint Committee of the two 
 Houses for the investigation of the Treasury Depart- 
 ment and the official acts of the Treasurer, and of 
 the letting of the contract for the improvement of 
 Sault St. Marie Ship Canal. He was first elected 
 Governor in 1868 and was re-elected in 1870, serving 
 from 1S69 to 1872, inclusive. It is no undeserved 
 eulogy to say that Governor B.'s happy faculty of es- 
 timating the necessary means to an end — the knowini; 
 of how much effort or attention to bestow upon the 
 thing in hand, has been the secret of the uniform 
 
HENRY P. BALDWIN. 
 
 success that has attended his efforts in all relations 
 of life. The same industry and accuracy that dis- 
 tinguished him prior to this term as Governor was 
 manifest in his career as the chief magistrate of the 
 State, and while his influence appears in all things 
 wit'-, which he has had to do, it is more noticeable in 
 the most prominent position to which he was called. 
 With rare exceptions the important commendations 
 of Governor B. received the sanction of the Legislat- 
 ure. During his administration marked improve- 
 ments were made in the charitable, penal and reforma- 
 tory institutions of the State. The State Public School 
 for dependent cliildren was founded and a permanent 
 commission for the supervision of the several State 
 institutions. The initiatory steps toward building the 
 Eastern Asylum for the Insane, the State House of 
 Correction, and the establishment of the State Board 
 of Health were recommended by Governor B. in his 
 message of 1873. The new State Capitol also owes 
 its origen to him. The appropriation for its erection 
 was made upon his recommendation, and the contract 
 for the entire work let under this administration. 
 Governor B. also appointed the commissioners under 
 whose faithful supervision the building was erected in 
 a manner most satisfactory to the people of the State. 
 He advised and earnestly urged at different times 
 such amendments of the constitution as would per- 
 mit a more equitable compensation to State officers 
 and judges. The law of i86g, and prior also, permitting 
 municipalities to vote aid toward the construc- 
 tion of railroads was, in 1870, declared unconstitu- 
 tional by the Supreme Court. Many of the munici- 
 palities having in the meantime issued and sold their 
 bonds in good faith. Governor B. felt that the honor 
 and credit of the State were in jeopardy. His sense 
 of justice impelled him to call an extra session of the 
 Legislature to propose the submission to the people a 
 constitutional amendment, authorizing the payment 
 of such bonds as were already in the hands of hona- 
 fidc holders. In his special message he says : "The 
 credit of no State stands liigher than that of Michigan, 
 and the people can not afford, and I trust will not 
 consent, to have her good name tarnished by the repu- 
 diation of either legal or moral obligations." A spe- 
 cial session was called in March, 1S72, [jrincipally for 
 the division of the State into congressional districts. 
 A number of other important suggestions were made, 
 however, ard as an evidence of the Governor's la- 
 borious and thouglitful care for llie financial condition 
 
 of the State, a series of tables was prepared and sub- 
 mitted by him showing, in detail, estimates of receipts, 
 expenditures and appropriations for the years 1872 to 
 1878, inclusive. Memorable of Governor B.'s admin- 
 istration were the devastating fires which swept over 
 many portions of the Northwest in the fall of 187: 
 A large part of the city of Chicago having been re- 
 duced to ashes. Governor B. promptly issued a proc- 
 lamation calling upon the people of Michigan for 
 liberal aid in behalf of the afflicted city. Scarcely had 
 this been issued when several counties in his State 
 were laid waste by the same destroying element. 
 A second call was made asking assistance for the suf- 
 fering people of Michigan. The contributions for 
 these objects were prompt and most liberal, more than 
 $700,000 having been received in money and supplies 
 for the relief of Michigan alone. So ample were 
 these contributions during the short period of abou' 
 3 months, that the Governor issued a proclamation 
 expressing in behalf of the people of the State grate- 
 ful acknowldgment, and announcing that further 
 aid was unnecessary. 
 
 Governor B. has traveled extensively in his own 
 country and has also made several visits to Europe 
 and other portions of the Old World. He was a pas- 
 senger on the Steamer Arill, which was captured and 
 bonded in the Carribean Sea, in December, 1862, by 
 Capt. Semmes, and wrote a full and interesting ac- 
 count of the transaction. The following estimate of 
 Governor B. on his retirement from office, by a leading 
 newspaper, is not overdrawn: "The retiiing message 
 of Governor B., will be read with interest. It is 
 a characteristic document and possesses the lucid 
 statement, strong, and clear practical sense, which 
 have been marked features of all preceding documents 
 from the same source. Governor B. retired to private 
 life after four years of unusually successful adminis- 
 tration amid plaudits that are universal throughout the 
 State. For many years eminent and capable men 
 have filled the executive chair of this State, but in 
 painstaking vigilance, in stern good sense, in genuine 
 public spirit, in thorough integrity and in practical 
 capacity, Henry P. Baldwm has shown himself to be 
 the peer of any or all of them. The State has been un- 
 usually prosperous during his two terms, and the State 
 administration has fully kept pace with the needs of 
 the times. The retiring Governor has fully earned 
 tlie public gratitude and confidLMice which he to-day 
 possesses to such remarkable decree. ' 
 
*i^T>8^ffl(PB!?5s«&.* 
 
 \ :tx 
 
 c%iSr^r^a.^£^^ 
 
GOVKR.VORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 157 
 
 JDiHK J, IBA©ILEY. 
 
 ■.•^Mx€^-i^-<-C 
 
 OHN JUDSON BAGLEV, 
 CI jvernor of Michigan from 
 1S73 to 1877, was born in 
 Medina, Orleans Co., N. Y., 
 
 '7^ Jill V 24)1832. His father, John 
 
 Uigk-y, was a native of New 
 Hampshire, his mother, Mary M. 
 Baj^lej, of Connecticut. He at- 
 tcndtd the district school of Lock- 
 ^ port, N Y., until he was eight years 
 old, It which time his father moved 
 #^ to Constantine, Midi., and he at- 
 tended the common schools of that 
 village. His early experience was 
 like that of many country boys whose 
 iwrents removed from Eastern States 
 to the newer portion of the West. 
 His father being in very poor circuni- 
 Lyil stances, Mr. B. was obliged to work 
 as soon as he was able to do so. 
 Leaving school when 13 years of age 
 he ent3red a country store in Constan- 
 tine as clerk. His father then re- 
 moved toOwosso, Mich.,and he again 
 engaged as cletk in a store. From 
 early youth Mr. B. was extravagantly fond of reading 
 and devoted every leisure moment to the perusal of 
 such books, papers and periodicals as came within 
 his reach. In 1847, he removed to Detroit, where he 
 secured em|)loyment in a tobacco manufactory and 
 remained in this position for about five years. 
 
 In 1853, he began business for himself in the man- 
 ufacturing of tobacco. His establishment has become 
 
 one of the largest of the kind in the West. Mr. B. 
 has also been greatly interested in other manufactur- 
 ing enterprises, as well as in mining, banking and in- 
 surance corix)rations. He was President of the 
 Detroit Safe Company for several years. He was one 
 of the organizers of the Michigan Mutual Life Insur- 
 ance Company of Detroit, and was its President from 
 1867 to 1872. He was a director of the Amer- 
 ican National Bank for many years, and a stock- 
 holder and director in various other corporations. 
 Mr. B. was a member of the Board of Education two 
 years, and of the Detroit Common Council the same 
 length of time. In 1865 he was appointed by Gover- 
 nor Cra]X) one of the first commissioners of the 
 Metroixjlitian police force of the city of Detroit, serv- 
 ing six years. In November, 1872, he was elected 
 Governor of Michigan, and two years later was re- 
 elected to the same officej retiring in January, 1877. 
 He was an active worker in the Republican parly, and 
 for many years was Chairman of tlie Rcjiublican 
 State Central committee. 
 
 Governor Bagley was quite liberal in liis rehgious 
 views and was fin attendant of the Unitarian Church. 
 He aimed to be able to hear and consider any new 
 thought, from whatever source it may come, but was not 
 bonnd by any religious creed or formula. He held 
 in respect all religious opinions, believing that noorie 
 can be injured by a firm adherence to a faith or de- 
 nomination. He was married at Dubuque, Iowa, Jan. 
 16, 1855, to Frances E. Newberry, daughter of Rev. 
 Samuel Newberry, a pioneer missionary of Michigan, 
 who took an active part in the early educational mat- 
 ters of the Stale and in the establishment of its ex- 
 cellent system of education. It was principally 
 
158 
 
 JOHN J. BAGLEY. 
 
 I'.-.rough his exertions that the State University was 
 founded. Mr. B.'s family consists of seven children. 
 
 As Governor his administration was charac- 
 terized by several important features, chief among 
 which were his efforts to improve and make popular 
 the educational agencies of the State by increasing 
 the faculty of the University for more thorough in- 
 struction in technical studies,by strengthening the hold 
 of the Agricultural College upon tlie public good will 
 and making the general change which has manifested 
 itself in many scattered primary districts. Among 
 others were an almost complete revolution in the 
 management of the penal and charitable institutions 
 of the State; the-passage of the liquor-tax law, taking 
 the place of the dead letter of prohibition; the estab- 
 lishing of the system of dealing with juvenile offend- 
 ers through county agents, which has proved of great 
 good in turning the young back from crime and plac- 
 ing the State in the attitude of a moral agent ; in se- 
 curing for the militia the first time in the history of 
 Michigan a systematized organization upon a service- 
 able footing. It was upon the suggestion of Gov. B. 
 in the earlier part of his administration that the law 
 creating the State Board of Health, and also the law 
 creating a fish commission in the inland waters of the 
 State, were passed, both of which have proved of great 
 benefit to the State. The successful representation 
 of Michigan at the Centennial Exhibition is also an 
 honorable part of the record of Gov. B.'s adminis- 
 tration. 
 
 As Governor, he felt that he represented the State 
 — not in a narrow, egotistical way, but in the same 
 sense that a faithful, trusted, confidential agent rep- 
 resents his employer, and as the Executive of the 
 State he was her " attorney in fact." And his intelli- 
 gent, thoughtful care will long continue the pride of 
 the people he so much loved. He was ambitious — 
 ambitious for place and power, as every noble mind 
 is ambitious, because these give opportunity. How- 
 ever strong the mind and powerful the will, if there 
 be no ambition, life is a failu.e. He was not blind to 
 the fact that the more we have the more is required 
 of us. He accepted it in its fullest meaning. He 
 had great hopes for his State and his country. He had 
 his ideas of what they should be. With a heart as 
 broad as humanity itself; with an intelligent, able and 
 cultured brain, the will and the power to do, he 
 asked his fellow citizen to give him the opportunity to 
 labor for them. Self entered not into the calculation. 
 
 His whole life was a battle for others ; and he entered 
 the conflict eagerly and hopefully. 
 
 His State papers were models of compact, busi- 
 ness-like statements, bold, original, and brimful of 
 practical suggestions, and his administrations will long 
 be considered as among the ablest in this or any 
 other State. 
 
 His noble, generous nature made his innumerable 
 benefactions a source of continuous pleasure. Liter- 
 ally, to him it was " more blessed to give than to 
 receive." 
 
 His greatest enjoyment was in witnessing the com- 
 fort and happiness of others. Not a tithe of his char- 
 ities were known to his most intimate friends, or even 
 to his family. Many a needy one has been thereci|)i- 
 ent of aid at an opportune moment, who never knew 
 the hand that gave. 
 
 At one time a friend had witnessed his ready re- 
 sponse to some charitable request, and said to him: 
 "Governor, you give away a large sum of money ; about 
 how much does your charities amount to in a year.'' 
 He turned at once and said: " I do not know, sir; I 
 do not allow myself to know. I hope I gave more 
 this year than I did last, and hope I shall give mori.' 
 next year than I have this." This expressed his idea 
 of charity, that the giving should at all tiniis be ft ee 
 and spontaneous. 
 
 During his leasure hours from early life, and espe- 
 cially during the last few years, he devoted much time 
 to becoming acquainted with the best authors. Biog- 
 raphy was his delight; the last he read was the "Life 
 and Work of John Adams," in ten volumes. 
 
 In all questions of business or public affairs he 
 seemed to have the ix)wer of getting at the kernel of 
 the nut in the least ixissible time. In reading he 
 would spend scarcely more time with a volume than 
 most persons would devote to a chapter. After what 
 seemed a cursory glance, he would have all of value 
 the book contained. Rarely do we see a business 
 man so familiar with the best English authors. He 
 was a generous and intelligent patron of the arts, and 
 liis elegant home was a study and a pleasure 
 to his many friends, who always found there a 
 hearty welcome. At Christmas time he would spend 
 days doing the work of Santa Claus. Every Christmas 
 eve he gathered his children about him and, taking 
 the youngest on his lap, told some Cliristmas story, 
 closing the entertainment with "The Night Before 
 Christmas," or Dickens's "Christmas Carol." 
 
^M-^ 
 
 
GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 A^ 
 
 ^^(^m, • — -- 
 
 ^^m. GttARLES M. CKOSWELL. Bfe. 
 
 \ -vcji(2j2;®^«S~**'«« ' 
 
 
 HARLES M. CROSWELL, 
 ^^ Governor of Michigan from 
 ^ Jan. 3, 1877 fo Jan. i, 1881, 
 was born at Newburg, Orange 
 County, N. Y., Oct. 31, 1825. 
 He is the only son of John and 
 Sallie (Hicks) Croswell. His 
 fiither, who was of Scotch-Irish 
 extraction, was a paper-maker, 
 and carried on business in New 
 York City. His ancestors on 
 his mother's side were of Knicker- 
 bocker descent. The Croswell 
 family may be found connected 
 with prominent events, in New York 
 and Connecticut, in the early exis- 
 tence of the Republic. Harry Cros- 
 well, during the administration of 
 I'f] President Jefferson, published a pa- 
 per called the Balance, and was 
 prosecuted for libeling the President 
 under the obnoxious Sedition Law. 
 He was defended by the celebrated 
 Alexander Hamilton, and the decis- 
 ioi. jf the case establised the important ruling that 
 tlifc truth might be shown in cases of libel. Another 
 member of the family was Edwin Croswell, the fam- 
 ous editor of the Albany Argus ; also, Rev. William 
 Croswell, noted as a divine and jwet. 
 
 When Charles M. Croswell was seven years of age, 
 his father was accidentally drowned in the Hudson 
 River, at Newburg ; and, within three months preced- 
 ing that event, his mother and only sister had died, — 
 thus leaving him the sole surviving member of the 
 family, without fortune or means. Upon the death 
 
 of his father he went to live with an uncle, who, in 
 1837, emigrated with him to Adrain, Michigan. At 
 sixteen years of age, he commenced to learn the car- 
 penter's trade, and worked at it very diligently for 
 four years, maintaining himself, and devoting his spare 
 time to reading and tlie acquirement of knowledge. 
 In 1846, he began the study of law, and was ap- 
 pointed Deputy Clerk of Lenawee County. The du- 
 ties of this office he performed four years, when he 
 was elected Register of Deeds, and was re-elected 
 in 1852. In 1854, betook part in the first movements 
 for the formation of the Republican party, and was a 
 member and Secretary of the convetion held at Jack- 
 son in that year, which jnit in the field the first Re- 
 publican State ticket in Michigan. In 1855, he 
 foniied a law partnership with the present Chief-Jus- 
 tice Cooley, which continued until the removal of 
 Judge Cooley to Ann Arbor. 
 
 In 1862, Mr. Croswell w.as ap|X)inted City Attorney 
 of Adrian. He was also elected Mayor of the city 
 in the spring of the same year; and in the fall was 
 chosen to vei)resent Lenawee County in the State 
 Senate. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1864, 
 and again in 1866, during each term filling the i)osi- 
 tions above mentioned. Among various rciwrts made 
 by him, one adverse to the re-establishment of the 
 death penalty, and another against a proposition to 
 pay the salaries of State officers and judges in coin, 
 which then commanded a very large premium, may 
 be mentioned. He also drafted the act ratifying the 
 Thirteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution, 
 for the abolishment of slavery, it being the first 
 amendment to the instrument ratified by Michigan. 
 In 1863, from his seat in the State Senate, he de- 
 livered an elaborate si^eech in favor of the Proclama- 
 
i6s 
 
 CHARLES M. CROSIVELL. 
 
 tion of Emancipation issued by President Lincoln, 
 and of his general policy in the prosecution of the 
 war. This, at the request of his Republican associ- 
 ates, was afterwards published. In 1867, he was 
 elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, 
 and chosen its presiding officer. This convention 
 was composed of an able body of men ; and though, 
 in the general distrust of constitutional changes 
 which for some years had been taking possession of 
 the people, their labors were not accepted by the pop- 
 ular vote, it was always conceded that the constitu- 
 tion they proposed had been prepared with great care 
 and skill. 
 
 In 1868, Mr. Croswell was chosen an Elector on 
 the Republican Presidential ticket; in 1872, was 
 elected a Representative to the State Legislature 
 from Lenawee County, and was chosen Speaker of 
 the House of Representatives. At the close of the 
 session of that body his abilities as a parliamentarian, 
 and the fairness of his rulings were freely and form- 
 ally acknowledged by his associates ; and he was pre- 
 sented with a superb collection of their portraits 
 handsomely framed. He was, also, for several years. 
 Secretary of the State Board for the general supervis- 
 ion of the charitable and penal institutions of Michi- 
 gan ; in which position, his propositions for the amel- 
 ioration of the condition of the unfortunate, and the 
 reformation of the criminal classes, signalize the be- 
 nevolence of his nature, and the practical character 
 of his mind. 
 
 In 1876, the general voice of the Republicans of 
 the State indicted Mr. Croswell as their choice for 
 Governor; and, at the State Convention of the party 
 in August of the same year, he was put in nomination 
 by acclamation, without the formality of a ballot. At 
 the election in November following, he was chosen to 
 the high position for which he had been nominated, 
 by a very large majority over all opposing candidates. 
 His inaugural message was received with general 
 favor; and his career as Governor was marked with 
 the same qualities of head and heart that have ever 
 distinguished him, both as a citizen and statesman. 
 
 Governor Groswell has always prepared his ad- 
 dresses with care ; and, as his diction is terse, clear, 
 and strong, without excess of ornament, and his de- 
 livery impressive, he is a popular speaker; and many 
 of his speeches have attracted favorable comment in 
 the public prints, and have a permanent value. He 
 has always manifested a deep interest in educational 
 matters, and was for years a member and Secretar)- of 
 the Board of Education of Adrain. At the formal 
 opening of the Central School building in that city, 
 on the 24th day of April, 1869, he gave, in a public 
 address, an " Historical Sketcli. of the Adrian Public 
 Schools." 
 
 In his private life, Governor Croswell has been as 
 exemplary as in his public career he has been suc- 
 cessful and useful. In February, 1852, he was mar- 
 ried to a daughter of Morton Eddy, Lucy M. Eddy, 
 a lady of many amiable and sunny qualities. She 
 suddenly died, March 19, 1868, leaving two daugh- 
 ters and a son. Governor Croswell is not a member 
 of any religious body, but generally attends the Pres- 
 byterian Church. He pursues the profession of law, 
 but of late has been occupied mainly in the care of his 
 own interests, and the quiet duties of advice in 
 business difficulties, for which liis unfailing piu- 
 dence and sound judgment eminently fit him. Gov- 
 ernor Croswell is truly popular, not only with those of 
 like political faith with himself, but with those who 
 differ from him in this regard. 
 
 During Gov. Croswell's administration the public 
 debt was greatly reduced ; a policy adopted requiring 
 the State institutions to keep within tjie limit of ap- 
 propriations; laws enacted to provide more effectually 
 for the punishment of corruption and bribreiy in elec- 
 tions; the State House of Correction at Ionia and the 
 Eastern Asylum for the Insane at Pontiac were opened 
 and the new capital at Lansing was completed and 
 occupied. The first act of his second term was to pre- 
 side at the dedication of this building The great riot 
 at Jackson occured during his administration, and it 
 was only bv his promptness that great distruction of 
 both life and property was prevented at that time. 
 
GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 «<i5 
 
 ikiSSjE 
 
 ^^. 
 ^^.' 
 
 ^ ^^'' • ■ ^^ " t 1 1. 1 .t«.t..t. .t, A..t .t ,.t.,.t..1s, -tr-t . -t -t. .t.t.t .t, .1 .t..t. ■V t..t,A.ta».t..t.A .t ..t..t.,t.AA4»t..t..t..t.,.t..i . •'h ^ ' '^' '^ 
 
 DAVID H. JEROME, Gover- 
 ^feiior of from Jan. i, 1881, to 
 Jan. I, 1883, was born at De- 
 troit, Mich., Nov. 17, 1829. 
 ■^'^!^'J>^ His parents emigrated to 
 ■ .; Michigan from Trumanshurg, 
 Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1828, 
 locating at Detroit. His father 
 died March 30, 1831, leaving 
 nine children. He had been 
 twice married, and four of the 
 children living at tlie time of his 
 death were grown up sons, the off- 
 spring of his first imion. Of the 
 five children by his second marriage, David H. was 
 the youngest. Shortly after Mr. Jerome's death, his 
 widow moved back to New York and settled in 
 Onondaga County near Syracuse, where they remained 
 until the fall of 1834, the four sons by the first wife 
 continuing their residence in Michigan. In the fall 
 of 1834, Mrs. Jerome came once more to Michigan, 
 locating on a farm in St. Clair County. Here the 
 ("lovernor formed those habits of industry and ster- 
 ling integrity that have been so characteristic of tiie 
 man in the active duties of life. He was sent to the 
 district school, and in the acquisition of the funda- 
 mental branches of learning he displayed a precocity 
 and an application which won for him the admiration 
 of his teachers, and always placed him at the head 
 of his classes. In the meantime he did chores on 
 the farm, and was always ready with a cheerful heart 
 and willing hand to assist his widowed mother. Tlie 
 heavy labor of the farm was carried on by his two 
 
 older brothers, Timothy and George, and when 13 
 years of age David received his mother's permission to 
 attend school at the St. Clair Academy. While attend- 
 ing there he lived with Marcus H. Miles, now de- 
 ceased, doing chores for his board, and the following 
 winter performed the same service for James Ogdcn, 
 also deceased. The next summer Mrs. Jerome 
 moved into the village of St. Clair, for the purjxise of 
 continuing her son in school. While attending said 
 academy one of his associate students was Sena- 
 tor Thomas W. Palmer, of Detroit, a rival candidate 
 before the gubernatorial convention in 1880. He 
 completed his education in the fall of his i6th year, 
 and the following winter assisted his brother Timothy 
 in hauling logs in the pine woods. The next summer 
 he rafted logs down the St. Clair River to Algonac. 
 
 In iS47,M. H. Miles ueingClerk in St. Clair Coun- 
 ty, and Volney A. Ripley Register of Deeds, David 
 H. Jerome was apiwinted Deputy to each, remaining 
 as such during i848-'49, and receiving much praise 
 from his employers and the people in general for the 
 ability displayed in the discharge of his duties. He 
 spent his summer vacation at clerical work on board 
 the lake vessels. 
 
 In i849-'5o, he abandoned office work, and for the 
 proper development of his physical system spent 
 several months hauling logs. In the spring of 1850, 
 his brother "Tiff" and himself chartered the steamer 
 "Chautauqua," and "Young Dave" became her mas- 
 ter. A portion of the season the boat was engaged 
 in the passenger and freight traffic between Port 
 Huron and Detroit, but during the l.itter part was 
 used as a tow Iwat. At that time there was a serious 
 obstruction to navigation, known as the "St. Clair 
 Flats," between Lakes Huron and Erie, over which 
 
s66 
 
 jyA VID H. JEROME. 
 
 vessels could carry only about 10,000 bushels of grain. 
 Mr. Jerome conceived the idea of towing vessels 
 from one lake to the other, and put his plan into 
 operation. Through the influence of practical men, — 
 among them the subject of this sketch, — Congress 
 removed the obstruction above referred to, and now 
 vessels can pass them laden with 60,000 or 80,000 
 bushels of grain. 
 
 During the season, the two brothers succeeded 
 in making a neat little sum of money by the sum- 
 mer's work, but subsequently lost it all on a contract 
 to raise the "Gen. Scott," a vessel that had sunk in 
 Lake St. Clair. David H. came out free from debt, 
 but possessed of hardly a dollar of capital. In the 
 spring of 185 1, he was clerk and acting master of the 
 steamers "Franklin Moore" and "Ruby," plying be- 
 tween Detroit and Port Huron and Goderich. The 
 following year he was clerk of the propeller "Prince- 
 ton." running between Detroit and Buffalo. 
 
 In January, 1853, Mr. Jerome went to California, 
 Dy way of the Isthmus, and enjoyed extraordinary 
 success in selling goods in a new place of his selec- 
 tion, among the mountains near Marysville He re- 
 mained there during the summer, and located the 
 Live Yankee Tunnel Mine, which has since yielded 
 millions to its owners, and is still a paying investment. 
 He planned and put a tunnel 600 feet into the mine, 
 but when the water supply began to fail with the dry 
 season, sold out his interest. He left in the fall of 
 1853, and in December sailed from San Francisco for 
 New York, arriving at his home in St. Clair County, 
 about a year after his departure. During his absence 
 his brother "Tiff" had located at Saginaw, ana in 
 1854 Mr. Jerome joined him in his lumber operations 
 in the valley. In 1855 the brothers bought Black- 
 mer & Eaton's hardware and general supply stores, 
 at Saginaw, and David H. assumed the management 
 of the business. From 1855 to 1873 he was also ex- 
 tensively engaged in lumbering operations. 
 
 Soon after locating at Saginaw he was nominated 
 for Alderman against Stewart B. Williams, a rising 
 young man, of strong Democratic principles. The 
 ward was largely Democratic, but Mr. Jerome was 
 elected by a handsome majority. When the Repub- 
 lican party was born at Jackson, Mich., David H. 
 Jerome was, though not a delegate to the convention, 
 one of its "charter members." In 1862, he was com- 
 missioned by Gov. Austin Blair to raise one of the 
 
 six regiments apportioned to the State of Michigan. 
 Mr. Jerome immediately went to work and held 
 meetings at various points. The zeal and enthusiasm 
 displayed by this advocate of the Union awakened a 
 feeling of patriotic interest in the breasts of many 
 brave men, and in a short space of time the 23d 
 Regiment of Michigan Volunteer Infantry was placed 
 in the field, and subsequently gained for itself a bril- 
 liant record. 
 
 In the fall of 1862, Mr. Jerome was nominated by 
 the Republican party for State Senator from the 26th 
 district, Appleton Stevens, of Bay City, being his op- 
 ponent. The contest was very exciting, and resulted 
 in the triumphant election of Mr. Jerome. He was 
 twice renominated and elected both times by in- 
 creased majorities, defeating George Lord, of Bay 
 City, and Dr. Cheseman, of Gratiot County. On tak- 
 ing his seat in the Senate, he was appointed Chair- 
 man of the Committee on State Affairs, and was ac- 
 tive in raising means and troops to carry on the war. 
 He held the same position during his three tenns of 
 service, and introduced the bill creating the Soldiers' 
 Home at Harper Hospital, Detroit. 
 
 He was selected by Gov. Crapo as a military aid, 
 and in 1865 was appointed a member of the State 
 Military Board, and served as its President for eight 
 consecutive years. In 1873, he was appointed by 
 Gov. Bagley a member of the convention to prejiare 
 a new State Constitution, and was Chairman of the 
 Committee on Finance. 
 
 In 1875, Mr. Jerome was appointed a member of 
 the Board of Indian Commissioners. In I876 he was 
 Chairman of a commission to visit Chief Joseph, the 
 Nez Perce Indian, to arrange an amicable settlement 
 of all existing difficulties. The commission went to 
 Portland, Oregon, thence to the Blue Hills, in Idaho, 
 a distance of 600 miles up the Columbia River. 
 
 At the Republican Stale Convention, convened at 
 Jackson in August, t88o, Mr. Jerome was placed in 
 the field for nomination, and on the 5th day of the 
 month received the highest honor the convention 
 could confer on any one. His opponent was Freder- 
 ick M. Holloway, of Hillsdale County, who was sup- 
 ported by the Democratic and Greenback parties. 
 The State was tlioroughly canvassed by both parties, 
 and when the polls were closed on the evening of 
 election day, it was found that David H. Jerome had 
 been selected by the voters of the Wolverine State to 
 occupy the highest position within their gift. 
 
Q^ri>.:^o^^ 9r 1 
 
GOVERXOHS OF MICHIGAN 
 
 169 
 
 i'/^present (1883), ( 
 'I J^ Michigan was bori 
 
 OSIAH W. BEGOLE, tlie 
 lovernor of 
 was born in Living- 
 ston, CoLinty, N. Y., Jan. 20, 
 1815. His ancestors were of 
 French descent, and settled at 
 \\\ early period in the State of 
 Maiyland. Hisgrandfather,Capt. 
 ^^ Bolles, of that State, was an offi- 
 cer in the American anny during 
 \ the war of the Revolution, .\bout 
 the beginning of the present cent- 
 ury both his grandparents, liaving 
 become dissatisfied with the insti- 
 tution of slavery, although slave- 
 holders themselves, emigrated to 
 Livingston County, N. Y., then 
 a new country, taking with them a 
 v^ number of tlieir former slaves, who 
 volunteered to accompany them. 
 His father was an officer in the 
 American army, and served during 
 the war of 18 12. 
 Ml. B. received his early education in a log sciiool- 
 house, and subseiiuently attended the Temple Hill 
 .\cademy, at Geneseo, N. Y. Being tlie eldest of a 
 f.unily of ten children, whose parents were in moder- 
 ate though comfortable circumstances, he was early 
 taught habits of industr)', and when 21 years of age, 
 being ambitious to better his condition in life, he re- 
 solved to seek his fortune in the far West, as it was 
 
 then called. In August, 1836, he left the parental 
 roof to seek^a home in the Territory of Michigan 
 then an almost unbroken wilderness. He settled in 
 Genesee County, and aided with his own hands in 
 building some of the early residences in what is now 
 known as the city of Flint. There were but four or 
 five houses where this flourisiiing city now stands 
 when he selected it as his home. 
 
 In the spring of 1839 he married Miss Harriet .\. 
 Miles. The marriage proved a most fortunate one, 
 and to the faithful wife of his youth, who lives to en- 
 joy with him the comforts of an honestly earned com- 
 petence, Mr. Begole ascribes largely his success in 
 life. Immediately after his marriage he commenced 
 work on an unimproved farm, where, by his perse- 
 verance and energy, he soon established a good home, 
 and at the end of eighteen years was the owner of a 
 well improved fami of five hundred acres. 
 
 Mr. IJegole being an anti-slavery man, became a 
 member of the Republican jiarty at its organization. 
 He served his to>vnsmen in various offices, and was 
 in 1856, elected County Treasurer, which office he 
 lield for eight years. 
 
 .\t the breaking out of the Rebellion he did not 
 carry a musket to the front, but his many friends will 
 bear witness that he took an active part in recruiting 
 and furnishing supplies for the army, and in looking 
 after the interests of soldiers' families at home. The 
 death of his eldest son near Atlanta, Ga., by a Confed- 
 rate bullet, in 1864, was the greatest sorrow of his life. 
 When a few years later he was a member in Congress 
 
i7« 
 
 JOSIAH IV. BEGOLE. 
 
 Gov. Begole voted and worked for the soldiers' 
 bounty equalization bill, an act doing justice to the 
 soldier who bore the burden and Iieatof the day, and 
 who should fare equally with him who came in at the 
 eleventh hour. That bill was defeated in the House 
 on account of the large appropriation that would lie 
 required to pay the same. 
 
 In 1870, Gov. Begole was nominated by acclama- 
 tion for the office of State Senator, and elected by a 
 large majority. In that body he served on the Com- 
 mittees of Finance and Railroads, and was Chairman 
 of the Committee on the Institute for the Deaf and 
 Dumb and Blind. He took a liberal and public- 
 spirited view of the importance of a new capitol 
 building worthy of the State, and was an active mem- 
 ber of the Committee that drafted the bill for the 
 same He was a delegate to the National Republi- 
 can Convention held at Philadelphia in 1872, and 
 was the chosen member of that delegation to go to 
 Washington and inform Gen. Grant and Senator 
 Wilson of their nominations. It was while at that 
 convention that, by the express wish of his many 
 friends, he was induced to offer himself a can- 
 didate for tlie nomination of member to the 43d Con- 
 gress, in which he was successful, after competing for 
 the nomination with several of the most worthy, able 
 and experienced men in the Sixth Congressional Dis- 
 trict, and was elected by a very large majority. In 
 Congress, he was a member of the Committee on 
 Agricultural and Public Expenditures. Being one of 
 the 17 farmers in that Congress, he took an active 
 part in the Committee of Agriculture, and was ap- 
 pointed by that committee to draft the most impor- 
 tant report made by that committee, and upon the 
 only subject recommended by the President in his 
 message, which he did and the report was printed in 
 records of Congress ; lie took an efficient though an 
 unobtrusive part in all its proceedings. 
 
 He voted for the currency bill, remonetization of 
 silver, and other financial measures, many of which, 
 though defeated then, have since become the settled 
 policy of the country. Owing to the position which 
 Mr. Begole occupied on these questions, he became a 
 "Greenbacker." 
 
 In the Gubernatorial election of 1882, Mr. Begole 
 was the candidate of both the Greenback and Dem- 
 ocratic parties, and was elected by a vote of 154,269, 
 the Republican candidate, Hon. David H. Jerome, 
 
 receiving 149,697 votes. Mr. Begole, in entering 
 upon his duties as Governor, has manifested a spirit 
 that has already won him many friends, and bids fair 
 to make his administration both successful and pop- 
 ular. 
 
 The very best indications of what a man is, is what 
 his own townsmen think of him. We give the fol- 
 lowing extract from the Flint Globe, the leading Re- 
 publican paper m Gov. Begole's own county, and it, 
 too, written during the heat of a political campaign, 
 which certainly is a flattering testimonial of his ster- 
 ling worth: 
 
 "So far, however, as Mr. Begole, the head of the 
 ticket, is concerned, there is nothing detrimental to 
 his character that can be alleged against him. He 
 has sometimes changed his mind in politics, but fot 
 sincerity of his beliefs and the earnestness ofhispur^ 
 pose nobody who knows him entertains a doubt. He 
 is incapable of bearing malice, even against his bit- 
 terest ixjlitical enemies. He has a warm, generous 
 nature, and a larger, kinder heart does not beat in 
 the bosom of any man in Michigan. He is not much 
 given to making speeches, but deeds are more signif- 
 icant of a man's character than words. There are 
 many scores of men in all parts of the State where 
 Mr. Begole is acquainted, who have had practical 
 demonstrations of these facts, and who are liable to 
 step outside of party lines to show that they do not 
 forget his kindness, and who, no doubt, wish that he 
 was a leader in what would not necessarily prove a 
 forlorn hope. But the Republican party in Michigan 
 is too strong to be beaten by a combination of Demo- 
 crats and Greenbackers, even if it is marshaled by so 
 good a man as Mr. Begole." 
 
 This sketch would be imperfect without referring 
 to the action of Mr. B. at the time of the great calamity 
 that in 1881 overtook the people of Northeastern 
 Michigan, in a few hours desolaUng whole counties 
 by fire and destroying the results and accumulations 
 of such hard work as only falls to the lot of pioneers. 
 While the Port Huron and Detroit committees were 
 quarreling over the distribution of funds, Mr. Begole 
 wrote to an agent in the "jburnt district" a letter, from 
 which we make an ex.tract of but a single sentence: 
 "Until the differences between the two committees 
 are adjusted and you receive your regular supplies 
 from them, draw on me. Let no man suffer while I 
 have money." This displays his true character. 
 

 yiuA4-jM 
 
 jz^^ 
 
GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 173 
 
 
 HK:g<»S]S-#ss*s:s<*«:S*«;sHH;;s*^-g^»T;;S*-g;s*-£;s^g:s#^;S<j>^s^ 
 
 
 "^•-' ' '^'''iTSSKLL A.ALGER,r!ovcrnor 
 
 (if Micliigmi for the term com- 
 iiieiicing: Jan. 1, 188.5, was 
 t's* boni ill Lafayette Townshij), 
 Medina Co., Ohio, Feb. 27, 
 183G. Having lived a tem- 
 perate life, he is a eomparatlve 
 young man in appearance, and pos- 
 sesses those mental faculties that are 
 the distinguishing characteristics of 
 robust, mature and educated man- 
 hood. Wiieu 1 1 years of age both 
 his parents died, leaving him willia 
 younger brother and sister to sup- 
 port and witiioutany of the substan- 
 tial means of existence. Lacking the opiwrtunity of 
 betteremploynient, he worked on a farm in Richfield, 
 Ohio, for the greater part of eacli of the succeeding 
 seven years, saving money enough to defray his ex- 
 penses at Riclifield Academy during the winter 
 terms. He obtained a very good English education, 
 and was enabled to teach school for several subsc- 
 qiu'ut winters. In 1857 he commenced the study of 
 law iu tlic ollices of Wolcott it Upson at Akron, re- 
 maining until March, 18.59, when he was admitted 
 to the Ijar ijy the Ohio Supreme Court. He then 
 renujvcd to Cleveland, and entered the law ollice of 
 Otis it Codinbury, where he remained several 
 riKinlhs. Here he continued iiis studies with in- 
 creased zeal, and did nmch general reailing. Hard 
 study and close confinement to office work, however, 
 began to tell on his constitution, and failing healtii 
 warneil iiim that he must seek other occupation. 
 
 He therefore reluctantly .abandoned the law and re- 
 moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., to engage iu the 
 lumber business. 
 
 When Michigan was called upon to furnish tro(H)s 
 for the war, Mr. Alger enlisted in the Second Mich. 
 Cav. and was mustered into the service of the 
 United St^ites as Captain of Co. C. His record as 
 a cavalry odlcer was brilliaut and honorable to 
 himself and his companj'. He participated in some 
 of the fiercest contests of the rebellion and was 
 twice wounded. His first injury was received ir 
 the battle of Boone ville, Miss., July 2, 1862. 
 His conduct in this engagement was so distin- 
 guished that he was promoted t<) the rank ol 
 Major. On the same occasion liis Colonel, the 
 gallant Phil. Sheridan, was advanced to the rank 
 of Brigadier General. A few months later, on tiie 
 IGth of October, Major Alger became Lieutenant- 
 Colonel of the Sixth Mich. Cav., and was ordered 
 witii his regiment to the Army of the Potomac. 
 After marked service in the early campaign of 18(13, 
 he was again advanced, and on June 2 received his 
 commission as Colonel of the Fifth Mich. Cav. His 
 regiment at this time was in Custer's famous Michi- 
 gan cavalry brigade. On the Gth of July occurred 
 the battle of Boonesboro, Md. In this conflict he 
 was again wounded. His health received a more 
 than temporary impairment, and in October, 1864, 
 he was obliged to retire from the service. His 
 career as a soldier included manj' of the most cele- 
 brated contests of the war. He was an active charac- 
 ter in all the battles fought by the Army of the 
 
174 
 
 RUSSELL A. ALGER. 
 
 Potomac, from the time of the invasion of Mary- 
 land by Gen. Lee in 18G3, up to the date of his 
 retirement, with the exception of those engagements 
 which occurred while he was absent from dut^' on 
 account of wounds. In all he took part in CO bat- 
 tles and skirmishes. At the close he was breveted 
 Brigadier General and Major General for "gallant 
 and meritorious services in the field." 
 
 Aside from regular dutj', Gen. Alger was on 
 private service during the winter of 1863-4, receiv- 
 ing orders personally from President Lincoln and 
 visiting nearly all the armies in the field. 
 
 Gen. Alger came to Detroit in 1865, and since 
 tliat time has been extensively engaged in the pine 
 timber business and in dealing in pine lands. lie 
 was a member of the well-known firm of Moore <fe 
 Alger until its dissolution, when he became head of 
 the firm of R. A. Alger <fe Co., the most extensive 
 pine timber openators in the West. Gen. Alger is 
 now president of the corporation of Alger, Smith & 
 Co., which succeeded R. A. Alger &, Co. He is also 
 president of the Manistique Lumbering Company 
 and president of the Detroit, Bay City & Alpeua 
 Railroad Company, besides being a stockholder and 
 director of the Detroit National Bank, the Peninsu- 
 lar Car Company and several other large corpor- 
 ations. 
 
 While always an .active and influential Republi- 
 can, Gen. Alger has never sought nor held a sal- 
 aried office. He was a delegate from the First Dis- 
 trict to the last Republican National Convention, 
 but aside from this his connection with politics has 
 not extended beyond the duties of every good cit- 
 izen to his party and his country. 
 
 Gen. Alger is now forty-nine years of age, an 
 active, handsome gentleman six feet tall, living 
 the life of a busy man of affairs. His military 
 bearing at once indicates his army life, and although 
 slenderly built, his square shoulders and erect 
 carriage give the casual observer the impression 
 that his weight is fully 180 pounds. He is a firm, 
 yet a most decidedly pleasant-appearing man, witli 
 a fine forehead, rather a prominent nose, an iron- 
 gray moustache and chin whiskers and a full head 
 of black hair sprinkled with gray. He is usually 
 attired in the prevailing st3'le of business suits. His 
 favorite dress has been a high buttoned cutaway 
 
 frock coat, with the predominating cut of vest and 
 trousers, made of firm gray suiting. A high collar, 
 small cravat, easy shoes and white plug hat com- 
 plete his personal apparel. He is very particular 
 as to his appearance, and always wears neat clothes 
 of the best goods, but shuns any display of jewelry 
 or extravagant embellishment. He is one of the 
 most approachable men imaginable. No matter 
 how busy he may be, he always leaves his desk to 
 extend a cordial welcome to every visitor, be he of 
 high or low situation. His affable manners delight 
 his guests, while his pleasing face and bright, dark 
 eyes always animate his hearers. 
 
 Gen. Alger is a hard worker. He is alwaj's at his 
 office promptly in the morning and sta^-s as long as 
 anything remains that demands his attention. In 
 business matters he is alwa3's decided, and is never 
 shaken or disturbed b^' any reverses. He has the 
 confidence of his associates to a high degree, and al. 
 his business relations are tempereil with those little 
 kindnesses that relieve the tedium of routine office 
 life. Although deeply engrossed in various busi- 
 ness pursuits, Gen. Alger has j'et found time for 
 general culture. He owns a large library and his 
 stock of general information is as complete as it is 
 reliable. His collection of paintings has been se- 
 lected with rare good taste, and contains some of 
 the finest i)roductions of modern artists. His team 
 of bays arc perhaps the handsomest that grace the 
 roads of Detroit, and usuall}' lead the other outfits 
 when their owner holds the reins. 
 
 Gen. Alger has an interesting family. His wife 
 was Annette II. Henry, ^the daughter of W. G. 
 Henry, of Grand Rapids, to whom he was married 
 April 2, 1861. She is a slender woman of fair com- 
 plexion, bright and attractive, and a charming host- 
 ess. She is gifted with many accomplishments and 
 appears quite young. There are six children. Fay. 
 a lively brunette, and Caroline A., who is rather tall 
 and resembles her mother, have completed s, course 
 at an Eastern seminary, and during the past yeai 
 traveled in Europe. The remaining members of 
 the family are Frances, aged 13; Russell A., Jr., 
 aged 11 ; Fred, aged 9, .and AUan, aged 3. All are 
 bright and promising children. Gen. Alger makes 
 ids home at his handsome and large new residence on 
 Fort street, at tlie corner of First street, Detroit, 
 
f..,' 
 
 
 r 
 
GOVERNORS OF MICHIOAN. 
 
 177 
 
 
 VRUS GRAY J.rCK, tlio 
 present Governor of Miclii- 
 gan, combines in his diame- 
 ter the substantial traits of 
 , the New England ancestry 
 of his father, and the chival- 
 rous and hospitable elements 
 iW'i^^'i^''' l"^''"'"^'" ^^ '■'"^ Southerners, wjiich 
 •^.il^US' came to him from his mother's side of 
 I he house. Tlic New Knglanders, act- 
 ive in the cause of American liberty', 
 after this desired result was acc(jm- 
 plished, turned their attention to tlie 
 growth and development of the 
 country which their noble daring had 
 constituted independent of foreign rule. The pri- 
 vations they endured and the struggles from which 
 they had achieved victory built up in them those 
 (jualities which in tiie very nature of events could 
 not be otherwise than transmitted to tlieir posterit}', 
 and this posterity c()nii)rises a large nuinljcr of the 
 men who to-d.ay, like tlie subject of tliis history, 
 arc making a record of whicli their descendants will 
 be equally proud. 
 
 Gov. Luce w.as born in Windsor, Ashtaliula ('(j., 
 Oliio, July 2, 1S24. His father w.as a native of 
 Tolland, Conn., served as a soldier in tlie War of 
 1812, and soon after its close emigrated from New 
 England and settled on the Western Ueservc in 
 Northern Oliio. His mother, who in her girlhood 
 was IMiss Mary Gray, was bora in Winchester, \:i. 
 Her fatiicr, tinctured with Abolitionism, found his 
 home in tlie Old Dominion becoming unconiforla- 
 ble .-xs an abiiling-place at that time, and accord- 
 ingly, with his wife and family of young children, 
 
 he also migrated, in 1815, to the wilds of Northern 
 Ohio. There the parents of our subject, in 181'.), 
 were united in ninrri.age, and continued residents of 
 Ashtabula County until 18.36. There also were 
 born to them six sons, Cj'rus G. of this sketch being 
 the second. 
 
 The incidents in the early life of Gov. Luce were 
 not materially different from those of other bo^'S 
 living on the farms in that new country, lie was 
 taught to work at anything necessary for him to do 
 and to make himself useful around the pioneer 
 homestead. When twelve years of age his parents 
 removed further West, this time locating in Steu- 
 ben County, Ind. This section of country was still 
 newer and more thinly settled, and without recount- 
 ing the particular hardships and privations which the 
 family experienced, it is sulTicient to say that but few 
 enjoy eil or suffered a greater variety. Markets were 
 distant and diflicult of access, the comforts of life 
 .scarce, and sickness universal. Young Luce, in com- 
 mon with other boys, attended school winters in the 
 stereotyped log school-house, and in summer as- 
 sisted in clearing away the forests, fencing the 
 fields and raising crops after the land was improved. 
 lie attended three terms an academy located at On- 
 tario, Ind., and his habit of reading and oliscrv.ation 
 added essentially to his limited school privileges. 
 
 When seventeen years of .age the father of our 
 subject erected a cloth-dressing and wool-carding 
 establishment, where Cyrus (i. acquired a full 
 knowledge of this business and subscipiently had 
 charge of the factory for a period of seven ye.nrs. 
 In the meantime he had become interested in local 
 politics, in which he displayed rare judgment and 
 sound common sense, and on account of which, in 
 1848, he was nominated by the Whigs in a district 
 composed of the counties of DeKalb and .Steuben 
 for Representative in the State Legislature. He 
 made a vigorous canvass but was defeated by eleven 
 majority. This incident was but .a transient bub- 
 ble on the stream of his life, and that same year 
 
178 
 
 CYRUS GRAY LUCE. 
 
 Mr. Luce purchased eighty acres of wild land near 
 Giiead, Branch Co., Mich., the improvement of 
 which he at once entered upon, clearing away the 
 trees and otherwise making arrangements for the 
 establishment of a homestead. In August, 1849, he 
 was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Dickinson, 
 of Giiead, and the .young people immediately com- 
 menced housekeeping in a modest dwelling on the 
 new farm. Here they resided until the death of the 
 wife, which took place in August, 1882. Mrs. 
 Luce was the daughter of Obed and Experience 
 Dickinson, well-to-do and highly respected residents 
 of Giiead. Of her union with our subject there 
 were born five children, one now deceased. 
 
 In November, 1883, Gov. Luce contracted a sec- 
 ond marriage, with Mrs. Mary Thompson, of Bron- 
 son, this State. He continued on tlie same farm, 
 which, however, by subsequent purchase had been 
 considerably extended, until after his election to the 
 office of which he is now the incumbent. In the 
 meantime he has had a wide and varied experience 
 in public life. In 1852 he was elected to represent his 
 township in the County Board of Supervisors, and 
 two years later, in 1854, was elected Representative to 
 the first Republican Legislature convened in tlie State 
 of Michigan. He served his township altogether 
 eleven years as a niember of the Board of Supervisors. 
 In 1858 he was elected County Treasurer of Branch 
 County and re-elected in 1860. In 1864 he was 
 given a seat in the State Senate and re-elected in 
 1866. In the spring of 1867 he was made a member of 
 the Constitutional Convention to revise the Consti- 
 tution of the State of Jlichigan, and in all of the 
 positions to which he has been called has evidenced 
 a realization of the sober responsibilities committed 
 to his care. To the duties of each he gave the most 
 conscientious care, and has great reason to feel pride 
 and satisfaction in the fact that during his service 
 in both Mouses of the Legislature his name appears 
 upon every roll-call, he never having been absent 
 from his post a day. 
 
 In July, 1879, Mr. Luce was appointed State Oil 
 Inspector by Gov. Croswell, and re-appointed by 
 Gov. Jerome in 1881, serving in this capacity three 
 and one-half years. In the management of the 
 duties of this oflSce he is entitled to great credit. 
 The olBce was not sought by him, but the Governor 
 
 urged him to accept it, claiming that the office was 
 the most difflenlt he had to fill, and was one which 
 required first-class executive ability. He organized 
 tlic State into districts, appointed an adequate force 
 of de[)uties and no more, secured a reduction of the 
 fees by nearly one-half, and in every ^yay managed 
 the affairs of the oflice so efficiently and satisfac- 
 torily that above all expenses he was enabled to 
 pay into the State Treasury during liis management 
 $32,000.49. 
 
 In August of the year 1886 Mr. Luce was nom- 
 inated by the Republicans in convention assembled 
 at Grand Rapids, for the office of Governor of 
 Michigan by acclamation, and on the 2d of Novem- 
 ber following was elected by a majority of 7,432 
 over his chief competitor, George L. Yaple. In 
 1874 he became an active member of the farm- 
 ers' organization known as the Grange. Believing 
 as he docs that agriculture furnishes the basis of 
 National prosperity, he was anxious to contribute to 
 the educatio'i and elevation of the farming com- 
 munity, and thus availed himself of the opportuni- 
 ties offered by this organization to aid in accom- 
 plishing this result. For a period of seven years he 
 was Master of the State Grange but resigned the 
 position last November. Fidelity to convictions, 
 close application to business, whether agricultural or 
 affairs of State, coupled with untiring industry, are 
 his chief characteristics. As a farmer, legislator, 
 executive officer, and manager of county as well as 
 State affairs, as a private as well as a public citizen, 
 his career has all along been marked with success. 
 No one can point to a spot reflecting (Jiscredit in 
 his public career or private life. He is a man of 
 tlie people, and self-made in the strictest sense. His 
 whole life has been among the people, in full sym- 
 pathy with tliem, and in their special confidence and 
 esteem. 
 
 Personally, Gov. Cja-us G. Luce is high-minded, 
 intellectual and affable, the object uf manj' 
 and warm friendships, and a man in all respects 
 above reproach. To the duties of his high position 
 he has brought a fitting dignity, and in all the re- 
 lations of life that conscientious regard to dutj' of 
 which we often read but which is too seldom seen, 
 especially among those having within their hands 
 the interests of State and Nation. 
 
(Ootu?-Ui^ /a //W-2-^2:-^K^-d' 
 
GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 lit 
 
 EDWIN B. WINANS, 
 
 rlio began his duties as 
 iovernor of Mictiignn, 
 Jamiaiy 1, 1891, is a son 
 of the Empire State, of 
 which his parents also were 
 natives. From German ancestry on 
 the father's side, he derives the in- 
 J^pQ stincts of frugality and careful con- 
 sideration of ways and means, and 
 tiiese are strengthened iiy tlic sub- 
 stantial traits of the Puritan fore- 
 fathers of his mother. Both lines 
 have transmitted to liim the love 
 of country and home that has led 
 thousands into untrodden wilds where they migiit 
 secure that which would be for the future good of 
 themselves and posterity. 
 
 John and Eliza (Way) Winans removed from 
 New York to this State in 1834, and settled on a 
 farm in Livingston County, where the boyhood of 
 Gov. Winans was passed. He was about eight 
 years old at the time of the removal, having been 
 born at Avon, Livingston County, N. Y., May IC, 
 182G. Lip to the age of eighteen years he attended 
 the district school, and he then entered Albion 
 College, from which he was graduated in IH.OO. 
 The excitement attendant upon the discovery of 
 
 gold in California had not died out, and young 
 Winans felt a strong desire to visit the coast and 
 try his fortune in the mines. He decided in favor 
 of the overland route, crossed the plains in safet}', 
 and spent the ensuing eight years in seeking the 
 precious metal — a quest that was fairly successful. 
 
 Returning to Livingston County, this State, Mr. 
 Winans bought land and engaged in general farm- 
 ing. He has retained the farm as his home through 
 all the changes various ollicial positions have 
 brought him, and joyfully returned to it whenever 
 his faithful discharge of public dutj' would allow. 
 His estate now includes four hundred acres of land 
 under a high state of cultiv.ation and improved 
 with buildings of the best construction and modern 
 design. In connection with general farming Gov. 
 Winans has given considerable attention to raising 
 stock of high grades, and his understanding of 
 agriculture in its various departments is broad and 
 deep. He believes that his success in political life 
 is largelj' due to his thorough identification with 
 the agricultural interests of the State and no doubt 
 he is right. 
 
 The public career of Gov. Winans began in 1860, 
 when he was elected to represent his county in the 
 State Legislature. lie served two consecutive 
 terms, covering the period from 1860 to 186.5. In 
 1867 he was a member of the Constitutional Con- 
 
•jH' 
 
 EDWIN B WINANS. 
 
 vention of tlie State, and in 1876 be was elected 
 Probate Judge of Livingston County for a term 
 of four years. Tlie next important position occu- 
 pied by Gov. Winans was that of Congressman dur- 
 ing the Forty-eighth and Fortj'-ninth Congresses, 
 representing the Sixth District. It was alwaj-s his 
 lot to be nominated for office when the Democratic 
 party was decidedly in the minority, but such v^fere 
 his personal characteristics and his reputation as 
 one interested in the welfare of that great class, 
 the farmers, that in every case he made a successful 
 race. When he was put up for Congress the oppo- 
 sition had a majority in the district of three thou- 
 sand votes, but he was elected by a plurality of 
 thirty. While in Congress he took an active part 
 in all measures tending to the public good and 
 served on the Committees on Agriculture and Pen- 
 sions. In the fall of 1891 his name headed the 
 Democratic ticket and he was elected Governor of 
 the State. 
 
 In his private life Gov. Winans has been as ex- 
 emplary as in his public career he has been useful 
 and influential. He is a consistent member of the 
 Episcopal Church and in his religious faith and 
 practice has the close sympathy of his wife, who 
 belongs to the same society. His marriage was 
 solemnized in Hamburg, Livingston County, in 
 1855, his bride being Miss Elizabeth Galloway, who 
 
 was born and reared on the farm she still calls home, 
 as it was bought of her father by Gov. Winans. 
 She is a daughter of George and Susan (Haight) 
 Galloway, wlio are numbered among the early 
 settlers of Livingston County, whither they came 
 from New York. She is an educated, refined woman, 
 whose mental attainments and social qualities fit 
 her for the position which she occupies as hostess 
 of the Gubernatorial mansion. Governor and Mrs. 
 Winans have two sons, George G , who is now act- 
 ing as his father's private secretary, and Edwin B., 
 Jr., a graduate of West Point. 
 
 Gov. AVinans has in former years shown himself 
 capable of close application to the duties which lay 
 before him, and his judicious decisions and wise 
 course when attempting to bring about a worthy 
 object, are well known to those who are acquainted 
 with the history of the State. Although it is often 
 said that it is scarcely safe to judge of a man until 
 his career is closed, j'et Gov. Winans has acted his 
 part so well thus far in life that he is confidently 
 expected to add to the credit that already belongs 
 to the great commonwealth of ISIichigan, and which 
 to a certain extent lies in the hands of those who 
 have been and are its chief executives. Among his 
 personal characteristics are those of a love of truth, 
 justice and progress, and a cordial, kindl}' s|)irit 
 which makes warm friends and stanch adherents. 
 
^■^=4-^ 
 
 onia and M^oni^al'm. ^ounimSc 
 
 ^^J^higan. 
 
^m-. 
 
 ^ INO^RODUQO^ORY.p;, 
 
 -♦—^^^►««.^fe-i 
 
 ""^^ .yHE time has arrived when it 
 becomes the duty of the 
 people of this county to per- 
 petuate the names of their 
 pioneers, to furnish a record 
 of their early settlement, 
 and relate the story of their 
 progress. The civilization of our 
 f, the enlightenment of the age 
 the duty that men of ihe pres- 
 time owe to tlicir ancestors, to 
 ^mselves and to their posterity, 
 land that a record of their lives 
 deeds should be made. In bio- 
 graphical history is found a power 
 instruct man by precedent, to 
 enliven the mental faculties, and 
 to waft down the river of time a 
 safe vessel in which the names and actions of the 
 people who contrilnited to raise this country from its 
 primitive state may be picservi.'d. Surely and rapidly 
 the great and aged men, who in their prime entered 
 the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their 
 heritage, are passing to their graves. Tlie number re- 
 maining wlio can relate the incidents of llie first days 
 jf settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an 
 actual necessity exists for (lie collection and preser- 
 vation of events without delay, before all the early 
 settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time 
 
 'I'o be forgotten has been the gieat dread of mankind 
 from remotest ages. All will be forgotten ^oon enough, 
 in spite of their best works and the most e.irnest 
 efforts of their friends to perserve the memory of 
 their lives. The means employvxl to prevent oblivion 
 and to perpetuate their memory has l)een in pro|X)r- 
 tion to the amount of intelligence they possessed. 
 Th ; jjyramids of I'"gypt were built to (lerpetuate the 
 names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu- 
 mations made by the archeologists of Kgypt from 
 buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people 
 
 to perpetuate the memory of their achievements 
 The erection of the great obelisks were for t);e same 
 purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the 
 Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleutns and monu- 
 ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their 
 great achievements and carry them down the ages. 
 It is also evident that the Mound-bu'lders, in l)iling 
 up their gieat mounds of eartii, had but this idea — 
 to leav^ something to show th.it they had lived. All 
 these works, though many of them costly in the ex- 
 treme, give l)Ut a faint idea of the lives and charac- 
 ters of those whose memory they were intended to 
 per|)etuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of 
 the people that then lived. The great pyramids and 
 some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity; 
 the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- 
 bling into dust. 
 
 It was Lft to modern ages to establish an intelli- 
 gent, undecaying, iminutal)le method of perpetuating 
 a full history — immutable in that it is almost un- 
 limited in extent and perpetual in its action; and 
 this is through the art of printing. 
 
 To the present generation, however, we are in- 
 debted '"or the introduction of the admirable systeiri 
 of local liiogriphy. 15y this system every man, thoiigl 
 he has not achieved what the wodd calls greatness, 
 his the means to perpetuate his life, his histoiy, 
 through the coining ages. 
 
 The scythe of 'I'ime cuts down all ; nothing of the 
 pliysical man is left. The monument which Ins chil- 
 dien or friends m.iy erect to his memory in the ceme- 
 tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his 
 life, his achievements, the work he has actoiiiplished, 
 which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated 
 by a record of this kind. 
 
 To preserve the lineaments of our companions we 
 engrave their portraits, for the s.ime reason we col- 
 lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we 
 thir.k it necessary, as we speak only tiutli of them, to 
 wait until they are de.ad. or uniil those who know 
 them are gone: to do this we are a-.li imed only to 
 publish to the world the history of those whose lives 
 are unworthy of oublic record. 
 
^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 191 
 
 fON. GEORGE \V. WEB- 
 BER. The example of 
 one man who has m.idc 
 an Lonoralile record, is 
 worth more than all the 
 precepts with wliicli the 
 i^)!? niind of youth can he stored. It 
 is theiefore with pleasure that the 
 ifj^ hiographieal writer presents to the 
 readers of tliis Ai.uum the life his- 
 tory and portrait of this gentleman 
 who, l)Pginninn; his personal career 
 without means and with what in this 
 day would be considered a limited 
 education, has secured an enviable 
 position as a prosperous business man, and the pos- 
 sessor of abundant wealth to enable him to enjoy 
 all the comforts of life. Possessing intrepid spirit 
 aad indomitable will, these traits, together with 
 large enterprise and great executive ability', have 
 placeil him in the front rank of the prominent citi- 
 zens of Ionia, with the growth and development of 
 which he has been closely identified. 
 
 One of the most reliable banks in the .State, is 
 Webber Bros. Private Bank, of which our subject 
 has long been Prcsitlent. With its organization as 
 the .Second National Bank of Ionia he was promi- 
 nently connected, and this close association is still 
 maintained. To the duties of this position he 
 brings unusual force of character, soundness of 
 judgment and clearness of i)ercei)liou ; .is a citizen 
 
 and friend he is reliable, and in social life kindly 
 and considerate. His fine personal appearance and 
 pleasing address, combined with practical enterprise 
 and strengthened by integrity, have tended to his 
 success in business. 
 
 T'he nobility of a family depends not upon heredi- 
 tary titles, but upon the personal qualities of its 
 members, their nobility of character and usefulness 
 to the communities of which they form a part. The 
 subject of this biographical notice can look back 
 over the family history with a just pride in the 
 record made by those to whom lie owes his being. 
 His ancestors were among the very early settlers 
 in the Connecticut Valley, and had representatives 
 among the dwellers on both sides of the river. 
 Tourists who enjoy the delightful views among the 
 Franconia iNIountains in New Hampshire, remem- 
 ber well the Profile House. The land adjoining 
 this house once belonged to the paternal grandfa- 
 ther of our subject. A successful farmer, he also 
 kept what was tLen known as the Webber Inn, a 
 few miles from the present hotel. In that locality 
 the family has exerted great inlluence for at least 
 three generations, and its members are highly es- 
 teemed on account of their intelligence and integ- 
 rity. 
 
 The father of our sul>jecl, Andrew Webber, was 
 a farmer of Newbury, Orange County, Vt., whence 
 he removed in 1838 to Steuben County, N. Y. He 
 was a broad-raindeii, pr.actical man, and while with 
 the aid of his si.v sons he improved several farms. 
 
192 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 he also engaged in mercantile pursuits, and gave 
 his sons a thorough ivnowledge of business affairs. 
 The Hon. George W. Webber was born November 
 25, 1825, at Newbury, Vt. He was educated in the 
 common schools in the neighboiliood of his home, 
 and at the academy' in Alfred, Allegany County, 
 N. Y. At the age of twenty years he engaged in 
 business as a lumber-dealer and general merchant. 
 July 18, 1850, he married Miss Antoinette C. Ab- 
 bey, daughter of Jonathan E. Abbey, an old resi- 
 dent of Ulster County, N. Y. Miss Abbey was 
 born November 29, 1830, and, like her husband, 
 was descended from a race of iiionecrs. This mar- 
 riage was celebrated in Steuben County, N. Y. In 
 1852 Mr. Webber came to Michigan, and for six 
 years was engaged in lumbsring in Manistee County, 
 which was then very new and contained no roads 
 or post-routes. Mail was carried b3' Indians. Man- 
 istee had not yet a village organization. In 185G, 
 when John C. Fremont was the nominee of the 
 Republican party for President, Manistee was the 
 banner Republican county in the State, giving hut 
 three Democratic votes. This result was largely 
 owing to the efforts of Mr. Webber. In 1858 he 
 removed to Ionia County, which has since been his 
 home, and with whose interests his own have been 
 identical. 
 
 While living in Lyons, Mr. Webber entered into 
 partnership with his brother, S. \Y. Webber, in a 
 mercantile enterprise, but after five years sold his 
 interest in the business to his brother and went to 
 Ionia. Here he entered into business with H. J. 
 Wilson, one of the pioneers of the place. He was 
 also interested in the lumbering business, and was 
 for three years in partnership with the Hon. Fred 
 Hall, under the firm name of Hall & Webber, doing 
 lumbering on the Little Muskegon River. The 
 firm of Webber Bros, is the successor to the firm 
 of Hall & Webber. These brothers have carried 
 on several different lines of business, and are the 
 founders of the enterprising village of Mecosta, 
 Mecosta County, in the northern part of the State, 
 which is built upon their land. George W. Web- 
 ber has also been engaged in banking, entering witli 
 his brother S. W. Webber, in 1870, into a private 
 banking enterprise at Mtiir, which nficr four yejirs 
 he sold out to his brother. 
 
 Mr. Webber was one of the village Trustees of 
 Ionia when it was organized as a city, and assisted 
 in drafting its charter. The citizens of that enter- 
 prising city have twice made him their Mayor, and 
 during his terms of oHice the city enjoyed its great- 
 est prosperity. An iron bridge was at that time 
 built over Grand River, and a high-water road 
 provided for. The purchase of valuable properly 
 was also made, for the purpose of la3Mng water- 
 pipes. He has aided greatly in every way the 
 efforts towards the prosperity of the town, hav- 
 ing built some of the finest blocks on the business 
 streets. The Webber Block was built in 1879, at 
 a cost of $15,000, the Webber brown stone block 
 in 1880, at a cost of $30,000. Rooms in the latter 
 block were fitted up by Mr. Webber especially for 
 the Ladies' Library Association, and donated to 
 their use. He is also principal owner in the Wel)- 
 ber Bros.' Bank Block, including two stores and the 
 bank building. 
 
 Churches and benevolent institutions, schools 
 and colleges find a warm and helpful friend in Mr. 
 Webber, who aided liberally in providing educa- 
 tional facilities in his cit3'. The Fifth Congres- 
 sional District honored itself November 2, 1880, 
 by electing George W. Webber to Congress by a 
 plurality- of eleven thousand and two hundred and 
 forty-three votes, and a majority of two thousand 
 and seven over all competitors, being tlie candidate 
 of the Republican party. Mr. Webber lost the 
 wife of his youth, April 11, 1890. On November 
 2, 1890, he was united in marriage to Miss E. Ger- 
 trude Brown, of Boston, Mass., an intelligent and 
 accomplished lad^'. 
 
 ' ' ' ^g- 
 
 E^^^- 
 
 ^ fclLBER II. MOON. This name is familiar 
 \/\j// *^" '■''^ residents of Ionia County and will 
 ^^ be recognized b^' other readers, as he who 
 bears it has been intimately' connected with educa- 
 tional affairs and was at one time County Superin- 
 tender.t of Schools in Ionia County. He came 
 hither in iiis boyhood and has not only seen the 
 countiy improved but has himself aided in bring- 
 ing about the i)resent state of affairs, material and 
 
PORTRAIT AND 15IOORAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 i:)3 
 
 social. Reared upon a farm he had a share in the 
 improvement of properly, and in liis later years he 
 has tilled tlie soil and now is carrying on a farm 
 on section 19, Kecne Township. For several years 
 be was engaged in teaching and he has from that 
 time kept up his interest in the cause of education 
 and done what he could to promote the eflicienc3' 
 of the schools. 
 
 Mr. Moon was horn in Monroe Count}', N. Y.. 
 January 1, 1839, and came to this State with his 
 parents, Tracy and Al)igail (Beadle) Moon, in 
 1846. The family settled in Otisco Township, 
 Ionia County, and were among the first to make a 
 home in that part of the county-. They were prac- 
 tically in the woods and found it necessary to en- 
 dure hardships and make sacrifices that are not 
 called for in regions that have been settled longer. 
 The faithful wife and mother die<I in 1876, but the 
 father survived until March, 1889, and witnessed 
 a higli degree of development and prosperity in 
 the count}'. The parental family comprised eight 
 children, six of whom are living, namely: Frank A., 
 and John B. in Montcalm County; Wilber H. ; 
 Emery 1*., in Ilusled, Col.; Harriet A., wife of 
 C. W. Wakeman in Kent County; Flmma S., wife 
 of J. L. Blood, in Corr}-, Pa. 
 
 Amid the primitive surroundings of the early 
 home in Ionia County Wilber Moon grew to man- 
 hood. He pursued his studies in the district school 
 of Otisco Township and first taught in Ada Town- 
 ship, Kent County. There he was eng.iged for three 
 successive winters, building up a re|nitation for 
 tact and mental abilit}-. When he closed his school 
 In the sp;ing of 1861 he exchanged his books for 
 the implements of warfare, enlisting in Company 
 A. Third Michigan Infantry, during the mouth of 
 April. Although he was one of the first to tender 
 his services to the country in her hour of need he 
 did not go into active service until June. He then 
 took part in the disastrous battle of Bull Run, in 
 the siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, 
 the seven days' fight in front of Richmond, Mal- 
 vern Hill, the second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, 
 Chaneellorsville and Gettysburg, filling the inter- 
 ims of time with such campaign and camp duties 
 as commonly fall to the lot of soldiers. He was 
 with the Army of the Potomac during his entire 
 
 service, but after the battle of Gettysburg left 
 the South, being sent to this State and placed on 
 duty in Kent County until April, 1861, when he 
 was stationed at .hickaoii until his discharge, June 
 18, 1861. 
 
 When his services were no longer needed in the 
 Union army Mr. Moon resumed his professional 
 work anil subsequently taught school ten winters. 
 In 1872 he was elected County Superintendent of 
 Schools and did efficient work during the term of 
 two years. His name was brought before the pub- 
 lic on the Republican ticket, he being a stanch 
 advocate of the principles of that party. Later he 
 filled the office of Township Clerk two years, and 
 was for a long time Inspector of Schools of Keene 
 Township. He became a resident of that township 
 in I86G and has given more or less time to the 
 cultivation of an eighty-;icre tract of land which he 
 owns and occupies. 
 
 It is natural to suppose that Mr. Moon would 
 choose for bis wife an educated and refined lady, 
 and one who would sympathize with him in his 
 vocation. This was the case, and November 8, 
 1863, he was married to Miss Satira R. Fallas, 
 daughter of William and Wealthy (Winslow) Fal- 
 las, parents and daughter natives of New York. 
 Mrs. Moon was a teacher in her youth and has 
 always been interested in school work and mental 
 growth. She and her husband have endeavored 
 to keep up their own discijiline of mind by exten- 
 sive reading, supplementing in this way the edu- 
 cation of their earlier years and keeping abreast 
 of the times so as to enjoy an interchange of 
 thought with their children and friends. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Moon have four children, in whose education 
 they have taken much interest, and all except the 
 eldest were graduated from the Ionia High School. 
 Their names are, Myrtle A., Frank C, Cora A. and 
 L. Lura. The daughters are teaching, two in Iron 
 Mountain and the youngest in Kent County. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Moon hold membership in the 
 Methodist Kpiscopal Church and Mr. Moon is now 
 Recording Steward. He is identified with the Patrons 
 of Husbandry and is Master of Keene Grange No. 
 270. Both in 1880 and 1«90 he was Census Enum- 
 erator of Keene Township. He takes a lively inter- 
 est in the political and social questions agitating the 
 
194 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 minds of the people and has a decided influence by 
 reason of his mental ability, good judgment and 
 pleasing personal qualities. He ranks as a successful 
 educator and honorable business man and a skillful 
 farmer. Personally he is genial and entertaining, 
 his hospitality is well known, while the members 
 of liis family circle aid liim to the best of their 
 ability in making tiieir residence the center of true 
 culture of mind and heart. They draw around 
 them a pleasant circle of friends that is constantly 
 reaching out and adding to its numbers and influ- 
 ence. 
 
 ^^EORGE DOUGLASS, Supervisor of Ferris 
 [|| (_-, Township, Montcalm County, has a fine 
 ^j^jljl farm of one hundred and twenty acres on 
 section 22. He was the youngest of a large family 
 of ten children and was born in Rush, Monroe 
 County, N. Y., October 26, 1844. For his paren- 
 tage and ancestry tlie reader may consult the sketch 
 of his brother Micajali Dou;j;lnss. When five years 
 of age the child removed with his parents to Rich- 
 mond, N. Y., and was brought up on the banks of 
 Honeoye Lake, gaining his schooling in the district 
 schools. 
 
 In the spring of 1856 the family yielded to the 
 prevailing fever for emigration and came to Mich- 
 igan traveling by boat to Detroit and thence by 
 team to Kent County. Here he labored for the 
 interests of the family on the farm until the spring 
 of 1861. He was among the first to answer to the 
 call of President Lincoln, and volunteered as a 
 private in the Third Michigan Regiment. But the 
 father felt that the youth was too young to leave 
 home and go into the army and refused consent to 
 his enlistment. 
 
 But the boy's determination was fixed and before 
 summer waned he gained the consent of his parents 
 and again he enlisted in August, this time in Com- 
 pany B, Eighth Michigan Infantry. He vyas mus- 
 tered in at Detroit and was soon sent into active 
 service. He was one of the soldiers in the expedi- 
 tion to Port Royal and was at the capture of Ft. 
 Pulaski and the battle of James Island. After this 
 his regiment was transferred to the Army of the 
 
 Potomac, where it continued through the Polk 
 campaign. He saw figlit in the second battle of 
 Bull Run, and in those of Charlotte, South Moun- 
 tain, Anteitam and Fredericksburg. They were 
 ordered to the rear of Vicksburg and were active 
 at Jackson, at Cumberland Gap and at Knoxviile, 
 and veteranized in the field at Blaincs Cross Roads. 
 On Decem))er 28, 1863, they were remanded to the 
 Army of the Potomac, and saw active service in 
 the battle of the Wilderness which took place May 
 6, 1864. Here he was wounded in the left foot, 
 and was sent to the hospital at Washington. 
 
 A long weary time of waiting and convalesance 
 tried the patience of the young soldier. It was 
 eight months before he could travel and he was 
 then transferred to the Twenty-Fourth Regiment, 
 A'eteran Relief Corps, which was stationed at Wash- 
 ington until the close of the war. He received an 
 honorable disciiarge July 20, 186.5, having served 
 bravely throughout almost the entire term of the 
 Civil War. 
 
 Feeling that his early manhood had been spent in 
 labors for his country which had not fitted him for 
 the ordinary avocations of life, our subject now set 
 about for what was before him. He attended East- 
 man's Business College for awhile and then re- 
 turned home and began farming, buying a farm in 
 Lowell, Kent County, which he operated until 
 1870, when he came to Ferris Township, this 
 county, and two years later bought a farm of forty 
 acres on section 14. In 1885 he sold this in an im- 
 proved condition and bought his present place, 
 half of which he has placed under cultivation, 
 building fences and all the necessary buildings for 
 general farming and stock-raising. 
 
 Mr. Douglass was twice married. The first time 
 in 1870 to Miss Lottie Slierman, a native of New 
 York. She became the mother of two children — 
 Carrie M.,a popular and efficient teacher, and Laura 
 J., the wife of William Lucas, who resides in 
 Douglas Township, this county. The second Mrs. 
 Douglass, to whom he was united October 5, 1884, 
 is the daughter of Arad E. Linsday. She was born 
 in Ionia County, Mich. Her father was a mechanic 
 and in ILamilton, Ind., was for some time engaged 
 in the mnnufacture of wagons. Later he came to 
 Michigan and located in Bloomer Township, this 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 195 
 
 coiintv. where lie engaged in farming. In April. 
 1861, he enlisteil in the Third Michigan Regiment 
 in which he served until he w.as transferred to the 
 One Hundred and Second Hcginiont of the \'eteran 
 Corps with the rank of Captain. He was killed at 
 I'ocotaligo on the expedition from Port Hoyal, hy 
 n shell. 
 
 The niotiierof our subject's wife bore the maiden 
 name of Harriet Ilerrick. She was born in Ohio 
 where iier father, Harlow, a native of New York, 
 was an early settler. He later came to Ionia where 
 he made his home and for some time traveled as a 
 insurance agent an<l also followed milling until a 
 good old ago. His wife has attained the age of 
 eighty-seven years, and he has completed the full 
 number of ninety years. They reside with their 
 daughter on a beautiful farm in Ionia County. 
 
 The wife of the gentleman whose name heads 
 this sketch was born near Ionia, Ionia County, 
 August 24, 18G1. They are the jjarents of two chil- 
 flion — Treva and Klzie. Mr. Douglass is the 
 Supervisor of Ferris Township, and was for two 
 years Townsliip Treasurer and for one year Com- 
 missioner of Highways. His interest in educational 
 matters has placed him upon the School Board. 
 He is also Master of the Ferris Grange and a mem- 
 ber of the Col. Fly Post, G. A. R. .at Elm Hall. He 
 is an active and prominent Republican, always in- 
 terested in matters of public interest and solicitious 
 for the upbulldin<f of society and the prosperity of 
 his town. 
 
 eHAl'NCEY CASE. Among the men who 
 havesecured a competence through cultiva- 
 tion of the soil in Montcalm County is Mr. 
 Case, wlio owns and occupies a valuable farm in 
 Crystal Townshi}). His estate consists of one liun- 
 lired and eighty broad and fertile acres, where a 
 comfortable dwelling, substantial Ijarns and other 
 buildings testify' to bis good judgment and pros- 
 perity. Mr. Case is a thrifty and careful man, as 
 may he seen by a visit to his home, where the im- 
 plimenls of his vocation will be found housed in a 
 
 tool-house and sheds and the vehicles that be uses 
 kept in a carri.age-house or wagon-shed. The 
 orchard and shade trees, without which a farm can 
 scarcel}' be saitl to be well regulated, adorn his 
 property. 
 
 Mr. Case was born in Oakland County, this 
 Stale, March 12, 1832, and spent his early years on 
 a farm. He was two 3'ears old when his parents 
 removed to Ionia County and located on the Grand 
 River, little more than a mile from the county 
 seat. Three years later, while the father of our 
 subject and a Mr. Cornwell were crossing the Thorn- 
 apple River, the former lost his life. The widow 
 was married two years later to Mr. John L. Smith, 
 who reared the family. Our subject remained in 
 Ionia Countj' until he was of age. His principal 
 playmates were Indian boys and his educational 
 privileges were very limited, but he learned many 
 a lesson that is not to be acquired in the school- 
 room and is as necessary as book knowledge for one 
 who would act well his part in life. 
 
 As the family, of which he was a member, was 
 one of the first to make a home in Ionia County, 
 Mr. Case recalls scenes of pioneer times and can 
 count on his fingers the families that lived in Ionia 
 when he went there to mill. He also remembers 
 going to Grand Rapids and Pontiac for a similar 
 purpose or for household supplies. In the fall of 
 18,53 he came to Montcalm County and located 
 where he is still living. When be came here his 
 nearest neighbor was six miles and their nearest 
 mill and trading point w.is twenty-four miles — our 
 subject once carried i)rovisions on his back twent}'- 
 four miles for his family. He built a log cabin 
 and began a clearing whi(^h grew in extent and 
 finally included the goodly acreage which he is now 
 (,>perating. 
 
 Mr. Case was married January 1, 1857, to Miss 
 Mary E. Tissue, who was born in Auglaize County, 
 Ohio. When she was eight j'cars ola her father, 
 James Tissue, removed to Sandusky County, and 
 eight years later brought his family to Ionia 
 County, this State. After living there two years 
 he came to Montcalm County, where he carried on 
 his vocation — farming — until near his death in 
 1888. He was bereft of his wife, the mother of 
 Mrs. Case, some sixteen years since. Mr, and Mrs, 
 
196 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Case are tbe parents of five children, whose record 
 is as follows: Emma, born December 15, 1857; 
 Seymour J., April 27, 1860; Many M., February 
 29, 1863; Stella May, June 19,1867; Minnie B. 
 March 23, 1870. Many and Minnie are deceased, 
 and the others are married and living in homes of 
 liieirown in Montcalm County. 
 
 Mr. Case has always taken an interest in the pro- 
 gress of educational affairs and bestowed upon his 
 own progeny good advantages. He has served 
 efHeiently as Township Treasurer, Highway Com- 
 missioner, and in the various school offices. He 
 exercises the right of suffrage in behalf of the 
 Democratic party and its principles. As a citizen 
 he is public-spirited, .is a farmer enterprising and 
 progressive, and he is classed among the respected 
 members of society. Our subject and wife are 
 members of the Congregational Church ;he is a mem- 
 ber of the Mount Gilia Lodge of F. A. M., and his 
 family is one of the first two who settled in this 
 township. 
 
 FREDERICK W. ERDMAN. The life of 
 j^ Mr. Erdman hns been a busy one and his 
 /!!> "" personal efforts for advancement were be 
 'un at a very early age. His experience has been 
 a somewhat checkered one, as continued success 
 falls to the lot of very few, but he has on the whole 
 been successful, and he is now the owner of a good 
 property in Ionia County and has his affairs on a 
 solid basis. He owns one hundred and twenty 
 acres of land in Danby Township, together with 
 village property in Sefilwa, one half mile distant. 
 At this writing (April, 1891) the material for a 
 modern residence is on the ground and ere long a 
 dwelling in keeping with the other appointments 
 of the farm will rear its walls. Mr. Erduian is well- 
 known for his connection with the eivil and social 
 affairs of the section and is at present serving as 
 Supervisor of his township. 
 
 In Berlin, Prussia, William Erdman and Lottie 
 Coon were born, reared and married, and near that 
 city they lived upon a farm until some three years 
 after the birth of their third child, Frederick W. 
 
 They then determined to make a liome in the New 
 World and embarking on a sailing vessel landed at 
 New York after a tedious voyage of three months. 
 They went direct to Wolcottsville, Niagara County, 
 where they lived four years, after which they came 
 to this State and located in Wayne County. They 
 bought forty acres of land, making a payment of 
 $500 and giving a mortgage for §1,000 to he paid 
 in five annual payments. The mortgage was lifted 
 according to agreement, and Mr. and Mrs. Erdman 
 continued to occupy the farm until 1880, when 
 they sold it to our subject. They then removed to 
 Osceola County where they are still living on a 
 forty-acre farm. Mr. Erdman took out naturaliza- 
 tion papers soon after his arrival in the United 
 Stales and he is thoroughly in sympathj' with 
 American institutions. He h.as always been a Dem- 
 ocrat and his sons belong to the same party. He 
 and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church and 
 are earnest believers. Of the seven children born 
 to them those now living are Frederick W., John, 
 William, Maiy and Clara. William is living in 
 Utah; Mary is the wife of Jesse Davis, and Clara 
 of William Moored. 
 
 The natal day of Frederick W. Erdman was 
 October 30, 1849, and his birthplace the vicinity of 
 Berlin, Prussia. As became to America in child- 
 hood his recollections scarcely go back to his na- 
 tive land. He was seven jears old when the family 
 came to this State and he continued to reside in 
 Wayne County until the year 1882. When eleven 
 years old he began to earn his own living and for 
 eight years he worked as a farm hand. He saved 
 $400, of which lie gave one-half to his parents, re- 
 taining the rest as a capital for his future opera- 
 tions. He took a farm of eighty-seven acres on 
 shares, and securing a trusty helpmate he remained 
 there three years. Being taken sick he sold out his 
 interests and went to Colorado, where he bought 
 ninety-six acres, which he sold within three mouths 
 at a gain of $350. He remained two years longer 
 to recruit his strength, but Mrs. Erdman returned 
 to Michigan. 
 
 At the expiration of the period named Mr. Erd- 
 man came back to this State and bought an im- 
 proved farm of fifty acres in Wayne County. After 
 occupying it eight years he bought his father's 
 
PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 197 
 
 farm of forty-three acres adjoining liis own, and 
 occupied tiie iiompstcad a year. He tiieii sohl holli 
 tracts for ^i 800 and disposed of iiis chattels for 
 S!|,000 more. He then cauiu to Dauby, Ionia 
 County, witii ^3,200 in cash, and invested in eighty 
 .icres of wild laud and the house and lot in Sehewa. 
 After making many improvements upon iiis farm 
 lie added to it in tiie spring of 1891, an improved 
 tract of fort3- acres adjoining, so that he now has 
 an estate of goodly size, the value of whicli has 
 been greatly increased by the ini|)rovements it 
 bears. 
 
 The wife to whom Mr. Krdnian owes the com- 
 fort of his home and who has been his best coun- 
 selor and most sympathizing helper for a score of 
 years, bore the maiden name of Mary Wildel)Oor. 
 She is a daughter of Klaas and Uekelje (Van Schu- 
 ren) Wildeboor, the former of whom was a minis- 
 ter in the Dutch Reformed Church and died in 
 Holland when Mrs. Krdman was but a year old. 
 The birth of this lady took place May 20, 1844, in 
 the lanil that was the ancestral home. Five years 
 after her father's death her mother came to Amer- 
 ica, believing that by so doing she would be able 
 to benefit her children. A year later she died, 
 leaving six small children without money and 
 among strangers. They, however, found homes, 
 and all have gained good educations and the sur- 
 vivors are doing well in life. The first-born, Ellen, 
 is deceased; George formerly a teacher anil lawyer, 
 is now engaged in mercantile pursuits in Missouri; 
 Marinus is also a merchant in that State and he too 
 has taught school; Jacob is a resident of Washing- 
 ton; Klaas, a capitalist of Pueblo, Col., and an ex- 
 member of Congress, was formerly a. school 
 teacher. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Krdman are the happy parents of 
 three children, daughters who inherit the capabil- 
 ity and desire for improvement that characterizes 
 their parents. The oldest, Lottie M., is now at- 
 tending the High School in Portland and wilt 
 graduate in the class of 1891. She has already a 
 good reputation as a teacher, having taught six 
 terms, beginning when she was sixteen years of age. 
 The second daughter, (Irace, is at home, and Agnes 
 is attending the district school. .\ll are encouraged 
 in the pursuit of knowledge, .-uid the example of 
 
 their father is a constant reminder of the value he 
 places upon a good education. His own having 
 been sadly neglected in his boyhood, be was well 
 aware of his disadvantages, and after his marriage 
 became a close student by his own firesiile. In his 
 home many books will be found, which are not 
 bought for ornament but as a means of improve- 
 ment, and are carefully read. Copies of several 
 papers lie constantly upon the table, and through 
 their columns Mr. Erdraau keeps well [)Osted re- 
 garding general events. 
 
 Mr. Krdman had lived in Ionia County but three 
 3'ears ere he was a candidate for Township Treas- 
 urer, but he was defeated. The next year he was 
 elected by a good majority- and the following by a 
 still greater one. After a year of private life lie 
 was nominated as Supervisor, elected by a hand- 
 some majority, and last spring his name being again 
 placed on the ticket, he was elected by a majority 
 four times as large as before. He has been placed 
 in office by the suffrage of men of all parties, al- 
 though it is well known that he is a stanch Demo- 
 crat, as he is decided, though civil, in giving 
 his opinions, and works for his party which he has 
 often served as a delegate. lie belongs to the Odd 
 Fellows Lodge at Sebewa and to the Encampment 
 at Portland, and at the latter place he also holds 
 membership in the Royal Arcanum. 
 
 E^^ 
 
 I^ANSOM RATHBUN. Among the repre- 
 
 |k=^ sentative agriculturists of Ionia County, 
 
 (Si \Vv may be mentioned Mr. Rathbun, who owns 
 ft) *r 
 
 and occu]3ies a fin^ farm on section 30, 
 
 Easton Township. His estate consists of one hun- 
 dred and twenty acres, mostly under cultivation, and 
 partly cleared by himself when he was living un- 
 der the parental roo^ He accompanied his parents 
 hither in 1853, and aided in reclaiming the quarter- 
 section bought by his father, before be established 
 a household. Since he took a man's place in the 
 world, be has made his mark as a thorough farmer, 
 a public-spirited and reliable citizen, and an es- 
 teemed member of society. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Cornelius and 
 
198 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Clarissa Ratbbun, both born in Connecticut. His 
 paternal grandfather was born in North Carolina, 
 and was a sailor engaged in the merchant marine 
 service during the Revolution. Cornelius Rathbun 
 was in the American array in the War of 1812, and 
 stationed at Black Rock. For nine years he was a 
 commissioned officer in the New York State militia. 
 In 1853 he brought his family to Ionia County 
 from Canada, where he had been living for some 
 years. He settled on the tract, a part of which is 
 now owned by our subject, his first dwelling here 
 being a log cabin 20x24 feet in the heart of the 
 forest. He had been obliged to chop away trees to 
 make a building site, so dense was the growth. He 
 undertook the work of reclaiming the land from its 
 original condition, and when he died in 1862, he 
 left a fine farm. His wife survived him and en- 
 tered into rest in 1867. They had six children, but 
 all who are now living are Ransom, and Deborah, 
 widow of John Reid, of Ionia. Mr. Rathbun voted 
 with the Republicans, and worship[)ed in the Sec- 
 ond Advent Church. 
 
 The birthplace of Ransom Rathbun was County 
 Lambton, Province of Ontario, and his natal day 
 November 6, 1836. His education was received in 
 the common schools of Canad:i and this State, and 
 supplemented by reading in mature years. He was 
 married December 30, 1857, to Sarah A. Richmond, 
 a native of the Province of Ontario, born near 
 Hamilton, April 3, 1836. She is a daughter of 
 Benjamin and Margaret (Pickersgill) Richmond, 
 both born in England. She has three sisters and a 
 brother, namely: Mrs. Mary Hoskin, living in On- 
 tario, Canada; Mrs. Margaret Shepherd, in Mani- 
 toba; Mrs. Elizabeth Langford, near London, On- 
 tario; and Benjamin, in County Lambton. Her 
 own family includes four living chililren and one 
 deceased. The survivors are Lorenzo D., Elvira, 
 Edwin R. and Guy W. The daughter is now liv- 
 ing in Allegan, having married W. G. Born. Emma 
 died in infancy. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun find their religious home 
 in the Wesleyan Metliodist Church. The husband 
 is especially active in Sunday-school work, and is 
 now Superintendent of the Union Sunday-school 
 held in the Dexter schoolhouse. Mrs. Rathbun is 
 connected with th^ Woipan's Christian Temperani-c 
 
 Union, and has officiated as Vice-President and 
 Treasurer. Intelligent, social and kind, botii husband 
 and wife are active in social affairs, and dispense 
 the hospitality of their own home with right good- 
 will. Mr. Rathbun is independent in politics, of 
 which he has made quite a study, a<lvancing many 
 original ideas which, if put in force, might to a de- 
 gree banish some of the evils now so wide spread. 
 He has the confidence of the business world as a 
 man of sterling integritj-, and every acquaintance 
 recognizes the public spirit which he considers a 
 duty of every loyal citizen. His well-iniprored 
 farm is a standing monument to his superior man- 
 agement, industry and economy. 
 
 -^ a ■ ■°- ^ 1 —, ^ — a^~ 
 
 ^f EROME J. ROBBINS, a retired physician, is 
 engaged in the manufacture of shingles and 
 hardwood lumber in Ferris Townslii[), Mont- 
 ' calm County. He has a fine farm of one 
 hundred and nine acres on section 32. His father, 
 John A. Robbing, was born in Pittsfield, Mass. 
 and came when a young man, first to Lewis 
 County and then to Jefferson County, N. Y., where 
 he cleared a farm and operated it, engaging also 
 in the distillation of the essential oils, principally 
 those of peppermint, hemlock, cedar and worm wood. 
 In 1855 he came to Michigan and was one of the 
 first settlers in Sumner Township, Gratiot County, 
 taking up Government land at fifty cents per acre, 
 and carrying on farming until he retired from 
 active life, since which he resides with his son, the 
 subject of this sketch. His wife who bore the 
 maiden name of Lorinda Wales, was born in New 
 York of Eastern parentage who trace their descent 
 from the blue blood of Massachusetts. She was 
 called from earth in 1845. Grandfather Robbins 
 served in the War of 1812. 
 
 The subject of this biographical sketch first saw 
 the light August 28, 1841, in Champion Township, 
 Jefferson Count3% N. Y. His stepmother with her 
 children followed the father AVest the year after 
 his coming, making their journey by^ the old pro- 
 peller "Young America" to Detroit, then by teams 
 to Gratiot County. This was at the time of th? 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 199 
 
 famous "smoky season." The boy had no school 
 advantages between the ages of eleven and eight- 
 een — nothing but hard work — for be helped liis 
 father im[)rove the new farm. In 1859 he spent a 
 season in Whiteside Count}-, III., but in the winter 
 came back and attended school at IMatherton, Ionia 
 County and the next fall he studied at the Colle- 
 giate Institute at Leoni, Jackson County. Later 
 in the season he began teaching in East|)lains, Clin- 
 ton County. 
 
 The young man started to attend the spring 
 term at Leoni wiien his patriotism got the better 
 of his educational aspirations and he enlisted May 
 20, 1861, in the Second Michigan Infantry for a 
 three years' term of service. lie was engaged in 
 the battles of Bl.ackburn Ford, the First Bull Run, 
 Yorktown and Williamsburg. Soon after this, 
 while acting as Hospital Steward in charge of one 
 hundred and ten wounded at Baltimore Cross Roads 
 he was captured with his wounded by the rebel 
 General Fitzhugh Lee, the present Governor of 
 Virginia, but was by him released on parole. 
 
 Two weeks later Gen. Stewart ui.ade his famous 
 mid and roi)udinting Gen. Lee's parole ordered 
 lliem to Uichmoiid, but a cousin of Gen. McClellan, 
 a rebel Adjutant, took a noble interest in their for- 
 lorn condition and rode that night thirty miles and 
 back to see (Jen. Lee and get a new parole. This 
 allowed them to remain in their own territory and 
 they were sent on to Annapolis, Md., and were 
 among the very first in the parole camp. Six 
 months later they were exchanged, and our friend 
 joined his regiment at Fredericksburg. 
 
 Mr. Robbins was present at the skirmish of 
 .lamestown and took part in the siege of Vicksburg. 
 He was at the battle of .lackson. Miss., and went 
 thence to Knoxville, where he was at the head of 
 the column of infantry tliat captured Col. Frazier 
 at Cumberland Gap. He was also at Campbell's 
 Station, the siege of Knoxville, Blaine's Cross Roads 
 and Blue Springs. There he went into winter 
 quarters at Blaine's Cross Ro.ads where he veteran- 
 ized anil went home for a thirty daj-s' furlough, after 
 which they joined Grant in the East and were in 
 the battles of Uie Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold 
 Harbor, the siege of Petersburg and numerous 
 other encounters. During all these battles he had 
 
 won favor with his officers and had been promoted 
 to the position of Assistant Surgeon of the regi- 
 ment. He was mustered out and honorably dis- 
 ch.argcd at Detroit, July 27, 1865. 
 
 During the last two years of the war he bad 
 been studying medicine under Drs. Bonine and 
 Vickery and in the fall of 1865 he entered the 
 medical department of the University of Michigan 
 at Ann Arbor, graduating in 1867 and receiving 
 the diploma of Doctor of Medicine. He located at 
 Hubbardston, Ionia County, and by energy and 
 hard work he has succeeded in working up a large 
 practice. He has at limes, when called, gone as far 
 as thirty miles into the lumber woods to see pa- 
 tients. These trips had to be made on horseback. 
 Many times he has had to wade streams and make 
 his way over fallen trees and thick underbrush, and 
 from the exposure he has suffered much. In 1880 
 he started in the drug business at Hubbardston in 
 connection with his medical practice. 
 
 His health gave way under the strain which he 
 had put upon it and he found it necessary in 1886 
 to change his occupation. He now entered upon 
 the work of farming and the manufacture of lum- 
 ber, and in 1887 he came to Ferris and buying a 
 sawmill settled upon one hundred and sixty acres 
 of land on section 20, pursuing the manufacture 
 of shingles and hardwood lumber. His fine mill is 
 valued at j!7,500. In 1888 he purch.ased the place 
 where he now resides including one hundred and 
 nine acres on section 32. Here he has built a large 
 and handsome residence and placed upon the farm 
 a windmill and tank and good and commodious 
 outbuildings. A well one hundred and sixty feet 
 deep, supplies never-failing water. He has devoted 
 himself largely to raising registered Jersey cattle, 
 Berkshire hogs and standard-bred horses. He has 
 some fine specimens of horses, nameh' : ''Mer- 
 cedes," "Carver," "Cody," and "Arna," all sired 
 by ''Louis Napoleon." 
 
 Dr. Robbins has retired from his medical practice 
 altogether. His wife, who bore the maiden name 
 of Farman, was the daughter of Richard Farman, 
 born in New Hampshire and granddaughter of 
 Rozwell Farman an early settler in New York. Her 
 father was a farmer in Oswego County, N. Y., 
 whence he came in 18:38 and located in Lyons 
 
200 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Township, Ionia County, being one of the first 
 settlers there. His wife, Luzetta, daughter of 
 Thomas Wheeler, of Massachusetts, who was in tlie 
 Revolutionary War. spent her last days with Dr. 
 Robbins, with whom she died in August, 1885, 
 having been a widow since 1863. She belonged lo 
 the Wesleyan Methodist Church, in whose circles 
 she carried much influence for her sincere Christian 
 character. Mrs. Robbins was the youngest of five 
 children and was born near Maple Corners, Ionia 
 County in 1839. She was educated at the Portland 
 graded schools. Three children were born to this 
 couple: Ford P., is in the drug business at Detroit; 
 Myrtle, (Mrs. E. C. Walker) and Mabel, attending 
 school at Ilubbardston. 
 
 Mr. Robbins is a member of the Ancient Order 
 of United Workmen, of the Independent Order of 
 Odd Fellows, of the Free and Accepted Masons, 
 and of the Grand Army of the Republic at Ilub- 
 bardston. His wife sympathizes with him in the 
 work of this organization and is herself a member 
 of the Women's Relief Corps. They have been 
 active in the Congregational Church and were very 
 energetic at the time of the building of the edifice. 
 Mr. Robbins has for years served as Clerk of the 
 Church. He is a Republican in politics and while 
 residing at Hubbardston occupied many positions 
 of trust at the request of his neighbors. He is a 
 deservedly popular man and is universally re- 
 spected. 
 
 ^AMES M. CONRY has been a resident of 
 Edmore, Montcalm County, since June 12, 
 1878, and is operating a farm of eighty 
 (j^// acres on section 19, of Home Township. His 
 father was Patrick, born in County Clare, Ireland, 
 of wealthy parents, and received there a fine edu- 
 cation. When only a young man he determined 
 to come to America and make his home in the land 
 of the free; so he left his fortune and coming to 
 New York, drifted into farming at Westchester 
 County, N. Y., in the vicinity of Bedford. He 
 was accidentally killed by a fall of earth while 
 helping to construct a tunnel. He was about sixty- 
 
 five years old at the time of his decease. His wife 
 was Sarah Miller, whose father was of German ex- 
 traction, and her mother belonged to a prominent 
 and wealthy family of the county. She was cousin 
 of Judge Robison of New Y"ork. Both Mr. and 
 Mrs. Conry were Catholics. Of their nine children, 
 seven grew to maturity. Our subject is the second 
 oldest and the only one in Michigan. He was born 
 in Oneida County, N. Y., May 2, 1851. The same 
 year his parents removed back to Westchester 
 County, and he was brought up on the old farm 
 and educated in the district schools. When fifteen 
 years old he emigrated to Seneca, La Salle Counly, 
 111., where he worked on a farm for D. C. Under- 
 hill for four years. 
 
 This Mr. Underbill had lumber interests near 
 Greenville, this county, and determining to manu- 
 facture lumber, removed here and brought our sub- 
 ject alone with him. They reached Greenville in 
 the spring of 1870, coming on horseback with the 
 teams. Here he worked for Mr. Underhill for Iwo 
 years and then found employment in other saw- 
 mills in the vicinity. In three years time he had 
 worked his way up from the bottom lohead sawyer, 
 and to day can file and hang a saw as well as any 
 one. 
 
 In 1870 Mr. Conry went to Stanton and worked 
 in the mills there. There he also found his wife in 
 the person of Minnie B. Townsend, daughter of 
 R. S. and Mary Townsend. The marriage took 
 place February 12, 1877. Mrs. Conry's father was 
 born in Schoharie County, N. Y., February 12, 
 1829. Ills father John was the proprietor of the 
 Townsend Hotel at Warnerville, N. Y. He was a 
 farmer of means and one of the leading officials 
 of that town. His wife was Lydia Bundy, a native 
 of England. They died while with their son, al 
 the advanced ages of seventy nine and eighty-two 
 years respectively. 
 
 The father of Mrs. Conry went into the employ 
 of the railroad at the early age of seventeen years, 
 and became conductor, which ])Osition beheld when 
 became to Michigan. In the summer of 1867 he 
 came to Stanton and worked for two years as a car- 
 penter. In 1868 he was appointed J)eputy Sheriff 
 by D. O. Blake. In 1872 he was nominated for 
 Count}' Sheriff on the Democratic ticket, ran 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 201 
 
 ahead of his ticket by seyeral hundred votes and 
 was elected. After this he kept a general restau- 
 rant until the time of his deatli, May 15, 1882. He 
 was one of the pioneers of Stanton and helped to 
 build the first house. He erected for himself a fine 
 residence in the midst of i)cautiful grounds. He 
 was a charter meml>er of the Free and Accepted 
 Masons of Stanton, and was an active member of 
 the Univcrsalist Church. His funeral was the 
 largest ever known in Stanton. Mrs. Townsend 
 was Mary, daughter of Briggs Wilbur, of Mohawk, 
 N. Y., who was one- of the earliest settlers of 
 Schoharie County. He owned the land where Ful- 
 tonham now stands and became a man of means. 
 After Mr. Townsend's death his wife made her 
 home in Stanton but finally died at Detroit, Octo- 
 ber 14, 1887, under a surgical operation. She was 
 an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist 
 E|)iscopal Church at Stanton. She was the mother 
 of two cliildren, JMinnie, the wife of our subject; 
 and Kitty L., Mrs. J. M. Chapman, wife of the 
 agent for tlie Detroit, and Northern & Western 
 Michigan Railroad at Edniore. Mrs. Conry was 
 horn in Warnervillc, N. Y., June 12, 1863, and 
 carae with her parents to Michigan when she was 
 five years old. She was educated at the Stanton 
 grammar and High Schools. 
 
 Three cliildren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Conry: Rufus S., who died in early childhood; 
 Jay T; and Marion Hazel. In 1878 Mr. Conry 
 came to Edmoro, built the first |)lace of business 
 there and erected his residence. He has made it 
 liig home ever since. lie owns a half block and has 
 a commodious comfortable home, nicely furnished 
 anil tastefully arranged. In 1885 ho took one hun- 
 dred and sixty-eight acres of homestead land in 
 Home Township on Bois Blanc Island, Mackinaw 
 County, Mich. This beautiful place lie visits 
 every summer with his family. He has improred 
 llio land and placed buildings upon it. He proved 
 up his claim to it in the fall of I8!I0. It contains 
 valuable i)ine and cedar timber. 
 
 In 1887 the subject of this sketch l)oughl eiglily 
 acres of stump land on section 19, Homo Townshi|), 
 Montcalm County. Of this he now has sixty .acres 
 under cultivation, has a good orchard and it is all 
 fenced. It is watered hv Stony Creek and he lias 
 
 all outbuildings for correct farming and stock- 
 raising as well as a good residence. He superin- 
 tends the farm himself and pays much attention to 
 the raising of draft horses and Jersey cattle. Mr. 
 Conry does not aspire to otllce but is an active 
 Democrat and is frequently a delegate to county 
 and State conventions. He is a Catholic by edu- 
 cation. He is connected with the Knights of 
 Pythias and the Knights of Maccabees at Edmore. 
 His wife is an active member in the Methodist 
 Ciiurch, a member of the Ladies Aid Society, of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church choir and active in 
 Sunday-school work. 
 
 ANIEL LEPARD. There are many men 
 still living in Ionia County who have had 
 a large share in the development of its 
 agricultural resources and also in reclaim- 
 ing it from the primeval forest. One of this num- 
 ber is Daniel Lepard, who resides on section 29, 
 Odessa Township, and is engaged in general farming 
 and stock-raising. The story of his early years is 
 that of many others who took possession of land 
 upon which not a stick of timber had been cut, and 
 who, by slow and painful degrees, removed the 
 heavy forest, prepared the soil for cultivation and 
 brought their land under thoiough improvement. 
 He has worked his way u[)ward from a condition of 
 poverty to one of comfort and even affluence. 
 
 The direct progenitors of our subject were Isaac 
 and Nancy Lepard, natives of Virginia and Mary- 
 land respective!}', and the father was of German 
 descent. He carried on a farm in Seneca County, 
 Ohio, and his death occurred there about 1845. 
 The mother is still living there, and is now in her 
 ninety -second year; she Is a member of the Baptist 
 Church (Close Communion). Nine children were 
 born to the worthy couple and those now living 
 are Mary, Abram, John, Daniel, Isaac, Samuel and 
 Jacob. 
 
 The gentleman whose name introduces these par- 
 agraphs o])ened his eyes to the light May 27, 1830, 
 and remained on the parental farm in Seneca 
 County, Ohio, until he was of age. He received a 
 
202 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 common-echool education in the home district and 
 in the intervals of study assisted his father on the 
 farm. After the death of his parent he and a 
 brother took charge of the estate, and carried on 
 the affairs of life as best they could for the advan- 
 tage of the family. After he had attained to his 
 majority Mr. Lepard worked by the month on a 
 farm during a period of some six years, after 
 which he rented land and operated it for himself 
 until 1861. 
 
 During that year Mr. Lepard came to Ionia 
 County and bought eighty acres of wild land whicli 
 comprises a part of his present well developed 
 farm. He lived in a shanty near by until he had 
 chopped and hewed timber for a house of his own, 
 which lie completed by the following spring and 
 moved into. He then set himself to the work of 
 clearing and Improving the land during every pos- 
 sible moment, but for four or five years had to 
 take jobs of ciiopping for others in order to supply 
 his daily needs. At the end of that time he had 
 about twenty-two acres of his laud cleared. In 
 later years he continued his work until the entire 
 tract was under cultivation and marked with the 
 substantial and ample accommodations it now bears. 
 He also added sixty acres to the farm, stocked it 
 with good grades of domestic animals and furnished 
 it with implements and machinery of the better 
 class. He has also become the possessor of real 
 estate in the village of Lake Odessa. 
 
 For thirty years Mr. Lepard had the companion- 
 ship of one of the most estimable of women, who 
 became liis wife March 23, 1855, and who walked 
 by his side until July 25, 1885. She bore the 
 maiden name of Margaret Parmeter. She was an 
 intelligent, earnest woman, a member of the United 
 Bretiiren Church, attending the services held in a 
 house of worship which stands on Mr. Lepard's 
 land. To our subject and his wife there came 
 eight children, who answer to the names of Oscar, 
 Elizabeth, Ciiarlie, Flora, Lafayette, Alice, Burtis, 
 and Shirley. 
 
 Mr. Lepard is convinced that the principles of 
 tiie Republican party are most consistent with truth 
 and justice in Governmental policy, and he there- 
 fore exercises the elective franchise in favor of its 
 candidates. He has done much toward the advance- 
 
 ment of the community, principally in a private 
 capacity, although he has served efflcientlj' as Path- 
 master and in school offices. He hopes to spend 
 the remnant of his days on the homestead that is 
 now his residence and in the midst of the people 
 by whom he is well known and respected. 
 
 FREDERICK PATRICK, who resides on sec- 
 tion 11, Berlin Township, Ionia County, is 
 the oldest living son of a large famil}', well- 
 known throughout this part of the State. His 
 father, Robert Patrick, was born in 1800, in Cam- 
 bridgeshire, England, and married Ursula Herse- 
 pool, a native of the same shire, and a woman 
 thirteen years his junior. They resided in their 
 native country until 1843, when, like many others 
 of tlie British Isles, they began to think of bettering 
 tliemselves and looking out for the welfare of their 
 children, by emigrating to the New World, so bid- 
 ding farewell to their dear home and friends, they 
 emliarked for America, landing in New York after 
 an uneventful voyage. For one year they made 
 their home in New Jersey, but their faces were 
 turned westward and they must go farther on. 
 They went to Niagara County, and made their 
 home in Somerset County, N. Y., but the -'star of 
 empire" led them on and in 1854 they came to 
 Michigan and settled on section 11, Berlin Town- 
 ship, Ionia County. 
 
 Mr. Patrick was a frugal, industrious man and 
 had acquired sufficient means to purciiase his homo 
 and farm of two hundred and forty acres of wild 
 timber land. Building a log house, he settled his 
 family in it and went sturdily to work cleai'ing the 
 land. He put one hundred and twenty acres under 
 cultivation. When he had accomplished the great 
 task of subduing the wilderness and getting his 
 land into a productive state, he decided to place 
 his family in a more comfortable home, and nine- 
 teen years ago built a brick house at a cost of 
 $4,000. Neither was he backward in providing out- 
 houses and barns for the continued prosperity and 
 upbuilding of his farm business. He was Inter- 
 ested in the culture of fruit and set out a fine 
 

 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 205 
 
 orchard. In 1874 he p.isscd awa^' leaving his wife 
 who surviTed until February 24, 1889. iScven of 
 their eight children arc now living : our subject, 
 Ch.arles, .loliu, Ella (Mrs. Rogers), Wallace, Rachael 
 (Mrs. Pike), and Edward. Their mother trained 
 them in the faith of the Christian Church. In 
 politics Mr. Patrick was a Republican. 
 
 The second child of these worthy Englisli people 
 is the subject of this notice and was I)orn June 28, 
 183G in Cambridgeshire, England. While living 
 in New York he attended the district school, but 
 being his father's main reliance for help u|)on the 
 farm he early sacrificed his higher education to the 
 family interests, and began the life of a farmer 
 while still in his teens. He was eighteen years old 
 when he came with his parents to Michigan and 
 remained his father's stalwart helper until he 
 reached his majority. He began for himself empty 
 handed, his iron constitution and robust strength 
 carrying out all that his ambition dictated. He 
 worked out by the day and did jobs for neighbors, 
 chopping and clearing lunil for them. \iy frugality 
 and industry he acquired suRicient means to buy 
 eighty acres of land from his father, and in 1862 he 
 built a frame house and made his home there. It 
 was then all woods. In this home he has lived for 
 twenty-nine years, and has adiled to his farm from 
 time to time so that he has now two hundred and 
 eighty acres *11 told. He has cleared off altogether 
 one hundred and thirty acres for himself, and has 
 cliopped more than any other man in Berlin Town- 
 ship, lie carries on mixed farming, raising both 
 grain and stock, and has iiut many good improve- 
 ments upon his i)lace. 
 
 On November 10, 1«61, he was united in mar- 
 riage with Sarah Heater, a daughter of Daniel and 
 Christian (Sapj)) Heater. They were natives of 
 Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively, from 
 which they came to Michigan in 1845, and settled 
 on a wooded farm in Odessa Township. He suc- 
 ceeded in clearing up the farm and improving it. 
 Mrs. Heater died in 1817 and her husband lived 
 until 1873. Tiiey were the parents of five chil- 
 dren, four of whom survive them : Mrs. Galloway, 
 Mrs. Patrick, Mrs. McMullan and Jacob. Mrs. 
 Patrick was born November 11, 1837, in Portage 
 County, Ohio. She had her schooling in the dis- 
 
 trict schools of Odessa Township, where her par- 
 ents were pioneers. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Patrick have been blessed with five 
 children, four of them being now living: Marian 
 was born December 8, 1862; Frank, January 8, 
 I 804, married Carrie Kddy, and lives on section 14, 
 with his wife and one child; Celia, born September 
 27,1872, died November II, 1889; Allie, born 
 February 20, 1875, and Myrtie July 4, 1878. All 
 of these children have been given by their parents 
 a good schooling and Marian has spent some time 
 leaching in Berlin Townshii). Local politics are a 
 matter of real interest toMr. Patrick who votes 
 the Republican ticket, but he gives his time and 
 strength and thought to cidtivating his farm, and 
 has done a great amount of hard work. In 1886 
 he erected his present fine residence at an expense 
 of *2,400. 
 
 m 
 
 iC^Sli 
 
 (^T/LLEN B. MORSE, Judge of the Supreme 
 (@Oj Court of Michigan, is a son of the Hon. 
 
 Ill Ih John L. and Susan (Cowles) Morse. His 
 i^J father was one of the early pioneers of 
 
 Ionia County and was Judge of the Probate Court 
 twelve years and a member of the Legislature. He 
 removed to Iowa vvhere he took a leading position 
 also, being elected County Judge, County Auditor 
 and a member of the General Assembly. Judge 
 Allen B. Morse was born in Otisco Township, Ionia 
 County, January 7, 1839. He was not only vigor- 
 ous in mind but strong in body, with a natural in- 
 clination toward outdoor pursuits, which led him 
 to such athletic exercises as kept him in good 
 health while pursuing his studies. His favorite 
 branch was l<;nglish literature of whieh he became 
 a m.ister. Under the guidance of his father's strong 
 mind his early education was conducted an<) it was 
 supplemented bj' a course in the Agricultural Col- 
 lege. 
 
 The study of the law was but fairly begun by 
 Mr. Morse when the call for troops to defend the 
 Union caused him toabamlon it and join the army. 
 He entered the service as a ])rivatc in the Sixteenth 
 Michigan Infantry, but in 1863 he was transferred 
 
206 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to the Twenty-first and after tlie battle of Chicka- 
 mauga be was appointed Assistant Adjutant Gen- 
 eral. While on the staff of Col. Sherman he lost an 
 arm at the battle of Mission Ridge. He went 
 through the Peninsular campaign, and the soldierly 
 qualities he manifested during his army life were 
 such that on retiring from the service he had per- 
 sonal testimonials from Gens. Sherman and Sheri- 
 dan. 
 
 After leaving the army Mr. RForse resumed his 
 legal studies and during the year 1865 he was ad- 
 mitted to the bar. In 1866 he was elected Prose- 
 cuting Attorney for Ionia County and served two 
 terms; in 1874 as a Democratic candidate for Sena- 
 tor, he carried a strong Repul)lican district by a 
 m.-ijority of twenty-two hundred and eleven. As 
 a Senator he quickly bec^ame one of the leaders of 
 that body. At the close of his career in legislative 
 halls he resumed the ])ractice of his profession and 
 ere long reached the foremost rank. In 1882 he 
 was elected Mayor of Ionia. In 1885 he was nomi- 
 nated 1)}' the Democratic party for Judge of the 
 Supreme Court, his opponent being the noted Judge 
 Cooley, an able jurist and law-writer, now of the 
 Inter-State Commission. His majority over that 
 gentleman was about thirty thou.sand and Gov. 
 Alger endorsed the verdict of the people and ap- 
 pointed him Chief Justice to fill a vacancy'. lie 
 assumed the duties of the office and is still dis- 
 charging them with conscientious earnestness. 
 
 In 1874 Judge Morse was married to Miss 
 Frances Mai ion Van Allen, and four children were 
 born to them, whose names are, Marion, Van Allen, 
 Lucy and Dan R. Mrs. Morse died in 1884, and in 
 1888 the Judge was united in marriage with Miss 
 Annie Babcock, daugliter of one of the early set- 
 tlers of Ionia County. The residence they occupy 
 is situated on a commanding eminence and the site 
 was purchased l)y the Judge while it was still a 
 forest. The home is a picture of domestic happi- 
 ness and simplicity, and not the le.ast secret of the 
 Judge's popularit3' with the people is his devotion 
 to his family. 
 
 'i'liere is no doubt but that Judge Morse is as 
 strong a candidate for positions of honor and 
 responsibility as the Democratic party can bring 
 before the citizens of the State. In prep.aring his 
 
 legal opinions he is a forceful writer, having a 
 plain matter-of-fact way that invariably captivates 
 the reader. He is not given to verbosity or embell- 
 ishment, always using choice Anglo-Saxon in his 
 writings. He is recognized as a m.an of broad 
 common sense and his erudition in the law is such 
 as to commend him favorably with the great jurists 
 and lawyers of the country. His oratory is char- 
 acteristic, being plain, simple and direct, going at 
 once to the point at issue and convincing by its 
 very simplicity. The Judge is connected with the 
 Grand Army of the Republic. He was prominently 
 mentioned by the Democratic party in the fall of 
 1890 for the office of Governor — and would have 
 received the nomination had he not absolutely de- 
 clined. 
 
 The attention of the reader is invited to a litho- 
 graphic portrait of Judge Morse, presented in 
 connection with this biographical notice. 
 
 — ^— ^^— ^— 
 
 !f,EORGE H. ALLURED. For a number of 
 years this gentleman has been connected 
 with the business life of Ionia. He was 
 born in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, England, 
 June 5, 1840, being a son of William and Sarah 
 (Goodwin) Allured. The father was a tailor and 
 followed the trade in his own country until 1860, 
 wlien he emigrated to America. The mother died 
 the year of the removal and the father p.assed awa3' 
 in 1864, in Kent County. The parental family was 
 a large one, numbering fourteen sons and daugh- 
 ters, and George II. was next to the youngest. He 
 has one brother and three sisters now living. 
 
 Our subject attended school until he was four- 
 teen years old and then became an apprentice at the 
 trade of cabinet-making. Not liking the prospects 
 before him he embarked on the ship "Cultivator," 
 of the White Star Line, and sailed across the ocean 
 in 1857. After landing he came to this State and 
 for a year and a half was located in Greenville, 
 wlieie he sold the first lot of ready-made cotHns 
 put upon the market there. He walked from that 
 place to Ionia and found employment with South- 
 wick Merritt, until he died, when as assignee he 
 
 I 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 207 
 
 took charge of tliat gentleman's business. Tbe 
 stock — cabinet goofls and un(lertai<ei's supplies — 
 now carried by Mr. Allured amounts to some 
 $4,500, and his present stand lias been occupied by 
 him eleven years. 
 
 In 18G2 Mr. Allured was married to Mi.ss Kme- 
 line M. Nichols, a native of tiie Empire Stale, and 
 the union has been blessed by the birth of the fol- 
 lowing children : William II., Edith, .Sylvpster and 
 Grace L. Edith is married to John C. Bealty, of 
 Jefferson County, Mo., and Grace is now attending 
 school in Kentucky. Mr. Allured has been a mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Church for twenty-eight years, 
 anrl bis family is connected with the same religious 
 body, lie is Chairman of the Church Board, lie 
 is a Mason and Oild Fellow. He has been Tax 
 Collector in Ionia. 
 
 Mr. Allured began cabinet making in this State 
 when beds were made with round corners, an<l 
 what-nots were first brought into notice and con- 
 sidered quite "the thing" in a well-nuished house. 
 lie has continued his connection with the furni- 
 ture trade, and for some seventeen years past has 
 been a funeral director. He kce|)S the best goods 
 in his lines, and in his undertaking business has 
 proved to be one of those in whom the bereaved 
 can place confidence, knowing that the last sad 
 riles over their departed friends will be conducted 
 with propriety. He belongs to the Funeral Direc- 
 tors' Association of Michigan and has lille<l the 
 Chairs (herein. 
 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 ■^fOHN McC^UlLLIN. The only banking in- 
 stitution in Lyons, Ionia County, is that, of 
 John R. Dougherty & Co., of which Ihcsub- 
 1(^1/ ject of this biographical sketch is Cashier. 
 Mr. Mcl^uillin is a competent financier anil without 
 neglecting the duties of the aforesaid position, he 
 personally superintends a fine farm of one hundred 
 acres not far from the town and takes an active in- 
 terest in the various affairs pertaining to the ()ros- 
 pcrity of the county and State. His outlying 
 property is finely improved and he has a beautiful 
 town house on the corner of Tabor an<l Irish Streets. 
 
 The parents of our subject, Francis and Catherine 
 (Conlon) Mdiuilliu, natives of the Emerald Isle, 
 emigrated to America in June, 184o, during the 
 infanc}' of their son John, who was born Novem- 
 ber 16, 1844. They came directly to Ionia County 
 and the husband bought a farm in Lyons Township 
 two miles south of the village of that name. On the 
 forty acres of timber land he made a small clearing 
 and built a log house 18x2G feet, and after setting 
 up his home he proceeded with the development of 
 the property. He subsequently bought forty acres 
 adjoining and in 18t)C added an eighty acre tract. 
 He removed the timber from most of the first 
 eighty and erected some substantial buildings, pul- 
 ing up a large frame barn in 1859 and a good resi- 
 dence in 18C1. In 1808 while on his way home 
 from a neighbor's the horse he was driving ran away 
 throwing him out of the vehicle and causing his 
 deatii. His widow is now a resident of Battle 
 Creek. 
 
 The parental family included eleven sons and 
 daughters nine living and two deceased. The eld- 
 est of the survivors is he whose life history will be 
 sketched ])elow. The others are Mary A., wife of 
 John Dunn; Thomas who lives on the homestead; 
 Francis, a farmer in Dakota; Kate, a milliner in 
 Battle Creek; Mrs. Bridget O'Leary, a resilient of 
 Battle Creek; Theresa, Mother Superior of Ml. 
 Carmel Academy in Chicago, III.; Edward G. and 
 Charles, agriculturists in Dakota. 
 
 John McCiuillin was reared on the homestead and 
 received his fundamental education in the L^-ons 
 School. After completing the course of study 
 there he spent two years in an institution of learn- 
 ing at Yi)silanli and one year iir the Slate Univers- 
 ity at Ann Arbor. When eighteen years old he 
 bigan teaching and iluring the ensuing twelve win- 
 ters he gave his time and talent to pedagogy al- 
 though he made his home on the homestead until 
 he was twenty-six years old. For two years he was 
 Principal of the High School in Lyons and he then 
 in 1873, entered the Fir-st National Bank of Muir, 
 in which he r-emained thr-ee ycar-s. An equal 
 length of time w.as then occupied in discharging his 
 duties as Cashier in the bank of William H. Free 
 man at L3'ons and this was followed by an exper- 
 ience of six months as book-keeper in the bank of 
 
208 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 AVebber & Chapin at Stanton. After this appren- 
 ticeship in the banking business Mr. McQuillin 
 with other citizens of Lyons bought the business of 
 William H. Freeman and established the banking 
 company of which he is Cashier. 
 
 The sujierior intelligence of Mr. Mctiuillin and 
 his trustworthiness have led to his being called 
 upon to serve his fellow citizens in official capac- 
 ity, lie has been Township Clerk twelve years, 
 Township Treasurer one year, and several times 
 President of the Village Board and a village Trus- 
 tee. In politics he is an uncompromising Demo- 
 crat. His home is presided over by the lady to 
 whom he was married in 1873, prior to which time 
 she was known as Miss Myra Pierce. This lady was 
 formerly a resident of New York, but at the time 
 of her marriage was living in Lyons, she being a 
 daughter of Nathan Pierce. The family of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Mc(iuillin consists of four bright children 
 who are named respectively, Florence, John F., 
 Lawrence P. and Ralph. 
 
 SHOMAS JOHNSON, a farmer of Odessa 
 Township, holds an assured position among 
 the agriculturists of Ionia County, with 
 wliora he has been identilied for many years, work- 
 ing with them for the improvement of the county 
 and the prosperity of future generations. lie 
 resides on section 28, adjoining the village of Lake 
 Odessa, and has about one hundred acres of well- 
 tilled land. Here can be found good grades of 
 stock, substantial buildings and many modern 
 conveniences. The present residence was built in 
 1880 and is of brick with two L's, each 18x2G 
 feet. 
 
 Mr. Johnson was born in Lincolnshire, England, 
 June 14, 1821, and is the second of the three sur- 
 viving members in a family of seven children. 
 The others are AVilliam, who lives in Odessa Town- 
 ship; and Mary Ann, wife of G corge Foster, whose 
 home is in Donington, England. Their parents 
 were John and Elizabeth (Crampton) Johnson, 
 natives of Lincolnshire. The father worked at 
 various occupations and for some time prior to his 
 
 decease kept an hotel at Donington. He died in 
 September, 1828, in comparatively early life, but 
 the mother lived to be quite aged she also dying in 
 her native land. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Donington 
 and lived in that town until he was eighteen years 
 old, when he bade his mother adieu and went upon 
 a farm, working there three 3'ears. He had been 
 left fatherless when but seven years old and had 
 grown up under the careful and deeply affectionate 
 care of his mother. He had received a common- 
 school education and was prepared for all ordinary 
 duties. After the period of farm life mentioned, 
 he returned home and remained three years, busy- 
 ing himself at various occupations. Being per- 
 suaded that in the New World he would have 
 larger opportunities, he sailed for America, April 
 17, 1845, and landed at (Juebec, whence he went at 
 once to Rochester, N. Y. 
 
 For three years Mr. Johnson remained in that 
 city working at whatever he could find to do, and 
 he then went into the country and worked by the 
 month, farming in the summer and laboring in the 
 plaster regions during the winter. For four sea- 
 sons he was in the employ of the s.ame man, and he 
 then worked on a farm in another neighborhood 
 four entire years. The next move of Mr. Johnson 
 was to come to Ionia County in 1855, in February 
 following buying land where he is now located. 
 He purchased eighty acres of untilled soil, which 
 was in the wild condition that made it the haunt 
 of Indians and forest animals. He at once began 
 felling trees and preparing logs with which to 
 build a house, and on May 6, 1856, he moved into 
 his cabin home. Slowly but surely the clearing 
 extended and the second year he had three .acres of 
 corn and in the fall sowed wheat. The entire tract 
 comprising the original homestead has been cleared 
 and twenty acres added, and now in place of the 
 wilderness he sees around him the results of his 
 labors. 
 
 When Mr. Johnson arrived in Quebec he had 
 but sixty-five cents and he had with him a wife and 
 a sick child. Notwithstanding the discouraging 
 circumstances he kept up his courage, and incited 
 by his love for his family and his ambition to make 
 his way in the world, he pushed forward until he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 209 
 
 reached tlie position of a substantial landowner. 
 His i)ur[)ose Las not been accomplished wiltn)ut 
 hardsiiip, but he has had many things to cheer him 
 (Ml his way. He is now living with his children, 
 having ceased arduous toil, and is enjoying the 
 fruits of his former industry and the esteem of 
 tliose to whom he is familiarly known as "l^nclc 
 Tom." lie has been I'athmaster and Assessor, and 
 politically is a Democrat. 
 
 In Donington, England, in 1843, Mr. Johnson 
 was united in marriage with Miss Jane Metcalf, 
 who shared his fortunes until January 25, 1855. 
 She died in Monroe Count}', N. Y., and was buried 
 at Bellcoda. Of this' union there were born seven 
 children, four of whom are living, viz: Joseph, 
 William, Frank and John 1. In December, 1855, 
 Mr. Johnson was married a second lime, his bride 
 being Miss Betsey Ilarkness, who became the 
 mother of a son, Walter. This good woman shared 
 with our subject in the trials of a pioneer life, but 
 lived to see fortune smile upon them and the 
 neighborhood become prosperous and well settled. 
 >Shc entered into rest August 4, 1880. 
 
 ^jHOMAS E. JACKSON. This name will be 
 rccogni/ed as that of the publislier and 
 proprietor of the Muir Tri/june, a sheet that 
 was established in November, 1885, and, contrary 
 to llic |)rognostications of numerous citizens, lives 
 and nourishes. It is a seven-column folio with a 
 circulation of six hundred copies, and the palron- 
 .Hgc is increasing as the merits of the paper become 
 advertised. ''Ye editor" is educated, abounding in 
 energy and the determination that conquers un- 
 toward circumstances and withal is blessed with 
 tact and social qualities. Plain in his utterances 
 rcganling affairs that liave a bearing upon the 
 status of the community or the progress of tlic 
 Nation, he is quick to discern redeeming features 
 in the lives or words of others, and prompt to give 
 "credit where credit is due." 
 
 The birthplace of Mr. Jackson was rnionvillc, 
 Chester County, Pa., and the date of the event 
 
 September 6, 1859. His parents were Benjamin 
 and Margaret Jackson, both natives of the Keystone 
 State and life-long residents there. The father 
 owned several farms and carried on extensive 
 operations in the agricultural line. The parental 
 family included four sons — Andrew, George, 
 Thomas and Frank, and two daughters — Mrs. W. B. 
 Bartow living in Milan, Ohio, and Mrs. Nelson 
 Goodman, of Macomb, HI. 
 
 The son of whom we write was a student in 
 Downington, Pa., and after completing the course 
 of study there he served three years at the printer's 
 trade, and subsequently acteil as foreman of the 
 office most of the lime until 1882. lie then bought 
 a half interest in the Clyde Enlerprise, that being 
 one of the leading Iie()ublican sheets of Sandusky 
 County, Ohio. His partner was Henry F. Paden, 
 and the two carried on the publication until Octo- 
 ber, 1883, when Mr. Jackson sold out for the pur- 
 pose of studying medicine. He entered the medical 
 department of the Universit}' of Michigan at Ann 
 Arbor and steadily pursued his [)rofessional studies 
 until after his junior year, when he returned home 
 to spend his vacation. 
 
 During the visit our subject was prevailed upon 
 by his brother Frank to bu}' the Clyde Enlerprise 
 which was for sale, and together the brothers 
 entered upon the publication and editing of that 
 sheet. They met with satisfactory success and con- 
 tinued the work until July 1, 1885, when our sub- 
 ject sold ont and looke<l about for other fields of 
 labor. In October of that year Thomas Jackson 
 came to Muir and buying a small amount of 
 material gave to the public the initial number of 
 the Tribune. The townspeople said that he would 
 be glad to leave the place within six months, as no 
 pa[)er could live on the patronage it would receive 
 there; but still there are no signs of death in the 
 journal. On the contrary the oflice has been fur- 
 nished with more and bolter material, and surely, if 
 somewhat slowl}', success has been attained. Mr. 
 Jackson has two assistants in the work of publica- 
 tion, and being a practical printer, as well as a rca<ly 
 writer, he has an advantage over some would-be 
 publishers. 
 
 Whatever business worries m.ny aimo}' Rlr. .Taek- 
 sou he liiids rest and refreshment in his home, where 
 
210 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 an amiable and educated wife awaits him. This 
 lady, formerly Miss Jiianita Fletclier, is a daughter 
 of Lemuel and Emma (Lusc) Fletcher, natives of 
 New York and Pennsylvania respectively, and is 
 herself a native of Clyde, Ohio. The rites of wed- 
 lock between her and Mr. Jackson were solemnized 
 August 28, 1884, and mutual happiness has fol- 
 lowed the interesting event. They have a cozy 
 dwelling in Muir, of which village Mr. Jackson 
 has been a board member for three years. He has 
 gained a reputation as one of the most enterprising 
 newspaper men in Ionia County, and in society is 
 quite popular. His political influence is thrown 
 with the Republicans. 
 
 DHILIP A. 
 ) man is nc 
 the pione 
 
 WACUS. Although this gentle- 
 ot entitled to be numbered among 
 jonecrs of Ionia County he has yet 
 witnessed a vast improvement in the coun- 
 try since he came here. Of Odessa Township he 
 may be called an early settler, as there he found 
 large tracts of unimproved land and passed through 
 the trials and hardships which are incidental to the 
 development of a country, particularly when cov- 
 ered with heavy timber, as was the case here. He 
 has a good farm on section 20, where many evi- 
 dences of prosperity may be seen. The stock kept 
 includes Short-horn cattle, Shropshire sheep, Per- 
 ch eron horses, and hogs that are also of good 
 grade. Mr. Wachs also raises Plymouth- Rock 
 chickens in considerable numbers. A noticeable 
 feature of the estate is the attention paid to fruit 
 culture, and the two thrifty orchards are beautiful 
 as well as remunerative. There is also a sugar 
 bush from which an average yield of one thousand 
 pounds per annum is gained. 
 
 The earliest ancestor of Mr. Wachs in America 
 was Peter Wachs, who emigrated from Switzerland 
 in 1752, where he was born in 1738. He was a 
 blacksmith, and followed his trade in Pennsyl- 
 sylvania until his death, which occurred in 1832, 
 when he was ninety-three years old. He had two 
 sons: Philip and Henrj', the former of whom was a 
 farmer in Perry County, Pa.; he died the same 
 
 year as his father, being then fifty five years old. 
 His wife was Magdalena Stauter, was born Septem- 
 ber 1, 1783, and lived to be about seventy-eight 
 years of age. This couple had three sons who grew 
 to manhood, the eldest of whom was Peter, the 
 father of our subject. That gentleman was born in 
 Perry County, Pa., and after growing to manhood 
 engaged in farming in Richland, now Crawford 
 County, Ohio. He cleared eighty acres of wild 
 land there and added to his property until his farm 
 included one hundred and twenty acres. It was 
 thoroughly improved and was known as Hedge 
 Row Farm. He also owned forty acres in Ionia 
 County, this State. Mr. Wachs was a man of 
 strictly temperate habits and was a consistent 
 member of the United Brethren Church. Politi- 
 cally he was a Democrat. He died July 31, 1884. 
 
 The mother of our subject bore the maiden 
 name of Lj'dia Bell, and was born in York County, 
 Pa. Her parents were John and Mary (Richey) 
 Bfcll, the one of Irish and the other of Scotch-Irish 
 descent. Three of the ancestors lived to the age 
 of ninety, two to the age of ninety-two years, and 
 one to ninety years. In Crawford County', Oiiio, 
 in 1824, the father and mother of our subject were 
 joined in wedlock. Mrs. Wachs was, like her 1ms- 
 band, a member of the United Brethren Church. 
 She breathed her last September 18, 1888. She 
 was the mother of eight children, five of whom still 
 survive, viz.: Philip A., Simeon R., Daniel C. and 
 Darius A.j Sarah is the wife of James Nevil and 
 lives on a part of the parental homestead in Ohio, 
 while Simeon occupies the other portion ; Daniel 
 resides at Grand Haven, this State; and Darius in 
 Morrow County, Ohio. 
 
 Our subject was born and reared on a farm in 
 what is now Crawford County, Ohio, the date of 
 his birth being JUI3' 10, 183G. He acquired a 
 knowledge of the ordinary English brandies in the 
 district school of his neighborhood, and until he 
 was of age he aided his father in the cultivation of 
 the farm. He then went to learn the carpenter and 
 joiner's trade, whicli he followed nine 3'ears. lu 
 November, 18G5, he came to Ionia County and 
 took charge of a farm which he had bought the 
 year before, now known as "Orchard Farm." It 
 consisted of eighty acres of wild limber land on 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 211 
 
 section 20, Odessa Township, and securing board 
 near by lie clioppcd and cleared for four years. 
 During the same lime be built a small house, 
 10x24 feet, and ten feet liigli, with the sides 
 boarded up and down. 
 
 After oouiplelin<f his little dwelling Mr. Wachs 
 thought it would be ple.nsant to have some one 
 kcej) house for hiui, and returning to the Buckeye 
 State he was united in marriage with Miss Martha 
 A. (ireen. I''cbruary 8, 1870. The bride w:is born 
 In Hocking County, Ohio, was reared in such a 
 manner as to strengthen the better qualities of her 
 character, and develop in her habits of industry 
 and domestic thrift. To Mr. and Mrs. Wachs one 
 child has been born, r>nlu E., who lives in the same 
 townshii)!is her parents, and is the wife of Daniel 
 A. Mourer. After his marriage Mr. Wachs re- 
 turned to his farm and continued his efforts to 
 develop it. By hard work he has personally cleared 
 eighty acres, which has been placed under good 
 cultivation, a!id he still has forty acres of limber. 
 
 Politically Mr. Wachs is independent, and for 
 the last few years he has voted the Prohibition 
 ticket. For several terms he acted as School In- 
 spector. He and his wife belong to the I'nited 
 Rrethrcn Church, and join earnestly- in efforts to 
 increase the membership and strengthen the society. 
 They are known to a large circle and arc generally 
 respected. 
 
 -i=- ^ — f^J|f^-=> ^^^^ ^^ 
 
 WILLIAM D. PP:NNINGT0N. The only 
 furniture house in Lyons, Ionia County, is 
 that of which the above-named gentleman 
 is pro|>rietor. It was established by the present 
 manager, and after his return from the battlefields 
 of the South he bought back the store and resumed 
 the business. Since that lime he has been doing a 
 satisfactory trade, has somewhat increased his stock 
 and has put up a good building, 22x.50 feet, for his 
 use as storage and salesrooms. Here a well assorted 
 line of goods is to be seen, and here courtesy and 
 business metliods prevail. In addition to the fur- 
 niture business, Mr. Pennington carries on iinder- 
 tftking. His building is on Main Street, and was 
 
 erected in 1882, and on Robinson Street he has put 
 up a fine dwelling. 
 
 Mr. Pennington is of English and French de- 
 scent, and both his parents and himself were born 
 in England. The names of his immediate progeni- 
 tors are Charles and Ann (Dieppie) Pennington, 
 They came to America in 1812, and settled in 
 Paincsville, Ohio, whence they removed to Jackson 
 County, Mich., in 185:?. There they departed this 
 life, the mother in 1860, and the father in 1872. 
 Of their eight children six are living, namely: 
 Charles, Mrs. L. Reed, .John, Mrs. Mary McCrery, 
 William D. and Mrs. Sarah Luce. Mr. Pennington 
 brought to America a stock of goods worth |;(;,000, 
 but having a drunken pilot, the vessel was wrecked 
 off Sandy Hook, and the goods were lost. The 
 owner was therefore obliged to begin life in his 
 new home with only his strong lieart and willing 
 hands, and his family had not the opportunities he 
 wislied to bestow upon them. After his removal 
 to this Stste he bought one hundred and twenty 
 acres of land lived upon the farm during the rem- 
 nant of his days. 
 
 The gentleman whose life history is our topic, 
 was born in 1835, and was a lad of seven vears 
 when he crossed the broad Atlantic. He obtained 
 a limited education in Paincsville, Ohio, but after 
 leaving school never forgot his books, and as occa- 
 sion has offered he has studie(J hard and been re- 
 warded by accumulating a fine store of knowledge. 
 He worked out on farms when strong enough, and 
 continued that manner of life until he was seven- 
 teen years old, when ho took up the study of the 
 cabinet-maker's trade. He served an apprentice- 
 ship of three years, and then began journey work 
 in the same town. Scarcely three months had been 
 given to the work ere he came to Jackson County, 
 this State, and here he entered tlie employ of M. 
 M. Colliraar. 
 
 A year was spent by Mr. Pennington in the em- 
 ploy of that genlkinan, then he turned his atten- 
 tion to carpentry during a season, and ne.xt came to 
 Lyons. From 185G to 1859 he was engaged in 
 business for himself, selling furniture and under- 
 taker's goods, and acting as funeral director. The 
 panic of the latter year caused so great a falling off 
 in trjide, that he sold out to Mr. Halsled, and {o\ 
 
212 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 some months worked for that gentleman. This was 
 followed by labor for Mr. Henry Woodwortli, for 
 whom lie made a complete set of furniture. He 
 then returned to his parents' home and assisted on 
 the farm for a time. When there seemed a pros- 
 pect of reviving trade he returned to Lyons and 
 established himself once more in his old business. 
 In 1862 he disposed of the establishment and en- 
 tered the army, enlisting in Company D, P^iftli 
 Michigan Cavalry, in which he served gallantly al- 
 most three years, being discharged when there 
 lacked but one month of that period. He was one 
 of the fortunate ones who were never captured nor 
 wounded. He held the non-commissioned r.nnk of 
 Sergeant. 
 
 Mr. Pennington was n.arried in 1859, to Miss 
 Nancy T. Dougherty, and thej' have one son liv- 
 ing, William D. This young man is in the naval 
 service, book-keeper for the engineer of the man- 
 of-war "Thetis." Mr. and Mrs. Pennington have a 
 pleasant circle of friends, and show the interest ex- 
 pected of intelligent, public-spirited people, in tiie 
 welfare of those about them, and the development 
 of the place. Mr. Pennington is a Democrat, and 
 identified with the Grand Army of the Republie, 
 and the Masonic order. lie has served as Village 
 Trustee in an eflicient manner, and among business 
 men and citizens has a good reputation. 
 
 EWI.S ANDERSON, the son of Anders Nel- 
 son, was born in Verneland, Sweden, and 
 was a carpenter by trade, engaging in con- 
 tracting and building. He also owned a small farm 
 there. His wife bore the maiden name of Stina 
 Larson. She was a native of the same section and 
 died when our subject was only seven years old. 
 This fondly remembered mother was an earnest and 
 consistent member of the Lutheran Church. Of 
 the four children born to this couple, three grew 
 to manhood and one only left the Motherland to 
 come to America. 
 
 This one, our subject, was born near Kalstad, 
 February 9, 183 L His education was received in 
 the national schools, and when thirteen years of 
 
 age he began working out. He spent four years 
 learning the trade of the comb-makers. At this 
 trade he worked for several years in Norway where 
 he went in 1851 and established himself in Chris- 
 tiana, but the business was not flourishing and he 
 took up stone-cutting and paving. He quickly 
 learned this business and became a contractor, 
 doing a good business in paving streets. In 1861 
 he went to Bergen and Chrisliansand and engaged 
 in the same business, in 1863 located in Drammcn, 
 Norway, in the same line of work. He found 
 abundant business there for seven years. During 
 that time the cit3' suffered a disastrous (are. 
 
 In 1870 times were ver3' dull and the young man 
 concluded that he would see if he could not find a 
 better opportunity for work in the New World. 
 He landed in New York, September 16, of that 
 year. He worked for a short time in that city and 
 the following spring went to Hartford, Conn., and 
 secured work in a brickyard, but he did not remain 
 there long, but went to Madison County, N. Y., in 
 the employ of a railroad. A little later he emi- 
 grated to Illinois and found work of his own kind 
 in the stone quarries of Lemont, Cook County, HI. 
 He now sent home for his family and upon their 
 arrival he came to Michigan where he remained a 
 short time at Howell. The same fall he went to 
 Lansing where he was employed in building the 
 State House until the spring of 1875, when became 
 to Montcalm County and located at Colby, being 
 engaged in the sawmills. 
 
 Here in Home Township the subject of this 
 sketch at last found a permanent home in the new 
 country. In 1878 he bought an eighty-acre farm 
 where he now resides. The pine trees had just 
 been taken from it and he secured it for *5 per 
 acre. He has since spent his time in improving 
 this property besides doing some work in sawmills 
 and at logging and cutting shingles. Sixty-five 
 acres of his eighty are now under good cultivation, 
 neatly fenced into fields and orchards, and the 
 house and barns are first-class. He carries on gen- 
 eral farming and stock-raising keeping only good 
 grades of stock. His good wife came with him 
 across the ocean. She was Karen, daughter of 
 Simon Nelson, a farmer in Setwey, three miles from 
 Drammen, where he died on Christmas day, 1888. 
 
^^i^^j^" '//^^cl£c:^^^ ./ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 215 
 
 Mrs. Anderson's mother still resides at the old 
 home in Dianinien, having more tlum coiiiploled 
 her fonr-score j-ears. 
 
 Our subject and his wife have two children — 
 Morten, born in Norway in 1865, w!is seven years 
 i)|(l when they came to this conntry. When a lad 
 of tliirlcen or fourteen years he began work in a 
 sawMiill and became a practical sliingle and lath 
 manufacturer. He is now in partnership with his 
 father running the farm and is a very bright and 
 capable young man, doing great credit to the 
 family and relieving his father of much labor 
 and responsibility. The daughter, Annette, is a 
 graduate of the Edniore High School in the class 
 1888. She took a short course in Alma College, 
 and is now successfully teaching a country 
 school in her home district. The family arc 
 earnest and devoted Christians and while finding no 
 church of their own denomination — Lutheran — in 
 iheir vicinity, enjoy attendance upon the services 
 of tlie Congregational Church to which they give 
 their cordial support. 
 
 t^ ON. ALBERT WILLIAMS. All who are 
 
 yy familiar witli the history of Michigan for 
 ' the past forty years will recognize the above 
 name as that of one connected therewith, 
 
 as an eraiuent member of the bar, a stirring polit- 
 ical worker and the occupant of positions of |)ublic 
 trust and responsibility, lie belongs to a family 
 many of whose members have gained distinction 
 for integrity', energy and ability, and so far as is 
 known, not one has fallen below the average in 
 brain power and good character, while a number 
 have risen above it. 
 
 The original American progenitor of our subject 
 w:is William Williams, a native of Wales, who 
 crosseil the Atlantic and settled at Stonington, 
 Conn. He was a man of adventurous spirit and 
 courage, and followed the sea, being a sea cap- 
 tain. He and his eldest son perished at sea and 
 it was gravely suspected that they were the victims 
 of a mutinous crew. The next in the direct line 
 was the Hev. Henry Williams, who was born in 
 
 1746, and died November 20, 1811, at Leverett, 
 Mass. He was a graduate of Yale College and a 
 minister in the Congregational Church, renowned 
 in the East for bis piety and talents. 
 
 Dr. Henry Williams, the third in the line in 
 America, was born in Leverett, Mass., in 1786, 
 received a classical education and entered the pro- 
 fession of medicine. He won a high reputation as 
 [)hysician and surgeon and was also a popular 
 speaker and the writer of good verse. During the 
 War of 1812 he was assistant surgeon in a Vermont 
 regiment of volunteers. June 14, 1808, he mar- 
 ried Judith Corkins and to them were born eight 
 children, named respectively: Henry, who died in 
 infancy, Avery, Nathan, Eliza, Albert, Henry, 
 Sally and George D. Bertrand. Of these Avery 
 and our subject are the only ones now living. In 
 1827 Dr. Williams removed to New Berlin, Che- 
 nango County, N. Y., thence to Norwich, Solon, and 
 finally to West Monroe, Oswego County, where he 
 died April IG, 1843. 
 
 The subject of tiiis biogrnpliical notice, who was 
 tiie fifth in the jiarental family, was born in Hali- 
 fax, Windham County, Vt., Feliruary 8, 1817. His 
 home W.1S at his father's house while the latter lived, 
 aliiiough the greater part of the time after his early 
 boyhood was spent awa}- attending school, reading 
 law and teaching. Several years were spent by 
 him in the academics of Homer, Cortland County-, 
 and Mexicoville, Oswego County-, N. Y., and in 
 April, 1844, a year after his father's death, he came 
 to Michig.an. His first year in this Stale w.is spent 
 in the law oflice of the Hon. K. McClelland and 
 Judge W. Wing in Monroe, and there he was 
 .admitted to the bar April 14, 1845. He at once 
 removed to Ionia County, where he continued his 
 professional practice, save one year, from May, 
 1851, to May. 1852, in which last mentioned year 
 he permanently settled in Ionia. 
 
 The first six years passed by Mr. Williams in 
 Ionia County were spent in Otisco, and during 
 that time he served on the County Board of Super- 
 I visors one year. From 1847 to 1851 he was Pros- 
 ecuting Attorney, and in the spring of 1853 he 
 was also elected Justice of the Peace. During 
 1853-54 he was Deputy County Clerk and per- 
 formed all the duties of that oflice, and all the rec- 
 
216 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ords appear in his bandwriling. In 1854 he was 
 elected County Treasurer and re-elected two years 
 later. In January, 1861, he again entered upon 
 the work of Prosecuting Attorney; in .January, 
 1863, having been elected, lie assumed the duties 
 of the office of Attorney-General of the State and 
 was re-elected in 1864, holding the office fonr 
 years. In 1869 he was appointed United States 
 Court Commissioner, which position he still holds. 
 
 In 1876 Mr. Williams was the candidate of the 
 Prohibition party for Gubernatorial honors, but 
 notwithstanding his personal worth, the following 
 of the party was too small to elect him. He stands 
 well as a lawj'er, the general opinion of him being 
 that he is an able and safe counselor, and before 
 the Supreme Court he has made arguments tliat 
 have been highly complimented and add to the esti- 
 mation in which he lias been held by the Supreme 
 Bench since his first ap[)earance before it. His argu- 
 ment in January, 1865, in support of the constitu- 
 tionality of the soldiers' voting law has been pro- 
 nounced by an eminent jurist one of the clearesti 
 ablest and most straightforward that has been made 
 in the Supreme Court for many years. 
 
 As Attorney-General, the promptness and energy 
 of Mr. Williams prevented the payment out of tlie 
 State Treasury of at least one considerable illegal 
 claim, connived at by dishonest officials. To him 
 also is due the prevention of the revival of the old 
 "wild-cat" Pontiac Bank, and the River Raisin and 
 Lake Erie Railroad Company Bank, each of which 
 had $300,000 or more of worthless bills, ready to 
 tlood the Northwest. The citizens were saved the 
 loss of thousands of dollars, whereby they would 
 have been victimized had the banks been re-estab- 
 lished. His action in this instance alone is suffi- 
 cient to fully establish the integrity and faithful- 
 ness of Mr. Williams as Attorney-General. 
 
 Although always a strong anti-slavery man, Mr. 
 Williams acted with the Democratic party until 
 1854. He had been a firm opposer of the Com- 
 promise measure of 1850, and fouryears later left 
 the ranks entirely and joined the new organization 
 — the Republican ])arty. He was the only man 
 from Ionia County who attended the mass meeting 
 '•under the oaks" at Jackson July C, 1854, when 
 thp Republican party was organized in the State. 
 
 He was a member of the Committee on Resolutions 
 and of the coramittee which presented to the con- 
 vention a ticket that became the lirst Republican 
 State ticket and that was elected in the fall of the 
 same year. The older citizens will remember his 
 services to his party during its infancy, when he 
 took the stump in its behalf. The first elaborate 
 Republican address printed and circulated in the 
 Slate was written by him, and was so clear in its 
 exposition of the pi'inciples of the party that it was 
 largely used as a text document. 
 
 In 1870 Mr. Williams became identified with the 
 National Prohibition party, transferring his alle- 
 giance because he believed that the days of useful- 
 ness of the old party had ceased. In his espousal 
 of the cause of prohibition he put forth the energy 
 that had been characteristic of him when working 
 for Republican issues, and although he has not 
 always won the race when put before the public as a 
 |)rohibition candidate, he has on each occasion 
 |)olled flattering votes. It is said that he has done 
 as much for the parties with which he has affiliated 
 by his writings and public addresses as an}' other 
 gentleman in this portion of the State, and one who 
 wishes to arrive at a clear understanding of the 
 ideas and principles underlying the great parties 
 of which he has been a member, would do well to 
 carefully read some of his addresses and writings. 
 
 Mr. Williams was married to Miss Eliza A. Pat- 
 terson, daughter of Capt. James Patterson, in West 
 Monroe, N. Y., January 6, 1844. Mrs. Williams 
 was a lady of brilliant intellect, varied and solid 
 attainments and fine social qualities. She was also 
 an earnest and active Christian and temperance 
 worker. In every organization of the ladies of 
 Ionia, whether for the promotion of charitable, 
 literary or religious enterprises, she was one of the 
 foremost and reliable members. Her earthlj- activ- 
 ity ceased July 24, 1879, but the influence left by 
 her earnest life still lingers. Mr. and Mrs. Williams 
 had four children, two of whom died in early 
 infancy and a third — Faiuiie — in her twenty-first 
 j'ear. Mrs. Ellen W. Babcock, the sole survivor, is 
 the wife of Burton Babcock of Easton, Ionia 
 County, and they have two daughters — Frances, 
 born in 1875, and Lucy in 1878. 
 
 Many poetical contributions from the pen of Mr, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 217 
 
 Williams are treasured in the memory of iiis friends, 
 and lie owes it to the public to slather bis verses 
 and put them In permanent form. Mr. Williams 
 is a generous-hearted, exemplary man, whose legal 
 opinion has weight and who as a public ollicer was 
 guilty of no oppressive or dishonorable .ict. lie 
 is unusually vigorous for one of his years and is 
 therefore himself a living argument of teniperanco 
 and of all that temperance means. 
 
 A lithographic [)ortr«it of Mr. Williams appears 
 in connection with this personal sketch. 
 
 E^^^ 
 
 JAMES TOTTEN, M. D., a |)hysician of 
 talent and ability, located at Howard City 
 Montcalm County, in 1887 and has in a few 
 short years risen to prominence among her 
 citizens. His practice is conducted according to 
 the principles of the Homa'palhic School, with 
 which his judgment concurs, and his work has been 
 successful, proving the judiciousness of his diag- 
 noses and treatments. 
 
 Dr. Tolten is a Canadian by birth and is a son of 
 Thomas and Sarah (Sproat) Totten, who were born 
 in Ireland and emigrated from the Emerald Isle to 
 Can.ida in 1840. Thom.as Totten was a farmer, but 
 during the latter part of his life he devoted his 
 talents to ministerial work in the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. He died August 22, 1885. His 
 widow still survives. To them there were born 
 thirteen children : of these James is the eldest; Mary, 
 wife of .John Bond, lives in Manitoba; Thomas, in 
 Kent County, this Stale; Henry and William, in 
 Chic.igo; Alfred, in Newaygo County; (leorgo, 
 with his mother; and Margaret, wife of Frank 
 Lewis, in Canada. 
 
 The natal day of Dr. Totten was April 5, 1811, 
 and bis early years were spent in conning his lessons 
 in the common school and working on his father's 
 farm. He came to this State in 1864 and March 
 23 was enrolled in Com[)any A, Twenty-Second 
 iMichigan Infantry, thus taking up arms for the 
 Government under which he expected to live, very 
 soon after lie became a resident in its territory-. He 
 served until September 6, 18C5, when he was dis- 
 
 charged at MurfreesborcTenn., with the creditable 
 record in which all soldiers take delight. 
 
 Immediately' after coming out of the service 
 young Totten took up the study of medicine with 
 J>r. Hayes, of Cedar Springs, Kent County, and 
 reail with that gentleman about three years. He 
 then attended the Ilomnjpathic College in Detroit 
 and afterward [ir.icticed with his former tutor two 
 years, then took up the work alone. In 1880 he 
 took a course of lectures in Hahnemann Medical 
 College, Chicago, from which he was graduated in 
 March, 1881. He practiced at Pierson, Montcalm 
 County, until his removal to Howard City. 
 
 The home of Dr. Totten is presided over by a 
 genial and intelligent lady who became his wife 
 March 17, 1874. She bore the maiden name of 
 Addie Welch and is a daughter of James Welch, a 
 lawyer in Carey, Ohio. Doctor and Mrs. Totten 
 have two sons — Ralph E. and Frank J. 
 
 During his residence in Pierson Dr. Totten was 
 a member of the Common Council eight years, 
 President of the Village four years and Township 
 Treasurer one year. He is now Village Clerk of 
 Howard City and is a health oflicer. He was County 
 Physician in 1890 and has been connected with the 
 Board of Health for a number of years. He holds 
 a commission as Notary Public. Politically, he is 
 a Democrat, and socially a member of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic. 
 
 EROY A. SCOVILLE, the Postmaster at 
 ^ Clarksville, Ionia County, is one of the 
 /ALia^ most prominent men of that village and of 
 Campbell Township. He was born in Montgomery 
 Townshii), Marion County, Ohio, March 20, 1843, 
 and is a son of Ashel A. and Mary (Lancaster) 
 Scoville. The father was a native of Connecticut 
 and of Scotch descent. The mother was of the 
 same blood and born in Lancaster County, Pa. Fn 
 1855 this worthy couple emigrated to Michigan and 
 located on the farm wheie our subject now resides. 
 The father died in March, 18G1, and his good wife 
 had preceded him to the other world in November 
 of the previous year. Of their four children two 
 
218 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 only remain, namely: Lcroy A., and Susannah 
 Jane (Mrs. Cliailes Clark,) who resides in Califor- 
 nia. 
 
 Leroy A. Scoville was but twelve years of age 
 when he came with his parents to Michigan. He 
 was busy in the district school and on the farm until 
 the death of liis father, when he took charge of the 
 farm although he was only eigliteen years of age. 
 lie did not remain long at liome, but soon went 
 to Missouri where he worked in a blacksmith shop. 
 The civil war had now broken out, and in Feb- 
 ruary, 1862, the boy enlisted in Company F, First 
 Missouri Cavalry, and vras soon called to endure 
 hardships as a good soldier. He participated in 
 the battles of Jefferson City, Mine Creek, Lexing- 
 ton and took part in the Poindexter Raid. He also 
 fought in the battle at Brunswick, Mo., which took 
 place in a large blackberry patch. He met Quan- 
 trell's band when they were on their raids. He 
 was wounded at the battle of Mine Creek, and 
 served his full three years and received his honor- 
 able discharge at St. Louis, Mo., February 18, 
 18G5. 
 
 After his discharge our subject returned to Ionia 
 County, Mich., and settled upon the old home farm, 
 which he worked until 1870 when he decided to 
 rent his farm and remove to California. He set- 
 tled at Woodland, Cal., and engaged in farming 
 until 1874, when he returned to Ionia County and 
 made his home upon the old farm where he has 
 ever since resided. He has now two hundred and 
 fifty acres of land, having added largely to the 
 oricrinal eighty acres, wliicli his father located. The 
 farm is all in a good state of cultivation and has on 
 it excellent grades of stock of all kinds. He keeps 
 Lincolnsliire sheep, and is also breeding Percheron 
 and Ilambletouian horses. He deals largely in 
 buying and shi])ping stock and handles agricultu- 
 ral implements and buggies and also lumber and 
 hardware. 
 
 Mr. Scoville's success in life is entirely due to his 
 own exertions. He has been a hard worker and is 
 now as always a public-spirited man, supporting 
 public enterprises to the best of his ability. He 
 owns four store buildings in Clarksville. He is a 
 Republican in politics and is a member of the 
 Republican County Committee, also the town- 
 
 ship Committee. He was appointed Postmaster 
 in 1889. He has been Justice of the Peace for 
 twelve years and was Township Treasurer three 
 terms. He has been a member of the Masonic 
 Lodge for twenty-five years, and a member of the 
 Grange for three years. His marriage withMai-tha J. 
 Hogle February 10, 1868, has been blessed by the 
 birth of five sons: James L., is assistant in the 
 Post-office; Eugene, Claude, Glenn H. and Fred. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Scoville are well-known in the 
 county and are held in the highest esteem by all. 
 
 YLVESTER K. WELCH. The late Syl- 
 vester K. Welch was well-known in Ionia 
 Count}', in whose prosperity he was a potent 
 factor for many years. He was for some 
 time interested in the mill at Portland, but his 
 later years were spent upon a farm and he is per- 
 haps as well known as an agriculturist as a miller. 
 He left an estate of three hundred acres, upon 
 which is one of the finest residences in Portland 
 Township. The structure was built in 1871-72 
 and contains many mod«rn conveniences, such as 
 heating by furnace, etc. The fine property is now 
 held by two sons — Aimer and Ira, who have bought 
 the interest of the other heirs, and who with other 
 members of the parental family reside upon it. It 
 will doubtless be many years before it passes beyond 
 the Welch family. 
 
 Mr. Welch was born in Pawlet, Rutland County, 
 Vt., May 3, 1821. His parents were Aimer and 
 Buelah (Kent) AVeleh and hisearl^' home was on a 
 farm. In 1843 he came to Portland, this State, 
 with his uncle Ira Webster, with whom he remained 
 until 1851 when he established a home of his own, 
 being married February 8 to Miss Sarah L. Hamlin. 
 For a number of years of his marriage he was con- 
 nected with Mr. Newman in the milling business at 
 Portland, but as the occujiaMon did not agree with 
 Ids health, lie abandoned it and took up farming. 
 He had bought one hundred and sixty acres in 
 1849, and upon this he locatc><l, afterward adding to 
 it until it became the large estate before noted. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 219 
 
 Tbe wife of our subject was oue of tlie family 
 of John and Phebe Hamlin of Portland, and was 
 a lad}' of much intelligence who, jjrior to her mar- 
 riage, was engaged in teaching. Husband and wife 
 took much interest in the intellectual advancement 
 of their children and taught them at home (luring 
 the evening hours. The famil}- consists of five 
 sons and daughters, named respectively. Aimer, 
 Albina, Antoinette, Ira and Marion. All remain 
 on the homestead except Albina, who is the wife 
 of .lohn M. Gibbs, a farmer in the same township. 
 
 He of whom this brief notice is commemorative, 
 died March 8, 1880, and his wife survived until 
 March 25, 1888. For many years Mr. Welch was 
 Township .Supervisor and for a long period he 
 served as School Director. To his efforts is largely 
 due the fact that the district school was kej)! up to 
 a high grade of work and became one of the best 
 in the county. He left to his family what is better 
 than their worldly inheritance — a name and mem- 
 ory in which they can rejoice. 
 
 ^mi 
 
 ||/ UCH^S E. SUOWERMAN. This gentle- 
 I Ij^ man has passed through all the experiences 
 J lk^, of pioneer life, and well deserves a share in 
 the credit due to the old settlers of Ionia County. 
 He was brought here when a lad ten years oM, at 
 which time there were but three families living in 
 Sebewa Township, those of Charles W. Tngalls, 
 John Tcrrill and John Brown. At that time .Se- 
 bewa and Portland Townships were one, and when 
 the former was set off the first election was held in 
 the home of his father. It is not neccssarj' to en- 
 large upon his youthful experiences, and they were 
 such as are common to the families of all pioneers, 
 and have become an "oft-told tale." Mr. Shower- 
 man has been successful in his worldly affairs, and 
 owns a fine property, his residence being on section 
 23, of the townshi[) in which be has lived since boy- 
 hootl. 
 
 The Showerman family originated in Holland, 
 and was established in America by the great-grand- 
 father of our subject, who lived to the venerable 
 age of ninety -six years. Jacob Showerman, father 
 
 of Lucius E., was born in Genesee County, N. Y., 
 June 14, 1804, and was one in a family of twelve 
 children. They used the ancestral tongue until 
 they were grown, and even in later years made 
 much use of that form of speech. Jacob Shower- 
 man was married in his native county, November 
 28, 182G, to Desire Tinkham, who was born in 
 Schoharie County, February 1, 1805, and was of 
 English lineage. Her father v/aa an hotel-keeper. 
 Mr. Showerman gave his attention exclusively to 
 agriculture. In 1836 he camo to this Slate, selected 
 a tract of land and paid the Government |il. 25 per 
 .icre therefor. He returned to his home and con- 
 tinued his labors there until late in the summer of 
 1839, when he started to his new possession with 
 his famil}', consisting of a wife and six children. 
 From that time until his decease, he occupied a 
 farm on section 22, Sebewa Township, Ionia County. 
 He crossed the lake to Detroit, a trip that was very 
 expensive in those days, though he brought only 
 his household goods. Between the port and his 
 destination be bought two yoke of oxen and two 
 cows. 
 
 In making his way to his new home, Mr. Show- 
 erman traveled through by-roads that were some- 
 times scarcely passable, and tbe last two miles was 
 cut expressly for the trip. Tbe few cabins in this 
 section were of the pioneer type, and it was four 
 years ere there w.is a school in the neighborhood, 
 although the Showerman children studied under 
 the guidance of their aunt, Mrs. Melissa Brown, at 
 her home in companj* with her family. Mr. Show- 
 erman cleared his farm of underbrush and dragged 
 logs off the ground, then sowed his seed, after which 
 ho felled the timber. The crops raised in this way 
 from tbe green were remarkably large, though of 
 course in the windrows there was nothing. The 
 wheat ground was prepared in the same way. As 
 an instance of the success of the experiment, we 
 may state that five hundred bushels of turnips were 
 raised from one acre. The first year wheat w.as 
 omitted from their sowing, but the next year it was 
 raised in abundance, and they garnered about fif- 
 teen bushels to the acre among the logs. I'>w men 
 with the same opportunities, and no greater ad- 
 vantages fared as well as Mr. Showerman. 
 
 Tbe family of Jacob .Slinwoirnan consisted of 
 
220 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 eight children, four of whom grew to manhood and 
 womanhood. These are Lucius E., the subject of 
 this biographical sketch; Eugenia E., wife of Will- 
 iam Benschoter, and living in Nebraska; Deborah 
 J., now deceased, and formerly the wife of Benja- 
 min Probaseo; and Orlando V., who is represented 
 elsewhere in this Album. The father entered into 
 rest August 15, 1875, leaving to his children the 
 heritage of a good name. The mother died August 
 15, 1858. 
 
 Our subject was born in Genesee County, N. Y., 
 February 4, 1829, and had only fairly begun his 
 preparation for life's work when brought to the 
 western wilds. His education was necessarily lim- 
 ited, but by means already mentioned and atten- 
 dance in the district school when it was possible, 
 he gained the rudiments of knowledge. He has 
 never allowed his faculties to lie dormant, but by 
 the use of the learning he had he has improved so 
 that he has been well qualified to transact business, 
 and has done much, both public and private. He 
 has, however, always felt the need of a belter edu- 
 cation, and has been careful to bestow upon his 
 children greater privileges than were possible to 
 himself. 
 
 For a birthday present when he became of age 
 Mr. Sliowennan received from his father the deed 
 to forty acres of land on which he still lives. He 
 afterward bought a forty of his sister, and later 
 purchased his father's eight}'. In 1885 he bought 
 forty acres more, located a mile south in section 27. 
 One hundred and fort}'-five acres of the property 
 is well cleared, and on the home farm sixty acres 
 was reclaimed from the forest by his personal efforts. 
 Mr. Showerman has put up all the buildings on the 
 land, and has a complete set, substantially built, and 
 ample to accommodate stock and crops. He occu- 
 pies the front rank among the farmers of this sec- 
 lion of country, being equal to any in every par- 
 ticular, and in advance of the most in many ways. 
 He has always kept good grades of stock, giving 
 his preference to sheei)-raising above all other stock 
 work. 
 
 On New Year's Day, 1857, Mr. Showerman was 
 married to Miss Matilda Steers, who shared his for- 
 tunes until June 28, 18G5, when she closed her eyes 
 in death. She had borne three children, but all died 
 
 in infancy. Mr. Showerman was again married 
 September 26, 18G6, his bride on this occasion be- 
 ing Miss Louise (5ranl)j% daughter of Chancy S. and 
 Dolly (Sommers) Granby. Mr. and Mrs. Granby 
 began their wedded life in Genesee County, N. Y , 
 but came to Michigan about 1837, and settled on 
 section 22, Portland Township, Ionia County. 
 There their daughter Louise was born January 19, 
 1849, and there the father <lied five years after lo- 
 cating. The mother died at the home of her daugh- 
 ter August 15, 1878. Of the five children compris- 
 ing the Granby family, but two are now living. 
 John and Louise. The present wife of our subject 
 has borne him three children, whose record is as 
 follows: Frank J., born August 9,1867: Ezzle M., 
 Junes, 1874; Hugh D., September 24, 1881. Ezzie 
 has been attending school in Portland. All show 
 musical talent, and make their home pleasant to 
 friends and strangers by their use of the organ and 
 other instruments. The daughter plays the organ 
 and the sons accompany her upon the harp, or re- 
 lieve her on the organ. 
 
 When but twenty-two years old, Mr. Sbowerinan 
 was elected Township Treasurer, and for seven 
 years he held the position. He was Supervisor six 
 terms, and for four years he was Postmaster at Se- 
 bewa, being the second appointed to the position. 
 He has been quite active in political matters, fre- 
 quently serving as a delegate, and it is well-known 
 to all his acquaintances that he is a supporter of 
 Democratic policy. He and his wife are on good 
 terms with all about them, manifesting the hospit- 
 able and cordial spirit which ensures friendshii). 
 
 i^ ETER VAN VLECK, a prosperous farmer 
 of Ionia County, resides on section 2, 
 Ronald Township. He was born in Del- 
 aware County, N. Y., near Middleton, 
 October 22, 1824. His father, Mathew Van Vleck, 
 was born in Ulster County, N. Y., May 18, 1794. His 
 parents, John and Sarah Van Vleck, wore natives of 
 the same State. Upon the death of his father the 
 care of the family devolved upon the widowed 
 mother. October 10, 1816, when Mathew had 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 S21 
 
 arrived at the age of twenty-two 3'ear8, he married 
 Miss Deborah North, who was born in Ulster 
 County, N. Y., January IT), 1797, and soon after- 
 ward the couple settled in that county. A few 
 years later they removed to Delaware, and in 1838 
 the}' came to Michigan .ind settled on three hun- 
 dred and twenty acres of land in Ionia (now 
 Roland) Township, Ionia County, which had been 
 purchased in 1837. The journey occupied four- 
 teen days' time from Detroit, os-tearas being em- 
 ployed and roads having to bo cut in places. At 
 that time there were but two families in the town- 
 ship. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Van Vleck were born five chil- 
 dren, as follows: John, February 26, 1818; Cath- 
 erine, November 10, 1819; Sar.ah, April 22, 1822; 
 Peter, October 22, 1824; Albert, October 1, 182G. 
 Mr. Van A'leck lived to .see the wilderness in which 
 he had settled changed to fine, fruitful farms, and 
 his children settled all around and within sight of 
 him. The first death in the family was that of Mr. 
 Van Vleck, which occurred April 2t, 1880, and in 
 July of the same year the death of the eldest son, 
 John, occurreil. Mr. Van Vleck made farming a 
 business until 18;>4, when he retired from active 
 labor an<l turned the care of tlie farm over to hit 
 youngest son, Albert. He remained upon the old 
 homestead until his death, his only removal during 
 his life in Michigan being "out of the old house 
 into the new," — from the log cabin to the more 
 tasty frame dwelling. Ilis widow still resides on 
 the old pl.ace. Mr. Van Vleck voted for Andrew 
 Jackson for President, and was subsequently a 
 Whig anil a Republican. I'or a number of years 
 lie held the i)osition of Supervisor in his township, 
 and was also the recipient of numerous smaller 
 otlicial favors. Both ho and his wife were mem- 
 bers of the Baptist Church, and in church affairs 
 he always took much interest. He was greatly 
 res[>octed for his manly fharacter and his generous 
 qualities of heart, especially by those in inferior 
 circumstances who partook of his bounty. His 
 early educational advantages were those of the 
 common schools of the time, and were somewhat 
 limited. His memory and all his mental faculties 
 were retained until the last, which, considering his 
 age (eighty-six years), was a matter of wonder to 
 
 many. His life had been an even one, and he 
 passed away quietly as he had lived. His father 
 was both a farmer and a tanner. 
 
 The subject of this sketch obtained his first and 
 onl}' schooling in New York State. He wsis thir- 
 teen j'ears old when he came with his parents to 
 Michigan, and from that time until he reached his 
 majority he freely gave his help in working the 
 home farm. In 1845 he purchased the place where 
 he now resides, and worked the farm four years 
 before his marriage. That happy event took place 
 December 13, 1849. His bride was Mirah A. Red- 
 ington, who was born near Amherst, Ohio, April 
 22, 1832. When twelve years old she accompan- 
 led her parents, Nathaniel and Caroline (Salmon) 
 Redington, to Michigan. They were natives of 
 M.issaehusetts and spent the last days of their life 
 in Michigan. Mr. Van Vleck was bereaved of her 
 father January 20, 1854, but her mother lived 
 until .September 12, 1888, when she departed at the 
 ripe old ago of eighty-two years. 
 
 The subject of this sketch took his young wife 
 homo, to the place where he now resides, to a new 
 house which he had just built. They have been 
 blessed with three children: Mary, born Decem- 
 ber 17, 1851, now deceased; Rector, born Feb- 
 ruary 8, 1853; and Cassius M., September 5, 18C0. 
 Rector married Betsey Swarthoui; they reside in 
 Ronald Township, and have three sons — Earl, 
 Lavern and Leo. Cassius was married to Nellie 
 Baker, who did not live long. His second wife 
 bore the maiden name of Anna Huggins. The 
 third wife was Julia Do<lson, and the present Mrs. 
 C. M. Van Vleck was in her girlhood known as 
 Eslella Dodson. 
 
 Mr. Van Vleck is the possessor of four hundred 
 and forty acres of land in Ronald Township, and 
 eighty acres in Montcalm Count}'. He is still 
 actively eng.aged in the farm work and carries on 
 the business himself. He has given each of his 
 sons eighty acres and has built houses and barns on 
 their [)laces for them. He has been longer in this 
 township than any other man, and is consi<lered 
 the patriarch here. Here he has reared his famil}", 
 and since his first coming here he has never been 
 out of the township for more than four weeks at a 
 time. His present residence was erected in 1869, 
 
222 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 at a cost of 12,500. He is a Republican in politics 
 and active in all public matters. He was a famous 
 huntsman in tiie early days, and once killed a bear 
 within a mile of his house. Wild turke3's and other 
 game were plentiful. His eldest brother, John, was 
 a Baptist minister, and was for many years pastor 
 of the Palo Church, which he was instrumental in 
 organizing. Mrs. Van Vieck is a member of the 
 Baptist Church of Palo. 
 
 ii,ETER 1). SNEATHEN is one of the old 
 settlers of Ionia County who, through 
 trials and discouragements, has perse- 
 vered until he has made himself a home 
 and a reputation in his community. He is a gen- 
 eral farmer and stock-raiser, and resides on section 
 19, Boston Township. He was born in Onondaga 
 County, N. Y., March 20, 1821, and is a son of 
 John I. and Mary (Dumas) Sneatlien, both natives 
 of New York State, the father being of Holland 
 descent and the mother of French blood. The 
 father was by trade a cooper, which business he fol- 
 lowed in the earlier part of his life. Later he 
 entered upon farming in Onondaga County, N. Y., 
 until his death, which occurred in 1860, at the 
 very advanced age of ninety-one years. The 
 mother survived him until 1872. They were both 
 highly respected and useful members of the Chris- 
 tian Ciuirch. Of their six children, four are liv- 
 ing, namely: Peter D., our subject, who was reared 
 in New York on a farm, receiving a common- 
 school education; Susannah, Caroline and Mary. 
 Peter continued residing with his i)arents on the 
 farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when 
 he concluded to try his fortune in the West, so 
 in 1843 he came to Michigan. 
 
 Our subject first located in Jackson County, 
 this State, where he arrived in time to take part 
 in harvesting, which was then going on. After 
 this he worked through the winter at $20 per 
 month, and in the following January he came to 
 Ionia County and purchased eighty acres of land 
 in Keene Township. He then returned to Jackson 
 County and worked out by the month in order to 
 
 cam the money to complete the payment of his 
 land. He worked in the pineries for four or 
 five years. While there he entered into an arrange- 
 ment with some other men which he hoped would 
 result in a successful purchase of land. He arranged 
 to purchase a quarter interest in about six hundred 
 acres of pine land, also a sawmill which was situ- 
 ated upon that land. He expected to pay his share 
 from the lumber which he could cut from the 
 land. He drew up the pa[)ers for this contract 
 himself, and supposed that they were all right, but 
 owing to the dishonesty of one of the men he was 
 cheated out of his share of the lumber and suf- 
 fered a serious set-back in making a start in life. 
 While in the pineries he traded the land he had pur- 
 chased in Keene Township for other land in Boston 
 Township. This he afterward traded for one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres in Campbell Township. He has 
 traded farms several times since his residence in 
 the county. In 1 853 he purchased eighty acres of 
 land and afterward .added twenty acres to it, 
 where he now resides. Only four acres of this had 
 been broken before he took it. On December 28, 
 1853, he was married to Sarepta A. Train, after 
 which he moved into a log house on his place and 
 commenced the work of improvement. 
 
 Shortly after his marriage he left his farm to 
 work on the railroad which was then being built. 
 He worked two teams and built a shanty near the 
 work. His good wife, anxious to help along in 
 getting a start in life, left her own home and came 
 hero to board the men who were working on the 
 road. She cooked for thirty men for three months. 
 At the expiration of that time the contractor went 
 away without making any settlement with Mr. 
 Sneathen and he was never able to collect the 
 money which was due them. They thus lost the 
 board money of these men for all this time, which 
 crippled them very much. They went back to the 
 farm and went to hard work, and after awhile were 
 able to pay for the groceries which the}' had 
 bought for their boarders. He has continued to 
 reside on his farm ever since, and by hard work 
 and economy he has paid for his home and got it 
 into a good state of cultivation. Some years ago 
 he added forty acres more to his land. This he 
 has given to his son. In 1870 he erected a large 
 
7X-^yi-^<r7^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 223 
 
 and commodious two-story brick dwelling, and he 
 has on his farm good outbuildings for the accom- 
 madation of his fine stock, of which he carries good 
 grades of all kinds. AVhen Mr. Sneathen came lo 
 this county it contained but two stores and one 
 grist-raill. Saranac contained one log house and 
 a board shanty. The whole countj' has been 
 cleared and im|)roved, and he has seen it, 3'ear by 
 yea/, growing in population, wealth and prosperity. 
 Populous cities now stand on what was once the 
 home of wild animals and Indians. Mr. Sneathen 
 started in life empty-handetl anil with no help 
 from others. lie has succeeded in building up a 
 good property and is so comfortably situated as to 
 be able to retire from active service. He is by 
 political principles a Republican. 
 
 Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Sneathen, five of whom are living, namely : Fred 
 B., a farmer in Charlevoix County, Mich.; Frank 
 L., in the same county; Hatlie, wife of Truman 
 Parson, resides in Boston Township; Mark D. re- 
 sides at home and works the farm. The youngest 
 daughter, Luella, also resides at home. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Sneathen are members of the Baptist Church. 
 He alwaj's takes an interest in school matters and 
 hfts I)een a member of the School Board. 
 
 -^ 
 
 UDGE VERNON H. SMITH. This honored 
 son of Michigan has been a resident of Ionia 
 since 1858. He was born in the Province 
 of Ontario, Canada, December 29, 1838, and 
 is one of eleven sons and daughters comprising the 
 family of Ansel and Pliebe (Cross) Smith. His 
 parents, who were natives of New York, emigrated 
 to Ionia County during the year 18(J0 and located 
 in Orleans Township, the father bei.ig a farmer. 
 He died there in 1873 and was survived b^' liis 
 widow five years. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice was edu- 
 cated in the public schools and in 18G0 entered the 
 office of Registrar of Deeds in Ionia as Deputy. 
 He proved .so crticient in his discharge of his duties 
 that he was elected Registrar for two terms. At 
 the conclusion of that period of oHicial life lie 
 
 began the study of law under the tutelage of Hon. 
 Lemuel Clute and in 1872 was admitted to the bar. 
 A partnership under the style of Clute it Smith 
 was formed and was in force until 1875, when Mr. 
 Smith became Circuit Court Commissioner and had 
 charge of the Count3^ Clerk's office .as Deputy. In 
 1877 the firm of Smith & Sessions w.as established, 
 which was dissolved by the election of the senior 
 partner to the judgeship in 18S1. 
 
 The opposing candidates for the position of Cir- 
 cuit Judge were Mr. Smith and Judge Lovell; the 
 latter had been filling the position for nearly a 
 quarter of a century.. The career of Judge Smith 
 on the bench was so successful that in 1887 he was 
 re-elected in a strongly Republican circuit, al- 
 though himself an outspoken Democrat. His cir- 
 cuit now comprises the counties of Ionia and 
 Montcalm. He has presiiled during some of the 
 most noted criminal trials ever held in this State, 
 notably the Hall and Millard murder trials. In 
 his official capacity he is incorrui)tible; no bribe or 
 weight of influence being sufficient to cause him to 
 swerve from a decision founded upon his knowl- 
 edge of legal principles and the verities of justice. 
 Judge Smith is regarded as one of the best circuit 
 judges in the State, and manages his official dutifs 
 with the same s.agacity that characterizes his con- 
 duct of private business. 
 
 The residence of Judge Smith is an elegant one, 
 built in 1877 on a plot of two acres, and the 
 grounds tastefully laid out and adorned. Here he 
 enjoys life, giving much time to reading, as he is 
 a man of fine literary tastes and high mental cul- 
 ture. The lady who presides with gr.ace and dig- 
 nity over the affairs of the household was known 
 in her maidenhood as Miss Rachel AVorthington 
 and became Mrs. Smith .January C, 18t)!). The 
 children born of the happy union are Hal H., 
 Arthur, Lawrence and Jessie. The present Mrs. 
 Smith is the second wife of our subject, he having 
 been married January 10, 1866, to Miss Lizzie 
 Wright, who lived but a year. 
 
 The private character of .Judge Smith is spotless 
 and adds weight to his influence. He [wssesses 
 fine social qualities and his home is frequently vis- 
 ited 1)^ the frien<ls of himself and wife, who are 
 numbered among the most cultured people of the 
 
226 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 State. While in practice tlie Judge was an earnest 
 and eloquent advocate, and was often called upon 
 by his party during political campaigns, for he 
 was recognized as one of tlie ablest political speak- 
 ers in the county and made many effective 
 speeches. He is a typical self-made man, who by 
 the quiet force of persistent effort and the strengtii 
 of an indomitable will, directed by business tact of 
 a high order and sound discretion, has accumulated 
 a handsome property and has gained the respect of 
 all with whom he has been associated. His por- 
 trait appears in connection with this biographical 
 sketch and will be considered by his many friends 
 a valuable addition to tliis volume. 
 
 LARK A. PRESTON. It has been several 
 decades since this gentleman became a resi- 
 dent of Ionia County and quite a number 
 of years since he took up his abode in the count}-- 
 seat. Here he still makes his home, although for 
 some time past his principal business enterprise has 
 been conducted in Dakota, wliere he and a son 
 have nine hundred acres of improved farming land, 
 which they operate. Their agricultural and stock- 
 raising interests are extensive and require the 
 exercise of rare good judgment and persistent in- 
 dustry. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Amiirose and 
 Orilla (Harris) Preston, natives of Vermont, in 
 which State the Prestous had lived several genera- 
 tions. The father was a soldier in the War of 
 1812 and fought at Sackett's Harbor. His occu- 
 pation was that of a brickmason. He died in 1835, 
 and in 1844 the widow with her 3'ounger children 
 came to Ionia County, Mich., where her son Ben- 
 jamin H. had located a year previously. Our sub- 
 ject was born in Buffalo, N. Y., May 11, 1833, and 
 was scarcely more than an infant when his father 
 died. He was as well schooled .as possible, both in 
 the East and in Ionia County, to which he accom- 
 panied his mother. When but sixteen years old 
 he began teaching in Kiddville and he then clerked 
 four years for James M. Kidd. 
 
 In 1851 young Preston went to Missouri, where 
 
 he spent two years in professional work, teaching 
 at Union, Richmond and Independence, respect- 
 ively. Returning to this State he again accepted 
 a clerkship with Mr. Kidd, in whose employ he 
 remained eighteen months. His next move was to 
 engage in the manufacture of saleratus at Saranac 
 — a laborious process, as it was made from ashes 
 by a method long since abandoned. During that 
 time he was connected with Wesley Young in the 
 dry-goods business, the firm being known as Pres- 
 ton & Young. The business was carried on by Mr. 
 Preston two j'cars, and the ensuing six months 
 were devoted to teaching in the village of Lyons. 
 In 1858 he was elected County Clerk and held the 
 position four years, during which period he enlisted 
 in Company I, Seventh Kansas Cavalr}', the date 
 of his enrollment being January, 1862. 
 
 Mr. Preston went out under command of John 
 Brown, Jr., son of John Brown of Harper's Ferry 
 fame, but after four months of army life was dis- 
 abled by rheumatism and obliged to return home. 
 During the year 1863 he was appointed Count}' 
 Treasurer to fill the vacancy occasioned by the 
 death of George Elsworth, and the next 3'ear was 
 elected to the office. In 1866 he entered upon a 
 mercantile career in Ionia, which he continued until 
 1879, when he changed his occupation to that of 
 lumbering. The mercantile firm was first known 
 as Stephenson, Preston & Co., later as Preston, 
 Benton & Brooks and afterward as Preston & 
 Merriara. He carried on lumbering until 1882, 
 his home during two years of that period being on a 
 farm in Sebewa Township. He next gave his 
 attention to a Dakota ranch and has not ceased his 
 labors in the new State, although retaining his resi- 
 dence in Ionia and spending the winters princi- 
 pally here. 
 
 The lad}' who became the wife of Mr. Preston 
 on New Year's Day, 1855, bore the maiden name 
 of Sarah A. Cunningham. Her father, Joseph 
 Cunningham, was a New England man who lived 
 in Ogle County, III., for many. years. Her mother 
 died when she was quite small and she was taken 
 into the family of her father's cousin, John De 
 Lany. That gentleman is numbered among the 
 first settlers of Ionia, to which he came in 1836 
 from the Mohawk Valle}'. Father DeLany is still 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 227 
 
 living, making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Pres- 
 ton. He W!is born September 20, 1793, .ind is 
 therefore in his ninetj'-second year. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Preston are the parents of seven children: Aubrey, 
 who (lied in inf.ancy; Minnie, wlio died in cliihl- 
 liood ; Hassle, a teacher; Thad 15., manager of the 
 Michigan Overall Company; Thcdc, who died Au- 
 gust 3, 1885, at the age of twenty-two years; Bert, 
 who died in infancy; and Nina, a teacher in tiie 
 public scliools. 
 
 The political alliliation of Mr. Preston is with 
 the Republican party, although he has free tr.ide 
 proclivities. He is a member of the Ancient 
 Order of United Workmen and the Grand Army 
 of the Republic. In 1859 he united with the 
 Church of Christ, he and his wife becoming charter 
 members of the organization in Ionia and he has 
 ever taken an active interest in its workings. 
 He is a well-respected citizen, and his wife and 
 children likewise have good standing in society 
 and number their friends by the score. 
 
 , ICHARD WALLINGTOX, although in ad- 
 vanced years is still an active member of 
 ^\\\ society and Is much beloved and venerated 
 as one of the pioneers of loni.i County. 
 "Uncle Richard," as he Is called by his neighbors, 
 resides on section 5, Keene Township. He is a na- 
 tive of MoniEouthshiro, England, where he was 
 born .September 8, 1819. His parents, John and 
 Sophia (Pick) Wallingtou, emigrated to America 
 in 18.31, taking passage at Bristol on a sailing 
 vessel called the "Ontario." After an ocean voj'- 
 ngeof eight weeks they landed in Montreal, Canada. 
 At the end of a year's residence in Canada both 
 parents died there. Three of their children now 
 survive — Richard, James and Edwin. 
 
 Young Richard was reared upon the farm an<l 
 trained In the practical work of agriculture. When 
 fifteen years old he began working by the month 
 and worked in this wa}- for several years, the most 
 of the time on farms. Ills education had been re- 
 ceived in England In what are known there as pay 
 schools, corresponding to our private schools. 
 
 Mr. Walllngton chose as his partner for life 
 Catherine, daughter of John G. and Catherine 
 Meyers. Their marriage took place in Canada, 
 in October, 184G. By this union there were born 
 three children — John, Lafayette and Charles E. In 
 the fall of 1817 our subject emigrated with his 
 wife to Ionia County, Mich., and made his new 
 iiome on section .16, Keene Township, where he re- 
 sided for many years. He bought there about 
 eighty acres of land iu company with an uncle of 
 his wife, .lames W. Meyers, who now resides in Pe- 
 toskey, Mich. The farm had a few .acres partla'ly 
 cleared when he settled on it but its condition called 
 for a vast amount of pioneer labor. 
 
 Our subject has served as Justice of the Peace 
 and has also held school offices in his district. He 
 has steadfastly labored for the upbuilding of the 
 township in every worthy waj'. He is Republican 
 in politics and has been ever fully alive to the prog- 
 ress of his party in the county. His success in 
 life is largely due to the earnest and wise co-oper- 
 ation of his devoted wife. She was called from 
 earth July 20, 1883, and left behind her a void 
 which can never be filled. Her loss is mourned 
 not only bj- her husband and children but by her 
 friends and the whole community. 
 
 Lafayette Walllngton married Martha Meyers 
 and by this union there were born three children, 
 KInley, Charley and Maud. He as well .is his father 
 is a Republican in politics. John Walllngton, an- 
 other son married Clarissa Beattle. They have 
 three living children — James, Richard and Waller. 
 This son es|)ouses the princi()les of the Democratic 
 party. The third son, Charles E. married Carrie 
 E. Rose. He like his father and older brothers, 
 adhered to the platform of the Re|)ublican party. 
 
 Our subject Richard Walllngton, is a representa- 
 tive pioneer of Keene Township, and now in his 
 ripe old age Is enjoying the fruits of a life spent in 
 doing good and in following out the principles of 
 industry and frugality. He is universally beloved 
 in the community where he lives and all wish for 
 him a long life and comfort in old age. He has 
 been an eye witness of the gradual growth of the 
 township from a wild land to a prosperous com- 
 munity and can recall many an interesting and 
 stirring incident of pioneer (hiys. It is with pleas- 
 
228 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ure that we represent Mr. Wallington as one of the 
 noble men now rapidly passing away, who in their 
 prime converted what wag a wilderness into fine 
 farming lands and comfortable homes. Long after 
 his form will be seen no more will his memory be 
 green in the hearts of those who love and honor 
 him. He is an example of tiiat honesty, industry 
 and integrity which have made the people of this 
 land and the people of his mother countr3- the fore- 
 most people of modern history. May "Uncle 
 Richard" live to see the return of many summers. 
 
 lODFRKT II. HUTCIIINS has been doing 
 good work among the citizens of Ionia 
 County for more than a quarter of a cen- 
 tury and is the well-known possessor of one of the 
 best pieces of property in Odessa Township. It is 
 pleasantly located on section 33, and is so arranged 
 and kept up that even those who are not partial to 
 rural life must admire it. Among the many farms 
 in this section, whereon good buildings are to be 
 found, this is conspicuous for the size and number 
 of the outbuildings and the evident care tiiat has 
 been taken to cater to the convenience of those 
 who occupy and operate it. Mr. Hutchins is ex- 
 tensively engaged in stock-raising, and among the 
 improvements of his farm are two stock barns, 
 one 28x50 and the other 30x40 feet, and a sheep 
 shed 16x30 feet. The commodious frame bouse is 
 twenty-seven feel square in the main, with a wing 
 16x2! feet and a wood house 12x20 feet. 
 
 The first of the Hutciiins family known in Amer- 
 ica were five brothers, who emigrated from Eng- 
 land many years ago. The father of our subject 
 was Lawson Hutchins, who was born in New York. 
 While living with his parents he was a farmer, 
 but he afterward engaged in buleliering, and con- 
 tinued in that trade until his death, wiiieli took 
 place in 1847, at the early age of twenty-eight 
 years. He had married Tressa Hess, who was of 
 German and English stock, and who survived him 
 and is now living in Odessa Township, at the age 
 of seventy-four 3'ears. She made a second mar- 
 
 riage, becoming the wife of John Swarthout. She 
 and her husband belonged to the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. By iier first marriage the mother of 
 our subject had tliree children, he being the eldest. 
 The youngest, William L., is deceased and the sec- 
 ond, Elizabeth, is the wife of Henry Root, a 
 farmer in Odessa Townsliip. By her second mar- 
 riage Mrs. Swarthout had three children, but only 
 one survives — Thomas, who is witii his parents. 
 
 The subject of tliis biographical notice was born 
 at .Seneca Falls, N. Y., February 9, 1840, and was 
 two years old when his parents removed to Wayne 
 County. They had lived there five years when the 
 husband and father died, and the widowed mother 
 returned to her parents in Seneca County. There 
 she remained until her second marriage two years 
 later, when the family came to Lenawee County, 
 Mich. During the next six years young Hutchins 
 aided his stepfather in carrying on a farm and in 
 the winter attended the district school. He was 
 fifteen years old when he left his mother and made 
 his home witli an uncle in tlie same count3', with 
 wliom he remained six 3'ears. 
 
 Upon starting out in life for himself our subject 
 engaged to take charge of a part of tiie work in 
 a general store and mill in Addison, Lenawee 
 County, where he remained more than a twelve- 
 month. He then hired out on a farm by the 
 month until 1864, when he came to Ionia Count3'. 
 Upon coming hither he bought one hundred and 
 twenty acres of land, forty of which were im- 
 proved, tlie remainder being heavily timbered. 
 The only building on the tract was a barn, which 
 is claimed to be the first building in Odessa Town- 
 ship. Mr. Hutchins rented his land and himself 
 worked at brickmaking in Ionia one summer. He 
 then married, and putting up a small frame house 
 on the farm, commenced housekeeping therein and 
 also took up the work of development of the sur- 
 rounding acres. He now has eighty acres cleared 
 and under tillage, and all in excellent condition. 
 
 In 1888 Mr. Hutchins platted seventeen acres 
 of his land into town lots adjoining the vil- 
 lage of Lake Odessa, and he has since sold seven- 
 teen acres more. He now owns a farm of eighty- 
 six acres, wheron he makes a specialt3' of raising 
 blooded stock, such as Holstein and Jersey cattle, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 229 
 
 Sbropshire and Merino sheep, thorougli-bred Po- 
 laiui-Cliiua hogs anil lioi'ses of good grades. He 
 has about thirty acres of tiiuhor, in whicii is a 
 sngar-biisli of five oi' six hundred trees and lie taps 
 about three hundred maples each year. From these 
 he averages eight hundred pounds of sugar per 
 annum. In March, 1891, he put up a Champion 
 pjVaporator in the bush and he expects to market 
 finer sugar than ever before. 
 
 Commencing his career at the foot of tlie ladder, 
 Mr. llutchiiis has reached a plane where he is en- 
 abled to live in comfort, and could do so were he 
 forced to quit work. In his efforts he has been 
 ably seconded by a good wife who joined her fate 
 December 17, 1865. She bore the maiden name 
 of Ilannali 1'. Pearson. Her many estimable quali- 
 ties have endeared her to a large number of friends 
 and her Christian character gives her the resi)ectof 
 every acquaintance. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins have 
 bad one child, a sou, Loren D., who is now de- 
 ceased. Botli husband and wife belong to the 
 Methodist E|)iscopal Church and are quite active 
 in work connected therewith. Mr. Hutchins is now 
 Steward and has been Trustee and Treasurer. He 
 voted the Republican ticket until 1890, when he 
 cast his ballot for Prohibition candidates. So- 
 cially he is a Mason and Odd Fellow. 
 
 m.^HILIP DODSON. The life of this worthy 
 Jl) citizen of Ionia County has been devoted to 
 f^ industrious efforts and he has probably done 
 / \ as much hard work as any man of his years. 
 When he came hither and took possession of a tract 
 of land on section 4, Ronald Township, he made a 
 home in the midst of the forest, wliere the lirush 
 was so thick that he could not see the road from 
 his doorwa}-. He removed the dense thickets and 
 the heavy timber, built fences and erectetl build- 
 ings, and brought his properly up to a high valua- 
 tion. He has no waste land on his estate and but 
 thirteen acres that is not devoted to tillage. Con- 
 spicuous among the buildings is one of the finest 
 barns in the county, which cost *2,000 and he 
 hauled all the lumber himself. It is 10x80 feet. 
 
 with nine-foot beams and a basement, and is 
 twenty feet above. There were twelve hundred 
 pounds of nails used in its construction. 
 
 Mr. Dodsou was born in Indiana County, Pa., 
 May 14, 1826, and is a son of James and Jane 
 (Cribbs) Dodson. His paternal grandfather, 
 Miciiael Dodson, is believed to have been born in 
 Maryland, and liis maternal grandfather, George 
 Cribbs, was a native of Germany. The parents 
 were born in the same Pennsylvania county and 
 look ui) their residence there after their marriage. 
 The father died about 1885 and the mother some 
 thirty-five years before. They had fourteen chil- 
 dren, thirteen of whom grew to maturity and ten 
 are still living. Philip is the third iu order of 
 birth and the eldest son. He remained in his 
 native place until he was about sixteen years old 
 and during his boyhood pursued ids studies in the 
 common school. He then entered the race of life 
 for himself and going to Ohio found work as a 
 farm hand, remaining in the liuckeye State twelve 
 years. 
 
 Thence Mr. Dodson went to Noble County', Ind., 
 where he bought a farm located southwest of Ken- 
 dalville. He cleared thirty-five acres of the land 
 and made several improvements, there being but 
 a small log house on the place when he bought it. 
 He lived there nine years, then came to Michigan 
 in 1863 and located where he has remained. His 
 first purchase here was of eight3--two and a half 
 acres and he has since added eighty acres. Al- 
 though it has taken much hard work to bring his 
 property to its present condition he is well satisfied 
 witii the result, and had he his life to live over 
 again would not be less industrious llian lie has 
 been. 
 
 In Wayne County, Ohio, December 21, 1844, 
 the marriage of Mr. Dodson and Miss Emeline Nye 
 was solemnized. 'J'lie bride was born in Vermont 
 January 7, 1827, but her parents removed to the 
 Buckeye Slate when she was but five years old and 
 her education and training were received there. 
 She has nobi}' borne her |)art in the affairs of life, 
 devoting herself to the interests of her loved ones. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dodson have seven living children 
 and have been bereft of three. The survivors are: 
 Carrie, wife of George Trowbridge, whose home is 
 
230 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ^ 
 
 in Belding; Harriet, wife of Hiram Miner, whose 
 liorae is in Palo; Alma, now Mrs. Edward Rork, 
 also living in Palo; Harmon B. and J. Edward, 
 who arc residents of Palo: WillardP., whose home 
 is in Hubbardston ; and George D., who lives in 
 Palo. 
 
 Mr. Dodson has made quite a study of political 
 issues and is fully persuaded that the principles 
 underlying the Republican party are the just ones 
 and he therefore casts his vote in that direction. 
 For the part he has had in promoting the growth 
 of the county by developing her agricultural re- 
 sources and elevating the standard of her citizen- 
 ship Mr. Dodson is entitled to commendation and 
 we are pleased to represent him in this Album. 
 
 =^^- 
 ^)^^~ 
 
 lAY J. TOWER. This name is well known 
 in various parts of the Union to which 
 machinery of special designs and for spec- 
 )ial purposes has been shipped. Mr. Tower 
 is a mlinufacturer of machinery, including engines, 
 drao--saws and Newton's patent log turner, and he 
 has a large establisiiment in Greenville, Montcalm 
 County. The plant is situated near the Detroit, 
 Lansin" tfc Northern Railroad and the works are 
 run by steam. It is the only machine shop and 
 foundry combined in the city and affords busy 
 occupation to from twelve to fifteen men. Mr. 
 Tower is a [iractieal man with a thorough under- 
 standing of machinery jind mechanical principles, 
 together with a capacity for managing men that 
 makes bis work run smoothly along and gives him 
 the control of an excellent trade. 
 
 The parents of our subject were fSamucl and 
 Edilha (Newton) Tower, who were natives of Ver- 
 mont and Canada resjiectively. The father was a 
 moldcr by trade and followed his occupation in the 
 Green Mountain State prior to coming to Michigan 
 in 1843. He stopped at Jackson for a time, build- 
 ino' a scow, and then came down the Grand River 
 to Grand Rapids, where he worked at his trade and 
 later bought a machine shop and foundry. He car- 
 ried on the establishment, employing a number of 
 men until just before the Civil War. He then 
 
 removed to Grattan Township, Kent County, 
 was the first settler of that township, and took up 
 land upon which he built a log house that was his 
 home a short time. He then removed to the "Tower 
 Homestead," which had been instituted by his father 
 in Oakland Township, and which was known all 
 over the county. There he remained until 1873, 
 when he went South and spent a year in East Ten- 
 nessee. Returning to this State he came to Green- 
 ville and bought the business now carried on by 
 his son. He had a large run of custom and was 
 financially prosperous. His character was excellent 
 and his friends were many; he died in 1888, twenty- 
 five years after his wife had been borne to the 
 tomb. They had six children but only two sons 
 — Isaac L. and Ray J., are living. 
 
 The Towers trace their ancestry b.ack to En- 
 gland, whence the original American settler of the 
 name came in the ''Mayflower." Isaac Tower, 
 grandfather of Ray J., a native of the Green Moun- 
 tain State, came to Michigan before his son Sam- 
 uel and was one of the first settlers in Oakfield 
 Township, Keut County. He built the first frame 
 barn in the township and it was a landmark for 
 years, while the farm became widely known as the 
 "Tower Homestead." Grandfather Tower was a 
 man of active business habits and strict integrity. 
 On the old homestead in Kent County, Ra}' J. 
 Tower was born February 1, 1851), and thence he 
 removed with his father during his early youth. 
 After he attained his majority his father turned his 
 business over to him and his brother Isaac, and 
 they continued in partnership until 1882. Our 
 subject then bought his brother's interest and has 
 since had the entire business in his hands. Mr. 
 Tower has just bought the creamery near La Faj-ette 
 Street, which has a capacity of from six hundred 
 to eight hundred pounds of butter per day and 
 gives employment to from six to eight men and 
 from four to five teams per day, and he is inter- 
 ested in lands in the county and own two residences 
 in town. 
 
 In 1888 Mr. Tower had the Christmas present of 
 a wife, formerly Miss Linnie Baker, daughter of 
 Charles L. and Sarah Baker, of Greenville. BIrs. 
 Tower is a j'Oung lady of fine character, much in- 
 telligence and pleasing social qualities. She is a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 231 
 
 member of the Baptist Cburcb, with which her bus- 
 baiul is also identifieiL Mr. Tower always votes 
 the Uepublicau ticket, anil allhougli not a politician 
 in the ordinary acceptation of that term, he keeps 
 well inforined regarding the issues that are before 
 the people and is able to give a reason for his polit- 
 ical faith. His fund of general information is 
 extensive, his business honor and tact unqnoslioiicd, 
 and his reputation of the best. 
 
 eLARK L. DEMOREST. The farmers of 
 Ionia County number among them this 
 gentleman, who has been a resident of 
 Otisco 'I'ownship since Sepleuiber, 1840. His orig- 
 inal estate here consisted of eighty acres of land 
 entered from the Government, and to this he has 
 added until the farm now includes one hundred 
 and thirty acres. He camped with the Indians 
 until he could put up a shanty of his own and he 
 has a personal knowledge that belongs to few men 
 in this part of the country, of the traits of the red 
 man's character. In 1843 Mr. Demoicst cut the 
 first tree where Greenville now stands. 
 
 Lucas Deraorest, grandfather of our sul)ject, was 
 driven from Holland on account of his religious 
 belief, and with two brothers left so suddenly that 
 their kettles remained on the fire. He located in 
 the Em|)ire State where his son Samuel, the direct 
 progenitor of ovir subject was born in 179G. That 
 son grew to manhood in Montgomery County and 
 there married Annie Clark, daughter of Asa and 
 Debbie (Perkins) Clark. Her eldest brother was 
 Archie Clark, a soldier in the ^Var of 1812, and 
 one of her sisters married John Green, who was the 
 founder of Greenville, Mich. 
 
 Samuel Demorest, upon coming to Michigan 
 located in Lenawee, then removed to Washtenaw 
 and two years later established himself in Ionia 
 County. He here lived to celebrate his golden 
 wedding. From his farm in Otisco Township he 
 removed to Greenville and 18C8, went to Missouri 
 where he died in Marcli of the following year, at 
 the age of seventy-three. He was for many j'ears 
 a De.icon hi the Baptist Church. He held all the 
 
 township oflSces except Supervisor. In 1849 he 
 made a trip to California, driving through with an 
 ox-team and being three months en route. In the 
 company was a man who rolled a wheelbarrow 
 through to the coast. To Samuel Demorest and 
 his wife four sons and four daughters were born, 
 viz: Clark L., Samuel L., Lyman, Valentine, De- 
 borah, Angeline, Adeline and Frances. All are liv- 
 ing, and all except Valentine, who is unmarried, 
 and Samuel, are grand [)arents. Samuel was a Cap- 
 tain in the Union army and was promoted to 
 be Major. 
 
 The birth |)Iace of the gentleman whose name 
 introduces these paragraphs was Prattstown, Steu- 
 ben County, N. Y., and his natal day November 
 25, 1819. In his youth he may have been said to 
 have become a farmer, although his efforts were 
 put forth from under the parental roof until lie was 
 twenty-three years ol 1. A few years after his ar- 
 rival in this State lie took to himself a wife, having 
 won tlie hand of Miss Sallie A.Thompson, to whom 
 he was united December 29, 1840. This lady is a 
 daughter of Allen and Sally (Kimball) Thompson, 
 who were born respectively in New York and Ver- 
 mont, and whose other children are Joseph and 
 Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson belonged to the 
 Disciple Church. 
 
 Mrs. Demorest began writing her school compo- 
 sitions in poetry about the lime she entered her 
 teens and she has continued to indulge in poetical 
 compensation, writing for various occasions. Sev- 
 eral of her poems have bei'n published in papers, 
 among those entitled "One Hundred Years ago," 
 "Thirty years ago," ''Two Lost Lambs," "The Lost 
 Alphena," etc. The following was written by her 
 for the pioneer meeting at Gratlan, Kent County, 
 June 2, 1880: 
 
 WiiKN TiiK CoiNTUv Was Ne>v. 
 
 llo, all ye old settlers, the brave and the true. 
 Come tell of the times when the country was new, 
 How you fared in your cabin soliumble juid mean. 
 Toiling early and late, without aid of machine; 
 
 How you labored for bread by sweat of your brow. 
 How the wardrobe of tiien would be hooted at now 
 By these sons and daughters enjoying the homes 
 Made by pioneer hiuids where the Indian roamed. 
 
232 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 But no poet can paint all the ills we endured, 
 When shaking willi ague and couldn't be cured, 
 With none of your dainties to tempt us as now, 
 With the appetite poor, and the work all to do; 
 
 When at night we would rest, the tinkling cow- 
 bells 
 
 Chimed in with the notes of the shrill whippoor- 
 will. 
 
 And then the mosquitoes, tlie worst of all things, 
 
 Who, seeking his prey, exultingly sings. 
 
 Half starved, like tlie owl had been resting all day, 
 And at night roamed about in searcli of his prey; 
 Now with netting, screen doors, and houses secure, 
 You never can known wiiat we liad to endure. 
 
 But those times are past, and many have gone; 
 Tlicy bore many bui'dons, but comforts had none; 
 And" some of tliem i)ined for their eastern homes 
 And the kindred they left when West they had 
 come; 
 
 And several died within tlie first j'ear — 
 
 Their lives were too frail for the hardshi|)s here — 
 
 Then in a pine coffin we laid them avvaj', 
 
 Witli no hearse or fine casket to make a display. 
 
 But our tears were as sacred and our hearts as true 
 And we missed them the more with our numbers so 
 
 few; 
 And their children who came here so j'oung and 
 
 fair 
 Are grandparents now with silvery hair. 
 
 Then honor the old settlers, for honor is due, 
 Wlio tilled these broad fields now waiting for j'ou, 
 AV^ho felled the great oaks that towered so high. 
 That the green waving grain might look to the sky, 
 
 Who built these nice dwellings and painted them 
 
 white. 
 Then burned up the log one away out of sight. 
 How fare the}', these fathers and mothers so dear. 
 Do they sit by their firesides enjoying good cheer .^ 
 
 Do their children revere them and praise them 
 
 when old 
 For braving all danger, the heat and the cold.'' 
 No, those who are left are still toiling away. 
 And trying to help all their children to-day; 
 
 But the oldest have left us; they went one by one 
 We hope to a country where weary are none; 
 And when all our pioneer meetings are o'er, 
 IM.ay we meet, ne'er to part, on the evergreen shore. 
 
 Mrs. S. a. T. D. 
 
 The familj' of Mr. and Mrs. Demorest includes 
 three sons and two daughters, of whom we note 
 the following: Adelno W. lives on his grandfather 
 Thompson's farm in Otisco Township; Allen T., 
 occupies a farm at Wood's Corners, Orlean Town- 
 ship; Milon J. is farming near home; Clara M. 
 remains under the parental roof; May N., who is 
 married and has two children, lives near Woodard 
 Lake. All are identified with the Christian Church, 
 with which their parents have been connected for 
 many years. 
 
 Mr. Demorest has held the office of Road Com- 
 missioner and Township Assessor and discharged 
 the duties belonging thereto in a creditable and sat- 
 isfactory manner. He was formerly a member of 
 the Grange. In politics he is a Republican. He 
 keeps himself well informed regarding affairs that 
 are transpiring in the nation and in other coun- 
 tries, and continues to manifest a lively interest in 
 that which promises to advance the welfare of the 
 people. He and his wife are held in high respect 
 and have many friends. 
 
 \f OSKPII WATSON COLTRTER, who resides 
 in Sidney Township, Montcalm County, was 
 
 tborn in Essex County-, N. J., July 18, 1852. 
 IJ He is the son of H. and Allis (Bowden) 
 Courter, both being born and bred in Essex 
 County. Here this boy spent his early life until 
 his seventeenth year taking advantage of the edu- 
 cational advantages offered in the common schools, 
 thus obtaining a good business education. His 
 father then removed to Sidney Township, Mont- 
 calm County, Mich., and engaged in the lumber 
 business, having his son's assistance in this work 
 until the latter reached his majority, when he 
 began working for Clark <fe Rhinsmith, who were 
 engaged in lumbering. In 1877 he established a 
 home for himself, and going back to Newark, N. J., 
 for "the girl he left behind him," he was joined in 
 marriage February 22 to Alice Crane. They have 
 become the [larents of three children : Arthur E., 
 born October 16, 1878; Anna M., July 22, 1881; 
 Frank H., May 19, 1884. The eldest son, Arthur, 
 
i 
 
PORTRAIT A.ND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 235 
 
 was snatched away by death when only four years 
 old. 
 
 The place where Mr. Coiiitcr now resides is liie 
 same to which he broiijjht his briilc iimuediately 
 after their marriage. He at that time purchased 
 one hundred and twenty acres, something less than 
 one hundred of which was then unimproved. He 
 has completed his house and built good barns ui)on 
 the farm. In his early manhood he had large 
 responsibilities in connection with. his fatiier's fam- 
 ily, as first ills mother and afterward his stei)- 
 motlier died leaving quite a family of little ones to 
 be cared for b>- him. This trust he discharged 
 faithfully and has proved a true elder brother to 
 the j'ounger members of the family. In politics 
 he is a conservative Republican and voles for the 
 best man who is nominated. He has served two 
 terras as Supervisor by election, besides filling out 
 one unexpired term by api)ointmcnt. He takes an 
 active interest in educational matters, has been 
 School Trustee and has worked hard to get a new 
 district set off from the Sheridan district. He 
 finally succeeded with the help of citizens and 
 neighbors in this endeavor by taking the matter 
 before the Legislature of the State. He is a man 
 wiio is resolute and determined in carrying out 
 plans which his better judgment dictates and is a 
 reliable and honored member of socielj'. 
 
 ■ • — ^ "^ * W' ^ 
 
 J)OSIAH E. JUST. In the business circles 
 I of Ionia Mr. Just is, by universal consent, 
 j accorded a high place. Eminently success. 
 ' ful in a financial sense, he has throughout 
 bis entire career exhibited clearness of percei)tion 
 and soundness of ju(lgment,and moreover enjoys an 
 enviable reputation for moral worth and integrity' 
 of character. He possesses true public spirit and 
 uses his influence to enhance the best interests of 
 the city and count}', and all worthy enterprises 
 for their development meet with his hearty aj)- 
 proval and cordial support. It is the united testi- 
 mony of the people among whom he has passed his 
 entire life that his course is such as to reflect credit 
 upon the citizenship of Ionia County. As a 
 
 representative citizen, therefore, we present to our 
 readers his portrait and the principal events in a 
 life of more than usual interest. 
 
 A native of Ionia Count}', Mr. Just was born 
 December 20, 1817, and is the son of James and 
 Ann Jane (McClure) Just, natives of Ireland. The 
 father and mother were married in the land of 
 their birth and for their wedding tour crossed the 
 ocean to America, landing in New York City. They 
 went first to Orange County, N. Y., and engaged 
 in farming, but after a short sojourn there removed 
 to Michigan, stoi)ping (irst in Jackson County, and 
 finally in 1847 settling in Ionia County where they 
 resided until their death. Mr. Just died April .3, 
 1883, and Mrs. Just passed away January 26, 
 1890. To them have been born six children : Rutli 
 Ann, wife of Levi Broas, of Belden; William .1., 
 a lumberman in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Margaret J., 
 wife of Prof. P. A. Latta, of Allegan; Dr. John 
 G., praoticing in Coral, Montcalm Count}', this 
 State; J. E., our subject; and Isaac N., of South 
 Lyon, Oakland County, Mich., man.ager of the 
 banking house of J. E. Just & Co. 
 
 Josiah E. Just lived at home on the farm until 
 he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the 
 Lowell National Bank as a clerk. In 1870 he en- 
 tered the banking house of S. W. Webber & Co., 
 at Muir, .is clerk and cashier, and remained there 
 until 1872. He then became cashier of the Na- 
 tional Bank at Lyons until the removal of that 
 bank to Ionia in 1873. Then Mr. Just became 
 cashier of the First National Bank at Muir until 
 it was succeeded by the banking house of Webber, 
 Just & Co. in 1878. He was connected continu- 
 ously with Mr. Webber for twenty-one years as 
 clerk, cashier and partner. At South L3'on they 
 have a bank under the jirm name of Josiah E. 
 Just & Co., which was established in 1883. Mr. 
 Just came to Ionia and organized the Ionia 
 County Savings Bank in 1886. 
 
 Oa July 29, 1875, Mr. Just was united in mar- 
 riage with Ella V. Pox, the daughter of M. II. 
 Fox, of Muir. Mr. and Mrs. Just have one chilil 
 — Nellie. They belong to the Presbyterian Church 
 and are active promotors of all church interests. 
 Mr. Just is a member of the Ancient Order of 
 United Workmen, the Royal Arcanum, Knights of 
 
236 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Pythias and National Union. He is always inter- 
 ested in public affairs and polilically votes with 
 the Republican party. He filled the office of 
 County Treasurer for four years, from 1881 to 
 1884. A gentleman of pleasing address, unexcep- 
 tionable manners and fine appearance, he is ever 
 interested in the welfare of the community and 
 bears his share in all good works. 
 
 ILLIAM H. MATTISON is a well-known 
 ./ll citizen of Ionia County and is closely iden- 
 
 %i tified with the interests of the people of 
 Ronald Township, in which he has lived nearly a 
 quarter of a century. His farm on section 28, is 
 one of the finest in the county, comprising two 
 hundred and forty acres of laud, and hearing build- 
 ings which include every structure necessary for 
 carrying on his extensive farming and stock-raising 
 enterprises. The barns are ample and substantial 
 and the residence is a model of convenience anil 
 good workmansiiip. The latter was erected at a 
 cost of *1,400. Mr. Matteson has no incumbrance 
 on his land, and all that he now owns has been se- 
 cured by hard work, good management and frugal 
 living wlien it was necessary. When he came to 
 Michigan early in the 'GOs he had but $22, and $20 
 of tiiis he immediately deposited in a bank, so as to 
 draw interest and have something in store should 
 accident befall him or other emergency arise. 
 
 Tlie paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Allen Mattison, a native of Connecticut and a 
 Revolutionary soldier utider Gens. Sullivan and 
 Spencer. Tlie father was Allen J. Mattison, who 
 was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y.,and married 
 Lucy Thomas, who was born in the same neighbor- 
 hood. That worthy couple lived in their native 
 county until 1870, then came to this State to spend 
 the remnant of their days. They located on section 
 35, Ronald Township, Ionia County, ami there the 
 father died. Tlie mother is still living on the home- 
 stead with her youngest son — Daniel ,1. ; she is now 
 ninety-five years old. The parental family comprised 
 three daughters and four sons, one of whom has been 
 already mentioned. The first-born, Jefferey T., died 
 
 in California many years ago; Sarah, who is unmar- 
 ried, is with her mother; Hamilton A. is a lawyer 
 in Evansville, Ind.; Lucy P., wife of D. J.Greene, 
 lives in Ionia; Rilla P., who married Julius Tib- 
 betls, lives in Lyons Township. The next to the 
 youngest child is our subject. 
 
 The birtli of AVilliam H. Mattison took place in 
 Renssel.aer County ,September 20,1837. He received 
 his schooling in the home district and when he was 
 grown to maniiood learned the trade of acarpenter. 
 He taught two terras of school his native county, 
 whence he came to Michigan in May, 1861. For 
 four years he worked on a farm during the summer 
 rnontlisand taught school in the winter. He bought 
 a part of the farm he now lives upon and where he 
 located before his marriage. There was but little im- 
 provement on it and he liad much to do to make it 
 valuable and |)roductive. He has reclaimed twenty 
 acres of swamp land, besides clearing and develop- 
 ing the higher ground. One of his most successful 
 ventures has been sheep-raising, but he has shown 
 a mastery of all the details of general farming and 
 stock-raising. 
 
 November 14, 1866, is a date recalled with much 
 interest by Mr. Mattison. as on that day he gained 
 a wife. He married Miss Zilpah A. Van Wormer, 
 who was born in Steuben County, N. Y., August 
 10, 1840, and grew to maturity tliere. She is the 
 oldest of seven children born to Valentine and 
 Anna (Cleveland) Van Wormer, natives and still 
 residents of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Mattison 
 have never been blessed with any cliildren. 
 
 The first Presidential ballot cast by Mr. Matti- 
 son was for Abraham Lincoln and he has never 
 voted other than a Republican ticket. He is a 
 member of the County Committee of the party and 
 was the candidate for Representative from the 
 eastern district of Ionia County in the fall of 1890, 
 but was defeated by one hundred and sixty votes. 
 The first office he held in the township was tliat of 
 School Inspector and he has also been Highway- 
 Commissioner, Treasurer and Supervisor, as well as 
 Sheriff of the county. To the last-named oflice he 
 was elected in 1876 and he held the place four 
 years. He was chosen Township Supervisor in 
 1887 and is still the incumbent of the position. 
 Mr. Mattison is quite interested in Masonry, belongs 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 237 
 
 to Ionia Lodge, No. 36, and Ionia C'onimandery 
 No. 11, K. T. lie is also idenlilied with the Pa- 
 trons of Ilusbaiidry, in whicii organization lie has 
 held the uflice of Sul)ordiiuite Master, and he was 
 recently elected Master of the County Grange. 
 
 ■•o*o.-^y^^^^-o4o- 
 
 RS. JANE FOULKS.an aged and venerable 
 pioneer lady of Kecne Township, Ionia 
 Countjs on section 21, is a native of St. 
 Lawrence County, N. Y., where she was 
 born July 29, 1819. Her father, Thomas Renwick, 
 was a native of Scotland, and her mother, Jane 
 (Tuinbuli) Renwick, was born in the same land. 
 Her parents emigrate<l to America immediately 
 after marriage, and made their home in St. Law- 
 rence Count}', N. Y. When she was eighteen years 
 old her parents decided to remove to Brant Count}', 
 Ontario, Canada, and in 1855 they removed thence 
 to Ionia County, Mich., where they botli died. 
 They were the parents of eight children, four of 
 whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Foulks, Wal- 
 ter, John T. and William. 
 
 The marriage of Jane Renwick and Williaiu 
 Foulks took place in Ontario. March 17, 1841. 
 Mr. Foulks was an Englishman, the son of Thomas 
 and .Sarah Foulks. He was born in England, May 
 22, 1816. When sixteen years old the lad emi- 
 grated with his parents to Ontario, Canada, and 
 settled in Brant County. The union of this couple 
 resulted in nine children, three of whom are living: 
 John, William, and Adelaide, who is the wife of 
 Emory Bowen. 
 
 Mr. Foulks brought his family to Ionia County, 
 Mich., in 1856, and then settled upon the farm 
 now occupietl by his widow. A log cabin formed 
 their first home in the new land. Here they made 
 a happy home for several years, until he erected 
 the handsome residence which now adorns the farm. 
 He de|)arted this life October 2, 1889, respected by 
 all who knew him. In his death the county lost one 
 of her best citizens and his family a loving husband 
 and father. In politics he held to the Democratic 
 party, and in local affairs was in favor of all pro- 
 gressive movements. In every relation in life he 
 
 made his mark as an upright and successful man. 
 He was a man of sterling integrity and principle, 
 and he believe<l in treating others as he desired 
 himself to be treated. His widow is now residing 
 on the home farm, and she is esteemed as one of 
 the venerable pioneers and true Christian women 
 of Keene Townshii). None know her but to love 
 her. 
 
 Mr. Foulks at his death left a line estate of one 
 hundred and twenty acres, the result of a life of 
 labor and industry. He was a man of extensive 
 general information, well known for his liberality 
 to all good and charitable enterprises and an oblig- 
 ing neighbor. He had a keen sense of honor and 
 his integrity w.as never questioned. Although his 
 form is now seen no more yet his memory is green 
 among those who loved :ind honored him. That 
 '•Grandma Foulks," as his widow is famililariy 
 called, may yet survive the snows of many winters 
 is the .sincere wish of her numerous friends. 
 
 EMORY A. RICHARDS. In every village, 
 however small, the handling of drugs is an 
 , '■ important business and the number of drug 
 
 stores in.ay often be taken as an indication of the 
 growth of the town. The leading dealer in this 
 line in Saranac, Ionia County, is the gentleman 
 above named, who carries a well-selected stock, and 
 makes it his constant aim to have the best drugs 
 and comi)ound them carefully. He was born in 
 Van Buren County, February 26, 1845, and is the 
 second child of David A. and Eliza A. (Finch) 
 Richards. The other members of the parental 
 family are Amelia, Albert, Celia, Otis and Frank. 
 Amelia is the wife of Benjamin Coller a farmer in 
 Boston Township, and Celia is the widow of Benja- 
 min Spencer, of Oakland, Cal. 
 
 The parents of our subject were born in New 
 York; one is of English and the other German 
 ancestry. The father has been a minister of the 
 Wesleyan Methodist Church for over forty years 
 and during that time has had but five different 
 charges. He has now reached the age of seventy 
 two years and is living in retirement at Saranac. 
 
238 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIO'GRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 He spent two 5'ears in California as an agent of the 
 Conference und served in the Union Army one year. 
 He came to Ionia County in 186.5 and has resided 
 here most of tiie time since, rolilically he is a Pro- 
 iiibitionist. 
 
 Our subject resided witii his parents until he was 
 twenty-two years of age, going witli them from 
 Van Buren to Kalamazoo and later to Kent County. 
 In the last named place he completed his studies in 
 tlie High School, and before he left the parental 
 roof he had taught Ave terms. He afterward taught 
 tlirce wiutei- terms and worked on the farm in the 
 summer. In 1870 he came to Saranac and for 
 about nine montiis he was engaged in the grocery 
 business. One side of the room was occupied by a 
 drug stock, which he and J. A. .Sprague purchased. 
 The two gentlemen carried on the drug trade about 
 two years when Mr. Sprague retired and W. H. Cush- 
 ing became the partner of Mr. Richards. In 1873 the 
 firm put up a brick building into which the}' moved 
 their stock and wliich was the seat of tlieir business 
 about tluee years. William AVIiitney then bought 
 the interest of Mr. Cashing. In 1885 Mr. Kiciiards 
 sold out and opened a drug store of his own and in 
 M.a3-, 1890, removed to his present location. 
 
 Mr. Iticiiards was married to Mary M. Findla^' 
 March 15, 1870. The wife is a daugliter of John 
 and Ann (Sijenee) Findlaj', natives of Scotland, 
 who came to America with their family in 1840. 
 They lived in New York four years, then made 
 tlieir home in Kent County, this State. Mr. Find- 
 lay was a ship-carpenter and in his own country 
 carried on his trade on thfe Clyde RiVer. After 
 coming to this State he turned his attention to 
 farming. His death occnrred December 15, 1889, 
 a few months after his wife had passed away, she 
 having breathed her last May 10, of that year. 
 Both belonged to the Wesleyan Methodist Church. 
 Tiie living members of their family are Emily A., 
 William, Margaret A., Mary M. and Ilatlie I. The 
 family of Mr. and Mrs. Richards consists of tlie 
 following named children: Fred A., Elon A., Kate 
 E., May E. and Glenn E. 
 
 In exorcising the right of suffrage Mr. Richards 
 is a Prohibitionist. Socially, he belongs to the 
 Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Royal 
 Temperance Legion and the Knights of Pythias. 
 
 He has been Treasurer of Saranac, and has been 
 Superintendent of Schools for two terms. He and 
 his wife belong to the Congregational Church in 
 which he is a Deacon and Sunday-school Superin- 
 tendent, as well as chorister. Mv. and Mrs. Rich- 
 ards have an extended acquaintance in the county 
 and are classed among the best citizens. 
 
 -ism" 
 
 I? EVI WATERS. The training of pioneer 
 I (^ ^'^^ encouraged the sterner virtues and de- 
 jlL^, veloped characters which were courageous 
 to meet the trials and discouragements which came 
 with the daily life of the pioneer. Such a charac- 
 ter is that of Levi Waters, and he has hail indeed 
 more than his share of the hard side of life, but he 
 has met it in a way to insure the respect of all who 
 know him. He was born in Steuben County, 
 N. Y., April 7, 1827, and is the son of Ste])lien and 
 Hannah (Malatt) Waters, both of New York. His 
 fiist great and serious affliction was the loss of both 
 l)arents when he was a little lad of eight years resid- 
 ing in Indiana. The little orphan was put to 
 service as an apprentice at the tanner's trade, at 
 which he worked for six years. His schooling 
 amounted to almost nothing, and the education he 
 has, has been gained since he reached his majority. 
 He resides on his farm in Sidney Township, Mont- 
 calm County. 
 
 Mr. Waters' parents were living in Canada at 
 tlie time of the Canadian Rebellion, after which 
 the}' removed to Indiana and there were taken sick 
 and as before said died within a short time. Two 
 sisters also followed their parents to the graves, all 
 being stricken down within six months. His a[)- 
 prenticeship was with a Mr. Pancake, near Wolf 
 Lake, Ind., whom he served only a few weeks when 
 his brother came and took him back to New York 
 where he served six years to learn the tanner's 
 trade. When he came to this State ho found work 
 in Kent County and remained there until twenty- 
 five years of age. For nine years he operated his 
 brother's sawmill, and spent considerable time in 
 Grand Rapids working at his trade before remov- 
 ing to Montcalm County in 1865. Here he took a 
 
PORTRAIT AND RiOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 '239 
 
 farm of forty acres, cleared and improved it, build- 
 ing a house and stables. 
 
 DectMiiber 30, 1818, the subject of this sketch 
 married Adeline Abel, of Grand Rapids. Three 
 children hare blessed their home: David Leroy, 
 born January 8, 18o0; Luesa J., born January 7, 
 1852, is dece.ised; and Frances Addella, born Feb- 
 ruary' 18,185.5. This daughter is now the wife 
 of John FermaD, of this county. It would seem 
 that his early afflictions had been his full share for 
 life, but more trials were to come soon after he set- 
 tled in his new home, and while his son was quite 
 young this child met with a serious accident. A 
 little later our subject was struck down b^- a falling 
 tree and his skull was broken by the blow. lie lay 
 as if dead for many hours, but the next da^' 
 revived and recovered. He was also struck by a 
 falling bucket in a well. His patriotic impulses 
 prompted him to offer his services to his country 
 in the iiour of need, and he enlisted in a Michigan 
 regiment but was rejected on account of ill health. 
 He is connected with the order of the I'atrons of 
 Industry and also that of the Free and Accepted 
 Masons. He has been Pathmaster and School Di- 
 rector and is now Moderator of the scliool board. 
 
 /p^EOUGE PETTIT. The biograplier has 
 III ^-. given us the record of Mr. Pcttit as that of 
 ^^jl an honorable man, one whose fidelity to the 
 right is unswerving and whose outspoken senti- 
 ments against wrong are known to all. Though 
 perhaps not the master of many sciences and lan- 
 guages, lie is an intelligent and well-informed 
 blacksmith and merits the esteem and confidence 
 of the citizens of Ionia County. Mr. Pettit is a 
 citizen of Easton Township, and a native of Orleans 
 County, N. Y., his natal day being July 17, 1833. 
 Ills father is Reuben Pettit and his mother's name 
 is Sarah, the former a native of New York and the 
 latter of Vermont. Our subject w.as reared to man- 
 hood in his native .State until about fifteen years old 
 when he began to learn the trade of a shoemaker 
 
 and followed this until he was nineteen years of 
 age. 
 
 Mr. Pettit received his education in the district 
 schools of Orleans County and although he did not 
 have the advantages which are now offtu-cd, he has 
 by his perseverance acquired a fair education. In 
 the fall of 1852 he came to Michigan by the way 
 of the lakes to Detroit and from there to Ionia by 
 stage. He had been in Ionia County about a year 
 when he Ijcgan to learn the blacksmith's trade and 
 worked for Mr. .Jones, one of the early blacksmiths 
 and pioneers of Ionia City. For a number of years 
 Mr. Pettit carried on a blacksmith shop of his 
 own in Ionia City, and a portion of the time he 
 employed one workman. 
 
 Our subject married for his first wife Melissa 
 Lockman. December 10, 1880, he was united in 
 marriage to Adeline Phillips, his second wife, who 
 was born in Rochester, N. Y., September 15, 1843. 
 She was a daughter of Wescott and Hannah (Ben- 
 nett) Phillii)S. Her parents were of English de- 
 scent and in the year 1856 they emigrated to Ionia 
 County, Mich., and settled a short time in Berlin 
 Township. They then removed to Saranac, where 
 tlie father died in his ninety-fifth year. The par- 
 ents of Mrs. Pettit were blessed with a family of 
 five children: George, residing in Gratiot County; 
 Gardner, living near Clarkesville, Mich.; Mury, 
 Mrs. Stevens, now a widow, living in Berlin Town- 
 ship; Mrs. Adelia Smith, also a widow, of Penn- 
 sylvania; and Mrs. Pettit. 
 
 The father of our subject was married three 
 times and of the children born to him the following 
 survive: Simon, residing in Kent County, Mich.; 
 EInora, wife of John McFarland living in the 
 same county; Lewis, residing in Grand Rapids, 
 Mich., Francelia, wife of Lorenzo Fields, also living 
 in Grand Rapids, and George. 
 
 Our subject enlisted September 12, 180 1, in 
 Company F, Second Michigan Cavalry aixl was 
 under Polk and Sherman for a time. He partici- 
 pated in the battles of New Madrid and Island No. 
 10, and was honorably discharged July 10, 1802. 
 After the service in the army be returned to Ionia 
 County and settled in Ionia Township, where he 
 followeil for a number of years the trade of a 
 blacksmith. .Several years since our subject settled 
 
Hid 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBCTM. 
 
 on the farm which he owns at the present time, 
 consisting of forty acres of fertile and productive 
 land. As he was not started out in life under the 
 beneficial influences of education and culture he 
 consequently is not classically educated, but is in- 
 tellif^ent and well informed. He is a strong advo- 
 cate of the Democratic party and is public-spirited 
 and enterprising. He is identified with the Grand 
 Army of the Republic at Ionia City. His record, 
 both civil and military, is honorable and it is with 
 pride he recalls his past liistory. 
 
 Among the many intelligent and self-made men 
 of Ionia County we take pleasure in representing 
 our subject in this work. His business integrity 
 and honesty are above reproach as all will testify 
 who know him, and his word is considered as good 
 as his bond. The biographer finds him to be an 
 intelligent and progressive citizen and well versed 
 in political and other topics of the day. He and 
 his wife are highly resjiected members of society 
 and are hospitable and entertaining. 
 
 JAMKS L. WICKES. Among the stockmen 
 of this State and particularlj' of the Central 
 portion, Mr. Wickes is widely known as a 
 member of the firm of J. L. Wickes & Co., 
 breeders of Galloway cattle, Percheron horses and 
 Kambouillet sheep. The address of the firm is 
 Colby and they have one thousand five hundred 
 acres of land which has been specially prepared for 
 the purpose to which it is put and is one of the 
 finest stock farms. 
 
 Mr. Wickes is the son of James H. and Maria 
 (Tuthill) Wickes and was born in Now York in 1828. 
 His parents were natives of the same State as him- 
 self, and his father was a cabinetmaker and later a 
 farmer. He of whom we write was educated at 
 Eddy town (N. Y.) Seminary, and when ready to 
 take up a man's duties gave his attention to farming. 
 After a time he came to this State and engaged in 
 the lumber business in S.aginaw, where he had a suc- 
 cessful trade. Thence he went into the interior of 
 the State and dealt extensively in lumber and also 
 put up some of the largest mills in Michigan. 
 
 After a varied experience he came Stanton, Mont- 
 calm County, in 1881 and formed the firm which 
 has been already mentioned. 
 
 Mr. Wickes was married in New York to Miss 
 Matilda Gutick and has one son, George AVillard, 
 an enter[)rising and prosperous young business man 
 located in San Francisco. Mr. Wickes is a stalwart 
 Republican. He is an official member of the Con- 
 gregational Church and active in all work projected 
 by that society. A man of more than ordinary in- 
 telligence, whose varied experiences have added to 
 the keenness of his perception, he is a pleasant com- 
 panion, and his character is such as to entitles him 
 to the respect of his fellow-citizens, .and at this 
 writing he is serving the people of the Citj' of Stan- 
 ton as INIajor. 
 
 J^^- 
 
 /RANK TAFT. Nearly sixty years ago, a 
 V boy of fifteen might have been seen going 
 along the public highway with all his pos- 
 sessions done up in a red pocket handkerchief. He 
 would go wearily a little way and then sit down 
 tired and discouraged. A kind man coming along 
 that road met him and entered into conversation 
 with the lad, learned that he was an orphan, and 
 that he had boon making his home with his uncle, 
 but bad now started out for himself and was seek- 
 ing a home and employment. The good farmer 
 took him home with him and gave iilm kmdly care 
 and an opportunity to earn his living. After awhile 
 he worked on phti Erie Canal, driving horses on the 
 tow-path and then drifted into Canada. This lad, 
 John W. Taft, became the father of our subject, 
 Frank Taft, who resides on section 33, Ionia Town- 
 ship, Ionia Count3\ 
 
 The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
 of Eliza Clark, and was a native of Rlonroe County, 
 N. Y., where she was born in 1814. She was the 
 granddaughter of Cephas Clark, a hero in the War 
 of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. John Taft, after their mar- 
 riage in Canada, lived there for some two years 
 and he came alone to Michigan in 1836, when it 
 was still a territory, and located a farm where our 
 subject now lives. He bought eighty acres of raw- 
 land from Deacon William Babcock and split rails 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 241 
 
 for biin to pay for it. At that time there was but 
 one store at Ionia and it bore tlie higli sounding 
 title of "The Grab Store." The roads to and from 
 this primitive home were marlted by lilazed trees. 
 
 Mr. Tafl worked for I'iiilo Hates by the month, 
 and after .iwhile went back to the East and lirought 
 liis family here, l)cin{j six weeks on tlie road with 
 team and wagon. He continued working for Mr. 
 Bates and Deacon Babcock througli the summers. 
 He and liis wife ii.ad no wealth, hut the earnest pur- 
 pose and the willing hands which have made pros- 
 perous farmers from the poor pioneers. His brave 
 wife took in sewing for her more wealthy neighbors 
 to help along the family income. The work on his 
 own place had to lie done at early morning and late 
 at night, so it would not interfere with his day's 
 work for others. His good garden was attractive 
 to his Indian neighbors, who were not as honest as 
 they might have been, hut used to sometimes avail 
 themselves of the results of his industry. 
 
 All tliis brave effort and perseverance resulted 
 in prosperity. At one time the father of our sub- 
 ject owned fully four hundred acres of good land. 
 He built a frame house and was worth nearly 
 $50,000. They were members of the Free Will 
 Baptist Church in which in early times he took 
 great interest and held office, but in later 3'ears he 
 became somewhat estranged from his church people. 
 He was well informed on political questions and 
 voted the Democratic ticket. Among other offices 
 he held that of Township Treasurer and was also 
 Supervisor and School Director, and was always 
 enthusiastic in the promotion of educational inter- 
 ests. His death was sad and tr.igie. He left home 
 November .'31, 18G6, on horseback to go to Ionia, 
 where he intended leaving his horse and taking the 
 train for New York. He reached Ionia, but beyond 
 that point was never heard from alive, and it is sup- 
 posed he was murdered at Ionia. His faithful wife 
 survived until April f), 188G. Of their nine chil- 
 dren six are now living: George L., Riley, Sophia, 
 (Mrs. Whiting), Arminda (Mrs. Dr. Gates), and 
 I'hilinda (Mrs. Henr^' Corwell), twins, and our 
 subject. 
 
 Frank Taft, of whom this is a life history, was 
 born .lannary 2, 18.')(J, on the farm where he makes 
 his home. After taking his early education in the 
 
 district schools he attended the Ionia High School 
 for three years. After liis father's death the family 
 rented the farm until this son had finished school, 
 when he took charge of it. He has two hundred 
 and sixty-five acres of good land, two hundred and 
 forty of which are under the |)Iow. He built his 
 house in 187G, and the largo barn, 40x100 feet in 
 1881. He carries on mixed farming and gives his 
 largest attention to the raising of slock. His fav- 
 orite breeds are .Shro|)shire sheep and Short- horn 
 cattle. Since 1876 he has interested himself in 
 Percheron horses. His first |)air were bought 
 from Zachary Chandler's farm. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was married Decem- 
 ber 25, 1880, to Mary .1. Adgate, daughter of 
 AVilliam Adgate, whose sketch will be found in this 
 volume. She was born September 9, 1861. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Taft are the happy parents of four chil- 
 dren, namely: Luetta S., born July 14, 1882; Jessie 
 R., August 19, 1884; Myrtle M., September 2G, 
 1886; and Leolin, December 10, 1890. They are 
 both valued and conscientious members of the 
 church and workers in the Sunday-school. Mr. 
 Taft is always interested in educational matters and 
 has been School Inspector and a member of the 
 School Board. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum 
 of Ionia and the Patrons of Industry. He is well 
 informed on all political matters and votes the 
 straight Republican ticket. He has been made a 
 delegate to district and county conventions. Both 
 he and his wife are deei)ly interested in temperance 
 movements and he always has been strictly temper- 
 ate in all his habits. 
 
 ^^HKSTERA.^ 
 II tive-born citix 
 
 ^^y carrj'ing on 
 
 HKSTER A. SEARING. Among the na- 
 izens of Ionia County who are 
 the work of agriculture, 
 is Mr. Searing who was born in Lyons Town- 
 ship, October 27, 1848, and is now living 
 on section 22. His father, Nathaniel Searing, 
 was born at Saratoga Springs, State of New 
 York, February 17, 1814, and comes of the old 
 tjuaker stock. His mother, Louisa C. (Martin) 
 Searing, was born in Ontario, Canada, December 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 22, 1813. This worthy couple came to this State 
 in 1838, and located in Ionia County, where they 
 are still living. They built a log house on section 
 27, Lyons Township, improved the land around it 
 and now have a fair and fruitful farm. They have 
 had nine children, the names of those now living 
 being Henry, Melvin, Chester A., .Tames A. and 
 Laura L. 
 
 Mr. Searing began his studies in tiie district 
 school and continued the pursuit of knowledge 
 there, alternating it witli various labors upon the 
 farm, and remained with his parents until he was 
 twenty years old. He then established a home on 
 the property he still occupies, taking possession of 
 a log house that was the only improvement on the 
 I)lace. His farm includes one hundred and twenty 
 acres which is in fine condition, with all necessary 
 buildings, well made and kept in good repair, the 
 the chief of them being a fine two-story farm 
 house. Mr. Searing now makes a speciaU3- of rais- 
 ing fine swine, the breed he prefers being Chester- 
 White. He also pays considerable attention to 
 raising Oxford-Down sheep and Brahma chickens, 
 and as he attends all the fairs, generally sells out 
 quite closely in the fall, shipping to all parts of the 
 State. 
 
 The lady who presides ia the home of Mr. Sear- 
 ing bore the maiden name of Harriet Madison, and 
 became his wife November 4, 1868. She was born 
 in Easton Township, Ionia Couiily, November 4, 
 1848, and is the youngest of three children making 
 up the family of Granville and Anna M. (Bishop) 
 Madison. Her father was born in New Haiiipshire, 
 but came West when about fifteen years old, his 
 father, Charles Madison, being one of the earliest 
 settlers in this part of Michigan and one of the first 
 in Oakland County. Mrs. Madison, mother of 
 Mrs. Searing, was born in New York. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Searing have two sons — Emmet, born July 
 26, 1871, and Guy F., born December 10, 1878. 
 Both are at home aiding their father in operating 
 the farm. 
 
 Although Mr. Seariiig believes in most of tiie 
 principles that underlie the Republican platform 
 and is a member of the party, he does not ahvavs 
 cast a straight ticket, but votes for the man he con- 
 siders most capable of serving the people. His life- 
 
 long residence in the township has given him an 
 extended acquaintance and he has many friends far 
 and near. Mrs. Searing is a consistent member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church and is ever ready 
 to perform good deeds. 
 
 -s»i^M^;>j^ 
 
 <5*^ •"*««-» 
 
 \i^.ORMAN AV. MATHER. One of the first 
 I );] steps taken by an intended locator in a 
 lii,^ town is to ascertain the banking facilities, 
 a reliable institution of that nature being indispen- 
 sable to one who expects to do a good business. 
 Howard City, Montcalm County, is supplied with 
 ample accommodations for all who wish to deposit 
 or borrow funds, and it is of the proprietor of the 
 establishment we propose to make brief mention. 
 The banking house of N. W. Mather is a safe and 
 flourishing one, that enters into no questionable 
 ventures but is conducted on sound financial 
 principles and backed by the almost twenty years' 
 ex[)erience of its manager as a financier. The 
 bank is fitted up with all the modern conveniences 
 and improvements, including fire and burglar 
 proof vaults and treasure chest, time locks, etc. 
 
 Mr. iNIather was born in Livingston County, 
 N. Y., October 30, 1840, and is a son of John C. 
 and Betsey (Kellogg) Mather, who were born at 
 Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and Hartford, Conn., re- 
 spectively. Their marriage took place March 9, 
 1831, when the groom was about twenty-four 
 years old, he having been born April 9, 1807. To 
 them were born nine children, seven of whom are 
 living, namely: Mary, wife of Horace Armstrong, 
 lives in Geneseo, N. Y. ; Eliza A., widow of Dennis 
 Burnes, residing in the same city; Julia A., widow 
 of O. W. T)Ay, her home being in Dansville, N. Y.; 
 Amos R., a banker at Lake View, this State; Sarah, 
 wife of Edward Hawle3', at South Avon, N. Y. ; 
 Frances J., wife of A. H. Ayers of Howard City, 
 this State; and Norman W., of whom these para- 
 graphs treat. Tlie father died December 1, 1877, 
 and the mother is living at Geneseo, N. Y. 
 
 The school d.-ij-s of Norman Mather were passed 
 at Lima, Rochester and Geneseo, N. Y., and at 
 Rochester he took a commercial coui'se. He gave 
 
cc 
 
 (2^CAyy^\JZi.(n^ 'jt<^oyh/ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BfOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 248 
 
 his attention to farming until he was twent^'-nine 
 years old and then entered a bank in tlie city tliat 
 had been the scene of liis business training. Tlicnec 
 he came to Micliigan, locating in Howard City in 
 1872 and opening a private bank in February of 
 the ensuing j-ear. He docs a general banking 
 business in deposits, loans, collections and ex- 
 change, and also carries on a real-estate and insur- 
 ance trade and the sale of ocean sleanisliip tickets. 
 The marriage of Mr. Mather and Miss Mai'y 
 Swem was solemnized September 4, 1878. Tiie 
 bride is a daughter of M. L. Swem, a farmer living 
 at Coral but originally from Indiana. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Mather are blessed with one son, Carl, a 
 bright lad in whose future the3- find cause for glow- 
 ing hopes. Mr. Mather is a member of the 
 Masonic order and is a Trustee in the Jl.isonic 
 Insurance Company of Grand Rapids. He is a 
 Republican in politics. He has held some local 
 odices, among them that of a member of the Town 
 Council and Treasurer of the Vill.ige several terms, 
 and to public duties brings the same business 
 qualities that win success in his private ventures. 
 He is highly regarded by his fellow-men and 
 looked upon as one of the public-si)irited and pro- 
 gressive citizens of tlie vicinilv. 
 
 -^-*^ 
 
 ON. HAMPTON RICH. The gentleman 
 whose portrait appears on the opposite page 
 is one of those whose knowledge of events 
 in Ionia County extends back to pioneer 
 limes and covers a period of more than half a cen- 
 tury. He came here in 1837 when a young man, 
 led to this locality by a previous acquaintance with 
 Lawson S. Warner. For several decades he was 
 prominently connected with the civic affairs of the 
 vicinity and with its financial interests, together 
 with all the enterprises which promise to furtiier 
 the general good, such as schools, railroads, etc. 
 
 Mr. Rich was born in Shorcham, Vt., December 
 I, ISl."), and is one of the ten children comprising 
 the family of Samuel and Mar^' (liailey) Ivicli. 
 His parents were natives of the Green Mounljuh 
 
 States, and his father was a carpenter and served 
 in the War of 1812 under Gen. Wade Hampton, 
 for whom he named his son. Four members of the 
 parental family died in childhood and two only are 
 now living; he of whom we write and Gustavus V., 
 whose home is in Canton, N. Y. The others died 
 in various parts of the country, one Christiana 
 Cad well, in Ionia. Our subject was taken by 
 his parents to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and 
 thence to Prcscolt, Canada, where he was reared 
 from the age of four 5'ear8. In .lune, 1837, he 
 turned his footsteps toward this State and reached 
 Ionia July 7. He became clerk in a general store 
 kept by Parks & Warner and remained in the em- 
 ploy of those gentlemen about three and a half 
 years. 
 
 In 1839 Mr. Rich became Township Clerk and 
 in 1843-14 he was Deputy County Clerk and Sup- 
 ervisor. He was then elected County Clerk, served 
 two terms and afterward became clerk in the 
 United States land oflice. In 1846 he entered 
 upon his business career in connection with Kdward 
 Stephenson, the Arm dealing in boots and shoes. A 
 stock of clothing was soon added and finally the 
 establishment was converted into one for the sale 
 of general merchandise. The partnership was dis- 
 solved in May, 18,)3, and Mr. Rich carried on the 
 business alone two or three 3'ears, then took in as 
 partners W. B. Arnold and A. C. Cadwell. The 
 latter soon retired but Mr. Arnold remained in the 
 firm until the business was closed out in 1875. 
 
 In 1860, .against his earnest protestations Mr. 
 Mr. Rich was elected to the State Senate and re- 
 elected in 1868. He had taken an active part in 
 preparing for the construction of the railroad from 
 Ionia to Lansing, and as Senator he succeeded in 
 securing the passage of an act authorizing its builil- 
 ing. Upon the organization of the railroad com- 
 pany' he became President and retained the position 
 sever.al years, likewise discharging the duties of 
 Treasurer. He was President when the road, which 
 was organized as the Detroit & Lake Michigan, was 
 built from Lansing to Greenville. He sold out his 
 stock to the syndicate in 1871, when the roail be- 
 caKC the Detroit, Lansing it Northern Railroad. 
 
 For several years Mr. Rich was a member of the 
 School Board and he served as President of that 
 
246 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 body for a considerable length of time. He adopted 
 the plans for school buildings and personally 
 superintended the construction of the High School, 
 which is recognized .is one of the ornaments of the 
 city and is beautifully located on the hill over- 
 looking tlie valley. Gov. Bagley appointed him in 
 1885 on the Commission to locale the State House 
 of Correction and prepare plans therefor, and he 
 succeeded in securing its location in Ionia. He was 
 appointed on a new board to superintend the erec- 
 tion of tlic buildings and seivc<l continuously until 
 during the administration of Gov. Jerome, and 
 after an interim of three ye.irs he was again given 
 aplaceand is still a Commissioner. Mr. Rich has a 
 decided talent for architectural designing and in 
 addition to the buildings before mentioned he was 
 designer of the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
 superintended Ihe erection of that edifice. He and 
 his wife belong to this society and since 1840 Mr. 
 Rich has been active in church work. In his early 
 manhood he was a Democrat, but he was opposed 
 to carrying slavery into the Territories or new 
 States and the attitude of bis party led him to 
 abandon it and give his allegiance to the Repub- 
 lican parl3', since which he h.is been one of its 
 stanch and prominent supporters in the State. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Rich and^Miss Jessie M. 
 Stevenson was solemnized November 12, 1840, at 
 the bride's home in Ionia. Her father, Jesse Stev- 
 enson, who was born in England, subsequently 
 removed to Montreal and afterward came to Ionia 
 in 1836. He was a shoemaker by trade. Tbe mar- 
 riage of our subject to Miss Stevenson was blessed 
 by the birth of eight children, four of whom are 
 now living, viz: Mrs, Emma M. Lowe and Mrs. 
 Jenny A. Ilurd, in Chicago; Edward A. in Ionia, 
 and Hattie B. under her father's roof. The mother 
 of this family passed away July 14, 18G0. Mr. 
 Rich w.as again married August 14, 1802, his bride 
 on this occasion being Mrs. Charlotte Dygert, who 
 was born in Utica, N. Y. To this union but one 
 child has been born — Jessie, who died in infancy. 
 
 The respect given to Mr. Rich by those who 
 know him is that due to a man who has been active 
 in promoting tlie industries and interests of the 
 city from tbe time it was a vilLige of a few strag- 
 gling houses with the land office as a nucleus. He 
 
 has expended time, talent and money for the gen- 
 eral good, and has set the example of one dili- 
 gent in business, pronounced in religious convic- 
 tions and upright in life. 
 
 'JAMES JOURDAN, like many other promi- 
 
 I nent farmers in Ionia County, came from 
 
 I . J' 
 
 one of the old farming families of Monroe 
 ' County, N. Y. His father, George Jourdan, 
 a native of that county, was the captain of a com- 
 pany of State militia. His mother, Eliza (Stotts) 
 Jourdan, a native of New York, was from a famil}' 
 of German descent. After their marriage they 
 resided for a short time in New York then, in 1839, 
 came to Michigan and settled in Ionia Township 
 until they could build their own home on section 
 13. He used to go to Pontiac with a grist, as this 
 was their nearest mill. Upon this raw farm lie had 
 difficulty in procuring sufficient feed for his cattle, 
 and was obliged to cut down trees so that they 
 might browse upon tbe branches. In addition to 
 these the family' beds were robbed of their straw 
 to help make a cud. 
 
 Mr. Jourdan built a log house and cleared all his 
 one hundred and sixty acres of timber land before 
 beginning to erect his frame house and put up 
 other improvements. Capt. Jourdan's wife died 
 the same year in which they came to Michigan. 
 His second marriage united him with Ann Lester, 
 a native of Canada, who died fifteen years ago. 
 During his later years he resided in Portland, 
 where he died in 1878, at the age of sixty-two 
 years. By his first marriage he had two children, 
 our subject and Mrs. Elida L. Baldwin. By his 
 second marriage he had eight children, seven of 
 whom are now living. His third wife w.is Mrs. 
 Jane Miller. They had no children; she still sur- 
 vives him. Capt. .Tourdan and his first wife were 
 members of the Methodist Church. 
 
 James Jourdan came with his parents to Mich- 
 igan when he was two years old, from his native 
 home in Monroe County, N. Y., where he w.as born 
 March 17, 1837. He attended school in one of the 
 first log schoolbouses in this vicinity. Until his 
 
PORTRAIT AND UIOGRAPHICAL AL15UM. 
 
 247 
 
 majority he worked at home, and after that he was 
 in the employ of John Probert, in Porlhind Town- 
 ship, for six months, at 814 n. nionlii. In the spring 
 of 1859 he visited New York State, but returned 
 tiie same fall to Michigan. Taking a farm in I'ort- 
 land Townsiiip, on shares for a year, he put in a 
 crop of wiieat in the fall of 18G1, but wiliiin a 
 short time his patriotic feelings got the better of 
 his ambition as a farmer, and he left the wheat in 
 the ground and September 5, enlisted in. Company 
 U, Ninth Micliigan Infantry as a private, and join- 
 ing ids regiment at Ft. Waj^ne went with them at 
 once to West Point, Ky. After serving a year in 
 the ranks he became a brig.ide teamster, and while 
 thus engaged he drew supplies from .Stevenson to 
 Chattanooga. He then went back to Ids camp, and 
 again i)ecame teamster at Gen. G. II. Tlioinas' 
 hejidquarters. He took part in the battle near 
 McMinnville, Tenn., against Gen. Forrest's cav- 
 alry, and was also in the battles of Stone Kiver and 
 Chickaniauga. He served the three years for 
 which lie had enlisted, and at one time suffered 
 greatly from a broken collar bone. He receiveil 
 his discharge at the expiration of his term of 
 service, October 14, 18C4, .at Atlanta, Ga. He 
 relurnetl to his father's home and went to work on 
 the farm. 
 
 ,Iuly 21, 1866, our subject was united in marriage 
 with Miss Lydia Price, of Ohio, and a daughter of 
 the Uev. William and Anna ((ian.iga) Price. Mrs. 
 Jourdan's mother was a native of Pennsylvania, 
 and her father of Maryland. They had married 
 in Ohio and resided there for awhile and then came 
 to Michigan in 1860, wliei'c they settled for two 
 years upon a rented farm in Ionia Township. 
 Thence they went to Pewamo for one year, return- 
 ing to Ionia where they lived for one year, and 
 finally settled on section 11, Orange Township, on 
 a farm of eight}' acres. Soon after Mrs. Price's 
 death, in 1876, Mr. Price sold out and removed to 
 Montcalm County and settled u[)(>n a farm there. 
 His second marriage was with Miss Lucinda Frost, 
 who still survives him. He died in October, 1888, 
 aged seventy-three years. By his first marriage he 
 liad eight children. His .second marriage w.as 
 blessed with two cinldren. 
 
 James Jourdan's wife was liorn March 28, 1845, 
 
 in Wayne County, Ohio. She had received in 
 Oliio a common-school education, which she im- 
 proved to its full extent. Her parents were mem- 
 bers of tiic United Hrethren Church, and for over 
 twenty-five years her father had been a prominent 
 minister in that denomination. He was also a 
 strong Ilei)ubliean. 
 
 After marriage our subject settled upon the farm 
 he now occupies on section 13, Orange Township. 
 It was all unbroken tiiore, no roads, no houses, no 
 conveniences of any kind. He built a small frame 
 house and cultivated his farm of twenty acres. He 
 now has eighty acres, sixty of which are under the 
 plow. He has cleared it all himself and in many 
 ways lias aided his neighbors. In his early days of 
 farming he had an ox-team, and had the proud 
 distinction of being the only one among the neigh- 
 bors who had this convenient though slow means 
 of conveyance. Mr. and Mrs. Jourdan are tlie 
 parents of five children: George L., who was born 
 April 27, 1867, and is engaged in teaching; Flor- 
 ence R. was born April 8, 186',); Chauncey I., 
 March 25, 1873; Artie A., September 29, 1875; 
 and Veda M., August 1, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. 
 .lourdan have given to these children an excellent 
 education. The eldest is a graduate of the Ionia 
 High School, in the class of 1888. Mrs. Jourdan 
 is a memlier of the United Brethren Church. Mr. 
 .lourdan takes an interest in politics, is a member 
 of the (Jrand Army of the Republic at Portland, 
 also of the Royal Arcanum at the same town, and 
 supports tiie Reiiublican ticket. He is a temperate 
 man in all his liabils and stands well in the com- 
 nnuiity. 
 
 JUDSOX I'.IIKJGS. A prominent posi- 
 *2ZLJi tion among the residents of Edmere, 
 ii Montcalm County, and especially her 
 dealers, is that held by Mr. Briggs who 
 has been engaged in the sale of merchandise here 
 longer than any other merchant. He handles dry- 
 goods, clothing, boots and shoes, and furnishing 
 goods and has been very successful in building up 
 trade and catering to the needs of the citizens. His 
 
248 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 nbility nsa business man lias oft been flemonstratefl 
 and his forethovight and care have been rewarded 
 by gains that arc sufficient to give his family all 
 the comforts that heart can wish and many of the 
 luxuries of advanced civilization. Better than this 
 Mr. Briggs commands the respect of his acquaint- 
 ance? as .1 man of business integrity and irreproach- 
 able private character. 
 
 Before giving the chief incidents in the life of 
 Mr. Briggs it will be well to speak of his parents, 
 Noaj i and Sarah (Kenyon) Brigg^s. His father was 
 born and reared on a farm in Rutland County, Vt., 
 but learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner and 
 worked at it in Genesee County, N. Y. In 1836 he 
 came to this State bringing a wife and five chil- 
 dren, and journeying through Canada with a one- 
 horse wagon. He located in Allegan, then a village 
 just beginning its existance, and engaged in con- 
 tracting and building. He was the principal builder 
 there six years, after which period he settled on a 
 farm in Monterey Township, Allegan County. The 
 country was so little developed that he had to make 
 a road four miles to reach the Government tract he 
 entered and on which he put up a log house. He 
 worked at his trade and hired his farm labor done, 
 and in process of time had a well cultivated farm 
 of two hundred acres. In 1865 Mr. Briggs moved 
 to Kalamazoo County and settled on a farm two 
 miles from the county-seat, where his son H. C. 
 was living. That son was a leading lawyer, and 
 Prosecuting Attorney and Probate Judge, each 
 eight years. Blr. Briggs was an active member of 
 the Baptist Church and was Deacon for years prior 
 to his death in 1874. He held the oflice of Justice 
 of the Peace and Supervisor, being the first in the 
 latter station in his township. Mrs. Briggs died in 
 that township; she was born in Genesee County, 
 N. Y. Their children were seven in number and 
 all sons. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice was born 
 in Monterey^ Township, Allegan County, this State, 
 November 4, 1845, and lived on a farm there 
 until he was nineteen years old. During his 
 early life he conned his books in a log school- 
 house with slab benches and a desk around the wall 
 and learned how to do many things belonging to 
 farm life, even when quite small having some part 
 
 in the home work. He went to Kalamazoo with 
 his father and making his home under the parental 
 roof he studied in the Union School in the city 
 until he was of age. He then became clerk for his 
 brother in Allegan and sold dry-goods two years. 
 The next employment of Mr. Briggs was as book- 
 keeper for the grain and milling firiij of Merrill & 
 McCorty, of ivalamazoo, with which he remained 
 some three years. Returning to Allegan he next 
 became book-keeper and assistant cashier in the 
 First National Bank of that place, holding the po- 
 sition two years. 
 
 Mr. Briggs then entered upon a business career 
 as a principal, engaging in the sale of general mer- 
 chandise at Sand Lake, Kent County, including 
 groceries and mill supplies. After a year he sold 
 out and rented a mill at Allegan that he ran two 
 years, at the ex|)iration of which period he con- 
 cluded to resume the occupation of a merchant. In 
 the fall of 1871) Mr. Briggs came to Edmore and 
 established himself in l)usines3 and by his straight- 
 forward and honorable dealings and careful con- 
 sideration of the wants of the people soon built up 
 a fine trade. lie has always a well-selected stock 
 and occupies a central location, on which he built 
 his store building, which is twenty-two feet wide 
 and eighty deep. Besides this property he owns 
 four acres on a hill, from which his residence com- 
 mands a pleasing view. 
 
 The marriage of Jlr. Briggs was solemnized in 
 Brockport, N. Y., in 1873, his bride being Susie 
 R. Fisk. This lady was born in Hamlin, Monroe 
 County, N. Y., received a good education and other 
 instruction which fitted her for the duties of life; 
 she was a graduate of the St.ite Normal School. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were the happy parents of six 
 children — Louie A., Virgic M., Clayton R., BurrB. ; 
 and Nathan F. and Glenn F., deceased. 
 
 Mr. Briggs was Village Trustee eiglit years and 
 is now Treasurer. For years he has been School 
 Inspector and School Director and was a mem- 
 ber of the Board when the new schoolhouse was 
 finished. He was a member of the committee in 
 whose hands w.as placed the putting in of the water 
 works and he has also been connected with the fire 
 department as Superintendent. Politically, he is 
 a true-hearted Republican and has served as a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 249 
 
 meniber of tbe County Ccnlral Commillee and a 
 
 delegate to llie county and Stale conveutious. His 
 religious faith led liim to become a member of the 
 15:ii>tist Church, and he is now Trustee, Treasurer 
 and Clerk, as well as Deacon of the organization in 
 Edmore. lie was a member of the building commit- 
 tee who had in charge the erection of the house of 
 worship and he contributed liberally toward the 
 building fund. He has been .Sunday-school Superin- 
 tendent for years and is active in every work con- 
 nected with the good of society. Ilis inlluence is 
 felt throughout the entire community and his efforts 
 are always expended on the side of elevation, moral 
 and social. 
 
 E WITT C. Hl'NTER. This worthy rep- 
 resentative of one of the old families of 
 Ionia Count}' is widely known throughout 
 the Grand River Valley as a successful 
 farmer and stookraiscr. He is located on section 
 33, Keene Townslu'i), on land that has been his 
 home since 185G. It was taken possession of by 
 his father tiiat year, and the son grew to manhood 
 here, gradually bearing a greater part in the farm 
 work and eventually becoming thoroughl}' quali- 
 fied to carry on the estate. He was born in Oak- 
 land Count}', March '27, 1847, and his parents were 
 William G. and Sarah (Porter) Hunter. The 
 father was born in Orange County, N. Y., and was 
 of Irish and English ancestry. He came to this 
 State June 3, 1826, and made Oakland County his 
 home until the fall of 185G, when he removed with 
 his famil}' to the farm now owned by our subject, 
 wiiere he lived until his de.ath which occurred 
 March 25, 1886, in tlie seventy-fourth year of his 
 life. He was a Democrat in politics and a Pres- 
 byterian in religion. He was twice married, the 
 children of his first wife being James I., deceased; 
 Charles P., De Witt C, and Sarah, wife of II. A. 
 Cutler, sheriff of Lake County. 
 
 Our subject's mother was born in Ireland and 
 came to this State when a small girl, Oakland 
 County being her home from the time she came 
 until her death. She died April G, 1849, being in 
 
 her twenty-ninth year. With the exception of two 
 years spent as a clerk in Lowell, De Witt C. Hunter 
 has been engaged in farming since his boyhood. 
 He received a common-school education, and since 
 he became a man has kept himself well informed 
 regarding subjects that are of general interest. He 
 was married September 3, 1872, to Jennie Cheyne, 
 daughter of Andrew and Agnes Chevne, and a 
 native of Northern Michigan. Her father is ile- 
 ceased and her mother is living in Ottawa County. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have one son. Earl, who was 
 born August 11, 1873. 
 
 The farm of Mr. Hunter consists of eiglity acres, 
 every rod of which is made useful or beautiful by- 
 careful cultivation or judicious management. He 
 has had the opportunity of accepting the nomina- 
 tions of Supervisor or Clerk on his ticket, a number 
 of times but has always declined the honors. He is 
 a Democrat in politics, but in local elections casts 
 his vote for the man and not the party. He is a 
 member of the Grange, and is found taking a part 
 in various projects in which the neighborhoo'l is 
 is interested. As an agriculturist he is progressive 
 and intelligent, as a business man he is honest, and 
 and as a citizen law-abiding. Among the leading 
 families of Keene Township none are more worthy 
 of a place in this Albu.m than the Hunters, who are 
 respected members of society. Probably' no fam- 
 ily in the State know more of the hardsliips of 
 pioneer life than the}'. 
 
 W EVI W. LOVELAND, a prominent farmer 
 {I (® ^^ Ionia County and now a resident on sec- 
 JLv^ Ijoii 10, Otisco Township, is a lifelong 
 resident of the county. He was born here March 
 25, 1863, and was educated in the public schools 
 prior to his fourteenth year. He was then attend- 
 ing the Ionia High School, but on account of the 
 financial circumstances of the family he was obliged 
 to abandon his studies and set about the work of 
 life. His father had died six j-ears prior to this 
 time. Upon leaving school the la<l entered the em- 
 ploy of C. E. Rust, proprietor of the Rust Fruit 
 Farm, and during the three years \a which he 
 
250 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 worked for that gentleman he lost but three days' 
 time aud was never late but once. At home lie 
 aiflcd his mother to raise garden truck, which she 
 marketed, and within the three years a debt of 
 $1,000, with interest at 10 per cent., had been paid 
 off. 
 
 After this purpose was accomplished young 
 Loveland engaged in small fruit growing and gar- 
 dening for himself, cultivating five and one-fourth 
 acres for three years. lie was very successful in 
 this work and was able to make some progress in 
 the aecnmulation of funds. At the expiration of 
 the period mentioned he located on the farm three- 
 fourths of a mile from Belding, which is still his 
 place of residence. He now has one hundred and 
 twenty-one acres of good land, and has i>latted ten 
 acres as an addition to the town. His property is 
 well improved and his home abounds in creature 
 comforts. 
 
 The lady who is the presiding genius in the 
 dwelling of Mr. Loveland became his wife Novem- 
 ber 4, 1885, prior to which time she was known as 
 Miss Eliza Horrigan. Her father, Michael Horrigan, 
 was born in New York and was married in that 
 State to Susan Clements, a native of England. 
 Their family includes Mrs. Loveland; Henry J., a 
 lawyer in Ionia; Laura E., a teacher in the same 
 place; and Edgar A., who is still attending school. 
 Mr. Horrigan has been Deputy Sheriff, Deputy Oil 
 Inspector, and Justice of the Peace in Ionia County. 
 He is now living in the county seat and is proprie- 
 tor of a music store there. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Levi and Betsey 
 (Lamson) Loveland, who were born in the Empire 
 State and resided in Ohio for some time. They 
 removed from that State to this Svbout 1850, mak- 
 ing their journey with an ox-team. The husband 
 bought two hundred acres of land here. Mrs. 
 Betsey Loveland belonged to the Methodist Church, 
 They afterward both joined the Disciple Church, 
 of which they were members at their decease. The 
 husband was a Master Mason, enrolled in the Ionia 
 lodge. The members of their family were Levi 
 W., the subject of this notice; Carrilla, who now 
 lives on a farm in Berlin Township; and Julia, 
 deceased. The parents of our subject were born in 
 Counecticut, removed to New York, thence to 
 
 Huron County, Ohio and thence to Michigan, as 
 stated above, where Grandfather Loveland died 
 July 27, 1872. Mrs. Loveland subsequently came 
 to Belding with our subject, and breathed her last 
 here January 27, 1887. 
 
 The office of Township Treasurer is now held by 
 the subject of this biogr.aphical notice, and he has 
 already served in that position one year, and was 
 also re-elected for a second term with a large ma- 
 jority. He belongs to Belding Lodge No. 68, 
 I. O. O. F., and is also identified with the Inde- 
 pendent Order of Foresters, in which he has been 
 Recording Secretary. He is a believer in the prin- 
 ciples laid down in the Democratic platform, and 
 always deposits his vote in its interest. He is a 
 young man of good judgment, general intelligence 
 and honorable character, and as such is correspond- 
 ingly esteemed. 
 
 \ti^ ENRY FRACE. This gentleman is one of 
 Ifjll the leading business men of Ionia Couotj', 
 /^^^ the center of his mercantile pursuits being 
 (^) Saranac. He has always been a close appli- 
 cant to business aud has steadily climbed the ladder, 
 never flagging in his efforts to obtain good results 
 and reach a position where competence would be 
 secured. He has been in the AVcst a quarter of a cen- 
 tury ; during much of that time his home has been 
 in Saranac. He has done much to build up the 
 town and has shown a degree of public spirit and 
 liberality in giving, that, commends him to the 
 people. In the spring of 1889 he introduced into 
 this State the Dutch Belted cattle, of which there 
 but five hundred and twenty-seven registered ani- 
 mals in the United States. The breed was first im- 
 ported from Holland about fifty years ago, but only 
 the above number have been kept pure blood. 
 
 Mr. Frace was born in Northampton County, Pa., 
 in August 1845. His parents, Peter and Mary 
 (Messenger) Frace, were also born in the Keystone 
 State and both were of German descent, the 
 father died in 1859 and the mother followed hira 
 to the tomb in 1863. They were members of the 
 Dutch Reformed Church, Their children were but 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 251 
 
 two — our subject, and Alice now the wife of D. G. 
 llubn of Saranac. The father was a farmer and 
 amid the associations of rural life our subject [)assed 
 his early years. He first studied in the district 
 schools and later attended the academy at Easton 
 v¥hicli was not far from his home, and also tlie La- 
 fayette College. In the latter institution he studied 
 the lanj;uagcs and became quite conversant with 
 several tongues. He made his home upon the farm 
 until after the death of his mother, which took place 
 when he was eighteen years old. 
 
 Young Frace began his real work in life as assis- 
 tant teacher in Easton (Pa.) Collegiate Institute, 
 where he remained until June, 1865, and to which 
 he returned after taking a thorough commercial 
 course in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In the si)ring of 
 18GC he made a i)crmanent removal from his native 
 State and took up his abode in Saranac. His first 
 business here was clerking for J. J. Young, in whose 
 employ he remained until August 1868, when he 
 established himself in tlie clothing business. After 
 carrying on the establishment three years he sold 
 out and within a few months was located in Detroit, 
 working for Allen Sheldon & Co. In Sei)tember, 
 1873, he returned to Saranac and engaged in the 
 dry-goods trade. The ensuing year he erected a 
 brick store forty-five feet deep, and his trade 
 increasing so that still more room was required for 
 his stock, he built on thirty-five feet more in 1876. 
 
 Mr. Frace carried a stock of general merchandise 
 until 1880 when he formed a partnership with D. 
 G. Huhu and in 1883 they bought another store 
 and put in a stock of groceries. The two depart- 
 ments were carried on separately- until 1886, when 
 the firm bought the large two story brick building 
 now occu|)ied bj' Mr. Frace. In this is now to be 
 found as large and complete an assortment of goo<ls 
 as in any store in the county. Mr. Frace was one 
 of two men that put in the rolling-mill plant of 
 Sarauac but he has dis[)oscd of his stock. 
 
 In 1878 Mr. Frace i>ut up one of the finest resi- 
 dences in the county, wherein he and his family cn- 
 jo3' all the comforts and many luxuries of life. 
 The lady who graciously receives visitors there is 
 a native of Ionia County and bore the maiden name 
 of Mary A. Shaw. She became the wife of Mr. 
 Frace in August, 1870. To them there have come 
 
 four sons, who have been named; Claude, Gny, 
 Howard and Ray. Mr. Frace has always supported 
 the principles of the Democratic party. He is a 
 charter member of the Odd Fellows lodge in Saranac, 
 of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and als(> 
 the Knights of Pythias. 
 
 ^ ^— -^^— ^— 
 
 EV. A. J. COMDEN. a minister of the Gos- 
 pel and an active farmer, resides in Doug- 
 las Township, Montcalm County. He is 
 British by both blood and birth, having 
 opened his eyes on this world November 2, 1841, 
 in Devonshire, England, within two miles of Tor- 
 (juay. His parents were Thomas S. and Jane 
 Tucker Comden. His brothers and sisters were 
 Thomas S., Mary, Sarah, Maria and Eliza. They 
 all lived in England until the subject of this sketch 
 was about thirteen years old, when they removed to 
 Canada and in 1855 settled on a farm which is now 
 in the region known as the consolidated counties 
 of Durham and Northumberland. 
 
 This boy hud early been inured to hardsliip and 
 severe labor, as he had worked out on wages ever 
 since he was nine years old. He worked on the 
 new farm in Canada until he reached his 24tli year 
 when he struck out for himself and started in life 
 in Oakland County, Mich. He went there in Oc- 
 tober, 1868, and industriously and perseveringly 
 labored in that county until 1880, when he removed 
 to Montcalm County and settled in Douglas Tc>wn- 
 ship. 
 
 While still living in Canada Mr. Comden took 
 to himself a wife, being in 1866 united for life to 
 Sarah Widdess, whose birthplace was Cartwright, 
 Canada. His children are as follows: Fliza J. born 
 October 21, 1866; Lizzie S.,. January 16, 1868; 
 Mary M., July 25, 1869; George F., May 1, 1872; 
 Samuel J., 1874; Lillie A., November 11, 1879; 
 Martha E., July 25, 1881; Charles T., July 23, 
 1884 .and Fred A., April 23, 1887. 
 
 This gentleman has pursued a double avocation, 
 cultivating the land and being also engaged in the 
 ministry of the Gospel. lie has been pastor of 
 Langston Circuit, Ionia District, Michigan Con- 
 
252 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
 wiiose ministry he has served for ten years. He 
 talies an intense interest in nil educational matters 
 and ap[)reciates the superior advantages which 
 are now offered to the young. He tells how he 
 acquired his own education. After workng hard 
 all day he would sit up at night and study in the 
 wee small hours. Mr. Comden has been Assessor 
 of his district for nine years. He is an earnest 
 worker in the Sunday-school and has organized a 
 number of schools. His fine farm of one hundred 
 and sixty acres attests his industry and enterprise. 
 
 'jfjOHN W. FORTUNE. One of the hand- 
 I somcst homes in the rural districts of Ionia 
 County is that of the above-named gentle- 
 (|^|#/ man, located on section 2, Ionia Township. 
 The dwelling was erected in 1883 at a cost of 
 12,500, and is a tasteful and convenient structure, 
 whose furnishing accords with its design and con- 
 struction. Attractive as the residence is, the most 
 conspicuous building upon the land is a large barn, 
 which is probably not excelled in the State. It 
 was built in the most substantial way, and arranged 
 to afford the utmost convenience to those who use 
 it, and the best possible accommodations for stock 
 and fodder. It was planned by Mr. Fortune him- 
 self and built some live years since. 
 
 Mr. Fortune is of Scotch blood in the i)aternal 
 line and comes of a line of men who devoted 
 themselves to farming. His grandfather, John 
 Fortune, brought his family to America in 1818, 
 and settling in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., did 
 pioneer work there, lie lived to the venerable age 
 of ninety years, for twenty-five of which he was 
 obliged to go on crutches. In his family was a son 
 George, who was born in Scotland in 1809, and 
 after growing to manhood married Susan Wright, 
 who was born in New York in 1808. This lady 
 was the daughter of Timothy A. Wright, a native 
 of the Empire State and a farmer by occupation, 
 who died at a good old age. 
 
 la 1836 George Fortune first came to Michigan. 
 
 He took up a farm in North Plains Township, 
 Ionia County, cleared twenty acres, and built a 
 log shanty in which he lived two years. He then 
 sold his claim, returned to New York, married .nnd 
 remained there a number of years. In 1854 he 
 returned to this State, bringing with him his family 
 and setting up his home on section 3, Ionia Town- 
 ship and county. He rented a farm four years, 
 then changed to another rented tract, but on the 
 latter he remained but a year. His next removal 
 was to the farm now occupied by his son, our sub- 
 ject, and here as on the others, he occupied a log 
 house. He returned to section 3, and remained 
 there until he came to make his home with his son 
 sixteen years before his decease, wiiich occurred in 
 1886. For manj' years be was a sufferer from in- 
 flammatory rheumatism. The mother of our sub- 
 ject died in 1869. 
 
 The parental famil}- consisted of five children, 
 John W. being the fourth in order of birth, who 
 opened his eyes to the light in Orleans County, 
 N. Y., November 9, 1847, and was a lad of seven 
 years when he came West. Here he attended 
 school in a frame house on section 3, which lias 
 since burned down. When eighteen years old he 
 began the battle of life empty-handed, and fiis 
 first effort was to pay off a mortgage for his father. 
 He worked by the month seven years, during which 
 time he was prudent and economical, as well as 
 industrious and faithful. He finally bargained for 
 a farm, incurring an indebtedness of •J2,300. Tliis 
 he paid off as fast as possible, and he now stands 
 upon a firm financial basis, with a beautiful home 
 and all the conveniences necessary to carry on suc- 
 cessfully the work of general agriculture. He has 
 fifty-six acres in the home place and eight3' in Ron- 
 ald Township, one hundred and sixteen of the 
 entire tract being under the plow. 
 
 The efforts of Mr. Fortune have been ably sec- 
 onded by his wife since their wedding day, Decem- 
 ber 5, 1870. The marriage took place at the bride's 
 home in the Empire State. She was born in Niag- 
 ara County, February 23, 1848, bore the maiden 
 name of Corlie Elvira Pike and is a daughter of 
 P^mory E. and Sally Elvira (Wright) Pike. She 
 received a good education, taking the higiier 
 branches in an academy, and taught five terms in 
 
^^^a^t^L^-t^) 
 
 y^ 7-i'i.aA: 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 255 
 
 ber native State. Her parents were natives of 
 Massachusetts and Vermont respectively', but were 
 inarrie'l in New Yorlc, where they subsequently 
 lived. Mr. Pike was a farmer and cooper; lie died 
 in 1887 at the ripe age of eighty j'ears. Mrs. Pike 
 also lived to be quite aged, dying in 1885 when 
 seventy-nine years old. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Fortune seven children have 
 been born, but two have been taken from them by 
 death. The record of the living is as follows: 
 Augustus Emerson, born April 9, 1873; Susan 
 Elvira, September 30, 1875; Victor F., November 
 28, 1880; George W., June 4, 1886; Sarah Adelaide, 
 November 4, 1890. They are receiving excellent 
 school privileges and the two eldest are making 
 good progress in their studies at Ionia. These two 
 belong to the Christian Church. 
 
 As is indicated in his linancial progress, Mr. 
 Fortune has been a hard-working man and one 
 whose habits have been thrifty and careful. .Strong 
 in body and mind, he has so conducted himself as 
 to be able to give his family every comfort and 
 many privileges, and take a part in whatever 
 benevolent work will be for the good of the coui- 
 munity. His habits are exemplary, his character 
 honorable and his standing high. lie has alw.ays 
 been interested in politics and is an unfailing sup- 
 porter of the Ilcpublicaii party. 
 
 ON. ALEXANDER F. BELL. It is alw.-iys 
 a pleasure to note the incidents in the 
 career of a man who has won that which is 
 better than silver or gold — the honest ad- 
 miration and esteem of all who know him, either 
 personally or by reputation, and who, in his declin- 
 ing years, can look back over a long life well 
 spent. Such an one is the Hon. Mr. Bell, who 
 stands as the Nestor of the bar of Ionia, and who, 
 although his work at the bar is ended, gives mucli 
 aid to the younger members of the legal profession, 
 who go to him for sympathy or seek his counsel in 
 intricate cases. He is living in retirement, as far 
 as an active participation in business affairs is con- 
 
 cerned, but his interest in his fellow-men is as deep 
 as ever and his knowledge of affairs as extended. 
 
 Mr. Bell traces his line.igc, both in the paternal 
 and maternal lines to Scotland, from which coun- 
 try his grandparents emigrated prior to the Revo- 
 lution. Both families located in New York, and in 
 the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys their families 
 lived for many years. James Bell, father of our 
 subject, became a farmer and operated the liome- 
 stead that had been entered by Cirandfather Bell 
 and which is still in the family. To him and his 
 wife, formerly Anna Ferguson, eight children were 
 born. Three are now living, Colin F. being a res- 
 ident of McGregor, Iowa; John F. remaining on 
 ihe homestead, and Alexander F. living at Ionia. 
 The middle name of each of these gentlemen is Fer- 
 guson, the mother's maiden name. Their father 
 died in 1839 and their mother in 1826. 
 
 In Saratoga County, N. Y., August 5, 1812, the 
 subject of this biographical notice was born. He 
 remained on the farm until he was nineteen years 
 old, gaining some knowledge of practical studies 
 and a good understanding of farming. He then 
 entered Johnstown Academy where he remained a 
 }-ear, after which he took his place in tiie Sopho- 
 more class in Union College. After a year of 
 study in that institution his health was so impaired 
 that he gave up his studies, went South and became 
 assistant teacher in Lownsboro Academj-, near 
 Montgomery, Ala. A year later he returned to 
 his native State and resumed his college course 
 among the Juniors. He was graduated in the 
 class of 1835, among his associates being a number 
 of men who attained to eminence. 
 
 Mr. ]5ell became assistant teacher in Lawrence- 
 ville (N. J.) Academy, but retained the position 
 only a year, after which he entered a law ollice in 
 Canajoharie, N. Y. In 183G he came to this State 
 and located for practice in Lj'ons, becoming a part- 
 ner of Adam L. Roof. The partnership continued 
 until 1840, when Mr. Bell came to Ionia and 
 opened an oflite. Although he had been engaged 
 in professional work he was not admitted to the 
 bar until after his arrival here. He became known 
 as one of the ablest lawyers of Michigan and was 
 engaged in his full share of notable cases. The 
 Hon. C. W. Whipple once said of him that he pos- 
 
256 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sessed one of the most logical minds in the State, 
 and thai in the examination of legal questions and in 
 the preparation of iiui)ortant cases for trial, he had 
 few equals. Before a jury his talents were not con- 
 spicuous, but in the discussion of a legal question 
 before the court he performed his part with rare tact 
 and signal abilit3', having a well-founded confidence 
 in himself. Me is uncommonly familiar with the 
 railroad legislation of the State and with tlie lead- 
 ing English and American railroad cases, and few 
 lawyers are liis peers in that branch. 
 
 In 18-17 Mr. Bell was elected to the Legislature 
 and among the law-makers of the Slate he was one 
 of the most active and influential. He watched 
 carefully over the interests of his constituency and 
 accomplished much in theii behalf. To him be- 
 longs the credit of accomplishing an object which 
 seemed very foolish to the masses, that of the re- 
 moval of the Capital from Detroit to Lansing. His 
 proposal to locate the State House "in the woods" 
 on a school section, was thought by some to be 
 chimerical, wiiile others treated it a huge joke. 
 Many have lived to see the wisdom of his policy 
 vindicated. 
 
 In 1851 Mr. Bell w.is candidate for Ciieuit 
 Judge, but was defeated. Two years later he was 
 appointed Registrar of the United States Land ollice 
 at Ionia under President Pierce and retained the 
 place four years. The same year he became As- 
 sistant Attorney for the Detroit & Milwaukee 
 Railroad of which he was also a Director prior to 
 its transfer to Canadian control. In 1858 he was 
 an unsuccessful candidate for Senator. lie was 
 President of the Board of Ionia in 18G5-66. He 
 has had consideral)le business at Washington, D. C. 
 having been a member of the ''Third House," sent 
 there in the interests of railroads. He was a pro- 
 nounced, outspoken Douglas man in the exciting 
 days before the Civil War, was a member of the 
 Charleston Convention of 18G0 and also a delegate 
 to the adjourned convention at Baltimore. He has 
 been public-spirited in a broad sense, his interest 
 including schools, churches and moral efforts, as 
 well as railways, street improvements and public 
 buildings. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church. As a friend he is strong and reliable, and 
 his disposition leads him to as sincere a dislike to 
 
 his enemies. In the last Presiilential election he 
 voted for President Harrison, being in favor of pro- 
 tection. 
 
 At the bride's home in Portland, this State, Sep- 
 tember 12, 1839, Mr. Bell was married to Miss 
 Elizabeth Boyer. Mrs. Bell was a lady of rare 
 native talent and goodness of heart and had a 
 strong social influence. She died in Ionia July 11, 
 188G, at the age of sixty-three years. She had borne 
 her husband seven children, two of whom died in 
 infancy; Mrs. Ellen Yates in 1887, at Cleveland, 
 Ohio, and James, March 21, 1891, at Petoskey. 
 Mrs. Yates was the wife of Col. John B. Yates, 
 who, with his regiment participated in Sherman's 
 march to the sea. The surviving members of 
 the family are Mary, the wife of James C. Jen- 
 nings, who is connected with the State House 
 of Correction; Annie, wife of Frank C. Sibley, 
 Water Commissioner in Ionia; and Lizzie, wife of 
 Seymour B. Gorham, a lumberman of Ionia. In 
 connection with this biographical notice ap[)ears a 
 lithographic portrait of the Hon. Mr. Bell. 
 
 ^^EOKGE A. 
 Ill (— , which is ov 
 ■\^5J Saranac, lo 
 
 ^p^EOKGE A. PUTTS. The Saranac Local, 
 )wned and edited by Mr. Potts, in 
 [onia County, is enjoying a better 
 patronage than is usual in towns of the size of that 
 in which it is published. It has been brought to a 
 prosperous outlook by good management in its 
 business relations and the exercise of intellectual 
 force and tact in its columns. Its pages are well 
 supplied with such news of the day as are of general 
 intei-est, its local items are carefully selected, and 
 its utterances on the issues that are before the peo- 
 ple are calm, deliberate and logical. 
 
 The parents of our subject were John and Mary 
 Potts, who emigrated from County Kent, England, 
 where he had been born April 26, 184G. during his 
 childhood. They settled in Lenawee County, this 
 State, and proceeded in the attempt to gain a home, 
 but before their hopes were realized they were 
 drowned while crossing Devil's Lake on the ice, in 
 .Tanuary, 1858. This sad event left their son, and 
 a daughter but three years old, orphans in quite 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 257 
 
 <iestitute circumstances. For a time the cliildrcn 
 made their home wilii rchilives who were scarcely 
 able to supiiort their own families, but eventually 
 both succeeded in getting homes where tliej- were 
 well fell and comfortably clothed. 
 
 The history of the boyhood and early youth of 
 Mr. Potts is not a pleasant one to contemplate, and 
 we pass it b}-, onlj' remarking that the lessons he 
 then learned enabled him belter to fight his own 
 way than if ho had been reared in luxury. His 
 education was mainly obtained in the district 
 school and during the winter months, but for a 
 couple of terms he was a student in Oak Grove 
 Academy, at Medina. In September, 1863, when 
 but seventeen years old he enlisted, going to the 
 front as a member of Company M, First Michigan 
 Engineers and Mechanics. He served faithfully 
 and elliciently until the war was over, and was dis- 
 charged at .lackson, October 1, 1865. 
 
 Mr. Potts took up farm work after the war, work- 
 ing by the month in the summer and attending 
 or teaching school during the winters until 1870, 
 when he bought a farm in Medina Township, 
 Lenawee County. In March of that year he was 
 married to Miss Ellen A. Negus, of that township, 
 who aided and sympathized with him during a few 
 years and w.as then called hence, leaving him with 
 one daughter, Mary M., who is still living. In 
 May, 1876, he contracted a second matrimonial 
 alliance, wedding Miss Cele8tiaCorporon,of Grand 
 Ra[)idg, by whom he has one daughter, Edith M. 
 
 Mr. Potts occupied his farm until the fall of 
 1874 when, having obtained a situation with the 
 Hudson Post he moved into the town. It was 
 during his residence in Hudson that he suffered the 
 loss of his first wife, antl sometime later secured 
 the companionship of another estimable lady. In 
 1877 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff for Lenawee 
 Count}-, and discharged the duties of that ollice 
 without neglecting those connected with the news- 
 pajjcr. In 1881 he removed to a new farm in Hop- 
 kins Township, Allegan County. However mucli 
 romance there may be in clearing up an undevel- 
 oped tract, it was not appreciated b}' Mr. Potts, 
 and in the fall of the same year he acceijtcd 
 a situation as the traveling salesman for A. D. 
 Plumb, of Grand Rapids. This work involved 
 
 long journeys and necessitated prolonged absences 
 from home, and was therefore abandoned by Mr. 
 Potts when, in July, 1883, he found himself able 
 to purchase the Saranac Local. The paper had but 
 a limited circulation, but the new proprietor 
 thought he saw the promise of better times for the 
 sheet, and the passing years have proved the cor- 
 rectness of his belief. 
 
 AMU EL LO(.)MIS. Throughout Ionia 
 County are to be seen the homes of men 
 who have done much hard work here and 
 are rewarded by gathering about them 
 more and more of the comforts of life and the 
 evidences of prosperity. One who is a factor in the 
 financial growth of Ronald Township is Mr. Loomis, 
 whose pleasant home is on section 29. He was 
 born in New York, near the town of Auburn, July 
 15, 1824, and was but a boy when he came to this 
 State with his parents, Ezra and Sally (Kennedy) 
 Loomis. They settled in Macomb County, and 
 there they p.issed t!ie remnant of their days. They 
 had seven children, but two only are now living 
 — Daniel, the first-born, and Samuel, the fourth. 
 
 The first school privileges of Samuel Loomis 
 were enjoyed iu his native county, and he con- 
 tinued his studies in this State, spending the inter- 
 vals of school life in aiding his father on the farm. 
 He was eighteen years old when his father died 
 and he then started out in the world by working 
 on a farm at |10 per month. He continued the 
 work until his marriage, then located in Orleans 
 Township, Ionia County, and afterward bought a 
 farm there. In 1865 he sold the property and 
 bought forty acres where he now lives. There 
 was nothing on the tract but a lude log cabin, and 
 Mr. Loomis cleared and improved it. As he was 
 prospered in his undertakings, he added to his 
 landed estate, and he now has one hundred and 
 twent}' acres all under fence and nearly all under 
 tillage. Mr. Loomis keeps good stock and has a 
 flock of fift^'-three sheep. 
 
 The wife of Mr. Loomis was known in her 
 maidenhood as Miss Barbara Robinson. She was 
 
258 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 born in Scotland and resided there until she was 
 twenty years old, when she came to America with 
 her parents. In 1861 she became the wife of our 
 subject, and she has given him the closest sym- 
 pathy in every worthy efifort he has made, either 
 to build up their own fortune, aid others to a 
 nobler life, or become better informed regarding 
 wliat is going on in tiie world. 
 
 Both husband and wife belong to the Christian 
 Church and work earnestly for the advancement 
 of the cause of Christianity. Mr. Loomis always 
 deposits a Republican ticket on election day. He 
 was at one time a mcmljer of the Grange and his 
 wife is still a member of the same. Toward his 
 neighbors and associates he manifests a cordial, 
 kindly spirit, and in t!ie prosecution of the work 
 to which he has devoted himself he is painstaking 
 and persevering. He is regarded with respect by 
 all to whom he is known and his estimable wife 
 shares in the esteem of their acquaintances. 
 
 • « • S^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^,,'UGU.STUS W. MAYNARD, one of the 
 %M oldest residents of Eureka Township, 
 (ft Montcalm County, Mich., living on sec- 
 tion 14, was born in Washington County, 
 N. Y., ISIay 3, 1822. His father was Xurey iind 
 his grandfather, Elisha Maynard. The father, who 
 was a member of the Congregational Church and a 
 Whig in politics, married Polly Townsend. They 
 both died in early life, leaving two young chil- 
 dren, Augustus W. and Sallie. The mother died 
 when our subject was but three years old and 
 after a few years the father who had married a 
 second time was also called away. The boy lived 
 with his step-mother until he arrived at his ma- 
 jority. In the winter of 1844 he started West. 
 
 The first Western home of this young man was 
 in Jackson, Mich. He worked there for two sum- 
 mers and in the winter of 1845 he walked from 
 Marshall to Montcalm County, having come as far 
 as that town on the Michigan Central Railroad, 
 Marshall being then the terminus of that road. 
 He bought two hundred acres of land here. He was 
 one of the first settlers, and having no family then 
 
 to share and lighten his burdens he had rather a 
 dismal and hard time of it for the first few years. 
 His first shelter was made by standing up rough 
 slabs around a big oak tree, thus forming a very 
 durable wigwam, under which he cooked and slept. 
 Soon after his coming to this place he made a jour- 
 ney on foot to Napoleon, Jackson and Battle 
 Creek to obtain farm implements and there pur-' 
 chased a yoke of oxen, a wagon and other com- 
 modities, having to pick his way through the 
 woods and ford the rivers and creeks to get back. 
 His market was at Grand Rapids, thirty miles away, 
 and thither he and his ox-team must wend their 
 way when in need of provisions. He built himself 
 a log house on his present farm near where the city 
 of Greenville, with its four thousand inhabitants, 
 now stands. Here he kept bachelor's hall for over 
 a year. Two or three rude cabins and one sawmill 
 formed the village. His fortune with which to 
 bu}^ his land and support himself was |!400. 
 
 Indians were plentiful in that region and the}' 
 frequently came to the lone cabin of Mr. Maynard 
 to beg. He was usually generous to them but on 
 one occasion he refused what an insolent Indian 
 asked for and shut the door in his face. The Indian 
 picked up a stone and shaking it at him made dire 
 threats of vengeance. Our young settler walked 
 boldly out and taking the savage by the throat 
 led him a short distance from the cabin and told 
 him never to come there again. The cowed Indian 
 obeyed him. 
 
 Our subject now has one hundred and thirty 
 acres of fine arable and highly cultivated land. He 
 has been a hard worker and has cleared and im- 
 proved it nearly all himself. He built his main 
 barn in 1848 and his present large frame residence 
 in 1883. His marriage in 1847 to Fidelia A. Wil- 
 son was an event of importance in his life and was 
 the beginning of a very happy married life. This 
 lovely and amiable woman died in 1873. She 
 was the mother of nine children, five of whom are 
 now living, namely George, Joseph, Mary, Betsey, 
 and Sarah. The Congregational Church was the 
 religious home of this family. Mr. Maynard was 
 a strong Abolitionist in the days before the war and 
 is a member of the Republican party. He lias 
 served as Treasurer of Eureka Township, and is a 
 
BOETBAIT AND BIOGEAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 'iJM 
 
 man that is universally liked and possessei unusual 
 intelligence. He deserves great credit for the for- 
 titude with whieii he endured llic hardships of pio- 
 neer life and the aid he has given in the deveh)p- 
 inent of the county. Our subject and his family 
 are now uienihers of the Seventh D.ay Advcntist 
 Church, located in Greenville. 
 
 AMUEL .STOWELL. It aflfords the pub- 
 lishers of this Ai.nuM pleasure to be able to 
 present to its readers the principal facts in 
 the life of the gentleman above-named, who 
 is a prominent and influential citizen of loni.i 
 County and is closely connected with the progress 
 of Easton Township. He is one of those old sol- 
 (liers whom all true jiatriots delight to honor, and 
 his record while in the army of his country proved 
 him to be possessed of intense loyalty and moral 
 and physical courage. He is a descendant of the 
 old Revolutionary stock and it is not strange that 
 he made a good record, adding to the lustre of the 
 name that had been borne bj' heroic ancestors 
 during the long struggle for independence. As a 
 citizen Mr. Stowell has been upright and enterpris- 
 ing, thus adding to the respect which was felt for 
 him on account of his military record. 
 
 In Seneca County, N. Y., September 12, 1840, he 
 of whom we write was born. His parents were 
 Samuel and Anne (Goff) Stowell, the former of 
 whom was the representative of an old Vermont 
 family, (irandfather Stowell fought in the Revo- 
 lution and our subject now has in his possession the 
 gun carried bj- that patriot. It was origin.ally a 
 flint-lock rifle, was of the old Queen Anne pattern 
 and carried an ounce ball. The stock was broken 
 off and the barrel alone remains, carefully pre- 
 served as a relic and heirloom. The father of our 
 subject died when be was but three years old and 
 under his mother's care he grew to the age of ten 
 years. He then went to live with a brother Ira, 
 with whom he came to this .State in IS.OG, their 
 home being made in Woodland Township, Barry 
 County, where the brother still resides. 
 
 Samuel Stowell received a common-school edu- 
 
 cation in New York and Michigan, and learned 
 lessons of life that are not to be acquired in the 
 school room. He enlisted August 26, 1861, in 
 Conii)any R, Eighth Michigan Infantry, and be- 
 came an integral part of the Ninth Army Cori)s. 
 His fust general commander was Thomas AV. Sher- 
 man, of Mexican Hatter}' notoriety, under whose 
 leadership the command sailed from Annapo- 
 lis, Md., to Hilton Head, S. C, in November. 
 Thence the bo3's returned to Virginia to serve 
 under Burnside in the corps before mentioned. Mr. 
 .Stowell took part in the capture of Fts. Walker 
 and Beauregard at Hilton Head and fought at Co- 
 saw River and James Island. At the last-named 
 point over half the regiment was lost in one charge. 
 The next heavy engagement in which he took part 
 was the battle of Ft. Pulaski, Ga., and following 
 this was a reconnoissance on Wilmington Island 
 near Savannah. After these engagements in the 
 South Mr. Stowell participated in the disastrous 
 battles which fell to the lot of General Rope's com- 
 mand, incluiling the last Bull Run and Chantilly, 
 in the latter of which Gens. Stevens and Kearney 
 lost their lives. The regiment was re-organized 
 and participated in the battles of South Rlountain 
 and Antietam under the leadership of Gen. McC'lel- 
 lan. In May, 1863, Mr. Stowell was discharged 
 for disabilit}' and returned to his former home to 
 resume the arts of peace. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Stowell and Miss Melissa 
 Jordan was solemnized at the bride's home in Wood- 
 land Township, Barry Countj', September 21, 1865. 
 Mrs. Stowell was born there and is a daughter of 
 Orrin and Cynthia (Lee) Jordan, who are among 
 the oldest settlers in that vicinity, having lived 
 there over half a century. Her father is now 
 eighty-five years old. Besides I^Irs. Stowell the 
 surviving members of the Jordan family arc Mai-y, 
 wife of Thomas Taylor, of Easton Township; Cyn- 
 thia, who married Frank Roberts, of Barry County; 
 Orrin, William, Willard and Dayton, who are living 
 in Barry County. Mr. and Mrs. Stowell are the 
 hai)py parents of four living children — AVilliam, 
 Samuel B., Alanson and Anne — and mourn the loss 
 of one child. 
 
 Mr. Stowell took possession of his present home 
 in the fall of 1872. At that time there were twenty 
 
Z60 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 acres of partially improved land on the farm and 
 an old bouse. There are now one hundred and 
 eighteen acres under thorough cultivation, with 
 large numbers of apple, pear, plum and cherr}' 
 trees and many stands of grapes. Mr. Stowell 
 takes much interest in fruit culture and succeeds 
 as those who love tiieir work generally do. He is 
 a self-made man, financially speaking, and since his 
 marriage has been given valuable assistance by his 
 wife, who is economical without being parsimoni- 
 ous, and manifests good judgment in the control 
 of affairs that come under her supervision. 
 
 Mr. Stowell has been Clerk of Easton Township 
 one terra and filled a similar odice in Woodland 
 Townsiiip, Barry County, two terms. He was 
 Deputy AV^arden at the Ionia House of Correction 
 two j"ears. In Januar}', 1891, he was appointed 
 State Land Examiner, his chief duty being to pre- 
 vent trespass on State Lands. He was appointed by 
 Gen. George T. Siiaffer, Commissioner of the Land 
 Office and the appointment was approved by Gov. 
 Winans. Mr. Stowell is a member of AVilliam H. 
 Borden Post, G. A. R., at Ionia, and also belongs 
 to the Masonic fraternity and the Patrons of In- 
 dustry. He is unusually public spirited and enter- 
 prising, is well-informed on political and social 
 topics, and is an hospitable and courteous gentle- 
 man. Having read extensively and having a re- 
 tentive memory, he proves an entertaining com- 
 panion, and his fine character entitles him to the 
 esteem of all who know him. 
 
 ORREN STEBBINS was one of those highly- 
 respected men whose loss is felt throughout 
 an entire community, causing a feeling of 
 deep regret when the news of their decease reaches 
 the people. He was for some years a resident of 
 Scbewa Township, Ionia County, and by reason of 
 his industrious habits, business honor and public 
 spirit, had become one of the inQuential citizens of 
 this section. He was born in the Empire State in 
 1824, and was seven years old when his parents, 
 Roswell and Maria Stebbins, removed to Huron 
 
 County, Ohio. He gained a fair education in his 
 youth and was ever a great reader, thus extending 
 his knowledge into fields before untrodden and 
 better fitting himself for man's duties. 
 
 Mr. Stebbins was first married to Sophia Taylor, 
 daughter of George and Julia Taylor, and a native 
 of Pennsylvania, allhougli at the time of her mar- 
 riage a resident of Huron County, Ohio. The 
 union resulted in the birth of tliree children — 
 Ellen, who died in childhood ; Addie M., wife of 
 Alexander Morgan; and Locey J., who died when 
 two years old. The second marriage of Mr. Steb- 
 bins was solemnized August 30, 1868, at the resi- 
 dence of the bride's sister, Mrs. Melissa C. Wor- 
 den, in Charlotte, Eaton County. The bride on 
 this occasion was Mary Jane Probasco, daughter of 
 Jacob and Mary (Shay) Probasco. She was born 
 in Sherman, Huron County, Ohio, July 22, 1833, 
 and was for a time engaged in teaching. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Mary J. Stebbins were na- 
 tives of New Jersey whence they removed to the 
 Buckeye .State when Huron County was very new. 
 Mr. Probasco was a blacksmith and a farmer, work- 
 ing at the forge while keeping his farm running. 
 He bought a goodly tract of land on which was an 
 orchard that had been planted by the Indian occu- 
 pants of the country. Thinly settled as the coun- 
 try was the schools were quite good and the family 
 obtained practical educations. Mrs. Stebbins, who 
 is next to the youngest in a band numbering 
 eleven, not only became well informed in book 
 knowledge, but skilled in domestic arts as well. A 
 brother and sister became teachers, and a brother, 
 Uzel II., was admitted to the bar at Columbus, but 
 is latterly' numbered among the successful farmers 
 near Vernon, Tex. Another brother, George, was 
 attending school at Republic, Ohio, when the Mex- 
 ican War began, and entering the service, died at 
 Matamoras, Mexico, and is buried there. Mr. Pro- 
 basco was a musician in the War of 1812. He died 
 in Ohio when forty-seven years old. His widow 
 survived a number of years and died at the home 
 of her daughter, Mrs. Stebbins, May 29, 1879. 
 
 Mr. Stebbens was an excellent business man and 
 left his family well provided for, among his pos- 
 sessions being the improved farm on whicli his 
 widow still resides. He was of cheerful disposition, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL AL15UM. 
 
 a lover of bis borne and cordial in bis associations 
 with neighbors find acquaintances. He belonged 
 to the Masonic Lodge in Portland, being a Master 
 Mason, and his funeral was conducted by iiis breth- 
 ren, with tlie iinjiressivc and beautiful ceremony 
 which contains so much that is comforting to the 
 bereaved. The date of the removal of Mr. Stel)- 
 bins from scenes of time and sense was September 
 10, 1885. 
 
 iHOMAS DANIELS. A traveler in Ionia 
 County will see many attractive farms 
 ^p^ wbore the indications of prosperity and 
 home comfort are numerous, and will be led to 
 believe that the owners are men of enterprise and 
 good judgment. On section 29, Keene Township, 
 is such a farm, consisting of one hundred and 
 eighteen acres of land tliat even to one unac- 
 quainted with farm life will be seen to be well 
 cultivated and intelligently ordered. This prop- 
 erly belongs to Thomas Daniels, who is one of the 
 prominent citizens of the vicinity, and has a wide 
 acquaintance in the county. He was for some time 
 engaged iu mercantile pursuits in the town of 
 Lowell, but in 1865 took possession of a tract of 
 partially improved land, on which he has since 
 lived, carrying on his occupation with zeal and 
 marked success. 
 
 The parents of our subject were George and 
 Ann (Twiddle) Daniels, of Yorkshire, England, 
 where the son was born February 21, 1824. He is 
 the oldest of the surviving members of a family 
 that comprised eleven sons and daughters, the 
 others now living being Ann, wife of Daniel Gal- 
 latin; Henry and Robert. In 1831 tlie family 
 crossed the Atlantic on the sailing-vessel "May 
 Day," being five weeks and one day from Hull to 
 New York. They then came direct to Wayne 
 County, this State, which was their home seven 
 years, after which they removed to Jackson County. 
 Our subject received a common-school education 
 in the district in whi<-li bis home was, and has 
 added to the knowledge there obtained by care- 
 ful reading an<l acute observation. He carried on 
 bis work in another part of the State until 1855, 
 
 when he established himself in Lowell for a de- 
 cade, and then became one of the farmers of 
 Keene Township. 
 
 At the bride's home in Lenawee Count}', Feb- 
 ruary 6, 1850, Mr. Daniels was married to Miss 
 Elizabeth Lewin. This lady was born in Roches- 
 ter, N. Y., and her i)arcnts, Thomas and Ellen 
 Lewin, were natives of the Isle of Man. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Daniel are the happy parents of three living 
 children — Charles, Nellie and Frank, and mourn 
 the loss of their first-born, Adelbert. Their daugh- 
 ter is now ha[)pily married, being the wife of J. 
 Mark Brown. Charles L. took for his bride Jennie 
 Joseph, of Boston Township. He is general man- 
 ager for E. F. Daniels & Co., coal dealers of Chi- 
 cago. Mrs. Daniels is an hospitable, kind-hearted 
 woman, and her beautiful home gives evidence of 
 her refined taste and housewifely skill. She greatly 
 enjo3S dispensing good cheer to those who enter 
 her doors and heartily seconds her husband's in- 
 vitations to their friends and acquaintance, who 
 frequently visit them. 
 
 In his political beliefs Mr. Daniels is a firm Re- 
 pidilican. He and his wife find their religious 
 home in the Methodist Episcoprd Church. Mr. 
 Daniels is identilied with Lowell Lodge, No. 90, 
 F. & A. M., and is one of its charter members. 
 He served several j-ears as Master of the lodge. 
 He has been Supervisor and for seven years was 
 Townsiiip Clerk; he is now serving his third term 
 as Justice of the Peace. His continuance in office 
 proves his sturdy and stable characteristics. He is 
 liberal, public-spirited, well-informed and courte- 
 ous, and has a deservedly higli standing among 
 the citizens. 
 
 ILLIAM J. PERCIVAL. one of the five 
 surviving sons of Jaboz C. and Polly 
 (Brooks) Percival, joineil in celebrating a 
 notable event and one somewhat rare in the Western 
 country, the golden wedding of his parents. This 
 interesting and deligiitful event took place Decem- 
 ber 1, 1890. Our subject was born in Portville, 
 Cattaraugus County, N. Y., April 9, 1857. The 
 
iiti 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 parents were both natives of the Empire State, the 
 father being of Englisli descent and the mother of 
 German lineage. The father is a carpenter by trade 
 and has carried on this worlt all his life and still 
 busies himself with it at Palo, Ionia County. His 
 first emigration from his native State was in 1857, 
 wlien he removed to Newtown, Forrest County, 
 Pa., and resided there about eleven years; here ho 
 operated a sawmill. In 1868 he made his final re- 
 moval to Palo. 
 
 Mr. Percival's political convictions are with the 
 Republican party and he has always supported 
 with his vote the principles and candidates of 
 tiiat party. His first b.allot was cast in 1840 for 
 William Henry Harrison and he had the ple.asure 
 of voting in 1888 for the grandson of that illustri- 
 ous man. He has held a number of township offices. 
 Both he and his worthy wife are consistent and 
 honored members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and they have brought up their sons to be 
 enterprising and prosperous business men. The 
 five sons are: James C, of Stanton, Mich., cash- 
 ier of tlie Montcalm County Savings Bank; Fred- 
 erick C, life insurance agent in New York City; 
 George A., a banker at Ogden, Utah; Edward B., 
 a book-keeper at Grand A^alley, and William J. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was an emigrant at a 
 very early age, removing to Pennsylvania with his 
 parents when only one montli old. Here he re- 
 ceived his first schooling and when eleven years 
 old came with his parents to Palo; he continued in 
 school and in the attendance upon home duties un- 
 til he was fifteen years of age. He then began 
 clerking in a store and for about eighteen months 
 attended faithfully to the duties of that vocation. 
 He decided to go West, and at Central City, Neb., 
 became the assistant Postmaster. He remained 
 there about eighteen months and returned home 
 believing that he could do belter in business where 
 he was best known. 
 
 At the old home this young man now went into 
 business, which was a store and bank combined. 
 In 1883 he was engaged to act as book-keeper in 
 the First National Bank at Stanton. This place he 
 filled so acceptably that in May, 1888, his services 
 were in requisition to fill the place of cashier in the 
 Lake Odessa Savings Bank. Mr. Percival has 
 
 proved himself a man of good business ability and 
 of sterling integrity. His fine qualities have led 
 his fellow-citizens to place him in positions of trust. 
 During 1890 he was President of the village of 
 Lake Odessa and is now a member of the Board of 
 Trustees. His political preferences and vote are 
 with the Republican party. His marriage with 
 Corintha Pattison, May 13, 1885, has been a happy 
 one, and has been blessed with two children. lie 
 and his wife are both active and consistent mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are 
 active in all good works, especially in the Sunday- 
 school, of which Mr. Percival is the efficient Su- 
 perintendent. 
 
 1 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 
 <ji^EWTON A. PORTER, Sheriff of Montcalm 
 I )// County, was born in Stockbridge, Madison 
 jl>M> County, N. Y., September 6, 1845. His 
 parents, Samuel and Jerusha (Brewer) Porter, were 
 also born in the Empire State. The mother died in 
 New York State, the father came to Michigan a 
 number of j'ears ago and makes his home with his 
 children. The son had but fair educational advan- 
 tages, but managed by close study and careful ap- 
 plication whenever opportunity offered, to get a 
 g-ood education. In 18G6 he began his personal 
 career as a farmer following the line of life in 
 which his father had walked and making of it a 
 success. 
 
 That year Mr. Porter located in Maple Valie}- 
 Township, Montcalm Count}', on section 20, and 
 during his long residence there was honored by the 
 various offices that were in the gift of the people 
 of the township. In 1888 he was elected Sheriff 
 and proved so efficient that in 1890 he was re-nom- 
 inated by acclamation in the Republican county 
 convention. Notwithstanding the fact that all the 
 opposition of three combined tickets were centered 
 on him he was again elected. In the course of his 
 official career he has had charge of many noted 
 criminals and it has come to be understood that he 
 is one of the safest officers in the State. The at- 
 torney's prisoners as well as the people generallj-, 
 understand that with Sheriff Porter duty is above 
 

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 265 
 
 all else, anil whatever he is called upon to do will 
 be carried out if it is within the hounds of possi- 
 bility. 
 
 November 20, 1865," Mr. Torter was married to 
 Miss Nancy Green, the ceremony taking place in 
 Stockbridge, N. Y. The marriage was blest by the 
 birth of a son, Francis N., and a daughter, Ida II. 
 The son is married and has one child and his home 
 is in Montcalm County. The daughter is unmar- 
 ried and is still living under her father's roof. The 
 wife and mother departed this life June 1, 188G, 
 and in 1888 Mr. Porter made a .second marriage, 
 wedding Miss Inez Wiseman. 
 
 As has been indicated in mention of his nomina- 
 tion to ollice, Mr. Porter is a Uc[)ublican and we 
 may add that he is a stalwart indee<l. He is of a 
 social oiicn-hearted nature, kintl in the various re- 
 lations of life, and enterprising and straightforward 
 in liusiness. He belongs to the Ancient Order of 
 I 'niled Workmen and the Knights of the Macca- 
 bee.s. 
 
 ON. EDWIN R. WILLIAMS. An hon- 
 orable position among the nien to whose 
 efforts Ionia County is indebted for its 
 present high state of material development 
 is held by Mr. Williams, whose jjortiait is presented 
 on the opposite page. One of the large landowners 
 of the count\-, he maj- well be taken as the re|)re- 
 sentative of the best agricultural clement in Orange 
 Township. The present condition of his farm, 
 to which he moved in 1880, attests to his ability 
 as a financier and his judgment regarding farm 
 life. As a citizen he is worthy of the trust and 
 (^oMliilence that he has inspircil by iiis honoralile 
 career as a farmer and in every other respect. Not 
 only is he a man of note in his own community, 
 but he ranks among the most intlnential residents 
 of the county. Ilis success as a farmer has been 
 unusual, but he has not limited himself to one lino 
 of effort. He has engaged in large trans.ictions in 
 various directions, and is well known as a business 
 man of ability and integrity, and as a capable leg- 
 islator'who has nccomi>lished much for the interests 
 of his county. 
 
 .lohn A. Williams, father of our subject, was 
 born in 1779 in West Bloomfield Township, On- 
 tario County, N. Y. He was a son of Job Williams, 
 of Welsh descent, and a soldier in the War of 1812. 
 A brother of Job Williams was killed at the battle 
 of Lundy's Lane. The mother of our subject bore 
 the maiden name of Patience Jenks, and was born 
 in Oneida County, N. Y. The Jenks family were 
 early pioneers of that county, having come there 
 from \'ermont. They afterwards removed to Oak- 
 land County, Mich., in the Territorial d.aj-s. They 
 were of substantial New England stock, and Mr. 
 Jenks was a very prominent Mason in Oakland 
 County at the time of the Morgan troubles. 
 
 John A. Williams came to Michigan about 182G 
 and after his marriage removed to Ashtabula 
 Count}', Ohio, settling on an unbroken farm. Four 
 years later he sold and returned to this State, mak- 
 ing his home upon another new farm in AVest 
 Ijloomfiehl, Oakland County. In 185G he sold this 
 farm, then well improved and came to North Plains 
 Township, Ionia County. He lost his wife in 18G7, 
 and he departed this life in 1879. Of their four 
 children two survive them: John ()., who lives in 
 North Plains Township, and our subject. The 
 mother of our subject was a member of the Chris- 
 tian Church and the father was a Spiritualist. His 
 political preferences were with the Democratic 
 party. 
 
 The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, 
 first saw the light in Oakland County, Seiitcmber 
 20, 183G. After l.aking what schooling could be 
 procured in the district he went to Ypsilanti and 
 graduated at the State Normal School. At twenty 
 years of age he began life for himself, having 
 taught school for nearly four years already. For a 
 lime he ft>llowcd the profession of a teacher, but 
 his desire to own a good farm led him to take land 
 in North I'Uins Township, on section IG. Here he 
 took possession of two hundred and seventy acres 
 of well-limbered land. He cleared and fenced 
 this and altogether he has cleared four himdred 
 acres. He |)ut good buildings upon his farm and 
 had a ?G,000 house which he lost bj' fire. He then 
 bouglit and iir.proved a place on section 5, the same 
 township, where William Bamborough now lives. 
 
 Mr. Williams spent one 3-ear in California, and 
 
266 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 during the following winter made a tour of the 
 South, spending some time in Florida. The next 
 fall he went again to California where he remained 
 until October, 1889. He was a contractor and 
 builder in Los Angeles and erected for himself a 
 splendid home there. He now owns two hundred 
 and forty acres, all under cultivation. Tlie spirit 
 of the flames has seemed to follow him, as he has 
 lost by fire three beautiful homes; one was in Ionia, 
 and on October 13, 1889, his *3,6C0 residence on 
 the farm was burned, which he has rebuilt at a 
 cost of *2,.500. He was engaged in shipping cattle 
 to tiie Eastern States and was for two years a gen- 
 eral agent for the sale of agricultural implements 
 in Wisconsin and Western Michigan. 
 
 Mr. Williams' marriage in 18C0 united him with 
 Jennie Curtis, a daughter of AVilliam Curtis, for 
 merly of Niagara County, N. Y., and now a prom- 
 inent farmer in Winnebago County, Wis. Mrs. 
 Williams was born in 1835 and was a professional 
 school teacher, very successful in her calling. She 
 died in May, 1870, leaving four children: Ella, 
 wife of William Bamborough, living in North 
 Plains and the mother of three children; Minnie, 
 wife of George Dysinger of Ionia, and the mother 
 of three children; Flora, Mrs. Arthur J. White, of 
 Orange Township, has two children; Fred S., liv- 
 ing in Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, Cal. 
 The mother of these children was an earnest and 
 conscientious member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 Our subject's second marriage was with Laura 
 L. Higbee, a daughter of Benjamin and Laura 
 (Goodwin) Higbee, pioneer farmers of Orleans 
 Township, of which this daughter was a native. 
 She w.as born in 1849 and having graduated at the 
 Ionia High School became a successful teacher. She 
 is the mother of four children: Grace A., Frank 
 E., Earl R., and Ray C; the two eldest are attend- 
 ing school at Ionia. 
 
 Mr. Williams has been connected with the Chris- 
 tian Church, but is now an advocate of liberal 
 church doctrine. His wife is an efficient member 
 of the Baptist Church. Our subject is an active 
 member of the Blue Lodge, Masonic order; of the 
 Grange, where he has been Master in both subor- 
 dinate and county; of the Patrons of Industry, in 
 which he has been President. He was Director in 
 
 the School Board for twenty-eight years and has 
 been Clerk of his township ever since he lived 
 here. He is wide-awake on all political questions, 
 having been successively a Democrat, a Green- 
 backer and an Independent. He was a Repre- 
 sentative from the Western district of Ionia County 
 to the State Legislature in 1885-86, and has fre- 
 quently been delegate to county and State conven- 
 tions. He was a member of the Greenback State 
 Central Committee. He has always been a tem- 
 perate man having never swallowed ardent liquor 
 in his life. 
 
 Elsewhere in this volume appears a lithographic 
 portrait of Mr. Williams. 
 
 ^ ^^ ^ 
 
 JONATHAN ELLISON. The Grand River 
 Valley has been the scene of as much hard 
 work as any section of the United States, 
 and its pioneers have endured as many pri- 
 vations and passed through as many unpleasant 
 experiences as those of any part of the country, 
 unless it be that of the arid regions among the 
 Rocky Mountains. Among those to whom Ionia 
 County is indel)ted for its present development 
 and civilization is Mr. Ellison, whose broad acres 
 and comfortable home attest to his perseverance, 
 industrious habits and indomitable energy. His 
 grai)hic description of pioneer times stirs the soul 
 of the listener and impresses, as no written account 
 can, the peculiar conditions of affairs when this 
 section of country was an almost unbroken wilder- 
 ness. "Uncle Jonathan" is now surrounded by 
 many comforts and enjoj'ing the results of his labors 
 in his home on section 30, E.aston Township. 
 
 Mr. Ellison was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., 
 February 27, 1818, his parents being Eliab and 
 Prudence (Adams) Ellison, both of whom were 
 born in Massachusetts. His grandfather, Nehe- 
 miah Adams, was a first cousin of the celebrated 
 John Adams, one of the signers of the Declara- 
 tion of Independence, and later one of the most 
 noted statesmen of the young nation. The father 
 of our subject died when the lad was fifteen years 
 of age and the following spring the settlement 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 267 
 
 of the estate devolved upon the youth. The busi- 
 ness ability' be displayed in arranging the compli- 
 cated affairs satisfactorily was rtMnarlcable for one 
 so young. His education bail been but limited, 
 compared with tlial which is, or can be, gained al 
 this time, but sucli as it was, it w:is practical and 
 liiorough. 
 
 Karly thrown upon his own resources young 
 Ellison turned his attention to farming and his life 
 from his youth up has been that of a tiller of tin; 
 soil. He came to this State in the spring of 1810, 
 accompanied by a faithful helpmate who nobly 
 shared in his fortunes, chccrfull}- enduring the dis- 
 comforts of their early life here, and encour.aging 
 him by her sympathy and counsel as well as aid- 
 ing him bj' her prudent management. They settled 
 in the woods and began clearing and developing a 
 tract of land which is now one of the most pro- 
 ductive in the neighborhood. They have remained 
 on the original location and now have about two 
 hundred acres, upon which is a complete line of 
 substantial buildings, good stock and modern ma- 
 chinery. 
 
 Mrs. Kllison was known in her maidenhood as 
 Julia A. Snyder. She was born in Montgomery 
 County, N. Y., August 5, 18'28, and entered into 
 the marriage relation in 1845. Her (larents were 
 William and Maria Snyder, natives of the Kmpire 
 State. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ellison have had six sons and six 
 daughters, named respectively: William V., Delia, 
 John W., Warren, Helen, Addie B., James A., 
 Napoleon B., Samuel, Annie, Nina and Esther. 
 The deceased are Delia, John and Helen. The liv- 
 ing daughters are married, Addie being the wife of 
 Frederick C. Lee, Annie of Harvey Brown, Nina 
 of Ercd Hunter, and Esther of (ieorge W. Potter. 
 
 In the progress of education Mr. Ellison h.is 
 always been dee|)ly interested and the country- 
 does not contain a stancher friend of schoolhouscs 
 than he. He has aided in building two, and has 
 taken part in other work which promised to .advance 
 the true welfare of the people. In 1831) he cast a 
 vote with the Democrats anil gave his allegiance to 
 the same party until 18G0, when the issues that led 
 10 the Civil War made him a Republican. Mr 
 Ellison keeps himself well informed of passing 
 
 events and, had be been so fortunate as to have 
 secured a liberal education, there is no question 
 but that he would have been a prominent political 
 factor, as even now he is able to hold his own against 
 any ordinary opi)Onenl. He has the ambition and 
 natural combativeness to overcome obstacles, as is 
 evidenced by the place he has obtained in linancial 
 circles. Honest and upright, lie is resi)ected and 
 looked up to, and having long been a resident of 
 this vicinity he is known for miles around. 
 
 ALEN J. McINTOSH. A pleasant farm on 
 section 20, Orleans Township, is the home 
 of Mr. Mcintosh, who has lived in Ionia 
 County since 1869. His estate consists of 
 eighty broad acres, all under cultivation and so 
 carefidly and intelligently managed as to produce 
 large crops of excellent quality. Personal efforts of 
 Mr. Mcintosh removed the forest growth from 
 twenty acres of this land and under his oversight 
 the substantial dwelling was built. Throughout 
 the estate a careful observer will see indications of 
 the character of the owner, and without enjoying his 
 personal acquaintance it would be easy to determine 
 the energy and capability of In's nature. 
 
 The originator of this branch of the Mcintosh 
 family in America was James, grandfather of our 
 subject, who died in Wayne Count}', this State. 
 In the family brought with him from Scotland was 
 a son who bore his own name. The elder James 
 Mcintosh w.is a stonemason and the younger be- 
 came a bl.icksmith. The latter invested some money 
 in farm lands and at ids death owned eight}' acres 
 ill Wayne County. There he married Laura Raw- 
 son and reared three children, named respectively, 
 llalen J., Helen L. and James C. 
 
 In the county above mentioned the subject of 
 this notice was born September 28, 1838. He lost 
 his mother when quite young and from that lime 
 until he w.as sixteen years old he lived with his 
 grandfather. He then went to Sidney Township, 
 Montcalm County, and thence to Fair Plains, where 
 he remained two years. His next ciiange of resi- 
 dence was to Ionia County in which he has since 
 
268 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 remained. In Montcalm County lie cut the trees 
 on forty-six acres of his land, and cleared away 
 logs and brush, placing it in condition for improve- 
 ment. Out- subject sold the first load of wheat 
 that was ever sold in the township before it was 
 organized. 
 
 In Greenville, this Stale, Mr. jNIcInlosli was mar- 
 ried to Mi.ss Mary L. Wise, and their wedded life 
 has been a hai)py and prosperous one. She is a 
 daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Nicl<erson) Wise, 
 natives of New Jersey, who came to this State in 
 quite an early day. Her father is still living in 
 Montcalm County, where they settled upon com- 
 ing hither and her mother is deceased. The chil- 
 dren born to them were Sarah, William, Margaret, 
 Jacob, Mary J., Beech and Esther. Mr. Wise is a 
 farmer. His second wife bore the maiden name of 
 Lydia Butler and their marriage was solemnized in 
 Greenville. Our subject's union has been blest by 
 the birth of two children — Ada M. and Floyd, 
 both of wliom are at home. 
 
 Mr. Mcintosh enlisted August 17, 1864, and 
 served until June 9, 1865, in Company A, First 
 Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. He was with 
 Sherman on his famous marcii to the sea. In poli- 
 tics he is and always has been a Democrat. He is 
 a member of the Royal Arcanum and also of the 
 Independent Order of Odd l''ellows lodge at Green- 
 ville. 
 
 HERMAN M. TOWNSEND lives on a 
 farm on section 30, Ionia Township, Ionia 
 County. He is the son of Abiel Town- 
 send, a native of Massachusetts, also a 
 faimer. His grandfather Townsend was a soldier in 
 the War of 1812, his son Nathan, joining him in 
 the same patriotic service. The mother of our sub- 
 ject was Delia (Walkley) Townsend, a native of 
 Connecticut and a daughter of Timothy Walkley, 
 one of the old farmer residents of that State. In 
 1834 he brought his famil}' into INIichigan and 
 became one of the pioneers of Genesee County, 
 making his permanent home there where he died 
 in 1840. Abiel Townsend, came to Michigan and 
 settled in Cass County, in 1836, on a raw farm. 
 
 After living there a few years he removed to Gen- 
 esee Count\'. where he met with Miss Walkley, and 
 having married made his residence there until 
 1856, when he removed to Ionia County, Ionia 
 Township, on section 30, where he made his home 
 until his death in 1887, his wife having died ten 
 years before in 1877. They were the parents of 
 five cliildren, three of whom are now living. 
 
 Sherman M. Townsend was the second child of 
 his parents and was born February 19, 1846, in 
 Genesee Countj-, Mich , and received at their hands 
 a good district school education. He remained 
 with his parents until after reaching his majority, 
 and has always pursued the business of a farmer. 
 When he took his farm, it was fenced and some- 
 what improved and some of the buildings were 
 also upon it. He has now resided upon and worked 
 his farm since 1877. He h.as one hundred and 
 ninetj'-six acres, one hundred and sixty of which 
 are under cultivation. In 1877 he married Miss 
 Ellen McNeil, a daughter of David and Jane 
 (Davidson) McNeil, who were old and respected 
 settlers of Genesee County, Mich. David McNeil 
 came to this State in 1839, and died in 1886, his 
 wife having preceded him two 3'ears before to the 
 otlier world. Mrs. Townsend's grandfather, Nor- 
 man Davidson was an early settler of Michigan 
 havingarrived here in 1832. He was .Judge of the 
 Probate Court. David McNeil was a member of the 
 Congregational Church. He also took an interest in 
 politics and belonged to the Democratic [)art3'. He 
 and his wife were the parents of five children, three 
 of whom are now living. Mrs. Townsend was born 
 April 12, 1846, in Genesee County. They gave 
 her the best advantages at hand for an education, 
 sending her to school where she also studied music. 
 
 ]\Ir. and Mrs. Townsend arc the parents of three 
 children, two of whom are nosv living: Neil S., 
 was born August 27, 1880; and J. Fred, October 3, 
 1 8S1. This worth}' couple have the just respect of 
 all their neighbors and are useful in every capacity, 
 although more than usually modest and retiring in 
 their lives. They are members of the Presbyterian 
 Church at Ionia, of which church Mr. Town- 
 send h.as been a member for fourteen years. They 
 take an active part in Sunday-school work. Mr. 
 Townsend is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHIIM. 
 
 269 
 
 IJliie Lodge, and as a Hepublicau takes an active 
 interest in politics. He carries on mixed farming 
 and gives his wliole attention to liis work. Tbc 
 sister Maria and brotiier Jolin A. of our subject, 
 boUilivein South Dakota. Mrs. Townsend's fam- 
 ily are among the most honored in Southern Mich- 
 igan. Her grandfather Davidson was a member of 
 the lirst constitutional convention of ISIicbigan, 
 and two of his sous have been in their day, mem- 
 bers of the State Legislature. Grandfather David- 
 son was the first settler in l^ayidsonville and built 
 the saw and grist mills at tliat place. 
 
 '^/USTIN 8PRAGUK. The death of the 
 (gg/LJI late Mr. Sprague removed from Ionia 
 (li County one of her reliable, steady-going 
 citizens, a man of good character and ener- 
 getic nature, and an expert tiller of the soil. Most 
 of his years were passed within the limits of the 
 county, and many of them on the farm in Orleans 
 Townshii) on wiiicii he was born September 14, 
 1813, and now owned b}- his widow. His early 
 years were spent in the usual alternation of study, 
 recreation and work, and he grew vigorous in body 
 and mind and anxious to do a man's work in the 
 worl(L 
 
 In August, 1862, when in his eigliteenth year 
 young Sprague decided to take up arms in the 
 I'nion cause, convinced of its righteousness, and 
 lilled with a loyal fervor that would give him no 
 rest at home. He was enrolled in Company A, 
 Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, and did his duty 
 in the ranks until .lune 8, 1865, when, peace hav- 
 ing been cleclared, he w.as discharged. He made 
 one of the gallant sixty thousand that marched 
 with Sherman to the Sea, and during his army life 
 had the fortune to be present in maiiy famous 
 battles, as well as skirmishes innumerable, and to 
 suffer hardships and endure fatigue hard to realize 
 from hearsay. Among the heavy engagements in 
 which he fought are, Lookout Mountain, Chicka- 
 mauga, and Mission Ridge. 
 
 After the war Mr. Sprague returned to this State 
 and engaged in the livery business in Stanton, 
 
 Montcalm County, making that town his home 
 until 1875. He then came to Orleans Township, 
 and bought the Webster farm of one hundred and 
 twenty acres which he cultivated during tlie re- 
 mainder of his days. His demise occurred April 
 •23, 1889, and by his untimely removal from the 
 scenes of earth a wiilow and three children were 
 left to mourn, and a large circle of friends as well. 
 He was a member of the Republican party from 
 the time he was lirst entitled to the right of suf- 
 frage. After the organization of the Grand Army 
 of the Republic he was identified therewith. 
 
 The father of our subject was Loren Sprague, 
 who accompanied his parents to Ionia County when 
 a young man, they spending their days in Kcene 
 Townsliip until the death of the husband. The 
 widow [)assed away in the city of Ionia in 1887 at 
 the venerable ago of ninety-seven 3-ears. Loren 
 Sprague was twenty-seven years old when he re- 
 moved from Iveene to Ronald Township and there 
 he made his home until his decease, in .luly, 1888. 
 He followed the trade of a carpenter. He was mar- 
 ried in Orleans Township in 1843 to Lucretia Web- 
 ster, daughter of Guy and Lucreiia (Mason) 
 Webster. The union was blest by the birth of 
 three children — Austin, Kusebia and Lucreiia. 
 
 The maternal grandparents of Mr. S[)rague were 
 natives of Connecticut and Grandfather Webster 
 is numbered among the pioneers of Ionia County. 
 He bought one hundred and sixty acres which was 
 a part of the domain of Uncle Sam, and brought it 
 under development. He died there, but Grand- 
 mother Webster breathed her Inst in Ronald 
 Township in 1875. The land bought from the 
 Government by Mr. Webster is now jiarlly owned 
 by the widow of our subject, her estate including 
 one hundred acres. 
 
 The marriage of Austin Sprague and Miss Ettie 
 Meach took pl.ace at Stanton, September 6, 1871. 
 The bride was born in New York in 1848 and ac- 
 i companied her parents to this State in 1854. They 
 located in Katon County, but in 1861 removed to 
 Stanton, Montcalm Count3-, being one of the first 
 families there. Mr. Meach was a lumber denier 
 and millman for a number of years and also eng.agcd 
 in the sale of merchandise while at Stanton. He 
 owned eighty acres of land in Berlin Township, 
 
270 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 which he culUvated and upon which he died 
 August 21, 1886. He was a M.aster Mason and a 
 member of the Ionia Lodge. The wife of Lumau 
 Meach was, lii<e himself, a native of New Yorlt. 
 She bore the maiden name of Fidelia Betts. She 
 is still living, lier age being sixty-five years. She 
 carefully reared her children, who are five in num- 
 ber, bearing tlie names of Martlia, Lavinia, Ettie, 
 William and Walter. p:ttie, now Mrs. Sprague, 
 was well qualified to discharge the duties which 
 lay in her way as wife and mother. She has been 
 devoted to the interest of her family and cordial in 
 her associations with her neighbors. She has three 
 children — Walter, Norah and Clellie, who are still 
 with her, and in their society she finds her chief 
 joy since the death of her liusband. 
 
 .-^^4-^ 
 
 — •-^*^'< 
 
 „ ,, LVA McCORMICK, a pioneer of Ionia 
 (I^zlJJI Countj', and a general farmer and stock- 
 raiser, resides on section 10, Campbell 
 Township. He was born in Niagara Coun- 
 ty, N. Y., .lanuary 16, 18-37, and is a son of Alva 
 and Ann (Brumly) McCormick, both natives of 
 Seneca County, that State. The father was of Irish 
 and German descent, and the grandfather was born 
 on the ocean while his parents were crossing from 
 the North of Ireland to America. The mother of 
 our subject is of Mohawk-Dutch descent. Ills 
 father was a farmer by occupation, but while he 
 resided in New York he worked at various occupa- 
 tions and also ran a butcher sho[) in Orangeport, 
 Niagara County. 
 
 In 1853 our sul)jecl's father came to Ionia 
 County, Mich., and purchased one hundred and 
 sixty acres of land in Campbell Township, where 
 the former now resides. In moving his family he 
 brought them by rail to Battle Creek, and then 
 hired teams to transport them to the new honie, 
 where a small log house received the family. He 
 worked hard, clearing and improving the land, but 
 did not live long enough to see it in perfect condi- 
 dition. Both he and his wife left their young 
 family without parental care at an early age. He 
 
 died in November, 1864, his wife having preceded 
 him in 1860. Of their thirteen children, Alva, our 
 subject, is the seventh son. Three only of this 
 large household are living: Jackson, a boatman 
 who resides at Chicago; Alva; and Sarah, Mrs. 
 David English. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCormick 
 were well known among the pioneers and respected 
 by all. Mr. McCormick was a member of the 
 Univcrsalist Church. He belonged to the Repub- 
 lican i)arty, and was at one time Postmaster by ap- 
 pointment from President Lincoln. 
 
 The gentleman whose name heads this sketch re- 
 sided with his parents until he was seventeen years 
 of age, receiving his early education in the district 
 schools. As soon as he grew old enough to drive 
 a team he drove on the Erie Canal between Buffalo 
 and Albany during two summers, receiving the 
 large salary of $15 per month. He came with his 
 parents to Michigan and assisted his father in clear- 
 ing the land. He helped to build the road from 
 Stanton, Montcalm County, three miles south. At 
 his father's death he took charge of the homestead, 
 which had been deeded to him a short time before, 
 upon the provision that he should if necessary pay 
 the other heirs a certain amount, which provision 
 he scrupulously carried out. 
 
 Our subject liegan his lifeworkon the land where 
 he now resides. He was a hard worker and perse- 
 veringly continued the work of clearing and im- 
 proving the land. In 1866 he moved out of the 
 old log house into a large new frame building, his 
 present residence, which cost him over $2,000. 
 For j'cars he served as Postmaster until 1870. By 
 hard work and enterprise he has succeeded in plac- 
 ing under a good state of cultivation one hundred 
 and seventy acres of his two hundred and twenty. 
 The rest of the land is in excellent timber, and 
 altogether is one of the most valuable farms in 
 Campbell Township. He has a good sugar bush 
 on the ))lace and makes between two and three 
 hundred gallons of syrup. 
 
 Half of the village of Clarksville stands on the 
 land which Mr. McCormick jjlatted and laid out in 
 town lots. The marriage of Alva McCormick with 
 Caroline Derbj' was celebrated November 15, 1863. 
 Five children weie born to them, three of whom 
 are now living: Anna, Mrs. George Shaw, resides 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 271 
 
 in Clarksville; Cliauncey is station agent for the 
 
 Detroit, Lansing & Nortliern Railroad, at Wood- 
 bury, in IJarrj' County; Cliarlie resides at lionie; 
 IJurtii.' died at tlie age of fifteen years, of diplitiicria; 
 .and :i daughter, wiio died unnamed, aged three 
 weeks. 
 
 Mrs. McCoraiick was born in Spoffurd 'l"()wnshi|), 
 Onondaga County, N. Y. She is a daugliter of 
 Truman and Diana (Babcock) Derby. Mr. Derby 
 was a Connecticut farmer, and Mrs. l)crl)y was a 
 Xew Yorker, of Englisli descent. Tiicy removed 
 10 Ionia County, Midi., in 1854, and resided in a 
 log house on section 9, Campbell Townshi|), until 
 his death which occurred October 5, 18G1. His 
 wife dirul at Viola, Minn., February 16, 1882. Of 
 their eleven children six are now living: Lucy, 
 Rebecca, Roswell, Truman, Edward H. and Caro- 
 line, all of whom liave set uj) homes of llieir own 
 in Jlinnesola and Michigan. 
 
 Industry' and good business management and a 
 reputation for integrity have brought to Mr. Mc- 
 Cormick not only success and allluence but also the 
 esteem of his neighbors. He is considered one of 
 the leading men in the county, rolitically he is 
 in sympathy with the Democratic party. 
 
 r.RAHAM MILLER was born in Summit 
 County, Ohio, March 3, 182'J, the son of 
 Ik Henry and I'cggy Miller. His life before 
 his majority was spent at home. While 
 he was quite 3'oung his father removed to Medina 
 County, Ohio, where he settled upon a farm and 
 brought up his family. He was unable to give his 
 children good opportunities for education, and 
 Abraham began work on the farm very earl^' in 
 life. He was twice married; the first time to Ilacliad 
 Greenhoe, of Medina County. This marriage 
 took place May 7, 1850. Six children were born to 
 this couple: Mary, born December 13, 1851; Sarah 
 Ann, November 3, 1853; William, July 2G, 1855; 
 George, July 14, 1857; Lavina, July 23, 1851), and 
 Harvey J., November 2(5, 1801. Lavina and Mary 
 have been called from earth. The second marri:igc 
 of Mr. Miller occurred March 2, 1871; he was then 
 
 joined to Frances Small, who was born in Mary- 
 land, November 7, 1834, and who came to Ohio 
 when a little girl of eight years. Their two chil- 
 dren were named Ella and Zella, the latter of whom 
 is deceased, having died when only two years old. 
 
 Mr. Miller served one year in the Union army as 
 guard on Johnson Island, Ohio. He came to Mont- 
 calm County, Mich., in the fall of 18G5 and settled 
 on the place where he now makes his home. He 
 bought eighty acres to which he added twenty 
 more, all of which he cleared from the forest and 
 improved. He has now one hundred and thirly 
 acres of choice land. In 1879 he moved into Sher- 
 idan and availed himself of the assistance of one of 
 his sons in running the farm. For twelve years he 
 continued to live in town but in April, 1890, re- 
 turned to the farm. He has two fine orchards, one 
 on either side of the road. In the hard times of 
 his pioneer life he would work in the woods all day 
 and in the evenings shave shingles, by the sale of 
 which he would obtain the necessities of life. He 
 has been Pathmaster. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Miller, James and Sarah 
 (Gerrish) Small, were both natives of the State of 
 Maine. This daughter was one of five sisters; two 
 of them have died. The surviving ones are Mary, 
 Lydia and the wife of our subject. Mr. Miller's 
 two half-brothers, Marshall and Albert, both live 
 in Minnesota. Mr. Miller has some fine pines trees 
 standing in front of his house which were set out 
 liy his son George, and the maple trees in his grove 
 from which he is making sugar, were set out by his 
 own hands. He is a Prohibitionist in politics and 
 a man of undoubted integrity and an excellent 
 reputation in every way. 
 
 NijOHN KELLER, one of the foremost citizens 
 I of Ionia County, is established on a well- 
 regulated farm in Iveene Township. He is 
 ^^ successfully operating the eighty acres thtt 
 comprise the estate, and in his comfortable home, 
 surrounded by an interesting family and blessed 
 by the society of many friends, he is pursuing the 
 even tenor of his way with the industry that has 
 
272 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 characterized him since he became a man. Upon 
 his farm may be seen an Mmplc and substantial 
 barn and the granaries and sheds that are necessary 
 for the convenient carrying on of liis work. Tliese 
 are a monument to the good management of Mr. 
 Keller, who has brought tlie place to its present 
 condition and is reaping a due reward for his la- 
 bors. 
 
 In Wayne County, N. Y. April 21, 1817, Mr. 
 Keller was born. His parents were Henry and 
 Elizabeth (Flint) Keller, natives of the Empire 
 State, and his paternal ancestors were of German 
 stock. He was reared chiefly in Genesee County 
 and there attained to years of manhood. ' His edu- 
 cation was obtained in common schools, and with- 
 out having liberal advantages he is well informed 
 on topics of general interest. He left his native 
 State in the s[)ring of 1851 to establish a home in 
 Michigan and selected Wayne County as his place 
 of abode. He remained there but a short time, 
 however, then went to Ingham, and thence came to 
 Ionia County in 1865. At that time he settled 
 where he is still living and at once began to im- 
 prove and thoroughly cultivate the soil. 
 
 Mr. Keller was married, in New York, in 1840, 
 to Miss Mary A. Vanalst, who died leaving one 
 daughter, Ann .1., now the widow of Artemus 
 Newman. In 1848 Mr. Keller was married to Miss 
 Lauretta Wilson, daughter of William and Elmira 
 (Austin) Wilson. She was born in New York Feb- 
 ruary 4, 1829, and her parents were natives of New 
 Hampshire and New York respectively'. This union 
 has been blessed by tiio birtii of nine children 
 named, Persis A.; William, who married Marj' 
 Trowbridge; Almira J., Alice, Eva A., Ellen; 
 George B., married Mary Condon; Eddie, who 
 married Bella Ilawn, and Minnie. Persis married 
 James Brown and is now a widow; Alice is tiie 
 widow of R. K. Finch ; Eva married A. Rising ; Ellen 
 is the wife of Thomas Renwick; Almira is de- 
 ceased. 
 
 No residents in Keene Township are more genu- 
 inely interested in tlie general good than Mr. and 
 Mrs. Keller, and few can claim to be better informed 
 regarding the subjects that agitate the public mind. 
 Mr. Keller enjoys the full confidence of the busi- 
 ness community, and his word is considered as good 
 
 as a bond. He casts his vote with the Democratic 
 party. His many friends will be pleased to see this 
 sketch of his life, brief though it is, and necessarily 
 presenting but an outline of an honorable career. 
 
 County since 1884, was born in the city of 
 Henderson, Oswego County, N. Y., on the 1st of 
 November, 1838. His father and mother, John and 
 Betsey (Beach) Rice, removed from the old home 
 in Henderson with their family, when Corydon was 
 quite young, to Onondaga Count3', where his father 
 was engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he car- 
 ried on quite successfully. This journey was one 
 marked by a sad affliction to the family, as the 
 mother died before they reached their new home, 
 leaving the young children witliout her care. 
 
 When Corydon Rice had arrived at the age of 
 ten years, his father was taken with the Western 
 fever and decided to try his fortune in the new 
 country. In the year 1848 he removed from On- 
 ondaga County, N. Y., to Ionia County, this State. 
 Here the family lived in comfort and in a fairly 
 prosperous condition, until the father's death, 
 which occurred on the 28th of March, 1862. Mr. 
 Rice relates that when his father removed to the 
 new countrj' he found nothing but an uninhabited 
 wilderness of timber laud, and that money was so 
 scarce that it could not be obtained except in ex- 
 change for wheat, which tiien sold for fifty cents 
 per bushel. 
 
 After the death of his father, j'oung Rice took 
 charge of the homestead, and operated it until he 
 moved to Montcalm Countj', which w.as March 4, 
 1884. On March 20, 1864, the subject of this re- 
 view celebrated his marriage with Mary T. How- 
 orth. This union was cheered by the advent of 
 one child, a ilaughter, who was born November 15, 
 1865, and who was named Letitia. She has grown 
 to a beautiful young womanhood, and has united 
 herself to Harvey Mulholiand, a prosperous farmer 
 in Montcalm County. 
 
 The beautiful farm of eighty' acres is of excel- 
 
X 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 5y- 
 
 O o 
 
 Tt 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 275 
 
 lent land and thoroughly worked. The bouse built 
 upon it forms llie shelter for a houseliold of intelli- 
 gence and good cheer. Mr. and Mrs. Hice are both 
 consistent members of the Baptist Church, wliicli 
 they joined some twenty years ago. Their daugli- 
 tor was for four years a teacher in the county. In 
 politics Mr. Kice holds earnestly to the Greenback 
 policy, and has been for one year Sii|)ervisor of 
 Douglas Township. 
 
 ^ATHAN B. HAYES, residing on section 
 36, is not only one of the most prosperous 
 'U farmers and stock-raisers in North Plains 
 'I'ownship, Ionia County, but is a business man of 
 wiile interests and large transactions. He was born 
 in Bristol Township, Ontario County, N. Y., De- 
 cember 13, 18:55. His father, Hector Hayes, was 
 born in New York in July, 1801, and was by trade 
 a carriage-maker, and also followed farming. In 
 his tiade he followed the lead of his father, Pliny 
 a native of Connecticut, who was also in the san)e 
 line of manufacture. The wife of Hector Hayes 
 bore the maiden name of Lucinda Warren and was 
 born in Connecticut in September, 1805, but was 
 reared to womanhood in the State of New York. 
 Here she met and married Mr. Hayes and they lo- 
 cated in Bristol. 
 
 In 1830 this ^-oung coui)le came to Michigan, 
 taking a boat to Detroit and going from there by 
 ox-team to Ionia County, locating on section 31, 
 North I'lains Township. They were the second 
 family of whites in the township and u[)on their ar- 
 rival found Indians and wild beasts numerous and 
 neighborly. Their farm was entirely unimproved 
 and their nearest mill was at Marshall, Calhoun 
 County, where they had to haul all their grain to 
 be ground. They are still living and reside in North 
 Plains Township. They became the i)arents of 
 six children: George J., .Jose|)h, (deceased), 
 Nathan B., Mary A., Byron W. and Emma (de- 
 ceased). 
 
 Mr. Hayes was an infant of nine months when 
 he was brought by his parents to Michigan. The 
 education which he commenced in a log school- 
 
 house was completed at Olivet College, Mich. Af- 
 ter his graduation he returned home and worked 
 (jn a farm with his father in the summer and taught 
 school in the winter for five years. The first land 
 lie ever purchased was forty acres on section 32. 
 Here he built a little shanty and hired a family to 
 lioard him while he was clearing up the place. He 
 had a little barn on the place where he used to 
 sleep until it became too cold. He added to his 
 original purchase by buying forty additional acres, 
 then twenty and then eighty and so on. He could 
 talk with the Indians and made friends with many 
 of them. 
 
 In September, 1804, Mr. Hayes became the hus- 
 band of Mary A., ilaughter of Jay and Anstrus 
 (Case) Olmsted, who had come to Michigan from 
 Onondaga County, N. Y. Mrs. Hayes was born 
 September 'J, 184G, in Ionia County on section 30, 
 North Plains Townshii), ami here she was reared 
 to womanhood. She is a sister of Lewis Ney Olm- 
 sted wiiose biograi)hical sketch appears elsewhere in 
 this book. 
 
 Immediately after his marriage Mr. Ibyes lo- 
 cated on section 32, North Plains Township, but 
 after remaining there a few years he moved to the 
 place where he now resides and which he has stead- 
 ily im[)roved ever since. His farm is remarkably 
 well fitted \\\t with barns and outbuildings and if 
 all the buildings upon the place were in a row it 
 would be ninety rods long. He carries $50,000 
 insurance on his farm alone. In North Plains and 
 Lyons Township, he owns twenty-one hundred 
 acres of land, and docs not really know how much 
 he owns in Montcalm County, but altogether he 
 pays between ^1,000 and *2,000 worth of taxes per 
 year. 
 
 The stock on the home f.irm is all of fine grades. 
 There are one hundred and twenty-five head of 
 horses; four are imported stallions, one Percheron, 
 one French coach stallion, imported, one standard 
 bred Ilambletonian, "Theo. Kean;" and seventy 
 head of cattle. Mr. Hayes handles from five hun- 
 dred to five thousand sheep annually and he ships 
 large numbers. A sawmill at Bushnell, Mont- 
 calm Countj', and one at Muir, Ionia County, are 
 among the profitable possessions of this prosperous 
 man. He is the head of the firm of Hayes <k 
 
276 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Spaulding who deal in agricultural implements at 
 Ionia City and is also in the same business in Muir. 
 He has telepiiones connecting his home with all his 
 various lines of business, so that he can sit at home 
 and converse with those in charge of all his business 
 operations. He is one of the Directors in the Ionia 
 County Savings Banli. 
 
 Mr. Hayes voted in his early manhood for Fre- 
 mont, and in 1877 lie was sent to the Legislature 
 on the Republican ticket. He now votes the 
 Democratic ticket. He was President of the First 
 National Bank at Muir in 1867 and has been Presi- 
 dent of the Ionia, Eaton and Barry County Farm- 
 ers Insurance Company since its organization. This 
 company has a capital stock of between |i4,000,000 
 and $5,000,000. Since he was twenty-one years 
 old lie has held the position of Moderator of the 
 School Board continuously. His four sons arc en- 
 terprising young men and those who are out of 
 school are eng.aging in business with their father. 
 George B. has charge of the office at Muir; Hector 
 J. manages the mill at Bushnell, Mich ; Jerry C. 
 attends school at Ionia and Austin C. is at homo. 
 Their only daughter is an adopted one whom they 
 call Nettie B., and whom tiiey took to their home 
 when she was only four years old. A lithographic 
 |>ortrait of Mr. Hayes is presented in connection 
 with tliis l)iographical sketch. 
 
 ■-^ €-*-^ ^ 
 
 ^^HARLES C. WRIGHT. This gentleman is 
 (if classed among tiie agriculturists of Ionia 
 
 ^^^Ji' County, where he lias lived since he was a 
 babe nine montlis old. His present home is on 
 section 4, Otisco Township, and his property here 
 consists of one hundred and twenty acies of laud, 
 upon whicli the usual improvements have been 
 made wliich fit it for the dwelling place of an in- 
 telligent family. Mr. Wright was born in Rensse- 
 laer County, N. Y., October 19, 1842, and until he 
 was of age assisted his father in such duties as 
 were fitted for his increasing years and strength. 
 Upon attaining his majority he took the control of 
 his fatiier's farm, and a few years later the ori- 
 ginal homestead was deeded to him. To this he 
 
 has added forty acres. Mr. Wright pays con- 
 siderable attention to breeding Cleveland-Bay 
 horses. 
 
 Mr. Wright is a giaudson of Ilezekiaii Wrigiit, 
 wlio was born in the Green Mountain State and 
 returned thither to spend his last years. Grand- 
 motlier Wright died in this State about 1875, at 
 the age of eighty-seven years. The father of our 
 subject is Abner Wright, now living in Orleans 
 Township. He was born in New York and came to 
 this State in 1843, settling on the farm now occu- 
 pied by his son Charles. He was a cooper by 
 trade, but after coming hither followed farming. 
 He retired from active life a few years since. He 
 had no cash capital when he came to this State, but 
 he possessed the faculty for making money and in 
 the course of years accumulated considerable prop- 
 erty. He has given each of his sons one hundred 
 acres of land and his daughter money equivalent 
 to that amount. His marriage took place in 1840 
 in his native State, which was also the place of 
 birth of his bride. This lady bore the maiden 
 name of Ruth Anna Tallman and her father was 
 James Tallman, a native of New York. The sub- 
 ject of this biographical notice is the eldest of the 
 children of Abner Wright and his wife, and the 
 other members of the parental family are Joim A., 
 Elizabeth E., George A., Preston G. and Ruth 
 Anna. 
 
 In Otisco Township in 1863 Charles C. Wright 
 and Luretta Wicks, daughter of Hiram Wicks, 
 were made husb.and and wife. To them were born 
 three children, named respective!}' : Eva N., Cora 
 E. and Claude C. Having been bereft of his first 
 companion, Mr. Wright contracted a second matri- 
 monial alliance in 1878, wedding Rosa M. Wright, 
 daughter of Benjamin Wright, formerly of New 
 York. In an early day Benjamin AVright came to 
 Kent County, this State, where he died in 1885. 
 His widow is still living and is now three-score 
 3'ears old. The children born of the second union 
 of Mr. Charles Wright are Harley C, John A. and 
 Ona A., all of whom are at home. 
 
 For a number of ^ears Mr. Wright was a mem- 
 ber of the Republican party but he is now a Demo- 
 crat. He is a member of thS Ancient Order of 
 United Workmen. His days pass in the pursuit of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 277 
 
 his vocation, in the social enjoyments common to 
 residents in the rural districts and the pleasures of 
 domestic life, aud his life is marked by no events 
 except such as are common to the lot of man. 
 
 ^ 
 
 eLARENCE L. HOUSEMAN is the youngest 
 son of Jacob Houseman, a native of New 
 York. He was a slioemaker by trade, but 
 later in life became a farmer in Orleans County, 
 N. Y., where he resided many years. He married 
 Polly London, a native of the Keystone State and 
 on her mother's side of German descent. In 1837 
 they removed to Slichigaii and settled on a farm 
 in Blaekman Townslii|), Jackson Count}'. It was 
 all wild lan<I, oak openings, wiiich he took from 
 the Government, lie cleared off sixty acres and 
 cultivated it, building a log house and a log barn. 
 There were plenty of Indians and wild animals 
 there in that day. In 1847 they removed to Ionia 
 County and settled on section 20, Orange Town- 
 ship, not far from where our subject now resides 
 on section 21. Eight acres of this heavy timber 
 land of the new farm had been already cleared. 
 Mr. Houseman built a log house here and after- 
 ward a frame one. His latest residence was on 
 section 16, where he was residing at the time of 
 his death in ISGO, at the age of sixty-four years. 
 His wife had died in 1845. During his last years 
 he was very active in the Wesleyan Metliodist 
 Church; his wife was a member of the Free-Will 
 Baptist. They were the parent of eleven chil- 
 dren, eight of whom are living: Jane, Mrs. Steele; 
 Mary, Mrs. Grant; Hannah, Mrs. Wood; Sallie, 
 Mrs. Morrill; Ada, Mrs. Reese; Thomas; John 
 Alonzo and our subject. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born December 
 5, 1835, in Orleans County, N. Y., and received a 
 common-school education, partly in Jackson and 
 partly in this county. At the age of seventeen 
 years he began for himself, working out by the 
 month in Jackson Count}'. He then learned the 
 trade of a stone and brick mason, also that of a 
 plasterer, and worked for four years at these 
 trades. But, like many other brave young men 
 
 of that period, he left his work to fight for the 
 
 (lag of his country, enlisting December 22, 1861, 
 in Company K, Scveutii Kansas Cavalry. lie had 
 the honor of serving under Capt. John Brown, 
 Jr., son of the brave and famous hero of Osawat- 
 oniie. He joined the company as a private at 
 Morristown, Mo., and went on to the regiment at 
 Kansas City, Mo. He served the full three years. 
 His first expedition was against the infamous 
 (^uantrell at Blue Springs, Mo. They then went 
 to Humboldt to quiet the Cherokee Indians. 
 Thence they were sent across the plains toward 
 New Mexico, but at Ft. Riley orders were received 
 countermanding this plan, and they went to Ft. 
 Leavenworth, and thence to Columbus, Ky. They 
 opened the Mobile & Ohio Railroad to Corinth, 
 Miss. Then at Rienzi, in the same State, took part 
 in the battle of Corinth, as well as numberless 
 skirmishes and foraging expeditions. The next 
 day they dashed upon the rebel Price at Ruchers- 
 vilie and captured his ambulance trains, but re- 
 turned to Corinth in time to take part in the third 
 day's Oght of that memorable battle. They went 
 with Gen. Grant upon his first expedition to 
 Yicksburg, and at Coffeeville had a hard fight. 
 They fell back to Water Valley, then to Talla- 
 hatchie River, near Holly Springs, aud were the 
 foraging party to provide for two divisions of 
 infantry. They went into winter quarters at Ger- 
 mantown after a skirmish at Summerville. During 
 the winter they did patrol duty along the Mem- 
 phis & Charleston Railroad. 
 
 In April this brave regiment was sent into Ala- 
 bama to join Gen. Street, and were with him at 
 the burning of Atlanta, Ga. They had a fight 
 with Wheeler's Cavalry on Town Creek, and then 
 joined in a skirmish with Col. Ham's regiment 
 down at Tupelo and Guntown. Thence they 
 went back to Corinth, scouting all through the 
 country to Memphis, and our subject was detailed 
 in the district (Quartermaster's department under 
 Gen. Hurlbut, and remained there until the fol- 
 lowing September, when he joined his regiment at 
 Jefferson Barracks, Mo. He took part in an active 
 campaign against Gen. Price in Missouri in 1864. 
 At the battle of Osage, Price was defeated. Here 
 our subject's horse was killed under him at the first 
 
278 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 charge. After this he returned to St. Louis and 
 did guard duty at Hannibal, Mo., and later at Iron 
 Mountain. He was a brave and intrepid soldier. 
 At one time he, witli a single companion, oaiitured 
 four rebels and brought thera into camp. 
 
 Clarence L. Houseman was honorably discliarged 
 at St. Louis, December 22, 1861, at the expiration 
 of his term of service. At tlie battle of Corinth 
 he had received a severe injury, as his horse fell 
 upon him. From this he has never fully recovered. 
 Other members of this patriotic family saw hard 
 service in tiie Union armj'. A brother, William 
 G., was in the same company and regiment with 
 our subject and served about a year. He died at 
 LTnion City, Tenn., from illness. Another brother, 
 George, was in Company A, Twent3'-flrst Michigan 
 Infantry. Being laken prisoner at the battle of 
 Chickamauga, he was sent to Libby Prison at Rich- 
 mond. He was exchanged and returned home, but 
 died a month afterward, leaving « wife and one 
 child. A. third brother, Jacob, was in the Ninth 
 Michigan Infantry. He served a year and died in 
 the hospital at Murfreesboro. 
 
 The subject of this sketcli after being discharged 
 from service returned to Ionia County and went 
 to work at his trade. In March, 1865, he buuglit 
 his present farm, which was all raw land. He 
 continued working at his trade and the next year 
 began to build his house. He has cleared sixty- 
 acres of his land and put on all of the improve- 
 ments. In 1880 he went to Dakota and took a 
 farm of one hundred and sixty acres of wild land 
 in Grant County, S. Dak., near Millljank. He 
 lemained there two and one-half years and then re- 
 turned to his Michigan farm. The last year he 
 was there ho raised sixteen hundred bushels of 
 wheat and has received some returns from it every 
 year since. He lias one hundred acres of it now 
 improved. He has gradually laid aside work at 
 his trade and for the past twelve years has made 
 farming his principal business. He carries on 
 mixed farming, raising grain and good cattle and 
 horses. 
 
 Mr. Houseman was united in the bonds of mar- 
 ri.age July 4, 1866, with Eupliemie Riteuburgh, a 
 daughter of Daniel Ritenburgh, of Canada. By 
 this marriage he had two cliildren — Eva, the wife 
 
 of William Bennett, who lives in Ionia and has 
 one child; Ann, the wife of William Root, who 
 lives in Barry County. The mother of these chil- 
 dren died March 27, 1873, at the earl3' age of 
 twenl3'-four years. Mr. Houseman's second mar- 
 riage, in March, 1874, was with Aun Root, a 
 widow, and a daughter of Johu and IMary (Dale) 
 Nichols. Mrs. Houseman's father was a New 
 Yorker and her mother a Pennsylvanian. They 
 lived near London, Canada, for a number of years 
 on a farm. The father died in 1883, and the 
 mother in 1800. Thev were the parents of nine 
 children, seven of whom are now living. Mrs. 
 Houseman was born June 4, 1832, in Canada. 
 By this second marriage Mr. Houseman has no 
 children. Botli he and his wife are members of 
 the Free Will Baptist Church, in the local organ- 
 ization of which he is Clerk. They are active 
 workers in the Sunday-school aud Mr. Houseman 
 belongs to the Grand Arm}' of the Republic at 
 Portland, aud is also a member of the Patrons of 
 Industry. He is a member of the School Board 
 aud has been for years its Treasurer. He was for a 
 number of terms Highway Commissioner and in 
 Dakota held the office of Justice of the Peace. He 
 is a temperance man in principle and has alwajs 
 taken an interest in politics, in State and national 
 affairs voting the Reiiublican ticket, but in local 
 politics he votes for the one he considers the best 
 man. 
 
 G 
 
 =5)E0RGE C. NUMMER. Among the prom- 
 inent and successful German-American citi- 
 ^^^J! zensof Ionia County, we take pleasure in 
 representing in this Album the gentleman above 
 named, who has been a resident of Easton Town- 
 ship since 1855. He at that time settled amid the 
 forests of section IS, on land that comprises a part 
 of his present estate. In developing the projwrty 
 and bringing it to its present line condition he w.as 
 obliged to do pioneer work and endure the depri- 
 vations which all frontiersmen are subject to. The 
 farm he now operates consists of eighty acres, well 
 improved, the log cabin in which he first sheltered 
 his family having been replaced by a commodious 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 279 
 
 dwelling and otiier buildings erected as occasion 
 doin;indcd. • 
 
 Tlie parents of our sulijcct were George A. and 
 Ellzalietli A. Numnicr, of old Teutonic families, 
 and their former home was in Saxe-Gotha, Ger- 
 many. There the son of whom we write was born 
 May 21, 1823, and there he attended school from 
 the age of six to fourteen years. lie obtained a 
 fair education and after the famil}' came to Amer- 
 ica, which was in his twenty-first year, he spent 
 tliree months in a district school, thus becoming 
 informed in the English language, in which he 
 transacts all business. In 1843 the family embarked 
 at Bremen on a sailing s'essel and after a voyage of 
 fifty seven days, during which much rough weather 
 was encountered, landed at New York. Thej' went 
 via the Erie Canal to Buflfalo, thence to Detroit on 
 a steamer, and upon reaching that city they bor- 
 rowed ^3..")() which they owed on the passage 
 money and discharged that obligation. A brother 
 of our subject was living ten miles from the city 
 and with him the parents es.tablishcd their home, 
 remaining there until death. 
 
 Our subject worked as a farm hand for ij;7 per 
 month for a little more than a j-ear, and subse- 
 <iucntly spent two seasons in Lenawee County 
 working a farm on shares. He gained a companion 
 in Miss Hannah M. Ilalsted, with whom he was 
 united in marriage October 7, 1817. The bride 
 was a native of the Empire State. She was removed 
 from her family by death August 14, 1853, after 
 having borne three children, one of whom is now 
 living — Josephine, wife of Melvin Wood, a resi- 
 lient of Ionia. 
 
 Mr. Nummer was again married Decenilier 2H, 
 1855, his bride being Miss Irena Wilber, who was 
 born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., March 2D, 
 1830. Her parents, Sylvanus and Sabra (Blodgett) 
 Will)er, natives of New England, came to Iviston 
 Township in 1855, and died hereafter having done 
 much |)ioneer work. Eight of their nine children 
 are still living, namely : Stephen; Mrs. Nummer; 
 Ruby, wife of Augustus Savage; Clarinda, wife of 
 Lucius Ward; Corintha, wife of Charles Chambers; 
 .Sarali, who marrieil J. D. Bradford; Electa; and 
 Alvira. wife of Stephen Nichols. The second union 
 of our subject has been blessed by the birth of 
 
 three children — Le Roy E., Oscar A., and Jennie 
 F. The last named is deceased. Lc Roj' is now 
 Clerk of Easton Township. 
 
 Mr. Nummer possesses many of the sterling 
 qualities of his sturdy and industrious ancestors, 
 and stands in the front rank among the farmers of 
 the section. He is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church and of the Democratic party. 
 He enlisted Januar}' 3, 1864, in Battery E, First 
 Michigan Light Artillery, which was attached to 
 the Arni}^ of the Tennessee. He was with Gen. 
 Thomas and was doing guard duty at Nashville 
 when taken sick and unfitted for soldier's duties. 
 He was honorably discharged August 24, in such a 
 phj'sical condition that he is in receipt of a pension 
 of 4^14 per month. He and his intelligent and 
 amiable Vife are honored members of society, and 
 active in various walks of usefulness. 
 
 YRON SLANKER. The activities of 
 ,. farming and lumbering and the endurance 
 1b of hardships and privations, together with 
 the breezy adventures of frontier life form 
 the experience of many a boy who was brought up 
 in Michigan in the '50s. The subject o^ our sketch 
 came to this Slate when onl^' five years of age, hav- 
 ing removed to Orange Township, Ionia County, 
 with his parents, Solomon and Hannah (Coraslock) 
 Slanker, from Wayne Count}', Ohio, where he was 
 born October 13, 1850. His father's occupation 
 was that of a gunsmith and locksmith. 'I he boy's 
 educational advantages were limited to the com- 
 mon schools. He began working out when but 
 twelve 3'ears old in a lumber district, spending his 
 summers with the ax and putting in his winters at 
 school. 
 
 Our subject was married October 4, 1873, when 
 Lulhera Case of Eureka, Montcalm County, became 
 his wife. Three children have been granted to them, 
 namely: Alice, born March 2, 1875; Chloe, Oc- 
 tober 4, 1878; .and Nellie, April 18, 1880. These 
 lovely and interesting ilaughtcrs make bright the 
 home of Mr. and Mrs. Slanker. Miss Alice is at- 
 
280 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tending the public school at Stanton. The father 
 of the household has done all the work of clearing 
 the home farm and has it well improved. The 
 house and orchard are a credit to his industry. He 
 has five brothers and two sisters with whom he 
 keeps up the family ties, namely: James A., lives 
 in Chicago; Samuel S., lives at Carson City, Mich.; 
 Harvey, a resident of Belding; Grant resides at 
 Palo, Ionia County; Bryon resides in Ionia, Mich.; 
 Mrs. Lcnora Buckley is living in Palo, Ionia 
 County; Mrs. Laura Tedharas, a resident of tliis 
 county. 
 
 In politics Mr. Slanker is a Republican. He has 
 been Highway Commissioner for one year. Mrs. 
 Slanker is identified with the Congegational Church 
 and both she and her husband are solicitous for the 
 best good of their children in every wa^' and are 
 doing all in their power to give them a good edu- 
 cation. Onr subject belongs to the Patrons of 
 IntUistry. 
 
 ^J^SiS^"" 
 
 ;.ILLIAM H. McClelland, a citizen of 
 Douglas Township, Montcalm County, and 
 '¥J a disabled veteran of the late Civil War, 
 was born in Loraine County, Ohio, May 30, 1847. 
 His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth McClel- 
 land, and he made his home in Ohio througli his 
 early boyhood. The year 1863 when at the age of 
 sixteen years, was a notable and a momentous one 
 in his history. He lost his father by death when 
 two years old, a great loss to anybody at that age. 
 But this youth at sixteen years had acquired more 
 than usual maturity, both physical and mental, and 
 felt that he was in effect a man. He nobly re- 
 sponded to the call of his country and went to de- 
 fend the Hag, joining the Union Army in 18G3. He 
 enlisted in Company K, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, 
 and was placed under the immediate command of 
 Col. R. W. Retl.aff, of Bloomfield, Ohio. 
 
 This body of troops was sent to Lexington, Ivy., 
 and operated in that State some little time, not, 
 however, doing much fighting. From Lexington 
 they went to Nashville, Tenn., to assist in driving 
 eleven hundred head of Government cattle. After 
 accomplishing this work they returned to Lexing- 
 
 ton. Tn June they fought with the well-known 
 
 raider Morgan, at Mt. Sterling. In this battle two 
 of Morgan's brothers were taken prisoners as well 
 as five hundred of his men. 
 
 This company was then detaclied from the regi- 
 ment and joined Gen. Burbridge's body guard. In 
 this service they charged the rebel Col. Elsworth 
 and killed him at Sulphur Springs, Kj'. He then 
 joined his old regiment and was sent to West Vir- 
 ginia, but was not there long returning to Ken- 
 tucky and taking part in what is known as Stone- 
 man's Raid all Kings salt works, W. Va. 
 
 In this conflict Mr. McClelland was wounded in 
 the leg and was taken prisoner December 13, 1864. 
 In the rebel camp or rather field hospital, his right 
 leg was amputated February IG, 1865. The opera- 
 tion was not successful and the leg did not do well 
 and our hero had to suffer another operation on 
 March 14. lie was then transferred to Montgom- 
 ery Springs where he remained as a prisoner, until 
 after Lee's surrender when he was forwarded to 
 Lynchburg, Xa., and from there to Richmond ar- 
 riving finally at Washington. He was there dis- 
 charged and returned home to Lenawee County 
 with his regiment. He removed to Montcalm 
 Countj' in October, 1866, and in 1877 joinetl his 
 fortunes for life with those of Martha Chaffee. Five 
 children have come to enliven the home of this 
 worthy cou|)le but three are now deceased. Mr. 
 McLelland is one interested in all public affairs. 
 His religious atliliations are with the Baptist Church 
 and his political sympathies and vote with the Pro- 
 hibitionists. He has served several limes as School 
 Director and is at present Justice of the Peace of 
 Douglass Township. 
 
 • ? ^3- 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 IIARLES W. HALE is a prominent farmer 
 and stock-raiser of Keene Township, Ionia 
 County, and was born in what was formerly 
 Genesee County, N. Y., .September 20, 1830. He 
 is a son of Stolen and Catlierine Hale, both natives 
 of New York. His paternal ancestry is from En- 
 gland and Ireland, and the maternal from Ger- 
 man}'. His father was twice married, and from a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 281 
 
 large family of children the following survive. Slo- 
 ten, living in Ohio; Charlotte, the widow of Mr. 
 Doolittlo. is living in the same State; Luther, in 
 Ohio; Alvin in New York; Elizabeth, wife of 
 Pliilip Shaw, in Ohio: Read R., in Eaton County, 
 Mich.: Simeon, in Montcalm County: Ilulda, wife 
 of F. H. Lane, of this count}'; and Cliarles W. 
 
 When only four y(?ars old, our subject removetl 
 with his parents to Ontario Count}', N. Y. Here 
 he was reared until he reached his nineteenth year, 
 when he emigrated to Summit Count}', Ohio. In 
 18C1 lie came to Ionia County, but did not remain 
 there long, as his patriotic impulses letl him into the 
 army. He enlisted December 25, 1863, in Com- 
 pany B, Third Michigan Cavalry. His regiment 
 became a part of Gen. Steele's command in the 
 Western Division. He did provost duty in dif- 
 ferent places, and never was in any field fight. He 
 was honorably discharged November 1'.', 18G4, and 
 receives a jiension of ft a month. 
 
 Ever since the war he has been a resident of 
 Michigan, with the exception of a short time s[icnt 
 in Virginia. His boyhood was a period of hard 
 work and little study, as he vcas deprived of his fa- 
 ther by death when only two years old, and was 
 early thrown upon his own resources. He h.asever 
 endeavored to make up for early deficiencies by ex ■ 
 tensive and varied reading. His marriage, May 6, 
 1861,. with Mary E. Hale, brought him a domestic 
 life of great happines.*. She was born in Medina 
 County, Ohio. September '20. 1840, and is a daugh- 
 ter of Richard and Catherine (Bogardus) Hale. 
 l)Oth natives of New York State. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hale became the parents of five 
 children, two only of whom arc now living, namely : 
 I'hiorus and Florence. Mrs. Hale is one of eight 
 children, six of whom are living, namely: Mary 
 E., Lucinda, Lafayette, Phcebc, Warren and Ida. 
 Our subject resided for a number of years in 
 Orle:ins Township, this county, and before coming 
 to Keene Township, in the spring of 1882, he made 
 his home for a short time in Easton Township. 
 Eighty acres of finely cultivated land from the 
 home farm. His property has been acquired solely 
 by industry, frugality and enterprise of iiimself and 
 his helpful wife. He had no one to give him a 
 helping hand in beginning life, and even at tlietime 
 
 of his marriage he had not made any great acquire- 
 ments. He had ?20 in hand after he had married 
 and starteil inMiis new home. 
 
 Our subject and his wife are active and consist- 
 ent members of the Christian Church at Ionia, and 
 he has served as Deacon. They are highly respected 
 by the community in which they live, and make 
 themselves useful in their walk of life. He is a 
 Prohibitionist in politics, and is identified with the 
 Patrons of Industry. It is with much pleasure 
 that we represent him in this volume among the 
 prominent and influential citizens of Ionia County. 
 
 gHHH gMffi^ 
 
 HARLES H. HOLLAND who prob.ably saw 
 ^ Montcalm County at as early a date as any 
 one now residing in Douglas Township, was 
 born July 20, 1861, and is the son of George Hol- 
 land and Sarah (Rodgers) Holland. His father was 
 of English birth and had traveled largely in many 
 parts of the world. He spent seven years of his 
 life in the interior of Africa. He removed to 
 Montcalm County, Mich., when Ch.arles was but 
 three years of age, and settled in Evergreen Town- 
 ship. 
 
 The early life of this household in Michigan was 
 marke<l by many hardshi|)$ and dangers, ami at one 
 time they were in peril of suffering by privation. 
 The only way the father had of getting money 
 was by shaving shingles and hauling them to Ionia 
 where he could sell them at *3 per thousand. Flour 
 and all provisions were extremely high, for example 
 flour sold at ^18 |)cr hundred weight, and the 
 cheapest grade of tea w.as ^1..50 per pound. George 
 Holland patented one hundred and sixty acres from 
 the Government and began the foundation of a 
 home. He cleared and cultivated the land and 
 made a good home for his children. The father of 
 this family was a good scholar and made for his 
 children every opportunity for education. Three 
 of his sisters were also school teachers and their 
 influence helped to keep up the standard of edu- 
 cation in the family. 
 
 Charles Holland was married at nineteen yeai-s 
 of age to Rhcnlie Reynolds of .Sidney Township. 
 
282 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 They bceume the parents of five children, Charles 
 F., born October 2, 1882 ; Cora, February 26, 1885 ; 
 Clevelantl F., March 25, 1887; George Tliurman, 
 February 22, 1889, and Lulu M., May 1, 1801. In 
 the fall of 188G this family made their home upon 
 the farm of eighty acres which they now occupy. 
 They have a handsome house with attractive sur- 
 roundings. Their fine orchard gives a sjjlendid 
 supply of fruit, and everytliing about the farm 
 shows energy and enterprise. Our subject takes 
 great interest not only in the education of his 
 children, but in school matters generally and all 
 affairs of public interest. 
 
 ELISITA T. CHENEY is engaged in tilling 
 the soil in Ionia Countj', with the interests 
 of which he has been connected for well nigh 
 half a century. He is located on section 23, Or- 
 leans Township, on property that he has greatly 
 improved since he took possession thereof in 1881. 
 He has added a good house and barn to the build- 
 ings that formerly stood upon the tract and by his 
 management has kept up the fertility of the soil to 
 par, if not above. Although four-score years old 
 Mr. Clieney retains his interest in the management 
 of affairs and gives due consideration to every 
 scheme that will lie for the interest of the family. 
 
 Mr. Cheney is a son of the Green Mountain 
 State and there also his father, Elislia Chenej-, was 
 born. The latter went to New York and made 
 that State his home for many years, eventually 
 dying there. He was a farmer b}' occupation. He 
 held township offices in the Empire State and was a 
 drummer in the militia. He was married to Plirebe 
 Hendee and to them were born the following clill- 
 dren : Elisha P., David, Donald and Jane. Mr. 
 Cheney breathed his last in 1870, having been pre- 
 ceded to the silent land by his wife who died in 
 1863. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice was born 
 January 2, 1811, and remained in his early home 
 until he was about twenty-one years old. He then 
 entered upon his life work, that of farming, to 
 which he brought a thorough knowledge gained 
 
 under his father's guidance. In 1844 when became 
 to this State he settled in Easton Township, Ionia 
 County, and made that his home a number of years. 
 He removed thence to Orleans Township and in 
 1881 purchased the farm on which he now lives. 
 He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, but for 
 many years he has been identified with the Repub- 
 lican party, whicii he believes to hold principles to 
 which he gave his first vote. His religious faitli is 
 that promulgated in the Christian Church. 
 
 It is given to few couples to spend as many 
 years together as has been the case with Mr. and 
 Mrs. Cheney. They were married in New York 
 March 4, 1829, and have therefore shared each 
 other's joys and sorrows for sixty-two years. Mrs. 
 Cheney bore the maiden name of Fanny Metcalf, 
 and is a daughter of Pliiiieas Metcalf, a native of 
 Massachusetts. The sons and daughters that have 
 come to bless her and lier husband are Orsin, Henry, 
 Jane, Edmond, Ann, Mercy, Alphonso, Lucian and 
 Uz. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney are honored for their 
 long and useful lives and number tlieir friends by 
 the score. 
 
 ' • ' ^1- 
 
 E^^?- 
 
 \Y/OHN STORM. A pleasant home in Danby 
 Township, Ionia County, is that whicli Mr. 
 Storm has made b3' the exercise of prudence 
 and industr3^ His farm consists of one 
 hundred and twenty acres, of which he took pos- 
 session early in the '40s, going in debt for a part 
 of its value. For some years his life was filled 
 with toil and privation, but he was encouraged b^' 
 his devoted wife, who aided him in every way that 
 a woman could. They gathered about then: all the 
 comforts heart could desire, and placed tiieir affairs 
 on a solid basis that removed anxiety from their 
 minds. Of the settlers who were living here when 
 Mr. Storm came few now remain, one by one the 
 circle having been thinned by death. 
 
 Mr. Storm can boast of Revolutionary blood, 
 his grandfather having been one who fought for 
 American freedom ; he died near Monroe, Mich., 
 having come hither late in life. The father of our 
 subject, Nicholas Storm, was a native of New 
 
^7744^ 
 
 ^X 
 
 '^ (_^^^^ <yA^^y?9yH^ 
 
 ^^^^--^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 286 
 
 York, snfl liis mother, Haunah Hall, was an Kasl- 
 ern la<ly. Tlie home of tliat worthy couple was 
 in Olscgo County, N. Y., where their son John was 
 horn March 19, 1812. This gentleman came to 
 Ann Arbor in 1834 and for a yeav worked by the 
 month at what was then considered good wages — 
 j!l2. He then bonglit eighty acres of Oovernment 
 land near Lansing, but exchanged it for another 
 piece which he afterward sold, buying instead the 
 tract that is now his home. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Storm to Mi.ss lliirrict Moe 
 took i)lace November 22, 18.'?7. The bride was a 
 daughter of John and Elizabeth Moe, who were of 
 French descent and came to this State from New 
 York in an early daj-. For nearly fifty years she 
 was her husband's cherished com()anion, but on 
 May 21, 1887, she was called away by death. To 
 Mr. and Mrs. Storm three children were bfirn who 
 are named respective!}', Garry, Charles and George. 
 The latter still resides l)eneatli the parental roof. 
 Charles married Rosetta Bery and had two children 
 — Clarence and Mary. His grandson Clarence 
 when .about fourteen years old lost his life in tiie 
 attempt to save a companion from diowning. 
 
 Mr. Storm has always voted a Democratic ticket 
 and attended the town meetings, but taken no 
 active part in political work. He was reared under 
 the tenets of the Methodist Eiiiscopal Church, but 
 has never united with any religious body. 
 
 /^ O.SCAR THOMPSON is perhai,s as well 
 [ip^ known as any resident in Ionia, Ionia 
 ^^^' County, as he has been prominent in church 
 work and has filled public positions of responsi- 
 bilitj'. He came here in early manhood and for a 
 lime had charge of the public schools. He had 
 begun teaching at the early age of eighteen years 
 and carried on the work for a decade, principally 
 in the winter. He was born in Genesee County-, 
 N. Y., August .30, 1827, and spent his boyhood and 
 youth upon a farm. He was so fortunate as to 
 have excellent school privileges, taking the higher 
 l)ranches in Alexander Academy in New York and 
 in what is now Hillsdale College, this .State. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Chauncy and 
 
 Clarissii (Reynolils) Thompson, who were born in 
 Vermont and New York respectively, and the 
 former of whom belonged to a family that came 
 originally from England and was among the first 
 settlers in New England. In 1847 the Thompsons 
 came to tiiis State, the family at that time consist- 
 ing of husband, wife and six children. Mr. Thomp- 
 son died here November 5, 185.5; his widow lived 
 to be eighty-five years old, passing away May 1, 
 1888. The surviving children are Mrs. Lucetta 
 Freeman of Ionia; Mrs. Laura M. Mills of San 
 Jose, Cal.; Mrs. Loretta T. Schuberth, also of San 
 Jose; and the son who is the subject of this 
 biograph}'. The father was a farmer and occupied 
 property near the city of Ionia. 
 
 The first work of our subject In this county has 
 been already mentioned. In 1S5G he was elected 
 Registrar and following this he w.is Dei)uty Count}' 
 Tre.asurer until 1861 when he went to Washington, 
 I). C, as clerk in the General Land Office. After a 
 time, upon solicitation of the Pension Commis- 
 sioner, he was transferred to the Pension Bureau, 
 where he remained until the close of the war. He 
 tiien returned to Ionia, saying that there were many 
 deserving men who had lost limbs in their country's 
 service, but were not incap.acitated for such work 
 .as he had been doing, and that able-bodied men 
 should give wa}' to them. 
 
 Upon reaching his old home Mr. Thompson m.ade 
 arrangements for going into the dry-goods business 
 with E. S. Johnson, but the venture did not prove 
 successful and he lost the $3,000 he had invested. 
 He had been appointed Revenue Inspector and paid 
 but little personal attention to the dry-goods trade. 
 He subsequei\tly became clerk to the Revenue 
 Assessor and did all the work of the office, holding 
 the place until the law w.as modified so as to put 
 the business into the hands of a Collector. He 
 then entered u|)on the real estate and insurance 
 business, which he followed until 1877, when he 
 received the appointment of Treasurer of the State 
 House of Correction and Reformatory ami of the 
 Michigan Asylum for insane criminals at Ionia. 
 These ofTices were held by Mr. Thompson until 
 1881, when he again entered mion a private busi- 
 ness life, engaging in the disposal of real estate and 
 making loans. 
 
286 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 The wife of Mr. Thompson was known in her 
 inaidenliood as Miss Mary Burgess, and was for- 
 merly a resident of Eureka, tliis State. Their mar- 
 riage took place May 22, 1852, and their home has 
 been gladdened by the presence of live children, 
 but two only are now living — Louis and Cassie, 
 both under the parental roof. Mr. Thompson is a 
 standi Republican in politics. He is a reliable, 
 public-spirited citizen and one whose example is 
 wortliy of emulation. He is an Elder in the Pres- 
 byterian Church, a position he has held twenty- 
 five years, and is also Clerk. 
 
 In connection witii this biographical notice, a 
 lithographic portrait of Mr. Thompson is presented 
 to our readers. 
 
 )YRON E. HESS, M. D., one of the pronii- 
 Y nent physicians of Ionia County practicing 
 medicine at Clarksviile, was born at Corn- 
 ing, Steuben County, N. Y., December 28. 
 1836. His parents were Dioclesion and Lydia A. 
 (Gaylord) Hess. The father was a native of New 
 York and was of German descent. His grandfather 
 served in the War of 1812, and his great-grandfather 
 was killed in a battle with the Indians. The mother 
 of our subject was a native of Connecticut. The pa- 
 rental home was in New York until in 18.37 when 
 Mr. Hess came Westand in 1838 the family removed 
 to Michigan, purchasing two hundred and forty 
 acres of land in Boston Township, Ionia County. 
 Mr. Hess built a log house on his farm into which lie 
 moved his family and commenced the work of 
 clearing and improving his land. In 1848 he sold 
 this farm and purchased one near Saranac. Here 
 he resided until May 12, 1851, when he died at 
 the age of forty-one years. His wife survived him 
 until October 1887, when she passed .away at the 
 age of seventy years. In politics he was a Whig. 
 Both he and his good wife were earnest and useful 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church Tliey 
 were the parents of six children, five of whom sur- 
 vive them, namely: Byron E. ; Henry H. residing 
 in Henry County, Iowa; Oliver, a lawyer at Lamar, 
 Col.; Lydia A., Mrs. Prescot, residing at Oakland, 
 
 Cal., and Diantha, Mrs. Peter Hill, who makes her 
 home at Carthage, Mo. 
 
 Byron E. Hess was hroughl by his parents to 
 Ionia Countj' when only eighteen months old. At 
 the death of his father he took charge of the fam- 
 ily as he was the oldest son and heavy responsibil- 
 ities devolved upon him. He had seduously im- 
 proved all opiiortunities for education provided 
 by the district schools and devoted to study what 
 time he was able to take from home duties. When 
 the Civil War broke out he gave over into the 
 hands of his younger brothers, the care of the fam- 
 ily and the farm duties and enlisted in Comi)any 
 D, Tliird Michigan Infantry. He was mustered 
 into the service June 10, 1861, under the command 
 of Capt. Moses B. Houghton. He saw severe ser- 
 vice and participated in man}' hard-fought battles, 
 among wiiich was the battle of .Stoneman's BV)rd 
 on nearly the same site where the battle of P.uU Run 
 occurred. It was fought a few days previous to that 
 famous battle, in which he also took part. He was 
 also at the battles of Ball's Bluff and Yorklown, Wil- 
 liamsburg and Seven Pines. He was in McCleilan's 
 seven-days' fight, when he returned from Seven 
 Pines to Harrison's Landing. 
 
 In the second battle of Bull Run the subject of this 
 sketch was severelj' wounded, being shot through 
 the left breast and left Tirm. The battle com- 
 menced Thursdaj' evening and about two o'clock 
 on Eriday afternoon he was acting as Lieuten- 
 ant, and wliile making a charge against Jackson's 
 corps he was wounded and fell on the battlefield 
 where the opposing lines were within ten feet of 
 each other. After tliis engagement but six men 
 of this company returned to tell the tale. Lieut. 
 Hess lay on the battlefield wounded and helpless for 
 five daj'S. When he first became conscious he found 
 he was. lying on the top of a small grade, with the 
 enemy on one side and the Union forces on the 
 other. Very heavy firing was going on; he man- 
 aged to crawl down the embankment to a little 
 safer place. In a short time the Union forces were 
 driven back and the enemy came rushing over the 
 grade at the foot of which lay a large number of 
 dead and wounded. The enemy stopped and asked 
 many of them if they were wounded, and on proof 
 of that would pass along, but unprincipled strag- 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOURAPHICAL AL15UM. 
 
 287 
 
 glers in tlie rear made raids upon the dead and 
 helpless men, taking from them tlieir valunblcs. One 
 man took from our suffering friend his boots and 
 hat. Next it was the turn for the rebels to be forced 
 to retreat. The wounded men were faint witii loss 
 of blood and parched with thirst. The}' were beg- 
 ging for water and felt tiiey were dying of thirst. 
 During the retreat of the enemy one Southern sol- 
 dier heard the cries of the helpless ones for water, 
 and amidst the fire of the Union forces stopped to 
 see what lie could do for his suffering enemies; the 
 bullets were Hying like hail. This noble soldier 
 laid down his gun and gathering up a number of 
 canteens which wore strewn upon the ground 
 brought them filled with water to the thirst-stricken 
 sufferers. Soothed bj- this act of kindness and the 
 health-giving water our subject became more quiet; 
 he soon became unconscious again and knew noth- 
 ing of the events of the night. Earlj' tiic next 
 morning he saw ap|»roaching him a small detach- 
 ment of Southern soldiers in command of an ollicer. 
 He called to him and begged to be taken to tiie 
 Union lines, which were only about sixty rods away. 
 The wounded man promised the oflicer 1 100 if he 
 would do this, as he could see that there were 
 preparations on foot for another day of warfare, 
 and he knew that he was on the ground wiiich 
 would be run over by both armies. The rebel 
 odieer answered him kindly and promised to attend 
 to him. He returned very soon with four men and 
 a stretcher, upon which they carried Lieut. Hess, 
 not to the Union lines but half a. mile in the rear 
 wliere they laid him down in the woods and bade 
 him good bye. 
 
 The chances for life seenuMl very small to our 
 hero. He lay on the ground all day, at times con- 
 scious and watchful of what was going on about 
 him, but often entirely unconscious of his sur- 
 roundings. The booming of the cannon and the 
 rattle of musketry came to him from without the 
 •woods. He slept at night and on the following 
 morning found that many of his own comrades lay 
 wounded and dying about him. During the day 
 he was picked up by a comrade, Christian IJerrin- 
 ger, who had been searching for him by special 
 permission from the ollicer of the field, he being a 
 prisoner at llie time. Bringing a stretcher and 
 
 some more men he carried him as gently as possi- 
 ble to the stream. They met a man who had in 
 his hand some hoe cake and broiled fish. He kindly 
 gave a part of his food to the wounded man who 
 was too weak to eat it. He had swallowed no food 
 and almost no water for three days and had lost 
 much blood by his wound. They laid him down 
 near the stream of Bull Run with nine other ollicers 
 whom they had found, and there they rcmaineil 
 until Wednesday night, being for five daj's with 
 no protection from the storm except a blanket. 
 
 On the evening of Wednesday they were picked 
 uj) by the ambulance wagons and Lieut. Hess taken 
 to Emery Hosi)ital at Washington, where he re- 
 mained about four weeks, during which time his 
 wounds received most skillful attention. But his 
 condition was indec(l a serious one. The prolonged 
 exposure following upon the serious flesh wound 
 had induced com|)lications which were diflicult to 
 meet. The llesh of his arm on the under side from 
 near the shoulder to the elbow had dropped off. 
 In the Armory Scjuare llositital to which he was 
 removed, they tried the experiment of drawing 
 flesh around from the front side, hoping to make 
 it grow over the bone. Dr. I). W. Bliss had him 
 transferred to his house where he remained for 
 nearly two months. He was then comfortable 
 enough to go home and received a leave of absence. 
 He went to his mother who resides at Como. HI., 
 where he remained about six weeks. 
 
 Our hero returned to Saranac to visit the girl 
 he left behind him — Mary E. Champlin. This 
 loyal daughter of America now consented to unite 
 her life with that of this brave defender of our flag 
 and February 21, 18G;i^ their marriage took place. 
 In Ai)ril the hope which had been entertained that 
 his arm might be saved, was at last abandoned 
 and it was amputated at the shoulder by Dr. II. II. 
 I'owcr. After recovering from this operation he 
 returned to Washington and May 20, 18fi3, was 
 retired from active service, but March 25, lHGI,he 
 was transferred b}' Abraham Lincoln to the A'eteran 
 Reserve Cor|)S, where he took rank as Second Lieu- 
 tenant. In this capacity he served until Octol)er 
 6, 18G6, when he was honorabi}- discharged. 
 
 I'pon leaving the service Lieut. Hess made his 
 home in Saranac, and sindifd mcilicine with his 
 
288 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 faithful friend and good surgeon, Dr. Power. Dur- 
 ing the winter of 1876-77 he attended the St. Louis 
 Medical College, and tlie following season was a 
 student in the Missouri Medical College in the 
 same city. He then returned toSaranacand began 
 to practice medicine. Two years later he removed 
 to Bonanza, now called Lake Odessa, but after a 
 practice there of four j-ears he removed to Clarks- 
 ville and engaged in the double business of the 
 practice of medicine and the keeping of a drug- 
 store, and in which he has built up a lucrative 
 business. For three years he was Postmaster at 
 Clarksville. He was formerly a member of the 
 Republican party but is now a Democrat. He is a 
 member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Dr. 
 and Mrs. Hess are the parents of five children: 
 Edwin ,l.,who resides in Des Moines, Iowa; Wil- 
 lard, Frederick R., Allie E. and Iva E. This fam- 
 ily is well known tiiroughout the count3' and held 
 in the liighest esteem by all. 
 
 (| IfcALTER MAYES. It seems but a short 
 \/\j// time since Montcalm County was covered 
 ^^^ with heavy forests and resounded with the 
 blows of the woodman's axe. Now a large part of 
 it consists of well-developed farms and in many lo- 
 calities beautiful buildings and other evidences of 
 prosperity and refinement are to be seen. The 
 home of Mr. Mayes is on a well-i-cgulated estate in 
 Crystal Township consisting of two hundred and 
 forty acres. Here is to be seen a fine two-story 
 dwelling containing thirteen rooms, which was 
 built by our subject, anil is furnished in accord- 
 ance with the means and taste of the family that 
 occupies it. Among the outbuildings are two large 
 barns that afl'ord shelter for fine stock and the 
 requisite fodder. 
 
 Mr. Mayes was born in Delaware County, N. Y., 
 February 11, 1843, and is a son of P^dmond and 
 Hannah (Mulnynex) Mayes. His parents were 
 born in the Empire State and his father was a 
 farmer. When Walter was but eleven years old 
 his father died and he was obliged to take up the 
 burdens of manhood and labor for the support of 
 
 the family. He had but meagre opportunities to 
 obtain an education, as he could onlj- attend school 
 during the winter months. In 1862 he came to 
 this State and located in Reynolds Township, Ionia 
 County'. There he was pursuing an industrious 
 course when he determined to enter the Union 
 Army, and in December, 1863, he enlisted in the 
 First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. He was 
 sent to Bridgeport, Ala., and took part in the build- 
 ing of fortifications, warehouses and other kinds of 
 constructive work, including bridges. He did not 
 take part as a fighter in any engagement but was 
 drilled to a limited extent, it being the custom to 
 prepare the engineers' corps for defensive measures 
 should it be necessary. Being taken sick, Mr. 
 Mayes was sent to the general hospital at Madison, 
 Ind., and he was finally disciiarged in Ma3', 1865, 
 under a general order from that institution. 
 
 After his discharge Mr. Mayes returned direct 
 to Ionia County, but he was so disabled that he 
 could not engage in farming until the spring of 
 1867. He then cleared a tract of eighty acres, on 
 which he lived until the fall of 1877,and then bought 
 his present farm, or rather one hundred and sixty 
 acres of it, afterward adding the balance. He 
 found only a garden patch cleared and he h.as had 
 much to do in preparing the orginal homestead for 
 cultivation. In addition to this property he has 
 one hundred and twenty acres in Evergreen Town- 
 ship, which he intends to ultimately use for sheep 
 pasturage. He keeps from eighty to one hundred 
 head of sheep and a good supply of Short-horn 
 cattle. He pays littlp attention to fine breeding, 
 but likes good stock, and aims to keep only the 
 best. 
 
 An interesting eeremon}' took place May 2, 1868, 
 it being the marriage of Mr. Mayes and Miss 
 Rachel Weaver, of Bloomer Township. IMr. and 
 Mrs. Mayes have had eight children, two of whom, 
 Witselland Ida, died in infancy. The survivors are 
 Delbert, born September 26, 1869; Wilber, March' 
 28, 1871; Nelia, October 19, 1873; John, April 23, 
 1874; Matthew, December 25, 1883; and Blaine, 
 .lanuary 20, 1886. All are with their parents ex- 
 cept Wilber, who is now attending college at Alma. 
 
 Like all good citizens and progressive men Mr. 
 Mayes is anxious that good schools should prevail, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 289 
 
 and lie and bis wife have shown mucli interest in 
 the mental progress of their children. Both hiis- 
 bniid and wife belong to the Baptist Church, and 
 it is their endeavor to live in accordance with the 
 l)rofession the^- have made. Mr. Mayes is looked 
 upon as one of the best fanners in the vicinity and 
 as a citizen of intelligence and reliability. 
 
 JABEZ H. CLARK. The connection of this 
 gentleman with the affairs of Ionia County 
 began in 1819, when Orleans Township was 
 but sparsely settled and arduous tod was 
 needed to bring property under cultivation. Mr. 
 Clark not only cleared laud for himself but did 
 much similar work for others, and indeed his whole 
 life has been marked with industry and persever- 
 ance. His first purchase here was of eighty acres 
 on section 28, and he lias since added sixty-live 
 acres. Upon this estate he has lived since his mar- 
 riage. He has also a dwelling and an acre of land 
 in the village of Orleans. 
 
 From Holland, Elias Clark, grandfather of our 
 subject, emigrated prior to the Revolution, during 
 wliich he abandoned the plow to battle for freedom 
 as a Minute Man. His home during the greater 
 part of his life was in New York, but his last days 
 were spent with a daughter in Pennsylvania. He 
 lived to be more than one hundred years of age. 
 His son Peter, father of our subject,was born in New 
 York and remained in that State until he had reare<I 
 a large family. He was married in 1811 to Han- 
 nah Taylor, a Revolutionary soldier's daughter, 
 wlio had emigrated to this country from Scotland. 
 The children of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Clark were 
 named Stephen, Lucinda, Margaret, Jonathan, 
 Mary IL, Jessie J., Phebe F., Lydia, William Loyal, 
 Jabcz II., Charles, Russell, Peter and Hannah P. 
 
 From his native Stale Peter Clark removed to 
 Ohio and in Medina County he lived about eigh- 
 teen years. He then came to Ionia County, this 
 Slate, where he made his home until his demise, 
 which occurred in 18o7. His faithful wife had died 
 two years before. Both belonged to the Baptist 
 Church. On coming to this State Mr. Clark 
 
 bought two hundred and forty acres in Orleans 
 Township, but at his death he owned but eighty 
 acres, having sold the balance. He was a carpen- 
 ter anil never farmed much, although besides buy- 
 ing the property menlioijed he li.ad taken up one 
 hundred and si.xty acres iij Montcalm County when 
 he came hither. 
 
 The gentleman whose name introduces these 
 paragraphs was born in the Empire State August 
 15, 1827, and remained with his father until he 
 was twenty-nine years old. His education was ob- 
 tained in Ohio and was quite good for the period. 
 His marriage to Margaret Crawford took place at 
 Esq. Kellogg's home August 17, 185G. She was a 
 daughter of James Crawford, who was born in Scot- 
 land and is now living in Easton Township, Ionia 
 County. Mrs. Clark died June 23, 1857. A sec- 
 ond marriage was made by Mr. Clark December 2, 
 1857, his bride being Miss Sarah Johnson, daugh- 
 ter of Otis and Sarah (Plumstead) Johnson, who 
 were natives of New York. Mrs. Sarah Clark is 
 the seventh in a family of fourteen sons and daugli- 
 Icrs. Her union with our subject has resulted in 
 the birth of the following children: Marion, Bert- 
 ram, Jenny, Nettie, Cliailes, Fred, Leonard and 
 Edith, of whom all are living except Maritni and 
 Nettie. 
 
 Mr. Clark has always voted with the Denaocratic 
 party. He served one term as Constable. He was 
 formerly a member of the Grange. His religious 
 belief is that of tlie Methodist Church, but he is not 
 a member of that body. His wife has been con- 
 nected with the Free Methodist Church. 
 
 ylLLIAM E. SPENCER. A good rank 
 among the farmers of Ionia County is held 
 by the gentleman above named, whose 
 home is on section 23, Olisco Township. Here he 
 has forty acres of fertile land on which he raises 
 good crops, and which is the center of his extensive 
 business as an apple dryer. Mr. Spencer is also 
 engaged in dairying, milking about twenty cows 
 and supplying the town of Belding with milk. Mr. 
 S[)enccr was born in Livingston County, N. Y., 
 
290 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 April 6, 1854, and was a little lad of six years 
 when his parents came West. He has spent most 
 of tiie ensuing years in Ionia County and has been 
 engaged in farming during the greater part of the 
 time. 
 
 Our subject is the son of Col. George C. Spencer, 
 who was born in New York and lived there until 
 18G0. He then came to this State and bouglit 
 three hundred acres of land which he operated, 
 altliough prior to his death he had reduced his 
 estate to one hundred and fifty acres. At that 
 time he also owned a gristmill at Smyrna, lie was 
 not only a f.irmer, but a lawyer, and having been 
 admitted to the bar in Ionia County he practiced 
 as long as he lived. He also bought and sold 
 grain and wool and was quite an extensive shipper 
 of those commodities. He lived to a goodly age, 
 dying in 1882. His widow survives and is now 
 sixty-seven years of age. Her home is in Oakland 
 County. This lady is a native of New York and 
 bore the maiden name of Almira Gould. She is 
 the mother of three children — Emma, Charles and 
 William E. Charles is in Minneapolis; Eimmai 
 Mrs. Just, lives in this Slate. By a former mar- 
 riage to Anna Hartson, the father of our subject 
 had six ciiildren — Jane, Ellen, Frank, Sidney, 
 Albert and Annette. 
 
 The gentleman of whom we write remained with 
 liis parents until he was of age and then turned his 
 attention to farming as the means through which 
 he was to gain a maintenance and add to the use- 
 fulness of his life. In 1882 he went to Grand 
 Forks Countj-, N. Dak., and buying three hundred 
 and twenty acres of land he followed his vocation 
 there some five years. He then returned to this 
 State and located on the old homestead, but ere 
 long he sold it and bought forty acres w^iere he is 
 now living. He was formerly engaged in the sale 
 of merchandise in Coral for a twelvemonth, but 
 with that exception and some three years — from 
 1862 until the close of the war — during which he 
 carried the mail from Smyrna to Cook's Corners, 
 he has given his entire attention to agriculture. 
 
 Mr. Spencer and Miss Lucy Campbell were united 
 in marriage April 21, 1872. Mrs. Spencer is the 
 second child of Henry and Anna (Smith) Cam|)bell 
 and her father was a sou of one of the first settlers 
 
 of Macomb County, which was his birthplace. Mrs. 
 Campbell was a native of New Y'ork. Mrs. Spencer 
 is a well-educated lady, skilled in domestic knowl- 
 edge, and devoted to the interests of her family 
 and cordial in her relations to neighbors and 
 acquaintances. The children born to her are Fred 
 C, Jessie E. and George C, all living at home, 
 although Fred is clerking in the post-olHcc at 
 Belding. 
 
 The schooling of Mr. Spencer was obtained in 
 the common schools of Ionia County, but his fund 
 of information has beeu greatly extended by his 
 perusal of public journals. He is a believer in and 
 a sui)porter of the princii)les of the Democratic 
 party. His life is char.acterized by energ}', honesty 
 and good.will, and his standing in the community 
 is assured. 
 
 ^OBLE H. GILMOKE was one of the boy 
 pioneers of Sidney Township, Montcalm 
 4 County, who endured hardships and encoun- 
 tered struggles whicii are almost incredible when 
 told in the ears of the children of the present day. 
 He was born June 20, 1839, in Nelson, Portage 
 County, Ohio, and is the son of Henry H. and 
 Lucy (Merwin) Gilmore. His early life was spent 
 In the rural districts, and Ids advantages for an 
 education were very limited. Four terms of school 
 were all that he was able to improve. At the age 
 of eleven years he was hired out to John Spencer, 
 with whom he was to reside until he reached his 
 majority, but on the death of Mr. S|)encer two 
 j'ears later he was released from this obligation and 
 returned home. 
 
 In 1854 our subject's father and elder brother 
 started for the wilds of Michigan with a horse and 
 single buggy; he accompanied them. A good 
 share of the way they had to relieve their faithful 
 beast by traveling on foot. They came to Fair- 
 plains Township, and having located they shoul- 
 dered their axes and started into the wilderness to 
 chop trees. They had to walk three miles in going 
 to and from their work with the snow sixteen 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 291 
 
 incbes deep. They preempted one hundred and 
 
 sixl}' iicres, built a loy lie.^i) and set it on fire. They 
 thus elTceted a small clearing, upun which liiey built 
 a house. In the corners of this hut they i)ile(l heaps 
 of pine needles and there made their beds. A little 
 later they split some rails and laid a floor. After 
 one year and three months they were able to take 
 up the land under the Graduation Act, and paid 
 |;1.25 per acre. Tiiey earned the money for liiis 
 purchase by making shingles for |i 1.25 per thousand, 
 living largely' on venison. One year thej- were so 
 reduced in circumstances that they had to de|)en(i 
 upon the .State authorities for food. 
 
 March 8. 18G3, marked an epoch in the life of 
 this young man. He was then united in matrimony 
 with Jliss Melvina Armstrong, and they became 
 the parents of si.x children, all of whom survive, 
 namely: Lydia J., born May 7, 18G4; AVilliam II., 
 October 27. 18G6; Clarmena, born October 4, 18G8, 
 died February 21, 18G9; Alta M.,born October 10, 
 1870; Nina, October 19, 187G; Edith, May 5, 
 1881; and Chux, September 30, 1885. 
 
 Like thousands of the young men of that day 
 Mr. Gilmore responded to the call of his country 
 during the Civil War, and in 1865 enlisted in Com- 
 pany G, Eighth Michigan Infantry. He was sent 
 to Petersburg, \a., where he tlid picket duty for 
 six months. He w.as then put into the thickest of 
 the conflict, and fought at the battle of Ft. Stead- 
 man and was in at the final charge on Petersburg, 
 and was mustered out at Washington, in July, 
 1865. He returned to Detroit where he remained 
 three weeks waiting for his pa 3-. He was taken sick 
 and confined to his bed for twelve months with a 
 chronic ailment. 
 
 Our subject was not the only patriotic member 
 of this family, as he had two brothers in the same 
 regiment, and his father wa.s in the Fourteenth 
 regiment. He has never recovered health since his 
 army experience. Notwithstanding physical infir- 
 mity he has cleared a farm of eighty acres and has 
 it well improved. When times were so very hard 
 in the early days he was considered an expert in 
 getting out shingles. He would shave as many as 
 five thousand a day, while an ordinary task was one 
 thousand per day. He shaved in all eight hundred 
 thousand, and finished the shingles for the original 
 
 court house in Montcalm County. He has been 
 Pathinaster for two years and School Moderator 
 three years. Anyone who sees the beautiful home 
 and well-kept farm of Mr. Gilmore can hardly be- 
 lieve that he is the man who, no longer ago than 
 1854, travejed with his brother on foot to Lake 
 Michigan, searcliing for work and slee[>ing in the 
 dense forest at night, with a bundle of bread under 
 their heads and wolves howling around them. 
 Our subject was the first settler in this townsiiip, 
 and on his farm tiic first tree was cut by himself, 
 father and brother in the fall of 1851. 
 
 •^^ 
 
 E^^ 
 
 LMERON NEWMAN. Few who view 
 with admiration the thriving towns and 
 !< fruitful expanse of farm lands of Ionia 
 County realize by what ardor of physical 
 toil, strength of mind and hopefulness of heart the 
 country was brought to its present condition. Yet 
 there are some still living here who have partici- 
 pated in pioneer scenes or heard them recounted 
 by those who bore a part and who therefore under- 
 stand fully all that was undergone b^- the brave 
 and vigorous men and women who le<l the van- 
 guard of civilization. Aniung those to whom 
 this section owes lasting gratitude for services ren- 
 dered in opening up the countr}', is he whose name 
 introduces these paragraphs and whose memory is 
 held in honor wherever he was known. 
 
 Mr. Newman was born in Ontario County, N. Y., 
 February 2G, 1804, and on attaining his majority 
 established a woolen-mill in his native State. Tales 
 of the fertility of the Griind River Valley in Mich- 
 igan reached his ears and in the spring of 1836 he 
 immigrated to the new countr}^ with his wife and 
 three small children. They traveled toward the 
 setting sun with an ox-team and landed at the con- 
 fluence of the Looking Glassand (Jrand River when 
 this section was a dense wilderness in which Indians 
 and wild beasts abounded and but one white fam- 
 ily had advanced before them. With little means, 
 but strong hands and willing hearts, and the bravery 
 and fortitude so characteristic of the early settlers, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Newman establisheil their humo in a 
 
292 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 little shanty near the confluence of the streams. 
 Shortly aft^r a more substantial log house was 
 erected on the north side of tiie Looking Glass 
 River and there the remainder of the lives of the 
 worthy pioneer couple was spent and the joys and 
 sorrows of a half century witnessed. 
 
 Tlie life of Mr. Newman was one of more than 
 usual activity, as in addition to developing and 
 carrying on a good-sized farm, he erected a 
 siwmill. In tliis was placed a small set of 
 burrs, by means of which the lirst grind- 
 ing was done in Portland Township. This was 
 tlie only mill witliin a long distance for many 
 years, and before its erection flour and meal i)ad to 
 be carted from Detroit or brought on flat boats 
 from Grand Haven. IMr. Newman's half-brother, 
 James, was a partner in the gristmill. He also 
 erected a carding and cloth-dressing mill, which he 
 operated with llie assistance of the older boys for a 
 number of years. It was of much value in the new 
 country and financially satisfactory to himself. 
 Later lie sold it to Stilson Brothers. Mr. Newman 
 was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Mutual 
 Fire Insurance Company of Ionia Countj- and 
 served as Director for many years. He was largely 
 instrumental in incorporating the village of Port- 
 land and was one of the first trustees of the place. 
 
 In addition to his active business life, Mr. New- 
 man was soon serving the people in public capaci- 
 ties and for many years he held public oflice. At 
 the first town meeting he was elected Clerk, a posi- 
 tion he held longer ihan any other man has done. 
 At the same time he was elected Justice of the 
 Peace — a position he was well qualified to fill, as he 
 had served in that capacity in the Empire State. 
 So well did he discharge the duties of the oHIce 
 that he was retained nearly forty years, his resig- 
 nation being finally accepted in 1873. It was char- 
 acteristic of hira to counsel i)eace. In the few ca- 
 ses that were carried up to higher courts not one of 
 his rulings were reversed. 
 
 Under the first constitution of the State Mr. New- 
 man was elected Associate Judge of the Circuit 
 Court and in 1858 he was sent to Lansing as a rep- 
 resentative and in the legislative body was regarded 
 as one of its best working members. He was largely 
 instrumental in securing the railroad through the 
 
 township and not only procured the right of wa3' 
 but donated $1,000 to the project. He also do- 
 nated $800 to the proposed railroad which never 
 came. In religion he was a life-long Universalist 
 and a Deacon of the Church, until his death doing 
 as much as and perhaps more than any one person 
 for its welfare. He and his brother James were 
 mainly instrumental in the erection of the church 
 building. This useful life was brought to a close 
 November 14, 1876, and at the age of seventy-two 
 years this venerable pioneer went to his reward. 
 
 The faithful wife of Mr. Newman preceded him 
 to the silent land one year. She was a native of 
 the same State as himself and was known in her 
 maidenhood as Miss Laura Berry. Of the family 
 of the honored couple a daughter. Elmina E., died 
 in infancy. The others are Newton, who died 
 soon after reaching his majority-; Frank, now a 
 farmer in Dakota; Jane, now the widow of Oscar 
 Hamlin; Edgar, a private in Company D, Ninth 
 Michigan Infantry, who served his country in bat- 
 tles and marches for more than two years and died 
 under the parental roof while at home on sick fur- 
 lough; Frederick, a farmer of Portland Township; 
 William, who died in early manhood; John G., who 
 is represented in this volume; and Asa, a hardware 
 dealer in Portland. 
 
 GRIFFITH MILLER, D. D. S., is one of 
 the professional men of Ionia, who arc do- 
 ing good work in their chosen fields, and 
 can rejoice in a fair degree of worldly pros- 
 perity. Dr. Miller is quite a young man, and has 
 been engaged in the practice of dentistry but a few 
 years, but he is a skillful workman who founds his 
 practices upon a deep knowledge of those sciences 
 which pertain thereto, and the experiences of those 
 who have preceded him in this work. His oflice is 
 well supplied with the latest appliances for dental 
 work, but not the least of the causes of his success 
 is to be found in his own industry and application. 
 Dr. Miller was born in Canandaigua, Ontario 
 County, N. Y., in 1865, and was left an orphan at 
 the age of one year, and thrown entirely on his 
 
A 
 
 
 % \^J 
 
 4.L (htHyi/l/) 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALCUM. 
 
 2'J5 
 
 own resources. His parents were the Rev. Samuel 
 and Anna Miller, natives of New York, and bis fa- 
 ther was a faithful worker in the Gcisi)el field for 
 many years. He was connected with tlie Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 hike many another lad left without home or 
 means, Dr. Miller found life was not a bed of roses, 
 but he had the pluck and determination by which 
 to fight Ills way onward and upward. These quali- 
 ties and habits of industry secured to him a good 
 litcrar}' education in the Ft. Edward Collegiate In- 
 titute of New York, where he was graduated iu 
 1882. He mastered the knowledge of dental sur- 
 gery-, and took his degree of D. D. S. from Indiana 
 College of Dental Surgery in the Class of '85, In- 
 dianapolis, Ind. 
 
 In 188G Dr. Miller came to Ionia, opened an 
 olHcc, and almost immediately began to meet with 
 success. He has a pleasant home where he enjoj's 
 the companionship of an educated and cultured wife, 
 to whom he was married in 1889. She bore the 
 maiden name of E. May King, and is a native of 
 the Empire State. The 3'oung couple draw around 
 them the best societj' of the city, their own' social 
 qualities being conspicuous and their characters 
 upright. 
 
 fi_^()N. JACOB M. BENEDICT. This gentle- 
 man has been a potent factor in elevating 
 the agricultural status of Ionia County-, and 
 especially of Portland Township, in which 
 he has long resided. In the paternal line he is of 
 English ancestry, but the spirit that actuated the 
 Colonists in making a declaration of indcpcndeiice 
 from the mother country' has been plainly shown 
 in his progenitors. His grandfatlier was a home 
 guard during the Revolution and his father was a 
 soldier during the War of 1812 and took part in 
 the battle of Plattsburg. The latter, John Bene- 
 dict, married Phcebe Taylor, and in 18.51 came 
 with his family to Tecumseh, this State. He died 
 there in 1862 and his widow breathed her last in 
 1875. Their mortal rciuains lie side by side in 
 
 wliat is known as the Raisin cemetery in Lenawee 
 
 Count}'. 
 
 The birth of our subject took [jlace in Orange 
 County, N. Y., July 2G, 1832. He was reared on 
 the farm and pursued his studies in the log school- 
 house, whose description has become stereotj'ped 
 on the pages of history. Not being satisfied with 
 his meager opportunities Mr. Benedict began a 
 course of study after he was of age, but was 
 obliged to abandon it on account of his e^'es. The 
 loss thus incurred was sadly felt, but has been made 
 up to a large extent by continual reading and there 
 was scarcel}' a night in twenty years that he did 
 not devote from two to six hours to the perusal of 
 papers and books. Since arriving at man's estate 
 Mr. Benedict lias been a farmer, but for four years 
 he was also engaged in the manufacture and sale 
 uf agricultural implements at Portland. 
 
 November 29, 1860, Mr. Benedict was united in 
 marriage with Miss Nancy E., daughter of David 
 and Minerva Bernard. The bride's parents were 
 of English descent and natives of the Empire State, 
 in wliich they lived mc>st of their lives. Their 
 daughter Nancy was born in Kalamazoo. Mich., but 
 from the age of three to sixteen j'ears lived in the 
 lunpire State. She acquired a good preliminary 
 education in the district school and supplemented 
 it by a year's course of study in the select school 
 of Miss Chapin. After completing this course she 
 was engaged in teacliing until her marriage. She 
 is the mother of five children, but one only is liv- 
 ing — Lee M., who was born August 17, 1874, and 
 is now attending the High School in Portland. 
 
 In 1874 Mr. Benedict was the Democratic nomi- 
 nee for Representative in the first district of Ionia 
 County, and was elected by a majority of one hun- 
 dred and eighty-six, although the Republican ma- 
 jorit}- at the previous election had been eight 
 hundred and sixt}'. P'or two years he served his 
 constituents faithfully and well, and it was largely 
 to him that the erection of the State Prison at 
 Ionia was due. In various other ways he found 
 opportunity to serve bis constituency, |)articularly 
 in matters of reform and curtailment of expenses. 
 Although frequently urge<l to do so, Mr. Benedict 
 would never consent to have his name used before 
 another convention, decidedly preferring the quiet 
 
296 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of home life to the turmoil of public station. He 
 is a member of Blue Lodge No. 31, F. & A. M., iu 
 Portland, and of the Patrons of Industry and 
 Patrons of Husbandry. He lias held most of the 
 township offices from Pathrr aster to Supervisor, 
 and has also been a member of the School Board in 
 different capacities. The township is one in which 
 no political i>arty keeps a balance of power and 
 the quality of the man nominated tells in the elec- 
 tion. 
 
 A lithographic portrait of Mr. Benedict appears 
 on another i>age. 
 
 ¥'"1LLIAM A. STALEY. Among the many 
 who are successfully pursuing the voca- 
 tion of farming in Ionia County, mention 
 may be made of William A. Staley, wliose estate 
 is situated in Portland Township. Since 1875 he 
 he has devoted himself closelj^ to his farm, and has 
 proved his ability as an agriculturist, harvesting 
 abundant and varied crops, and raising the domes- 
 tic animals which are generally to be found in this 
 section of country. His estate comprises one hun- 
 dred and forty-seven fertile acres on section 7, a 
 prominent feature of which is a good orchard, 
 where fine fruits ripen in the summer sun. Tlie 
 farm is well supplied with substantial buildings and 
 is in every respect a well-regulated estate. 
 
 Valentine Staley, father of our subject, was of 
 German descent and a native of Herkimer Couuty, 
 N. Y. He ended his days in Lima, January 23, 
 1853. His widow, formerly Mary Hamilton, who 
 was of Scotch parentage and a native of New 
 York, subsequently removed to this State and died 
 at Muir, June 25, 1883. The son of whom we 
 write was born in Stafford, Genesee County, N. Y., 
 April 14, 18S4, and reared on a farm. After ob- 
 taining the instruction given in the district schools 
 lie pursued his studies in tlie Genesee Wesleyan 
 Seminary at Lima for two years. He then, at the 
 age of eighteen years, engaged as clerk in that vil- 
 lage, and there and at Fowlerville he spent five 
 years. 
 
 Our subject next came to Lyons, this State, and 
 
 after clerking for a year, traded for a stock of goods 
 and for some years gave liis attention quite largely 
 to mercantile business. From 1862 to 18G5, he was 
 also engaged in lumbering. In 18G9, he bought 
 the farm on which he is now living, and in connec- 
 tion willi his other affairs carried it on until the 
 date at wiiicli he gave his attention entirely to agri- 
 culture. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Staley and Miss C. Maria 
 Collins, was solemnized May 29, 1859. The bride 
 was a native of Livingston Count}', N. Y., and a 
 daughter of Alfred and Mary (Hill) Collins, the 
 former of whom was born in Connecticut and the 
 latter in New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Collins 
 never came West. Mrs. Staley has borne her hus- 
 band four children one of whom, tlie flrsl-born, 
 died in infancy. Charles A. operates a farm on 
 section 5, Portland Township, and his wife was 
 formerly Miss Dora Ilowe; Mary is the wife of 
 Harvey L. Benschoter, a lawyer of Portland; 
 Clarence has for some years been with the Belding 
 Befrigerator Company with headquarters at Cincin- 
 nati. Both Clarence and Charles were students in 
 Olivet College in Eaton County. 
 
 While never aggressive in politics Mr. Staley is 
 sure to be on- hand when the ballot box is open and 
 equally sure to vole a Republican ticket. He and 
 liis family are consistent members of the Congrega- 
 tional Church at Portland and are esteemed by 
 their associates in that society and by the com- 
 munity in general. 
 
 ELIEL T. GOBLE, son of EzekielandElydia 
 (Buoll) Goble, was born in New York State 
 August 15, 1836. He was an emigrant at 
 a very tender age, as he removed with his parents 
 to Richfield, Summitt County, Ohio, when only 
 six months old. His father was a farmer and a 
 blacksmith and his children consisted of our subject 
 and four girls, namely, Emeline, Susan, Hannah and 
 Lucinda. When tlie son was eigliteen years old lie 
 came to Michigan. 
 
 After spending one winter in Montcalm our sub- 
 ject returned to Ohio for eigliteen montlis and then 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 297 
 
 catnc back to Michigan. He purchased the place 
 where he now lives in 1858, cleared and uullivalcd 
 it and made many sul)stantial iniprovenienls, build- 
 inij; a good house and excellent barns and outbuild- 
 ings. The farm consists of eighty acres. 
 
 In those early days our subject indulged 
 much in hunting and fishing of whicii sport he was 
 quite fond. His marriage was celebrated on June 
 3, 18G0, when he wedded June Gilmore, whose fam- 
 ily is a pioneer one in Montcalm County. She was 
 born in Ohio, and is the mother of three children 
 — A. B., born October 21, 18GI ; Edna V., Se[)tem- 
 ber 3. 18G8; Minnie B., September 20, 1879. The 
 children are all living and at home with their par- 
 ents, except Edna V., who is married to Chauncy 
 (Jreen a thrifty young farmer of this county. 
 
 In 1862 he removed to Ohio and engaged in 
 farming and milling which he followed for seven 
 years. He then returned to Michigan where he 
 has since remained on the farm. He at one time 
 bought a large sawmill at Sidney Center and oper- 
 ated it for three years. He has held the office of 
 Highway Commisssioner and is now on the Board 
 of Heview, having served two years in that ollice. 
 He is an extensive apiarist and a stanch Democrat. 
 Mrs. tJoble is the first girl that lived in this town- 
 ship. 
 
 IRAM N. BROWN was born in the ances- 
 tral home in Ontario, Canada, July 27, 1812. 
 He is a prominent farmer and representative 
 citizen of Easton Township, Ionia County. 
 a gentleman of sound information and agreeable 
 disposition. His parents, James W. and Eleanor 
 (Bates) Brown, are Canadians of English extrac- 
 tion. He is one of ten children, all still living, 
 namely: Byron, Sarah, Hiram, Ladorna, Adeline, 
 Maria, Omer, James, Eleanor and Munsell. His 
 grandfather, Benjamin Brown, was one of the pio- 
 neers of Leeds County, Ontario, Canada. 
 
 The subject of this sketch grew to manhood 
 in the earl}' home, and received his education in 
 the public schools of Leeds County. When about 
 twenty-four years ohl he went to Orleans County, 
 
 N. Y., and worked out on a farm for about three 
 j'ears. His wages were moderate. When he en- 
 gaged by the year he was paid $250 and given his 
 board, and when he worked by the month in town 
 as clerk it was at the rate of between $40 and $45 
 l)er month with the privilege of boarding himself. 
 Besides farm work he tried his hand at clerking in 
 a store, and was also for one year in a machine- 
 shop. He went back home to find his wife, to 
 whom he was married .September 10, 1873. She 
 was Kate, daughter of George and Susanna 
 (Conolly) Thompson, and was born August IG, 
 1844. Her muther was of English descent and her 
 father of Irish lineage. They were the parents of 
 ten children, eight of whom are now living, 
 namely: William, George, Nancy, Eliza, Mary, 
 the wife of our subject, Anna and John. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born six 
 children — Alva J., Emily, Lillian, Walker, Ira and 
 Amy L. He brought his household to Ionia 
 County, Mich., in 1874. Here he owns two hun- 
 dred and thirly-five acres of excellent and product- 
 ive land, llis first purchase was eighty acres, for 
 wiiich he paid $4,000. In the accumulation of 
 property he h.ns been ably assisted by his hard- 
 working and economical wife, whose soun<l judg- 
 ment and good sense have always aided him in 
 decisions of importance. They are both valued 
 members of society and Mrs. Brown is a member 
 of the Methotlist Episcopal Church. Mr. Brown 
 has served educational interests as Moderator of 
 the S<'hool Board. They have an interesting and 
 inlclligent family of children, and among the promi- 
 nent fjimilies of Ionia County selected for repre- 
 sentation in this Ai.iiU.M we take pleasure in 
 presenting Hiram N. Brown. 
 
 II^BENEZEK WKKiHT, residing on section 
 ija 7, Orange Township, Ionia County, is one 
 ■ l i i -^ of those early farmers who, commencing 
 empty-handed and working for others to earn i)ur 
 chase money, haye acquired a good farm and estab- 
 lished a pleasant home. All is the result of their 
 
298 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 personal endeavors. Our subject is the son of 
 Oliver M. Wright, a farmer and carpenter of Che- 
 mung County, N. Y., and of Sallie W. (Goode- 
 nough) Wright, a Vermont woman. 
 
 The piirents of the subject of this biographical 
 sketch were married in New York and resided there 
 until 1841, when they removed to Michigan and 
 settled in Oakland County. In 1849 they came to 
 Ionia County and made a permanent home on sec- 
 tion 8, Orange Township. Oliver M. Wright died 
 in March, 1869. His widow still lives in this 
 township. These early and respected settlers were 
 tlie parents of eight children, four of whom are 
 now living. These were all brought up in the 
 doctrines of the Free Will Baptist Church. Their 
 father was in his early days a Whig, but in later 
 years united his interests with the Republican 
 party. Our subject, Ebcnezer, was born Septem- 
 ber 21, 183.3, in Monroe County, N. Y., and was 
 therefore seven 3'ears old when his parents removed 
 to the AV'est. His education was received in the 
 primitive schools of this State. At twenty-one 
 years of age he started out in life for himself, nnd 
 iiaving earned the mone}' with which to purchase 
 a farm, built upon it a log house, married him a 
 wife and established a home. His marrifige in 
 January, 1865, with Cellena Trowbridge, daughter 
 of William and Emma (Yates) Trowbridge, has 
 proved a happy one. Her parents were both na- 
 tives of England, who emigrated to America in 
 about 1847, and after remaining a few years in 
 Canada came to Michigan in 1850 and settled first 
 in Berlin Township, afterward making their home 
 in Campbell Township. Mr. Trowbridge died in 
 1873, the mother of Mrs. Wright having been 
 called away in 1844. The wife of our subject was 
 born October 2, 1837, and received at the hands 
 of her parents a good common-school education. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wright are both members of the 
 Baptist Church, in which he has for several years 
 been a Deacon and where he has done efficient 
 work in Sunday-school both as Superintendent and 
 teacher. His wife is also an earnest Sunday-school 
 teacher. They have not been blessed with any 
 children, but have reared the children of others. 
 One of these favored ones, Lydia .1. Sears, now 
 Mrs. Daniel Sumner, of Berlin Township, is the 
 
 mother of four children. Mr. Wright has been 
 Ruad Overseer and School Director. He is inter- 
 ested in politics and votes the Republican ticket. 
 His record as a temperance man and his good 
 qualities in every direction make him a popular 
 man in the neighborhood. 
 
 '• ' *^ 
 
 VfJOIIN T. REN WICK is a successful and 
 prosperous citizen of Keene Township, Ionia 
 County, residing on section 24. He was 
 born September 6, 1827, in St. Lawrence 
 County, N. Y. His parents, Thomas and Jane 
 Kenwick, were born in Scotland, whence thej' emi- 
 grated on their wedding day to America. They 
 resided for several years in New York State. When 
 our subject was about seven years old the parents 
 removed to Ontario, Canada, where he was reared 
 to man's estate. His educational advantages were 
 limited, and he has had to depend in later years 
 upon independent reading and study for his educa- 
 tion. 
 
 Mary Laing became the wife of our subject in 
 Ontario March 26, 1852. She is a native of New 
 York State, where she was born in Seneca, Ontario 
 County, October 23, 1827. She is the daughter of 
 Waller and Jane (Renwick) Laing, the former be- 
 ing a Scotchman and the latter an Englishwoman. 
 When about twelve years old Mrs. Renwick removed 
 with her parents to Ontario, Canada, where they 
 died. Of iier parents' four children, three survive: 
 Mrs. Renwick, Walter, and Jane (wife of Adam S. 
 Turnbuli). To the parents of our subject were 
 born five children, four of whom are living, namely : 
 Jane, Mrs. Foulks, a widow; Walter, John T., and 
 William. 
 
 Five children have blessed the home of Air. and 
 Mrs. Renwick, namely: Ellen, wife of James Ren- 
 wick; Thomas, Mary, (deceased); William and 
 Carrie. In 1854 our subject and family emigrated 
 from Canada to Ionia County, Mich., and settled 
 on what is now the Lome farm. Mr. Renwick h.is 
 done a great deal of pioneer work and has his 
 eighty acres of excellent arable land in a good 
 state of cultivation. In the accumulation of his 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 299 
 
 property he has been abl}' assisted hy liis wife who 
 ha8 been liis helpmate and counselor for years. Ills 
 political convictions are with the Rciniblican part^' 
 and in local affairs he is always in favor of move- 
 ments which are intended to elevate the community. 
 Both he and his good wife are earnest and active 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
 leading members of society. 
 
 "SIOHN W. HALLETT was born in Cato 
 Township, Cayuga County, N. Y., April 5, 
 ^^ 1846, and is a son of Isaiah and Isabella 
 i^Ji (West) Ilallett. In 1840 the father of our 
 subject was a victim of the gold fever and leaving 
 his farm, went to California to dig for gold and 
 died there. The boy went to live with a Mr. 
 Lemraon when be was eight years old, and remained 
 with him in Cayuga County, until he was seventeen 
 years of age, although after he reached the age of 
 fourteen years he was allowed to spend the summers 
 elsewhere. Up to this age lie was sent regularly to 
 school and had the same privilege during the win- 
 ters until after seventeen years of age. lie is now 
 a resident of Bloomer Township, Montcalm County. 
 
 In. July, 1864 the subject of this sketch enlisted 
 in Battery A, Third New York Light Artillery, 
 which during the first summer was stationed at 
 Newbern, N. C. Afterward the company was 
 stationed at Ft. Anderson, doing garrison duty 
 there, and afterward at Plymouth, N. C. They 
 were sent on a raiding expedition to Roanoke, 
 after which they returned to Newbern. They were 
 often sent out to head off and shut up Johnston's 
 forces but <lid not engage in any general battle 
 until the Kinston fight. They were at one time 
 detailed to guard the supplies of Gen. Sherman. 
 After Lee's surrender Mr. Ilallett was taken sick 
 with the measles and being sent to New York re- 
 ceived his honorable discharge at David's Island in 
 June, 1865. 
 
 The subject of this sketch now returned home 
 and feeling that he would be glad to fit himself 
 more fully for life's work he went to Rochester and 
 took a course in Bryant it .*>tratton's Business Col- 
 
 lege. For two years he followed farming in the 
 summers and taught school in the winters, and at 
 the age of twenty-two in the spring of 1868, be 
 came to IMichigan, and settling in Carson City went 
 into the lumber business. For two 3'ears he also 
 engaged in the manufacture of carriages at the 
 same i)lace. He was then elected Justice of the 
 Peace and with the work of that office he combined 
 for some time an insurance business. For four 
 years he was in the employ of Hall & Co., and also 
 with Heath & Miller as clerk and bookkeeper in 
 the hardware line. He finally went into partncr- 
 shi|) with Mr. Heath and the business was carried 
 on for four years under the firm name of Healli & 
 Ilallett, after which he bought out the entire busi- 
 ness and has been running it since in his own name. 
 John W. Ilallett was united in marriage Novem- 
 ber 25, 1874 to Emma LaDue of New York. They 
 have one child— Roj', who was born to them April 
 4, 1876. They are both members of the Congre- 
 gational Church and are useful and interested 
 workers in their church connection. He is wide- 
 awake on all [)olitical questions and all matters of 
 public interest and has been President of the vil- 
 lage for two terms. He owns the corner opposite 
 the Miller House and will this summer place upon 
 it a fine two-storv brick building. 
 
 "gi^^-* 
 
 ;ILLIAM M. REMINGTON, one of the 
 venerable residents of Boston Township, 
 Ionia County, and a retired farmer, was 
 born in Dutchess County, N. Y., November 30, 
 1810. He was a son of Wagar and Susannah 
 (Moslier) Remington, both natives of Dutchess 
 Countj'. The father of our subject was a manu- 
 facturer of fanning mills, and was also a dealer in 
 meat and stock. He bought largely of live stock, 
 and sliippcd it to New York City. He was carry- 
 ing on this business at the time of his death. When 
 our subject was about four 3-ears old his father was 
 on the way to New York Citj' with a drove of 
 sheep, when he was taken suddenly ill at Hyde Park 
 on the North River, and died away from home. 
 The mother died about the year 1858. William is 
 
806 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the only surviving child of his parents. After his 
 father's death he went to live with his grandfather, 
 who gave him a good common-school education. 
 At sixteen years of age he went away from home 
 to learn the shoemaker's trade. He remained with 
 his master five years and four months, and then set 
 up business for himself in Stanfordville, Dutchess 
 County, N. Y., where he remained for six years. 
 
 During the residence of our subject in Stanford- 
 ville, he was married to Ann Jeanette (Hood) Sep- 
 tember 2, 1831. They afterward removed to Per- 
 ry's Corner, N. Y., and resided there six years. He 
 then moved to Hudson, N. Y., and being compelled 
 by the condition of his health to seek out-of-door 
 exercise, he went into the teaming business and 
 ran a dray there for five years. They then re- 
 moved to Wa3'ne County, N. Y., where for three 
 3'ears he engaged in farming. He afterward pur- 
 chased a farm in Savannah Township, the same 
 county, and resided upon it for fourteen years. He 
 then sold out and purchased a farm in Cayuga 
 County, upon which he lived for three years, until 
 in 1868 he came to Michigan, locating in Boston 
 Township, Ionia County, and purchasing one hun- 
 dred and twenty acres of land where he now re- 
 sides. 
 
 There were some improvements upon this new 
 farm when William Remington took it, and he has 
 added to them so tliat it is now all under cul- 
 tivation, and well stocked. He started in life with- 
 out any help, and by hard work has secured enough 
 to enable him to spend his days in retirement. He 
 now has his farm rented, l)ut makes his home on 
 the place. He has always taken a great interest in 
 the improvements wliich have gone on about him, 
 and in tiie social and physical prosperity of the 
 county. His first vote was for Tory candidates, but 
 upon the formation of the Republican party he 
 joined it and has supported it ever since. He was 
 at one time a member of the Grange and also of 
 the Sons of Temperance. 
 
 Nine children were born to Mr. and Jlrs. Rem- 
 ington, seven of whom are living .as follows: Wagar 
 T., who resides in Ionia: Susan, the wife of Ben- 
 jamin A. Servis, who resides in Cayuga County, 
 N. Y. ; George II., a niercharft in Bangor, Mich.; 
 William M., Jr., depot agent in Bangor, Mich.; 
 
 Silas K., a merchant in Russell, Kan.; Anna, Mrs. 
 Albert P. Burr, resides in Boston Township, on a 
 farm; Hannah C, Mrs. William Hobbs, resides in 
 Antrim County, Mich. The beloved mother of 
 these children died, A[)ril 13, 1889, at the age of 
 seventy-nine years. Mr. Remington has now 
 reached the age of eighty years, and is well-known 
 and liighly respected by every one in the county. 
 
 LARENCE C. GILLEO, editor of the Lake 
 View Enterprise, was born in Winfield 
 Township, Montcalm County, October 11, 
 1861, and is the son of Isaac and Ellen (Gordan) 
 Gilleo, natives respectively of New York and 
 Pennsylvania. The father was born August 9, 
 1832, in Seneca County, N. Y., and was 
 brought up in Muskingum County, Ohio, whither 
 his parents removed when he w.as a child. Here 
 he lived until he was about twenty j'ears of 
 age, when he went back East to find his wife in Erie 
 County, Pa. He was married in 185.5, and coming 
 to this county bought one hundred and sixty acres 
 of wild land fi'om the Government for seventj'-five 
 cents per acre. He located on section 2, of what 
 is now Winfield township, where he still resides. 
 The father of our subject was one of the very earl- 
 iesr settlers in that portion of the county and he 
 had to go ahead of his teams and cut down trees 
 for them to pass through. Everything was just as 
 nature had left it. He erected a log cabin at once, 
 and began improving and making a farm. He now 
 has one of the finest and best improved places in 
 the county. He has devoted all his life to farming. 
 He came to this county as poor as a man could be 
 and for sometime worked in the sawmills of Green- 
 ville for fifty cents per day to get money to pay 
 for his farm. Greenville was his nearest market. 
 He carried his wheat there on his l>ack, a trip of 
 twenty-four miles, and when it was made into flour 
 carried it back in the same wa}'. He is a Republi- 
 can in politics and has held some minor town offices. 
 He is a member of the Ancient Order of United 
 Workmen. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Gilleo were the parents of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 five children, Clarence C, Joseph D., Lettie E. 
 (deceased), Lela E. (deceased), and Porter A. 
 Our subject was reared on his father's farm in 
 Winfield 'I'ownsliip. He receiveil his early educa- 
 tion in tlie district sciiools ami pursued his studies 
 two 3ears in tlie lligli School of Lake View. He 
 remained on the farm until nineteen years of age, 
 then came to Lake View to be in closer attendance 
 upon school and when twentj'onc years old went 
 into the printing business with T. h\ Rogers then 
 editor and [)roprietor of the Lake View Enlfrprise. 
 He continued with this gentleman as an employe 
 until October 1, 1887, when he leased the paper of 
 Mr. Rogers and in .January, 1888, he bought out 
 Mr. Rogers' interest and has since issued the paper 
 indcpenilently. 
 
 Mr. Gillco, our subject, is a Republican l)y prin 
 ciple and runs a Republican paper. It has a circu- 
 lation of about six hundred and fifty and is 
 constantly growing in reputation and influence in 
 tiie county. Tliis young editor lias been A'illage 
 Treasurer and also Township Treasurer and is at 
 present tlie ^'illage President and member of the 
 Board of Education. He is a Free and Accepted 
 Mason of the third degree and is a member of the 
 Knigiitsof the Maccabees. 
 
 The lady who presides with such grace and dig 
 nity over the household of our subject was before 
 her marriage with him, May 8, 188C, Miss Gertrude 
 Wilcox, of Greenville, Mich. .She was born in 
 Hlureka Township, Mich., and is a daughter of 
 Enoch and Mary (.Swarthout) AVilcox,one of the 
 oldest families in this county-. One charming child 
 of three years, giaces the home of tliis intelligent 
 couple. Mr. Gilleo has been a member of both 
 State an<l county conventions and belongs to the 
 Michigan Rei)ul)lican Club. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 INFIELD S. AUGST. Among the fore- 
 most farmers in Ionia County is Mr. Augst, 
 who has accomplished more in a score of 
 years than many men do in a lifetime. Having 
 begun his person.il career without capital, he lias 
 steadily worked his way upward by industry 
 
 and a worth)* ambition, and now has a good prop- 
 erty, owing no man a dollar and with sufficient 
 means well invested, to provide .against a rainy 
 day. His home is on sections 24, 25 and 2G, 
 Odessa Township, and his farm there consists of 
 one hundred and forty acres, most of which is 
 under cultivation. The improvements upon the 
 place are such as stamp it one of the best farms in 
 the townshii), and include a basement barn 40x5() 
 feet, put up in 1885, and a large, substantial farm 
 house, built in 1888. Mr. Augst makes a specialty 
 of Percheron horses and Cotswolil and Lincoln- 
 shire sheep, and he also keeps good grades of cattle 
 and swine. 
 
 As his surname indicates, our sul)ject is of Ger- 
 man stock, but we find in tracing the family history 
 tlikt in 17C1 the ancestors crossed the Rhine from 
 France into (Jermany. His grandparents were 
 Frederick and Caroline (Nead) Augst, natives of 
 Wurteinburg, and in that kingdom their son John S. 
 was born, October 12, 1820. That gentleman mar- 
 ried Lucinda Krook, June 11, 1843, and to them 
 came eight children, the second of whom is the 
 subject of this sketch. The others are Mary, wife 
 of Charles Olmstead, living in Gratiot County; 
 Louisa, wife of W. Lumbert, whose home is in 
 Sedgwick County-, Kan. ; Lewis, a resident of Wash- 
 ington; Laura, who married Enos Olmstead and 
 lives in Gratiot County; Viola, wife of Henrv 
 Lumbert, living in Odessa Townshi)); Ambrose, who 
 lives on the homestead; and Ada, who is with her 
 father thei-e. The mother died in March, 1885, at 
 the age of fifty -nine years; she was a member of 
 the United Brethren Church. The widowed hus- 
 band still resides on the homestead and has reached 
 the age of seventy-one years. 
 
 CJrandfalher Augst was a cloth-printer, printing 
 all kinds of cloth in Gormanj- until his death in 
 1848. His wife died in 1851. They had six chil- 
 dren, the only one now living being the father of 
 our subject. He followed the occupation of his 
 progenitor and became expert in printing and dye- 
 ing all kinds of fabrics. He served two^'ears in the 
 (icrmaii armj'. When twent3--two years old he 
 took p.assage from Havre to New York and was 
 thirt)' seven days crossing the briny deep. He went 
 at once to Columbiana County, Ohio, where au 
 
362 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 uncle was living, and for him worked as a farm 
 band a short time. For nearly three years he 
 worked for various employers and during the time 
 took to himself a wife. 
 
 In 1845 John S. Augst bought forty acres of 
 land in Hancock County and engaged in farming 
 for himself. That was his home until the spring of 
 1865, when he came to Ionia County, this State, 
 consuming about a fortnight in driving through 
 On his arrival he purchased one hundred acres on 
 section 26, Odessa Townsiiip, fifteen of which had 
 been improved, and moved into the old log house 
 that stood there. The work of clearing anrl im- 
 proving has gone on year by year until tlie prop- 
 erty has become a well-regulated estate. In 1864 
 Mr. Augst volunteered in the one hundred day ser- 
 vice and was enrolled in Company G, One Hundred 
 and Thirty-third Ohio Infantr}'. He served twenty 
 days beyond the period for which he had enlisted and 
 was then discharged at Columbus. He has been a 
 Republican since he became an American citizen 
 and is a standi supporter of the principles of the 
 party. 
 
 Winfield S. Augst was born in Hancock Count}', 
 Ohio, March 24, 1850, and came to Ionia County 
 with his jiarents when fifteen years old. He re- 
 ceived a pi-actical education in the district schools 
 and assisted his father in farm work until he was 
 eighteen, when he started out on his own responsi- 
 bility. Going to Montcalm County he engaged in 
 work in the pineries and for about six years gave 
 the winter months to lumbering and the summer to 
 farming. He then set up a home on forty acres of 
 land in Odessa Township, which he had previous!}' 
 purchased. A clearing seven acres in extent was 
 all the improvement that can be said to have been 
 made, the remaining acreage being heavily tim- 
 bered. Mr. Augst built a frame house into which 
 he removed, and then began cutting down the for- 
 est growth and sowing crops. Here he has remained 
 pursuing a steady course of iionest industry. In 
 1880 he added sixty acres to his farm and in 1886, 
 forty acres more, thus giving him a tract of goodly 
 size. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Augst and Miss Celinda 
 Davis occurred August 30, 1874, and their house- 
 hold includes six children, named respectively: 
 
 Jennj', Minnie, Mary, Leon, Eva and Florence. 
 Mrs. Augst is the fourth of five children born to 
 Orin and Hannah (Rodgers) Davis. Her father 
 was of English descent and born in New York, and 
 her mother was a native of Connecticut. Mr. Davis 
 was a carpenter. His death occurred while cross- 
 ing Lake Ontario in 1865; his widow survived until 
 in January, 1880. Both belonged to the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Besides Mrs. Augst their chil- 
 dren are Daniel, now of Oregon; Ida, who lives in 
 Buffalo, N. Y.; Silas, living in Washington; and 
 Sarah, wife of Alvin Van Norman, in Odessa 
 Township. 
 
 Mr. Augst supports the candidates brought foi'- 
 ward by the Republican party as he believes that 
 b}' so doing he advances the welfare of the nation. 
 He has always been read}- to do his share toward the 
 building of the section in which he lives, and he 
 and his wife have made many warm friends in the 
 community. He is Commissioner of Highways for 
 Odessa Township, and in 1890 was a member of 
 the Board of Review. He is a member of the Pat- 
 rons of Industry. 
 
 ^,ILLIAM MATHEWS, one of the wealth- 
 iest of Jlontcalm County's citizens, was 
 born in Allegany County, N. Y., May 14, 
 1843. His father, Samuel, was a mechanic by 
 trade and w.as the father of two sons, our subject 
 and his brother James. These boys began life under 
 difficulty and were denied all opportunities of 
 schooling, except tliose wliich they could find in 
 the district schools near their country home. They 
 grew to manhood in their early home and began 
 work for themselves when they reached their ma- 
 jority. 
 
 The lady who presides over the home of Will- 
 iam Mathews became his wife July 18, 1867. Her 
 name was Mary AVoolever and she is a native of 
 New York. Five children are the result of this 
 union, John, born December 19, 1869; Lillie, June 
 11, 1874; Charles, March 22, 1879;Clyde, January 
 17, 1882 and Jennie, March 4, 1888. The two first 
 were given to their parents in New York; Charles' 
 
^^A--^^^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 BOS 
 
 native State is IiuJiaiia, wliile the lust two were 
 born in Micliigan. 
 
 Montcalm Count}', Mich., was tlio first Western 
 lionie of our subject. He came there from New 
 York in 1872, and in 1878 removed to DeKalb 
 Count}', Ind., and remained tliere one and n half 
 years. He then came back to Michigan. He Jouiid 
 nothing but a trackless forest and made for him- 
 self a home by hard attention to business and an 
 indomitable perseverance. He has now what is 
 probably the largest farm in the county. It con- 
 sists of five hundred and ninety acres of choice 
 land with substantial improvements upon it. He 
 believes in prohibition and votes the way he be- 
 lieves. His religious convictions are in .accord with 
 the doctrines and practice of the Free Methodist 
 Church, in whicli he is a consistent member. 
 
 KV. DAVID A. ,IEWKL]> Ionia is the 
 home of this gentleman, but liis work ex- 
 li ^Y tends over the State and his name is known 
 far and wide. He himself says, in one of 
 the ([uarterly letters which arc a part of his work: 
 "Tlie noblest and most important ivork which can 
 fall to the lot of mortals is that of molding the 
 lives of those who are to constitute the actors 
 U|)on the world's stage in the near future." Few, 
 if any, will dispute this, or deny that according to 
 this belief the work in which Mr. .lewell is eng.aged 
 is deserving of the highest honor. He is employed 
 by the Presbyterian Board as .State Sunday-school 
 Missionary and has displayed unusual fitness for 
 the position. His record is a fine one, the schools 
 he has organized since 1876 being three iinndrccl 
 and fifty in number. 
 
 Mr. Jewell represents the eighth generation fioni 
 the establishment of the famil}' in America The 
 patronymic has been variously written, .lule, Joy- 
 ell, Jewel, then Jewell. 'J'homas Jewell was born in 
 Kngland not far from 1600, and the first authentic 
 account of him in this country is in the eaily ])art 
 of 16."59, when he w.as given a grant of land at 
 Braintree, near Boston — twelve acres at three shil ■ 
 
 lings per acre. Among his sons was Nathaniel, 
 who married Mary Smedley June 9, 1676. He 
 followed the traile of a blacksmith, which was one 
 of importance in Colonial days, and was promi- 
 nent in civil and ecclesiastical affairs. In the third 
 generation there was another Nathaniel, who mar- 
 ried Sarah Whitney, .luly 11, 1701, and following 
 him was a third Nathaniel, who married Sarah 
 Barrett January 9, 1733. The fifth generation is 
 represented by Joseph, who married Mary Frane 
 February 23, 17V5. The direct line is continued 
 in Joseph, who married Bitha Tyler February 23, 
 1801, and then in the Rev. Joel, whose wife. Mar}' 
 Adriance, was the daughter of a Revolutionary 
 soldier, Theodore Adriance, who was one of the 
 guards at the execution of IMaj. Andre. This 
 brings the genealogical record down to the father 
 of our subject. 
 
 The Rev. Joel Jewell was born in Durham, 
 Greene County, N. Y., February 11, 1803. He 
 was a self-educated man and was early engaged in 
 Sunday-school work, and was likewise a pioneer 
 temperance worker. From the year 1826, when 
 he became active in the Bible work, he continued 
 his labors until many had been added to the church 
 through his instrumentality. In 1827-28 he as- 
 sisted Dr. William Wisner in a gracious revival, 
 which increased the church membership five hun- 
 dred, and in 1829 he-aided the Rev. Titus Coan in 
 carrying on a meeting at Medina, N. Y. In 1830 
 he was Superintendent of sixteen Sunday-schools, 
 which he visited in circuit, four each week, and 
 the next year another was added to the list. In 
 1837 he removeil from Hector, N. Y., to Farming- 
 ton, Pa., where he carried on a similar work until 
 1813, when he entered the ministry. 
 
 For five years after entering the ministry the 
 Rev. Joel Jewell supplied churches of Farmington 
 anil Beocher's Island, anfl he then accepted a call 
 to the Congregational Church of West Newark, 
 N. Y., and held the charge five and a half years. 
 His ne.xt location was at Wells, Pa., where he was 
 actively engaged three decades. Through him the 
 word, teetotal, originated in this w'se: At a public 
 temperance meeting held in Hector in 1828 he in- 
 troduced into the pledge the letters "(). P." for 
 old pledge, which pledged only against distilled 
 
806 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 liquors, and "T" for total, including both distilled 
 and fermented liquors. When names were being 
 taken a young man in tlie gallery said: "Add my 
 name and 'T' for I am a T— totalcr." Thus orig- 
 inated the name, teetotaler, more than four years 
 before Dick Turner claimed to coin it in England. 
 Late in August, 1820, Mr. Jewell organized a 
 young people's society, numbering two hundred 
 and fifty-two members, both male and female, 
 which was the beginning of woman's connection 
 with temperance work. 
 
 David A. Jewell is the second in a family of 
 seven children, six of whom are still living, fire 
 sons and one daughter. One brother, three years 
 younger than our subject, is also a minister, now 
 living in Southern California. The birthplace of 
 David A., whose name introduces this sketch, was 
 Hector, Tompkins County, N. Y., and his natal 
 day March 7, 1829. At the age of fourteen years 
 he united with the Presbyterian Church at Beecher's 
 Island, Pa., and went away to school with a view 
 to studying for the ministry. He first attended 
 Peach Orchard Academy, then went to Homer, 
 and from an institution in that place was gradu- 
 ated in 1850. The seven years' schooling cost his 
 father but 130, the young man bearing his own ex- 
 penses to a considerable extent by work done on 
 Saturdays and in vacation. Two winters he taught 
 school and for a long time he worked in a furni- 
 ture shoi>, making chairs on Saturdays. It was his 
 intention to go abroad as a foreign missionary, but 
 after his graduation he gave his attention for 
 some time to school-teaching. 
 
 On April 9, 1851, the Rev. David A. Jewell was 
 united in marriage with Miss Nancy A. Keeny, a 
 native of Lansing, Tompkins County, N. Y. The 
 bride was born August 16, 1831, to George G. and 
 Hannah Eliza (Whitmore) Keeny, natives respect- 
 ively of New York and Connecticut. The father 
 was a farmer by occupation and spent his last 
 days in Pennsylvania, dying July 2, 1855, at the 
 a<'e of fifty-five years. The mother died May 3, 
 1840, wlien Mrs. Jewell was nine years old, and a 
 year later she was taken into the family of Herbert 
 Richardson, of West Newark, Tioga County, N. Y., 
 and that was her home until her marriage with Mr. 
 Jewell. 
 
 The health of Mr. Jewell has been impaired by 
 confinement to the schoolroom and the work bench, 
 and it was necessary to make a change in his occu- 
 pation. He therefore came to Ionia in 1856 and 
 took up the carpenter's trade, at which he was 
 steadily employed until a few months after the 
 breaEing out of the Civil War. He then entered 
 the service, enlisting September 14, 1861, as a 
 private in Company E, First Michigan Engineers. 
 He was promoted to Orderly Sergeant, in which 
 capacity he served two years, at the expiration c f 
 which he was commissioned Second Lieutenar.t 
 and assigned to Company M. For five months 
 he was occupied in superintending the erection of 
 a large fort at Stevenson, Ala. August 16, 1862, 
 he had come home and spent four months in the 
 recruiting service, enlisting over one hundred 
 men, every one of whom lived to come home from 
 Southern battlefields. All but three of the num- 
 ber were mustered out together; two were then in 
 the hospital and one had already been mustered 
 out for disability. This is only an instance illus- 
 trating the fact that men who are at work every 
 day enjo3'ed better health than the infantrymen, 
 because of the regularity of their habits. Mr. 
 Jewell was mustered out at yVtIanta, Ga., October 
 29, 1864. 
 
 After receiving his discharge Mr. Jewell re- 
 sumed his carpenter work and continued it until 
 his services were called for by the Presb^'terian 
 Board. In the prosecution of his missionary labor 
 he not only organizes Sunday-schools, but brings 
 into harmony with his work those who formerly 0|)- 
 liosed Christianity — not bj' rousing their corabative- 
 ness through argument,but by quietly securing their 
 presence on some tour he is making, or during 
 some meeting where thej' will see and hear what 
 the Gospel is accomplishing. More than one of 
 the best Sunday-school workers in the State have 
 thus been brought into the fold. An instance 
 that occurred at Paradise, Grand Traverse County, 
 illustrates his success. It might be said that 
 every man in the place was an infidel when, in 
 1 877, the Rev. Mr. Jewell organized a Sunday- 
 school in a kitchen. During the meeting two 
 young men sat on the doorstep and listened, but 
 would not come inside. In 1887, while organizing 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 807 
 
 a school at Mayfield, Mr. Jewell fuonil there these 
 two young men. Thev were so deligbtetl with the 
 meeting that they contributed #1.300 toward the 
 building of a chapel, leaving but #100 to be raised 
 eisewheie. A prominent infidel in Grand Traverse 
 County says that tlie school established at Para- 
 dise '-has stolen two- thirds of the infidels." 
 
 Mr. Jewell is connected with the U<ld Fellows" 
 fraternity and is Post Commander of William II. 
 Borden Post, No. 211, G. A. R. He is AdjuUnl 
 of the County Battalion, M. S. G., and is a mem- 
 ber of the .Soldiers' Commission. He has held 
 various town and county offices, and has been a 
 faithful servant of the i^eople whenever he re- 
 ccivc<l their suffrages. He has affiliated with the 
 Republicau party since it has had an existence. 
 ills standing in the Presbjteri.an Church — without 
 consideration of his .Sabbath- school work — is that 
 of an earnest Christian who never loses sight of 
 the goal that is before him. 
 
 ATIIAN F. GOILD. It is frequently said 
 II ',ji that Americans are a nation of movers and 
 t that young men are never contented to re- 
 main in their boyhootl's home. This idea is re- 
 futed in the life of Mr. Gould, a general farmer 
 anil stock-raiser of Boston Township, who is liv- 
 ing on the section where his birth occurred .•Au- 
 gust 22, 1847. He is a son of Moses M. and Han- I 
 nah (Towne) Gould, both of whom were born in i 
 New Hampshire. They came to Ionia Counts' > 
 earl^- in June, 1837, when there were but four ; 
 families l<x-atcd in Boston Townsliip. While Mr. 
 Gould was building a log cal)in on his quarter sec- 
 tion he lived with a family bj- the name of White, 
 and after establishing his own household in their 
 little dwelling he liegan developing his land. | 
 
 Moses Gould and his good wife p.assed through 1 
 the varied exi)ericnccs of pioneer life, but livc<l 
 to sec the section highly developcfl and occupies) 
 by a pros|)erous and contented [>eople. Mr. Gould 
 attendofl the first meeting in the township and 
 helped to organize it. He was elected Justice of 
 the Peace anil held the office for twelve ycara, and ; 
 
 at divers time served in other official capacities to 
 which his fellow-citizens elected him. He and bis 
 wife belonged to the Free Will Baptist Church. 
 Mrs. Gould entered into rest February 19, 1881, 
 and her husband survived until May 9, 1890. They 
 were the parents of four children of whom Nathan 
 F. is the youngest. The others are John T.. a 
 farmer in Boston Township; Betsey A., the firet 
 white child born in Boston Township, and now the 
 wifo of J. A. Aldrich; and Vashti E., wife of 
 Steplien A. Ahlrich, now living at Muskegon. 
 
 A considerable change had been m.ide around the 
 Gould homestead before he of whom we write was 
 old enough to note its appearance, but still even 
 bis recollections are of a much more primitive 
 region than that which now meets his eye. AVhcn 
 a boy he saw Indians in their wigwams and knew 
 that deer and other denizens of the wildwood 
 were numerous around his home. He received a 
 common-school education and has always lived on 
 the homestead, taking the farm on shares after his 
 marriage, but within a few years assuming entire 
 control. He uow owns two iiunilred and ninety- 
 six .icres of land in different sections of the town- 
 ship, the most of wiiich is improved. The home 
 farm is esiietially well cultivated and is supplied 
 with good grades of stock and substantial buildings. 
 In 1888 a large two story dwelling was put up to 
 take the pl.ice of one that had been destroyed bv 
 fire, and an ample barn also replaced one that had 
 been destroyed at the same lime as the residence. 
 
 Mrs. Gould is tlie oldest living child of George 
 and Philena (Darling) Ellsworth. Her parents 
 were natives of New York, whence they came to 
 Ionia County, locating upon land in Boston Town- 
 ship. Here Mr. Kllsworlh dieil in 18G3. His widow 
 survived until April 10, 1888. They were the 
 parents of five children, three of whom survive. 
 Tiiese are Harriet, who became the wife of our sub- 
 ject February 22, 1868; Benjamin, a coal dealer at 
 Wellington, Kan. ; and Scott a resident of Ionia, 
 who is in the employ of a railroad. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Gould have two sons — Glenn M. and George N. 
 The former is taking a scientific course at Ionia. 
 
 As School Inspector of Boston Tuwnship Mr. 
 Gould served faithfully four years, and as Drain.age 
 Commissioner and Constable each two years, while 
 
808 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 I 
 
 as Townsliip Supervisor he was in office six years. 
 His political allegiance has always been given to 
 the principles advocated by the Republican party 
 and his acquaintances always know what ticket he 
 will vote. He is a man of public spirit who has 
 done much for the advancement of the community 
 and who conducts his individual affairs in a straight- 
 forward and energetic manner. He is held in high 
 esteem and so too is his wife, who is a member in 
 good standing of the Congregational Church. 
 
 ~f** ■■o»<»^y^>,Aj(g..o»o. <,-- 
 
 lEORGE S. HYDE, manufacturer and 
 wholesaler of lumber and shingles inMc- 
 Bride, Montcalm County, is the son of 
 Luman C. and grandson of Joshua Jr., of Vermont. 
 The great-grandfather of our subject, the Hon. 
 Joshua Hyde, was one of the earlj' settlers in Mid- 
 dlebury, Vt. He entered (lOvernment land, im- 
 proved a farm from the wilderness and became a 
 well-to-do and respected citizen. He was the first 
 representative from Middlebury to the State Legis- 
 lature at Montiiclier. The Hydes are of English 
 descent. 
 
 The father of our subject came into possession of 
 the old ancestral farm which is located on the old 
 Burlington & Rutland stage road. In 1878 he sold 
 this out and came to Michigan, making his home 
 with his sons at McBride. Here he died in 1883 
 at the age of sixty-four years. He was a man of 
 sterling worth and integrity. He was liberal, open- 
 hearted and public-spirited, and a man of influ- 
 ence. He passed through the ordinary political 
 changes of a man of his character from Whig to 
 Abolitionist and then espousing the principles of 
 the Republican party. He was a believer in the 
 doctrines of the Universalist denomination. His 
 wife was Marana, daughter of Moses (Severance of 
 Middlebury, \i. Her father was engaged in bee 
 culture in his later days. She is a lady of culture 
 and education and has written man}' poems of lit- 
 erary value that have been published in our lead- 
 ing journals. She still resides with her son George 
 at the advanced age of sixty-nine years. 
 
 George S. Hyde was born July 16, 18.51, in 
 
 Middlebury, Vt. His boj'hood days were divided 
 between farm work and attendance upon the dis- 
 trict and graded schools. From fourteen to eigh- 
 teen years of age he attended school in the winter 
 only. He left home December 17, 1870. to come 
 to Michigan, intending to work in the lumber woods. 
 He arrived in January 1871, at Sheridan where he 
 worked at loading hogs for $26 per month. He 
 ke[)t at this work for four months and then went to 
 sorting lumber in a steam sawmill. He and his 
 brother used to do the largest amount of work in a 
 day of any men about. Their rate was to pile 
 twenty-eight thousand feet a day. After three j'cars 
 at this mill he worked two years for W. B. Stone 
 in his mill. In 1877 he went back East and en- 
 gaged in a nursery business on Long Island, with 
 the intention of making it his life work, but it did 
 notsuit him so 1879 saw him back again in Mich- 
 igan. 
 
 During the time that this young gentleman had 
 worked in sawills he had acquired a practical 
 knowledge of the lumber business. He became In- 
 spector and filled that office for eighteen months in 
 this vicinity at the AVindsor, McBride & Howes 
 Mills. He then took charge of Herdman, Corey & 
 Co's yard, one mile north of Edmore, and was their 
 Inspector for three years. During that time lie 
 handled over nineteen million feet of lumber. He 
 then located at Edmore, and built a residence there 
 which he still owns. While residing there he be- 
 came Inspector for Just Bros., and served them 
 eighteen months. In March, 1884, he formed a 
 partnership with his brother Y. D. as Hyde Bros., 
 and started the wholesale manufacture of lumber 
 and shingles at McBride to which town he removed 
 in 1888. Our subject did the traveling and the 
 road work and his brother managed the mills. In 
 March, 1890, this partnership was dissolved. 
 George S. Hyde is one of the largest lumber dealers 
 in Montcalm County and handles the cut of from 
 ten to fifteen mills. He is a partner in the shingle 
 mill business at Gladwin and also in one at Mill- 
 brook. He owns two hundred and twenty acres in 
 Osceola County and twenty acres in Isabel County. 
 lie is also a partner in the general merchandise 
 firm of Carpenter, Foote & Co. at McBride. He 
 owns real estate here and at Edmore and at Sheri- 
 
PORTHAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 309 
 
 dan, and is a shareholder in the Robson Opera 
 House at Edmorc. He began williuut a dollar and 
 has been very suceessfid. 
 
 Mr. Hyde was married in Stanton November I'J, 
 1888, to Mrs. Minnie Covel, a daughter of .John 
 Roop, one of the first settlers at Carson City, 
 Montcalm County, Mich. She was the widow of 
 Capt. J. F. Covel of Company I, First United 
 States Sharpshooters. He was a gallant soldier who 
 served through the Civil War and whose wounds 
 received in service led to his decease some years 
 after. He was one of the leading lawyers of the 
 county, lesiding at Stan ton, and was for several 
 years County Superintendent of Schools. Mrs. 
 Hyde was educated at the Oskaloosa College at Os- 
 kaloosa, Iowa, anil previous to their marriage fol- 
 lowed the profession of a teacher. She has one 
 son by her previous marriage, Charles C. Covel. 
 
 Mr. Hyde is a member of the Knights of the 
 (irip and of the Union Association of Retail Lum- 
 ber Dealers of Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. He 
 is liberal in religion and a stanch Republican in 
 politics. His wife is an active member of the Con- 
 gregational Church. He is altogether the most 
 popular business man in McBride. He is a gentle- 
 man in ever}' sense of the word, ami is at once aff- 
 able, genial and entertaining. He travels a great 
 deal and makes friends wherever he goes. He is a 
 man of fine physique and genial manner, his very 
 hand shake is one of friendship. Mrs. Hyde is a 
 lady of more than ordinary culture and refinement 
 and presides graciously over their home which is 
 a most delightful and tasteful residence. 
 
 -5-+|«=&"^=^-<-H- 
 
 <^A HAKLKS JEPSON, a r« 
 ■l( ^ lluential citizen of Ke 
 ^^^ County, I'esiding on s( 
 
 HAKLKS JEPSON, a representative and in. 
 Keene Township, Ionia 
 section 36, is a native 
 of Bennington Count}', Vt., where he was born 
 April 14, 1824. His father, Harvey Jepson, was a 
 soldier in the War of 1812, and his father before 
 him was a hero iu the Revolutionary War. The 
 family is of Scotch-Kuglish descent. His maternal 
 ancestors were of English and German descent, his 
 mother bearing the maiden name of Polly Myers. 
 
 Our subject was the second son and third child 
 in his father's family of twelve children, of whom 
 the following survive: Charles; Mirun resides in 
 New England; John, in N'ermont; Joel, in the Far 
 West; Lucinda, wife of Chauncy Sweet, in Ver- 
 mont; Mary, Mrs. Edward Jones, in Dakota; So- 
 phia, Mrs. William Taft, in Massachusetts; Venice, 
 wife of George Clark, in Pennsylvania. 
 
 The early education of our subject was obtained 
 in the primitive schools of Vermont, and his boy- 
 hood was passed upon the home farm in that rocky 
 State. Here he met Caroline A. Babcock, whom 
 he made his wife February 17, 1851. She is a na- 
 tive of Bennington County, Vt., where slie was 
 born September 24, 1830. She is a daughter of 
 Harry H. and Samantha (Towslee) Babcock. Her 
 paternal ancestors were F]nglisli anil Scotch, as 
 were also the ancestors on her mother's side. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Jepson have been born four 
 children: Audra C, wife of Albert Wells, resides 
 in Keene Township; Charles A., deceased; Saman- 
 tha, Mrs. Freeman Wilson, lives in Keene Township; 
 and Avis. For several years after marriage our 
 subject resided in Vermont. In 1858 he went to 
 California by way of the Isthmus, and made the 
 trill from New York to San Francisco in twenty- 
 four days. He spent about one year in California in 
 gold mining, and then went to the Frazier River in 
 British Columbia, where he remained about a year. 
 He then went a little farther east, still In British 
 Columbia, and mined there for awhile. He then 
 went to the Columbia River, in what is now Idaho, 
 and there mined for one year. He followed this 
 pursuit in various places, and spent between six 
 and seven years altogether in the West in raining 
 districts. He returned home by the way of the 
 isthmus via New York, reaching Vermont in 1865. 
 In 1866 he was again taken with the Western fever 
 but in a milder form.and enngrated to Ionia County, 
 Mich., where he located on the farm where he now 
 resides. He lived in a log house, but after one year 
 erected the handsome residence which he now occu- 
 I)ies. One hundred and eight}' broad ami fertile 
 acres comprise the home farm, and he owns in all two 
 hundred and five acres. He i.s a self-made man, 
 and by his wife's valuable assistance he has suc- 
 ceeded in gaining a handsome properly. They are 
 
310 
 
 PORTEAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 both identified with the Royal Templars at Saranac. 
 Mrs. Jepson has served as both President and 
 Treasurer in the Women's Foreign Missionary So- 
 ciety, and is an active member of the Woman's 
 Christian Temperance Union at Saranac. They are 
 both consistent and zealous members of the Bap- 
 tist Church, in which he serves as Deacon and also 
 is Trustee. Mr. Jepson has served as School Di- 
 rector. His political views are in accord with the 
 platform of the Republican parly, and in local 
 matters he works earnestly for the upbuilding of 
 society, being public spirited and progressive. To 
 the parents of Mrs. Jepson were born five children, 
 tiiree of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Jepson ; 
 Amy E., wife of H. Myers, resides in Missouri; 
 and Sarah A., wife of F. Riclimond, in Belding, 
 Mich. 
 
 That Mr. Jepson has been successful in life his 
 broad acres and well-kept farm testify. He is well 
 known for his good financial ability, applying 
 judicious, conservative methods to all business 
 transactions. He and liis intelligent wife are active 
 in all social movements, and their upright Christian 
 character is universally esteemed. 
 
 OC. TOWNSEND. In this gentleman Hub- 
 \ bardstou has a fine representative of its pro- 
 gressive citizens, one, who by his enterprise 
 is materially forwarding its financial welfare in 
 various ways. He is identified with its interests as 
 a banker, furniture dealer and undertaker, and is 
 also well known throughout North Plains Town- 
 ship, Ionia County. Success has crowned his efforts 
 and he has become known as one who performs his 
 duties to society and his family, as an upright and 
 kind-hearted man should. No resident of the 
 tliriving village stands higher in the respect of 
 tlie community than he, and by his own efforts he 
 lias risen to this position and to a good financial 
 standing. 
 
 Mr. Townsend comes of substantial and patriotic 
 ancestry. His paternal grandfather, who bore ilie 
 name of Josiah, attained the great age of nincty- 
 ei"-ht years; the paternal grandmother was known 
 
 in maidenhood as Dolly Parker. The maternal 
 grandfather was a commissioned officer in the War 
 of 1 812 and had command of a company at the 
 battle of Sackett's Harbor, N. Y. He died at the 
 age of seventy years. The father of our subject, 
 Warren Townsend, was born in Connecticut in 
 1800 and was a farmer by occupation. In New 
 York State he was united in marriage with Mehit- 
 abel, daugliter of Capt. Thomas and Elsie, iiis 
 wife. The young couple located in the pyUipirc 
 State and tiiere were born to them seven cliildren, 
 five daughters and two sons. 
 
 In Jefferson County, N. Y., Mr. Townsend was 
 born July 28, 1838, and thej'cars of his early bo}'- 
 hood were passed in aiding in farm work. Wlien 
 he was eleven years old he hired out to a farmer 
 for $15 per year, his employer at that time being 
 William E. Dodge. AVith that gentleman the lad 
 remained for two years, and attended school dur- 
 ing the winter seasons. Until he was eighteen 
 years old he worked at different places and tlicn 
 came to Michigan and entered the employ of S. G. 
 Patterson of Calhoun County. After remaining 
 with him tv/o years he came to Ionia County and 
 worked by the month for three years. In 1862 he 
 answered the call of his country for troops to put 
 down the rebellion and he gave his youth and 
 strength to the service of his countrj'. 
 
 Mr. Townsend enlisted in Company K, Twenty- 
 first Michigan Infantry as a private and partici- 
 pated in the following battles: Perryville, Ky., 
 October 8, 18G2; La Vergne, Tenn., December 27; 
 Stewart's Creek, Tenn., December 29; Stone River, 
 December 29-31, and January 1-3, 18G3; Tulla- 
 homa, Tenn., June 24; Elk River, Tenn., July I; 
 Chickamauga, Ga., September 19-21 ; Chattanooga, 
 October G: Brown's Ferry, Tenn., October 27: Mis- 
 sion Ridge, November 26; Savannali, December 
 11-18-20-21, 1864; Averysboro, N. C, March 16, 
 1865, and Bentonville, March 19, 1866. A valiant 
 soldier, he received deserved commendation and 
 promotion, coming out of the service with the rank 
 of First Lieutenant. 
 
 Soon after the battle of Chickamauga Mr. Town- 
 send received his commission as First Lieutenant, 
 and a few montlis later he was detailed in charge of 
 one hundred men, getting out timl)er and building 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 311 
 
 store houses in Chattanooga, and hospitals on Look- 
 out Mountain. Before starting with Sherman on 
 the famous niarcii to the sea Lieut. Townseiul was 
 detailed as Adjutant of the Twenty first Michigan 
 Regiment, which position lie oecui)ied until arriv- 
 ing at Savannah. Before leaving that i)laee he was 
 detailed Acting Assistant (Quartermaster in charge 
 of the ambulance train of the First Division, Four- 
 teenth Army Corps, and this |)Osition lie occupied 
 on the march tlirough tlie Carolinas and Virginia 
 to Washington, where the arm}- was ordered mus- 
 tered out. Before leaving Washington an order 
 was received from corps headrpiarters to iirocced 
 to Detroit with the records of Twenty-first Michi- 
 gan Regiment and a detachment of the Thirteenth 
 Michigan in advance of the regiment. Our sub- 
 ject was mustered out at Detroit and received his 
 discharge. 
 
 At the close of liie war Mv. Townsend returned 
 to Hubbardston and went into partnersiiip with his 
 brother (Jeorge W., in the sash and blind business. 
 In this line of work he continued for ton years, 
 during which time he made many improvements in 
 the town and I)uilt a good store. He and his 
 brother bored the artesian well which is still flow- 
 ing. He built the house where he now resides, a 
 fine two-story frame building, before his marriage, 
 which took place November 30, 18G5. His wife 
 was Miss Abbie E. Brayton, the eldest child of 
 William P. and Helen Bra^'ton. She was born May 
 31, 1814, in Oswego County, N. Y., and came with 
 her parents to Michigan when only nine years old. 
 One son, William W., has been granted to Mr. and 
 Mrs. Townsend. He has grown to maturity and 
 is now in the dry -goods business at Hubbardston. 
 
 — — 'fSy^i"- 
 
 ,,.. LKXANDFR C. WKKP:S, of Day Town- 
 (^Ol ship, Montcalm County, is the son of 
 Green E. Wickcs, of Stonington, R. I., 
 and grandson of Ebenezer Wickes, of 
 Rhode Island, who came to New York and estab- 
 lished a farm in Rensselaer County during the time 
 of the Hevolutionary War. The father died in 
 the fall of 1854, at the advanced age of seventy- 
 
 five years. He was an earnest and sturdy member 
 of the Whig i)arty and was a Deacon in the Bap- 
 tist Church. The wife of Deacon Wickes bore 
 the maiden name of Hannah Rhodes. She was 
 born in Lamont, Mass., and was descended from 
 Maj. Rhodes, who was on Washington's staff at 
 the time of the Revolutionary War. The subject 
 of this sketch was born in 15erlin, Rensselaer 
 County, N. Y., June 12, 18;}'2. He received a 
 common school education, but early began work on 
 the farm. He continued at home until the death 
 of his father, and had charge of the farm from 
 the time he was seventeen years of age. The cul- 
 tured and refined lady who is the presiding genius 
 of his home bore the maiden name of Sophia 
 Schneidej-. They were united in marriage in Sand 
 Lake, Rensselaer County, N. Y.. April 8, 1855. 
 
 George R. Schneider, the father of Mrs. Wickes, 
 w.as born in Keirechdorf. llesse-Darmstadt, Ger- 
 many. His father, .Jacob, was a mechanic of more 
 than unusual ability and had a good business in 
 cabinet-making and house-finishing. He decided 
 to emigrated with his family to America and 
 started on the voyage, but died on board ship, 
 three days before the ship reached New York. 
 His son George was also a mechanic and after his 
 marriage came to America when twenty-three 
 years old, making a voyage of between six and 
 eight weeks on the sailing-vessel "Arena." He 
 went to Albany and there worked at his trade of 
 cabinet-making until he began piano manufactur- 
 ing. In 185G he located at Grand Rapids. Here 
 he changed his name from Schneider to Snyder. He 
 began at Grand Rapids the manufacture of the 
 Snyder piano. He made the first pianos ever manu- 
 factured there and had great success in his work. 
 He afterward moved his factory to Walker Town- 
 ship, but returned after awhile to Grand Rapids, 
 where he now resides at the age of four-score and 
 two years. He belongs to the Lutheran Church 
 and votes with the Democratic parly. 
 
 Th« wife of the subject of this notice was born in 
 Blooming Grove, Rensselaer County, N. Y., Octo- 
 ber 26, 1831. She received her early training ami 
 education in Albany. In 1855 she came to Mi( hi 
 gan, staging it from B.itlle Creek to Grand Rapids. 
 Mr. Wickes bought forty acres of wilil land in 
 
312 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the township of Zeland, Ottawa County. He built 
 a log liouse and iianging a blanket for a door, be 
 rested at night with the sound in his ears of the 
 howling of wolves. In the fall of 1855 he sold 
 tliis farm and removed to Grand Rapids, but the 
 following spring he rented a farm outside the city 
 wlii(!h lie worked for three years. He afterward 
 bought new land in Walker Township and im- 
 proved and disposed of it three years later. lie 
 then bought another farm in Georgetown and 
 finally came to Day Township and bought a farm 
 of eighty acres. 
 
 Four sons have been born to this worthy couple 
 — George P., whose biography is given elsewliere 
 in tills book; Alexander F., Earnest H. and Fred- 
 crick A. Mr. Wickes is connected with the Patrons 
 of Industry. He is a Republican in politics and 
 wide-awake to all matters of public interest. Both 
 he and his good wife are active and earnest mem- 
 bers of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church, in which 
 lie is Class-Leader while she is the President of 
 the Ladies' Aid Society. 
 
 EYMOUR M. STEBBINS, a leading and 
 representative agriculturist of Easton 
 Township, Ionia County, has his residence 
 and farm on section 20. He was born of 
 New England parents July 4, 1831. His father 
 was Chauncy M. and his mother Sophia (Rice) 
 Stebbins. His father is now deceased, and the 
 niotlier is still living in Easton Township, as the 
 widow of the late ^Martin Kimball. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Stebbins were the parents of nine children, seven 
 of whom are living — Marietta, Seymour M., Arraa- 
 nclla, Rebecca, Chauncy, George, Chester, Julia 
 A. and Albert B. Chauncy M. and Rebecca are 
 deceased. Chaunc^' M. Stebbins had served as 
 Supervisor of Essex Township in Clinton County 
 when a resident there. He formerly settled on a 
 farm near Ionia which is now inside the coriiora- 
 tion. A log house and a log barn were set up on 
 a little clearing in the dense woods, and there the 
 family lived until they moved to Clinton County; 
 but Ionia County claimed this pioneer again, and 
 
 returning he took a farm which is now owned by 
 W. A. Inman, where he remained until death 
 called him hence. His wife, who still survives 
 although now past four-score years, is one of the 
 oldest pioneer women of the township. She re- 
 sides with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Andrew J. 
 Ross. 
 
 This venerable lady deserves more than a pass- 
 ing notice. She was born in Conway County, 
 Mass., November 21, 1809, and was a daughter of 
 Benjamin and Anne (Monard) Rice, both of 
 Massachusetts birth. She was of [latriotic stock on 
 both sides, her grandfather Monard being a Revo- 
 lulionaiy hero and her father a soldier in the War 
 of 1812. Her marriage with the father of our 
 subject took place in 1827. Chauncy Stebbins 
 was born in Massachusetts in 1807 and was the 
 son of Chester and Nancy Stebbins. Of tiiis union 
 seven children survive. Early in the '30s this young 
 couple emigrated to the State of Michigan. To- 
 gether they endured courageously the usual hard- 
 ships incident to pioneer life. They were members 
 of the Congregational Church. Ionia contained 
 but a few houses when they came here. In the 
 death of Mr. vStebbins the county sustained a real 
 loss. Subsequent to this event ]\Irs. Stebbins be- 
 came the wife and afterward the widow of Martin 
 Kimball. 
 
 The gentleman whose name heads this sketch 
 received his early education in the (irimitive 
 schools of Michigan, and growing up on the farm 
 helped his father in the usual duties of agriculture. 
 An event of great importance to the young man 
 took place in 1852. This was his marriage with 
 Ruth A. Gibson, who was born August 5, 1833, in 
 Oswego County, N. Y. She is the daughter of 
 Deloss and Lovica Gibson, residents of Keene 
 Township, where they settled early in the '40s, 
 having previously lived in Eaton County, Mich. 
 Our subject and his wife hsve become the parents 
 of four children: Mrs. E. L. Mathews, a teacher 
 in the public schools of Ionia; Elmer S., who re- 
 sides at Stanton; Elva, a te.icher at Evart, Mich.; 
 and Ella S., wlio resides with her parents at home 
 and has also followed teaching many years. Mrs. 
 Stebbins was one of four children. Her sisters and 
 brother being Mrs. Mary Henry, of Saranac; Mrs. 
 

 i 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 315 
 
 Jabez Hull, of Lowell; and William Gibson, of 
 Keene Township. Tlieir father has served as 
 Treasurer and Collector of Keene Township, and 
 was identified with the interests of the Methodist 
 Kpiseopal Church. Hisgrandfatlier was a lvcv(jlii- 
 lionary hero. 
 
 Seymour M. Stebhins settled on liis present farm 
 in the spring of 1852 and here he has made his 
 home most of the time since that da3', jiutling it in 
 a good state of cultivation. He has served .is 
 .Su[)ervisor of the township and has always proved 
 himself a practical and public-spirited promoter of 
 the interests of the county. His political prefer- 
 ences are with the Republican party. His services 
 as llighw.iy Commissioner and .Justice of the Peace, 
 and as Township Clerk have been satisfactory- to 
 the people. Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins merit and re- 
 ceive the confidence and esteem of all who know 
 them. His fine pro[)ert}' and financial success 
 attest his good business abilities and one needs but 
 to know him to appreciate his generous intention 
 and good will to all. 
 
 PATHKR CHARLKS G. BULTE. The Cath- 
 ' olic Church in its missionary efforts kecjjs 
 well apace with the march of pioneers 
 throughout all parts of America. The society is 
 often the first to plant its standard, not even await- 
 ing settlements, but becoming itself the advance 
 guard. Realizing the importance of this early oc- 
 cupancy of new territory, priests from Corunna 
 and Westphalia formerly came to Ionia and found 
 a welcome at the home of Peter Ilackett. Before 
 the war they had gathered the nucleus of a congre- 
 gation, and in 1861 Sir. Hackett donated an acre 
 of land, and others pushed forward the work by 
 erecting a house of worship. The Rev. Charles G. 
 Bolte was sent by Bishop Peter Paul Lefevre to 
 lake charge of the parish, and be has remained 
 steadily at his post. 
 
 The birthplace of Father Bolte was Hanover, 
 Germany, and llie date of his arrival upon the stage 
 of human cveuls July 18, 1836. His parents were 
 
 Christopher and Mary Elizabeth (Bartells) Bolte, 
 who died during his childhood, the mother when he 
 was four, and the father when he was six years old. 
 The latter had been forcM)an in a paper mill, and in 
 that establishment the lad may almost be said to 
 have been brought up during his boj'hood. In 
 1852 he crossed the Atlantic, following his sister, 
 Mrs. Mary Osseforth. He first sojourned in Cov- 
 ington, Ky., then crossed over to Cincinnati, Ohio, 
 where he entered upon a course of study. He at-' 
 tended college at Bardstown, K3'., then studied 
 (jjiilosophy and theology at St. Mary's (Cincin- 
 nati), com[)leting his course in 1862, and being 
 formally admitted to the priesthood. 
 
 Father Bolte then came to Detroit where he was 
 engaged in priestly offices for a short time, then 
 went to Corunna, Sliiawa.ssee Count}', whence he was 
 sent to Ionia in the fall of 1863. He found about 
 thirty families williin a radius of some fourteen 
 miles, and a country not yet bereft of forests and 
 placed under thorough cultivation. He at once 
 began collecting means with which to erect a church 
 and as for a time he had oversight of the spiritual 
 needs of several counties, he was instrumental in 
 building eight churches. These were at Ilubbartl- 
 ston, Ionia County: Saville, Gratiot County ; Green- 
 ville, Stanton and Maple Valley, Montcalm County; 
 Otisco, Ionia and Portland, Ionia County. The 
 cost of these structures in the order in which they 
 are named is as follows: $10,000, ^1,000, *4,000, 
 ^1.000, *2,000, $4,000, !f2(),000 *5,000; a total of 
 about ^50,000 for buildings alone, and some $10,- 
 000 more has been expended upon their furnish- 
 ing. 
 
 As fast as the outlying parishes became self- 
 sui)porting. Father Bolte would leave them to the 
 charge of others, and since 1880 his labors have 
 been confined to Ionia. The church here is a hand- 
 some edifice with trimmings of Ionia stone, and is 
 one of the architectural ornaments of ihe cit}'. The 
 membership of the congregation is one hundred and 
 eight3'-five families, and the school connected with 
 the church, employs two teachers. It is in charge 
 of the Sisters of Christian Charity, and is known as 
 Sts. Peter and Paul Parochial School. 
 
 Since the 1st of June, 1891, Father Bolte has 
 been pastor of St. Mary's Church at Detroit, which 
 
316 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 is a fitting testimonial to his larj^e experience, as it 
 furnishes for liim a greater field of usefulness. He 
 is interested in everything calculated to build up 
 Ionia, but the care of bis parish leaves him little 
 time for other work. He has stock in the wagon- 
 works amounting to $1,000. Were he to devote 
 bis time to horticulture, he would undoubtedly 
 make a name in that field. He has a decided love 
 of nature and in the science of botany, which he 
 pursues witii the devotion of a lover, he is well 
 versed. His grounds are tasteful and productive. 
 Elsewhere in this volume the reader will notice 
 a lithographic portrait of Father Bolte. 
 
 .,;.i.K. i .7..« 
 
 "f¥|OSIAH H. GIBBS, proprietor of Hope Roller 
 I Mills of Edmore, is undoubtedly the most 
 successful financier in the place, and the 
 most extensive operator in milling and farm- 
 ing. Indeed the business transactions he carries on 
 would be creditable to the residents in the largest 
 cities of the land. By the exercise of fine business 
 qualifications and great perseverance, he has accu- 
 mulated a fortune, and is able to surround himself 
 and family with all that heart can wish of material 
 comfort, intellectual enjoyment and the pleasure 
 that conies of benevolence. The Hope Roller Mill, 
 which occuiiies the old mill site bought by Mr. 
 Gibbs in 1887, is supi)lied with all the modern ap- 
 pliances, and has a capacity of seventy-five barrels 
 of flour per day, and a feed capacity of two tons 
 per hour. Tiie business is run by the firm of J. H. 
 Gibbs & Son, which buys all the wheat raised in 
 the surrounding country, and receives corn from 
 Kansas. 
 
 Mr. Gibbs is of English extraction in both lines 
 of descent. His paternal grandfather, Solomon 
 Gibbs, was a native of Massachusetts, and an hotel- 
 keeper in that State, and his maternal grandfather, 
 Josiah Farnsworth, was a farmer in the Green 
 Mountain State. David Gibbs, father of our sub- 
 ject, was born in Massachusetts in 1800, and after 
 reaching manhood went to Chittenden County, Vt., 
 and embarked in the lumber business, building a 
 sawmill on Brown's River. He operated it for years, 
 
 manufacturing various kinds of lumber, but finally 
 retired from business. He died in 1867. He was 
 a Free-Soiler and Abolitionist during the early jjart 
 of the century. His wife. Ruby Farnsworth, was 
 born at Fairfax, Franklin County, Vt., but reared 
 on the banks of Brown River, in the neighborhooil 
 to which Mr. Gibbs came to establish his business. 
 She also died in the Green Mountain State, the date 
 of her decease being 1855. She was an earnest 
 Christian, holding niembershi|i in the Congrega- 
 tional Church. 
 
 Our subject, who is the fourth of nine chihlrcn 
 comprising the parental family, was born in West- 
 ford, Vt., July 26, 1837. He may be said to have 
 been reared in the sawmill, as he spent his time 
 there, except when in school or asleep, from the 
 days when he wore dresses. When quite small he 
 often held the light by which his father continued 
 his work after dark, and when but twelve years old 
 he was allowed to run the saw. He received a good 
 common-school education, as he was not allowed 
 to neglect his books. When twenty years old he 
 went to Burlington and entered the employ of E. 
 F. Ward & Co., in a sash and door factory, and in 
 a short time accompanied them to this State, com- 
 ing round the lakes on the boat "Ogdensburg"' and 
 going to Grand Rapids, which was then but a small 
 village. This was in the spring of 1857, and when 
 the financial crisis came on in the fall the factory 
 closed. 
 
 Thus thrown out of employment, Mr. Gibbs went 
 to the northern part of Kent County, where he 
 worked until the fall of 1860, then returned to his 
 native State and found work in a sash and door 
 factory in Chittenden County. In the spring of 
 1863 he volunteered, and as he was a cornet player 
 he became a member of the Regimental Band in 
 the Second Biigade, Second Division, Sixth Army 
 Corps. He was mustered in at Brattleboro, partici- 
 pated in the battle of Gettysburg, and in other en- 
 gagements more or less severe. He was taken 
 sick, and in January, 1864, was discharged on ac- 
 count of physical disability. His family had in the 
 meantime removed to Kent Count}', this State, and 
 thither he came. While on his way to Detroit the 
 train was stopped and robbed by the notorious 
 Harry Gilmore and his gang. Mr. Gibbs spent 
 
POUTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 317 
 
 two years working in Grand Rapids, then bought a 
 mill at Oakficld and carried it on two years. Sell- 
 ing out he again became a workman in the sash and 
 door factor}', but finding it necessary to take back 
 the mill or lose the amount yet unpai<l, he moved 
 it to INLaple Valley, and went into ijartncrsiiip with 
 his former employers, E. F. Ward & Co. 
 
 The new firm bought a tract of pine land, anil 
 ■Mr. Gibbs got the mill in good running order and 
 began operations under the style of J. U. Gibbs it 
 Co., but not liking the business ways of his part- 
 ners, soon sold out to them. After a lime he 
 bought a shingle-mill in Solon, Kent Count}-, and 
 ran it there until the fall of 1876, when he removed 
 it to Nelson Township, same county, where he had 
 pine land. In 1879 he removed the mill to Cort- 
 land Township, where he woiked two years. He 
 next came to Edniorc, bought four hundred acres 
 of pine land in Home Township, and engaged in 
 the maiiufftcture of shingles here. He carried on 
 tiic work on an extensive scale, keeping twenty 
 hands employed and making a line quality of shin- 
 gles, having machinery with which to plane them. 
 He sold the products of his mill as high as ^4 per 
 Uiousand, and had a very successful trade until the 
 s|)ring of 1889, when the timber gave out and he 
 closeil down. He has made shingles from pine 
 grown on over twelve hundred acres of land, and 
 has an unsurpassed reputation as a manufacturer of 
 that useful commodity. 
 
 Mr. Gibbs now owns four hundred and eighty 
 acres on sections 22 and 23, Home Township, three 
 hundred and twenty acres of which is under culti- 
 vation and supplied with a fine set of farm build- 
 ings, including a good house, several barns, two 
 windmills, and various other conveniences for 
 farming anil stock-iiRising. The farm is personally 
 su|)erintenilcd by Mr. Gibbs, who conducts the 
 largest agricultural enterprises in the vicinity. He 
 is also dealing in lands in California, North Caro- 
 lina, Arkansas and Louisiana, owning large tracts 
 of limber in those States. 
 
 In Gralton Township, Kent County, January 31, 
 1858, Mr. Gibbs and Miss Amelia E. Brooks were 
 united in marriage. The bride was born in Leroy, 
 Genesee Count}-, N. V., her parents being Lucius 
 and Celia (Newcomb) IJrook.s, who were were also 
 
 native of the Empire State. Her father was born 
 in St. Lawrence, then Genesee County, and went 
 thence to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where he worked 
 in the stone quarries. In 1850 he came to this 
 State, bought wild land in Kent County, and estab- 
 lished his home in the woods and reclaimed a tract 
 of thiriy acres. He died February 1, 1891, leav- 
 ing a widow and two children. Politically he was 
 a Republican. The daughter, who became Mrs. 
 Gibbs, was born February 2, 1842. and was seven 
 years old when she journeyed to Kent County with 
 her parents in a wagon. She is the mother of three 
 chihlreu : Lucius H., now his father's partner in 
 business; Nellie L., who died at the age of thirteen 
 years; and Carrie E., who married Dr. Louis A. 
 Roller, and lives in Edmore. 
 
 Mr. Gibbs belongs to a Blue Lodge in Edmore, 
 a Cha[)ter in Stanton, and a Consistory in Grand 
 Rapids, and is much interested in the workings of 
 the Masonic order. Politically, he is a Republi- 
 can, and he li.as served as a delegate in the county 
 conventions. He has been a Village Trustee two 
 years, and President one year. He possesses a wide 
 fund of information, good conversational powers, 
 and genial manners, as well as a high degree of 
 financial ability and calculation. Mrs. Gibbs is 
 one of those kind, motherly women, who carry with 
 them an atmosphere of comfort, and no one who 
 enters her door can fail to be impressed with the 
 hospitable spirit of herself and husbancK She is a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a 
 good worker in the Ladies' Society. 
 
 ILLIA.M E. HULL. This gentleman is one 
 of the inllucntial citizens of Keeue Town- 
 ship, and one who bears a prominent part 
 in those labors which have resulted in develo|)ing 
 the resources of Ionia County and plating her in 
 the front rank among the divisions of the Wolver- 
 ine State. His labors in life have been crowne<l 
 with success and he has a pleasant rural home 
 w-here the evidences of culture and refinement are 
 to be seen, and the various farm buildings which 
 betoken enterprise and prosperity rear their walls 
 
318 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 amid foiest and fruit trees that add to tiie beauty 
 of the scene. The heauliful estate is favorably 
 located on section 10. 
 
 Mr. Hull was born iu Ontario, Canada, Decem- 
 ber 23, 1831. His parents were Roland and Alvira 
 (Lee) Hull, natives of New York, and his paternal 
 ancestors cr.nie from England. His father was a 
 powder boy on the fleet of Commodore Perry dur- 
 ing the famous naval engagement on Lake Erie, 
 and was wounded in that engagement, and ids ma- 
 ternal grandfather was a soldier in the same war. 
 When our subject was eight years old his parents 
 went to Mississippi where they resided for a short 
 time, next making their home in White County, 
 111. In 1845 they came to Ionia County and set- 
 tled on section 12, Keene Township. 
 
 The home of Roland Hall was in the woods in a 
 cabin 18x24 feet and he did some pioneer work 
 there during the twelve months after his arrival. 
 He liien went to California, crosssing the plains 
 and being six months en route. He was engaged 
 in mining and other occupations and remained on 
 the coast some eight years. While there he was 
 elected Grand Lecturer of the Good Temjilars of 
 California, and he also became a Royal Arcli Mason 
 and stood high in tiie order, lecturing in its behalf 
 as well as in tlie interest of temperance. On his 
 return from the West he resumed farm work in 
 Keene Township, and died there November 3, 
 1886. He voted the Republican ticket and was a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
 served as Justice of the Peace and Township Road 
 Commissioner. His wife survived him, dying 
 January 18, 1890. Of their children seven now 
 survive, namely, William E., Jabez, Roland, John, 
 Van Buren Marcus, and Zacliary T. Oscar and 
 Alvin are deceased. 
 
 The early education of the subject of this sketch 
 was obtained in the district schools and owing to 
 his father's absence from home he was obliged to 
 assume management of the family affairs in his 
 youth. He also worked out by the month, adding 
 his earnings to the family fund until he was of age. 
 He has been an extensive reader and has endeav- 
 ored to counterbalance the deficiencies in his early 
 education by this means. September 3, 1862, he 
 enlisted in company M., Sixth Michigan Cavalry-, 
 
 and while in tlie service he acted under the general 
 orders of Kilpatrick, Custer and Sheridan, three of 
 the bravest and most gallant of tiie commanding 
 officers in the Union army. He fought in the bat- 
 tles of Front Royal, Opequan Creek, Cedar Springs, 
 Winchester, and the siege of Petersburg, together 
 with less noted contests that belong to the Slienan- 
 doah campaign. At Watertown, Va., he was capt- 
 ured b}' the enemy and was confined some four 
 months, the greater part of time in Libby Prison. 
 His health was so impaired by exposure and prison 
 life that he draws a pension from the Government 
 he served. He took part in the Grand Review at 
 Washington and was finally discharged at Ft. 
 Leavenworth, Kan., July 10, 1865. 
 
 In 1852 Mr. Hull was united in marriage with 
 .Sarah Ayers, daughter of the late Isaac Ayers, of 
 Ionia County. There were born of this union two 
 children— Wealth}' A., wife of Alpheus Sparks, 
 and Carrie L., now the widow Scott. The wife 
 and mother breathed her last October 14, 1881. 
 Our subject made a second matrimonial alliance, 
 winning for his wife Miss Emma Hull, daughter of 
 Daniel and Jane (Catlin) Hull. Her father was 
 born in New York and her motlier in Massachusetts. 
 They came to this Stale from Ohio in 1871, and 
 made their home in St. Joseph County, where Mr. 
 Hull died in 1877. Four years later the widow 
 came to Ionia County, where she is still living, her 
 home now being with her daughter, the wife of our 
 subject. She is in the sevent3'-eighth 3-ear of her age. 
 Besides Mrs. Hull her surviving children are Fran- 
 cis H. and Ruma, wife of Leonard Osgood. The 
 grandfather of Mrs. Emma Hull fought in the W^ar 
 of 1812. 
 
 When he was discharged from the army Mr. Hull 
 returned to Ionia County and resumed his work 
 and has continued to carry on his personal affairs 
 with zeal and good judgment. He is identified with 
 Hiram P, Clark Post, G. A, R,, of Saranac and is 
 now serving as C'ha|)lain, He has been a Mason 
 for a quarter of a century and has taken the Royal 
 Arch degree. He has been Treasurer and Collector 
 of Keene Township, and has also served efficiently 
 on the School Board, In politics he is a Repub- 
 lican, He and his wife belong to the Metiiodist 
 Episcopal Church, and lie has been Steward and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 J519 
 
 Class-Leader for many years. Both are intelligent, 
 companitinalile and hospitable and their friends are 
 numbered bj- tiie score. As a civilian and a soldier 
 Mr. Hull has made an honoral)le record, worthj' of 
 the imitation of posterity. 
 
 -7/l( LBKUT K. GK.SLER. M. D., a prominent 
 w<i/i III physician and surgeon of Saranac, Ionia 
 Count}-, has been engaged in the practice 
 of his profession about fourteen years, and 
 enjoyed a large and growing patronage throughout 
 the western part of the county. He was born on a 
 farm near the village of RIontville, St. Joseph 
 County, Jnh' 17, 1850, and removed to Barry 
 County with his parents when about ten years of 
 age. Tliore he received his earlier education in 
 the common school, and subsequently pursued the 
 higher branches at Hastings, the United Brethren 
 Acatlemy at Leoni, Jackson County, and the State 
 N(>rmal School at Leavenworth, Kan. The educa- 
 tional period of his life was interspersed with 
 school teaching, both in Kansas and Michigan. 
 
 The Doctor's father, Lewis C. Gesler, was born 
 in Lancaster County, Pa., Ma}' 1, 1820, and is of 
 German descent, his grandfather having been a 
 native of Switzerland. At Mendon, St. Joseph 
 County, this State, September 13, 1841, he was 
 married to Miss Elizabeth Snow. This lady is of 
 American extraction and was born in Boston, Mass., 
 October 1-2, 182.5. In 1880 the Uev. Lewis C. Ges- 
 ler retired from active participation in the ministry 
 of theUnited Brethren Church, and he and his wife 
 arc now living on their farm in Barry County. 
 They are the parents of ten children, eight of 
 whom are now living. 
 
 As our subject lia<I not a natural aptitude for 
 farm life but rather preferred literary work, he was 
 easil}' [)ersuaded bj' the family physician. Dr. K. F. 
 Brown, to take up the study of medicine, and in 
 the spring of 1871 he entered the office of that 
 gentleman as a student. In the autumn of 1875 
 he marticnlated in the homoeopathic department of 
 the Michigan University, where he was under the 
 tutorship of such noted men as Profs. L. A. Jones 
 
 and J. C. Morgan. In the Old School department 
 he received instruction from Profs. Ford, McLain, 
 Dunster, and others of equal note. Wishing to 
 enjoy the larger clinic advantages obtainable in 
 Cincinnati, Oliio, Dr. Gesler matriculated in Pulle 
 Medical College in that city, in the fall of 1876, 
 and w.as graduated therefrom in June, 1877. On 
 the 22d of that month he opened an office in Sar- 
 anac, where lie is still actively i)iirsuing his pro- 
 fessional life. 
 
 For a period of eleven j'ears there has ])resided 
 over the pleasant home of Dr." Gesler one of the 
 most estimable of ladies, who bore the maiden name 
 of Vesta C. A. Harris. She was born in Macomb 
 County, tiiis State, No\ ember 24, 1854, and until 
 1865 her education was pursued in the common 
 school there. Her parents then remored to a farm 
 one and one-half miles east of Saranac, and for four 
 years she w.'is a regular attendant at the village 
 school. Another removal was made and the vicin- 
 ity of St. Johns became the family residence, and 
 there she was kept constantly in school until she 
 was seventeen j'cars old. At that age she began 
 teaching, and continued her work either in Clinton 
 or Ionia Counties iintil 1879, September 10, of that 
 year, becoming the wife of Dr. Gesler. Imme- 
 diately after her marriage she took up the study of 
 medicine, and in the j'ears 1880-81 attended the 
 Herring Medical College in St. Louis, Mo., receiv- 
 ing her diploma in the spring of the second year. 
 She has since been engaged in practice with her 
 husband. To Mr. and Mrs. Gesler two sons have 
 been born: James Farrand, December 27, 188.'?; 
 and Carl Grant. November 6, 1886. 
 
 In the maternal line Dr. Vesta Gesler is of Ger- 
 man extraction, and on her father's side she traces 
 her lineage through several generations of Amer- 
 ican-l)orn ancestors to one who w.as a native of 
 F.ngland. Her father, Fayette Harris, was born 
 near Saratoga S|)rings, N. Y., Fcbruarj' 2, 1812, 
 and lived in that .Stnte until the fall of 1837, when 
 he removed to Macomb County. Mich. In 1835 he 
 had been married to Miss Margery Forbes, daugh- 
 ter of Bartholotnew and Leah (Anguish) Forbes, 
 who was born in Madison County, N. Y., Novem- 
 ber 27, 1810. Mr. and Mrs. Harris had eight chil- 
 dren, of whom Vesta is the youngest. At her home 
 
820 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the father died November 1, 1886. The paternal 
 grandparents of Mrs. Gesler were ]\Iason and Roxie 
 (Wells) Harris, of New England, who went to New 
 York dnring its early progress, and thence came to 
 this State to spend their last years. 
 
 Dr. A. E. Gesler is a member of the State Ho- 
 ceopathic Society, and in the investigations made 
 by its various members and the experiences they 
 relate lie is much interested. Through this society 
 and b}' personal study, and occasional attendance 
 at our large city hospitals, he keeps himself in 
 touch with the latest theories and discoveries in 
 medical science and those branches which have a 
 bearing upon it, enjoying at the present time the 
 leading surgical practice through the western part 
 of the county. Socially he is a Pythian Knight. 
 Both he and his wife belong to the Congregational 
 Church, and are active in the various departments 
 of its work. 
 
 ,,J ARON B. PRATT, a representative and 
 'IlM venerable pioneer of Ionia County, residing 
 on section 25, Keene Township, is a tiative 
 of Erie County, N. Y., where he was born 
 June IC, 1813. He is a son of Jacob and Rachel 
 (Anderson) Pratt, both natives of New York 
 State. Tlie Pratt family originated from three 
 brothers who emigrated from England to America 
 at an early day. The maternal grandfather, Will- 
 iam Anderson, was a Revolutionary-^ hero and the 
 father of our subject was a soldier in the War of 
 1812. He and his good wife were the parents of 
 a large family, of _whom the following survive: 
 Aaron B. ; Elijah, in Ionia Township, this county; 
 Matthew, in Carrolton, Mich.; John in California; 
 and Mary, Mrs. Saxtou, a widow, living in Owos.so, 
 Midi. The parents were early settlers in Erie 
 County, N. Y., having made their home there 
 when it was practically a wilderness. No oppor- 
 tunities for a higher education were available and 
 the children received their education from the 
 primitive schools in tliat count}-. 
 
 The subject of this sketch emigrated to Oakland 
 County, Mich., in 1837, and resided there until 
 the year 1840. There he was carried on Christm.as 
 
 Ds3', 1839, when he took to wife Pluma Fox, who 
 was born March 28, 1820. She is a daughter of 
 Truman and Lydia (Morton) Fox, both natives of 
 New York State. Her fatiier belonged to a fam- 
 ily of .Scotch descent and her paternal grandfather 
 was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. Her 
 parents had a large family of children, two only 
 of whom are now living: Dorus M., living in Des 
 Moines, Iowa, and Mrs. Pratt. In 1825 Mrs. Pratt 
 when a little girl emigrated with her parents to 
 Oakland County, Mich., and was there reared to 
 maturity and there met and married the subject of 
 this notice. Her parents were among the early 
 settlers in Oakland County. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have been been born ten 
 children, seven of whom are living, viz: Amanda, 
 Mrs. James L. Manning, of Kalk.askia, Mich.; Wal- 
 ter E., residing in South Dakota; Frank, a resident 
 of Oklahoma; Dora, wife of Robert McDermott, 
 at Sault .Ste. Marie, Mich.; Truman, in Keene 
 Township, this cotuity ; May, wife of Wilber Curtis, 
 in Easton Towuslii|); and (Tcorge C, who resides 
 at home. 
 
 In the spring of 1840 Mr. and Mrs. Pratt emi- 
 grated to Ionia County and settled in what is now 
 Ionia Township. Here they made their home for 
 over a quarter of a century. Our subject and his 
 brother iilijah built the first gristmill in Ionia 
 Township on a stream called Lil)liart Creek. 
 Together these two young men operated this mill 
 for several j'ears when Aaron bought out his 
 brother's interest and ran the mill for a long while 
 himself. The father was a carpenter and Aaron 
 had in his early j-ears learned the trade of a mill- 
 wright, which he followed for a number of years 
 in connection with operating his own mill. 
 
 In 186G Mr. Pratt removed to Saranac, Mich., 
 where he followed milling and farming in connec- 
 tion for several years. He came to Keene Town- 
 ship in tlie fall of 1872 and settled on section 25, 
 where he has lived from that day to this. His fine 
 residence was erected b}- him iu 1876. His beau- 
 tiful farm of seventy-three acres of well-iuiproved 
 and productive land attest to his industrj' and 
 good management. He is a self-made man in the 
 truest sense of the word and all that he has is the 
 result of the unaided efforts of himself and his 
 
 1 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 321 
 
 devoted \vife, who has been his wise counselor 
 and ready helper for over half a century. On 
 Christmas Day, 1889, they celebrated their golden 
 wedding, and tlic^^ are now in a green old age, 
 enjoying to the full the affection of their children 
 a!id the respect of the community. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are identified with the Dis- 
 ciples Church, in the communion of which they 
 have lived earnest and devoted Christian lives. 
 He is a Democrat in politics and a public-spirited 
 citizen. This volume would truly be incomplete 
 without a biographical notice of this honored and 
 venerable pioneer, for he is one of the old land- 
 marks of Ionia County, and vividly can he relate 
 many a stirring and interesting event of the early 
 days. He is universally esteemed for his upright 
 character and integrity. 
 
 ^JMOIIY F. STRONG. The publishers of 
 this Ai.ui'ji would fail in their purpose of 
 
 -^1 presenting the records of the lives of the 
 best known and most useful citizens of Ionia 
 County were the account of the labors of Mr. 
 Strong to be omitted from its pages. He is one 
 of the county's native-born citizens and is the rep- 
 resentative of a family that was first known here 
 early in tiie 40s, when much i)ioneer work was 
 to be done before the land was fitted for the occu- 
 panc\' of prosperous communities. From his par- 
 ents he has inherited the sturd}' nature charactor- 
 islie of those who were willing to brave danger 
 and privation in order to open a wa}' for others 
 who were less enterprising, cheerful and courage- 
 ous. In his own person Mr. Strong has been 
 useful as a private citizen, a servant of the public, 
 and a member of tliat class to which all owe the 
 necessities of life. 
 
 Noble 1). Strong, father of our subject, was 
 born in New York, and upon coming to this 
 Stale settled in the northern part of Kecnc Town- 
 ship, Ionia County. He was one of the first to 
 locate in that section and was a potent factor in its 
 development. He lived to see the countr}- well 
 
 cultivated and populous, and died in Lowell Feb- 
 ruary 21, 1889. His wife, whose maiden name was 
 Rozilla M. Potter, is a native of New York and is 
 now living in Keene Townsliip, and h.is passed the 
 age of three-score. The parental family consisted 
 of six sons and daughters, and five are now living. 
 The ehlest is the subject of this l)iographical no- 
 tice. The others are: Kttie, wife of H. Milton 
 Trask, Superintendent of the Manistee Furniture 
 Manufacturing Compan}'; Filla A., wife of Y. D. 
 M. Davis, Prosecuting Attorney' of Ionia Count}'; 
 Alva R., wife of Le Roy C. Hunter, whose home 
 is in Saranac; and Carrie A., wife of Edward C. 
 Trask, of Keene Townshij). 
 
 The gentleman of whom we write was born Sep- 
 tember 1, 1845, and spent his boyhood in his 
 native county. He then accompanied his parents 
 to Cass County, where the family sojourned four 
 years, then, returning to Ionia County, established 
 their home on section 19, Easton Township. Our 
 subject was able to take part in the work neces- 
 sary to bring the new farm under good improve- 
 ment, and he also cleared and developed his own 
 farm a few years later. His education prior to the 
 age of fifteen was received in the ilistrict schools, 
 and he then entered Kalamazoo College. On 
 account of sickness he was obliged to leave that 
 institution when he had spent but a short time in 
 the enjoyment of its advantages. For a time he 
 studied in a select school at Ionia and he also took 
 a course of stud}' in the Detroit Business College. 
 Although he was not able to complete ttie full col- 
 lege course, lie gained more than an average amount 
 of knowledge for the period and place in which 
 his youth was passed. 
 
 Tlie wedding day of Mr. Strong and Miss Polly 
 L. Welch was March fi, 18C7. The bride, a daugh- 
 ter of Simon anil Nancy (Sprague) Welch, was 
 born in Ionia County November 23, 1844. Her 
 parents were born in New York and her father 
 will be remembered by many of our readers as one 
 of the pioneers and a prominent saw-mill man. 
 He came West in the '30s, and after he had been 
 in Ionia County for some time settled on what is 
 known as the "Pike Farm," in Easton Township. 
 Thence he removed to what is calleil the '-Welch 
 Farm," which was one of the first opened up for 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 cultivation in that district. It is said that Mr. 
 Welcli cleared more land and helped to lay out 
 and make more roads than other raan in the 
 county. He came hither a poor lad and when he 
 died, in 1862, his estate was estimated at $.50,000. 
 His widow, who is now more than three-score and 
 ten years old, is livino; in Ionia. 
 
 The farm of Mr. Strong consists of one hundred 
 and twenty acres on section 1, Easton Township, 
 developed by himself from the woods and now 
 under good cultivation. He has a complete line of 
 farm huildings and a pleasant residence, in which 
 his wife presides with grace, and which is sur- 
 rounded witli evidences of culture and refine- 
 ment. Tiie children who form a happy home circle 
 here are: Frank N., Cassie B., Bessie E., Mary B. 
 and Mj'rtie G. Hospitality is extended with a 
 lavish hand hy Mr. and Mrs. Strong, and they and 
 their family enjoy the society of a pleasant circle 
 of acquniiitances. Mr. Strong is raising some fine 
 Jersey cattle and some Chester-while hogs, and is 
 also engaged in the milk business, selling the 
 products of his dairy in the city of Ionia. 
 
 Mr. Strong has been called upon to fill various 
 positions of trust and has acquitted himself well in 
 each and all. He was Township Supervisor three 
 years, Township Clerk nearlj' three terms, and 
 School Inspector four years. He possesses good 
 business ability, is courteous and entertaining, and 
 commands the esteem and confidence of his ac- 
 quaintances. Politically he is a Republican. Mrs. 
 Strong is connected with the Ladies' Aid Society 
 of Ionia. 
 
 OOAH BISHOP, a representative pioneer of 
 / Ionia County, Mich., residing on section 8, 
 ) Easton Township, was born August 15, 
 1822, in Western New York. He is a son of Luther 
 and Harriet (Wheelock) Bishop. His father is a 
 native of Massachusetts and his mother of Rhode 
 Island. Both his grandfathers were Revolutionary 
 heroes, and his grandfather Bishop was in the b.attle 
 of Bunker Hill, and saw the first shot fired, and 
 was also present when the last fighting of the war 
 was done. Of his father's family seven children 
 
 survive: Marcia, Mrs. Taylor, a widow; Maria, 
 wife of Granville Madison; Sylvia, wife of Will- 
 iam Booker; Noah; Devilo; Eleanor, wife of 
 Charles Reynolds; and Lucretia, Mrs. Milton Tay- 
 lor. 
 
 The subject of this sketch remained at home 
 until he was fourteen years of age, when he came to 
 Oakland County, Mich., and worked out by the 
 month on a farm, receiving about $8 per month 
 and his board. In the fall of 1842 he came to Ionia 
 County, where he worked in the pine lumbering 
 woods for a number of years, receiving about $25 
 per month with his board. 
 
 The excellent lady who presides over the home 
 of our subject became Mrs. Bishop May 18, 1845. 
 She is Ellen, daughter of Charles and Anna (Gill- 
 man) Madison, and was born in New Hampshire, 
 July 20, 1830. To her parents had been granted 
 ten children, of whom the following are now liv- 
 ing: Nancy, Mrs. Jackson, a widow; James G., 
 Granville, Charles, P'rank and Mrs. Bishop. When 
 she was only two years old the Mailison family 
 emigrated to Oakland County, Mich., and about a 
 year later Mr. Madison died, and about six years 
 later the mother was called away from this young 
 family, and this little girl was left a double orphan 
 at a tender age. She received the rudiments of 
 her education in the log schoolhouses of New York 
 and Michigan. 
 
 In 1848 Mr. Bishop settled on the farm where 
 Robert McKendry now resides, in the western por- 
 tion of Easton Township. Here he bought eighty 
 acres from the Government, for which he paid at 
 the rate of $1.25 per acre. He subsequently got 
 forty acres more for which he paid the same price. 
 He built a log cabin in the woods before there were 
 any roads to its site. For a number of years he 
 lived in this house and developed the farm from 
 the woods to a well-cultivated state. In the spring 
 of 1884 he settled on his present farm on section 8, 
 Easton Township. He owns one hundred and 
 forty-one acres of land, sixty of which coojprises 
 his home farm. On this he has a fine brick resi- 
 dence. 
 
 Mr. and Air?. Bishop are counted among the old 
 pioneer corner stones of Ionia Count)', and they 
 have seen many of the hardships to which pioneer 
 
1 
 
 "X,^/ 
 
 CTT^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 825 
 
 life is subjected. Tliey are both ideiitifled witii tiic 
 Metliodist Kpiscopal Church, in which he has 
 served as a Steward for some years. They pre now 
 in their prime, enjoying the fruits of a life well 
 spent, and doing ail in tlieir power to help those 
 who are younger and less prosperous. Their fine 
 brick residence is a favorite resort among all the 
 neiglibors. lie is a Democrat in politics, and in 
 local matters favors all movements for the eleva- 
 tion of social conditions. 
 
 Mr. Bishop's army exi)priencc began September 
 9, 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, First 
 Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. This regiment 
 was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and 
 Ohio, and later to the Army of the Tennessee. 
 They were engaged in bridge building and repair- 
 ing. He received his honorable discharge Decem- 
 ber 29, 1861, and returned to Ionia County where 
 he has resided ever since, enjoying the esteem and 
 confidence of all who know him. 
 
 ATTIIKW n. FOX. Since 1866 this gen- 
 tleman has been numbered among the 
 residents of Muir, Ionia Count}', and for 
 some years after that date he was promi- 
 nently connected with business affairs in the lumber 
 regions of the State. Since 1873 he h.as been classed 
 among the retireil men of the place, having a com- 
 petence which enables him to supply every reason- 
 able desire and having reached an age when ease is 
 pleasant. He is a native of Columbia, Herkimer 
 County, N. Y., and received his education in the 
 schools of the county. He grew to maturity on 
 the parental acres and became thorouglily con- 
 versant Willi the details of agricultural life and the 
 conduct of all business affairs connected thcrewilli. 
 After his marriage Mr. Fox bought the home- 
 stead and there continued to make his home until 
 1855, when he removed to Cattaraugus County, 
 and again engaged in farming. After eleven years 
 of residence there he came to this State and made 
 his present location. He has two town lots where 
 numerous shade and fruit trees lend beauty to the 
 scene and make an attractive background for his 
 
 pleasant residence. Upon coming here Mr. Fox 
 bougiit a tract of i)ine land in Montcalm County, 
 an<l building a steam sawmill at Muir he rafted his 
 logs down Fish Creek anil Maple River to the mill. 
 He furnished eni|)loyment for a number of men 
 and did a good business as long as he continued in 
 active life. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Frederick Fox, a native of Herkimer County, N.Y., 
 and a man of considerable prominence, as well as 
 the owner of a large estate. His occupation was 
 farming. He was a Uevolutionar}' soldier and was 
 a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. His 
 sou James, father of our subject, was born in the 
 old stone fort of Herkimer, March 9, 1784. He 
 married Dolly Herkimer, who was born there De- 
 cember 26, 1788, she too belonging to a well-known 
 family. James Fox fought during the War of 1812, 
 holding the rank of Lieutenant and then of Cap- 
 tain. He and his wife belonged to Dominie Spin- 
 ner's Church at Ft. Herkimer and he was a Deacon 
 in the same. He died February 22, 1854, and his 
 widow in 1866. Their family consisted of six 
 children, the only survivors being Matthew IL, of 
 whom we write, and John A., a resident of Alle- 
 gany County, N. Y. 
 
 In 1842 our subject was married to Miss Kliza 
 C. Edick, a native of the same county as himself, 
 whose natal day was July 13, 1824, while he w.as 
 born April 23, 1817. Mrs. Fox is Ti daughter of 
 John and Christina (Vaudusen) Edick, who were 
 also born in Herkimer Count}' and whose ancestors 
 came from Germany and Holland. Mrs. Edick 
 died in 1826 and Mr. Edick was killeil by falling 
 from ascaffohl, wliicii broke while he was assisting 
 in raising a church steeple. The Edick family com- 
 prised four children, two now living — Cornelius 
 and Mrs. Fox. Their parents were members of Ihe 
 Dutch Reformed Church. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Fox three children have been 
 born, but two only are living. These are Christina 
 E., widow of Justin .Smith, ard Ella V., wife of 
 J. E. Just. Mrs. Smith lost her husband in 1890; 
 she has four sons — Justin M., George II., Benjamin 
 J. and Clark S. Mrs. Just has one daughter — 
 Nellie. Mr. Fox, although not .actively eng.<)ged in 
 business, is still one of the most prominent men in 
 
326 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the village of Muir. He is a public-spirited and in- 
 telligent man, whose interest in the general welfare 
 is manifested in many ways. He votes the Repub- 
 lican ticket and supiiorts tiie Presbyterian Church, 
 of which his wife is a member in high standing. 
 
 A lithographic portrait of Mr. Fox appears in 
 connection with this biographical notice. 
 
 <a felLLIAM NOLTY. The home of this en- 
 \f\ji tcri)rising farmer is on section 3, Ionia 
 VW Township and county, on a tract of land 
 consisting of one hundred and forty fertile acres. 
 All but twenty acres of this tract is under tiie plow 
 or devoted to the convenience of the family in 
 orchards, gardens and barn-yards. Large crops of 
 good grain are raised and stock of standard breeds 
 is also placed upon the market from tliis estate. 
 Excellent buildings have been put up by the pres- 
 ent occupants of the land, and their good judgment 
 has been further shown in the setting out of large 
 orchards and in the neatness which characterizes 
 the place. Mr. Nolty makes his visits to town 
 behind a good roadster, and his draught-horses are 
 kept in equally good condition. 
 
 Grandfather Nolty, whose given name was John, 
 was born in Germany, whence he came to America 
 when quite young. During the Revolution he 
 laid aside the implements of a farmer to join the 
 other Colonists in defense of their liberties. A son 
 who bore his own name and followed his own occu- 
 pation, is the direct progenitor of our subject. This 
 second John Nolty was born in Pennsylvania and 
 in Canada married Anna Wilkins, whose father 
 had fought in the Canadian forces during the War 
 of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Nolty lived in Canada 
 until 1862, then came to this State and made a per- 
 manent settlement in Ionia Count}'. After residing 
 in the township of the same name some years, they 
 removed to the county seat, where the husband 
 died in 1876, at the age of four-score years. Tiie 
 widow is now seventy-four years old. Their fam- 
 ily comprised ten children and seven survive. 
 The gentleman whose name introduces those par- 
 
 agraphs is a Canadian by birth, born in the Prov- 
 ince of Ontario, November 23, 1833. Ills educa- 
 tion was limited, confined to what he could obtain 
 at the common schools during a brief period. He 
 has always been a farmer, but his efforts were for 
 his parents' interests until he was twenty-eight 
 years old. He then started out for himself with a 
 capital consisting of a span of horses. He had come 
 to this State with his parents and he worked a farm 
 on shares one season. He then married and set- 
 tled in Ronald Township, but a year later removed 
 to his present farm, which was then but partly im- 
 proved. In all that has been done for their mutual 
 interest Mr. Nolty has had the sympathy and aid 
 -of his wife, who is an efficient woman and one who 
 is devoted to the good of her family. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Nolty and Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Anderson was solemnized November 4, 1863. The 
 bride was born at German Flats, Herkimer County, 
 N. Y., October 21, 1828. She is one of seven chil- 
 dren — four now living — that comprised the family 
 of James and Clarissa (Brown) DeLong. She was 
 thirteen years old when her parents removed to this 
 State and here she completed her education by a 
 year's attendance in Jackson schools. She taught 
 in Ionia County in former years. By her first 
 marriage she had four children, of whom we note 
 the following: James D. Anderson, born October 
 24, 1847, married Ella Edwards and has one child; 
 Archie, born January 26, 1850, married Julia Dick- 
 inson and has two children ; Lizzie lone, now the 
 wife of Frank Faulkner and mother of three chil- 
 dren, was born February 26, 1853; Josephine, born 
 July 10, 1857, married Covert Miller. The older 
 son and the daughters have taught school, Mrs. Mil- 
 ler's experience extending over a period of four- 
 teen years. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Nolty is Edgar J., whose natal day was March 21, 
 1872. He has attended only the district school, 
 but is a good student and he is also an able assist- 
 ant of his father upon the farm. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Nolty were born in New 
 York and Massachusetts respectivelj', and the father 
 combined in his veins German, French and Yankee 
 blood. He came to this State in I 835 with Samuel 
 Dexter, and is numbered among the pioneers of 
 Ionia Township. He had a section of land here 
 
PORTRAIT AND BrOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 327 
 
 and considerable other real estate, the acreiige 
 amounting to nine hundred, lie died in 1812. He 
 had started a W(:)oIen factory and fullinn; mill, 
 which his widow fiiiislu'd. Mrs. Deliong survived 
 him until 1879. 
 
 r>oth Mr. and Mrs. Nolty bclont;: to the Chris- 
 ti.in Church at Muir, and Mr. Nolty has been a Dea- 
 con of the congregation. Both have taught in the 
 Sunday-school, Mr. Noltj' having the Bible class, 
 and he has l)een Supenintendent of the school. Mrs. 
 Nolly's daughter Josephine led the singing. Mr. 
 Nolty was formerly a member of the Grange and 
 now belongs to the Patrons of Industry-, in the 
 growth of which he is quite interested. He has 
 been a member of the local School Board about 
 eighteen year.s and is now its Treasurer. In poli- 
 tics he is a faithful Republican and he is a strong 
 ailvocate of temperance. 
 
 ^g^i^a^ 
 
 Z^/ DDI.SON R. WILCOX who resides on 
 (©yJl section 32, Ionia Township, Ionia County, 
 
 jl (fc is the only surviving child of Azariali 
 1^ Wil cox , a native of the Green Mountain 
 
 Slate. The mother bove the maiden name of Al- 
 mira Eaton. This couple remained after their 
 n)arriage in their native State, Vermont, until a 
 short time before the death of the husband which 
 took place in 1831, in Chautauqua County, N. Y., 
 whither they had removed. His widow in the 
 course of time married again and remained in 
 Chautauqua County. She died there in lH7-t, at 
 the advanced age of seventy-eight years. 
 
 Young Addison, who was born November ',), 
 1830, in Chautauqua County, N. Y., was only four- 
 teen months old when his father's death orphaned 
 him. His mother brought him up and gave to him 
 the best common-school education which was to be 
 obtained. At the age of eighteen ^'ears he left 
 home to peddle stoves, whicli occupation lie con- 
 tinued for four years. 
 
 At twenty-two years of age he undertook iin 
 expedition, which in those days, early in the '.OOs, 
 was undertaken by few, except the most enterpris- 
 ing and fcarliss. Ik' went to Califoi Ilia, crossing 
 
 the plains. The expedition was fitted out at .St. 
 Josejjh, Mo., and pursued its course to Ft. Leaven- 
 wortlij then by the south fork of the Platte River 
 to Kl. Kearney, then to Salt Lake City, where they 
 r(!stcd for two weeks. They ascended to the head 
 of the Humboldt River, then down Carson Valley 
 to riacerville, then called Hangtown. The party 
 left St. .Iose[)h May 14 and arrived at Placerville 
 September 16, the same year (1852). They saw 
 plenty of Indians on the w.ay but had no trouble 
 with them. Ox-tcams were their only beasts of 
 burden. 
 
 Mr. Wilcox went into the mines for a year and 
 expected to do more in that line but was driven 
 from this kind of work by rheumatism. He went 
 to work on a farm in Santa Clara County, and 
 found tiie California sunshine more helpful for him 
 than the darkness of the mines. He earned 1 100 
 a month for three years. His return home in 1857 
 was around by the Isthmus of Panama. After his 
 return home he speculate<l in horses and cattle for 
 some eight or nine years, and then settled on a 
 farm in his Iiome county. In 187G he came to 
 Michigan and m.ade lits home in Ionia County, 
 where he has since remained. 
 
 In 1857 an interesting event took place in the 
 life of our subject which united him with Sarepta, 
 daughter of George and Sallie (White) Sloan, who 
 were pioneers in Chautauqua County, N. Y. She 
 was born in 1832 and was called from earth in 1871, 
 leaving one child, Myrtie S., born August, 18G9. 
 Our subject's second marriage took place M.ay 29, 
 1879. In this event he was joined with Mrs. 
 Robert Treat Kelsey noe Du Bois, a daughter of 
 Abraham and Sarah (Van Voorliess) Du Bois. 
 The celebration of their marriage took place in 
 Albau}- and Mr. and Mrs. Du Bois resided in 
 Steuben County, N. Y. He was not only a 
 farmer but a miller and a fuller. He served 
 his country in the War of 1812. Mr. Du Bois 
 came to Michigan about 1859, and having lost his 
 wife several years before made his home with his 
 children and died here in 1870, his remains repos- 
 ing in Balcolm Cemetery. 
 
 Mrs. Wilcox was the fourth ciiild of her parents 
 and was born November I, 1833, in Steuben County, 
 N. Y. The excellent education furnished her by 
 
328 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 her parents, fitted her for the profession of a teacher, 
 and previous to iier first marriage she taught school 
 for some lime. Her marriage in December, 1854, 
 united her with Robert Treat Kelsey, a son of Levi 
 and Asenath (Hoyt) Kelsey, of Herkimer County, 
 N. Y. In 1855 they made a new home in Miclii- 
 gan, purchasing eighty acres of land, twenty-five 
 of which was already chopped and broken up. He 
 finished clearing it and put it all under cultivation. 
 Mr. Kelsey was a Rcjiublican and took an active 
 interest in politics. He was also a member of the 
 School Board. He died January 19, 1863. Both 
 children of this marriage have been called from 
 earth. 
 
 Mr. Wilcox gives his almost undivided attention 
 to his farm, raising both grain and stock of stand- 
 ard grades. He has always taken an interest in 
 politics and votes the Republican ticket, while his 
 wife's preferences are with the Democracy, and she 
 is strongly interested in temperance movements. 
 Their residence was built some tvvent3'five years 
 ago and the large barn in 1885. 
 
 '•• ' ^^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 y^\ HRISTIAN LUZ, proprietor of the Central 
 (l(^_^ Meat-market at Edmore, Montcalm County, 
 ^^^J is the son of Gottleib Luz, of Wurtem- 
 berg, Germany. His grandfather Andreas, was the 
 wealthiest man in the city of Kirchentellensfurth, 
 a large landed proprietor and a prominent and in- 
 fluential man, holding the princi|)al public office in 
 that place. Tlie father of our subject was engaged 
 in farming, and died in the year 1866, at the early 
 age of twenty-five years when this boy was but one 
 year old. The father was a Lutheran. The mother 
 of Christian was Elizabetha (Weber) Luz, iind was 
 born in Wurleniberg. Her father, Jacob Weber, 
 was a baker, and kept a general restaurant in Kir- 
 chentellensfurth, where the mother still resides. 
 
 The subject of this sketch first saw the light Jan- 
 uary 7, 1865. He remained with his mother, who 
 ran a farm in her native village, and early learned 
 to attend to the business of the family. After 
 awhile he learned the butcher's business, and soon 
 began dealing in cattle, in which he was very suc- 
 
 cessful. His family were in independent circum- 
 stances and he had every advantage in both busi- 
 ness and social ways, but he had a desire to see 
 America, and to find his life-work here. In Feb- 
 ruary, 1889 he left Havre by the steamer "British." 
 He was seven days on the ocean, and came directly 
 to Ann Arbor by way of New York. He worked 
 for four months on a farm, and then came to Lans- 
 ing, where he was employed in a meat-market up to 
 the fall of 1890, when coming to Edmoie he bought 
 the Central meat-market from Taylor & Skarritt, 
 and has since run it successfully. He has a good 
 location, and is doing a fine business, being orderly 
 and systematic in his work, and making the place 
 attractive to customers. 
 
 In December, 1890. the subject of this sketch 
 sailed for Germany, to visit his mother and his old 
 home. He had a pleasant trip of fifteen days from 
 New York to Havre on the steamer ''Opdom." He 
 spent three months in Germany, combining busi- 
 ness and pleasure. In the pursuit of the former he 
 proved his claim to a fortune of $10,000. and set- 
 tled up the entire business in the short period of 
 his visit. In the early part of INIarch, 1891, he re- 
 turned to this country, making a voyage of thir- 
 teen days on the steamer ''Suafia." He is a very 
 popular man in Edmore, and can confidently look 
 forward to a successful future. He is connected 
 with the Lutheran Church, and is a Democrat in his 
 political preferences. 
 
 r/OHN BIPPLEY is one of the owners of 
 well-regulated estates in Ionia County and 
 derives from his property a very satisfac- 
 tory income. He is located on section 13 
 Odessa Township, and has there one hundred and 
 eighty acres of cleared land and sixty acres that are 
 still covered with timber. A large and conven- 
 iently-arranged farm house presents the homelike 
 appearance attractive to passers-by, and two barns, 
 one of which is the largest in the township, together 
 with other necessary buildings, are there to be 
 seen. The grain and tool-barn is twenty-six feet 
 square, with twelve-foot posts, and the other is 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAVHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 329 
 
 66x80 feet, w[th a height of eighteen feet. The 
 latter lias a basement under the whole extent. Mr. 
 Bipplc}' keeps good stock and raises crops equal to 
 any harvested in this section of tiie State. 
 
 Jacob and Julia (Fole) Bippley were natives of 
 Germany, whence they emijq-iiled to America in 
 1832. Mr. Bippley had been a farmer in Wurtem- 
 burg and after crossing the Atlantic he conlinueii 
 his olden occupation. He located in Medina 
 County, Ohio, and made that his home until his 
 death. He passed away while on a visit to Ken- 
 tucky in the year 1850. His faithful companion 
 lived until December 6, 1884. Their children were 
 eight in number and six are now living, viz: John, 
 George, (iotlieb, Catherine, Mary, and Christina. 
 The deceased are Fred, who died in Andersonvilie 
 in 1863 and Christian who died in 1861. The 
 parents were members of the Lutheran Church. 
 
 John Bippley was born in Medina County, Ohio, 
 February 18, 1838. He received a limited educa- 
 tion in the district school and remained at home 
 until he was fourteen years old, when he worked 
 out by the niontli and gave his evenings to the 
 service of his widowed mother. In 1855 he came 
 to this State and for about two years worked by 
 the month in Berlin Township, Ionia County. He 
 w.as economical, and ere long bought forty acres of 
 land on section 10, Odessa Township, which lie 
 cleared at odd times when not engaged in chopping, 
 logging and splitting wood for others. He kept 
 on working for wages and giving his spare time to 
 the development of his own property, until he sold 
 the tract in 1878. Prior to that time he iiad bought 
 eighty acres where he is now living and to tliis he 
 removed. On his new place there was a clearing 
 of fourteen acres. Here he built a frame house 
 and then began to pl.ice the rest of the tract in a 
 condition for planting. 
 
 Kach year saw the Bippley property l)etter im- 
 proved, and in course of time it was increased to 
 its present extent. This was not accomplished 
 without passing through trials and hardshii)s, but 
 they were lessened by the sympathy of a good wife 
 and shortened by her counsel and aid. 'I'he worthy 
 couple can look back upon many happy days even 
 while their waking hours were devoted to toil, and 
 while they lived in the rude log cabin that was 
 
 their earliest home. The furniture in that dwelling 
 was rudely made and included only the most neces- 
 sary articles, such .as chairs, a l)edstcad, and a table 
 that was in reality a chest. Times were so hard 
 that for two months they had no money with which 
 to mail a letter. 
 
 March 1'2, 1861, Mr. Bippley and Miss Hannah 
 Winningaei were united in marri.igc. They have 
 three children, sons, named Frank, George and 
 William. Mrs. Bipi)ley is a daughter of George 
 and Margaret (Kleinknecht) Winning.icr, natives 
 of Wurteniburg, (Germany. The3' emigrated to 
 America in 1833 and at once located in Medina 
 County, Ohio, where Mr. Winniugaer carried on a 
 farm, as he had done in his native land. His death 
 occurred December 23, 1870; his wife had preceded 
 him to the tomb, dying in August, 1862. They 
 had seven children, but two only are now living — 
 Christian and Hannah — the former making his home 
 in Berlin Township. Of the brothers of Mrs. Bippley, 
 John died in Liverpool, Ohio, in September 1887; 
 George died in New Orleans of cbolera in 1818 at 
 the close of the Mexican war in which he was a 
 soldier; and Philip died in Dayton, Ohio, in 1860, 
 from the effects of wounds and exposure during 
 the Rebellion. 
 
 Ml'. Bippley was formerly a Kc'ijublican but is 
 now connected with tlie Democratic party; he is a 
 member of the Patrons of Lidustry. He has taken 
 part in the odicial work of Odessa Township, hav- 
 ing been Highway Commissioner four. Drainage 
 Commissioner one. District Overseer eight, and 
 School Otiicer seven j'ears. 
 
 -m^ 
 
 NDUKW M. MARTIN, M. D. Few men 
 
 '^5^1 have in any avocatitm so excellent an 
 [jportunity of making themselves useful 
 to the community and beloved by their 
 fellow citizens, as a good family [ihysician. He it 
 is who receives the confidence of those who are 
 broken in spirit and depressed in circumstances. 
 It is he whose kind words and cheery voice give 
 new courage and purpose when the heart is s.id. 
 Our subject, has made himself a position and a 
 
330 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 power in Lake Odessa and vicinity, and he is re- 
 spected and admired by those wlio iiave looked to 
 liini for help in time of trouble. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Akron, 
 Sumqjit County, Ohio, March 7, 1844. He is the son 
 of Andrew and Jane (Mills) Martin. His father was 
 a native of the Empire State and of Irish descent 
 and the mother was born in England, coming to 
 this country with her parents when she was about 
 three years of age. Andrew Martin came to Ionia 
 County, Mich., in 1855, and purchasing a farm of 
 two hundred acres in Otisco Township, proceeded 
 to improve and cultivate it. This occupation was 
 suplemented l)y carpentering in which trade he was 
 trained and in whicli he did much efficient service. 
 
 The father of our subject was called from earth 
 April 23, 1865. The mother's death took place 
 February 1 7, 1873. Tlieir four children are Charles 
 M., who resides at Seattle, Wash.; Mary, wife of 
 William Tillotson, who resides on the old homestead 
 in Otisco Township; Audrew^ M. and Alice E. wife 
 of Amos Benton, who resides at Miner County, Da. 
 Dr. Martin received his early education at the semi- 
 n.ary at Akron, Ohio, from wiiich place he came with 
 his parents wlien a little lad of eleven yeais. AVhile 
 residing at home on the farm in Otisco Township, 
 he attended the Union School at Cook's Corners and 
 was looking forward to a still higher education when 
 he felt the call of duly to go to the defence of his 
 Nation's flag. He was too young when the war 
 broke out to enlist, but as time went on he felt that 
 he could nottarrj', and although he had not reached 
 his majority', he received the consent of his parents 
 to his enlistment and on August 22, 18G4, he joined 
 Company F, First Michigan Engineers. In this 
 noble cause he served until the close of the war 
 and was honorably discharged June 6, 18G5. 
 
 After his return home the young man remained 
 on the farm for about a year and then went Green- 
 ville, Montcalm Count}', and commenced the long 
 deferred studies to which he as a youth looked 
 forward. He took his first year's study with his 
 brother Charles and after attending the Michigan 
 University at Ann Arbor for two years, coiumeuccd 
 the practice of medicine at Ma))le Hill, Montcalm 
 County, Mich. He remained in this locality but a 
 short time and then canje to Odessa Township, 
 
 locating at Bonanza, half a mile from what is now 
 Lake Odessa. Here he practiced medicine about 
 ten months and from there went to Gratiot County, 
 and located at Elm Hall, where he practiced until 
 the fall of 1872. He then returned to the farm, to 
 care for his mother in her declining health and to 
 attend her through her last illness. During the 
 winter she passed away, and in the spring he set- 
 tled at Coral, Montcalm County, where he practiced 
 until the fall of 1873. He did not make a perma- 
 nent location until he had tried several different 
 places in Michigan and Indiana, and until he had 
 passed three years in professional duty in Talla- 
 hassee, Fla. But in the fall of 1885, he made his 
 home in Lake Odessa where he is now engaged in 
 a lucrative practice. This new town is growing 
 finely and has now reached a population of about 
 eleven hundred. 
 
 Dr. IMartin celebrated his marriage with Abbie 
 A. Reed, Jul}' 19, 18G9. One child has been given 
 to them — Clinton A. who resides with his [jarents. 
 The Doctor is a Republican by conviction and sup- 
 ports the principles of the Republican party. 
 
 lENJAMIN PROBASCO. The life of this 
 gentleman is well worthy the consideration 
 of those who are beginning their career, as 
 it affords lessons of honest, persistent in- 
 dustry and good citizenship that might well be 
 emulated by others. He has been a resident of 
 Ionia County since 1855, and although not so old 
 a settler as some he is yet able to recall days 
 when deer were plenty and he could kill them in 
 his own clearing, and when a more savage animal 
 would sometimes be encountered while committing 
 depredations on the stock. The spring after his 
 arrival here he had an encounter with a bear that 
 was killing hogs near the house, but he did not 
 succeed in capturing bruin. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice is a son 
 of Jacob and Mary (Shay) Probasco, both natives 
 ol New Jersey, the one of French and the other of 
 German lineage. The father was a soldier in 1812 
 and after his death, which occurred at the early 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL AI-BUM. 
 
 331 
 
 age of forty seven years, his widow received a 
 pension for his services. In 1833 tiie good couple 
 removed to Ohio, settling in Huron County on a 
 farm that had been occupied by Indians who had 
 gone farther west but eighteen months before. A 
 large orchard had been planted by the savages and 
 other work done which is generally sup|)Osed to 
 belong to civilization. While working at the 
 forge, which was quite profitable there, Mr. I'ro- 
 basco carried on his farm, which included two 
 hundred and eighty acres. 
 
 Benjamin Probasco was about two years olil 
 when his parents removed to Ohio, he having been 
 born in Sussex County, N. J., April 8, 1831. All 
 his schooling was obtained prior to his fifteenth 
 year when, the father being dead, the children were 
 obliged to assist in the general support whenever 
 thej' could. Our subject worked on the farm and 
 at coopering, and at the age of sixteen 3'ears ope- 
 rated the homestead on his own account and was 
 so successful that lie obtained the largest yield it 
 had ever given. He had an average of forty-three 
 bushels of wheat per acre for fifteen acres and the 
 work had all been done with oxen. An older 
 brother had lost his life in the Mexican War, and 
 Benjamin bought the land warrant which he had 
 received. This warrant was laid on the land now 
 owned by our subject three years prior to his 
 coming here. He came to Michigan in 1855 and 
 located a tract on section 22, Sebewa Township, 
 Ionia County. 
 
 The tract taken by Mr. I'robaseo was in the 
 woods and he proceeded to clear and improve it, 
 and subsequently sold it for ¥3,000. He then 
 bought the Waddell farm of eighty acres, which 
 was well improved and which cost him ^2.200. 
 For sixteen years he divided his time between farm- 
 ing and the cooper's trade, doing light work at the 
 latter in the winter months. As a farmer he has 
 been progressive, adopting the most approved 
 methods and always keeping good stock. He has 
 always had good horses, and in recent years has 
 paid consideral)le attention to shee[) raising and 
 gathered a flock of high graile. He is now giving 
 the farming mostly into the hands of his son 
 Eugene. ' 
 
 November 24, 1857, Mr. Probasco was married 
 
 to Miss Deborah Showerman, who shared his for- 
 tunes but a few short years, dying in I860. She 
 left two sons — Levant and Kugone. The former 
 married Leonore I$adger and was engaged in 
 fanning until his decease. , Eugene, who married 
 Emma Casswell, lives near his father. After hav- 
 ing lived a widower until 18G3 Mr. Prolmsco was 
 married to Luryetle Adelia Brown and to them 
 were born two children: Frances, who married 
 Henry .Snyder, a tradesman; and Irving Adelbert. 
 Again Mr. Probasco was bereft of a companion, 
 his wife dying January 20, 18CG. His present 
 companion, formerly Mary Jane Quackenbos, be- 
 came his wife December 6, 1868. Of this union 
 there has been born one daughter — Eva Mary, wife 
 of Henry Snyder. 
 
 Mr. Probasco has been a great wurker, and now 
 at the age of three-score years, besides doing the 
 chores, he has cut over fifty cords of wood and 
 split it, all with the ax. In politics he has been 
 quite interested, alwaj's keeping posted regardin<' 
 the issues of the day, and he votes the Democratic 
 ticket. Interested in the progress of mankind, he 
 has manifested a progressive spirit in the considera- 
 tion of school affairs and other public interests. 
 He has been a member of the Patrons of Industry 
 and is connected with the ftlethodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 ^ -^ -^^ -^— 
 
 ORACE F. MINER. The genial landlord 
 \\ of Hotel Miner, at Lake'tJdessa.T is^widely 
 known in Ionia County and in the territory 
 lying south of the county. He was born in 
 Monroe County, N. Y., August 5, 1832, and is a 
 son of Linus K. and .Sophia (Bradley) Miner. (lis 
 father was born in Springfield, Mass., and his 
 mother in Connecticut. For some years prior to 
 1848 Linus K. Miner carried on farming in New 
 York and lie then removed with his family to Shi- 
 awassee County, this .State, where he took up seven 
 hundred and sixty acres of wild land. He had 
 visited this section in 1836 and located the tract, 
 making his journey on horseback through Canada 
 in company with two frien<ls. 
 
 Prior to bringing his family hither Linus K. 
 
332 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Miner hart put up a log house in which they placed 
 their household goods and whicli was the residence 
 of the parents during the remainder of their lives. 
 Mrs. Miner [)assed away in January, 1860, and 
 Linus K. Miner died in. the spring of 1863. He had 
 placed one hundred and twenty acres of his large 
 estate under improvement. Both father and 
 mother belonged to the Presbyterian Church and 
 endeavored to live in accordance with religious 
 teachings. They had seven children, of whom four 
 are now living and our subject secoml in point of 
 age. Martin V., now lives in Brown County, S. 
 Dak. ; Robert B. in Berlin Township, Ionia County', 
 and Ellen is tiie wife of William H. Smith, of De- 
 troit. 
 
 Mr. Miner of this notice was reared on a farm, 
 and until he was sixteen years old lived in his na- 
 tive county. He received his carl^' education in 
 the district school and then attended the academy 
 at Riga one year. He came West with his parents 
 and as an assistant in clearing the farm, exper- 
 ienced the trials and hardships of a pioneer. When 
 twenty years old he returned to his native place 
 and spent the summer in study in the academy and 
 the winter in teaching. He continued this three 
 jrcars, then returned to his home in this State and 
 staid witli his parents about two years. 
 
 In the fall of 1854 Mr. Miner visited Ionia 
 County, and i)urchased forty acres of land on sec- 
 tion 16, and later he added forty acres in Odessa 
 Township. For a score of years following he 
 taught winter schools in this vicinity, and spent 
 the summer months at various occupations by 
 which he could make an honorable living and se- 
 cure the best payment for the time expended. 
 Whatever leisure he had was given to clearing and 
 improving his land. Long before the twenty' years 
 had passed he took possession of his property, and 
 while continuing his pedagogical work in the winter 
 he gave the summer montlis to farming. 
 
 In the spring of 1873 Mr. Miner sold his farm 
 and removed to Saranac where he remained three 
 years. He then removed to what was known as 
 Bonanza in Odessa Township, and opened up a 
 stock of general merchandise, remaining thereuntil 
 the village of Lake Odessa was founded. The new 
 town was started on a railroad which was then be- 
 
 ing built, and Bonanza became extinct, its residents 
 moving to Lake Odessa. Mr. Miner followed the 
 tide, took his store building to the new town and 
 in this place has done business ever since, the store 
 now being managed b^' his son. There was no 
 hotel in Bonanza and no place for a weary traveler 
 to stop, and Mr. Miner, having one spare bed was 
 called ui^on by the traveling men and as they began 
 to come thicker and faster he put up more beds and 
 finally built an addition to his store-room for the 
 purpose of running a sort of an hotel. When he 
 removed to Lake Odessa he perceived the neces- 
 sity of making arrangements for the accommoda- 
 tion of travelers, as he believed the village would 
 soon be a thriving city. 
 
 Well aware of the advantages of the surrounding 
 country and the enterprise of the people, Mr. 
 Miner determined to put up an hotel. He hauled 
 one hundred thousand brick from Saranac, a dis- 
 tance of fourteen miles, and within eight months 
 had a three-story building, 34x72 feet, which 
 would be a credit to any town. It is furnished 
 well and Mr. Miner himself sees that everyone who 
 stops there is well cared for and strangers are at 
 once made to feel at home. It is well known that 
 a good hotel is necessary to the prosperity of the 
 town and that the landlord is a potent factor in 
 building up trade of various kinds. Much credit 
 is therefore due Mr. Minor for what he has done 
 and is doing toward making Lake Oilessa an im- 
 portant commercial center. 
 
 June 14, 1860, was the date of the ceremony 
 that united the fortunes of Mr. Miner and Miss 
 Martha J. Miller. Tiiey have had two children, a 
 daughter and a son. The latter — Otis Miner, has 
 charge of the store established by his father and 
 now carried on under the style of Miner & Son. 
 In Februar}', 1890, he was united in marriage with 
 Miss Dora Ilaight. A sad catastrophe bereft Mr. 
 and Mrs. Miner of their daughter Nellie, who was 
 drowned in the Grand River at Saranac. Mr. Miner 
 is always ready to credit his wife with a large share 
 in his success, declaring that in her prudent man- 
 agement he owes worldly prosperity as well as the 
 comfort of his home life. 
 
 The greatest amount of tax paid by anyone in 
 Lake Odessa is credited to Mr. Miner and he is 
 
^ ^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 335 
 
 said to have done more than any other man to ad- 
 vance the interests of the town. He is always 
 ready to give and to do in liiat direction. He lias 
 been Notar}' Public for twelve years and is now 
 serving under liis fourth commission. His first 
 Presidential vote was cast for Jolin C. Fremont 
 and he is still a staucli Republican. Socially he 
 belont's to the Masonic liodire. 
 
 ^5^KN. JAMP:S H. KIDD. The name of this 
 [|[ ,--, gentleman is inscribed on the roll of Fame 
 ^^jj among the gallant commanders under whose 
 leadership the rank and file of the Union army 
 marched to victor^'. He entered the service when 
 in the dawn of manhood, and bis knowledge of 
 military tactics secured for him the rank of Cap- 
 tain wlien beginning his active career as a soldier. 
 Valor in times of danger, cheerful obedience to his 
 superior officers, and qualities that win the support 
 of inferiors raised him to a much higher rank some 
 months before the war closed. He was born in 
 Ionia and liiis city has been his home for years. 
 
 Among the pioneers of Ionia County James M. 
 and Jane (Stevenson) Kidd, parents of our subject, 
 lived anil labored, enduring the toils and privations 
 that were shared in common by the early settlers, 
 and rejoicing with their associates in every access- 
 ion to the neighborhood an<l every appearance of 
 additional prosperity. Mr. Kidd was born in 
 Orange County, N. Y., November 13, 1813, and 
 accompanied his parents to this State in 1830. He 
 first located near Pontiac, remained there six 
 years, then removed to Ionia and engaged in the 
 manufacture of fanning mills. In 1845 he bought 
 a sawmill and a tract of pine land on Flat River at 
 the point now called Kiddville. In 1881 his earn- 
 ings were swept away by fire and two 3'ears later he 
 returned to Ionia and re-eugaged in his former 
 business. Several times he was elected Mayor of 
 the city, and he is still living (1891), honored by 
 all who know him. His wife was a native of Wind- 
 sor, England. 
 
 The natal day of Gen. Kidd was February 11, 
 
 1840. His early education was supplemented by 
 two years' atteudance at the State Normal School, 
 and he was graduated from tiie Ypsilanti Union 
 Seminary. For two years he was a student in the 
 classical course in the university at Ann Arbor. 
 The breaking out of the Civil War changed his 
 l)lans and he threw aside his books to enter the 
 army. During his time in the university he had 
 become so skilled in military tactics as to entitle 
 him to an officer's rank in what was known as Tap- 
 pan Guards, and attract the notice of military 
 authorities of the Stale. He was therefore placed 
 in command of Company E, Sixth Michigan Cav- 
 alry, after being instrumental in raising the com- 
 pany. 
 
 After a winter in Washington Capt. Kidd was 
 ordered to the field and was actively engaged in 
 the Gettysburg campaign, taking part in every en- 
 gagement. At Falling Waters, the last of sixteen 
 battles fought in fifteen days, he was severely 
 wounded. After that engagement he was promoted 
 to the rank of Major, to date from May, 1863. He 
 rejoined his regiment in October and the following 
 May was commissioned Colonel. In addition to 
 the battles mentioned Col. Kidd participated in 
 Kilpatrick's raid, the terrible scenes of the Wilder- 
 ness, Sheridan's raid, the battles at SpottS3lvania, 
 Cold Harbor and others, and he also bore a conspic- 
 uous part in the operations in the Shenandoah 
 Valley under Gen. Sheridan. At the battle of 
 Winchester, September 10, 1864, he was again 
 wounded; and at the battle of Cedar Creek, Octo- 
 ber 19, he had his horse shot under him. 
 
 On the promotion of Gen. Custer, Col. Kidd 
 succeeded him in command of the Michigan Brig- 
 ade, which he commanded in the battle of Cedar 
 Creek. After the surrender of Gen. Lee, Col. Kidd's 
 command was ordered West to take part in the 
 Indian War, and having reached Leavenworth by 
 river and rail, it marched to the Powder River in 
 Wyoming. Col. Kidd was in command of the left 
 column of the Powder Indian Expedition under 
 Gen. P. E. Conner and established a post and 
 ! built a fort on Powder River. This was success- 
 fullj' accomplished and the flag of the Sixth Michi- 
 gan Cavalry waved over what was then named Ft. 
 Conner, subsequently Ft. Reno. After the close 
 
336 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of the war Col. Kidd was brevetted Brigadier Gen- 
 eral, "for meritorious conduct in the SUenandoab 
 Valley." 
 
 After the expiration of his term of service, in 
 the fall of 1SC5, Gen. Kidd returned to Ionia aud 
 engaged in manufacturing with his father. In 
 1867 he was appointed Register of the United 
 States land olfioe at Ionia, which position he held 
 eight years. In 187G he became interested in 
 Slate military Tnattcrs and entered the State service 
 as Captain of Company G, Second Regiment Mich- 
 igan State troops. Upon the organization of the 
 same into a brigade in 1881 he was appointed on 
 the staff of Gen. Withington as Brigade Quarter- 
 master with tiie rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In 
 1882 he received tlie appointment of Brigade In- 
 spector, a position which, on the retirement of Gen. 
 Withington he retained on the staff of Gen. I. C. 
 Smith, serving in that capacity until January 1, 
 1885. He was then appointed by Gov. Alger, 
 Brigadier General and Inspector General of the 
 Michigan State troops, a position which he held 
 during the administration of that Governor. He 
 then retired after a continuous service of ten 
 years. 
 
 In May, 1890, Gen. Kidd was commissioned 
 I'ostraaster by President Harrison. He is proprie- 
 tor of the Ionia •'Sentinel," which he purchased in 
 1879. As may well be supposed he takes an active 
 interest in the Grand Armj- of the Repul)lic. He 
 belongs to tiie Masonic fraternity, has been Emi- 
 nent Commander of the Ionia Commandery and 
 Junior Warden of the Grand Commandery of tlie 
 State. Politically he is a Republican, stanch and 
 true. He belongs to the Metliodist Episcopal 
 Church. The wife who came to him as a Christ- 
 mas gift in 1871, is well known in Ionia, this hav- 
 ing been her home prior to her marriage. She is 
 an educated, cultured lady whose maiden name was 
 Florence S. McConnell. She is the daughter of the 
 late Frederick McConnell and the gmnddaughter 
 of Judge Edward Mundy, the first Lieutenant- 
 Governor of Michigan and for a time Acting Gov- 
 ernor. He was also Justice of the Supreme Court 
 of Michigan from 1848 until 1851, was Attorney- 
 General, and a member of the Constitutional Con- 
 vention of 1835. Gen. Kidd and his wife have 
 
 one son, Fred McConnell Kidd, who was born in 
 
 1881. 
 
 Gen. Ividd has written many articles which have 
 been published concerning the military events of 
 the Rebellion, the most notable of which was tiie 
 address delivered at the dedication of the monu- 
 ment to the Michigan Cavalry Brigade at Gettys- 
 burg, June 12, 1889. This address has been pro- 
 nounced by high military authority as the best 
 contribution to that portion of the literature of the 
 war. 
 
 In connection with tliis biographical notice we 
 present a lithographic portrait of Gen. Kidd. 
 
 LEXANDER SPRAGUE. Were there no 
 other reasons for esteeming Mr. Sprague' 
 his fellow citizens of Ionia County would 
 find one in the fact that he gave several 
 of the best years of his life to bearing arms for his 
 country. He has an honorable war record gained 
 through many weary months of exposure to hard- 
 ship and danger, and he is an influential member 
 of the Grand Array Post. His occupation in life is 
 farming and the scat of his labors is a well-devel- 
 oped tractof laud on section 31, Easton Townsliip. 
 He is considered one of the representative agricul- 
 turalists of the townsliip and his farm, although 
 only moderate in extent, comprising eighty-seven 
 acres, is carefully and intelligently handled and 
 produces crops second in quality and quantity to 
 none raised in the vicinity. 
 
 The Sprague family was first heard of in Amer- 
 ica in the New England States several generations 
 since, but Alexander Sprague, father of our sub- 
 ject, was born in New York. That State was also 
 the birthplace of Maria Gall, the daughter of a Rev- 
 olutionary soldier, whom Mr. Sprague won for his 
 wife. To the good couple there were born six 
 children, those wiio now survive being Henry, a 
 resident of Berlin Township; Eliza, wife of Andrew 
 Jepson, living in Campbell Township; and Alex- 
 ander. The last named was born in Monroe 
 County, N. Y., October 15, 1832, and remained in 
 his native State until he was about fifteen years 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAHUCAL ALBUM. 
 
 337 
 
 old. He then, with his mother ftnd other members 
 of the faniil}', camo to this State to join the liiis- 
 baiul and fatlicr, who liad been niukiiijr preparations 
 to receive them in Livingston Couutj\ After 
 tiie family liad lived there about a year and a lialf 
 a change was made to Ionia County and the farm 
 now occupied by our subject became tiieir home. 
 Here tlic parents died after having done much pio- 
 neer work, tlie farm being undeveloped and heav 
 ily timbered when tlie}' took possession of it. 
 
 The gentleman whose name introduces these par- 
 agra[)hs grew to manhood amid the scenes of pio- 
 neer life, aiiling his father in preparing the Mich- 
 igan land for cultivation, and taking advantage of 
 the opportunities that were afforded him to gain 
 knowledge. He worked in tiiis State until after 
 tiie Civil War began, then entered the service as a 
 private in Compaii}' M, Sixtli Miciiigan Cavaby. 
 He signed the muster roll September 22, 18G2, and 
 soon became an integral part in the Army of the 
 Potomac, in wiiich he served under (Jlens. Custer, 
 Merritt, Sheridan, Kilpatrick and Grant, at var- 
 ious times and took part in the battles of (Jettys- 
 burg, Falling Waters, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, 
 Darvillian Station. 'I'ellas Tavern and Apiiomatlox. 
 He had many narrow escapes from death and in 
 the thickest of the light his bravery and valor were 
 often trieil and not found wanting. After the 
 surrender of Gen. Lee at which he was present, he 
 took part in the Grand Review at Washington and 
 then spent several months in Wyoming, where he 
 and others were sent to quell the Indian disturb- 
 ances. He was honorably discharged at Ft. Leav- 
 enworth, Kan., November 24, 1805. 
 
 When he was released from the army Mr. Sprague 
 returneil to Ionia County and resumed the peace- 
 ful occupation of a farmer. He was married Octo- 
 ber I, 1868, to Sarah Cooper, daughter of Ashbel 
 and Lucy (Waterbury) Cooper. The bride was 
 born in Jackson County, October 13, 18U, and 
 was left fatherless when quite small. Her father 
 was an early settler in that county and was a native 
 of New England. Her mother was born in New- 
 York, but reared in Canada, whither her parents 
 went when she was quite young. The family of 
 which Mrs. Sprague was a member consisted of four 
 children and the other survivors arc Solomon W., 
 
 who lives in Campbell Township and Lucinda, 
 wife of A. W. Green, living in Boston Township, 
 this countj'. 
 
 in Hiel P. Clark Post, No. 153, G. A. R., .at Sar- 
 anac, comrade Sprague has been Senior and Junior 
 \' ice-Commander and Assistant (Quartermaster. His 
 estimable vvife is a member of the Ladies Relief 
 Corps, auxiliary to that Post. Both take an active 
 part in the affairs that are instituted for the benefit 
 of the society in which they move, and are num- 
 bered an)ong the most honorable and prominent 
 people of their neighborhood. Their lives have 
 been well spent and they are enjoying the fruits of 
 their industry, and association with those by whom 
 they are respected. Mr. Sprague is a stanch Re|)ub- 
 lican. 
 
 '' » *^, 
 
 WjILLIAM P.SMITH, who has a line farm 
 on section 9, Ronald Township, Ionia 
 ^ „ County, was born in Fairfield Township, 
 near Adrian, Lenawee County, this State, February 
 10,18 10. The father, Americus Smith, was mar- 
 ried in Ailrian, Mich., October 23, 1831, to Martha 
 Bcal, a native of New York. About 1845 they 
 removed to Ionia County, and thence to Palo, 
 Ronald Township, where they resided until the 
 death of the father in 187!). The mother having 
 now passed four-score and three years, makes her 
 home with her son, our subject. Americus Smith 
 and his wife were the parents of seven children, 
 five of whom grew to maturity, namely; Elmina, 
 Mrs. Town; William P.; Edwin, a State Senator in 
 Idaho; Sylvester and Kmiline, the latter two now 
 deceased. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was ordy a little lad 
 of nine years when he came to Ionia County with 
 his parents. His received his fust education in the 
 district school of Ronald Township. He then 
 attended school at Adrian, and when only sixteen 
 years of age began work for himself. His father's 
 health was poor and he had the care of him and 
 the charge of the family from that time on. His 
 marriage December 28, 1880, united him with 
 Mary E. Eldrcdge, a native of Laiieer, Micii. 
 
338 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Two j-ears after their marriage tbey took up their 
 residence upon tlieir present farm. One buudreil 
 and sixty acres of well-improved land form the 
 home place and sixty acres are upon section 10, the 
 same township. His handsome residence was erected 
 at the expense of $1,500. He has a well arranged 
 and commodious barn and all the improvements 
 necessary to make up a first-class farm. In i)olitics 
 he is a Republican. He was at one time Justice of 
 tlie Peace, also Township Collector; be has been 
 Superintendent of Schools and member of the 
 Board of Review. He is a useful member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church and in that organiza- 
 tion fills the responsible positions of Trustee and 
 Steward. He is highly esteemed and more than 
 ordinarily popular in his neighborhood and one 
 who is relied upon to help forward all good works. 
 
 'AMES SLEMONS, Chief Engineer of the 
 Water Works at Edmore, Montcalm Count}', 
 is the oldest resident settler in the town. He 
 (j^jl/ is a practical experienced engineer, having 
 had charge of important works in various parts of 
 country. He spent the years 1856-57 in Omaha, 
 Neb., being attached to the Government survey', 
 and was department foreman of the engineering 
 corps to lay out the present city of South Omaha. 
 He is well-informed and converses readily on every 
 topic, but mechanical engineering is his specialty, 
 and in this work he is very enthusiastic. His wife 
 is an excellent business woman, being engaged in 
 the dry-goods business under the firm name of M. 
 E. Slenions. 
 
 William Slemons, the fatiier of our subject, was 
 born in Ireland thirty miles from Belfast, and is 
 of Scottisli descent, his grandfather a weaver by 
 trade, having come from Scotland. When still 
 quite young William Slemons came to America, 
 and located in Philadelphia and pursued weaving 
 for four years. lie then removed to Mercer Ceunty, 
 Pa., and buying an improved farm engaged in stock 
 raising, making Pittsburg his market. He made a 
 good success in this line, carrying on three farms 
 and putting much money in stock. He was an en- 
 
 thusiastic breeder of horses. Later he removed to 
 Trumbull Countj', Ohio, where he died in 1874. 
 He was a stanch Republican, and a true blue Pres- 
 byterian of the old-fashioned Scotch kind. The 
 mother's ancestry was much the same as the father's. 
 She was Margaret Calderwood by name, born Feb- 
 ruary 3, 1803, near Belfast in Ireland. Her ances- 
 tors were banished from Scotland during the perse- 
 cution of Mar^', Queen of Scots, and came over 
 from Scotland to Ireland, shipped as produce in 
 barrels. The mother of our subject came to this 
 country during the War of 1812. The ship in 
 which she sailed was captured on tiie seas, and the 
 able bodied seamen were pressed into the service 
 of the British, who brought their passengers to 
 Philadelphia. She was then only eight years old, 
 and resided in Philadel[)hia for fourteen years. Siie 
 was married in Mercer County, Pa., and now resides 
 in the old home in Ohio. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is the eldest of five 
 children. He was born near New Castle, Mercer 
 County, Pa., April 28, 1837. Although early put 
 at farm work, his natural love for mechanics led 
 him to undertake building, and he erected a house 
 on the homestead. He quickly absorbed what edu- 
 cation he could gain at the district schools and re- 
 mained at home until 1862, when he located at 
 Youngstown and engaged in the manufacture of 
 lumber, and the inanagement of a planing mill and 
 lumber yard. He also acted as contractor and 
 builder, and turned his hand to every kind of work 
 wiiich came to him. For two years be represented 
 the firm of Marsteller, Wallace & Co., in Genesee 
 County, Mich., in the manufacture of lumber and 
 sliingles. In this firm he was a partner from 1864 
 until 1867. They were then burned out, and he 
 lost all that he had put in the business. After this 
 he went to Cedar Springs and undertook the manu- 
 facture and wholesaling of lumber. He was the 
 first inspector for the general public and engaged 
 in buying lands and shipping lumber. He made 
 considerable money in these transactions, but lost 
 it in 1873. After this he followed the business of 
 lumber inspector until 1878, when he located here 
 permanently. 
 
 Mr. Slemons has engaged here in contracting and 
 building, and has bought lots and sold them again 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tiSif 
 
 after improving ond placing buildings upon tlicm. 
 He bus also bandied lumber, and has iuspecled the 
 buildiiii^ of public works, espetially the water works, 
 llie oi)cra house, the fire tower, and lliescboolliouse. 
 He has been Chief Kugineer of the water works for 
 three years, and they are in ever}- way a credit to 
 his ability and honesty. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Slemons in 1874, took place 
 in Flint. He was tiien united with Mary E. Coun- 
 tryman, a daughter of Nehcniiah Countryman, a 
 retired farmer of South Lyons, Mich. This gentle- 
 man is now managing the elevator at Swartz Creek. 
 Mrs. Slemons is well educated, and taught school 
 for some months before her marriage. In addition 
 to the cares of her household and the education of 
 her two children, Clyde and Elmer, she has found 
 time for outside work, and has carried on since 
 1887 a flourishing business in dr3'-goods, clothing, 
 and gents furnishing goods. Mr. Slemons is a mem- 
 ber of the School Board, and has been for seven 
 years Justice of the Peace. When in Ohio he be- 
 longed to the Union League, and is a prominent 
 Republican. He is always a member of the County 
 Central Committee, and often a delegate to the 
 county and State conventions. His wife is an earn- 
 est and very useful member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. 
 
 =s=^st^=«= 
 
 Sl)^*" 
 
 EPHANIAH GATES, an old settler of Home 
 Township, Montcalm County, is a man who 
 reflects credit in every way upon the com- 
 munity in wbicii he resides. He is the son of Harry 
 P., tiie son of Zepiianiah, Sr., who was born in 
 Rhode Island and was one of the early settlers Qrst 
 in Cattaraugus, later in Chautauqua County, N. Y., 
 and after that in Erie County, I'a. Later in life 
 lie emigrated to Indiana and died therein Delaware 
 County. He was of English parentage. 
 
 The father of our suliject, after his marriage in Erie 
 County, Pa., removed by team to Indiana in 184t. 
 In 18lo with his wifeand three children he removed 
 by ox team and wagon to Michigan. One cow fol- 
 lowed In their wake and their purse contained 11.50. 
 The journey took fifteen days and the total ex- 
 
 penses were seventy-five cents. They reached Ionia 
 
 County, Mich., and bought fifty acres on the south 
 side of the Grand River, giving in exchange for 
 liic land his ox-team and wagon. He built a log 
 house and the happy family contentedly began the 
 pioneer life. Mr. Gates improved this land and 
 added to it until at one time he had one hundred 
 and sixty acres, but has given most of this away to 
 his sons. He still resides on the old homestead 
 and is an old-time Democrat and Deacon in the 
 Baptist Church. His good wife who has aided liim 
 in this pioneer life was Sallie Stephens, daughter 
 of Rozell Stephens of Niagara County, N. V. This 
 family traces its lineage back to the blue blood of 
 Plymouth Rock. 
 
 The parents of our subject had four children ; 
 I.ydia (Mrs. Disbrow), Zephaniah, Clinton and 
 David. Zephaniah was born May 22, 1838, in Erie 
 County, Pa. Here his early childhood was passed 
 until the family emigrated to Indiana and later to 
 Ionia County, Mich. He was only seven years old 
 when he first entered the Wolverine State. As he 
 grew up he engaged in true pioneer life, helped to 
 clear the land and began the manufacture of black 
 salts. His schooling was obtained in the cobble- 
 stone school-house. When he reached his majority 
 he came into possession of forty acres of timber 
 land. In 1873 he traded this land, now finely- im- 
 proved, for a house and lot in Westville, and eighty 
 acres in Home Township, where ho now resides. 
 For three years he resided in Westville and engaged 
 in teaming. In the pursuit of this work he often- 
 times was stuck in the muddy roads and heroically 
 carried the greater part of his load, flour, shingles 
 or whatever it might be, uphill to some dry spot 
 where he might reload and start again. 
 
 In 1877 our subject located on his present place 
 which he cleared and improved and added to it 
 until ho had two hundred acres. Of this he now 
 retains only forty acres, having given away the 
 remainder to his sons. He has a valuable location, 
 good orchards and fine springs, raises a good grade 
 of stock and makes a specialty of potato and hay 
 i-aising. He also deals in agricultui'al implements. 
 
 In 1856 Mr. Gates celebrated Christmas day at 
 Saranac by his marriage with Laura, daughter of 
 .losepli Granger, of New York. Mr. Granger 
 
340 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 brought bis family to Michigan in 1854, and made 
 Ids home on the banks of the Grand River, wliere 
 he worked a farm till his death in 1871 at the age 
 of sixty years. Mrs. Granger was Esther Lane, 
 whose grandfather was notable in New York State 
 as a weaver of high grade goods. Mrsr Gates was 
 educated in Owego, N. Y., where she was born 
 July 20, 1838. She came to Michigan in 18.')4. 
 
 Five children have blessed the home of Mr. Gates: 
 Albro, a farmer in Home Township, who has taught 
 school for fourteen j-ears; Herbert C, a farmer in 
 Home Township; Flora, the wife of Edgar Arnold, 
 a farmer in Ionia County; Harry P., on the home 
 farm ; and Ella, who is also at home. The subject 
 of this sketch has been Commissioner of Highways 
 and has been for years Moderator of the School 
 Board. He is an active and prominent member of 
 the Independent Order of Good Templars at Ed- 
 more. He has been a member of the Baptist 
 Church for over thirty years and has been Deacon 
 of the church at P^dmore since its organization. He 
 is one of its most efficient members, liaving been 
 especially active in helping to erect its house of 
 worship. He was Superintendent of the First Union 
 Sunday-school opened at Ed more, and continued 
 in that work for seven years, since which he has 
 been Superintendent of the Baptist School and has 
 the Banner Class at Edmore. He organized the 
 Sunday school at Wyman and has been its Super- 
 intendent. His wife is a member of the Ladies 
 Aid Societ3' and active in the Woman's Christian 
 Temperance Union. They are both w.arm hearted 
 and hospitable and their good qualities are cor- 
 dially appreciated by their neighbors. 
 
 'if/OnN N. HODGE. This prominent agricul- 
 turist and leading citizen of Easton Town- 
 ship, Ionia County, has an extended circle 
 of acquaintances, as he has been living on 
 section 28, since the spring of 1852. He settled 
 practically in the woods in a log cabin, 16x24 
 feet, that sheltered him and his for a num- 
 ber of years, but was finally replaced by a 
 substantial dwelling of more modern appearance. 
 
 The estate of Mr. Hodge consists of ninety acres, 
 the greater part of which is under cultivation. 
 Neatness and order prevail over the farm and the 
 crops raised are second to none in the locality. A 
 visitor to this farm will find modern machinerj' in 
 use and well-fed stock of good grades grazing in 
 the pastures. 
 
 In Oneida County, N. Y., January 16, 1836, Mr. 
 Hodge was born, and there he lived until lie was a 
 lad about entering his teens. His parents were 
 John and Amy (Nelson) Hodge, the former of 
 whom died when the son was ten years old and the 
 latter survived until March 31, 1888. Our subject 
 has a ])rother Albert now living in Muskegon, and 
 two sisters, Mrs. Sylvester Crocker in New York 
 State and Mrs. Harvey Stanton in Lake View, 
 Mich. After the death of his father he was thrown 
 largely upon his own resources for a liveli- 
 hood, and he aideil in the support of his mother, 
 living with her until he was twenty years old and 
 in later years having her company in his own 
 home. Soon after the father's death the widowed 
 mother brought her family to Ionia County, and 
 for a short time their home was on the farm now 
 occupied by Ezra North, in Easton Township. They 
 subsequently occupied other tracts of land and he 
 of whom we write learned habits of industry, prac- 
 tical economj' and integrity. When he could he 
 attended school, gaining his fundamental instruc- 
 tion in his native State and adding to it in the early 
 schools of Michigan and still more by reading and 
 personal observation. 
 
 The lad3' who became the wife of Mr. Hodge 
 November 12, 1851, bore the maiden name of Ann 
 C. Finch. She was born in Cattaraugus County 
 N. Y., November 15, 1838, and is a daughter of 
 Isaac and Almeda Finch. Her father was a soldier 
 in the AVar of 1812. When she was a mere child 
 her parents came to tliis State and settled in Easton 
 Township, Ionia County. They carried on pioneer 
 work there and in their lives represented the sturdy 
 nature of those who opened up the way for civili- 
 zation in the great Northwest. Mr. Finch was a 
 Democrat in politics. He died November 4, 1875, 
 some years after his wife bad been borne to the 
 tomb. He has one son surviving; Silas, and one 
 daughter, Mrs. Hodge. The latter has two ohil- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALRUM. 
 
 841 
 
 dren: Almeda, wifeof John Ryer,and Louisa, wife 
 of Guy Conner Mr. and Mrs. Hodge have four 
 grandchildren — Lulu, Freddie and Lena Hyer, and 
 Ethel A. Conner. 
 
 Mr. Hodge has served as School Director three 
 years and is acting as Highway Commissioner for 
 the twelfth year. He has always shown himself 
 interested in public improvements, and the fact 
 of his long continuance in office as Highway Com- 
 missioner is proof that he has efficiently worked 
 and given universal satisfaction in that station. In 
 politics he is a Democrat, with strong leanings 
 toward the Greenback doctrines. He is identified 
 with the Patrons of Industry. January 16, 1862, 
 he enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth Michigan In- 
 fantry, and remained in the service until July 20, 
 spending his tunc chiefly in drilling and guard 
 duly in this State. He and bis wife are among the 
 honored members of the society of their locality, 
 and their hospitality and generous neighborly 
 qualities, together with their sterling integrity, are 
 well known to their acquaintances. 
 
 -^ 
 
 lff_ IRAM N. LEE, a prominent citizen of 
 lf]ji Keene Township and ex-Sheriff of Ionia 
 /^^^ Count}', resides on section 23, of above 
 (^) named township. He is a native of this 
 county, and was born on the 14lh of June, 1848. 
 He is the son of Hiram S. and Elvira (West) Lee, 
 both natives of New York State, of English des- 
 cent. Hiram S. Lee emigrated to Ionia County in 
 about 1840. He located in Odessa Township and 
 resided there a number of years, being one of the 
 early settlers of that township. His father was one 
 of the soldiers in the War of 1812. In 1851 he 
 came to Keene Township, where lie settled on sec- 
 tion 2;i, and still resides there, enjoying a hale and 
 hearty old age, having passed the limit of llirec- 
 score years and ten. He is one of the representa- 
 tive pioneers of the county and an earnest Re[)ub- 
 lican in politics. Of his five children three are 
 living — our subject, Judson and Henr}'. 
 
 Hiram N. Lee has been reared to manhood In 
 this count}' and inured from childhood to the hard- 
 ships of pioneer life. He received his education in 
 
 the district schools of Keene Township and private 
 and High schools of Ionia County. He has been 
 an extensive reader all his life and is well informed 
 on matters of general intelligence. Ills marriage 
 took place in September, 1868. Ills bride Chris- 
 tina Converse, was an orphan. She was born in 
 Ontario, Canada, and a daughter of Adin Converse. 
 One son has blessed this union — Adelbert — born 
 March 7^ 1880. 
 
 Jlr. Lee settled on his present farm in 1868 and 
 with the exception of the four years when he served 
 as Sheriff of Ionia County, and when he lived In 
 Ionia, he has remained there continuously. He owns 
 one hundred and ninet^'-five acres of land in ex- 
 cellent condition and well Improved. He has a 
 fine residence and first-class barns and outhouses. 
 He has served three years as Supervisor of Keene 
 Township, and w.as clerk of the township two jears. 
 He was first elected Sheriff In the fall of 1884, on 
 the Democratic ticket with a majority of nearly 
 five hundred votes. He took charge of the Sheriff's 
 office in January, 1885, for a term of two ^ears, at 
 the expiration of which time he received the re- 
 nomlnatiou by acclamation at the Democratic 
 count}' convention in the fall of 1887 and was re- 
 elected for another term of two years. He served 
 with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his 
 constituents. His majority at his re-election was 
 about seven hundred. He and his good wife are 
 active members of society, in favor of everything 
 that will improve and elevate the standing of the 
 community. He Is a courteous and entertaining 
 gentleman and Is unusually well Informed on politi- 
 cal topics. The hospitality of this excellent couple 
 is proverbial in the community. In his official ca- 
 pacity while serving Ionia County as Sheriff he 
 inaugurated a wise, conservative, business-like ad- 
 ministration, which has given him popularity and 
 the coun-ty a good reputation. The same may be 
 said of his administration of affairs while serving 
 in the several oflBcial capacities to which he has 
 been from time to time elected by the people of 
 Keene Township. He has throughout all applied 
 those sound, judicious business-like principles for 
 which he is so notable. He h.as a large and influ- 
 ential acquaintance In Ionia County, of which he is 
 a thoroughly representative citizen. 
 
342 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 A. Judson Lee, a brother of the subject of this 
 sketch, is tlie present eflicient Supervisor of Keene 
 Township, and resides on his well-improved farm 
 on section 23. The date of his birth is June 1, 
 1851. He was educated in the schools of Keene 
 Township and Ionia City. He has been twice mar- 
 ried. His present wife boro the maiden name of 
 Marian Thompson. He is the father of two sur- 
 viving children, namely: Maud A. and Jessie. He 
 owns a well-improved farm of eiglity acres of rich 
 and productive land on which he has resided most 
 of the time since 1874. He has served two years 
 as School Inspector of Keene Townsliip, and is now 
 serving with credit his second term as its Super- 
 visor. He is a Democrat in politics and identified 
 with the Grange, and also with the Patrons of In- 
 dustry. The Lees are among the representative 
 pioneer families of Ionia County and it can be said 
 that the}' among the corner stones of Keene Town- 
 ship. 
 
 tf?OHN R. PURDY. Among the native-born 
 citizens of Otisco Township, Ionia Countyi 
 may be mentioned John Purdy, who was 
 born December 24, 1848. He is a son of 
 John D. and Rosilla (Rowley) Purd}-, who were 
 natives of New York and who came to this State 
 in 1846. They took possession of a farm of one 
 hundred and sixtj' acres, on which Mr. Purdy 
 spent the most of his remaining years, although he 
 died in Smyrna in 1869. His father was Samuel 
 Purdy, also a native of New York and a farmer, 
 who came to this State in 1848 and died near Lan- 
 sing. Our subject is the j'oungest child of his 
 parents, whose remaining children are Eliza B., 
 James P., George W., Jane, vSarah A., Ruth and 
 Rosilla. 
 
 He of whom we write remained at home until he 
 was eighteen years of age, pursuing liis studies in 
 the neighboring school and fitting himself for the 
 occupation which lie has since followed — that of 
 farming. He now owns a tract of one hundred and 
 and fifteen acres in his native township, which is 
 managed so as to be the source of a very satisfactorj- 
 
 income. During the past three years Mr. Purdy 
 has been engaged in evaporating apiiles — an enter- 
 prise in which he has proved himself to be very 
 successful. He cannot be called a politician, but 
 he keeps well informed regarding the questions of 
 the day and is suffleienlly interested in good gov- 
 ernment to vote, and his ticket is a Republican 
 one. 
 
 In Smyrna, April 2, 1871, the marriage of Mr. 
 Purdy and Laura E. Davis was solemnized. The 
 bride was the third child of Alvin and Emily 
 (French) Davis, her brothers and sisters being 
 named Flora, Virgil, Eva, Daniel, Lemuel, Robert 
 R. and Charles. Her father was born in New 
 York and her mother in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Purdy arc the parents of a son, Guy Alvin, who 
 was born September 24, 1874, and is at home at- 
 tending school. 
 
 •^=^=*C 
 
 ^^EORGE P. WICKES, son of A. C. Wickes 
 iff j-_ of Day Township, Montcalm County, whose 
 ^^( sketch ai)pears in this book, is a prominent 
 young farmer whose enterprise, public spirit and 
 liberality entitle him to the respect which he re- 
 ceives in the community. He is the eldest of four 
 children born in Grand Rapids, his natal day being 
 November 21, 1858. His early years were spent 
 upon the farm and he took advantage of what 
 education was provided in the common schools in 
 Ottawa and Kent Counties. "When he reached bis 
 majority he went to work in a sawmill at Jennison- 
 ville. After that he went to Derby Lake and to 
 Windsor's Mill, both in this county. In about 
 1882 he began to work for Cutler & Savage at 
 Spring Lake. He became head sawyer and held 
 this position with credit to himself and benefit to 
 his employers, until 1886 when he left them and 
 located on this farm, where he now resides and 
 which has been bought by himself and his brother 
 several years previous. The farm is situated on 
 section 36, Day Township, is well improved, neatly 
 fenced and in every way in a good condition. He 
 here carries on general farming and stock-raising. 
 Our subject chose as his life partner Winnie 
 
 
 1 
 
''s^^~';iS<4*' 
 
 ^ yl^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 345 
 
 Hnmlnger, daughter of John Ilaininger, a Hollander. 
 Her father and grand fatlior came to America and 
 made llicir home in Georgetown, Ottawa County, 
 Mich., where they took a farm and imi)roved it 
 from the dense forest to a finely appointecJ estate. 
 The father also engaged in lumbering as well as 
 farming. He is a prominent and representative 
 man, and with his wife who bore the maiden name 
 of Catherine Plow, is active in the interests of the 
 Reformed Dutch Church. One of the eleven chil- 
 dren of this worthy couple is our subject's wife. 
 She was born in Georgetown, April 24, 1853, 
 and there she was reared and educated. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Wickes have been born three 
 children — Krnest E., Leroy a.id a babe unnamed. 
 Mr. Wickes is School Assessor and Pathmaster, 
 has been a member of the Independent Order of 
 Odd Fellows and is an active worker in the Patrons 
 of Industry. He is a lJei)ublican in politics and 
 his church relations are with the Mcthoilist Ei)is- 
 copal Church. 
 
 fl OHN J. FOSTER. The firm of John J. Fos- 
 ter & Co., consisting of John J. Foster and 
 H. N. Anderson, was organized in 1882 
 and has been carrying on a constantly in- 
 creasing trade at Greenville, Montcalm County. 
 Tlie}^ handle thirty-five million feet of lumber per 
 j'ear, and have a steam sawmill in Newaygo County 
 that has a capacity of fifty thousand feet per day 
 and gives emiiloynicnt to a number of men. The 
 force engaged there and in the lumber camps num- 
 bers eighty, the firm having large tracts of pine land. 
 Lumber is sold by the firm at their mill in carloads 
 and an immense business is done by them there 
 and in Greenville. Our subject is also the owner 
 and sole proprietor of the Greenville Gas Works, 
 and is one of the firm of Foster <k Miller, dealers in 
 all kinds of produce, which they ship all ovtr the 
 United Slates. 
 
 John C. anil Julia A. (Haseltine) F< stcr were 
 natives of New York and Vermont respectively. 
 The father taught school in his younger days and 
 stibserpiently engaged in the grocery business. He 
 
 next became a contractor on the Erie Canal, one of 
 his contracts being for the building of the largest 
 acqueduct on the line, at Montezuma Marsh and 
 the Seneca River. He also dredged Crooked Lake 
 where Penn Yan is now built. Mr. Foster put in 
 operation a peat crushing machine for Spaulding, 
 of New York, which proved to be a failure. His 
 next enterprise was to engage in the lumber busi- 
 ness at Port Hyron and he soon worked up a large 
 run of custom. From that point he went to Brew- 
 erton on Oneida Lake, where he maile lumber and 
 staves for six years. He then began moving his 
 mill to Forest Port, Oneida County, on the Black 
 River, but before the task was completed he was 
 taken sick and died in 1872. He had held a num- 
 ber of ottices, among them that of County Super- 
 intendent of Schools in Cayuga County, where he 
 had taught. He was an active temperance worker 
 and member of the Presb^'terian Church. 
 
 Our subject was born at Port Byron, Cayuga 
 Count}-, N. Y., September 2'd, 1852. He received 
 his education in his native place at Brewerton and 
 Syracuse. He was nineteen years old when his 
 father tlied and was at that time associated with 
 him in business. In company with his father's 
 brother, Jacob T. Foster, who went to New York 
 State fiom Chicago, the young man finished moving 
 the mill, and the two continued to run the same 
 until the har<l times came on and they were 
 obliged tosell in 1874. They were unable to real- 
 ize much on the property, as it was impossible to 
 raise money, and our subject made his way to this 
 State to begin again the battle of life, this time 
 empty handed. He reached Greenville Alareh 1 8, 
 1874, and being offered the |)Osition of inspector 
 of lumber at Trufanl, in Montcalm County, by the 
 firm of Hilcman, Ilesser & Co., he accepted. He 
 remained with the firm seven years' acting as fore- 
 man, inspector, book-keeper and traveling sales- 
 man, at different periods. While he was traveling 
 he conceived the idea that certain lumber was worth 
 more than it was selling for and that it could be 
 shipped with profit. Having accuunilatcil a few 
 hundred dollars he began to buy pine and .sell the 
 same and from the start he met with success. 
 
 Since the partnership between Foster and Ander- 
 son w.as formed the}' have carried on an extensive 
 
346 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 business. Mr. Foster is one of the organizers of 
 the City National Bank and a Director of the cona- 
 pany. He owns tlie Foster ]?lock on Main Street, 
 which is three stories high anrl is built for two 
 stores on the ground. He has a fine farm a quarter 
 of a mile from the city limits, and with Mr. Miller 
 is interested in a four hundred-acre tract two and 
 three-quarter miles from the city. On this place 
 Shropshire and fine Merino sheep, Short-horn cat- 
 tle and draft liorses are being raised in considera- 
 ble numbers. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Jacob Foster who was born in Connecticut and 
 went thence to New York, settling near Auburn. 
 He was a man of fine literary talent, self-educated 
 and in his younger days was a teacher of excellent 
 reputation. In New York he was extensively en- 
 gaged in farming. In 1810 he removed to Wis- 
 consin and settling at Port Washington, carried on 
 his work there until death. His wife, formerly 
 Louisa Brooks, also died there. Mr. Foster was an 
 ardent Republican and he and his wife were work- 
 ing members of ti>e Presbyterian Church. Their 
 family consisted of eight children, the father of 
 our subject being the third in order of birth and 
 he was born in Washington Connty,N. Y., in 1812. 
 
 The mother of our subject was born in Rutland 
 County, Vt., in 1818. Her parents were Daniel 
 and Elizabetli (Sunderland) Haselline, natives of 
 tiie Green Mountain State and farmers there until 
 1821, when they removed to New York. They 
 made their home in the city of Auburn and Mr. 
 Haseltine was engaged in various business enter- 
 prises until his deatli in 1834. Mrs. Haseltine died 
 at Port Byron December 23, 1858. The daughter 
 who became Mrs. Foster received her education in 
 select schools in Auburn and possesses more than 
 ordinary culture. Her marriage w.as solemnized in 
 her home in that city January 26, 1837. She is 
 the mother of five children, two deceased, and 
 David H., Frances J. and John J., living. She is 
 now an inmate of the home of her youngest son. 
 
 Mr. Foster was married in 1871 to Miss Minerva, 
 daugliter of Edwin and Catherine Hill Brewerton, 
 Oneida County, N. Y. His wife is an educated, 
 refined lady, and their daughter Kittie M. is a cul- 
 tured and gracious young lady. Mr. Foster and 
 
 his family occupy a beautiful home on the corner 
 of Benton and Franklin Streets, surrounded with 
 shade trees and furnished in accordance with the 
 means and taste of the occup.ants. Mr. Foster is a 
 member of the City Council. He is connected with 
 the social orders of Masonry and Knights of Pythias. 
 He has good reason to be gratified with the finan- 
 cial success he has achieved and to be proud of 
 his home and family. 
 
 A lithographic portrait of Mr. Foster appears in 
 connection with this sketch. 
 
 
 HARLES S. COWLES. A traveler through- 
 out Ionia County will see many farms that 
 give evidence of enterprise and good judg- 
 ment on the part of their owners, and indicate in 
 an unmistakable manner the prosperity tliat attends 
 them. Among those of this class in Otisco Town- 
 ship is one on section 32, that consists of two hun- 
 dred and thirt}' acres, two hundred of which has 
 been placed under cultivation and supplied with a 
 full line of substantial farm buildings. Inquiry 
 elicits the fact tltat this property belongs to Charles 
 S. Cowles, who, in addition to his farm work is a 
 breeder of Cotswold sheep. His present residence 
 has been occupied by Mr. Cowles only since 1880, 
 at which time he came hither from Kcene Town- 
 ship. 
 
 Solomon CowleSj the father of Charles S., was a^-K^ 
 native of the Green Mountain State. When a 
 young man he was engaged in farming, but he 
 learned the trade of a m.ison, to which he devoted 
 his time to some extent. In quite an early day he 
 removed to New York and from that State he went 
 to Canada, where he sojourned twenty-one years. 
 His next removal was to Keene Township, Ionia 
 County, in 1859. There he bouglit, one hundred 
 and twenty acres of land, to which he subsequently 
 added until his farm included three hundred and 
 sixty acres. He died there in 1866. He was a 
 member of the Congregational Church. Previous 
 to going to New York he was married to Persis 
 Shaw, daughter of Eben and Persis (Wilder) Shaw 
 and a native of Massachusetts. This faithful help- 
 
 I 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 34T 
 
 male survived him some years and breathed her 
 last in 1888. Their children are Ford3-ce U., 
 Edward R., Clarissa J., Charles S., Richard 15., and 
 Louisa. 
 
 The birth of Cli.irlos S. Cowles occurred near 
 Lock|)()rt, N. Y., Januar}- 23, 1832, and he accom- 
 panied his parents to Canada during his boyhood. 
 His education was acquired in the common schools 
 and his knowledge of farming under his father's 
 instruction. When twenty-two years old he came 
 to this State and spent one summer in Kalamazoo, 
 lletlien came into Keene Townsiiip, Ionia County, 
 and worked at the carpenter's trade for three years, 
 after which he turned his attention to agriculture. 
 In this occupation he has retained his interest, and 
 by it he has done well for iiiraself financially .ind 
 won a good name as a tiller of the soil. 
 
 June 1, 1859, Mr. Cowles was married to Miss 
 Jane Carr. This estimable woman and capable 
 liel[)mate is a daughter of John and Jane (Gibson) 
 Carr, who were born in Belfast, Ireland, and whose 
 family also includes James, John, George, Jlargaret 
 and Isaac. Mr. and Mrs. Cowles are the happy 
 parents of six children named respectively, Pru- 
 dence, Kdward C, Reuben S., Karl and Carl 
 (twins), and liela. 
 
 For a number of years iMr. Cowles voted tiie 
 Republican ticket but he is now connected with the 
 Democratic partj-. While living in Keene Town- 
 ship he served as .Supervisor two terms, lie is 
 identified with the Patrons of Industry. 
 
 (.^^^nOMAS HALL. Among the many bright 
 (fjf>^^ find capable citizens of our county born of 
 \^i7 Irish ancestry is Thomas Hall, who has a 
 line farm on section 4, Ronald Township, Ionia 
 County. He was born April 12, 1831, in Green- 
 wood Township, Crawford County, Pa. His father, 
 John Hall, came to America from the Kmcrald 
 Isle in 1824, and reshles now where he first settled 
 in Crawford Countj-, Pa. He has now reached the 
 advanced age of four-score an<l eight years, the 
 completion of wliicli period he celebrated the 22d 
 of February. He is a good scholar, well read and 
 
 very smart for his years. He made a visit to bis 
 son in Michigan in last September. 
 
 The mother of our subject was Margaret Walker, 
 a native of Ireland who accom|)auied her husband 
 to this country. They were married in Ireland 
 and lived together until her death in August, 1849. 
 The father married a second time and his second 
 wife is still living. Nine children blessed the 
 first union, three of whom survive — Eliza, Mrs. 
 Smock; Thomas and Katie. Tiiree children of tlie 
 second marriage survive — Edward, William and 
 Ida. 
 
 Thom.as Hall was reared in his native town until 
 eighteen years of age when he came West. He 
 went on the lakes as a sailor. This work he fol- 
 lowed for six years, and did so well in it that he was 
 promoted to the position of first mate. He now felt 
 that he had made a sufficient start in life to estab- 
 lish a home, and married Rachael Minier in ()hio. 
 She was born in Ottawa County, that State. Of 
 this union there are three children: Martha, de- 
 ceased; Margaret, Mrs. Edward Staines; and .Susan, 
 deceased. The mother of these children was called 
 to her heavenly home June 28, 185'J. The second 
 marriage of Mr. Hall was with Mrs. Rachael 
 Griffin, born in Erie County, N. Y., February' 2G, 
 1838. She was reared in her native place. Her 
 maiden name was Rachael North. Three children 
 crowned this second marriage: Freeman; Dor.i, 
 now Mrs. U. W. Griffin, of Palo; and Pearl. 
 
 The subject of this sketch came to Michigan in 
 1850 and worked for Mr. N'anVleck for eighth-ears 
 in Talo, and in 18G5 located where he now resides 
 on an unimproved farm. He built a board house 
 lCx22 feet, one story high. The first spring he set 
 out thirty apple trees. He has put in many a 
 hard d.ay's work aiul is now doing a fine business. 
 He is a Republican, a member of the P.itrons of 
 Industry and he and his wife and two daughters 
 are members of the Baptist Church, having their 
 membership in Palo. They take an active part in 
 the Sunday-school. The (ine residence of our sub- 
 ject is much admired in the neighborhood. The 
 wooilwork inside is all ash in the natural finish. 
 The |)lace is well improved in every res|)ect and 
 most of the work has been done b^' his own liands. 
 His large barn is well ai ranged and everything 
 
848 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 about the farm is first-class. Helms always been a 
 great worker. In 18.53 he cut seven and one- 
 fourth cords of four-foot wood in ten hours. This 
 was done on a wager, the bet being tliat he could 
 cut one more cord in ten hours than the other 
 man. He cut one and one-fourth cords more than 
 his opponent. 
 
 -^ 
 
 FRANCIS S. BROWER. This representative 
 farmer of Keene Township belongs to a 
 family that is numbered among the early 
 settlers of Ionia County, having come here in 1840. 
 He was born in Monroe County, N. Y.,January 11, 
 183G. and his parents were Zaccheus and Elizabetli 
 (Goodwin) Hrower. His father was a native of 
 the same State as himself, and his mother wag born 
 in New Hampshire. Upon removing to this State 
 they made their home in Easton Township a few 
 months then took possession of the land now oper- 
 ated by our subject. It consists of eighty acres, 
 which was secured from tiie Government at $1 .25 
 per acre. 
 
 Mr. Brower, the father, felled trees and built a 
 log cabin about 18x22 feet, which was still his resi- 
 dence when he was stricken b}' a fatal illness and 
 died in 1856. The widowed mother survived until 
 1883 and saw many changes on the homestead and 
 in the surrounding country. In the death of Zac- 
 cheus Brown the county lost an estimable citizen, 
 who had been industrious and public spirited and 
 who had cheerfully endured the untoward circum- 
 stances of pioneer life. He had served as School 
 Director and Justice of the Peace. He voted witli 
 the Democratic party. 
 
 Of the ten children comprising the parental fam- 
 ily the present survivors are S3ivester, Francis S., 
 Harmon, Oliver, Fillmore and Arabella, now Mrs. 
 Joseph Monk. Francis has been a life-long farmer 
 and during his boyliood took part in the labor by 
 which the section in which he lives was reclaimed 
 from the forest wildness and wrought into fair and 
 fruitful farms. He obtained his education in schools 
 which afT#rded advantages decidedly inferior to 
 those of the present day, but like other men of nat- 
 
 ural intelligence and ambition be has gained wis- 
 dom from various sources since leaving the school 
 room. 
 
 The lady who has charge of the domestic econ- 
 omy at Mr. Brower's home became his wife May 
 27, 181)9, prior to whicli date she was known as 
 Miss Anna Street. She was born in the Province 
 of Ontario May 5, 1846, and is a daughter of Eras- 
 tus and Jane (Folwell) Street. Her father was 
 born in St. Catherine's, Ontario, and her mother 
 was a native of Niagara County, N. Y. The father 
 died in Canada, April 21, 1852. The mother with 
 her family removed to Iowa when Mrs. Brower 
 was about ten years old, and came to Ionia Count}' 
 in 1866, making her home in Saranac, and dying 
 there -January 18, 1867. Of the eight children 
 born to her the only survivor beside Mrs. Brower 
 is Charles D. whose home is in Washington. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Brower have had eight children, but 
 three have been removed from them by dejith. 
 The living are Francis H., Orpha E., Harvey E., 
 Orln E., and Mary A. Orpha is now the wife of 
 Peter D. Sparks. 
 
 The political allegiance of Mr. Brower is given 
 to the Democratic party, bnt he has a decided lean- 
 ing toward Greenback principles. He has often been 
 chosen' for town offices but would accept no public 
 position, preferring the quietude of home life. His 
 sterling iutegrit}' and conservatism are well known 
 to his acquaintances, and he and his capable and 
 intelligent wife arc respected members of society. 
 
 SAAC DICKASON. There are still living in 
 Montcalm County many who have passed 
 through the experiences common to all pioneers, 
 having come to the county when it was sparsely 
 settled and when much of the land that now pre- 
 sents such an attractive appearance was clothed 
 with a dense forest. One of this number is Mr. 
 Dickason, who for many years has been living in 
 Bl' omer Township. He made his present location 
 in 1855, when wild game such as deer, bear and 
 turkeys was plentiful, and he could kill deer from 
 
PORTRAIT A.ND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 349 
 
 his own doorway. He did a great deal of liiinting 
 and remembers tiialone time lie killed two deer, one 
 weighing one lumdred and niuely-four pounds, the 
 other two hundred and four pounds when dressed. 
 Mr. Dickason saw some hard times while clearing 
 and developing his laud, but he also enjoyed the 
 ple.isures of association with a whole-souled, warm- 
 hearted circle. Among the incidents of his pioneer 
 life was that of grating corn for bread, and carry- 
 ing a bushel and a half of wheat on his back to 
 mill eleven miles distant and in the same manner 
 bringing the llour to his home. 
 
 The birthplace of Mr. Dickason was Ashland 
 County, Ohio, his parents James and Mary (White) 
 Dickason, and his natal day December 19, 1830. 
 His father fought in the AVar of 1812 and was a 
 soldier under William Henry Harrison in the Indian 
 War where that General gained renown. His occu- 
 pation was farming, and the early years of our 
 subject were spent in the country with but limited 
 school privileges. His education therefore, has 
 mainly been obtained by his own efforts and since 
 he grew to manhood. His parents were natives of 
 the Keystone State and by inheritance and training- 
 he has the thrift and energy that almost invariably 
 characterize the peoiile of that State. He learned 
 the blacksmith's trade and worked at it a part of 
 the lime, when by so doing he could iin[)rove his 
 condition. 
 
 In 1854 Mr. Dickason c:ime to Montcalm County 
 and the next year took up one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land. He was obliged to cut his road 
 from the center of the town to his new location, 
 and by his personal efforts the timber was removed 
 from the land. He now has but half the original 
 acreage, but upon this he has excellent improve- 
 ments, including the needful buildings and a fruit- 
 ful orchard. He has a good sugar camp of about 
 four hundred trees and often gets a thousand 
 pounds of sugar therefrom. 
 
 Mr. Dickason was married to Miss .losi'iihine E. 
 Miner, May G, 1856. The bride was a daughter of 
 Anderson and Delilah (Armstrong) Miner, and has 
 been a resident of Montcalm County -since 1852. 
 Her mother is now living with her at the advanced 
 age of ninety-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Dickason 
 have had two children — Mary Delila, who was born 
 
 April 28, 1858, and died October 24, 1862, and 
 Lillian C, who was born July 18, 1877. Mr. Dicka- 
 son lias always taken an interest in education and 
 his daughter has received excellent schooling and 
 good instruction in music and is a fine musi- 
 cian. He has lilled the various school offices and 
 has also served his neighborhood as Pathraaster. 
 He owns a nice residence in Carson City which was 
 built for his own use, although he still occupies 
 his rural home. Mr. and Mrs. Dickason are well 
 respected by their extended circle of acquain- 
 tances and are always classed among the better 
 citizens. They both joined the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church in 1855, and are in good standing. 
 
 -^f= 
 
 <» I^ILLIAM WHITE, editor and proprietor of 
 \&//l the Edraore Journal, has lived in Mont- 
 V^!^ calm County since 1869. He was born in 
 Ft. Wayne, Ind., March 18, 1858, and was left an 
 orphan in his early childhood, his father being 
 killed in the battle of Bull Hun while serving in an 
 Indiana regiment. The boyhood of Mr. White was 
 spent in his native State and from an early age he 
 was obliged to work his own way. After coming to 
 tliis State he did such work as his strength wouki 
 permit, and in 1873 became an inmate of the home 
 of William H. Stevens, of Stanton. There he had 
 the advantage of abundant food, good clothing 
 and an opportunity to attend school until ho had 
 completed the High School course. 
 
 In 1879, when his studies were done, Mr. White 
 engaged in painting, but two years later he formed 
 a partnership with P. S. Dodge and founded the 
 Stanton CUj'pi')-. In 1882 he sold out to his part- 
 ner and spent tlie summer in Hastings, Minn. In 
 February, 1883, he came to Edmore and bought 
 the Journal, which he has since carried on with 
 pleasing success. The paper is a weekly, five- 
 column quarto, has a good circulation and is deserv- 
 ing of the patronage it enjoys, as its columns are 
 filled with well selected news, such local items ns 
 will be enjoyed by the citizens, and stir^ng utter- 
 ances on various questions in which they are con- 
 cerned. The polilicul leaning of the i>aper is 
 
350 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 toward the Republican party and its editor is out- 
 spoken in his expressions regarding public affairs 
 and tenets of Governmental policy. Mr. White can 
 well look with pride over his business career, for 
 lie lias been more than ordinarily successful, now 
 owning his business block and a pleasant residence. 
 At the head of the household in Mr. White's 
 home is the lady who became his wife November 
 24, 1884. She was known in her maidenhood as 
 Miss Lillian Carveth, was born in Barry County, 
 and for several years was engaged in teaching in 
 Montcalm County. Two bright children have 
 come to bless the happy home — Fay B. and Leon. 
 Mr. White is Secretary of Rdiuore Lodge, I.O.O.F., 
 and is identified with the Knights of the Macca- 
 bees. He is a Trustee in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. The mental culture of himself and wife, 
 their social qualities and excellent characters, alike 
 give them the respect of their associates and their 
 friends are counted by the score. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 ^fi LBERT S. FRENCH, of Lake View, Mont- 
 (@^Jj| calm County, was born in P^llicottville, 
 (& Cattaraugus County, N. Y., February 1, 
 1828. He is a son of Abel and Angelinc 
 (Rust) French, natives of Massachu.setts and Ver- 
 mont, respectively. They took up their residence 
 in New York at an early date and lived there for 
 many years. The mother of our subject was called 
 from earth while living in Ellicottville and the 
 father came to Michigan about 1844 and made his 
 home in Virgens, Kent County. A few years later 
 he removed to Greenville, when that village was 
 in its initial existence. He later removed to Chi- 
 cago, 111., and after a few 3'ears of residence there 
 he returned to Michigan and spent the remainder 
 of his daj'S in Colon. He was a merchant and 
 through most of his life was a man of considerable 
 means. For four years he was Sheriff of Mont- 
 gomery County', and an earnest and consistent 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 
 In his earlier years he belonged to the AVhig party 
 and later cast his vote with the Republicans. His 
 father, Daniel French, was a soldier in the War of 
 
 1812 and lost his left leg on the battlefield, in con- 
 quence of which loss he received a pension from 
 the Government. At an early day he came West 
 and died at Ypsilanti, Jlich. 
 
 The maternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Justin Rush, a native of Massachusetts and a Rev- 
 olutionary soldier who died at Ellicottville, N. Y. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Abel French had but two children, 
 namely : Justin R. and Albert S.; the former was 
 one of the pioneers of Lake View and died about 
 two years ago at his brother's home. 
 
 When thirteen years old Albert left his native 
 county and came to Kent County, Jlich., with his 
 father. His early life was passed on the farm 
 where he received only a limited education. When 
 seventeen years of age be left home and wont .as a 
 sailor on the lakes. He followed this calling for 
 four years, when he returned home to his native 
 town, and was there joined in marriage, December 
 31, 1848, to Miss Amanda M. Brjant, who was 
 born in the same town, April 18, 1827. She is a 
 daughter of Samuel and Anna (Stanton) Bryant. 
 Mr. and Mrs. French were born within one-quarter 
 of a mile from each other, and were friends and 
 playmates from their earliest days. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bryant ended their days at the old home in Elli- 
 cottville. 
 
 The subject of this notice and his good wife 
 have been the hap|iy parents of eight children, 
 namel}': Franklin H., vflio married Anna Childs, of 
 Stanton, and who has one child, Jessie. He is an 
 insurance and loan agent at Stanton. Charles F. 
 is a farmer and lumberman at Lake View; he mar- 
 ried Ida Dunham, of Stanton, and has two chil- 
 dren — Earl and Thomas. Albert D., a lumbernian 
 and farmer at Lake View, married Miss Mary 
 Covey and has two children — Harlan and Glenn. 
 Truman, a lumberman in Lincoln, Neb., married 
 Miss Leora Bissel, of Lake Mew, and has had two 
 children — Lincoln, and Gladys (deceased). Ida A., 
 Mrs. Thomas R. Welch, of Reed City; Stanley; 
 Anna M. and John W. deceased. 
 
 Mr. French remained in his native town after 
 his marriage for a few years and then removed to 
 Greenville, Mich., where he lived until 1857, when 
 he removed into the woods and settled on a tract 
 of Government land, upon and about which the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 351 
 
 village of Lake View now stands. Here in this 
 primeval forest he erected a lojj cabin, with punch- 
 eon lloor and benches for chairs, and befjan clear- 
 ing up a farm. Deer, wolves and wild game of all 
 kinds abounded, as also did the red man. The site 
 of the loji cabin was an old Indian cam[)ing ground. 
 In 186C the village of Lake View was platted on 
 his farm. lie is recognized as the father of the 
 town. He has a pleasant and comfortable resi- 
 dence in the village and is today one of the solid 
 men of Lake View and of Montcalm County. He 
 is and has been for several years a land agent, and 
 controls the sale of large tracts of timber land, 
 having about one thousand acres in his own riglit. 
 He has also for many years been more or less en- 
 gaged in the lumber business. He started in life 
 poor and by his enterprise and industry has made 
 all that be [wssesses. He suffered a ^10,000 loss by 
 a contract on the Saginaw Valley A- St. Louis Rail- 
 Toad when it was in course of construction, but ho 
 is now in good financial condition. He is also largely 
 interested in rich mineral lands in Northern Wis- 
 consin. In his early manhood he was a Whig but 
 is now a strong Republican. For many years he 
 was Township Supervisor and .luslice of the Peace. 
 In 186 4 he was Treasurer of ftlontcalm County-, 
 being elected on the Republican ticket anil has been 
 three times re-elected to the same ollice, serving in 
 all eight years. Ho is a Knight Templar Mason 
 and was the first President of Lake View village. 
 
 ^^HOMAS THOMAS. It affords the publish- 
 m^^ ers of this Album pleasure to incorporate in 
 ^^gf' its pages an outline of the life of this re- 
 spectetl citizen of Ionia County, who is now serv- 
 ing efKciently as Treasurer of Kaston Townshii). 
 It is impossible to follow his course in life in every 
 detail, but the reader can easily fill out the picture 
 which will be sketched in these paragraphs. Mr. 
 Thomas comes of Welsh Idood, his parents, John 
 and Mary Thomas, having emigrated from their 
 native land a short time before hin birth. They 
 located in Orleans County, N. Y., and there the 
 youth of our sulijcct was cliielly passed. He was 
 
 born there Septeml)er 8, 1837, and in his boyhood 
 went with his parents to Genesee County, but when 
 about sixteen lelurned to his native county wlicrc 
 his parents subsctjuently died. 
 
 Tiie parental family consisted of ten children 
 and two were brought by their parents from Wales, 
 and the others born in America. Those who are 
 now living are Ann, wife of Henry Vacon in Or- 
 leans County, N. Y. ; George, whose home is in the 
 same county; Thomas, the subject of this notice; 
 Frederick, whose home is in Ionia; Francis, who 
 lives in Orleans County; Jane, wife of Wayne 
 Simpson of Toledo, Ohio, and Mary, wife of Ed- 
 ward West of Orleans County, N. Y. 
 
 When he was about eighteen years old Thomas 
 Thomas began learning wagon-making with iiis 
 father, who was a mechanic in that line, and for 
 several years he followed the trade. With that ex- 
 ception his time h.as mostly been spent in farming, 
 he having learned the details of that occupation in 
 liis youth, as his father owned a farm which the 
 sons carried on under his supervision. When our 
 subject came to this State in 1863 and settled on 
 his present estate he found it in a condition far 
 from what he wished and he has labored hard to 
 make the improvements which he thought neces- 
 sary. He has ninety-eight acres under excellent 
 cultivation and the estate be;us such buildings as 
 arc usually erected by a man of enterprise and 
 good judgment. 
 
 Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Soiihronia 
 Brown, December 18, 1862, and the happy union 
 has been blessed by the birth of three children, 
 whose names and natal days are as follows: Minnie 
 B., born October 19, 1873; Frank IL, .September 
 17, 1875, and George W., February 22, 1878. Airs. 
 Thomas is one of five children born to Ilirara and 
 Mary (Hutchinson) Brown who were natives of 
 Canada and Vermont respectively. She has a 
 brother and sister living, Edwin R., being a resi- 
 dent of Ionia Township, and Charlotte O., the wife 
 of Robert McKendry in Easton Township. She 
 was born in Orleans County, N. Y., in September. 
 1839, was carefully reared and has been eflicient, 
 judicious and devoted to the interests of her fmnily 
 and to the good of those about her. She is a metn- 
 lier of the B:i|itist Church, an cllicient worker in 
 
352 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the Ladies' Aid Society and was formerly connected 
 with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. 
 
 A? Supervisor of Easton Township Mr. Thomas 
 served four consecutive years with credit to him- 
 self and constituents. He is now filiing the office 
 of Treasurer for the third year. In politics he is a 
 Democrat with leanings toward the principles of 
 the Greenback party. He is identified with the 
 Grange and the Patrons of Industry, and manifests 
 an interest in every movement nhich has a ten- 
 dency to improve the condition of thei^eople in the 
 locality in wliich he lives. lie had but common- 
 school advantages, but he has read and thought, 
 and is recognized as one of the intelligent and 
 well-informed, as well as progressive and influen- 
 tial, agriculturists of the county. He has been 
 faithful to the trusts reposed in him, and has won 
 the confidence of the people and become popular 
 by reason of his courtesy, hospitality and pleasant 
 disposition. 
 
 1^ EN MAN W. WOODMAN, belongs to a fam- 
 I jj) ily of English descent who trace their ances- 
 ^!^ try back to the "Mayflower" that landed at 
 Plymouth Rock. He resides on section 13, Kccne 
 Township, Ionia County. He was born January 
 27, 1820, in Jefferson County, N. Y., and is the 
 son of Joseph and Sallie (Wright) Woodman. His 
 father was a native of New Hampshire and bis 
 mother of Massachusetts. The father was a physi- 
 cian by profession and served as a surgeon in the 
 War of 1812. In 1837 there was a family emigra- 
 tion to Oakland County, Mich., and the settlement 
 was made in Novi Township. His father lived but 
 a siiort time after their arrival in the new home, 
 expiring August 15, 1838. The mother died in 
 Ionia County, and both lie side by side in the 
 cemetery in Oakland County in the township where 
 he settled. Six children were' given to these par- 
 ents, four of whom still survive: Elias S., living in 
 Wayne County; William W., in Jefl'erson Count}', 
 Wis. ;Denman W., and Benjamin F., in Saranac, 
 Mich. 
 
 Our subject received his education in the schools 
 in Jefferson County, N. Y., and in those of Oakland 
 
 County, Mich. These were, of course, less com- 
 plete in their course of study and less thorough in 
 their drill than tlie schools of today. But an ex- 
 tensive course of reading indulged in throughout 
 life has made this man intelligent and progressive 
 in his views. He has made political questions a 
 si)ecialt}' and is more than ordinarily intelligent 
 in their discussion. 
 
 February 15, 1857, saw tlie union of our subject 
 with Irene Bogart, who was born in Wayne 
 County, Mich., May 3, 1836. Her parents, Henry 
 and Jane (Swift) Bogart, were early settlers in that 
 county, having come there in Territorial da3S. 
 They are now quite aged and have brought up 
 a large family of children. The following of their 
 household now survive: Elizabeth, wife of Edward 
 AVhittaker, residing in Wayne Count}'; Thomas E., 
 in Oakland County; Irene; Marvin, residing in Oak- 
 land County; Eliza Jane, Mrs. Harry Seeley, resid- 
 ing in Minnesota; Juliet, wife of Eugene W.^ 
 Husted, in Muskegon County; Susan, Mrs. B. Re- 
 quay, in Oakland County; Emma H., wife of Robert 
 Richardson of Detroit; Howard M., in Owosso, 
 Mich., and Henry in Minnesota. Mr. Bogart was 
 an earnest Republican in politics. Mrs. Bogart 
 brought up her children in the faith of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 Two children only have been granted to Mr. and 
 Mrs. Woodman, William W. and Emmet M. Mr. 
 Woodman came to Ionia County, in 1852, and 
 made his home on what is now his present farm in 
 Keenc Townshii). For several years his mother 
 kept house for him. He purchased forty acres of 
 land from the Government a1 ^1.25 per acre, and 
 at the same time bought eighty acres of land for 
 which he paid ii2.50 per acre. His first home was 
 a log house about 18x26 feet in dimensions and 
 this sheltered his home for years, until he built the 
 fine residence which now adorns his farm. He 
 settled in the woods and developed and made the 
 farm what it is today. He saw much of |)ioneer 
 life and has done much for the development of the 
 county. Eighty acres now constitutes his home 
 farm. His political views are embraced in the 
 platform of the Democratic party. He has served 
 as School Inspector of Keene Township, and also 
 as Township Treasurer. 
 
<:^<^:;^^^'^Z^^^t^ 
 
 \u^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 355 
 
 Mrs. Woodman is an earnest and cfflcient mem- 
 ber of the Seventh Day Adventist Cliurcli. ]Mr. 
 Woodman is identified wilii Boston Lodge No. 1 I(i, 
 A. K. & A. M. He and liis wife are both active 
 members of society. He is one of the charter mem- 
 bers of Keene t^irange No. 270. and is now serving 
 ns Chaplain of the Grange lodge, which position he 
 has filled witii tlie exception of a few montlis ever 
 since its organization. His has been a successful 
 life antl one which is crowned with hont)r. 
 
 ^^EOHGK W. TUCKKU was nn eaily pioneer 
 [I| ^j' "f Sidne3- Townsliip, Montcalm County, as 
 ^^^jj he was born in this townsJiip, April 27, 1860> 
 in the days when nune lived here except pioneers. 
 He is the son of Daniel and Diantha (Gilmore) 
 Tucker. (Jreat hardships and small advantages 
 were his in early boyhood and he grew to man- 
 hood surrounded b^' intlnences which tended to 
 strengthen liis sturdy independence and make him 
 invulnerable to the temptations of ease and luxurj'. 
 From his twelfth year he has cared for himself and 
 he has kept up the battle of life most courageously 
 and untiringly. 
 
 This young man worked at milling and lumber- 
 ing and by hard work, strict economj' and the help 
 of a good Providence has acquired a fine farm of 
 eighty acres and a handsome residence in Sidney 
 Center, also a half interest in a large shingle mill 
 situated here. At the age of sixteen years he left 
 liis native State to see what he could find in other 
 parts of our country. He visited Indiana, Illinois, 
 Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri, and re- 
 turned to Michigan in about a year and a half, 
 thoroughly satisfied that no part of the United 
 States can excel Michigan as the home of an honest, 
 industrious man. 
 
 Mr. Tucker has but one brother, Henry, who re- 
 siiles in the State of Washington, and one sister, 
 Mrs. Lucina Beigle, who resides at Cliflford Lake, 
 Montcalm County. June 13, 1884, saw the cele- 
 bration of his marriage to Hannah V. Doddridge, 
 of J.ay Count}-, Ind. Four children have blessed 
 this |)leasant home, namely: Prank, born May 14, 
 
 1885| E. B., January 21, 1886; Plum Guy, August 
 19, 1888, and George, May 17, 1890. The lives of 
 all this household have been spared to the present 
 time. 
 
 Mr. Tucker's mill employs from twenty-five to 
 twenty-eight men and he operates his farm by hired 
 help, but oversees everything in person. He en- 
 joyed the hardships known to all settlers of this 
 count}' and h.as lived for months on johnny cake. 
 At other times the bill of fare was all comprised 
 in the word "beans." All this prepared him keenly 
 to appreciate the improved condition of things in 
 this day. 
 
 In connection with his biographical notice a litho- 
 graphic portrait of Mr. Tucker is presented to the 
 readers of the Album. 
 
 '\¥|OHN PEOPLES. Perhaps no better repre- 
 I sentative of the agriculturalists of Montcalm 
 
 W 
 
 Count}' can be found than in the person of 
 Mr. Peoples, who is one of the oldest set- 
 tlers in Home Township. His original homestead 
 here consisted of one hundred and sixty acres on 
 section 21, now occupie<l in part by the village of 
 Edraore. Mr. Peoples was one of the first home- 
 stead(!rs in Montcalm County, and probably in the 
 State, although Government land had been settled 
 upon in various parts a number of years before his 
 coming. The township was a dense, dark forest, 
 in which not a clearing bad been m.ide, and the 
 Peoples brothers found it slow work to prepare a 
 small patch for their first crop of vegetaliles. Our 
 subject hewed out a sp.ace in which to build a log 
 cabin and then began chopping down the trees 
 that surrounded it. As soon as [lossible he planted 
 potatoes, and later added to the cultivated land 
 and to t!ie variety of the products he raised. The 
 first few summers he worked in Fair Plains during 
 harvest and haying time. 
 
 Mr. Peojiles is of Irish birth and ancestry, but 
 several generations prior to his own birth the fam- 
 ily went from Scotland to the Emerald Islo. They 
 were of the old Presbyterian stock, so many of 
 whom settled in Ireland during the years of the relig- 
 
356 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ious troubles in the two countries. Hugh Peoples, 
 grandfather of our subject, spent his entire life in 
 Ireland, following the occupation of farming. His 
 son Edward, who was born in County Donegal, 
 carried on a similar occuj)ation there until he re- 
 tired from active life. He thtn went to Ayrshire, 
 Scotland, where the son of whom we write was liv- 
 ing, and late in the '50s emigrated to America. 
 He was quite advanced in years, and from that 
 time until his decease resided with his children. 
 He pa.ssed away in Home Township, Montcalm 
 County at the ripe age of eighty-four years. His 
 wife died while on the way to America and was 
 buried at sea. She bore the maiden name of Jennie 
 Hunter, was born in the same Irish county as her 
 husband, and was the daughter of John Hunter, a 
 lifelong farmer there. 
 
 John Peop'es, who is the third of five children, 
 was born near Welford, County Donegal, Ireland, 
 in 1834. He was reared on the farm and had no 
 educational advantages, as the schools were carried 
 on under a tuition system, and his father had not 
 the money to pay for his attendance. He is, there- 
 fore, a self-made man, the deficiencies in whose 
 early opportunities have been made up by his close 
 observation and careful reading in later years. 
 When fifteen years of age he went to Scotland and 
 found employment in the Hamilton Bleach Factory, 
 at Blakely Mill, Ayrshire. He worked there about 
 five years and became foreman in the blueing 
 department, where the cloth was Starched and 
 blued. He saw that he could not make any great 
 headway in that country, and determined to seek 
 to better his condition in America — the land of 
 whose resources he heard many glowing accounts. 
 
 In April, 1855, Mr. Peoples left Liverpool on 
 the sailing vessel ''James L. Boogar." When eight 
 days out a severe storm was encountered and the 
 vessel was badly wrecked, the masts being swept 
 away and the deck cleared. The passengers and 
 crew scarcely expected to see land again, but they 
 put forth ever}- effort to save themselves from a 
 watery- grave, and succeeded in reaching harbor at 
 Cork, whence they took steamer to Liverpool. 
 There they made arrangements for a new start and 
 the voyage proved a pleasant one. They reached 
 New York City in a little more than a month, and 
 
 Mr. Peoples went direct to Philadelphia, Pa., where 
 he had two sisters. During the summer he worked 
 at Schuylkill Falls, whence he went to Brandywine 
 and found employment in a powder-mill. The 
 following spring he engaged as a hand on a coal 
 wharf at Port Richmond, Pa. 
 
 In the fall of 1857 Mr. Peoples came to tiiis 
 State and for a couple of j'cars he was emplo3'ed on 
 a farm in Wayne County. He then rented land 
 and worked for himself until the spring of 1863 
 when he came to Montcalm County. He was ac- 
 companied by his brother Hugh and a brother-in- 
 law, and they cut their way through the woods 
 from Westville to where they homesteadcd land. 
 For some time after making their location they 
 were obliged to haul their provisions from a dis- 
 tance, and many a time our subject was mired so 
 that he had to cairy his load to a dry, hard place, 
 and it would require the full strength of the team 
 to pull the empty wagon out of the mud. Such 
 incidents consumed much time and often necessi- 
 tated sleeping in the wagon and going without 
 food, because the time until nightfall was not su(B- 
 cient to allow of reaching his destination. 
 
 By cutting, rolling and burning, Mr. Peoples 
 got rid of the timber that covered his land, and 
 finally was able to begin farming. About 1877 he 
 traded his homestead for one hundred and sixty 
 acres on section 20, where he is now living. Taking 
 up his residence here, he has by hard work and per- 
 sistent energy placed about seventy acres under 
 the plow, and at the same time has given consid- 
 erable attention to the lumber business. His estate 
 is fenced into fields of convenient size, has a good 
 orchard upon it, and as nice farm buildings as anj' 
 in the township. Mr. Peo[)les finds a convenient 
 market for his grain and stock in Edmore, which 
 is but a mile and a half from his dwelling. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Peoples and Miss Eliza 
 Sweeney was solemnized at Port Richmond, Pa. 
 The bride was born in County Donegal, Ireland, 
 in 1838, and is a daughter of John Sweeney who 
 died in Philadelphia. Mrs. Peoples went from her 
 native land to Ayrshire, Scotland, and thence came 
 to America. She had nine children, three of whom 
 are deceased, namely: John, Hugh and Ella, the 
 last named having deiiartcd this life in 1885. The 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 357 
 
 survivors are Jennie, the wife of J. Elliott, living 
 in Edniore; Annie, who is teaching in Home 
 Township; Etlward, who is fanning with his father; 
 Kmnia, whose home is in Grand Rapids; Lizzie, 
 who is teaching in Pine Township; and Lottie, 
 who is a member of the class of ''M in llie Ediuorc 
 High Scliool. 
 
 Mr. Peoples has been connected with many of 
 the first things of Home Township. Ho helped to 
 organize the township, attended the first township 
 meeting, aided in building the first schoolhouses, 
 and has been foremost in advocating every meas- 
 ure which would tend to elevate the people mor- 
 ally, mentally or materially. He has been .School 
 Treasurer, and Palhm.ister. Politically he is a 
 faithful Republican, unswerving in his belief in 
 the principles of the party, and in the good which 
 their observance will bring to the Nation. Mr. 
 Peoples holds to the ancestral faith in religious 
 matters, believing in Presbyterianism, and showing 
 by his true and upright life that his faith is a living 
 one. Unlike some men who have risen by their 
 own efforts, lie is modest and unassuming, and 
 without selfishness. The many privations through 
 which he has passed and the hardsliii)s which he has 
 endured only make him the more considerate of 
 others and the more anxious to give to posterity' 
 advantages and privileges which he did not enjoy. 
 That he is wjdeli' respected and that iiis wife shares 
 in the esteem of their acquaintances needs not to 
 be said. 
 
 r/;ILLIAM S. BATES, like many Michigan 
 farmers, belongs to one of those fine New 
 England families, which, sifting through 
 nn early settlement in New York State, finally 
 found in Michigan a land of promise. His father, 
 Philo Bales, was a native of Canandaigua, N. Y., 
 where he was born September 22, 1797. His father 
 the Hon. Ste()hen Bates, was born in Granville, 
 Mass., August 2)S, 177;5. The parents of Stephen 
 Bates were Phineas and Esther (^Curtis) Bates. 
 Phineas was the son of Stephen and Lois and 
 grandson of .Stephen and Paliencc Bates. The 
 father of Phineas Bates died on the road to (.Quebec 
 
 during the French and Indian War. The Bates 
 family came to America during the latter part of 
 the seventeenth centur}', and this branch of the 
 family settled in Durham, Conn. The grandfather 
 of our subject was a member of the New York 
 State [.legislature and was made the recipient of 
 many other public ollices. In 1780 he and his 
 father, Phineas Bates, went West as it was then 
 considered, and settled on a tract of land which 
 now lies in the heart of Canandaigua, on the south 
 side of Main Street, and opposite the well-known 
 Granger residence. They were very early settlers 
 there and Stephen being then eighteen years old 
 helped clear off timber from land that is now Main 
 Street. He was also useful to that [)rimitive com- 
 munity in carrying the mail from Canandaigua 
 to Ft. Niagara. Grandfather Hon. Stephen Bates 
 died in Sauk County, Wis., in 1846, about two 
 years after his settlement there. 
 
 The mother of our subject is Frances (Babcoek) 
 Bates, a native of the township of Hopewell, On- 
 tario County, N. Y. She was born June 10, 1810, 
 and was a daughter of William and Julia (Reed) 
 Habcock, natives of New England, who settled at 
 an early date in Ontario County, N. Y., and 
 moved to Michigan in the fall of 183G. Previous 
 to their coming here the}' had in 1835, located a 
 large tract of land, two and a quarter sections, in 
 this locality'. From the time of Mr. Babcock's ar- 
 rival until the day of his death he was one of the 
 prominent and influential men in the community. 
 11 is inlluence was good and strong. He took a lead- 
 ing part in ))olitical and also in church matters, be- 
 ing a Deacon in the Church. 
 
 Philo Bates came here at the same time as Dea- 
 con William Babcoek, and also located the same 
 amount of land in 1835. While the}' were walk- 
 ing about looking at the land and choosing what 
 they intended to claim, they saw a man looking at 
 the same land. They called to him in a friendly 
 fashion and after finding that he hail chosen the 
 same land as they had, they compromised b}- divid- 
 ing upon the section line. This man, Mr. Bentle}', 
 took the western section, and it w.as known long 
 after as the Benlley section in Berlin Township. 
 After locating their land Deacon Babcoek and Pliilo 
 Bates relurncil home and when spring came the}' 
 
358 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 each sent a hired man with his family, teams, etc., 
 to build log houses and comraenco work. The 
 man sent by Mr. Bates was Amos Bliss, while 
 Mr. Babcocksent Ijenjxmin Brand. Both are now 
 defeased. 
 
 In May, 1831), Mr. Bates left his home in New 
 York to look after this laud. After he left home 
 his wife Frances B. Bates died June 19, 1836. 
 When he received news of iier death in July or 
 August, he was out on tlie prairie cutting ha}', 
 while his household goods were scattered along the 
 line of the lakes from Buffalo to Grand Haven. He 
 returned to New York and September 17, 1836, 
 he married Dollie Babcock, a sister of his second 
 wife, who had been since the death of Mrs. Bates 
 earing tenderly for the infant she had left. Dollie 
 Babcock was born June 21, 1812. After their 
 mairiage they went on to Michigan that fall and 
 took possession of their new log house. 
 
 William Babcock and wife were the parents of 
 fifteen children, most of whom grew to maturity, 
 five of them being yet living: Herman Babcock; 
 Dollie B., now Mrs. Overhiser, who was the third 
 wife of Philo Bates; Mrs. L. O. Clark; Marcus 
 Babcock; Mrs. Elizabeth Harter. Mr. Babcock 
 vvas in comfortable circumstances and did not have 
 to endure the privations which made the settle- 
 ment of the country so full of hardships to man}-. 
 He used to go to Grand Rapids and New York for 
 supplies. Philo Bates cleared and raised crops on 
 one hundred acres and built the first frame house 
 that was built in this township and let contracts for 
 building a grain barn, also a contract for clearing 
 off forty acres of land. This was all accomplished 
 within two years. Philo Bates died December 20, 
 1838. He married Susan Watkius December 27, 
 1818, and by that marriage there were three cliil- 
 dren, two now living — Harriet A., now Mrs. H. H. 
 Smith of Jackson, Mich.; Orpha E., was the wife 
 of H. B. Lathrop, both now deceased; and Susan 
 C, wife of Charles R. Knickerbocker, of Jackson, 
 Mich. By his second marriage he had three chil- 
 dren — George P., deceased; William S., our sub- 
 ject; and Francis B., who died in 1853. By his 
 third marriage he had Philo T., a resident of Ionia. 
 The mother of this youngest son still survives and 
 after the death of Mr. Bates was married to the 
 
 Rev. George C. Overhiser, a pioneer minister of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, afterward con- 
 nected with the Congregational denomination. He 
 is now deceased. The father of our subject was 
 one of the founders of the Presbj'terian Church 
 here. He was also active in the organization of 
 township and county affairs and in politics belonged 
 to the Whig party. His influence was pronounced 
 in all these lines and his opinions bore great weight 
 in the community. He will be long remembered .as 
 one of the most prominent men of those early days. 
 Our subject was born October 4, 1834, in Hope- 
 well Township, Ontario County, N. Y. He w.as 
 two years of age when brought to Michigan. His 
 childhood was passed with different branches of 
 the family. His father died when he was only four 
 years of age. He lived at different times with his 
 grandfather and uncles, and later with Mrs. H. B. 
 Lathrop, a sister who resided at Jackson, Mich. 
 While with her he attended Union School there 
 fur a season. From 1836 to 1847 he attended 
 school during the summer season in the first school 
 established here, the first teacher of which was Har- 
 riet A. Bates, now Mrs. H. H. Smith. He began 
 fur himself at seventeen years of age, hiring out as 
 a farm hand for $10 per month in Summit Town- 
 ship, Jackson County. At least he bargained to 
 receive the $10 but he has never yet collected that 
 just and early debt. He worked in this way until 
 twenty-one years of age, in Jackson, Cass and Mon- 
 roe Counties. Upon reaching his majority became 
 back home and took possession of his portion of 
 the estate. He soon after began improving his 
 present i)roperty on section 31. It was all in a 
 raw state so he at once built a log house. A fine 
 crayon sketch of which, done by Mrs. Bates, now 
 hangs in his residence. Two hundred acres of this 
 two hundred and thirty acres of laud is now under 
 the i)low in a high state of cultivation. The land 
 was of the character of heavy oak openings, which 
 he cleared off himself and brought to its present 
 S[)lendid condition. His handsome and tasteful 
 residence was built in 1885. His barns bespeak a 
 first class farmer. In fact the farm is remarkably 
 well appointed in every respect. He carries on 
 mixed farming and raises wheat, corn and clover 
 and also raises horses, cattle and sheep. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 859 
 
 Williams. Bates married May 18, 1864, Miss 
 Eliza A. Goodenow, a daughter of Henry and 
 Eliza (Butler) Goodenow, natives of New York. 
 The father was originall}- of Holland-Dutch descent, 
 and was born June 7, 171(9, in Cherry Valley. The 
 Butler brothers were of New England descent. 
 Grandfather Butler was a Captain ou a sailing- ves- 
 sel!. His son Charles was the Captain of liie first 
 boat to pass through Erie Canal, carrying Gov. 
 l>e Wilt Clinton to Albany. He was also Captain 
 of a companj' during the War of 1812. Mrs. Hates' 
 parents removed to Michigan in Jlay, 1850, and 
 settled in the township of Grand Blanc, Genesee 
 County. Her uncles, Charles, Moses and John 
 Butler were pioneers of that county and are now all 
 deceased. Mrs. Bates' father died April 6, 1859, 
 and her mother about 1866 came to live with this 
 daughter where she died July 21, 1870, at the age 
 of sixty-seven years. This pioneer couple were 
 the parents of six children, two of whom are now 
 living — Mrs. Bates and Henry B. Goodenow of 
 Flint, Mich. 
 
 Mrs. Bates was born August 18, 1834, at Le Ro\', 
 Genesee County, N. Y. J^lie received a good com- 
 mon-school education. Mr. and Mrs. Bates are 
 the parents of three children- — Frances E., born 
 May 13, 1867; Harry P., February 11, 1870; Har- 
 riot G., November 22, 1875. The}' have all been 
 students in the Ionia Citj* Schools. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bales are both members of the Presbyterian Church 
 and in the work of which they take an active in- 
 terest as the}' do also in the Sunilay-school. 
 
 The numerous positions of trust and responsi- 
 bility to which the commnnity has appointed Mr. 
 Bates, shows the estimation in which he is held by 
 lliem and his magnificent farm and surroundings 
 testify to his success in life. He has been a mem- 
 ber of the local .School Board. He and his wife 
 were charter mendjers of the Grange and both hold 
 offices therein. He is an active member of the Dis- 
 trict Agricultural Association. By political pre- 
 ferences he is a Republican. His record as a 
 temperance man is another item in his character. 
 
 His brother-in-law, the Hon. Henry B. Lathrop, 
 after the death of his son made his home with our 
 subject from 1882 till 1890, when he died August 
 20, having been a very prominent man in Michi- 
 
 gan politics. The Hon. Mr. Lathrop was a mem- 
 befof the State Pioneer Society, also of the Mich- 
 igan Legislative Association. In 1844 he was a 
 delegate to the National Conventional Baltimore 
 and in 1840 was a member of the Michigan Assem- 
 bly and in 1847 of the Slate Senate. He helped to 
 locate the Stale Capitol at Lansing, and donated to 
 the State the land upon which the jirison is located 
 at Jackson, Mich. 
 
 tr SAAC E. TYLER is one of the oldest settlers in 
 I Orange Township, Ionia County, and one of its 
 /1\ original organizers. His pioneer experience was 
 full of interest and exem))lified strongly the neces- 
 sary' qualities of early settlers in a new country. His 
 father, Dean M. Tyler, was a Vermont farmer, later 
 in life a mason. His mother Phoebe (Post) Tyler, 
 was a native of the same State. There they were 
 married and resided for a number of years. Then 
 removing to Cayuga County, and later to Living- 
 ston Cou'ity, N. Y. 
 
 In 18.36 the family started for Michigan, .and 
 halted one year in Oakland County before coming 
 on to Ionia County, where they settled in 1837, 
 upon section 13. Taking his farm of perfectly raw 
 land directly from the Government, he set about 
 cultivating it. In 1848 Isaac Tyler had the an- 
 guish of witnessing his father killed before his ejes 
 by the falling of a tree, July 13. The widow re- 
 mained on the farm for about a year, and then 
 went to live with her youngest daughter in whose 
 home she died April 13, 1863. Both she and her 
 husband were members of Ihe Baptist Church be- 
 fore coming West, and in their new homo they 
 helped organize the First Baptist Church in Port- 
 land, Mr. Tyler ofllciating in this church in the 
 capacity of Deacon. He was always interested in 
 public affairs, helped to organize Orange Town- 
 ship, and was one of the first Justices of the Peace 
 here. He was born August 12, 1793. His wife 
 was horn July 4 of the same year. His parents 
 were Moses and Mehitable (Merrill) Tyler. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married in 
 
360 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 "Whitestowii, Oneida County, N. Y., December 25, 
 1815. Of their seven children, five are now living: 
 Isaac E.; Betsey A., widow of John Brown; Dean 
 M., Jr., who lives in Lapeer County; Laura R., 
 Mrs. Crawford, of Owosso; and Caroline R., now 
 Mrs. Briggs, of Clinton Counts*. Isaac E. was born 
 January 15, 1816 in Oneida County, N. Y. There 
 he received a common-school education, and began 
 work for himself at twenty-one years of age. Com- 
 ing to Michigan in 1836, he spent two years in 
 Oakland County and came to tiiis county in 1838, 
 settling upon eighty acres of land on section 24. 
 Having built a log house and thus prepared for a 
 liomc, he returned to Oakland County and married 
 Januarj' 5, 1810, p;iizal)elh Brown, a daughter of 
 Jabez and Ann Brown, pioneers of that region and 
 natives of Yarmouth, England. He lived with this 
 wife upon his eiglity acres, clearing and improving 
 it, and establishing a happy home until June 22, 
 1854. Of their five children four are now living: 
 Amelia J., born September 17, 1840, is the wife of 
 Dr. John Smith, now living in New Decatur, Ala. 
 Thoy have three children. Dr. Smith was a cap- 
 tain in the Civil War in the Ninth Michigan Infan- 
 try. Emerson, deceased; Sarah A., born Septem- 
 ber 9, 1845; Louisa M., born September 21, 1846, is 
 the wife of James Page; they live in Nebraska and 
 have one child. Melvina C, born July 26, 1850, 
 lives in Nebraska with her husband Donald McCel- 
 lum and her two children. 
 
 Mr. Tyler was a second time united in marriage 
 with Mrs. Sarah (Brown) Fields, a sisterof his first 
 wife. There were no children as the offspring of 
 this union. She died July 20, 1858. He again 
 married January 1, 1860, Eliza G. Hitchcock, a 
 daughter of Otis and Sarah (Delano) Hitchcock. 
 Mr. Hitchcock was born in Massachusetts, May 0, 
 1795, and his wife in New York, April 25, 1796. 
 They were married in the Empire State in 1819, 
 in Herrietta, near Rochester, and in 1823 removed 
 to Cattaraugus Countj^, and always resided there 
 upon a farm. He served in the AVar of 1812, and 
 died June 19, 1873. His wife survived him three 
 years. Of their twelve children seven are now liv- 
 ing. Mrs. Tyler was their sixth child, and was 
 born August 11, 1828 at Randolph, N. Y., where 
 she grew to womanhood and was given by her par- 
 
 ents a good education. Mr. Hitchcock was a Dea- 
 con in the Baptist Ciiurch, in the affairs of which 
 both he and his wife were deeply interested. Local 
 schools found in him a warm friend and promoter. 
 Being a pioneer in Cattaraugus County, and a man 
 of pronounced views and life, in temperance and 
 in religion he carried great influence, and was al- 
 ways a prominent man in the neighborhood. He 
 brought up a fine famil}' of children, sending his 
 youngest son into tlie array during the Civil War. 
 This son, Alvin, died during the war from disease 
 incurred while in the service. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Tyler have been blessed by the 
 birth of four children : Adeline C born January 
 15, 1861, is the wife of 'John Rossman, and is liv- 
 ing in Belding; Otis D., born September 28, 1862, 
 has married Alta Tenney; they live on section 24. 
 William I., born January 31, 1865, is a practicing 
 physician at Niles, Mich.; Mary Elizabeth, born 
 January 22, 1867, was at her death in the freshness 
 of j'outli, and the center of a large circle of loving 
 friend. She was just entering upon tlie tiireshold 
 of young womanhood, crowned with all the graces 
 that well adorned that period of life, and well-fitled 
 in head and heart to take up the duties of life, and 
 discharged them in no ordinary manner. She was 
 graduated from Portland High School in the Class 
 of '85, and was soon employed as teacher in the 
 grammar department until failmg health compelled 
 her to give up her chosen and loved profession. 
 She was one of those rare characters whose sweet 
 intluence and nobility, coupled with natural and 
 acquired culture and attainments, leaves its impress 
 upon all who come in contact with it. She united 
 with the Baptist Church in February, 1884. Her 
 faith was pure and holy, such as is productive of 
 the works which are an index to the outward world 
 of an inward and si)iritual grace. Her influence 
 was of that subtle, magnetic kind,which draws asso- 
 ciates to its possessor, and she used this God-given 
 gift to impress upon her young friends the ines- 
 timable riches of the grace of her Saviour. The lamp 
 of hope burned brightly and never flickered until 
 within one week of the end, when she realized that 
 her time was near at hand. Then she clearly ex- 
 emjjlified the hope within her, and leaving the cir- 
 cle of dear sorrowing friends, entered into the pos- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 361 
 
 session of her eternal reward. She sleeps in the 
 cemetery at Portland, but her memory lives in the 
 hearts of all who knew her. 
 
 '•Blessed is it for her to sleep; 
 Can it be wrong for us to weep? 
 We who loved her so well and knew 
 All llic worth of her loving too, 
 And jiatience sweet. 
 
 "Happy Mary! would tiial we 
 Might share the myster}- 
 Of the beyond, where a thonghir of sin 
 Never, O never, can enter in 
 Through eternity." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Tyler are both members of tiie 
 Baptist Church, in which !ie has been a Deacon for 
 fifty years. They are both deeply interested in 
 Sunday-school work, and are active in this line. 
 The subject of this sketch is one of the two men 
 now living of all those who helped to organize Or- 
 ange Townsliip. He has for years been a Highway 
 Commissioner and Director of Schools. He now 
 has one hundred and sixty-five acres of land, most 
 which is under cultivation. He carries on the farm 
 work himself, and practices mixed farming. All 
 the buildings have been put up bj' liimself. He 
 has long been a member of the Republican party, 
 and prominent as a temperance man. He joined 
 the first temperance society organized in Living- 
 ston County, N. Y., and his wife is a member of 
 the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. 
 
 ATHIAS BILLINGER, residing on section 
 14, Keene Township, Ionia County, is a 
 native of Austria, the date of his birth 
 being 18.58. He is a son of Ignace G. 
 and Anne Billinger, residents of Keene Township. 
 When about lliirteen years ohl he began to serve 
 an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade and 
 after three years of this service he set up for him- 
 self. He has a fine shop, located on section 14, 
 Keene Township, wliicli is in a two-story frame 
 building 24x40 feet in <limensions. This house he 
 put up in the spring of 1888, but had carried on 
 the business for some three years previous in a less 
 
 commodious establishment. He handles wagon 
 work, horse-shoeing and repairing besides general 
 blacksmithing. 
 
 Our subject came from Km met Count}', Mich., 
 to Ionia County, in 188.'3. His wife was Catherine, 
 daughter of Jacob and Apalonc (Kuhn) of Keene 
 Township. By their union there have i)een born 
 two children, Clara, born November 7, 1885, and 
 Joseph, June 17, 1887. Forty acres of excellent 
 land surround the home and shop of our subject. 
 He received an excellent education in (Jermany 
 and also in this country after coming here. He is 
 a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. 
 Biliinger, is meeting with goo<l success financially, 
 doing about ^1,000 worth of work each year and 
 is classed among the substantial, honest and intel- 
 ligent German-American citizens of the township. 
 He is A No. 1 mechanic and his work gives good 
 satisfaction, as his rural neighbors will confidently' 
 attest. The lower part of his shop is devoted to 
 the iron and wood-working department and the 
 upper floor is set aside as a p.iint shop. Ho enjoj's 
 the confidence of the business community and liis 
 word is everywhere considereil as good as his 
 bond. 
 
 of this BioGRArmOAL Albusi pleasure to 
 incorporate in its pages an account of the 
 ^) chief incidents in tlie life of the above- 
 named citizen of Ionia Count}'. He is especially 
 prominent among the .agriculturists of Easlon 
 Township, having a fine farm on section 2, from 
 the cultivation of which he has a good maintenance. 
 The estate comprises eighty acres of well-tilled 
 land, whereon are to be seen the buildings usuall}' 
 put up by men of enterprise and judgment, and 
 the garden plat and orcliards that belong to a really 
 goo<l farm. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Samuel and Sal- 
 lie (ChiMs) Gould, natives of Connecticut and 
 New York respectivel}', and tlie father w.as a mem- 
 ber of the American navy during the War of 1812. 
 Their home was in Orleans County, N. Y., where 
 Reuben w.as born, August 14, 1820, and when he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was seven years old they migrated to Monroe 
 County, this State. This was in 1836, when that 
 section was comparatively unknown to settlers and 
 was still the haunt of Indians. There he of whom 
 we write remained until 18G4, conning his lessons 
 in the district school, and finally learning the trade 
 of wagon and carriage making. The handicraft of 
 Mr. Gould was mastered by him and followed un- 
 til late in the '70s, he being in business for himself 
 eight years in the city of Ionia. He came to the 
 county in 18G4 and about 1878 settled upon his 
 farm. 
 
 On December 27, 18G5, Mr. Gould was married 
 to Miss Adifj' Holly, an estimable lady who was 
 born in Wyoming County, N. Y., August 22, 1841, 
 to John and Lucretia (Gibson) Holly. She was 
 bereft of her mother when but six years old. She 
 grew to maturity in her native State and was en- 
 gaged in teaching for a few years. She is a woman 
 of keen intelligence, generous hospitality and kind- 
 ness of heart and has made many friends in her 
 Michigan home, as she had in the East. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Gould have four living children — Ellis W., 
 Harry J., Luella E. and Mabel A. — and lost their 
 first born, Elbert C. 
 
 In former years Mr. Gould was connected with 
 the Masonic order. His political belief is expressed 
 in the platform of the Republican part}', and he is 
 an unfailing supporter of its candidates. Ilis per- 
 sonal character is that of an honest, earnest and 
 energetic man. whose work has been systematically 
 carried on and who received from his 'acquaintan- 
 ces the meed of respect. In his labors he has been 
 aided bj' his true-hearted wife, whose counsel and 
 symp.athy are apjjreciated by him, as well as the 
 comforts with which she supplies the home. 
 
 OSCAR GOOLTIIRITE. This gentleman is 
 owner and occupant of one of the well-de- 
 veloped farms of Montcalm County, pleas- 
 antly located in Bloomer Township. The farm 
 consists of one hundred and ninety acres, a large 
 part of which has been cleared by the personal 
 exertions of our subject, who has also removed the 
 
 stumps and stones and placed the land under ex- 
 cellent tillage. He has replaced the log buildings 
 that once st0( d here by substantial frame struc- 
 tures, and has a good bearing orchard, and a sugar 
 grove of five hundred trees, from which fifteen 
 hundred to eighteen hundred pounds of sugar are 
 annually produced. Mr. Goolthrite bought this 
 property in 1875, at which time there was about 
 fifty acres cleared. He completed the work neces- 
 sary to bring the ground under subjection and 
 within three years had put up a good barn and in 
 1882 built his present residence. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Orin and Susan 
 (Covey) Goolthrite, who were natives of the Empire 
 State, and in St. Lawrence Count}' the son was 
 born March 28, 1829. The father was a farmer 
 and the boyhood of our subject was passed amid 
 the surroundings common to farm-life in any part 
 of the country that is well settled. His education 
 was confined to that which could be obtained in 
 the common schools during the winter months and 
 prior to his sixteenth year. He was away from 
 home most of the time after he was fifteen, working 
 out for his own support. After his marriage, which 
 occurred when he was .about twenty-four years old, 
 he established a home, and about four j-ears later 
 he removed to this State. 
 
 Mr. Goolthrite located in Hubbardston, Ionia 
 County, and lived there a year and a half engaged 
 in milling. Thence he went to North Plains Cen- 
 ter, and turned his attention to farming, and from 
 that point he came to his present location. He has 
 been industrious and hard woiking, as is shown bj' 
 his having cleared so much land, and he operates 
 his farm according to approved methods, and keeps 
 upon it good stock. 
 
 In March, 1853, Mr. Goolthrite was married to 
 Lenora Townsend and the union resulted in tiie birth 
 of two children — Byron, born May 13, 1855, and 
 Frances, born .lanuary 15, 1860. Both are married 
 and living in homes of their own. Byron wedded 
 Lucy Holmes formerly of Clinton County, and Fran- 
 ces married Eli Boyer. The wife and mother died in 
 Ma}', 1861, and after living a widower until April 
 5, 1864, Mr. Goolthrite was again married. Ilis pres- 
 ent wife is a native of New York and bore the 
 maiden name of Drusilla De Long. They have 
 
'$'y 
 
 'vCilu.^A^Ay 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL AI;BUM. 
 
 365 
 
 soTsn living children and lost one in its infanc}'. 
 The suryivors are Evelyn, born May 10, 1865; 
 James Clinton, November 14, 1867; Clarence E., 
 November 17,1869; Vernon, May 3, 1870; Joseph, 
 February 28, 1874; Robert, September 12, 1877; 
 Carrie L.. Jantiar}- 30, 1881. Eva is now tlie wife 
 of William Kreighbaiim and lives in Clinton County ; 
 Eugene married Jennie Einney, and they too live in 
 Clinton County. 
 
 In his political views Mv. Gooltiirite is a stanch 
 Republican. He takes an active part in educational 
 matters and does all that he can to give his family' 
 good advantages. He is not an office seeker, but 
 pursues the even tenor of his way, devoting his 
 attention to the im|)roveraent of his own finances, 
 the enjoyment of domestic life, and the social |)leas- 
 ures that all respected citizens enjoy. 
 
 '^-+^r^C ^ I I * 
 
 ILLIAM NOAH. The life of a farmer, 
 r^jg although ofttimes presenting no salient 
 
 features to the biographical writer, being 
 unmarked by anj' event differing from those which 
 commonly fall to the lot of mankind, is yet one of 
 interest in its bearing on socict}', business and morals. 
 No where is there a better field for the exercise of 
 the best qualities of manhood than in agricultural 
 communities, where not only thoughts but deeds 
 are interchanged, and the brotherhood of man is a 
 prominent feature. Among those who in Mont- 
 calm County have been worthil}' filling a place 
 among the farmers is William Noah, whose home 
 is in Sidney Township. His portrait is presented on 
 the opposite page and in the accompanying para- 
 graphs we record for the perusal of the present and 
 future generations the main events in his life. 
 
 Mr. Noah was born in Portage County, Ohio, 
 August 14, 1831, and is the son of Joshua V. and 
 Ruth (Fox) Noah. His early life was spent on the 
 farm in Ohio, but he afterwaid learned the carpen- 
 ter's trade with liis father. His educational advan- 
 tages were very limited as he was not so situated 
 as to avail himself of anj-tiiing above the common 
 schools. He came to Montcalm County-, Mich., in 
 
 1856, and settling in Sidney Township bought his 
 first acre of land. He cleared this of timber and sell- 
 ing the logs got money euougii to buy more acres; 
 thus he proceeded, clearing, selling and buying 
 more land until he controlled a large tract. He 
 thus earned his farm without running in debt and 
 preserved himself from the perils which befell so 
 many who had contracted for proiJcrt}- upon which 
 they were never able to complete the payments. 
 All the money which he obtained from his lumber 
 he turned into land. His only other means of 
 gaining money was by making shingles; he shaved 
 and hauled them to market, selling them there at 
 the not very profitable price of from seventy-five 
 cents to ^1.75 per thousand. He continued to work 
 in this w.ay during the first ten years of his life in 
 Slonlcalm Count}'. 
 
 The year after he reached his majority and while 
 still residing in Ohio, an event of great importance 
 took place in the life of our subject. December 
 18, 1853, he was united in marriage with Hannah 
 Goble. She was the mother of nine children: 
 George E., born October 31, 1854; Asher R., No- 
 vember 13, 1855; Kulh, April 18, 1858; Mary M., 
 August 2, 1860; Ellen L., November 11, 18G2; 
 Rosa L., May 4, 1868; William U., March 8, 1870; 
 Cora E., January 1, 1873, and Amy 15., November 
 12,1879. The mother died March 21, 1882, at 
 Sidnc}' Center. Mr. Noah afterward contracted a 
 second marriage August 14, 1883, taking as his 
 wife Rhobie Leonard, of Ohio. No children were 
 born of this marriage. 
 
 In the early days of the Civil War Mr. Noah 
 felt that his duty kept him at home, although his 
 patriotic desire led him to join the army. In 1864 
 lie could no longer withstand the pressure of the 
 needs of the country and enlisted in Companj- I), 
 Twenty-first Michigan Infantr}-. which was re- 
 cruited in Fairplains Township. He was sent with 
 his company to Kentucky, Tennessee. Alabama and 
 Virginia, and was with Gen. Sherman in his famous 
 marc^l from Atlanta to the sea. The only imjjor- 
 tant engagement in which they took part after the 
 expedition with Gen. Sherman was at Hentonville, 
 in March, 1865, about three weeks before the sur- 
 render of Lee. In that battle he was seriously 
 wounded, so ihat his right arm was necessarily 
 
866 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 amputated. He was mustered out of service in 
 Detroit July 18, 1865. 
 
 The subject of this sketch has always taken an 
 actlTe part in politics. He was in his early life a 
 Democrat by conviction, but since the war he has 
 belonged to the Republican party. He has held 
 the office of Supervisor for two years and Town 
 Treasurer for ten years and has filled many other 
 lesser offices at various periods. He has been at times 
 engaged in the lumbering business. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Congregational Church and his influence 
 and efficiency in that connection are highly prized 
 by his friends and neighbors. 
 
 >.^=«Sr* 
 
 ENRY W. BANCROFT is an old settler 
 in Montcalm County and a war veteran. 
 He holds the position of Postmaster at 
 Vestaburg, and also runs an excellent bus- 
 iness in the grocery line. Both his father and 
 grandfather were residents of Saratoga County, and 
 the grandfather was active in the War of 1812. 
 They belonged to a branch of the same family as 
 the historian, George Bancroft. The father of our 
 subject was both teacher and shoemaker. When 
 he taught in the old log schoolhouses he used to 
 keep his kit where he boarded and make shoes in 
 the evenings. He was also master of the cooper's 
 trade. In 1847 he removed to Williams County, 
 Ohio, and began farming. His house was burned 
 and they had a hard time of it. Later he removed 
 to Fulton County, Oliio, where he was elected 
 Township Clerk. He died July 21, 1861. In his 
 religious preferences he was a member of the 
 United Brethren Church and in the days before 
 the war was known as an Abolitionist. 
 
 The mother of our subject bore the maiden 
 name of Sarah J. Wilbur. Her father was born in 
 Scotland but coming to America worked on a farm 
 in New York, and in 1847 came to Ohio where he 
 died in 1857. This family were Presbyterians in 
 their belief. The mother still resides in Henry 
 County, Ohio. 
 
 Mr. Bancroft is the eldest son of his parents and 
 
 was born at Ballston Springs. Sar.atoga County, 
 N. Y., August 9, 1846. Coming to Ohio when one 
 year old he was reared on a farm and took his 
 course of study in the district schools with a log 
 slab for a desk. He early went to work on the farm 
 and in the saw mills. The family was strong in 
 their Abolition sentiments and he was an ardent ad- 
 vocate of the merits of Abraham Lincoln when 
 first nominated for the Presidency, training with 
 the Wide-Awakes of Toledo, during the campaign. 
 
 When only fifteen years old he enlisted in Feb- 
 ruary, 1862, in the Eighty-sixth Infantry, in Com- 
 pany E, which entered tlie service for one 3'ear. He 
 was mustered in at Cleveland and took part in the 
 battles of Wild Cat, Ky., Cumberland Gap, and at 
 Powell's River, at which place he was knocked 
 down bj' a stroke from a gun stock, and was cap- 
 tured with the rest of his company by rebel sol- 
 diers under Longstreet. Fortunately, however, the 
 company was retaken the same daj' by Union 
 troops. He was, however, laid up bj' the hurt he 
 received for three weeks, but was out again in 
 time for the Morgan raid, and took part in the bat- 
 tle of Eaglesport. 
 
 Our young hero was mustered out of service 
 with an honorable discharge in February, 1863, at 
 Columbus, Ohio. He remained at home until Aug- 
 ust, 1863, when he again enlisted in Company K, 
 Sixty-Sixth Ohio Infantry. He took part in the 
 battle of Chattanooga. During the Georgia Cam- 
 paign he went to Atlanta, then joined in the march 
 to the sea and afterward returned to Raleigh, N. C. 
 He was also in the battles of Goldsboro and Ben- 
 tonville. He took part in the Grand Review at 
 Washington and was mustered out at Columhus, 
 Ohio, June, 1865. During the war his foot was 
 crushed b}' a cannon running over it. His clothes 
 and hat have many times been pierced witii bullets, 
 but he was spared. 
 
 When released from military service Mr. Ban- 
 croft went into tlie employ of the Lake Shore & 
 Michigan Southern Railroad, but in 1869 he left 
 them for the Ft. AVayne & Jackson Road, with 
 whom he remained until the death of his wife. He 
 then decided to go West and in 1871 he visited 
 Nebraska. In 1872 he came to Michigan and lo- 
 cated at Coral, this county, and was employed in a 
 
 4 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 8G7 
 
 mill. In 1873 he went back lo Ohio wliere he was 
 married again and came to Eureka Townsliip, 
 Montfalm County, and located on forty acres on 
 scftion 111. In 1880 he sold this farm and re- 
 moved to Neligli, Antelope County, Neb., where 
 he homcsteaded one hundred and sixty acres and 
 tree claimed one hundred and sixty. He remained 
 six months and not wishing to be longer detained 
 tliere he sold his claims and returned to Michigan 
 where he engaged in farming and in dealing in 
 land until April 11, 1889, when he was appointed 
 Postmaster. He then started a grocery and pro- 
 vision line and is doing a successful business. His 
 first mairiage took place in Green Springs, Ohio. 
 He was then united with Elizabeth Sheer. She died 
 in Indiana leaving two children — Dora and Caro- 
 line. His second wife who bore the name of Eme- 
 line Guyman, and to whom he was united in 
 Pulton County, Ohio, in 1873, was the mother of 
 two children — Edna and Thurza. Mr. Bancroft 
 h.as been Commissioner of Highways for three years, 
 a member of the School Board for two years; and 
 belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Pellows, 
 and liie Knights of The Maccabees. His wife is a 
 warm-hearted Christian and a communicant of the 
 Baptist Church. Mr. Bancroft is proud to say that 
 he votes the w.ay he shot, for the Republican 
 party. 
 
 — ^m- — 
 
 Jl OHN W. KIRTLAND, M. D.,of Lake View, 
 Montcalm County, was born in Lodi, Tomp- 
 kins County, N. Y., December 5, 1845. He 
 is a son of Horace L. and Sarah E. (Jewell) 
 Kirtland, natives of Connecticut and Vermont 
 respectively. They were married in Chenango 
 County, N. Y., but later took up their residence in 
 Tompkins County, and in the fall of 1856 removed 
 to Springport, Jackson County, Mich. Here they 
 lived until the fall of 1861, at which time they re- 
 moved to Calhoun County. There Mrs. Kirtland 
 died, and the father is now living in Lake Xicyr 
 with our subject. He was a farmer all his life until 
 of late years. His departed wife was a member of 
 the Presbyterian Church, but he has been a mem- 
 ber and Class-Leader in the Methodist Episcopal 
 
 ^- 
 
 Church for many years. He is a Democrat in pol- 
 itics. He has been the father of four children, of 
 whom our subject is the eldest. 
 
 Dr. Kirtland's earl}- years were si)enton the farm 
 in .lack.son and Calhoun Counties, Mich. Here he 
 received a conimonschool education. In the fall 
 of 1861 he began reading medicine with Drs. P>ris- 
 tol and Bucknum, of Parma, Jackson County. Sub- 
 secjuenlly he took a course in and was graduated 
 from the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago. 
 He took his di|)loma in 18G7, and at once located at 
 Hillsdale. Here he piacticed for one year and then 
 engaged in the mercantile business in Battle Creek. 
 He continued there until 1878 when he came to 
 Lake View, where he has since that time been en 
 gaged in the practice of his profession. He has 
 also carried on the drug business, being the pro- 
 prietor of the Central drug store. He is one of tlie 
 leading practitioners of Montcalm County. In 1884 
 he took a special course of lectures at Hahnemann 
 College. 
 
 This gentleman has taken the Knight Tcm|)lar 
 degree in masonry, and is connected with both the 
 Indei)cndentOrder of Odd Fellows and the Knigiits 
 of the Maccabees. He votes with the Democratic 
 party. He has held most of the vill.age offices and 
 is now President of the Village Board of Educa- 
 tion. His marriage with .Sarah E., daughter of 
 Addison and Sarah S. Comstoek, of Adrian, Mich., 
 has been a happy one. They were united January 
 8, 1868, and have been blessed with four children, 
 namely: Ednah A., Addison L., W. Dcane and 
 John W. Dr. Kirtland started in life emi)ty 
 handed, and has acMjuired a fine property and a 
 comfortable independence by push and economy. 
 
 INFIELD S. BARNARD. A cursory view 
 •,n.j« of the streets of Lyons, Ionia County, 
 is sufficient to indicate the thrift and 
 energy of its business men, and denote quite plainly 
 the relative merits of their establishments. The 
 orderly arrangement of goods, the neatness of the 
 premises and tlie air of bustle and stir that charac- 
 terixe some of them are sure indications of pros- 
 
368 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 perity and financial skill, while the opposite is true 
 of other places. The subject of this biographical 
 notice is at the head of an establishment where 
 clocks, watches, jewelry-, stationery, books and 
 notions are sold. His home and store are in a sub- 
 stantial building erected by him on the corner of 
 South Bridge and St. John Streets, the structure 
 being 20x70, well arranged and fitted up. 
 
 The parents of Mr. Barnard were Samuel and 
 Eveline (Kilbourn) Bariuud, natives of Jefferson 
 County, N. Y., their birthplaces being North Adams 
 and Lafargeville. The father was a harnessmaker, 
 and at his trade he worked until long after he came 
 to Michigan. He removed in 1845 and first loca- 
 ted in Almont, Lapeer County, later making his 
 home at Campbell's Corners, Oakland County. In 
 1855 he came to Ionia County and settled in the 
 county scat, but from it went to Lowell, Kent 
 County, and thence to Frankford, Benzie County. 
 At that place he engaged in the grocery business, 
 and in the same he was busied at Sherman, Wex- 
 ford County, a little later. At the latter place he 
 also sold jewelry, and that was his permanent resi- 
 dence, his death taking place there in 1884. The 
 widowed mother now lives with her children, of 
 whom three are living: James, AVinfield S. and 
 Martin W. Caroline, formerly Mrs. Beck, died in 
 1872. 
 
 In Jefferson County, N. Y., July 4, 1839, the 
 subject of this sketch was born. He received his 
 education principally at Lowell, tiiis State, and 
 when of proper age learned the trade of a harness- 
 maker with bis father. He came to Lyons in 1860 
 and carried on business sis 3'ears, buying a shop 
 on Main Street, but finally selling it and going to 
 Wisconsin, where he remained a year. He then 
 returned to Lyons and began the sale of books and 
 stationer^' in connection with newspapers and pe- 
 riodicals, at length adding jewelr}' and other arti- 
 cles to his stock in trade. He is reaping a due 
 reward for his efforts in business, and is numbered 
 among the prominent men of the place. The mar- 
 riage of Mr. Barnard and Miss Lydia Coon, daugh- 
 ter of Abel and Maria (Withe3') Coon, natives of 
 New York, took place in Lyons, Ohio, October 30, 
 1865. The father of Mrs. Barnard was born in 
 Saratoga County, in 1789, and died in Lyons, Jhis 
 
 iState, in 1870. He had been engaged in farming 
 in Allegany County, N. Y., until quite midde-aged 
 and he then came West. Jlrs. Coon died in 1834; 
 she was born in Bethany, Genesee Count}'. Of the 
 seven children born to the good couple the only 
 survivors are: Mrs. Barnard; and Mrs. Alfred 
 Brac3', of Clare County. 
 
 Mr. Barnard is a believer in the political princi- 
 ples advanced by the Republican party, and depos- 
 its a corresponding ballot on ever}' election daj'. 
 Of the social orders he is identified with the Royal 
 Templars. He and his estimable wife have many 
 friends in and about their .adopted town and their 
 reputation is excellent. 
 
 ENRY J. CHENEY is one of the live men 
 of the town of Ionia, Ionia County, and one 
 of its very best citizens. He was born in 
 Genesee County, N. Y., February 24, 1832, 
 and is a son of Elisha P. and Fannj* (Pierson) Che- 
 ney, natives of New York. Elijah Cheney, the 
 grandfather of our subject, was living in Genesee 
 County, N. Y., when the War of 1812 was declared, 
 and served in the army during that time. In 1874 
 Elisha P. Cheney and his wife came to Michigan 
 and located in Easton Township. Of their nine 
 children six are now living: Orson lives at Lud- 
 ington, Mich., and carries on farming; Uz is living 
 in Iowa; Jane, the wife of Harvey Rice, lives at 
 Stanton, Montcalm County; Ann is at home; 
 Mercy, the widow of James McCue, resides at Bur- 
 lington, Iowa. 
 
 Henry J. Cheney was reared to farming pursuits, 
 in which he continued until 1880. His first farm 
 was in Montcalm County. This he opened up when 
 a young man. He married Jane Hubbell, a daugh- 
 ter of Alonzo Hubbell, January 9, 1858. He was 
 taken with the Western fever, and in 1860 went to 
 California and for three and one-half years engaged 
 quite successfully in mining. He, however, became 
 satisfied that Michigan was the best home for him, 
 and returning, he bought a farm in Easton Town- 
 ship, which he carried on for eleven years. He 
 then purchased in Ionia Township, a farm which he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BFOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 369 
 
 still owns. He lived in Edmorefor one year when 
 it w.as just started, and kept a boarding house. This 
 house he exchanged for property in Ionia, and dur- 
 ing the year he did well and cleared his property, 
 by trading and sale of town lots, being very suc- 
 cessful in the real estate business. In 1880, he 
 entered into a business connection with his brother- 
 in-law, Henry F. IlubboU, with whom he has ever 
 since been engaged in handling agricultural nia- 
 cbiuery. He is a Deacon in the Church of Christ, 
 with which he united in 1864. He does his full 
 share toward the maintenance and prosecution of 
 church work, being one of its most liberal members. 
 He is a Republican in politics, and one who uses 
 bis inlluence in the community to elevate its stand- 
 ard in every way. He is full of good works, giv- 
 ing largely in the direction of many charities. 
 
 -^^C 
 
 j^^TEI'HEN IIAIGHT. One who wished to 
 ^^^ be thoroughly informed regarding the ex- 
 l«0|) psriences of those who established their 
 homes in an almost trackless wilderness 
 and, far from friends or neighbors, look up the 
 work of reclaiming wild land and fitting it for the 
 abode of civilized man, could have their questions 
 well answered by Stephen Ilaight. He has lived 
 in Ionia County since 1841, when a lad of ten 
 years he accompanied his pnrents hither. Odessa 
 Township was but a wilderness then, roamed over 
 by wild animals and savage looking Indians. It has 
 fallen to the lot of our subject to see the country 
 transformed into a region where fertile farms, com- 
 fortable dwellings, substantial sehuolhouses and 
 churches are almost innumerable, and thriving vil- 
 lages are counted by the score. He has aided in 
 bringing about this result, and is now taking part 
 in the progress of Lake Odessa. 
 
 The parents of Stephen Ilaight were Reuben and 
 Sally A. (Ilight) Ilaight. The father was l)orn in 
 Pennsylvania and was of German descent. The 
 mother was a native of New York and descended 
 from an English family. They lived in Steuben 
 County, N. Y., a number of years and left their 
 farm there to establish a home in this State in 
 
 1834. They bought land in Livingston County, 
 remaining there until 1841, and during the period 
 of their residence Mr. Ilaight cleared quite an 
 acreage. Thence he came to Ionia County and 
 bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 35, 
 Odessa Township. There were but two or three 
 families in the township, and he was obliged to go 
 twelve miles for help to raise bis log house, the 
 country was so thinly settled. The money expended 
 on the dwelling did not exceed $2, and the items 
 for which this was spent was two sawed l)oards, two 
 pounds of nails and glass for two small windows. 
 
 As soon as his family had taken possession of the 
 rude dwelling Mr. Ilaight began the arduous task 
 of chopping aiul logging. He had brought six sheep 
 with him and he was obliged to build a high-fence 
 pen close to the house in order to keep the wolves 
 from devouring them. The lleece from these sheep 
 was made into Sunday clothes for the family each 
 year, the various processes by which wool became 
 cloth being perfornieil by the mother. The house 
 was for a long time used for religious services, the 
 people coming with ox- teams and sleds, even in 
 the summer, there being no wagons in the country. 
 Distance proved no impediment to the pioneers, as 
 they were glad to meet their friends and enjoy wor- 
 ship together. 
 
 One cold wintry night about nine o'clock an In- 
 dian came to Mr. Haight's door with such clothing 
 as he wore torn in shreds, and nothing left of his 
 gun but the barrel. He had had a hard fight with 
 a bear, such animals and wolves also being numer- 
 ous, and the latter making night hideous with their 
 howls. The nearest store was at Hastings, in Barry 
 County, seventeen miles distant from Mr. Haight's 
 dwelling. He worked hard and succeeded iu clear- 
 ing and improving about ninety acres of land ere 
 he was compelled to cease from toil. In 18C1 con- 
 sumption laid him low, and in December, 18G2, he 
 was called to his final rest. He had gotten his farm 
 well slocked, having among other animals a large 
 Hock of sheep. He and his wife, who had preceded 
 him to the better land about ten years, belonged 
 to the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had 
 seven children, three of whom still live: Amanda, 
 wife of Milo Wheeler, living in Hastings, Barry 
 County; Stephen, our subject; David, a resident of 
 
370 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Woodland Center, Barry County. Two of the de- 
 ceased — William N. and Harvey— died in the army. 
 The birlhplacc of Stephen Haight was Steuben 
 Cuunty, N. Y., and his natal day February 8, 1831. 
 He was three years old when his parents came to 
 this Slate, and in Livingston County he acquired a 
 limited education in the log schoolhouse of the dis- 
 trict. After his parents came to Ionia County he 
 aided his father more and more each year as he 
 grew to manhood. When of age he went to Port- 
 land and hired out with a carpenter and joiner for 
 a year in order to learn the trade. When the time 
 had expired he came to Odessa Township and en- 
 tered the employ of E. Cramer, with whom he 
 worked three years. He then followed the trade 
 for himself in the surrounding country until 18G4, 
 when he enlisted in Company E, Third Michigan 
 Infantry, and served fourteen months. During 
 that time hetook part in a five days' engagement 
 at Decatur, Ala., and the second battle at Stone 
 River. Being taken sick he was sent to Cumber- 
 land Hospital, at Nashville, where he remained 
 about two months and then came home on a thirty 
 days' furlough. He was ordered to report at De- 
 troit, where he was honorably discharged October 
 G, 18G5. 
 
 Mr. Haight was living in Woodland Center, Barry 
 County, when he enlisted, and thiliicr he returned 
 and took up the implements of his trade. Through 
 exposure while in the army he had contracted the 
 rheumatism, which soon incapacitated him for car- 
 penter's work, anil he therefore built a shop and 
 bean making coffins. It had been the custom to 
 order them as they were needed, but he made them 
 in advance. It may be of interest to some of our 
 readers to give this incident as an example of the 
 customs of the early days. The first coffin made 
 by Mr. Haight was ordered for a man who liad 
 fallen from a scaffold and broken his neck. Black 
 walnut boards were nailed together, and when the 
 rough box was finished it was taken by Mr. Haight 
 to the house, the corpse placed within and the lid 
 nailed on. 
 
 Mr. Haight has followed undertaking since that 
 time in Woodland Center, where he still owns an 
 establishment. In 1884 he came to Saranac and 
 bought a store which, in 1886, he disposed of to 
 
 resume the care of his place at Woodland. After 
 two years longer in that town he left his brother in 
 charge of the establishment and came to Lake 
 Odessa, which was just starting into life and which 
 was a convenient locality for him, as his trade was 
 largely in this section. Here he formed a partner- 
 ship with George A. Weed and put up the first 
 store building in the village, filling it with a stock 
 of furniture and undertaking goods. In the spring 
 of 1890 he sold out his interest in the furniture de- 
 partment and assumed entire control of the other. 
 
 When Mr. Haight was twelve years old he killed 
 his first deer, and from that time to the present he 
 has found great enjoyment in hunting. For more 
 than a score of years he has been in the habit of 
 taking a trip lo the North where hunting is better 
 than in this well-settled region. He has killed deer 
 on the site of the village in which he lives. Polit- 
 ically Mr. Haight is a Democrat, and socially a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic lodge and Grand Array post. 
 He has been Justice of the Peace about fourteen 
 years, and Road Commissioner several times, and is 
 at present Township Treasurer. For his personal 
 worth and the interest he has shown in the welfare 
 of his fellow-men he is held in good repute. 
 
 The marriage of Stephen Haight and Maigaret 
 JM. George was solemnized December 25, 1861. To 
 them were born two children, one of whom is now 
 living, namely, Dora B., wife of Otis Miner. Mrs. 
 Haight is a woman of great kindness of heart, effi- 
 cient in householil affairs, and well esteemed by 
 by her acquaintances. 
 
 AVID W. MYEKS is the prosperous owner 
 '" of a fine farm and a beautiful home on 
 section 27, North Plains Township, Ionia 
 County. His birthplace was in Perry 
 Township, Wyoming Countj-, N. Y., and he first 
 saw the light August 25, 1832. His father, James 
 Myers, a native of New York, and a farmer by oc- 
 cupation was born in 1781). He w.as twice married, 
 this son being the second child of the second union. 
 His first marriage which took place February 24, 
 1807, was with Mary DeWilt. To this mother were 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 371 
 
 I 
 
 born seven children, four daughters and thiee sons. 
 She w.is called from earth August 16, 1828. James 
 Myers was again married Seiileniber "20, 1829. This 
 wife, who is the mother of our subject, bore the 
 maiden name of Iluldali Wallace. She was born in 
 New York State April 28, 1798, and was the mother 
 of four children, two daughters and two sons. 
 
 The first schooling of j'oung David was in his 
 native place. The district school was .supi)lemenled 
 by the Perry Acadcni}' in Perry Village. After he 
 had finally crossed the threshold of the schoolroom 
 he engaged in farming in his native State until 
 18.59, wlien he came to Michigan, and located wiiere 
 he now resides, building a log house and going 
 to housekeeping witli his married sister at the head 
 of his houseiiold affairs. But in 1862 he decided 
 to establish his own real home, and on June 22 he 
 was united in marriage to Mary A. Macomber, a 
 lady who was born in Livingston Connty, N. Y. in 
 1835. Their only child Rliyan, was taken from 
 them in early infancy, and the young mother soon 
 followed her little son to the other worhl. 
 
 The second marriage of our subject look place 
 .lune 29, 1867, and he chose his wife from the same 
 family as before. His bride was Rebecca J., a sis- 
 ter of his first wife, who w.as born in New York in 
 18;59, and came to Michigan when a young girl of 
 fourteen years. Four children were sent to this 
 happ3' home: Grace (deceased). Dean W., Ralph 
 ^L and lUanche E. 
 
 ^Ir. Myers carries on a general farming business, 
 and has two hundreil and twenty acres of excellent 
 land in a fine condition. His present residence was 
 erected in 1885, at a cost of *3,000. This hand- 
 some two-story house will alwaj-s be an elegant re- 
 minder of the prinreval forests of Michigan, as it is 
 ;dl built from wood cut on the farm, the inside 
 work being liighl}- finished in the natural wood, 
 and an example of the beauties of the lumber of 
 Michigan. The first vote of this intelligent citi- 
 zen of Ionia County, wns cast for John C. Fremont, 
 and he has always continued to vote the Hepublican 
 ticket until within the last six years. In 1881 his 
 interest in the temperance question led hira to join 
 the Prohibition parly. He voted for St. John 
 and was himself a candidate on the Prohibition 
 ticket for State Representative in 1888. He is an 
 
 earnest and devoted member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and a Trustee in the North Plains 
 Union Church. He has been Superintendent of 
 the ISunday-school, and is always a great worker in 
 church matters, being a liberal contributor to all 
 worthy objects. 
 
 NDREW J. GREENHOE is one of the 
 [Lm residents of Evergreen Township, Mont- 
 Ik calm County, who have made their way 
 up, step by step, from poverty and hard- 
 ship to prosperity- and honor. He was born in 
 Summit County. Ohio, December 17, 1839, and is 
 the son of John and Nancy (Wheeler) Greenhoe. 
 When a little child of less than fo\ir years old he 
 was deprived of a mother's care and his boyhood 
 was saddened by this affliction. His father emi- 
 grated to Michigan when this son was about six- 
 teen years of age, and they settled in Ionia County. 
 He took advantage of what few educational oppor- 
 tunities came in his way, but found them scanty 
 and poor. The home farm in Ionia Count}- was 
 hewed out of the forest. The father removed to 
 ]\Iontc.alm County in 1871, his son, our subject, 
 having made his home here since the beginning of 
 1867. 
 
 August 13, 18G1, saw this young man an enlisted 
 soldier in Company B., Sixteenth Michigan Infan- 
 try. He served in the army of the Potomac under 
 Gens. McClellan and Grant. The principal en- 
 gagements in which he took part were the seven 
 days on the Peninsula and the Wilderness and the 
 battles of Petersburg, Gettysburg and Fredericks- 
 burg. He was with Grant at tlic time of J>ee's sur- 
 render. He was nuisteied out of service with an 
 honorable discharge at JefTersonville, Ind., .Inly 
 8, 1865. Throuijliout all tlie war he escaped a 
 scar. 
 
 Mr. Greenhoe has always been a Democat, and 
 was such all through the war, being known by 
 the term so well understood in those days, a War 
 Democrat. He went into the army as a private 
 and came out as a commissioned officer, a Lieuten- 
 ant, having naade his way, step by step, by virtue 
 
372 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of bis faithfulness and braverj-. He is a member 
 of the Ciiurcli of the United Brethren. He has 
 held the offices of Clerk and Treasurer of the 
 Count}' for some time. His marriage, April 2, 
 1865, united him with Sophia Eave}% of Montcalm 
 County. The}' became the happy parents of two 
 children: Alice M., born July 5, 18GG, and Grace 
 T., November 27, 1875. Alice is now the wife 
 of Westly Greenhoe, of this county. Our subject 
 belongs to Tom Custer Post, No. 1 78, at Sheridan. 
 
 -^ 
 
 <* IVILLIAM H. HOWARD, a native of Avon, 
 \/\l// Livingston County, N. Y., is descended 
 W^ from good old British stock. His father, 
 Joseph Howard, a native of Buckinghamshire, 
 England, was born in 181.3, and was a workman in 
 a papermill. About 1833 he came to America, 
 spending a short time in Canada, then sojourning 
 for three years in Rochester, N. Y., but afterward 
 making his permanent home in Avon. His wife, 
 Janetta (Giles) Howard, was a native of Bath, 
 England, and was born in 1805. She came to 
 America on the same ship with her future husband 
 and thej' were married during their residence in 
 Canada. In July, 1842, the family left their New 
 York home for Michigan, and settled on section 
 35, Berlin Township, Ionia County. 
 
 The story of their removal is like many another 
 record of those early days. The household goods 
 and the family were loaded in one wagon and came 
 from Detroit by wheel, being over a week making 
 the trip from that village to Ionia County. Almost 
 all tiie way their rough corduro}- road lay through 
 dense woods. The father had secured eighty acres 
 of wild land, and for this he owed fully one-half. 
 He did not believe in beginning life in this new 
 country in debt, and soon induced the man of 
 whom he had purchased to take back half the land 
 thus relieving him from debt, and leaving him the 
 proud possessor of an unincumbered farm and $2 
 in cash. He was totally unused to the work of 
 clearing and farming in a rough country, for this 
 was very different from the agricultural work in 
 Livingston County, N. Y. A small man in stature, 
 
 he was nevertheless exceedingly energetic, but 
 notwithstanding both these qualifications the ague 
 put in a good work with him. During the first 
 year of his residence in his log shanty, he made 
 seventeen pounds of sugar, which was all the sugar 
 the family had that j-ear. To gain this amount of 
 sweetness lie carried maple sap in a bucket from his 
 trees to his house, eight}- rods and boiled it down. 
 
 In the spring of 1845 he had a cow but no feed 
 for it. He took a bag and crossed the river to 
 where the prison now stands, to get some rutabagas 
 from a man who had left some in the ground the 
 fall before. Mr. Howard dug througli three feet of 
 snow and found the roots all decayed. He was not 
 to be thus thwarted, so he went to the man's house 
 and begged from him enough hay to fill his sack. 
 Imagine his distress and disappointment when 
 upon reaching home he found his cow was dead. 
 But he skinned her and sold her hide to procure 
 provisions for his family. He was driven to such 
 extremities to provide food for his family that at 
 one time he took a bushel of millet across the river 
 to the mill. In returniutj home his team backed 
 off into the river and his sack of ground millet 
 went to the bottom. Fortunately he had with him 
 a rake and a rigorous notion of using it. He hooked 
 up the bag of millet, landed it in his wagon and 
 took it home. The unfortunate family were 
 obliged to make use of the meal, notwithstanding 
 its soaking. 
 
 Besides the forty acres which he cleared for him- 
 self, Mr. Howard logged forty acres for Lucius 
 Babcock, cleared twenty acres for his neighbor 
 Fuller, .and underbrushed ten acres for Alonzo 
 Sessions. He also added building to his industries, 
 erecting both a log and a frame house. He be- 
 lieved in raising fruit and planted six hundred 
 trees in an orchard. He added to his farm and had 
 one bundled acres all in a good state of cultiva- 
 tion before he died. He lost his first wife, April 
 19, 1871, and was again married in New York 
 State, where he spent his closing years and died in 
 June, 1889. He and his wives were members of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the affairs of 
 which he always took great interest, filling the 
 office of Steward and also of Class-Leader. He 
 was active in Sunday-school work, being a teacher 
 
RESIDENCE OF A. J RING.5EC-6. KELNE T P. , lor>JIA CO.,MICh, 
 
 RESIDENCE OF W. H . HO WARD , SEC . 35. B ERLl N TP , IONIA CO .,M ICH 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOURAPHIGAL ALBUM. 
 
 375 
 
 and taking his children to Ionia every Sunday to 
 Sunday-school, although the walk was quite a long 
 one. In local politics he took a great interest, 
 always voting the Republican ticket, and for years 
 he was a member of the School Board in this dis- 
 trict. His influence and example were always for 
 temperance in all things. 
 
 The mother of our subject deserves great credit 
 for the part she took in assisting her husband dur- 
 ing tlie trying days of their early settlement in 
 Michigan. She is remembered by many for her 
 kindness to the sick in the neighborhood and was 
 mourned b}' all when called to her final home. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Howard were the parents of three chil- 
 dren — Joseph B., Sarah E., now Mrs. William 
 Kneale, and William II. The last named and 
 youngest child, being born November 12, 1811, 
 was about eight months old when his parents came 
 to Michigan. He grew to maidiood amid the hard- 
 ships and experiences of frontier life, being famil- 
 iar from infancy with the many Indians who were 
 in the neighboriiood. lie saw this section in its 
 wildest state and has watched with interest its 
 development into its present highly cultured con- 
 dition. His schooling was in the log schoolhouse 
 in the oldest school district in the township and 
 later he attended the Ionia schools. All these ex- 
 periences had their iiitluence upon him, leading 
 him to become a man of self-reliance, independ- 
 ence, and intelligence. He stayed at home and 
 helped his father until his marri.ige. 
 
 I'pon July 20, 1871, he was united in marriage 
 with Helen L. fhitler, a daughter of Bennajah I{. 
 and Mariette (Washburn) Butler. She was a native 
 of Connecticut and he of New York. They were 
 married in Ohio in 1842 and resided there until 
 they came to Michigan in 1849, and there they set- 
 tled in Cascade Township, Kent County, upon a 
 wild piece of land. This they improved for eigh- 
 teen years and then sold. Thej- both died in the 
 year 1889. They were the parents of three chil- 
 dren — Mary J., born January 18, 1843, is deceased ; 
 Helen L., born February 22, 1845, is now Mrs. 
 Howard; Betsey P., born April 24, 1847. These 
 all received at the hands of their parents a good 
 education and have all of them been in turn school- 
 teachers of superior ability and successful experi- 
 
 ence. Mrs. Butler had been a school-teacher in her 
 youth. The father was a soldier in Company M, 
 Sixth Michigan Cavalry'. He served eighteen 
 months, after which he was so seriously injured as 
 to receive an honorable discharge. The parents 
 were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in which the father had been a Class-Leader. He 
 was in politics a strong Rei)ublican. 
 
 After marriage the subject of this sketcli settled 
 upon his home farm on section 35, where lie has 
 ever since lived. He now has one hundred and 
 seven acres, one hundred of which is under the 
 plow. He carries on mixed farming. On another 
 page appears a view of his present residence which 
 was built last summer. He and his estimable wife 
 have become the parents of seven children, six of 
 whom are now living — Burton J., born September 
 17, 1872; Clara M., October 19, 1874; Janetta E., 
 November 20, 187G; Fred B., September 1, 1879; 
 Hattie E. and Harry E. (twins) were born July 14, 
 1882. The second of these twins died August 16, 
 of the same j'ear. I'erry E., was born March 3, 
 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Howard are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church of Ionia in which he 
 is Steward. They are both deeply interested in tiie 
 Sundaj'-school, in which he is a teaclier having 
 charge of the senior Bible class. Mrs. Howard 
 tauglit sixteen terms, part of it in a graded school. 
 At their own home they prepare children for en- 
 trance to the Ionia schools. Mr. Howard has been 
 School Inspector, and takes a deep interest in poli- 
 tics, voting the Ive|iublican ticket. He is strictly 
 temperate never having drank liquor and sympa- 
 thizes earnestly with the tem[)erance movement. 
 
 ,,... RMON J. RING, a representative farmer 
 iOI and stock-raiser residing on section 6, 
 Keene Township, Ionia County, is a native 
 of Cuyalioga Counlj', Ohio, where he was 
 born March 15, 1841. He is the son of William 
 and Rhoda (Daniels) Ring, both New Yorkers, and 
 the former was a soldier in the War of 1812. In 
 1850, our subject then a boy, migrated with his 
 father's family to Ionia County, traveling with 
 
376 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 horses in a prairie schooner the entire distance over 
 mud roads and corduroy highways, camping out 
 at night in the wagon. 
 
 Three of the live cliildren born to William and 
 Hhoda Ring, are now living, namely : Edward, who 
 resides in Kent County, Mich.; Cyrus J., of Otisco 
 Township; and our subject. The father upon ar- 
 riving in Michigan, settled upon the farm where 
 our sul)ject now resides. He was one of the very 
 earliest settlers, and but little clearing had been 
 done here at the time. He found an old cabin 
 partly frame and partly log, about 14x18 feet in 
 size. Here they resided for several years until they 
 could build a better residence. The second home 
 was destroyed by fire. The father departed this 
 life September 18, 1886, aged ninety years and 
 eighteen days, iiaving been bereaved of his wife in 
 Au>rust, 1863. In his death the county lost one of 
 her best citizens and most worthy pioneers; the 
 Baptist Church one of its most earnest and con- 
 scientious members, and the Democratic party an 
 ardent advocate of its principles. 
 
 Armon J. Ring saw much pioneer work in his 
 boyhood. He knows what it is to clear the forest 
 and break so() behind a yoke of oxen. The district 
 school and farm work with occasional pioneer frol- 
 ics filled out his boyhood d.iys. Scarcely had lie 
 attained his majority when he responded to the 
 call of his country, and enlisted August 11, 1862, 
 in Company B, Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry. 
 His regiment became a part of Sherman's arm}', 
 and participated in the following conflicts: Mum- 
 fordsville, Tcbb's Bend, Kingston, Mossy Creek, 
 Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face, Resaca, Cassville, Etowah, 
 Altoona, Pine Mountain, Lost Mountain, Culp's 
 Farm, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Chat- 
 tahooche River, Decatur, siege of Atlanta, Enst 
 Point, Eutaw Creek, Jonesboro, Cedar Bluff. Pine 
 Creek, Franklin, and the siege and battle of Nash- 
 ville. He afterward joined Slierman's command at 
 Goldsboro, and was with him until the war closed. 
 He received his honorable discharge July 2, 1865. 
 
 Our subject now returned to Michigan and re- 
 sumed the avocations of pence. He began to realize 
 that he ought to establish his own home, and it was 
 not long before he had chosen a wife to whom he 
 \Tas married October 22, 1868. His bride was 
 
 Clintha, daughter of Austin and Caroline (Sanders) 
 Keeney, both natives of New York. Mrs. Ring 
 was born January 27, 1846, in Kent County, Mich. 
 Her grandfather Keeney was a soldier in the War 
 of 1812. Her parents were early pioneers in Kent 
 County. Of their eight children but five survive, 
 namely: Mrs. Ring; Helen, wife of C. Trumbull, 
 of Osceola, Mich.; Mina, Mrs. Clark Iloppongh 
 of Ionia County ; Carrie, Mrs. A. Richardson, of 
 Kent County; and Clay, who resides in the same 
 county. 
 
 Two sons have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Ring: George, born October 2',), 1871 ; and Ray B., 
 July 3, 1876. The farm of one hundred and ten 
 acres is in a fine state of cultivation, and a view of 
 its principal buildings appears on another page. Mr. 
 Ring is a member of the Dan S. Root, G. A. R. 
 Post, No. 126 at Belding, and he and his wife are 
 active members of society. He is a Republican in 
 politics, and is identified with the Masonic order. 
 He has served on the School Board of his district 
 in various cap.acities. It is with no small degree 
 of pleasure that we represent the subject of this 
 sketch among the many progressive citizens and 
 prosperous farmers of Ionia County. 
 
 ELIOTT F. GRABILL. The Greenville "/«- 
 dependent is one of the well-known news- 
 ', pajiers of Montcalm_ County and has a name 
 in all Central Michigan. It has been in charge of 
 the subject of this biograi)hical notice since Febru- 
 ary, 1866, and the long continuance of Mr. Grabill 
 as its editor and proprietor affords conclusive proof 
 of its being on a paying basis. It is well under- 
 stood among newspaper men that a peculiar tact 
 and energy is required in carrjing on a local sheet, 
 and he who succeeds in such an enter|)rise soon be- 
 comes known as a man of ability and wields a cor- 
 responding influence. Mr. Grabill has a paper 
 that speaks for itself to all who see an issue, and he 
 h.as filled some important stations in the manage- 
 ment of affairs in which the public are interested. 
 In the paternal line Mr. Grabill traces his ances- 
 try back to Switzerland, where his grandfather, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 377 
 
 Philip Grabill, was born. Tliat gentleman was a 
 farmer and at the same occupation his son Niinrod, 
 father of our subject, busied liimself during (i.-itt of 
 his life The latter also devoted some time to 
 school teacliing and for several years was a mer- 
 chant in Pennsylvania, whither he went in early 
 life. There he married Zeruah, daugliter of Sam- 
 uel and Polly Roberts of the Keystone State. In 
 1854 he removed to Iowa, settling at Corydon, 
 where he was engaged in the insurance business 
 until death. He passedaw.iy in 1884. The motlier 
 of our subject died many j-ears before, the date of 
 her decease being 184.5. The family consisted of 
 six children, but Eliott F. and Ethelbert II., are 
 the only survivors. 
 
 Mr. Grabill, the subject of this sketch, was born 
 in Washington County. Pa., .June 16, 1837, and 
 received a common-school education there. He 
 learned the printing trade at Brownsville, Pa. 
 He next became a student in the Oberlin (Ohio) 
 College, from which he received the degree of 
 Bachelor of Arts. He secured the means to go 
 through college by his own efforts, working at the 
 printer's trade and teaching school during vacation 
 time. When the war broke out he was thrilled 
 with the spirit of fervid i)alriotisni which swept 
 like a tidal wave over the North, and April lU, 
 18G1, he enlisted with a com panj- of students in 
 Oberlin College. They were mustered into the 
 Seventh Ohio Infantry and Mr. Grabill served un- 
 til the war closed, although not in the same regi- 
 ment during the entire time. 
 
 In 1863 Mr. Grabill was examined before Gen. 
 Casey's board for a position at the head of a body 
 of colored troops, that branch of the service being 
 then in process of organization. November 5, of 
 that year he was commissioned First Lieutenant 
 and Adjutant of the Fifth United States Colored 
 Troops, with which regiment he remained until 
 October 4, 1865. During the time he was pro- 
 moted to a Captaincy and breveted Major for mer- 
 itorious conduct. He served under Gens. Rosecrans 
 and Banks, in the Shenandoah Valley, in the Army 
 of the Potomac under the different commanders 
 from McClellan to Grant, and in tiie North Caro- 
 lina campaign of Sehofield. It w.as his fortune to 
 take part in several of the most important battles 
 
 of the war as well as those of minor note, the chief 
 being Winchester, Port Republic, Antietam, the 
 second Bull Run, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, 
 siege of Petersburg and Richmond, Ft. Fisher. 
 
 The interesting (leremony that converted Miss 
 
 Anna S. .Jenne^' into Mrs. Grabill took pl.ice JIarch 
 
 8, 1865. The bride was born in Greenwich, Huron 
 
 County, Ohio, being a daughter of Benjamin and 
 
 Anna M. (Birdsall) Jennej', natives of Massachu- 
 
 I Setts and New York, respectively. She is the eider 
 
 I of their two living children. Her mother died in 
 
 Greenville in 1888, and her father resides here, but 
 
 I was formerly engaged in farming. Mrs. Grabill is 
 
 intelligent and well-read, social and charitable, and 
 
 counts her friends among the best people of the 
 
 place. She is the mother of three living children — 
 
 Clara E., Carl E., and Ethel V., and her fust born 
 
 Florence, died at the age of eight years. 
 
 In his political beliefs Mr. Grabill coincides with 
 the Republican party and his influence is thrown in 
 with it. lie belongs to tbe Ancient Order of United 
 Workmen and to the Grand Army of the Republic, 
 his post being William A. Kent, No. 83. Twice he 
 has been Postmaster in Greenville and is now liold- 
 iug the office again. In 1888 he was one of the 
 Stale Electors, whose province it was to voice the 
 people's wish for Harrison to be their President, 
 and on other occasions he has taken a conspicuous 
 part iu carrying out the desires of his fellow-men 
 for improvements or reforms. He was formerly a 
 member of tiie Board of Managers of the Michigan 
 Soldiers' Home at Grand Rapids. The personal 
 character of Mr. (Jrabill is such as to secure the 
 respect of his acquaintances and his mental power 
 is recognized by all who read his editorials or hoar 
 his conversation. 
 
 SAAC B. GUNN. Among the men now living 
 in Ionia County whose lives present exaini)les 
 Ij worthy of emulation, in ihat the}' have been 
 characterized by integrity, industry and determi- 
 nation, ma)' be mentioned Isaac Gunn, a prominent 
 resident of Easton Township. He was born in 
 
378 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Geneva, N. Y., August 31, 1821, bis parents being 
 Isaac and Huklah (Riggs) Gunn, natives of Con- 
 necticut. Josiab Gunn, grandfatber of our subject, 
 was born in England and emigrated to tbis coun- 
 try, wliere be spent bis last days. His maternal 
 grandfatber was a soldier in tlie AVar of 1812. He 
 is one of four surviving cbildren born to bis pa- 
 rents, tbe otbers being William S., who is at tbe 
 bead of tbe Gunn Hardware Company at Grand 
 Rapids; Nancy, wife of Josiaii White, of Chicago, 
 III.; and Schuyler, who likewise resides in the 
 Garden City. 
 
 Jlr. Gunn grew to maniiood in his native State, 
 beginning bis education in the common schools 
 and continuing it by personal investigation and 
 reading in later years. In bis earlier life he 
 worked at various occupations, following carpentry 
 for a number of years, but for the last twenty he 
 has given his attention exclusively to farming. In 
 bis efforts to build up bis fortune and surround 
 himself with comforts he has been ably seconded 
 by tbe lady who became bis wife January 6, 1842. 
 His industr}' and good judgment and tbe value of 
 her counsel and prudence in household affairs is 
 attested by their present standing among tbe prop- 
 erty owners of Ionia Count}'. They came to this 
 Slate in 1814 and spent two years in Ottawa 
 County, tlioii removed to Grand Rapids, and then 
 removed to Iowa, where they spent six years, 
 and then again took up their residence in Grand 
 Rapids, and thence came to Ionia County in 
 1868. When tbej' arrived in the State their cash 
 capital consisted of ^2.50, and with that small 
 amount they made a beginning in the AVest. AVben 
 the}' came to Ionia County eighty-two acres of land 
 were bought, thirty of which were partially cleared. 
 This was further improved and about thirty-five 
 acres added to the cleared tract by Mr. Gunn. He 
 built his present fine residence in 1880, doing 
 nearly all tbe wood-work himself. 
 
 Mrs. Gunn bore the maiden name of Olive 
 Ellis. She was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., 
 August 4, 1826, and is one of the three surviving 
 cbildren of Lyman and AVatic (Randall) Ellis. 
 The others are AValter Alpbonso and Emily, wife 
 of AVillard Mitchell. Mrs. Gunn was well reared 
 f>.nd given instruction in those domestic arts by 
 
 which she w.as qualified to aid her husband in her 
 mature years. To them have been born three 
 cbiklren — Laura, wife of Scott Garrett, now living 
 in Colorado, and is the mother of nine cbildren; 
 Melissa, wife of C. M. Linington, proprietor of an 
 extensive mercantile establishment in Chicngo; 
 they have two children; and Albert, who is in the 
 mercantile business in Shelby, this State, married 
 Alice Jackson, of Lowell, ]\Iich. In addition to 
 the grandchildren Mr. and Mrs. Gunn have one 
 great-grandchild. 
 
 Much pains have been taken by Mr. and Mrs. 
 Gunn to educate their children and fit them for 
 useful and honorable positions in society. They 
 themselves show an interest in all that is for the 
 good of the section in which they have made their 
 home, and take part in various enterprises which 
 point toward that end. They belong to a grange 
 in Keene Township and have held offices therein. 
 Mr. Gunn is a member of the Democratic party, 
 lie and his wife belong to the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, and it is their constant aim to 
 govern their lives by the principles of Chris- 
 tianity. 
 
 IM^^im 
 
 OSEFH S. JACOBUS was left an orphan 
 by the death of bis mother when he was 
 only four years old, and instead of spending 
 j bis early life in the schoolroom be was put 
 when very young at hard work. That he has risen 
 as he has above tbe disadvantages which came with 
 tbis misfortune, is greatly to bis credit. He was 
 born in Essex County, N. J., June 3, 1849, and 
 was the son of Gould and Jane (Personett) Jaco- 
 bus. His father was a turner by occupation and 
 continued to reside in New Jersey until Joseph 
 was nineteen years old. 
 
 The subject of this sketch came to Michigan in 
 1869 and settled in Sidney Township, Montcalm 
 County. His first business here was milling, which 
 he has followed more or less closely all through his 
 residence in the State, although be has also engaged 
 quite extensively in agriculture. He now has a 
 well improved farm of eighty acres on which he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 »79 
 
 resides, and wliicli is considered one of the finest 
 in tiie township. It was his custom to carry on 
 milling in winter and farming in summer. His 
 marriage October 21, 18G0, witli Lucy GiUnore, 
 has been blessed by the birth of one son, Jesse, 
 born September 10, 1871. He has spent much time 
 in clearing the forest in various |>arts of the county, 
 and is a man of indomitable industry and perse- 
 verance. 
 
 Mr. .laeobus is the proprietor of a shingle mill 
 which he is successfully running at Sidney Center. 
 He appreciates for the rising generation the educa- 
 tional advantages which stern necessity withheld 
 from him. An earnest promoter of all school in- 
 terests he has held the position of School Director 
 for two years. He is a deserving citizen who en- 
 joys the confidence and esteem of all about him, 
 and his neighbors hearlilj- rejoice in his business 
 prosperity. 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 w 
 
 ^ OSEPHUS DASEF, a son of Alexander and 
 Sarah (Mitchell) Dasef, was born near Tor- 
 onto, Canada, August 3, 1833. His father 
 was of French origin, and first saw the light 
 of day while his parents were crossing the ocean in 
 search of a new home in Canada. His mother was 
 of English birth. Alexander Dasef was a cooper 
 by trade, but in his later years became a farmer. 
 Two sisters of our subject reside, one in Penns}'l- 
 vania, and the other in Canada. 
 
 ■Tosephus Dasef spent his early life on the farm 
 in Canada, and until he was seventeen years of age 
 his educational advantages were very poor, but at 
 that time he availed himself of night schools and 
 made real advancement in his studies. At the same 
 time he began to learn the trade of a carpenter, and 
 for two years served an apprenticeship, receiving 
 16 per month during that time. For four years he 
 worked independentlj', and by that time had gained 
 suflTiciont standing in his trade to take contracts, 
 and be an employing carpenter. 
 
 In 1862 he celebrated Christmas Day by uniting 
 himself in matrimonj' with Christiana Stuart, of the 
 
 in the town of Glandford, Wentworth County, 
 Canada, a daughter of Alexander Stuart. This 
 worthy couple h.id been blessed with seven chil- 
 dren, namely: John W., born October 4, 18C3; 
 Alnm W., August 25, 1865 ; llornianus S., Octo- 
 ber 19, 1867, and Major L., his twin; Lilllc, Feb- 
 ruary 26, 1870; David W., February 16, 1871; 
 Margaret F]., October 16, 1871. Three of these 
 children have been removed by death. All the oth- 
 ers are either at home or settled near home. Their 
 father has ever taken an active interest in educa- 
 tional matters, and h.'is given his children an excel- 
 lent education. Ills eldest sou is principiil of the 
 schools at Pierson, Mich. The second boy gradu- 
 ates at the State Normal School in 18;)!. 
 
 When Mr. Dasef came to Michigan in 1869, he 
 settled in Day Township, Montcalm Count3% and 
 undertook the business of lumbering and the manu- 
 facture of shingles. After remaining there four 
 years he removed to Stanton, where he resided for 
 three years. In the spring of 1876 he took up the 
 farm where he now resides. He cleared and im- 
 proved eighty acres of the one hundred and sixty 
 and built his fine residence, a two-story brick, as 
 well as other buildings on the farm. In politics 
 he is a Republican, and in the late campaign ho 
 was the Republican nominee for member of the 
 Legislature. For four years he has been Justice of 
 the Peace, and w.as Conimissioner of Highways for 
 two years, refusing the oflice the third term. At 
 four different times he has been Chairman of the 
 Township Republican Committee, and Is always an 
 member of that Board. He has been a delegate to 
 county conventions, and a member of every State 
 Republican Convention in which he always takes 
 an active interest. 
 
 -^— 
 
 ellADWICK A. I.EE, one of the tinifty and 
 industrious farmers of Ionia County, owns a 
 fine piece of property in Keene Township. 
 The two hundred and forty broad acres that com- 
 prise the estate are well cultivated, and during the 
 seasons of planting and reaping are the scenes of 
 busy life, and at harvest time show heavy heads of 
 
380 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 grain anil fruitful shocks. The buildings that have 
 been erected on the farm are ample for every need 
 and all are substantial and in good repair. The 
 dwelling is a liomelike and comfortable one and 
 has an air of neatness sufficient to stamp it as tiie 
 residence of a family of refinement and good taste. 
 That Mr. Lee has been successful in his life work, 
 and that he pushes his enterprise according to 
 modern ideas of progress, is indicated by every 
 appointment of his estate. 
 
 Mr. Lee is a native of Ionia County, and is the 
 son of Arclieleus C. and Harriet (Bowen) Lee, 
 who are now residing in Clinton County. His 
 fatlier was born in New York, came to this State 
 during his youth and attained to his majority in 
 Keene Township, at what is now called Potter's 
 Corners. The family had located in what was vir- 
 tually a wilderness and lie bore his share in pioneer 
 labors and became well known as a public-si)irited 
 •and enterprising member of society. About 1870 
 he removed, to Saran.ac, where he lived until 1888, 
 when he removed to Elsie where he is now enjoy- 
 ing the fruits of his labors and acting the part of a 
 good citizen. Politically he is a Republican. 
 
 The birth of Cliadwick A. Lee took place Octo- 
 ber 14, 1852, and he grew to manhood amid tiie 
 surroundings of rural life in Ionia County, and 
 from his early j'ears has been taking a part in farm 
 work. He attended the district schools and then 
 spent three j^ears in pursuing his studies in the 
 public school of Saranac,and has still further added 
 to his store of knowledge by considerable reading 
 and keen observation of men and things. Decem- 
 ber 24, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss 
 Cornelia Bush, daughter of George W. and Mary 
 Bush, who are now living in Grand Rapids. Mrs. 
 Lee was born in this State, received a good educa- 
 cation and learned how to manage the household 
 affairs that generally fall to the lot of women. She 
 is the mother of one daughter, Myrtie E., who was 
 born May 29, 1875. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Lee are among the most active 
 members of society in their section of the count3- 
 and take a deep interest in the common weal. 
 Keeping themselves well informed regarding the 
 progress of mankind, the}' favor that which will 
 give to future generations still better opportunities 
 
 than are enjoyed at present, and do what they can 
 to elevate the status of opinion and upbuild the 
 county in all that is best. In the accumulation of 
 his fine propertj'^ JMr. Lee was ably assisted by the 
 good management of his wife and together they 
 arc enjoying the results of their planning and labor. 
 
 ^i(gi^)IRGIL G. CONNER, one of the oldest citi- 
 Vl\ # zens of Ionia County, resides on section 30, 
 
 \^' Easton Township. He was born November 
 10, 1842, and is the son of Thomas H. and Mary 
 A. (Hunt) Conner, natives of New York. His 
 paternal ancestry is of Irish blood and his mother 
 is descended from (Juaker ancestry. His father was 
 au emigrant to Ionia County in 1835, and was 
 .active in opening up the country and clearing it of 
 timber. His death took place on the home farm, 
 October 17, 1885. He and his brother Jared Con- 
 ner, owned a pole- boat or flat-boat and took out the 
 first wheat that was exported from Ionia County, 
 transporting it to Grand Hapids. 
 
 The father of our subject was surrounded by 
 Indian neighbors with whom he carried on trade. 
 He was the first Constable of the town, being 
 elected at the first town meeting. For a number 
 of years he worked for the Rev. William M. Ferry 
 of Grand Haven, in the lumber business, but in 
 1852 he returned to his farm in Easton Township, 
 and lived here until his death. His wife survived 
 him but piissed to the other world December 7, 
 1889. Their three children are, our subject; Mrs. 
 Mason of Osceola County, Mich.; and Mrs. Tun- 
 more. He was an active church worker in the 
 Congregational denomination, and his enterprise, 
 character and ability stronglj' emphasized his loss 
 when he w.as taken away. 
 
 The subject of this sketch received the rudiments 
 of his education in what is known as the Dexter 
 district school of P^aston Township. These oppor- 
 tunities have been supplemented by a life-long 
 habit of re.ading, and he has in this way become a 
 well-informed man. In the early daj's of the Civil 
 War he became greatly interested in the conflict and 
 enlisted August 8, 1862, in Company K, Twenty- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 381 
 
 first Michigan Infantry, whicb became a part of the 
 army of the Cumberland, under Sheridan, Buell, 
 Rosccrans and Sherman. He participated in the 
 battle of Perryville, and was ail through Buell's 
 campaign in Kentucky in the fall of 18C2. At 
 Chickaniaugft he receive a gunshot wound in the 
 left side, which now entitles him to a pension of 
 $4 per month. In the summer of 18G4 ho was 
 stationed at Chattanooga, and his regiment was 
 detailed as engineers and built the military bridge 
 across the Tennessee River. He was also in the 
 battles of Aver3-sboro and IJentonville, took part 
 in the seigc of Savannah, and was in numerous 
 skirmishes of minor importance. He marched with 
 Siicrman to the sea and cherishes with pride the 
 old rille which he carried all through that wonder- 
 ful march. This is an Knfield rille of Engl-isli man- 
 ufacture, carrying an ounce b"»ll about a mile. 
 
 After his honorable discharge June 8, 18G5, our 
 subject returned to Ionia Count}', where he still 
 makes his home. His marriage took place May 
 19, 1881. He was tlien united with Mrs. Sarah J. 
 Dexter, widow of the late S. T. Dexter. She is 
 a native of Orange County N. Y., where she was 
 born October 17, 1831. She is of New York par- 
 entage, iier father being Benjamin Conner, and her 
 mother l)earing the maiden name of Catherine 
 Bronson. Slie was an emigrant at a very early 
 age, coming to Michigau when about five months 
 old. Her parents made their first 4iome in Oakland 
 County, but later came to the Grand River \'alley 
 and settled in Easton Township. Her parental 
 family consisted of seven children: Sarah J., Will- 
 iam H., Virgil B., Oeorge W., Arthur A., Ellen M. 
 and Catherine A. Her first marriage which united 
 her with S. T. Dexter, took place February 28, 
 18.50. This gentleman came to Ionia County when 
 only eight years of age, and belonged to one of 
 liie pioneer families of the township. Her marriage 
 with Mr. Dexter gave her two children — Marshall 
 S. and lienjamin C. Marshall S. was a student in 
 the High School, w.as taken sick and went to Cali- 
 fornia for his health, but died in Woodland, that 
 State, and was buried there; Benjamin C. was a 
 young man of bright promise, who served as guard 
 at the prison, and later as keeper, and returned 
 home to recuperate, but died in a short time. He 
 
 left a widow who was formerly known as Miss 
 Mathie A. Stebbens; she too Is now deceaseil. Mr. 
 Dexter was a man of prominence and held several 
 offices of public trust, and was Justice of the I'e.ace 
 for a number of years. He was a Christian gentle- 
 n)an and died in tlie faith of the Congregational 
 Church. 
 
 Mr. Conner is a stalwart Republican in politics, 
 a man greatly interested in matters of public Impor- 
 tance; he h.as seventy acres of land in an excellent 
 state of cultivation. Mr. Conner has served both 
 in 1880 and in 1890 as United States Census Enum- 
 eriitor in Easton Township. He has filled the 
 ofBces of Township Clerk and School Director. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Conner are among the most honored 
 and esteemed pioneers of the Grand River Valley. 
 Their hospitality is widely known and they are 
 greatly admired by their neighbors for their benev- 
 olence and sociaI)llity. In the business c'onimiinit}' 
 Mr. Conner's veracity is unquestioned and he re- 
 ceives deserved credit for his record both as a citi- 
 zen and a soldier. 
 
 /^ ALEB H. ROIil? was born in Jackson, Ohio, 
 (/(^ on the 18lh of February, 1851. He is the 
 ^^y son of Andrew and Jane (Lockhart) Robb. 
 His father wiis a native of Ohio and his mother of 
 Pennsylvania. He has a brother Joseph residing 
 at Mancelona, Antrim County, Mich., and a sister, 
 Mrs. C'arr, at Grand Rapids. Andrew Robb moved 
 to Hillsdale County, Mich., and began farming 
 there when this son was only six years old. For 
 nine years tills was his home. He attended school 
 only about a year, and is entirely a self educated 
 man, having been a close student from his early 
 boyhood, and having improved ever}' opportunity 
 which came to him. At the age of fifteen years 
 he moved to Stanton, Mich., and began lumbering, 
 milling and shingle-making. He remained there 
 about two years. 
 
 The next home of our subject wjis Amsdon, 
 Fair Plains Township, whore he lived for one year, 
 when he came to Sidney Township, Montcalm 
 County, and ra.ade It his permanent home. From 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 that time on fanning and lumbei-ing have engaged 
 his full attention. He has a fine farm of eighty 
 acres which he cleared and improved himself. 
 His mother died on his place here three years 
 ago, leaving iiim very much alone as he had never 
 married. In politics he is a Democrat, although 
 he cares nothing for office himself, but he has 
 been made Assessor and has done the work of 
 that office four j^ears. He takes a very active 
 interest in everything that pertains to education. 
 The family have experienced some severe afflic- 
 tions: one brother, Alexander, having died at Flint, 
 Mich., juBt as he was going into active service into 
 the army; another brother was taken prisoner in 
 the war, and confined in Andersonville for eight 
 months in 1864. He was reduced in weight from 
 one hundred and eiglity pounds to fifty -six pounds, 
 being almost starved to death. Mr. Robb himself 
 passed through severe experiences during the hard 
 times here in 1864 to 1866. He had no way to 
 make money except by shaving shingles at a very 
 low price and the cost of all provisions was exorb- 
 itant. Meat could be procured at no lower price 
 than twenty-five cents per pound; sugar was 
 twenty cents and flour $8 to $10 per hundred 
 weight. 
 
 'BNER HALL is one of the adopted chil- 
 KM dreu of our country who have helped to 
 enrich her by their sturdy character, and 
 capability for and willingness to work, and 
 to sacrifice generously for the sake of a home in a 
 free land. The subject of our sketch was born in 
 Nottingham County, England, December 12, 1833. 
 He was the son of Charles A. and Mary (Lidget) 
 Hall. During his early life in England he worked 
 at whatever he could find to do, usually at very 
 low wages. The last year of his stay in thatcoun- 
 tr}' brought him $38 in wage money. He came to 
 America at the age of nineteen years, settling in 
 Portage County, Ohio, where he worked at farming, 
 but at the age of twenty-three years he removed 
 to Montcalm County', Mich., and settled in Sidney 
 Township, where he now resides. His first settle- 
 ment was about two miles from his present home. 
 
 He found only a forest and saw no easy times. He 
 and his famil}' bravely lived on Johnny cake and 
 tea while he cleared the forest and built a log 
 cabin. At this time of great necessit}' he received 
 $.50 from relatives in England, anrl he could find 
 but one man in the whole county who could cash 
 the exchange; that man was J. M. Fuller, than resid- 
 ing at Greenville. 
 
 Mr. Hall used tocarr}' his provisions from Green- 
 ville to his home, a distance of some twelve miles 
 on his back. He often carried a load of one 
 hundred pounds in this manner. At one time he 
 agreed with a neighbor that he would carry home, 
 a distance of six miles, a large iron plow, and he 
 kept his word. In clearing his farm he cut down 
 timber which would to-d.ay be worth double the 
 value of the land. He sold this farm and about 
 eighteen years ago moved to where he now resides, 
 one mile west of Sheridan, on a fine place of eighty 
 acres, highly improved and of very fertile soil. In 
 the early days he once borrowed a neighbor's hoe 
 and broke it during the first day's work. He had 
 to walk to town to buy another to replace it and 
 was obliged to spend for it the money which his 
 wife had laid aside to get him a pair of trousers. 
 His worthj' companion sui)plied the place of the 
 lost articles of clothing by a pair made out of bed 
 ticking, which her good husband bravely wore on 
 Sundays. Potatoes then cost $1.50 per bushel, and 
 were paid for by days' work at fire bits, (sixt}-- 
 two and one-half cents) per day. 
 
 The subject of this sketch chose as his partner 
 in life Hannah Mistetter. Their union was cele- 
 brated November 24, 1853. They have seven 
 children, as follows: Henry A., born August 4, 
 1855, married Efla Savocool; Mary J., born Octo- 
 ber 30, 1857, married Joiin Davis; George E., born 
 June 10, 1860, married Eva Savocool; Emma J., 
 Mrs. Peterman, was born June 16, 1862; Anna M., 
 Mrs. Griggs, December 2, 1867; Elmer T., June 2, 
 1871; Jesse B., June 16, 1874. All these children 
 are living except the last two named. 
 
 The subject of this sketch spent one j^ear in the 
 arm}', doing picket duty around Petersburg. In 
 this service he was twice wounded. He is a Demo- 
 crat in his political affiliations and is always active 
 in promoting the interests of the community. 
 
 J 
 
^-^^^^^^i^TuyG^^/^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 385 
 
 ^^KORGE W. SNYDER, M. L). The medical 
 1 11 ^— profession is represented in Sebewa, Ionia 
 ^^^41 County, by men of extended knowle(1ge 
 and practical skill, and an honorable place amonj^ 
 tlieni is held by Dr. Snyder, who belongs to the 
 Eclectic School. He hung out his "shingle" here in 
 the fall of 1878, immediately after his graduation 
 from the Dennett Medical College in Chicago. He 
 has successfully' comijcted with other practitioners, 
 and has won the confidence of the comnninit}- and 
 secured a practice that is the source of a good in- 
 come. A lithographic portrait of this successful 
 physician appears on the oi)posite page. 
 
 Dr. Snyder is of Dutch descent in the paternal 
 line, but prior to the American Revolution one of 
 his progenitors was living in Canada and crossed the 
 border to enter the Colonial aruij'. By so doing he 
 lost his properly, it being confiscated by the British 
 (iovernment, and at the close of the war he settled 
 in J'ennsylvania. Another of the ancestors was 
 John Cooper, who also fought in the Revolution- 
 ary forces, he having emigrated from Ireland prior 
 to the Declaration of Independence. 
 
 .Tohn A. Snyder, father of the Doctor, was born 
 in Schoharie County, N. Y., and removed to this 
 State in 186"/, settling in Barry County, where he 
 is still living. His wife, formerly Fanny M. Palma- 
 lier, was of French and Dutch descent, and was a 
 daughter of Thomas and Martha (Drumni) Palma- 
 lier. She was a native of the same count}' as her 
 husband, and a member of the same church, the 
 Methodist Episcopal. She entered into rest in 
 \SC>i). The parental family comi)rised seven sons, 
 all but one of whom are yet living. The exception 
 is Thomas, who died in adult years. The surviv- 
 ors arc William Henry, George W.. Francis M., 
 Charles N., .lohn L. and .lamos A. William. 
 George and Charles are physicians; .John is a min- 
 ister of the I'nited Brethren Churcli; and .lames 
 and Francis are farmers. 
 
 Dr. Snyder of whom we write, was b:)ni in Che- 
 mung County, N. Y., August 20, 1815, and with 
 the exception of one summer si)ent in Pennsyl- 
 vania, he lived there until his parents came to 
 Barry County. At the new home he remained un- 
 til the last of .Sei)teniber, 18G4, when his father and 
 older brother went to Hastings, leaving him to fin- 
 
 ish cutting the corn, there being but half an acre 
 standing. When this was done he had nothing to 
 do but follow the bent of his own inclination, and so 
 went to Jackson, and on October 1 enlisted in Com- 
 pany II., Twenty-first Michigan Infantry. Eight 
 days later he started to the front and joined the 
 regiment at Chattanooga, Tenn., whence ihcy went 
 to Dalton, Ga., and took up the line of march with 
 .Sherman to the sea. 
 
 Mr. Snyder was at Savannah during the seven 
 da^'s' siege, after which the troops rested thirty 
 days before starting on the return trip. Tliey 
 marched to CJoldsboro, captured Fayetteville, and 
 reached Bentonville March [9, 18G5, meeting the 
 combined forces of Gens. Bragg and Johnston. 
 The hardest fight in the march to and from the sea 
 took place there, and the last engagement led by 
 Gen. Sherman. In one charge made by three hun- 
 dred men, nearly a third were left on the field, so 
 great w.as the slaughter. Continuing on toward the 
 North after witnessing the surrender of Gen. John- 
 ston, Mr. Snyder was afflicted with rheumatism and 
 was sent to Washington via Newbern, N. C. He 
 was placed in tlic hospital at Alexandria, ^'a., where 
 he received his discharge June IC, 186.'). 
 
 Returning to his home in Barry County with the 
 $G00 he had carefully saved from his soldier's earn- 
 ings, Mr. Snyder bought eight}- acres of wild land 
 in Ma[)le Grove Township, and for two years 
 labored at its development and at tlie carpenter's 
 trade. He then sohl the property, bought in the 
 town of Barry, and began the stud}' of medicine 
 under Dr. Watson, of Bedford, Calhoun County. 
 He entered the medical college before mentioned, 
 and after his graduation and establishment at Se- 
 bewa, exchanged his Barry County properly for 
 land in Ionia County. He now owr.s one hundred 
 and thirty acres which he superintends, having the 
 work thereon done by hired help. 
 
 In Febrnar}", 18G6, Mr. Snyder was united in 
 marriage with Mary C. Bowman, daughter of Henry 
 and Mary Bowmin of Johnstown. Barry County. 
 Mr. Bowman was a native of New York, but im- 
 migrated to the wilds of .Michigan about 183G. 
 He was by birthright a member of the .Society of 
 Friends, and never departed from his faith, al- 
 though he was deprived of association with any 
 
386 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 body of Quakers after he came West. Doctor and 
 Mrs. Snyder are the parents of five children — Ed- 
 win M., Fanny E., Winnie B., George W. and 
 Henry P. The oldest was graduated from a De- 
 troit Medical College in the Class of '88, and is 
 now a practicing physician and druggist at Sunfield, 
 Eaton County; Henry P. married Eva, daughter of 
 Benjamin Probasco. Fanny is pursuing her studies 
 in Portland, .and is now in her junior year; Win- 
 nie died when seven 3'ears old. 
 
 Dr. Snyder belongs to Henry Rice Post, No. 151, 
 G. A. R., at Sebcwa, and is a member of the Odd 
 Fellows Lodge, in which he has held all the Chairs. 
 He has always taken an interest in politics, and has 
 frequently served as a delegate to county, State 
 and Congressional conventions, where he lias been 
 quite active. He is an unwavering Republican. 
 
 E^^^ 
 
 "f]AMES G. CONNER, M. D. The city of 
 Ionia, Ionia County, has been the home of 
 Dr. Conner but a few years, but he has ob- 
 <^^Ij tained a good following and is advancing 
 in medical ranks. In September, 1890, he formed 
 a copartnership with Dr. Artliur P. Crofts who is 
 one of the most promising young physicians of the 
 city and is able to relieve the senior i)artner in many 
 ways, while each works for the mutual advancement 
 and brightens the mind of the other by discussion 
 of scientific principles and theories ol<l and new. 
 Dr. Conner had a thorough education in tlie Eng- 
 lisli branches before entering upon iiis medical 
 studies, and look his professional course in schools 
 that are of national reputation. His practice has 
 extended over a score of years, during whicli 
 period he has been thoughtful and judicious in 
 his treatments. 
 
 Pennsylvania is the native State of Dr. Conner 
 and is that in which his parents, John and Nancy 
 (Moon) Conner, were born. Ilis father was Jus- 
 tice of the Peace for manj' years. He died in 
 1851, when his son James was but ten years old, 
 the latter having been born at Landisburg June 
 16, 1841. Our subject is one of two surviving 
 members of the parental family, the other being 
 
 William M., a merchant at Indianapolis, Ind. 
 First in the common schools and then in Mt. 
 Dempsey Academy, James G. Conner pursued his 
 studies, and at their conclusion he entered upon the 
 profession of teaching. Tlie outbreak of the Re- 
 bellion roused him from his peaceful pursuit and 
 ere many months he had determined to abandon it 
 in favor of military life. 
 
 August 8, 1862, Mr. Conner was enrolled in 
 Company G, One Hundred and Tiiirty-third Penn- 
 sylvania Infantry, becoming Fourth Sergeant. He 
 had little personal knowledge of battles as the 
 command of which he was a part had the fortune 
 to reach the scenes of combat the day after the 
 engagement more frequently than the day before. 
 He had other experiences wliich belong to the life 
 of a soldier during the months in which he re- 
 mained in the South. He was discharged March 
 10, 1863, on account of hernia, and returned to 
 his native State, becoming connected with the 
 Fifteenth District of Pennsylvania as Enrolling 
 Otiicer and Deputy LTnited States Marslial. He held 
 the position during the three drafts that were 
 made in the State. 
 
 Mr. Conner began his medical studies in the 
 office of Dr. James Galbraitii at Landisburg, and 
 after two years' reading attended lectures at tlie 
 University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 
 1864-65. He llien began practicing at Indian- 
 apolis, Intl., but not being satisfied with his pro- 
 fessional schooling, he left tlie city in 1866-67 and 
 gave his attention to lectures in Rush Medical Col- 
 lege, Chicago, from which he was graduated the en- 
 suing spring. He then went to Sangamon Count}', 111., 
 and for two years was located at Pleasant Plains, 
 after which he traveled as a specialist in diseases 
 of the eye and ear until 1873. That year he lo- 
 cated at Belding, this State, which was the center 
 of his practice until 1882, when he went to Kau- 
 kauna. Wis. In that jilace he remained until Sep- 
 tember, 1887, and then located in Ionia. 
 
 Dr. Crofts, partner of Dr. Conner, is a young 
 man of liberal education, having taken a literary 
 course at Ypsilanti and a medical course at Ann 
 Arbor, and continued his professional studies in 
 the Long Island Collegiate Hospital, from which 
 he was graduated in March, 1890. He opened an 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 387 
 
 office in Detroit and practiced tliere three months, 
 then came to Ionia and formed a connection with 
 Dr. Conner. 
 
 Dr. Conner was married in 18G9 to Miss Anna 
 P. Claspill, and their union has been blest by the 
 birth of five cliildren, named respectively: A'ir- 
 ginia B., Leona, Nannie; Isabel (deceased); and 
 Grace. Dr. Conner has been a life-Uinj;; Repub- 
 lican, liis first Presidential ballot having been cast 
 for Abraham Lincoln. He belongs to the Grand 
 Army of the Republic and to the Royal Arcanum. 
 lie is not onlj' a reputable physician, but a good 
 citizen and a highly regarded member of society. 
 
 ENRY N. ANDERSON, of the firm of 
 Anderson &, Foster, is one of the financial 
 pillars of Greenville, Montcalm County. 
 As one of tbe most prominent business men 
 of the place and one of its soundest capitalists, he 
 has inlluence. and the public spirit that he mani- 
 fests whenever the welfare of the city is at stake 
 makes his position among the citizens still more 
 important than it would otherwise be. While 
 exercising good judgment regarding his personal 
 affairs and making them foremost, he does not for- 
 get that he is only one of many and seems to fully 
 realize that his real good is bound up in that of 
 the other dwellers in the town. The firm of Ander- 
 son & Fosterowns the Greenville Gas Works and is 
 also engaged in the manufacture of lumber; and 
 Mr. Anderson is Vice President of the City Na- 
 tional P.ank and the founder of the Anderson 
 Packing Companj'. 
 
 In the Emerald Isle Samuel Anderson, father of 
 our subject was born and grew to manhood and 
 became engaged quite extensively in farming and 
 stock-dealing. Led to America by what he ha<l 
 heard of her resources and institutions, he located 
 in Pennsylvania and became one of the wealthiest 
 men of Blair County. He settled there when the 
 section was new and known as Huntingdon County. 
 He gave financial aid to the building of school- 
 houses, churches and roads, and took an active 
 part in church work, belonging to a Presbyterian 
 
 soeietj'. He married Susan Weaver, a Pennsyl- 
 vania lady who also belonged to the Presbyterian 
 Church. To them were born eight children, the 
 living being George W., a detective at Alloona, 
 Pa.; Henry N. of this notice; and Margaret, wife 
 of Henry Painter, living in Altoona. The father 
 died June 22, 1819, and the mother in March, 
 1875. Mr. Anderson belonged to the old Whig 
 party. 
 
 The gentleman whose name introduces these 
 paragra()hs was born in Blair County, Pa., August 
 2, 1839. After his father's death he left the pa- 
 rental roof and started out to "paddle his own 
 canoe" on the stream of life. He had received 
 some schooling in a log house where the seats were 
 made of slabs and the roof of clapboards, but, 
 although his book knowledge was comparatively 
 limited, he knew there was a large world before 
 him and plenty of work to do. Plucky and ener- 
 getic he made up his mind to find employment, and 
 going down on the Pennsylvania Central Railroad 
 he was soon hired out to drive a two-wheeled cart, 
 hauling ballast for the road. For some months he 
 was a driver, then he helped to ballast the road and 
 later worked on the repair force, continuing on the 
 road allogether three years. He then went into 
 the carshops of the same road and worked until a 
 telegram was received announcing that Ft. Sumter 
 bad been fired upon. 
 
 When the telegram was read Mr. Anderson and 
 Stephen I'otts threw off their outer shop clothes 
 and started for Hollingsburg, not waiting for a call 
 for troops. The morning after their arrival the 
 call for seventy-five thousand men came, and going 
 to Altoona they enlisted for three months. The3' 
 wore sent to Harrisburg, thence to Baltimore, then 
 to Little York, Pa., where they remained some 
 li-ne, and then to Marlinsburg, Va., where Mr. 
 Anderson received his discharge. He returned to 
 Alloona, became foreman of the Keystone Bridge 
 Company and as soon as he had finished a bridge 
 over the Ohio River at Steubenville, he again en- 
 tered the army. He enlisted as a private in Com- 
 pany E, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Infantr}-, 
 which formed a part of what was known as the 
 Western army. During bis second enlistment he 
 had charge of the wood department. He served on 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 this occasion fifteen montlis, wliich brought the 
 time down to tlie close of the war. 
 
 When his army life was over Mr. Anderson re- 
 turned to Altoona and engaged in contracting and 
 building for five years. He then built the City 
 Steam Flouring Mill in which he carried on an 
 extensive trade until 1878, when he rented the 
 plant and came to Michigan. He stopped at 
 Greenville and embarked in the lumber business 
 as one of the firm of Loudon, Anderson & Co. 
 They did an extensive business, building in Kent 
 County one of the largest steam sawmills at that 
 time to be seen in this part of the State, and put- 
 ting up another large mill in West Troy, Newaygo 
 County. They bought great quantities of pine 
 land and a large force is still kept at work by the 
 present firm. The first change in the proprietor- 
 ship of the business was to Anderson & Grillin 
 who carried on the mills a number of years, Mr. 
 Griffin then giving place to Mr. Foster, the present 
 partner of Mr. Anderson. The firm is Joiin J. 
 Foster & Co. 
 
 The firm of Anderson <fe Foster bought the 
 Greenville Gas Works in 1887 and now supjily the 
 city with gas. Mr. Anderson established his pack- 
 ing company in 1890, and lias put up splendid 
 buildings in which a number of men find employ- 
 ment. By means of these various business enter- 
 prises he has done much to build up the city, 
 adding to the number of dwellings and business 
 houses necessary to accommodate the inhabitants, 
 and increasing the circulation of money. He owns 
 a large farm in Kent County and a fine herd of 
 blooded cattle. He has also a good city [iroperty 
 on Franklin Street. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Anderson and Miss .Sarah 
 W. Counsman of Altoona, Fa., was solemnized in 
 1862. Mrs. Anderson, who is a pleasant, well- 
 informed and Christian woman, is a daughter of 
 .Jacob and Sarah Counsman. Our subject's family 
 consists of Ida, now Mrs. B. Miller of Altoona, 
 Pa.; Carrie; Martha, wife of A. W. Middleton of 
 Greenville; Manola, Samuel A., Henry N., Jr., 
 Edger G., Daisj' M.; Jessie deceased; Lulu G.; and 
 Bertha, deceased. The oldest daughter has four 
 children — Jessie, Ada, Downs and Maggie. 
 
 Mr. Anderson is a member of the Republican 
 
 party and is identified with the social order of 
 Knights of Pythias. He is a Trustee of the Con- 
 gregational Church, of which he and bis wife are 
 members in good standing. That he possesses 
 business ability of a high order is proved by his 
 connection with important interests, and that he is 
 held in good repute ii needs but a mention of his 
 name in Greenville to show. 
 
 <* I^ILLIAM BROWN. It is due to the pio- 
 \fj// neers of Michigan that their names be held 
 ^'^ in remembrance, and their labors recalled 
 by those to whom the benefits of the present civili- 
 zation have been given through their means. 
 Among those who have been potent factors in de- 
 veloping the natural resources of this great com- 
 monwealth, comparatively few of the oldest settlers 
 survive; but in Edmore, Montcalm County, there 
 is living one who has been connected with affairs 
 in this State for considerabl3' more than half a 
 century; this is William Brown who came hither 
 in 1832, accompanying his parents from the Em- 
 pire State. They settled on wild laud in the south- 
 eastern part of the then territory, where game 
 abounded and the Chippewas roamed Ihrougli the 
 forests. In later years Mr. Brown did pioneer 
 work in a more central part of the State, and in'all 
 the years that have passed from his boyhood he has 
 been characterized by industry, enterprise and a 
 desire for the good of posterity. 
 
 Grandfather Brown was born in England whence 
 he emigrated to the colonies prior to the Revolu- 
 tion, in which struggle for independence he took 
 part. He made his home in Rensselaer County, 
 N. Y., and carried on farming there until death. 
 His son AVilliam, father of our subject, was born 
 there and followed in his father's footsteps .as a 
 farmer and patriot, entering the service during the 
 War of 1812. When he came to this State early 
 in the '30s he established his home in Macomb 
 County. He lived there until he had reached tlie 
 ripe age of seventy-eight years when he entered 
 into rest. His faithful wife, formerly Miss Annie 
 
 1 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 380 
 
 Abi'atns, also breathed her last in that county. Her 
 parents ivcre from New Eiiglanfl but were living 
 in Rensselaer County, X. Y., when she was born. 
 
 The parental family' included seven sons and 
 daughters, and the name of our subject was third 
 on the roll. His natal d.ay was October 28, 1814, 
 and he was reared on the farm in the Emjiire State, 
 having the advantages of the district scliool. The 
 removal of the family to this .Slate was made 
 on the canal to Buffalo, by steamer to Detroit and 
 from that point the .young raau went on foot to the 
 new home in Macomb County. He remained with 
 his parents until he was twenty-two years old and 
 aided his father in opening up the wild land and 
 making their location comfortable and profitalile. 
 When he started out in life for himself he bought 
 eighty acres in Orange Township from the Govern- 
 ment, and in the midst of the forest made a small 
 clearing and built a log house. The floor of his 
 humble dwelling w.is of basswood, split and hewed 
 by his own strong arm. Around it he removed the 
 forest growth and placed acre after acre under 
 cultivation. For some time his nearest neighbor 
 was two and a half miles distant. 
 
 In the fall of 1841 Mr. Brown decided to change 
 his place of residence to Genesee Count}', and he 
 therefore bought timber land in Flushing Town- 
 ship. He built upon the property and set about 
 its improvement, also engaging in the manufacture 
 of black salts. For five years he worked upon the 
 eighty-acre tract, then removed to St. Joseph 
 County and operated rented land until 1852. Dur- 
 ing that year he removed to Kent County buying 
 eighty acres in Cannon Township. Again he had 
 arduous labor to perform in fitting his property 
 for use and making it a pleasant home for an intel- 
 ligent family. In connection with his agricultural 
 work he engaged lo a considerable extent in lum- 
 bering, and from 1876 to 1880 he gave his atten- 
 tion exclusively to work connected with the hanil- 
 ling of timber. He bought four hundred and eighty 
 acres of pine land at Cedar Springs and manufact- 
 ured shingles and lumber from all of it. 
 
 In 1880 Mr. Brown bought one hundred and 
 sixty acres in Home Township, Montcalm County, 
 and eslahlished his home here. He improved the 
 land, manufacturing shingles from the trees cut, 
 
 and finally sold off one-half the estate. The acre- 
 age that remains is situated on section 29, and is 
 one of the most comfortable farms in the county. 
 Mr. Brown still gives his attention to raising grain 
 and stock and also deals in real estate. In the 
 summer of 1881 he laid out an addition to Edmore, 
 planting forty acres. He was poor when he began 
 his life work, but his persistence and good judg- 
 ment have brought him financial success and he has 
 surrounded himself with many comforts, made 
 |)rovision for his declining years and given his 
 children considerable capital. 
 
 Mrs. Brown has lived in this State even longer 
 than her husband, having accompanied her parents 
 hither in 1825. Her maiden name was Eliza A. 
 Jacox. and she was born in Ohio, March 19, 1822. 
 Her parents, Abijah and Mar}' (Cronk) Jacos, were 
 born near Lima, N. Y., and both died in W.ayne 
 County, Mich., twelve miles south of Detroit. The 
 mother was of Dutch descent, being the daughter 
 of Joseph Cronk, who emigrated from Holland. 
 The father was a soldier in the War of 1812. 
 Their family included twelve children who grew 
 to maturity and Mrs. Brown was next to the 
 youngest. She spent some years in Wayne Count}-, 
 remaining under the parental roof until the death 
 of her f.ather, when she went to Mt. Clemens, Ma- 
 comb County. There she made her own living un- 
 til her marriage in February, 1837, at the age of 
 fifteen years. 
 
 Of the children born to Mr. and .Mrs. Brown we 
 note the following: James died when twelve years 
 old; Mary L. married B. Phillips and lives at Ed- 
 more; Charles E. is a farmer near that place; 
 Aurilla married A. Swift and lives at Courlland, 
 Kent County; Colonel Edward died when quite 
 small; Harvey operates the old homestead in Kent 
 County; Ella is the wife of Benjamin Rector and 
 lives at Rockford, Algonia Township, Kent County. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Brown celebrated their golden wed- 
 ding in 1887 and received from their relatives and 
 friends a number of choice gifts commemorative 
 of their half century of wedded life. They take a 
 just pride in the wonderful improvements that 
 have taken place in Michigan during the past half 
 century, and notwithstanding the hardships they 
 endured and. the toilsome hours they spent, they 
 
3'JO 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 rejoice in liaviug liad a part in the work that has 
 resulted in making this one of the finest States in 
 the Union. Mr. Brown has been Vice President of 
 the Edmore Agricultural Society since its organi- 
 zation. His political adherence is given to the 
 principles laid down in the platform of the 
 Uei)ul)lican party. Mrs. Brown belongs to the 
 Congregational Cliurch. The friends of the good 
 couple are not confined to the community in which 
 they now live, but are scattered broadcast over the 
 State whose history they know so well and whose 
 [)rosperily affords them so much gratification. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 rfF^ TKPIIEN H. KIMBALL. The simple rec- 
 ord of the life of an honest, industrious man 
 is the best testimonial to Ins worth and the 
 best monument on which to inscribe his vir- 
 tues and tlieroby infiuence others. In the following 
 paragraphs we purpose to thus deal willi the gentle- 
 man above named, who is too well known and iion- 
 ored in tills part of Michigan to need our commend- 
 ation, lie is a farmer, pleasantly located on section 
 16, Lyons Township, Ionia County, where he has 
 an estate consisting of two hundred and eighty 
 acres. The tract is well improved and, with the 
 exception of sixtj'-five acres, was cleared and 
 brought to its present condition by him. The res- 
 idence he occujiies was built in 1880 at a cost of 
 i>.5,000 and is a neat, substantial brick structure, 
 which is furnished in keeping with the financial 
 ability and good taste of those who occupy it. 
 
 Stei)heii Kimball, the father of our subject, was 
 born in New Hampshire, and -there grew to man- 
 hood and began his life work as a farmer. He went 
 thence to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he 
 married Mercy Stiles, a native of the old Bay State, 
 who went to New York when a young lady. Early 
 in the '30s Mr. KimbflU deci led to come West and 
 with his family he traveled with a team to Calhoun 
 County. He made his home where the cit)^ of 
 Marshall now stands, until 1858, then came to Ionia 
 County and finally died at the home of his son, oui 
 subject, at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. 
 Mrs. Kimball died in Marshall in 1812. Within the 
 
 limits of Calhoun County there were but few homes 
 of white settlers when they located there, and the 
 work they did was a potent factor in the develop- 
 ment of the country. 
 
 The family of Stephen Kimball and his good wife 
 included ten children of whom we note the follow- 
 ing: William, who was born in Russell Township, 
 St. Lawrence County, N. Y., died there at the age 
 of fourteen years; two died in infanc}'; Julius 
 breathed his last in Marshall when that place was 
 being colonized, and Emily died there of scarlet 
 fever; William L. passed away in Iowa, and Oliver 
 S. in Ionia County, this State; Laura died in Cal- 
 houn County; Albert W. is a resident of Iowa; 
 Stephen II., the youngest of the family, is the sub- 
 ject of this life histoiy. 
 
 The natal day of the gentleman whose name in- 
 troduces these paragraphs was February 2, 1828, 
 and his birthplace the town of Russel, St. Lawrence 
 County, N. Y. He was a child of four years when 
 his parents located at Marshall and there he re- 
 mained until he was twenty years old. He studied 
 in the first schoolhouse built in Calhoun County, 
 and made good use of the limited opportunities of 
 the place and period to acquire a knowledge of 
 book lore. When he left home he came to Ionia 
 County and began working b}' the month for his 
 brother. He continued this for some time, but in 
 1852 went to California via New York and Panama. 
 Oil the shi|) were two hundred and fifty persons, 
 fifty-five of whom died in one week of cholera. 
 After reaching the coast Mr. Kimball spent one 
 month splitting rails, receiving $75 for his labor. 
 He then engaged in mining and at that occupation 
 put in the rest of the two jears of his sojourn. He 
 made from twentj'-five cents to $55 per day and 
 averaged about IslOO per month from the time he 
 left home until his return. 
 
 Mr. Kimball returned to Michigan via (iray town, 
 the Pacific steamer being "Uncle Sam," and the 
 Atlantic, '-Northern Lights." He spent a week in 
 the metropolis, whence became by rail to Marshall, 
 then walked to Lyons, Ionia County. He had one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land on sections 21 and 
 22, Lyons Township, but after his return from the 
 coast he bought the place he now occupies. He made 
 some improvements here before bis marriage and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 391 
 
 eontiiiuccl the work in later years, altliough the log 
 house that still stands on the farm was occupied as 
 a dwelling until the present residence was built. 
 
 Mr. Kiraball was married in 1858 to Miss Mary .1. 
 Wright, who was born in Marsiiall in 1838 and was 
 reared there. For thirty years she looked after the 
 comfort of her husband and children and did all 
 she could to equip her family for the duties and 
 obligations imposed upon them. She exchanged 
 time for eternity in December. 1888, and her mor- 
 tal remains were deposited in L^'ons Cemetery. 
 Her children are, Henry L., wiio lives on the farm 
 with his father: Frank H., who died when five years 
 old; Flora B., wife of Frank A. Herron, living on 
 a farm in Gratiot County; Minnie C, Emma A., 
 and Laura A., who look after the home comfort of 
 their father; Frankie M. and H. Howard, who are 
 also at liorae. 
 
 During one term Mr. Kimball held the office of 
 Township Treasurer, but with this exception he has 
 given his attention to general farming and .otock- 
 raising. the enjoyments of social and domestic life, 
 and the duties that devolve upon all good citizens. 
 He possesses the true public spirit, contributes 
 liberally to worthy enterprises and takes pride in 
 noting the advanceraentof the people. He is social 
 and agrcable, intelligent and well-read, and an hour 
 spent in his society is never thrown away. 
 
 ^ I^ILLIAM A. INMAN. The farmers of 
 \/\/// ^onici Count}' number among thera the 
 \!y^ gentleman above named, who is a promi- 
 nent citizen of Easton Township. He is the owner 
 and occupant of seventy-five acres of land on sec- 
 lions 23 and 2;"), which acreage has been thoroughly 
 tilled in accordance with the most approved meth- 
 ods and made to yield abundantly of such croi)sas 
 are sown. I'pon the estate there may bo seen the 
 usual farm buildings and a substantial brick resi- 
 dence which was built in the fall of 1884 and pre- 
 scnt« an appearance of liome comfort attractive to 
 every passer-b}-. 
 
 Mr. Inman is a native of Saratoga Count)', N. Y., 
 and was born April 2, 182C. His parents were 
 
 Daniel and Lucy (Iluyck) Inman, who were like- 
 wise born in the Kmpire State and who occupied n 
 farm there during the early years of the son. The 
 lad pursued his studies in the district schools and 
 made the most of the a<U'antages of the lime and 
 place until sixteen years old, when he began to 
 learn the cooper's trade with bis father, who car- 
 ried on a shop in connection with farming. In the 
 fall of 1 804 Mr.Inman came to Ionia County and for 
 aboul ten years was engaged at his trade in Ionia, 
 which was then but a small vill.age. At the expi- 
 ration of tiiat period he turned his attention to 
 farming, which he has carried on continuously, 
 although at various limes he has given some atten- 
 tion to other enterprises as well. For a number of 
 years he spent the winter in lumbering. He made 
 his present location in 1869. 
 
 When quite young Mr. Inman was married to 
 Miss Jlargaret Annabel, daughter of Ephraim and 
 Lottie Annabel, the ceremony being performed 
 December 24, 1845. The wife died in New York 
 August 27, 1852. To her had been born a son, 
 Marion M. now deceased. May 11, 185G, Mr. In- 
 man was married a second time, his bride bein" 
 Jane E. Rolfe, who survived only until January 
 21, 1857. Once more Mr. Inman entered into the 
 marriage relation, winning for his companion Mrs. 
 Sarah M. Inman, nee Wilcox, with whom he was 
 united May 27, I860. This lady was born in Sara- 
 toga County, N. Y., January 17, 1825, and is a 
 daughter of Joseph and Lovina (Rogers) Wilcox. 
 Her paternal ancestors were Englisii and her mater- 
 nal, (ierman. She was first married in the Empire 
 State June 30, 1853, to Alva Inman who departed 
 this life September 30, 1855. In the spring of the 
 preceding year they had come to Ionia County 
 where she has remained and where several years 
 after becoming a widow she became the wife of our 
 subject. 
 
 The infiuential position occupied by Mr. Inman 
 is due to his worth of character and the manner in 
 which he has served iiis fellow-men in positions of 
 trust and in his genuine interest in their prosperity. 
 He has been Township Road Commissioner, was 
 President of the Ionia County Agricultural Society 
 three years and Vice President, Treasurer and 
 Director ,Ht other times. Politically he i.sa Rennl.- 
 
392 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lioan. He is identified witii Ibe county Grange. 
 Although he began his career in life with little 
 means lie has had a goodly acreage and his present 
 possession is sufficient to stamp him as one of the 
 substantial farmers of the township. He sold to 
 the State a part of the land now occupied by the 
 buildings of the House of Correction. He and his 
 " wife are active in the social affairs of their neigh- 
 borhood and in the benevolent and church work, 
 both being identified with the Christian Church, in 
 which Mr. Inman is Trustee and Deacon. They 
 have the goodwill of all who know them and many 
 are they who feel a much warmer friendship. 
 
 'jf? EVI SHOTWELL is the owner and occu- 
 I (?g) pant of one of the pleasant farms of Ionia 
 ji'—^. County. It consists of one hundred and 
 forty acres of fertile laud on section 2, Danliy 
 Township, every part of which is under good culti- 
 vation or devoted to the use of the occupants and 
 the pasturage of the stock raised. This farm has 
 been the home of Mr. Shotweli but a short time, 
 but he has been identified with the interests of the 
 county for more than a quarter of a century, and 
 is well known among the farmers and those with 
 whom that class has dealings. 
 
 Mr. Shotweli is a son of Benjamin and Sarah 
 (Hoag) Shotweli, who were natives of New Jersey 
 and New York respectivel}% and belonged to the 
 Society of Friends. The grandparents, both pa- 
 ternal and maternal, were also of that religious 
 faith. The father died about 1866, and the mother 
 followed hi in to the silent land three years later. 
 He of whom we write was born in Genesee County, 
 N. Y., January 2, 1827, and is the fifth of the nine 
 children who grew to maturity and represented the 
 family traits. He attended the district school, and 
 at the age of eighteen years started in life on his 
 own account, agreeing to give his father $200 for 
 his time until he was of age. Before he reached 
 his majority he had saved that amount and about 
 $100 besides, and making a prompt payment of his 
 indebtedness to his father, he was ready to estab- 
 lish a home with the fund remaining. He contin- 
 
 ued to reside in the Empire State until 1864, when 
 he came to Ionia County and located on section 9, 
 Portland Township. There he pursued his indus- 
 trious career until the fall of 1889, when betook 
 possession of his present place of abode. 
 
 The wife to whom IMr. Shotweli was married Oc- 
 tober I, 1848, bore the maiden name of Sarah Ee- 
 tes. Her parents, Allen and Eliza (Pope) Estcs, 
 were born in Maine, and shortly after their mar- 
 riage removed to New York, where the husband 
 died in 1864, and the wife in 1880. Both were of 
 English descent, but their ancestors for several 
 generations have been American born. They were 
 the parents of nine children who grew to maturity, 
 and five of whom reside in this State. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Shotweli have reared a son and 
 daughter, of whom we note the following facts : 
 Freeman was born July 21, 18G3, and when grown 
 to manhood married Sophia Culver, daughter of 
 Charles and Lovinia Culver. His wife died ten days 
 after the birth of a son, Levi, and the infant found 
 a home with its grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Shot- 
 well. Eliza supplemented the knowledge gained in 
 the district schools by two years' attendance in the 
 High School at Portland, and has taught several 
 terms. She was married to Charles D. Riker, Jan- 
 uary 19, 1875, and has one child, lieva. Mr. Riker 
 died in March, 1889, and the widow with her child 
 has gone to her parents' home. In 1850 Mr. and 
 Mrs. Shotweli took an infant upon whom they be- 
 stowed the name of Josephine Shotweli. Siie be- 
 came the wife of Benjamin Aldrich, but died at the 
 home of her foster parents seven years later. Not 
 long after adopting that child, our subject and his 
 good wife took to their home a ten-j-ear-old boy 
 named James Cornell, and he too received affection- 
 ate care, and was given equal opportunities with 
 their own children. He was still living with them, 
 although on a visit to friends in Illinois, when 
 stricken by an illness which terminated his life at 
 the age of twenty-one years and five months. 
 
 It falls to the lot of few men to be as prominent 
 in local offices as Mr. Shotweli has been. He was 
 Township Supervisor six years, and Highway Com- 
 missioner sixteen, and there was scarcely a time 
 that he did not hold a school otBce, either Director, 
 Moderator or Assessor. His political record is 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 305 
 
 equalled by tliat of few men, and excelled by none, 
 as he has never missed a Presidential, State, or 
 even townsiiip election since he became a voter, 
 and cast his first ballot for Zachary Taylor in 1818. 
 He is an unfaltering Republicau, and has often been 
 the representative of his party in county and State 
 conventions. Mr. Sliotwell belongs to a Masonic 
 lodge at Porllaiul, and in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church at that place the names of himself and wife, 
 son and daughter, are enrolled as members. 
 
 'if OSEPH P. POWELL. In looking over louia 
 County for a man whose life can be held up 
 as a worthy example to those who are becom- 
 ing discouraged with their progress, the 
 history of Joseph P. Powell attracts attention. 
 This p-entleman whose portrait appears on the 
 oi)posite liage is a farmer located on section 33, 
 Ronald Township, and has made such good use of 
 his natural abilities as to have become wealthy, and 
 in accumulating his property has been guilty of no 
 act unbecoming a gentleman. His home farm con- 
 sists of four hundred acres of land and he has six 
 hundred acres in other parts of the State. He also 
 owns property in Lansing, Palo and Ionia, and has 
 considerable live stock, that on the home place in- 
 cluding one hundred and fifty head of well-bred 
 sheep and thirty head of cattle. Although his 
 abundant means give him great influence, yet his 
 fine character is a belter model than his financial 
 skill. 
 
 Mr. Powell was born in Oneida County, N. Y., 
 February' 28, 1821, and is the thiril son and fifth 
 child of John L. and Margaret (Hulbert) Powell. 
 His father was born in Massachusetts, January' 1, 
 1780, and his mother was a native of Middletown, 
 Conn. The former was a graduate of Williams 
 College. During the War of 1812, John L. Powell 
 took part in the figiit at Sackett's Harbor. He 
 was married in Trenton, Oneida Count3', N. Y., 
 in 1806, and spent the balance of his life there, 
 dying June 2.5, 1871. His faithful wife passed 
 away July 7, following, and they ^ were buried in 
 the same grave. The husband had attained to 
 
 the venerable age of ninety-one years and the 
 wife was eight3'-four. They had ten children, those 
 now living being Herbert, Jane, Joseph P. and 
 William. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice acquired 
 his fundamental edtication in the neighborhood of 
 his erirly home, and he then attended the academy 
 at Holland Patent. He remained with his parents 
 until he was twenty years old, then came to this 
 State and spent the winter in Calhoun Count3-, 
 eng.aging in teaching. In the summer he worked 
 on a farm, and after a sojourn of about twelve 
 months he returned to his native State. A year 
 later he again turned his footsteps westward, but 
 located in Desplaines, twentj-tliree miles from 
 Chicago, 111., where he spent a year in the butcher's 
 business. Thence he came to Ionia County and 
 settled where he is still living, taking possession of 
 a tract of land on which not a tree had been cut. 
 He built a log house, began clearing and gave the 
 winter months to teaching in the district sciiool. 
 
 The com))anion with whom Mr. Powell estab- 
 lished his liome in Ionia County, became his wife 
 November 11, 1846, prior to which date she was 
 known as Miss Ruth Ann Goodwin. .She was born 
 in Oneida County, N. Y., September 14, 1831, an<l 
 came to Michigan with her parciits when but nine 
 years old. Her father was a Deacon in tlie Baptist 
 Church. Both parents, Chauncey and Sarah (Hub- 
 bard) Goodwin, were born in Connecticut. Mrs. 
 Powell was carefully reared and given an under- 
 standing of domestic affairs as well as S'jhool 
 branches, so that she is intelligent in a general sense 
 and in all that pertains to housekeeping. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Powell have three daughters and four sons. 
 The eldest child Fannie, is the wife of William E. 
 Normington and lives in Ronald Township; Henry 
 W. is pastor of the Baptist Church in Travis City ; 
 Mary, who is still at home, is an artist and has 
 adorned the residence with many products of her 
 brush; Ella M., Mrs. W. G. Barnes, lives in Coopers- 
 ville, her husband being a publisher and editor there ; 
 Horace H. is living in Montcalm Count3-; Harmon 
 J. is pastor of the IJaptist Church in Creston, Iowa; 
 Herbert E. is farming on section 34, Ronald Town- 
 ship. 
 
 Mr. Powell does not seek public honors but has 
 
396 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIC iL ALBUM. 
 
 accepted some local offices, such as Highway Com- 
 missioner. Townsliip Treasurer and School Inspec- 
 tor. In politics he is a Republican. He and his 
 wife, as well as the various members of their fam- 
 ily, belong to the Baptist Church. Mr. Powell has 
 always been temperate in all things and never uses 
 tobacco in any form. He is a liberal giver to all 
 worthy enterprises, has been hard worliing and 
 thrifty, and has so sound a reputation that his name 
 was accepted as one of the bondsmen when the 
 courthouse in Ionia was beiiig erected. He is 
 quite popular, having in addition to his sturdy 
 qualities of character, u cordial and friendly man- 
 ner. 
 
 !)IIOMAS REGIS is one of the best known 
 and most thriving of the business men of 
 Edmore, Montcalm County. He handles 
 groceries and produce and carries the largest stock 
 of the former kept in the town. His course in life 
 has been marked by earnest industry, frugality and 
 integrity, and has resulted in advancing him from 
 the position of a lad without means to that of the 
 man of influence and financial prosperity. At least 
 two of the direct ancestors of our subject have 
 borne the same given name as himself. His grand- 
 father was an English farmer who died in his native 
 land and his father was born and reared near 
 Dover. The latter was a striker in iron works until 
 18.56, when he decided to emigrate to America. 
 
 AVith his wife and four children Mr. Regis left 
 Liverpool Harbor on a sailing-vessel and after a 
 voyage of six weeks landed in Quebec, Can.ada. 
 He went to the vicinity of Toronto and rented a 
 large farm, where he carried on his work some 
 two }'ears. He then removed to St. Clair Count)', 
 this State and again operated rented land, living 
 near Lakeport four years. Thence he came to the 
 central part of the State and for six years his home 
 was near Ionia. He then bought a farm near Sher- 
 idan, placed it under good improvement and re- 
 sided upon it six years. At the expiration of that 
 period he bought forty acres near Bushnell, where 
 he is now living. He is an earnest, upright man, 
 who has been a hard worker and is still active and 
 
 useful. He is a Democrat in politics and a Meth- 
 odist in religion. He is now soventy-five years 
 old, while his faithful wife is three years younger. 
 She bore the maiden name of Caroline Brown, was 
 born at Deal on the coast of England, and is the 
 daughter of a member of the life saving crew at 
 that point. 
 
 The family in which Tiiomas Regis of this notice 
 is the third child consists of five living members 
 and one deceased. Our subject was born near 
 Dover, England, February 4, 1852, and was four 
 years old when brought across the ocean, making a 
 voyage that he well remembers. From the age of 
 six years his life has been spent in Michigan and 
 his education was principally obtained in the 
 schools of Montcalm CountJ^ He was early set to 
 work and when fifteen years old left home to learn 
 shingle-making. He became proficient in all the 
 branches of the business, during the three years he 
 spent with Fred Nefl. In 1870 he made his way 
 on foot to Home Township, where he was emplo^'ed 
 in the shingle-mill of Orlh & White four years. 
 During that period his visits to his parents were 
 made on foot. 
 
 The next seven years were spent by Mr. Regis 
 in the employ of Mr. Thomas and he then became 
 foreman for Mr. Glen, continuing in that capacity 
 two years. In 1879 he came to Edmore and became 
 proprietor of St. James Hotel, now the Hotel .Tones, 
 after carrying on the establishment about eighteen 
 months, M. Regis sold out and opened a restaurant, 
 which he conducted a 3'ear. He next became clerk in 
 the grocery store of C. W. Stofford and remained in 
 the establishment until he was elected Marshal. He 
 acted in that ollicial capacity four years, during 
 which time he was also deputy Sheriff under Mr. 
 Summers. He had some narrow escapes from in- 
 jury and passed through some experiences that 
 make a romantic tale. In the spring of 188.5, in 
 partnership with II. Sackett, he entered into the 
 grocery business, but six months later bought out 
 I\Ir. Stevens, having dissolved his connection with 
 Mr. Sackett. He has continued the sale of groceries 
 and added produce to the commodities in which he 
 deals. 
 
 In 1876 Mr. Regis was married to Miss Emma 
 Tryon, the ceremony taking place in Sheridan. 
 
 I 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPJIICAL ALHUM. 
 
 397 
 
 The bride's father was a veteran of the Civil War 
 and died from tiie eflfects of exposure and liardsiiips 
 endured >Yliile aiding in tiie defense of the old flag, 
 Mrs. Regis was born in New Yorlc State, was well 
 reared, and discharges the duties of her position 
 in a creditable manner. She has borne her husband 
 three children, named respectively Vera and Verna 
 (twins), and Floyd. 
 
 Mr. Regis has bc(;n one of tiie Milage Tru.steos 
 three years and he is now serving on the School 
 Board. He is a Republican "first, last and always" 
 and has been a delegate to county conventions. 
 The only social order with which he is connected 
 is Masonry, in which he has attained to the Royal 
 Arch degree, his chapter merabershi[) being in 
 Stanton, and his Blue Lodge connection in Kdmorc. 
 His religious faith is tiiat exjiressed in the creed of 
 the Baptist Church, and he is a Superintendent of 
 the the Sunday-school connected with that organi- 
 zation. He is liberal-minded and has done what he 
 could to aid the various denominations represented 
 in Kdmore to build houses of worsliip, and joins 
 with each and all in benevolent work. 
 
 ^I'NTHONY FOX, one of the aged citizens 
 (@r-ll | of Ionia County', has lived on section 25, 
 
 /// it Lyons Township, for many years. When 
 ^(1 he took possession of a tract of land here 
 he was in a poorly developed part of the State and 
 his own property hail no improvements upon it. 
 He has done much hard work and has been a 
 potent factor in the improvement of this section 
 and is deserving of that which he has — the respect 
 of those who are enjoying the fruits of the labors 
 of himself and men like him, who opened ii|) the 
 country for civilization. 
 
 Mr. Fox is a native of Germany, born October 
 26, 1811, and received his education and early 
 training in his native land. He acquired a good 
 fund of practical information under the excellent 
 school system of the Empire, and, as was the cus- 
 tom, served in the array three ^-ears. He accom- 
 panied his father to America in 1 840, their landing 
 being made in New York City, where they re- 
 
 mained four days. Tbence they came to Detroit 
 Wirt Albany and Buffalo and for six v.-eeks remained 
 in the City of the Straits. Our subject then came 
 to his i)resent place of abode and began the work 
 of improvement, the tract being in its primitive 
 condition. It was necessary for Mr. Fox to work 
 hard, as was the case with others who developed 
 tiic fo'.'cst lands of this section, but he was rewarded 
 liy seeing his land become fruitful and attractive. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Fox and Miss Mary Schaf- 
 fer was solemnized in this State in 184G. The 
 bride was born in CJermany and emigrated to 
 America the year of her marriage. She is still liv- 
 ing on the homestead, she and her husband being 
 inmates of the home of their son, John P. They 
 have had thirteen children, eight of whom are now 
 living. The names of the survivors are Elizabeth, 
 Catherine, Theodore, Mathias, Stephen, Emma, 
 Mary and Joiin P. The latter was born in Cfinton 
 County, Februaiy 21, 1S60, and reared in Ionia 
 County. He is now carrying on the homestead, 
 operating eighty acres of land that is as fertile as 
 any in the county, and is well-stocked and intelli- 
 gently handled. The father has given each of the 
 fuur sons an eighty-acre tract, and himself remains 
 with the youngest. John Fox was married in 1881) 
 to Ida Simmons, who was born and reared in this 
 State and is a capable and intelligent woman. Mr. 
 Fox votes the Democratic ticket. Father and son 
 are reliable in all the relations of life, have good 
 reputations in business circles, and many friends in 
 the conimunitv. 
 
 "^l] ACOB SNKLL, a prominent and successful 
 agriculturist of Easton Township, Ionia 
 County, was born in Steuben Count}', N. Y., 
 April 7, 1831. Of his parents, Sylvenus T. 
 and Susan (Tunison) Snell more extended mention 
 is ni.ade in the sketch of George A. Snell which 
 ma)' be found in this volume. He had no advan- 
 tages for education other than are given in the 
 district sciiools of those carl)- ilays, but b)' reading 
 and research he has made himself a thoroughly 
 
398 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 informed man. He did much pioneer work after 
 coming with bis parents in 1849 lo Ionia County. 
 He wa.s married January 1, 1852, to Elmira Kol- 
 lo.<rg, daughter of Charles and Isabella (Blodgett) 
 Kellogg, early settlers of Ionia County. By their 
 union he has three children, Victoria E. (deceased), 
 Orson T. and Watson C. His humble log cabin 
 lias been replaced some years by a handsome 
 residence in which he now resides and where he 
 overlooks the work of cultivating the one hundred 
 and twenty broad and fertile acres in his posses- 
 sion. 
 
 The beloved wife of his youth who had been his 
 devoted helpmate and counselor, departed this life 
 November 5, 1880. Her friends and neighbors 
 united with her family in mourning her loss. She 
 was one of the pioneer women of the county, having 
 come here in 1851. Mr. Snell is a consistent 
 member of the Free Methodist Church and ofTi- 
 ciates as Trustee of the same. Ho has seen the 
 country grow up from a wild state to its present 
 prosperous condition. He is a Prohibitionist in 
 politics and widely popular for his hospitable and 
 neighborly kindness. The parents of his wife 
 had eight children, all of whom are deceased. 
 Tbey were: Orson, Louisa, Shiverisk (ex-Repre- 
 sentative of Ionia County), Charles, Rodney, 
 Emil}', Elmira and Isabella. Mrs. Snell was iden- 
 tified with the Free Methodist Church and was 
 highly respected for her many womanly virtues. 
 Mr. Snell is classed among the prosperous wide- 
 awake and i)ublic-spirited citizens of Ionia County. 
 
 \Tr=^ DWIN ABBEY. Among the [nominent and 
 |fel successful citizens of Koene Township who 
 /f' — ^ have been selected for representation in this 
 Bio<;kapiiical Album is the popular and worthy 
 ex-Clerk of Keene Township, Ionia Counlj", the 
 subject of this sketch and a native of the Green 
 Mountain State. Edwin Abbey was born in Addi- 
 son County, Vt., October 26, 1826. His parents 
 Eleazer and Betsey (North) Abbey, were both na- 
 tives of Vermont. His maternal Grandfather 
 North was a hero in the Revolutionary War and 
 
 was of English descent. His paternal ancestry is 
 from Scotland. Of four children born to his par- 
 ents, three are living — Edwin, Gideon and B3-ron S. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared to man- 
 hood among his native Green Mountains and when 
 quite young he began the trade of a wheelwright 
 or wagon-maker. He followed this trade until he 
 was about twenty years old, after which he took up 
 the trade of a carpenter and joiner and also taught 
 school during the winter season for a number of 
 years, both in Vermont and in Michigan. 
 
 The marriage of Edwin Abbe^' with Abby Heald 
 took i)lace September 4, 1853. Mrs. Abbey was 
 born in Washington County, N. Y., Deceniber 2, 
 1833, and is the daughter of Daniel and Pamelia 
 (Winslow) Heald. Her mother, now nearly four- 
 score years old, resides with our subject. Her 
 great-grandfather Heald was in the battle of Con- 
 cord and was a resident of that town. Mrs. Abbey 
 was one of six children, four of whom are living. 
 Her surviving brothers and sisters are; John who 
 lives in California; Phrebe, wife of J. W.Mitchell, 
 residents of Kansas; and Mary, wife of Cornelius 
 Myers, of Oceana Count}', Mich. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Abbey have been blessed with 
 one daughter, Mar^' E., who was born November 
 20, 1873. They have, however, one adopted son. 
 Ransom Abbe^-, who resides in Otisco Township. 
 In 1853 Mr. Abbey with bis wife came to Ionia 
 County and settled on a farm where he now resides 
 in Keene Township. He purchased eighty acres 
 from the State and paid for it at the rate of 81 per 
 acre. A board shanty 12xlG feet formed their first 
 residence here. Some time later they erected a 
 frame house where they resided man}' 3'ears. The 
 fine residence where they now live was built in 
 1878. Mr. Abbey cut the first tree that was 
 chopped down on this farm and has himself cleared 
 the place. He has undergone the usual hardships 
 and self-denials of pioneer life. 
 
 Our subject served for several terms as Clerk of 
 Keene Township, also one term as its Treasurer. 
 He is a Republican in politics. For many 3'ears 
 he served as Postmaster of Keene, the oflice being 
 located in his residence. That Mr. Abbey has been 
 successful finnnciallj', his fine residence and splen- 
 did farm abundantly testify' and the hospitality 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 399 
 
 » 
 
 extended by himself and his good wife is known 
 far and wide. lie is well-informed on the great 
 political questions which agitate tlie minds of our 
 American citizens, is thoroughly grounded in the 
 doctrines of protection to American industries 
 and believes that America is for Americans, lie 
 is a tyi)ical New England Yankee as well as a typ- 
 ical Western pioneer. An extensive reader and a 
 close student he has observed critically and has 
 attained to progressive and modern ideas. 
 
 f^ KRHKKT BAILEY. It is strange how 
 j) quickly the reputation of an hotel is sent 
 broadcast among the traveling public, yet 
 any thoughtful person will see at once that 
 a commercial traveler will never allow a brother 
 salesman to be long in ignorance of the good hos- 
 telries. Among the most popular of these in Cen- 
 tral Michigan Is the Bailey House in Ionia, which 
 is kept by gentlemen who thoroughly understand 
 their business, supply their guests with an abund- 
 ance of creature comforts and treat them with affa- 
 bility and true courtesy. One of the proprietors of 
 this ''traveler's delight" is the gentleman whose 
 name introiluces these paragraphs and whose bio- 
 graphical record is written below. 
 
 The Baileys came originally from England and 
 made their emigration to America during the 
 troublous times when the Colonists were expressing 
 their ideas regarding the tyranny of the home 
 government. A father and three sons came to 
 Rutland County, ^'t., and all but one were killed 
 by Tories, the exception being Oliver, who saved 
 his life by hiding in some alder brush. He had 
 seen the enemy coming and given the alarm, but it 
 was useless to attempt to flee, or do aught but 
 make an effort at concealment in the vicinlt3\ 
 After the slaughter the Tories compelled the 
 women to prepare a supper In the presence of their 
 dead and had a hilarious time over the feast. Oli- 
 ver Bailey- was wounded In the foot. He after- 
 ward removed to Wayne County, N. Y., where he 
 died in 181G. In his family was a son, Ephralm, 
 who came to this Slate many years after his father's 
 
 decease, and was cared for by a son until his death, 
 in 1880, when he was almost ninet}' years old. He 
 ha<l been blind for twenty' 3'cars. 
 
 The ne.\t In the direct line of descent was Lcman 
 II., who was born in W.ayne Count}', X. Y., Janu- 
 ary- 1, 1820, and was brought up to hotelkeeiiing. 
 He began his experience after marriage by opening 
 an inn at Shalersville, three miles from Cleveland, 
 Ohio, on the Cleveland <fe Pittsl)urg Plank Road 
 and the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad. The 
 location is now within the limits of the Forest 
 City. In 18.52 Mr. Bailey came to Ionia County, 
 Mich., and opened a grocery store, and subse- 
 quently ke[)t a baker}-. He was burned out twice. 
 Resuming his former occupation in the old lligliam 
 House, he pursued It four years then re-engaged In 
 the grocery trade. The present property was 
 bought in ISS.'i, but has been rebuilt and clianged 
 so that it is now one of the best hotel plants In the 
 county. 
 
 Leman Bailey married Rachel Klink, a native of 
 Ohio, and to them have been born eight children. 
 Those who are now living are Frank A., a confec- 
 tioner at Port Huron; Mary A., wife of Frank 
 Keeler of East .Saginaw, Paymaster of the Flint & 
 Pere Maiquette Railroad; Herbert, the subject of 
 this notice, and Edwin, wlio is also Interested in 
 the hotel business in Ionia. Mrs. Bailey is a de- 
 vout member of the Church of Christ. Mr. Bailey 
 is a Mason. In 1841 lie was Deput}' Shcrlflf of 
 Cuyahoga County, Ohio. 
 
 Herbert Bailej' was born in Twinsburg, Summit 
 County, Ohio, December 25, 1815. Having been 
 much of his life a dweller in an hotel kept by his 
 father, he early learned how to manage such an 
 establishment and as a caterer he is A No. 1. Not- 
 withstanding the multitudinous duties connected 
 with his occupation, he finds time to take a part in 
 the civil affairs and the social pleasures of the city 
 He has been a member of the Council four years 
 and belongs to the Royal Arcanum, Knights of the 
 Maccabees, Knights of I'ythias, and Masons. He is 
 connectcil with the Ilotelkeepci-s Union of the 
 United States. The Ionia County Fishing Club 
 has him for its President and he is Interested in 
 stocking streams with trout and active in sports- 
 men's work durinar the season. He was married at 
 
400 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the bride's home in Owasso, November 20, 1870, 
 to Miss Celia M. Rice, who lias borne him one 
 child, Jessie. Mrs. Bailey is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Ciuirch. 
 
 Edwin Bailey was born in Ionia March 18, 18G3. 
 Like his brother Herbert he casts a Democratic ballot 
 and belongs to the social orders of Knights of 
 Pythias, Knights of tlie Maccabees and Royal Ar- 
 canum. He is also identified with the Indepen- 
 dent Order of Foresters. He is a member of the 
 Episcopal Church. He was married February 24, 
 188G, to Esther Young, daughter of Jolin and Mary 
 Jane Young. The young couple have a son, John 
 Ildward. 
 
 ~ v;''i'':. 3B3j: 9]i'i''. ?' 
 
 AVID L. THOMPSON. This name will 
 be recognized b}' many readers as that of 
 one of the stockmen of Ionia County, who 
 is giving special attention to breeding im- 
 proved Chester AVhiLe and Suffolk swine. He has 
 been identified with the citizens of Otiseo Town- 
 ship since 1866 and has been a factor in the pros- 
 perity of the township, not alone by his occupation 
 in life, but b}' the improvements he has made upon 
 his land since he became its possessor. He owns 
 seventy-seven acres on section 28, whose value he 
 has greatly increased by his judicious improvement 
 and continual development. 
 
 Mr. Thompson, although a native of this State, 
 represents old New York families, being a son of 
 James and Rhoda (Crawford) Thompson, who left 
 the Empire State for the West in 1828. Thej^ 
 made their home in Macomb County and there the 
 father owned and operated one hundred and 
 seventy-seven acres of land. He lived until the 
 year 1864, but the mother of our subject died in 
 1840. The parental family consisted of nine sons 
 and one daughter, the subject of this notice being 
 the sixth son. The other members of the family 
 are IloUey, Robert, John, William, Myron, James 
 N., Gilbert L., George W. and Nancy. ]Mrs. 
 Thompson belonged to the Universalist Church. 
 Mr. Thompson served three months during the 
 
 War of 1812 and his father-in-law was a Revolu- 
 tionary soldier. 
 
 The date of the birth of David L. Thompson 
 was May 10, 1832, and the place where that event 
 transpired was Macomb County, this State. He 
 remained tliere until he was thirty-three years old, 
 making his home with his parents as long as thej- 
 lived. When old enough to work for himself he 
 took up the labors of life with considerable zeal 
 and worked at the carpenter's trade and farming 
 until his removal to Ionia County. In politics he 
 is a Republican. He is a reliable citizen, a man of 
 straightforward dealings, and one whose character 
 is honorable. 
 
 Mr. Thompson was married in Lapeer County to 
 i\Iary E. Patch, the date of the ceremony being 
 April 8, 1866. The bride was a daughter of Anson 
 B. and Ann L. (Jewell) Patch, natives of Massa- 
 chusetts and New York respectively. Their family 
 consisted of Mary E., Betsey, Angeline and George. 
 The father made a second marriage, wedding Miss 
 Emily Sullivan, who bore him four children named 
 respectively, Elmer A., Dorothy A., Jane E. and 
 Frank S. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are blest with 
 one son living, whose name is Fred A. Tliey lost 
 a child named Clare B., at the age of fifteen months. 
 
 \T^DWIN PORTER, who represents Douglass 
 ||a Township, Montcalm County, on the Board 
 /mL^i of Supervisors, has for more than twenty 
 years been identified with the growth and progress 
 of the county. Possessing rare business capabili- 
 ties, indomitable energy and untiring perseverance, 
 it is not strange that he is numbered among the 
 most prominent citizens of the township, while his 
 record as a soldier battling for the preservation of 
 the Union, justly entitles him to the esteem of all 
 who love their country. He owns and operates a 
 fine farm of eighty acres, pleasantly situated on 
 section 23, and here he may usually be found en- 
 gaged in the varied duties of his calling. He keeps 
 thoroughly posted upon the latest improvements in 
 farming machinery and methods of improving the 
 land, and since he located here in September, 1883, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 401 
 
 he has embellished his estate with substantial 
 buildings and brought the laud to a high degree of 
 cultivation. 
 
 The immediate progenitors of Mr. Porter were 
 Orange and Mary (Daniels) Porter, natives of Ver- 
 mont and Ohio. During liieir residence in Rich- 
 field Township, Summit County, Ohio, he of wiiom 
 we write was born June 27, 1845. When only two 
 years old he was brought by his parents to Hills- 
 dale County, Mich., where he passed his youth in 
 the usual manner of farmers' sons, attending the 
 district schools during the winter season and aiding 
 in the work on the farm in the summer. His fa- 
 ther developed a fine farm from the raw land which 
 he pureiiased in Hillsdale Coutjty, and upon this 
 homestead he still resides at the good old age of 
 seventy-six 3'ears. During his active life he took 
 great interest in political affairs and served several 
 ^•ears as Su|)ervisor; lie has now retired from the 
 more active duties of life, honored and esteemed 
 l)y all who know him, and is passing his declining 
 years in quietude and in the enjoyment of those 
 comforts which he accumulated while in his prime. 
 
 On October 16, 1863, our subject enlisted in the 
 Tnion army as a private in Battcrj' F, First Mich- 
 igan Light Artillery and was mustered into service 
 at Kalamazoo, Mich. He was ordered to Kentucky 
 where, with others in his coro[)any, he participated 
 in the hunt after the rebel, John Morgan, through 
 Kentucky and Tennessee, having daily skirmishes 
 on the waj'. We next find Mr. Porter stationed at 
 Knoxville, Tenn., where the Union army was he- 
 sieged during the winter of 1863-64 and where 
 they suffered innumerable hardships and priva- 
 tions. In the spring of 1864 the b.atter}' joined 
 Sherman's army and proceeded to Atlanta, after the 
 capture of which they followed Hood to Nashville. 
 The capture and annihilation of that army is a 
 matter of history and its effect upon the nation 
 was immediate and startling. Battery F, which 
 had contributed so largely to IIooil's defeat, was 
 sent to Washington, D. C, and after being re- 
 equipi)ed, was ordered to Goldsboro, N. C, where 
 the}' joined Sherman's army. 
 
 The last battle in which the battery took part 
 after the surrender of Johnston was the battle of 
 Kingston or Goldsboro, and after that engagement 
 
 they were ordered to Newbern, N. C. Mr. Porter 
 was honorably discharged at Jackson, Mich., July 
 1.1865. The i)rincipal engagements in which he 
 took part were: Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Peach 
 Tree Creek, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, 
 Culp House, Decatur and Jonesboro, Ga., Nash- 
 ville and Goldsboro, N. C. In the march to 
 Atlanta his battery was under fire from the enemy 
 for one hundred and four consecutive days in vari- 
 ous skirmishes. As one who stood in proud de- 
 fense of our nation and knew no fear of death or 
 defeat, Mr. Porter is entitled to the high esteem in 
 which he is held by all who know him. 
 
 Immediately after his return to the i)ursuits of 
 civic life, Mr. Porter engaged in farming at 
 the old homestead, and also followed the saw- 
 mill business for two years. On October 19, 1869, 
 he was united in marriage to Miss Adelia M. Rey- 
 nolds, the daughter of Chauncey and Tryphena 
 (Tuttle) Reynolds, natives of Steuben County, 
 N. Y., and early settlers in Hillsdale County. Mrs. 
 Porter is a lady of great refinement, culture of 
 mind and kindness of heart. Her union with our 
 subject has been blessed to them by the birth of 
 three children, viz: Nellie A. who was born 
 August 10, 1870, married Harvey Hancock and 
 now lives one mile east of her father's home; Ida 
 Alice, born November 1, 1874, is now teaching 
 school; Myron Thomsis, who was born April 25, 
 1878, is at home. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Porter located in Sidney 
 Township, Montcalm Count}', where he purchased 
 •an unimproved farm of forty acres. This he 
 cleared and im)iroved, cultivated the soil, and em- 
 bellished the estate with subst:intial buildings for 
 the stor.age of grain and the shelter of stock and 
 farming machinery. The place was considerably 
 improved when Mr. Porter sold it at a fair profit, 
 and locating in Do\iglass Townshi|) in Septemhcr, 
 1883, h.as since devoted his attention to tlie develop- 
 ment of his eighty -acre farm here. His commodi- 
 ous residence and pleasant surroundings invariably 
 attract the a<lmiring attention of the passing 
 traveler and the first impression is deepened upon 
 closer examination. In his political belief, Mr. 
 Porter is a Prohibitionist with Republican tendencies 
 and takes an active interest in local affairs. He 
 
402 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 served Sidney Townsliip as Justice of the Peace for 
 eight years, and as Treasurer two years. He has 
 been Justice of liie Peace in Douglass Township 
 for four years, Highw.ay Commissioner two years, 
 Treasurer one year, and is now Supervisor. In 
 whatever position he is placed, he brings to its 
 duties the good judgment and untiring energy 
 which characterize his actions in every department 
 of labor. 
 
 ♦^-^ 
 
 ^^ HARLES E. BROWN, a prosperous agricul- 
 (l( J-. turist of Home Townsliip, Montcalm County, 
 ^^^ bas a fine farm and a considerable tract of 
 land in the town of Edmore. He makes his residence 
 in the village and deals in real estate there, and also 
 carries on his farm, dividing his attention between 
 the raising of cereals and stock and such small crops 
 as are suited for the market of this section. His 
 farm consists of two hundred acres on sections 27 
 and 30 and bears all necessary buildings. It is care- 
 fully handled and produces well, giving adequate 
 returns for the labor expended upon it. 
 
 Our subject is tiie second in a family of five 
 children born to Mr. ami Mrs. William Brown whose 
 biography is found elsewhere in this Album. He 
 was born in Shelby, Macomb County this State 
 March 11, 1844, and when three years old was taken 
 to St. Joseph County, whence the family removed 
 to Kent County a few years later. There he grew 
 to manhood on a farm in Cannon Township, helping 
 his father clear and develop the land and learning 
 booklore in the district school. He managed a 
 breaking plow to wliich five or six j'oke of oxen 
 were attaciied, picked out grubs on the tracts where 
 trees had just been felled, and did other woik by 
 means of which land is prepared for crops. His 
 attendance at school was mainl}' during the winter 
 months and he had to go some distance to a log 
 schoolhouse where he sat on slab benches. 
 
 When he was of age Mr. Brown left his parents' 
 dwelling and began farming for himself. He bought 
 a tract of new land in Oakfield Township, and as 
 he had means and opportunity added to the original 
 eighty until the estate comprised one hundred and 
 
 fifty-eight acres, and placed all but twent}' under 
 the plow. lie drew wheat seventeen miles with 
 oxen and received ^2.98 per bushel. In 1877 Mr. 
 Brown removed to the township in which his parents 
 lived and carried on the homestead until the fall of 
 1 880. He then came to Montcalm County and bought 
 one hundred and fourteen acres on section 30, Home 
 Township. He located in Edmore and gave his 
 time and energy to the cultivation of his land, and 
 ere long added ninety-five acres to the property, 
 this being on section 27. He also bought twenty 
 acres within the corporation with buildings, and in 
 1885 put up a fine residence that is considered the 
 best in tlie place. 
 
 In Rockford, Kent County, March 31, 1868, Mr. 
 Brown was married to Miss Rozella Bush, daugiiter 
 of AVilliara and Eliza (Deck) Bush. Her parents 
 were born in Herkimer County N. Y. and her grand- 
 parents belonged to the agricultural class of the 
 Empire State. Grandfather Deck came to this State 
 and died here at the age of ninety years. He was 
 unusually active and but twelve months before his 
 decease rode horseback. Mr. Bush came to Kent 
 County early in the '50s and with his fat!ier-in- 
 law improved a tract of land which they operated 
 for some time. It was finally sold and Mr. Bush 
 retired to Rockford, where he still lives. He is a 
 slanch Republican in his political views. Mrs. 
 Brown is the fourth child of her parents and was 
 born near Morristown, Herkimer County, N. Y. 
 June 15, 1848. Having come to this State with 
 her parents in her early childhood she was reared 
 in Kent County and obtained her education there. 
 She is well informed, kind and efficient, and in the 
 intervals of home duties finds opportunities to be 
 useful to the community. 
 
 The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Brown is Edith, 
 who was graduated from the Edmore Higii School 
 in 1886. Her love for the beautiful has led her to 
 devote considerable attention to painting for which 
 she has a decided talent. She is now assistant post- 
 mistress in Edmore. Mr. Brown manifests the 
 interest in educational affairs that should be shown 
 by every good citizen and intelligent man. He has 
 been a member of the School Board and is now 
 serving his tliird term as Village Trustee. His 
 political influence is exerted for the Republican 
 
A \^ 
 
 C^^^n^^^C^ cS^lC^^n^i^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 405 
 
 party and he is one of the slanchest supporters 
 of its principles aii<1 one of the most active of its 
 members. In all that <ioes to make u|)good citizen- 
 ship he is numbered as one of the foremost men of 
 the place and in its business and social life he bears 
 a prominent part. 
 
 
 ' NSKL A. CRANE. There arc few men 
 now living in Ionia County wiiose personal 
 (/ li! reminiscences of the pioneer work done 
 here and the mode of life in llie early daj'g, 
 are more vivid tiian those of Mr. Crane, whose 
 portrait appears on the opposite page. His liome 
 is on section 32, Lyons Township, and he was the 
 (irst settler in liiat vicinity. He selected his land 
 when there was onlj' an Indian trail to follow into 
 the forest, and when wild animals of various kinds, 
 including bear, wolves, dter and turkeys were 
 numerous thereabouts, some of them proving 
 troublesome and dangerous neighbors. Mr. Crane 
 has been the owner of considerable land but has 
 sold off, retaining only his original eighty acres. 
 At present lie gives bis attention to general farm- 
 ing, but he formerly handled a great deal of fine 
 stock and was one of I he leading breeders in this 
 part of the State. Animals from his farm were to 
 be seen at all the fairs and the blue ribbon fell to 
 them more than once. Mr. and Mrs. Crane also 
 shipped large quantities of butter, prineipallj' to 
 Chicago, and they still continue tiie dairy business. 
 The grandfather of our subject was Zebina 
 Crane, s native of New .Jersey and a farmer by oc- 
 cupation. His son, Obadiah the direct progenitor 
 of our subject, was born in the same Slate and fol- 
 lowed tlie same occupation as his father. The 
 mother of our subject, Lydia De.xter, was born and 
 reared in New York and her father, George Dex- 
 ter, was a native of Connecticut and a blacksmith 
 by trade. She came to 0:ikland County, this State 
 in an early day but afterward came to the home of 
 her son and lived willi him until her death when 
 fifty-seven years of age. The parental family in- 
 cluded thirteen children, ten of whom lived to be 
 adults and nine now survive. 
 
 The subject of this biograpliieal sketch was born 
 in Wayne County, N. Y., January 7, 1820, and 
 was the first-born of his parents. He started out 
 in the world for himself at the early age of twelve 
 years, working for his board and clothes until lie 
 was fitted to earn wages. He then worked by the 
 month, still in the East until 1845, when he came 
 to this State. He made his home in Ponliac for a 
 lime, working on a farm bj' the month. He then 
 chopped wood in Lansing, cutting timber that 
 stood in the streets of that place, and he also drove 
 cattle and hauled logs there. Thence he came to 
 Grand River, Ionia Count}', and during the winter 
 labored as a woodsman near the county seat. He 
 was not of age when he bought the farm upon 
 wliicli he now resides. It was timber land, devoid 
 of improvement and it was necessary for the new 
 owner to begin at the beginning in bringing it 
 under cultivation. He built a little shanty in whii^h 
 he kept "bach" a year, and he then secured a com- 
 panion in a true-hearted and energetic young 
 woman, who became his wife I^ecember 7, 1848. 
 
 The bride of Mr. Crane was Sarah I). Way, who 
 was born in Canada and brought to this State when 
 seven years old. Her parents — William and Mary 
 ( Honeywell) W.iy were natives of Dutchess Count}-, 
 N. Y.. and Can.ada respectively Their family con- 
 sisted of twelve children — Sarah being the fourth 
 in order of birth. Five daughters and one son are 
 now living. Housckee|)ing was begun by Mr. and 
 Mrs. Crane in a fashion much more common among 
 pioneers than is perhaps realized b}' those who arc 
 accustomed to modern conveniences. Their dwell- 
 ing was 10x12 feet, with a stick and cl:iy cliiiiinej- 
 and one window. The furniture it contained w.as 
 three chairs with board bottoms, a table made by 
 fastening a board against the wall, and a bedstead 
 formed of poles, also attached to the wall. The 
 young husband worked his land with oxen. He 
 h.ad paid ^2 per acre for the tract. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Crane there came five cljildren, 
 of whom we make the following mention: Ellen, 
 wife of James Cramer, lives in Belding; Alliert A., 
 who was graduated at Lansing in 187(), is a pro-ni- 
 nent banker and Iaw3'er in Otsego Ciuinty, Mich., 
 and agent for the Michigan Central Railroad Com- 
 pan}' ; Oscar T. is farming in Lyons Township; 
 
406 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Theron E. died of diptheria when seven years and 
 six montlis old; Eva M. is the wife of James Root 
 and lives in Lyons Township. 
 
 The first Presidential vote cast by Mr. Crane 
 was for Zachary Taylor. He has used his influence 
 for the Republican party at almost every election 
 and has been an active political worker. The year 
 that Grover Cleveland was elected President lie 
 voted with the Prohibitionists and was a candidate 
 for Representative, missing the election by but a 
 small number of votes. He has, however, returned 
 to the Republican ranks. Since he was first entitled 
 to the right of suffrage he has never failed to deposit 
 his ballot on election day. He is President of the 
 Patrons of Industry. He was for many years School 
 Director and was one of the chief instruments in 
 the building of the first schoolhouse in the neigh- 
 borhood. He has also been School Collector. Both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Crane belong to the Society of 
 Friends and he has charge of the congregation in 
 Crane District, wiiich is a branch of the Quaker 
 Church in Hudson, Lenawee County, Mich. He 
 has for years been Superintendent of the Sunday- 
 school. Mrs. Crane is as well known in this local- 
 ity as her husband, as she has lived for fifty-one 
 years on the farm that is now her home, or within 
 three miles of it. Her services in the neighborhood 
 in times of sickness and aflfliction have been valued 
 and she has a warm place in the hearts of the 
 people. 
 
 <S)UDGE FRANCIS NELSON, one of the 
 most notable and noteworthy residents of 
 Cedar Lake, Montcalm County, is the son 
 of Josiah Nelson, a native of Massachusetts. 
 His grandfather passed away in Middlefield, Otsego 
 County, N. Y., to which place his father caaie 
 from Ireland in the early years of its settlement. 
 This Irish father was a Protestant and an Orange- 
 man, and served in the Revolutionary War. Tiie 
 father of our subject was a wagon and carriage 
 manufacturer at Middlefield, N. Y., and later in 
 Seneca County and in Niagara County in the same 
 State. He was successful in his business and passed 
 
 away at a good old age. He was an Anti-Fed- 
 eralist of those early days. The mother was of 
 English and Welsh descent and a Presbyterian 
 in faith. Only one of the eleven children of this 
 couple died in childhood. The five who now sur- 
 vive are: Emilia, Mrs. Ackerman, who resides 
 near Romeo, Mich.; Franklin, who resides in De- 
 troit; our subject; Harry, wiio resides in Kala- 
 mazoo; and Robert, who makes his liome in Battle 
 Creek. 
 
 Judge Nelson was born July 15, 1808, in Mid- 
 dlefield, Otsego County, N. Y. He removed when 
 six years old to Seneca County, N. Y., and on the 
 farm learned all the practical work of an agricul- 
 turist. When seventeen years old he removed to 
 Niagara County where he remnined with his 
 father until he was twenty-two years of age. He 
 then engaged in the lumber business and learned 
 the practical work of a sawyer so that he was soon 
 able to run a mill for his brother. In the spring 
 of 1835 he came to Michigan, traveling by boat to 
 Toledo, and by team from there to Palmyra, Len- 
 awee County. He took charge of a mill there 
 and operated it for some three years. Here he 
 buried his first-born child, a boy of eighteen 
 months. He bought a farm in Madison Township, 
 Lenawee County, built a log house and proceeded 
 to clear the land. He was always interested in 
 politics and was a Whig of the old school. He 
 was made Justice of the Peace which office he filled 
 a number of years. He was a prominent member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch, and being of 
 a hospitable nature kept his latch string always 
 hung out for the itinerant minister. After some 
 years he sold his land and bought a farm of 
 eighty acres in IMcdina Township. 
 
 Mr. Nelson again determined to seek new fields, 
 and in the fall of 1854 he sold his farm and came 
 by team to Gratiot County and purchased one 
 hundred and sixty acres recently brought upon the 
 market by the Government on section 11, of what 
 is now Cambria Township. The last three or four 
 miles of their journey it was necessary to cut their 
 way through the woods. Here he cleared up a 
 small place and built a log house. He probably 
 made the first boards manufactured in the count}', 
 using a pit saw. He was among the first settlers 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 407 
 
 in Gratiot County. The Chippewa Indians were 
 all al)out him but were peaceful neighbors. He soon 
 placed his farm in good condition and iielped in 
 every w.iy to build up the neighborhood. 
 
 This enterprising young man helped to organize 
 the county into townships and was the first Super- 
 visor of Arcadia, serving for two years, lie was 
 a member of the Board of Supervisors that were 
 active iu the county seat controversy and who 
 finally located the count}' seat at Ithaca. In the 
 fall of 1857 he was elected Probate Judge of 
 Gratiot County. In this responsible position he 
 served for three terras of four years each, holding 
 court every month, and at the end of twelve years 
 he was offered the renomination which he declined. 
 During the first three years of this i)eriod he re- 
 sided at Itliaca, where he built his residence. He 
 helped to build the first Court House and was one 
 of the three partners who built the first saw and 
 grist mill in the count}-. 
 
 Judge Nelson was one of the best and most im- 
 partial Probate Judges the count}- has ever had. 
 He knew and was known by everyone and no one 
 was more highly honored than lie. He continued 
 farming in Arcadia until 1879, when he sold his 
 farm and came to Home, Montcalm County. His 
 son, William S., was doing a large business at 
 Cedar Lake. He had laid out the town about this 
 time and was very active in building it up. The 
 Detroit, Lansing <fe Western Railroad had prom- 
 ised to come through that point, but disappoint- 
 ment was experienced in regard to this railroad, 
 and it went through three miles farther west, 
 leaving the land which had been purch.ased by the 
 Nelsons less valuable than they had hoped to 
 make it. Of this land, which is now higiily im- 
 proved, the Judge retains only twenty-two acres. 
 Here he engages iu gardening and raising small 
 fruits. 
 
 The first marriage of our subject was solemnized 
 in Lockport, N. Y., in 1833. He was then united 
 with Miss Deborah Cotton, a native of Canada. 
 This lady was descended from a long line of emi- 
 nent clergy, the most notable ancestor being John 
 Cotton, of Boston, England. He was a subject of 
 persecution from Arcldjishop Laud during the 
 reign of Charles I. From these trials and restric- 
 
 tions he fled to Boston, Mass., which was named 
 in honor for his old home in England. He was a 
 warm friend of Oliver Cromwell and became the 
 grandfather of Cotton Matiier, the distinguished 
 New England divine. 
 
 Five children were born to this marriage: Will- 
 iam S., Will)ur, Theodore; Sybil, Mrs. Titus J. 
 Andrews, of Alma; and Mary, who died in 1875. 
 The oldest son of Judge Nelson is the founder of 
 Cedar Lake, whicli he platted and laid out, and 
 was at one time the most active business man in 
 the township. He once owned about eighteen hun- 
 dred acres of land and ran numerous saw and 
 shingle mills besides carrying on general merchan- 
 dise. Later he went into the creamery and stock 
 business, and imported the first full-blooded cattle 
 and Shropshire sheep that were brougi)t here. He 
 spread his business over too many different enter- 
 prises and was obliged to sell considerable so as 
 to concentrate his efforts. He has now been four 
 and five humored acres of land, much of which is 
 finely improved and mostly in the hands of tenants. 
 He now residis in Fresno City, Cal., and is car- 
 rying on the real-estate business. The second 
 son, Wilbur, enlisted in 1861 in the Eiglith Mich- 
 igan Infantry. He received a flesh wound iu tlie 
 leg and was honorably discharged, but soon re- 
 enlisted and received the commission of Captain 
 of the First Colored Volunteers of Michigan and 
 served in this position until the close of the war. 
 In the fight at James Island he was shot through 
 the lungs but, strange to s.ay, he recovered. By 
 his third wound he lost a finger. He is now at 
 the head cif the firm of Nelson, Barber & Co., who 
 are engaged in general merchandising at Ithaca. 
 The third son, the Rev. Theodore Nelson, is in 
 some respects the most distinguished member of 
 this household, having made for himself a reputa- 
 tion as a minister and instructor, not inferior to 
 that of any clergyman in his part of the Slate. In 
 his boyhood's days he enlisted three times before 
 he could gain the consent of his parents to his 
 entering the army. He finally served from July, 
 18G2, until the close of the war in Company D, 
 Twenty-sixth Michigan Infantry, and received the 
 commission of Second Lieutenant. He is a "raduate 
 of Ann Arbor University and after he entered the 
 
408 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ministry was for nine years pastor of the First 
 Baptist Cburcli in East Saginaw. Twice liis healtli 
 failed and liis friends in tliat city sent Iiim abroad 
 to recuperate. He is a man of executive ability, 
 a logical speaker and easily wins the confidence 
 and esteem of all. It was a common saying in 
 East Saginaw that he was pastor not merely of 
 the Baptist Church but of all the city. As the 
 now newly-appointed President of Kalamazoo Col- 
 lege he is in a position where his qualities will re- 
 dound to the good of the State. Tiie confidence, 
 esteem and co-operation of the students are his. 
 
 The second marriage of Judge Nelson occurred 
 in 1878. He was thereby united with Mrs. Russell 
 Burgess. Her married life witli Judge Nel- 
 son extended only over eleven years as she died 
 in December, 1889. The first vote of the subject 
 of our sketch was given for John Quincy Adams. 
 He was anti-Masonic in his politics in the early 
 days. He cast a vote for William Henry Harrison 
 and joined the Rei)ubiicau party in 1854, in which 
 he has been a true-blue ever since. In his earl}- 
 life he found his religious home in the Metiiodist 
 Episcopal Churcli, but about 1867 he embraced 
 the doctrines of the Seventh Day Adventists and 
 is now au Elder in tliat churci). 
 
 The subject of this sketch is a man of much 
 natural vigor of mind and force of character. His 
 superior judgment, his recognized integrity and 
 blameless character give him an immense influence 
 with his neighbors, which is always exerted for the 
 good of the community-. 
 
 -^ 
 
 ^^EORGE BRAMAN. From lands across the 
 (|| sj^ sea many men have come to swell the 
 ^^i) population of the United States, and Mont- 
 calm County is not without her representatives of 
 these enterprising and hcnest emigrants. One who in 
 Crystal Township has been making his waj' finan- 
 cially and gaining friends as well, is George Bra- 
 man, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, 
 September 13, 1849. He is a son of James and 
 Ann Braman, who were of Englisli birth and be- 
 longed to an agricultural community. When our 
 
 subject was but twelve years old his parents crossed 
 the ocean and came direct to this State, locating in 
 Jackson County. Our subject came liere about 
 four months before his parents. The lad was 
 obliged to work and could attend school only 
 during the winter montlis, so that his educational 
 advantages were meager and confined entirely to 
 Llie district schools. 
 
 Young Braman went to live with an uncle when 
 he was twelve years old, but was mistreated and 
 ran away. He met with an accident and broke 
 his leg, and for some time was helpless on account 
 of the injurj'. When he recovered he worked in 
 various ways, gaining his own support from his 
 fifteenth year. At the age of eighteen he took a 
 place among the lumbermen and for two years was 
 steadily employed in the woods. He then gave 
 his attention to farming in the summer for a year 
 or two, after which he devoted himself entirely to 
 agricultural work. 
 
 Mr. Braman was married March 1, 1867, to 
 Mary A. Bancroft, who was born in Lincolnshire, 
 England, November 28, 1846. She is a ca|)able 
 housewife, is devoted to the interests of her fam- 
 ily and n)akes her home attractive to her own 
 loved ones and their many friends. The marriage 
 has been blest by the birth of six children whose 
 record is as follows: Lizzie, born October 5, 1869; 
 Charles II., October 28, 1871; Adelbert J., Octo- 
 ber 4, 1874; Manda, November 24, 1876; John 
 W., February 4, 1880; and George A., March 4, 
 1883. The elder daughter is the only one of the 
 children who has yet left the parental roof and she 
 is now the wife of John Tow, living in the same 
 county as her parents. All have been well edu- 
 cated, both Mr. and Mrs. Braman having taken 
 much interest in their progress. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Braman lived in Jackson 
 and Washtenaw Counties two 3'ears, and he then 
 operated his father-in-law's farm in Montcalm 
 County. Thence he came to this place, where his 
 first purchase was of forty acres. To this he has 
 added until his estate now comprises two hundred 
 acres, the greater part of which is under improve- 
 ment. Mr. Braman did considerable of tlie clear- 
 ing himself. Tlie farm is well fenced and among 
 its conspicuous features are three good orchards. 
 
 i 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 409 
 
 The hay barn is the best in the countj' and is a 
 large, substantial structure built in 1887. There 
 is also a, good horse barn, wliicli was put up in 
 1889. Mr. Braman talies great interest in good 
 stock atd keeps sheep, cattle and horses in consid- 
 erable numbers. 
 
 Mr. Braman has never bothered himself uboul 
 official station, but keeps well informed, and in 
 national elections votes the Democratic ticket. 
 When local offices are to be filled he makes choice 
 of the man he thinks best fitted to carry out the 
 will of the people, regardless of party affiliations. 
 As he is much interested in the progress of educa- 
 tion he has been willing to serve in school offices, 
 and has done the best he could to add to the effi- 
 ciency of the local institutions of learning. He 
 takes part in enterprises which promise to benefit 
 tiie people, and has a reputable place in the opinion 
 of the public. 
 
 ELEG EDDY of Berlin Township, Ionia 
 
 J) County, is the son of Abram Edd^ who 
 
 was born in Vermont in "TTSJ^ «nd who 
 
 was one of the farmer volunteers for the 
 War of 1812. Although ready to go into active 
 service be was not called for. The mother of our 
 subject bore the maiden name of Cynthia Phillips 
 and was born in Rhode Island in 1790. After 
 their marriage in New York tlie^- removed to Penn- 
 sylvania, and after living awhile in Ohio, came to 
 Michigan in 1834 and settled in Lenawee County, 
 near Fairfield, six miles south of Adrian, where 
 they rented a farm, being then too poor to [)ur- 
 chase. 
 
 Removing to Ionia Count}' in 1840, Abram 
 Eddy settled on section 2, Berlin Township, and 
 building a log house proceeded to clear off and 
 cultivate the unbroken soil. He had eighty acres 
 originally, forty of which he sold, but afterwanl 
 added eighty more by purchase, thus having one 
 hundred and twentv' at the time of his death, 
 which occurred in 1875. This event was followed 
 two years later by the decease of his wife. Of 
 their twelve children five survive: Diana, Mrs. 
 
 Tanner, Gardner, Mrs. I. Harwood, Peleg, and 
 Zephanluh. The mother of this household was a 
 sincere and earnest Christian, a member of the 
 Christian Church. Her husband was a man of 
 strictly temperate liabits, a hard worker and an 
 excellent manager. In local politics he took an 
 active part, voting and working for the Democratic 
 (larty. 
 
 The gentleman whose name heads this sketch 
 was born September 24, 1827, in the townsliip of 
 Hamburg, Chautauqua County, N. Y. He came to 
 Michigan when onl}' seven years of age and became 
 an inhabitant of Ionia County at thirteen vears of 
 age. He was earnest and unllinching in his efforts 
 to relieve his father in every way possible of the 
 arduous labors incident to pioneer life, and conse- 
 quently his school education was cut short. He 
 remained at home, helping Jiis fatlier until twent}'- 
 eight years of age, and was that parent's mainstay 
 all through the later years of his life. 
 
 September 28, 1855, tlie subject of this sketch 
 was united in marriage with Ann Eliza Emmons, 
 a native of Jefferson County, N. Y., and who came 
 to Michigan in 1853. After their marriage they 
 settled upon the farm whicli Mr. Eddy now occupies 
 There were then no improvements upon this land, 
 and the homestead was onlj' a log house, which is 
 still standing as a memento of those happy daj's of 
 early married life. Mrs. E<ldy was born Novem- 
 ber 8, 1837, and was called from earth in May, 
 1873. She and Mr. pAldy were the parents of 
 seven children, six of whom survive their mother. 
 Phila Ann, Mrs. W. L. Carpenter, is the mother of 
 one child and makes her home in Ionia; Abram, 
 who married Elizabeth Frantz, has two children, 
 and lives on section 15, Berlin Townsliip; Frank; 
 Fred, liaving married Annie Harwood, lives on 
 the farm and has one child; Carrie, wife of Frank 
 Patrick, lives on section 14, ami is the mother of 
 one child; Cora, wife of William Sible, living on 
 section 3, also has one child. 
 
 Mr. Eddy was again united in the happy bonds 
 of wedlock on Christmas Da}-, 1886, choosing as 
 his wife, Amanda V. (Hines) Smith, a widowed 
 daughter of Benjamin F. and Aurelia C. (Howk) 
 Hines. Mr. Hines was a native of Chenango 
 County, N. Y., and his wife was born in Lorain 
 
410 
 
 PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 County, Ohio. They were married in Ohio and 
 resided there till 1854, when they came to Mich- 
 igan and settled on section 18, Berlin Township. 
 He cleared off a farm and improved it. He was a 
 soldier in the Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, a 
 member of Company I, but did not serve tlirougii 
 his full course of enlistment on account of illness, 
 being given an honorable discharge before its expi- 
 ration. He died in 1889 at the age of sixty-five 
 years, leaving his widow, who still resides on the 
 home farm. They were the parents of nine chil- 
 dren, seven of whom are still living. The present 
 Mrs. Eddy is a woman of strong character and quiet 
 and refined manners. She was born November 24, 
 1853 in Lorain Countj^, Ohio. Educated at the 
 scliool of Saranac, Mich., she began teaching when 
 only eighteen and for two years ably proved her 
 claim to being a successful and thorough instructor. 
 By a former marriage siie had two children: Orpha 
 May, now seventeen years old, and Inez A., fifteen 
 years old. One child has been born to Mr. and 
 Mrs. Eddy — Little Ford entered life May 7, 1889, 
 but was called from earth March 7, 1891, to the 
 great grief of his parents. Mrs. Eddy is a con- 
 sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 and has been active and untiring in Sunday-school 
 work. Her husband has always taken an interest 
 in politics and belongs to the Democratic partj'. 
 His neighbors have shown their appreciation of his 
 character and sterling qualities by electing him to 
 numerous places of trust. He has been for some 
 years a member of the School Board, is always in 
 charge of the work of Road Overseer and has been 
 Treasurer of Berlin Tovvnship. He was formerly 
 a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
 lows and now belongs to the Patrons of Industry. 
 He carried on mixed farming, with his boys to 
 help him. Of his farm of two hundred and sixty 
 acres, about two hundred are under cultivation. 
 
 Over twenty-five years ago our subject began 
 raising running horses, and has had some very fine 
 specimens. Since 1885 he has been breeding trot- 
 ling stock. His first venture was "Little Topsy," 
 a registered Hambletonian, and dam of "Cleveland 
 S," and four others which he now owns. He has 
 twenty-five head of horses and is an enthusiastic 
 breeder of fine stock. One of his I wo year-olds 
 
 weighs nine hundred and sixty pounds. This colt 
 who was sired by "Montgomery," by ilam "Little 
 Topsy," is valued at $5,000. Anotiier horse was 
 sired i)y '■Commander," by "Volunteer," dam "Lit 
 tie Topsy," whose record is 2 :26:^. 
 
 PRANK FISK, a farmer of Ionia County, has 
 I spent the greater part of his life in agricul- 
 tural work and is still continuing his pur- 
 suit in Otisco Townsliip. The estate which he now 
 owns here consists of eighty acres of well-improved 
 land about three miles from the town of Belding. 
 The farm is supplied with various buildings of good 
 construction, affording ample accommodations for 
 the stock and storage room for the crops, and the 
 property taken as a whole is valuable and pleasing 
 to the eye. Mr. Fisk has been identified with the 
 interests of the county some fifty j-ears and rei)re- 
 senls one of the pioneer families to whose labors 
 the present condition of affairs is so largely due. 
 
 Joseph Fisk, father of our subject, was born in 
 Massachusetts and in the town of Ashfield was 
 mairied to Clarissa Kimberly, daughter of Silas 
 Kiniberly. In 1838 he removed to this State, 
 choosing Ionia County as his future place of abode. 
 His good wife died in 1840 and her remains were 
 the first deposited in Otisco cemetery. Mr. Fisk 
 survived until 1877. On coming to this section 
 he bought two hundred acres of land in Otisco 
 Township and at his death he owned three hundred 
 and thirty acres of farm land and ten acres of pine 
 land. During three winters he dealt in lumber. 
 His family comprised four sons and one daugliter, 
 their names being Frank, Silas, Ambert, Walter 
 and Emily. 
 
 The birth of Frank Fisk occurred in Ashfield, 
 Mass., March 13, 1836, and he was therefore but 
 two years old when he became a resident of Micli- 
 igan. He remained an inmate of his father's home 
 until he was of age, and during the passing years 
 took advantage of the opportunities afforded for 
 acquiring knowledge, both of textbooks and farm 
 work. Upon reaching his majority lie began farm- 
 ing for himself and with the exception of four 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ill 
 
 j'ears spent in keeping an hotel at Cook's Corners 
 he lias given his lime and attention to the vocation 
 to which he was reared. Me takes no prominent 
 part in public affairs but contents himself willi 
 pursuing the even tenor of his way, building up 
 ills own (inances and enjoying home life and social 
 intercourse. He votes the Hepublican ticket. 
 
 Mr. Fisk was married in Otisco Townsiiip in 
 18()1 to Cordelia Tower, daughter of Joseph and 
 Philura (Baldwin) Tower, who were natives of 
 New York. Mr. and Mrs. Fisk have had four chil- 
 dren — Ralph, Frank, Clarissa and Funnie. The sons 
 are deceased; Caddie is married and living in Eaton 
 County ; Fannie is yet with her parents. 
 
 j^.^^4^^^ 
 
 \tpji)ENJAMIN II. PKKSTON. A position of 
 L^C prominence among the residents of Ronald 
 ij^^hjl Township is that which is accorded by gen- 
 \~iy erous consent to Mr. Preston, who has 
 been interested in the welfare of this part of 
 Ionia County since the year 1853. His interest 
 in the county dates several years farther back, but 
 at the time mentioned he located on a farm on sec- 
 tion 32, and cast in his lot with the people of that 
 locality to the fullest extent. He bought one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of land, upon which but thirty' 
 acres had been plowed. He now has a well-devel- 
 oi)ed farm with suitable improvements, and derives 
 from it an income amply sufficient for his needs. 
 
 Mr. Preston is the grandson of Benjamin Pres- 
 ton, a Revolutionary soldier, and the son of John 
 A. Preston, who fought in the War of 1812. The 
 latter was born and reared in Vermont and adopted 
 the tra<lc of a stonemason as the work by which to 
 gain a maintenance. He married Orilla Harris, a 
 native of New York, and in the Enii)ire State he 
 made liis home from that time. He died in Buf- 
 falo, but his widow breathed her last in this State, 
 to which she afterward came with her children. 
 Tlie parental family included four daughters and 
 two sons, Qne of whom died in early life, and one, 
 Mrs. Orilla Hancock, in later years. The sur- 
 vivors are Mrs. Betsey R. Norton, whose home is 
 in Eaton County, this Slate; Benjamin H., subject 
 
 of this notice; Mrs. Mary Ann Ford, living in 
 Oakland County; and Clark A., whose home is in 
 the city of Ionia. 
 
 Our subject, who is the oldest son and second 
 child, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y"., Sep- 
 tcmliior 12, 1820. He was thirteen years old when 
 his father died, and he became the mainstay of 
 his mother and the guide of his brothers and sis- 
 ters. The year of his father's death he came West 
 with his mother and located in Troy, Oakland 
 County, ihis State. He learned the tailor's trade 
 and followed it in that place until 1813. He then 
 located in the city of Ionia and for about two 
 years worked at his trade with E. S. Johnson, 
 after which he engaged in business for himself. 
 Ten years altogether were given to his handicraft 
 in the county seat, and he then sold out his busi- 
 ness and bought the farm to the cultivation of 
 which he has since devoted his energies. 
 
 In 1846 Mr. Preston was married to Miss Caro- 
 line E. Brooks, and to them have been born one 
 daughter and three sons, named respectively: 
 Frances A.; Howard C. and Benjamin H. (twins), 
 and Harley. They also adopted a little girl — 
 Maggie Brook, on whom they bestowed equal care 
 with their own oflfspring. Mrs. Preston, who is 
 the first-born in a family of ten children, is a na- 
 tive of Watertown, Jefferson County, N. Y., her 
 natal day l)eing October 7, 1821. She is now 
 afflicted with paralysis, which makes it very diffi- 
 cult for her to ta'k, and prevents the use of one 
 side of lier body. 
 
 Mr. Preston is Vice-President of Ionia County 
 Pioneer Society an<l been one of its leading members 
 for years. He was at one time Secretary of the 
 organization. For four years he was Supervisor 
 of Ronald Township and for twelve years Super- 
 intendent of the Poor, ami he has also served as 
 School Inspector and Justice of the Peace. He 
 was at one time a member of the Grange and active 
 in its work. It is twenty-six years since he was 
 chosen an Elder in the Christian Church, and his 
 qualifications for that responsible office are recog- 
 nized by all who know him well. Mr. Preston has 
 for thirty years kept a record of the weather and 
 other incidents of the day and is able to compare 
 tlie atmospheric phenomena of the passing time 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 witb that of bj-gone 3'ears whenever he wishes. He 
 has learned many lessons about the weather by 
 means of this practice and found pleasure also in 
 the record. 
 
 :g8=t=:- 
 
 F_^ ARVEY J. BEACH is carrying on a gcn- 
 rjjj) eral store in Crystal, Montcalm County, 
 i^y^ which establishment he opened in April, 
 (^ 1 888. He has a well-selected stock of goods, 
 including the articles that are in demand for village 
 and country custom, and the business is conducted 
 in a straightforward and honorable w.iy, the cus- 
 tomers being treated with courtesy and considera- 
 tion. Prior to the opening of the store that is now 
 carried on by Mr. Beach, lie was engaged in farm- 
 ing, and he improved a fine tract of one hundred 
 and twenty acres, ou which he made his home from 
 February, 1868, to the date of his taking up mer- 
 cantile life. As an agriculturist he was enterpris- 
 ing and industrious, and he received a due reward 
 for his efforts. 
 
 The birthplace of Mr. Beach was Erie County, 
 Pa., and his natal day March 7, 183G. His parents 
 were Lyman E. and Selinda (Fuller) Beach, botli 
 natives of the Empire State, and his father w.is a 
 cirpenter and joiner as well as a farmer. Our sub- 
 ject remained at liome until he was twenty-five 
 years old, but from the age of two years has been a 
 resident of this State, his parents having come to 
 Livingston Count}' in 1838. He received a com- 
 mon-school education, pursuing his studies in the 
 winter and working on tlic farm in the summer. 
 
 Believing that it is not good for man to live 
 alone, Mr. Beach won for his wife Miss Sarah ]\I. 
 Carey, of Pontiac, Oakland County, to whom he 
 was married October 7, 18G3. She was born Octo- 
 ber 17, 1839, was well reared and given a good 
 education. She understands the art of making her 
 home cozy and attractive, and takes great pains to 
 make herself compr.nion.able for her children. The 
 family of IMr. and Mrs. Beach consisted of J'lorencc, 
 who was born in August 2fi, 1864, and died Jan 
 uary 7, 1865; Silvia Ann, born Juno 2, 1806, ami 
 died January 26, 1871; Ilatlie M., born April 20, 
 
 1868; Nellie V., June 26, 1874; Laura, December 
 4, 1875; and Bertram J., January 18, 1879. The 
 survivors are receiving good educational oppor- 
 tunities, and Nellie has made preparation for teach- 
 ing. 
 
 Mr. Beach is a Democrat in politics. He has 
 held the office of Township Treasurer several terms 
 and was Higiiway Commissioner three terms. While 
 living on the farm he was a school ofDcer for a long 
 period, and he has been called u[)On to act in simi- 
 lar capacities in the village. He is particularly' in- 
 terested in the progress of the cause of education, 
 and has assisted in carrying to completion a school- 
 house in Livingston Count}', and two in Montcalm 
 — one being tlie new two-story bi ick edifice in Crys- 
 tal. Mr. Beach is always looked to, to take part 
 in public enterprises of every description that 
 promise well for the future good of the people, 
 and lie and his wife were well regarded by their ac- 
 quaintances. Mrs. Beach's death occurred Novem- 
 ber 2, 1884, and her loss was felt by many friends, 
 and was an irreparable one to her family. 
 
 illOMAS D. KNAPP is one of a family of 
 thirteen children, and was born in Bradford 
 County, Pa., November 8, 1834. His father 
 Zephaniah Knapp, a native of the Flmpire State, 
 was born in Orange County, and his mother Amy 
 Wright, was a native of Onondaga County llie 
 same State. After marrying in New York they re- 
 moved to Pennsylvania. Thomas was the tenth 
 child, and was reared in his native home and came 
 to Michigan in 1856, settling in Ionia County, in 
 Ronald Township. He now lives in North Plains 
 Township 'A the same county. 
 
 This young man began life in the new country 
 by working at the carpenter's trade by the month. 
 He h.as followed the business of carpentering for 
 many years. February 28, 1856, Lucy L. Coats of 
 New York became his wife. After marriage he re- 
 turned with his wife to Bradford County, Pa., 
 wliere he remained two years, but he was discon- 
 tented with the East after having once lived in the 
 West and soon returned to Michigan making his 
 
PORTRAIT AND IJIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 •113 
 
 new home where he now resides. He took entirely 
 unbroken land, and has placed upon it all the im- 
 provonients wliich now a|)pear, putting up also all 
 the buililings. Of llie one luiudred and ninety five 
 acres whicii lie possesses, sixty-one are in North 
 Plains and the remainder in Ronald Township. lie 
 slill has fifty acres of heavy timber. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Kiiapp arc happy in the compan- 
 ionship of their son, Arthur M. He is married and 
 resides with his father. His wife was Eliza Borden. 
 Their second son, Ernest, died at the age of three 
 years and three months. Arthur runs the farm and 
 is very efficient. They have sixteen head of cat- 
 tle, eight head of horses, sixt3'-two sheep, and one 
 line blooded Percheron. They have a forty-acre 
 farm in Montcalm County, Boomer Township, all 
 finely cultivated with a good house and barns. Mr. 
 Knapp has made all that he has by hard work. His 
 wife is a member of the Baptist Church. His 
 political sympathies are with the Republican part3' 
 with which he casts his vote. 
 
 Mm 
 
 ILLIAM AUCiATI'^ holds a position of in- 
 ^^fj fluence in Ionia Connt3', particularly in the 
 W^l township of the same name, in the affairs 
 of which he is consi)icuous as a leader on the side 
 of progress. He occupies a fine estate on section 
 32, wliich includes two hundred and eighty-five 
 acres of land, two hundred and fifty of whicli are 
 under tlie plow. The present residence of the fam- 
 ily is a fine brick structure, built fiveyears since at 
 a cost of 4^3,000. On the land there is a house 
 built by Mrs. Adgate's father over forty j'cars ago, 
 in which a death has never occurred. All the im- 
 provements upon Mr. Adgate's farm are firstclass 
 and so carefully' is the properly managed that 
 throughout its extent it presents an appearance of 
 the most attractive neatness and order. 
 
 Mr. Adgale traces his descent from two Revo- 
 lutionary soldiers, both of whom belonged to old 
 New England families. Grandfather Adgate, whose 
 given name was Thomas, survived the contest and 
 lived to be ninety-seven years old; Grandfather 
 
 Foster also fought during the entire struggle. The 
 patriotic spirit of the Adgate family was further 
 manifested i)y Abel Adgate, the father of our sub- 
 ject, who was an infantryman in the War of 1812. 
 That gentleman was born in Connecticut and so too 
 w.as Olive Porter, who became his wife. They 
 were married in New Jersej' and for a time resided 
 in Orange County, N. Y., and then took their i)lace 
 among the pioneers of Sullivan County. He used 
 to carry on lumbering upon the Susquehannah 
 River. He went into Cortland County about 182'J, 
 remained there until 1838 and then came to Oak- 
 hind County, this State. 
 
 In the fall of that year Abel Adgate bought 
 l)roperty now occupied by our subject; he did not 
 take possession of it until 1841, but spent the inter- 
 val in work upon different rented farms. This tract 
 was partly improved, but the only building was a 
 log shanty. The family took possession of their 
 new home March 3, and clearing wasatonce begun. 
 Wheat was sowed on twelve acres the first season, 
 and a frame house was built ere long. Mr. Adgate 
 was a Whig, and was an advocate of education and 
 bestowed as good privileges as he could upon his 
 children. He died October 3, 1842, at the age of 
 fifty-six years and five months. His widow sur- 
 vived until November?, 1871, and reached the age 
 of eight3'-four years and three months. For man}' 
 years she was a member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church. 
 
 In Sullivan County, N. Y., William Adgate was 
 l)orn November 20, 1829. He is the only sur- 
 vivor of a household band that numbered seven 
 broliiers and sisters. He was nine years old when 
 his parents came to this State, and he began life's 
 labors for himself at the age of sixteen years. He 
 operated half of the homestead, the rest being 
 under control of his brother. Prior to his mar- 
 riage his mother kept house for him and he cared 
 for her until her demise. In the summer of 1854 
 Mr. Adgate went to Iowa but made only a short 
 trip, after which he settled in Orange Township, 
 Ionia County, and made that his home five years. 
 He then traded his farm for one in Berlin Town- 
 ship, but four years later sold out and returned to 
 his old home, where he h.as remained during a 
 period of twenty-seven years. 
 
414 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 The marriage of our subject and Sarah Tuttle 
 was solemnized January 7, 1854. The bride was 
 born in Portage County, Ohio, May 1, 1838, but 
 in her early girliiood became a resident of Ionia 
 County. She received a common-school educa- 
 tion and a thorough training in housewifely arts, 
 and grew to a noble womanhood. The happy union 
 has been blessed ))y the birth of the following chil- 
 dren: Phebe A., born January 21, 1855; Frank- 
 lin April 20, 1858; Mary J. September 9, 1861; 
 Flora E. December 9, 1863; John W. June, 1866; 
 Lewis, June 29, 1868; Nellie January 8, 1876. 
 Phebe married Fred .Scheuer and has four chil- 
 dren, and her home is in Orange Township. Frank- 
 lin married Lizzie Fleming, has one child, and 
 lives in the same township as his sister Phebe. 
 Mary is the wife of Frank Taft, and has four chil- 
 dren; their home is on section 33, Ionia Town- 
 ship. John married Nellie Wilson and lives in 
 Berlin Townsliip. All the sons and daughters 
 of our subject are well educated in accordance 
 with their years, and Nellie is now a student in tiie 
 Ionia High School. Flora is a graduate in the 
 musical department of Albion College and has a 
 large class in Ionia and Portland. She plays the 
 organ in cliurch. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Adgate were Nelson and 
 Sophia (Pangborn) Tuttle, the father born in Mass- 
 achusetts December 24, 18(0, and the mother in 
 Ohio about 1802. They were married in the lat- 
 ter State and remained there until 1846, then set- 
 tled upon the farm lliat is now the home of their 
 daughter. Here Mr. Tuttle died in 1865. She was 
 the mother of eleven ehildren, five of whom are 
 now living. Mr. Tuttle made a second marriage, 
 and lived until August, 1890. His memory is hon- 
 ored Ijy all who knew him and probably no resi- 
 dent in the county was more sincerely loved and 
 respected than he. He was a member of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church and a Class-Leader for 
 over seventy years. He also acted as Steward and 
 Trustee, was for years Superintendent of the Sun- 
 day-school and did an immense amount of church 
 work. He was a liberal supporter of churches and 
 did what he could to advance all elevating move- 
 ments. He built the first Methodist church south 
 of Grand River about 1855. For years he was a 
 
 member of the School Board. He never neglected 
 his duty at elections, but conscientiously deposited 
 a AVIiig ticket until the disorganization of the 
 party, after which he was an earnest Republican. 
 It was his privilege to vote for two Harrisons for 
 President of the United States. 
 
 Mr. Adgate is the leading contributor to the sup- 
 port of the neighboring Methodist Episcopal Church 
 and both he and iiis wife work earnestly and faith- 
 fully for the cause of religion both in church and 
 Sunday school. Mr. Adgate is one of the Trus- 
 tees, is Chairman of the Board, and is also a Class- 
 Leader. He has been a professing Christian twen- 
 ty-one years and his wife united with the church 
 thirty-five years since. Mr. Adgate was a Repub- 
 lican for years but since the prohibition movement 
 sprang into life he has voted In its favor. He has 
 a character above reproach and as an agriculturist 
 is second to none in the county. He carries on 
 mixed farming and feeds about three hundred head 
 of sheep. His elegant home Is the seat of a whole- 
 souled hospitality tiiat is dispensed with gracious- 
 ness by his good wife. 
 
 ^^EORGE W. PALMER. Many a youth in 
 'Ml ,__ foreign lands has looked longingh' toward 
 \5^^! the West and dreamed of making a home in 
 the New World, where he fondly believed that 
 better opportunities were afforded than in the land 
 of his birth; and numbers have realized their 
 dreams and are now among the prosperous and use- 
 ful citizens of the United States. The population 
 of Montcalm County has been added to by some of 
 this class and among them the gentleman above 
 named, whose home is in Bloomer Township. His 
 history is that of a youth whose early advantages 
 were limited and who upon reaching the New 
 World found it hard work to get a start, but who 
 finally gained a footing and added little by little 
 to his financial standing and is now a well-to-do 
 farmer with a pleasant home abounding in com- 
 forts. 
 
 Mr. Palmer was born in East Kent, England, 
 July 22, 1825, his parents being Joseph and Eliza- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 ■115 
 
 beth (Chamberlain) Palmer. His father was a 
 farmer and until he was fifteen ye^rs old the lad 
 remained at lionie, learning wliat he could *in tiie 
 common sciiool and doing various kinds of worlv 
 upon the place. He then left home and began to 
 work for himself, and in his twentielli year lie 
 crossed the Atlantic and located in Jefferson 
 County, N. Y. There he farmed until the spring 
 of 1855, when he came to Michigan. He found 
 Montcalm County a densely wooded region where 
 little had been done in the way of improvement. 
 He took up eighty acres of land and began clearing 
 it, and undismayed by the arduousness of the labor 
 required, bj' the discomforts and hardships of fron- 
 tier life, and the lack of close associates, he worked 
 on toward competence. He added to his landed 
 estate, made various im|)rovemeiits from time to 
 time, beginning to have help in his work as soon 
 as he got a good start. When he first located here 
 he went eight miles to Mattison to trade. 
 
 In all his worthy efforts Mr. Palmer has had the 
 sympathy and womanly aid of a true-hearted wife. 
 This lady bore the maiden name of Esther Hay 
 Nutting, was born in New York and became a 
 bride March 7, 1855. Her wedding trip was a 
 journey to the western wilds, where the ytiung 
 couple arrived May 19. They have had four children, 
 whose record is as follows: Cora A., born January 
 10, 1856; Beecher, April 5, 1858; Joseph, March 
 27, 18G0; Alden G., March 11, 1862. The daugh- 
 ter died after reaching womanhood, the date of her 
 decease being September 1, 1880, and Joseph died 
 April 29, 1860, when but a few weeks old. The 
 two sons who are living are married and farming 
 in Gratiot County. 
 
 A characteristic that is almost universal among 
 Englishmen — that of steadfastness in an^^ line of 
 conduct once decided upon— is shown by Mr. Palmer 
 in his political relations. Having made up his 
 mind that the Republican party was the one enti- 
 tled to his suffrage, he is unswerving in his alle- 
 giance to its principles. He has held the various 
 school ollices and whether in or out shows an inter- 
 est in the increase of the elliciency of the public 
 schools. As to his business in life he has not only 
 placed his farm in excellent condition, su|)plying 
 it with the buildings before mentioned, substantial 
 
 fences and a growing orchard, but he raises stock 
 of good breeds, the cattle being Durhams and the 
 sheep iShropshires. 
 
 ONATIIAN TH5BIT8. American aristoc- 
 racy like that of foreign lands is based upon 
 birth, but unlike that of trans-Atlantic 
 I birth, its foundation is character, which has 
 descended from father to son through generations. 
 Thousands of our sturdy, prosperous men through- 
 out the State are descended from old families of 
 New England, who have from the earliest settle- 
 ment of the country upheld an honored reputation 
 for sterling integrity and all the qualities which 
 make good citizens. Among these farmers of good 
 descent we find Jonathan Tibbits, son of Stephen 
 Tibbits a native of Rhode Island, born in 1768. 
 In this family were five brothers of remarkable 
 longevity, who aver.aged ninety years of a worthy 
 life. Stephen Tibbits, while a farmer by occupa- 
 tion took some part in the War of 1812. The 
 mother of Jonathan was Sophia (Mason) Tilibits, 
 who was also a native of Rhode Island. 
 
 The family of Tibbits during the Revolutionary 
 War, removed from Rhode Island to .Shaftsbury, 
 Vt. About 1790 they again removed to Oneiila 
 County, N. Y. There the father and mother of 
 our subject were married and resided during the 
 continuance of their lives. They were among the 
 early pioneers of that splendid representative 
 county of Central New York, which was early peo- 
 pled by the best New England stock. He owned 
 and worked one of the magnificent farms of that 
 county, until his death in 18G4, at the advanced 
 age of ninety-six years. His wife had died in the 
 year 1856. They were the parents often children, 
 three of whom are now living. 
 
 Jonathan Tibbits was born January 21, 1809, in 
 Oneida County, N. Y., where hegrew to manhood. 
 He received a fair schooling for those times, as that 
 region was considerably advanceil educationally. 
 His bright memory still aids him to recall many of 
 the incidents of the War of 1812 as they trans- 
 l)ircd in the Mohawk Valley. At nineteen years 
 
416 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of age he went to New York City and worked in 
 a harness strop at No. 8 Wall Street, within siglit 
 of Trinity Churcli, and wiiere now is the bus}' 
 scene of wonderful financial enterprises. Remain- 
 ing there only a year and a half to learn his trade, 
 he returned home and settled in Frankfort, Herki- 
 mer County, near Utica, where for a few years he 
 ha<l a shop and worked at his trade. 
 
 In 1836 our subject emigrated to Michigan and 
 on Se()tember 21, arrived in Ionia County, wtiere he 
 settled in what was then the little village of Ionia, 
 composed of a few scattering houses. For twenty 
 years lie lived in town and followed his business of 
 a liarness-maker, after which he removed with liis 
 family to the present homestead on section 27. 
 There were l)ut few improvements upon llial sec- 
 tion. His farm was originally a part of the Ses- 
 sions' farm. Of his one hundred and twenty acres 
 of land he has seventy under cultivation and al- 
 though now over four-score years of age he still ac- 
 tively carries on his farm. His experience in this 
 country has been a long one and he has seen it 
 grow from a wild state to its present condition of 
 cultivation, physical and social. His wife is quite 
 feeble, having lately fallen and hurt herself and is 
 in consequence confined to her bed. They were 
 marrried March 1, 1832, she being Mary Ann Dex- 
 ter, a daugliter of Samuel and Anna (Fargo) Dex- 
 ter. 
 
 Mr. Dexter w.as the first settler in Ionia County, 
 and was throughout liis life the most notable man 
 there. He was born December 5, 1787, in Rhode 
 Island, removing when quite young to Herkimer 
 County, N. Y., wiiere lie lived until 1823. His 
 wife was a native of Herkimer County. After this 
 marriage he continued to carry on his business of 
 fanning and at the same time served the State dur- 
 ing 1824 and 1825 as a member of the State Legis- 
 lature at Albany. In 1833 they removed to Mich- 
 igan ti'ul settled in lo lia County. He was the 
 leader of the original colony of thirty-six people 
 which settled in Ionia. He was a broad-minded 
 and practical man, looking to the upbuilding of 
 the colony in every way and providing b^' his enter- 
 prise for their convenience in many directions. He 
 built the gristmill at Ionia, the first one in the 
 county, also the sawmill two miles northwest of 
 
 Ionia. A sawmill was evidently a stern necessity, 
 for until boards could be ol)tained frame houses 
 could not be erected, and this colony did not hesi- 
 tate to live in Indian wigwams until they could 
 build permanent homes. As was the case with most 
 colonies of character, they were able to live peac- 
 ably with the Indians and established friendly rela- 
 tions with them. 
 
 Mr. Dexter bought a large quantity of land .and 
 sold much of it to others. He also purchased con- 
 siderable land where Grand Rapids now standi. 
 His first house was of logs and situated near the 
 gristmill in Ionia. His character and enterprise 
 gave him the confidence of his neighbors and he 
 received man}' tributes of their respect as he was 
 often |)laced in positions of trust. He occu|)ied at 
 different times the offices of Justice of the Peace, 
 and County Judge. He was also Receiver of the 
 United Slates land office. He belonged to tlie old- 
 line Whig party in politics, and was a member of 
 the Baptist Churcli during his early 3'ears, but later 
 bL'carae a Spiritualist. He died in 1855, his wife 
 following him to the other world in 1874. They 
 were the parents of nine children three of whom 
 are now living. 
 
 Mrs. Tibbits was the second child of this notable 
 couple and was born March 16, 1815, in Herkimer 
 County, N. Y., where she married Mr. Tibbits just 
 before coming to Michigan in 1835. This mar- 
 riage has been blessed with nine children: Newion 
 D., was born January 21, 1833, and died January 
 1, 1862; Charles S., was born March 16, 1835, and 
 died August 23, 1890. He was employed at one 
 time for two years by Gilmore & Salisbury, of 
 Star Route fame. Julius S. was born September 26, 
 1838, in Ionia, and married Marilla T. Mattison. 
 They live in Lj'ons Township. Arthur H. was 
 born July 20, 1842, and married Elizabeth Over- 
 hiser; they make their home in Greenville and 
 have two children. Anna Z., who was born June 
 18, 1844, is the wife of William Gleason, living at 
 Savanna, III., and has three children. Emma N., 
 born November 22, 1847, and wife of Dr. T. M. 
 Benedict, lives at Greenville and has two children. 
 James H., born April 28, 1850, married Lillie 
 Brooks; he is Fifth Auditor in the Treasury De- 
 partment and makes his home in Washington, D. C. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 He has one (laughter. Elizabeth M., was born Sep- 
 tember 19, 1852. Jennie M. born August 2, 18.55, 
 is tnking a speci.il course in preparation for kinder- 
 garten work in Wasliington, D. C. 
 
 Mr. Tibbits lias always been a good Republican 
 in polities and has occupied many prominent posi- 
 tions of public resi)onsibility. lie has taken an 
 active interest in school matters and has been one 
 of tlic Directors of the district. Under President 
 Millard Fillmore, he was Postmaster at Ionia. He 
 was long a member of the Sons of Temperance, 
 and he and his sons have ever been strong advo- 
 cates of temperance, both in word and deed. The 
 family are Unitarians in faith. Two of his sons, 
 Arthur and Charles did noble service during the 
 Civil War. The former enlisted in Berdan's Sharp- 
 Sliooters for six months. He then re-enlisted in 
 Battery I), Fifth United States Light Artillery and 
 served his term in that. He was active in eigiitcen 
 battles, and during tlie battle of Gettysburg lie was 
 at one time the only living min to stand at his 
 gun. ('harles was living in Wisconsin during the 
 war and enlisted first in the Third Wisconsin In- 
 fantrj'. This was a regiment raised in 18G1 for a 
 short time only. In 1863 he re-enlisted in the 
 Fifth Wisconsin Infantry. His service of three 
 j'ears shows a fine war record. Joseph was drafted 
 once .Tnd |)aid 4^300 to be released. 
 
 ^i^EORGE W. ARMS, living on section 25, 
 III <^' Orange Townshiji, Ionia County, was the 
 ^<isj^| first white male child born in the township, 
 his fatlier being Selaii Arms, a native of Rutland 
 County, Vt., born there in 1809, and his mother 
 before marriage being Mariette Utter, a native of 
 New York. The family originated in the north of 
 England and Noah Arms, the father of .Selah, a 
 Vermonter, served bravely in the War of 1812. 
 The father of our subject was one of the early set- 
 tlers of Michigan, coming here in 1834 when still 
 quite a young man. He settled upon the farm now 
 owned bj' our subject, taking it up from the Gov- 
 ernment in 183C. He was the first pioneer in this 
 totvnsliip and in due time helped to organize it. 
 
 He entered eighty awes of land all timbered, and 
 
 bravely putting his last money into it looked to his 
 strong right hand for future wealth. Shortly after 
 settling upon this land he married the mother of 
 the subject of this sketch. Both of them were 
 earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in the affairs of \Yhich they took an active interest. 
 He was a prominent man in tlie church, warmly 
 promoting its interests and keeping open house for 
 all the traveling brethren, and liberally supporting 
 its finances. In all other ways he showed a cor- 
 responding liberality and was ever a- warm and erti 
 cient friend to the unfortunate. His first house was 
 a log shanty, but two years later he erected a more 
 substantial log house. In 1852 or 1853 a frame 
 house became tiie home and it was considered one 
 of the ver}' nicest in that section. Unfortunately 
 it burned to the ground in 18G5. He clea>-ed off 
 eighty acres of his land and ])ut it under culti- 
 vation. Two years after marriage he had a serious 
 illness which rendered one of his limbs stiflf. 
 
 Mr. Arms knew every man in this county and 
 nearly all in Clinton County. The first frame barn 
 in Orange Township was built bj- him nearly fifty 
 years ago. He used to do coopering and made a 
 large number of sap buckets. He was fairly suc- 
 cessful in his farming operations notwithstanding 
 a great deal of illness and other misfortunes. He 
 died in 1865, his wife having preceded him in 1851. 
 Three of their five children still survive — George 
 W., James and Ruth (Mrs. Charles Hastings). lie 
 w.as a strong Jaeksonian Democrat, was for twentj-- 
 two years Justice of the Peace, also for some time 
 Sui)ervisor of Orange Townsiii|) and Superintend- 
 ent of the Poor. 
 
 The subject of this sketch wps born October 21, 
 1842. His education, after the district school, was 
 taken at the Portland High School. Then he began 
 for himself at seventeen years of age; when at that 
 age the Civil War broke out and he enlisted in 
 May, 18G1, in Company E, Third Micliigan Infan- 
 trj-. The regiment was organized at Grand Rapids 
 and was ordered to W.ashington, D. C, where it 
 was put in the Third Brigade under Col. Richard- 
 son. They were in the first battle of Bull Run in 
 July, 1801. He received a slight wound at Black- 
 burn's Ford. His brigade covered the retreat from 
 
418 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Bull Run, and at Arlington Heights they were en- 
 camped about the residence of Gen. Robert E. Lee. 
 Our subject helped build three of the forts la that 
 locality. 
 
 In the spring of 1862 Mr. Arms went through 
 the entire Peninsular campaign under Gen. 
 George B. McClellan .and passed through ten bat- 
 tles without a scratch. Under Gen. Pope he took 
 part In the second battle of Bull Run and here re- 
 ceived the most serious wound which he experi- 
 enced. August 29, while he was loading his gun a 
 minie ball struck his right leg and passed through 
 it just above his heel, entering his left ankle. He 
 crawled upon his hands and knees a mile and a half 
 to an ambulance, in which he rode two miles to the 
 field hospital. He lay there a day and a night then 
 traveled ten miles in the ambulance to a railroad 
 track and lay beside it for two days; then on a flat 
 car he was transported to Washington, D. C. From 
 the station at Washington he was put into an om- 
 nibus and lying on the floor of it was rattled over 
 the cobble stones to Georgetown Hospital. Great 
 difficulty was experienced in locating and extract- 
 ing the ball. Amputation was deferred from day 
 to daj' ho[)ing against hope that the limb might be 
 saved. Fifteen days after his arrival it was finally 
 decided that it could no longer be postponed and 
 the left leg was amputated below the knee. He 
 remained a year in the hospital and received his 
 honorable discharge in August, 1863. 
 
 Upon his return home George Arms went to 
 school for a while and in 1865 he went to work upon 
 the home farm where he has since lived except- 
 ing one year which he passed at Portland. He has 
 eighty acres of land, all of it improved. He built 
 his present residence three years ago at a cost of 
 ^2, GOO besides his own labor. He does active work 
 upon his farm, carrying on mixed farming. He 
 has Short-horn cattle, also some fine specimens of 
 horses both for draft and roadsters. He has one 
 of the finest Short-horn herds registered in Ionia 
 County. He began his herd in 1882 with "Lady 
 Thornapple," No. 20. She is recorded in volume 
 26, page 491. She was of "Young Mary" family, 
 tracing back to "Young Mary" bj' "Jupiter" Mo. 
 21,070. He has nine of this grade of cattle, includ- 
 ing "Lady Thornai)ple" and her descendants. At the 
 
 head of his present herd is "Gladstone" No. 86,708, 
 bred on the farm of tiie Michigan Agricultural 
 College at Lansing. He is a Victoria Dutchess re- 
 corded in volume 33, page 161 of the American 
 Short-horn Herd Book; calved May 25, 1887; is of 
 red color. His dam's sire was twenty-third "Duke 
 of Airdrie," who was valued at $10,000 and the 
 most noted one ever owned in Michigan. "Glad- 
 stone" was sired by" Fennel, Duke 2d"of Sideview, 
 Ky. He has eight distinct Duke top crosses; he 
 took first premium at the Ionia Fair in the fall of 
 1890. 
 
 On the 5th of October, 1867, the marriage was 
 solemnized between George W. Arms and Miss 
 Alvira King, a daughter of Piatt B. and Diantha 
 (Bcals) King, both natives of the Empire State who 
 removed from there to Oliio about 1833. Mr. 
 King was one of the pioneer farmers of the Western 
 Reserve, and made a permanent home there, where 
 he died sixteen years ago. His wife still survives 
 him and now at the age of eighty-five years lives 
 at Oberlin, Ohio, witli one of her daughters. Four 
 of the six children are now living: H.arriet, Mrs. 
 Avery ; Abiah, Mrs. Whitney ; Mary, Mrs. Whitney ; 
 and Mrs. Arms. The wife of our subject was born 
 June 22, 1845, in Ohio; she received a good educa- 
 tion, completing her school days at Oberlin College. 
 She taught school previous to her marriage. Her 
 parents were close communion Baptists and her 
 father held responsible positions in the church. In 
 politics he was a strong Republican and was an 
 earnest promoter of the Abolition movement. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Arms have been born two chil- 
 dren: Frank C, born December 21, 1868; he has a 
 good education, having completed his studies at 
 Oberlin College and is now an artist at Portland. 
 Clara M., born October 1, 1875, is at [iresent a 
 student in tiie Portland High School. Mr. Arms 
 is a charter member of the (3rand Army Post at 
 Lyons. For many years he has been a member of 
 the School Board. He has been frequently elected 
 to township offices, but never qualifies; he is a 
 Democrat in politics. He now has two hundred 
 trees on his place and will set out six hundred 
 more this spring ; he purposes to have one thousand. 
 He is the only person now living in this district 
 who was a pupil in the first school organized here. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 419 
 
 Forty-six years ago when his father was taken 
 down witli the fever there were no doctors here. 
 His wife left Willi the neighbors her two babies and 
 putting her husband in a one-horse wagon upon a 
 bed looi\ him to Harrisville, Medina Count}*, Oiiio, 
 for treatment. Our subject was one of the l)abies 
 wliom this biave raotiicr left in the kind care of 
 benevolent neighbors. 
 
 I RI LkVALLEY. This name is not unknown 
 to the residents of Ionia County, but on tlic 
 contrary is familiar to them as that of a 
 pioneer who h:»s witnessed a large part of the 
 growth of this section. It is also recognized by its 
 connection with the fruit-growing carried on in 
 this part of the Slate, as he who bears it lias long 
 been engaged in the nursery business and was the 
 first man in the county to raise peaches. He set 
 out Ihc first peach orchard and he has done much 
 in propngaling other varieties of fruit. 
 
 Mr. LcVailej- belongs to a farail}- whose history 
 contains several interesting and romantic incidents. 
 His paternal grandfather, a Revolutionary soldier, 
 married a sisler of Gen. Greene, and settled in 
 Vermont. His father in turn was a silk merchant 
 of Lyt>ns, France, and was robbed on the high seas 
 by ihe notorious pirate, Capt. Kidd. After the 
 robbery he was placed on board a schooner which 
 floated into Providence Harbor and he laid out the 
 city of that name. The father of our subject was 
 Ilolden LeValley, who was born in Vermont and 
 in his early manhood settled in Western New York. 
 He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was sta- 
 tioned at Black Rock, near Buffalo, when that city 
 was burned by the English. He married Irena 
 Fuller. 
 
 The birth of Eri LeValley took place in Niagara 
 County, N. Y., August 0, 1817, and he lived there 
 until he was si.K years old. His parents died when 
 our subject was five years old and he was taken at 
 the ago of six years to lire with relatives in On- 
 tario County where he grew to manhood and was 
 reared to farming and fruit-growing. In these 
 
 lines he has been engaged all bis life. His educa- 
 tion was begun in the district schools and has been 
 continued by self-effort. In 18.38 Mr. LeV'alley 
 came to Michigan on a prospecting tour and 
 sojourned in Ionia County about two and a half 
 years. He then went back East and in 1844 came 
 again to this State, this time to make a permanent 
 location. 
 
 Mr. LeValley settled in Ionia Township on sec- 
 tion 32, taking up his residence in the thick woods, 
 and like all whomadesuch location, enduring many 
 hardships and being obliged to toil laboriouslj' in 
 order to develop his land. When he came hither 
 Ionia was a village with but three frame houses 
 within its limits. He was obliged to work by the 
 month to pay for his first eighty acres of land, but 
 his perseverance was rewarded and as years passed 
 by be was enabled to give his children a fair start 
 in life and to divide a considerable property among 
 them. His personal possession of real estate is now 
 thirty eight acres of good land, nearly half of 
 which is devoted to nursery stock. He made a 
 small beginning in this business in 1846, and 
 afterward made it more extensive. 
 
 In the Empire State in 1843 Mr. I/cValley was 
 married to Miss Emelinc Ilartt. Her father was a 
 captain in the American army opeiating on the 
 Niagara frontier in 1812 and was also in the battle 
 of Lundy's Lane. Having been bereft of his wife 
 Mr. LeValley was married a second time in 1846. 
 His bride on this occasion was Phcbe, daughter of 
 Nelson Tuttle, now deceased, who is remembered 
 as one of the early pioneers of Ionia County. This 
 marriage has been blest by the birth of six children, 
 but two have been taken from their parents by 
 death. The survivors are Lewis IL, who lives in 
 Ionia Township; Harriet, wife of Abel Benedict, 
 in Benedict Township; John, a resident of 
 Easton Township, and Mary, wife of James Gaul 
 in Ionia Townsiiip. Mrs. Phebe LeValley entered 
 into rest September 29, 1890, leaving behind her 
 many friends, among whom her days had been 
 spent in usefulness. 
 
 Mr. LeValley has served as Justice of the Peace 
 of Ionia Township two terms. He has been known 
 as a public-spirited and enterprising citizen and one 
 who in his l)usiness affairs is the soul of integrity, 
 
420 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 making his word as good as his bond. That he is 
 held in high esteem by his fellow-pioneers is shown 
 by Iheif having elected him President of the Ionia 
 County Pioneer Society. In politics he is a Re- 
 publican. Personally he is a courteous, entertain- 
 ing gentleman who dispenses hospitality with a 
 free hand and who, although considerably past 
 threescore and ten years old, does not lack in in- 
 terest in that which is going on around him. 
 
 ^ — -^sm 
 
 (^^ AMUEL DAVIS. Among the farmers of 
 ^^^ lonie County who have taken a part in the 
 (il/_^ initial work of development is Samuel 
 
 — Davis, who is located on section 19, Otisco 
 Township. His possessions here include one hun- 
 dred and forty acres of real estate, much of which 
 was cleared and broken with his assistance. One 
 hundred and twenty acres is under improvement, 
 and the buildings include asubstantial farmhouse 
 and barn and a large shed, together with other need- 
 ful structures. This farm has been the home of 
 Mr. Davis since 1868, and hehas lived in the town- 
 ship for a much longer i)eriod. 
 
 William Davis, father of our subject, was an Eng- 
 lishman who emigrated to America early in the 
 '40s, and after spending a few years in New York 
 came to Michigan in 1849. He settled in Ionia 
 County, first working land on shares, but in 1856 
 buying one hundred and twenty acres of land. 
 AVhen called hence in 1876,'_^his estate was reduced 
 to forty acres, the balance having been sold to his 
 children. He was married to P^lizabeth Talbolt, 
 who was also a native of the mother country and 
 she shared his fortunes until 1862, when she closed 
 her eyes in death. Their children were William, 
 Henry, Samuel, James, Sally A., Alfred, Mary E., 
 Thomas E., Harriet and Caroline. 
 
 The subject of this brief biographical sketch was 
 born in England in 1839, and was three years old 
 when lie crossed the Atlantic with his parents. He 
 was a lad of ten years when he first became ac- 
 quainted with the county, for which he has so long 
 and industriously labored as one of its enterprising 
 agriculturists. In March, 1864, he became a pri- 
 
 vate in the Second Sharp-Shooters Company, Twen- 
 ty-seventh Michigan Infantry, and had the fortune 
 to be present as an active participant in the battles 
 of Ream's Station, Preble's Farm, Ft. Stedman and 
 Ft. Hell, and many other engagements. He was 
 discharged July 26, 1865, and rejoicing in the ces- 
 sation of hostilities and the preservation of the 
 Union he returned to his home. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Davis and Miss Adeline E. 
 Church was solemnized at the l)ride's home June 
 28, 1868. Mrs. Davis is a lady of intelligence and 
 good judgment, one of a large family born to Silas 
 and Sophia (Keeney) Church. Our subject and 
 his wife are the parents of three children, who bear 
 the names of Lizzie, Frank and Vern. 
 
 The first Presidential ballot cast by Mr. Davis 
 was for Abraham Lincoln, and from that time to 
 the present he has been an unfaltering Republican. 
 He keeps himself well-informed regarding topics of 
 general interest, manifests the true public spirit in 
 his care for the general welfare, and conducts him- 
 self in a manner befitting an honorable man. 
 
 ERTON E. TOWN. Among the young 
 men who are factors in the financial growth 
 of Montcalm Count3' is Mr. Town, who is 
 located in Crystal Township and is carry- 
 ing on a general merchandise business. He was 
 born in Livingston Countj' May 18, 1863, and is a 
 son of Ira C. and Emma (Beach) Town. The sur- 
 roundings of his early life were such as are com- 
 mon in agricultural communities, his father being 
 a farmer, v..d prior to his twentieth j'ear his educa- 
 tional priv :I"ges were those of the common school. 
 He then went to Detroit and entered the commer- 
 cial school known as the Spenceriaa Institute, 
 but which has since been merged with Bryant and 
 Stralton's College. He devoted a year to study 
 there, then returned to his father's house and spent 
 a twelvemonth in work upon the farm. 
 
 During his youth Mr. Town had devoted the 
 summers to farm work, attending school during 
 the winters only, and he became thorougiily ac- 
 quainted with the details of agricultural life. When 
 
^yrtyij-6t 
 
QJL.J. ^ fTcM. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICALjALBUM. 
 
 435 
 
 lie left home the second time he went to Auburn, 
 Bay County, and became salesman and book-keeper 
 for Ira E. Swart, with whom lie remained live 
 years. He then eame to Crystal, Montcalm Countyi 
 and bought the stock of goods belonging to II. II. 
 Stcffey and has been carrying on business witii 
 very satisfactory results. His parents are now liv- 
 ing within five miles of the village, having come to 
 the township in the spring of ISGo. 
 
 Mr. Town h:»s never sought olliee and limits his 
 political work to informing himself regarding party 
 principles and issues of the day and voting the 
 Democratic ticket. He takes an interest in all pub- 
 lic enterprises that [jromise to increase the pros- 
 perity of the section in which he lives, or add to 
 the welfare of the people. He is quite popular and 
 i.s looked upon as one of the rising young men of 
 the neighborhood. 
 
 "ifjO.SHUA S. HALL, (.no of the prominent 
 pioneers of Ionia County, has his home on 
 _ section I, Easton Township. It is inter- 
 i^J' esting to hear him tell of his experience and 
 those of his fellows in the years during which this 
 part of the commonwealth was being reclaimed 
 from its primitive wildness and made productive 
 of things suitable for the wants of man. That his 
 worldly efforts have been crowned with success and 
 that he is well supplied with the comforts of life, is 
 a source of satisfaction to all who appreciate the 
 work of those who formed the van guartl of civili- 
 zation. 
 
 The parents of our subject were nenr3- and Kulh 
 (.Stark) Hall, both of whom were born in New 
 England. The father was a soldier during a part 
 of the time that hostilities were raging between 
 America and England, on account of the impress- 
 ment of men into the British service on the plea of 
 their being subjects of the Crown. .losliua Hall was 
 born in Jsew London County, Conn., Februarj- 24, 
 1816, and spent his boyhood on a farm. Heat- 
 tended school principally during the winter season 
 and gained such knowledge as he couhl under the 
 system in force at that time. He was not yet of 
 
 age when, in the fall of 1836 he came to Ionia 
 County and bought one hundred and fourteen acres 
 on section 6, Ionia Township, paying $1.25 per 
 acre. 
 
 For a lime Mr. Hail worked by the day, endeav- 
 oring to get a start in life, and for several years he 
 was engaged by the month. Tlie lirst building put 
 upon his land was a log cabin, 14x1 J feet, covered 
 with boards, in which he lived for some time and 
 kept bachelor's hall. After his marriage he settled 
 on a new place in Orleans Township, but lived there 
 onl3' a short time ere returning to his old farm. 
 He necessarily passed through such privations as 
 were common in clearing the land, but little by 
 little his aim was accomplished. In 187.5 he came 
 to his present home, which was partially cleared 
 and developed and upon which he has continucil 
 tiio process. He has here eighty-two acres which 
 is now well developed and affords a satisfactory 
 income, as from it are harvested croiis of good 
 (juality and at least average quantit3\ 
 
 The wedding day of Mr. Hall and Miss Sarah 
 A. Haight was September 18, 1842. The bride 
 was born in New York City, March 6, 1822, and 
 W.1S descended in the paternal line from English 
 and German ancestors and in the maternal from 
 English and French. Her father, Marvin (J. 
 Haight, was born in the Empire State and served 
 in the War of 1812, with the commission of Ca[)- 
 tain. He married Jane Lynch and they had eight 
 children, six of whom are still living. In 1831 the 
 Haights came to this State, making their home in 
 Washtenaw County, whence, during the '40s' they 
 came to Ionia. Mrs. Hall was well preparetl for 
 the life of a pioneer's wife and has nobly dis- 
 charged the duties that have fallen to her lot. To 
 her and her husband seven children have been 
 born: Henr}' J. and Luther E. now living in Or- 
 leans Township; Arthur N., in Ionia Township; 
 John, in Easton Township; Ruth, wife of Terry 
 Freeman, in Boston Township; Frank, in Easton 
 Township, and Ada at home. Jlr. and Mrs. Hall 
 have been the liapp^' possessors of twenty-five 
 grandchildren of whom three are deceased. 
 
 Mr. Hall was Justice of the Peace several years 
 while living in Orleans Township. As would be 
 expected of a man wiio had the courage to pone- 
 
426 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 trate the wiklerness and make a home there, he has 
 been in favor of those movements which would im- 
 prove the condition of society and advance the de- 
 veloping process in the county. In politics he is 
 a Republican and all his sons vote as he docs. He 
 voted at the first county election in Ionia County, 
 held in 1837. Mr. Hall belongs to the Pioneer 
 Society of the countj'. 
 
 Mrs. Hall and her daughter A<la and several 
 other nieml)ers of the family belong to the Chris- 
 tian Church. Mr. Hall for a number of years was 
 a member of the Church of the Disciples, but is 
 not at present connected with any religious body. 
 Mrs. Hall is one of the pioneer teachers of the 
 county, having taught the first district school in 
 Orleans Township. -She had the tact and intelli- 
 gence to make her school a good one and as long 
 as she continued her professional work her services 
 were in demand. She has never forgotten that she 
 was once a teacher, and sympathizes in a high de- 
 gree with all educational progress and the efforts 
 of every instructor. 
 
 Elsewhere in this volume are presented litho- 
 graphic portraits of Mr. Hall and his wife. 
 
 EMERSON VANCE. After more tlian a 
 decade of active agricultural work Mr. 
 I Vance is enjoying the comforts derived 
 from his industrious labors, in a beautiful home in 
 Pewano, Ionia County. His dwelling is handsome, 
 well-fitted and pleasantly located, and was bought 
 by him in 1889, together with the three lots sur- 
 rounding it. He has also a farm of one hundred 
 and sixty acres on section 29, Lebanon Township, 
 Clinton County, and other land adjoining, and may 
 well be called a successful farmer. He operated 
 the homestead from 1868 to 1889, during that time 
 completing its improvement and building upon it 
 a good residence, barn and other structures. 
 
 The parents of our subject were John and Cor- 
 nelia A. (Dean) Vance, natives of Yates County, 
 N. Y. They came to this State in 1 838 and took their 
 place among the early settlers of Clinton "County, 
 locating on the west half of the northeast quarter 
 
 of section 30, Lebanon Township. There the hus- 
 band built a house of tamarack logs, which gave 
 him the name among the Indians of Tamarack 
 Vance. He cleared the land which he originally 
 purchased, bought other property and built good 
 farm buildings. In 1865 he put up a house at a 
 cost of $10,000, he being at that time the owner of 
 nine hundred and sixt^' acres. He kept excellent 
 stock and raised grain in large quantities. He was 
 Supervisor and Treasurer of the township several 
 years and was quite conspicuous as a local politi- 
 cian, from the organization of the Republican party 
 being a stanch member. He died September 4, 
 1880. The mother of our subject breathed her 
 last about 1844. The family consisted of four 
 children — Emerson, Emmett, Emily and Ursula. 
 
 On the homestead in Clinton County, Emerson 
 Vance was born November 16, 1840, and there he 
 grew to manhood and began his preparations for 
 the work of life. After studying in the district 
 schools he spent six months at what was called the 
 Leoni Collegiate Institute in Jackson County, and 
 in 1866 devoted an equal length of time to work in 
 a commercial college in Chicago. He then returned 
 home and spent a twelvemonth in work upon the 
 homestead, after which he n:arried and established 
 his own household on the adjoining section. When 
 the Civil War began he was not long in deciding 
 to take up arms in defense of the old flag and on 
 May 20, 18G1, he was enrolled in Corai)any I, Sec- 
 ond Michigan Infantry. He was present at the 
 first and second battles of Bull Run and was with 
 Gen. McClellan on the Peninsula, lie bore a part 
 in numerous battles and everywhere displayed the 
 qualities of a gallant soldier. At the siege of Knox- 
 ville a shot penetrated his left leg above the knee 
 and he was also wounded in the right hip. He 
 was honorably discharged Jul3' 18, 1864, and re- 
 sumed his former peaceful occupations. 
 
 March 21, 1868, was the date of the marriage of 
 Mr. Vance and Miss Sarah McVeigh. The bride 
 was a resident of Westphalia Township, Clinton 
 County, and one of the fourteen children born to 
 Milton and Margaret (Smeliger) McVeigh, natives 
 of New Y'ork, who were early settlers in Clinton 
 County. The other survivors of the large family 
 are Mrs. Julia Wright, Mary, Henry, Samuel, Louisa 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 427 
 
 and Emily. Mr. and Mrs. Vance have three cliil- 
 dren, who are named respectively: lUysscsd., Wil- 
 bur and Beitha M. 
 
 Mr. Vance is a Mason and a member of the 
 (Irand Army of the Republic. lie cjists his influ- 
 ence with the Republican party. At his former 
 home he served as Township Supervisor, Treasurer 
 and Clerk, and in each station proved his efficiency 
 and faithfulness. lie holds a prominent place in 
 the community in which lie lives, and his wife 
 shares with him in an interest in the j^eneral wel- 
 fare, and labors to promote it. 
 
 •■S!^*"^^!^ 
 
 <PItf-»«^*?- 
 
 HKLDON R. CURTISS who lives on sec- 
 tion 21, Berlin Township, Ionia County is 
 the son of Russell .1. Curtiss, a Vermont 
 farmer and Ljdia (I'olter) Curtiss, an Ohio 
 woman. In this latter State the parents were mar- 
 ried and resided until 1852, when they came to 
 Michigan and settled upon a raw, heavily timbered 
 farm of eijj:lity acres, built a log house and began 
 clearing off and improving the farm. Fift^- acres 
 were cleared by them and placed under cultivation. 
 Russell J. Curtiss died in December, 1890, at the 
 advanced age of eightj'-six years. His faithful 
 wife still survives although she has completed her 
 four-score years. They were both members of the 
 Methodist Kpiscopal Church in which he was a 
 Steward, Trustee and Class-Leader. They were 
 also both active in Sunday-sciiool work. Local 
 politics always interested him greatly and he voted 
 the Re[)ublican ticket. He was for some time 
 Justice of the Peace. lie was active!}' interested 
 in school matters and wjis a member of the School 
 Board. His temperate habits and life of strict in- 
 tegrity insured for him the respect and confidence 
 of his neighbors. He and his good wife were the 
 parents of seven children, six of whom are now 
 living: Catherine E.,now widow of L. J. Canright; 
 Sarah R., now Mrs. Riley Cliandjerlain ; Lucy A., 
 widow of Jerome M. Walker; Corintha M., now 
 widow of George Scissem; our subject, and Willie 
 H., who lives in this township. 
 
 The gentleumn of whom we write was boi'n April 
 
 22, 1839, in Lorain County, Ohio, and at thirteen 
 years of age removed to Michigan with his parents. 
 Most of his education was received in this State. 
 He attended school in the first schoolhouse l)uiltin 
 Berlin Center. He grew to manhood upon his 
 father's rugged farm, which he helped to clear and 
 cultivate. He there gained the foundation for a 
 character of earnestness, sincerity and quiet persis- 
 tence which was destined to help him pass through 
 the trials before him. He began for iiimself at 
 twent^'-one years of age, buying forty acres where 
 he now lives. It was almost wholly unim|)roved 
 there being no buildings upon it. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was united in marriage 
 in 18G0 with Abigail N. liarnard, a daughter of 
 James and Elizabeth (Cook) Barnard. Mrs. Bar- 
 nard was a native of Vermont, and Mr. Barnard 
 was a native of the Empire State, where this couple 
 were united in marriage and which they left to 
 come to Michigan in 18,03. Here they settled 
 upon section 11, in Berlin Townshiji, all wild land. 
 Mr. Barnard was a great worker and accomplished 
 wonders in clearing and improving. He added to 
 his original eight}' acres until he had about two 
 hundred broad and fertile acres. The original 
 eighty acres were in splendid condition of cultiva- 
 tion at the time of his death. The worthy couple 
 died in this county, the mother in 1871, and the 
 father in 1883. Mrs. Barnard was a useful 
 and active member of the Metlioilist Episcopal 
 Church. Her husband took a lively interest in 
 politics and was a stanch Republican, bringing up 
 his sons with the heartiest love for the free insti- 
 tutions of our country and so training tliem as to 
 make them willing to spring to the defense of the 
 Nation's liouor. Three of them entered the Union 
 army during the Civil War and two were in Andor- 
 sonville prison, where one, George W., died in 
 18(')4. Mr. Barnard was strongly teni|)erate in his 
 principles and benevolently inclined to assist 
 churches in his vicinity. He and iiis good wife 
 were the parents of ten children, Ave of whom are 
 now living. Their daughter, Mrs. Curtiss was 
 born January 7, 1840, in New York. She has a 
 good common-school education. 
 
 After his marriage the subject of tiiis sketch set- 
 tled upon his present farm, built a log house and 
 
428 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIC. A.L ALBUM. 
 
 began clearing off and improving the land. He 
 now has eighty acres, about seventy of which is 
 improved. He built iiis residence ten years ago. 
 All the other improvements have been put here by 
 himself. He carries on mixed farming, raising 
 botli grain and stocli. 
 
 Having established a liapi)y home upon his new 
 farm Mr. Curtiss was prepared for a continued 
 period of prosperity and domestic enjoyment, but it 
 was not so to be, for his country called and to follow 
 duty was the onl3' decision possible with this true- 
 hearted Christian man and patriot. In October, 
 1862, he enlisted in Company M, Sixth Micliigan 
 Cavalry. This regiment was organized in Grand 
 Rapids and when ready for service was sent forward 
 to the National Capital and was attached to the 
 Army of tlie Potomac, in Gen. Custer's brigade of 
 Michigan Cavalry. The regiment operated all 
 through Virginia and our hero took part in tiie 
 battles of Cold Harbor, Chickahominy Swamp, 
 Trevilian Station, Cedar Creek, and a large num- 
 ber of skirmishes and small lights. He was also 
 in the famous battle of Gettysburg. On June 11, 
 1864, he had the groat misfortune to be captured 
 by the rebels at Trevilian St.ation. He was taken 
 to Richmond and put into Libby prison and later 
 into Castle Thunder. After this he was removed 
 to Andersonville prison where he was most of the 
 time for six months, and where he suffered untold 
 horrors. AVhen he was in service before his cap- 
 ture he weighed one hundred and ninety pounds, 
 but when he passed out from the door of the rebel 
 prison he had wasted until he weighed only one 
 hundred and sixteen pounds. 
 
 An intensely interesting sketch of Mr. Curtiss' 
 experiences in the rebel prisons given below, was 
 written by himself, and kindly furnished us for pub- 
 lication : "We love to speak of the pleasant memories 
 of the past, but to me the memories of army life are 
 clouded by sad recollections, especially when my 
 mind goes back to my life in rebel prisons. Our 
 regiment went out in 18G2 and put in three years 
 of solid work with Custer's Michigan Cavalry 
 Brigade. AVe remember the long lines of stalwart 
 men that marched out at the bugle call for drill 
 and dress parade in the old camp at Grand Rapids. 
 We remember them at the front when called to 
 
 meet the more stern realities of soldier life. We 
 cannot forget those that fell, pierced willi rebel 
 bullets, and mangled by rebel shells, and how shall 
 we forget those who bore those awful sufferings 
 and finally died in the midst of the horrors of rebel 
 prisons. Of all death dealing m.achinery there is 
 none more terrible than these. 
 
 "I was in four different prisons: Castle Thunder, 
 Mahlon, Libby, and Andersonville. The famous 
 old Libby prison is so well known that I will call 
 j'our attention to a few only of my reminiscences. 
 This prison was located on one of the princii)al 
 streets in the city of Richmond, Va., and had been 
 formerly used as a warehouse. It was built of 
 brick, and its windows well barred with iron. Its 
 walls were strongly guarded bj- rebel soldiers, and 
 it was considered impossible for our men to escape 
 from it, but in this they were mistaken, although 
 at one time they placed over the door this inscrip- 
 tion : 
 
 ''Abandon hope all ye who enter here." 
 
 In this prison many of our true soldiers were 
 confined, and from this place they were drawn by 
 lot to be put to death in retaliation for some sup- 
 posed or real grievance which the Confederacy had 
 suffered at the hunils of the United States Govern- 
 ment. At one time Capt. Sawyer, of New Jersey, 
 and Capt. Flinn, of Indiana, were drawn by lot for 
 execution, and were placed in a most filthy and 
 gloomy dungeon to await the fatal day when ven- 
 geance should be wreaked upon them. By some 
 unknown means this fact was reported in Washing- 
 ton and word was sent by our Government that if 
 these men were harmed the same fate would be 
 meted out to the sons of two rebel officers, then 
 held prisoners at AVashington. Thus were these 
 brave men saved, and their turn for exchange came 
 soon and they were free. 
 
 ''It was common for us to hear discouraging news, 
 in fact we seldom heard of the Union army gaining 
 any victories. One day it was reported that Meade 
 was defeated with great loss near Gettysburg, and 
 that Grant had closed an unsuccessful campaign by 
 raising the siege at Vicksburg. These were truly 
 dark days for the brave boys imprisoned there, 
 waiting and hoping. But the silver lining of the 
 cloud would sometimes glimmer through our dark 
 
 i 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 429 
 
 ness and in spitu of all precautions it turned out 
 that the sun was still shining. A Richmond paper 
 found its way to us, and brought the ylad tidinu;s 
 that Grant had taken Mcksburg, with thirty- thou- 
 sand prisoners and lliat tiie battle of Gettysburg 
 had rcsidted in the defeat of Lee with a loss to 
 him of twelve thousand killed and wounded. This 
 inspiring news spread among the men silently but 
 swiftly and hearts went up in tliankfulness, cj'es 
 brightened and faces shown with hope. Rebel 
 guards walking their rounds wondered at the 
 change, when all at once hundreds of voices burst 
 forth in song as the}' never sang before: 
 
 "Mine ej'es have seen the glory of the cominn; of 
 the Lord ; 
 Ho is trani|iling out the vintage where the grapes 
 of wrath are stored: 
 He hath loosed the fitful lightning of His terrible 
 swift sword; 
 His truth is marching on." 
 
 Then rose the grand chorus of, 
 
 "Glory, glory. Halleluiah." 
 
 "Union men from Tennessee were conlined in the 
 lower parts of the old prison, where it was so 
 damp and unhealthy that mould actually accumu- 
 lated on their beards. Many noble men closed 
 their eyes forever in those dungeons. Krom this 
 prison a tunnel was dug underground through 
 which about sixty escapeii, and many succeeded in 
 reaching the Union lines. But the time came when 
 I was to leave J>ibby prison, and with others I was 
 marched out, bidding farewell to those left behind. 
 Tlicy were loaded into box cars, closely- crowded 
 with hut little to cat or drink, while the heat was 
 almost uiiendurable. Our suffering was great and 
 the filthiness of the cars was beyond description. 
 Late one afternoon in June we arrived at our des- 
 tination — Anderson villc prison. 
 
 "This prison is in a part of Georgia where there 
 arc extensive pine forests. The encam|iment was 
 made by setting logs in the ground upon end, side 
 by side, running up some twelve or fourteen feet. 
 We were taken to the quarters of the commanding 
 olficer, where for the first time we saw that heart- 
 less wretch named Wirz. We were searched before 
 being taken out of his presence, and we were glad 
 indeed to get out of the sound of his terrible pro- 
 
 fanity. One who lately visited the cemetery at 
 Washington, says: "The grave of the keeper of 
 Andersonville is near the main entrance. The man 
 who buried him is still employed at the cemetery 
 and he identified the grave. He contemptuously 
 kicked one foot against a small block of stone lying 
 in the autumn rubbish, saying: 'That is Wirz.' H'g 
 grave lies near to another, but not on a line with 
 it, as if intended to be half way below the line. 
 A small stone bears simply the name, Wirz. The 
 keeper of the Andersonville pen, moulders in a 
 neglected grave. 
 
 "I shall never forget the gloominess of that after- 
 noon when we were put inside the stockade. I was 
 surprised and horror stricken. Hope died within me, 
 and death seemetl stamped upon everything. The 
 air was full of dcathl}' odor from the filthy ground, 
 and the water was putrid from the wash of the 
 prison. A long row of our boys that had died 
 during the d.ay lay on the right, as we passed 
 through the inner gate. Their number would be 
 added to until morning, when the dead wagon would 
 take them to the place of burial. The whole prison 
 enclosed about twenty acres; guards could be seen 
 on top of the stockade at intervals of about five 
 rods all round the pri.son. There was a line staked 
 out about fifteen or twenty feet from the stockade 
 that was called the dead line, beyond which was 
 sure death to go. Some of our boys were shot 
 dead before learning what this line w.as for. 
 
 "Four of us lay down in the rain under our one 
 blanket, weary and sad, but were in a short time 
 awakened by the robbers tiiat infested the prison. 
 One of these fellows stood over me with a large 
 club, another drew a razor across the throat of ray 
 next neighbor while another looked over the con- 
 tents of my satchel. We Dually got the advantage 
 of them and drove them off. They were a desper- 
 ate set of hard cases, that had been put in the 
 navy so that they could be managed, but being 
 captured and in prison they entered u[)on their old 
 business of robbery and murder. Si.\ out of sixty 
 of them were afterwards arrested, tried and con- 
 demned, sentenced and hung in prison. The groans 
 of the sick, and continual cough, cough, in every 
 direction, all through the long niglits were sounds 
 that our ears soon became accustomed to, Meu 
 
430 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 were walking continually day and night until they 
 could go no longer, when they would drop down 
 and die, being actually starved to death. Many 
 were the plans laid for our escape, but few suc- 
 ceeded in getting away. 
 
 "It was a common thing to hear the baying of a 
 pack of bloodhounds in the night, as they circled 
 around the prison pen, and finally struck off in 
 some one direction, the sound dying away in the 
 distance. This told us that more of our poor boys 
 had been trying to get away. Those that were 
 brought back were severely punished. Men were 
 fastened into the stocks by liie wrists and ankles 
 between heavy planks for hours. The stocks were 
 in plain sight of us all and it was a common sight 
 to see our comrades thus tortured. Had it not 
 been for the horrors of the situation few would 
 have run such fearful risks to get away. 
 
 "Wells were dug to a great depth in an effort to 
 get pure water, but not much could be obtained in 
 that way and the suffering for want of it was great, 
 until the Providence Spring broke out. This spring 
 was so named because it was looked upon by many 
 as a direct gift from God. I have drank from 
 many a fountain of living water, but I never found 
 one so sweet and so pure. How eagerly we crowded 
 up to get a draught from that pure fountain, and 
 how we hastened with a cup of it to helpless com- 
 rades racked with pain and burning with fever. 
 How thankfully the sufferers received it. Yes, we 
 remember that a last gift to a brother was a drink 
 of that pure water. I have no doubt that many 
 of us live to-day that would not have survived 
 without it. I have read of a party of our men 
 visiting the old prison who when thej- came to the 
 old spring were completely overcome by their feel- 
 ings, wlien they remembered what tiiey had passed 
 through. 
 
 "We had but little reading matter and a news- 
 paper hardly ever found its way inside the prison. 
 We would try to sing but our liearts were too heavy 
 for that, only as we would make a forlorn effort to 
 cheer up each other. I had a Bible which was not 
 taken from me in .all the searchings through which 
 we passed. This was often called for by the boys 
 and read carefully. We talked of home and of 
 the bountiful tables that would I'e spread for us if 
 
 we were so fortunate as to get tliere again. This 
 was a favorite theme, and many a time I have actu- 
 ally seen those who were listening, moving their 
 lips as if the}' were tasting a mother's cooking. 
 A poor fellow who passed me one day, stooped 
 and picked up an old bone that had been thrown 
 out and gnawed it just as a hungry dog would do. 
 We tried to studj' up ways of cheering and amus- 
 ing e.ach other, that we might not yield to despair. 
 
 "Days and weeks passed slowly av/ay and October 
 found us hungry and cold, waiting and hoping for 
 release. The in-ison had been enlarged, hundreds 
 had been added to our numbers, the death rate h.ad 
 increased, but still wc hoped on, hoping against 
 hope. To walk about from point to point of our 
 allotted space was not an agree.able mode of pastime. 
 One needed a stout heart to walk down by the old 
 prison gate in the morning, and look at tlie long 
 row of our dead comrades as they l.iy there with 
 thin, white, ghastly faces, awaiting the dead wagon. 
 We wondered why our Government had left us 
 thus to suffer and die. Those in authority were 
 exulting over us, while each hour in the night rebel 
 guards would cry out, "all is well." Our rations 
 were withheld for an entire day from the whole 
 prison, because a few had been caught planning to 
 escape and this at a time when we were already 
 reduced to almost absolute starvation. 
 
 '■Well, these years have passed away, but as we 
 look back to our days in rebel prisons it seems but 
 as yesterday, when, 
 
 "Within the prison walls. 
 We were waiting for the day, 
 Thatsliould come and open wide the iron doors. 
 And tiie hollow e>'e grew bright. 
 And the poor heart almost gay. 
 As we talked of seeing home and friends once 
 more." 
 
 "At Andersonville alone, our Government has 
 pl.iced more than thirteen thousand tombstones, to 
 mark the graves where our loved ones were laid 
 away, and the dear old flag floats to-day over their 
 graves." 
 
 It was in December, 1864, when the subject of 
 this sketch was exchanged from prison and taken 
 to Annapolis, and allowed to go home on a fur- 
 lough. At its termination he was ordered to join 
 
PORTRAIT \ND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 •131 
 
 his regiment which was then under orders to cross 
 the plains. He went as far as Ft. Leavenworth in 
 Kansas, and there his term of service having cx- 
 l)ire<l he was disch.irged, having served fully three 
 3'ears. He has never seen a d.ay since his prison 
 life that he has not suffered from its effects. Since 
 that time he has devote<I himself to his farm. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. t'urtiss are the parents of seven 
 children: Rosa K., wife of Frank Stowell, lives 
 at Clarkesville, Mich., and has three children; 
 Lillie A., wife of John Smith, lives in Boston 
 Township, and has three children; Arthur W., mar- 
 ried Mary llaynes, with whom and his one child he 
 makes his home in Britlon, Mich.; Delia C, wife of 
 Edward Mains, is the mother of one child and 
 makes her home in Spring Arbor, Mich. Gilbert 
 J., Kdith G., and Kvelyn (Jrace are at home with 
 their [jarents. All have had the advantage of a 
 good common-school education. Mr. Curtiss and 
 his family are earnest believers in the doctrines of 
 the Melliodist Episcopal Church and are earnest 
 workers in all church matters. He has been Class- 
 Leader for many years, also Superintendent of 
 Sunda^'-school at Berlin Center and the teacher of 
 a Bible Cl.ass. He and his sons alw.ays take an 
 active part in the efforts to promote temperance. 
 His political convictions are with llie IJppublican 
 party and his interest in school matters has led to 
 his being for a long while a member of the .School 
 Board. 
 
 ,^ HESTER SMITH, M. D. began his career in 
 '!' _ the wilds of Michigan, and .as a matter of 
 ^^to^ course his life was similar to the majority 
 of those who came to this countr}' at that time. 
 The sound of the woodman's ax as it felled the for- 
 est trees was the most common and the various 
 scenes of camping and logging life varied the 
 monotony of every da^- affairs. Amid tlicse scenes 
 of nature the first sixteen years of Dr. Smith's life 
 were passed, but he soon came into prominence be- 
 fore the people, and in the duties of his profession 
 and also in performing those of a citizen he has 
 gained the esteem of all. 
 
 Pr. Smith was born in Jefferson County, N.'Y., 
 
 January 6, 1831, and is the son of Elisha and 
 Harriet (Vebar) Smith, who were natives of Massa- 
 chusetts. Grandfather Elisha Smith w.as born Feb- 
 ruary 1.5, 1759, and married Keturah Edson May 
 10, 1780. He was with Gen. Gates until the sur- 
 render of Gen. Burgoyne and was in several battles 
 of the Revolution. The falher of our subject was 
 a farmer and came to Michigan in the spring of 
 1812, locating in Ingham County, where he died. 
 His wife died prior to his death, July 14, 1845. To 
 them were born three children, who are all livin<^. 
 Chester in Portland City; Adoniram J., of Sagi- 
 naw City and Emoraney, wife of Hiram Godfrey 
 Russell, a resident of White County, Ark. Durino- 
 his pioneer life Chester Smith was reared to chop- 
 ping and logging until sixteen years of age. He 
 then labored in a cooper shop until attaining his 
 majority. From the age of twenty-one years until 
 that of twenty-four his occupation wsis that of a 
 gold hunter in California. 
 
 Dr. Smith journeyed to the Golden State in the 
 spring of 1852 and returned in the fall of 1855. 
 In going he took the overland route and returned 
 by the way of Panama and New Vork City. Mr. 
 Smith commenced the study of medicine durin" 
 the winter of 1855-56. at first rather as a pastime. 
 In the summer of 1856 he went to K.ansas and not 
 being satisfied there he returned in the sprino- of 
 1857. During this time he located some land 
 which he afterwards sold. He studied medicine 
 with a half-brother, .John E. Smith, then practicing 
 at Onond.aga, Ingham County. In July of that 
 year Mr. John Smith came to Portland. Dr. Smith 
 took a course of lectures in the winter of 1857-58 
 in the Western Homceupathic College at Cleveland, 
 Ohio. He gr.aduated in the class of 1859 and then 
 commenced the practice of medicine at Parma, 
 Mich. After six months he removed to Albion, but 
 upon visiting bis brother in Portland found him 
 sick and was through his persuasions induced to 
 move to Portland, October 5, 1859, and here he has 
 since remained. Dr. Smith is a member of the 
 American Institute of Ilomojopathy .and also of 
 the Stale Society. He is also a member of the 
 Masonic order, has been High Priest several vear.-< 
 and has been their representative member in llu' 
 Grand Lodge. Mr. Smith has represented his ordrr 
 
432 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 in conventions two different times. He is a mem- 
 ber of tbe Baptist Cburcli, is a Republican and bas 
 never voted any otber ticket. His first ballot was 
 cast for Abrabara Lincoln. 
 
 Dr. Smilb bas been twice married. His first 
 marriage occurred December 5, 1858 to Deborah 
 Lockwood of Jackson County, wbo died Septem- 
 ber 23, 1862. Two cbildren were born to this 
 union — Clara M., wife of Clarence Gillett of Ft. 
 Collins, Col., and Glen L. residing in Portland, 
 Mich. Our subject was a second time united in 
 marriage, taking as his wife Mary A. Murphy. 
 Mrs. Smith is a native of Manchester, England, 
 but at the time of her marriage resided in Kenoslia 
 County, Wis. Of this union there are two children : 
 Dale A. and Clarence K. Dr. Smith now holds the 
 position of Health Otiicer, and in all his places 
 which he has held before men has earned their com- 
 mendation anil during his collegiate life struggled 
 manfully with adversity and from the battle came 
 out a man of rare attainments. Glen L. and Dale 
 A. are engaged in the mercantile business in Port- 
 land, Mich. 
 
 - orx> . 
 
 fAUREN D. CLIZBE. This name will be 
 recognizetl by many of our readers as that 
 of a gentleman who, though comparatively 
 young in j'ears, has taken a high stand among the 
 educators of the State. He has been in charge of 
 the Ionia schools since August, 1887, and has 
 brougiit them to such a high standard that the High 
 School in that city is one of the few in the State 
 whose pupils are allowed to enter the State Uni- 
 versity without re-examination. Mr. Clizbe has a 
 liberal education and combines with his perceptive 
 faculties the practicality that makes mental culture 
 of real use. Himself an ardent lover of learning, 
 he incites the young to a higher aim, and by his 
 jjcrsonal example of morality and uprightness adds 
 weight to the teachings that are wrought into the 
 school work. 
 
 The parents of our subject are .Lames and Abbie 
 (Rounds) Clizbo formerly of New York, who came 
 to this State in 1835 and are still living in Quincj-, 
 Branch County, where the son was born January 
 
 18, 1858. They belong to the agricultural class 
 and the early life of our subject was spent amid 
 rural surroundings. He first .attended the public 
 schools and at the age of eighteen years entered 
 upon his work as a teacher. For a time he gave 
 a part of each year to that work, but after com- 
 pleting his own studies gave his profession his en- 
 tire time and thought. He attended the Stale 
 Normal School at Ypsilanti, Mich., and was gradu- 
 ated from both the classical and scientific depart- 
 ments in the class of 1880. 
 
 The first position held liy Mr. Clizbe after his 
 graduation was that of Principal of the Birming- 
 ham School. He next became Superintendent of 
 Schools at Lapeer, whence he was called to Ionia as 
 Superintendent. He found the schools in this place 
 well regulated and with a good standard of scholar- 
 ship, and has ably carried on the work. He was 
 Secretary of the County Board of Examiners in 
 Lapeer County, and a member of the Board two 
 years in Ionia, and whatever move is being ma<le 
 in educational circles he takes a deep interest in, 
 and bestows upon it profound thought. 
 
 The lady wbo became the wife of Mr. Clizbe 
 August 2, 1882, was known in former years as 
 Miss Nellie Richardson. She has a fine education 
 and prior to her marriage w.as a High School 
 teacher in this State. Mr. and Mrs. Clizbe have 
 one daughter, Marian R. Mv. Clizbe is Chancellor- 
 Commander in Lucullus Lodge, Knights of Pythias. 
 He is an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church 
 and also Superintendent of the Sunda}' -school. The 
 home of the Clizbes is one of the intellectual cen- 
 ters of Ionia and under its roof the best society of 
 the town is to be met. 
 
 "S^^ LIAS GATES who resides on section 29, 
 fe Orange Township, Ionia County, is the son 
 [L^g of Fellows Gates, a native of Vermont, 
 who was born in 1802. The grandfather of Elias 
 was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. 
 Fellows Gates, a native of Massachusetts, bore the 
 maiden name of Mary Williams. After her mar- 
 riage to Mr. Gates in 1826 they resided for year^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOORArillCAL ALBUM. 
 
 435 
 
 I 
 
 in Canada. Then for five years in New York be- 
 fore reLuriiing to Canada. They came to Michi<i;an 
 ill 18.")5, and sellli'd on a heavily' timbered farm in 
 the wilderness, and takiiiij; up fort}- acres began 
 ileal ing it. The father remained on this hmd for 
 Ihirtysi.x years, bnt has never voted here. His 
 wife died in 1881 at tlie age of scveiit3--live years. 
 .Slie was a member of tlie Free Will Baptist Church. 
 All of their eight, children are now living. Our 
 subject; Rachel, Mrs. W. Barber; iSallie, Mrs. 
 Thorp: Nathan, Freeman, George; Klizabeth, Mrs. 
 W. Carbaugh;and Caroline, Mrs. LcHingwell. 
 
 After receiving a common-school education, 
 IClias remained at home until his marriage, I\[arch 
 .'it, 1850 to Julia F. Plant, a daughter of Moses 
 and Kliza (Naidcn) Plant. Mrs. Gates' parents 
 were both natives of Staffordshire, Kngland, where 
 they were married and lived until 1833, when 
 they came to Ameiica anil settled in Ohio. Later 
 they went to Canada, and resided there until 1858, 
 when they came to Michigan. They settled suc- 
 cessively in Orange, Ionia and Berlin Townships. 
 The father is now eighty' j-ears of age. The 
 mother died in 1876. They were the parents of 
 eight children, five of whom are living. One son, 
 Samuel, lost his life at Savannah, Ga., while serv- 
 ing in the Union army. 
 
 Mrs. Gates was born in Kngland, .lune G, 1832, 
 and being married in Canada, in March, 1851, came 
 to Michigan in 1855. She has shown the sterling 
 qualities which characterized the early pioneer 
 mothers. The patient and strong endurance of 
 trials which they showed in their devotion to family 
 interests, their tender care of their children, and 
 their wise provision for their education overcame 
 many obstacles and hindrances to the family 
 progress. IMrs. Gates made a visit to England in 
 1880. Except five years which they spent in Will- 
 iamston, the subject of this sketch and his estimable 
 wife have lived continuously on the honiu farm 
 since coming to this State. 
 
 Upon the wild forty acres which Mv. Gates took 
 up when he came here he built a log house and 
 barn, and proceeded to clear twenty-five acres of 
 land. Later he purchased more, so that he now 
 has seventj- acres all improved and carries on mixed 
 farming. They are the happy parents of four chil- 
 
 dren, namely : Henry F., born in 1852, married Julia 
 Moore and lives in this townshiii; he has one child. 
 Eliza I., born in 1853 is the wife of Ilarlon LaUu ; 
 she h.as three children and lives in Ingham County. 
 Mary, born in 1801 is the wife of George Wliitty 
 and lives in Nashville, Mich., and has one child. 
 Helen, born 18GI, is the wife of George H. Myers, 
 lives on section 29 and has one cliild. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gates arc earnest, useful members 
 in the Methodist Episcopal Church and have trained 
 up their children in the church and Sunday-school. 
 Their son IIenr3^ is a Steward in the church. Mr. 
 Gates has been School Director and Road Over- 
 seer of his township. He has always taken a deep 
 interest in politics voting the Rci)ublican ticket. 
 He li.as been a temi)erate man all his life and with 
 his wife commands the respect of the community. 
 
 ,EN. FREDERICK S. Ill TCIHNSON. In a 
 c^'clorama representing the siege of Atlanta 
 m.aybe noticed a iirominent (igureon horse- 
 back leading the charge of the Fifteenth Michigan 
 Infantr}', which is pointed out to all visitors as that 
 of a gallant olliccr whose bravery stands unques- 
 tioned and whose daring deserves recounting. The 
 onlooker will be told that the man leading the charge 
 is den. Frederick S. Hutchinson, whose military 
 record is among the best, whose soldierly qualities 
 maintained the fullest confidence of his men and 
 whose presence inspired them to deeds of valor. 
 It is of this man, now a resident of Ionia that we 
 purpose to give a brief biographical sketch in the 
 accomi)anying i)aragraphs. We also present his 
 portrait on the opposite page. 
 
 The birthplace of Gen. Hutchinson was Bedford, 
 Ohio, his natal day Septend>er 8, 1839, and his par- 
 ents Dr. B. M. and Charlotte (Sharp) Hutchinson, 
 whose only child he was. His mother died when 
 he was bnt four ^-ears old and he lived with her 
 people at Willoughby several years. He attended 
 school at Bedford, Tnnisbury, and a select school 
 in Cleveland three years, and became well versed 
 in the English branches. In the fall of 1858 he 
 came to this State and located at Lyons where h^ 
 
436 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was employed as a clerk and book- keeper until 
 1861. July 30 of that j-ear he was enrolled as a 
 private in Company F, Fifteentli Michigan Infan- 
 try and within seven months had passed through 
 the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Cap- 
 tain to that of Major. 
 
 The Fifteentli Regiment was sent from this State 
 to Missouri and thence down the Mississippi, arriv- 
 ing at Pittsburg Landing Aiiril o, 18G2. There it 
 passed through the two days' fight at Shiloh and 
 Company F was commanded by Gen. Hutchinson 
 from noon of tlie first daj- until the close of the 
 battle, tlie Captain being absent, and the First 
 Lieutenant killed and the Second wounded at the 
 first volley. After the battle Mr. Hutchinson was 
 made Sergeant Major and recommended for a com- 
 mission as Second Lieutenant, which he received 
 the last of the month. Immediately after the en- 
 g.ageraent at the Lauding he was sent for by Gen. 
 Clark, who had been attracted by his skill in mak- 
 ing out reports anddirected to Gen. Grant as Clerk 
 under Adj. Gen. Rawlins, a position he filled only 
 until his commission arrived. 
 
 Col. John M. Oliver having been assigned to the 
 command of the Third Brig.ade, Sixth Division, 
 Army of the Tennessee, made Lieut. Hutchinson an 
 aid-de-camp on his staff and as such he served un- 
 til just before the battle of luka, when he was 
 assigned to duty as Assistant Adjutant General. 
 October 2, 3 and 4, the brigade was hotl}' engaged 
 and Lieut. Hutchinson had two horses killed and 
 received two wounds. He had been slightly 
 wounded at Shiloh. After the engagement at luka 
 he was promoted to a First Lieutenancy and after 
 the command moved with Gen. Grant to Oxford 
 and thence to Grand Junction. He acted as Adju- 
 tant General of the Post under his old superior. 
 Col. Oliver. At that point he remained until 
 ordered to Vicksburg, where his regiment bad a 
 position on the right of Sherman's command. 
 
 After the surrender of Vicksburg our subject 
 was promoted to the rank of Captain, and the dny 
 that he received his appointment during his ab- 
 sence the other regimental officers recommended 
 his promotion to the rank of Major. The commis- 
 sion was received August 1, 1863, and he took 
 command of the regiment, which passed up the 
 
 river with the Fifteenth Corps to Memphis, whence 
 it marched to Chattanooga. The next notable 
 contest in which the command was engaged was 
 Rlissionary Ridge, where Maj. Hutchinson was 
 wounded and had a horse killed. Thence he went to 
 Knoxville and returned and was then stationed in 
 the vicinity of lluntsville until February when the 
 regiment came home on veteran furlough. 
 
 The day the forces under Gen. Sherman started 
 on the Atlanta campaign they were rejoined by 
 Maj. Hutchinson, who participated in every battle 
 in which the Fifteenth Corps was engaged during 
 that campaign. He was promoted to the rank of 
 Lieutenant Colonel, June 20, and at the close of 
 the campaign went to Savannah where he aided in 
 the capture of Ft. jMcAllister, one of the most 
 brilliant minor engagements of the war. Another 
 promotion bestowed upon him, that of Colonel, was 
 dated January 1, 1865. He led his command 
 through the Carolinas to Raleigh, and when near 
 Goldsboro was placed in command of the brigade. 
 After participating in the Grand Review at Wash- 
 ington he was sent to Louisville, Ky., and thence 
 to Little Rock, Ark., which he readied in Jul}-, 
 1865. He visited Ft. Smith and other points and 
 for some time was in command of the division, 
 having been brevetted Brigadier General. He re- 
 mained in Arkansas until August, when he had 
 orders to muster out the division, and after that 
 work was completed he reported b}' letter to Wash- 
 ington, D. C, and received orders to report at 
 Detroit for mustering out in October, 1865. In 
 addition to wounds already mentioned he was shot 
 through the right shoulder at Saluda. A somewhat 
 l)eouliar coincidence is the fact that he had five 
 horses killed in battle and received the same num- 
 ber of wounds. 
 
 After his army experience Gen. Hutchinson re- 
 turned to Lyons, this State, where for a year he 
 devoted himself earnestly to the study of law un- 
 der the guidance of Setli Moffatt. He then came to 
 Ionia and was with Blanchard, Bell & Dodge two 
 years. When admitted to the bar in 1868 he at 
 once began the practice of his t)rofession in this city 
 and continued it until January 1, 1875. He then be- 
 came Deputy Register of Deeds and after two years 
 of official life resunied his practice and continues it 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 437 
 
 to the present time. He is recognized as a most 
 capable lawyer, and competent judges affirm that 
 they would sooner risk his opinion in a uiatlor of 
 law than that of an}' other nioniljcr uf the Ionia 
 County bar. 
 
 Gen. Hutchinson was married in November, 
 1869, to Miss Ada C. Roof, of Lyons, this State. 
 They have two sons — llcrl)erl D. and Albert K. K., 
 both stuiicnta. Gen. Hutchinson has been Alder- 
 man of Ionia and also Justice of the Peace. In 
 1881 he took the Captaincy of Company G, Second 
 Michigan State troops, and held the rank two years. 
 In 1883 he was appointed Brigadier General and 
 Inspector General l)y Gov. Begole. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic order and of the Grand Armj- 
 of the Republic, and votes with the Democratic 
 party. 
 
 c-'-r* -J^^- *T»— 
 
 ilLLIAM LAMl'KIN. The late Mr. Lamp- 
 kin was widely known throughout Ionia 
 Count}-, in the prosperity' of which he had 
 been a factor for many years. He was a thor- 
 oughly honest and upright citizen, and enjoj'ed to 
 an unusual degree the contidence of the business 
 community, by whom his word was considered as 
 good as a bond. He was not known to have iia<l an 
 enemy, and his friends were many and sincere. 
 When he was called aw.ay from earth be left a void, 
 not only in the liearts and lives of his famil}', but 
 of others who hai known Iiim, and his memory is 
 kept green. He led such a life as was worthy of 
 imitation, and to recall his virtues is a source of 
 consolation to those who loved him. 
 
 Mr. Lampkin was born in England, March 3, 
 1829, and was a son of John and Martha Lampkin, 
 who emigrated to Canada when he was a small boy. 
 He came to this State about the middle of the cen- 
 tury, and was married in Ionia County April 12, 
 1855, to Catherine Hawley. About three j'ears 
 later the young couple located on the farm now oc- 
 cupied by the witlow and her family, which is a 
 part of section 1 7, Keene Township. The property 
 W.1S then in a primitive condition, nearly covered 
 with dense forests, and the owner had much hard 
 work to do in onler to clear and develop it. He 
 
 was industrious and prudent, and his wife was 
 capable of superior management, and together they 
 planned and worked until their farm became a fair 
 and fruitful exi)anse. 
 
 Mr. Lampkin was inde|)endent in his political 
 views, and exercised the right of suffrage in behalf 
 of the candidates in whose u|)rightness of character 
 and business abilit}' he had the strongest confi- 
 dence. He was a member of the Mctliodist Episco- 
 pal Church, and hehl various important official 
 positions. He was a loving father and a consid- 
 erate husband, and in his care for his family exer- 
 cised his best judgment and endeavored to advance 
 their interests both at the time and for the future. 
 The children born to himself and wife were eight 
 in number, and six are still living. The survivors 
 are John IL, Frank E., Bert, Charles W., Lottie A. 
 and Ella M. The deceased are Herbert F. and 
 Willie. 
 
 Mrs. Lampkin was born in County Brant, On- 
 tario, Can.ada, February 20, 1837, and comes of a 
 faniil}' that is worthy of respect. Her paternal an- 
 cestors were English, and the family in America is 
 traced back to a period prior to the Revolution, 
 when the traditional three brothers crossed the At- 
 lantic and settlc<l in New Flngland. The direct 
 progenitor of Mrs. Lampkin fought in the Revolu- 
 tion. Her maternal grandfatiier, a Mr. Likins, was 
 a soldier in the War of 1812, and died from the re- 
 sults of a severe march. 
 
 The pansnts of Jlrs. Lamijkin were Harve\- and 
 Elizabeth Hawley, natives of Connecticut and Can- 
 ada, respectively. They came to Ionia County 
 when the daughter was in her eighteenth year and 
 made a settlement in Keene Township, on the farm 
 now owned by Horace Peck. There they lived 
 many years, attaining to an honorable place among 
 the people. They removed from the farm to Sara- 
 nac, where Mrs. Hawley died Decemljer 27, 1890, 
 and Mr. Hawley followed to his final rest on the 
 Gth of May, 1891, while in his eighty-fourth year, 
 at the home of his daughter-in-law in Keene Town- 
 ship. They had a large family-, of whom the fol- 
 lowing survive: Rev, Harvey II., of the Methodist 
 E|)iscopal Church, of Lake Odessa; Mrs. Lampkin: 
 Matilda, wife of Henry Jackson; Clark; Elizabeth, 
 wife of J. L. Welch; Mrs. Emcline Williams; Jem' 
 
438 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 imti; Jane, wife of Daniel E. Wilson; Went- 
 worth H.; Benson S.; Mrs. Abrani Tliouias; and 
 ]\Iis. Mary Lowry. One of tlie deceased members 
 of tlie family is the Hon. Willard Ilawley, of Ionia 
 County, a sketcli of whom appears in tiiis volume. 
 As her girlhood was passed in Canada, Mrs. 
 Lani|iliin received the most of her education there. 
 By her good parents she was taught firm principles 
 and industrious liabits, and so fitted to discharge 
 the duties tliat fell to iier lot in later years. Her 
 father was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist 
 Church, but the daughter identified herself with 
 the same denomination as her husband, and has been 
 as active in the work carried on by the society as 
 she could be without neglecting her home duties. 
 Since her children have grown old enough to allow 
 her to do more outside her home, she has become a 
 more active member of societ}', and joined more 
 freely in charitable work and neighborhood affairs. 
 She and her husband are certainly worthy of repre- 
 sentation in a volume of a biographical nature, and 
 their friends will be pleased to see tliis account of 
 their lives. Mr. Lampkin departed this life on the 
 23d of July, 1878, and Mrs. Lampkin has had 
 charge of the estate consisting of one hundred and 
 sixty acres, has been able to educate her children, 
 and is a capable manager in every respect, 'i'lie 
 family contributed very liberally to the Keene 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, they bearing about 
 one-eiifhth of the cost. 
 
 ellARLES W.BLUMBERG. It h.as been said 
 that "God moves in a mysterious way His 
 wonders to perform" and it was only 
 through a threatening misfortune in the life of Mr. 
 Blumberg that he became a resident of Montcalm 
 County. His wife was a consumptive, and but 
 few hopes were entertained of her recovery. Hear- 
 ing that this county with its heavy growth of pine 
 and its dry, pure air, afforded peculiar advantages 
 in the treatment of this disease, Mr. Blumlierg came 
 thither in the fall of 1870. The change proved 
 beneficial; in a short time the wife and mother was 
 completely restored to health and remains to-day 
 
 the cherished companion of her husband. Mrs. 
 Blumberg attributes her perfect recovery to living 
 in lumber camps and eating pitch from the pine 
 trees. When Mr. Blumberg located in Douglass 
 Township, Montcalm County, the farm which lie 
 |)urcluxspd was heavilj' timbered, principally with 
 pine, although there were scattering growths of 
 hardwood. 
 
 During the earlier years of his residence here 
 Mr. Blumberg was extensively engaged as a dealer 
 in logs for lumber, at times acting as agent for 
 others and again buying and handling it himself. 
 He is still interested in lumbering to a limited ex- 
 tent, doing the most of that kind of business in his 
 immediiite neighborhood. It is, however, as a 
 tiller of the soil that he is chiefly occupied. His 
 first purchase in this county comprised two hun- 
 dred and forty acres of land, located just west of 
 his present residence. To this he later added the 
 two hundred acre tract upon which he now lives, 
 and cultivated and improved this large estate 
 until it ranked among the finest farms of the 
 county. At present he owns two hundred and 
 forty acres, having sold forty acres, and given two 
 of his sons eiglity acres each. 'He is widely known 
 as a progressive farmer, and as such has contrib- 
 uted his quota to the development of Montcalm 
 Count}'. 
 
 The parents of Mr. Blumberg, IMichae) and 
 Almina (Hyde) Blumberg, were natives respect- 
 ively of Schoharie and Seneca Counties, N. Y. 
 The father was a farmer, although in his early man- 
 hood he operated a lumberniill in Schoharie 
 County. In 1832 he left his home in the Empire 
 State, and in company with his first wife, who was 
 formerl^-a Miss Elsworth, came to Michigan and 
 settled in Oakland County. There, after the death 
 of his wife he w.as again married, choosing as his 
 wife Miss Almina Hyde and to them was bor« 
 December G, 1838, a son, whom they named Charles 
 W., who is the subject of this slietch. Charles W. 
 was a lad of seven years when his parents removed 
 from Royal Oak Township, Oakland County, to 
 Canton, Wayne County, and in the district schools 
 of that county he obtained his early education. At 
 tlie age of thirteen years he accompanied his i)ar- 
 ents to Ingham County and there l^ts education wa§ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 439 
 
 further supplemented by an attemlance during 
 tliree months of the year in the schools of Lansiny. 
 It may trul}- he said of him that he found the path 
 of learning no easy one, for he was compelled to 
 walk three miles to school and back daily. 
 
 At the early age of nineteen years, Mr. BUim- 
 herg was united in marriage with Miss Martha 
 Steel, the daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Gun- 
 (lerman) Steel, and a native of New Jerse^v. He 
 remained under tlie parental roof for several years 
 after his marriage and superintended his father's 
 farm. In the meantime the great Civil War was 
 being w.agcd and the heart of every patriot re- 
 sponded to his country's call. On February 17, 
 I8(),'j, ISIr. ninmberg enlisted in Company B, Sixlli 
 Michigan Cavalr\', and ten days later w.as mus- 
 tered into the United States service. He was im- 
 mediatel^' ordered to the front and going to Harp- 
 er's Ferry, Va., was stationed in a dismounted 
 camp and afterward served at the Point of Rocks 
 on the Potomac. While at the latter place Lincoln 
 was assassinated and the recruits were kept on tlie 
 i/ui vice in search of the assassin. Jlr. Blumberg 
 was next ordered to Ciiapel Point and from there 
 was sent to Alexandria, Va., where he first joined 
 his regiment, having hitherto acted as a soldier in 
 the dismounted camp. On the '24lh of M.ay, 18G5, 
 the regiment was ordered to Washington, D. C, to 
 take part in the Grand Review, subsequent to the 
 disbandniont of the larger portion of the Union 
 arm}-. 
 
 Although the great war was closed, Mr. Blum- 
 Ijer^'s services as a soldier were not ended. The 
 Michigan Cavalry l.rigade, consisting of the First, 
 Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Regiments, was ordered 
 West to serve on the frontier against the Indians. 
 They journeyed by rail to Parkersburg, W. ^'a., 
 thence by boat to St. Louis, where a portion of the 
 regiment was detailed to buy horses. Mr. Blum- 
 berg was sent to Leavenworth, Kan., where horses 
 a!id equipments were furnished him for service on 
 the plains, and from that place he marched with the 
 others of his regiment to Ft. Laramie. From that 
 post the Sixth Regiment was ordered to march 
 under Gen. Connor on the Powder River Indian 
 c-x|)edilion. About three hundred miles north- 
 west of Ft. Laramie on the Powder River the ex- 
 
 pedition built a fort and remained for three weeks 
 in that carap. In the meantime they destroyed an 
 Indian vill.age of one thousand inhabitants, engaged 
 in numerous skirmishes with the savages, and 
 upon one occasion the retreating reds were fol- 
 lowed by a band of Indian scouts, or "friendlies," as 
 tiiey were usually called, who returned with thirty- 
 four Indian scalps. The expedition also estab- 
 lished a short route to ^'irginia City, which 
 proved of great value to trade, commerce and trav- 
 elers. 
 
 L'pon returning to Ft. Laramie, Mr. IJlumberg 
 was appointed wagon-master of the train from that 
 place to Ft. Bridger, where the Michigan Brigade 
 wasconsoliilated int« one regiment, called the First 
 Michigan Cavalry. A portion of this regimeiit, 
 consisting of men from each company, received 
 orders to proceed to Salt Lake City, and after ar- 
 riving there our subject, who had been sent among 
 others, was appointed assistant wagon-master of 
 that post. He filled that ])osition satisfactorily 
 until Februar)- 27, 1866, when he was discharged 
 and nnistered out of service at that point. His jour- 
 ney home was both tedious and expensive; it cost 
 him ^300 to get back to Atciiison, Kan., from Salt 
 Lake City, and the railroad fare on to Jackson, 
 Mich., was 4^31.7;), making a total amount of more 
 than his entire wages while in the arm}'. However, 
 he afterward received $213 for his transportation 
 from the Government. 
 
 I\Ir. Blumberg once more settled down to the 
 peaceful pursuits of .agriculture and in April, 186G, 
 purchased a farm in De Witt Township, Clinton 
 County, Mich. This purchase comprised eighty- 
 one acres of timbered land, of which he cleared 
 fifteen acres and then sohl the place, after living 
 there eighteen months. We next find him in Olive 
 Township, Clinton County, where he bought and 
 oi)erated a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, 
 partially improved. He soon sold this estate at a 
 fair advance upon the amount paid for it, and then, 
 in the fall of 1870, settled in Montcalm County. 
 He has been prominently identified with the best 
 interests of the county and is foremost in every 
 movement which he thinks calculated to benefit the 
 community. Politically, he has always been a Re- 
 publican and has served his township as Supervisor 
 
440 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 for eight years. He is also interested in educational 
 affairs and has done much to advance the schools 
 of the district, and as one of the most substantial 
 citizens of Douglass Township is universally hon- 
 ored and respected. 
 
 Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Blumberg seven 
 children have been born, named as follows: Charles 
 Dennis, born May 24, 1858; Fiiend 'William, Feb- 
 ruary IG, 18G0; Almina Margaret, March 7, 1864; 
 Daniel Michael, October IG, 18Gy; George I., July 
 8, 1871 ; Mark E., November 25, 1875 ; Clarence ¥., 
 March 25, 1880. Charles D. married Adaline Books 
 and is now a resident of Washington Countj', Ore. ; 
 F. W. lives on a part of the old homestead and mar- 
 ried Mary Catherine Beamer; Almina, who mar- 
 ried Louis J. Rimes, died July 7, 1886; Daniel was 
 united in marriage with Miss Anna Haney and they 
 reside near the old homestead ; George and his wife, 
 formerly Lizzie McLean, live with his parents; 
 Mark E. and Clarence F. are still under the paren- 
 tal roof and are being trained for honorable posi- 
 tions in life. 
 
 Mr. Blumberg, his wife and tiieirtwo eldest sons, 
 are members of the Baptist Church, to which he 
 has belonged for nearly thirty years. He has 
 served as Deacon in Clinton County and here as 
 Trustee. In 188G he donated land on section 9 
 for a Baptist Church and afterward assisted largely 
 in its erection; he also assisted in building the 
 Baptist Church at McBride. Socially he is a mem- 
 ber of Stanton Star Lodge, F. & A. M., and of the 
 Osmer F. Cole Post, No. 81, G. A. R., at Douglass. 
 In the latter he has served as Post Commander 
 since its organization. The Grange Hall at Entri- 
 can is on Mr. Blumberg's land, on a lease of nine- 
 ty-nine years free. It will be seen from this brief 
 sketch that Mr. Blumberg has been closely con- 
 nected with the development of Montcalm Count^'. 
 His whole life in fact, may be said to have been 
 passed upon the frontier. Not only did he assist 
 his father in clearing farms in Oakland, Wayne, 
 and Ingham Counties, bnt after starting out for 
 himself he cleared a portion of two farms in Clin- 
 ton County, and over two hundred acres in Doug- 
 lass Township. lie is proud of the faet that his 
 father cleared over thirty acres of land in one year 
 after he had attained to the age of three-score 
 
 years. As one of the brave pioneers, to whose un- 
 tiring and self-sacrificing efforts we owe our present 
 high civilization, the name of Mr. Blu mberg will 
 be held in high esteem long after he shall have 
 passed hence. 
 
 <| lyiLLIAM S. COWAN. The farm of this 
 \^// a^"'-'*^'"-'*" 's not only one of the best in 
 W^ Ionia Count}' but in the entire State. It is 
 not an immense estate, but is developed to a point 
 of perfection seldom reached and supplied with 
 buildings far above the average. There are one 
 hundretl and forty-eight acres of land on section 
 3, Easton Township, under high cultivation, fur- 
 nished with every necessary building and stocked 
 with fine animals. The residence cannot fail to 
 attract the eye of the passer-by, as it presents an 
 appearance in keeping with the beauty and com- 
 fort of the interior. It is finished in the best style 
 of modern architecture, arranged so as to afford 
 the utmost convenience and among its other fittings 
 is supplied with a hot air furnace, by means of 
 which the heat can be gauged to the desired tem- 
 perature. The residence is furnished in fine st3'le 
 and, what is best of all, its inmates take great de- 
 light in intellectual and social enjoyments, and 
 right royally entertain their friends. 
 
 It m.iy be wel! to make some mention of the 
 ancestors of Mr. Cowan before proceeding with 
 his own life histor}-. His grandfathers, both pa- 
 ternal and maternal, were Scotch, and his mother's 
 mother was of German descent. His parents, Peter 
 and Catherine (Greene) Cowan, were born in New 
 York and lived in that State until the fall of 1848. 
 They then turnel their steps toward Kent County, 
 this State, and crossing the lake from Buffalo to 
 Detroit continued their journey in a wagon. They 
 made their home in Cortland Townshi)) for several 
 years, then took up pioneer life in Grattan Town- 
 ship, on woodland for which they paid $2.50 per 
 acre. They were in limited circumstances and 
 when their eighty-acre tract was secured they had 
 just means enough to provide for their wants until 
 a crop could be raised. The3' found it necessary to 
 
 I 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 441 
 
 "rough it" more or less, but the passing years 
 broiigbt an increase of comfort and a good estate 
 was left when they passed away. Mr. Cowan was a 
 llepublican in politics and a Congregational ist in 
 religion. Of the eigiit surviving children in the 
 parental family, all are living in Kent County 
 except our subject. 
 
 The date of the birth of William S. Cowan was 
 .July 9, 1839 and his birthplace Onond.iga County, 
 N. Y. He was but nine years old when the family 
 came to tliis State and he grew to manhood in Kent 
 Count3', amid much more primitive scenes than 
 those which his eyes now behold. He pursued his 
 studies in the district school and did what be could 
 to aid his father, at the same lime fitting himself 
 for the agricultural work which he now pursues so 
 successfully. Loyal in heart and brave in spirit, 
 he enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Brady's Sharp- 
 shooters and was attached to the Sixteenth 
 Uegimcnl of Michigan Infantry, Array of the 
 rotoraac. He had been in the service about six 
 months when he was taken sick, and off and on he 
 was in the hospital a great deal. lie was finally 
 discharged in .June, 1862, and returning to his 
 former home resumed the duties of a private citizen. 
 His military record is an honorable one and would 
 have been more extended had not his health failed. 
 
 May 4,18G5, Mr. Cowan w.as married to Eliza- 
 l)cth Allen. The bride was born in Ionia County, 
 December 31, 1840, her parents having been early 
 settlers in Ronald Township. Her father, Melvin 
 1'.. Allen, was born on Grand Isle in Lake Champ- 
 lain, which belongs to the Slate of Vermont, and 
 died in the city of Ionia November 1, 1887. He 
 was of Scotch descent and was a grandson of 
 Kbenezcr Allen, a Colonel of the Revolutionary 
 array, and cousin to Gen. Ethan Allen, the famous 
 hero of Ticonderoga. The mother of Mrs. Cowan 
 is of German stock and bore the maiden name of 
 Eliza Wood. She is now sevent3--fivc j'ears old 
 and resides with the daughter mentioned. Of her 
 eight children this daughter and two sons — Mar- 
 cellus .1. and Herbert L., both living in Ronald 
 Township, are the only survivors. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Cowan have three children — Elmer A., Irma L. and 
 Edgar .1. 
 
 in 1881 Mr. Cowan removed to Ionia County, 
 
 where his good business ability, companionable 
 nature and public spirit have made hira influential 
 and popular. He and his family show an unusual 
 warmth of hospitality and even the passing traveler 
 who calls upon them is "kind!}' entreated." Books 
 and papers are numerous in their beautiful dwell- 
 ing and it is e.asy to see that they are not for show, 
 but that they are tiioughlfull^' and frequently read. 
 Mr. Cowan takes great delight in the occupation 
 in which he is engaged, bestows much thought 
 upon his farm and stock, and lias many progressive 
 ide.is re:;arding his work. His swine, which are of 
 the Poland-China breed, include a number of regis- 
 tered animals. In |)olitics, Mr. Cowan is a Republi- 
 can, and in religious faith, a Congregationalist. 
 
 Our subject was not the only member of the 
 Cowan family to display loyalty to the Union. His 
 brother James was likewise one of Brady's Sharp- 
 shooters and w.as one of the best marksmen in that 
 body .as well as one of the bravest and most val- 
 iant of soldiers. He lost his life at the Battle of the 
 Wilderness, while in a rifle pit from which he was 
 sighting bis piece on a rebel artilleryman. He was 
 struck by a ball just al)ove the eye and instantly 
 killed. 
 
 'j^^OBEUT McKENDRY. In various parts of 
 f^^ tbe United States natives of .Scotland are to 
 ^\^ be found filling their station in life with 
 honor and displaying the sturdy qualities of 
 earnestness, diligence and thrift that have charac- 
 terized the nationality for ages past. A worthy 
 type of this class is to be found in Ionia County in 
 the person of Robert McKendry, one of the prom- 
 inent agriculturalists and citizens of Easton Town- 
 ship. The farm that he owns and operates is 
 favorably locate<l on section 18, and consists of one 
 hundred and sixty broad and fertile acres, mostly 
 under the plow. The original purchase w.as one 
 hundred and twenty acres and after that had been 
 cleared and imi)roved Mr. McKendry added lands 
 adjoining. The convenient and tasteful residence 
 now occupied b}' the family was begun in 1878 
 and completed in 1887. It is furnished in a man- 
 ner that is in keeping with the prosperous circum- 
 
442 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 stances of Mr. McKendry and the taste of thu 
 family, and its doors are ever hospitably open to 
 friends and neighbors. 
 
 Mr. McKendry was born in Wigtonshire, Scot- 
 land, May 26, 1841, being a son of Thomas and 
 Anna (Agnew) McKendiy. He was eight years 
 old when his mother died, and immediately after 
 that sad event his father and brother William 
 crossed the Atlantic and made a settlement in Or- 
 leans County, N. Y. The next year Robert came 
 over with his grandparents, crossing from Liverpool 
 to New York on a sail vessel and being for-tj'-three 
 days en route. Tiie lad grew to maturity in New 
 York and from his early youth has been engaged 
 in farming. His education was begun in the schools 
 of his native land and continued in Orleans County, 
 but lie had not the advantages afforded in the col- 
 leges. He has however, been a reader and has 
 aimed to keep up with the progress of events in his 
 gener.al knowledge. 
 
 December 28, laCO, Mr. McKendry was united 
 in marriage witli Miss Charlotte O. Brown, who 
 was born in Orleans Count}-, N. Y., July 21, 1844. 
 She is a daughter of Hiram and Mary (Hutchinson) 
 Brown, who were n.atives of New York and Ver- 
 mont respectively, and whose family consisted of 
 four children. Besides Mrs. McKendry there are 
 now living Edwin R., whose home is in Ionia Town- 
 ship, and Sophronia, wife of Thomas Thomas, in 
 Easton Township. Mr. and Mrs. McKendry have 
 three living children — Anna, John and Libbie — 
 and lost a daughter Alice. Anna is the wife of 
 Edwin Bradford and their home is in Easton Town- 
 ship. 
 
 It was in the spring of 1872 that Mr. McKendry 
 brought his family hither from New York. His 
 fine farm attests to the success with which his 
 labors have been crowned, and a mention of his 
 name elicits the fact that he commands the confi- 
 dence of the business community and that he and 
 his family are respected members of society. He 
 is one of the prominent political factors of Easton 
 Township and takes a lively interest in the selection 
 of competent men for the oflices that are within 
 the gift of the people. He is in s^'mpathy with 
 Democratic principles and politics. He is a mem- 
 ber of Blue Lodge, No. 36, F. cfe A. M., at Ionia; 
 
 Ionia Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., and Council Lodge 
 of Royal Select Masters at Ionia. He has officiated 
 in many of the important offices connected with 
 the order. As a Justice of the Peace Mr. McKen- 
 dry has labored with credit to himself and the 
 community several terms. He is an intelligent 
 public-spirited gentleman, honest and upright, and 
 he and his family are respected members of society. 
 
 ^5^0DFREY F. FAUDE is proprietor of cigar 
 •11 j_. factory No. 123, in Ionia. He is an ener- 
 *^^ji getic business man, whose goods are now 
 sold over a radius of fifty miles, and whose busi- 
 ness is to be doubled during the current year un- 
 less some unforeseen catastrope befalls him. He 
 began business for himself in 1887, i)rior to which 
 time he had been doing good work as a foreman, 
 after having thoroughly learned the tobacco busi- 
 ness. He employs twelve hands who, during 1890, 
 turned out 400,000 cigars. The brands manufac- 
 tured are G. F., Black Bass, Induslria, Silver licll, 
 Sweet Florida and Our Hit. 
 
 Mr. Faude is one of the German-American citi- 
 zens who, while manifesting a deep interest in the 
 land of their nativity, are yet thoroughly in sym- 
 ))athy with American institutions, and rejoice 
 heartily in the opportunities and privileges of "the 
 land of the free." He was born in Wurtemburg, 
 German}', August 19, 1856, and was but two years, 
 old when brought to this State. He therefore knows 
 no home but this, although the traditions of his na- 
 tionalit}' and the experiences of the family almost 
 take the place of personal observation. His par- 
 ents, Philip F. and Caroline (Riess) Faude, located 
 in Detroit when they emigrated, the father now 
 living in Coldwater; the mother is deceased, the 
 date of her death being April 27, 1887. The father 
 is a boot and shoe dealer. Their farail}' comprises 
 four living children and four deceased. The sur- 
 vivors are John J., Rector of Gethsemane Church 
 in Minneapolis, Minn.; G. F. ; Anna, wife of E. E, 
 Dill, a liveryman in Portland, this State; and Ed- 
 ward B. 
 
 Immediately after completing the course of study 
 
jkro--^^ 
 
 ■p^^, ir^^ 
 
 ■7^ ft. y'^-y ( 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 445 
 
 in tlie High School atCoUlwater, Godfrey F. Faude 
 entered upon the trade of cigar making. He went 
 from Coldwater to Jackson, pursued llie tob.acco 
 business there a year, and came to Ionia in 188.'), 
 as foreman in the prison. He carried on the tobacco 
 business tliere about three years, then established 
 liimself in business with tiie result before noted. 
 He has a happy iionie where he enjoys tiie corapan- 
 ionsliip of a wife and two children, and the so- 
 ciety of friends who frequent it. His wife, for- 
 merly Miss Inez McArtiiur, is an estimable woman, 
 and the children, Claude and Faj', are bright and 
 interesting. The weddirig rites of ftlr. and Mrs. 
 Faude were celebrated at Coldwater February 12, 
 187'J. 
 
 Among the younger business men of Ionia Mr. 
 Faude is noticeable for the zeal with which he pur- 
 sues his object, the quiet and intelligent interest he 
 takes in the i>rosperity of the cit}' and the upright- 
 ness of his character. He is a member of the Royal 
 Arcanum, and has good standing in the Ei)iscopal 
 Church. 
 
 -l-+#=^>^=t+-^- 
 
 'j^^ALMER Iiriil) TAYI.UU. It has been the 
 Jl) fortune of this gentleman to not only see, 
 ^ but to .issist in the vast improvements made 
 , \ in Ionia County during the past fifty odd 
 years. He arrived in Ionia Januar}- 31, 1838, and 
 making the county his permanent home he has 
 realized to the full the trying situations of the pio- 
 neer — the hardships, privations, wants and perplex- 
 ities. At the time of his arrival the entire improved 
 land ill the county would not exceed two hundred 
 acres, and the clearings were frequently many miles 
 distant one from another. A d.iy's work then was 
 from sun to sun in the summer, and from before 
 daylight until after dark in the winter. It fre- 
 quently happened that Mr. Taylor, after a hard 
 day's work, would s[)end the night with some sick 
 one who w.as in need of a watcher, and thus, like 
 other men of the day, he showed to the fullest 
 extent the spirit of brotherly kindness. 
 
 Our subject, who was the eldest son of Levi and 
 Lucy (Ueed) Taylor, was born in Lcwiston, Niag- 
 
 ara County, N. Y., July 23, 1819, and was descended 
 in direct line from John Taylor, who came from 
 England with (Jov. Winthrop in 1G30, settling in 
 Lynn, Mass., until 103'.), when he removed to 
 Norwich County. Among the descendants can be 
 mentioned (ien- ^'. T. Sherman, Hon. John Sher- 
 man. Rev. Noah Porter (late president of Yale 
 College), P. T. Barnum, besides many others of 
 note. The house in which Palmer H. Taylor 
 ■was born had a somewhat peculiar history. 
 When Buffalo, Black Rock and Lcwiston were 
 burned b}' the British and Indians during the War 
 of 1812, it was the only frame structure left 
 standing in that neighborhood. It was located 
 four miles east of the village of Lewiston on the 
 Ridge Road and was at that time an open shed. 
 When the inhabitants returned to their desolated 
 homes the shed was converted into a dwelling, 
 and when its owner had rebuilt on the foundation 
 of his first dwelling, the remodeled structure was 
 used as a storehouse until September, 1818. Levi 
 Taylor and his wife then took possession of it and 
 began clearing the surrounding land for a farm. 
 
 In the spring of 1822 the parents of our subject 
 removed to Lockport, then a new village on the 
 Erie Canal, and there the son began his course of 
 study. His |)arenls were ever on the alert to secure 
 for him a place in the best schools, and being stu- 
 dious and possessed of a retentive memory, he 
 always ranked among the best in his classes. At 
 the age of fourteen he laid aside the arithmetics 
 and grammars of those days and in their place 
 took up D.iy"s Algebra and Latin. In December, 
 1835, he went to Geneva, Ontario County, remain- 
 ing there more than a year in attendance jit the 
 Lyceum under charge of the Rev. Mr. French and 
 William Hogarth, afterward Dr. Hogarth of De- 
 troit. In February, 1837, the pai'ents of Mr, Tay- 
 lor prepared to remove to Michigan and their son 
 packed his books, bade good bye to school and 
 started for the far West. He had maile a novel 
 pioposition to his parents which was, "have the 
 cow shod and I will drive her through Canada." 
 The strange idea was carried out and the young 
 man w.as nineteen days in passing over the distance 
 from Lockpnit to Ypsilanti anil ten from Ypsilanti 
 to Ionia. 
 
446 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 The father of our subject was a builder and as 
 the emigrants needed assistance in putting up 
 houses and barns, he was frcquentl}- engaged in 
 that kind of woik, assisted by the son, wbo soon 
 became an adept in handling the square, scratch 
 and ten-foot pole. The education of the younger 
 Mr. Taylor was sufficient to enable him to teach in 
 any common school in this State, but a preference 
 for mechanical work made him reject all offers to 
 take a school except one term, and then against 
 his own judgment. The situation of his parents 
 were such that he felt it his duty to remain with 
 them, and it was not until he was thirty-five years 
 old that he set up a home of his own. He had in 
 the meantime built for them a comfortable dwell- 
 ing and carried out other plans for their comfort. 
 
 October 5, 1854, Mr. Taylor was united in mar- 
 riage with Miss Arabella F. Jackson of Monroe 
 County, this Slate. For almost a score of years 
 they journeyed hand in hand, sharing the toils of 
 life, rejoicing together in prosperity and sorrowing 
 as one in days of affliction. The death of Mrs. 
 Taylor occurred March 6, 1873, and was caused by 
 heart disease, which removed her suddenly from 
 association with her family. The children born to 
 Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were George D wight, August 
 12, 1855; ]\Iary Abbie and Martha Arabella, June 
 8, 1857; William Morris, January 7, 1861; and 
 Grace Reed, September 16, 1865. AVilliam died 
 January 31, 1861, when but a few weeks. 
 
 Mr. Taylor never sought office and the only pulj- 
 lic position to which he was ever elected was the 
 important and honorable one of School Inspector. 
 In politics he was a Democrat of the Free Soil 
 wing when the party was divided and known as 
 Hunkers and Barn-Burners. True patriotism and 
 devotion to liberty were hereditary in his charac- 
 ter, he being descended in both lines from soldiers 
 of the United States. His mother's father had 
 served through the Revolution and liis own father 
 fought in the War of 1812 as a private in Capt_ 
 Ste|)hen Gifford's company of New York militia. 
 
 In March, 1851, Mr. Taylor became a Master 
 Mason and he was promoted step by step until elect- 
 ed Worshipful IMaster of Ionia Lodge, No. 36. He 
 wasalso Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge 
 of Michigan. In January, 1856, he became a Royal 
 
 Arch Mason and he was at one time High Priest of 
 Ionia Chapter, No. 14, and in the Grand Chapter 
 he was Grand Captain of the Host. He was dubbed 
 and created a Knight Templar in Ionia Command- 
 ery. No. 11, April 25, 1862, and on the night that 
 President Lincoln was shot he was elected Eminent 
 Commander of Ionia Commandery, No. 11. He is 
 also a member of Queen Esther Chapter, No. 35, 
 Order of the Eastern Star, Ionia, as are also his 
 two daughters, Mary Abbie and Grace Reed. He 
 is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of 
 Ionia and his deceased wife was identified with the 
 same organization, both having united with Pres- 
 byterian Churches in their earl}' youth. 
 
 In 1 855 Mr. Taylor began contributing to various 
 Masonic magazines and he continued his literary 
 work five or six years. He then laid ilown his pen 
 until October 5, 1878, when he wrote "An Angel 
 Visitant," since which time he has contributed to 
 many periodicals. He is Recording and Historical 
 Secretary of the Ionia County Pioneer Society and 
 has a very important collection of history and pho- 
 tographs. His most important place in the com- 
 munity at present is in the sick chamber, where he 
 performs such duties as are suited to a skilled 
 nurse, his remarkable vigor and long experience 
 making his services very useful, even though he is 
 now in his seventy-second year. Politically ho is 
 a stanch Democrat. 
 
 A lithographic portrait of Mr. Taylor will be 
 considered by his many friends to be a valuable 
 addition to the Album. 
 
 "if] UDSON II. CLARK, editor of the Advertiser. 
 Hubbardston, Mich., was born in Italy, Yates 
 County, N. Y., January 13, 1865. His 
 father, Joel M. Clark, a farmer in that place, 
 and his mother, Lucelia Foskett, were the parents 
 of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Our 
 subject is the youngest of the family. His early 
 education was gained in the district schools and he 
 finished his school days at the Penn Yan Academy. 
 After this event he began in business as an engineer 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 447 
 
 and followed this lino of work for several years. 
 He ran an engine in a sugar refinery in Yates 
 County for four years, but this work did not suit 
 Ills iieaUii and be i-eturned to Itai}' and learned the 
 printer's trade. 
 
 Our sul)ject worked at bis trade in different 
 places and finally came to Miciiigan in 188;"), first 
 locating wbere lie now resides, afterward be worked 
 at bis trade in Otsego, Allegan County, and tben 
 engiiged in publisbing a paper, the Linden Observer, 
 at Linden. Genesee County. Tbis be carried on for 
 about two years, tben sold it out and returned to 
 llubbardston. Nellie Murray became bis wife 
 June 3, 1889. Tbe}' have one son, Ray. 
 
 Mr. Clark lias been carrying on bis present busi- 
 ness for about two years, and is building up a 
 paper whicli receives tbe warm endorsement of its 
 natural supporters. It is increasing in circulation 
 from tbe fact tbat no pains are s|)ared to fill its 
 columns with selected local news and reliable infor- 
 mation upon all important matters; is livel}^ ag- 
 gressive and progressive, with opinions and tbe 
 courage to express them in a style tbat displeases 
 tbe few and wins the admiration of tbe many. 
 Tersonally be is a Republican but bis paper is inde- 
 pendent in politics. He is a Mason and a member of 
 Tuscan Lodge, No. 178, in which he holds a high 
 (itlicial position. 
 
 --^ -^-^ ^^ 
 
 ^ ETKR .1. KELLOWS is numbered among the 
 general farmers and stock-raisers of Ionia 
 Count}', and now lives on section .3.3, Odessa 
 , \ Township. He was born in Seneca County, 
 Ohio, necember 22, 1810, and is a son of Erastus 
 and Ruth (Smith) Fellows, both natives of New 
 York. Both belonged to tbe Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and with Christian resignation they closed 
 their eyes in death. Mr. Fellows passed away about 
 1843, and Mrs. Fellows lived until 1890, dying at 
 the home of a daughter in Lawrence County, Ind. 
 The father was a physician and practiced in Seneca 
 County, Ohio, a number of years, lie and his wife 
 bad six children, tbe living being Harriet, wife of 
 Richard Gaidt, living in Mitchell, Ind.; dulia. 
 
 whose home is in Lawrence County, Ind.; Henry, 
 a resident of Grant, this State; Peter J., subject of 
 this notice; and Rosetta, wife of Thomas Cash, of 
 Grant. 
 
 Our subject w.as bereft of his father's care when 
 but three years old, and about three years later went 
 with his mother to Sandusky Count}*, she having 
 married George Bradsbaw. Tbe lad remained un- 
 der their roof until he was about niue years old, 
 after wliich he began his personal career with no 
 capital except a limited education gained in the dis- 
 trict schools, a strong will and the determination to 
 succeed. He worked on a farm until the war broke 
 out, then entered tbe Union service .as a private in 
 Compau}- F, Sixty-Fifth New York Infantry. He 
 signed the list of recruits July l.'j, 1861, and served 
 four 3'ears and four days. 
 
 During bis army life Mr. Fellows bad tbe fortune 
 to participate in several of the most important and 
 widest-known battles of the war. The list includes 
 Fair Oaks, all the engagements in front of Rich- 
 mond, tbe seven days' fight, Antietam, Fredericks- 
 burg, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Cold Harbor, Win- 
 chester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, etc. After the 
 last named he was transferred to the Army of tbe 
 Potom.ac, which be bad been sent to join some 
 months before. With the Army of the Potomac be 
 took part in Hatchie's Run and aided in carrying 
 tbe works at Petersburg. He also fought in tbe 
 last battle at Sailor's Creek. In New York, August 
 1.5, 1865, he was honorably discharged and given 
 the commendation which belongs of right to eveiy 
 loyal and courageous soldier. 
 
 Returning to bis former liume in Ohio. Mr. Fel- 
 lows remained less than a week, tben came to Mich- 
 igan and bought eighty acres of land in Newaygo 
 County. The land was heavily timbered, and while 
 cboiiping upon it, Mr. P^ellows carried on a small 
 farm in the neighborhood, which he had rented. 
 He resided there three j-ears, then sold out and came 
 to Ionia Count}'. He first rented a farm near the 
 county seat, and operated it two years, tben came 
 to Odessa Township and bought seventy-one acres 
 of tbe tract he still owns. With tbe exception of 
 ten acres of cleared laml, the farm was in a state of 
 primitive wildness. Moving on it Mr. Fellows 
 once more set about cutting down forest trees, re- 
 
448 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 moving logs and brusli aud preparing tiie land for 
 man's use. lie has succeeded in placing it under 
 good cultivation, and has made such improvements 
 as the comfort of the family and the progress of his 
 work has shown to be desirable. He keeps a good 
 grade of stock and makes quite a specialty of Ches- 
 ter-White hogs. 
 
 Tlie marriage of Mr. Fellows and Miss Mary C. 
 Hassinger was solemnized October 3, 18fi5, and 
 four children have come to bless the happy couple: 
 Fred, the first-born, is now living in Lake Odessa, 
 and Josie, the second child, is deceased; Jay and 
 James M. are still with their parents. The first 
 Presidential ballot cast by Mr. Fellows bore the 
 name of Abraham Lincoln, and he has never 
 swerved in his allegiance to Republican principles. 
 He is a member of the Grand Army Post and Ma- 
 sonic Blue Lodge in Lake Odessa. He and his wife 
 are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and take quite an active part in church matters. 
 Mr. Fellows has been a Trustee since the organiza- 
 tion was perfected. In various ways he aids in the 
 progress of civilization in this part of the great 
 commonwealth, and l)y setting an example of manly 
 strength of character inlluences the rising genera- 
 tion on the side of right. 
 
 AMUFL A. WATT is one of the most 
 prominent merchants in Saranac, Ionia 
 County, and also carries a large stock at 
 Clarksville. His life affords one of those 
 examples of close application and good judgment 
 that are a source of encouragement to many a poor 
 boy. He started in life without a dollar and has 
 placed himself at the l\ead of one of the largest 
 stores in the county, and with a reputation for 
 honest dealing and reliability second to none. His 
 store in Saranac is 30x80 feet in size, well filled 
 with goods that include all the articles in general 
 use in a household. The business experience of 
 Mr. Watt has been comprehensive, and as a finan- 
 cier he has demonstrated his ability in other lines 
 besides that of mercantile life. 
 
 Mr. Watt is of Scotch and Irish descent, his 
 
 parents being David A. and Julia A. (Gallaher) 
 Watt, who were natives of Ohio. The father was a 
 mercbant during the greater part of his life and 
 carried on business at Mansfield and later at Find- 
 laj'. He was living in the latter place at the time 
 of his death, which occurred January 18, 1860. 
 His widow still resides there and has now readied 
 the ripe old age of eighty-three years. Slie is a 
 member of the Presbyterian Church and has al- 
 ways taken an active part in church work. There 
 were seven children in the family and our subject 
 is the fourth of those who are now living. The 
 other survivors are James B., whose home is at 
 Findlay, Ohio; Mary J., wife of J. W. Davidson, 
 Deputy County Clerk at Findlay and a heavy 
 stockholder in a large glass factory; Esther E., 
 wife of the Rev. Mr. Ward, residing at North 
 Baltimore, Ohio. 
 
 Mr. Watt, of this notice, was born in Carroll- 
 ton, Carroll County, Ohio, December 13, 1845. 
 He was two years old when his parents removed 
 to Mt. Gilead, but they remained in that place 
 only two years. They then went to Mansfield and 
 four years later to Findla^^ where Samuel re- 
 mained until he was about seventeen years of age. 
 In the meantime he received a common-school 
 education. When he started out in life for him- 
 self he weut to Indianapolis, Ind., where he worked 
 in a sutler's store about two years. He then re. 
 turned to liis home and attended school one terra 
 after which, in the spring of 186G, he came to Sar- 
 anac as an employe of D. F. Frazell. Mr. Watt 
 remained with that gentleman two years, then 
 took up the study of telegraphy, which he learned 
 in six weeks, after which he took charge of the 
 telegraph oflice at Saranac. 
 
 In the building in which the telegraph office is 
 located, Messrs. Lee & Goodell had a stock of 
 goods and about the time Mr. Watt took charge 
 of the office they branched out into the banking 
 business. They employed Mr. Watt as clerk and 
 he opened the first set of banking books in Sar- 
 anac. He continued to work for the firm without 
 neglecting the telegraph office, until Lee it Goodell 
 vacated the building and G. A. Cotton put in a 
 stock of groceries. The post-oflice and express office 
 were also located in the building. Our subject en- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAI'IIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 449 
 
 tered Mr. Cotton's employ :inil coulinued with him 
 iiiilil early in the '70s, when lie received an ap- 
 pointment in the railwa}' mail service. Putting a 
 man in charge of the telegraph ollice, he entered 
 upon the <Uilies of postal clerk between East Sag- 
 inaw and Re«d City, and afterward run from Liid- 
 ington to Toledo, C)liio. He was on the Flint, 
 Pierre it Marquette Raiiwaj' seven years, and was 
 then transferred to the Detroit, Grand Haven & 
 Milwaukee, on which he remained lliree years and 
 two months. 
 
 Durinjj the period in which he was in Govern- 
 ment employ Mr. Watt economized and accumu- 
 lated sullicient means to enable him to enter into 
 business in a small way. When he left the postal 
 service lie took charge of a store of wliich he 
 had been the owner some three years. During the 
 month of November, 1884, he entered into part- 
 nership with F. E. Calioon and the connection 
 continued until June, 188G. Since the dissolution 
 of that partnerslii|) Mr. Watt has been carrying on 
 his business alone. 
 
 Mr. Watt was united in marriage with Miss 
 Alice A. Cotton on September C, 1870. Mrs. 
 Watt is a daughter of Gilbert A. and Lucy M. 
 (Taylor) Cotton, who were early settlers in Ionia 
 County. Mr. Cotton was well known in the 
 county, particularly in the western part, as he was 
 Postmaster in Saranac twenty-five years and for 
 a long period was a merchant here. He was car- 
 rying on mercantile pursuits when stricken with 
 his last illness. He died March 15, 1877, thus 
 removing from the commnnitj' one of its most 
 esteemed members. His widow survives and makes 
 her home with her daughter, Mrs. Watt. She is a 
 member of the Episcopal Church, in which her 
 deceased husband took an active interest. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Watt have three children, named respectively : 
 Chillion L., J. Clyde and Stella May. 
 
 By the earnest solicitation of many friends Mr. 
 Walt was placed upon the Republican ticket for 
 Sheriff in 188G. Although he was not electetl to 
 oflice he cut the D<'mocratic majority at the pre- 
 vious election down to three hundred votes, wliich 
 was a great satisfaction to himself and many 
 friends. He has always taken an active part in 
 the work of the Republican party in the locality 
 
 in which he lived. He was President of the vil- 
 lage board two terms and Clerk of Boston Town- 
 ship two terras. He is a charter member of the 
 Saranac Lodge of the Ancient Order of United 
 Workmen. Possessing the true public spirit he 
 has always been liberal with his means in sup- 
 porting enterprises which would build up the com- 
 munity financially and moralli'. Mrs. Watt belongs 
 to the Episcopal Church. Both husband and wife 
 are well known and respected by all who enjoy 
 their acquaintance. 
 
 '\f,'AMES TREDENICK. Among the agricul- 
 turists of Ionia County who have been so 
 capably carrj'ing on their affairs, both as 
 1^^'' farmers and citizens, as to be deserving of 
 representation in a biographical work, may be men- 
 tioned James Tredenick, an esteemed citizen of 
 Kcene Township. His home of fifty-seven acres 
 is on section 19, where he has been living since the 
 fall of 1879. His farm is of moderate size, but is 
 well managed and is the source of a better income 
 than some of much greater extent. It affords a 
 good maintenance and enables Mr. Tredenick to 
 make some provision for the future, and as a home, 
 it is comfortable and pleasant. The owner is in- 
 dustrious and prudent, and care is taken to make 
 the best possible use of the acreage that he culti- 
 vates and to supply it with modern improvements, 
 such as befit the home of an intelligent and cultured 
 family. 
 
 The birthplace of Mr. Tredenick was Lancaster 
 County, Pa., and his natal day December 22, 1819. 
 His parents, John and Sarah ( Leader) Tredenick, 
 were of Irish and German ancestry respectively 
 and our subject was the eldest son in the parental 
 family. He received a rudimentary education in 
 the earl}' schools of his native State and at the age 
 of nineteen years began an apprenticeship at the 
 trade of a hatter. He served his time, three years, 
 and continued to work at the trade some eighteen 
 years. In Columbia, Pa., he was in business for 
 himself a sliort time. In 1802 he left his native 
 State for Michigan and established himself In 
 
450 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ottawa County'. His sojourn tliere proved short and 
 nine montlis later he was a resident of Kent County, 
 in wliieii he made his home several years. Thence 
 he came to Ionia County in the year before men- 
 tiuned, and here he has remained giving his time 
 and attention to agricultural work. 
 
 In 1850 Mr. Tredenick was united in marriage 
 with Prisciila Brighton, who carefully looked after 
 the affairs of their household through more than 
 ihirty years of wedded life; she then bade adieu 
 to scenes of time and sense, breathing her last in 
 May, 1883. She was the mother of live children, 
 named respectively, Henry, Isadore, Lilly M., Emma 
 and William .1. Isadore is now the wife of Orren 
 Beach; Lilly married John Blakesley, and Emma 
 is the wife of William Moore. August 25, 1886, 
 Mr. Tredendick became the husband of Mrs. 
 Minerva Brighton, daughter of Solomon and Min- 
 erva (Smecd) Howe. This lady was born in 
 Cayuga County, N. Y., .January 18, 1835, and her 
 parents were also born in the Empire State. She 
 was nine months old when they removed to Craw- 
 ford County, Ohio, and sixteen years old when 
 they changed their residence to Seneca County. 
 She was first married in 1855 to Jefferson Brighton, 
 a native of Pennsylvania. Their union was blest 
 by the birth of two children, Frank O., and Jenny 
 E., both now deceased. The daughter was married 
 and left one child, Gertrude, who was born Decem- 
 ber 3, 1878, and is now living in Cleveland, Ohio, 
 (where she was born) with her aunt, Mrs. Theodore 
 Colman. She is a very interesting and unusually 
 smart child. Mrs. Whitney was engaged in leach- 
 inw prior to her marriage and her brother Frank 
 was Principal of the High School of New Carlisle, 
 Ind. The Latter was a graduate of the ^'alparaiso 
 (Ind.) Normal School. Mrs. Tredenick's great 
 uncle, Elias Howe, was the inventor of the great 
 Howe sewing machine. 
 
 For seven seasons Mr. Tredenick was captain of 
 a canal boat on the Pennsylvania and other canals. 
 He also followed the ocean on the Atlantic co.ist 
 about an equal length of time, first as a common 
 sailor and afterward as mate of a vessel. He is 
 therefore familiar with coast scenery and he 
 has been quite an extensive traveler. Financially 
 speaking he is self-made. He is in sympathy with 
 
 most of the principles of the Democratic party, but 
 casts his ballot more generally for the man of the 
 best character than for strict party measures. 
 He and his wife belong to the Methodist Ei)isco|)al 
 Church and she is identified with the Foreign Mis- 
 sionary Society connected therewitli. Mr. Treden- 
 ick is a member of the Masonic order, his name 
 being on the roster of a lodge at Lowell. He is 
 enterprising and public-spirited and may be de- 
 pended upon to do all that he agrees, whether in 
 business transactions or social matters. Mrs. Tred- 
 enick is an unusually intelligent lady and stands 
 side by side with her husband in the esteem of the 
 people to whom they are known. 
 
 Vf OHN J. MAYNARD. The publishers of 
 this BioGKAPHiCAL Album wouUl fail in their 
 purpose were they to omit from its i)ages a 
 (^7i record of the life of the late John J. May- 
 nard, of Portland, Ionia County. In presenting 
 some facts in his history we can do no better than 
 to copy from the files of the Portland Observer, 
 lines written by one who knew him well, and also 
 to quote from the issue of September 19, 1876, an 
 account of the distressing accident that cost him 
 his life. The accompanying paragraphs regarding 
 that valued citizen will be perused with sad inter- 
 est by the many to whom he was known, person- 
 ally or by repute: 
 
 ''John J. Maynard was a bo}' of but four years 
 of age when his father, the late Gardner May- 
 nard, came from Wayne County, N. Y., in the fall 
 of 1837, and settled in Saline, Washtenaw County, 
 Mich. In February, 1830, they came to Portland 
 and settled on section 10. The country being 
 new, the opportunities for acquiring an education 
 were very limited, but so anxious was the subject 
 of our sketch to fit himself for life's duties that 
 by steady perseverance he not only accomplished 
 his purpose, but received a certificate to teach 
 school. The arduous duties of a teacher in those 
 days when pupils would walk through an unbroken 
 forest for a long distance to reach the log school- 
 house, and when the teacher 'boarded around' 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 451 
 
 among the patrons of Ibe school, will be remem- 
 bered by some of our oldest iniiabitanls. 
 
 ■'Money was then very scarceand teaching was one 
 of the few means by wliich it could bo obtained, 
 and by this vocation Mr. Maynard accnniulated in 
 part the means by which his homestead was pur- 
 chased. As a farmer he was very successful, and 
 there are few, if any, better farms than his on sec- 
 tion 21. About four years ago he removed to this 
 village and bought one-half interest in the Port- 
 land Woolen Mills, which at the time of his death 
 were doing a prosi)erous business. Four years 
 ago he united with the Baptist Church, since which 
 time liis Christian dei)ortnient and example have 
 been unimpeachable. As a manager he had few 
 superiors. Economical in his personal affairs, he 
 was conservative in the expenditure of the funds 
 of others. His advice and counsel was always 
 sought and usually followed as safe and expedient. 
 As one of the building committee in the erection 
 of the new cliurch edifice his death is irreparable. 
 His untimely death at the early age of little more 
 than forty-three years is to be sincerely deplored." 
 
 The account of the accident is as follows: "We 
 are called upon this week to record one of the 
 saddest accidents that has ever occurred in our 
 midst, by which Portland has lost one of her best 
 citizens, the church one of her strongest pillars, 
 and a liappy family and a large circle of relatives 
 liave been plunged into the deepest gloom. On 
 Wednesday' evening last Mr. J. J. Maynard re- 
 ceived a telegram from his brother-in-law, Mr. 
 James Hower, of Montana, stating that himself 
 and wife — Mr. Maynard's sister — would arrive in 
 Portland on the 1 o'clock train the following 
 daj'. For the purpose of meeting them at the 
 depot Mr. Maynard left his office at the woolen 
 mills at 12:45 Thursday, and as the shortest route 
 he took the railway track. Just as be reached the 
 briilge he heard the whistle of a locomotive, and 
 doubtless supposing it to be the train, and being 
 anxious to be at the depot, he quickened his 
 pace into a run, crossing the bridge on a board 
 walk at the side of the track, and where there was 
 little danger from a passing train. Instead of 
 being the tiain, however, it proved to be only a 
 locomotive running wild, and not two miuutcs 
 
 ahead of the passenger train, and it was already 
 on the biidge before Mr. Maynard had reached 
 the trestle work, which is about two rods in length, 
 at the end of the bridge. 
 
 •'Not seeming to realize his danger, and doubtless 
 supposing it still to be the passenger train, and 
 that it would have slackened its si)eed preparatory 
 to stopping at the de[)ot, which was a few rods 
 distant. Mr. Ma^-nard was observed to [)ut down 
 his umbrella and slej) upon the trestle work not 
 more than twenty feet ahead of the engine. Just 
 here accounts iliffer, but the most authentic says 
 that he looked back, and seeing the engine still 
 under full headway he made a desperate effort to 
 reacli tlio point where he could jump the embank- 
 ment; and had he been allowed a moment of time 
 he could have accomplished it, but the engine 
 caught his right leg, threw him violently to the 
 ground and dragged him along for a distance of 
 seven rods, bruising his head upon the ends of the 
 ties in a sliocking manner. Among the first to 
 get to him were his little son, Umbra, and his 
 brother, Charles H. IMaynard, wlio were at the 
 depot. The unfortunate man was carried to the 
 depot, medical aid was summoned, but he died in 
 two hours, being entirely unconscious during (he 
 time. 
 
 "The funeral of Mr. Maynard was held in the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church and was the largest 
 ever held in tiiat place. Following the mourners 
 was his Sunday-school class, next other Sunday- 
 school pupils and members of the Baptist Church. 
 The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. A. 
 E. Mather, of Detroit, who took for Ids text tlie 
 words, 'Comfort ye my people.' Approi)riate 
 resolutions were adopted by the church and sent 
 to the family." 
 
 The widow of Ml. Maynard was born in Berk- 
 shire County, Mass., July 10, 1836, and is a 
 daughter of John M. and Almira C. (Clark) 
 (jibbs, natives of Massiicliusetts and Connecticut 
 respectively. When the daugliter, Lovilla C, was 
 but a babe the family removed to Portage County, 
 Ohio, their route being via the Erie Canal to Buf- 
 falo, on the lake to Cleveland, and thence by team 
 to their destination. They lived in the Buckeye 
 StatQ until 1851, when the^ came to Michigan and 
 
452 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 located near Porllanil on a farm. Mr. Gibbs now 
 resides in the village. The daiigiiter became the 
 bride of Mr. Maynard October 12, 1858, and she 
 is the mother of two children, a son and daughter. 
 The older. Umbra J., is a prosperous farmer near 
 rorlland, and Jessie is a teacher of French and 
 German in Judson Institute, Marion, Ala. The 
 latter was educated at New Haven, Conn., is an 
 accomplished scholar and a successful teacher, and 
 a lady of fine character .and social qualities. 
 
 Coming of the old New England stock and 
 reared on the Western Reserve where mental train- 
 ing was looked upon as greatly to be desired and 
 a high standard of character was common, Mrs. 
 Maynard is worthy of respect as a woman of intel- 
 ligence, refinement and capability, and one to 
 whom goodwill toward others and interest in the 
 sreneral welfare is second nature. 
 
 \Y/UDGE LOUIS 8. LOVELL. Among the 
 names held in honor in Ionia County, that 
 which introduces these paragraphs has long 
 had a place. He who bears it came hither 
 many years ago, and has been a potent factor in the 
 well-being of the citizens, bearing a worth}' part in 
 the battle of life as a private individual, and act- 
 ing wi;.h abilit}' in prominent positions to which he 
 was called. He is one of the number before whom 
 discouragements flee, and who surmount obstacles 
 that lie in their way without letting the world into 
 the secret of their existence. He has therefore 
 gained a competence where many would have failed, 
 and has pushed to a successful conclusion affairs 
 that in other hands would have resulted far differ- 
 ently. 
 
 Judge Lovell was born at Grafton, Windham 
 County, Vt., November 15, 181 G, and was the sec- 
 ond son of Don and Mary (Shafter) Lovell. His 
 fatlier was a carder and cloth dresser, and in later 
 years a manufacturer. In the spring of 1817 the 
 famil}' removed to Springfield, Windsor County, 
 which was the home until 1841. The father die<l 
 there August 3, 1839, and some two years later the 
 widow brought four children to this State. Her 
 
 son George G., who is now a resident of Spring 
 Lake, Ottawa County, had come West in 1829, and 
 located in Kalamazoo County-. He and our subject 
 are the only living members of the parental family. 
 
 In his early boyhood Judge Lovell attended the 
 district school and performed such services as he 
 could in his father's factory. He was afterward a 
 pupil at Chester and Bellows Falls, and in 183G was 
 graduated from Middlehury College. In the fall 
 of that j'ear he went South and taught school in 
 Georgia about two years. His tastes leading liim 
 to legal lore, he studied law in the office of Judge 
 Closson, in Springfield, Vt., and D. E. Wheeler, of 
 New York. After the death of his father he set- 
 tled the estate and in 1841 followed his mother and 
 other members of the family to Ionia. Shortly 
 after his arrival here he was admitted to the bar, 
 but he found both business and pay poor. His first 
 suit which he attended, secured to him the fee of a 
 swarm of bees. 
 
 The early struggles of Judge Lovell, and his ex- 
 periences during the first few years of his residence 
 here, would perhaps be of no special value in point- 
 ing the moral of his life, uor of unusual interest as 
 a matter of biographical history. In 1849 he was 
 appointed by President Taylor Registrar of the 
 United States land office at Ionia. During part 
 of 1856-57, he acted as Judge of Probate, and dur- 
 ing the latter year he was elected Judge of the 
 Eighth Judicial Circuit, and re-elected successively 
 in 1863. 1869 and 1875. In this position he won 
 the goodwill of the ablest lawyers of the State, and 
 presided with the dignity and impartiality that 
 challenged the respect of all. With conscientious 
 zeal he thoroughly mastered the details of judicial 
 dutj', and came to his work excellently equii)ped. 
 He has honored every position to which he has 
 been called, by proving faithful, capable and emi- 
 nently trustworthy. 
 
 The year after his arrival in Ionia, Judge Lovell 
 returned East, and in Iloosick Falls, N. Y., July 14, 
 1842, was united in marriage with Mary Thayer. 
 This lady was a native of the Green Mountain State 
 and a daughter of Adin and Mary Thayer. She 
 was always highly esteemed, being possessed of fine 
 social qualities and a noble character, and like her 
 husband she won a secure place in the affections of 
 
o- 
 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAIMIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 455 
 
 licr associates. She was called from time to eter- 
 nity November 7, 1890, and her loss is sadly felt, 
 not only in Lcr home, but in the church and social 
 circles with which she was connected for wellnigh 
 half aeentur}'. She was the mother of three chil- 
 dren: Homer T., a resident of Chicago; Henry II.. 
 a hardware dealer in Grand Rapids; and Mary L. 
 Judge LovcU is now one of the olHcers in Uio 
 First Nalionul Bank of Ionia, having the position 
 of Vice President. He is not only interested in 
 banking, but in lumbering and money loaning, and 
 has for some time past paid no attention to law out- 
 side of his own business. He takes a lively inter- 
 est in all matters that affect the prosperity or credit 
 of his city or count}-, and is desirous of the best 
 good of the nation. In former days he was a 
 Whig, his first vote having been east for William 
 Henry Harrison. In later j'ears he has been iden- 
 tified with the Republican l)art3-, and be was able 
 to aid a second Gen. Harrison to the highest office 
 within till! gift of the people. He belongs to the 
 Presbyterian Church, with which his wife w.as iden- 
 tified, and both names are recalled among the ac- 
 tive workers for the church. 
 
 lS=i=^ ' 
 
 I 
 
 "il^AMES A. SAGE. One of the active bu.<«i- 
 ness men of Ionia is this gentleman who has 
 charge of the affairs of the Ionia Pottery 
 Compan)', which has an extended reputation 
 among dealers in such goods asarc manufactured at 
 its works and has a trade of vast dimensions in the 
 Northwest. Mr. Sage has been Secretary and 
 Treasurer of the corporation for several years and 
 has had the oversight of its business interests. He 
 has an abundance of energy, much financial tact, 
 and the 'qualities necessary to one who would get 
 the best work from those who are in his employ or 
 under his charge. 
 
 Mr. Sage is a son of the Kmjjire State, born in 
 Monroe County, near Rochester, October 11, 1835. 
 His parents, Hiram and Sally (Rowley) Sage, were 
 born in New York and his mother is still living, 
 now in the ninety-first year^of her age, and makes 
 
 her home with our subject. His father died while 
 our subject was a mere infant. During his boy- 
 hood he was taken to Wisconsin in 1844, by his 
 mother and stejjfather, and after a short sojourn in 
 Milwaukee found a home in Jefferson Countj'. There 
 ho remained about fifteen years, coming to this 
 Stale in 18G1. A home was made in Olisco Town- 
 ship, Ionia County, where he followed teaching 
 one term, and carried on farming until some 
 months after the Civil War began. Loyalty and 
 the belief that the contest going on was destined 
 to be longer and harder than had at first been 
 liiought, led Mr. Sage to enter the ranks of his 
 country's defenders. 
 
 The enlistment of Mr. Sage took place August 
 8, 1862, and he was enrolled in Company B, 
 Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry, and was appointed 
 Orderly Sergeant. His company did provost dutj' 
 at Louisville and Bowling Green, Ky., for a few 
 months. In 18G3 the regiment crossed the Cum- 
 berland RIountains with Gen. Burnside and did 
 duty in Eastern Tennessee until the ensuing year. 
 .\s a part of the Twenty-third Corps it then par- 
 ticipated in Sherman's campaign from Chattanooga 
 to Atlanta, and in front of the latter city August 
 (>, 1864, Mr. .Sage was wounded in the right leg, 
 and for this he now receives a pension. He was 
 taken to the hospital, and being disabled from 
 further service was sent home on leave in Septem- 
 ber. He went to Cincinnati when his leave ex- 
 pired, and there received his discharge November 
 ;iO. He had been promoted to the rank of First 
 Lieutenant and had won the reputation of a gal- 
 lant soldier and true patriot. 
 
 Mr. Sage returned to his former home and re- 
 sumed his agricultural work, following teaching 
 (luring the winters for the two succeeding years. 
 But after a time he sold his farm and engage.', in 
 the foundry at Smj'rna. In 1876 he was called 
 upon to take a public position, being elected Regis- 
 trar of Deeds on the Republican ticket. In 1878, 
 having been renominated by acclamation, he was 
 re-elected. When he finally retired from the office 
 he went into business life and on the formation of 
 the Pottery Company- w.as electeil to the offices be 
 is now filling therein. Prior to his occupancy of 
 the office of Registrar of Deeds he was Supervisor 
 
456 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of Otisco Township four years. Politically speak- 
 ing he is a Republican of the str.iightest tj'pe. 
 
 Tlie marriage of Mr. Sage and Miss Sarali A. 
 Purely was solemnized November 29, 1860, and 
 was blest by the birth of three daugiilers — Lottie 
 M., MiuLie B. and Hattie R. Minnie B., who 
 was born November 19, 1866, died October 22, 
 1872. The eldest daughter is now the wife of W. 
 IL Booth. Mrs. Sage is remembered with grateful 
 affection by many for her services in the care of 
 the sick. No one in the community was more fre- 
 quently called upon or proved more capable than 
 siic, and her deft ways and extreme kindness will 
 long be remembered. She entered into rest Feb- 
 ruary 17, 1886. 
 
 A portrait of Mr. Sage appears elsewhere in this 
 volume. 
 
 -^— ^^— ^— 
 
 ORVILLE S. SATTERLEE is of English de- 
 scent, and from his long line of genealogy 
 we trace him back to an illustrious family. 
 The Satterleo family came to this country from 
 England about 1670. The first record we have of 
 the name in England, was that of a Suffolk knight 
 living in King Henry's time, about 1235. From 
 him is traced the lineal descent to Thomas, the last 
 Lord of Satterlee, who was dispossessed by Edward 
 IV. for his adherence to the Lancaster cause. This 
 gentleman died in 1479, and lies buried with his 
 wife Elizabeth, in the churchyard of the Austrian 
 Friar in the city of Warwick, Suffolk, England. 
 
 The Satterlees probably originated in Suffolk, 
 England, but had their property confiscated by 
 King Edward IV. about the year 1469, and moved 
 down the coast to Devonshire. There is positive 
 evidence that there was a family who spelled their 
 name Satherly, residing in Devonshire in the six- 
 teenth century, and bearing the same coatof-arms as 
 the Suffolk Satteilees. William Satterlee resided in 
 Exeter, Devonshire, England, about 1650, and was 
 the father of Benedict Satterlee, who emigrated to 
 America. Thus we have some generations back 
 chronicled to William Satterlee, of Exeter, Devon- 
 shire, England. 
 
 Benedict Satterlee married the widow of John 
 
 Dimond, August 12, 1682, at New London, Conn., 
 having come to America a single man. To him 
 were born — Sarah, Rebecca and William. To 
 William were born William, Jr., on the 7th of 
 November, 1712; Benedict, on the llth of August, 
 1714; John, May 1, 1716; Ann, May 16, 1718; 
 Abigail, April 12, 1720; Mary, June 6, 1721; Re- 
 becca, March 1, 1724, and Lucy, .lanuary 6, 1726. 
 To William Satterlee, Jr., were born Dariah, Jemi- 
 mah, Mollie and Jonas. To Jonas were born John, 
 Jonas, Jr., Polly, Lucy, Elisha and Bridget. To 
 Jonas, Jr. was born John G., May 4, 1792. John 
 G. in turn became the father of Nancy A., Novem- 
 ber 18, 1819; Orville 8., December 28, 1821; 
 Perez B., May 7, 1825; Julia G., April 24, 1827; 
 and James A. B., March 1, 1831. 
 
 The birthplace of Orville S. Satterlee was Sara- 
 toga County', N. Y. He is the son of John G. .and 
 Nancy H. (Weed) Satterlee, who are natives of 
 Connecticut. Jonas S.atterlee, the grandfather of 
 our subject, followed the sea for twenty years and 
 lived to be ninety-five years of age. He was in the 
 mercantile trade with the West Indies and his wife's 
 name was Lydia Billings. Several members of the 
 Satterlee family followed the sea, going out from 
 New London. 
 
 John G., the father of our subject followed farm- 
 ing pursuits, hotel-keeping, owned a mill, held vari- 
 ous olfices, was a man of more than ordinary abil- 
 ity and became quite wealthy, but lost much of his 
 [)roperty by loaning money in Ionia. After living 
 in New York many years, he removed to Connecti- 
 cut, where he died. He had been three times mar- 
 ried. To himself and the mother of our subject 
 were born five children, one of whom was drowned 
 when but a very small child. Orville is the only 
 survivor. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, as one would judge 
 from his father's |)ursuits, was reared to various 
 kinds of work, but chiefly to farming. He came to 
 Michigan in 1842, located in Portland, and owned 
 a piece of land about five miles from this place. 
 He cleared thirty acres of it, but soon sold out and 
 went to Appleton, Wis., where he worked at jour- 
 ney work, and here he was married to Mary Rog- 
 ers, May 9, 1854. Mrs. Satterlee is the daughter of 
 Richard Rogers, of New York. After marriage Mr, 
 
PORTRAIT AND IJlUGRAl'llICAL ALHUM. 
 
 157 
 
 Satterlee came back at once to Portland, bought a 
 farm and built a home. lie soon afterward sold 
 out, owning tliis home less than a year and bouglit 
 another trad of land. After visiting Connecticut, 
 he went to work on his new purchase, iniprovinl it, 
 hut afterward sold out at the beginning of the war. 
 He tlien bought a half-interest in the grist-mill, 
 which he licpt over a year. His present farm on 
 which he resi<les is an elegant one. He has sold 
 from it several viPage lots, and also three acres for 
 a cemetcr}'. 
 
 To our subject and his estimable wife has been 
 born one daughter, Addie, now wife of Erastus 
 IJriggs, a resident of Bell.'iirc, Antrim County, 
 Mich. The wife of our subject is a consistent and 
 conscientious member of the Baptist Church. Mr. 
 Satterlee votes the Republican ticket, and owns a 
 fine summer home at Charlevoix that he occupies 
 a part of the time, enjoying the fruits of industry 
 which he has acquired in the brief span of life 
 usually allotted to mankind. 
 
 '^ ^' ARSHALL W. ALVORD, a farmer on 
 section 25. Ronald Township, Ionia 
 County, was born in Otsego County, N. Y., 
 January 2, 1813. His father, Josiah Al- 
 vord, was a native of Massaciiusetts and a tanner 
 by occupation. His mother bore the maiden name 
 of Lydia White. Soon after the marriage of this 
 couple they located in New York, making their 
 home in Wayne County about the year 1815. They 
 lived in the town of Palmyra for about twelve 
 years. They came to Michigan in 1834 and located 
 in Lenawee County, traveling by team and wagon. 
 They took up Government land, built a log house 
 and improved the land. The mother was called 
 from eartli in 1853 and the father survived her 
 until 1860. They were the parents of six children, 
 three daugliters and three sons, none of whom are 
 now surviving except tiie subject of this sketch. 
 
 He of whom we write found his earliest educa- 
 tion in PalmjTa. N. Y. He worked on his father's 
 farm until he was twenty-four )'ears of age. After 
 this he worked out by the month and at splitting 
 
 rails. December 27, 1841. he was ^mited in mar- 
 riage with Leah Heal, a native of Monroe County, 
 N. Y., born there April 18, 1817. Her parents, 
 Joseph and Elizabeth (Claghorn) Beal, were na- 
 tives of Massaciiusetts and were among the early 
 settlers of Michigan. Our subject settled first in 
 Adrian, then in Fairfield, where his father first took 
 u|) (.Jovernment land. There he made his home in 
 a log cabin with many Indians about him, and re- 
 mained twenty years on that farm. In 1853 he 
 removed to the place which is now his home. He 
 found there a log house an<l about twenty acres of 
 land under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Alvord arc 
 tiie parents of seven children, five daughters and 
 two sons — Cornelia, deceased ; Lucy, Mrs. Benjamin 
 Everest; Martin L., deceased; Lydia, Mrs. Thomas 
 Cobb; Ellen, Edwin; Ida, Mrs. Fred Kn.aggs. 
 
 Mr. Alvord is not a robust man and is unable to 
 do the heavy work upon tiie farm. He keeps hired 
 help to aid. him in cultivating his one hundred 
 broad acres of laml. He is a pillar in the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, having made his profession 
 of faith over sixty years ago, and having been a 
 Class-Leader for forty years and a Trustee of the 
 local cliurch almost from its first organization. He 
 cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison in 
 1840, and he is now a member of the Prohibition 
 l)«rty. 
 
 'JDWAKD O. HELDINt;, an enterprising 
 
 1,^ young fanner of Ionia County, is located 
 Ik^ on section 7, Otisco Township, where he was 
 born in 1864. The homestead consists of one hun- 
 dred and seventy .acres with good improvements, 
 is well stocked, ami is the source of abundant crops. 
 The young man who now operates it w.ns reared 
 with a thorough knowledge of .agriculture, and hav- 
 ing remaineil with his [larents during their lifetime, 
 he is continuing the work begun by his father years 
 ago. 
 
 The grandfather of our subject was Tiberius 
 Belding, who came to this State during the years 
 of its early history, and settled in Otisco Township 
 in 1840. Here he remained until his death. He 
 
458 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was accompanied hither by a son Francis W., who 
 was born in Massachusetts, and was ten years of 
 age at the time of tlie removal. Tiie son remained 
 with his parents until after lie became of age, wlien 
 he establislied a home of his own, marrying Miss 
 Julia K. Day. The chihlren born of this union are 
 Edward O., Ralph W., Blanulie D., Grace E. and 
 Pearl D. Ralph and Blanche now live in Belding 
 and the otliers remain on the homestead. The fa- 
 ther served acceptably as Township Treasurer. He 
 died in 1879, and his widow survived until 1888. 
 
 Tiie subject of these brief biographical notes, it 
 will be seen, is tlie first-l)0rn in the parental family. 
 After the death of his father he remained with his 
 widon-cd mother as tlie staff of her declining years, 
 and continues to hold the position of head of the 
 family, while his sisters look after his comfort in 
 womanly ways, lie was well educated in the schools 
 of the vicinity, and keeps himself well-informed by 
 means of newspapers and contact with his fellow- 
 men. He was formerly a member of the Grange, 
 and is now identified with the Patrons of Industry. 
 His vote is cast with the Republican party. He is 
 a young man of good habits, ambitious to do well 
 in his chosen work, and he is succeeding in his 
 worldly affairs, and gaining the commendation of 
 acquaintances. 
 
 yTLLIAM J. CONNER, a pioneer of Easton 
 Townsliip, Ionia County, and a farmer on 
 section 29, is a native of Orange County, 
 N. Y., where he was born August 22, 1832. He is 
 descended from Irish and Scotch ancestry, his 
 fatl>er being Jared Conner and his mother having 
 borne tlie maiden name of Caroline McCord; both 
 came from New York. His parents had but two 
 ciiildren, their daughter Caroline dying early. 
 This family emigrated in 1832 to Oakland County, 
 Mich., and in February, 183.5, they came to Ionia 
 County, where they settled in Easton Township on 
 the banks of the Grand River on property now 
 owned by James S. Sanford. 
 
 A log cabin in the woods was the first home of 
 this household and after making some removals 
 
 he finally settled in Grand Haven, Mich., in the 
 year 1849, and died there the following year; his 
 wife survived him until July, 1884. He was a 
 Democrat in politics and a sturdy, hard-working 
 man, enduring the usual hardships incident to 
 pioneer life. He built the Bellamy sawmill near 
 Grand River in 1836 and was one of the early 
 sawmill men of Easton Township. 
 
 W. J. Conner lias been reared to manhood in 
 this county and except a few years spent in the 
 lumber business at Grand Haven has been a farmer 
 all his life. He received his education in the prim- 
 itive schools of Michigan, and has supplemented 
 those scanty advantages bj^ a habit of reading which 
 has kept him well informed in regard to all mat- 
 ters of public interest. His wife. Temperance 
 (Lemon) Conner to whom he was joined in mar- 
 riage March 3, 1857, was born September 13, 1832, 
 in Oakland County', this State. She was a daugh- 
 ter of William and Hannah (Conner) Lemon. 
 When ten years old she emigrated with her parents 
 to the Grand River Valley in Ionia County, where 
 her father became one of the early settlers of 
 Es'ston Township. Of the large family born to 
 her parents three only survive: Francis J. living 
 in Idaho; George in Kansas; and Mrs. Conner. 
 Her parents were both members and influential 
 supjiorters of the Congregational Church. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Conner have nine living children: Edward 
 resides on the old home farm; Frank, Jerry, Har- 
 vey, Cliarles, Ferry, George, Cassius and Gordan. 
 
 The subject of this sketch has resided since 
 185C on his present farm. He owns about three 
 hundred acres of land, which has been gained by 
 the hard labors of himself and his faithful help- 
 mate and counselor. They have done much pioneer 
 work and have borne bravely the hardships inci- 
 dental to the life of an early settler. He has been 
 a Democrat all his life but indorses the principles 
 of the Greenback party. His father built the first 
 barn in Palo, Mich., which is still standing. His 
 father and uncle brought up the Grand River from 
 Grand Rapids to Ionia the first load of flour and 
 other merchandise which came in that wa^-. The 
 boat they used was hewed out of a whitewood tree 
 and was virtually a canoe. They brought as bal- 
 last sixteen barrels of flour with lighter goods on 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 459 
 
 top. Mr. and Mrs. Conner .are widely and well 
 known for their bospitalitj- and are the center of a 
 large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. 
 Conner is a well-informed man both on general 
 topics and on political subjects, and his fine estate 
 attests to his industr3-, hard labor and good busi- 
 ness capacity. We are well pleasod to present him 
 among the man}- intelligent and publicspiiilcd 
 pioneers of Central Michigan. 
 
 The great-grandfather of our subject. John Con- 
 ner, and a Air. O'Neil owned at one time a whole 
 county in Ireland which was confiscated from them 
 during an insurrection, and shonl3' thereafter he 
 made his advent in America, settling in Orange 
 Count}', N. Y., and spent his last days there. 
 
 j4 KS. JULIA E. HARTWELL is the daugh- 
 ter of Thomas and Catherine (Hanson) 
 ^ Arnold, and the widow of Tylee 1). Hart- 
 well, and mother of Thomas O. Harlwell, 
 whose sketch will be found on another page of this 
 work. Her parents were both natives of Saratoga 
 County, N. Y., her father being born there Febru- 
 ary .5, 1798, and her mother June 20, 1802. Her 
 grandfather, Thomas Arnold, was a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary War, serving gallanti}' under Gen. 
 Washington. Her father died May 2, 1877, and the 
 mother April 22, 1891. Seven of tiieir twelve chil- 
 dren are now living. Mrs. Arnold was a member of 
 the Baptist Cluirch. Mr. Arnold took an active inter- 
 est in political matters and was a Democrat. He was 
 Township .Supervisor, also Justice of the Peace and 
 w.as greatly interested in school matters. 
 
 Mrs. Hartwell was born August 21, 1826, in Sar- 
 atoga County, N. Y. She attended the district 
 school until fourteen years of age and then com- 
 pleted her studies at the Female Academ}' at Bulls- 
 ton .Spa. She married June 4, 1845,T3lee D. Hart- 
 well, a son of Thomas an<l Phnjbe (Rogers) Hart- 
 well, natives of Saratoga County, N. Y. His 
 parents always resided in that county. Four of 
 their six children are now living. His father was a 
 farmer antl held slaves in New York until they 
 were emancipated. The husband of Mrs. Hartwell 
 
 was born August 24, 1819, in Saratoga County, 
 N. Y. By a district school education supplemented 
 by home study he prc[)ared for teaching and was at 
 the teacher's desk for seven 3'ears. After tliat he 
 attended the academy' at Ft. Edward for a year or 
 two, then he went to an institution at Elizal)etli- 
 town, N. J., preparing for the ministry. He con- 
 tinued here for one year; he finally felt compelleil 
 to give up a thorough course of preparation for the 
 pulpit but was always a great Christian worker and 
 when a pulpit supply w.as lacking in the new coun- 
 try he somclimes filled it. 
 
 In 185.5 Tylee D. Hartwell and his wife came to 
 Michigan and settled on section 8, Berlin Township, 
 upon the farm where Thomas O. Harlwell now 
 lives. They came by rail to Kalamazoo, then staged 
 it to Grand Rapids, and tlience took a little steamer 
 to Saranac under the guidance of Capt. Coon. 
 They settled in a dense forest where for three years 
 Mrs. Hartwell did not see the sun rise or set, nor did 
 she hear a rooster crow except their own. There 
 were no roads except one north to the river, but Mr. 
 Harlwell was a tremendous worker and he .accom- 
 plished an enormous amount of labor. The farm 
 was "slashed" and the trees and brush all burned 
 down. The house .■md two barns he built himself. 
 With his wife's help he set out two hundred fruit 
 trees and built all the fences. He died May 2G, 
 1880, practicall}' from exposure and overwork. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell were the parents of four 
 children, two of whom arc now living: Katie, born 
 November 7, 1817, died May 6, 1859; Jennie, born 
 Maj- 21, 1851, died January 5, 1854; Thomas O., 
 born December 12, 1860 (see sketch) ; and Alice 
 E., born August 8, 1867, is married to Ernest E. 
 Wagar, and lives in the village of Wagar about 
 fifty miles nortii of Mobile, Ala., where Mr. Wagar 
 is large!}' engaged in the lumber business. The par- 
 ents of tiiesc children were both members of the 
 BaptistChurch, in which the father was both Trus- 
 tee and Deacon. He also took a very active part in 
 Sunday-school work. He was more than ordinarily 
 successful as a Bible Class teacher and when at Sar- 
 anac was Superintendent. Mrs. Hartwell li.as also 
 been a teacher in the Sunday -school. Her hus- 
 band was active in local school matters and for 
 man}' years was Director in the schools. He 
 
460 
 
 POKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 also took an active part in politics and was an ar- 
 dent Democrat. He was Justice of the Peace and 
 Supervisor, was everywhere respected for liis noble 
 Christian character and was the means of much 
 good in both temperance and cliurch work. By his 
 first wife, Anna Graham, who died December 15, 
 1843, Mr. H.^rtwell had one child, Eliza Ann, who 
 died aged three years. 
 
 ^f?AMES M. HAZELITT. This gentleman 
 h.is been a factor in the agricultural and 
 financial progress of Tonia County during 
 
 ^ a quarter of a centurj', and is widelj' known 
 as one who has made a success of the enterprise in 
 wliich he was engaged and built up a most com- 
 fortable home. He resides on section 27, Ronald 
 Township, where he owns one hundred and four 
 .acres of well-improved land, the management of 
 which is mainly in the hands of his son. The most 
 conspicuous of the buildings on tlie farm is a large 
 brick housi-, which contains fourteen rooms, being 
 two stories in lieighl, with the main body 16x28 
 feet and Jiaving tlu'ee wings. The other structures 
 are conveniently located, afford ample accommo- 
 dations for slock and crops and are well arranged 
 for tiie successful prosecution of farm work. Mr. 
 Hazelitt himself gives his chief attention to money 
 loaning in which he h.as been engaged some fifteen 
 years. He acts as an agent for capitalists and loans 
 from $2,000 to *o,000 per year. He shows finan- 
 cial tact of a high order and most excellent judg- 
 ment as a broker. 
 
 Mr. Hazelitt was born in Waj'ne County, Pa., 
 near Honesdale, November 9, 1838 He is a direct 
 descendant of John Hazelitt, who was born in Ire- 
 land, came to America in Colonial days and was a 
 soldier in the Revolution. F'oUowing him in llie 
 direct line of descent was James Hazelitt, who was 
 born in New Jersey, followed the occupations of a 
 farmer and carpenter in that State and later in New 
 York. The father of our subject was John Haze- 
 litt who was born in 1807; he was the son of James, 
 who was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and chose 
 farming as his life vocation. He married Sarah, 
 
 who was born in 1 804 and was a daughter of George 
 Rolison; her birthplace was in the same county 
 as his own. For some time the young couple made 
 their home in Pennsylvania, then went to Tomp- 
 kins Countj', N. Y., and located on a farm. Thence 
 they came to Michigan in 1865, first establishing 
 tliemselves in Kalamazoo County, but later coming 
 to Ionia County. They settled on land five miles 
 northeast of the county seat and spent the remnant 
 of their days there, the father dying January 18, 
 1872, and the mother January 27, 1880. 
 
 Our subject is the third child and only son in 
 the parental familj'. His sisters are Mary A., now 
 deceased; Hannah, wife of M. D. Smith, whose 
 home is in Allegan County; Sarah, Mrs. D. K. 
 Snyder, now of Kalamazoo County; and Addie S., 
 now deceased, who was the wife of Frank 15. De- 
 lany. Mr. Hazelitt was four years old when he 
 accompanied his parents to New York, in whose 
 district schools he was educated. He did not leave 
 his parents' house until he was twenty-one j'ears 
 old, but he then bought a farm of forty acres in 
 Steuben County and establislied a home of his own. 
 After occupying the place a twelvemonth he came 
 to Micliigan and made his home in Pavillion Town- 
 sliip, Kalamazoo County. There he bought forty 
 acres of land which he operated until his removal 
 to his present location. Without neglecting his 
 farm he gave some attention to mone3'-loa!iingand 
 when his son was able to take control of the place, 
 he gave it into his hands for management. 
 
 When he came to Ionia County Mr. Hazelitt 
 first bought eighty acres of laud, from which he 
 sold off twentj'-eight acres, but he subsequently 
 purchased fift3'-two and a half acres and on this 
 last tract he now lives. The lady wlio has charge 
 of the household affairs became his wife November 
 26, 1859, prior to which time she was known as 
 Miss Mary E. Houck. She was born in Yates 
 County, N. Y., June 2, 1838, and was the oldest of 
 six children. Her parents, Peter and Electa (Bige- 
 low) Houck, were natives of New York, and in 
 that State the mother died. The father spent his 
 last days in Michigan. The union of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hazelitt brought to them three sons — J. Irving, 
 Peter and Delos. The first named is the only one 
 living. Peter having died when four months old 
 
 1 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 461 
 
 and Delos lived to the age of but four weeks. Irv- 
 ing was born in Steuben County, N. Y., June 5, 
 1861. lie is married and is living on section 26, 
 Ronald Township, lie lias two children — Herman 
 G. and Edith Pearl. 
 
 In various lines of work carried on by the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Cliurcii, of which ISIr. and Mrs. 
 Hazelitt are members, both t.ikc an active part. 
 Mr. Hazelitt has been .Steward twcntj'-three 3'ears. 
 He is a man of pronounced temperance views and 
 principles and is identified with the Republican 
 parly. 
 
 '• » *^~ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 /^EORGE W. DAVENPORT is one of the 
 III f—. farmers of Ionia Count}^ and has lived for 
 ^^^5! several decades on a tract of land to which 
 he went immediately after his marriage. It con- 
 sists of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which 
 are the improvements usually made by a man of 
 enterprising spirit, and from tlie cultivation of 
 which ample compensation is derived for the labor 
 expended thereon. Mr. Davenport is able to make 
 some provision for a rainy day and to do consider- 
 able toward aiding those who are in need and hasten- 
 ing the wheels of i)rogress in this section. He shows 
 in his character, traits which to a close observer are 
 confirmatory evidence of his ancestry, although 
 his progenitors for several generations were Ameri- 
 can born. In the paternal line he is of English 
 descent and on his mother's side claims Scotch and 
 Dutch blood. 
 
 Mr. Davenport was born in Ulster County, N. Y., 
 February 14, 1821, being a son of Beverly and 
 Gertrude (Foster) Davenport. His maternal grand- 
 father, Samuel Foster, was for five years a soldier 
 in the Revolutionary army and was present when 
 Gen. Washington delivereil his farewell address at 
 the close of the struggle for independence. He 
 died in Genesee County, N. Y., at a good old age. 
 
 The father of oursul)ject was born in 17G.5 and 
 fought in the War of 1812. He died when his son 
 George was but ten yc%rs old, an<l the lad was put 
 out to live with a neighbor, with whom he remained 
 some three years, after which he started out to do 
 
 for himself. He was of course unable to obtain 
 more than a fundamental education, but after his 
 marriage and establishment of a home, he added 
 much to his fund of knowledge. 
 
 In January, 1847, Mr. Davenport w.as married to 
 Miss Lucinda Barrett, daughter of Alexander and 
 Polly (Jones) Barrett. The parents of tlie bride 
 were natives of Massachusetts and came to this 
 State in 1832, locating in Bridgewater, AVashtenaw 
 County. There the father died after a long resi- 
 dence, but the mother ended her da^'S with her only 
 son, Albert, in the village of Portland, in 1862. 
 Mrs. Davenport was a teacher prior to her marriage 
 and has always tried to keep well abreast of the 
 times in her knowledge of passing events and the 
 discoveries made in various fields. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Davenport have no (children of 
 their own, but have given a home to a bo}' and girl, 
 one of whom remained with them from early child- 
 hood until her marriage, and the other until he was 
 of age and fitted for a man's work in the world. 
 The girl, Susan Templer, married Harmon Follett, 
 a farmer of Branch County, and died leaving four 
 children. The boy, Henry Garasha, was brouglit 
 West by the Children's Aid Society from New 
 York City, and is now a Notary' Public in Chi- 
 cago and reflecting credit upon those who gave 
 him a home and parental care. Mr. and Mrs 
 Davenport cared for the aged mother of the hus- 
 band the last twelve years of her life, during 
 which time she was a confirmed invalid, and for 
 the last twenty-two years his elder brother, who 
 has the misfortune to be deaf and dumb and has 
 been in ill lieallh much of the time, has made his 
 home with them. 
 
 In the month in which their marriage took place 
 Mr. and Mrs. Daven])ort made their home on the 
 farm which had been purch.ascd a 3'ear or two 
 before. The typical pioneer dwelling — a log house 
 with slick ciiimne}' — stood upon it in a small clear- 
 ing. The country around was sparsely' settled, 
 wolves howled near their home, and red men 
 haunted the forests, tliej' however, being peaceable 
 an<l well disposed. Mr. Davenport had the pleas- 
 ure of attending one of their harvest or green corn 
 dances, and also witnessed a medicine dance on the 
 occasion of injuries received by one of them iii 
 
462 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 falling from a horse. These ceremonies as he de- 
 scribes tliem are very interesting, and so too are his 
 accounts of pioneer life, of wliich few know more 
 than he, as his parents located in Washtenaw County 
 in 1827 and from his early childhood he was sur- 
 rounded with primitive scenes. 
 
 Mr. Davenport is identified with the Demo- 
 cratic party but cannot be called a politician. He 
 served as Justice of the Peace three terms, was 
 Township Treasurer five years, and has held other 
 positions of public trust. He and his wife have 
 been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 at Portland for tliirty-five years, are consistent 
 Christians and honored bj' all who know tlicir char- 
 acters and lives. After years of toil and privation 
 the}' are now rejoicing in a cozy home and are pass- 
 ing their declining years serene in the thought that 
 they have been of use in the world. 
 
 ■^^- 
 
 -J- 
 
 IMON TOWN is a prominent citizen of 
 Miiir, Ionia County, and one of her best 
 known business men, carrying on the sale 
 of general merchandise in a good building 
 on Superior Street. He has a carefully selected 
 stock of goods, suited to the needs and desires of 
 his patrons, and attractively arranged for their 
 view. Straightforward methods are used in dis- 
 posing of them and courtesy is shown to the cus- 
 tomers, and thus a flourishing trade is carried on 
 Mr. Town is postmaster, having been appointed bjf 
 President Harrison in 1889, and his official station 
 increases his acquaintance with the people of the 
 contiguous territory. 
 
 Simon Town, grandfather of our subject, was a 
 native of New York and was of English extraction. 
 He was an extensive farmer and reared a large 
 family. He lived to be seventy-six years old. He 
 was a man of large pli3'sical proportions and of 
 correspondingly largc-heartedness. His son Ste- 
 phen, father of our subject, was born in New York 
 and reared to the father's occupation. He carried 
 on his enterprise in Onondaga County until 1833, 
 when he came to Michigan, settling on what is now 
 the State road between Jackson and Lansing, but 
 
 was then only an Indian trail. He bought one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land, five miles north 
 of Jackson, there being at that time no houses south 
 of his home to where Lansing now stands, and 
 there he resided until 1851, when he removed to 
 Lj'ons Township, Ionia County. He bought prop- 
 erty near the village of Lyons and spent the re- 
 mainder of his life there. His first farm in the State 
 was a heavily timbered one where he had much 
 arduous work to do. 
 
 The wife of Stephen Town and mother of our 
 subject bore the maiden name of I>lizabeth Schuy- 
 ler. She too was born in New York and in the 
 same State her parents, John and Hannah (Loomis) 
 Schuyler, opened their eyes to the light. From 
 184G until their death they lived in Ohio. Mr. 
 Schuyler was a farmer in the Mohawk Vallej' in 
 previous years, and during the War of 1812 he 
 fought for American rights. 
 
 The family of Stephen Town and his faithful 
 companion comprised six children, but Simon is 
 the sole survivor. He was born in Jackson County, 
 this State, February 17, 1836, and the first school 
 he attended was in a building three-quarters of a 
 mile from his home. After coming to Lyons he 
 went to the High School and upon completing the 
 course of study, taught during the winter months 
 eight years, devoting the summers to farm work. 
 After the expiration of that period he took charge 
 of the homestead, and operated it until 1878, tlien 
 sold it and went to the village of Lyons. There 
 Mr. Town engaged in the mercantile business two 
 j-ears and thence he came to Muir and bought his 
 present edifice, into which he moved his stock. 
 
 Among the recollections of boyhood that 
 brighten the memorj' of Mr. Town is seeing the 
 Governor and staff pass his home in wagons on 
 their way to the Capital, and their attempts to pry 
 the wheels out of the mud in whicii they some- 
 times stuck. On one occasion the Governor was a 
 passenger in the stage and it broke down and His 
 Excellency S|)ent the interval devoted to repairs in 
 the dwellings of the town. Our subject also recol- 
 lects the removal of the Indians to a Territory 
 farther West, the passage of the Government 
 troops on horseback and the red men on foot. 
 In 18G1 Mr. Town was married to Miss Melissa 
 
 i 
 
\- 
 
 cJU: c4r 4. ;^:J.^,^>^ 
 
PORTRAIT A.ND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 467 
 
 A. Williams, of Lyons Towiisbip, Ionia County, a 
 lady of energy and capabilily umler whose control 
 his home is made comfortable and attractive. The 
 circle around the hearthstone includes Camilla L., 
 Arthur M., Cora and Iva, the eldest of whom is 
 Assistant Postmaster. As might well be supposed, 
 they have received as i^ood o|)portunities as possi- 
 l)le to advance their knowledj^e and fit themselves 
 for usefulness and honor. Mr. Town was Town- 
 siiip .School Insi)Cctor for a number of years, an<l 
 h.is held otiicr local oMices. Politically he is a Re- 
 publican. In all that goes to make up gooil citi- 
 zenship and tends to the |)rogrcss of the village he 
 is conspicuous and of good repute. 
 
 I^B^.'t^SlB 
 
 LP.KRT J. nuLCOMB. Among the resi- 
 dents of Montcalm County there are to be 
 It found many who have made their own 
 @^ wa}', or who have begun their work in life 
 
 will) a limited ca|)ital,and whose careers have been 
 cliaraeterized by perseverance, good management 
 and wise economy. An example of this kin<l is to 
 be found in the person of Mr. Holconib, now num- 
 bered among the thrifty farmers of Cr3'stal Town- 
 ship. His liome farm consists of eighty acres on 
 section 31, from which he removed slumps and 
 stones, and which he enclosed and sub-divided by 
 good fences, and improved with adequate farm 
 buddings. His dwelling is a t.Tsteful, two-stor^-, 
 ten-room house, well furnished, and kept in perfect 
 ord( r by his wife, who is a notable housekeeper. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Jesse and 
 Amorintha (Kendall) Ilolcomb, natives of New 
 York, liut residents of Ionia County, this State, 
 for a number of years. The father was a tailor 
 :ind followed his ti'ade during his early life, but in 
 later years gave his attention to farnnng. The 
 son, of whom we write, was born in Ionia County, 
 August 17, 1848, and grow to manhood on the 
 farm. When ol<l enough to take a part in the 
 work carried on there ho attended school only in 
 the winter, until he was nineteen years of age. after 
 wliich he devoted most of the lime for three or 
 four years to attendance in the High .School in 
 
 Ionia. lie therefore acquired a practical education 
 and gained a thorough knowleilge of farming and 
 business principles. 
 
 When Mr. Ilolcomb licgrin liis personal career he 
 had some trying experiences, as be was poor in this 
 world's goods and the help he expected from his 
 parents was not given him, owing to the death of 
 his father. That good man i)assed away May !>, 
 1869, and when his estate was divided our subject 
 received $460, and at the final settlement received 
 ij<282 more. He bargained for the farm he now 
 lives upon and m.ade his payments bi' working in 
 the lumber camps, while at the same time doirig 
 what he could to clear his land. lie found a log 
 cabin on the place and in it he lived fourteen 
 years. Although it was not attractive in appear- 
 ance it was comfortable, and Mr. and Mrs. Ilolcomb 
 were happy and passed many of their most pleasant 
 days in their cabin home. This they were content 
 to occupy until the_v had made good arrangements 
 for the accommodation of their stock and the 
 housing of the crops the^- wished to store. A com- 
 modious barn was built in 1871) and other farm 
 buildings have been put up from time to time, and 
 an orchard set out. Mr. Ilolcomb gives considera- 
 ble attention to raising sheep and cattle, and also 
 keeps good horses. Ik-side the home place, ho has 
 forty acres which is also un<1er cultivation. 
 
 The wife of Mr. Ilolcomb was known in her 
 maidenhood as Miss Klla Root, and their marriage 
 was solemnized November 22, 1869. Mrs. Ilol- 
 comb was born in Jackson County, March 2.^, 18.'>2, 
 and was educated in Ionia. A year after her mar- 
 riage she taught school one term while her husband 
 worked in the lumber woods. She is the daughter 
 of James N. and Clarissa A. (Slack) Root. She 
 has as great a love for good horses as her husband 
 and sympathizes with him in his woik and tastfs. 
 'I'hey have no children, but have an a(loi)led son, 
 (icorge \V., who has been with them about eleven 
 years. 
 
 Mr. Ilolcond) is now iidl.ling tiie ulllceof .lustice 
 of the Peace for a second term and for ten years 
 he has been Assessor of the district. In politics he 
 is a Prohibitionist and has taken an active interest 
 in the reform movement, doing much to carry the 
 local o|)tion measure in the town>hip. lie is in- 
 
468 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 terestert in the general welfare to such an extent as 
 to take part in public enterprises that promise 
 well, and particularly in educational projects. Wlicu 
 he and his good wife were young thej' had man}^ 
 hardships to endure in clearing a home from the 
 primeval wilderness, and her parents used every 
 effort to dissuade them from attempting to clear 
 anil improve the land. However, tiiej- were not 
 easily discouraged and by their united efforts liave 
 not only attained success financially, but have set a 
 worthy example for all to follow. We are pleased 
 to present, in connection with this biographical 
 notice, lithograpliic portraits of this worthy couple, 
 wlio are regarded witli respect b}' all who know 
 them. 
 
 , ANIEL B. MORKHEAU. A goodly num- 
 ber of men have gained a competence sutli- 
 cient to supply' every reasonable want and 
 are now enjoying the results of former 
 industry in Montcalm County. One of this num- 
 ber is tlie gentleman above named, whose beautiful 
 home is in Edmore, where for some years he was 
 engaged in business, and with the social, financial 
 and religious growth of which lie is still closely 
 identified. He is the oldest settler in Edmore, 
 owns the finest block and residence in the town 
 and has other investments there, including shares 
 in the Robinson Opera House, of which lie is one 
 of the originators. 
 
 Mr. Morehead traces his lineage to two of the 
 best known nationalities represented in America, 
 the Scotcii-Irish and the German. His grandfather 
 Moreiiead was born in the Emerald Isle and crossed 
 the water when a young man, locating in Virginia 
 and making that Stale his permanent home. In 
 Brooks County his son Andrew, father of our sub- 
 ject, was born and thence he went to Stark Count}', 
 Ohio, when a young man. He improved a farm 
 on which he lived fifteen years, then sold it and 
 changed his residence to Carroll County, where he 
 bought eiglity acres and cultivated it until his 
 strength gave out. He died there in 1874. He 
 was a Democrat in politics and a Presb3'terian in 
 
 religion. He was married in Stark County to 
 Lydia Burger, who was born in New York and was 
 a daugliter of Daniel Burger, a native of Pennsyl- 
 vania and of German extraction. Grandfather 
 Burger was a stone-mason and farmer. He was an 
 earl}' settler in Stark County, Ohio, which was his 
 last earthlj' home. He belonged to the Presbyter- 
 ian Church. 
 
 Our subject was born in Stark Countj', Oliio, 
 January 27, 1829, and was the third of twelve 
 ciiildren, eleven of whom lived to maturity. He 
 passed his early days on the farm and attended the 
 district school, conning his lessons while occupying 
 a slab bench. Later he was privileged to spend one 
 term at Mt. Union College, in Ohio. From the age 
 of nineteen to twenty-two years he was engaged in 
 carpenter work, having picked up a knowledge of 
 tliat handicraft because of his natural aptness in 
 handling tools. He then devoted the winters to 
 teacliing and the summers to the trade until 1855, 
 in tlie spring of which year he went to Illinois. He 
 established liimself at New Massillon, Wayne 
 County, and worked at his trade there nine months, 
 then returned to Ohio and again followed teaching. 
 
 For ten winters Mr. Morehead taught school, and 
 during the years included became the owner of one 
 hundred acres of land near his birthplace, that he 
 improved. The summer after he bought the prop- 
 erty tlie frost killed his wheat and other crops. He 
 took a scliool eight miles away, and two thirds of 
 the time boarded at home, walking back and forth 
 night and morning, and doing his own work. Tlie 
 paj'inents on the place were made by teaching. 
 Mr. Morehead lived on the farm six years, then 
 sold and bought another tract near, on which he 
 staid two years, next renting it and moving into 
 Minerva. There he became book-keeper and sales- 
 man in a furniture manufactory, and staid two 
 years. During the time he was on the farm lie w.as 
 Justice of the Peace one term. 
 
 In the fall of 18G8 Mr. Morehead came to this 
 State and began the manufacture of shingles, sasii, 
 doors and blinds in Union City, continuing the 
 business nine years, and also making the Bertrand 
 & Sames corn cultivator, putting out three thou- 
 sand of them. Mr. Morehead sold out his business 
 and bought a farm near the town, paying $17,000 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 469 
 
 for two hundred and eisiity acres, and for three 
 years gave his attention to farming. In this 
 otrupation lie proved rather unforliuiate and was 
 obliged to sell his farm for less than he paid for 
 it. In 187i) lie came to Edmore and for a year 
 carrieil on the Junction House. lie tlien houglit 
 out a stock of groceries an(J a l>uihling and a year 
 later added to the store room, continuing tiie busi- 
 ness six 5'ears. Deciding to retire at tiie expira- 
 tion of that period lie sold out, and llic very next 
 spring, the building having been destroyed by fire, 
 he bought tlic site .again and put up a fine brick 
 block, Mr. Morehead has manufactured a great 
 many screw power slump machines that work very 
 successfully. 
 
 The present residence of Mr. Moreheail was 
 built in IH8."i after his own design and is the finest, 
 largest antl most costi}' bouse in town. It is pre- 
 sided over by the lady who became his wife in 
 Carroll County, Ohio, October 28, 18o2, and whose 
 maiden name was Mary J. Youngker. She was 
 iHirn near Minerva September 14, 1835, and re- 
 ceived her education in the High .School of that 
 lii:i(('. She is an accomplished and agreeable lady, 
 anil her amiable disposition wins many friends. 
 She has a decided talent for art, has given much 
 time to painting and taught the use of the pencil 
 and brush. She has often taken premiums at the 
 fairs, and she also does bcauliful fancy work of 
 various kinds. 
 
 Mr. ami Mrs. Morehead have six children: Hiram 
 15., a grocer in tidmore; Lydia .1., wife of Capt. II. 
 K. Summers of Grand Hapids; Orien A., head 
 waiter in the Grand Pacific hotel in Chicago, III.; 
 I'rank McC, book-keeper at Glenwood Springs, 
 Col.; Adrian Lycurgus, a wholesale shipper of 
 potatoes, from this .State to the South and E.ast, 
 ami Daniel I)., with the Dayton licll Ringers. 
 
 .lohn Youngker, father of Mrs. Morehead, was 
 l'<irn in Germany and came to America with his 
 parents. Jacob Youngker located in Brownsville, 
 Pa., and carried on his trade, carpentry there. 
 The son became a shoemaker, and followed his 
 calling near Minerva, Carroll County, whither he 
 removed and entered a tract of now land, on which 
 lie made improvements. He belonged to the Luth- 
 eran Church. He married Hannah Berry, who 
 
 was born in Williamsport, Pa., being a daughter of 
 William Berry, a native of England and a farmer 
 by occupation. This family were of the Methodist 
 faith. Mrs. Youngker came to this State with her 
 daughter, Mrs. Morehead, and died in Union City 
 in 1878, at the home of our subject. 
 
 Mr. Morehead is now serving his fourth year as 
 Justice of the Peace, and he has acted as a member 
 of the village Board of Trustees. He belongs to 
 the Odd Fellows lodge and encampment in Ed- 
 more, has filled the Chairs, and has Iieen the repre- 
 sentative to the Grand Lodge three times and to 
 the Grand Encampment once. He is a Democrat 
 in politics, and has been a delegate to both county 
 and State conventions. He is an otlicial member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Churcii, and his wife 
 is also an active member. Both are entertaining 
 and hospitable, and deservedly popular in the 
 community, and their circle of fiiends is not eon- 
 fined to the town. In 1890 Mr. Morehead went 
 to Manchester, Coffee County, Tenn., on account 
 of ill health, and after nearly a year's residence, 
 returned much benefited by his sojourn in the pure, 
 mild air of the .Southern tablelands. He bought an 
 acre of ground there and built a (hvclling, so that 
 he was not dependent upon hotel .accommodations 
 for his comfort. 
 
 <i, VILLI AM R. BOWSER. The Ionia Furni- 
 \wi '""' t'""ipfi"i'' I'f which Mr. Bowser is 
 W^ Manager and .Secretary, supplies the mar- 
 ket with high grades of goods which are being 
 well received. The industr3' is growing wonder- 
 fully, and already ranks among the most prominent 
 commercial institutions of Ionia and those wiiicli 
 exert the greatest inlluence in its upbuilding. Mr. 
 llowser has been a resident of this pl.ace less than 
 a decade, but as many years of his life h.'.ve been 
 spent within the limits of the county he was not 
 uriknown to the citizens here when he joined their 
 ranks. 
 
 Mr. Bowser was born in Fulton County, Oliio, 
 April l.j, 1845. to John and .\nnie (Guyor) Bowser, 
 natives of Pennsylvania and Baden Baden, Ger- 
 
470 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 many, respectively. The Bowsers came originally 
 from Holland. The parental family comprised two 
 living children and one who died in infancj'. The 
 elder of the survivors is George W., Cashier of 
 the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company 
 in Wichita, Kan. The parents died when AVilliani, 
 their second cliild, was young and he was brought 
 to this State by his uncle, the Rev. Aaron Bowser, 
 a United Brethren minister and Presiding Elder of 
 a Michigan circuit. In Jackson County he found 
 his first home and in 1854 came to Ionia and be- 
 came one of the liouselioid of J. B. Morehouse, a 
 builder at Portland. 
 
 The work of a builder and that of a tiller of the 
 soil were combined by Mr. Bowser under the guid- 
 ance of Mr. Morehouse until the summer of 18G2, 
 when he entered the arm}-, enlisting August 12. 
 He was enrolled in Company K, Twenty-first Michi- 
 gan Infantry, and attached to the Army of the 
 Cumljerland. The noted engagements in whicli he 
 fought were Perryvillc, Stone River, Winchester, 
 Chickamauga, Savannah, Averysboro and Benton- 
 ville. At Chickamauga he was wounded, receiving 
 two shots in the leg. He was made Corporal after 
 the battle of Stone River and acted as Sergeant for 
 a, year. He was discharged June 20, 1865, althougii 
 he had been mustered out in Washington, D. C, 
 on June 8lh, after partiei|)ating in tlie Grand 
 Review. 
 
 When the war was over Mr. Bowser formed an 
 association with Mr. Morehouse and built a plan- 
 ing mill in Portland, for the manufacture of sash, 
 doors and blinds. Tiie firm of .T. B. Morehouse & 
 Co. also carried a general line of builders' supplies. 
 In 1870 the style was ciianged to Bowser, Grifiin & 
 Co. In November, 1874, Mr. Bowser removed to 
 Harbor Springs, Emmet County, where he farmed 
 and did job work. He was County Clerk there 
 four years, beginning his term of service January 
 1, 1879. In February, 1885, he returned to Ionia 
 County as an officer of the State House of Correc- 
 tion and Reformator\', having the position of inside 
 gatekeeper until October 19, 1886, when he started 
 a furniture business in the institution. He made 
 use of the services of twenty-seven men in the 
 beginning, which was gradually increased to two 
 hundred, of whom he had charge until June 4, 
 
 1890, when he gave up his work there and became 
 Superintendent of the Ionia Furniture Company. 
 Of this enterprise we have already spoken and of 
 the place now filled by Sir. Bowser. 
 
 The pleasant home of Mr. Bowser is presided 
 over by an efficient housewife, who was united in 
 marriage to him June 24, 1869. She was born in 
 Manchester, England, bore the maiden name of 
 Fanny M. Swindells, and is a daughter of William 
 and Ann Swindells, To Mr. and Mrs. Bowser a 
 son and daughter have been born: William G., is 
 now working in the factory as a hand carver, and 
 May M. is pursuing her studies in tlie public school. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bowser have higli standing in the 
 Baptist Church and he is Superintendent of the 
 Sunday-school. He votes tlie Republican ticket, 
 pursues his course in life energetically yet quietly, 
 and is considered a ca|)able business m.an and good 
 citizen. He is Adjutant in the Grand Army Post 
 and has held the office for the past three years. 
 
 (4l IVINSLOW P. BURHANS, a former resi- 
 \/\//l tlt^nt of Ionia, was born in Greene Count}', 
 V^ N. Y., Miiy 27, 1821. He was a son of 
 Cornelius and Hannah (Leg) Burhans, both natives 
 of the Empire State. The father was a farmer 
 and was descended from Holland Dutch who set- 
 tled in the Mohawk Valley in that region in the 
 earl}' days. The subject of this sketch was left an 
 orphan when only six years of age, his father 
 dying September 28, 1827. His mother survived 
 until January 8, 1877. Winslow early engaged in 
 the mercantile business and opened a store at Dur- 
 ham, N. Y. He married Rachael A. Dorman July 27, 
 1847, in .Syracuse County, N. Y. Previous to this 
 time lie had been for awhile in Milwaukee, Wis. 
 
 Winslow P. Burhans and family came to Ionia 
 in 1849. Here he entered into the banking busi- 
 ness, which he afterward pursued. He li.ad at one 
 time been eng.aged in the business of a tannery in 
 Northern New York, but had sold it out in 
 1846. He was a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church and at one time belonged to the Masonic 
 fraternitv. He died November 7, 1885. Three 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 471 
 
 children had hlessed tliis union — Dolly D., wife of 
 Willis Van Devanter, is living in Cheyenne^ Wyo. 
 This 3'oung raan is now Chief Justice of that 
 Slate, the youngest Chief Justice in the I'nited 
 Stales. Winslow P., Jr., died in earl^- childhood, 
 but a third child received the same name, and 
 this one is now attending school. Mrs. Burhans 
 has recently erected an elegant home on tlie corner 
 of LaFayette and Rich Streets, which is one of the 
 handsomest properties in the city. The lirst story 
 is built of Ionia sandstone and the second of 
 shingles. She is a lady of fine executive ability- 
 and is engaged in much good work in behalf of 
 both the churches and charities of the town. She 
 is the worthy widow of a worthy citizen who was 
 ever alive to the interests of the community in 
 which he lived, and b^' his encrgj- and enterprise 
 acijuircd a valuable propert}'. Politically Mr. Bur- 
 hans wiis a stanch Democrat. 
 
 -^1 
 
 ~aM^^~ 
 
 o'jEORC.K IIOSFORD is one of the earliest 
 p settleis in Berlin Township, Ionia County, 
 lie has given his time, strength and thonght 
 to the culture of fruit and has made in this direc- 
 tion a si)lendid record. His New Mammoth Seed- 
 ling and his Berlin See('.ling grapes bear as(>lendid 
 re|)Ulalion, having taken premiums wherever 
 exhibited, and being highly commended at the 
 Centennial in 1876. His father, Samuel Ilosford 
 was a siioeniiiker b}' trade in New York State, near 
 Cayuga Lake. His mother was a native of the 
 same State and bore the maiden name of Sallie 
 Shaw. .She was left a widow after some fifteen 
 years of married life and her second marriage was 
 wilh Kzra Winslow, a soldier in the War of 1812. 
 Both are now dead. By her first marriage she be- 
 came the mother of four children, only one of 
 whom, our subject, now survives. By her second 
 marriage she bore three children. 
 
 (Jeorge Ilosford was born in July, 1 8'J.l, upon 
 the old New York homestead. When only four- 
 teen years of age he evinced his ambition and 
 enterprise by leaving home and coming alone to 
 the new countr}". His parents when iliey came to 
 
 Michigan in 1833 had settled in Oakland, but later 
 came to Ionia Count}', and in 1837 settled on sec- 
 tion 1, Easton Township, where they spent the 
 remnant of their days. Our subject made his 
 home with his stepfather for several years and 
 worked with him at the trade of a stonemason, 
 but began for himself when he was eighteen j-ears 
 of age. When he came here there was but one 
 frame house in Ionia Git}'. The place where the 
 court house now stands was all woods. At this 
 point the trees had been girdled but farther up the 
 country all was native and undisturbed forests. 
 For a number of years the young man worked at 
 his Inule and gained the means to buy forty acres 
 of land on section 4, of Easton Township. He 
 cleared Ihirt}- acres of this wild land and about one 
 hundred acres for other people, chopping, logging, 
 clearing and fencing. He found all his im|)le- 
 ments and kept himself, charging his neighbors ^10 
 an acre for his services. He raised cro|)s of wheat, 
 corn and potatoes and lived on this farm until the 
 war broke out. 
 
 The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was 
 on May 5, 1819 united in marrisige to Harriet J. 
 Abbott, a daughter of Gilbert and Charlotte Ab- 
 bott, who were early settlers in B(iston Township. 
 They are both now deceased. By this marriage 
 Mr. Ilosford liad five children — Orvis, born May 
 23, 1850, married Edith Grant; with their four 
 children the}' live in Cedar Springs. Ellen, born 
 August 5, 185"2, is the wife of Dr. Wilson of Grand 
 Raiiids. Warren, born April 25, 185J, was united 
 in marriage to Allie Harler; he also lives in Grand 
 Rapids and is the father of two children. Minnie, 
 born March 12, 1856, is Mrs. Byron Weeden. With 
 her husband and two children she resides in Grand 
 Rapids. Bert, born December 5, 1868, remains at 
 home with his fatiier. The mother of these chil- 
 dren was called from earth Jul}' 27, 1876, at the 
 age of forty-six ye.ars. Mr. Hosford's second wife 
 was Mrs. Annie E. Harris, whom he married Octo- 
 ber 14, 1876. She is the daughter of Samuel and 
 Sallie (Morehouse) Van Doran. Although she hail 
 been twice married before, she had no children. 
 Her parents were natives of New Jersey, but in 
 1836 came to Kalamazoo County, Midi., and set- 
 tled on a farm where tlu'y brought up their faiiiilj' 
 
472 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of eiglitfhilclien. Tliree are now living. Mr. Van 
 Doran wiio had been a soldier in tlie War of 1812, 
 died in 1850. His wife survived liim eight years. 
 Mrs. Ilosford's natal day was September 11, 1837. 
 Slie received a district school education in Kalama- 
 zoo County. 
 
 When the subject of this sketch left his farm in 
 Easton Township, just before the war, he removed 
 to Ionia. He offered himself as a volunteer in the 
 army but on account of imperfect health his offer 
 was declined. About this time he decided to visit 
 the Far West, and took the trij) to California by 
 water, remaining there four months. He was much 
 interested in the fruit culture which he saw in that 
 region, and returning home decided to devote his 
 efforts and study in the direction of that brancli of 
 agriculture. Buying twenty-three acres of raw 
 land he cleared it off. Later he added to this 
 which is now his home farm, until he has sixty acres. 
 Fourteen of these are in orchards, twelve in 
 grapes, and later he put five acres into the new 
 grapes which are his specialty and fur whicli his 
 place is so noted. 
 
 He has originateil the two seedlings mentioned in 
 the opening paragrapli of our sketcl). Of these 
 a well-known |)omologist says: '-This white grape 
 seems one of the best yet originated in America. 
 The black grape is superior to the famous Concord. 
 In its bunch and berry it is of the largest size. 
 The white grape is exceedingly close in the bunch. 
 If these two grapes retain their hardiness, healtli, 
 vigor an<l excellence when disseminated, we may 
 look to Michigan as having produced two now 
 grapes wliich will add greatly to her reputation." 
 Mr. Hosford has some ^ears raised as high as forty 
 tons <jf grapes. He has manufactured wine for 
 himself, at one time making nineteen hundred gal- 
 lons. 
 
 With his fruit farming he also carries on other 
 branches of agriculture, having nearly fifty acres 
 of land under a very high slate of cultivation. His 
 residence built twelve years ago cost. $2,000, 
 and his fine barn $1,400. He was a cliarter member 
 of the Christian Church at Ionia over thirty years 
 ago, where he and his wife still worship, and where 
 he has always been active in church matters. For 
 many years he was known as the leader in music, 
 
 but he now gives over that branch of work into 
 younger hands, but still retains his interest in the 
 Sunday-school, where he has from the first organi- 
 zation of the church been a faithful and useful 
 teacher. He is well informed in regard to public 
 matters and keeps the run of politics and the labor 
 question, voting the Republican ticket and being a 
 member of the Patrons of Industry. He was one 
 of the early school teaches in this part of tlie State 
 and has been Deputy Clerk of Berlin Township, 
 and one of tlie School Inspectors. He is strongly 
 interested in the temperance question and has always 
 been a very liberal supporter of churches. 
 
 ' ' • ^- 
 
 ^jl LLEN MACOMBER, a weslthy man of 
 Lake View, was born in Perry, Wyoming 
 County, N. Y., April 17, 1834. He is a 
 son of George and Lucinda (Barnes) Ma- 
 comber, natives of New York State. They came to 
 Micliigan in 1849 and settled in Macomb County, 
 near Mt. Clemens, where they lived several years, 
 and then removed to Greenville, Montcalm Countj', 
 where they spent the remainder of their lives. The 
 father of our subject was a day laborer in New 
 York, and had but little more than enough money 
 to bring him to Michigan, and yet he died a 
 wealthy man. He was a farmer and speculator, 
 and in every res[)ect a self-made man. In politics 
 he belonged to the Whig i)arty, and eventually 
 became a Republican. He had only two children, 
 our subject and his sister, Georgia A., who is now 
 the wife of William Cottrell, of Mt. Clemens. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared in Ntw 
 York until about fifteen years of age. His early 
 educaiion was limited. He remained witli his 
 fatlier until about twenty-eight years of age, and 
 then engaged in the lumber business in the pineries 
 of Montcalm County. This business he has con- 
 tinued to carry on. He located permanently in 
 Lake View in about 1860, and started the first saw- 
 mill at that place which he still owns and operates, 
 and into which he introduced shingle machinery. 
 The firm is now INIacomljcr & Bale, under which 
 firm name also is carried on a flourishing inercaa- 
 
PORTUAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 473 
 
 tile business in Lake View. Mr. Macombcr is the 
 
 wealtliiest man in thai portion of tlic county, and 
 one of the wcallliiest in tiic comity. He owns large 
 tracts of farm and timber lands, is worth [irob- 
 ably $75,000, and has tlie (inest residence in Lake 
 N'iew. Me is a Republican in his convictions, but 
 never dabbles in politics. He has been, however, a 
 member of the villaije council ever since it was 
 organized, and has done much toward the improve- 
 ment and upbuilding of the village, and was one 
 of the prime movers in its estal)lislinieiit. He is a 
 Knight Templar and a member of the Ancient Or- 
 der of United Workmen. 
 
 Mrs. JLacomber, who was Miss Esther Swarthout, 
 of Lake View, was born in Pennsylvania, and is a 
 member of one of the pioneer families of Mont- 
 calm County. She became the wife of our subject 
 in 1866. Only two of their five children are now 
 living, namely, Nora and Georgia, who are both 
 slill living at home. 
 
 — ^ -^^— ^— 
 
 Vl^OBEirr UAKUI). The name of this young 
 Jigir gentleman and the work he is doing are not 
 <«i * unknown in Ionia or in the remotest part of 
 Ionia County. lie is President and one of 
 the editors of the Ionia Slandard, a daily and weekly 
 journal published by the Standard Publishing Com- 
 pany, 1)3- means of which a large number of fami- 
 lies derive intelligence regarding the news of the 
 da3'. The sheet is neatly printed and well edited, 
 its columns filled witli clean and wholesome litera- 
 ture, making it a suitable paper for the family cir- 
 cle and business readers. A close observation of 
 men and things is shown in the local columns, and 
 in the editorials, which forcibly express the opin- 
 ions of those who have the paper in charge. Its 
 political intluence is thrown on the side of Deinoc- 
 rac}'. 
 
 Mr. Haerd was born in Terre Haute, Ind., April 
 27, 1857, and is a son of John Adam and Cathe- 
 rine (Klein) Baerd. His parents were born in 
 Zweibrucken, Germany, whence they came to Amer- 
 ica about 1818. Thej' first established themselves 
 in Indianapolis, but subsequently went to Terre 
 
 Haute and there the mother died in May, 1871. 
 The father is a shoemaker. To him and his wife 
 si.K chihlren were born, Robert being the eldest. 
 The others who are now living are Henry, conduc- 
 tor on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and 
 making his home in Dubois County, Ind., and Mrs. 
 Carrie Zumstein, whose home is in Evansville. 
 
 When but twelve years old Robert Baerd entered 
 the olllce of the Terre Haute Express, and worked 
 there some seven years. He then worked as a 
 journeyman printer in Grand Rapids, this State un- 
 til he was twenty-four years old, when with Albert 
 B. Tozcr, he began the publication of a society 
 pa|)er called the Saturday Review. After two years 
 he abandoned the Revww, and in partnership with 
 Erank M. Carroll i)ublished the Agricultural World 
 somewhat more than a year. In 1881 he came to 
 Ionia, and until June, 1883, he was engaged with 
 the Sentinel Printing Company, and he then pur- 
 chased the Standard. 
 
 At the head of the househohl affairs in the home 
 of Mr. Baerd, is the Lady who became his wife May 
 17, 1883. She is an educated, refined woman wlui 
 was known in her m.iidenhood .as Miss Ellie M. 
 Ilutchins. The husband and wife are gladdened 
 by the presence in their home of a daughter Louise. 
 Mr. Baerd was City Clerk in 1888-8'J, and is now 
 serving as Treasurer. He belongs to the Odd Eel- 
 lows lodge, of which he is Noble Gr.and, and he 
 has passed all the Chairs in the Knighta of Pythias 
 lodge, of which he is a charter member. In poli- 
 tics he is a sound Democrat. He is a member of 
 the Eirst Baptist Church, and has good standing as 
 such. 
 
 ^1^1 
 
 KTER WIHT.MORE. This enterprising and 
 prosperous farmer who resides on section 3, 
 Ronald Township, Ionia County, is a grand- 
 son of Peter Whitmore, who w.as born in the 
 Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. He w.as one of 
 the five children noted in history, who were cap- 
 tured by the Indians at the lime of the Wyomin;: 
 m.assacre. His parents and all of their children ex- 
 cept these five were massacred, twelve of this fam- 
 
474 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ily flying by the tomahawk. He spent five years 
 with the Iiulians before be was finally restored to 
 the whites at Albany. He had learned much of the 
 ways and speech of the Indians, and could talk 
 their language well. Injuries which he received 
 whde in the hands of the savages, so weakened him 
 as to finally cause his death at the age of fifty 
 years. 
 
 The subject of this biographical sketch was born 
 in Mohawk Township, Montgomery County, N. Y., 
 February 22, 1833. His father, John, was also a 
 native of New York, born in Fulton County in 
 1802. He followed farming as his occupation. 
 His wife who bore the maiden name of Mary Wirt, 
 was born in Fulton County, N. Y., in 1803. Her 
 father Michel Wirt was of German descent, and 
 spoke the German tongue. His daughter spoke 
 German also. She was married to Mr. Whitmore 
 in Fulton County, N.Y., in 1826. After their mar- 
 riage they settled in the town of Moliawk, where 
 they remained until the father of Mr. Whitmore 
 died in 18G8. The mother still survives and re- 
 sides with this branch of tiie family. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore are the parents of six 
 children, three sons and three daughters, namely: 
 Hannah, deceased ; Margaret, Mrs. J. W. Martin; 
 Peter; Eliza, deceased ; John, who resides on the 
 homestead; and George. Our subject went to the 
 same district schoolhouse until he was prepared to 
 teach when he taught his first school under the same 
 roof. Later he attended the Johnslo^n Academy 
 and was graduated there. He learned the wagon- 
 maker's trade and ran a business of this kind for two 
 years at Fonda. Thence he went to Long Island, 
 and took charge of a farm for Mr. Iloople for 
 seven years. 
 
 The young man was now taken with the W^estern 
 fever, and in 1870 came to Micliigan and bought a 
 farm near Ionia. He returned East after about six 
 months to Long Island and was married in 1870 to 
 Marj' A. Hooplc, a native of Canada. She was the 
 mother of one child, and died in 1878. Her daugh- 
 ter resides at home with her father. Mr. Whitmore 
 married again in 1881. His second wife, who bore 
 the maiden name of Sarah E. Mason, was a native 
 of England, and came to this country when she was 
 ten years old. To this couple three children have 
 
 been given — John, George and Jesse. The family 
 removed onto the farm where they now reside in 
 the year 1880. They have eighty acres of well- 
 improved land there, forty acres on section 13. 
 and ninetj' acres in Manistee County. Mr. Whit- 
 more is a Republican in politics, and is in all re- 
 spects a public-spirited man. 
 
 i^^l^JIOMAS WELCH resides on a line farm on 
 ,//j>. section 'J, North Plains Township, Ionia 
 \^' County. He was born in County Kilkenny, 
 Ireland, December 22, 1828. His parents, Patrick 
 and Mar}' (Corcon) Welch, were born, married 
 and died in that count}-. They were the parents 
 of eleven children, of whom our subject is the 
 youngest. He received his early education in 
 Ireland and started out for himself at the age of 
 fourteen working on a farm bj- the month. 
 
 Mr. Welch crossed the water in 1848. landing 
 at Quebec, Canada, and after a two months stay 
 there went to Ontario County, N. Y. For two or 
 three years he worked on the same farm, but he 
 had the Western fever and coming to Michigan 
 located on section 12, North Plains Township, Ionia 
 County, and set about improving the place. Here 
 and on the spot where he now resides he remained 
 forty years. It was all woods and he has put all 
 the improvements upon it. He had in the mean- 
 while been back to New York and on August 12, 
 1851, he was united in marriage to Mary Hogan, 
 a native of County Tyrone, born there in 1830. 
 
 To tliis home have come seven children, five 
 girls and two boys, namely: Mary, Sarah (de- 
 ceased), Patrick, Thomas, Margaret, Julia and 
 Catherine. Mr. Welch has one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land on the home farm, and eighty acres 
 on section 10, all the improvements having been 
 placed on both farms by the subject. These first- 
 class farms are well-stocked. He has ninety head 
 of sheep and seven horses. When he first set foot 
 in Ionia County he had $150. His handsome resi- 
 dence cost him |1,G00, not counting his own work 
 and the hauling of the lumber. It is a commodi- 
 

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 477 
 
 ous two-story farm bouse. His barn is 40x60 feet. 
 The borso barn is 32x42 feet and the cow stable 
 18x28 feel in (limeiisions. Oilier sheds and out- 
 liiiildiiigs are proportionately capacious and con- 
 venient. A tool house 30x60 feet shelters liis 
 machinery in the winter when not in use. He is a 
 stanch Democrat and the family are all members 
 of the C'aliiulic Church. 
 
 * IVILLIAM P. (lAlMBKR, M. D., is un- 
 \r\j// doublediy the leading pli3'Sician in ,Stan- 
 WW ton, Montcalm County, a position to which 
 he attained, as it might be said, at a bound. He 
 lias been located here but a few years, but by rea- 
 son of his excellent judgment, profound sympathy 
 and habit of constant study, he has gained confi- 
 dence rapidly and won a large following, both in 
 the town and the adjacent country. His profes- 
 sional studies were carried on under favorable 
 auspices, and in schools that rank with the best in 
 the land, and since his graduation he has devoted 
 considerable lime to hospital visitation and post- 
 graduate studies. 
 
 Dr. Camber was born in Fayette, Fulton County, 
 Ohio, December 27, 1851, and is the son of George 
 and Caroline (IJachman) Gamber, who were na- 
 tives of New York. The father came to the 
 Buckeye State many years ago and still lives there 
 on a farm. He has held the various local offices 
 and creditably discharged the duties that pertain 
 thereto. The son obtained a High School educa- 
 tion and then began teaching — a work which he 
 carried on several 3'ears ere beginning the study 
 of medicine. He fixed in his own mind the knowl- 
 eilge he had acquired in school and added to it 
 much that was brought ui) in connection with his 
 work as the century grew older. 
 
 The reading of medicine was begun under K. H. 
 Rorick, M. D., in Fayette, and Mr. Gamber after- 
 ward attended lectures in the Medical College at 
 Detroit and then went to the Western Reserve 
 College in Ohio, from which he was graduated 
 March 4, 1881. taking the honors of his cl.ass. His 
 knowledge was not only deep, but varied. Dr. 
 
 Gamber began his professional work in McBride, 
 
 this State, and in a very sliort time had a lucrative 
 patronage. While in thai town he found time to 
 lake part in the local .iffairs and served as Presi- 
 dent and Clerk of Hie village. In June, 1888, he 
 carae to Stanton anil at once took the lead in pro- 
 fessional circles here. He has a profound knowl- 
 edge of the eye and ear and is becoming a recog- 
 nized authority on those organs and their treat- 
 ment. 
 
 At the bride's home in McBride, M.iy 10, 1883, 
 Dr. (iamber was united in marriage with Miss 
 Addie I. Rood, eldest daughter of Alexander C. 
 and Mary E. Rood. The bride was born at Coral, 
 McIIenry County, 111., November 9, 1866, and ac- 
 companied her parents to McBride when she was 
 seven years old. During the winter of 1877-78 
 she was converted under the preaching of the Rev. 
 C. C. Miller, now of Pontiac, and in March follow- 
 ing was baptized and received into the Baptist 
 Church at Stanton. A few years later the Baptist 
 Church of ."McBride was organized and she became 
 one of its constituent members, retaining her con- 
 nection until 1888, when she was again received 
 into the mother church at Stanton. From the be- 
 gintiing of her Christian life she was an active 
 worker in church and Sunday-school and when she 
 was called from earth she went peacefidly into the 
 valley of the shadow, through which her Saviour 
 hiid passed before her. Her death occurred April 
 30, 1890, after a brief illness from a congestive 
 chill. Her funeral was attended bj^ a large num- 
 ber of friends and acquaintances, so that the 
 church was overllowing and many were unable to 
 enter its doors. The services were conducted by 
 the Rev. C. C. Miller, who had been the means of 
 her conversion and by whom she had been mar- 
 ried, and in the sad rites he was assisted by the 
 Rev. F. 11. Young, pastor of her church. Rev. 
 Charles Nease, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and the Rev. Mr. Lobb, from the Ba|)tist Church, 
 at McBride. 
 
 Mrs. Gamber was a working member of the 
 CJood Templars order and was Secretary of the 
 Ladies' Library Association of Stanton at the time 
 of ber death. The directors of the latter, at the 
 monthly meeting following her demise, appointed 
 
478 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 a committee to draft resolutions expressive of 
 tLdir feeling, and no better memorial of the earn- 
 est, childlike, Clirislian woman can be given than 
 in words they used: "We have found her prompt 
 in every duty, gentle and loving in all her ways, 
 ever ready to sympathize with the unfortunate, 
 and clolliing with an abounding charity the 
 faults of others. We recognize in the quiet, earn- 
 est, sincere Christian life an example worthy of 
 imitation by all. We cannot understand the mys- 
 terious Providence that cut short so sweet a life, 
 but we humbly recognize tliat 
 
 •God hath his mysteries of grace, 
 
 Ways that we cannot tell, 
 And he hides them deep 
 
 Like the silent sleep 
 Of her he loved so well.' " 
 
 The library of Dr. Gamber contains the best 
 writings, both literary and professional, and all iiis 
 leisure hours are passed in their perusal. He is a 
 registered piiarmacist of the State of Michigan, 
 having received bis diploma from the .State Board 
 of Pharmacy in March, 1 887. He belongs to the 
 Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the 
 Knights of the Maccabees. His religious home is 
 in the Baptist Church and he is an active member 
 of the Sunday-school connected therewith. 
 
 A lithographic portrait of Dr. Gamber is pre- 
 sented in connection with this brief biographical 
 review. 
 
 ♦t^^|<^^ 
 
 ^^ LASCOE M. BENEDICT. Ionia is the home 
 If V of no more determined man than Mr. Bene- 
 ^^^ diet, who having carefully weighed the pros 
 and cons of a matter, lets nothing stand in the way 
 of success in whatever he undertakes to accomplish. 
 He is not easily discouraged, and his hopefulness 
 arises not from accident or rashness, but from his 
 familiarity with that which is before him and his 
 settled conviction that certain things can be done. 
 He is a traveling salesman, now representing W. P. 
 Roome & Co., importers of teas in New York. 
 
 Mr. Benedict is of English descent, but both the 
 paternal and maternal ancestors for several genera- 
 tions have lived in iVoerica. His parents, Ransom 
 
 S. and Elliza J. (Bell) Benedict, were born in the 
 Green Mountain State, and the father was a farmer 
 most of his life. For eight years he was Post- 
 master at Bedford, Ohio, whicii was the birthplace 
 of our subject, his natal day liaving been June 21, 
 1845. Olascoe Benedict is the only surviving 
 member of the parental family, which numbered 
 six children. The mother died when he was but 
 nine years old, February 28, 1856, and the father 
 passed away February 25, 18C7. 
 
 ]Mr. Benedict of this notice was educated in the 
 public school of his native village, which afforded 
 a good opportunity for all who desired to secure 
 practical educations. At the age of seventeen 
 years he entered the employ of W. L. Smith & Co., 
 in Flint, Mich., and remained eight 3-ears, after 
 which he was salesman for A. R. & W. F. Linn 
 thirteen years. This was followed by two years in 
 business for himself, and this in turn by three 
 years in the service of Sprague, Warner & Co., 
 Chicago. His next more was to go to New York 
 and secure the i)osition he now holds. 
 
 In 1867 Mr. Benedict had the Christmas present 
 of a wife, formerly Miss Hattie L. Childs. She 
 lived only a few years to share his fortunes, dj-ing 
 February 25, 1870, but a few days after the birth 
 of a daughter, who bears the mother's name and is 
 now engaged in teaching. After tliree years of 
 widowerhood Mr. Benedict was united with Miss 
 Sarah J. Yates, their wedding ceremony being per- 
 formed June 12, 1873. This union has been blessed 
 by the birth of three children — Thane, born in 
 Detroit, August 18, 1877; Greta in Ionia, October 
 21, 1879; and Linn in Ionia, August 7, 1881. 
 
 Mr. lienedict is a Prohibitionist in politics and 
 was the candidate of his party for member of the 
 Legislature in 1888. He belongs to the Commer- 
 cial Travelers Association. He united with the 
 Church of Christ in 1860, under the ministration 
 of J. H. Jones, and has been devoted to church 
 and Sunday-school work. He held the office of 
 Church Treasurer five years, and his excellent rec- 
 ord as Sunday-school Superintendent extends over 
 a period of twelve years. None are truer to their 
 friends than he, none more urbane in manners, and 
 none are held ia higher esteem. 
 
 Mr, Benedict has a large and carefully selected 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 479 
 
 library-, excelled by few in the county, and he aims 
 to keep himself fairly posted in the lileratuie of 
 the day. As a, writer he iias gained quite a lepii- 
 talion, not only as a frequent correspondent to the 
 home pa|)ers under ixms dc plvmc, but as a con- 
 Iribulor to such religious journals as the Ckrislian 
 Standard of Cincinnati, Oliio, the Octograpliie 
 Jicrieir of Richwood, Ohio, and the Disciple of 
 Grand Rapids, Mich. He is in frequent demand at 
 Sunday-school and district conventions of his 
 denomination, and his papers on such occasiuns 
 show lliought, coni|)rchensii)n and ease of expres- 
 sion. 
 
 jOBERT E. MACKAY, a prominent farmer 
 and stock-raiser of Keene Township, Ionia 
 County, is a native of Brant County, On- 
 ; tario, Canada, and was born November .'5, 
 1831. He is the son of John and Margaret (Ed- 
 mondson) Mackay. His fatiier was a Scotchman, 
 and from the Highlands, and his mother from the 
 Scottish Lowlands. They emigrated to Ontario, 
 Canada, when young and there made their home. 
 Our subject was the only son of his father, and was 
 reared to manhood in his native county. From 
 early boyhood he engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
 He received a limited education in the common 
 schools of Canada, and ever aimed to make up for 
 early deficiencies l)y reading and self-culture. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Sarah AL 
 Thomas, took place in Canada, December 12, 1855. 
 She is a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (\'in- 
 cent) Thomas, and was born in Brant County', On- 
 tario, February 29, 1832. Her father was born in 
 Vermont, and her mother in New York State. Her 
 paternal ancestors were Welsh, am! her father was 
 in the American army in the War of 1812. He 
 afterward received from the United States (Jovern- 
 nient one hundred and sixty acres of land as a rec- 
 ognition of his services in the army. Three only 
 of his eleven children are now living, namely: 
 Abram living in Ontario; Louisa, wife of John Al- 
 loway, residing in Keene Township; and the wife 
 of our subject. 
 
 In the fall of 18G1, Mr. and Mrs. Mackay, after 
 
 several years' residence together in Ontario, came 
 to Michigan and settled on section 26, Keene Tf)wn- 
 slii|), this county. They have built up the farm 
 and made it what it is to day, and Mr. Mackay has 
 done an immense amount of work upon this land, 
 clearing, chopping and logging. Their first Michi- 
 gan home was in a board shanty. Here they lived 
 for si.\ months until they were enabled to build 
 their presrnt residence. Four children have blest 
 their home: George T. ; Ann (Mrs. Albert J. Elli- 
 son), of Keene Township; Sarah N. (Mrs. Frank 
 M. Abbott), of the same township; and Eddie A., 
 a telegraph operator. Oiie hundred broad and i)ro- 
 ductive acres form the home farm which is oper- 
 ated by Mr. Mackay himself. He is a Republican 
 in politics, and wide-awiike to all matters of local 
 interest. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Mackay are honored and esteemed 
 members of society-, anil their hospitality is well- 
 known in the community. He is a judicious, con- 
 servative and successful agriculturist, and de- 
 servedly conunands the confidence of tiic business 
 community. 
 
 E^^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 \l] AMES B. DRAKE. One of the most prom- 
 inent citizens of Easton Township is the 
 gentleman above named, who resides on 
 'l^jjj section 18, and cultivates a pleasant expanse 
 of sixty acres of land. He is itlentified in various 
 ways with the best interests of Ionia County, is at 
 present bearing a part in its civic alTairs, and is 
 quite widely known and universally esteemed. 
 His farm is one on which every necessary bidlding 
 h:is been erected and such arrangements made for 
 sowing and rea|)ing as show that the owner pos- 
 sesses progressive ideas and a worlli3- ambition. 
 
 Mr. Drake is the onl}- son of Pliilomon and Caro- 
 line (Miller) Drake, and was born in Wayne 
 County, N. Y., May 4, 1844. He grew to manhood 
 on his father's farm and obtained his education in 
 the common schools. When but eighteen years 
 ohi, in August, 18C2, he entered the Union army, 
 being enrolled in Conipan3' D, One Hundred and 
 Thirty-Eighth New York Infantry. After a short 
 
480 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 time the command was merged into the Ninth 
 New York Heavy Artillery under command of 
 Col. W. H. Seward, .Ir., son of the renowned Sec- 
 retary Seward. Young Drake took part in the 
 siege of Petersburg, the battle of Cold Harbor, and 
 numerous skirmishes of greater or less importance, 
 together with the usual round of camp duties. 
 Wliile in the army he contracted a chronic iufirra- 
 ily from which he still suffers, and on account of 
 which he is in receipt of a pension of $6 per month. 
 His war record is that of an earnest, enthusiastic 
 patriot, valorous in action, cheerful under privation 
 and ready in obedience. 
 
 VVIien discharged from the army Mr. Drake re- 
 turned to bis native State, whence he came to 
 Michigan about 1878. Deciding upon Ionia 
 County as the scene of his future operations he made 
 a home in Otisco Township, but removed to his 
 present location in the spring of 1885. His prop- 
 erty here has accrued from his industrious and 
 arduous labors and is a standing monument to his 
 perseverance and integrity. 
 
 The wife who shares the home of Mr. Drake 
 gave him her hand in New York on the 17th of 
 August, 1869. She bore the maiden name of 
 Mary C. Drake and is a daughter of John and 
 Armeda Drake, who are now living in Shiawassee 
 County, this State. The union has been blest by 
 the birth of three children, who are named Carrie 
 L., Nellie W., and Gertie. They have been given 
 the best advantages their parents could compass 
 and the oldest is now using her talents as a school 
 teacher. They form an interesting group, whose 
 society is enjoyed and who are important factors 
 in the life of the neighborhood. 
 
 The higiiest oflice within the gift of the citizens 
 of Easton Township is that in which Mr. Drake is 
 now serving his third term. The fact of his suc- 
 cessive re-elections proves that as Su])ervisor he 
 give satisfaction to his constituency regardless of 
 party affiliations. His own vote is generally cast 
 with the Democrats and on the party ticket he was 
 a candidate for County Treasurer in the fall of 
 1890 but was defeated by Charles Brown, Repub- 
 lican. Mr. Drake is identified with the Grand 
 Army Post of Ionia, and with tlie Ancient Order 
 of United Workmen, Jn all business transactions 
 
 he is honorable and just, and he therefore enjoys 
 the confidence of all with whom he h.as dealings 
 and they likewise recognize his capacity for affairs. 
 He and his wife are hospitable, abound with neigli- 
 borly kindness, and have the true, public spirit. 
 
 H^UNCAN ROBERTSON. The traveler in 
 I jj Ionia County cannot fail to be struck with 
 l^(^ admiration for many of the farm homes 
 which lie within its boundaries. One of those 
 whicli add to the attractiveness of Ionia Township 
 is owned and occupied by Squire Robertson. The 
 estate consists of one hundred and sixty acres of 
 land that has been placed under thorough cultiva- 
 tion and is produftive of mixed crops of high 
 grade and large quantity. The stock that grazes 
 in the pastures is of the best, and evidences of 
 good judgment are everywhere to be seen. Among 
 the substantial improvements is a fine two-stor^' 
 brick residence that was built in 1883, at a cost of 
 $3,000, and a barn 34x90 feet, that was completed 
 in 1889. He also has two barns on anollier part 
 of his farm. 
 
 The father of our subject was William Robert- 
 son, who was born in Perthshire, Scotland, late in 
 the eighteenth century. He was a stonemason by 
 trade but farmed during most of his life. He had 
 ten brothers, several of whom served in the British 
 army and were sent to America during the War of 
 1812. The motlier of Squire Robertson bore the 
 maiden name of Barbara Grant and was born in 
 Dundee, Scotland, about 1796. She was a daugh- 
 ter of John Grant, a miller and millwright of Dun- 
 dee, and a man of prominence in that vicinity. 
 The parents of our subject made their home in 
 Invernesshire, among the Highlands of their native 
 land, and there the mother died in 1854. Some 
 two years later the father came to America with 
 two daughters, coming directly to this State to 
 make his home with his son Duncan, who was then 
 a resident of Orleans Township, Ionia County. 
 There he breathed his last in 1860. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 481 
 
 The parental family comprised eight children 
 who grew to maturitj', those now living being 
 David, a resident of LakeCount}'; Eliza, wife of 
 Henr}' Dyer, of Osceola County; Ann, who lives 
 in Kaston Township, Fonia County; Duncan, sub- 
 ject of this sketch; Jane, widow of Angus McDon- 
 ald, who resides in Glasgow, Scotland ; Barbara, 
 wife of S. Loomis, whose home is in Ronald Town- 
 ship, Ionia County; and .Susan, wife of John Dick, 
 whose home is in Easton Township. The parents 
 belonged to the Presbyterian Church and the father 
 held the otlice of Elder. 
 
 Squire Robertson was born June 21, 1827, amid 
 the rugged benuty of Invernessliire, Scotland, and 
 grew to manhood there. He received a normal 
 course of training at Edinburg and filte<l himself 
 for leaching, a profession in which he engaged at 
 the age of eighteen and followed seven 3'ears. He 
 remained in his native land during that period and 
 in 18.52 embarked for the New World and estab- 
 lished himself in North Oxford, Canada. There 
 ho was engaged in brick making four years, after 
 which he crossed the border into the United States 
 and setlleil at Kiddville, Ionia Count}'. During 
 the first winter of liis residence there he was en- 
 gaged in the lumber business for James M. Kidd, 
 but he then took up farm work in Orleans Township, 
 and for a year operated a farm on shares. He next 
 bought a tract of wild land in that township and 
 began clearing it, building a log house in which to 
 live. That was his home until he entered the Union 
 army in December, 1863. 
 
 Mr. Robertson was mustered into the service 
 January 2, 1864, as a private in Company K, First 
 Michigan Engineers. The boys were sent to Chat- 
 tanooga, Tenn., where they were put to work build- 
 ing hospitals and a stone magazine, cutting and 
 sawing logs, etc. The}' next went to Chickaina\iga 
 to build a stockade, where Mr. Robertson was 
 severely crushed under a huge log and entirely 
 disabled. He was kept with the regiment until it 
 reached Atlanta and then sent to the hospital at 
 Jeffersonville, Ind., later coming home on furlough 
 in December, 1864. When his leave expired he 
 relurneil to the hospital and thence rejoined the 
 regiment at Goldsboro. N. C, after which he went 
 on will) his comrades to Raleigh, was present at the 
 
 surrender of Gen. Johnston to Gen. Sherman, and 
 took part in the Grand Review nt Washington. He 
 then went to Louisville, whence by special order 
 he was sent to his own Slate an<I discharged at De- 
 troit in July, 1865. 
 
 Coming back to Ionia County Mr. Robertson 
 settled ui)on section 8, Ionia Township, obtaining 
 a tract of land upon which a few poor improve- 
 ments stood, but which w.as uncultivated and not 
 even cleared. He went industriousl}' to work to 
 remove the timber and place the land under culti- 
 vation, and <luring the years that have passed he 
 has made of it a splendid pro|)erty. The lantl is 
 still under his personal oversight and he manifests 
 as much enterprise in his affairs as when he first 
 began to build up his home here. He would be 
 unwoithy the name of Scotchman were he to aban- 
 don his thrifty habits and prudent ways, and 
 equally- unworthy the name were he not kind-hearted 
 and ready to assist those who are in need. 
 
 March 22, 1866, Squire Robertson was married 
 to Mrs. Sarah Kerton, nee Bowden. Her parents 
 were Joseph and Mary (Waldron) Bowdcn, natives 
 of Devonshire, England, the one born in 1795 and 
 the other in 1797. Mr. Bowden died in 1850, but 
 his widow lived to a good old age, passing away in 
 1883. They were the parents of six children, four 
 of whom are still living, all in Devonshire except 
 Mrs. Robertson. This lady was born February 8, 
 1832, and lived in Devonshire until she was twenlj' 
 years of age. She then came to America with her 
 first husband, William Kerton, and their home was 
 in.ade at Jamestown, N. Y. After a few months' 
 sojourn they settled upon a farm in Warren County, 
 Pa., remaining there four 3'ears and then coming to 
 Ionia County. After living in (Orleans Township 
 for some time they took possession of the farm 
 now uncler the control of our subject, and here Mr. 
 Kert.)n died in 1864. Having no children of their 
 own Mr. and Mrs. Kerton reared a girl named Ada 
 Jane Kidd, and since her second marriage Mrs. 
 Robertson has had the care of Maude E. Ilarnden, 
 who still makes her home with her foster parents. 
 By a former marriage Mr. Robertson had three 
 children, two of whom are now living — V.'illiam 
 I), and Henr}' J. The former married Martha 
 Johns an<l has three children; his home is in Ronald 
 
482 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Township. The second son married Mar^' Wurs- 
 ler. but has no f.aniily ; lie lives upon his father's 
 f.-irm. 
 
 The title by whitli Mr. Robertson is familiarly 
 known has been earned b\' fourteen years work as 
 Justice of the Peace. He has been School director 
 and Moderator at different times, and in 1890 was 
 United tStates Census Enumerator. He is interested 
 in tlie social orders and besides being a member 
 of a Grand Army Postal Ionia, he belongs to the 
 Patrons of Industry- and a Masonic Blue Lodge. In 
 politics he has taken an active interest, frequently 
 serving as a delegate to conventions and always 
 working for tlie success of the Republican party 
 of which he is an uncompromising supporter. He 
 is a strictly' temperance man in his habits, is thor- 
 oughly honorable in business transactions, is the 
 soul of good nature and has quiet and pleasing 
 ways. He and his wife belong to the Christian 
 Church at Ionia and he is an Elder there. He takes 
 a part in Sunday-school work, teaching' a class in 
 the local Sunday-school when it was in session, and 
 was formerly its Superintendent. It would be diffi- 
 cult to find a couple more tlioroughlj' deserving of 
 the esteem of their acquaintances than Mr. and 
 Mrs. Robertson or one having a larger circle of 
 sincere friends. 
 
 ^iii^E 
 
 ERRY J. LOAVREY is probably as well 
 known as anj- man residing in Howard 
 City, Montcalm Qjunt}', and his name is 
 recognized beyond the limits of the county. 
 He is proprietor and publisher of the Howard City 
 Record, a paper that has a good circulation and is 
 a well-edited sheet, its columns supplied with care- 
 fully selected news and bright utterances on mat- 
 ters of local and general interest. In connection 
 with them is a job otiice, equipped with modern 
 conveniences for tuining out fine work and enjoy- 
 ing a wide reputation for the excellence of ils 
 products. 
 
 The birthplace of Mr. Lowrey was Auburn, Ind., 
 and his natal day February 26, 1859. His parents 
 were William A. and Elizabeth E. (Stahl) Lowrey, 
 
 and the other members of the parental family are 
 Mrs. L. W. Spach, now living in Kansas C'it3-, Mo.; 
 Mrs. O. Brubaker, of the same place; and George, 
 who is engaged in levee work in Arkansas and 
 Mississip[)i. The father was a contractor and 
 builder, principally engaged in biidge building, 
 and while thus emploj'ed at Delphi, Ind., met his 
 death b3' drowning in October, 1873. The wid- 
 owed mother survived until 1881. The Lowreys 
 are of Scotch-Irish ancestry. 
 
 After studying in the public school until he had 
 obtained a practical knowledge of the ordinary 
 branches of an English education, young Lowre}' 
 entered the printing office of the DeKalb (Ind.) 
 liepublican in 1875, and there learned the "art 
 preservative of all arts." In 1881 he went to Elk- 
 hart and took the foremanship of a daily paper, 
 but some months later abandoned the situation an<l 
 went to Toledo, Ohio. In 1883 he returned to his 
 native place and formed a partnership with C. P. 
 Ilouser, and acted as manager and editor of their 
 pnlilication a year, after which he came to Char- 
 lotte, Mich. There he became foreman of the 
 news and job departments of the Republican, and 
 there he remained until 1885, when he removed 
 to Howard City. He purchased the Record plant 
 and set about making of that journal a more 
 potent factor in molding the opinions of the 
 people than it has ever been. 
 
 The energy that characterizes every successful 
 editor, especially of a countr3' paper, is in most 
 instances felt in the affairs of the town in which he 
 dwells, and this is true in a large degree in the 
 case of Mr. Lowre}'. He has been active in pro- 
 moting the growth of Howard City b}' advocatmg 
 public improvements, not onl^' in the columns of 
 the Record, but wherever his voice could be used 
 to good effect. He was one of the chief instru- 
 ments in securing the very excellent system of 
 waterworks now in operation in Howard City, 
 urging the movement when a member of the 
 Council, and materially aided h3' his influence the 
 calling of a special election through which the mat- 
 ter was carried to a successful issue. He was 
 appointed Postmaster in July, 1889. Politically 
 he is an ardent Republican, and sociall3' a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity. He is row Secretary of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 483 
 
 the Micliigan State Press Association and Presi- 
 dent of the local branch of the National Loan & 
 Investment Conii)any, of Detroit. 
 
 Tlie pleasant home of Mr. Lowrey is kept in 
 order and made attractive by the prudence and 
 taste of Mrs. Lowrey, who was formerly Miss 
 Amanda Knsley. .She is a daughter of Fred 
 Ensley and was united in marriage to Mr. Lowrey 
 October 25, 1883, at her home in Waterloo, Ind. 
 Tlie liome is brightened by the presence of a 
 charming little daugliter named Bessie. 
 
 \f( OIIN M. BROWN. This venerable man h.as 
 long been numbered among the farmers of 
 Ionia Count}' and has done raucii hard work 
 here, including the clearing of large tracts 
 of land and the cultivation of an extnded acreage. 
 His home is on section 7, Otisco Township, and the 
 farm he now owns tiiere consists of one hundred 
 and sixty-live acres. He has been the owner of 
 much more land, having given his children amounts 
 aggregating a value of some ^4,000. He has been 
 a breeder of lierkshire swine, but the chief stock he 
 now keeps is pure-bred Jlcrino sheep, eligible to 
 registration. 
 
 The grandfather of our subject was John Brown, 
 a native of Massachusetts and an early settler in 
 New York, where he made his home during the 
 remainder of his life. He held the rank of Captain 
 in the Revolulionar}- forces. His son, Timothy, fa- 
 ther of our subject, was born in Leyden, Mass., and 
 was twelve years old when the family removed to 
 New York. He began his personal work as a farmer 
 when twenty-two years old and continued it until 
 his death, which occurred in 185.3. He was married 
 in New York to Deborah Morse, a native of Hart- 
 ford, Conn., and to them came several children, 
 one of wliom w.as born July 11, I8IG, in Cortlanil 
 County and christened John M. 
 
 rntll he was of age John M. Brown remained 
 with his father and he then worked at various occu- 
 palions in his native .State until 1844. Being led 
 to believe that the newer regions near tlie Great 
 Lakes woiihi afl'Dni iiim a better opportunity to 
 
 advance he came to Michigan and until 1848 re- 
 sided in Oakland County. He then removed to 
 Ionia County and his 6rst purchase of property 
 was eighty acres in Otisco Township. To this he 
 has added at various times, enabling him to start 
 his children in life as before noted. His comforta- 
 ble circumstances are creditable to the energy and 
 persistence he has manifested during the decades 
 that have passed since he came hither. 
 
 The wife of Mr. Brown bore the maiden name 
 of Marilda Skidmore and is a daughter of John 
 and Sally (Bishop) Skidmore, who were natives of 
 Guilford, Conn., and of New Y'ork respectively. 
 The grandfather of Mrs. Brown, Joel Bishop, was 
 related to John Bishop, who emigrated from Eng- 
 land in 1639. Mrs. Brown was well reared and 
 since her marriage, March 5, 1848, she has been 
 devoted to the comfort of her husband and the 
 children with whom they are blessed. They have 
 two sons and a daughter living, and one son and 
 daughter deceased. The latter are Frances K. and 
 Mark, and the survivors, Franklin E., Mark H. and 
 Mary E. 
 
 When he first began to study national questions 
 Mr. Brown decided that slavery was wrong and his 
 first Presidential ballot was cast for the Abolition 
 candidate, James G. Birney. He voted for Lin- 
 coln and Grant, but since 1872 his ballot has been 
 a Democratic one. 
 
 ANSOM STANBIit). We arc writing of a 
 man who is a prominent farmer and stock- 
 raiser of Ionia County. Mr. Stanbro has 
 served his country' conscientiously in the 
 Civil War, and also by his sterling qualities 
 of citizenship. By his industry and perseverance 
 he has accumulated considerable property and 
 his name is well known and prominent among 
 the citizens. Mr. Stanbro resides on section 14, 
 Easton Township, and is a native of Wayne County-, 
 Mich., his natal day being September 13, 1831. 
 He is a son of Josiah and Rutii Stanbro, who are 
 natives of New York. His paternal ancestors were 
 of English descent, his great-grandfather being a 
 
484 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BI0GRAPH1C.A.L ALBUM. 
 
 soldier in the Revolutionary War. The father of 
 
 our subject while yet in New York, was made a 
 captain in a militia company. 
 
 The parents of our subject were earl}' pioneers 
 of Michigan, and when he was two years old 
 they came to Oakland County, and were among 
 the first settlers. His father died in this count}', 
 and his mother passed away in Wayne County, 
 Mich. Four children were born to these parents, 
 but two only survive: Ransom and Helen F., wife 
 of Ezra North, of Easton Township. The boy- 
 hood days of our subject were spent in Oakland, 
 tills State, and here he was reared amid scenes sub- 
 ject to the unsettled state of the country and did 
 much pioneer work. He acquired a fair education 
 offered him b}' the means of perusing good books; 
 and being a person of keen observation, he informed 
 iiimself comparatively well on the general topics of 
 the day. Our subject was united in wedlock No 
 vember 30, 1857, with Vina E. Porter then resid- 
 ing in Oakland County, Mich., who was born Julj' 
 7, 1830. She is a daughter of Willard and Betsey 
 (Arthur) Porter, who are natives of New York, and 
 came to Oakland Count}', Mich., among the first 
 settlers. Some of tiie ancestors of Mrs. Stanbro 
 were connected with the Revolutionary AVar. The 
 union of her parents was blessed with three chil- 
 dren : Asa, a resident of North villc, Mich.; Jul- 
 iette, wife of Henry Watkins, living in thiscount}'; 
 and Mrs. Stanbro. 
 
 The subject of Ihis sketch enlisted in Company 
 E., First Michigan Engineer Corps, and was at- 
 tached to the Army of the Cumberland. His duties 
 were principally to build corduroy and other 
 bridges, and the running of sawmills. He was dis- 
 charged in October, 1865, and returned to Ionia 
 County, where he has since remained. While in 
 the service of his country he participated in the 
 Grand Review at Washington. He settled on bis 
 farm two years previous to his enlistment, and 
 purchased eighty acres of land at $4.50 an acre, 
 and built a rude house in wliich he lived until 1884, 
 when he erected his present and more commodious 
 residence. 
 
 Mr. Stanbro and liis estimable wife have endured 
 the usual hardsliips of the life of a pioneer. They 
 first settled in a timbered country where there were 
 
 no roads, and the first thing which was accom- 
 plished upon tliis settlement was the laying out of 
 roads back and fortii to the farm. Our subject and 
 his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and are well respected in society. Mr. 
 Stanbro is a Republican, and is a pensioner for his 
 army service. Our subject has been ably assisted 
 in his efforts to acquire a home by his wife, and 
 they now own a fine farm of eighty acres of land. 
 He is a member of the Gr.and Army of the Repub- 
 lic Post at Ionia. 
 
 ^OHN R. MUSSELMAN. Among the suc- 
 cessful and prosperous agriculturists of 
 ■ Ionia County we take pleasure in introduc- 
 (^J/y ing to our readers the worthy subject of 
 our sketch, the efficient Deputy Sheriff of Ionia 
 county, who resides on section 5, Eaton Town- 
 ship. He is a native of Ionia County, where he 
 was born April 7, 1853, and a son of William and 
 Sarah (Turner) Musselman. His father was born 
 in Pennsylvania and his mother was a native of 
 England. The father, William Musselman, emi- 
 grated to Ionia County in 1837, and purchased two 
 hundred and fourteen acres of Government land at 
 $1.25 per acre. He had to cut a road for three 
 miles into the woods to reach his now home. Here 
 he erected a log cabin and made his home until 
 death called him awa}', September 17, 1888. He 
 had been twice married and of his children two 
 survive — James A. and John R. His first wife 
 lived for some years after the}' came to Ionia 
 County. His second wife, Elizabeth Clay, died in 
 March, 1878. He was a member of the Congrega- 
 tional Church and was a public spirited and enter- 
 prising citizen, a Republican in his politics, and in 
 many ways a successful and prominent man. In 
 his death Easton Township experienced a real 
 loss. 
 
 John R. Musselman was reared to manhood in 
 this county. Here he assisted his father in eaily 
 pioneer labors on the farm. The family was quite 
 popular with the Indians who used to stop over 
 night with them in friendly fashion. He made the 
 
,<£4fe». 
 
 cJ/'^^.M^^^. 
 
PORTRAIT, AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 487 
 
 best of his scanty opportunities of education and 
 has always improved iiimself in every way tlirough 
 life, so that lie is an intelligent an<l well read 
 man. 
 
 The marriage of oursulijeet November 30, 1871, 
 united him with Maggie K. Cole, who was born 
 Jul}' 7. 1853, in Ontario, Canada. She was a 
 daughter of William and Mary A. (Agon) Cole. 
 Her father being a native of England and her 
 mother of Ireland. When about fifteen years old 
 she came with her parents to Ionia County and 
 settled on section 4, Easton Township. Later the 
 famil}' removed to Otisco Township, where her 
 mother died in September, 1888 and where her 
 father now resides. To her parents were born five 
 children three of whom are living, namely: Mrs. 
 Musselman; Jennie, Mrs. William Beach; and 
 Thomas. 
 
 Three interesting cliildren bright<)n the home of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Musselnian — .Sarah, born October 12, 
 1872: Emory W., February 15, 1878; and Vernice 
 M. December 19, 1887. A fine farm of two luin- 
 di'ed and fourteen acres surrounds the family resi- 
 dence. He is a Reimblicau in politics and is 
 eflieienlly serving his third year as Deputy Sheriff 
 of the county. 
 
 Mr. Mnsselman and his interesting" family are 
 all highly respected members of society. He enjoys 
 the full confidence of a business community and 
 is an earnest promoter of all ,advanced movements. 
 He is well known for his liberality and public 
 spirit. Mrs. Musselnian is an active member of the 
 Free Methodist Church. 
 
 ATHANIELP. HOPKINS. A position of 
 
 prcjniinence amonir the landowners of Ionia 
 I// 
 4 County, is held bj- the gentleman above 
 
 named, who has long been the owner of farm lands 
 
 in Lyons Township. His home is on section 21, 
 
 and abounds in comforts such as the abundant 
 
 means of the owner, and the tastes of the family 
 
 make feasible. Mr. Hopkins has five hundred acres 
 
 of land in a body, which is clear of incumbrance, 
 
 and he has given to three of his children three hun- 
 
 dred and thirty and a half acres. His property is 
 not derived from inheritance, but has been accumu- 
 lated by his own hard work and wise management. 
 
 Jonah Hopkins, grandfather of our subject, was 
 born in Rhode Island, and died in New York at 
 the age of fourscore and four years. He took up 
 arms against the mother country', and served in the 
 Colonial army seven years. His son Asahel, father 
 of our subject, was born in Providence County, K. 
 I., sixteen miles from the city of Provi<lence in the 
 year 1795. When the War of 1812 was r.aging, he 
 went to the field !is a drummer boy. When grown 
 to manhood he married his cousin Olive Hopkins, 
 whose father was a soldier in 1812. She was born 
 in Rhode Island the same j-ear as her husband, and 
 their marriage took place in that State in 1815. 
 They made their first home in Wa^-ne County, N. 
 Y., thence went to Cattaraugus County, then to 
 Allegan}' County, and finally to Ionia County, 
 Mich., in 1845. They located in Lyons Township, 
 and when called hence, in 18G3 and 1872 respec- 
 tively, their mortal remains were deposited side by 
 side in the Lyons cemetery. They had twelve chil- 
 dren, and four sons and four daughters lived to 
 adult years. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice was born 
 in Cattaraugus Ccmnty, N. Y., July 23, 182G, an(l 
 is the second son aii<l fourth child in the paren'lal 
 family. He lived in his native Stale until he was 
 nineteen years old, then came to Michigan with his 
 parents and remained with them ten years longer 
 ere starting out in the world for himself. He had 
 no capital except his natural abilit}- and the knowl- 
 edge he had acquired during his youth. His first 
 occupation was working by the month for .lames 
 M. Webster for four months, when he invested his 
 earnings in two yoke of steers. The next spring he 
 plowed ten acres and [ilanted it in corn, and' in the 
 fall fattened hogs. He had worked at the coo|)ei's 
 trade, and so made his own barrels and packed his 
 own pork. 'J'his he sold and invested ihe proceeils 
 in cattle, and in this way continued to speculate. 
 
 The first land bought by Mr. Hopkins was eighty 
 acres in Portland Townshi|), which he traded for 
 fiftj' acres near the village of that name. The sec- 
 ond tract was sold, and in 1818 sevcniy-eighlacres 
 on section 33, Lyons Township, was bought. The 
 
488 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 same year this land was sold, but the next purchase 
 was of forty-eight acres on the same section. This 
 also was sold in a short time, and Mr. Hopkins then 
 went into Ronald Township and bought a quarter- 
 section. He broke tl)e ground on forty acres, 
 sowed wheat and made a mile and three-quarters 
 of rail fence, preparatory to further improvement 
 of the place, but within tlie year he sold it. The 
 next purchase made was of eighty acres in the same 
 township, and there Mr. Hopkins made his home 
 eight years. During that time be bought eighty 
 acres in North Plains Township, and in 1862 he 
 sold both farms and bought one hundred and twelve 
 acres on section 28, Lyons Township. This was 
 already improved, having previously been the home 
 of Joseph Le Tandre. 
 
 In 1863 Mr. Hopkins bought one hundred and 
 thirty acres known as the Aca Bunnell farm, which 
 was partly improved, and two years later purchased 
 sixty-one acres more. During the same year lie 
 also bought one hundred and seventy acres which 
 was known as the D. C. Richard farm, thus making 
 up an estate of four hundred an<l seventy-three 
 acres. Since that time he has continued to buy and 
 sell or trade lands, and while retaining a large acre- 
 age, has given enough to his cliildren to start them 
 well in life. The solid financial standing of Mr. 
 Hopkins affords abundant proof of his excellent 
 judgment in making investments. 
 
 In his early manhood Mr. Hopkins was married 
 to Miss Hannah Green, daughter of Daniel and 
 Orpha (George) Green, who was born in Wyoming 
 County, N. Y. The wedding ceremony took place 
 at the bride's home December 28, 1852. Of the 
 union there were born five children, two of whom 
 died in infancj'. The survivors are Laura A., wife 
 of D. M. Mills; Albert F. ; and Alice J., now Mrs. 
 Frank* Lindsley, all living in Lyons Township. 
 Mrs. Hopkins died November 25, 1867, and Mr. 
 Hopkins was again married in 1868, his bride being 
 Miss Julia F. Barrus, who was born in New York. 
 Of this union eight children were born, all of whom 
 are deceased excepting two: Dora M., now Mrs. 
 Joseph Plowman; and Kapha Ella. Mr. Hopkins 
 has always voted the Democratic ticket. He is 
 connected with the Odd Fellows lodge in Ljons, 
 and has been a Mason ten years. He finds his re- 
 
 ligious home in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 As a citizen he has always been peaceable and law- 
 abiding, and as a neighbor he is cordial and friendly. 
 "We invite the reader's attention to a lithographic 
 portrait of Mr. Hopkins presented on another page 
 of tliis volume. 
 
 i.i .^ •'^•^^!^^. ti .- 
 
 2^'^^ENAS B. KNAPP was born in Androscog- 
 gin County, Me., September T, 1852, the son 
 ^ of W. R. and A. M. (Green) Knapp. Thej' 
 
 were both natives of Jlaine. The boy's life until 
 he reached thirteen years of age was spent on 
 a farm. He had few opportunities for education 
 and went to school only six months out of the year. 
 He has risen above these disadvantages of his 
 childhood, has made himself a place in the world 
 and is now one of the honored residents of Sidney 
 I'ownship, Montcalm County. 
 
 This youth began his life work in the lumber 
 business at the age of thirteen years, when he went 
 to Williamsport, Pa., and engaged in a lumber mill. 
 Here he advanced step by step until he commanded 
 the higiiest wages paid in the mill. At the age of 
 twenty-four he came to the State of Jlichigan and 
 stopping at Big Rapids, engaged in work in the 
 mills and in the woods. Then he went to Lake 
 County and entered the same business. 
 
 The first mill which Mr. Knapp owned was at 
 Ijdmore; it was a shingle rcill and for two years he 
 operated it and then sold it and came to Stanton to 
 superintend L. Cory's mills, about three miles 
 nortliwest of Stanton. After this he went to the 
 Upper Penninsula where he ran a mill for Hood & 
 Gale of Big Rapids. He then came to Stanton, 
 bought a mill and moved it three miles west of 
 town, and has been running it from that time to 
 this. 
 
 Mr. Knapp chose as his life partner Frankie M. 
 Charlesworth of Eagle Lake, Blue Earth County, 
 Minn. Their marriage took place December 28, 
 1880, and they have been blessed by the birth of 
 five children: Arthur I., born December 12, 1881; 
 Willoughby C, September 15, 1883; Ethel E., 
 March 24, 1885; Frankie M., October 27, 1888, and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 489 
 
 Zella B. April 9, 1890. All of tliese children liave 
 lived to Itrighten lliu lioiue of llieir parents. 
 
 The gentleman of whom we write lias two broth- 
 ers in Michigan, namely : \V. R. Knapp at Mecosta, 
 Mecosti County, in the milling business, and 
 Chailes H. Knapp, at Ueraus, in the same county. 
 This brother acts as foreman in our subject's mill 
 there. Mr. Knapp takes an active interest in llic 
 cause of education. He is a Democrat by convic- 
 tion and casts his vote for that party. He owns a 
 well-Improved eighty-acre farm, much good stock 
 anil one of tlie best mills in the county. He em- 
 ploys about twenty men all the year round in shin- 
 gle sawing. He was so unfortunate as to lose by 
 fire a 4^5,000 mill about two years ago, but notwith- 
 standing this he is a prosperous man and lias a 
 good business. 
 
 L. BOWER, M. D., one of the leading phy- 
 sicians and surgeons of Greenville, Mont- 
 calm County, is often called to visit [latients 
 twenty to twenty-five miles away, ami has in 
 some instances gone even farther from home to re- 
 lieve distress. His practice is large and remuner- 
 ative, but his interest in charitable and municipal 
 enterprises prevents him from becoming a man of 
 great wealth. He has a beautiful residence and 
 cnjoj's every comfort, and has been able to give his 
 sons excellent advantages. The i)rofessional repu- 
 tation of Dr. Bower is not confined to the immediate 
 vi(Mnity of his home but reaches out over a wide 
 territory by reason of his connection with public 
 health as an official. 
 
 In Tomi)kins County, N. Y.. in 18.39. he of whom 
 we write was born. His parents were Tillman and 
 Martha K. (Denison) Bower, who were likewise 
 natives of the Empire State. The father was en- 
 gaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 
 184fi. His widow still lives and is now seventy- 
 nine years old. She is making her home with her 
 son, the Doctor. The parental family comprised 
 five children, and the living are Henry .M.,a farmer 
 near Greenville; Dr. Horace L. ; and Dana, a farmer 
 in the vicinitv. One of the deceased sons vras the 
 
 Rev. George Bower, who ilicd in New York in his 
 forty-first year. He was educated in Denisou 
 University in Ohio, and Crozen University in 
 Pennsylvania, and was a minister of the Baptist 
 Church from his early manhood. The paternal 
 grandparents of Dr. Bower were George and Betsey 
 Bower, who were born in the Keystone Slate and 
 were of German descent. They had seven children, 
 one of whom is still living — Mrs. Nathan Wakely 
 of Black Creek, N. Y. The maternal grandparents 
 of our subject were Charles and Sarah ( Henderson ) 
 Denison, natives of New York, who have four chil- 
 dren living, viz: Roxana, Mrs. Martha F. Bower, 
 Mrs. Prudy Bower, and Mrs. .Sarah F. Devine. Tiie 
 occupation of both grandfathers was farming. 
 
 The early years of Dr. Bower were spent upon 
 the home farm am\ he did not break loose from 
 his (larents until he was of .age, although from the 
 age of nineteen until twenty-four he spent the 
 winters in school teaching. After gaining some 
 fundamental instruction he attended the Cortland 
 and Ithaca Academies, where he .acquired a liberal 
 education. He began the study of medicine in his 
 native State when twenty-four years old but subse- 
 quently read at Clarkston, Oakland County, this 
 State. He entered the Medical College at Albany, 
 N. Y., and after completing the course of lectures 
 he was gr.adualed in due form. He established him- 
 self in Greenville, where he has remained, except 
 for a short time, since he entered upon his profess- 
 ional work. Of the physicians remaining in the 
 city who were here when he came in 1865. he 
 is the oldest. For a few years he was in partner- 
 ship with a former preceptor. Dr. J. Driunmond, 
 but most of his work has been carried on alone. 
 
 For the past six years Dr. Bower has been Grand 
 Medical Examiner of the Royal Templars of Tem- 
 perance, a society in which he holds membership. 
 For an equal length of time he has been County 
 Physician and Surgeon, and has also held the respon- 
 sible position of City Physician. He belongs to the 
 Northern Medical Society' and his own exp rienee 
 and observation adds much to the uscfulne.'s of 
 that body. Politically he is a Prohibjticmist. He 
 and his wife belong to the Baptist Church of which 
 for a number of years he has been Clerk. His mar- 
 riage to Miss Ella A. Clark, formerly of l^etroit. 
 
490 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 took place in 1865 and the union has been blessed 
 by the birth of two sons— Geoige C. and Albert J. 
 Mrs. Bower, a^laughter of Nelson W. Clark, was the 
 recipient of good advantages in lier youth and is 
 educated and refined. 
 
 ■4-+ 
 
 1-^— 
 
 HAUNCY J. RUMSEY. This cognomen is 
 .well known in Ionia County and the region 
 ^^surrounding it, as that of a gentleman who 
 has been crowned by fortune with abundant worldly 
 means. lie is one of the strongest capitalists in 
 the county and has stock in various companies and 
 land in several localities, with houses and lots in 
 Muir and other towns. Every wish that reasonable 
 man can have, he is able to gratify and every taste 
 he is able to cultivate. He is a resident of Muir, 
 adjoining which village he has a fine farm of two 
 hundred and forty acres with good improvements, 
 where he keeps about twenty-four head of Hamble- 
 tonian horses. At Jackson he has a herd of about 
 the same number, botii being worthy tlie examina- 
 tion of all lovers of noble steeds. In raising these 
 fine animals Mr. Rumsey has been interested for 
 the past fifteen years. 
 
 Our subject is the son of WilliamJI. and Elizaljetli 
 S. (Marvin) Rumsey; the former was born in Rut- 
 land County, Vt., in 1797, and the latter in Genesee 
 County, N. Y., in 1801. The father was a farmer 
 and merchant and for some years kept a hotel- 
 They came to this State in 1856, and settled at 
 Albion, Calhoun County, where they lived in retire- 
 ment, enjoying the fruits of former labors. Mr. 
 Rumsey died January 24, 1873, and Mrs. Rumsey 
 in 1872. Both were of English descent. Tiiey 
 had two sons, but he of whom we write is the only 
 one now living. His brother, William M. was born 
 in 1839 and was a farmer and druggist; be died in 
 Jackson County in 1883. 
 
 The birthplace of Chauncy Rumsey was near 
 Batavia, Genesee County, N. Y., and the date of 
 tiie event February 4 ,1844. Until twelve years old 
 he attended school in his native county and after- 
 ward studied in Albion (Mich.') College. When 
 eighteen years of age he left home to begin the 
 
 battle of life for himself and his first position was 
 at Jackson in the flouring mill of H. A. Haden & Co. 
 He began his work there at $6 per week and during 
 the last year received ij! 1,500 for his services. He 
 had worked for the firm from 1860 to 18G9 and 
 risen to the position of manager, and also kept the 
 company's books. 
 
 In the fall of 18G9 Mr. Rumsey came to Muir 
 and securing men and teams went North and cut 
 lumber in the pineries of Montcalm County, whence 
 it was rafted down Fisli Creek and Mai)le River to 
 tlie mill of Jeremiah Marvin — uncle of Mr. Rumsey 
 — at Muir. After a j'ear spent in working in the 
 interest of that gentleman, Mr. Rumsej' bought him 
 out and carried on lumbering for himself until 1873, 
 when he sold out to N. 15. Hayes. Two years later he 
 bought a steam mill on the same stream, now known 
 as the J. J. Begole Mill and ran it until 1883, when 
 he sold the machinery and turned his attention to 
 farming. He owned .some seven hundred acres 
 of latd in Montcalm County, all covered with pine 
 trees, and from that tract he cut timber, clearing 
 the entire tract. 
 
 The farm and timber lands of Mr. Rumsey amount 
 to some two thousand acres located in several coun- 
 ties. He was one of the organizers of the Savings 
 Bank established in Ionia in January, 1886, and is 
 a stockholder and director; the same is true of the 
 Electric Ligiit Company, established in that city 
 December 12, 1888. He was also instrumental in 
 organizing the Capital Wagon Works of Ionia and 
 has ^10,000 invested therein and holds the office of 
 President of the corporation. Mr. Rumsey is 
 Trustee of Muir and has been for fifteen years. 
 He is an affable gentleman, interested in the social 
 orders and is a Royal Arch Mason. Politically he 
 is a Democrat. 
 
 TEPIIEN T. MINARD, the present genial 
 and efficient Supervisor of Easton Town- 
 ship and influential citizen of Ionia County, 
 is a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., 
 where he was born January 16, 1837. He is a son 
 of Isaac and Eleanor (^Ingraham) Minard. His par- 
 
 I 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 491 
 
 eiits were bolli natives of New York and his pater- 
 nal ancestors were Frencli and on tlie maternal 
 side lie is from Knglisli stociv. Some of his ances- 
 tors on bolii sides were in the Rcvolutioiiarj' War. 
 To his parents were born ten children, six of 
 whom are now living — .Stephen T., Robert, John, 
 Daniel, Samuel and Joseph. 
 
 In 1855 our subject emigrated with his parents 
 to Dane County, Wis. In 1850 the mother died 
 and the father decided to return to New York 
 State with a part of the family. After their return 
 Kast he died in Ulster County after the close of the 
 Civil War. The boy, Stephen, received his prelim- 
 inary education in the district schools of Dutchess 
 County, N. Y., and Dane County, Wis. When 
 about twenty years old he entered Milton Academy 
 in Rock Count}', Wis., and there look a four years' 
 course in the Normal and Scientific Departments. 
 lie taught for some ^-ears and was Principal for 
 three successive years of the gra<led schools at Jef- 
 ferson, Wis. 
 
 Mr. Minard was married May Hi, 18(il, to Hen- 
 rietta E., daughter of James M. antt Eliza (Will- 
 iams) Fitch. By this union there were boin five 
 children, two of whom arc living — Ernest E. and 
 Arden J. Three have been called from earth — 
 Lillian, Ardella and James. In 1867 our subject 
 brought his family to Ionia County and located in 
 Ionia Cit}'. For more than two years he was en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of agricultural imi)le- 
 ments under the firm name of Fitch, Tew & Minard. 
 He then bought the farm where he now resides in 
 Easton Township which com|)rises eiglity acres. 
 When he bought the property there was a log cabin 
 on the place and in this he resided for some time 
 and then built the fine resilience which now adorns 
 his farm. The farm was partially cleared when he 
 took it but he hiis virtually made it what it is. 
 Both he and his good wife are earnest members of 
 the Metliodist Eiiiscopal Church, and active in all 
 social movements; he serves as .Steward and also 
 olliciates on the Board of Trustees. He served as 
 Justice of the Peace one term, was Township Clerk 
 for two years and Notary' Public for eight years. 
 
 Mr. Minard is a stanch Democrat in politics and 
 an active promoter of all movements for the bet- 
 terment of society. His education has been obtained 
 
 by his own energy and pluck and not through the 
 help of the schoolmaster, and he has acquired so 
 large a degree of culture and intelligence as is 
 rarely to be found in a rural home. He and his 
 estimable wife are |)romincnt members of society 
 and noted throughout the community for their 
 warm hospitality. In the spring election of 1891 
 he was made Supervisor of the township by a hand- 
 some majority. 
 
 =»«•< 
 
 ^^ANIEL T. IIOYT. The life of this gen- 
 tleman affords an example to other citizens 
 of Ionia Count}', showing what may be 
 accomplished by the persevering industry 
 of one who begins his work in the world under 
 very adverse circumstances. He was left fatherless 
 when but a child and went from place to place 
 wherever he could find opportunity to make a 
 home, until he was able to begin farming, and bv 
 rigid economy and continued efforts he managed 
 to save the wlierewithal to buy a small tract of 
 land. After various experiences he came to this 
 State and finally took possession of a farm on sec- 
 tions 18 and 19, Rcuiald Township. There he has 
 a well-im[)roved place consisting of one hundred 
 and sixty acres, where ho is successfully carrying 
 on general farming. He has besides a forty-acre 
 tract on section 1 7. 
 
 Mr. Hoyt was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., 
 August 1, 1824, and is the fourth child of Abram 
 and Mary (White) Hoyt, natives of Connecticut 
 and New York respectively. His grandfather, 
 Enoch Hoyt, is supposed to have been a native of 
 England. His maternal grandi)arents died when 
 his mother was quite young and she was reared by 
 one Daniel Toffee, in Dulchess County. There 
 her marriage took place and soon after she and 
 her husband located in Tompkins County. Mr. 
 Hoyt, father of our subject, died there, leaving 
 his widow with four children and no means for 
 their support, as he had been able to save vcr}' 
 little while working at the trade of a tailor. Mrs. 
 Hoyt is still living at the venerable age of ninety- 
 
492 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 one years, her home being in Auburn, N. Y. Be- 
 sides our subject the surviving merabers of her 
 family are: John, wiiose home is near San Fran- 
 cisco, Cal.; Mrs. Elizabeth Race, of Auliurn, N. Y., 
 and Alfred, a farmer in Rice County, Kan. 
 
 Daniel T. lloyt was left fatherless when six 
 years old and from that time until he reached his 
 majority his days were spent under divers roofs 
 and his time devoted to such labors as were im- 
 posed upon him by the families with whom he 
 lived. He attended the district schools whenever 
 opportunity afforded and when he was old enough 
 to do so engaged in farming. Prior to his twenty- 
 (Iflli year he had saved *500, wliic'i he thought a 
 very good capital. He came to Michigan in 1852 
 and located in F^ssex Township, Clinton County, 
 buying land which he improved and operated until 
 February, 18511. He then removed to his present 
 location. 
 
 In Scii)io, Cayuga County, N. Y., August 28, 
 1851, Mr. Hoyt was united in marriage with Miss 
 Harriet Sperry,a native of that county who proved 
 her worth as a companion and helpmate during a 
 period of well nigh forty years. She was removed 
 from the scenes of earth September 26, 1887. She 
 left four children — Charles D., Frederick, Mary 
 M. and Percy. The daughter is the wife of John C. 
 Wood. Mr. Hoyt was a second time married. May 
 1, 1889, wedding Mrs. Elsie Babcock, who was born 
 and reared in Vermont. The first vote cast by our 
 subject was headed with the name of Zachary Tay- 
 lor. For years he has been a Republican and iiis 
 party adherence is strong. 
 
 -^^ ^>^ ^ 
 
 eORNELIUS E. DENSMORE. The Dens- 
 . mores belong to an old Scotch family, and 
 ' possess in a large measure many of the su- 
 perior qualities and habits of that sturdy and 
 lionest northern people. The branch to which our 
 subject belongs can be traced back to Scotland, 
 whence about 1 020 the ancestor of the American 
 branch of the family came to this country and 
 settled in New England. Cornelius E. Densmore. 
 who resides on section 30, Easton Township, Ionia 
 
 County, stili retains much of the fine physical in- 
 heritance which has come down to him through 
 generations of sturdy, temperate and industrious 
 progenitors. He was born in Conway Counlj', 
 Mass., August 23, 1834, of Slassacliusetts i)arenl- 
 age. 
 
 Our subject is the son of Rufus and Louisa 
 (Stebbins) Densmore. His father emigrated to 
 Ionia County, Mich., in 1836, and settled on a farm 
 in Easton Township, which is now owned by W. 
 A. Inman, near where the House of Correction 
 now stands. Here he lived until 1844, when he 
 removed to Essex Township, Clinton County, this 
 State, and made that his final home. He passed 
 from earth in 1847, having lost his wife several 
 years previous. This early pioneer was twice 
 married. Of seven children born to him Ave sur- 
 vive, namely: Elvira, wife of Ozi B. Sevey, liv- 
 ing in Clinton County; Cornelius E. ; John E., in 
 Gratiot County; Louisa, Mrs. Wallace Coomer, 
 also in Gratiot County', and Andre.w F., in Wash- 
 ington, D. C. 
 
 Cornelius was left doubly orphaned at the age 
 of fourteen years, and was bound out to Gardner 
 Chidester, of Ionia Township. After four j-ears 
 residence with him he began to work for himself. 
 He has alwa\^s supplemented his scant early advan- 
 tages in the educational line by a course of intelli- 
 gent reading and careful observation of men and 
 things. His marriage with Adelia M. Smith was 
 celebrated August 23, 1858. This lady was born 
 Julj' 7, 1838, and is a daughter of Sidne3' L. and 
 Phebe (Scott) Smith, early pioneers of Washtenaw 
 County. The father was a native of Connecticut 
 and the mother was liorn in Pennsylvania. Five of 
 their seven children are now living: Harvey B., 
 living in Clinton County; Mrs. Densmore; Jacob 
 W., of Clinton County; Emory B., of St. Johns; 
 PriscillaE., Mrs. A. F. Currier, in Clinton County. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Densmore have been the parents of 
 seven children, six of wliom are living — Clarke E., 
 Emory C, Jay R., Albert S., Nellie A., and Willie 
 E. He served bravely in the Union army during 
 the Civil War, enlisting September 20, 1862, in 
 (Company M, Sixth Michigan Cavalry, which was 
 made a part of Custer's Brigade. Our subject 
 fought in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL AI-BUM. 
 
 493 
 
 vania Court House, Cold Harbor, and many en- 
 gagements of minor importance. He was cap- 
 tured at Trevilian Station, Va., and was confined 
 for a short time in prison at Kiobinond, wlicnce lie 
 was sent to Andersonvilie. After six montiis of 
 torture and starvation in tliat slaughter house he 
 was taken to Milan prison, Ga. After being there 
 about one mouth he was released on parole and 
 sent from Savannah to the hospital at Am apolis, 
 Md. He remained there for several weeks, receiv- 
 ing the best medical and surgical treatment and re- 
 turned home on a short furlough expecting to be 
 exchanged and returned to his regiment. But 
 owing to i)liysical incapacity he received an honor- 
 able discharge July 30, I860. 
 
 By industry and perseverance Mr. and Mrs. Dens- 
 more liavc acquired eighty-five broad and |)roduc- 
 tive acres, which they have put under excellent cul- 
 tivation. The Wesleyan Methodist Church is their 
 religious home and here Mr. Deusmore has for 
 some lime served as a Class-Leader. He is in re- 
 ceipt of a pension from the Government. He is 
 widely known as a public-spirited and enterprising 
 gentleman, and although he is broken down in 
 health by tiie hardships and privations which he en- 
 dured within the walls of Andersonvilie, he has 
 still the endurance and strength necessary to an 
 active life. The posterity' of our subject may well 
 point with pride to his honorable record both as a 
 citizen and soldier, and they find in his example 
 their best stimulus to a worth}- life. 
 
 oris L. HOLMES. Probably no resident 
 of the thriving village of Belding, Ionia 
 !*j jy^ County, is doing more to advance its business 
 interests than the gentleman above-named. He 
 is one of its leading <lealers, both in general mer- 
 chandise and clothing, and is the owner of quite 
 valuable property in the town and of farm lands 
 in different parts of the State. His stock of gen- 
 eral merchandise is valued at about %4..'>00 and his 
 associate in business is Harry J. Connell. Mr. 
 Holmes is associated with his brother in the cloth- 
 ing business and their stock amounts to some 
 
 !j!6,000. Both establishments are in a flourishing 
 condition and the manner in which they are con- 
 ducted would do credit to much larger towns. Mr. 
 Holmes is one of four gentlemen that propose to 
 build a block of four stores in the near future. 
 
 The father of Louis L. Holmes was christened 
 Frederick and is a native of the Province of On- 
 tario, Canada. When a young man he followed 
 the occupation of farming and is now carrying 
 on that work in Orleans Township, Ionia County. 
 His first settlement in the State was made in 1867. 
 in Otisco Township, but he remained only six 
 months ere removing to his present location. There 
 he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land 
 to which he has since added forty acres. He was 
 married in County Norfolk, Ontario, in 1852, 
 to Lodema Smith, a daughter of Ansel and Phebe 
 Smith and a native of New York. Mr. Smith 
 served two years as a private in the War of 1812. 
 The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick 
 Holmes are Louis L., Charles R., Lyman W. and 
 Carrie. The youngest son is in business with our 
 subject and the others are with their parents. Mr. 
 Holmes is a Democrat and he and his wife hold 
 membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The birthplace of our subject was County Nor- 
 folk, Province of Ontario, Canada, and his natal 
 day September 27, 18.i6. He remained with his 
 parents until he was twenty years old and in the 
 meantime was educated in the common schools of 
 Ionia County. At the age mentioned he began 
 clerking for Smith A: Smith of Ionia, but at the 
 end of a twelvemonth came to Belding and entered 
 the employ of Leonard N. Devine, a dealer in gen- 
 eral merchandise. He remained in the establish- 
 ment a year, then spent about the same length of 
 time in the grocery and crockery business. In 1881 
 he returned to his farm in Orleans Township, where 
 he lived about three years, then removing lo Alma 
 he carried on tin agricultural store one year. 
 
 The next removal of Mr. Holmes was to Belding 
 aiul here he engaged in the sale of general mer- 
 chandise, and has remained, pursuing a steady 
 business course. He is the owner of town prop- 
 erty valued at about *4,500, the same consisting of 
 ten lots and three g<joil houses. His outlying land 
 (consists of forty acres, improved, in Orleans Town- 
 
494 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sliip, one hundred and sixty acres in Sheboygan 
 County, this .State, and one liuiidied and sixty acres 
 of pine land in Minnesota. 
 
 At the bride's home in Easton Townsliip, Marcli 
 20, 1881, Mr. Holmes was united in marriage with 
 Miss Maria Kellogg. This estimable lady was a 
 daughter of Shiverick and Maria Kellogg and was 
 a native of the Empire State. Her wedded life 
 was brief as she was called from time to eternity 
 Jauuary 20, 1885. 
 
 Mr. Holmes is a firm believer in Democratic 
 principles and jiolicies and has been honored by his 
 associates witii election to the office of Town Trea.s- 
 urer, a capacity in which he served one term. He 
 is a Master Mason, enrolled in Belding Lodge, No. 
 355, and is also a member of Fortuna Lodge, No. 
 20, K. of P. His business ability and public spirit 
 are recognized by his acquaintances, and with his 
 manly character give him good standing in the 
 community. 
 
 - OOP - 
 
 W EVERETT H. DOLPH, a prominent citi- 
 I (j^ zen of McBrido, Montcalm Count\', resides 
 JLAXv^ in a beautiful home which is not only 
 adorned with the usual refinements of a home of 
 taste, but which is rendered delightful as a place 
 of social meeting on account of the hospitality and 
 cordiality of the master and mistress of the house. 
 Mrs. Dolph is a lady of unusual refinement and 
 culture and her home is enjoyed by all who seek it. 
 Mr. Dolph has now retired from active business as 
 a lumberman after a well-spent life of hard work 
 and economy, and is enjoying the fruits of his 
 labor. He is a descendant of a prominent Eastern 
 family, being the son of Norman, the son of 
 George, who was one of the first settlers of Wash- 
 ington County, N. Y. In those early days he im- 
 proved a beautiful farm on Wood Creek, but the 
 Erie Canal was built through this region and the 
 S3 mmetry of his farm was in his opinion destroyed 
 thereby, so he sold it and removed to Ashtabula 
 County, Ohio, where he improved another f-irra 
 and resided on it until he was called to his last 
 rest. He was with his father in the battle of 
 Plattsburg, in the War of 1812. Before leaving 
 
 the State of New York he built and ran canal 
 boats on the Erie Canal, as he was a mechanic and 
 followed the business of carpenter and cabinet- 
 maker. 
 
 It was in 183G that the family removed from 
 New York to Ohio. Here the father engaged in 
 farming, while at the same time he carried on his 
 business of a builder and contractor. Here he 
 also built a mill. His good wife, who bore the 
 maiden name of Lydia Ann Nims, died in 1860. 
 Norman Dolph married a second time, and after 
 this he removed to Leon, Ohio, and made his home 
 on a large farm, carrying on la addition to his 
 farm work a grocery business. Three months 
 before his death in 1884 he came to the home of 
 his son and spent his last days with him. This 
 man of strong religious convictions and intelli- 
 gence in public affairs, being a Baptist in church 
 connections and a Republican in politics, passed 
 away at the age of four-score years. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is the youngest child 
 of his parents. He was born in Welsh Hollow, 
 Ft. Ann Townshii), N. Y., December 11, 1831. 
 He was therefore five years old when the family 
 removed to Ohio, where he received his education. 
 He early learned the practical management of a 
 sawmill and operated the one which was built by 
 his father from the time he was a youth until he 
 reached his twenty-sixth year. He then did the 
 same work for others until March of 18G1. He 
 now decided to start out for himself more inde- 
 pendentl3' and purchased a mill in Cherry Valley. 
 He had to go in debt for this, but by dint of hard 
 work, day and night, he managed to pay for it. 
 For a long while he worked twenty hours out of 
 the twenty-four and as might have been expected 
 he broke down in health. In 1866 he removed to 
 New Lyme and entered upon the same line of 
 business. 
 
 Mr. Dolph's coming to Michigan was in the year 
 1868. He built his first mill at Pierson in the 
 dense forest and here he engaged in manufacturing 
 lumber for ten 3-ears. In 1878 he built a shingle 
 mill on section 34, Home Township. In 1882 he 
 built another mill on section 4, Da}' Township, 
 but by the failure of others he lost a great deal at 
 different times. 
 
^ 
 
 r^. 
 
 d-j^-C-^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 •«97 
 
 Besides llie uinnufacUire of lunibor Mr. Uolph 
 engaged in general merciiandise, in wliioii lie was 
 fairl_>- successful. lie was well knijwn llirougliout 
 the Kast and had llie reputation of making an A 
 No. 1 shingle. He has been in the habit of pur- 
 chasing the land from which he had cleared tlie 
 limber and turning it into improved farms. In 
 1887, the timber having given out in the region 
 where liis mills were situated, he came to McBride 
 and bought the home in which he now resides, 
 living in the village and superintending his farm 
 outside. 
 
 This gentleman owns one hundred ancl sixty 
 acres on section 4, Day Township, and the same 
 on section 34, Home Township. About one hun- 
 dred acres of this is finely improved. He has 
 taken much interest in raising blooded stock of all 
 kinds. He owns some fine specimens of the Ham- 
 bk'tonian strain of horses, ami his principal crop is 
 hay. 
 
 The lady who became Mrs. Dolph October 21, 
 1867, in Lenox, Ohio, was Sarah, daughter of 
 James Akins; she was born in Bristolvillc, Trum- 
 bull County, Ohio, July 4, 1841. Her gr.ind father 
 came from Ireland in the early days and located 
 in \'irgiuia, from which he removed to Ohio. 
 He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Her father 
 carried on the double avocation of farming and 
 blacksmithing. Her mother was of (German de- 
 scent, being Mary A., daughter of William Barbe, 
 who was a very early settler in Ohio, and whose 
 family belonged to the religious denomination 
 called Dunkards. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dolph have three children: Lillian 
 received her education at Stanton, and was for 
 some time lier father's book-keeper at Dolph's 
 Mills. She married William Carruthers and they 
 live on a farm in Day Township. The second 
 child, Norman, is a shingle manufacturer at (Jlad- 
 win. His biographical sketch appears in this 
 book, as well as that of the second son, Charles 
 L., who is also engaged in the manufacture of 
 shingles at Harrison, Mich. 
 
 While residing in I'ierson the subject of this 
 sketch was a member of the village Council and 
 was its President for several years. He also served 
 on the School Board. The people of McBride 
 
 have also made him President of their village. He 
 is an active memt)er of the Independent Order of 
 Odd Fellows, and of the Independent Order 
 of (iood Templars. He takes an interest in politi- 
 cal matters and casts his vote with the Kepulilican 
 part}-. The name of this gentleman was t)riginally 
 DeWolf .ind was, as its form indicates, of Prencii 
 origin, and the family was of noble blood. Soon 
 after the ancestors of this branch of the family 
 came to America llic name was corru|)ted into 
 Dolph. 
 
 -SS^* 
 
 * i 9- 
 
 '\|(OSKPn D. MORSi;. lonia County is the 
 home of a large number of energetic farm- 
 ers, many of whom have estates of consider- 
 'V^/J "'jl'i e.xlent, whereon numerous substantial 
 buildings are seen. One of this number in (Jlisco 
 Township is Mr. Morse, whose portrait a|)pears 
 on the opposite page. His property is located 
 on section 0, and comprises two hundred and forty 
 acres of land with good buildings, line stock and 
 all necessary machinery. Mr. Morse pays consid- 
 earable attention to stock-raising and makes rather 
 a specialty of Merino shee|), but be by no means 
 neglects the cereals for which the soil and climate 
 of Central Michigan arc so well ad!ii)te<l. 
 
 The birth of Mr. Morse took place May 1 7, 
 1812, in the township in v/hicli he still resides. He 
 remained with his parents until he was seven years 
 old, from which time until he was of age his home 
 was with his uncle, Rnfus R. Cook. He then in 
 Decern lier, 1863, enlisted in the First Michigan 
 Kngineers anii served his country faillifully until 
 October 20, 186.5, when he was honorably- dis- 
 charged. The only prominent engagements at 
 which he was present were Bentonvillc and Savan- 
 nah, but he and his comrades aided the Union 
 cause by their work in throwing up fortifications, 
 building briilges and railroads, and destroying that 
 which would facilitate the movements of the 
 enemy. After his return from the army Mr. 
 Morse turned his attention to farming and has in- 
 dustriously pursued that honorable occupation. 
 
 Mr. Morse obtained a valuable Christm.is gift in 
 1867, it being no less Ihau an etUcicnt and affec- 
 
498 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tionate wife. Mrs. Moise was known in lier maid- 
 enhood as Miss Emily Fisi<, she being a daughter 
 of Joseph and Abbie (Kimberly) Fisk, who were 
 natives of Massachusetts. She is second iii order 
 of birth in a family which also includes Frank, 
 Ambert and Walter. The home of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Morse is brightened by the presence of three chil- 
 dren, named respectively, Ona B., John L. and Ru- 
 fus R. 
 
 In commeinoratioii of the trying experiences in 
 which he participated during the Civil War, Mr. 
 Morse has identified himself with tlie Grand Array 
 of tlio Republic as a member of Dan S. R. Post, 
 No. 126. He has taken some part in llie civil af- 
 fairs of the township, by serving as Commissioner 
 and School Inspector, and in 188(1 he was Census 
 Enumerator. When called upon to aid in public 
 affairs he is faithful to his obligations, but he has 
 no particular love for official life. He is a Repub- 
 lican, well informed regarding party policy and all 
 topics of general interest, and is numbered among 
 the reliable citizens of the county. 
 
 -v^ 'o>o..^;>><^^-o»o.. «.— 
 
 ' AMES A. ALDRICH, one of the most prom- 
 inent and public-spirited farmers and stock- 
 raisers, in Boston Township, Ionia County, 
 resides on section 21. He was born in 
 London District, Canada, on the 27th of Au- 
 gust, 1841, and is a son of Robert S. and Sarah 
 J. (Weed) Aldrich, both natives of New York 
 State and of English descent. The father was 
 by trade a wheelwright, which business he fol- 
 lowed in the early part of his life, later becom- 
 ing a farmer. He resided a short time in Canada, 
 and came to Kalamazoo County, Mich., in 1844, 
 where he pursued farming until advancing age 
 oblii'ed him to abandon active work. His wife 
 died about 1864. They were the parents of four 
 children, two of whom are now living: Melissa, the 
 wife of Lee Davis, with whom her father is now 
 residing in Eldorado, Kan., and James A., our sub- 
 ject. Tlie parents were members of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was but three years 
 
 old when he arrived at his new home in Michigan. 
 After receiving a common-school education he re- 
 mained with his parents on the farm until the Civil 
 War broke out. A month after he attained his 
 majorit3', he enlisted September 4, 1862, in Com- 
 pany L, Sixth Michigan Cavalry. He was in active 
 service for two years and nine months and was 
 only laid aside by wounds which disabled him. He 
 participated in the battles of Hanover, Gettysburg, 
 and Falling Waters, and was in all the engage- 
 ments through the Wilderness, Beaver Dam, and 
 Yellow Tavern, Va. This last engagement was a 
 very stormy one and our subject was seriously 
 wounded by a gunshot in the left hip. In conse- 
 quence of this he was taken to Point Lookout 
 hospital, where he remained until able to be about. 
 The war was then nearl}' over and he received an 
 honorable discharge June 6, 18G5, having partici- 
 pated in fifteen battles, and having been wounded 
 twice in hip and wrist. After his discharge he re- 
 turned to Michigan and coming to Ionia County 
 purchased of his father, one hundred acres of land, 
 the farm on which our subject now resides. The 
 land was entirely unbroken and covered with a 
 heavy growth of timber and underbrush. The first 
 season he built a small frame house, and worked 
 hard year by year, clearing his land, and putting 
 it under cultivation. It is now all in a fine con- 
 dition and well improved. His residence and barns 
 are worthy of note, and he has kept a good grade 
 of stock of all kinds. 
 
 Mr. Aldrich has always been read}' to aid in 
 promoting the best interests of the community, and 
 although not one of the old settlers, or rather not 
 ranking among the very earliest pioneers, he has 
 seen great improvements in the township during 
 his residence here. He started in life without riches 
 and all he has gained, his good farm, and pleasant 
 home, are the result of his industry and enterprise. 
 He intends to spend the remainder of his days in 
 this township. He was formerly a Democrat, but 
 is now a member of the Prohibition party. He has 
 been a School Inspector for two or three terms and 
 has also filled the offices of Road Commissioner and 
 Justice of the Peace. He is at present Master of 
 the Grange to which he belongs, and is also a mem- 
 ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 499 
 
 Mr. Aldrich's first marriage was willi Mary 
 Lawler, in June, 1865. Of the tiiree ciiildren by 
 tliis marriage, two are living, Willard wlio is 
 studying law at Ann Arbor, and Robert who re- 
 sides at Owasso. The mother of these children was 
 called from them while they were still very young. 
 She died February 25, 1870. The second marriage 
 of our subject took place September 20. 1871. 
 The lady whom he now married was Betsey A. 
 Gould, who was the first white child born in Bos- 
 ton Township, and a daughter of Moses and Han- 
 nah (Towne) Gould. Mr. and Mrs. Gould were 
 among the very first settlers in the county. They 
 gave their daughter the best eilucation they could 
 command, first in the district schools and after- 
 wards in the State Normal school at Ypsilanli. She 
 
 t 
 was a graduate of that institution in the class of 
 
 1865. She engaged in teaching before her mar- 
 riage and also after that event, teaching in all some 
 thirty-two terms. She is a member of the Metho- 
 dist Kpiscopal Church, and she and her husband 
 arc both highly respected and well known in the 
 comraunitv in which they make their home. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^\ EORG E li O P F O r G H . The town of 
 III I--, Smyrna, Ionia County, supports some very 
 %JJll thriving business establishments, one of 
 them being the store of Mr. Iloppough. A slock 
 of general merchandise is carried and a good busi- 
 ness done, it having been built up since 1872, 
 when our subject abandoned farming for merchan- 
 dising. He understands the needs of the people in 
 this cominunitj', is judicious in his selection of 
 goods, and i)leasant and honorable in his metlio<ls 
 of disposing of them. He has been Postmaster 
 since October, 1872, and has served in public ca[)ac- 
 ities whereby he has become thoroughly acquainted 
 with the people. 
 
 The paternal grandparents of Mr. Ho[)pough 
 were Peter and Margaret Hoppough, natives of 
 New York and his parents were Decker B. and 
 Lydia (Noble) Hoppough. His father was born in 
 New Jersey and went to New York when twelve 
 years old, making that his home until 1861, and 
 
 then coming West. He established his home in 
 Otisco Townshi|), Ionia County, buying what was 
 then known as the Moe farm of two hundred and 
 seventy acres. His marriage took place in Hone- 
 oye, Ontario County, his wife being a native of the 
 Kmpire State and a daughter of Levi Noble, who 
 was born in Vermont. To Decker Hoppough and 
 his wife tlie following children were born: Hattie 
 A., Mary E., George, Carrie B., Frank, Decker 
 Clark, Jr., Alice, Adda and M.ark. All live in 
 Ionia County except Decker, whose home is in 
 North Dakota. Their mother has been for many 
 years a meniber of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 and to her tlioy owe wise guidance in their early 
 years. 
 
 In Ontario County, N. Y.. George Hoppough 
 was born December 1.3, 1845. He obtained a prac- 
 tical education and when quite young took up the 
 occupation of farming in his native State. He 
 came to Michigan with his father in 1864 and con- 
 tinued his former occupation until the time men- 
 tioned as that of the beginning of his mercantile 
 career. He is a Master Mason, belonging to Beld- 
 ing Lodge, No. 355, and took his first degree in 
 Grattan Lodge, No. 159. In politics he is and al- 
 ways has been an unwavering Republican. He held 
 the office of Township Clerk two years and that of 
 Collector an equal length of time. 
 
 In September, 1874, Mr. Ho|)pough was united 
 in marriage with Miss Eva Brink, daughter of 
 Irvin and Harriet (Paddock) Brink, natives of 
 New York whose other children are Chancy E., 
 Martha, tJirard. Oiin, I.avinia, Gazella, Addie, 
 Koxana, Elmer and Fred. All of this family are 
 living — Gazella in Colorado; Girard, Elmer, Fred, 
 Roxana in Tustin, Midi. Olin in Cleveland; 
 Lavinia in Utah; and Ida at Newbury, in the 
 rpi)er Peninsula of Michigan. Mr. Brink came 
 to this State many years ago and bought an eighty- 
 acre farm in Hillsdale County, but afterward 
 removed to Ionia County. He is now living in 
 Osceola County, still engaged in farming and work- 
 ing more or less at his trade — carpentry. He and 
 his wife belong to the Advent Church. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ilopprjugh are the parents of three 
 intelligent children, named respectively, Cora, Car- 
 roll and Clayton. All arc still with their parents 
 
500 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and devoting their time to the studies suited to 
 tlieir capacities and such a share in liome affairs as 
 their years and strength malve fitting. It is the 
 purpose of their parents to equip them as well as 
 Ijossible for the liattle of life that they may be able 
 to pursue honorable and useful careers. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Hoppough are well known throughout the 
 town and their circle of friends extends into the 
 surrounding country. 
 
 — ^-3*jM»— 
 
 C. PETTERSON, a manufacturer of lum- 
 ber, and a well-to-do citizen of Home, Mont- 
 IJ calm County, is one of our country's adojjted 
 sons, who reflect credit alike upon his nsitive and his 
 adopted country. Both parents were born in Got- 
 teuburg, Sweden. Tlie father was a carpenter and 
 cabinet-maker. In 18G6 he came alone to Amer- 
 ica intending to engage in work and bring on his 
 family to join him. He worked at his trade at 
 Paris, Mich. After five years of industry and fru- 
 gality he liad accumulated enough money to buy 
 tickets for his wife and all the children. He pur- 
 chased them and sent them home and joyfully 
 awaited their coming, but before their arrival he 
 sickened and died. The widow came on with her 
 family and supported her little ones for some time, 
 when she married .John Miller, a native of her old 
 home. After four years spent at Grand Rapids, 
 the family removed to Howard City, thence to 
 Ionia, and in 1878 came to Home Township. The 
 motliei' bought the place which the sou now occu- 
 pies, and which she sold to him, and bought an- 
 other home on section 31, where she now resides. 
 She is an earnest and conscientious member of the 
 Presbyterian Church. By her first marriage she 
 was the mother of four children: our subject; Eil- 
 wood, who resides at Big Rapids; Alfred, who 
 makes his home with our subject; and Bennie, who 
 is with his mother. Her second union resulted in 
 three children: Josephine, who is her brother C. 
 C's. housekeeper; and Ellen and Freddie who are 
 at home. 
 
 The subject of this notice first saw the light in 
 Gottenburg, Sweden, March 13, 1862, and was 
 
 therefore eight years old when he took the memor- 
 able journey which was to result in such disap- 
 pointment to all. During the four years that the 
 family resided at Grand Rapids he spent most of 
 the time in school, but during the last year was 
 employed as a cigar maker. He was also in atten- 
 dance upon school while he lived at Howard City, 
 but while in Ionia worked in a brickyard. After 
 his mother removed to the old farm in Home Town- 
 ship, he helped to improve it and then for some 
 time worked in a sawmill. He was in the employ' 
 of J. B. Mathews, for three years, beginning at the 
 bottom and working his way up to a responsible 
 position in the mill. He was now prepared to buy 
 a farm, and purchased from his mother and settled 
 on the land. AVith his farming he has also atteniled 
 to the business of threslfing for his neighbors, hav- 
 ing a fine steam thresher. 
 
 In the fall of 1889, Mr. Petterson erected his 
 present sawmill which is run by steam, and whi(;h 
 has a capacitv' of eight thousand feet per da}'. 
 Somewhat later he added to his acreage by twenty 
 acres which he bought from his mother. His is tlie 
 only lumber manufacturing business now located 
 in Home Township. Beside this business he de 
 votes himself largely to general farming and stock- 
 raising. In politics lie is a stanch Republican, and 
 has occupied the position of Pathraaster of the 
 township. 
 
 ^ 
 ® 
 
 ^ €-*^ ^• 
 
 \|]OSEPII TOWNSEND, one of the prosper- 
 I ous farmers of Ionia Count}', is pleasantly 
 located on section 2G, Lyons Township. He 
 has now one hundred and forty-three acres 
 of land, having reduced his landed estate by giving 
 his children tracts upon which to begin their work 
 in the world. Mr. Townsend is engaged in general 
 farming, and markets good crops, as well as stock 
 of average number. He was born in Jefferson 
 County, N. Y., December 4, 1824, and traces his 
 ancestry in the paternal line back to the mother 
 country. His grandfather, Jonathan Townsend, 
 was born in Genesee County, N. Y., and in the 
 same locality, the next in the direct line opened 
 
PORTRAIT AND RIOGRAnilCAL ALBUM. 
 
 501 
 
 his eyes to the light in 1800. The father of our 
 subject bore tiie siime given name as the grand- 
 father, and followed the same oecupalion, farming. 
 The l.id}- who became the wife of Joiiallian 
 Townsend, .Ir., was born and reared in Riiode 
 Island and bore the maiden name of Hannah Mines. 
 Tlicy livt'(l in llic Empire Slate until 1864, then 
 came to Michigan and located on the section that is 
 now the home of tlieir son Josepii. Here he died 
 in the year 18G8, and his wife in 1867. They were 
 the parents of eight children, four of whom survive. 
 Of these Joseith is the eldest. The others are Blrs. 
 Lucy Wilder, wiio resides in Wayne Count}', N. Y.; 
 C'orlis, wlio lives in Sanilac County, Mich.; an<l A. 
 ]>., whose home is in L^ons Townsliip. .luseph 
 Townsend, wlio is tlie third in order of birtli in 
 the parental family, received the ordinary school 
 advantages and bore the usual part in liomc duties 
 until after he was of age. He tlien learned the 
 trade of a carpenter and joiner and for six years 
 wielded the saw and plane at Syracuse. He then 
 went to Brooklyn, where he worked at his trade 
 about six months, after which he embarked for 
 Australia, in which far country he spent about four 
 years. 
 
 Mr. Townsend made the voyage on a sailing 
 vessel, via Cape of Good Hope, and spent a part of 
 his time after reaching Australia in mining. He 
 also worked at his trade, doing a little better than 
 he would have done at home. He returned to his 
 native place, via Cape Horn, stopping in Liverpool 
 and London and spending about a month in the 
 great metropolis. After reaching his old home he 
 gave his attention to farming in the county seven 
 years and in 1864 removed to this State. He 
 selected a tract of land wlierc he is now living, 
 upon which there were no buildings. Here he has 
 pursued the even tenor of his way, making a good 
 support and some provision for future needs, while 
 giving his children good advantages. 
 
 In St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 18,')9, Mr. 
 Townsend was married to Miss Mary Arnold. She 
 was born in .lefTcrson County, August 14, 1838, 
 and reared there. She is the sixth of twelve chil- 
 dren born to Caleb and Mary Arnold, wlio were 
 natives of the Kmpire Slate and who died in Michi- 
 gan. Tlie family of Mr. and Mrs. Townsend con- 
 
 sists of four sons and a daughter, whose respective 
 names are Charles, Hlugenc, Minnie E., Harry W., 
 and Jay. The daughter lives in Lj-ons Township 
 and is the wife of George S. Stiles. Two sons, 
 Harry and Jay, still remain with their parents. 
 
 A peaceable and law-abiding citizen, an enter- 
 prising farmer, and a man of honor in the affairs 
 of life, Mr. Townsend has the respect of his 
 acquaintances, and his friendly spirit has won a 
 warmer feeling from his neighbors. He has served 
 as Patlimaster and School Director. His religions 
 belief coincides with the doctrines of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church and his political faith is that of 
 the Dcnidcratic party. 
 
 ANIEL DILDINE, a farmer and stock- 
 i|J raiser of Ionia County, owns and occupies 
 a tract of land on section 9, Easton Town- 
 ship. He bought this land in 1865, when 
 not a stick of timber had been cut upon it, and did 
 some clearing even before he began to make it his 
 home. He has live<l upon it since 1870 and now 
 has it supplied with raanj' conveniences and stocked 
 with macliinery and animals of consiilerable value. 
 The attractiveness of the estate indicates something 
 of the nature of the owner and his wife who shares 
 in liis [)lans and calculation, and enjoys with him 
 their results. 
 
 William H. Dildine, faiher of our subject, was born 
 in Pennsylvania, and for some _vears lived in New 
 York. In 184.3 he came to this State and set up 
 his household in a log house in Easton Townsliip, 
 Ionia County, on section 10. The tract of land 
 that he secured was very slightly improved and 
 much of it was still covered by trees. He developed 
 it and made it his home until called hence in March, 
 1890. Many years ago he served as Township 
 Treasurer. He voted the Republican ticket, took 
 great interest in the schools, and was an earnest 
 Christian, belonging to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in which he was Class-Leader for many 
 years. In fact, he was one of the representative 
 pioneers of the county, and highly esteemed. 
 
 The first wife of William Dildine wasOrrisa Wing, 
 
502 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAFHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 who left a son Silas, who now lives in East Portland, 
 Oregon. In the Empire State Mr. Dilrline was 
 married to Mrs. Jane (Laken) AVing, widow of 
 Silas Wing, and she too left one son, Daniel, sub- 
 ject of this notice. The third matrimonial alliance 
 of Mr. Dildine was with Catherine Reynolds who 
 is still living, occupying the homestead in this State. 
 She belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
 is a highly-respected member of society. Iler living 
 children are four in number, namely: Jane, the wife 
 of George Conner, living in Orleans Township; 
 Orrisa, wife of James Delong, who resides in Lake 
 View this State; and William and James, residents 
 of Easton Township. A son and daugliter are 
 deceased. 
 
 The subject of this biographicgl notice was born 
 in Chemung County, N. Y., April 7, 1840, and was 
 therefore a child of but three years when he began 
 his residence in this State. He received a limited 
 education in the district schools of Ionia County 
 and bore some part in the work by means of which 
 the homestead was brought under subjection. He 
 remained in the county until he was nineteen years 
 old, when he determined to seek the Pacific coast, 
 where his brother Silas was, and where he believed 
 he could do better than at home. His desire to see 
 something of the country was also a factor in his 
 decision. He took passage at New York City o:i 
 the steamer "Baltic", which landed hira on the 
 Isthmus, and crossing to the Pacific side he em- 
 barked on tlie ''John L. Stephens", which carried 
 him safely' to San Francisco. He left the Amer- 
 ican metropolis, February 7 and reached the Golden 
 Gate about the 1st of March. 
 
 For four years Mr. Dildine made the Golden 
 State his home and during that period was engaged 
 in various occupations. He returned to Ionia County 
 via the Nicaraugua route. Not long after his re- 
 turn he bought the property he now occupies and 
 his after work thereon has already been noted. 
 He was married November 2.5, 1865, to Luc}' Heald, 
 and they are the happy parents of one daughter — 
 Mary J., who lives in the same township as them- 
 selves and is the wife of Milo Van Slyke. 
 
 Mrs. Dildine was born in St. Lawrence Count}-, 
 N. Y., June 7, 1845, and was ten years old when 
 her parents came West. Thomas W. and Mar}' 
 
 (Lavery) Heald settled in Orleans Township, Ionia 
 County, and there Mrs. Heald is still living. Mr. 
 Heald died several years since. Five of their chil- 
 dren survive, namely: Jane M., wife of Henry 
 Toggart, and Eleanor, wife of A. Grover, both 
 living in Easton Township; Nelson, in Stanton, tliis 
 State; Mrs. Dildine; and Lyman, in Orleans Town- 
 ship. Mr. Heald was a native of Vermont and Mrs. 
 Heald was born in New York. The former was a 
 carpenter and blacksmith and also devoted consider- 
 able attention to farming. He did a groat deal 
 toward the improvement of Orleans Township and 
 the building up of Palmer Station. 
 
 Mr. Dildine has his own views on political issues 
 and reserves the right to vote for whomsoever he 
 considers best fitted for public office. He and his 
 wife are active in social matters, enjoying the con- 
 fidence of their neighbors in an eminent degree, 
 and have high standing in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Ciiurch. 
 
 ILLIAM L. SAMAIN. This gentleman, 
 wliose home is in Ionia, is in the employ 
 ^ \!^ of the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Rail- 
 road as an engineer, having charge of an engine 
 on one of the local trains. He was born in Ann 
 Arbor in 1859 and is of English descent. His 
 father, Joseph .Samain, who was born in Baltimore, 
 Md., is still living, but his mother, Betsey (Bur- 
 bans) Samain. died in 1875. For a number of 
 years their home was near Portland, this State, 
 where the father carried on agricultural pursuits. 
 Politically he is a Democrat and now at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-one, hale and hearty. 
 
 Our subject was fortunate in being able to se- 
 cure a good education, his parents being on the 
 alert to give him evefy advantage they could, and 
 his own application doing tlie rest. When he be- 
 came of age he went on the railroad as fireman on 
 an engine. So faithful was he and so observing of 
 the duties peiformcd by the engineer that within 
 two years he was promoted to the charge of an en- 
 gine. He stands high witii his employers, who 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 503 
 
 recognize the sturdy principles that animate him 
 and tlie regard he shows for the interest of the 
 road. 
 
 Mr. .Sainain has an attractive residence, well fur- 
 nisiied, and showing in and about it the refining 
 tench of woman. It is presided over by a true- 
 hearted wife, to whom he was married in 1883 and 
 whose maiden name was Annie iSIcDonald. She 
 lias many sincere friends in the pleasant circle of 
 accjuaintances wliere she and Iter husband are re- 
 ceived. Mr. Samain is a stanch Democrat, fully 
 believing that the prosperity of the Nation depends 
 to a large extent upon the success of this parly. 
 He is a member of the lioyal Arcanum Lodge in 
 Ionia. 
 
 u 
 
 •^m- 
 
 ILLIAM U. TEBBEL. The business of a 
 WW// '"illcr is one of importance in every coni- 
 ^^ munity as upon it depends much of the 
 comfort of tiie families in the vicinity. The sub- 
 ject of this biographical notice is engaged in that 
 business In Smyrna, Ionia County, where he owns 
 a milling property valued at $8,000. He has a 
 large run of custom work, as the products of his 
 establisiimeiit have become known as lirst-class, and 
 the dealers fin<l a ready sale for that which they 
 procure of him. Mr. Tcbbel is a practical miller, 
 having thoroughly learned the trade in his youth, 
 and followed It for a considerable length of lime. 
 Mr. Tcbbel is a Canadian by birth and Is the son 
 of .lohn and Mary (Comer) Tebbcl, who were na- 
 tives of England. They came to this State in 18C5 
 and made their home in St. Clair County, wiiere the 
 husb'ind and fathcrdied in Se[)tember, 1881. The 
 widowed mother is still living at the age of eighty- 
 one years. Their marriage w.is solemnized in the 
 mother country- and they were blest with the fol- 
 lowing children: Avis, William U.,.Iohn W., Mary 
 Ann, Alic3, .lames C, Julia and Henry. Avis an<l 
 Henry are now deceased. The father was a farmer 
 by occupation, and both parents governed their 
 lives by Christian principles, liolding niembership 
 in the Methodist Episcopal Churcli. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice was l)orn 
 December 3, 1838, and remained in Canada, the 
 
 land of his birth, until 1862. In the meantime he 
 pursued the studies that are commonly taken u|), 
 and when nineteen years old left tlie parental home 
 to learn the trade of a miller. He has pursued his 
 chosen calling from that da^' to this, as an appren- 
 tice, journeyman and manager. He came to this 
 State in 18G2, and made his first settlement in St. 
 Clair County, remaining there a few years. He 
 worked at various places and for different people 
 until 1880, when lie established himself at Smyrna 
 and entered upon his successful career here. He Is 
 and always has been a Republican. His business 
 reputation is that of a reliable man, and his per- 
 sonal character is such as to give him a position 
 among the respected citizens. 
 
 Mr. Tebbel was married to Miss Mar}' Purdy in 
 1866. This lady Is a daughter of Louis and Char- 
 lotte (Bartlett) Purdy, and her brothers and sisters 
 are George, James, John, Charlotte, Harriet, Sarah, 
 Jennie and Elinor. She was well reared and in her 
 own home looks carefully after the comfort and 
 future good of the family. To Mr. and Mrs. Teb- 
 bel six cliihlren have come, all at home but the 
 first-born, who is happily married and lives in the 
 same town as her parents. The names of the sons 
 and daughters are Jessie, George, Charlotte, Nellie, 
 John and Edna. 
 
 ilL^ ENRY F. HULL residing in Ronald Town- 
 ifjli ship, Ionia County, w.as born in Berlin Town- 
 /^^' ship, Rensselaer County, N. Y., February 
 (^ 24, 1824. He is the son of Peter and Lnah 
 Almena (Bullock) Hull, and the grandson of 
 Peter Hull an early settler in that county, who 
 came there about 1767. His death occurred the 
 same year, at the advanced .age of fourscore and 
 nine years. His grandfather was descended from 
 one of three brothers who came from England and 
 settled on the New England Coiist. One found his 
 home in Boston, one in Rhode Island and the third 
 in Connecticut. 
 
 The mother of our subject, Leah Almena Bullock, 
 was born In New York Slate. Her mother was in 
 the Wyoming Jlassacre and was twice captured and 
 
504 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 twice escaped. SLe wandered on foot two hundred 
 miles, bare-headed and bare-footed far from friends 
 before she was found by any who would care for 
 her. After the marriage of Almena Bullock to 
 the father of our subject at Sand Lake, she made 
 her home in Berlin and afterward in Richfield, 
 Otsego County. In 1848 they came to Michigan, 
 where they lived the remainder of their days. The 
 mother was called from earth in 1 856 and the father 
 survived her until 1870. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hull were the parents of seven 
 children, two daughters and five sons: Lewis B., 
 and Hamilton are deceased; Lavaldin resides in the 
 city of Tro}', N. Y.; Henry F., our subject; Amy 
 R., Mrs. McKenzie, of this county; Ezra lives in 
 Colorado, and Sarah, deceased. Mr. Hull was 
 reared in his native place and lie has pleasant mem- 
 ories of his early life there. Mr. Hull was first 
 married in Cooperstown, N. Y., February 6, 1848. 
 He there took to wife Zarina Contraraan, a native 
 of New York. From this union six children were 
 born, three only now surviving — Chester F , Daniel 
 D., and Cora K. The mother of these children 
 died December 14, 18G7. His second marriage was 
 contracted May 2, 1868, with Sophronia M. Ran- 
 som, a native of New York, born in W.iyne 
 County, January 29, 1833. Mrs. M. Hull was pre- 
 vious to the marriage witli our subject the widow 
 of Mr. Lewis H. Ransom. Her maiden name was 
 Comstock. The children of the second marriage 
 are: Alice E., Mrs. Vernon Iloworth, Pxlgar M., 
 and Henry A. 
 
 The subject of this sketch first came to Michigan 
 in 1845 prospecting, and returning East brouglit 
 his family in 1848. He purchased the land where 
 he now resides in 1838 and moved on to it ten 
 years later. It was a perfect!}' unbroken forest and 
 he has had to make all the improvements. He lias 
 built tiiree houses on it since he first moved there; 
 the last one in which he now resides is a fine two- 
 story brick, which was erected at a cost of $3,500. 
 It is one of the finest houses in the county. When 
 he first came here there were only forty voters in 
 the township. He has one hundred and sixty acres 
 of well improved land. In its cultivation he has 
 proved himself a hard working man and he has 
 gained all he owns by his own endeavors. He has 
 
 been active in politics, belonging to the Republican 
 party and always voting the straight ticket. For 
 twenty years he has been Highway Commissioner. 
 His wife professes the faith and doctrine of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, while Mr. Hull is a 
 Disciple in belief but is not now connected with 
 any local church. 
 
 LVIN HOOPLE is numbered among the 
 general farmers of Ionia County, owning 
 and operating a tract of land on section 
 22, Ronald Township. He has made many 
 improvements upon the property since he took 
 possession thereof, and the farm, although not of 
 more than fair size, is very productive and would 
 bring a higher price in the market than some of 
 greater extent. Mr. Hoople was born in County 
 Dundas, Province of Ontario, Canada, March 14, 
 1851. His parents, Joseph and Polly Ann (Ran- 
 som) Hoople, were natives of the same county as 
 himself, and the father is still living in his native 
 land. The mother died April 21, 1860, leaving 
 two daughters and five sons: Caroline, wife of R. 
 Moss, lives in St. Johns, N. D.; William G. is 
 engaged in the leather trade in Brooklyn, N. Y.; 
 Mary A. died when about thirty-seven years old; 
 Henry D. is farming In Canada; Ira A. farms on 
 the old homestead tliere; Edmond is a farmer in 
 Ronald Township, Ionia County ; Al vin, the young- 
 est of the family circle, is the subject of this bio- 
 graphical notice. 
 
 The school privileges of Mr. Hoople were con- 
 fined to attendance in the common schools of his 
 native place and prior to his nineteenth year, at 
 which time he began life for himself. He went to 
 New York and began working in the leather busi- 
 ness with his brother William, but after a trial of 
 tv.'O months gave up the work and turned to farm^ 
 ing. He had an uncle living on Long Island and 
 on his farm he labored six months, and then went 
 to Portland, Pa., on the Delaware River, where he 
 remained five years carrying on a tannery. He 
 next embarkoil in the furniture business, but being 
 burned out two years later, he went to Great Bend 
 
Q.-iC/-£^^i^'\^-\^ ux^C'\..--i.''i.-(^^^--^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and resumoil tanning. lie remained in llial place 
 four years, liien came to Ionia County, Mich., and 
 bought an eight^'-acrc farm on wliicli he lias since 
 lived. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Iloople and Miss Nancy 
 Brngler was solemnized in New Jersey, April 'J. 
 1873. The bride was born in that State October 
 29, 1819, and is the eldest of nine children, making 
 up the family of James and Susan (Cramer) Brng- 
 ler. Three of her brothers and one sister are now 
 living. Mr. and Mrs. Iloople have had two sons 
 and two daughters. They were bereft of their 
 first-born, James L., in his infancy'. Their home 
 is still brightened by the presence of Adel, who 
 was born in New Jcrse}', May 3, 1875; (iertrude, 
 who was born in Pennsylvania, August 7.1876; 
 and William G., who was born in this State, De- 
 cember 27, 1883. 
 
 Although Mr. Hoople had no superior educa- 
 tional advantages, he is possessed of a considerable 
 fund of knowledge, having taken advantage of 
 various opportunities to inform himself regarding 
 the world's history and the progress of events, lie 
 takes an interest in educational matters and those 
 Social enterprises which appeal to the intellect. lie 
 is now President of the Literary .Society of Honald 
 Township, lie exercises the right of suffrage in 
 behalf of Republican principles. He and his excel- 
 lent wife belong to the Methodist E|)iscopa] f'liurch 
 and are earnest, Inimble Christians. 
 
 tip. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 OHN RAMSEY. The late Jotin Ramsey 
 demonstrated in his life what can be accom- 
 plished by a man of determined will and 
 good natural ability without the advantage 
 of a thorough education or extraneous influence. 
 He had no advantages other than a vigorous body, 
 strength of mind and good principles, but as years 
 |)assed on he built up a competence and was able to 
 surround his family with comfort and even luxury. 
 There are many living in Ionia County who well 
 remember the earnestness and honor that charac- 
 terized him and who recall him as one of the typi- 
 cal farmers of Portland Townshii). 
 
 The ancestors of Mr. Rr.msey were originally 
 frcm .Scotland, whence they fled to Ireland in the 
 days of Bruce and Wallace. The ancestral occupa- 
 tion was farming and the religion of the family- for 
 many generations was Presbyterian. The parents 
 of our subject were William and Jane (Scott) 
 Ranise}', who were born in the Emerald Isle and 
 who died there, the mother in 181G and the father 
 in 1857. They reared three sons — Robert, William 
 and John. Robert came to America and settled 
 in St. Clair County, this State, and died at Smith 
 Creek about 1879. William, the sole surviving son 
 of the little family, is carrying on the farm at the 
 old home. 
 
 Our subject was born May 7, 1832, and from his 
 eighth year until he left the Emerald Isle, his home 
 was at Raphoe County, Donegal. When in his six- 
 teenth year he crossed the broad Atlantic and, hav- 
 ing landed at New York, came to St. Clair County, 
 this State, to join his brother Robert. There he 
 remained nine years following lumbering during 
 the season. His education had been limited, but 
 his natural quickness was such that he was able to 
 attend to any kind of business without ditlicully, 
 and as years advanced he kept well informed on 
 general topics of the day, having an ardent love 
 for books and newspapers. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Ramsey bought ninety- 
 seven acres of land in Danby Township, Ionia 
 Count}', where he lived six years. He then tra<)ed 
 for a farm of ninety acres, to which he .added until 
 it comprised two hundred and forty-live acres, 
 which was sold and a well-improved tract of two 
 hundred and forty acres in Portland Township 
 purchased. There Mr. Ramsey continued to re- 
 side until his de.ath May 4, 1885. Not only by his 
 immediate family circle but by many acquaint- 
 ances he was sincerely mourned, as he had been 
 a friend to all in need, had lived an upright life 
 and was in cordial fellowship with those about him. 
 He had never formally united with any church, 
 liut believed in the tenets of the Congregational 
 societj' an<i governed his daily walk by the ilictates 
 of conscience. 
 
 The lady whom Mr. Ramsey «-on for his wife 
 was Miss Elvira Complon, daughter of the Rev. 
 John Compton, whose biography appears else- 
 
508 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 where in this Album. The marriage ceremony 
 was performed October 30, I806, and mutual hap- 
 piness followed in its train. Mrs. Ramsej' was the 
 recipient of careful training and was well fitted to 
 discharge the duties that came to her as wife and 
 mother. Five children have been born to them as 
 follows: AVilliam J.; Jennie E.,who died May 27, 
 1886; Robert; Freddie died in infancy; George is 
 his mother's mainstay, as lie is still at home. 
 
 The many friends to whom the memory of Mr. 
 Ramsey is dear, will be pleased to notice his por- 
 trait on another page of this volume. 
 
 ELEG S. DODGE. Tlie Stanton CUpiier, 
 of whicli Mr. Dodge is proprietor and edi- 
 tor, has no superior in the towns of the 
 State. It was established by our subject 
 in 1879, and has grown in power and in wortli from 
 year to yenr. Its subscription list is now over 
 eleven hundred, wiiich gives it a circulation beyond 
 the limits of Montcalm County, so that its influence 
 is felt in many localities. Mr. Dodge possesses a 
 logical mind, an;l his former life strengthened his 
 habits of tliouglit and his ability to express his 
 ideas in such a way as to move others, so that liis 
 edi'>-orial quill wields a power beyond that of many 
 editors. 
 
 Mr. Dodge was born in tlie Hoosier Slate in 1848, 
 being a son of Cliarles and Melissa (Shaw) Dodge. 
 His mother died when he was in his second year, 
 and he was bereft of his father when but six years 
 old. They were natives respectively of New En- 
 gland and Bucl<s County, Pa., and the father was a 
 blacksmith, and later a farmer. Although he had 
 scarcely entered liis teens when the Civil War be- 
 gan, young Dodge went into the army as a drum- 
 mer in the Twentieth Ohio Infantry, Company B. 
 After serving several months he was disciiarged in 
 1864. In June, 1864 lie re-enlisted as a drummer 
 in Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth 
 Ohio Infantry, but was mustered in as a private, 
 and fought with the other boys in blue until the 
 close of the war, receiving his discharge the last of 
 
 Jul}', 1865. When his martial duties were over he 
 took up the matter of educating himself, and dur- 
 ing a few years following his discharge was a stu- 
 dent in the University of Notre Dame at South 
 Bend, Ind., Hillsdale (Mich.) College and the State 
 University at Ann Arbor. He began reading law 
 at Elkhart, Ind., in 1868, was admitted to the bar 
 at Goshen, Ind., in 18G9, and in 1873 received a 
 diploma from the Department of Law at Ann Ar- 
 bor, all expenses of his education being met by 
 raonc}^ saved from his army service and earned 
 from time to time afterward. 
 
 Mr. Dodge caine to Stanton that year, and gave 
 his attention to his profession until 1879, when he 
 founded the (Jlipper. He possesses an unusual 
 amount of meclianical ingenuity, and it was under 
 his personal supervision that the machinery for the 
 CUppt'r office was built and set up. He is an in- 
 ventor of printing presses, and has taken out sev- 
 eral valuable patents on important improvements 
 the manufacture of which he has recently com- 
 menced. In politics Mr. Dodge is a sound Demo-' 
 crat, and his paper gives voice to his opinions, and 
 the theories and principles of the party. 
 
 Ill his home life Mr. Dodge is happily situated, 
 having an intelligent and well-bred wife and a 
 bright young daughter just .advancing into maiden- 
 hood. Mrs. Dodge was formerly a resident of Three 
 Rivers, St. Joseph Count}', and bore the maiden 
 name of Helen J. Throp. She entered into the 
 marriage relation August 6, 1873. The daughter, 
 Chella R., was born November 12, 1876. 
 
 \i7 EVI BROAS. Among the residents of Ionia 
 I |?g) Count}' who are now living in retirement 
 j JLAy ^ enjoying the results of former labors, is 
 Levi Broas, whose home is on section ll,Otisco 
 Township. He was formerly a large landowner 
 and extensive farmer, having a landed estate of 
 four hundred acres, but he has sold most of the 
 tract for village property, and has retired from 
 active work, except such as accords with his special 
 tastes and affords him recreation. He was a thor- 
 ough going, energetic farmer, and kept everything 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 509 
 
 about liis liome in good shape, and so secured the 
 best results from tlie cultivation of tiie soil. He 
 is a gre.it lover of fine horses and always keeps 
 good roailstcrs, in whose speed and action he takes 
 delight. 
 
 Mr. Hroas was horn Doccniber 31, 1821, in 
 rister County, N. Y., and was but a lad when his 
 parents removed to this .State. His father, Charles 
 Hroas, a native of Long Island, was born Decem- 
 ber 22, 1790. and in the Empire Stale was married 
 to Catherine Roosa, who was of Holland extrac- 
 tion and a daughter of Abraham Roosa, who was 
 born in New York. Mr. Bro.as was a blacksmith 
 in his early life, but he also understood farming and 
 S0(m after his arrival in this .Slate he located on a 
 farm. He came hither in 1 837, and after some inves- 
 tigations took up four hundred acres of Govern- 
 ment land in Otisco Township, where the town of 
 Belding now stands. The first house he built was 
 11x14 feet and there was no dwelling between it 
 and Ionia. His experiences were such as were 
 common to pioneer settlers and the changes that he 
 witnessed gave evidence to the wisdom of his be- 
 lief regarding the future of the Slate. The first 
 election in Otisco Townshi|) is supposed to have 
 been held in his primitive residence. His death 
 occurred January 1, 1855. His family included 
 two sons and two daughters, named respoctively : 
 Peter, Rachel, Sarah and Levi. Peter died in New 
 York at the age of twenty-two years. 
 
 Reared from boyhood on the land to whic-h he 
 later fell heir, our subject became thoroughly con- 
 versant witii farm work in all its phases, from the 
 o|)cning stages of development of raw I.ind to the 
 finished work of a thoroughly-cultivated estate. 
 His recollections of tlie early times and his reminis- 
 cences are interesting, as are the tales of all who 
 participated in such scenes. He obtained a good 
 education for the time, and has added to his knowl- 
 edge by the means that are open to all who desire 
 information. After his marriage he brought his 
 wife to his father's house and here he has contin- 
 ued to make his home, becoming the owner as 
 mentioned. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. IJroas took pliice at Steele's 
 Corners, his bride being Ruth Ann Just, daughter 
 of James Just, whose life is outlined elsewhere in 
 
 this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Broas two sons and 
 three daughters have been born, named respectively, 
 Charles, J. Just. Catherine, Belle and Jenny. The 
 last named was a gr.aduate of the Belding High 
 School and was about to be gr.tduated from the 
 High School of Detroit when she was taken sick 
 and died at the age of nineteen 3ear8. The .sons 
 are engaged in mercantile pursuits and are follow- 
 ing their cho.sen vocation very successfully, Charles 
 being located in Lansing and J. Just in Bay City. 
 Mr. 15roas is a Master Mason, belonging to Beld- 
 ing Lodge No. 355. He is a Republican, always 
 ready to aid the party by his vote, but never con- 
 senting to hold ollice. Among the adornments of 
 his present home is a large cabinet of specimens, 
 including some twelve hundred preserved birds, 
 forty animals and a large collection of insects. 
 There are also some seventy kinds of sea shells, 
 nine varieties of star fish and many corals and 
 agates. The birds include almost every variety 
 found in this State and their preservation is due to 
 the skill of Mr. Broas as a taxidermist, a work 
 which he began aliout 1874. 
 
 UAiKR H. LOCKE. Although the events 
 of the Civil War do not appeal with tlie 
 force of reality to the younger members 
 of society, yet every loyal heart feels a thrill of 
 gratitude to those who fought and endured durin" 
 those trying years. Among the veterans who are 
 living in Ionia County is Mr. Locke, a farmer of 
 good repute living on section 14, Otisco Township. 
 He has been a lifelong resident of the county, and 
 farming was chosen by him when quite young as 
 the work to which he should devote his energies of 
 mind and body. He has succeeded well in his vo- 
 cation, has become the owner of a good property, 
 and been able to supply his family with comfort 
 and even luxury. 
 
 The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
 Reuben and Phebc (Russell) Locke, natives of 
 Massachusetts, who removed to New York in an 
 early daj* and there s|)ent the balance of their days. 
 The husband was a farmer. His father was a Rev- 
 
510 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 olutionary soldier and he furnisheri guns to the 
 patriots during the patriotic war. Both he and 
 his wife belonged to the Baptist Church. In their 
 family was a son Russell, who was born in the old 
 Bay State and was ten years old when he went to 
 New York. He remained there until 1835, then 
 came to this State and set up his liome in Ionia 
 County. In the township of the same name he 
 resided a score of years, then retnored to North 
 Plains Township and seven ye.irs later to Easton. 
 A decade passed and lie then removed to Otisco 
 Townsliip, where he is now living. 
 
 Russell Locke was married in Oneida County, 
 N. Y., to Mary Goodwin, who shared his fortunes 
 until July 26, 1854, wiien she crossed the river of 
 death. She left six children, named respectively: 
 Cynthia, Wilber IL, Ruth Ann, Electa, Minersa and 
 Maria. AVhen the family came hither there were 
 but few houses in the county and their experiences 
 included arduous toil, lonely hours, and depriva- 
 tion of the privileges and conveniences of thickly 
 settled sections. The first vole cast by Russell 
 Locke was for Andrew Jackson, but his next was 
 for a Whig candidate and with that part}' he acted 
 until its disorganization, since which he has been a 
 Republican. He is a member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 The subject of this notice remained under iiis 
 father's roof until he was twenty years old and 
 tlien entered the army. He was born in Ronald 
 Township June 14, 1841, enlisted in September, 
 1861, and was mustered in on the 12th of the 
 month. He was enrolled in Company D, Third 
 Michigan Cavalry, with which he fought until 
 January 18, 1864, when he was discharged at La 
 Grange, Tenn. The next day he re-enlisted and 
 his final discharge was received October 12, 1865, 
 after "the cruel war was over." He was promoled 
 to the rank of Corporal in 1862 and in 1864 be- 
 came Sergeant. The noted battles in which he 
 took part were Island No. 10, luka, Shiloh and 
 Corinth. Tlie work he did in his countr3''s cause 
 was not confined to those fields, but his loyalty and 
 devotion were shown in his obedience to camp 
 rules, on weary marches and in skirmishes without 
 number. 
 
 A short time after his return from the army Mr. 
 Locke was married in Ionia to llarriet Parker, 
 
 daughter of Edward and Clarissa (Gregory) Parker. 
 The bride's parents were natives of Orleans County 
 N. Y., and their only other child was a daughter 
 Sarah. Since 1866 Mr. and Mrs. Locke have been 
 journeying down the stream of time side by side. 
 They have two sons, Alfred R. and Charles P. 
 The home of Mr. and Mrs. Locke is upon a fine 
 tract of land consisting of two hundred and forty 
 acres, two hundred of which have been bereft of 
 timber, fitted for cultivation and supplied with 
 necessary and convenient buildings. The farm 
 also bears thriving orchards and such other im- 
 provements as belong to a thoroughly well-regu- 
 lated estate. Mr. Locke was a Republican until 
 quite recently, but he is now a Democrat. 
 
 |ERT B. SAMPSON is a typical Western 
 man of the better sort, well educated and 
 If/ progressive, and wide-awake to the interests 
 ' of his family and the community. He was 
 born in Porter Countv, Ind., on the 16th of July, 
 1855. He is the son of Newlan and Jane (Carman) 
 Sampson, both natives of New York. He early 
 emigrated to the Wolverine State, being only three 
 or four years old when his father decided to come 
 to Hillsdale County. Here they made their home 
 upon a farm. 
 
 In early life our subject was favored with good 
 opportunities for an education and he received ex- 
 cellent business training. He was an attendant on 
 the High School at Hillsdale. His father enlisted 
 in Comjiany K, Eigliteenth Micliigan Infantry and 
 he met his death in the Battle of the Wilderness, 
 May 6, 1864. Mr. Sampson has four sisters living, 
 namely, Mrs. Kate Hall, who resides in Lynn, Mass.; 
 Mrs. Martha Rich, living in Hillsdale Connty, 
 Mich.; Anna G. Simpson, residing at Hillsdale un- 
 married and Mrs. Phila A. Harmon, residing at 
 Eaton Rapids. Most of his life has been spent in 
 Micliigan and he has never gone out of it except 
 for a short visit, not exceeding six months. 
 
 At the age of eighteen years young Sampson 
 went to Stanton, Mich., and engaged in the mill- 
 ing and lumbering business and thus continued 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 511 
 
 until about seven years ago, when he came to his 
 pifiient homestead in Sidney Township, Montcalm 
 County. He has been a himber scaler and always 
 commanded excellent wages at this work. .Sep- 
 tember 27, 1880, he was married to Emma A. Bcrr}', 
 of this countj'. Four lovely children enlighten 
 their home, Leon G., born November 18, 1881; 
 Mabel, November 23, 1883; Lottie J., August 16, 
 1885; and the baby not yet named who came to 
 this household January 5, 1891. 
 
 The gentleman of whom we write takes an active 
 interest in educational matters and is giving his 
 children a good schooling. He is also wide-awake 
 on political questions and is a thorough Prohibi- 
 tionist. He views all subjects from a moral and 
 religious standpoint and is an earnestly' conscien- 
 tious man, although not a member of any special 
 church; yet he is a Sunday-school worker and has 
 acted as Superintendent of Sunday-school. Five 
 3ears ago he was so unfortunate as to lose his house 
 by fire, but he rebuilt it at once and in 1888 he 
 erected his large and handsome barn. He has a 
 fine [arm of seventy acres in first-class condition. 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 RS. SUSAN PHILLIPS. That business 
 ability is not confined to the male sex is 
 L^ proved by the experience of the estima- 
 ble lady above named, who is one of the 
 most successful farmers of Ionia County. She hsis 
 a good property on section 23, K.aston Township, 
 bought with her own hard-earned money, and car- 
 ried on so carefull}' and intelligently that it affords 
 her an excellent maintenance and enables her to 
 make some provision for the future. If industry, 
 economy and prudent management entitle one to 
 representation in a BioGRAPinCAi, Album, then is 
 Mrs. Phillips deserving of mention here, and we 
 deem it a pleasure to represent a brief outline of 
 her history to our i-eaders. 
 
 Mrs. Phillips comes of highly respected families 
 of the East, her parents being George and Rebecca 
 (Green) Cummins, of New Jersey. Their family 
 comprised eight sons and daughters, and the other 
 survivors are Mathias, living in Genesee County, 
 
 this .Slate; Green, whose home is in New Jersey; 
 Elizal)eth, wife of William Vreeland, in New Jer.sey ; 
 Mary, wifeof Harvey Fleming, in Oakland County, 
 this State; Rebecca, wife of Nicholas Martines, in 
 New Jersey; and Joseph, who also lives in their 
 native State. 
 
 Susan Cummins, now Mrs. Phillips, was born in 
 Warren County, N. J., April 23, 1845. Her father 
 was a farmer and she, like other farmers' daughters, 
 became conversant with manj' of the details of agri- 
 cultural work. She pursued her studies in the 
 common school and remained at home until she had 
 grown to womanhood. After coming to this State 
 she was married November 7, 1867, in Oakland 
 Count}', to Hiram W. Phillips. Two children were 
 born of this union — linb^-, wife of J. O. Post, living 
 in Easlon Township, and Eula, wife of William 
 Lee, whose home is in Ionia. In 1874 Mrs. Phil- 
 lil)S look possession of the propertj' which she ha<l 
 bought and upon which she is still living. The 
 tract consists of lifty-fivc acres, supplied with a 
 good residence and such outbuildings as arc made 
 necessary by the work carried on there. 
 
 Mrs. Phillips necessarily finds her time quite well 
 taken up with the management of her farm and 
 of business affairs connected therewith, but she is 
 able to bear some part in the social pleasures of the 
 neigliborhootl anil is a respected member of society. 
 She has the confiilence of the community and, as 
 one who has made her own w.iy to competence, she 
 is regarded as affording a fine example of what can 
 be accomplished by a woman who is thrown upon 
 her own resources and has the worthy ambition to 
 make for herself a home. 
 
 r^T^IIOMAS J. ALLEN. The late Thomas J. 
 //jS., Allen was one of those active, energetic 
 v^^ men to whom Ionia Count}', in common 
 with other sections of the country, owes much of 
 its prosperity and the greater part of its develoi)- 
 ment. He was always ready to engage in any 
 work by which he could earn an honest dollar and 
 Ui3 busy life was also a useful one. When called 
 
512 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to exchange time for eternity lie was occupj'ing a 
 farm io Sebewa Township, the original tract con- 
 sisting of one hundred and twenty acres, to which 
 he had subsequently added seventy-six adjoining. 
 In the division of his property the latter fell to the 
 cliildren of his first wife, but it has been bought by 
 the two younger brotliers and again united with 
 the original homestead. It is now occupied by the 
 widow and her son Merritt, and has been the fam- 
 ily home since the father's decease, whicii occurred 
 in 1873. 
 
 The parents of our subject were William and 
 Margery (Dominie) Allen, both natives of the 
 Empire State. They removed to tliis State many 
 3-ears ago and here the father died. The mother 
 survived several years and died at the home of her 
 son Thomas. Their family comprised five chil- 
 dren, named respectively: Prudence, Thomas J., 
 William, George and Minerva. George died in 
 infancy; Minerva is the wife of Henry Reed, of 
 Sebewa, Ionia County. 
 
 Thomas Allen was seventeen years old when he 
 became a resident of Portland, Jay County, and 
 thence he came to Ionia County in 1861. He was 
 engaged in farming from his youth up to a greater 
 or less extent, and for some years ran a threshing 
 machine. During the winter season he was princi- 
 pall}' occupied in lumbering in the northern woods, 
 but when a young man had carried on that work in 
 Minnesota. He owned a farm of one hundred and 
 twenty acres in Jay County, which he exchanged 
 for an equal amount in Ionia County', giving quite 
 a sum as boot. He continued the improvement on 
 his new farm and was prospering in his calling 
 when death took him. 
 
 When twent^'-three years old Mr. Allen was 
 married to Miss Emily llammontree, daughter of 
 George Hammontree, the marriage taking place in 
 Ionia County. By the union he became the father 
 of two children — Amanda J., now the widow of 
 Nelson Van Bureu, and George W., a clothier in 
 I'ortland. The latter married Anna Probasco, 
 daughter of E. Probasco, but she is now deceased. 
 April 26, 1859, our subject made a second matri- 
 monial alliance, wedding Miss Rozilla H. Smith. 
 This lady was born in Ciawford County, Ohio, 
 December 9, 183'1. Her parents, Samuel and Mary 
 
 J. (Hannah) Smith, were natives of Pennsj'lvania 
 and early settlers at their Ohio home. The father 
 died there in 1840 and the widow shortly after- 
 ward removed with her five small children to 
 Seneca County, where all grew to womanhood. 
 They eventually became residents of this State and 
 the mother died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. 
 Allen, in 1888. Besides Mrs. Allen the children 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Smith are Elizabeth J., wife of 
 William Martin; Nancy, wife of Lamed Brown; 
 Sarah Ann, wife of J. W. Nichols, and Mary, wife 
 of Hiram Hart. 
 
 The second marriage of Mr. Allen was blest by 
 the birth of two sons — Merrit S. and Ora C. The 
 elder son was graduated from the Portland High 
 School in the class of '88 and engaged in teaching, 
 but has recently turned his attention to the man- 
 agement, of the homestead and bids fair to be a 
 successful farmer. The younger son resides in 
 Danb}^ having as his wife Carrie Wilkins, formerly 
 of Portland. He is a teacher and also » farmer. 
 The father of these joung men was a member of 
 the Methodist pjpiscopal Church, with which de- 
 nomination their mother is identified. He was 
 quite active in local politics and never fails to go 
 to the polls and cast a Republican ticket. 
 
 y^ILLIAM KEEPER is the son of Abram 
 Keefer, born near Philadelphia, Pa. The 
 ^-^ family is of Pennsylvania Dutch origin. 
 Abram Keefer married Mary Ann Weston, a native 
 of Pennsylvania who was born in 1800. They 
 lived in Ohio after their marriage until 1847, 
 when they came to Michigan and settled upon a 
 farm on section 1, Orange Township, Ionia County. 
 It vfas all raw land, a portion being oak open- 
 ings. He took three hundred and tvventy acres 
 upon which he built a hewed log house, the nicest 
 house in the country at that time. He w.as a fine 
 mechanic and bridge builder, building many bridges 
 in Ohio and Michigan. He died in 1862 and his 
 wife in 1872. Of their eight children six grew to 
 maturity and five are now living: George lives in 
 Portland; Abrara in Orange; Samuel in Kansas; 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 513 
 
 Mary Ann ( Mrs. O. Morse) in Gratiot County; and 
 
 oursulijccl, llie youngest of tlie family. The fatlier 
 was a stanch Ueinocral iii [)olitics. He showed 
 great interest in educational matters, and was a 
 member of the Scliool Board. One son, John, 
 served in a regiment of Micliig.-in iiif;iiiti'y ;uid 
 was killed in battle. 
 
 December IG, 1837, was tiie natal da^- of our 
 subject, his birthplace being Stark County, Ohio, 
 and he was therefore ton years old when Iiis father 
 came to Michigan. He attended school in the log 
 schoolhouse on his father's farm and tlien remained 
 at home and assisted in the work until he reached 
 his majority, and indeed after that he |)referrcil to 
 st.iy at the old place and relieve his father of the 
 res|)onsibilit3' of the home farm. For forty-three 
 3'ears his home has been here and he h.as seen this 
 property pass through all tlie stages of improve- 
 ment from wild Ian<l to its present slate. He has 
 three hundred and forty acres of land, including 
 the old liomeslead of one hundred and fifty-five 
 acres. He is a great worker, iiaving cleared off 
 one hundred acres of this himself, including the 
 removal of stumps and stones from all of it. Two 
 hundred and eiglily-fivc acres are under the plow. 
 He practices mixed farming and raises graded stock 
 for market. His residence built in 1882 cost ^3,000, 
 and he has built a barn 26.x72 feet and a large 
 amount of shed room. 
 
 Mr. Keefcr married August 13, 1862, .hilia M. 
 Carbaugh, a daughter of George and M.agdalena 
 (Forman) Carbaugh, both natives of Pennsylvania 
 who came to Michigan in 1856, and settled where 
 William Carbaugh now lives. George Carbaugh 
 died in 1862, and his wife In 1870. Of their eight 
 children five are now living. Mrs. Keefer was 
 the youngest child, born September 14, 1838, in 
 Virginia where she received a common-school edu- 
 cation. Her parents were hard-working people and 
 starting in early life with but ver3' little have 
 gained all that they have by persevering and in- 
 dustrious efforts. The mother of William Keefer 
 was for ten years before her death perfectly help- 
 less ami dependent upon her son for every attention 
 and assistance, which he granted most tenderly and 
 unstintingl^', and for nineteen years was badly 
 afflicted with rheumatism. Of liis five children, 
 
 the eldest, Ulj-sses Grant, was born October 14, 
 1863; Emma .May, born Sei)tember, 1 86.5, is now the 
 wife of William T. Naldrelt, with whom and her 
 one child, Dora May, she lives in Midland County, 
 Mich.; William S., born Se|)lember 13, 1867; Ida 
 Klla, October 27, 1870; .Sheridan Wilson, Decem- 
 ber 19, 1873. All have had a good schooling. 
 Ida has taken a course in the High .School at Ionia, 
 and William S. is a student in the business college. 
 He li.is been a member of the Grange, of which he 
 has been Master. He h.is alw.ays voted the Re- 
 publican ticket since Abraham Lincoln's first can- 
 didacy and is wide-awake to all political questions. 
 He is Assessor of .School District No. I, frfictional, 
 and has been a member of the School Board for 
 about twenty years. For four years he has been 
 Supervisor of the township and has also filled the 
 oHices of Constable and Justice of the Pe.ace. He 
 operated a threshing machine for nine years and 
 his sou has for six years been in the same line of 
 work, while his father showed the same liking for 
 machinery in his opemtion of a sawmill for some 
 years. His character for integrity and temperance 
 and his connection hy marriage with some of the 
 best families in the township have combined to 
 m.ake his name a prominent one in that section. 
 
 y^ ARCELLl'S J. ALLEN, a prosperous far- 
 mer residing on section 5, Ronald Town- 
 ship, Ionia County, was born in Long 
 Plains, Midi., October 27, 1845. His father, 
 Melvin 15. Allen, was born and reared in Vermont. 
 At eighteen years of age he removed to Franklin 
 County, N. V., there he married Eliza C. Wood, 
 who was born in Malone, Franklin County, N. Y. 
 After three years residence in that State tliey 
 removed in 1837 to Michigan and settled in Bur- 
 ton Township, Ionia County, when tliere were 
 very few settlers in that coimty. They afterward 
 lived in Palo, Ronald Township, thence removed 
 to Long Plains, where our subject was born. Tlicy 
 finally made their home in Ionia, where the father 
 died in 1887. The mother, now in lier seventy- 
 seventh vear, resides with a d.iughler in East-n 
 
514 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Township. Their five children are: Claria, who 
 (lied at the age of twenty-seven 3'ears; Elizabetii, 
 Mrs. W. S. Cowan; our sul)ject; Edgar M., who 
 died in C^olorado; and Herbert L. 
 
 The subject of this biographical review took his 
 first scliooling in a log schoolliousc. Afterward he 
 attended llic Union school at Ypsilanti. He began 
 work as a clerk in a store at Bay City. He spent 
 one year there and then one year in Ionia. He 
 then purchased and settled upon the place where he 
 now resides. During the two years when he was 
 clearing his place of timber he and his brother 
 Edgar kei)t bachelor's hall on the place. Tliis 
 however became wearisome and uninteresting and 
 on October 15, 1871, he married Susan S. Morri- 
 son, a native of Ionia, Mich., and at once went to 
 housekeeping on the farm. There was then no 
 road to the place but it is now one of the finest 
 farms in the county. He has two hundred and 
 four acres all under cultivation, except ten which 
 he keeps in timber. No children have been sent 
 to this pleasant lionie. 
 
 Mr. Allen carries on general farming and stock- 
 raising. He is a Republican in politics and a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic Loilge No. 203 at Palo. In 
 tliis lodge lie is the Treasurer. The grandfather 
 of our subject was Timothy Allen, a Vermont boy 
 in the War of 1H12. The beautiful residence in 
 which our subject iind his wife reside is a two- 
 story brick house whicli cost him $3,700, not count- 
 ing his own labor. 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 EDWARD BARNARD. This gentleman re- 
 sides on a farm on section 27, Orange Town- 
 ' ship, Ionia County. He belongs to a family 
 of Scotch origin. His father, Levi Barnard, a na- 
 tive of Connecticut, was born about 1779, and com- 
 bined with tiic business of a farmer the trades of a 
 wagonmaker and shoemaker. His mother, P0II3' 
 (Milkes) Barnard, was a native of Rome, Oneida 
 County, N. Y., and was of Pennsylvania Dutch 
 descent. Her father was a remarkable man phy- 
 sically, being a giant in stature and strength, weigh- 
 ing three hundred and forty pounds and being 
 
 well-proportioned. He could lift enormous weights 
 and accom])lisli prodigious tasks. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Levi Barnard were married in 
 Rome, N. Y., and from there they emigrated to 
 Canada, where for about six years they kept a 
 tavern. They then returned to New York, settling 
 in Orleans County upon a limbered farm, becoming 
 pioneers of that region; they then proceeded to 
 improve the farm upon which they lived for six- 
 teen years. Their next removal was to Niagara 
 County, where they made their home upon a farm 
 until their death in 1861. Sixteen children blessed 
 their home, only two of whom are now living. 
 One daughter. Mrs. Mary Ann Ilorton, still resides 
 in Niagara County, N. Y. The parents were mem- 
 bers of the JMethodist Episcopal Church, and the 
 father was very active in church matters. He was 
 also deeply interested in i)olitics, being a Whig in 
 the early days, but with many other Whigs joined 
 the Republican party upon its formation. At one 
 time he held the office of Supervisor, also that of 
 Justice of the Peace. 
 
 Edward Barnard was born July 15, 1825, in 
 Orleans County, N. Y. At sixteen years of age 
 he removed with his parents to Niagara County, 
 and there he resided until 1849, when he came to 
 Michigan to visit liis brother, Esquire Barnard, who 
 was a pioneer settler here. After his return home 
 he was united in marriage March 14, 1850, with 
 Elizabeth Jane Hostetter, a daughter of Philip and 
 Mary (Saddlesarm) Hostetter, natives of Pennsyl- 
 vania, and on both sides belonging to Pennsylvania 
 Dutch families, all being engaged in the business 
 of farming, and descendants of very early settlers 
 of that State. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. 
 Barnard was over one hundred 3 ears old at the 
 time of his death, while the family on her paternal 
 side were also long lived. Jlr. and Mrs. Hostetter 
 were the parents of seven children, four of whom 
 are now living. Mrs. Hostetter died in 1855, and 
 her husband followed her in 1SC3. Their daughter, 
 Mrs. Barnard, was born September 21, 1831, in 
 Niagara County, N. Y. 
 
 The newly married couple made their wedding 
 trip to Michigan and set up housekeeping in a log 
 shanty on section 27, entering at once upon the 
 improvement of forty acres of raw land. That 
 
RESIDENCE OF WASHINGTON CU RF?I E, SEC . 16, EA5T0 N T P.,1 ON lA CO.MICH 
 
 Kt .'^l U t I < 1. 1 ijf L t; 
 
 ^rtD.SEC5 22. i 27 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 517 
 
 poverty in youth does not preclude an honest, in- 
 dustrious, capable man from acquiring wealth, is 
 proved in llie liistory of tliis prosperous farmer. 
 They were at the time of their niarri.age very poor 
 and to get liere iiad to borrow ><100, upon which 
 they paid seven per cent, interest. Only ^'iO re- 
 mained in liie family purse when the}' reached their 
 new home, and they had to go in debt for the land. 
 Besides tliis sum of money tiiey had their own 
 sturdy indepcncience, good health, and forty acres 
 of encumbered land to begin vvjth. Mr. Barnard 
 cleared off thirty acres and cultivated it. To this 
 he added eighty acres of raw land, of which he has 
 cleared and put under cultivation sixtj'-five acres. 
 The early cultivation of land with the pioneers of 
 Ionia County, included a general clearance of their 
 acreage from stumps and stones. There were no 
 settled roads then, and iilonty of Indian neighbors 
 and wild animals abounded, but Mr. Barnard had 
 a happy faculty of getting along well with the 
 Indians. 
 
 Mr. Barnard has always carried on his farming 
 actively and has wisely chosen to follow mixed hus- 
 bandry. He devotes considerable attention to 
 stock-raising and h.os on his farm the Short-horn 
 and Devon cattle. After residing on this place for 
 three j-ears he removed b.ack to the old home in 
 New York, where he remained for two and a half 
 j'ears, and then made his permanent home in Michi- 
 gan. He now has one hundreil and sixty .acres of 
 land, located on sections 22, 27 and 28. His pres- 
 ent residence he erected in 1870, at a cost of !j'2,100, 
 besides his own labor and supervision. All the 
 improvements now on the farm have been placed 
 there b}* himself. He is a member of the Patrons 
 of Industr}', also of the Independent Order of Odd 
 Fellows and the Masonic fraternity, both at Port- 
 land . 
 
 In the early days Mr. Barnard was a Road Over- 
 seer, and many of the good roads in the county 
 were made by him, and were cut through heavy 
 timber. In those days they were glad to get a 
 market for their eggs at five cents a dozen and their 
 butler at five cents a pound. Mrs. Barnard assisted 
 her husband bravely in all his outside work; he 
 would sow the wheat and then she followed him to 
 drag it in. An ox-team was his only motive power 
 
 and for three years his best vehicle a sled, as be 
 
 was too poor to buy a wagon. This beautiful home 
 has never been blessed with ciiildren. Mr. Barnard 
 takes an interest in public affairs and has always 
 voted the Republican ticket. His judgment is con- 
 sidered sound and lie has been chosen sixteen times 
 to serve :is juror in both .State and Tnited States 
 Courts. His l)rothers, Esquire Levi and James, 
 died in this and Berlin Townships. Mr. Barnard 
 stands as one of the representative men of Orange 
 Township, and is highly esteemed in the community 
 which has so long been his home. 
 
 A view of the commodious residence and farm- 
 buildings on l\Ir. Barnard's estate ap|)ears elsewhere 
 in this volume. 
 
 (|, )»:ASHINGTON Cl'RRIE, a representative 
 r A* citizen and prominent pioneer of Ionia 
 \^/^ County, resides on section 16, Easton 
 Township. He was born in Oneida County, N. Y., 
 March 11, 1831, and is the son of William and 
 Catherine (Murry) Currie. His father emigi-ated 
 from .Scotland to America when a bo}' of seventeen 
 years, and his mother was a native of New Y'ork 
 State, of Scotch parentage. He lost his father 
 when a babe of eighteen months and when only 
 five years old his mother was taken from him by 
 death. A kindly aunt, Mrs. Margaret Fleming, a 
 Scotchwoman, reared the child. When only three 
 years old he had been brought by his mother and 
 aunt to Lenawee County, Mich., where the mother 
 died. 
 
 At the age of seven years our subject accom- 
 panied his uncle and aunt to Ionia County. The 
 trip here was made by teams to the vicinity of 
 .lackson, where they transferred their goods to a 
 flat-boat and in this they made the remainder of 
 the journey. Mr. Currie vividly recalls the inci- 
 dents of J-hat trip, during which the boat ran on to 
 a rock, and the kind settlers b}' the river came with 
 canoes and assisted them in releasing their boat and 
 getting it in deep water. l'|)on reaching this 
 county they settled on a farm in Ea3ton Township, 
 
bin 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 which is now owned by Norman Clark, and lieie 
 Mr. Fleming died. 
 
 Tlie rudiments of his cduuation were acquired 
 by our subject in the primitive schools of the back- 
 woods. His marriage December 10, 1854, united 
 him with Alvira Sweet, a daughter of Reuben and 
 Hester (Skul) Sweet, who lived near Rochester, 
 N. Y. By this union Mr. Currie had one son, 
 George AV., who married AlmaSnell. 
 
 Our subject settled on his present farm in the 
 spring of 1855 and made his home in a log cabin 
 18x28 feet in size. Many years later he removed 
 from beneath this humble roof into his present fine 
 residence, a view of which is presented on anotiier 
 page. His farm consists of one hundred and sixty 
 acres in a good state of cultivation, and his com- 
 fortable hume r.nd fine farm are a standing mon- 
 ument to his enterprise and encrg3'. He and his 
 good wife are leading members of society and are 
 well and favorably known throughout the com- 
 munity wliere they reside. 
 
 ^/ AY ROSS. The farmers of Lyons Town- 
 ship, Ionia County, have a good represent- 
 ative in the gentleman above named, whose 
 fine farm on section 4, has been brought to 
 its |)resent state by his own efforts, he having cut 
 the first stick of timber felled upon it. In subdu- 
 ing the land, making improvements upon it and 
 raising crops of various kinds Mr. Ross has shown 
 a degree of enterprise and an understanding of his 
 calling that stamps him as one of the intelligent 
 agiiculturists, so many of whom are to be met 
 with in the county. In other ways also he may be 
 taken as a fair type of the class, his citizenship 
 being reliable, his intelligence above the average 
 and his private character admirable. 
 
 The birthplace of Mr. Ross was Rensselaer 
 County, N. Y., and the date of his arrival upon 
 the stage of human events August 21, 1826. His 
 father and grandfatlier bore the same name — Joshua 
 — and both were born in Rhode Island. The grand- 
 father was a sailor and the father a stonemason. 
 
 The latter went to the Empire State and married 
 Anna Rounds, who was born in Rensselaer County, 
 and there the young couple remained until 18.3G. 
 They then went to Yates County and the husband 
 turned his attention to farming. Ten j'ears later 
 they came to Ionia County, Mich., and establisiied 
 themselves on section 5, Lyons Township. They 
 took possession of a new farm and had made con- 
 siderable imjjrovement upon it before the husband 
 was called hence in 1851. The widow died on the 
 same farm in 1870. They reared five dauglitcrs 
 and four sons, all yet living but one, Moses, who 
 died in California. The other brothers and sisters 
 of our subject are Anna, now Mrs. Nichols, of 
 Colora<lo; Peter, who lives in North Plains Town- 
 ship; Jane, wife of Fred Smith, living in Genesee 
 County; Mary L., now Mrs. Oris wold, of Ovid, 
 Clinton County'; Mrs. Lucelia H. Ludwig, of Ionia 
 Count3-; Mrs. Amelia Brown, living in Mecosta 
 Count}'; and Nathan W., whose home is in Otisco 
 Township, Ionia County. 
 
 Jay Ross is the oldest child of his parents. He 
 was ten years old when he left his native place for 
 ^Veste^n New York and was twenty when he came 
 to this State. His education was acquired in the 
 district schools of the Empire .State and his knowl- 
 edge of farming was largely gained while aiding 
 his father on the home place. Immediately after 
 his marriage, which took place in the fall of 1850, 
 he made his home where he now lives, buying 
 forty acres of land for $100. He added to the 
 extent of his farm as circumstances warranted and 
 now has one hundred and ten acres, most of which 
 is under the plow. He raises the crops that are 
 adapted to the soil and climate and gives such 
 attention as is usual to raising domestic animals, 
 making a specialty of neither. His fields are en- 
 closed by good fences, the outbuildings are sub- 
 stantial and ample for their purposes, and the 
 dwelling is comfortable and homelike. 
 
 At the bride's home, in the village of L3'ons, 
 September 10, 1850, Mr. Ross was married to Miss 
 Julia Nichols, This lady was born in Yates County, 
 N. Y., February 3, 1829, her parents being John 
 and Julia (McCloud) Nichols. Her father was 
 born in Germany and her mother in New York. 
 They spent their wedded life in the Empire State 
 
 1 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALI5UM. 
 
 519 
 
 and their mortal remains were laid away side by 
 side in Avon, Livingston County. The marriage 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Ross has been blest to them by 
 tlie birth of live children, whose record is as fol- 
 lows: John K., born in 1853, is living in Lyons 
 Townsiiip; E. Madora, born in 1855, is the wife 
 of W. C. Kly and her home is in Lyons Town- 
 ship; Eugene J., born in 185'J, lives in Ionia and 
 is janitor of the court house; Lenna M., born in 
 1861, is the wife of George Corbin and their home 
 is in Grand Rapids; Charles E., born in 186'J, 
 still remains with his parents and is his fatlier's 
 assistant in managing tlie farm. 
 
 Mr. Ross helped to organize the first school in 
 his neighborhood and hired the first teacher in the 
 district. In order to increase the attendance and 
 so keep ui) the school he sent his eldest son when 
 he was but four years old. He has continued his 
 interest in educational affairs and has also been 
 ready to take a part in other worthy movements. 
 His first vote was cast in behalf of Gen. Winfield 
 Scott and he gives his aid and influence to the 
 Democratic part}'. He is a memljer of llic Patrons 
 of Industry. He and liis wife are members of the 
 Presl)ylerian Church of Muir, of which he has been 
 Trustee. The oldest settler, save one, now living 
 in the neighborhood, he is widely known and is 
 looked upon as an honor to the community. 
 
 -J— 
 
 f 
 
 ILLIAM BROOKS is one of the men who 
 i^yi; are keeping up the reputation of Ionia 
 County as an agricultural region of de- 
 cided productiveness, equal to any within the 
 bour.dsof the State. His farm is favorably located 
 on section 36, Orleans Township, anil consists of 
 si.xty acres of land, upon which stand the usual 
 buildings seen in a flourishing agricultural district 
 and over which graze well-fed herds of domestic 
 animals. Mr. Brooks gives his attention to general 
 farming, as he has done for many 3'ears. 
 
 The paternal graiid|)arents of our subject were 
 Caleb and Hannah (Ellis) Brooks, who were bom 
 in the Green Mountain State, but during the latter 
 years of their lives resided in New York. Caleb 
 
 Brooks entered the Revolutionary array at the age 
 of thirteen years and he also fought the British in 
 the War of 1812. In 1855 he made a visit to his 
 son in Michigan. He died in Antwerp, N. Y., at 
 the venerable age of ninety-seven years, and his 
 wife died there after having passed her one hun- 
 , dredth biithday. 
 
 Our subject is a son of William E. Brooks, who 
 was born in Ve/mont, but went to New York dur- 
 ing his early life and when part of that State was 
 not fully developed. He lived there until 1846, 
 then came to Ionia County, this Stale, and made 
 his final home in Ronald Township. There he 
 took up two hundred and twenty acres of land on 
 which he continued the work to which he devoted 
 his life — farming. When a boy he had learned the 
 butcher's trade but he followed it only a short 
 time. His death occurred March 5, 1869. He had 
 served as Ilighwaj' Commissioner several terms, 
 lie and his wife, who died in 1887, belonged to the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
 of Caroline Kent. Her parents were Nathaniel and 
 Hannah (Mead) Kent, and her mother was first 
 married to Luther Dorwin, who was a sohlier of 
 the Revolution and the War of 1812. He fought 
 seven years in the first struggle for independence, 
 and while cheering at the close wjis mistaken for a 
 British soldier and fired upon by his own comrades, 
 seven bullets passing through his hat. To Luther 
 Dorwin and his wife eleven children were born: 
 Stephen, William, Hubby, Zcddock, Amos, Laura, 
 Hannah, Nancy, Ruth, Sally and Nabby: all are 
 deceased. The family circle to which our subject 
 belongs includes .also Caroline, Minerva, Milton, 
 Nathaniel, Curtis, Stephen, Er.-istus and Angelo. 
 
 William Brooks, the subject of this sketch, was 
 born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Eebruary 21, 
 1828, and was nineteen years old when he accora- 
 l)anied his parents to this State. He lived in Ron- 
 ald Townshij) twenty-five years, then made his 
 home in Ionia City for nine years. In 1875 he 
 came to Orleans Township, where he has remained, 
 steadily pursuing his occupation. In Ronald Town- 
 ship he w.as the owner of one hundred acres of land, 
 but he solil it upon his removal to the county seat 
 and invested his capital in the mercantile business. 
 
520 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 In company with C. A. Preston and William H. 
 Bentley he built the Union Block, in which he h.a<l 
 a third interest. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Brooks to Miss Margaret 
 Wicks was solemnized at Smyrna August 12, 1866. 
 The bride was a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth 
 (Filkins) Wicks, natives of New York, who came 
 to Ionia County in 1846. They located in Otiseo 
 Township, but after a sojourn of a few years re- 
 moved to Orleans Township, where they died at 
 the respective ages of seventy-seven and eighty- 
 eight years. They were members of the Baptist 
 Church. Mr. Wicks was Treasurer of Orleans 
 Township for a number of years. He was a black- 
 smith by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have two 
 children — Willis W. and Marian M. — both residing 
 at home. Mr. Brooks has been a member of the 
 Patrons of Industry and is a member of the Grange. 
 He is a Master Mason, belonging to Ionia Lodge. 
 While living in Ronald Township he served as 
 Treasurer two years, and in Ionia he held the same 
 office and for the same length of time. In politics 
 he has always been an adherent of the Republican 
 party. Three of his brothers — Stephen, Angelo 
 and Erastus— were in the Union army during the 
 late war, survived its dangers, and are still living. 
 
 "i|^^^ APOLEON B. RICE is a man who is very 
 I j) much respected in the community where he 
 ]v^!^ resides. This esteem he fully merits by the 
 exemplary manner in which he performs the duties 
 of citizenship. The public offices which he has 
 filled are important and trustworthy, and the great 
 length of time which he has held these positions 
 speak forcibly of the faithful performance of their 
 duties. 
 
 Mr. Rice was born in Ontario County, N. Y., 
 February 7, 1829, and is the son of Caleb and Lucy 
 (Lathrop) Rice, natives of New York. Caleb Rice 
 was a clergyman in the Baptist Church, a man of 
 great piety and no doubt one who sowed many 
 seeds by the wayside which eventually produced 
 golden harvests. In his ministerial career of fifty 
 years dMi'ation, this good man, without doubt, gar- 
 
 nered many harvest sheaves of his own sowing, 
 as he commenced at the age of nineteen years and 
 preached until the time of his death. He came to 
 Michigan in 1850 and located in Eaton County, 
 where he died February 22, 1860. He was twice 
 married; by his first wife he had three children, 
 and by the second, seven — three of whom still sur- 
 vive: John L., a resident of Geneseo, N. Y. ; Ephi- 
 let,, in Eaton County, this State; Napoleon B., our 
 subject; Wealth^' D.was the wife of George Sprague, 
 and both are deceased. 
 
 Our subject was reared to farm pursuits, alter- 
 nating with teaching. His career commenced as a 
 teacher in Michigan at the age of nineteen years, 
 and his first efforts were in Hillsdale, Washington 
 and Eaton Counties. In 1857 he engaged in mill- 
 ing [lursuils and continued in this business four 
 years. He afterward went onto a farm where he 
 remained eleven years, but soon went back to the 
 mill where he has been since. Mr. Newman and 
 our subject own the mill, whose capacity is one hun- 
 dred and seventy-five barrels, and their principal 
 shipping point is New York. 
 
 Mr. Rice married Mar}' Newman November 23, 
 1857. Three children have blessed this union: 
 Effie Amelia, died in August, 1883; Charles C. and 
 Hiram Elwin, who are operating as millers. Mr. 
 Rice is a member of the Universalist Church, is a 
 stanch Democrat and has been Supervisor and 
 Assessor about ten years. On account of the great 
 integrity which he displays in performing the 
 duties of his office he has been re-elected a number 
 of times. 
 
 BIJAH RICH has long been numbered 
 among the farmers of Ionia Count}', having 
 in 1857 cast in his lot with the residents in 
 Otiseo Township. He at that time pur- 
 chased a farm of eight}- acres, but he has increased 
 his possessions and now has one hundred and fifty- 
 three acres in the township, two-thirds of which is 
 under the plow. In 1888 Mr. Rich bought two 
 lots in Belding, on which he has built a fine dwell- 
 ing suited to his comfort and that of his family. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 521 
 
 This property is valued at about ^2,000. It will 
 thus be seen lUat our subject lias been successful in 
 accumulating worldly goods, and that he lias 
 demonstrated the fact Ihat farming is a work in 
 which men can gain a competence. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Reldon Rich, wlio lived and died in Seneca Count}-, 
 N. Y. In his family was a son, Noaii, who mar- 
 ried Hannah Foster, daughter of Abijah Foster. 
 The couple finallj- came to this State and settled in 
 Wayne County. About 1854 they changed their 
 residence to Ionia County and Mr. Rich bought 
 one hundred and sixty acres of land in Otisco 
 T(jwnship, where be remained until death. He 
 built the hotel at Smyrna. To him and his wife 
 one son and one daughter were born, named re- 
 spectively, Abijah and Harriet. 
 
 The birth of Abijah Rich took place March 24, 
 1825, at the old home of the family in Seneca 
 Count}', N. Y. lie remained with his parents until 
 he was seventeen years old when, their home then 
 being in this State, he returned to the place of his 
 nativity, remaining there until 1850, engaged in 
 fanning. He then returned to Michigan and lo- 
 (•ate<l in Kent County, where he remained until the 
 period before mentioned as the time of his arrival 
 in Ionia County. 
 
 When he returned to this State our subject was 
 accompanied by a wife with whom he was united 
 December 25, 1849. She bore the maiden name of 
 Hannah L. Putnam and is one of seven daughters 
 born to Thomas and Abigail (Grover) Putnam, her 
 sisters being named Sophia, Nanc}', Lucinda, Sarah, 
 Orplia and Kmeline. Her parents were natives re- 
 s|iectively of Vermont and Connecticut. She was 
 carefully reared, and not only instructed in house- 
 wifely duties and the ordinary branches of an 
 Knglish education, but tauglil the |)rinciples that 
 should animate every liuman being. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Rich have had five sons and two daughters, named 
 lespectively : Josiali R., Byron. Dan, Hattie, Frank 
 R. and Lerna and Fred (twins). They have been 
 bereft of the earthly companionship of two, .losiah 
 and Hattie, but they arc looking forward to a re- 
 union with them in the land beyond the tomb. 
 
 Roth Mr. and Mrs. Rich belong to the Methodist 
 Ki)iscopal Church and their standing among the 
 
 membership is excellent. Mr. Rich entered the 
 Union service February 14, 1805, as a private in 
 Company H, Tenth Michigan Cavalry, and was 
 discharged September 22, after the close of the 
 war. He never aspires to oftice but is content to 
 discharge the duties of a private citizen and is an 
 unfailing supporter of the Republican party. 
 
 BHlffllfDmE 
 
 W OL'IS S. RUELL is the alTable host of the 
 I (^ Welch House in Portland, Ionia Count}-, 
 I ILavv gufj jg jjjgy ^|jg proprietor and manager of a 
 general store in this village. He has been a resident 
 of the |)lace a short time only, but already his qual- 
 ities are making themselves felt in business circles 
 and among the traveling public. As an hotel 
 keeper he has had an experience of some years and 
 to his new field he brings the tact and courtesy that 
 make of every stranger an honored guest and of 
 their comforta matter of moment. His years have 
 been characterized by energetic pursuit of what- 
 ever occupation promised best results in the town 
 in which he was located, and a determination to 
 rise above tlie simplest needs of humanity. 
 
 The Roclls came from Scotland to America, the 
 family being established in Canada by John Roell, 
 who had been owner of a glass factory in Aberdeen, 
 but after his emigration bought a large tract of 
 land on which he resided until bis death in 1836. 
 His son, Mathias, was twelve years old when the 
 ocean was crossed and when grown he liecame a 
 sohlier in the British army, holding the rank of 
 Sergeant. He took up the profession of medicine 
 and after finishing his studies practiced in Canada. 
 He died in the Dominion May 20, 1869; his widow 
 now lives in Ogdensburg, N. Y. To this couple 
 were born six sons and six daughters, three of the 
 number dying in early life and three in mature 
 years. John, a resi<lent of Ogdensburg, N. Y., 
 died in 1871, and the same year his sister, Mrs. 
 Susan Marsh passed away; Frank, a contrac- 
 tor and builder, died in Canada August 22, 18H6. 
 The living members of the family are Louis S., sub- 
 ject of this notice; William M., a sawyer in Mus- 
 kegon, this State; Mrs. John Falkner, of Wisconsin ; 
 
522 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Mrs. James Barber, residing in Ogdensburg, N. Y.; 
 Mrs. William Petlengill, whose home is in Ft. Cov- 
 ington, N. Y.; and Mrs. Catherine Matt, of Spring- 
 field, Mass. 
 
 The subject of these paragraphs was born in St. 
 Catherine's, Province of Ontario, Canada, March 3, 
 1842, and at the early age of eight 3'ears began 
 working in a store, continuing his duties here some 
 two years. AVhen just entering his teens he went 
 to New York alone, and found emplo^'uient on a 
 farm, and there he labored until the breaking out 
 of the Civil War. "The shot heard around the 
 world" had scarcely ceased to echo over the land 
 when he enlisted, signing the roll of Company G, 
 One Hundred and Twenty-second New York In- 
 fantry, August 14, 186L He remained in the ser- 
 vice until January 14, 1862, when his ill health 
 made a discharge necessar}', he having been 
 wounded at Antietam. Much against his wish he 
 was obliged to resume the arts of peace, but he 
 gave his influence and s^'mpathj' to the Union cause 
 and his thoughts often reverted to the flelds of con- 
 flict. 
 
 When he left the army Mr. Roell went to Wis- 
 consin and thence to Saginaw, this State, where he 
 became foreman in a mill and interested in the lum- 
 ber industrj'. In this enterprise be has since been 
 largely' engaged, and during the flourishing da^'s of 
 the region he kept the Webster Hotel. In 1891 he 
 removed to Belding, Ionia County, and opened a 
 general store which was burnt out and he then 
 came to Portland. His occupations here have been 
 already mentioned. Besides his stock and personal 
 property, Mr. Roell owns a fine farm. 
 
 In .Sennett, N. Y., Noveniber2I, 1859, Mr. Roell 
 was united in marriage with Miss Mary M. Hewitt, 
 an estimable lady who is a native of Canandaigua, 
 N. Y., and to whom he and their children owe 
 deep gratitude for their home comforts and the de- 
 votion of her life. To Mr. and Mrs. Roell eight 
 sons and daughters have been born, of whom six 
 are living, named respectively. Art C, Herbert, 
 William, Louis, Carrie and Matie. The seconcl son 
 is now attending the Ypsilanti Business College, 
 and Carrie is the wife of Herbert Dodge and lives 
 in Morley, this State. 
 
 Art C. Roell was born in Elbridge, N. Y., July 
 
 28, 1862. An occupation to which he devoted his 
 time in early life was packing shingles and he after- 
 ward learned telegraphy, to which he still gives 
 his attention. He has been an operator on tiie line 
 of the Detroit, Lansing & Milwaukee Railroad, and 
 he is now m.anager of the Michigan postal telegraph 
 and cable lines. He also has an important part in 
 the control of the Welch House. His wife was 
 known in her maidenhood as Miss L. May Head- 
 ley, and they have one child, a daughter, Claytie, 
 who is the pride of the entire household and the 
 wonder of all who hear her elocutionary efforts, 
 as she shows a remarkable talent in that line. 
 
 Mr. Roell, subject of this sketch, is a social man, 
 and takes an unusual degree of interest in the fra- 
 ternal orders. He is connected with Masonr}', Odd 
 Fellowship, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
 and the Grand Army of the Republic. He claims 
 to be a "Democrat to the backbone" and none who 
 know him will gainsay this fact. In Montcalm 
 County he was Justice of the Peace, with a good 
 record as an officer. He and his family are gaining 
 friends in their new home and no doubt will soon 
 be as popular here as the}' have been elsewhere. 
 
 ':^^ 
 
 LFRED R. ISHAM. This gentleman is 
 O! one of the well-to-do farmers of Montcalm 
 County and is also a member of the firm 
 of Cross & Isham, proprietors of the But- 
 ternut cheese factory and a general store at Butter- 
 nut. There is a fine market for the products of 
 tlie factory and its reputation is constantly increas- 
 ing, so that the output this year will be much 
 larger than ever before. During the last year the 
 factor}- produced sixty one thousand eight hundred 
 pounds. The farm of Mr. Isham consists of two 
 hundred and ten acres, in every part of which 
 order and neatness prevail. It bears a complete 
 line of farm buildings, including a large and sub- 
 stantial barn and one of the finest farm houses to 
 be seen in the county. The dwelling was put up 
 in 1890, is built of Owasso brick, contains ten large 
 rooms and has three cellars. 
 
 The parents of our subject were A. D. and Mar- 
 
PORTRAIT A.ND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 523 
 
 garet (Whitacre) Ishain, natives of New York and 
 \'crn)Oiit resiiectively, and members of the fanning 
 community. Tlio)' were living in Ionia Coiintj', 
 this State, when their son Alfred was born Septem- 
 ber 10, 1840. The lad lived on the home farm 
 until the death of his mother, which oc-curred when 
 he was eleven j'ears old, and he then went to New 
 York and si)ont some four j^ears with relatives in 
 Monroe and Ontario Counties. He obtained a good 
 business education and after his return to tliis State 
 he became well acquainted with agricultural work, 
 as he aided his father in clearing land and raising 
 crops. He lias three brothers engaged in fanning 
 in Montcalm Countj' and two living in ("leveland, 
 Ohio — J. I'rank being Vice-President in the firm of 
 H. M. Brainerd & Co., and Dr. ,1. S., a physician 
 who was graduated from Bellevue College and 
 Hospital, New York. 
 
 October It!, 18C2, Mr. Tsham was married to 
 Miss Mary L. Carey, wiiose former home was in 
 tiie township she has continued to reside in. The 
 marriage has been blessed by the birth of two chil- 
 dren — .). Frank, born June 23, 1866, and Willie, 
 born September 19, 1873. Both sons are at home 
 anil Willie does the book-keeping for the firm of 
 Cross it Isham. They have been given good edu- 
 cations and the parents have taken great interest in 
 their progress and in further fitting them for the 
 battle of life by instilling into their minds good 
 princi|)les of conduct. 
 
 In recalling his early experiences Mr. Isham does 
 not forget that along with privation and hardship 
 he had many pleasures, and he often says that the 
 people in a new settlement are more social and 
 friendly than in populous localities. Upon his 
 place is a sugar camp of three hundred trees, 
 from which sugar and syrup for the use of the 
 family are made. When Mr. Isham was making 
 the initial improvements on his property he was in 
 the habit of chopping and logging during the win- 
 ter and whenever his farm work would allow, and 
 slowlj' but surely he made room for larger fields 
 and better crops. He has held various minor 
 olliccs, has served on the School Board, and was 
 Township Supervisor one year. The vote he easts 
 is a Republican one. 
 
 In the winter of 1864 Mr. Isham entered the 
 
 army as a member of Company E, Twentj'-seventh 
 Michigan Infantry, Col. D. M. Fox. He had 
 two brothers in the same regiment. He was present 
 at the siege of Knoxville, look part in the battles 
 of the Wilderness, ('old Harbor and Spoltsylvania 
 Court House, and aided in the siege of Petersburg, 
 where he witnessed the blowing up of the fort. He 
 was present at the surrender of General Lee and 
 took part in the Grand Review at Washington, and 
 remained in the capital nearly all summer. He 
 w.as discharged July 26, 1865, but did not reach 
 home until September, as he could not get trans- 
 ))ortation before. 
 
 LFORD SHIRFS owns the largest body of 
 land that is held by one individual in Day 
 Township, Montcalm County. It consists 
 of thirteen hundred and sixty acres on 
 sections 25, 26 and 27, of which three hundred 
 and twenty acres are improved. There are three 
 dwelling houses and two barns on the place and 
 various minor structures, and it is not without or- 
 chards and other adornments that add to its 
 remunerativeness as well astoits beaut3'. Mr. Shires 
 has one hundred and fift}' acres of grain and haj' 
 land, and raises good grades of cattle and sheep, 
 his flock averaging one hundred head. The tilled 
 land is watered by Fish Creek and is fertile and 
 adapted for either grain or stock purposes. The 
 tract of land he owns was formerly the Grand 
 Haven Lumber Company's property. Mr. Shires 
 is a partner of Heath & Shcrra.an, the widely-known 
 lumber men of this region. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Michael Shires, a native of Germany, who located 
 on a farm near Danville, Pa., after his emigration 
 and died there. His son William w.as born on the 
 farm and took up his father's calling in the same 
 county, and he too passed away in the Keystone 
 State. William Shires married Pli(cbe Bond, a na- 
 tive of the Slate and a life-long resident there. She 
 and her husband belonged to the Baptist Church, 
 and the latter was a Deacon. They reared five 
 children, of whom Alford is next to the eldest. 
 
524 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIC \L ALBUM. 
 
 Alford Shires was born near Danville, Montour 
 County, Pa., September 26, 1849, and grew to man- 
 hood on the farm owned by his father. He attended 
 the district school and learned useful lessons at 
 home, and when his father died he was able to 
 carry on the farm to quite good advantage. He 
 was about of age when the place came into his 
 hands, and he remained upon it until the spring of 
 1873, when he came West. Arriving in this State 
 he sought employment and found it witli the Cut- 
 ler & Savage Lumber Company at Si)ring Lake. He 
 began at the bottom of the ladder in the new busi- 
 ness, making plank road, and advanced to trim- 
 ming the saw, tail sawing, and so on until he 
 became head sawyer. For six years he was head 
 sawyer and he also learned to hammer the saws. 
 
 In 1883 Mr. Shires came to Day Township and 
 bouglit tlie tract of fourteen hundred and forty 
 acres, the most of which he now owns. He at once 
 located on it and began making improvements, and 
 during the winter months worked for the Grand 
 Haven Lumber Company, scaling logs, etc., until 
 they completed the job tliey were engaged at. He 
 has sold off eighty acres, and is rapidly placing the 
 rest under cultivation. His fortunes have been 
 shared since October 29, 1879, by a true-hearted 
 wife whose maiden name was Jennie Heath. She 
 is a daughter of Le Roy Heatli, of whom further 
 mention is made in the sketch of V. S. Heath, on 
 another page in this Album. She is the eldest of 
 four children, was born witiiin sight of Rockford, 
 111., February 1, 1859, and reared in Ottawa_County, 
 Mich. Her education was obtained in the dis- 
 trict schools, principally in Spring Lake Townsiiip 
 where her years of maidenhood were spent, but 
 she has gained culture from sources outside the 
 scliool room, and is relined as well. 
 
 The happy marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Shires has 
 been further blessed to them in the birth of two 
 children — Glenn and I'lorence I. Both husband 
 and wife belong to the Baptist Churcli at Stanton 
 and Mrs. Shires is connected with the Ladies Aid 
 Society. Mrs. Sliires is a member of the Odd Fel- 
 lows' Lodge at Spring Lake, and always deposits a 
 Republican ballot when ihe national issues are be- 
 inc considered. Husband and wife are ''given to 
 hospitality," dispense their means liberally when 
 
 any worthy movement calls for their sympathy, 
 and display such qualilics of mind and heart as 
 win the esteem of those who know them. 
 
 <?^)D\VIN R. BANTON. It is thirty years 
 {l^ since Mr. Banton settled in this Slate and 
 /I' — -^ almost that period has elapsed since he be- 
 came a resident of Montcalm County and of that 
 part of Bloomer Township where he is now to be 
 found. He has a fine farm of two hundred and 
 forty acres, all under cultivation or used for pas- 
 turage and the minor work connected with farm 
 life, except a timber tract of twenty-four acres. 
 The woodland contains a fine sugar camp of eight 
 hundred trees, but this is rarely worked. The 
 buildings that now stand upon the property are 
 comfortable and substantial, and include every- 
 thing that is needful in carrying on the work to 
 which Mr. Banton gives his attention. He is es- 
 pecially interested in fine stock and prides himself 
 on the good horses and cattle and pure-bred hogs 
 on his place. 
 
 Mr. Banton is a son of the Pine Tree State, hav- 
 ing been born in La Grange County, Me., June 2, 
 183G. His father, Joseph B. Binton, was born in 
 Manchester, England, and was a seafaring man dur- 
 ing his earlier life. He was captain of a vessel on 
 the Atlantic and when he abandoned the sea he be- 
 came a farmer. The mother of our subject bore 
 the maiden name of Sophronia Ranlet and was born 
 in Maine. The son had good schooling until he 
 was fourteen years old, but from that time he went 
 in winters until he was of age, p.aying his board by 
 work — as he began life for himself. His father was 
 highly educated and encouraged and aided his son 
 in improving his mind. 
 
 In the fall of 1857 young Banton came to this 
 State and made his home in Ionia. There he fol- 
 lowed various pursuits for a livelihood until No- 
 vember, 1864, when he came to Montcalm County 
 and set up his home in the midst of the forest. 
 He built a log cabin 11x14 feet, in which 
 he lived about twelve years. In the mean- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 527 
 
 time lie was working iiard to hew clown the trees 
 that surrounded it, remove tiie stumps and fit the 
 land for cultivation. He went to Ionia and Hul)- 
 bardston for iiis supplies and to sell produce when 
 he beyan to raise more than he used, and there he 
 was obliged to have his milling done. Mr. lianton 
 has paid considerable attention to raising clover 
 seed an(1 has threshed as mucli as two hundred 
 busliels from thirty acres of land. 
 
 March 1, 18C4, Mr. Banton was married to Miss 
 Samantha Holcomb, at that time a resident of 
 Ionia County, but a native of New York. She was 
 reared in this Slate, became well informe<l, and un- 
 derstands liow to make a cozy home and discharge 
 the duties she owes to her family and friends. She 
 has considerable property in Carson City, owning 
 a number of lots there and a handsome residence. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hanton have two children — Ella 
 .1., born August 10, 1805, and now the wife of 
 George A. Smith, a shingle-maker at Lake View; 
 and (Jeorgc ]{.. born Maj' 24, 1873, and now at- 
 tending school in Carson City. 
 
 In all public enterprises Mr. Banton is among 
 the most conspicuous and active workers in the lo- 
 cality in which he lives. He is a man of progres- 
 sive ideas, takes an active interest in educational 
 matters, and has seen that his own children enjoyed 
 as good opportunities as came within his means. 
 His daughter taught school in this county three 
 terms, and his son is already well informed, though 
 still a student. Mr. Banton votes the Republican 
 ticket. He has held the various school olllces and 
 served as Highway Commissioner. He is a stock- 
 holder in the State Bank of Carson City, and has 
 been a Director for two j-ears. 
 
 W ORAM) .1. MOSHER. Among the enter- 
 11 (^ {'rising farmers of Ionia County is the gen- 
 /ll=^. tlenian whose portrait appears on the oppo- 
 site page, and whose present estate has been 
 brought to a fine condition In' his own efforts. 
 When he settled on section 20, Ronald Town- 
 ship, in the year 1859, he found a clearing of 
 five acres and a log bouse on the tract of land 
 
 he had bought. The first one hundred and sixty 
 acres cost him ^2,600, it being covered with heavy 
 timber that was considered quite valuable. This 
 has been removed and the acreage extended so that 
 the estate now consists of two hundred anil 
 forty acres, with one hundred and eighty under 
 cultivation. The farm buildings include every 
 necessary and convenient structure, among them 
 being three barns, used respectively for sheep, 
 horses and cattle. The largest of these is 36x44 
 feet. The family dwelling is a two-story frame, 
 the west upright, 18x29 feet, and the east upright 
 18x28 feet; a one-stor}- wing extends toward the 
 south. There are eight rooms on the first floor 
 and nine on the second. 
 
 The family history states that the Mosher fam- 
 ily was established in America by three brothers 
 who emigrated from England, and that there is a 
 large estate in the mother country due to the 
 heirs. Two of the brothers mentioned li.ad families 
 and from one of these our subject is descended, 
 (irandfalher Mosher, whose given name was James, 
 was bnrn in New York and followed farming. His 
 son William was born and reared in the Empire 
 State, learned the trade of a millwright and also 
 worked at furniture-making. He spent the latter 
 part of his life in farming. In Otsego Count}', 
 N. Y., he married Samantha Laurence, who was 
 born and reared in New York. In that county 
 Mr. Mosher was eng.aged in milling, but upon 
 removing to Madison County he turned to farm- 
 ing. After a few years he went to St. Lawrence 
 County, and in 1830 left that locality for Michi- 
 gan. He look a boat at Ogdensburg and after 
 landing at Detroit continued his journey with a 
 team. 
 
 William Mosher located in Royal Oak Town- 
 ship, Oakland County, on an unimproved farm 
 and labored for the development of the land until 
 December. 1836, when he removed to Clinton 
 County. There again he took possession (^f unim- 
 proved land and once more took up the woik 
 necessary to subdue it. He remained there until 
 1845, from which time until his ileath he made his 
 home with our subject. He died in June, 1849. 
 anil his wife survived until August, 18,i5. Their 
 children were Lucy, Laura, Lorand J., Laurence, 
 
528 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Janson B., Louisa, Lyman D. and Locke V. Those 
 now living are onr subject, Lyman D. and Locke V. 
 
 The gentleman whose name introduces this 
 sketch was born in Otsego County, N. Y., on the 
 Burlington Flats, November 4, 1824. He was about 
 eight years old wlien he came to this State and in 
 Oakland County he completed his schooling. His 
 first studies had been carried on in a log school- 
 house in his native State. He remained with his 
 parents until his marriage, after which they became 
 inmates of his dwelling, and he continued to aid in 
 their support as he had previously done. He was 
 married in Ionia County in 1848, to Miss Lucretia 
 Bovec, a native of New York, who died June 
 20, 1868. The union has been blest by the birth 
 of five children — William M., Chloe M., Alice S., 
 Harriet and George Irving. 
 
 March 23, 1870, Mr. Mosher made a second 
 matrimonial alliance, wedding Miss Sarah E. Kel- 
 logg. This lady was born in Onondaga County, 
 N. Y., July ID, 1829, and was nine years old when 
 she left her native place and accompanied her 
 parents to Michigan. Her mother, Lydia (Post) 
 Kellogg, a native of Vermont, died August 23, 
 1839. Her father, .lonalhan Kellogg, who was 
 born in Saratoga County, N. Y., breathed his last 
 March 9, 1871. 
 
 Mr. Mosher lias done good service to the travel- 
 ing public while acting in the capacity of High- 
 way Commissioner. He was Postmaster at Albion 
 in 1858. He takes an intelligent interest in polit- 
 ical questions and since he cast his first vote for 
 John Charles Fremont has been identified with the 
 Republican party. 
 
 ^ILLIAM W. McKUNE, a prominent citi- 
 zen of McBride, Montcalm County, is en- 
 gaged in the real-estate and insurance 
 business. He is also Justice of the Peace and is 
 now proprietor of the Cottage Hotel in that vil- 
 lage. He bears an honorable record of service for 
 his country in the navy during the Civil War, 
 and both he and his wife arc highly esteemed 
 and beloved in the community. The father of 
 
 our subject, Dr. David W. McKune, was born in 
 Orange Count}-, N. Y., of Scotch parentage, his 
 father having come to this country in the early 
 j'ears of his married life. He settled first in Orange 
 County, N. Y., and ten years later he removed to 
 McKeau County, Pa., where he did a large business 
 in the manufacture of lumber at the headwaters of 
 the Allegheny River. Later in life he removed to 
 Wood County, W. Va. ; there he resided on a 
 large tract of land owned by him until his death, 
 at the venerable age of ninety-nine years and eight 
 months. 
 
 Dr. McKune was a graduate of medicine in a 
 New York college. He practiced in both Pennsyl- 
 vania and West Virginia, but mostly in Wood 
 County in the latter State. As he was then resid- 
 ing over the lines in Rebeldom he was obliged to 
 serve as surgeon for a little while in the Rebel army 
 but somewhat later he enlisted in the Union .army 
 in the Second West Virginia Cavalry. In this he 
 served as Surgeon until the close of the war. The 
 mother of our subject was Hannah Conklin. She 
 was also of Scotch parentage and the daughter of a 
 successful lumber manufacturer in Warren County, 
 Pa. She died in that State in 1878. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is the second eldest in 
 a family of seven children; he was born October 6, 
 1848, near Bradford, McKean County, Pa. Here 
 he took advantage of the district schools and when 
 less than fifteen years of age enlisted in Septena- 
 ber, 18G2, in the United States Navy. He was 
 placed in the Mississippi squadron on the dispatch 
 boat "Victoria" No. 33. He also served for awhile 
 on the monitor ''Neosha" and the flag ship "Moose". 
 A part of the time he was a coxswain of the gig. 
 He was active in the engagements at Nashville, 
 Johnson, Ft. Henr3',Ft. Donelson, Franklin Roads, 
 and various other naval battles. At the close of 
 the war he received an honorable discharge at 
 Mound City, III., June 9, I860, and returned to 
 Pennsylvania, where this veteran (only eighteen 
 years of age) engaged in the lumber business and 
 took contracts to furnish ties for the New York & 
 Erie Railroad. In those days he furnished from 
 fifty thousand to one hundred thousand per year. 
 
 The Western fever now attacked the young man 
 and in 1872 he went to Washington County, Neb., 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 52'J 
 
 where lie bought a farm near Blair and farmed it 
 until the grasshoppers came and ate up his crops, 
 lie then entered once more upon the business of a 
 builder and contractor in Blair. Later he went to 
 Omaha ami pursued the same line of work for two 
 years. He was successful in his business but de- 
 cided to go upon a ranch twelve miles north of 
 Omaha, which belonged to Dr. Kaufman. Here for 
 two years he superintended the ranch and engaged 
 in raising fine stock and horses. In 1878 he re- 
 turned to Omaha and for two years carried on 
 building anrl contracting. He then returned to 
 Michigiin and located in McBride, wiiere he has 
 done the principal business in building since that 
 time. About three years ago he added to his inter- 
 ests that of handling real estate and collecting. 
 He is also agent for the Phoenix Insurance Com- 
 pany at Hartford and manager of the Michigan 
 Hell Tele|)hone Compan3-at McBride. Since 1889 
 he li'is been proprietor of the Cottage Hotel. 
 
 The cultured and refined lady who |)resides over 
 the home of Mr. .Mdvune became his wife on Christ- 
 mas Day, 1871, in McKcan Countj-, Pa. Her name 
 was Mary H., daughter of lleil Atkins. Her grand- 
 faiher was an early settler in that county where he 
 was a manufacturer of lumber but removed before 
 his death to Chautauqua Count}', N. Y. Her father 
 pursued the same line of business and in 18C0 
 established a shingle factory at Elk Rapids, Mich., 
 which be carried on for eight years, after which he 
 returned to Pennsylvania. In 1872 he removed to 
 Washington County, Neb., and settled upon a farm 
 from which he retired after awhile and resided in 
 Omaha until liis<ieath. Mrs. McKune's grandfather 
 Foster was one of the early settlers in her native 
 county and after him the township of Foster 
 Brook was named. He was a very prominent man, 
 was a soldier in the War of 18 1 2 and lived to be 
 nearly ninety years of age. His daughter, Susan 
 (Foster) Atkins, the mother of the wife of our 
 subject still resides in Omaha. 
 
 William W. McKune is the second in a family of 
 eight children and was born in Bradford Township, 
 iMcKean County, Pa., December 25, 1855. He and 
 his good wife are the happy parents of three chil- 
 dren: Fred who lives at Hot Springs, Ark., and 
 Pearl an<l William who reside at home. The sub- 
 
 ject of this sketch helped to incorporate the village 
 of McBride, and its citizens have placed him at 
 different times in almost every municipal office. 
 For four years he was the I'resident of the village 
 anil is now .lustice of the Peace. He is Comman- 
 der of the McCook Post, No. 94, G. A. R., at Mc- 
 Bride. He is an «arnest temperance man and has 
 held various responsible offices in the Independent 
 Order of Good Templars at McBride and has been 
 for three years District Chief Temjjlar. He is the 
 Librarian of the Day Township Library and Presi- 
 dent of the Farmers' Alliance. He took the cen- 
 sus of the township in 18110. His wife is an earnest 
 and consistent member of the Baptist Church. Mr. 
 McKune has been most of his life connected with 
 the Republican |)arty until 186C when he voted 
 and has since voted the Independent ticket. 
 
 -^ 
 
 ILLIAM WALLACK SACK, a prominent 
 resident of section 13, Easton Township, 
 Ionia County, is a native of Ontario, 
 Canada, and was born December 9, 1836. He is a 
 son of David Sage, who was born in Ontario, Can- 
 ada, March 26, 1806, and whose parents were both 
 natives of New York State, his father Allen Sage 
 having served in the Revolutionary War when only 
 sixteen years of age. The mother of our subject, 
 Mary (Hawley) Sage, died March 17, 1884. 
 
 The father of our subject was reared to manhood 
 in Canada. He attended the primitive schools of 
 his native couiit3',and improved to his best ability 
 the log-cabin education of the day. He was trained 
 up in the industries of agricultural life and ac- 
 quired the sturdy habits of an honest country boy. 
 ,Inne 17, 1829 he was married to Mary, daughter of 
 Daniel anil .Sarah ( Raimond ) Hawley. Her maternal 
 ancestors were Scotch and her paternal line was of 
 English blood. By their union there were born 
 nine children, four of whom are living: William 
 W., Daniel, David; and the Rev. Edwy R., a minis- 
 ter of the Christian Church. David Sage brought 
 his family to Michigan in 1855 and settled on his 
 present farm in Ionia County. He h.nd jiurchased 
 ninety acres of land at the rale of ^23 per acre. 
 
530 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 About thirty acres of it was partially cleared. He 
 is one of the venerable and time-honored pioneers 
 of the township, and is a man of influence in the 
 Republican party and the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. His married life with the wife of his 
 youth extended over more than half a century and 
 was a source of unfailing jo}' and comfort. Mrs. 
 Sage was deeply mourned when called away from 
 earth by her family, her church and the community. 
 
 Tbelife of William W. Sage since 1S55 wlien he 
 came with his father to Ionia County, has been 
 j)rineipnlly spent in agricultural pursuits. He was 
 married December 22, 1867, to Mary A. Wilson, a 
 native of Michigan whose natal day was August 
 29, 1848. She is a daughter of Moses and Eliza 
 (Goodwill) Wilson. Her father was a native of 
 Maine and her mother of Ohio. Her parents came 
 witii their family of eight children to Ronald 
 Township, Ionia County, in 18G5. They were 
 Spiritualists in religion. The father died in Ronald 
 Township, August 22, 18H1. 
 
 One daughter, Ida A., brightens the home of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Sage. She came to tiiem on Christ- 
 mas Day, 1870. Mr. Sage is a Democrat in his 
 political views and is wide-awake to the best inter- 
 ests of the township. He has served on the Board 
 of Review of Easton Township. He and his good 
 wife are both active members of society. For years 
 he has been tiie delegate from tiie township to vari- 
 ous county Democratic conventions. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Sage wore early settlers in 
 Michigan. The mother was but two years old 
 when she came to Macomb County, and afterwards 
 made her home in St. Clair County. The father 
 removed with his parents when three years old to 
 the State of Vermont, where he remained until he 
 was sixteen years old. He then left home and 
 started out for himself and finally drifted to Michi- 
 gan, where he met his future wife and started his 
 own home life. To this couple were born ten chil- 
 dren, eight of whom are living, namely: Alfred, 
 Ira, Mary A.; Phoeba, wife of Peleg Biaubelt; 
 Eliza, wife of Charles Joslyn; Otis; Loretta, wife of 
 John Bailey; Leonora, wife of Coruelius Giiraore. 
 The two children who died were Ciiarles the young- 
 est, and William who was killed in the Civil War. 
 Three brothers of this family served in the army 
 
 at that time. Ira was only sixteen years old when 
 he enlisted, and the eldest son, Alfred was also one 
 who served his country. 
 
 The subject of this sketch always takes a sincere 
 and lively interest, not only in the local politics of 
 Easton Township, but in those of Ionia County 
 as well. He ranks among the solid voters and 
 supporters of the Democratic parly, and keeps 
 abreast with the most advanced men in his party. 
 The Sage family is truly classed among the typical 
 and representative pioneer families of the far- 
 famed Grand River Valiej'. Our Album would be 
 indeed incomplete without reference to our sub- 
 ject and his venerable father, David Sage. 
 
 ^^ SCAR P. HENDEE. This lionored veteran 
 I )l ^^ ^''^ ''^'^ '*^' '* numbered among the'agri- 
 ^^f culturists of Ionia County, being the owner 
 of a good farm in Portland Township. The prop- 
 erty is well improved in every respect, the acreage 
 being thoroughly tilled and a full line of necessary 
 buildings having been erected upon it, and such 
 arrangements made for the raising of vegetables 
 and fruit as belong to the estate of one who be- 
 lieves in home comfort and sees the value of minor 
 products among his crops. Notwithstanding the 
 fact that Mr. Ilendee has been deprived of his 
 strong right arm, lie has cleared over one hundred 
 acres of his farm, which was once heav}' woodland. 
 
 Mr. Hendee was born near Pontiac, this State, 
 August 21, 1839, and being the son of a farmer 
 his early life was spent in the customary manner, 
 his time being divided between farm work and 
 study in tiie district school. His parents, W. B. 
 and Rosetta Sophi.a (Potter) Hendee, were natives 
 of the Green Mountain State, whence they went to 
 New York immediately after their marriage. They 
 came to Michigan during the early daj's and here 
 they spent the remainder of their lives. He of 
 whom we write remained under the parental roof 
 until after troops were called for to defend the 
 life of tlie Nation, when he decided to enter the 
 army. 
 
 September 13, 1861, the name of Private O. P. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 531 
 
 Hendec, was placed on the muster roll of Companj' 
 I. Kiglilli Michigan Infantry, his enlistment taking 
 place in Shiawassee County. He went into camp at 
 Detroit, hut almost immediately left for the South, 
 joining Geu. Burnsiile's command at Beaufort, S. 
 C. He was in the expedition commanded by Gen. 
 Sherman, that went lo Hilton Head and received 
 the surrender of that post. The first real figiiting 
 he took part in was at Port Royal, Jan uarj' J, 18G2. 
 He was slightly wounded in an engagement in June, 
 but was treated in the regimental hospital, and 
 was a partici[)ant in ever}' conflict in which his 
 regiment took part, numbering over a score. At 
 Williamson Island he was slightly wounded in the 
 left shoulder, but only went back to the Division 
 hospitid and ere long w.as with the troops again. 
 He was promoted to the various offices from Cor- 
 poral up to First Lieutenant, for which his com- 
 mission dated from the Battle of the Wilderness. 
 In the action at Weldon Railroad, August 19, 
 18C4, he lost his right arm, or rather received a 
 wound from a minie ball that necessitated its 
 amputation. He reported back for duty in .lanu- 
 ar}' and was promoted to the rank of First Lieu- 
 tenant, his commission to date from April 25, 1865. 
 He was mustered out of the service in August, with 
 his regiment, and returned to the farm which he 
 had bought while in the army. 
 
 Lieut. Hendee devoted himself to the improve- 
 ment of his proiierty and to the cultivation of its 
 soil until October, 1866, when he accepted a com- 
 mission as .Second Lieutenant in the Eighteenth 
 United States Regulars, and served .as such until 
 transferred to the Thirty-sixth as First IJeulenant. 
 His duty was lo act as guard to the workmen and 
 supply trains on the Union Pacific Railro.ad, then 
 in process of construction. While with the regi- 
 ment one hundred and eighty-one of its members 
 were killed by Indians. He was in the service 
 al)out a twelvemonth, but he then resigned and 
 returned to his family, which at that time con- 
 sisted of a wife and infant daughter. 
 
 Mr. Hendee w.ns marrieil November 26, 1865, to 
 Rosa K. Cronkhite, daughter of Abram and Ar- 
 zilla Cronkhite. Mrs. Hendee is an intelligent, 
 energetic lady with a fine character. Her happy 
 union has been blest by the birth of four children — 
 
 Ida M., Lillie M., Ethel and Lee W., none of 
 whom have yet left the shelter of the parental roof. 
 The eldest daughter was graduated from the Port- 
 land High School in the class of 1887 and has since 
 been engaged in teaching. For the past two years 
 she has been employed in the Portland public 
 school, where she is meeting with good success in 
 her efforts to impart knowledge. 
 
 For twelve years past Mr. Hendee has served as 
 Justice of the Peace and his decisions are generally 
 approved of. He belongs to John McGar^' Post, 
 G. A. R., at Portland, and is also identified with 
 the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically 
 he has always been a stanch Republican. He is in 
 receipt of a pension of %30 per month as some 
 compensation for the loss of his arm on a Southern 
 battlefield. Mrs. Ilendce and her daughter Ida 
 belong to the Congregational Church at Portland. 
 The family have high standing in society' and en- 
 joy the friendship of the best people of the county. 
 
 *-^^^ 
 
 E^^ 
 
 R. ROBERT J. IllMPHREV. This name is 
 well known in Ionia, Ionia County, which 
 city has been the home of its bearer some 
 thirty years. During this time he has been 
 engaged in the practice of dentistry', in which field 
 of work he has an excellent reputation. Having 
 studied medicine as well, he has m.ade a specialty of 
 the treatment of cancers, and hundreds of those 
 terrible tumors have been removed b}- him, his 
 treatment being very successful. This one fact 
 alone would be sullicient to give him prominence, 
 and when it is joined to a knowledge of his other 
 aciiuirements and high degree of public si)irit it 
 will be understood that he is quite an influential 
 citizen. 
 
 The parents of Dr. Humphrey were natives 
 respectively of New Jersey and I'ennsylvania and 
 the first few years of their wedded life were spent in 
 the latter State in Beaver County. The father. 
 Harrison Humphrey, was a merchant tailor. He 
 died of yellow fever, having gone South when our 
 subject was seven years old. The mother, whose 
 maidep name was Rachel Johnston, still survive:!. 
 
532 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 The children of the parental family were four in 
 number, but two are deceascri. The survivors are 
 Joseph L., a resident of Blufifton, Ind., and ho of 
 whom we speak. 
 
 In Beaver County, Pa., June 3, 1832, Dr. Hum- 
 phrey was born, but during his childhood his par- 
 ents removed to the Western Reserve in Ohio. He 
 was just entering his teens when he went to Indiana 
 and in the Hoosier State he finished his education 
 and spent six years as a medical student with Dr. 
 Schell at Montpelier. He also took dentistry and 
 was associated with Dr. Benedict in practice at 
 Meudon, St. Joseph Count^s this Stale. In 1860 
 he came to Ionia where his work has been so suc- 
 cessful that he has become the owner of an elegant 
 properly and made provision for his future needs. 
 In 1852 Dr. Humphrey was married to Miss 
 Margaret Porter, of Ohio, who had charge of his 
 home until 1866, when death claimed her. She 
 left three children — Flora E., Emma J. and Will)ur 
 E. The son is a dentist and associated with his 
 father in business. Emma married W. E. Thomas, 
 removed to Oakland, Cal, and there died in March, 
 1891. She left a daughter, Maud, and husband. 
 The present wife of Dr. Humphrey bore the maiden 
 name of Mary E. Hall; their wedded life began in 
 1876. 
 
 In iiis i)olitical affiliations Dr. Humphrey is a 
 Democrat. He served as Alderman until he de- 
 clined to fill the place longer, and he is Chairman 
 of the Ionia Board of Health. He belongs to the 
 Royal Arcanum and Independent Order of Odd 
 Fellows and has passed all the Chairs in the latter 
 organization, including encampment, and has been 
 District Deputy Grand Master of Lodge No. 175. 
 
 RLANDO J. KNAPP. The prosperity of 
 I all cities is due to their dealers, especially 
 those who handle the great staples, and it is 
 therefore with, pleasure that the publishers of this 
 Album present to its readers the histories of the 
 business men of Howard City, Montcalm County. 
 Among the foremost, both in the magnitude of his 
 operations and the standing he has in the commu- 
 
 nity, is the gentleman named above, who keeps a 
 full line of staple and fancy groceries and provis- 
 ions, and also handles tobacco and cigars. He has 
 a wide-spread and extensive trade, buys in large 
 quantities and so secures discounts that are shared 
 with his patrons. Liberality and careful regard 
 for Ihe interests of his customers characterize his 
 policy. 
 
 Mr. Knap|) was born in St. Lawrence County, 
 N. Y., and is the only surviving child of Isaac P. 
 and Margaret (Chase) Knapp, whose family num- 
 bered seven sons and daughters. Both lines of 
 ancestry were English. The father was a carpen- 
 ter and joiner and also a farmer, and the son was 
 reared amid rural scenes and influences. He se- 
 cured a good education, the schools of the time 
 (he having been born January 3, 1838) being such 
 as to afford facilities for practical instruction. 
 When nineteen years old he went to Indiana, where 
 he worked at whatever his hands found to do, 
 willing to enter upon any honest employment and 
 determined to make his living. 
 
 The continuance of the struggle between the 
 nation and the Southern States led Mr. Knapi) to 
 enter the army, and August 16. 1862, saw him 
 signing the roll and assignment to Company B, 
 Twelfth Indiana Infantry. The fourth day after 
 he was mustered in he was taking part in a battle 
 at Richmond, Ky., and he was so unfortunate as to 
 betaken prisoner. He and his comrades in mis- 
 fortune were paroled after four days' confinement, 
 during which period their rations were a single 
 hardtack each day. When released Mr. Knapp 
 went to Indianapolis and remained in the parole 
 camp about two months, when he was exchanged 
 and sent to Cairo, 111. Thence the boys went to 
 Memphis and on a campaign to Jackson, Miss., 
 but after reaching that point fell back to (irand 
 Junction, Tenn. 
 
 There the command went into winter quarters, 
 and in the spring marched to Memphis and con- 
 tinued by boat to Vicksburg and up the Yazoo 
 River to Haines Bluff, where they were in camp 
 when Vicksburg was surrendered. They attacked 
 Johnston at Black River aud drove him to Jack- 
 son, which they captured and destroyed. They 
 then returned to Memphis, and thence marched 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 533 
 
 » 
 
 through to Chattanooga and Knoxville with 
 Grant's forces, and on to Scottsboro, Ala., whicli 
 was their winter quarters. Theensiiiny; si)ring was 
 given to the Atlanta campaign, and after the 
 capture of the city thej' followed Hood toward 
 Nashville, where he was turned over by Gen. Sher- 
 man to the care of Gen. Thomas, and the regiment 
 made an "about face" for Atlanta and thence 
 marched to the sea. 
 
 At Savannah Capt. Perry's company was de- 
 tailed as bodyguard to Gen. Logan and a part — 
 among them our subject — went by water to Hilton 
 Head, at which point the news of President Lin- 
 coln's assassination reached them. They next 
 went to Newbern, then to Alexandria by water, 
 and thence to Washington, D. C, to take part in 
 tlie Grand Review. The Twelfth Indiana was the 
 first regiment in the line ns it passed headquarters. 
 Its members were discharged June 8, 1865, and 
 mustered out at Indianapolis. 
 
 After his release from the army duties he had 
 faillifully discharged Mr. Knapp visited in the 
 Hoosier and Emi)ire States for a time, then gave 
 his attention to the work of a traveling salesman 
 and later to farming. In 1871 he came to this 
 State and engaged in the lumber business at Pier- 
 son, but made his home in Howard City. Here he 
 opened a grocer^' store in 1880, which was burnt 
 out on New Year's Day, 1884. Mr. Knapp 
 promptly rebuilt and re-engaged in trade. His 
 present well-ordered establishment is a model one, 
 equally deserving of praise for its fine assortment 
 of goods, its neatness of arrangement and the cor- 
 rect methods that are followed in its control. 
 
 Mr. Knapp has been twice married, liis tirst wife 
 having been Miss C(jrdelia Kdmunds, of New York 
 State. Of this union there were born two children 
 — James H. and Alvira II. The i)resent Mrs. 
 Knapp was formerly Miss Delight E. Nieliols, and 
 the wedding ceremony by which she was united to 
 our subject took place in 1809. She is a careful 
 housewife, a kind neighbor and an intelligent and 
 social lady. 
 
 Mr. Knapp is now serving his third term as 
 Township Treasurer, and has a record as Highway 
 Commissioner seven years, besides having been a 
 member of the village Council. His political alle- 
 
 giance is given to the Republican party. He be- 
 longs to the Grand Array of the Republic, and is a 
 charter member of Post Xo. 252, known as J. T. 
 Jones Post, at Howard City. He has been Post 
 Commander and (Quartermaster, and is one of the 
 present trustees of the post. He is a member of 
 tli(! Free-Will Baptist Church, of which society he 
 is a Trustee. He has always taken an active part 
 in promoting the best interests of the city and is a 
 popular member of society. 
 
 'ill WARREN I'KAKi:. This gentleman, who 
 is a resident of Ionia, and whose name is 
 well known in this and adjoining counties, 
 tnices his paternal ancestry to Connecticut, 
 although his father, Russell Peake, was born in St. 
 Lawrence County, N. Y. In that county Martha 
 Rider also was born, and after growing to woman- 
 hoo<l became the wife of Russell I'eake. They 
 removed to Ohio in 1832, and in 1855 journeyed 
 farther weslwanl and located in Poitland, this State. 
 There Mr. I'eako died December 24, ISGl. His 
 widow breathed her last in June, 1883, at the a<»e 
 of seventy-eight years. To them eleven children 
 were born, seven now living, of whom our subject 
 is the third in point of age. The others are(Jeorge 
 W., a retired farmer of Portland; Jeanette, wife of 
 Enoch Rozelle. living in Cherry Vale, Kan.; Sarah, 
 wife of S. Doremus, of Lake City, this State; Ade- 
 line, wife of Henry Van Sickles, residing in Mc- 
 Cord; Jane, widow of Walter McCrum, of Eagle; 
 and Royal L., a lun)ber dealer and farmer of Port- 
 land. 
 
 The subject ot this brief biographical notice was 
 born in Seneca County, Ohio, December 3, 1834, 
 and was educated in the district schools and Heidel- 
 berg College at Tiffin, Ohio. His father being a 
 farmer, he became skilled in farm work, and from 
 the age of seventeen to twenty-one years he altoi- 
 nated farming and teaching. He then devoted four 
 years to pedagogical woik in Ionia County, Mich., 
 and from that lime until 1883 he divided his al 
 tention between agriculture and teaching. From 
 1882 to 1884 he also discharged the duties of To-.v. - 
 
534 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ship Supervisor, and at various times he was Clerk, 
 Justice of the Peace, and School Inspector. In 1884 
 he was elected County Treasurer, and held the 
 office four years. In 1889 he became Secretary of 
 the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of 
 Ionia, Eaton and B'U-ry Counties, and has built up 
 the business cousiderabi}' since he took hold of it. 
 
 The mental culture of Mr. Peake, and his thor- 
 ough understandino; of the risks of the farmers, 
 give his words weight concerning the affairs of the 
 insurance company, and qualify him to carry on its 
 work satisfactorily. They also fit him for other po- 
 sitions, and he has been County Drainage Commis- 
 sioner since 1889, and is a memlier of the Patrons 
 of Industry. He also belongs to the Odd Fellows 
 Encampment, Subordinate Lodge and Daughters 
 of Rebecca, and is a charter member of the society 
 of the Ancient Order of United Workmen in Port- 
 land. He is a member of the City Council, repre- 
 senting the First Ward. In politics he is now a 
 Democrat, was formerly a Republican, but he voted 
 for Abraham Lincoln twice, and for Ulysses S. 
 Grant once. He says that he would cheerfully re- 
 peat the first, but not the second. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Peake and Miss Ann E. 
 Lyon was solemnized February 24, 1856. The 
 family born to them consists of Belle, Clarence W., 
 Lyniie L. and Russell A. The two younger chil- 
 dren are still at home, but Clarence is farming in 
 Danby Township, and Belle is the wife of Edward 
 Martin, a farmer of that township. Mr. Peake has 
 given his chddren good educations, and he and his 
 wife endeavor in evevy way possible to promote 
 their welfare, and they also take an interest in the 
 good of their neighbors and acquaintances. 
 
 "^^EROME SAGENDORF, one of the earliest 
 permanent settlers of Day Township, Mont- 
 calm County, is descended on both sides 
 
 from families of (Sierman birth, and inherits 
 
 robust strength and long life. He is a prosperous 
 man and has put his place in excellent condition, 
 having good buildings and every improvement 
 upon it. His enterprise and public spirit as well 
 
 as his character for integrity bring him great in- 
 fluence in the community. His father was a native 
 of Ulster County, N. Y., and his grandfather lived 
 to be nearly one hundred years old. The father was 
 a farmer in the town of Woodstock, N. Y., where 
 he cleared and improved one hundred and forty 
 acres of land and died at the age of eighty-seven 
 years. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is the eldest of ten 
 children of the parental family. He was horn in 
 Woodstock, N. Y., May 4, 1823, and early learned 
 the practical details of farm work, alternating them 
 with district school life. He has a good memor}', 
 and calls to mind many incidents of his early da} s, 
 especially the circumstances connected with the 
 Anti-Rent War. After he reached his majoril}-, 
 he went out for himself and worked a rented farm. 
 In May, 1867, he came to Stanton, Mich., and en- 
 gaged in various kinds of business until the follow- 
 ing spring, when he located on the forty acres of 
 land, where he now resides. It was solid timber 
 and no roads had been laid out. He hauled lum- 
 ber from Stanton to build his house, and had to 
 bring all his provisions from that town. In those 
 days he paid 89 per hundred weight for flour. In 
 the winters he engaged in teaming and logging. 
 
 Before leaving the East, the subject of our sketch 
 had taken to himself a wife. Miss Betse^', daughter 
 of Daniel Morse, who was born in Schoiiarie County, 
 N. Y. She is descended from a family of early 
 settlers in that county, and was of English ances- 
 try. Her father was well educated, was a teacher 
 when young, and in his mature j'ears became l.nnd 
 agent for what was known as '"The Elvendorf Pat- 
 ent." He was also engaged in farming in Jeffer- 
 son Township, and was a prominent man, a Town- 
 ship Supervisor and active in the Baptist Church. 
 In his declining years he came to Michigan to spend 
 them with his children, and died in the family of 
 Mr. Sagendorf, October 10, 1890, at the advanced 
 age of fourscore and six years. Mrs. Sagendorf 
 was one of eight children, and was born in Jeffer- 
 son Township, Schoharie County, N. Y., October 1, 
 1834. Wlien eleven years old she came with the 
 family to Ulster County, where she lived until her 
 marriage, which took place February 28, 1856. 
 
 Our subject and his wife were the parents of five 
 
rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 537 
 
 children: Willard, a farmer in Belvidere Township, 
 this county; Ella, Mrs. Ely Kendall, of Bclding 
 Township; Cora, who died when a child: Edward, 
 a nieeiianic of BeUling; and Louie, who is at home. 
 Mr. Sagendorf is an .active helper in all public and 
 educational matters, has helped to build all the 
 sclioolhouscs in his district, and was for \-ears 
 Moderator of the School ]}oard and Townshi)) 
 Clerk for one year. He is a charter member of the 
 Baptist Church at McBiide, in which he holds the 
 responsible position of Trustee. His wife is also 
 actively' engaged in church work, being Vice Pres- 
 ident of the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. Sagendorf 
 is a strong Republican of the bluest degree, and is 
 a representative man in his party, being often aji- 
 pointed delegate to conventions. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 ■S^pWARD MURPHY. The publishers of this 
 " iCAi, Ai.BUJi would fail in their 
 
 llW] BiocnAiiiiic 
 
 *'~-^- purpose in 
 
 purpose in presenting to their readers in 
 
 Ionia County outlines of the lives of ber most val- 
 ued citizens were they to omit that of Edward 
 Murph}' of Lyons Township. The life of this gen- 
 tleman does not present any wonderful episodes 
 but may well be taken as a model of persistent in- 
 dustry, attachment to famil}' and good use of the 
 accumulations secured from time to time. Mr. 
 Murpbj- w.as born in County Dublin, Ireland, 
 December 10, 1821, and was the eldest in a family 
 of thirteen children. His parents, James and Maiy 
 (Howard) Murphy, spent their entire lives in the 
 Emerald Isle. 
 
 The boyhood and youth of Mr. Mur()li3' was 
 p.Tssed in his native place, where he worked on a 
 farm until some time after he had passed his twen- 
 ty-first birthday. The tales he had heard of the 
 advantages which accrued to industrious people 
 who sought fortune in the New World, led him to 
 save in order to make a trial of its resources. He 
 crossed to Canada in 1847 and worked there a 
 month for $;5 with which to continue his journey 
 into the States. He then went to Rochester, N. Y. 
 :md found employment in the country near, work- 
 ing on a farm by the month. In 1851 he came to 
 
 Michigan, reaching Ionia via the stage from De- 
 troit, and here again he became a farm hand, work- 
 ing by the month. For the first year his devoted 
 wife worked in a private family by the week, and 
 they then built a little shanty in Lyons village and 
 made it their home. 
 
 Mr. Murphy did whatever his hands found to do 
 by which he could maintain himself and wife and 
 she managed carefully with their scanty income, so 
 that by degrees they were able to Lay aside a little 
 fund. They built a much better house and finally 
 in 1 865, took possession of the farm that is still 
 their home and now is as fine a place as need be. It 
 consists of one hundred and forty acres on section 
 28 and is a well-regulated farm in evcrj- respect. 
 Its fertile and generous fields give little indication 
 of the days of hard and wearying toil that were 
 spent by Mr. Murphy in cutting down the trees, 
 removing the logs and underbrush and breaking 
 the soil. There had not been a tree cut on the 
 l)lacc when he came here and he had to begin at 
 tiie foundation in preparing the land for crops and 
 ill making the improvements which he desired. 
 
 The wife of Mr. Murphy was known in her 
 maidenhood as Miss JIary A. Randall. She was 
 born in Burlington, Vt., October 2, 1831, but 
 reared in New York to which she accompanied her 
 |)arcuts when she was but six years old. She is the 
 eldest of six sons and daughters born to Harmon 
 and Esther (Card) Randall, by whom she was care- 
 fully- reared and fitted for life's duties. Her niar- 
 ri.ige was solemnized April IG, 1855, and lias been 
 blest by the birth of two daughters and two sons — 
 .lames A., Edwin A., Emma M. and Nellie. Ed- 
 win, who is a graduate of the Lansing College, is 
 Principal in the school at Muir and was elected 
 Count}' Superintendent of Schools June 22, 1891, 
 for a term of two ^-eais. Emma is teaching in the 
 grammar department in ]\'\vano. 'I'hc younger 
 daughter is at home. 
 
 l^Ir. JIurphy's dwelling is a two-story frame 
 house, the main bod}' being square, but having an 
 "L" which relieves the design of monotony and 
 adds to the convenience of the rooms. It is very 
 well built and furnished with the most substiintiiil 
 and tasteful furniture, and one of its most appre- 
 ciated features is an upright piano, from which 
 
538 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sweet music is drawn by Miss Nellie. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Murphy possess the soul of hospitality, and, 
 having won their home by hard work, take great 
 delight in enjoying it now. They have reason to 
 be proud of the place, and they gather under their 
 roof many friends who rejoice with them in their 
 prosperity and thoroughly appreciate their social 
 qualities and agreeable dispositions. 
 
 The first money earned by Mr. Murphy beyond 
 that wliich was necessary for his subsistence was 
 sent to Ireland to enable a sister to reach America. 
 He also sent for a brotlier and a second sister, and 
 as long as his aged father and mother lived, a part 
 of his earnings were set aside for their support. 
 He tlius had heavier expenses than many a young 
 man who starts out in life without capital, but 
 was determined never to give up so long as he had 
 strength to work, and his reward has come in 
 financial success as well as in the sense of duiy 
 done. Mr. Murphy is a strong Democrat. 
 
 A lithographic view of Mr. Murphy's place is 
 presented in connection with this sketch. 
 
 ^'USTIN BARBER. The citizens of IIow- 
 ^^1 ard City, Montcalm County, take a com- 
 mendable pride in her business houses and 
 in the character of the men who own and 
 control them, and every increase in prosperity is 
 greeted as an additional credit to the place. Among 
 the prominent dealers of tlie city is Mr. Barber, 
 who has been selling furniture here for some years 
 and more recently added to his stock in trade, 
 qucensware, books and stationery. He has a well- 
 filled establishment, conducts his affairs in accord- 
 ance with the best and most honorable principles of 
 finance, and reaps a due reward for his planning 
 and labor. 
 
 The Barbers came originally from England, and 
 the State of Maine was the former home of the 
 family. The father of our subject, Marvin S. Bar- 
 ber, was born in New York, and from that State 
 came to Michigan, taking up his residence in Hills- 
 dale County as one of the first settlers of Litchfield 
 Township. There he was married in July 1838, to 
 
 Miss Mary Woods, who was left a widow with four 
 children, when our subject was but two years old. 
 The other members of the parental family are: 
 Charles, who died in Ann Arbor in 1875; George 
 E., a grocer in Stanton; and Helen E., wife of 
 Lewis W. Wilbur, of Howard City. The mother, 
 who is now in this city, was born in Penns3dvania. 
 
 Austin Barber was born in Hillsdale County, 
 September 23, 1849, and his boyhood days were 
 passed upon a farm. At the age of nineteen years 
 he entered the High School in Ann Arbor, and was 
 graduated in 1868, after which lie took up a classi- 
 cal course in the State University and received the 
 degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1872. He turned 
 his attention to pedagogy, and so well did he suc- 
 ceed as a teacher, and so ripe grew his scholarship 
 that his Alma Mater bestowed upon him the degree 
 of Master of Arts in 1876. His first position was 
 as Principal of the public schools in Ludington in 
 1872-73, and from that place he went to Caro, 
 Tuscola County, the following year. At tlie latter 
 point he remained four j'ears and he then gave up 
 the profession and entered upon a business career, 
 establishing himself in Howard City. In 1886 he 
 increased his stock by the additions before men- 
 tioned, and in 1887 he opened a furniture store in 
 Stanton, which he still carries on in connection 
 witli the one in Howard City. 
 
 On August IG, 1874, the rites of wedlock were 
 solemnized between Mr. Barber and Miss Eva M. 
 Carpenter, daughter of Russell Carpenter, of Pots- 
 dam, N. Y. She was graduated from the State 
 Normal School of New York, and became First As- 
 sistant in the High School in Caro, this State. She 
 is refined as well as educated, and has the tastes that 
 fit her for sympathy in the chosen pursuits of her 
 husband, and for usefulness in the community. 
 The union has been blessed by the birth of two 
 children, named respectively, Maude E. and Floyd 
 A. 
 
 Mr. Barber has held various positions of local 
 trust, especially those that are connected witli edu- 
 cational aii'airs. He is a member of tlie village 
 Board, is Chairman of the Board of School Inspec- 
 tors, and for ten years has been a member of the 
 School Board. He votes with the Republican party. 
 His religious faith is expressed in the creed of the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 539 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Cliurcli, and practiced in his 
 daily life. A polished, cultuied gentleman, with 
 coiilial manners and a character al)ovc reproach, 
 Mr. Barber merits and receives tlie respect and 
 goodwill of his associates, and enjoys an enviable 
 reputation. He has a marked taste for literature, 
 and his leisure moments are given to perusal of the 
 works of the best writers of ancient and modern 
 times. 
 
 — -^m — 
 
 Ip^DWlN WIIITK. For well-nigh half a cen- 
 liN' ''"'•^ '''''* gp"^'enian has been a resident of 
 /h^^ Ionia County' and during the greater part 
 of this time he has been connected with the affairs 
 of Portland Township in such a way as to advance 
 its standing among the districts of the State. He 
 was born in Genesee County, N. Y., August 11, 
 1852, and is of Irish and Dutch ancestry, his 
 grandfathers having settled res|)ectively in New 
 York and New Jersey. His parents were James 
 and Jane (Van Riper) While, who lived in Port- 
 land, Mich., from 1842 until death. The father 
 was a chairmaker and painter and at the same occu- 
 l)ations the son worked until he was twenty j'cars 
 c>ld. The date of the father's decease was 18G0 
 and that of the mother took place five years later. 
 When he abandoned the occupations to which he 
 had been reare<l, young White turned his attention 
 to farming and for two years worked by the month. 
 He then bought thirty acres of land and while 
 boarding with his mother and only sister he culti- 
 vated the tract. Early in the year 1863 he mar- 
 ried, and soon after traded bis land for the property 
 on which he now lives, i)aying a difference of 
 ^1,300. His new estate consisted of seventy-five 
 acres on section 19, Portland Township. The 
 bride saitl she woubl give her husband eight years 
 in which to get a new house, but she extended the 
 usual "days of grace" two years, and the handsome 
 residence they now occupy well repaid them for 
 waiting. The dwelling is conveniently arranged, 
 sullicienlly commodious for the wants of the fam- 
 ily, and is well furnished and tastefully adorned. 
 Other substanti.al buildings have been put up by 
 Mr. White, and his property has greatly increased 
 
 in value since he became the owner. He carries 
 on general farming, but |).ays much attention to the 
 wool industry, in which he has been very success- 
 ful, always keeping fine-wool sheep. 
 
 The date of the marriage of Edwin White and 
 Emily Morehouse was February 4, 1863. The 
 bride, a daughter of Oliver and Susan (Farrand) 
 Morehouse, had been for a short time successfully 
 engaged in teaching. Of the union four children 
 have been born — Nathan, Nellie, Susie and Mary. 
 Two died in infancy, Nathan and Nellie; and Susie 
 in the dawn of womanhood at the age of seventeen 
 years, the date of her demise being December 28, 
 1887. Mary attended the district school until 
 fourteen years of age, then completed a three years' 
 course in the High School at Poitland, and was 
 graduated in the class of 1882. This was supple- 
 mented by a two years' English course at Ypsilanti, 
 where she received a second diploma. Her object 
 was to devote herself to teaching and she has .spent 
 one year in professional work in Portland and sev- 
 eral terms in the district schools near home, but 
 owing to the death of her sister, the course of her 
 life was greatly changc<l. She has been successful 
 as a teacher and given promise of rising to a high 
 l)osition in the profession were she to follow it. 
 She has devoted some attention to music. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. White were born in New 
 York and New Jersey respectivelj', and lived in the 
 latter State until 1835. They then came to Wayne 
 Count}' Mich., with their family of six children, 
 making the journey principally by water. Mr. 
 Morehouse was a shoemaker and worked at his 
 trade most of his life, his sons doing the princii)al 
 part of the farming after tl.ey came to this State. 
 He lived to be nearly ninety -two years old, ending 
 his days under the roof of our subject, July 9, 
 1887. The mother of Mrs. White had died many 
 years before, the date of her decease being January 
 28, 1855. Mr. Morehouse was a volunteer in the 
 W^arof 1812 and was honorably discharged near 
 the close of the war and during his later days 
 received a pension. 
 
 The family of which Mr. White made one orig- 
 inally included three brothers and one sister. Of 
 the sister, Mary White, who died in 1862 much 
 might be said, as she was a teacher for years and 
 
540 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 did much good in her calling. She was a member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Ciuirch, devoted to its 
 interests, and desired to continue lier conlributions 
 to its enterprises. She had invested a part of her 
 earnings in a sm:dl flock of sheep, and before her 
 death she requested her brother Edwin to keep 
 them and eacii .year to donate for her to the Miss- 
 ionary Society at Portland tiie value Of one fleece. 
 Twenty-eight times has tiiis donation been made, 
 and though almost three decades iiave passed since 
 she was laid to rest, she still lives in her example 
 of practical benevolence. 
 
 Mr. White lias lieen a Republican since the Civil 
 AVar and is unfaltering in his allegiance to the prin- 
 ciples of the party. He has never been an aspirant 
 for oflicial honors, being satisfied with the position 
 of School Director in which he served for twelve 
 years. He has for many years been a Deacon and 
 Trustee in the Congregational Churcii at Portland, 
 and the entire family, including the aged father- 
 in-law, belong to that society. The deceased 
 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. White was also a mem- 
 
 ber. 
 
 *S»S^>« ■i>!^-«^«*^^^?«^-»'tf!*s- 
 
 j^ OWLAND SOULE is one of the early pio- 
 neers of Bushnell Townstiip, Montcalm 
 County, and has ever been one of the most 
 prominent and useful members of rural 
 society in that vicinity ever being active in pro- 
 moling the best interests of the township. He was 
 born in Albany County, N. Y., December 8, 1815, 
 and is the son of Benjamin and Susannah (Norton ) 
 Soule, both natives of the same State. The first 
 seventeen years of our subject's life were spent in 
 New York; after that he went to Susquehanna 
 County, Pa., where he resided for three years and 
 then with his father returned to the State of New 
 York. He was only seven years old when deprived 
 of a mother's care and he had almost no educa- 
 tional advantages. By his own efforts he has nc- 
 quired enough learning to attend properly to his 
 business. 
 
 When his mother died the little boy went to live 
 with his uncle, Benjamin Norton, of New York, 
 and renaained there until he ^as seventeen years 
 
 old working on a farm. At the age of twenty 
 years his father removed on a farm in Ontario 
 Count}'. His marriage took place, June 6, 1839. 
 He was then united to Harriet Conklin of Broome 
 County, N. Y., who was born in 1820, the daugh- 
 ter of Lawrence Conklin, a New York farmer and 
 Samantlia (Heath) Conklin. Jlr. Conklin lived to 
 the good old age of ninety years. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs, Soule have had four children, 
 Edward H., born July 11, 1840; Susannah, June 
 22, 1842; Charles W., March 1,1855; Cerester, 
 August 22, 1858. This last son died July 4, 1874, 
 at the age of sixteen years. Mr. Soule came to 
 Jlichigan in 1846 and settled first in Lenawee 
 County. Afterward he left his farm there and in 
 the fall of 1854 came to Buehnell Township. He 
 cut his own road through woods to the place where 
 he deeideil to settle and built a little log cabin. He 
 at one time had two hundre<l acres but has now 
 given away to his children all but eighty acres. 
 They lived well in those d.ays and had an abun- 
 dance of venison and wild game, and wild berries. 
 He early stocked his farm with good stock and had 
 at that time four head of cows, besides horses and 
 hogs. They cleared off a little i)atch of grouml 
 and soon had good crops. The first season he made 
 one thousand' pounds of maple sugar. He lived in 
 friendly relations with the Indians and had no dis- 
 turbance from them. Three or four years after 
 their coming they established a schoolhonse on 
 their place. In this rude building they held de- 
 lightful religious services and attended to the nec- 
 essary business of the school district. 
 
 -^ -^^^ ^ 
 
 TEPHEN L. ELLSWORTH was born in 
 Steuben County, N. Y., May 7, 1839, being 
 the son of Arthur and Phebe (Smith) Ells- 
 worth. His earl}' life was spent in obscu- 
 rity upon the farm of his father, and he obtained 
 only such scraps of an education as could be picked 
 up in the primitive schools of his childhood. He 
 resided with his parents, working on the old farm 
 until he was about eighteen years old, when he be- 
 gan the battle of life for himself. He remained in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 541 
 
 New York some four or five years, anil then moved 
 to Kalamazoo County, Mich., and engaged in farm- 
 ing. After residinfi; here for some time lie re- 
 moved to Alcona County, Mich., and there entered 
 uiKjn the work of running a sawmill about ten 
 years. 
 
 The next change in the life of our subject, and 
 a permanent one, w.as to make a home in Montcalm 
 County, where he still resides upon his highly cul- 
 tivated farm of eighty rich and productive acres. 
 Besides his pursuits of agriculture, he has also been 
 engaged to a limited extent in lumbering. 
 
 On the ;>tli of October, 1871, Mr. EUswortii en-. 
 tered the state of matrimony, and joined hands for 
 life with Kniina Mills, of Lucas County, Ohio. To 
 them have been given three children: Bernice, 
 born January f), 1873; Jennie, January 16, 1881 ; 
 and Sada, Soplember 23, 1 887. Miss Bernice is now 
 a successful school teacher in her native county, 
 having taught two terms in Belvidere Township. 
 Mrs. Kllswortli is an earnest and devoted Christian 
 in corainunion with the Baptist Church, and Mr. 
 Kilswurth's political views are strongly in the Pro- 
 hibition line. He has held several responsible 
 oflices in the county, having served .as Constable 
 for two terms, and afterward being appointed on 
 the Board of Review. Upon the exjiiration of his 
 office he was elected to succeed himself in this posi- 
 tion, and he is now filling the third term. 
 
 ^p^xOHMAN CLAHK, a prominent farmer and 
 I jjj stock-raiser of Easton Township, has been 
 m.-ife connected with the interests of Ionia County 
 since the spring of 1864. His first purchase of real 
 estate was small, as he was at that time working at 
 a trade, but after some years he connecteil farming 
 with his other work, and added to his land. He 
 now has one hundred acres on sections 9 and 10, 
 which, with the improvements that have been made 
 upon it and the productiveness to which it ha? 
 been brought, makes one of the finest farms in llio 
 township. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Harding and 
 Olive (Tucker) Clark, natives of Cheshire County, 
 
 N. H., and for many years residents in St. Law- 
 rence County, N. Y. Of the children born to them 
 the survivors are Norman, James and Warren, the 
 second of whom lives in New York, and the thir<l 
 in Iowa. The oldest is our subject, who was horn 
 in the Empire SUate. January 29, 1823. His father 
 carried on both blacksmithing and farming, and at 
 an early age the son began to work at both occu- 
 pations. He attended the common school and 
 worked off and on at farming until he was eighteen 
 years old, when he gave his attention entirely to the 
 forge. He mastered the bl.icksmith's trade, anil for 
 fort^' years was steadily engaged in the shop. 
 
 When twenty-four years old Mr. Clark went to 
 County Leeds, Province of Ontario, where he re- 
 mained many years following his trade with great 
 energy. There he was married in 18.52, to Pamelia 
 Chamberlain, who lived to help him establish a 
 home in this St.ate and see his affairs placed on a 
 solid basis. .She p.assed away in June, 1877, 
 mourned by a family to whom she had been de- 
 voted, and the neighbors and friends who li.ad wit- 
 nessed her deeds of kindness. Her children were 
 si.K in number, three living, namely: Warren, in 
 Isabella County: Wdkison.at home; and Lucy, wife 
 of George Percival, in Grand Porks County, N. 
 Dak. The deceased are Amy, Elma and Ezr.a. The 
 first-named was the wife of William Blewcr, and 
 the mother of little Ina Luc}' Blewer, now five years 
 old, whose childish graces enliven the home of our 
 subject. 
 
 When Mr. Clark came to Ionia County, he came 
 alone and after deciding upon a location sent for 
 his family. He bought an acre of ground, built a 
 house, barn and shop, and for years worked at his 
 trade exclusively. As circumstances warranted, lie 
 increased his real estate and turned his attention 
 somewhat toward agriculture until he finally aban- 
 doned the forge. It affords his friends pleasure to 
 know that he has succeeded in life, and he is fre- 
 quently pointed out as one of the examples worthy 
 of imitation by the rising generation. 
 
 After the death of his wife, Mr. Clark remained a 
 widower until June 28, 1882, when he was married 
 to Celia E. Jones. This lady was born in Washte- 
 naw County. April 1, 1841, and is one of seven chil- 
 dren making ui) the family of William A. and Eliza- 
 
542 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 beth (Skidmore) Jones. She has two sisters living: 
 Alice, wife of Henry Burr, of Isabella County; 
 and Helen M., wife of Zerah Burr, in Washtenaw 
 Countj'. Her father was one of the early settlers 
 of this State, going there in 1833, and settling on 
 a farm which was his home until deaih. To Mrs. 
 Celia Clark one daughter has been born, Julia, now 
 deceased. 
 
 In his political views Mr. Clark is a Republican. 
 He favors progress and advancement, and he and 
 his wife as active members of society, aid in bring- 
 ing about desirable results. He has served as School 
 Treasurer, but has not otherwise been in public life. 
 He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Churcl), in which he holds the office of Steward. In 
 general intelligence he will compare favorably with 
 any except the most liigiil}' educated, and his stand- 
 ing in the community is most excellent. 
 
 *,ILLIAM HARDING, of Montcalm County, 
 was born in Cambridgeshire, England, 
 WW October 25, 1822, and is the son of Will- 
 iam and Susan (Spencer) Harding, both of English 
 birth. He lived with his parents until at the age 
 of fourteen years he was bound out as an appren- 
 tice to learn the painter's trade in London. He 
 was under obligation to stay with his master until 
 his term of apprenticeship expired. Once lie at- 
 tempted to escape on a vessel but was arrested and 
 carried back. 
 
 When twenty-one years old our subject sailed for 
 America and joined his father's family at Cleve- 
 land, Ohio, where they had moved shortly before. 
 He began working at his trade and remained in 
 Cleveland for sixteen years. He put in the first 
 work in stained glass ever done in a church in that 
 city, and was often sent to Ciiic.agoand other large 
 cities to do fine work in his line. November 15, 
 1846 he chose as his life partner Emeline Goble, 
 whose brother's life is sketched in this work. They 
 have been blessed by the birth of ten children, as 
 follows: Lydia R., born August 12, 1847; Anna 
 M., February 21, 1849 (died in infancy); Mary, 
 
 born June 7, 1850; Susie, March 17, 1852; Lucinda, 
 November 27, 1854; Emma J., August 17, 1857; 
 Clara, November 13, 1859 (died July 12, 1887); 
 Flora, born April 12, 1863; Josephine, December 
 17, 1865; Willie, February 14, 1875. All the sur- 
 viving children except Willie are married. 
 
 The subject of this sketch came to Montcalm 
 County and settled ou his present liomestead in 
 Sidney Township, in Decemlier, 1862. He has it 
 nearl}' all cleared and nicely improved. He was 
 in the army about one year, serving as Coramissarj' 
 in Camp Cleveland. When he came to this county 
 he endured many hardships before being really 
 established comfortably in his new home. He often 
 carried seventy-five pounds of provisions from 
 Greenville to his home, a distance of ten miles, as 
 he had no horse. 
 
 Mr. Harding cut .ill the roads through the woods 
 around his place. He built his present residence 
 out of timber taken off his own farm and has a 
 I)eautiful home. He is a naturalized citizen of the 
 United States, having taken out his papers October 
 7, 1852. He has served his fellow-citizens in the 
 office of Justice of the Peace four years and also a 
 School Director. He was brought u]) in the Church 
 of England and is a believer in its doctrines and 
 form of worship. He has a precious heirloom in 
 the form of a candlestick which he believes to be 
 the oldest in the United Slates. It was made in 
 Rhode Island eighty years before the Revolutionary 
 War and has been handed down from generation 
 to generation. It will next go to the eldest daugh- 
 ter when Mrs. Harding shall be called awaj' from 
 this world. 
 
 s^EORGE MATHISON is a prominent farmer 
 of Home Township, Montcalm County, and 
 a descendant of an ancient and honorable 
 family of Denmark. His father, Mathias Hansen, 
 was born in Laaland, Denmark in 1795, where the 
 grandfather was a farmer and served in the Danish 
 army at tlie siege of Copenhagen in the War of 
 1801, when Gen. Nelson and tlie English navy were 
 bombarding the Danish capital. The paternal 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 543 
 
 great-grandparents of our subject came from the 
 mainland to the coast of Jutland, and were fishers 
 near Aalberg. They settled in Laaland about 
 1650. 
 
 The father of our subject served in the Danish 
 army under King Frederick VI. Wiien twcnty- 
 Dve years of age he was appointed Sheriff of 
 Skjoaing County, Laaland, which office he held for 
 thirty successive years. He was also engaged in 
 farming, and owned land of about thirty acres near 
 Maribo. He was a Lutlicran in religion and a 
 well educated and exceedingly well-informed man. 
 His wife, Maria Jenson, w.as born in Laaland in 
 1805, and was the daughter of Jens Hansen, wlio 
 was a native of Copenhagen and a shoemaker by 
 trade. 
 
 The mother of George died in 1888. Tiie fatiier 
 was twice married. The first family of children 
 numbered five, three of whom grew to maturity. 
 Hans was in the Schleswig-Holstein War from 1848 
 to 1851, and is now a farmer in Laaland. Tlie 
 suljjecl's sister Mar3' also lives at the old home. 
 The second marriage resulted in thirteen children, 
 three only of whom grew to manhood: Cliristian, 
 also eng.iged in tlie Schleswig-Holstein War of 
 1864 and now on the police force of Copenhagen; 
 Wilhelm emigrated to this country and is a florist 
 of New York City; George is the youngest of the 
 surviving children. 
 
 Tlie subject of this sketch w.is born near Maribo, 
 Laaland, Denmark, January 14, 1848. After his 
 father's deatli, which occurred when he was about 
 sixteen years old he concluded to come to America 
 and see if he could not improve his prospects for 
 life. He took a steamer to England and from 
 Liverpool took passage in the spring of 1864, mak- 
 ing an eleven-day trip to Quebec. Tlience he came 
 directl3' to Chicago, where he arrived a stranger in 
 a strange city. He went to Osiikosh, Wis., and 
 spent a year there working on a farm; then to the 
 pine woods near Stevens Point. During the sum- 
 mers he worked in a sawmill at Oshkosh. In 1868 
 he went to Leavenworth, Kan., and wag for three 
 years in the Government's employ, hauling sup- 
 plies to the frontier. It took about three months 
 to make a trip to and from the fort. He lived 
 most of the time on buffalo meat and hardtack. 
 
 In 1871 he began to work on the railroad at Har- 
 risville, Mo., then at Sedalia, Mo., and after that 
 took work in the lead mines in Coopei County. 
 
 In the fall of 1876 George Mathison returned 
 East and settled in Clinton County, Ohio, but the 
 ne.Tt spring he came to Michigan and entered the 
 employ of S. H. Baird, at Cedar Spring, Kent 
 County. Here he worked in the shingle and lum- 
 ber factory in that place until Mr. Baird removed 
 to Home Township, when he came with him and 
 continued work there and at Big Kapids. The last 
 six or seven years he was with this employer he 
 occupied the responsible position of foreman of 
 the logging department. In 1888 he located on 
 section 27, of Home Township, on land which he 
 bad purchased in 1881. He has sixty-five acres of 
 excellent land upon which he has put all necessary 
 improvements, house, barns ami outbuildings. 
 Here lie has engaged in general farming and stock- 
 raising. 
 
 Wliile he was working in Missouri our subject 
 entered into a life union with Miss Fannie Myers. 
 The mnrriiige took place in Ple.isant Hill, Mo., Feb- 
 ruary 10, 1872. Mrs. Mathison is of (5erman 
 descent. Her father was a farmer in Nicholas 
 County, Ky., where he died some years ago. The 
 grandfather of Mrs. Mathison, Abraham M3er3, 
 was one of the very first settlers in Nicholas 
 County, Kj'., making his home among hostile 
 Indians with whom he was in warfare. He was a 
 soldier in the War of 1812. The wife of our sub- 
 ject was left an orphan by the death of both parents 
 while she was still a young girl, after which she 
 was dependent upon herself. She early learnf<i 
 the fine art of a Kentucky cook and easily paid 
 her own way by self-respecting labor. She met 
 her future husband while in charge of the culinary 
 department of the hotel at Pleasant Hill. 
 
 Three children — Annie, Clinton and Henry — 
 have come to the home of the Mathisons. -Air. 
 Mathison professes the faith anil practice of the 
 Lutheran Church, while his wife is a member of 
 the Congregational Church at Kdmore. He is 
 active in political matters and belongs to the Re- 
 publican paity. He is .School Assessor, and a mem- 
 ber of the Knights of the Maccabees at Edmore, 
 and President of the Home Loflge of the Patrons 
 
544 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of Industry. His early training and a justifiable 
 pride in his honorable ancestry have given him a 
 taste for reading especially in the line of history, 
 his information in this line being of more tiian 
 ordinar3r value. 
 
 . cxro - 
 
 ' RA W. BARLOW was born in Avon, Living- 
 ston County, N. Y., December 25, 1826, and is 
 a son of Obed and Abigail (Whaley) Barlow. 
 His father was a native of Massachusetts and his 
 mother of Rhode Island. She was a descendant of 
 John Whaley, one of the famous regicides who fled 
 to this countrj' after the death of Charles I. Ira 
 remaineii at his father's home until he was twenty 
 years of age and then entered the army and served 
 during the Mexican War. After being in the army 
 about one year he returned home on account of 
 sickness. As his father removed to Wayne Countj', 
 Mich., when the child was only eight years old, his 
 education has been quite limited. During his 
 childhood he never attended a free school nor saw 
 a blackboard. His own children have never at- 
 tended a free school. At one time he went to a 
 winter school four and a half miles from home and 
 had to follow an Indian trail to find his way back 
 and forth. 
 
 The subject of our sketch removed to Indiana and 
 was for four j'ears engaged in boating there. On 
 July 3, 1851, he was united in marriage with Ann 
 Mcintosh, of New York, by whom he had three chil- 
 dren: Milo, born June 25, 1852, who has married 
 Ella Varnormon ; Jennett, Mrs. Carter, born No- 
 vember 11, 1855; Grande D., May 16, 1858. He 
 finally settled on a farm on one hundred and sixty 
 acres in Montcalm County. This he obtained on a 
 warrant from the Government for services ren- 
 dered in the Mexican War. This is the present home 
 of the famil}'; when he took it up it was a dense 
 forest with no roads. He had to cut a wagon road 
 four miles into the woods in order to get to his 
 land. 
 
 Mr. Barlow helped to organize Sidney Township 
 in 1857 and attended the first town meeting. He 
 was then elected Supervisor and held the office for 
 seven years. He has also served the township in 
 
 the capacities of Pathmaster and School Director. 
 His first year on the new home was one of trial and 
 disaster. His first crop was cut down in August, 
 by heavy frost, and forest fires destroyed the hay 
 which he had put up for a winter's supply for his 
 stock. This destitution caused him to lose his 
 yoke of oxen and his milch cow during the winter, 
 and the wolves were so plentiful and so bold that 
 they carried off the carcass of an ox and dragged 
 it forty rods away in one night over piles of logs 
 five feet high. Game was then so plentiful that it 
 it became a pest and at one time Mr. Barlow killed 
 nine hundred squirrels in one field of wheat to 
 prevent them from destroying his grain. One of 
 his neighbors, a Chippewa, killed ninety-seven 
 bears in one fall, and deer were so common as to 
 excite but little attention. Our subject's career in 
 Montcalm County has been that of an intelligent, 
 upright and progressive man, regarding the rights 
 of his neighbors and helping forward all good 
 causes. 
 
 • I I g 'sgg^^^H-S-. 
 
 (■il SALTER H. BLUMBERG. The present 
 \/\/// i*J"'" Clerk of Douglass Township, Mont- 
 *J^^ calm County, is a native of this State, hav- 
 ing been born in Wayne County, May 5, 1850, at 
 a point about twelve miles southwest of the city of 
 Detroit. He is the son of Michel and Almina 
 (Hyde) Blumberg. His parents were natives of 
 New York and emigrated from there about the 
 year 1832. When our subject was a little child of 
 scarcely two years his father removed to Ingham 
 County and resided there as a farmer until the boy 
 was fourteen years old. Walter at that time left 
 the p.arental roof and began the battle of life for 
 himself. He lived about two years with a sister 
 who was married to a Mr. Lewis and after that went 
 to reside with his brother, Charles W. Here he re- 
 mained until he decided to take to himself a wife 
 and establish a home of his own. 
 
 The marriage of Walter Blumberg with Olive 
 Brayman, took place July 3, 1877, in Oakland 
 County. Their union has been blessed by three 
 children — Addie E., born June 28, 1878; Emma 
 

 •a 
 
 7^/A^^-^ 
 
 ^--^^-H^^^^.^^^^^- 
 
 ar^^'- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 547 
 
 K., September 11, 1880;; and Cornelius Piinery, 
 June 2), 1885. These cliildren are nil living and 
 in their vigorous and happy young lives are a 
 source of unfailing comfort to their parents. 
 
 Although deprived of good opi)ortunilies of 
 learning in his youth, the subject of this sketch has 
 ahv.ays taken a keen interest in educational affairs. 
 He is dclermiiie<1 that his children and tlie chil- 
 dren of his neighbors shall have the best that is to 
 ho obtained in this direction, and he is rejoiced that 
 his children have been able to profit bj- belter 
 opportunities than he had in the primitive schools of 
 Michigan. He and his wife are both active and 
 earnest professors of religion in the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 Tliis gentleman has held the otiicc of Constable 
 for two terms in this precinct and is now serving 
 his second terra in the olfice of Town Clerk. His 
 political convictions and efforts are with the Pro- 
 hibition party. 
 
 t-^^^^-f 
 
 Tt^l-I-'AIl I'liATT. In traveling through 
 |l^ Ionia County the passing stranger sees 
 '_'-^ many fine farms and observes with pleasure 
 the evidences of prosperity and good taste on every 
 hand. One of the tracts which present this ap- 
 pearance is situated on section 21, Ionia Township, 
 and is justly considered one of the best farms in 
 the count}'. It is owned and oi)erated by Mr. 
 I'ratt, whose portrait is presented on the ojjposite 
 page. Since he took up his residence in this county 
 he has proved a worthy addition to its citizenship 
 and has greatly assisted in its agricultural develop- 
 ment, as he is a man of active brain, possesses clear 
 judgment, and is enterprising and capable. 
 
 Mr. I'ratt is descended from sturdy Ivcvolulion- 
 ary ancestry. His father, Jacob I'ratt, who was 
 born in Massachusetts in 1781, was a soldier in tl e 
 War of 1812 and followed the callings of a farmer 
 ami mechanic. His mother, whose maiden name 
 was Hachael Anderson, was born in Massachusetts 
 about 1787. and w.as a daughter of William Ander- 
 son of Massachusetts, who served all through the 
 
 Revolutionary War, and surviving the dangers of 
 that stormy period lived to the venerable age of 
 ninety six years. Jacob I'ratt and his wife were 
 married in Massachusetts and emigrated first to 
 Madison County, and then to Erie County, N. Y., 
 where they made their home until 1836. They 
 then removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, and so- 
 journed there for two or three years. In 1839 
 they came to Michigan and located first in Oakland 
 County, then in Saranac where they completed 
 their lives, he dying in 1819 and she following him 
 in 1852. He was a Class-Leader in the Jlethodist 
 Episcopal Church of which they were both uiem- 
 bers, and in connection with which they did much 
 praiseworthy work. He was an earnest devoted 
 man and his is a precious memoiy to his descend- 
 ants. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. .lacob I'ratt were the parents of 
 twelve children, seven of whom are now living at 
 quite an advanced age. The youngest of these is 
 sixty -one years of age and the eldest, seventy-seven 
 years old. The subject of this sketch was born 
 November 20, 1819, in Erie County, N. Y. He re- 
 ceived a common-school education and then leav- 
 ing home at seventeen years of age went to 
 Ashtabula County, Ohio. In 1837 he came to 
 Michigan, where in Oakland Count}' lie learned of 
 his older brother the trade of a millwright. Here 
 he remained until 1841, then settled in L3ons, 
 Ionia County, and witii his brother Aaron built the 
 first gristmill there on the old McKelvey farm. 
 Selling out to his brother in 184C he went to 
 Saranac, Ionia County, and built the gristmill which 
 now stands at that point. He operated that mill 
 for about twenty-five years and then selling out re- 
 moved to Chicigo where he remained for a year. 
 
 In 1872 the subject of this sketch started out in 
 a new direction, going to Silver City, New Mexico, 
 and engageil in the building of quartz mills and 
 other ajiplianccs for the mining industries. Here 
 misfortune overtook him and he lo-st much of the 
 property he hail gaiiicil during his prosperous 3'ears 
 in Michigan. He resided at Chetopa, Ivan., for a 
 year, then returning to Michigan settled upon his 
 present farm, and patiently went to work to regain 
 his financial standing, in which he h.is been success- 
 ful. His farm is in a good condition both as to 
 
548 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 land and buildings. One hundred and twenty-four 
 acres are contained in it, of wliicli ninety-five are 
 under the plow. 
 
 Mr. Pratt was united in marriage in 1842 witli 
 Celestine Stevens, wbo died December 29, 1865, 
 having been Uie motlier of six ciiildren, three of 
 whom are now living, namely: Adelaide, Mrs. 
 Mason W. Stoddard, of Clinton County, wl\o is 
 the mother of three children; Ida, Mrs. Cliarles 
 Jones, of Grand Rapids, tlie mother of two chil- 
 dren ; Filnora, Mrs. Levi Fellows of Ottawa County. 
 His second marriage was witli Helen A. Marble, a 
 daughter of Samuel and Caroline (Spinning) Mar- 
 ble. This event took place February 23, 18G7. 
 Mr. Marble was a native of Pennsylvania and his 
 wife of New .Tersey. Twenty-five years ago they 
 emic^rated from the State of New York to Elkiiart, 
 Ind. Mrs. Marble died in 1873 at Silver City, New 
 Mexico. Her husband departed this life in Janu- 
 ary, 1891. Tliey were the parents of nine children, 
 eight of whom arc still living. 
 
 Mrs. Pratt was born October 11, 1845, iu Cayuga 
 County, N. Y. She and her husband have no chil- 
 dren. They are both members of the Episcopal 
 Church in which he has been an officer for some 
 time. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
 Blue Lodge in which he has been Master. At 
 Saranac he was a member of the School Board. He 
 has been Townshii) Treasurer of Austin Township 
 and Hio'hway Commissioner for three years, and is 
 now Justice of the Peace here. He is wide-awake 
 in regard to political matters, and casts his vote 
 with the Democratic party. 
 
 Mathew G. Pratt, brother of Elijah, has been 
 recently visiting him. He was born May 30, 1824, 
 in Erie County, N. Y., and came West with his 
 father's family in 1844, soon after which he started 
 out for himself. His home is in Gratiot County, 
 where he has pursued the vocation of a mechanic. 
 In 1845 he married Sarah M. Wood, of Fond du 
 Lac County, Wis. She died in 1856, leaving two 
 children. He again married in 1858 Augusta Hig- 
 gins, who died leaving no children. His marriage 
 with Mary Venable of Sidney, Iowa, took place in 
 1872, and at her death in 1874 she left no children. 
 He again married in 1882 Eraeline Coleman who 
 has one child — Charles Ernest, about eight years 
 
 old (1891.) When he lived in Sidney, Iowa, he 
 fitted out a train of emigrants to cross the plains. 
 The Indians captured the entire train and killed all 
 the people except one woman who w.as kept in cap- 
 tivity for six months and finally was released. 
 
 ^,,^4 .^^. ,T^^ 
 
 ^=^ILMAN J. WRIGHT. This honored eiti- 
 (II ,— -, zen of Montcalm County is closely con- 
 ^^i|l nected with the business interests of Home 
 Township as a farmer and mechanic. He owns and 
 occupies a tract of eighty acres on sections 19 and 
 30, and also carries on a wagon and repair shop in 
 Edmore. lie has held every township office except 
 that of Treasurer, is prominent among the old sol- 
 diers, and influential and active in church work. 
 When he came to the township he bought out a 
 homesteader's claim that was watered by Stony 
 Creek, and set to work to make the improvements 
 that he thought proper for a well-regulated farm. 
 Ho now has a complete line of farm buildings, has 
 the land under excellent tillage, and derives a sat- 
 isfactory income from the sale of the stock and 
 crops he raises. 
 
 Mr. Wright belongs to an old Connecticut fam- 
 ily, but he is a native of the Buckeye State. He 
 was born in Pittsfield, Lorain County, May 1, 1844, 
 and spent his infancy and childhood there and in 
 Carlyle Township. In 1850 his parents removed 
 to this State, traveling with a team and wagon 
 according to the primitive fashion. A tract of one 
 hundred and sixty acres in Kalamazoo County was 
 bought and located upon and various improve- 
 ments made, the son aiding in the work necessary 
 as far as his youthful strength would permit. He 
 had but limited school privileges, only attending 
 one winter, Init studied at home and gained con- 
 siderable practical knowledge. In 1860 he returned 
 to his native State and worked out nearly two 
 j'cars. 
 
 The war-cloud had settled over the country and 
 young Wright was filled with a patriotic desire to 
 enter the service of the country. Young as he was 
 he enlisted in January, 1862, and was enrolled in 
 Company B, One Hundred and Twonty-eighth Ohio 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 549 
 
 Infantry. He was mustered in at Johnson's Island, 
 nliere lie acted as guard over prisoners until his term 
 of service expired when he was mustered out and 
 honorably discharged in April, 18G;j. lie returned 
 to Oliio, but came at once to this State and took 
 charge of his father's old farm, which lie carried 
 on some months. He then went again to his native 
 State and for a year and a half gave his attention 
 exclusively to w.agon-making, then combined willi 
 that trade the work of a carpenter and joiner. In 
 August, 1872, he bought his present location and 
 moved onto the place the next year. He gave his 
 attention to farming until the summer of 1890, 
 when he was requested to open a wagon and rejjair 
 shop, which he did. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Wright and Miss L^ydia L. 
 Park was solemnized in Sandusky, Ohio, in August, 
 1804. The bride was born in Preston, Chenango 
 County, N. Y. The union has been blessed bj' the 
 birth of three children, naniel^-: Minnie E., de- 
 ceased; Willard J. and Charles G. Mrs. Wright 
 has been an efficient helpmate and a devoted 
 mother and the good opinion that is held of her 
 by her neighbors is indicative of her kindliness 
 and social nature. 
 
 The first frame barn built in Home Township was 
 put up 1)3' Mr. Wright upon his farm and there the 
 first mowing machine was used in the township. 
 He has been School Director fifteen years in suc- 
 cession and served for a long lime as Township 
 Clerk and Justice of the Peace. He is now Senior 
 \' ice- Commander of the Grand Army Post, and 
 has been Commander. Politically he is a Republi- 
 can and his service has been given to the party as 
 a delegate to county conventions. His religious 
 membershiii is in the Congregational Church and 
 he holds the offices of Deacon and Trustee; he is 
 Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday-school and 
 Superintendent of a mission school. His private 
 diaracter is unimpeachable, his reputation in busi- 
 ness circles enviable, and he exerts an infiuence on 
 the side of right and progress that is felt through- 
 out the neighborhood. 
 
 Josiah Wright, grandfather of our subject, spent 
 his entire life in Connecticut, where he carried on 
 the occupation of a farmer and fisherman. His 
 son Jonathan was born near Saybrook, and in his 
 
 early life settled in Lorain County, Ohio, where he 
 was engaged in teaching and later in farming. He 
 came to this State in 18.')0, but his health became 
 so poor that he went back to his native State and 
 died there when his son Gilraan J. was twelve years 
 old. His wife bore the maiden name of Miranda 
 Cochran and was born in Londonderry, Vt., Septem- 
 ber 10, 1813. She is a daughter of David Cochran, 
 who w.as born in Vermont and was of Irish paren- 
 tage. That gentleman was one of the early settlers 
 in Lorain County, Ohio, an<l there his daughter 
 was married to Jonathan Wright. On the death 
 of her husband she was left with two children, our 
 subject being the elder. The other was Charles 
 II., who is now living in Itah and is an engineer 
 on the Central Pacific Railroad ; he entered the 
 army when quite young, enlisting in 18G3 in the 
 One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio Infantry 
 and served until the close of the war. Mrs. Wright 
 has for j-ears ma<(e her home with her son Gilraan, 
 and is now seventy-five years of age. 
 
 EOKGE E. ]U-:A1)I,E is chissed among the 
 fanners of Ionia County and is operating a 
 tract of one hundred and twent}' -eight acres 
 on section 6, Lyons Township. All is under cul- 
 tivation but fifteen acres which is covered with 
 limber. Mr. Beadle is doing well in general farm- 
 ing, has the place well stocked and raises crops that 
 never fall below the average in quality or quantity. 
 The properly on which he makes his home and 
 which he is so successfully operating, belongs to 
 his father, who is living upon a smaller farm in 
 Ronald Township, to which our subject holds the 
 title. The pl.ace which is owned by George Beadic 
 contains sixteen acres and has good buildings upon 
 it. 
 
 Mr. Beadle is the son of Wilburand Chloe (Kox) 
 Beadle, who were natives of New York ami who 
 came to this Slate many years ago. They were 
 married in Ealon County and eslablislied their 
 home in Benton Township, on land that was bare 
 of improvements when they look possession. After 
 a time Ihc}- changed their location to another sec- 
 
550 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tion in the same township and thence came to Ionia 
 County in 1865. Here they occupied the tract 
 that is now the home of the son and from it they 
 removed to his farm in Ronald Townsliip. They 
 have three living children — George, Ilattie and 
 Edie, and lost one in infancy. 
 
 The gentleman with whose name these para- 
 graphs is introduced was horn in Eaton Counl^s 
 September 21, 1848. His first educational privi- 
 leges were had in that county and he afterward 
 went to school in Ionia County. He assisted his 
 father from year to year and became thoroughly 
 conversant with the management of a farm before 
 he left home, which he did when twenty-one years 
 old. He was married in 1876 to Miss Martha 
 Thompson who was born in Wayne County, New 
 York, December 1847, and came to this State when 
 a child six years old. Her parents were Sylvanus 
 and Ora (Barney) Thompson, both of whom were 
 born in the Green Mountain State. Immediately 
 after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Beadle took up 
 their residence on his father's farm, sixty acres of 
 which was then under improvement. 
 
 Mr. Beadle is a man of much intelligence, kee|>- 
 ing himself well informed regarding the world's 
 work and making quite a study of the issues of the 
 day. He is a believer in and a supporter of the 
 principles of the Republican party. The only local 
 office he has held is that of Pathmaster. lie is a 
 member of the Christian Church and is connected 
 with the congregation in Ronald Townsliip that is 
 known as the Union Church. He and his wife have 
 a pleasant circle of acquaintances, to whom their 
 doors are always hospitably open. 
 
 <jf|OSEPH ROASCH. In every section of the 
 United States the native of Germany has 
 been making his way to competence and 
 honor, displaying the sturdy enterprise, 
 honesty and industry that have resulted in bring- 
 ing his native land in the front rank among nations. 
 Ionia County is not without her representatives of 
 this nationality, and foremost among them is the 
 gentleman above named, who has been living in 
 
 Keene Township for more than thirty years. He 
 has been a potent factor in the development of the 
 agricultural resources of the county and has at- 
 tained to a substantial footing among the property 
 owners of the township. His farm is only of me- 
 dium size, but is well tilled and improved, and is 
 the source of an income adequate for his wants. 
 
 In the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, Mr. 
 Roasch was born on Christmas Day, 1829. His 
 parents were George and Clara (Fischer) Roasch, 
 who were born in the Fatherland and spent their 
 lives there. They reared their son in accordance 
 with the customs of the countrj^ giving him a 
 practical education in the schools that are kept by 
 the government, and teaching him industrious 
 habits and a knowledge of farm work. After he 
 had grown to manhood he made up his mind that a 
 broader field for the exercise of his talents would 
 be afforded in America, and bidding adieu to the 
 land of his birth, he embarked at Havre on a sail- 
 ing vessel and seven weeks later lauded in New 
 York City. He had about $10 when he set foot 
 upon American soil, but in lieu of large capital 
 he had an abundant supply of energy, determina- 
 tion and mother wit. He was economical and when 
 employment was secured the way was oi)ened to a 
 competence. 
 
 Mr. Roasch went to Canada, where he worked as 
 a farm hand and on railwaj' construction a few 
 months, but in the fall he made his way to Ionia 
 County, this State, which has since been his home. 
 Keene Township has been the scene of his labors 
 from that time, but for several years he worked as 
 a farm hand, before he was able to establish himself 
 on land of his own. When he bought property it 
 was in the uncleared sections and he was obliged 
 to wield the ax, do logging and breaking, and 
 other work which is necessary in reclaiming the 
 timber lands of America. Before he left his own 
 country he served five j'ears in the German army, 
 in accordance with the law of the land. 
 
 Mr. Roasch was married May 30, 1867, to Rosan- 
 nah Take}', a native of New York, and a daughter 
 of Jacob and Catherine (Geurmsey) Takey, natives 
 of Germany. They married in this country and 
 both died at their home near Utica, N. Y. The 
 union has been blessed by the birth of five children, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 551 
 
 whose names are George, Frederick, Soplironiai 
 Clmiles and C'Inni. Both liiisb.iiul and wife belong 
 U> llie Catholic Cliurcii, and their cliikiren are l)e- 
 iiii^ carefully instructed in the tenets of the mother 
 chinch. Mr. Roasch has been School Treasurer for 
 fifteen years and the confidence thus reposed in 
 him is a strong proof of the o[)inioii his neighbors 
 have of his honest^'. The vote he casts is a Dem- 
 ocratic one. In his business relations he has the 
 full confidence of those with whom he deals, and in 
 social circles he is well regarded as one of the en- 
 terprising, intelligent and genial men of the neigh- 
 borhood. 
 
 HI K. LE VALLEY is the son of llolden Le Val- 
 ley, a native of Pennsylvania, and Irene (Ful- 
 ler) Le Vallej', who was born in Vermont. 
 Thej' were married in Herkimer County, N. Y., 
 December 2G, 1810. The parents of Mrs. Le Valley 
 emigrated from Vermont into New York State at a 
 very early day, and coming to Michigan in 1814, 
 settled in Oakland County, being thus among the 
 very earliest pioneers. The parents of our subject 
 lived in Orleans County, N. Y., where the father 
 died .June 9, 1823, and the mother a month earlier. 
 Thej' were the parents of six children, three of 
 whom arc now living: Ara, born in 1814; Eri, 
 in 181G;and our subject Iri, May T), 1818, in Or- 
 leans County, N. Y. 
 
 Left an ori)lian when only five 3'ears of .age, Iri 
 Le V^alley was taken by his uncle Christopher Le 
 A'alley to his home. Here he remained until he was 
 ten years old when he went to live with Mr. .1. 
 Waldo, on the Mohawk River. He remained with 
 this family until he reached his majority when he 
 received from them according to the custom of the 
 day, ^100. He then went to work by the month 
 for Isaac Malleson, near Utica, Oneida Count}-, 
 N. Y., bargaining for |il2 per month. He worked 
 seven months and received the sum of ^S. He then 
 went to Mr. Willis, who was building the Black 
 River Canal, and engaged to furnish sand for 
 six locks of this canal. He had worked here six 
 weeks, when one day while working in a sand baid\ 
 
 it caved in and he was buried up to his neck. The 
 pressure broke his breast bone. By a herculean 
 effort he extricated himself and cleared the sand 
 from his wagon and team. He kept on working 
 for a few da3*s when he fell into convulsions. This 
 was his last work for fourteen months. When he 
 was able to work agam his money was all gone and 
 he was in debt $40 to the doctor. His health was 
 not fully restored but he worked at doing chores 
 to supi)ort himself. For several years he had oc- 
 casional relapses and suffered very much. He 
 worked along thus for about two j'ears and came 
 in the fall of 1844 to see his brother, who had set- 
 tled in Michigan. When our subject had looked 
 about 111 the new State he concluded that he would 
 try his hand at clearing land and took fort^' acres 
 of land from Thomas Marsh. He began work upon 
 a little tree six inches in diameter. He fainted 
 away from this slight exertion, but his determina- 
 tion was stronger than his physical frame. When 
 he recovered consciousness he went to Ionia got 
 some strong linen and had some slays made into 
 which he buckled himself tightl}' and went back to 
 his work. He kept at the chopping, notwithstan<l- 
 ing pain and suffering, and April 1, 1845, he had 
 his forty acres paid for. He then bought another 
 forty acres and paid for it also by chopping. Still 
 he has never since that lime seen a day which was 
 not a day of suffering to him. His farm has one 
 of the best springs in Michigan. 
 
 Mr. Le Valle}' made a home on his new farm and 
 worked out for the neighbors. In those days he 
 received fifty cents a day for haying and did two 
 and a half days work for a new shirt. Three days 
 wages in harvest bought a pounil of tobacco. He 
 put up a shanty in 184fi and in 1847 this brave 
 man look to himself a wife. Miss Eliza A. Craw- 
 ford, of Seneca County, N. Y. When they were 
 cozily settled in their little shanty he had his wife, 
 an ax and five shillings. In those days he had the 
 oiilion of fifty cents a day or a bushel of wheat as 
 wages in harvest limes. lie always took wheal and 
 while living upon it cleared off his own land. He 
 has chopped and cleared one liundred an<l ninety- 
 five acres of heavy timber, many oaks on his land 
 measuring five feel through. He .sold his first 
 forty acres for 1200. His i)resenl residence was 
 
552 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 built in 1863, at the cost of $1,500. His wife, wlio 
 was born February 10, 1822, died April 4, 1874. 
 Tiiey were the parents of two children — Irene Eme- 
 line, and Nancy Keziali. Botli died in infancy. 
 Ilis second marital union was witli Miss Lana 
 Crawfor(), a sister of liis former wife. Tliis event 
 tooli place April 20, 1876. Tliey are both of them 
 members of the Ionia Presbyterian Church to 
 which he h.as belonged for about tweiitj'-five j'ears. 
 They have always been earnest Sunday-school 
 workers. In the early days lie used to hold Sunday- 
 school in his old log shanty. His first church con- 
 nection was with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 but later he became a Presbyterian. He took care 
 of his mother-in-law for years before her death. He 
 has always been active in promoting the educa- 
 tional interests of the community, and has been a 
 Director or Moderator of the School Board for 
 twenty-live years. When the church was built 
 near his home he gave an acre and a half of land 
 for II and subscribed $50 in money or sixty days 
 work. He served four years as Trustee, Treasurer, 
 and on the Building Committee and when collec- 
 tions ran short he paid out of his own pocket the 
 current expenses, of which he received the thanks 
 of the church. 
 
 Mr. Le Valley has always been one of the most 
 prominent men in Orange Township. He was one 
 of its organizers and gave it its name. He served 
 the township faithfully, clearing out roads and 
 building bridges as Highway Commissioner. For 
 live years lie was Township Treasurer, and Col- 
 lector and during his long term of service 
 of twenty-six years as Justice of the Peace 
 he 'has united sixty -seven couples in the bonds 
 of matrimony. He is a Republican in poli- 
 tics and cast his first Presidential vote for William 
 Henry Harrison and his last for Benjamin Harrison. 
 In local elections he votes for the best man irre- 
 spective of party. He has always been an ardent 
 worker in the temperance cause and in this diiec- 
 tiou has done heroic work. His wife's sympathies 
 and activities are with him in this work. He now 
 has one hundred and thirteen and one-half acres of 
 land, nearly all of which is improved and all this 
 done by his own hand. He raises cattle and sheep 
 of good grades. Last year he raised sixty-five 
 
 lambs and in September he sold fifty of them for 
 $3.25 per head. 
 
 When our subject came here in 1844 there were 
 no means of transportation between this point and 
 Detroit, except by team or on foot. The villages 
 of Portland and Lyons then brought all their goods 
 from Detroit by team. On his way, traveling by 
 foot, he stopped at what is now Howell, to hear a 
 speech at a Democratic mass meeting. There were 
 thirty delegates, a band and forty ladies dressed in 
 white, all carried on six sets of wheels, drawn by 
 twenty yokes of oxen led by a bull weighing 
 twenty-two hundred |)0unds. He had a poke on 
 covered with ribbons as were also the yokes of the 
 oxen. They traveled through the country in this 
 style. After hearing the speech and seeing the dis- 
 play the young man proceeded on his way. 
 
 ■^/OHN E. MORRISON. Among the best 
 citizens of our country are those ilescended 
 from Scotch ancestry. With them they 
 have brought to their new home the char- 
 acteristics of prudence and frugality, of uncom- 
 promising integrity and persevering industry. Of 
 this stock was the fatlier of our subject, John E. 
 Morrison, Sr., a native of New York State and a 
 farmer. The original emigrants from Scotland 
 were three brothers who came to America at an 
 earl}' day, settling in different parts of the United 
 States. The branch to which these Morrisons be- 
 longed settled in New York State. The mother of 
 our subject was Eliza (McKelvey) Morrison, a na- 
 tive of Rochester, N. Y. Her family came to 
 Ionia County about 1834. 
 
 John E. Morrison, Sr., was born in 1815, and 
 came to Michigan when twenty-one years of age. 
 In 1833 he settled in Berlin Township on section 
 25, a fraction of Easton Township, now attached 
 to Berlin. He took up one hundred and sixty 
 acres of Government land, all raw, and had to cut 
 his way throuy^h the timber in order to drive to 
 his farm. His brave wife rode an Indian pony, 
 carrying two children in her arms. They removed 
 from Oakland County, Mich., where he had set- 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 553 
 
 tied in 1830 and married, to this new home, 
 being ten days on the road. He was at this time 
 in delicate health and very mucli reduced in cir- 
 ciiinstanccs, but proceeded to luiild a log house 
 and clear off his farm, one hundred acres of which 
 lie improved. His wife died in 1881, an<l he fol- 
 lowed her in 1884. Of their eleven children four 
 arc now living: Joseph, who lived in Arkansas, 
 died April 22, 1891; Almira, Mrs. S. Shaw, also in 
 the same State; our subject; Susan, Mrs. M. G. 
 Allen, who lives in Ronald Township; Anna, Mrs. 
 B. F. Beardsle}', who lives in Stanton. The father 
 took a [)rominent part in public affairs, being in 
 the early days a Whig, and joining the Repub- 
 lican party soon after its formation. He also took 
 an active interest in schools and was for nianj' 
 years School Inspector. He was also Township 
 Clerk, Supervisor, and in 1838 Justice of the 
 Peace. In this last capacity he united many- 
 couples in marriage. For a long while the Indians 
 were close neighbors, and the squaws used to he the 
 onl}' domestic help which this good mother could 
 secure to help her through the hard work of wash- 
 ing and other extra jobs. When the organization 
 of Berlin Township in 1838 was effected he was 
 made Moderator of the first township meeting, and 
 was also the first Township Clerk and Inspector. 
 In 1812 he was made Supervisor. 
 
 Our subject was horn February 25, 1811, in 
 Berlin Township, and grew up among the Intlians 
 and the wild scenes of frontier life, for his father 
 being the first white settler in what is now Berlin 
 Township, had no near neighbors among the whites 
 except Oliver Arnold. His first schooling was in 
 his own house, where a subscription school was 
 established. His worthy parents were ambitious 
 fur the best things for their children and gave 
 them the best education that could be secured in 
 this way. I'litil he was twenty-seven years of age 
 he remained at home, but then began for himself. 
 
 John K. Morrison, our subject, married Novem- 
 ber 1, 1868, Mrs. Mary (Sessions) Ilendryx, a na- 
 tive of Ionia City, and an adopted child of Amasa 
 Sessions, who originally settled ui)on this farm. 
 This early settler and his valuable wife were 
 among the earliest and have always been one of 
 the foremost families of Ionia County. Having 
 
 no children of their own, they took the little 
 orphan to their hearts and home and brought her 
 up to be one of the best educated and most benev- 
 olent women in the county. Mr. Sessions settled 
 here in 1838, and remained until 1870 when he 
 retired from active work, removing to Ionia. His 
 wife departed this life in 1873, and he followed 
 her in 1886. She was a member of the Christian 
 Church and Mr. Sessions held many responsible 
 positions of trust in his community, being in 1842 
 one of the School Inspectors, and for a number of 
 years Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of Ber- 
 lin Township. He belonged to the old Whig 
 party, and later joined the Republican ranks. Both 
 Mr. Sessions antl .Mr. Morrison have borne the 
 best records as men of purely temperate lives. 
 Mrs. Morrison was born January 2, 1845. Besides 
 the district school education which she could re- 
 ceive on the farm, her adopted parents sent her to 
 lonin to receive the advantages of the graded 
 schools there, and later to Utica, N. Y., for further 
 privileges. She afterward taught school in Berlin 
 Township until her marriage with George W. 
 Hendryx, by whom siic had one child — Ma3', born 
 April 30, 18GG. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are the parents of three 
 children — Nellie, born August 30, 1870; Amasa, 
 July 17, 1872; .and John E., December 21, 1874. 
 The}^ were all students at the Ionia public schools 
 and Amasa is now attending a business college at 
 Ionia. Miss May and Miss Nellie are both excel- 
 lent performers on the melodeon. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Morrison are warmly interested in the Grange, she 
 being a lecturer in the same. For six years Mr. 
 Morrison has been a Director of the local schools 
 and Road Overseer, and has taken an active [lart 
 in politics, voting the Republican ticket. 
 
 Mr. Morrison started empty-handed, but his 
 push, perseverance and haid work have made him 
 successful to a marked degree. He now owns throe 
 hundred and fort3--two acres of land, over three 
 hundred acres of which is cleared. He devotes 
 himself mostly to the raising and feeding of slock, 
 making a specialty of sheep raising. He keeps tin- 
 fine wool Spanish-Merinoes, of which he has three 
 hundred and fifty head. He has followed this 
 line of work for over twenty years. His laine 
 
554 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 barns have often needed and have received addi- 
 tions to shelter the fine stock in which he takes a 
 great pride. Nothing of an inferior grade is al- 
 lowed on his farm and among cattle the Durhanis 
 are his favorites. He has not neglected the cul- 
 ture of fruit, having an orchard of ten acres. 
 
 )ERNARU IIACKETT, the Supervisor of 
 Orange Township, Ionia County, is one of 
 [»!))) II; tiie old pioneers of the county. He was 
 born in 1838, his father being Patrick Hack- 
 ett, a native of County Leitrim, Ireland, and a 
 farmer by occupation. His mother was Mary 
 (Stanton) Ilackett, a native of the same county. 
 They were married in the Emerald Isle, and resided 
 there until 1840, when they migrated to America, 
 and came directly to Michigan, settling in Orange 
 Township on section 31, on an unbroken farm lo- 
 cated by an uncle of our subject, Barney Hackett, 
 in 1836. Although the farm was unbroken, a log 
 cabin had been built on the place. His first work 
 on the eighty acres was to clear off the timber. 
 There were but three families within two miles of 
 his cabin. Indians and wild animals abounded, 
 especially wolves, bears and deer. He added to his 
 farm, and in time gave his son forty acres of it. 
 He busied himself in improving his land and also 
 took an active interest in establishing schools, and 
 was for years a member of the School Board. In 
 polities he was a Democrat. Both parents were 
 members of the Roman Catholic Church. The fa- 
 ther died in 1861 ; the mother is still living at the 
 advanced age of eighty-eight years. They were 
 the parents of seven children, four of whom are 
 now living. 
 
 Our subject was born in Count}' Leitrim, Ireland, 
 and was two years old when the family came to 
 Jlichigan. The opportunities for schooling in that 
 early day were extremely limited, but this boy had 
 the privilege of attending school in one of the first 
 log schoolhouses in Orange Township. This school- 
 house was roughly put together, but as the history 
 of our country has abundantly proved, a log school- 
 house and a bright teacher give a boy an excellent 
 
 start in life. His first teacher was Caroline Bur- 
 gess, from Lyons. School was in session three 
 months each year, and the teacher was paid by rate 
 bills. He remained at home until he was twenty- 
 eight years of age. In the meantime his father had 
 died and he chose to care for his mother. He built 
 a house for her and helped to get the old home in 
 good condition before he started out for himself. 
 
 Bernard Hackett married December 27, 1866, 
 Miss Alice Butler, a daughter of Edward and Nancy 
 (Corcoran) Butler, both natives of Ireland, and 
 members of the Catliolic Church. They had come 
 to America and settled for several years at Roches- 
 ter, N. Y., but emigrated to Michigan in 1840, find- 
 ing a home in Berlin Township, Ionia County, on 
 a new farm. Mr. Butler cleared off and improved 
 this land, and while industriously employed upon 
 his farm, took an active interest in having all local 
 matters started aright. He was a Democrat in pol- 
 itics, and soon became a member of the School 
 Board. He died in the year 1872; his wife survives 
 him, and still resides ujjon the old homestead, al- 
 though about eighty-three years old. This couple 
 became the parents of eleven children, eight of 
 whom are now living, namely: Thomas, Mary (Mrs. 
 Elbert), Kate (Mrs. Hackett), Edward, Jane (Mrs. 
 Otis), John, Alice (Mrs. Hackett), Sarah (Mrs. 
 Mathews). 
 
 Mrs. Hackett was born in 1844 in Berlin Town- 
 ship, and led the free and happy life of a pioneer 
 child. Upon her marriage to the subject of this 
 sketch, she came with him to their present home, a 
 farm of ninety acres on section 30, Orange Town- 
 ship. The farm has been gradually enlarged, and 
 now comprises one hundred acres, seventy of which 
 are improved and cultivated. Mr. Hackett has 
 built his residence and barns, and has also placed 
 upon his farm all the other improvements which 
 appear there. He carries on mixed farming, rais- 
 ing grain and stock. He and his good wife have 
 become the parents of three children: George E., 
 born January 20, 1868; Eugene A., May 31, 1869; 
 Frederick B., June 30, 1872. To these children 
 they have given a district school education, and 
 have brought them up in the Roman Catholic faith. 
 Mr. Hackett's conliiiuous residence in this township 
 for fifty-one years has made him well known to all 
 

 J^ ^/^C<:ri-eyH^r2-,^i-<_^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 557 
 
 the citizens in his township. He is a political fac- 
 tor in local Democratic affairs. He has been a lueni- 
 berof the School Board, and was elected Supervisor 
 of Orange Township four j'ears ago, which otiice 
 he still continues to hold. His friends have ([uite 
 frcqucntlj' made him a delegate to both county and 
 district conventions. He is a member of the l*ii- 
 tronsof Industry, and has done the work of a High- 
 way Commissioner. 
 
 -^ 
 
 ^pfiLBERT V. MOREHOUSE is termed the 
 
 ( @//J| l historian of Portland. This title he de- 
 ,'// w serves by virtue of his keeping records of 
 'QyJ old settlers, statistics indicative of his 
 country's progress, copies of speeches when deliv- 
 ered before old settlers' gatherings, and tiie inter- 
 est he takes in various branches of literature. This 
 talent is not the chief of his abilities; he is also a 
 line mechanic, always seeking industriously to im- 
 prove the powers bestowed upon him b}' a kind 
 Providence. His religious and social duties are 
 performed conscientiously. 
 
 Livingston, Essex County, Is'. J., was the birth- 
 place of Mr. Morehouse and his natal day was 
 .January 13, 1818. He was the son of David W. 
 and Nancy (Earrand) Morehouse. He is of Puri- 
 tan descent and the sixth lineal descendant of the 
 lirst Morehouse who lived in America. His father 
 died Eebruary 10, 1873, at Portland, Jlich., in his 
 eighty-sixth year. His mother died the 3-ear fol- 
 lowing. Albert F. was educated in the common 
 schools of his native Slate. Evincing a marked 
 talent for mechanics he learned the carpenter and 
 joiner's trade, which he carried on successfully in 
 Newark, N. J., Troy, N. Y., New Orleans, La., and 
 Portland, Mich. 
 
 To Portland Mr. Morehouse came on Jlay 24, 
 1843, and has since been identified with itsgrowlli. 
 He has not worked at his trade since 1865. In 
 1853 he was elected .Supervisor of his township, 
 re elected in 1854 and again in 18G2. He has 
 been Justice of the Peace for three terms. He was 
 Township Clerk several terms and has alw.ay3 iden- 
 tified himself with the educational interests of his 
 
 village, having held the office of School Director 
 more than twenty years. In 1863-64 he held the 
 position of Sergeant-at-Arms in the House of 
 Representatives of the Slate. In local literary 
 circles he is an active member, being President of 
 the Portland Library and Literary Association. 
 
 In 1835 Mr. Morehouse was converted in New- 
 ark, N. J., from which time he has been a consis- 
 tent member and during much of that time au 
 ollicer in the church. He has been Deacon in the 
 Baptist Church of Portland since Juno 15, 1865, 
 and was Clerk of the church in 1879. At the 
 semi centennial celebration of the church in June, 
 1890, he was selected to deliver the historical ad- 
 dress, and occupied the hour allotted to him in a 
 manner highly praised by the large audience. He 
 is Secretary of Portland Lodge, No. 31 , P'. <fe A. M., 
 and it has been publicly stated that he is one of the 
 most efficient ollicers of the fraternity in Michigan. 
 Mr. Morehouse was married to Sarah C. Freeman, 
 a descendant of Anneke Jans, and they have a fam- 
 ily of five sons and four daughters. Of the for- 
 mer the eldest served in the Tenth Michigan Cav- 
 alry until the close of the war. The second son, 
 Lewis Ciiss Morehouse, is a Baptist minister in 
 Winchester, III. With the exception of one son 
 who died when eight years of age all the children 
 are living. 
 
 Mr. Morehouse is cng.aged in business of a mis- 
 cellaneous character, including duties devolving 
 upon him as Notary Public, Conveyancer of Deeds, 
 Claim Agent, etc. Few men have been called 
 upon to write more wills than he; few arc better 
 or more favorablj' known. At an early age he was 
 called from Ihe vocation he had chosen to attend 
 to the interests of the community where he resides. 
 Although not cducateil in the law his reaily appre 
 elation of its rules and the principles of govern- 
 ment insured his success. His religious views 
 have formed his code of action, and his integrity 
 and fidelity have held the confidence of the people. 
 His executive ability in the settlement of estates 
 is constantly called into requisition. 
 
 In common with other pioneers of Michigan Mr. 
 Morehouse passed through some thrilling exper- 
 iences, among them an encounter with a hear when 
 on his way to his home one mile from the village. 
 
558 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 A short distance from him was bruin, apparently 
 as much astonished as he at the unexpected meet- 
 ing. Mr. Morehouse l<ppt his eye fixed upon 
 bruin until tlie latter changed his course and 
 passed by a few i-ods away from him. Since tliat 
 early day many changes have been made. The 
 forests are all felled and the hands of pioneers 
 have changed the face of nature. When Mr. More- 
 house bouglit and moved on the eigiity-acre farm 
 he yet owns adjoining the corporate limits of the 
 yillage the wilderness was unbroken and no roads 
 had been made. It was not unusual to see deer 
 and wild turkeys near the house, while the whole 
 country was in almost its primeval condition. As 
 might be expected Mr. Morehouse is a member of 
 the Michigan Slate Pioneer and Historical Society 
 and the Vice-President representing Ids county. 
 
 In June, 1877, after an absence of a third 
 of a century, Mr. Morehouse revisited the home 
 of his childhood in New Jersey, and on tlie 
 occasion of the celebration of the Fourth of July 
 of that year he was an invited and honored guest 
 in the procession and occupied a prominent seat on 
 the platform. He is now comfortably living in 
 the enjoyment of a hard-earned competency and 
 maintaining the respect of his large circle of friends, 
 who will be pleased to notice iiis portrait on another 
 page of this volume. 
 
 \fl'UDSON BUTTOLPH occupies :i pleasantly- 
 located farm on section 9, Olisco Townshii), 
 and has other farm lands within Ionia 
 County. He is prominently connected witli 
 the agricultural affairs of the neighborhood, and 
 has considerable influence in all matters that per- 
 tain to the welfare of the community'. As a farmer 
 he is industrious and thorough-going, ready to 
 adopt a practical idea, yet never giving up the old 
 plans without due consideration of the new. His 
 farm is supplied with tlie necessary outbuildings 
 and a good farmhouse, and is stocked with domes- 
 tic animals that are kept in good condition and 
 always find a ready sale. 
 
 The parents of Judson Buttolph were the Rev. 
 
 John and Sarah (Douglas) Buttolph, natives re- 
 spectively of New York and Massachusetts. Their 
 marriage touk jilace in the Empire State August 
 27, 1816, and to them were born six children, 
 namely: Sylva A. and Henry D., deceased; John 
 G., whose home is near Pontiac; James W., liv- 
 ing near Pompeii; Judson, our subject; and 
 Sarah Maria, a resident of Pontiac. The deceased 
 son was a Baptist minister and was the second of 
 that denomination located at Ionia. The father 
 was engaged in the ministry of the Baptist Church 
 in the Empire State until June, 1826, when lie 
 removed to Michigan, selecting Troy, Oakland 
 County, as the place of his residence. He took up 
 two hundred and ten acres of Government land, 
 upon which he built a log house; he did not live 
 long enough to improve it, but died three months 
 after his arrival, October 1. 
 
 The eyes of Judson Buttolph opened to the 
 light June 27, 1825, in Dutchess County, N. Y., 
 and he was an infant when brought to this State, 
 From his father's estate he received forty -three and 
 a half acres of land, on which he began farming 
 when of age. In 1849 he came to Ionia County 
 and bought two farms in Otisco Township, the 
 one of eighty and the other of fifty acres. He also 
 purchased one hundred and thirty-two acres near 
 Smyrna. After going to Olisco Township and 
 working there for a time Mr. Buttolph went onto 
 his mother-in-law's farm, but in 187G he removed 
 to his present home. The property on which he 
 lives consists of forty-eight acres and his present 
 possessions elsewhere are a fifty-acre tract, a sixty 
 and a seventy. 
 
 Mr. Buttolph was marrieil October 6, 1851, to 
 Miss Lydia Alger. The union has been blest by 
 the bii th of seven children, of whom Sarah, James, 
 Jennie and Henry are living. Three are de- 
 ceased. The youngest child is at home; James is 
 in Spencer, Kent County, and the daughters live 
 in Otisco Township. 
 
 Mr. Buttolph has served as Sciiool Inspector and 
 is now discharging the duties of Justice of the 
 Peace for his third term. In politics he is a Repub- 
 lican. He and his wife belong to the Baptist 
 C'liiircli. They enjo3' the friendship of a goodly 
 circle of acquaintances and keep up with the times 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 559 
 
 in tlieir knowledge of passing events that are of 
 general interest and in tiieir association in projects 
 tliat promise to advance the common welfare. Mr. 
 Biittolph was fortunate in receiving more than a 
 common-school education, having been privileged 
 to attend school in Romeo and Kalamazoo, and a 
 manual training school in Aslitabula County. 
 Ohio. 
 
 ^^EORGE DINSMORK is one of the large 
 ill (— _ landowners of Portland Township, Ionia 
 ^^iiiijl County, and finils abundant occupation in 
 looking after the work of his estate. He pursues 
 general farming but pays rather more attention to 
 the cultivation of wheat and the raising of sheep 
 than to any other part of the work. His landed 
 estate aggregates three hundred and twenty-one 
 acres, which is divided into three farms and sup- 
 plied with good sets of buildings, ample machin- 
 ery and first-class stock. A native of the township, 
 Mr. Dinsmorc is as thoroughly identified with' its 
 interests .as any man can be, and he is old enough 
 to realize much of the hardship which pertains to 
 pioneer life and to vividly recall scenes of quite 
 primitive times. 
 
 William Dinsraore, father of our subject, was 
 born in Massachusetts and went from that State to 
 New York, where he married Jane Berry. In the 
 fall of 1836, when their oldest child, Mary, now 
 the wife of Sylvester Jenkins w.as an infant, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Dinsmore came to this State, journeying 
 with an ox-team. They settled on the site of Port- 
 land, building a shanty on what is now Jamus 
 Street, in which they lived several years and which 
 was the birthplace of our subject. Mr. Dinsmorc 
 bought a fractional seventy-six acres on section 31, 
 which he proceeded to improve while working at 
 his trade of shoemaking whenever he could get 
 work, which was by no means often. The hard- 
 ships of those times were heavy, even at the best, 
 and the Dinsmores suffered some misfortunes that 
 did not befall every pioneer family. They had two 
 cows to which the straw from the beds had been 
 fed, as the winter w.as a hard one and fodder scarce, 
 
 and they seemed destined to die unless they could 
 subsist on the tender shoots of trees. Spring was 
 almost at hand and a hand was sent out to cut 
 some trees for them, but being careless he felled a 
 tree on one of the cows. This catastrophe, hard to 
 be.ar at any time, was iloubly disheartening then, 
 and caused Mr. Dinsmore to cry like a child. 
 
 The market for commodities raised here was at 
 Detroit, one hundred and eight miles distant, and 
 when the ro.ads were at their best and no bad luck 
 happened, the journey consumed about ten days. 
 For the first wheat Mr. Dinsmore procured for seed 
 he paid ^2 per bushel, but for the crop raised 
 therefrom he received but two shillings per bushel. 
 Several 3'ears after his arrival here, while serving 
 as Treasurer of the township, the public money, 
 ^50 was stolen while the family was absent from the 
 house. To re[)lace such a sum was very difficult 
 ill those days, but Mr. Dinsmore did so. At the 
 first opportunity the township voted the sum back 
 to him. He .acted as Supervisor si.x years; he died 
 in 1!S73 and his widow survived until 1877. Their 
 iiu)rtal remains were deposited side by side in the 
 cemetery at Portland, near where they spent so 
 many years of toil and experienced so much of 
 life's joy and sorrow. They reared live children, 
 four of wliom are still living, namely: Mary, 
 George, John and Alice. The last named is the 
 wife of Oscar Jenkins, of Portland. Their son 
 William was a soldier in the Twenty-seventh Mich- 
 igan Infantry, and died in a hospital in New York 
 Harbor, from a wound received at the Battle of the 
 Wilderness. 
 
 The natal d.ay of George Dinsmorc was April 
 15, 1838, and the experiences of his bo3'hood were 
 similar to those of other lads in frontier seltlc- 
 ments. All the schooling he obtained was that of 
 the district schools and generally consisted of but 
 three months in the winter, the summers being 
 spent in haril work on the farm. In his earlv life 
 he worked at the shoemaker's bench, but farming 
 has been his chief occupation, and in later 3'c.ars 
 his attention has been given entirely thereto. He 
 is a thorough-going farmer, observant of natural 
 phenomena and the result of various inetho<ls of 
 fertilization and cultivation, and reaps a due re- 
 nard for bis industry and zeal. 
 
560 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Wlien not yet of age Mr. Dinsmore took to 
 hirasc4f a wife, being inarried December 29, 1858, 
 to Miss Helen M. Scott. This lady was born No- 
 vember 16, 1839, in Barry, Orleans County, N. Y., 
 and lived there until two years old. Her parents 
 then removed to Ontario County, but after a 
 sojourn of four years went to St. Louis, Mo., 
 whence about eighteen months later, liiey returned 
 to New York. The daughter was fifteen years old 
 when they came to Lenawee Count}', this State, 
 and a j'ear later settled in Portland. 
 
 Mrs. Dinsmore continued her studies in the se- 
 lect schools of Portland and when sixteen years of 
 age began teaching. She pursued the profession 
 but two terms ere abandoning it to preside over a 
 well-kept home. She is a judicious manager of 
 household affairs and iier dwelling contains many 
 evidences of her taste, being adorned with useful 
 and ornamental articles of her handiwork. She 
 has a decided love for flowers and cares for quite a 
 conservatory. Music is one of the favorite recrea- 
 tions of the family, one of the sons presiding at 
 the organ, while the rest join in vocal strains. As 
 singers in the cburcli they have been useful and 
 prominent for years, Mrs. Dinsmore's aged father 
 assisting with the bass viol. 'J'he living children 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore are two in number — 
 Albert and Adelbert, who were born June 18, 
 1868. For the past two years Albert has been 
 clerking in a hardware store but Adelbert sticks to 
 the farm. Flora, the first-born and only daughter, 
 died in 1861 when still a child. 
 
 Justin Scott, father of Mr. Dinsmore, was born 
 August 4, 1815, in Phelps, Ontario County, N. Y. 
 He is of Scotch descent but many generations back. 
 His grandfather, David Scott, fought during the 
 Revolution and was a close companion of Ethan 
 Allen, with whom he entered the service and was 
 associated until the close of the war. The two 
 were once captured by the British and together 
 they escaped. Justin Scott, Sr., grandfather of 
 Mrs. Dinsmore, was a prominent man in his com- 
 munity and for many years a Collector and Con- 
 stable. He had fifteen children, of whom Justin, 
 Jr., was the eleventh. The latter was reared to 
 farming but learned the trade of a car|)enter and 
 joiner and worked at the same for many years. He 
 
 was married February 22, 1839, in Newark, Wayne 
 County, N. Y., to Nancy Ann, daughter of Adoni- 
 jah and Phebe (Brown) Church, who were of 
 Dutch ancestry. Mrs. Scott died in Portland April 
 13, 1879, and since her decease her bereaved hus- 
 band has resided with his daughter, Mrs. Dinsmore. 
 In politics Mr. Dinsmore has always been an 
 unfaltering Republican and is proud of the fact 
 that his first vote, in 1860, was cast for Abraham 
 Lincoln. That he enjoys the confidence of the 
 community is shown by the fact that he has served 
 two years as Township Treasurer and is now filling 
 his fourth term as Supervisor. He and his wife 
 liave been identified with the Universalist Ciiurch 
 at Portland for the last fifteen years, and have al- 
 ways enjoyed the respect of their associates. 
 
 E^^ 
 
 T; SAAC IIARWOOD. Aniong the early settlers 
 I of Ionia County was Luke Harwood, the father 
 /li of our subject. He was one of the orators at 
 the famous celebration of the Fourth of Jul}-, 
 which took place forty- three years ago, in the grove 
 near what was then the Coon school house. He was 
 not only a favorite orator, but a heartily applauded 
 singer on that occasion. Luke Harwood was born 
 in Wethersfield, Vt., April 6, 1797. Like many 
 another sturdy farmer of the Green Mountain 
 State, he took some active part in the War of 1812, 
 and started to help at the battle of Plattsburg, but 
 it was over before he had completed his journey. 
 He traces his ancestry back to James Harwood, of 
 Knglish birth, who came to this country and mar- 
 ried Lydia Barrett, at Chelmsford, Mass., in April, 
 1678, and died August 1, 1719. They had six 
 children. Their son James, from whom this line 
 descended had four children, one of whom was 
 also named James. He was the father of five chil- 
 dren, his son Archibald being the grandfather of 
 our subject. Archibald Harwood was in the Rev- 
 olutionary army in 1778, though 011I3' sixteen j-ears 
 of age. He was one of the unhappy ones who 
 were sold to the British by the traitor Arnold. He 
 was a carpenter and millwright by trade and built 
 the first mills at Eden, Vt., in 1802. He removed 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 561 
 
 to Franklin Count}', N. Y., but returned to Eden 
 before his death, which occurred in 1837. He had 
 eleven children, one of them being Luke of wiioin 
 we have spoken. 
 
 Luke Ilnrwood married Lucinda Leavitt in 1820. 
 She was born August 30, 1796. They lived in 
 Franklin County, N. Y. until 1832, when they 
 removed lo Wayne Count}', Mich., and in 1836 
 located u[)on sections 13 and 24, Berlin Township, 
 than Cass Township. In 1839 he removed his fam- 
 ily to tiie farm where lie died April 16, 1863. His 
 wife survived him until .Se|)tember 26, 1870. At 
 first lie located only eiglity acres but afterwards 
 added to it until he hail two liundred acres all wild 
 land. Upon tliis lie did a splendid work, clearing 
 nearly one hundred and twenty acres, improving 
 it, and putting ujion it two barns, a log house, and 
 later a frame house. He was a hard-working man, 
 industrious and persevering through severe poverty. 
 His first home was a split log sliant}', 14x16 feet, 
 with basswood walls and floor. The fireplace had 
 clay bottom and stone back. The house was cov- 
 ered with bark. Not a nail was in the house, 
 neither for window or for doors; wooden hinges 
 hung them and wooden latches fastened them. He 
 aftepvards enlarged this first shant}', covering it 
 with split basswood boughs, and stulHng the ends 
 with moss. When he began housekeeping in this 
 primeval palace, he took account of stock and found 
 lie had one-half barrel of pork, one barrel of flour, 
 a two-year-old heifer and fifty cents in money. 
 This was during the last year of the Black Hawk 
 War, and the first 3'ear of Asiatic cholera in 
 Detroit. 
 
 This brave and patriotic couple were the parents 
 of eight chililrcn, six of whom are still living. 
 Mrs. Luke Ilarwood was a Presbyterian. Mr. Har- 
 wood took an active interest in politics, being a 
 .lacksonian Democrat. He took part in the first 
 town meeting held here, which covered the area, 
 not only of Berlin Township, but also half of 
 Orange, half of Odessa, part of Boston, and that 
 part of Easton which lies south of the river, with 
 a. part of Ionia. This tremendous town cast forty- 
 two votes. Luke Harwood was an active friend of 
 schools, lie! ping to organize ami keep them up and 
 h."is been freciucutly on the School Board, as well as 
 
 Supervisor of Berlin Township, Justice of the 
 Peace and Highway Commissioner. He was one of 
 the first Associate Judges, to which position he was 
 appointed early in the '40s. His political influ- 
 ence was pronounced, as be was the marked oppon- 
 ent of Alonzo Sessions, and the leader of the 
 Democracy' in this township. The first murder case 
 in this county was tried before him and Judge 
 Brown. 
 
 Isaac Harwood was the oldest child of this house- 
 hold, born March 6, 1821, in Franklin County, 
 N. Y. He came to Michigan with his father when 
 a little lad of eleven years. He went to school in 
 the old rude log schoolhouse and when only thir- 
 teen years of age began hauling wood, hay and 
 coal, to and from Detroit with an ox-team. For 
 seven years he continued this work for his father 
 and when he re.ached his majority began work for 
 himself. His first inde|jendent job was to cut 
 down a big o.ik tree, thereby earning fifty cents. 
 He then split it into rails at fifty cents per hundred. 
 He worked by the month for two summers and 
 bought forty acres of lauil from his father for $100. 
 He cleared ofif a small portion of this land, then 
 traded it for forty acres in the township of Orleans 
 on section 18. This was all wild land with neigh- 
 bors two miles away. He lived there ten years ancl 
 cleared it all ofif, then bought forty acres more, set 
 out a fine orchard, fenced his farm and put up a 
 house, all the work of his own hands. He sold 
 this farm for 1600 and bought eighty acres of un- 
 improved land on section 12, Berlin Townshi|). He 
 lived on this farm for ten j-ears, cleared ofif forty 
 acres of heavy limber and put up a frame house 
 and a barn 32x44 feet. He cut and hauled four- 
 foot wood from that farm to Ionia, the coMest days 
 he has ever seen in Michigan, for twelve shillings 
 (|il..50) per cord, in trade. He sold out here for 
 $2,700 and bought again his present farm of eighty 
 acres, a log bouse and thirty acres of improved 
 land, yet full of stumps and stones. This is on 
 section 9, of Berlin Township. He now has sev- 
 enty acres of it under cultivation and built liis 
 residence at a cost of 11,200, besides his own labor, 
 some twenty years ago. He still carries on his 
 farm work vigorously at seventy j'ears of age. He 
 has been an indefatigable worker; among other jobs 
 
562 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 which be has undertaken he helped clear out 
 Maple River in winter time, logged five acres on 
 the Boon farm, also eight acres on the farm now 
 owned by George Benedict, and made many miles 
 of roads, both turnpikes and crossways. In Orleans 
 Township he ran a breaking team for three years, 
 agreeing to break forty-five acres as payment for 
 the outfit. He completed this and also thirt3' acres 
 for himself and did thirty acres as jobs for neigh- 
 bors besides. When he sold that team he bought 
 his second forty acres. He broke up fifty acres 
 for Deacon William Babcock on the farm wliere 
 Maj. Kelsey now lives. 
 
 Isaac Harwood married December 8, 1842, Mrs. 
 Sarah Eddy, a daughter of Abram and Cynthia 
 (Phillips) Eddy, Vermont people who came to 
 Michigan in 1840, and settled on section 3, Berlin 
 Township, Ionia County. The original house, now 
 fort3'-five years old is still standing, with the same 
 substantial roof which was placed upon it, and under 
 which our subject was united in marriage to the 
 woman of his choice. Mr. Eddy was born August 
 27, 1789 and died February 6, 1875. His wife was 
 born April 16, 1790 and died February 6, 1877. 
 Of their twelve children five survive them. Mrs. 
 Harwood the eighth child was born November 6, 
 1822, in Niagara County. N. Y. Of the ten chil- 
 dren of Mr. and Mrs. Harwood six are now living: 
 Lyman L., who married Carrillii Loveland, lives on 
 section 2, and has four children; Cynthia is the 
 wife of Amon Otis, of whom see sketch; Riley 
 with his wife, Loana (Adgate) Harwood and their 
 four children, live in Orange Township; S. Ru- 
 hama lives in Berlin Township with her husband, 
 Washington Coe and their three children ; Hannorah, 
 wife of Chester Adgate lives in Ionia and has five 
 chihJrcn; Abram married to Esther Johnson lives 
 in Oakdale near Grand Rapids, and has two chil- 
 dren; Leavitt A. married Phena Adgate and had 
 two children. He died November 13, 1884. Three 
 other children died j'oun'g. This worthy couple, 
 now far advanced in years, affiliate with the Chris- 
 tian faith and in church work, as in all other con- 
 nections, are valued aids in the progress and 
 prosperity of their community. They live alone 
 on the old homestead and carry on the farm. 
 
 Mr. Harwood has been a member of the School 
 
 Board for many years, also Highway Commissioner. 
 He gave the school district a site for the first school- 
 house built in Orleans Township. He has taken 
 an active interest in politics voting the Democratic 
 ticket all his life. He is now reaping the reward 
 of patient and persistent industry and a determina- 
 tion to do the work of life in the most thorough 
 and conscientious manner. When opening up his 
 Orleans Township farm he and his hired man had 
 no roof over their heads, but slept at night under 
 the wagon box upon straw; doing their own cook- 
 ing with the exception of the bread which Mrs. 
 Daniel Hoyt made for them. They thus broke up 
 eleven acres in two weeks. He has never shrunk 
 from hard work. He made over fifty thousand 
 shingles, living and shaving them at night, while 
 his faithful wife at his side would with one hand, 
 pack the shingles for him and with the other rock 
 the cradle. 
 
 ^j OHN S. WILSON. A place of honor among 
 the farmers and stockmen of Montcalm 
 County, is occupied by Mr. Wilson, who 
 v^^ owns a valuable tract of land on section 20, 
 Home Township. It consists of one hundred and 
 eighteen acres, two-thirds of which is in the cor- 
 porate limits of the town of Edmore. Mr. Wilson 
 is the next to the oldest settler in the place and is 
 thoroughly posted regarding the growth thereof, 
 although his residence has not been continuous 
 from the days when he helped to plat the town. 
 He has a pleasant dwelling, his land is supplied 
 with all needful outbuildings and the work of gen- 
 eral farming goes on satisfactorily. The principal 
 attention of the owner is given to the raising of 
 cereals and hay, and the land being watered bj' a 
 small stream is well adapted for either purpose. 
 Besides the farm and its improvements Mr. Wilson 
 has a store building and three town lots. 
 
 Before sketching his own life it mtiy be of in- 
 terest to give some facts regarding the progenitors 
 of Mr. Wilson and the surroundings of his bo}'- 
 hood. His father, Alexander Wilson, was born in 
 New Hampshire, but was an early settler in Ohio 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 563 
 
 and engaged in fanning in Medina County. After 
 tlie war broke out he made arrangements to enter 
 tlie service and in December, 18G3, he became a 
 member of Battery F, First Oliio ArtilhM-y. At 
 Nashvilic, Tenn., he was wounded in the left hand 
 and thigli, an(J lie spent man}' long months in the 
 hospital. He was finally discharged in July, liSGo, 
 and baily crippled made his home henceforth witii 
 a sister in ' Elkhart, Ind., where he died in 1888. 
 His wife had lost trace of him and had after some 
 years become the wife of another, and their only 
 son, our subject, was reared by the stepfather. 
 Mr. Wilson was a soldier in the Mexican War as 
 well as in the Civil War. 
 
 The mother of our subject was formerly Lucy 
 A. R(!ttig, whose father came to America in 1840 
 and settled in Henry County, Ohio. The daugli- 
 ter was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, but 
 was only five years old when brought .across the 
 water. Slie grew to womanhood in Ohio, and there 
 began lier wedded life. She married for her sec- 
 ond husband Eilwin B. Moore, after whom the 
 town of Ivlraore was named. He was born in 
 Medina County, Ohio, and reared to farming 
 there. In addition to operating land he teamed to 
 Cleveland. In I860 he came to this State, and 
 making his home in Stanton, teamed between that 
 point and Ionia, hauling shingles and bringing back 
 supplies for the grocers in Stanton. After about 
 three years he formed a partnership with N. Shep- 
 herd and started a stage line and mail route be- 
 tween the two towns. This he sold out four years 
 later and then went into the real-estate business, 
 handling pine lands. 
 
 The firm was successful in the land trade, but 
 their connection was dissolved in 1878, and that 
 spring Mr. Moore came to the site of Edniore. He 
 had previously bought seven hundred and sixty 
 acres of land here and he jilatted the town, that 
 was named by the Assistant .Sui)erintendent of the 
 Detroit, Lansing it Michigan Railroad, Kdmore. 
 Mr. Moore was in the employ of that road, buy- 
 ing lands, and secured the right of way between 
 Kdmore and Big Rapids. Thus he had a good 
 idea where a station would be likely to be estab- 
 lished and knew where to lay out a town. He 
 made the new place his home until the spring of 
 
 1883, put up the first buildings, h.andled real estate 
 and was, in fact, the father of the municipality. 
 
 Mr. Moore removed from Kdmore to Detroit, 
 and lived rather a retireil life there for two years, 
 but dealing somewhat in lands, then went to Arkan- 
 sas and bought a large tract near Carlyle, Lonoke 
 County, and began ranching. He was fencing and 
 ditching the ranch and had made a good begin- 
 ning with his work when he was killed by the 
 accidental discharge of his gun. He and his wife 
 were on their way to town and he had his gun 
 ready for game. He was carrying it outside the 
 phaeton when the horses shied and the hammer 
 struck the axle, causing a premature discharge and 
 sending the shot into the leg of Mr. Moore almost 
 from the knee to the hip. He lived two days, 
 breathing his last February 15, 188C, at the age of 
 fifty-five 3'cars. His widow, who was neaily fran- 
 tic when she saw him stricken down by her side, 
 now lives in Detroit with the first child of the 
 union — M. li. Moore. 
 
 The gentleman whose name introduces this 
 sketch was born near Saville, Medina County. 
 Ohio, October 23, 18.')5, and was ten years old 
 when he left that neighborhooil for this State. He 
 was educated chielly in the school at Stanton and 
 laid aside his books when sixteen years old to give 
 his attention to staging. He drove the stage an/1 
 carried the mail between Stanton and Millbrook, 
 Mt. Pleasant, Kim Hall and S^'duey Center, and 
 was on the road every day for several years. He 
 came to Kdmore and helped plat the town, driving 
 all the stakes and aiding in making the clearing. 
 In 1883 Mr. Wilson went to Detroit to look after 
 the interests of his stepfather in that place, and 
 three years later established himself permanently 
 in Kdmore, becoming the possessor of the land 
 before described. His tlwelling is a well-built and 
 pleasant one, having the finest location in the 
 town, and is tastefidly furnished and supplied with 
 the good things of life. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Wilson and Miss Hoxie D. 
 Rice was solemnized at the bride's home in West- 
 field, Ohio, .'September 1, 188.5. Mrs. Wilson is a 
 granddaughter of Samuel Rice, a native of Penn- 
 sylvania and an early settler in Medina County, 
 Ohio. He w.as a soldier in the War of 1812. His 
 
564 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 son A. A. was seven years old when the removal 
 was made, and he still lives in the Buckeye State. 
 A. A. Rice married Sally Moore, who was born in 
 Westfield and is a daughter of William B. Moore, 
 a Pennsylvanian by birth and an Ohio farmer. 
 She is a sister of Edwin B. Moore, the stepfather 
 of our subject. Her religious home is in the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. To Mr. and Mrs. 
 Rice there were born two ciiildren, but the only 
 one now living is Mrs. Wilson. Her education was 
 completed in the High School at Saville, and she 
 is well read and efficient in domestic affairs. 
 
 Mr. Wilson had an excellent opportunity to 
 learn business principles and methods under the 
 guidance of his stepfather, and by managing af- 
 fairs for him gained practical experience. He has 
 made much of liis advantages and is a good finan- 
 cier and thrifty manager. As a citizen he is held 
 in good repute, and as a neighbor and friend he is 
 a desirable member of the community. Mrs. Wil- 
 son is equally well liked and tlicir home is often 
 the scene of friendly gatherings. 
 
 ■■^3;p-~* 
 
 |R^EV. WILLIAM J. WILSON. Whatever 
 Li^ opinions one may hold of denominational 
 t!i W\ tenets or Christian pri nciples, none will deny 
 that the work of the ministry is one that 
 calls forth eyer3' good quality and the full strength 
 of the inind. To succeed in pastoral work and 
 bring in new members, particularly where other 
 congregations are ahead}' well established, shows 
 ability of a liigh order and sincerity of purpose 
 that is sure of its reward in the esteem of all who 
 witness it. It is, therefore, speaking well for the 
 Rev. Mr. Wilson to say that he has been instru- 
 mental in increasing the membership of the Edmore 
 Methodist Eiiiscopal charge and that at McBride 
 of which he has had oversight since September, 
 1889. 
 
 The city of Boston, Mass., is the birthplace of the 
 Rev. Mr. Wilson and his natal day was Februar}' 
 13, 1866. He was left an orphan when but three 
 years old and was cared for in the Orphans' Home 
 
 of his native city. In 1871 he was adopted by John 
 Wilson of Centerville, Mich., and he owes to his 
 foster father excellent training and good educa- 
 tional opportunities. Mr. Wilson was born in Ire- 
 land and emigrated to America in 1857, making 
 his home in St. Joseph County, this State, where he 
 became an industrious citizen. Possessed of a kind 
 heart and sterling qualities, he was also a sincere 
 Christian and instilled into the minds of his young 
 charge the true principles that should govern life. 
 
 Our subject attended the graded school in Cen- 
 terville and having completed the High School 
 course was graduated in 1885. His studies were 
 not confined to the schoolroom, but having early in 
 life felt called to the ministry he has devoted much 
 attention to theology and dogmatics. He was con- 
 verted when twelve years old and from that time 
 was an active participant in Sunday-school and 
 church work, and soon began to look forward to 
 entering upon the ministry. Soon after his grad- 
 uation he began preaching and in 1886 when 
 twenty years old he was duly licensed and entered 
 upon his first charge at Mattawan. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Class was organized at 
 Edmore November 8, 1880, by the Rev. B. J. 
 Miller with a membership of twenty-six. For some 
 time i)rior to the erection of the house of worship, 
 now occupied by the congregation, meetings were 
 held in the Congregational Church, but in 188G the 
 Rev. D. C. Reihl saw his charge settled in their own 
 church home. He had worked hard to accomplish 
 the purpose, and pastor and people rejoiced greatly 
 when they were able to dedicate their own church. 
 The Methodist Pipiscopal charge has now the 
 largest active membership of the churches in Ed- 
 more. The McBride class was organized about 
 five years before the one in Edmore. 
 
 As before mentioned, the Rev. Mr. Wilson has 
 made a study of theology and having become duly 
 fitted for ordination as a deacon he was tlius hon- 
 ored at the Michigan Annual Conference at Muske- 
 gon September 14, 1890, by Bishop E. G. Andrews. 
 Mr. Wilson is a hard worker, an earnest student, 
 and an eloquent speaker, and has the straightfor- 
 ward, cordial manner that prepossesses strangers in 
 his favor. He has a deep sense of the obligations 
 imposed upon him bj- his high calling and without 
 
'(f'WIttJi 
 
 ENOCH BROWN 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIGAL ALBUM. 
 
 567 
 
 being over scrupulous is careful to order liis life in 
 accordance with the faith he lias proffsscd. lie was 
 very instrumental in organizing the Kpworth 
 League in Kdniore, and is I'lcsidcntof llie Society, 
 and also of the Montcalm County Sunday-school 
 Association. He belongs to Kdmore Lodge, F. ik 
 A. M. His friends arc many, not only among liis 
 congregation but throughout the community and 
 his cultured mind and conversational powers 
 make him a vainalile addition to any social galli- 
 erinir. 
 
 '' ' ^^ 
 
 E^^ 
 
 V^slNOCII BROWN. This aged man h.as been 
 lU] a resident of Ionia County some forty 3'ears, 
 / ^'--^ and during the entire period has resided on 
 section C, Otisco Township. He is widely known, 
 particularly among the farmers and business men 
 with whom that class has dealings, and has an ex- 
 cellent reputation as an enterprising and progres- 
 sive farmer and a Ihoroughlj' honorable business 
 man. He was born in Cliiltendcn County, Vt., in 
 the year 1810, and came lo Michigan when a 
 young man twent^'-six j-ears old. His first loca- 
 tion was in Detroit, whence lie went to Macomb 
 County, and from there to Troy, Oakland County-, 
 in which he lived until 1851. At that date he 
 came to Ionia County and settled where he has 
 since resided, his original purchase here being of 
 eighty acres. He has since added one hundred acres 
 and now has one hundred and fifty under cultiva- 
 tion. He lias put up good buildings and has a 
 well-regulated estate. 
 
 The father of our subject was Sinifin Brown, a 
 native of Connecticut and a farmer by occupation. 
 In the Green Mountain Stale he was married to 
 Lucinn Peters and tlicy reared a family of ten 
 children, six sons and four daughters, named re- 
 spectively: Aaron, Luther, Knoch, Kli, Hiram, 
 Henry, Charlotte, Kliza, Melissa and Lucy. The 
 father came to this State, sojourned for a time, and 
 then went to Indiana where he remained with a 
 son until his death. 
 
 The wedded life of Enocli Brown and Betsey A. 
 Burgess began in 1810, their weclding rites being 
 
 solemnized in Macomb County. Mrs. Brown is a 
 daughter of Kzra and Sally (Loomig) Burgess, 
 natives of Canada, who gave her the best eiUica- 
 lional privdeges that the neighborhoofl affordeil 
 and carefully instilled within her raind the princi- 
 ples of right conduct. She is a sincere Christian, 
 belonging to the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Brown are the parents of the following children: 
 Lucy, George, Marshall, Howard, Sarah, Joscphus, 
 Kdward, Sidney, Wellington, Libby and Annie. 
 
 Prior to the war Mr. Brown was a Democrat, but 
 he has since been a sturdy Republican. His first 
 Presidential vote was for Gen. Jackson, but in 
 1810 his favored candidate was AVilliara Henry 
 Harrison, and he is one of the comparatively small 
 number who lived to vote for the grandson of that 
 renowned general. 
 
 The reader's attention is directed to a litho- 
 graphic portrait of Mr. Brown, presented on another 
 page. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 jkA OSES FURNEY. Among many worthy 
 and patriotic citizens of our country have 
 been a huge number who have come to the 
 United States from our neighboring coun- 
 try of Canada. They are almost universally from 
 a class of self-respecting, industrious and progres- 
 sive people and are a credit alike to their native 
 and adoptcfl homes. Our subject, Moses Furney, 
 belongs to this class being a native of Cirnada. His 
 natal day was November IS, 1841. His parents 
 Abrain and Elizabeth (Buava) Furney are of Cana- 
 dian-French descent. The father was engaged in 
 farming and teaming in Canada and removed lo 
 Franklin County, N. Y., and died in Oswego 
 County, about 1857. The mother of our subjuct 
 died in 18C8. Both were devout members of Ihe 
 Catholic Church and brought up their children in 
 this faith. Of the nine born to them, six are now 
 living: Abram, Anthon}-, Julius, Peter, Moses and 
 Sophia, who is the wife of .Austin M:irlin and re- 
 sides in Fulton, N. Y. 
 
 Moses Furney came with his |)arents to New 
 York, at the early age of six months. He resided 
 with them until their rieatli, after his father's 
 
568 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 death taking care of his mother. la the fall of 
 1861 he obtained her consent to his enlistment in 
 the service of his adopted country. He joined the 
 First New York Light Artillery, Battery G, and 
 served nearly four years, during which time he 
 took part in the battles of Cliancellorsville, Antic- 
 tam, Gettysburg, ftlalvern Hill, Fredericksburg, the 
 Wilderness, the siege of Yorktown, and the battles 
 of Manassas Junction, and Petersburg. lie served 
 with great credit to himself and besides these large 
 battles took part in numerous skirmishes. He re- 
 ceived his honorable discharge at Klniira, N. Y., in 
 June 1865. 
 
 After being released from the army, the subject 
 of this sketch gladly returned to his mother's home 
 in Oswego County, N. Y., and worked .at various 
 occupations for some time. During the last three 
 years of his sojourn in New York State, he plied 
 the business of a barber. In 1880, he came to 
 Ionia County, Mich., and located at Clarksville. 
 Here for eight years he did double service. Dur- 
 ing the day he worked at carpentering, and ran a 
 barber shop, niglits and Sundays. He finally sold 
 out his shop and devoted himself entirely to the 
 carpenter's and painter's trades. He afterward de- 
 termined that he had had enough of outdoor labors 
 and in 1889 he opened a furniture store with a fine 
 stock of furniture, wall paper, curtains, etc. His 
 political preferences are with the Democratic party 
 and he is an active member of the Grand Army of 
 the Republic. His marriage in October, 1865, with 
 Angeline Robarg, has been a happy one and this 
 worthy and esteemed couple have been blessed 
 with three children — Mary, Moses and George. 
 
 ^ AMES B. DeLONG, a successful merchant 
 of Lake View, Montcalm County, and a 
 cousin of the Hon. Charles DeLong, who 
 was United States Minister to Japan under 
 Grant's administration, was born in Oxford 
 County, Canada, September 26, 1838. He is a 
 son of Gordon and Marietta (Moses) DeLong, 
 natives of Dutchess County, N. Y. They were 
 married in Canada and made that their home until 
 
 the time of the McKenzie rebellion, when they 
 removed to Adrian, Mich., arriving there in 1838. 
 Here the mother died soon afterward. Although 
 engaged in the business of farming in Canada the 
 father entered upon manufacturing in Adrian. 
 He invested his means in property around Lansing 
 about the time the capitol was being built there. 
 He also owned large tr.acts of pine lands. 
 
 In 1849 Gordon DeLong crossed the plains to 
 California during the gold excitement, and after 
 some time located permanently in Mariposa, C'al., 
 and remained there until his death which occurred 
 at Fresno City in 1877. He followed mining suc- 
 cessfully for many years and was a man of large 
 means. His last days were spent on a stock ranch. 
 He w.as a Republican in politics and his church 
 relations were with the Methodist Episcopal de- 
 nomination. He married in California a lady who 
 bore the name of Clapsaddle. There were no 
 children by this marriage. By his first marriage 
 he had five children, namely: Wilmuth, Louis, 
 James B., Charles and Ann E. 
 
 When twelve years of age James DeLong went 
 from Adrian, Mich, to Winfield, Iowa, and clerked 
 in a store for two years for David Harper, an old 
 resident of Adrian. After leaving Winfield he 
 remained in Iowa two years and then drove a team 
 across the plains to Albuquerque, N. M., and also 
 to Santa Fe. He then followed freighting from 
 points on the Missouri River to forts on the fron- 
 tier. After eight j'ears of this work he went into 
 the employ of the United States Government as 
 wagonmaster, having charge of freights over the 
 same line of roads. Two years later he went to 
 Canada and from there to New York, and sailed 
 for California via Panama. In Southern Califor- 
 nia he engaged in lumbering for eleven months, 
 making his home at Mariposa, where his father 
 lived. He returned to Michigan by w.ay of water, 
 but a year later returned to Mariposa and the next 
 season started out on horseback, crossing the 
 Sierra Nevada Mountains to Carson City, and 
 thence to Lake Tahoe, Nev., where he operated a 
 sawmill engine for one year. He then bought a 
 third interest in and took command of a steamer, 
 "Governor Blasdel," on Lake Tahoe, which he 
 operated for three years. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 569 
 
 Ilavitjg sold out bis interest in the "Governor 
 Blasilel," Mr. DeLong' entered the service of tlio 
 Bank of California located at Carson City, lie 
 had ciiarge of what was known as the mountain 
 division, and was a general overseer to that con- 
 cern at Carson City. After holding that position 
 one year he came back East by rail, but a few 
 months later returned to California and engaged 
 in the real-estate business at San Diego. He re- 
 mained liiere only a few raontlis, just long enough 
 to lose 88,000 and returned East, visiting Canada 
 and Adrian, Mich. He made a Hying trip to tlie 
 .Soutii American countries on board the steamer 
 "Amazon." He spent a little while after tliis in 
 San Francisco, and tiien returning to INIichigan 
 began clerking for Silas Dildine, of Ionia, Mich. 
 Here he remained for eight years and then went 
 into the lumber business at Hamilton, Ohio, man- 
 aging a yard for F"argo & Hudson, of New York. 
 Three months later he returned to Ionia, Mich., 
 and then went to Kansas prospecting. After re- 
 turning ho engageil in the mercantile bu.siness in 
 Iiinia, in which he continued about three months. 
 lie then took up tiie same line of work in Lake 
 \ievv in July, 1878, where he has continued in llie 
 business to this day. He at one time look a trip 
 to .lapan with his cousin who was United States 
 Minister to that court. He is a Republican, but 
 has never dabbled in politics. He is connecteil 
 with the Free and Accepted Masons and also the 
 Ancient Order of United Workmen. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. DeLong November 11, 
 1881, with Miss Orissa W. Dildine, of Easton, 
 Ionia County, Mich., was an event of great impor- 
 tance in his life, and one which has proved a 
 blessing from that day to this. Mrs. DeLong is a 
 lady of unusual ability and good judgment, and 
 one whose graces of manner and charming mind 
 make her a delightful companion. She was born 
 in Easton September 12, 1849. and is a daughter of 
 William and Catherine (Reynolds) Dildine, na- 
 tives of Pennsylvania and New York State re- 
 spectively. Mr. Dildine was a lumberman in New 
 York State and he came West with Lis family by 
 tram, landing in Ionia in 1843. Here be followed 
 farming and ended his days March 4, 188lt, on the 
 same farm (known as Dildinc's Corners) where he 
 
 first settled when he came to Michigan. He lived 
 to complete a well-rounded-out four-score years. 
 His wife is still living at the age of seventy-one 
 years. This worthy couple had four children, 
 namely: Jane L., Mrs. DeLong, William Jr. and 
 James. Mrs. DeLong's mother had had two chil- 
 dren by a previous marriage. No children have 
 come to cheer the home of Mr. and Mrs. DeLong. 
 Among tiio Western adventures of Mr. DeLong 
 was his intercourse with the Sioux Indians. He 
 traded for three years among them and kept a 
 station for two years on the |)lains. 
 
 LAYTON KIMBERLY, who is numbered 
 among the young farmers of Ionia County, 
 lives on the parental homestead on section 
 5. Otisco Township. lie is a grandson of Silas 
 Kimberly, who vvas born in Massachusetts, but came 
 to Michigan when an old man and died in this 
 State in 1816. The father of our subject was Silas 
 Kimberly, Jr., who wiis born in Asnlield, Mass., in 
 1814, and was a lad of fourteen years when he came 
 to this State. He lived with his brother in Web- 
 ster, Washtenaw County, until 1840, when he mar- 
 ried and established a home of his own. In Ma}-, 
 1842, he located in Ionia Count}' on the homestead 
 three and a half miles from the town of Belding. 
 Here he died February 20, 1889. He was Town- 
 ship Treasurer two terms, and while in the old B.a}- 
 State was a militia captain. In poliiics he was a 
 Republican and in religion a Congregalionalist. 
 
 The wife of Silas Kimberly, Jr., and mother of 
 our subject was born in Andierst, Mas»., in 1822, 
 and bore the maiden name of Lydia C. Goodale. 
 Her parents were Levi P. and Harriet (Church) 
 Goodale, natives of the same town as herself. 
 Their family included besides Mrs. Kimberly, Har- 
 riet, Norman C, Elijah, Levi and Frederick W. 
 The children of Mr. and Mrs. Silas Kimberly, are 
 Ilattie M., now residing in Chicago; George E., 
 deceased: Clara E., a resident of Ionia Count}-; 
 Minnie A. and Esmond L., <leceased ; Clayton, 
 whose name introduces these paragraphs; and 
 Norman F., whose honie is in IJclding. George 
 
570 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 entered the Union army in February, 1865, in 
 Company H, Tenth Michigan Cavalry, and died 
 October 4, of tlie same year, at Cliatlanooga, Tenn. 
 The eyes of Clayton Kimberly opened to the 
 light February 20, 1858, on the farm on wiiich he 
 lias continued to make his liorae. He is a young 
 man of intelligence who received a good education 
 in his youth and has increased his knowledge Ijy 
 judicious reading and an ol)servation of the man- 
 ners of men. He is a Republican in his political 
 views and deposits his ballot with great regularity. 
 Remaining as he has done on tlie farm, lie ably 
 assisted liis father until the demise of the latter and 
 now carries on the work for which he is well fitted 
 by taste and training. He is now taking the best 
 of care of his motlier, wlio sllll resides on the home 
 farm. 
 
 i)HOMAS E. SMITH. Among the residents 
 of Ionia County Mr. Smitli has met with 
 s^ fair success in business affairs; he has been 
 identified with the affairs of Ionia Township, that 
 county, for a number of years and is the posses- 
 sor of a valuable tract of improved land here, com- 
 prising one hundred and five acres on section 3, 
 and eighteen acres on section 30. His residence 
 in the county dates back more than a score of years 
 and during the greater part of this time lie was ac- 
 tively engaged in agricultural pursuits. His father 
 was a farmer and he became thoroughly conver- 
 sant with the work in his early life, and using his 
 knowledge with energy and zeal he reaped a due 
 reward for his labors. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Sylvester and 
 Frances (Vartie) Smith, natives of New York and 
 the latter of English parentage. Two of the 
 brothers of Sylvester Smith were soldiers in the 
 War of 1812. The parents came to Michigan in 
 1848 and established themselves at Battle Creek, 
 but in 1864 changed their residence to Ionia 
 County, where they remained until called hence. 
 The father died in 1868 and the mother in 1880. 
 They were members of the Baptist Ciiurch and Mr. 
 Smith was prominent in its work until his health 
 
 failed; he held the office of Deacon. He was a 
 
 Democrat, stanch and true. While living in Cal- 
 houn County he served as Highway Commissioner 
 and Justice of the Peace. Of the seven children 
 that comprised the family of Mr. and Mrs. Sylves- 
 ter Smith three are now living. Great pains were 
 taken by their parents to give them good educa- 
 tions and thoroughly equip them for the battle of 
 life. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice was born 
 in Seneca, Ontario County, N. Y., May 13,1828, 
 and remained there nntil he was nineteen j^ears of 
 ago. After completing the course of study in the 
 common schools be attended an academy three 
 terms. He came with his parents to this Stale and 
 remained under their roof until he was in his 
 twenty-fourth year, when he took possession of an 
 eightj'-acre farm in Calhoun County. He began 
 his financial career at the bottom of the ladder, 
 but steadily pursued his way upward. After op- 
 crating liis farm a few years, he sold it and moved 
 into Battle Creek, where he made liig home four 
 years. He resumed farming then, and continued 
 to reside in Calhoun County several years longer. 
 He then came to Ionia County and until 1872 re- 
 sided upon section 14, Ionia Township. He then 
 bought the farm on section 3, he now owns, and 
 occupied it until 1883, when poor health caused 
 him to abandon farm work and he removed to 
 Ionia City. He sojourned there until 1888, then 
 came to his present home in South Ionia, on sec- 
 tion 30. 
 
 In 1854 Mr. Smitli was married to Mrs. Helen 
 Biertry, a daughter of John Grodavant, of Cal- 
 houn County. That lady died in 1859, and in 
 1863 our subject contracted a second matrimonial 
 alliance. His bride on this occasion was Mrs. 
 Gertrude Ward, a sister of his former wife. This 
 marriage was blest by the birth of a daughter, 
 Clara, who is now living in Ionia Township on a 
 farm, being the wife of John Scheurer; she is the 
 mother of one child. In 188G death .again entered 
 Mr. Smith's home and deprived him of his compan- 
 ion. In October, 1887, he was again married, hav- 
 ing won the hand of Mrs. Cynthia Wells, widow of 
 J. R. Wells and a d.aughter of Daniel and Susan 
 (Price) Davis. Her parents are of Welsh descent 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 571 
 
 and natives of Ohio and Pennsylrania respectively. 
 Tbey died in the Buckeye State a number of years 
 ago, and are now represented by ten living 
 cliildren. 
 
 Mrs. Smith was born in Huron County, Ohio, 
 October 27, 1835, and in her native State acquired 
 a good education in the district schools. In 1855 
 she became the wife of J. R. Wells, of this State. 
 He was a mechanic and a resident of Ionia, and 
 was a brother of William A. Wells, a well-known 
 citizen of Eaton Count3^ Mr. Wells w.is a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episco|)al Church, in the faith 
 of which he entered the valley of the shadow of 
 death in 1887. He was the father of i>ne child, 
 now deceased. 
 
 The political faith of Mr. Smith is ilecided and 
 his practice cori-espondingly earnest; he never fails 
 to deposit a Democratic b.illot. He has served his 
 fellow-citizens as Superintendent of the Poor, and 
 w.is .Supervisor of Ionia Township three terms, in- 
 cluding the years 1874, 187fi and 1877. He was 
 at one time a member of the Grange and he is 
 friendly to temperance ami other moral move- 
 ments. I'"or forty years he has been connected 
 with School Boards and for an equal length of time 
 he has been a Sunday-school worker, laboring in 
 the capacity of teacher or Superintendent. He is a 
 Trustee and Deacon of the Bajjtist Church and his 
 wife is identified with the same religious body. 
 
 ^^g\ IIARLES W. LUNG, a farmer on section 
 (ll n "^i f^''*"o6 Township, Ionia Count}', is the 
 ^^-^ son of Warren Lung, a ship carpenter an<l 
 farmer, born July 15, 1792, in Harrington, Litch- 
 field County, Conn. His motlier's maiden name 
 was Cynthia Brown who was born February' 20, 
 1803. The family of Mrs. Lung were among 
 those who suffered in the tragic episode of the 
 mass.acre of Wj'oniing. Her grandfather, Thomas 
 Brown was a cripple and the father of twenty-one 
 children. His wife Patience Brown escaiied from 
 the fort at the time of the massacre with six of her 
 children, among whom was Daniel, Mrs. Lung's 
 grandfather, then about eight years old. She was 
 
 not able to save all of her children and two of them, 
 Thomas, Jr.. and John were killed in the massacre. 
 Thomas, the father, became separated from the 
 family and was captured by the Indians who, how- 
 ever, suffered him to escape in consequence of his 
 being a cripple. 
 
 After Gen. Sullivan's e.\pc<lition against the 
 Indians in 1779 Tiiomas Brown returned with the 
 remnant of his family to the Wyoming Valley, and 
 his son Daniel a few years later settled in Wyalu- 
 sing, where his granddaughter Cynthia was born. 
 Her grandfather is said to have been the last sur- 
 vivor of the Wyoming massacre. He was a plain, 
 practical, tem|)erate man, having many friends and 
 no enemies, and died March 3, 18.J9, aged eighty- 
 four years, five months and twenty-six d,ays,with the 
 assurance of a blessed immortalit}'. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married Janu- 
 ary 10, 1822 and settled in .Susquehannah County, 
 Pa. Theie his father died November 11, 1845. 
 He had owned and o[ierated a sawmill besides his 
 farm and working at his trade. A few years later 
 his widow was united in marriage with Simeon A. 
 BoUcs. After his death in 1880 she went to reside 
 with a granddaughter, and is now at the age of 
 eighty-eight years, completing a well filled life. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Warren Lung were the parents of 
 seven children, four of whom are now living: 
 (ieorgc W. was born May 1 1, 1824 and now resides 
 in Wilkesbarre, Pa.; Jesse, born June 5, 1837, prac- 
 ticed medicine in Brooklyn, New York.; Charles 
 W., our subject; Eleanora, born Eebruary 26, 1844, 
 is the wife of .lames Bevans, of Decatur, III. The 
 mother of our subject was a member of the Bap- 
 tist Church and his father an. adherent of the I'ni- 
 versalist faith and a strict moralist. He w.as a 
 strong Abolitionist and w.os one of the ''ollicials'' 
 in the "underground railroad" in the exciting anti- 
 slavery d.nys, before the war. He was in all points 
 a conscientious and honorable man, being even at 
 an earl)' day a total abstainer from all ardent 
 liquors. 
 
 Charles W. Lung was born November 13, 1839. 
 in Hush Township, Susquehannah County, I'a. 
 His father's death when he wiis only six years 
 old deprived him of some advanl.ages, chief among 
 which was a liberal education. He began forhini. 
 
572 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 self at the earl3' age of nine years, working upon a 
 farm most of the time. When the Civil War 
 broke out lie was early insiiired with patriotic flevo- 
 tion and on September 6, 1861, lie joined Company 
 D, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Infantry. His regiment 
 was under Gen. Sherman and Admiral Dupont at 
 tlie siege of Hilton Head, S. C. Just before the 
 siege a part of his regiment was on the steamer 
 "Winfield Scott," and in rounding Cape Hatteras 
 in a storm they were nearly lost, on account of the 
 unseaworthiness of the ship. 
 
 Our brave young soldier took part in the battles 
 of Poncataigo, S. C, the second battle of Bull Run, 
 Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericks- 
 burg, Jackson, (Miss.), the siege of Knoxville, and 
 the battle of White Sulphur Springs. At the close 
 of his first term of service he took thirty days for 
 a visit home and re-enlisted for three years, or 
 during the war. In his second term of service he 
 saw the smoke of battle at Annapolis, (Md.), in the 
 Wilderness, at Cold Harbor, and in various skir- 
 mishes. He went on through this campaign with 
 Grant until the siege of Petersburg began. He was 
 at that time taken down with iuflammatorj' rheuma- 
 tism, and was confined in the hospital for a short 
 time on David's Island, in New York Harbor. He 
 went home on crutches for a thirty days' furlough 
 and returning to Philadelphia was sent to the hos- 
 pital at Haddington. Finding that he did not 
 recover his health his friends arranged to have him 
 transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in which 
 he did guard duty until discharged in August, 
 1865. For more than a year after his return home 
 he had to walk on crutches. After purchasing one 
 hundred acres of lanrl in Rush Township and work- 
 ing it for one season he sold it and came West. 
 
 Mr. Lung came to Michigan and in the spring 
 of 1868 bought the farm where he now lives. He 
 married Ellen, a daughter of the Rev. William and 
 Hannah (Wheelock) Frear, a descendant of an 
 ancient and honorable Huguenot fami'}'. The ear- 
 liest ancestor of whom the Frears have knowledge 
 was the possessor of a large vineyard near the city 
 of Lyons, on the River Rhone. He embraced the 
 creed of the Huguenots and drew upon himself the 
 violent persecution of the Romish Church. In the 
 early part of the seventeenth century, emissaries of 
 
 the Church of Rome invaded his peaceful home to 
 confiscate his possessions and to drag him if possi- 
 ble before a tribunal. Having received a friendly 
 warning, he concealed himself, wife and son under 
 an empty wine cask in the cellar. His enemies 
 passed through the cellar, rolling out the full casks 
 of wine and thumping on the empty ones to see if 
 they contained liquor. He and his dear ones escaped 
 detection and floating on a raft down the river 
 took voyage on a vessel for New York, where they 
 arrived in 1621-22. His son Alexander was the 
 father of Hugo, whose eldest son, E. Hugo, married 
 into the Jans family who are noted as the Trinity 
 Church claimants. A sou, Abraham, came to W^'o- 
 ming Valley and married Mrs. Sarah Mitcliell. 
 These were the parents of the Rev. William Frear 
 and the grand|)arents of Mrs. Lung. 
 
 Mrs. Lung was tiie youngest of twelve children 
 and was born December 13, 1844. She received an 
 excellent education. Mr. and Mrs. Lung came to 
 Michigan after their marriage and made their home 
 in Lyons for one year, but his health prevented his 
 being active and hn went back to the East and 
 helped his brother in New York City during tiie 
 summer of 1869, in the commission business. In 
 the spring of 1870 he returned West and com- 
 menced work upon his present farm. His wife was 
 taken from him January 17, 1881. They were the 
 parents of four children — Jesse B., born in August, 
 1869, was drowned June 19, 1888, to the great 
 grief of all his friends; Ruth, born May 29, 1871, 
 is the wife of George Moriee, living in North Plains 
 Township; Cyril, born October 13, 1872; William 
 Warren, boru October 3, 1874. The younger chil- 
 dren are now attending school at Lyons. 
 
 Our subject's second marriage which took place 
 January 19, 1882, uniterl him with Ruth Frear, a 
 sister of his former wife, a highly educated lady who 
 had received her schooling in Pennsylvania and 
 had also tauglit there for some twelve years. 
 
 Mr. Lung's farm was solid woods when he took it, 
 most of it now being improved. He has fine barns 
 and outbuildings besides his handsome residence, 
 has also set out orchards and small fruits and carries 
 on mixed farming successfully. He is a Trustee 
 and liljcral supporter of the Baptist Church of 
 which he and his family are members. He is a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 573 
 
 member of Blue Lodge, Masonic order at L3'ons, 
 also of llie M. W. Dresser Post, No. 100, G. A. R. 
 at Lyons, in which he is now Post Commander. He 
 lias been Master of the Grange for three years in 
 Orange Township. He is a strong temperance man 
 and votes the straight Republican ticket, being 
 interested in politics. He takes an active part in 
 all educational matters and has been a member of 
 the School Board. 
 
 HARLES H. l''ORD, who resides on a farm 
 on section 13, Ronald Townslii|), Ionia 
 County, is a Canadian by birth and first 
 saw the light April 15, 1844. His father, Henry 
 Ford, a native of Englanil, came to Canada when 
 only seven years of age. He was in the British 
 army for some time and after that came to the 
 United .States, locating first in Ohio and afterward 
 iu Michigan, near Detroit. In 1888 he made his 
 home in Ronahl Townslii|), Ionia County. His 
 mother was Mary Grondau before her marriage 
 and w.as a native of Canada, where she met and 
 became the wife of the father of our subject. This 
 worth}' couple both died in Michigan and were 
 buried side by side in the North Plains Cemetery. 
 The parents of our subject were blessed by the 
 birth of twelve children, ten of whom still sur- 
 vive,: Asa, Betsey, Mary Jaue, Adeline, Caroline, 
 Melinda, Kmma, Lillie, Albert and our subject. 
 The last named was only seven years old when he 
 came with his |)arent3 to Ohio, and he did not 
 attend school until he came to Michigan at the 
 age of eight and one-half years. Here lie went to 
 school in Wa3'ne County and was ten years old 
 when the family removed to Ionia County. He 
 did not leave home until he was about twenty-live 
 years old ns he fouixl plenty of work to do in 
 assisting his father and running a threshing-ma- 
 chine each fall. He was married in 1872 to Sarah 
 Devol, a native of Michigan, boru fourteen miles 
 east of Detroit. She was the mother of two chil- 
 dren — Eva May. who died in early childhood; and 
 Lenna B., who resides at home with her father- 
 
 These children were bereaved of their mother in 
 1H80, and she was laid to rest in the North Plains 
 Cemetery. 
 
 In his early married life Mr. Ford rented a farm 
 in North Plains Township and worked it one year. 
 He then rented a place from Mr. Whitmore, where 
 Mr. Iloople now lives, and the next year took a 
 farm of George lleydlauff. which he worked for 
 two years and then rented a farm of Mr. Orth in 
 Ronald Township, which he worked for three 
 years. The farm which he bought after this in 
 North Plains was disposed of three years later for 
 the one where he now resides. He has one hun- 
 dred and fifty-three acres under excellent cultiva- 
 tion with a fine barn and other improvements, his 
 house, which was built in 1887 costing *1,400. He 
 is doing a fine farming business and has an excel- 
 lent lot of stock. His political convictions are 
 with the Republican party and in his religious life 
 he is connected with the Disciples Church. 
 
 ■^^ 
 
 E ^-1-: « 
 
 ^EORGK HOLLAND and his household are 
 ^-, among the nutst intelligent and highly edu- 
 cated families in Sidney Township, Mont- 
 calm Count}'. Our subject was born in Alden, 
 N. Y., March 29, 1854, and is the son of George 
 and Sarah (Rodgers) Holland. His mother was a 
 Canadian and his father was born in Mndston, 
 Kent County, England, March 18, 1816. George 
 Holland, Sr., had many educational ail vantages 
 and was always earnest and active in securing the 
 same for his children. He had seen much of the 
 world, and ins[)ired his son with an ambition to 
 see something of it o\itsidc his home. The father 
 was emploj'cd in early life by the great London 
 firm of Taylor, Lord & Son, and was sent as book- 
 keeper to the Cape of Good Hope. There he took 
 charge of a trading-post for that firm. He spent 
 seven years at the Capo, but when the Kiifllr War 
 broke out he shipped his possessions and followed 
 them to Toronto, Canada. 
 
 At the age of six years young George was taken 
 by his parents to Warren, Erie County, Pa., and 
 there remained until the year 18Ga. when his 
 
574 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 fatlier came to Sli.eridan, Montcalm County, Mich. 
 Here lie purchased a claim of four hundred acres 
 and moved the family thereon, our subject thus 
 becoming a pioneer of tliis county. At the age 
 of fifteen years the boy left home and began for 
 himself, going into the woods and engaging in log- 
 ging and lumbering. The sisters and brother of 
 our subject are as follows: Charles H., whose 
 sketch is written in this book, from Douglas Town- 
 ship; Sarah J., born September II, 1849; Eliza- 
 beth, February 25, 1851; Frances M., September 
 3, 1852. Two of these sisters were engaged in 
 teaching. 
 
 George Hollanr? was married November 12, 
 1876, to Anna E. Compton, of Portland, Mich. 
 They had one child, which they lost in its infancy. 
 Our subject has spent much of his life traveling 
 in this and foreign lands. He has visited over 
 thirtj'-five Slates in the Union and has traveled in 
 England, Ireland, Wales and Fiance. He spent 
 much time in London. 
 
 He of whom we write came to the place he 
 now occu()ies in 1879, and began at once to 
 clear of timber the soil on which he was to make 
 his home. He has one hundred and eighty acres 
 of land, eighty of which is cleared, and altogether 
 it is one of the finest, if not the finest improved 
 farm in the county. He has a handsome and sub- 
 stantial brick residence, two stories high and con- 
 taining twelve rooms. He has fine barns and out- 
 buildings. He and his wife are earnest and con- 
 sistent members of the Congregational Church. 
 He is an influential member of the School Board 
 and hohls the office of Justice of the Peace. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^^I'NDREW J. HALE has been a resident of 
 LM Ionia County about twenty-five years and 
 // li during the greater part of that time has 
 been engaged in agriculture in Orleans 
 Township. A few ^-ears since he turned his atten- 
 tion to the sale of general merchandise in the 
 town of Orleans, where he is still located. He 
 carries a stock of .about *3,000, carefully selected 
 in regard to the wants of the denizens in the vil- 
 
 lage and the adjacent territory. Mr. Hale is the 
 owner of a valuable estate, consisting of two hun- 
 dred and fift\--threc acres, upon which stands a 
 complete line of substantial farm buildings. 
 
 The father of our subject was Luther Hale, who 
 was liorn in Pennsylvania, but spent the greater 
 part of his life in New York. He came to this 
 State in 1880 to spend the remainder of his days 
 with his children and died in Sanilac June 13, 
 1888. His life-work was farming. He was mar- 
 ried in New York to Laura Dutcher, a daughter of 
 Seneca Dutcher and a native of Massachusetts. She 
 is still living at the ripe age of seventy-five years, 
 and her home is in Saginaw, this State. The chil- 
 dren born to the worthy couple are two in num- 
 ber — Henry and Andrew. 
 
 The gentleman whose life it is our puriiose to 
 outline was born in Trenton, N. Y., June 2, 1839, 
 and remained at home until he was about fifteen 
 years of age. He then went to work on a farm 
 by the month and continued his labors until he 
 had *300, then entered Carey Collegiate Semi- 
 iiaiy, where he studied for three years. In the 
 meantime he spent his vacations in teaching, and 
 after the period mentioned he went to Olean where 
 he attended a school a year. When his studies 
 were completed young Hale came to this State 
 and found employment in the lumber camps in 
 St. Clair County for a year. He then went back 
 to his native State and during the ensuing two 
 years devoted the winters to teaching. 
 
 October 2, 1862, Mr. Hale was married to Mary 
 J. Haughton. a daughter of Dimick Haughton. of 
 New York. For three years after their marriage 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hale remained in the Empire State, 
 then journeyed westward and established their 
 home in Ionia County, Mich. They took posses- 
 sion of a sixty-acre farm in Orleans Township and 
 the husband devoted himself to its improvement 
 and cultivation, and until 1885 was also engaged 
 in buying, breeding and shipping stock. He then 
 began buying and shipping fruit, having an evap- 
 orator, by means of which he enlarged his work 
 and built up a successful trade. In the meantime 
 he increased his landed estate to its present extent 
 an placed il in first-class condition. Since he en- 
 gaged in mercantile pursuits he has given his busi- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 577 
 
 nes3 the close attention that be formerly bestowed 
 upon other interests, and liis finuncinl affairs are 
 managed with prudence and tad. 
 
 The substantial foundation u|)on which the af- 
 fairs of Mr. Hale now rest lias not been without 
 decided effort and his experience has not alw.a3's 
 been favorable. When he came to this State his 
 capital consisted of a team and w.agon, with which 
 he drove from Detroit to Orleans. He had been 
 here but a year and a half when he was burned 
 out and lost his entire possessions except the land, 
 which was not yet the source of an excessive in- 
 come. He had previously been drained of iiis 
 cash by his hiring a substitute when drafted 
 into the army. Whatever misfortune befell him 
 made liim the more determined, and success event- 
 ually crowned iiis efforts. 
 
 Mr. Hale has always been a Republican. He has 
 served acceptably as Highway anil Drainage Com- 
 missioners and for a number of years was Township 
 Superintendent of Schools. His education, experi- 
 ence as a teaciior, and interest in the rising genera- 
 tion especially qualified him for a prominent posi- 
 tion in educational affairs. Ho and his wife have 
 made many friends since they came hitiier, and 
 their children — Elmer B., Perry F. and ()ie B. — 
 have their own places in society. 
 
 \1|0SEPII C. NOBLE, one of the progressive 
 farmers and stockmen of Ionia Count}', is 
 the gentleman whose portrait is showu on 
 !^7/' the opposite page, and who is pleasantly 
 located on section 16, Otisco Township. His prop- 
 erty here consists of one hundred and seventy 
 acres of well-developed land, upon which may be 
 seen a comfortable farmhouse and such oulliuild- 
 ings as are made necessary by the work carried 
 on upon the estate. In former years Mr. Noble 
 was a breeder of Ilolstein cattle, but at present his 
 chief attention in stock-raising is given to Oxford 
 Down and Shropshire Down sheep. Mr. Noble 
 was reared to farming and in his youth he became 
 well acquainted with all that is necessary to make 
 the calling a successful one, and it is his constant 
 
 aim to increase his facilities for work and to place 
 upon the market crops and stock of a high grade. 
 
 Ooing back three generations in the paternal 
 line we come to Medad Noble, of Revolutionary 
 fame, who also fought in the second struggle for 
 release from British tyranny. The next in direct 
 line of descent was Levi Noble, a native of Bland- 
 ford, Mass., who made an early settlement in New 
 York. There he married Aurclia Steele and reared 
 six children, the eldest of whom was Horace, 
 father of our sul)ject. Levi Noble was first a 
 ^Vhig and then a Republican in politics. He was 
 a Master Mason, and he and his wife belonged to 
 the Methodist Ei)iscopal Church. 
 
 Horace Noble was born in Richmond, Ontario 
 County, N. Y., and when a j'oung man worked on 
 a farm. He came to this State in 1844, a short 
 lime after his marriage, and established his home 
 in Hillsdale Count}'. Thence be removed to Indi- 
 ana, anil from that State returned to New York. 
 In 185.'5 he again came to Michigan, and from that 
 time until his decease, March 27, 18!»0, he resided 
 in Otisco Township, Ionia County. At the time 
 of his death he owned one hundred and seventy 
 acres of gooil land. He was a member of the 
 Grange. In his earlier years he was a Republican, 
 but he died a Democrat. He was married in 
 Naples, N. Y., June 20, 1844, to Martha, daughter 
 of Ilezekiah and Hannah (Clayson) Roberts. Mr. 
 Roberts was born in 1791, and his wife in 1792; 
 he died in Arkansas in 1873, and she passed away 
 in 1859. Mr. Roberts was a cabinet-maker and also 
 a farmer. His family consisteil of six children, 
 she who became Mrs. Noble being tlie lifth in 
 order of birth. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice is the 
 only surviving member of his father's family, 
 which once made a happy band of three. He was 
 born in Iloneoye, Ontario Count}', N. Y., Decem- 
 ber 31, 1850, and w.as a child of some three years 
 when his life in Michigan began. After complet- 
 ing the course of s'.mly in the common schools he 
 spent one year in the High .School in (Jreenvilh-, 
 thus becoming quite well educated in all practical 
 branches. For a twelvemonth he was in the em- 
 ploy of Emerson Peck, a storekeeper in that town, 
 but with that exception he has devoted himself Ig 
 
578 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 agricultural work. He remained under the parental 
 roof until he was twentj'-five years of age. 
 
 Some months after leaving the [larental home 
 Mr. Noble was married to Miss Jennie Buttolph in 
 Portland, February 20, 1877. The parents of the 
 bride were Jndson and Lydia (Alger) Buttoiph, 
 natives of New York and Canada respectively, 
 who are represented elsewhere in this Album. Mrs. 
 Noble is a well-informed and well-bred lady, a 
 strong believer in the faith of the Baptist Church 
 and an esteemed member of society. Mr. Noble 
 belongs to the Republican party. He has been 
 Secretary of the Grange for six years and has 
 served the citizens of the township as Overseer of 
 Highways. 
 
 DAM S. TURNBULL. a prominent resi- 
 dent on section 24, Koene Township, Ionia 
 Count}', is a native of Monroe County, N. 
 Y., wliere he was born September 24, 1823. 
 His father. Robert, was a native of England, and 
 his mother Helen (Reid) Turnbull, was born in 
 Scotland. About 1825, our subject went with his 
 parents to reside in Waterloo County, Ontario, 
 Canada. His parents who were early settlers there, 
 both died in the same county Four of their eight 
 children are now surviving: Adam S., James, Isa- 
 bella (the widow McDonald); Mary (the wife of 
 Charles Macomb). Both parents were members of 
 the United Presbyterian Church, in wiiich tlioy 
 ever found a field of usefulness. 
 
 Our subject has been a lifelong farmer, having 
 spent his boyhood on the old home farm in On- 
 tario, dividing his lime between the common sciiools 
 and the home farm. He had to walk three miles 
 back and forth to school, and had scant advantages 
 when there, but it has been his life-long aim to 
 make himself intelligent. His marriage took place 
 in Ontario, October 18, 1854. He was then united 
 with Jane Laing, who was born in Monroe County, 
 N. Y. May 1, 1835. She is a daughter of Walter 
 and Jane (Renwiek) Laing. Her father was of 
 Scotch birth, and her mother an Englishwoman. 
 When seven years old she removed with her par- 
 
 ents to Brant County, Ontario, where botli father 
 and mother died. Her parents had four children, 
 three of whom are living: Mary, wife of J. T. Ren- 
 wick; Walter; and Mrs. Turnbull. 
 
 In the spring of 1855, the season succeeding 
 their marriage, the young couple migrated to Mich- 
 igan. They resided in Kent County for a number 
 of j'cars, and came to Ionia County in the fall of 
 1864. Mr. Turnbull is the happy possessor of a 
 finely improved farm of seventy acres. He has ac- 
 cumulated a handsome property, and in his life 
 work has been ably seconded by his devoted wife, 
 whose good judgment and sound sense have been a 
 tower of strength to him continually. They are 
 both warm-hearted Christians, and find their church 
 home in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. The 
 Republican party finds in him a warm adherent and 
 strong supporter. He is a man well-informed on 
 matters of public interest, and ever wide-awake to 
 the promotion of movements for the welfare of 
 the community. 
 
 In the prime of life Mr. and Mrs. Turiib\ill are 
 enjoying the fruits of a life well-spent. Our sub- 
 ject has been successful in life. He is a good and 
 judicious financier, possessed of excellent business 
 qualifications and executive ability, and commands 
 the respect of the business community. Having 
 been an exhaustive reader, he has become well-in- 
 formed on topics of general interest. We are 
 pleased to represent him in this Album, among the 
 raanj' prosperous citizens of Ionia County, and we 
 predict for him as great success in the future as he 
 has had in the past. 
 
 ^ILLIAM PATTERSON. The boy pio- 
 neers of Michigan look back in manhood 
 upon numberless hardships encountered 
 and privations endured, but their retrospection is 
 tinged with a romantic light. The hunting and 
 fishing of those days, the expeditions and adven- 
 tures were dear to the boyish heart, and bring a 
 smile to the face of the mature man. Our subject, 
 who is a citizen of Sheridan, Montcalm County, 
 passed through such experiences. He was born in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 579 
 
 Trumbull County, Ohio, June 11, 1842, and is the 
 son of Thomas and Mary (Anderson) Patterson. 
 His early life was spent at home witii his i)arenls, 
 and his educational advantages were meager in- 
 deed. His father was a molder by trade. Wlien 
 ten years of age, William came with the family lu 
 Michigan. 
 
 The Patterson family made their home for one 
 year in Ionia County, where the father engaged in 
 molding, and in March, 1854, they came to Jlont- 
 calra County, and settled three miles from Sheri- 
 dan, on section 24, Fairplains Township. Here in 
 the wilderness thej' cleared and improved a new 
 farm. Many hard times were endured during tlie 
 ensuing year, and not seldom food was scarce. 
 There were no roads through the woods, nothing 
 but Indian trails to guide the traveler. A farm of 
 fort}' acres was made out of tiiis forest land. Here 
 the family remained. 
 
 In 1«66 William Patterson came to the place he 
 now owns in the suburbs of .Slicridan, and took a 
 small lot, this he gradually increased until he now 
 has a comfortable farm of sixty-nine acres, all well- 
 improved, where he resides. lie also has forty-three 
 acres on section 3,5, in Sidney Township. lu the early 
 dayslie often made shingles and hauled them to Ionia 
 andGreeuville,selling them for ¥l athousand. When 
 they had raiseil their first crop of corn they were 
 puzzled how they could make it available for food, 
 as there was no mill within reach, but the father im- 
 provised a mill out of two logs, and with this they 
 ground their meal, and sweeter johnny cake was 
 never eaten. 
 
 On August 19, 1862, Eliza Skells, a daughter of 
 SiKjncer Skells of this county, became the wife of 
 our subject. To them have been given four chil- 
 dren, as follows: William S., born February 8, 
 1861; Cassie, July 7, 187G; Ina, March 20, 1870; 
 Ray, August 22, 1885. All these children are liv- 
 ing at home with their parents, and they have all 
 received a good education. 
 
 When William Patterson came to this place there 
 was no town here, and it was several years before 
 any railroad came through. His vocation for the 
 first twelve years was lumbering and milling, but 
 since that time he has been engaged exclusivi'ly in 
 farming. He is a Democrat in politics, and h.is 
 
 filled with honor to himself and advantage to his 
 constituents the oHices of Constable, Town Mar- 
 shal, Highway Commissioner and President of the 
 village of Sheridan. 
 
 TEWAUD TOWNSEND has a fine farm on 
 section 32, Ionia Township, Ionia County. 
 His father, Charles Townsend, a native of 
 Connecticut, was also a farmer, and was 
 born in 1800. The family is one of the old New 
 England families, the grandfather of Steward be- 
 ing Charles Townsend, a native of Connecticut, 
 and a miller by trade. His wife, Margaret, was 
 born in Germany. Their son, Charles was one of 
 the early pioneers of Monroe County, N. Y., 
 where he died at the age of eighty-four years. His 
 wife followed him at the same age. She was Laura 
 Goodenough, a native of Connecticut. Her par- 
 ents were Aaron and Patty Goodenough, he being 
 a native of Vermont and she of Connecticut. Af- 
 ter marriage they made their home first in Monroe 
 County, N. Y., and later in Niagara County, where 
 they remained until their death, both living to the 
 advanced age of ninety-two years. 
 
 The parents of Steward Townsend resided in 
 Monroe County, N. Y., until 1845. At that time 
 his father came West to look up a location for a 
 new home, which he found in the fall of 1846, and 
 removed his family to section 5, Orange Town- 
 ship. He secured forty acres of wild land and 
 timber. Here he made his permanent home and 
 proceeded to imi)rove it. He first built a log 
 shanty, and afterward a log house, wherein was 
 established a happy home. He added twenty acres 
 to the original farm and before his death had im- 
 proved it all. When he came here Indians were 
 living all through this region and there were 
 plenty of wild animals. He died in 1866, his wife 
 having preceded him two years to the other 
 world. They were the parents of fifteen children, 
 nine daughters and six sons, ten of whom are now 
 living. 
 
 Our subject was horn April 18, 1828, in Monroe 
 County, N. Y. Although he was eighteen years of 
 
580 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 age when he came to Michigan, he took his first 
 schooling here, in the first school organized in this 
 region. Later he went back to New York and at- 
 ten<led school there for one winter. He began work- 
 ing for himself at seventeen years of age, although 
 later he assisted his parents for a season. When he 
 arrived in Michigan his sole pecuniary fortune was 
 twenty-five cents. During his visit to New York 
 when he was nineteen years old, he worked on a 
 farm wlien not at school. After a year spent there 
 our subject returned to Michigan and bought the 
 first forty acres of land he ever owned. It was lo- 
 cated in Orange Township, on section 4, where Al- 
 fred Stanton now lives. He pre-empted this land 
 which was then all unimproved and sold it with 
 another forty acres for forty acres on his present 
 farm, giving a bonus of $110. He proceeded to 
 improve this new farm and added to it from time 
 to time. He now owns one hundred and seventy- 
 seven acres there and forty acres in Orange Town- 
 ship. 
 
 Our subject was united in marriage January 4, 
 1851, with Miss Eliza Tuttle, a daughter of Nelson 
 and Sophia (Pangborn) Tuttle. (See sketch of 
 William Adgatc for history of Nelson Tuttle). 
 Mrs. Stevvard Townsend was born December 14, 
 1833, at Palmyra, Ohio. After her marriage she 
 and lier husband moveil into a log house upon his 
 farm and began improving the place. He has with 
 his own hand put the whole of his farm under the 
 plow. In 18G9 he built his present residence, hav- 
 ing erected a barn three years before, and all im- 
 provements having been made b}' himself. He 
 carries on mixed farming, his stock being all of 
 good grades. This couple are the parents of six 
 children. The eldest, Andrew, born December 
 21, 1851, was married to Annie Scribner. Tiiey 
 live in Orange Township and have a family of five 
 children. The second son, Nelson, was born RLarch 
 16, 1855. He is now a widower. Henr3' was born 
 July 16, 1857, and married ¥A\a. Tubbs, with whom 
 he lives in Sebewa Township; they have throe 
 children. Emory was born November 19, 1863; 
 Ed S., March 19, 1865; and their only daughter, 
 Martha Ella, November 17,1867. They gave to 
 all these children a good education. An<]rew 
 t-aught school for sis years j Ed S. and Emery have 
 
 been students at a business college. The former is 
 now a stock buyer. Miss Martha is a good musi- 
 cian and m.akes her talents in this direction of great 
 service to the church. She is also an artist in 
 colors, showing great ingenuity and taste. Mrs. 
 Townsend is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. Emery is well-known as a member of 
 the Masonic Order. Andrew, who has alwa^'s 
 taken an interest in [lolitics and belongs to the 
 Democratic party, has been for some time a mem- 
 ber of the School Board. lid S. and Emery are 
 both Prohibitionists, the former taking great inter- 
 est in politics. 
 
 When this family emigrated Michigan was then 
 in the Far West and transportation was very diff- 
 erent from our present rapid transit. They were 
 transported from their old home in Monroe County-, 
 N. Y., by the Erie Canal to Bufl'alo, and thence by 
 boat over the lake to Detroit. There they took 
 passage in "prairie schooners" and drawn by a yoke 
 uf oxen reached their new home. Mr. Townsend 
 soon went back to Farmington and moved his uncle 
 Wilkinson by the same yoke of oxen. Many hard- 
 ships were experienced by these early settlers. 
 Money was scarce and they had to encounter severe 
 trials but bravely struggled through them all. After 
 his marriage oursubject worked by the d.ay at crad- 
 ling at six shillings (seventy-five cents), mowed 
 for five shillings (sixty. two and one-half cents), 
 and chopped wood in June from dajiight to dark 
 for fifty cents. For some time he cho|)pcd wood 
 for Benjamin Ilarter. He had 1o travel three miles 
 each way and work at the rate of two shillings 
 (Iwentj'-five cents) per cord, one shilling of which 
 he received in groceries the other in money. After 
 the day's work he used to go down to the Grand 
 River bottoms and find an old white cow, whom he 
 employed as a pilot. He knew that she would find 
 her way home in the darkness and holding her by 
 the tail he followed in hor wake. Ilavingarrived 
 at home he was prepared with a good appetite to 
 devour his supper of johnny cake, potatoes and 
 pork. Occasionally he indulged in a little butter. 
 He then did his night chores in order to feel 
 ready for bed. Up in the morning before daylight 
 he chopped a little wood for the use of his wife and 
 was off to his work again. The first tax he eyey 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 581 
 
 paid amounted to $1. His last one was IIOO. He 
 has his liooie free from debt, ail as tlie result of liis 
 own labor, besides having given to his children 
 over 18,000. There was no bridge over Grand 
 River when he came to this county and none be- 
 tween here and Grand Rapids. He had to draw 
 himself across the river by a chain. 
 
 Mr. Townsend's life in Ionia County is an exem- 
 plification of what will result from hard and 
 conscientious labor. His sons and daughters are 
 worthy of the honest pride which he feels in their 
 character and work. His fine farm and excellent 
 buildings, show plainly' the hard work which lie 
 put upon them. 
 
 /^^' ONT VERNON OLMSTKAI) is one of the 
 old timers in Orange Township, Ionia 
 County, and has held for many years the 
 responsible position of Town.ship Super- 
 visor. Ele is one of the very few now living who 
 came here early in the '30s, and his conversation is 
 delightfully full of reramiscences of the early days 
 among Indians and wild animals, and tales of the 
 hunts in jjioneer times. His father, Lewis 01m- 
 stead, was born in Norwalk, Conn., Jlay 10, 1771. 
 He was a merchant in his day but in old .age retired 
 from business. He belonged to the Volunteer 
 Reserve Force in Vermont in the days of the 
 Indian wars but was not called out. He was the 
 son of Jesse Olmstead who was born in Connecti- 
 cut in 1750. The mother of our subject was Han- 
 nah (Hurlbut) Olmstead, born in Connecticut in 
 177G. El)enezer Gilbert, a brotiier to Mont Vernon 
 Olmstend's paternal grandmother, was a soldier in 
 the Revolutionary War, and his great-grandnephew 
 has now the powder horn worn by this hero when 
 he was killed in battle. The horn bears the dale 
 and inscription of that fatal day; Harlem Heights, 
 November 9, 1776. The parents of our subject 
 married in Vermont and resided there, the father 
 being a merchant in the town of Richmond. In 
 1812 he kept a grocery and provision store in Bur- 
 lingluii, Vt., at the time the American arm}- was 
 
 there. He later sold out his business and located 
 on a farm in his native State, and ended his days 
 there in 1814, his wife having preceded him ten 
 years before. Of their ten children, all are now 
 deceased except our subject. 
 
 Mont Vernon Olmstead was brought up accord- 
 ing to strict religious principles, his mother being a 
 Methodist and his father one of the old-school 
 Presbyterians. His father was a prominent man 
 in his locality, being .active in politics as a stanch 
 Whig. Our subject was born August 4, 1816, in 
 Burlington Townslii|), Vt. Having received a com- 
 mon-school education, he remained at home until 
 just before reaching his majority', and besides as- 
 sisting his father worked out by the month and took 
 jobs upon neighboring farms. Upon coming to 
 Michigan alone in 1836, he worked on a farm at 
 l..yons for two years for James W. Tabor. Then 
 buying a piece of land all unimproved in oak open- 
 ings, he settled upon it in 1843. He improved 
 forty acres of it and built a log house and log 
 barn. In 1850 he traded it to Thomas Dewey for 
 his i)rescnt farm. He has since lived here on sec- 
 tion 1, having taken this farm when about thirty 
 acres were cleared and the present buildings were 
 upon it. He now has eighty acres, having deeded 
 his other farm of one hundred and sixty acres to 
 his two sons. When he reached Lyons, Mich., he 
 had just twenty-five cents in his pocket. This he 
 gave to an Indian to put him across Grand River. 
 He therefore entered Lyons entirely unincumbered 
 by personal wealth, but has been a very hard work- 
 ing man all his life and has cleared thirty-five acres 
 more of his eighty-acre farm. There were about 
 eight hundred Indians around here when he came, 
 and plenty of wild animals. Hunting was both a 
 diversion and an occup.ilion in those days and he 
 has killed large numbers of deer and wild turkeys 
 and lias trapped many a wolf. He has killed as 
 many as three liears in one fall. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was wedded in April, 
 1843, to Abigail McKelvey, daughter of John Mc- 
 Kelvey, who came here in 1834, from Oakland 
 County and settled in louia Townshij), where he 
 lived until his death. He and his wife were the 
 parents of four daughters and five sons who all 
 "rew to maturity. Mrs. Olmsti-ad was born March 
 
582 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 6, 1821, in Rochester, N. Y. After marriage the 
 Olmsteads settled upon their raw farm in Lj'ons 
 Township and both worked long and hard to get a 
 home and bring up the family. Mrs. Olmstead 
 died March 21, 18.55. This couple were the par- 
 ents of five children — Helen, now widow of Henry 
 Kise, of Portland Township, has seven children; 
 Julia is deceased; Lewis; Hannah; Malvin is mar- 
 ried to Eleanor Wig, they live in Portland Town- 
 ship with their two children. They were all given 
 a good common-school education and Julia taught 
 school for some time. Mr. Olmstead has always 
 taken an active part in public affairs and in organ- 
 izations for the good of the community. He used 
 to belong to the Sons of Temperance. He is also 
 a member of the Grange and was for some time its 
 Treasurer. In politics he was a Whig and later a 
 Greenbacker and is now a member of the Demo- 
 cratic party. His first vote was cast in 1840 for 
 William Henry Harrison. He has been a member 
 of the School Board for years. He has been High- 
 way Commissioner for six j^ears and Supervisor of 
 Orange Township for twenty years. He h.as fre- 
 quently been a delegate to county conventions and 
 once to the State convention at Detroit. On the 
 temperance question he has always stood squarely 
 and is still stanch and strong there. He has never 
 taken a drink of whisky in iiis life. He had eight 
 hundred bushels of rye at onetime in an earl3- day, 
 and although he had offers fi'om distilleries here he 
 refused to sell it to them and traded it for cattle. 
 He is now seventy-five years of age, and until last 
 year when he suffered with inflammatory rheumat- 
 ism he has always been a strong robust man. 
 
 ^ANIEL R. HARTWELL comes of sturdy 
 New England stock. His father was Thomas 
 Hartwell, a native of New Hampshire, born 
 September 22, 1784. His grandfather was 
 Asliael Hartwell, who died February 3, 1844, at 
 the advanced age of ninety-three years and five 
 years and five months. This old Revolutionary 
 hero served under Gen. Washington, and knew him 
 personally, his having talked with the "father of 
 
 his country" being handed down as one of the 
 pleasant and honorable familj' legends. The wife 
 of Ashael was xVbigail (Walker) Hartwell, and she 
 became the mother of four children: Abigail, born 
 March 15, 1778; Prudence, July 3, 1780; Thomas, 
 September 22, 1784; Josiah, March 19, 1787. 
 
 Thomas was the father of our subject. His wife 
 was Phosbe (Rogers) Hartwell, a native of New 
 York. Her father was Daniel Rogers, born Febru- 
 ary 14, 17G9. His wife Annie (Grinuell) Rogers, 
 was born March 3, 1768. They were the parents 
 of eight children, namely: Phoebe, born January 1, 
 1792; Daniel B., January 30, 1794; Acha, January 
 19, 1796; Sarah, January 15, 1798; Ruth, Decem- 
 ber 5, 1800; Anna, M.arch 16, 1803; Jane, May 10, 
 1805; Henry D. September 29, 1807. All of these 
 children lived to be over eighty years of age, but 
 have now all departed this life except Henry D. 
 Phoebe, the eldest was the mother of our subject. 
 Grandfather Rogers was a teamster in the War of 
 1812. He died May 8, 1859. His good wife pre- 
 ceded him ten years, d^ing October 9, 1849. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married Novem- 
 ber 5, 1808. After residing at Stillwater, N. Y. 
 for a time, they moved onto a farm in Northum- 
 berland Township, Saratoga County, N. Y., where 
 they completed their lives. He served in the War 
 of 1812 as a teamster, hauling goods from Albany 
 to Rochester. She died ALarch 8, 1873. He sur- 
 vived her until May 20, 1881, when he departed at 
 the extreme age of ninety-seven years. This good 
 couple became the parents of six children : George 
 W., born August 3, 1809; Orville C, March 6, 
 1812; Daniel II., September 24, 1815; Tylee D., 
 August 24, 1819; Phoebe Ann, February 17, 1829; 
 Sarah Jane, December 4, 1832. Four of them are 
 now living. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the third child of 
 this family and born in Northumberland Town- 
 ship, Saratoga County, on a farm. He received a 
 district school education and lived at home till fif- 
 teen years of age. He was sick for two j'ears, which 
 interrupted his schooling, but after his recovery he 
 resumed attendance at school. For two j'cars he 
 worked at the carpenter's bench, then went upon 
 the Erie Canal in 1837 in the engineering depart- 
 ment. He continued in this work until 1844, when 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 583 
 
 be removed to Michigan and located land on sec- 
 tion 8, Berlin Townsiiip, Ionia County. He how- 
 ever returned iinmediatelj' to New York and 
 engaged in fishing and Iiunting. In January, 1843 
 he went to Onondaga County, and began work as a 
 clerk in a store. In June, 1844, he began clerking 
 in Danviilo, N. Y., but in November of that year 
 he came again to Michigan anil [)ut a man to clear- 
 ing his farm, lie came to this place via Battle 
 Creek and from that point on foot to Bellevue and 
 in the same manner to this place. It was ver}- 
 muddy and there were no houses en the way except 
 a very few scattered ones. Ilo walked in all about 
 three days. The same j'ear he went back to Bat- 
 tle Creek and January 1, of the next 3'ear he went 
 to work in a pail factory at ^i) a month. Here he 
 remained until September 1, when he began clerk- 
 ing in a dr^- goods house. lie remained with the 
 first firm for nine months and then went to work 
 for Arnold it; Marsli, in whose store he continued 
 until September, 1845. lie now began to experi- 
 ence trouble. He was sick all winter and when he 
 was able to be at work again lie took a contract to 
 build six miles of railroad grading on the Michi- 
 gan Central Railroad west of Kalamazoo. AVith 
 this he would have made a good success, had it 
 not been that he lost money on account of a part- 
 ner's crimes and was consequently 13,000 or %4,000 
 behind. He was so reduced in circumstances that 
 he had to borrow money to get home to New York, 
 where he again went to work on the Krie Canal. 
 
 In April, 18G0, Mr. Hartwell removed to his 
 present farm on section 3, Berlin Township. Here 
 he has one hundred and sixty acres and his 
 wife has forty acres on the same section. He 
 has one hundred acres of fine land under the 
 plow. His present handsome residence was built 
 in 1882 at a cost of iJ2,500. He married, October 
 17, 18;')4, Alice A. Scott, a daughter of Joseph and 
 Mary (Clemenson) Scott, both natives of Cam- 
 bridgeshire, England. They came to America in 
 1834, and settled at Seneca Falls, N. Y., where the 
 wife died. He moved to Lockport, where he died in 
 1864. They were the parents of eight children, 
 three of whom are now living: William, still resides 
 at Lockport; Mrs. Hartwell was the second child; 
 and John, the younger son, also lives at the old 
 
 homestead at Lockport. Mrs. Hartwell was born 
 November 7, 1827. in England, and came to this 
 country when still quite a child. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell are the happy parents of 
 two chililren — Lizzie, horn November 18, 185'J, is 
 the wife of Edward Patrick — they live on this farm 
 and have two children; Ph<ebe, born June 25, 1863, 
 is the wife of I'hilo Benedict — they live in this 
 county and have one child. Mrs. Hartwell is an 
 active and useful member of the Christian Church. 
 Mr. Hartwell has served as a member of the School 
 Board and h.as done useful and thorough work as 
 Road Overseer and also as Drainage Commissioner. 
 He has been a Granger and has taken an active in- 
 terest in politics, always voting the Republican 
 ticket. 
 
 '-'^ •i'*SS- •^-' 
 
 ^^EOROE F. PHELPS. Ionia City con- 
 '11 ,— . tains no more pushing business man than 
 ^^gjjj the one above named, who has been en- 
 gaged in mercantile pursuits here since 1876. He 
 has won success by unflagging energy, business 
 tact and honorable dealing, and made hosts of 
 friends by his affable, courteous manners. He was 
 born in Cayuga County, N. Y.. December 22, 1839, 
 and in the paternal line is descended from an old 
 Connecticut family-. His father. Israel E. Phelps, 
 was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., and his mother, 
 formerly Mary A. Leiand, in Massachusetts. In 
 1805 they removed to Lenawee County, this State, 
 where both died, the husband December II, 1884, 
 and the wife August, 1879. Their family con- 
 sisted of five children: CJeorge F., Charles, Israel, 
 Jr., William and Ezoa. 
 
 The father of our subject was a farmer and amid 
 the surroundings of .agricultural life the son grew 
 to the age of eighteen years. He then became a 
 clerk in the establishment of Ingham, Hmrick & 
 Morley in his native county, and after a year with 
 them spent an equal length of time studying in 
 the Plattsburg .\cadem3'. He began his mercantile 
 career in Jordan, Onondaga County, and subse- 
 (piently continued it in Weedsport. In 1865 he 
 established himself in Hudson, this .State, whence 
 he came to Ionia County in 1874. For two years 
 
584 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 he was engaged in business in Muir and he then 
 removed to lonin. Circii instances made the estab- 
 lishment of a branch house seem desirable and in 
 1888 one was opened in the east end. Both stores 
 are in a flourishing condition and success is crown- 
 ing the efforts of Mr. Phelps, who well deserves tiie 
 good opinion held of him by his customers. 
 
 In Hudson, October 3(>, 1866, Mr. Phelps was 
 united in marriage with Miss Carrie E. Moore, 
 daughter of George W. Moore, who is now a resi- 
 dent of Medina, Lenawee Count}'. Mrs. Phelps is 
 possessed of fine social qualities and refined man- 
 ners, and her grace and intelligence help to draw 
 around them a fine circle of friends. The}" have 
 two children, William M. and Morrison, the former 
 his father's partner in business and the latter a 
 student. 
 
 Mr. Phelps is not one of those men who crave 
 public honors, although he always takes an interest 
 in the good of the community' and does his part 
 toward advancing it. He iias served as an Alder- 
 man one term, but has not otherwise been connected 
 in any odicial capacity with the affairs of the city. 
 Politically, he is a Republican with liberal tenden- 
 cies. 
 
 ■ -|*^*|M— 
 
 i;ILLIAM CAUBOUGII is the son of George 
 Carbough, a shoemaker and farmer of 
 Pennsylvania. The family is of German 
 origin, but came to America long before tlie Revo- 
 lutionary War and settled in Pennsylvania. An 
 uncle of our subject, John Carbough, fought all 
 through the War of 1812 under Gens. Scott and 
 Brown. His mother was Magdelena (Forman) 
 Carbough, also a native of Pennsylvania. Her 
 father, also of German descent, lived to be over 
 ninety years of age. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. George Carbougli were married in 
 Pennsylvania and resided for twenty-six j-ears in 
 Virginia, near Harper's Ferry. They moved to 
 Ohio in 1840, settling first in Stark County, after- 
 ward in Wayne County, and buying a farm there. 
 After living there for eleven j'ears they came to 
 Michigan October 24, 1855, and made their home 
 in Ionia County, and on June 11, 1856. they set- 
 
 tled on section 26, Orange Township. The father 
 had forty acres of wild land, upon which he built 
 a log house and his boys cleared the land. He died 
 Septemloer, 1861, his wife surviving iiim eleven 
 years. Of their eight children, five are now living. 
 
 William Carbough was the seventh child of his 
 parents and was born August 25, 1835, in Virginia. 
 He was twenty years of age when he came to 
 Michigan, having received a common-school edu- 
 cation in Ohio. After coming to this State he took 
 special charge of his aged parents who lived with 
 him during the remainder of their lives and leaned 
 upon him as their strong staff. He has added to 
 his original fort}'^ acres until he now has two hun- 
 dred and twenty acres all told, one iiundred and 
 ninot}' of which is finely cultivated. All that he 
 added to his farm was wild land and timber, so 
 that it was necessary to clear it. In 1873 he 
 replaced the old log house with his present fine 
 residence which was erected at a cost of $1,500 
 besides his own labor. His splendid barn was built 
 in 1875 at a cost of $1,600 besides his personal work. 
 He has added to It a shed and has a geared wind- 
 mill. 
 
 A buililing 52x12 feet is divided into icehouse, 
 pump tank and milkroom, with one room for 
 grinder, another for corn sheller, both of which 
 machines are operated by the geared windmill. 
 Under the same roof he also has a shop and con- 
 nected with it a tool shed 62x20 feet, a corncrib, 
 and a hog pen 24x32 feet in dimensions. The sheep 
 shed connected with the large barn is 14xG0 feet. 
 The big barn measures 40x100 feet, its stone base- 
 ment furnishing stables for sixty head of horses 
 and cattle. There are thorough and systematic 
 water connections all through the barn and out- 
 buildings. Mr. Carbough carries on mixed farm- 
 ing, raising both grain and stock. His cattle are 
 Holstcin thoroughbreds; his sheep are Shropshire, 
 ills horses are mostly draft horses but he has a 
 special pride in a fine Hambletonian colt three 
 years old, which already shows signs of good 
 speed. He feeds out all the grain he raises on one 
 hundred and ninety acres. His orchard covers ten 
 acres and is principally In apple trees with some 
 peaches and pears. A view of this fine estate 
 appears on another page. 
 
RESIDEWCE OF E.W. NORTH , SEC. IG. E ASTON TP, IONIA CO.MICH, 
 
 RESIDENCtOF WILLIAI/, uAi« lJoUoi i , 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 587 
 
 Mr. Carbougli lias lived on this farm for tliirty- 
 five years, anil (luring all the time has (U'vole<l his 
 thought and labor to its improvement. He too'.i it 
 rough and wild, and by his unremitting industry 
 has brought it to its present line and productive 
 condition. He is a brother of Mrs. William Keefer. 
 (See sketch of Mr. Keefer.) He was united in mar- 
 riage .July 23, 1857 with Miss Klizabotli (Jates, a 
 daughter of P'ellows and JMary (Williams) Gates 
 and sister of Klias Gates, whose biography is to be 
 found elsewhere in this Album. Mrs. Carbougli 
 was born May 30, 1840, in Erie County, N. Y.,and 
 received a common-school education in Canada 
 l)efore coming with her father to Michigan. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. William Carbougli are the parents 
 of eight children: George F., born February 2, 
 IHa'.l, married .lennie Kneel, and lives in Orange 
 Township. They have one child of their own and 
 have adopted one. Mary M., born December (>, 
 18G0, and wife of Otis Ferguson, lives in Orange 
 Township and has one child. Klizabetli Caroline, 
 born January 10, 1863, is the wife of Frank Aller- 
 ton. They have one child and also reside in Orange 
 Townshii). Ionia Hellc, born .Inly II), 1865, is the 
 wife of Charles Kent; they have two children and 
 make their home at Odessa. William J., born 
 September 29, 18G7, is now a student in the law 
 department of the State University, having gradu- 
 ated in the Portland High School in the Class of 
 '!tO. The twins Grant and Wilson were born Octo- 
 ber 1, 1872, and Wilson died May 31, 1889. 
 Kmma was born November 10, 1877. These chil- 
 dren have all received a good common-school edu- 
 cation. 
 
 Mr and Mrs. Carbougli arc consistent members 
 of the Free Will Haptist Church, he being Super- 
 intendent of the Sund.ay-school, Treasurer of the 
 church, a Trustee and on the building committee. 
 The children were all brought up to attend the 
 Sunday scliool. Mr. Carbougli has been a member 
 of the local School Hoard and he and his wife both 
 belong to the Patrons of Industry and the Grange, 
 lie has been Treasurer of the latter organization. 
 He is a member of the Masonic Order, Blue Lodge 
 and Chapter, and is one of the Trustees of the 
 Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a inem- 
 lier of tlie Royal Arcanum aii<l of the Masonic 
 
 Benefit Association, both Class A and Class B. 
 Local Republicans have often made him their del- 
 egate to conventions, as his interests in public 
 affairs and his intelligence and independence make 
 him a leader among them. His sons and daughters 
 are active in temperance societies. He wiis Con- 
 stable and Road Commissioner for many years in 
 the townshi|) of Orange, was twice candidate for 
 Supervisor, and was elected as Drainage Commis- 
 sioner but did not serve. He has operated his farm 
 so as to secure the best results, and his enterprise 
 and industry have been crowned with remarkable 
 success. 
 
 -;-f-S'=^«^=5-«-f- 
 
 \Tp-«]ZIlA W. NOUTH. One of the [lioneer land- 
 \\rij marks of Ionia County is to be seen on the 
 [b-zjf estate of Mr. North on section 16, Faston 
 Township. It is the log cabin which he built in 
 the woods early in the '50s' and which is now used 
 as a store- room for machineiy. It is 16x21 feet in 
 size and when put up w.as considered quite a large 
 house. It w.as necessary for .Mr. Nortli to cut his 
 own road to the farm,. as, when he took possession, 
 it was surrounded by a dense forest and was largely 
 covered with timber. It Is now one of the well- 
 developed and productive tracts, so many of which 
 are to be seen by the traveler in the county, 
 and each of which testifies to the endurance and 
 persistence of those who opened up this ci untry. 
 The recollections of Mr. North do not extend 
 farther back than his residence in this State, al- 
 though lie was born in Genesee County, N. Y., 
 February 15, 1820. He conies of the old Dutch 
 stock of the Kmpire State in the paternal line, and 
 on his motlier's side tr.aces his ancestry back to the 
 Scotch wiio settled in the North of Ireland after 
 religious i)erseciitions had nearly depopulated that 
 country. His parents were John and Diana (I)oty) 
 North, who during bis early infancy left their na- 
 tive Stale to found a home in Michigan. They 
 located in Oakland County, where they re- 
 sirled until their son Ezra was twelve years old. 
 They then came to Ionia County, spending a short 
 time in Berlin Township and then taking possession 
 
588 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of land on section 10, Easton Township. In com- 
 ing to this county our subject, who was bare-footed, 
 helped to drive a herd of cattle, and upon arriving 
 at his destination, blood was freely flowing from 
 his feet, so severe had been his journey. As their 
 home was in the woods and tlie township liad but 
 few settlers, our subject may he considered one of 
 its earliest pioneers. 
 
 The parental family was a large one and is now 
 represented by the following children: Thomas, 
 Ezra W., Frederick A., Charles, Orville and Mary. 
 The latter is tlie wife of the Rev. II. R. Hawloy, a 
 minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now 
 stationed at Lake Odessa. All are living in this 
 county except Charles, whose iiome is in St. John's. 
 The good mother was not taken from her family 
 until 1889, but the father died in 1876. He was 
 School Inspector of Easton Township a number of 
 years, and politically was a Jeffersonian Democrat. 
 
 The rudiments of an education were acquired by 
 our subject in the early district schools of this 
 State, and his advantages were necessarily inferior 
 to those afforded in the same region to-daj'. As 
 was generally' the case with students of that time 
 he was well grounded in the few branches taught 
 and prepared to extend his knowledge through the 
 avenues open to all who wish to gain information. 
 He grew to maturity in Ionia County and did mueli 
 pioneer work, even before betook possession of the 
 one hundred and sixty acres he now occupies and 
 operates. In common with his old associates, he 
 experienced the ups and downs of life, but by in- 
 dustry, |)ersevcrance and economy, secured a com- 
 petence, so that in his declining years he has no 
 corroding anxiety to interfere with his enjoyment 
 of the good things of life. 
 
 Mr. North was first married to Miss Mary Gil- 
 bert, who died leaving two childicn: Frederick, 
 now deceased, and Ilattie, wife of J. II. Lampkin, 
 of Easton Township. She was a lady of erudition 
 and taught seventeen terms of school in New York 
 and this State. In 1866 our subject was united in 
 marriage with Mrs. Helen F. Nortli, who still shares 
 his fortunes and looks after the comfort of his 
 home. Tliis estimable lady was born in Wayne 
 County, this State, October 22, 1835, her parents 
 being Josiah and Susan (Arthur) Stanbro. Her 
 
 parents were from New England, her mother being 
 a native of the Pine Tree State. They came West 
 during the early days of this State and established 
 their home in Oakland County. Our subject and 
 his wife have one son, Nelson A., and they have 
 reared an adopted son named Marell. Nelson A., 
 married Lottie Young and they have one child, a 
 daughter. Mrs. North has shared in many of the 
 trials and hardships through which her husband 
 has passed, and has found many occasions on whicli 
 to display a self-sacrificing spirit and the hosi)ital- 
 ity wliich h!is become synonymous with the term 
 '•early settler." 
 
 In his political affiliation in later years Mr. North 
 has been a Prohibitionist. He has served his fel- 
 low-men as Justice of the Peace and School Direc- 
 tor, as well as by taking a part in enterprises 
 projected for the benefit of the community. Ho 
 and his wife are consistent Christians and for a 
 quarter of a century Mrs. North has been an ar- 
 dent Sunday-scliool worker. Indeed her life has 
 been consecrated to her family and good works. 
 Both husband and wife will live in the memories 
 of those who know them, long after their faces 
 shall be seen no more on earth. 
 
 A view of Mr. North's fine farm with its princi- 
 l)al buildings is presented on another page. 
 
 — - ■ > ■ >!< ■ < ■ •— 
 
 JlIOMAS O. HARTWELL resides on section 
 8, Berlin Township, Ionia County, and is 
 the son of T3lee D. Hartwell and Julia 
 (Arnold) Hartwell, both natives of the Empire 
 State. His parents resided in New York till they 
 came to Michigan in 1855, when they settled on 
 this farm. His father at the time of his death 
 owned three hundred and twenty acres here and 
 property in Saranac and loni.a besides. He cleared 
 off in all about one hundred and fifty .acres and put 
 up all the I)uilding3 himself. His parents belonged 
 to the Baptist Church; his father was both Trustee 
 and Deacon in the First Baptist Church at Saranac 
 for many years. For further particulars as to the 
 parents see sketch of Mrs. Julia E. Hartwell. 
 
 Thomas O. Hartwell was born December 12, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL 'ALBUM. 
 
 589 
 
 1860, on tbe home fnrm. He received liisseliooling 
 in Ionia and is a graduate of the Ionia High Sciiool 
 in tl>c Class of '81. After gnuUialiiig lie removed 
 to liis father's farm and toolv cliarge of it, his fatiicr 
 liaving (lied tlie year previous. His niotlier is still 
 living in Ionia. Our subject now owns iialf of the 
 farm of tliree liundred and twenty acres and has 
 cleared and improved some twenty-six acres, lie 
 carries on mixed husbandry, raising l)oth gram and 
 stock for the market. 
 
 In 1882 Thomas llartwcU was united in tlie 
 happy bonds of wedlock with Ruse MiicUey, daugh- 
 ter of Washington and Anna (Bergh) Mackey, 
 natives of the Empire State. Mrs. Macke}' dieii 
 several years .ago. Her widowed husband still re- 
 sides at the old home a retired farmer. Both their 
 children are now living. Mrs. Hartwell was born in 
 February, 1858, in New York anil received a com- 
 mon-school education. To her and her husband 
 have been given two cliildren— Jennie and Tylee 
 \). Tlic}' are members of the Baptist Church at 
 li)nia and Mr. Hartwell is on the School Board. 
 He is a member of the Grange and of the Patrons 
 of Industry. He lakes an interest in politics and 
 votes the Democratic ticket, but in local elections 
 casts his ballot for the best man. He was for some 
 time Scliool Inspector of Berlin Township. He is 
 It^mperato in his habits and highly re.«pccled by all 
 who know him. 
 
 , OAH D. KOIITZ, a son of Jacob and Sarah 
 (Christlieb) Koutz, resides on a finely ap- 
 pointed farm on section 5, Lyons Township. 
 Ionia County. He w.as born in Cumberland County, 
 Pa., January 30, 183.3. His father was a farmer 
 and cooper by trade and his grandfather, Daniel 
 Kout/, was a private soldier in the War of 1812. 
 His parents resided in Cumberland County forst)me 
 years after their maniage, and then came to Ohio 
 whence they emigrated to Michigan in 1854. They 
 traveled in a prairie schooner, camping out on the 
 way. The new home was in a log house in Sebewa 
 Township, Ionia Count}-. Here they resided for 
 about four years, when they came to Lyons Town- 
 
 ship, where our subject now resides and spent the 
 remainder of their days. They both lie at rest in 
 North Plains Cemetery, the father having departed 
 this life in 1882 and the mother in 1878. 
 
 The parents of our subject were blessed with ten 
 children and they were so happy as to see thera all 
 grow to manhood and womanhood. Those now 
 living are George W. ; Rachel, Mrs. J. W. Mabie; 
 Barnhart, James; Barbaia, Mrs. Elisha Trowbridge 
 and Scaright. Three of their sons served in the 
 Union army during the Civil War and two of them, 
 Kdinond and Israel, died in the service. 
 
 Our subject received his first schooling in Ohio, 
 whore he accompanied his parents to their new home 
 when only three years old. He remained at home 
 until his first inarri.age, which took place, October 
 26, 1859. Sarah E. Scott was the maiden name of 
 the lady who joined her life to his. She was born 
 and brought up in Ohio. They were the parents of 
 three daughters: Mary V., Mrs. Charles D. Nichols; 
 Alice E. and Fannie E. These daughters lost their 
 mother January 4, 1871. His second wife was 
 united with him July 30, 1871. She was a native 
 of Nova Scotia, Elizabeth A. Nickerson by name. 
 She was born Sei)tend)er C, 1849, and when four 
 year.s obi accompanied her parents to Canada, from 
 which she removed to Michigan in 1865. She is 
 the third child of her parents James and Sarah 
 (Cassie) Nickerson. One child w.as born to this 
 union Malvina E. Immediately after the marriage 
 of this coui»le they took up their home on the farm 
 where Mr. Koutz now lives. A log house 24.\;16 
 feet made their first home. The present residence 
 is an improvement on that and was built in 1884, 
 at the cost of iil,800. One hundred of Mr. Koutz' 
 one hundred and twenty-seven acres are under 
 cultivation. He pays much attention to sheep cul- 
 ture and owns ninety -seven head of fine grade sheep. 
 He has a fine furm entirely free from debt and is 
 greatly respected iu his neighborhood. He is 
 warmly interested in the Prohibition movement. 
 He lias been .School Director an<l Pathmaster. The 
 first winter tliat he located on his furm he furnished 
 lumber from it for the building of the railroad 
 bridge. In those days much wild game abounded, 
 and being a good shot he killed many deer ami 
 some bears. He and all his family- ar« earnest 
 
590 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, in the local organization of which Mr. 
 Koutz is a Trustee. He is a member of the Board 
 of District Conference and has gone twice as a dele- 
 gate to the yearly conference. He is a liberal con- 
 tributor to all church needs and takes an active 
 interest in Sunda3'-school work. 
 
 PB. FOX. Among the men engaged in busi- 
 ness in Edmore, Montcalm County, mention 
 should be made of Mr. Fox, whose reputation 
 for honesty and fair dealing is unexcelled. He is 
 doing a good business in the sale of feed, hay, coal, 
 lime, cement, and all kinds of seeds, fertilizers and 
 land plaster. In addition to tliis he operates a farm 
 of one hundred and fifty acres adjoining the corpor- 
 ate limits of the village, and raises hay, cereals and 
 stock. Besides his outlying property Mr. Fox owns 
 a residence and lots in town. He has lived in the 
 State more tlian tliirty years and has done consid- 
 erable work in developing farm lands and in manu- 
 facturing timber products. lie lias, therefore, been 
 connected with two of the most important interests 
 of the State and has gained an extensive acquaint- 
 ance among those wlio are eng.aged in farming and 
 lumbering. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was born 
 in the Old Dominion and with a brother made a 
 settlement on the Ohio River at a point now cov- 
 ered by the city of Cincinnati. There Absalom 
 Fox, father of our subject, was born and reared on 
 a farm. When grown to manhood he located near 
 Lebanon, in the same county, and improved prop- 
 erty on which he lived until his decease. He mar- 
 ried Amanda Ingersoll, who was born in the Empire 
 State and was a daughter of Ralph Ingersoll, who 
 became an early settler of Dundee, Mich., where he 
 and his family gained |)rominence. Mrs. Fox died 
 in Clinton County, this State. She was an earnest 
 Christian, belonging to the Presbyterian Church, 
 and endeavored to equip their three children for 
 the battle of life with high principles and aspira- 
 tions. 
 
 Our subject, who is tlie eldest of the parental 
 
 family, was born near Lebanon, Ohio, February 28, 
 1824. He was four 3'ears old when he accompanied 
 his mother to Reading, N. Y., where they spent a 
 j'ear and then went toKirtland, Ohio. There they 
 remained a twelvemonth and were neighbors of 
 .Iosei)h .Smith, the Mormon prophet. Mr. Fox well 
 remembers seeing the foundation of the Mormon 
 temple which was erected in that place. Thence 
 his mother removed to Huron County, Ohio, where 
 the years from 1838 to 1858 were passed. On a 
 farm in the woods the lad grew to manhood, and 
 bis years from his boyhood were devoted to indus- 
 trions efforts to clear the land and make his way in 
 the world. He was but twelve years old when lie 
 began driving a team of horses or yoke of oxen in 
 the logging business, and on more than one occa- 
 sion he was obliged to sleep in the wagon as night 
 came on before he reached home. Mother and 
 cliildren had one hundred acres of land and the 
 burden of its improvement rested on the shoulders 
 of our subject. 
 
 In 1848 Mr. Fox secured a faithful companion 
 and sympathizing helpmate in Miss Emily C. Shelly, 
 who was born in New York. Her father, David 
 Shelly, was one of tlie early settlers in Cuyahoga 
 County, Ohio. In 1858 Mr. Fox disposed of bis 
 interests in the Buckeye State and came to Michi- 
 gan, traveling with a team and wagon. He finally 
 located near Elsie, Clinton County, buying a farm 
 of one hundred acres and a village lot, on each of 
 which he built a residence. He improved his farm 
 and besides carrying on agricultural work ran a 
 sawmill and shingle mill. He became the possessor 
 of an additional one hundred and sixty acres of 
 good land. As one of the pioneers of that locality 
 he was instrumental in advancing the interests of 
 the county of which for more than a score of years 
 he was a prominent citizen. He held official posi- 
 tions in the township and was well known and influ- 
 ential. In the fall of 1880 he disposed of his 
 interests there and came to Edmore, a new place, 
 just taking its position among the growing villages 
 of Centr.al Michigan. A year later he started a feed 
 store and some time afterward added to the com- 
 modities he handled the various articles that have 
 been mentioned. 
 
 Mr. P^ox is a believer in and supporter of the 
 
PORTUAIT AND IJIOGHAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 591 
 
 principles of the Republican party, and keeps him- 
 self well informed regarding tbe issues of the day. 
 lie is interested in the success of the l)arty but is 
 not a politician in the ordinary acceptation of tbe 
 term. He has been village Trustee one term, but is 
 not otherwise connected with public affairs, al- 
 though he rejoices in all that promises to be bene- 
 ficial to the community. The children sent to 
 himself and his good wife were five in number, 
 two sons and three daughters, and all are dcceasetl 
 hut the daughters, Mary A. and Martha E. The 
 elder daughter is with her parents; the younger 
 who is an artist of more than ordinary ability, is 
 teaching in Grand Rapids. Husband and wife are 
 held in good repute by their aequinlances and have 
 made many sincere friends in the localities in whi(.h 
 they have lived. 
 
 •V^5«S^- 
 
 -^©^^•< 
 
 AVID II. KNGLISII was the first white 
 male chihl born in Boston Township, 
 Ionia County. He is a general farmer and 
 stock- raiser and resides on section 2 1 , Bos- 
 ton Township. He was born Ma3-21, 1842, in a log 
 house on the farm where he now has his home and 
 is a son of Kdson and Abigail (Wiilard) English, 
 who were among the very early settlers in Ionia 
 County, where they both continued to reside until 
 called to the better land. 
 
 The subject of this life history' received his early 
 education in the primitive school of the neighbor- 
 hood and attended one term at the High School at 
 Saranac, after which he entered the Normal School 
 at Ypsilanti. He remained there only three months 
 as on account of illness he was obliged to return 
 home. He never returned to school, for like many 
 j'oung men in those da^'s, school life was cut short 
 b^' the call of duty to our country. He enlisted 
 August 5, 1862, in Company 1, Twenty-First Micli- 
 igan Infantry. 
 
 Mr. English, in defense of the old Uag took part 
 in the battle at Benton ville, March 19, 18G5, in 
 which terrible struggle more than one third of his 
 company was killed and wounded at the first charge. 
 
 He acted as Duty Sergeant, and was promoted to 
 Orderly Sergeant and then to Lieutenant. lie 
 served with credit to himself. He was taken sick 
 for loss of sleep, and rather than go to the hospital 
 chose to be placed in a boarding-house where he 
 paid his own expenses until he recovered. He took 
 part in a large number of battles and skirmishes. 
 He marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the 
 sea and back through the Carolinas north to Wash- 
 ington where he attended the Grand Review at the 
 close of the war, and received his honorable dis- 
 charge June 8, 18t).'3,at Detroit, Mich. 
 
 The subject of this sketch returned home sifter 
 the dose of the Rebellion and purchased seventy- 
 six acres of land from his father which he cultivated, 
 living at home for a year. October 23, 1866, his 
 marriage was solemnized with Miss Sarah A. McCor- 
 mick, of Campbell Township. She had been teach- 
 ing school for about five years, a line of work which 
 she began when she was onlj' fifteen years old. She 
 taught four or five terms in Boston Township. 
 .Soon after their marriage Edson English erected a 
 new house on the farm, into which he moved his 
 household, leaving the old home for the young 
 cou[)le who resided here until shortly before the 
 death of the father. He had pureliased about fort}' 
 acres at two different times |*reviouj to this and a 
 short time before the father's death bought the 
 new house anil the small .acreage belonging thereto 
 and then took pos.session where he has since re- 
 sided. 
 
 The farm is now all under good cultivation and 
 finely improved. It consists of one hundred and 
 sixt}' acres and is well stocked with a good grade of 
 all kinds of live stock. C)ur subject makes a spec- 
 ialty of Short-Horn cattle, some of which are regis- 
 tered animals. He started out in life wilh a pair of 
 strong arms and an earnest determination to suc- 
 ceed, and he has steadil}' worked his way upward 
 to success, all of which is due to his own honest en- 
 deavors and that of his good wife. David H. Eng- 
 lish is one farmer among many a thousand in thik 
 particular: that he has kept a book account of all 
 his transactions since the da}' of his marriage. He 
 can tell at the end of a year every cent paid out 
 and taken in ; every bushel of grain raiseil and sold ; 
 of wheat consumed; everything that has been pur- 
 
592 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1 
 
 chased for tlie household; all slock sold and to 
 whom. In fact he has a complete record of his 
 transactions since 186G. He has never been a wit- 
 ness nor a juryman, has never been sued nor sued 
 anybody. In the period of his lifetime he has 
 seen all the wild land cleared and improved; and 
 fertile farms and comfortable homes have taken the 
 place of what was at his earliest remembrance a 
 wilderness and the home of Indians and wild ani- 
 mals. Towns and villages have sprung up, rail- 
 roads have been introduced and the county has 
 grown i)opulous with a happy and i)rosperous peo- 
 ple. 
 
 In politics Mr. English is a stalwart Republican 
 and has always supported the principles of that 
 party. lie is a charter member of the Grange and 
 has been President, Vice-President and Marshal 
 of the Ionia District Agricultural Society. He and 
 his good wife are both active supporters of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and for two years 
 Mrs. English was the Superintendent of their Sun- 
 day-school. Their union has been blessed with only 
 one child. Myrtle M., born November 26, 1871. 
 Many years ago a young girl, Mary Acker, came to 
 their home on foot and alone; she was fourteen 
 years old and had started out to make her own 
 way in the world and hearing of our subject and 
 his wife came to them. They took her in and cared 
 for her, giving her a home and instruction, and 
 training her in domestic duties. She grew to be a 
 dutiful and useful member of their household, and 
 proved trustworthy in every way. She resided 
 with them twenty-three years until her marriage 
 with Isaac Clough, with whom she now lives in 
 Verraontville, Eaton County, this State. Mr. and 
 Mrs. English are well known tliroughout the whole 
 county and are held in the highest esteem by all. 
 
 ^ILLIAM H. COE. To any one desirous 
 of hearing pioneer experiences from one 
 who has taken part in them, a conversation 
 with the gentleman above named would prove 
 entertaining and instructive. He has passed the 
 greater part of his life on the frontier and even 
 
 after coming to Ionia County in 1862 he did the 
 work of one who was opening the way for civili- 
 zation. He located on section 8, Sebewa Township, 
 in a dense woodland at a considerable distance from 
 neighbors. The strokes of his ax rang out on the 
 clear air as he felled the trees on his forty-acre 
 tract and the hum of busy industry increased 
 month bj' month as the place was gradually brought 
 to a fine state of improvement and cultivation. Mr. 
 Coe subsequently added eighty acres to his estate, 
 but this, however, has been divided among his 
 children. 
 
 Mr. Coe comes of the old Connecticut stock, his 
 parents, MUcs and Betsey (Cada) Coe, having been 
 born in that State, but reared in Vermont, whither 
 both ancestral families removed early in the pres- 
 ent century. Miles Coe was a lad of eleven years 
 when he went to the Green Mountain State, in 
 which he made his home until 1835. He then 
 started west with his family and reaching Lake 
 County, Ohio, spent the winter there, and in the 
 spring continued on his way to Steuben County, 
 Ind., where he lived almost to the close of his life. 
 His death took place in Ligonier, Noble County, in 
 1866. His wife, the mother of our subject, had 
 passed away in April, 1827, when her youngest 
 child was but three years old. The names of her 
 sons and daughters are Harvey, Orra, Lois.Abner, 
 Edward, Mary and William H. The second wife 
 of Miles Coe bore him two-children — Nubia and 
 Miles. Of the entire family five survive and two 
 are residents of this State. 
 
 Abner Coe, grandfather of William 11., enlisted 
 in the Colonial army when quite young and served 
 to the close of the war, fighting under Gen. Wash- 
 ington and being one of the number present at the 
 surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. He livcil 
 many years afterward and during his latter days 
 drew a pension. His younger brother, Oliver Coe, 
 was in Hammer's defeat in the Indian War in the 
 Iloosier State, and died in (Jhio many years later. 
 The wife of Abner Coe was a daughter of Col. 
 Ledyard, the commander of Ft. Griswold, which 
 was captured by Arnold the traitor after an heroic 
 defense. When the Colonel handed his sword to 
 the conqueror the latter asked who commanded the 
 fort and received the reply, "I did once;" Arnold 
 
fORTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 593 
 
 answered with an oath "You don't now," and ran 
 his sword ihrougli the Colonel, following up this 
 l):isu murder hy the massacre of sixty of the sur- 
 rendered garrison. 
 
 The subject of this biographical sketch was burn 
 in Newark, Caledonia County, Vt., July 22, 182L 
 He was eleven years old when he accompanied his 
 [)arents to Indiana and there remained until he was 
 twenty when ho went to his native State, sojourning 
 a year. He made the entire trii) on foot, traveling 
 about half the distance, three hundred and fifty miles 
 with a drove of cattle which he then disposed of. 
 Upon his return to Indiana he farmed and worked at 
 the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which he learned 
 at the age of twcnt^-fivc years. His removal to 
 this .State has been already noted and the work that 
 he has done here. His life has been an active one, 
 although he has been in poor health much of the 
 time. His educational advantages were meager, 
 but he obtained a foundation uiton which he has 
 built a superstructure by continual reading, his- 
 tory being his chief delight. He not only peruses 
 newspapers l)ut roads nviiiy books and has a mind 
 well storeil with information. 
 
 Mr. Coe was married to Miss Mary John, daugh- 
 tor of Elcazur and Eleanor (Close) John, February 
 1!), 1857. The bride's parents were pioneers of 
 Richland County, Ohio, where she was born May 
 29, 182G. Her name is second on the family roll, 
 the others being Thomas, Philip, Elizabeth and 
 Oavid. Four of the household band became resi- 
 dents of Michigan and all are yet living except 
 Thomas. Jlrs. Coe remained in her native county 
 until she was twenty-seven years old, when she 
 came to this State, making her home with her 
 brother Philip and sister Elizabeth until her mar- 
 ri.age. To her five children have been born whose 
 record is as follows: Alfred H., born M.ay 8, 1858, 
 is with his parents; Judson E., born December 11, 
 1859, married Marietta Snyder and lives in-Ojange, 
 Ionia Count}'; Alden J., born April 27, 18C2, mar- 
 ried Abbie Parker and has one child — Gleini; 
 Oeorgc C, born April 5, 18C1, married Elizabeth 
 Smith anil has one cliihl — Lcona May; Elizabeth, 
 born August 26, 18G6, is still at home. 
 
 For man}" years Mr. Coe has boon Pathmaster 
 and much of the time he has been School A.ssessor 
 
 or Moderator. Fully realizing the value of a good 
 education he has always been much interested in 
 school matters and earnest in working for good 
 results. At general elections he votes the Demo- 
 cratic ticket, but when local ofliccs are to be filled 
 he decides in favor of the man best qualified. He and 
 his wife and several of their children belong to the 
 Presbyterian Church in Sebewa, of which he is 
 Deacon and his son Judson an Elder. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Coe possess the hospitable s|)irit of the typical pio- 
 neers and the hungry are never turned from their 
 door unfed. Mrs. Coe is a notable housewife, with 
 a thorough knowledge of what constitutes good 
 cheer for the inner man. The many good traits in 
 the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Coe are ajipreciatod 
 by their acquaintances, and their friends are many 
 and tru-j. 
 
 --^ -#>^ V- 
 
 I I^ILLIAM DALLAS PLACE. 
 \^K '•■ ""'ly seem there are people 
 W^ think book knowledge a bene 
 
 Strange as 
 le who do not 
 benefit to farmers. 
 To such, a visit to the home of Mr. Place, near the 
 city of Ionia, would be a surprise, as they would 
 find this gentleman to be one of tlic most practical 
 of farmers, as well as a man of liberal education, 
 and would sec that he uses the theoretical knowl- 
 edge gained in the schools to such gooil purjjose 
 that he is prosperous in a high degree. He now 
 owns and operates five hundred acres, from which 
 he has secured some of the largest crops harvesteil 
 in Ionia County. 
 
 John Porter Place, father of our subject, was 
 born in Oswego, N. Y., whence he came West in 
 the year 1835. After erecting a sawmill near the 
 present site of the couiity seat and opening up an 
 Indian trading station, he announced to Daniel 
 Moore that he was going back to New York for a 
 wife. Moore asked, "What is wrong about my 
 going for the same purpose.?" So it was agree.l 
 that they .should go together, allhough Mr. Pine 
 had already nearly finished his courting and Mr. 
 Moore had not begun. The latter was not long in 
 finding a young lady to share his destinies and 
 after a double wedding foi»r li;ippy-hcarted people 
 
594 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 started for the Western wilds. They drove from 
 Oswego to Detroit with a four-horse carriage owned 
 by Mr. Place, who sold one team in Detroit for 
 $600. a large price for those days. Mr. Place car- 
 ried on business at the Indian trading post, and 
 having built the first mill in Ionia he subsequently 
 put up the first one in Muskegon. He was Sheriff 
 when all the western part of Michigan was em- 
 braced in one codnly, and held various other public 
 positions. The date of his decease was December 
 15, 1865. His true-hearted wife, whose maiden 
 name was Laura Blake, survived until April 17, 
 1887. Their children wei-e eight in number, four 
 living to maturity, but the only present survivor 
 is our subject. 
 
 The gentleman of whom we write was born Sep- 
 tember 25, 1847, in a house built by his father 
 before his marriage, and the two front rooms of 
 which he used as an office. Around this old home- 
 stead cluster all the .associations of his boyhood 
 and youth and also of his later years, as he is now 
 occupying it. After liis preliminary course of 
 stud}' he attended the Agricultural College at Lan- 
 sing, and was graduated from that institution in 
 1868. When but seventeen years old he began 
 teacliing and for fourteen 3'ears he followed the 
 profession during the winter seasons. In 1870 he 
 was Principal of tiie Lyons school. As a peda- 
 gogue he was efficient in imparting instruction and 
 judicious indiscipline. In 1869 he began the study 
 of law in tlic office of Dodge & Thomas, but owing 
 to the illness and death of a brother and also a 
 sister, was compelled to abandon his project and 
 return to the farm which was left to his care, and 
 he has continued his work thereon, adding to the 
 extent of his operations by purchasing two hun- 
 dred and fifty acres adjoining soon after assuming 
 control, and other tracts more recenti}'. The first 
 year he harvested fourteen hundred bushels of 
 wlieat. He still raises that cereal, but he is also 
 engaged in the dairy business. 
 
 On the farm of Mr. Place has been platted what 
 u known as the Highland Park Cemetery. A tract 
 of one hundred acres is set aside for the grounds 
 and thirty are already laid out, graded and adorned. 
 It is beautifulij' located and the love of Mr. Place 
 for the seathetic is evidenced in the work he has 
 
 done here. The cemetery is his especial pride and 
 his office is a model and like its occupant, always 
 cheerful. 
 
 Mr. Place was made Township Clerk immediately 
 after attaining to his majority and was retained in 
 the office fourteen years. In 1885 he was elected 
 Supervisor and in 1888 County Clerk, and to the 
 latter office he was re-elected in 1890. As an offi- 
 cial he is not only painstaking in the discharge of 
 the duties pertaining to his station, but is affable 
 and courteous toward all with whom he is brought 
 in contact. Politically he is a Republican. He is 
 interested in the social orders and holds member- 
 ship in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
 Knights of Pythias and Patrons of Inckistr}'. 
 
 "if^rRANK HOPPOl'GH. Among the young 
 
 III /// a J b 
 
 l^tej-j farmers of Ionia County Mr. Hoppough 
 /1\) has good standing as one who is energetic 
 
 in the pursuit of !jis vocation and honorable in all 
 business matters connected therewith. His home 
 is on section 23, Orleans Township, where he has 
 one hundred and twenty acres of land, ninety-five 
 of which are under cultivation. He gives his at- 
 tention to general farming and stock-raising, and 
 has a well regulated estate, to the improvements 
 upon which he has added a substantial house and 
 barn. 
 
 The birthplace of Mr. Hoppough was Ontario 
 Countj', N. Y., and the date of his arrival upon the 
 stage of human events, April 30, 1850. His par- 
 ents. Decker and Lydia (Noble) Hoppough, are 
 represented elsewhere in this Aluum. He remained 
 with them until he was of age, then began working 
 on a farm by the month, and has ahvaj's followed 
 the vocation which he adopted in youth. He was 
 but twelve \ears old when he came to this State 
 and he resided in Otisco Township until 1876, 
 when he removed to his present location. 
 
 In Greenville, Montcalm Count}', April 22, 1874, 
 Mr. Hoppough was united in marriage with Miss 
 Jennie Howell. This intelligent and energetic 
 lady is a daughter of Uriah and Linda (Vanhoosen) 
 Howell, and her parents were born in New York 
 
\ 
 
 <S^/^<^, 
 
 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 597 
 
 and Canada respectively. Mr. IIowcll came to 
 Oakland County, Ibis State, when a boy. lie works 
 at the trade of a wagon-maker. He has but two 
 children — .lenny, now Mrs. lioppough, and Ada. 
 Our subject and his wife are the happy parents of 
 two sons — Lee and Guy. 
 
 As Highway Commissioner Mr. IIo|)pough has 
 been doing well for the traveling public during 
 two terms of service. His political alliliation is 
 with the Democratic party, and he is interested in 
 the prosperity- of the Patrons of Industry, in which 
 he holds mcmbersliip. A reliable citizen, indus- 
 trious farmer and intelligent man, he is well 
 spoken of !)}• those among whom his lot is cast. 
 
 <S^DWAUD S. BELLAMY. Tl 
 )fe] the o|)posite page represents 
 !\ — ^ citizen of Ionia County, who 
 
 le portrait on 
 resents an honored 
 yl' — ^ citizen of Ionia County, who entered into 
 rest February 5, 1891. A representative pioneer 
 of the (irand River \'alley, he was formerly prom- 
 inent in the affairs of Easton Township, and was 
 well known as a man of great public spirit, especially 
 interested in the development of the community 
 where for so many years he resided. Few of those 
 who were influential in business affairs when he 
 came to the county in the fall of 1851 are now resi- 
 dents here. Man^- rest in the adjacent cemeteries, 
 while here and there in other cities and States ma3' 
 occasionally be found one of the number. A gen- 
 eration of active men and women of the Ionia 
 County of those days has passed away, and new 
 faces and new interests have taken their places. 
 
 None occupied a more conspicuous place in the 
 affairs of Easton Township tlian Mr. Bellamy; for 
 the death of none were more words of sympathy 
 expressed. He did well his part in whatever (Ut- 
 partment of labor he was placed. His sympathetic 
 heart and pocket-book were ever open to the 
 lightening of others burdens. He gave freely as 
 he had been pros|>ored, and although he has now 
 forever passed from the scenes with which he was 
 so closely identified, his name is remembered with 
 affection and his memory revered among the pio- 
 neers of the county. 
 
 Mr. Bellamy traced his anceslry to worthy 
 
 patriots of Colonial days. His great-grandfather, 
 and his grandfather, Justus Bellamy, were soldiers 
 in the Revolutionary' War, and participated in sev- 
 eral of the battles in New Englaixl and the middle 
 Colonies. Aaron Bellamy, the father of our sub- 
 ject, owned a vessel which was employed by the 
 Government on Lake Champlain during llie War 
 of 1812, and was lost in the struggle, proving 
 a total loss to the owner, as from some cause the 
 Government neglected to pay him. Edward .S., of 
 this sketch, was born in Vermont, March 6, 1813, 
 and was a son of Aaron and Rilla (Stowell) Bell- 
 amy, of Welsh descent. When a young man he 
 went with an older brother to Ontario, ('anada, anil 
 there made his home. 
 
 On M.irch 1.5, 1837, Mr. Bellamy was united in 
 marriage with Armena Brown, who was born in 
 Ontario, Canada, September 28, 181 1. She was the 
 daughter of Nathan and Susannah (Wilbur) Brown, 
 both of New York State, whence the}' removed to 
 Canada in 1800. Her brother Luther was a soldier 
 in the War of 1812, in which conflict her father 
 also served. Her grandfather Brown serveil as an 
 ollicer in the American arm}' under Washington's 
 command. Of the union of our suhjcct an<l his 
 estimable wife eight children were boi-n. of whom 
 four survive, namely : Nathan E., Alice E.; Nancy 
 A., (Mrs. Horace Rowley) and Frances A. The 
 four who were called aw.ay from life were Henry 
 IL, Joel A., F'ranklin and Lucius. 
 
 Mr. r.ellamy was a miller by trade and followeil 
 that business exclusively in his younger days. Not 
 long after his marriage he emigrated to Akron, 
 Ohio, and from there went to Seneca County, the 
 same State, where he resided several years. From 
 Ohio he emigrated to Kent Count}', Mich., and re- 
 mained there until the fall of 1854. He then came 
 to Ionia County, and settled on section 27, Easton 
 Township, where he lived until his death. He 
 built one of the first mills at (irattan, Mich., and 
 also what is known as the Bellamy gristmill on his 
 farm in Easton Township. This was the first grist- 
 mill in Easton Township, and was operated by him 
 for many years; it is now in charge of his son 
 Nathan E. He operated a sawmill here a number 
 of 3'ears in connection with the gristmill. 
 
 In the death of Mr. Bellamy the county lost one 
 
598 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of her best citizens and most public spirited men. 
 He left- a valuable estate of one hundred and 
 twenty aces of land to his family, this being tiie 
 product of his life labor and a standing monument 
 to his industry, perseverance and good manage- 
 ment. In religion he was a Si)iritualist; politically 
 he voted for the best man irrespective of party, and 
 was a man that was firm in his convictions of what 
 he thought was right. He was formerly a member 
 of the Grange. His widow resides with her chil- 
 dren on the old homestead, and enjoys the esteem 
 of the whole community. 
 
 Nathan E. Bellamy, son of our subject, was born 
 Janunry 25, 1842. He was a mere boy when he 
 came here with his parents and here he was reared 
 to manliood and educated in the district schools of 
 the township. He is a man of excellent judgment, 
 possessing a good store of information and decpls' 
 interested in the progress of the township. Politi- 
 cally, he was formerly a Republican having cast his 
 first vote for Abraham Lincoln, but is now a Dem- 
 ocrat. Another son, Henry H. was a soldier in the 
 Civil War, enlisting October 2, 1861 in the First 
 Regiment of Engineers and Mechanics, in Company 
 E. He served some eight months and was killed in 
 Alabama, being picked off, as is supposed, by a 
 guerrilla sharp-shooter. Nathan E. Bellamy is 
 classed among the intelligent, enterprising and 
 public spirited citizens of Easton Township and is 
 meeting with good success financially. 
 
 \^sHILIP DUTT. Ionia County is the homo 
 
 Jl) of a large number of agriculturists who 
 
 f^ have been successful in a financial sense and 
 
 J \ have gained that which is better than silver 
 or gold — the genuine respect of all with whom 
 they Iiave had dealings. Among those who have 
 become prominent in Keene Township is Philip 
 Dutt, a farmer and stock-raiser living on section 
 29. He is a native of Northampton County, Pa., 
 born July 11, 1829, and his parents were John and 
 Sarali (Schoch) Dutt, both of German lineage. He 
 is the eldest in the parental family. He pursued liis 
 studies in the district schools until he was fourteen 
 
 years old, when his father died and lie was thrown 
 upon his own resources for a livelihood. He re- 
 mained in his native county working at what he 
 could find to do and spending as much time as he 
 could in school. 
 
 When he was eighteen years old Mr. Dutt began 
 an apprenticeship to a cabinet maker whom he 
 served for three and a half years, subsequently 
 following the trade several years. In 1855 he came 
 to this State and established himself in Grandville, 
 Kent County, in which town he worked as a car- 
 l)enter and millwright a score of years. In the 
 fall of 1877 he removed to the farm he is now occu- 
 pying. The tract consists of eighty acres under 
 good cultivation and supplied with such farm 
 buildings as are usually to be seen upon the prop- 
 erty of prosperous and intelligent men. The 
 dwelling is of pleasing architectural design, is sub- 
 stantial and commodious, and the hos|)itality of 
 which it is the center is well known for miles 
 around. 
 
 The lady who so ably presides over the fine lesi- 
 dence became tlie wife of Mr. Dutt March 1, 1851, 
 the marriage ceremony being performed at her 
 liome in Pennsylvania. She bore the maiden name 
 of Maria Kiefer and her parents were John and 
 Margaret (Best) Kiefer, natives of the Keystone 
 State and of German extraction. Her paternal 
 grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. She has 
 three brothers and a sister living: Jacob, John, 
 Charles and Sarah, wife of Alfred Snyder. Her 
 parents were members of the German Reformed 
 Church, and their children were instructed in good 
 principles and useful habits. Mr. and Mrs. Dutt 
 are the parents of five children, named respectively : 
 Emma, Iva, Andrew W., George and Fred. Emma 
 is the wife of Byron Phillips and Iva of Fred 
 Loucks. 
 
 Mr. Dutt was clerk of Wyoming Township, Kent 
 County, three years, and has been Township Treas- 
 urer for an equal length of time since he came to 
 Ionia County. He is possessed of genuine public 
 spirit, sound integrity, and a desire for the best in- 
 terests of his famil3', as is shown in the good edu- 
 cation he has given to his children. That he has 
 been industrious and economical is proved by his 
 having accumulated a good property without hav- 
 
rORTRAlT AND lilOGKAPIIlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 599 
 
 I 
 
 ing had any one to start him in life. He and bis 
 wife belong to the Metliodist Episcopal Chureli 
 and arc honored and active menihcrs of societj', 
 and their children are succcedinij well in life. 
 
 ILLIAM iM. WEMT, M. D.. occupies a 
 ■^;i: prominent place among the medical ()rac- 
 '^^^J titioners of Montcalm Count}' and is liie 
 beloved physician in many a household wiiere his 
 presence has brought healing or his sym[>athy given 
 consolation in time of sorrow. He is by nature 
 and education w?ll fitted to adorn the profession 
 he has chosen, having good judgment, wiiat is called 
 a cool head, and being prepared for his work bj' 
 study in tlie best schools. Altliough he has been 
 located at Edmore only since the fall of 1889, he 
 has a large practice, so that his time and strengtii 
 is taxed to the full, and he has only limited oppor- 
 tunities for currying on tlie stud}' iu wiiich lie l:ii<es 
 delight. 
 
 Dr. Wemp combines in his veins the blood of 
 two distinguished nationalities, the German and the 
 Scotch. His paternal ancestors were originally 
 from Germany, but the New World has been their 
 liome for several generations. His grandfather, 
 Michael Wemp, was born in New York and adopted 
 the occupation of farming. He located on Amherst 
 Isle, near Kingston, Ont., and there his son IJarna- 
 biis, father of our subject, was born and reared. 
 In 1870 the latter removed to County Kent and 
 bought wild land which he improved, and culti- 
 vated for some time. He then retired to Chatham, 
 where he still resides. He held tlie position of 
 Councilman and belonged to the conservative [larty. 
 He is an active member in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and a Class-Leader in the congregatit)n 
 with which he is connected. 
 
 The wife of Barnabas Wemi) l)ore the maiden 
 name of Janet Scott and was born at Gallishoals, 
 Scotland, near Edinburgh. She is a daughter of 
 William Scott who emigrated from his native land 
 to Canada and made a settlement in Glengarry. 
 There he improved a tract of land and gainetl a 
 standing amonir the well-to-do men of the vicinity. 
 
 He was a stanch member of the Presbyterian 
 Church. His daughter Janet was married in Can- 
 ada and became the mother of eight children, the 
 oldest of whom is the subject of this biographical 
 notice. She is still living and is now sixty years 
 old. 
 
 Dr. Wemp was liorn on Amherst Isle, April 12, 
 1847, and passed his boyhood in sporting on Lake 
 Ontario and pursuing such studies and farm labors 
 as comported with his strength and age. He had 
 entered his teens wiien his parents removed to the 
 neighborhood of Chatham, and there he had better 
 educational privileges than the district school of 
 his native isle afforded. He finished his course of 
 study in the Ciiatham High School and laid the 
 foundation for the scientific knowledge he afterward 
 acquired. When he became of .age he began an 
 apprenticeship to a druggist in Challiam, Edwin 
 C. Rolls, and devoted three years and a half to the 
 thorough mastering of pharmacy. He then took 
 charge of a drug store in Wliitbj' which be con- 
 ducted several years. 
 
 In 1880 Dr. Wemp opened a drug store in De- 
 troit. Mich., and during the three 3'ears in which 
 he ('arried it on he stutlied medicine under Dr. D. 
 .McLeod. He next sold the establishment and en- 
 tered the Detroit Meilical College, where he sjient 
 three years in careful and thorough study, after 
 which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor 
 of Medicine. Not content with the knowledge he 
 liad gained, the newly fledged physician went to 
 New York Cil}- and took a polyclinical post-gradu- 
 ate course, making a specialty of diseases of the 
 eye, ear and throat. At the conclusion of the 
 course he went to Spokane Falls, Wash., and opened 
 an otfice. He practiced as oculist, aurist and 
 laryngologist for more than a twelvemonth, 
 and then removed to Salem, Ore., where he car- 
 ried on regular practice. On account of the health 
 <>f his wife he returned to Detroit and after sojourn- 
 ing in that city a year he located at Edmore as 
 successor to Dr. L. A. Roller. 
 
 The estimable lady who has charge of the house- 
 hold economy in the clwellingof Dr. Wemp became 
 his wife in Kingston, Ont., in 1873. .She was known 
 in her maidenhor)d as Miss Margaret l>rown and was 
 born on Amherst Isle, at the foot of Luke Ontario. 
 
600 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 The happy union has been blessed by the birth of 
 three children— Edith M., Clara L., and Ernest E. 
 Notwiliistanding the demands upon his time by liis 
 large practice, Dr. Wemp shows an interest in var- 
 ious ."iffairs which the citizens of Edmore project, 
 and he is considered public spirited, as well as hon- 
 orable in the various relations of life and thor- 
 oughly upright in character. He is identified with 
 the Masonic Lodge in Edmore and one of the An- 
 cient Order of United Workmen in Detroit. In 
 politics he is a Democrat and his religious home is 
 in tiie Methodist Episcoiial Church. He has served 
 as Health Olficer of Edmore and is a member of tlie 
 Union Medical Associalion. 
 
 jiRANK W. CLAUK. Tiie village of Lake 
 Odessa, Ionia County, affords a field for the 
 exercise of business ability in all the im- 
 portant branches of commercial life. The subject 
 of this biographical notice is engaged in the sale of 
 general merchandise there an.l has also other inter- 
 ests which add to the well-being of the place. He 
 has lived in Odessa Township since infancy and has 
 witnessed much of its growth, and in his connec- 
 tion with its prosperity has become known to 
 every man within its bounds. Looking back to the 
 period of his earliest recollections, he sees a wild 
 tract with here and there a clearing and some rude 
 buildings. Gazing around him now he sees fertile 
 farms, comfortable dwellings and substantial farm 
 buildings, with the land crossed by good roads and 
 l)y iron rails, and villages here and there, in place 
 of the dense forest of former years. 
 
 The birthplace of Mr. Clark was Hancock County, 
 Ohio, and his natal day July 12, 1853. His fatlier, 
 Andrew J. Clark, is a native of New York and is 
 of English descent. His mother, Mary A. (Spit- 
 ler) Clark, was born in Vermont and traces her 
 lineao'e back to Germany. Mr. Clark farmed in 
 Ohio until 1852, when he came to Ionia County 
 and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land 
 on section 23, Odessa Township. He worked upon 
 this in the summer and returned to his home in the 
 winter for two years, after which he brought his 
 
 family hither. He had cleared a small tract and 
 put up a log house in which the\' took shelter 
 while he continued his work. Prior to 1880 he 
 had thoroughly improved the property and had 
 added to it one hundred and sixty acres. That 
 year he sold out and went to Brown County, S. 
 Dak., where he is now engaged in farming and 
 stock-raising. Wliile in this Slate he made a spec- 
 ialty of breeding fine horses and kept good stock 
 of all kinds. 
 
 The parental fauul}' includes David L.,a farmer 
 in Brown County, S. Dak.; Frank W.; 8elh E. who 
 is farming in Brown County, S. Oak.; George W. 
 who occupies a part of the homestead in 0<lessa 
 Township, and Sarah A., wife of Clark D. Roberts, 
 living in Dakota. The father served in several 
 township offices in Ionia County, throughout whose 
 extent he was well known and highly' respected. 
 Politically, he is a Republican. He and his wife 
 belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Our subject was in his second year when brought 
 to this State. His early education was received in 
 the district school and he subsequently attendetJ 
 college at Leoni, Jackson County, three terms and 
 a select school at Woodland two terms. He then 
 devoted the summer months to aiding his father in 
 the farm work and the winters to school-teaching, 
 beginning to act as a pedagogue when eighteen years 
 old and continuing his professional work five j-ears. 
 When of age he clerked in a store in Ionia a short 
 time, then entered into partnership with S. O. Hos- 
 ford and bought a stock of goods at Bonanza. Six 
 months later Mr. Hosford retired from the firm 
 and not long after Mr. Clark sold out the estab- 
 lishment. He then took charge of his farm, which 
 he has continued to manage, although he has not 
 given it his entire time. 
 
 In addition to his mercantile establishment in 
 Lake Odessa, where a thriving business is carried 
 on, he is a member of the firm of Robinson & 
 Clark, lumber dealers, who carry all kinds of lum- 
 ber and have a i)laning-mill in connection with the 
 yard. This firm was instituted in November, 1889, 
 and bought out King, Quick & King. Mr. Clark 
 has also a half-interest in a brick and tile factory 
 at Sunfield,and through his influence a woolen mill 
 is being erected in Lake Odessa. He will own the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 601 
 
 building, while other parties will jml in machinery 
 for the manufacture of all kinds of woolen goods. 
 Mr. Clark has vill.ige property and one hundred 
 and si.Kty acres of improved land in Brown C')unty, 
 S. Dak. 
 
 Mr. Clark has a pleasant home hrightcned by 
 the prGScnce of four children — Florence, Zella, Josie 
 and Greta. It is presided over by a lad)' who was 
 known in her maidenhood as Miss Ann Tnpperand 
 who became Mrs. Clark April 18, 1873. She is a 
 highly respected lady, intelligent, kind and capable. 
 Mr. Clark is full of vim and enterprise and lias 
 done much toward the advancement of the town in 
 which ho lives. lie has borne his part in the civic 
 affairs of the township, having been Deputy Sheriff 
 six 3'ears, Justice of the Peace four years, and is 
 now President of the village of Lake Odessa. He 
 was Postmaster at Bonanza several }"ears. Socially 
 he is a Mason, politically n Republican. His tej)- 
 utation as a business man, member of society and 
 citizen is excellent, and bis friends are many. 
 
 \lf% ARMENIO LONG. This gentleman is one 
 \\ ))) of the number who settled in Montcalm 
 I ^ County when it was but slightly opened up 
 I I, for cultivation and endured many of the 
 trials that are the lot of all who take up pioneer 
 work. He secured a tract of land in Crystal Town- 
 ship in the year 1853 and permanently located 
 upon it three years later. He built a log cabin and 
 during the first year cleared about eight acres, on 
 which he sowed grain. He did all hit trading in 
 Ionia and made the shingles for W. W. Mitchell's 
 house there from timber cut on his land. He has 
 two hundred acres of land, most of which w.as 
 cleared by himself, and sixty-five acres of woods 
 and pasture. The rude log cabin has been sup- 
 planted by a more attractive dwelling, and farm 
 buildings of various kinds are conrenlentlj' dis- 
 posed near it. Mr. Long is now fitting up a new 
 barn. 
 
 In Genesee County, N. Y., March 7, 1825, the 
 eyes of Paruienio Long opened to the light. His 
 
 parents were James J. and Serepta (Huntley) Long, 
 natives of Hebron, N. Y. and Vermont, respec- 
 tively. They removed to the State of Ohio, lived 
 there a year, and then came to Michigan when our 
 subject was but twelve j'cars old. The family 
 sojourned in Monroe County one year, then went 
 to Washtenaw County and resided near Ypsllanli 
 about fourteen years. The father then removed 
 to Livingston County, where he breathed his last. 
 Our subject then had charge of the family, which 
 included a brf>ther and sister that were quite small. 
 His widowed mother is still living with him, and Is 
 now ejghly-seven years old, having been born in 
 1804. 
 
 The educational opportunities afforded Mr. Long 
 in his youth were very limited, as his father was a 
 poor man and could spare his son only in the win- 
 ter months. He learned that which is better than 
 book knowledge — practical Ideas regarding the 
 duties of man and the means of gaining a main- 
 tenance. He has at all times sympathized in the 
 efforts of those who desired to unprovc their con- 
 dition and add to their mental culture, and is 
 counted upon to ailvance the interests of the cause 
 of education and other elevating projects .as much 
 as possible. He has lichl the school oflices and is 
 scarcel}' ever without some official work to do. 
 He has also been Justice of the Peace and Hlghwa\' 
 Commissioner. In politics he is a Democrat. Ills 
 religious home is in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in Vickery ville. 
 
 In Adrian, Lenawee County, December 12, 18G0, 
 Mr. Long was married to Miss Electa Gambv, an 
 estimable lady who shared his fortunes but a sliort 
 time, being called hence November 1, 1863. .She 
 left one child — James W., who was born January 
 31, 1862. A second matrimonial alliance was 
 made by Mr. Long July 7, 1867, when he was 
 united to Mrs. Anna E. Trim, of Buslinell, Mont- 
 calm County. To this union have been born six 
 children, namely : Ada E.. August 20, 18C8; Charles 
 N., December 7,1870; Carrie E.. December 4, 1872; 
 Ida E., July 16, 1875; Orle I., J.anuary 25, 1879; 
 and Onie E., November 5. 1880. The last named 
 died March 3, 1882. J.anies, the son of the first 
 wife, married Nettie Smith of Lake View and is 
 farming in Montcalm County. 
 
602 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 The present, Mrs. Long is a daughter of Charles 
 K. Mitchell, a native of New Hampshire, but for 
 some years prior to his decease a resident of Mont- 
 calm County. Her first husband was Levi Trim, to 
 whom she bore four children — Richard L., born 
 January 25, 1857; Ursula E., September 30, 1858; 
 Parmi E., August 23, 1860; and Orlando M., No- 
 vember 26, 1862. 
 
 \f/OHN CLARK TAYLOR. It is conceded 
 to be one of the most difficult things known 
 to the business world to establish a local 
 paper upon a paying basis; and to keep 
 such a sheet up to par requires fully as much 
 energy, patience and perseverance as was needed 
 in its establishment. The country editor is ex- 
 pected to send forth a sheet that will compare fav- 
 orably with the dailies of the great cities, yet he 
 enjoys none of the advantages possessed by their 
 editors. It is therefore high praise to say that the 
 weekly and <laily Sta>idard of Ionia is being 
 successfull3' pushed, and that Mr. Taylor is con- 
 sidered one of the best newspaper men in Ionia 
 County. 
 
 Mr. Taylor comes of old New Eugland stock and 
 is a son of Sylvester and Catherine (Colton) Ta3'- 
 lor, who for a number of years lived on the West- 
 ern Reserve in Ohio. The son of whom we write 
 was born in Portage County, that State, July 1, 
 1840. He had but a common-school education, 
 but by constant reading and a[)plication has become 
 a well-informed man. In the fall of 1862 he en- 
 listed in the Twenty-Iirst Michigan Infantry, which 
 was being organized, and left the .State with his 
 comrades September 12. He was at the front 
 until the close of the war and returned with tlie 
 regiment in June, 1865. The story of a soldier's 
 life is an oft-told tale, and there are few whose 
 imaginations cannot picture the scenes in whicli 
 Mr. Taylor bore a part. The fact that he was pro- 
 moted from the rank of Sergeant to that of Cap- 
 tain is evidence of his careful discharge of duties 
 and his bravery under trying circumstances. 
 Prominent among the battles in which he took part 
 were Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, the 
 
 sieges of Chattanooga and Savannah, and Averys- 
 boro and Bentouville. 
 
 On iiis return from the South Mr. Taylor, in 
 company with a war comrade, Maj. T. G. Steven- 
 son, started the Ionia Sentinel^ which they pub- 
 lished many years. He served as Clerk of the 
 State House of Correction three and a half years, 
 and was the first Clerk and Steward for the Michi- 
 gan Asylum for Insane Criminals, resigning Feb- 
 ruary 1, 1888, to enter business. In 1889 he 
 became associated in the ownership and manage- 
 ment of the weekly Express and evening Press, 
 but sold his interest in those newspapers in Janu- 
 ary, 1891. At that time he became Secretary and 
 Treasurer of the Standard Publishing Company', 
 whicii owns tiie plant of the weekly and daily 
 /Standard and carries on its publication. 
 
 Miss Mary Taylor, eldest daughter of C. R. Tay- 
 lor, of Ionia, became the wife of our subject in 
 October, 1867. They have had born to them seven 
 children. The citizens of Ionia are provided with 
 a live newspaper througii the efforts of Mr. Taylor, 
 who stands high in the estimation of the commu- 
 nity and is deserving of their commendation. 
 Politically Mr. Taylor wasoriginall3- a Republican, 
 but in accordance with his views on economic ques- 
 tions and their rising importance as political issues, 
 has become a Democrat. 
 
 RIGIIAM BARNES. For more than a score 
 f^ of 3ears this gentleman has been connected 
 with the affairs of Howard Cit3', Montcalm 
 Count3% acting well his part in the business 
 transactions in whicli he has a hand and in the 
 public enterprises that will increase the prosp?rit3' 
 of the town and surrounding country. He located 
 here in 1869 and engaged in farming and lumber- 
 ing, and for considerably more thnu a decade he 
 was solely interested here. Then for a time he had 
 interests elsewhere, but never changed his place of 
 residence and finall3' disposed of other propert3' 
 and devoted himself again to this region alone. 
 He has a One farm on section 4, Re3'nolds Town- 
 ship, with man3- and varied improvements. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 603 
 
 Mr. Barnes is a native of Hard wick, Mass., where 
 he was born December 28, 18.35. He is one of 
 twelve children coniijrising the famil}' of Jonas 
 and OUean (Fry) Barnes, who were natives of the 
 Baj' State and occupants of a farm. The other 
 living members of the parental family are "Warren, 
 Willard, Harrison, Augustus, KIma, Henry, Kor- 
 cstcr, Kveliue and Clarelt, all residents of Massa- 
 chusetts. Eveline is the wife of Frank Keruth, 
 and Clarett of Willard Barnes, of Hardwick, and 
 the sons live in other towns not far removed from 
 their early home. 
 
 Brigham Barnes spent his boyhood in the cus- 
 tomar}' manner of alternation of farm work with 
 attendance at the common school until oM enough 
 to learn a trade when he took up that of a currier, 
 lie was filling his place among men as an industri- 
 ous workman when the Civil War began, and he 
 soon decided where his duty and pleasure lay. He 
 enlisted in July, 18C1, as a private in the Twenty- 
 first Massachusetts Infantry and was assigned to 
 Company K, and until December, 18G4, he was 
 serving as a valiant defender of the Union. He 
 was with the Burnside expedition along the Caro- 
 lina coast and his first battle was at Roanoke 
 Island. The next was Newborn, then I'ol lock's 
 Mills, then Elizabeth (really fought twenty-two 
 miles from that place), and he then went to Suffolk 
 to hel|) destroy the canal. 
 
 The forces of Gen. Burnside were then ordered 
 to join McClellan but after reaching Fortress Mon- 
 roe were changed to Pope's command and Mr. 
 liariies being absent on a foraging expedition was 
 left behind. He took passage on the "West Point" 
 then lying at Fredericksburg, to rejoin his com- 
 mand, but did not reach it without danger. The 
 boat was sunk and seventy-eight lives lost. Mr. 
 Barnes was i)icked up by the gunboat ''Reliance" 
 and landed at Alexandria, whence he made his way 
 to the cfimmand, reaching them near the mouth of 
 the Rapidun. From that point they fell back to 
 the mouth of the Rap[iahannock where a fight took 
 jilace Hiid ilicy had another engagement with the 
 rebel cavalry near Wairenton. 
 
 The n«'Xt place where Mr. Barnes was in a battle 
 was Whi'e Sulphur ."Springs, and the next Manassas 
 Junction, whence they were driven back, Stonewall 
 
 Jackson taking the place with many prisoners and 
 a large amount of supplies. The next engagement 
 of the Twenty-first was at the second battle of Bull 
 Run where they fought two days and whence they 
 went to Centerville and on to Chantilly, where the 
 brave Phil Kearney lost his life. During this en- 
 gagement the regiment lost two hundred and sev- 
 enty-two men and fourteen officers in a few minutes 
 and their retreat continued until they had crossed 
 the Potomac. South Mountain and Antietam fol- 
 lowed and Mr. Barnes was then taken to the hos- 
 pital, a victim of typhoid fever. He rejoined the 
 regiment in front of Fredericksburg, just in time 
 to take part in a battle. 
 
 Soon after that Gen. Hooker took command and 
 the force was sent to Newport News and went into 
 camp. When they broke up camp they went to 
 Mt. Sterling, Ky., where they fought with and 
 captured a band of guerrill.as and whence they went 
 to Lexington and then with a i)art of the force to 
 Jackson, afterward to Camp Nelson, and still later 
 to Knoxville. Their next battle was at Blue 
 Spring Gap, and not long after they were driven 
 from Loudon by the rebels and a running fight 
 was carried on several da^s until they were forced 
 into Kno.xville. After being besieged there some 
 time they passed up the valley and after re-enlisting 
 at IMaine's Cross Roads Mr. Barnes came North on a 
 furlough. He was left in Massachusetts recruiting 
 until May 1, 1861, when he went to the Capital and 
 was placed in temporary command of a battalion 
 of negroes, and w.as with them at the battle of 
 Cold Harbor. 
 
 After that engagement Mr. Barnes rejoined his 
 regiment, crosseil the James and fought in front of 
 Petersburg July 30, 1861. He was present when 
 the explosion of Ft. Hill took place and lost his 
 left arm, being at the time breaking his way 
 through the enemy's line. He was taken to the 
 hos))ital and discharged in December following, 
 glad that he had been of service to his country and 
 not begrudging his missing arm to the flag. He 
 engaged in the sale of meat in his native State, but 
 in 1868 removed to Michigan and located in Kala- 
 mazoo as a butcher. A year later he came to How- 
 ard City, which he has not ceased to regard as his 
 home. In 1883 he went to Dakota and there he 
 
604 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIC VL ALBUM. 
 
 farmed during the summers until 1890, returning 
 tiither eacli winter, but he then sold his Dakota 
 lands, tired of the frequent changes of habitation 
 and not willing to make a permanent Iiome in that 
 State. 
 
 The wife of Mr. Barnes bore tlie maiden name 
 of Catherine Ames and their marriage rites were 
 solemnized in Novemlier, 1867. Mr. Barnes is a 
 firm believer in Democratic principles of Govern- 
 mental policy and never fails to support caLdidates 
 of the partj'. He was Supervisor when he went to 
 Dakota and he resigned the place. He belongs to 
 tiie Grand Army of the Republic and is now pres- 
 ent Commander of tiie Post. Howard City has no 
 more pushing, enterprising citizen, and lie is re- 
 spected by oilier residents liere. 
 
 -^ €-*^ ^ 
 
 1 DWIN R. POWELL. Among newspaper 
 men of Central Michigan few if any names 
 are better known than that with which this 
 sketch is introduced. Mr. Powell is the oldest 
 printer, in point of years, in the State, and has 
 taken part in the discussions of ail tlie great ques- 
 tions that have agitated her people for half a cen- 
 tury. Since 1869 his home has been in Stanton, 
 where he was actively engaged in newspaper work 
 until 1882, wlien his son assumed control of the 
 paper he had been editing. Although he is now 
 threescore and ten years old, Mr. Powell is still in 
 the possession of the mental vigor which made him 
 so forcible and influential a writer in da3's past. 
 
 The parents of our subject were John and Caro- 
 line (Jaques) Powell, natives of Vermont and the 
 Province of Ontario respectively. They had four 
 children, Edwin being the eldest. He was born in 
 Livonia, N. Y., in 1820, and accompanied his par- 
 ents to this State when he was about ten years old. 
 In those earl}' days the territory was new and its 
 inhabitants were few indeed, except on the border. 
 When fifteen years old young Powell entered a 
 printing-office in Ann Arbor, where he remained 
 until 1846, and in the meantime worked at Pontiae, 
 Jackson, Ypsilanti and other points. He then re- 
 turned to Ann Arbor and spent four years working 
 
 on the onlj' Abolition paper then published in the 
 North. In 1846 he went to Howell and bought the 
 Livingston Courier, and published it for two years. 
 In 1848 he establislied the Ionia Gazette, the first 
 paper published in Ionia except the Ionia Journal 
 which was i)ul3lislied for a few months in 1843 and 
 then was discontinued. He carried it on eighteen 
 years and built up its influence until it led the 
 papers of Central Michigan. When Mr. Powell 
 disposed of his interest in that sheet he removed 
 to Stanton and purchased the Herald, which he 
 managed until it was taken control of by his son. 
 
 In 1848 the marriage of Mr. Powell and Miss 
 Lucy L. King was solemnized. To the happy 
 couple there came five children, four of whom are 
 living. The only son, Torrence, succeeded to the 
 business of his father and is now carrying on bis 
 work in Middleborough, Ky. Mr. Powell was a 
 Democrat until 1855, and since that time has been 
 a stanch Republican. It is a pleasure to converse 
 with him, as the place which he occupied for so 
 many years gave him a knowledge that falls to the 
 lot of few men regarding public afl'airs, public men, 
 and matters of general interest connected with the 
 earlier history of Central Michigan. 
 
 ENRY C. CLARK, who occupies a beautiful 
 fTD) f^""™ O" section 18, North Plains Township, 
 Ionia Count}-, was born June 6, 1841. in 
 5) Onondaga County, N. Y. He is the son of 
 a farmer Riifus Clark, a native of New York, and 
 of Polly (Hiscock) Clark, a native of the same 
 State. His father's father, Cliester Clark, was born 
 in Massachusetts. The parents of our subject came 
 to Michigan in 1862, and made their liorae in North 
 Plains Township, on section 18, wliere the father 
 died in June, 1876, and where the motlier still re- 
 sides. Of their seven children two daughters and 
 five sons, Henry C. is the eldest. 
 
 Upon reaching his majority, young Clark liegan 
 to work out by the month for himself. He had 
 worked in this way since he was fourteen years old, 
 but until he was twent}' one his father received his 
 wages and clothed him out of them. The first two 
 

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 607 
 
 j-ears of liis manhood he worked for from 112 to 
 ^14 per month. He came to Michigan in 18G3, 
 and worited on a farm in Nortii Phiins Township for 
 two years. He was married in Onon(higa County, 
 N. Y., to Ann Kelley, who was born in County 
 Kings, Irchtnd. She came to Michigan with her |)ar- 
 ents when a young girl of fourteen year.s. 
 
 Mr. Clark located in 1865 on the land where he 
 now resides. It was then heavy oak timber, and 
 there were no roads upon it, blazed trees marking 
 the pathways. lie has cleared off his own farm and 
 man}' another, an<l now has eighty acres in a fine 
 state of cultivation, and five acres in timber. No 
 children Iiave come to bless this home. Mr. Clark 
 always voted the Republican ticket until 1878, 
 since which time he lias given his allegiance to the 
 Democratic party. 
 
 ILLIAM H. HANKS, a merchant of Cook's 
 Corners, Ionia County, was born in De- 
 troit, August 22, 1846. He is a son of 
 Thomas Hanks, who was born in Kngland and who 
 came to America in 1812, and located in Detroit. 
 There lie engaged in the sale of merchandise and 
 continued the business until 1861, when he turned 
 his attention to farming. In 1872 he retired and 
 is now living in Hirmingharo, this .State. While 
 residing in Detroit he sei'ved as Supervisor one 
 term and took an active part in political and civil 
 matters, lie belonged to the old fire department 
 there and was a member of an Odd Fellows lodge. 
 His political allegiance was given to the IJepubli- 
 can party. He was married in his native land to 
 Comfort Dent, a native of Northamptonshire and 
 to them were born the following children: George, 
 a farmer in Saginaw County ; William 11., subject 
 of our notice; Charles K., whose home is near Sagi- 
 naw City; James A., a lawyer at Duluth, Minn., 
 and Hattie, who is with her parents. 
 
 William II. Hanks remained at home until he 
 
 was eighteen years of age, gaining the information 
 that is usually bestowed ui)on lads whose parents 
 are in comfortable circumstances. He then went 
 South as a carpenter and builder in the employ of 
 the Government and during the summer and fall 
 of 1864 was in Nashville. In 1867 he engaged in 
 farming in Wayne County, this State, and steadily 
 pursued the occupation until 1886, when he became 
 traveling salesman for the Globe Furniture Com- 
 pany of North villo. Aftcraye.-ir in the employ of 
 that company he embarked in his present enterprise 
 at Cook's Corners. He carries a stock of about 
 *y,0(tO, comprising well-selected general merchan- 
 dise, and he is meeting with satisfactory success as 
 a merchant. He also ships produce and seeds in 
 considerable quantities. He is the owner of pfop- 
 erly in Northville. 
 
 In Ketlford, W^a^ne County, in 1867, Mr. Hanks 
 w.as married to Miss Anneltie Cornwall, daughter 
 of William .1. and Sarah Cornwall of Hedford Cen- 
 ter, now known as Hell Branch. Mr. Cornwall is 
 a native of Connecticut and his wife was born in 
 \'ermont. Besides the wife of our subject their 
 family includes Emily A., wife of Charles Hanks, 
 and Charles W., whose home is at Redford. Our 
 subject and his wife have had but one child, a 
 daughter, Kva, who died in infancy. 
 
 While a resident of Wayne County Mr. Il.-mks 
 was Treasurer of Taylor Township, his incumbency 
 of that oUice being during the year 1879, and he 
 was School Inspector there in 1886-87. In his 
 later home he has worked for the benefit of the 
 schools in the capacity of Director, having been 
 elected in 1890 for one year. He and his wife are 
 honore 1 members of the MellMxIist Episcopal 
 Church and he is an active laborer, especially in 
 Sunday-school work. He has been Slewanl aud 
 Tiustee of the Church, and Sund.iy-school Super- 
 intendent, and in the last-naiiie<l capacity is now 
 serving at Otisco Church. In 1890 he was Super- 
 intemlent of the Methodist Episcopal Suiiiay- 
 school at Belding. It is needless to say that the 
 character of himself and wife gives them high 
 standing in the society which they frequent. 
 
 In connection with this brief biographical notice 
 a portrait of Mr. Hanks is presented to the readers 
 of the Ai.iUM. 
 
608 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1^^ EOKGE A. SNELL a prominent farmer re- 
 lll ,— , siding on section 8, Easton Township, Ionia 
 ^^ijl County, is a native of Seneca County, N. 
 Y., wbere he was born June 29, 1844. He is the 
 son of Sylvenus T. and Susan (Tunison) Snell, 
 both natives of New .Jersey, and his ancestors ou 
 both sides were German. Sylvenus T. Snell came 
 to Ionia County, Mich., first in 1836, and bought 
 three hundred and twenty .icres of land in Easton 
 Township, a portion of which our subject now 
 owns. He bought the land at $6 an acre from 
 speculators, .and did nothing toward cultivating it 
 until 1849 when he brought on his family and set- 
 tled on the farm. It w.is in a wild condition just 
 about as the Indians had left it. A log cabin 
 which he erected served as a home for the family. 
 Its dimensions were 26x30 feet, but they were not 
 to be a united family long. In a little more than 
 two ye.irs he was taken from them by death. Of 
 his six children the following survive: Elizabeth, 
 wife of J. V. Powlison who lives in Siiiawassee 
 County; Jacob, George; John, Travis and Abigail 
 are deceased. Tiie widow survived until June 28, 
 1884, when she passed away in her seventj'-fifth 
 age. Both were efficient and active members of 
 the Baptist Church. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared amid the 
 scenes of pioneer life .and received his education in 
 tlie district schools of the township and bis practi- 
 cal training on the farm. He was married New 
 Year's D.a}% 1870, to Ann Powlison, born in Benton 
 County, Ark., December 16, 1850. She is a daugh- 
 ter of Isaiic V. and Elizabeth (Allen) Powlison. 
 Tlie father was a native of New Jersey and the 
 mother of New York. Mrs. Snell emigrated in 
 early life to Kalamazoo County, Mich. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Snell have been born ten chil- 
 dren, viz: Alpheus G., Elizabeth, Willard F., (de- 
 ceased,) OlaM., Leslie Isaac, Vada B., Eugene Q., 
 Katie A., Walter and Cora. The handsome resi- 
 dence of the familj' overlooks the splendid farm 
 of one hundred and twenty acres. He is Demo- 
 cratic in politics and practically a self-made man. 
 Mrs. Snell is a consistent member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Their beautiful home and well- 
 kept farm testify to their industr}', perseverance 
 and good management. Mrs. Snell was one of nine 
 
 children of the parental family, as follows: Eugene 
 Q., Martha J., David F. (deceased,) Allen L.. Hick- 
 son M., Stella (Mrs. Matters), Frederick W. and 
 Leona. Mr. and Mrs. Sneil stand high in the social 
 circles of their township. They are intelligent, 
 well-infcrraed and prosperous and we take pleasure 
 in representing them in this work. 
 
 ALVIN SAWDY, junior partner in the firm 
 of M. E. Curtis & Sawdy, is one of the 
 most conspicuous figures among the younger 
 business men of Ed more, Montcalm Count3'. The 
 work which is being done by the firm of which he 
 is a member is spoken of at greater length in the 
 sketcli of M. E. Cui-tis, to which the reader is also 
 referred for the ancestry of our subject. Mr. 
 Sawdy is proving an able second to his partner in 
 continuing and increasing the tr.ade which was 
 built up by the senior partner when carrying on 
 the business alone. 
 
 Mr. Sawdy was born in Woodland Township, 
 Barry County, August 21, 1857, and reared and 
 educated there. He maile his home under the par- 
 ental roof until he had passed his majority, giving 
 his time to the improvement of his mind, the 
 acquiring of information regarding agricultural 
 work and business principles and the recreations in 
 which most youths indulge. When he left home 
 and began farming on his own account he bought 
 one hundred and twenty acres of land in the same 
 township and gave his attention to its operation 
 and stock-raising until the spring of 1889. He 
 then came to Edmore and bought an interest in the 
 grocery store of Mr. Curtis, with whom he has 
 since been connected. 
 
 Mr. Sawdy won for his wife Jliss Mary Hitt, 
 daughter of George and Mary Hitt, who own and 
 occupy a farm in Barry County, where she was 
 born and reared. The marri.age was solemnized at 
 the home of William H. Jordan, May 21, I 885, and 
 has been followed by mutual happiness. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Sawdy are the hapjiy parents of two bright 
 children — Edna F. and George Glenn. 
 
 The political party with which Mr. Sawdy .acts 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 
 
 60'.> 
 
 is the Republican and Le is firmly convinced that 
 its princi|)le3 are those best adapted to the needs of 
 the nation. He bt-longs to Woodland Lodjje No. 
 28'J, I. O. O. F. and to Ed more Lodge, K. O. T. M. 
 Mrs. Sawdy is a consistent member of the United 
 Brethren Church. Both husband and wife are well 
 liked and their home is often sought by their friends 
 and .acquaintances. 
 
 (| IklLLIAM I). ARNOLD is a representative 
 \r\//l P'O'is^"" '^"'1 esteemed citizen of Ionia 
 ^/^ County, and resides on section 29, Easton 
 Townshiii. He was born May 25, 1827, in Herki- 
 mer Coiintj', N. Y., and is a son of Dexter and 
 t)live (Kimbell) Arnold, being of New England 
 parentage and English ancestry. His grandfather, 
 Job Arnold, served a short time in the Revolu- 
 tionary War. 
 
 Dexter Arnold, tiie father of our subject, came 
 to Micliigan in the fall of 1835 and settled in East- 
 on Township, a portion of his farm now being 
 within the limits of Ionia City. His log cabin was 
 built in the woods and he had to cut <lown trees to 
 make a site whereon to erect it. Ionia City then 
 contained four log bouses and one frame house. 
 
 Dexter Arnold finally settled on a farm about 
 one mile farther north. The earlj' life of our sub- 
 ject was passed on the farm in tbo woods and in 
 the district schools. After helping his father on 
 the farm and having now more than reached his 
 majority he looked about for her who was to prove 
 his helpmate in life. On December 24, 1854, he 
 was united in marriage with Isabel Kimbell, who 
 was born in Bennington County, \l., October 23, 
 183C. 
 
 The young bride is a daughter of .Martin and 
 Lucena (Smith) Kimbell. Her mother was a 
 native of N'erniont and her father of Rhode Island. 
 In 1849 she emigrated with her parents to Ionia 
 County, Mich., settling in Easton Township, and 
 thus becoming one of its early settlers. Mr. Kim- 
 bell died March 12, 1875, and his wife in October, 
 1855. Of their nine children five are now living: 
 Mrs. .lames Jepson; iMrs. Hiram Barrett: Mrs. 
 
 Arnold; Mrs. George Buchanan; and Lucena, now 
 the widow of Mr. Kenney. The father of this 
 household was a Wesieyan Methodist. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are the parents of two chil- 
 dren: Kred and Burt. Fred has two children — 
 Olive and Glen; and Burt lives in Easton Town- 
 ship and has one child, a son. The home farm 
 consists of eighty acres and Mrs. Arnold has some 
 fifty-five acres of timber land in Easton Township, 
 besides one-third interest in a farm of one hundred 
 and twenty acres in Campbell Township. In 1855 
 the .young couple settled on their present farm in the 
 woods and put up a log cabin 18x24 feet in size. 
 For ten years this was their happ}- home and tlien 
 the}' built the frame house occupied by Fred. In 
 the summer of 1890 they established themselves 
 in the fine residence which the}' now occupy'. In 
 the accumulation of this splendid property Mr. 
 Arnold has been ably seconded by his devoted 
 wife, whose wise counsels an<l hearty co-operation 
 have been a large fact<n- in his success. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are members of the Wes- 
 ieyan Methodist Church in which he is a Steward, 
 and where they are most useful in all church work. 
 His political preferences arc with the Prohibition 
 part}', and he is always heartily in synipath\' with 
 efforts for the elevation of society. They enjoy an 
 extended acquaintance and in their well appointed 
 home are preparing to spend the winter of their 
 life happy in family ties, crowned It}' the results of 
 a life well-spent. Mrs. Arnold is an earnest and 
 useful member of the Woman's Christian Tem- 
 perance Union and serves as Treasurer in the local 
 organization. 
 
 Mr. Arnold has served for six successive yeais as 
 Township Sui)ervisor with credit to himself and 
 profit to his constituents. He and his good wife 
 have seen the country grow up from a wilderness 
 to its present highly cultivated 'jondition and re- 
 call with pleasure many scenes of pioneer life. He 
 attended the first school held in a regular school 
 building in lonin, his name being enrolled there 
 June 1, 1836. The teacher of this early school 
 was a sister of the Hon. S. A. Yeomans. She after- 
 wards became the wife of the Rev. Alfred Cornell, 
 .Ir. Our subject and his good wife arc true repre- 
 sentatives of the Michigan typical pioneer. He is 
 
610 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 widely known for his sterling integrity and strict 
 business methods and enjoys in a large measure the 
 confidence of the business community. It is a 
 common saying that liis word is as good as his 
 bond. Mrs. Arnold is a lady of unusual intelli- 
 gence and rare powers of memory, and her large 
 fund of historical lore pertaining to the early 
 history of Michigan makes her an exceedingly 
 entertaining conversationalist. 
 
 -"♦»-@V''v^-«*»- 
 
 EVI J. BARNARD living on section 14, 
 Berlin Township, Ionia County, was a son of 
 James Barnard, a native of Ontario County, 
 N. Y., and horn there in 1800. The grandfather of 
 our subject was Levi Barnard, a soldier in the War 
 of 1812, who was at one time taken prisoner by the 
 British and confined in prison for a sliort time. The 
 family are of Scotch descent, and in character bear 
 the marks of the sturdy, conscientious inhabitants 
 of that northern country. The wife of James 
 Barnard bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Cook. 
 Slie was born in Vermont, in 1808, and was for 
 some years a teacher, and always felt that interest 
 in education wliich was cliaracteristic of tlie old 
 New England family to which she belonged. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married in New 
 York State, and resided there until 1850, when they 
 came to Michigan and settled on section 21, of 
 Berlin Township. The farm which they took was 
 slightly improved, having on it already a log 
 house. Having an opportunity to sell it, they dis- 
 posed of it that year and bouglit on section 14, of 
 the same township. Here thoj' had eighty acres, all 
 raw land. They built a log house and barn and 
 clearing off fifty acres put it in a good state of cul- 
 tivation. They added to their farm, until tliey 
 had two hundred and forty acres, one hundred and 
 sixty of it being on section 22. They then sold 
 out and bought eiglity acres on section 2 1, and one 
 hundred and sixty acres on section 20, where they 
 made some improvements. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. James Barnard were members of 
 the Methodist Ejiiscopal Church, in which he was 
 also a Trustee. Mrs. Barnard was a very actiye 
 
 worker in both church and Sunday-school, being 
 always willing to bear her part in any enterprise 
 connected with the religious welfare of the com- 
 munity. Her husband was strictly temperate in 
 his habits and alwa3'stook a lively' interest in mat- 
 ters of education, being a member of the Scliool 
 Board. He was a stanch Republican, after the 
 formation of that party, having formerly been a 
 Whig. He always took an interest in politics. He 
 started out for himself jjoor and by industry and 
 enterprise acquired a handsome property. He died 
 in 1883, his wife having preceded him in 1871. 
 After her death he made his home with his chil- 
 dren. Thej' were the parents of nine children, five 
 of whom survive them: Chester W. who lives at 
 Escanaba; our subject; Abigail N., wife of S. R. 
 Curtiss, whose sketch will be found in this volume; 
 Lavina E., Mrs. T. Gulliver; Ciiarlcs W^., who 
 lives at Kalkaska. 
 
 The gentleman whose uanie heads this sketch was 
 born M.arch 30, 1838, in New Albion, N. Y. He 
 was twelve years of age when he came to Michi- 
 gan. Here his schooling, which had been begun in 
 New York was supplemented by attendance in the 
 best schools of his neighborhood. He began for 
 liimsclf at twenty years of age. He then returned 
 to New York State, and as he was very anxious for 
 self-improvement, he decided to work out by the 
 month in the summer and go to school in the win- 
 ter, working in the meantime for his board and 
 devoting the rest of his time to study. He lived 
 in this way for two years, and then removed to 
 Stark County, III., and worked an underground 
 ditching machine for two years. 
 
 Mr. Barnard returned home to IMichigan in 1862, 
 but did not remain there long, for his patriotic 
 interest in his native land was more earnest than his 
 love for liome. He enlisted September 20, 1862 in 
 Company M, Sixth Michigan Cavalry. The regi- 
 ment left for AVashington, D. C, in December of 
 the same year and was encamped there although 
 Ills company was sent out to Rockville, Md., to do 
 guard duty, and afterward to Maryland Heights. 
 They did considerable scouting duty and burned 
 the bridge at Falling AVater after Gen. Lee crossed 
 over it into Maryland. They then rejoined the 
 regiment and took part in the campaign of the 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOGUAl'llICAL ALBUM. 
 
 611 
 
 Wilderuess. Our subject took an active part in 
 
 llie followinj^ battles: Gettysburg, Wilderness, 
 .S()otUsylv:iiiia, Colil lliirbor aii<l (luring the entire 
 I'otoinac campaign. 
 
 At the battle of Trevilian Station, Va., .June 11, 
 1 804, our subject and about two hundred of Custer's 
 IJrigade, including nine of the General's staff 
 ollicers were taken prisoners. Mr. Barnard was 
 lirst taken to Libby Prison, Uicbiuond, Va. lie had 
 quite a strange series of adventures the day of his 
 ea|)lure. After he was first captured he escaped 
 and with a comrade. Sergeant Whalen, was on foot 
 in the woods. They came upon two well mounted 
 reltcl soldiers. Mr. Barnard boldly stepped up, 
 hailed them and ordered them to dismount, claim- 
 ing them as prisoners. He and Sergt. Whalen took 
 Ihom in charge, and marching them to the rear of 
 their regiment, delivered them up as prisoners. It 
 was next their turn to play the part of prisoner, 
 but in a more serious manner. The whole detach- 
 ment was captured by the rebel force and taken 
 into the camp of Wade Hampton. He was stripped 
 of his clothing and placed in Libby Prison for 
 fourteen da3'S. He was then taken to Anderson- 
 ville, where they were under the tyranny of Capt. 
 Wirz. He remained at Andersouville until Octo- 
 ber, ISCI, when he was taken to Milan prison and 
 afterward to Savannah, Ga., where he was released 
 on parole. He spent six months in rebel prisons. 
 
 (icorge W. Barnard, a brother of our subject, 
 was taken (irisoner the same day, and died while in 
 Andersouville prison in the fall of 1864. Levi 
 was in a terribly emaciated condition and very 
 much out of health at the time of his release, and 
 has always suffered from his hardships during that 
 period. At the time of his capture he weighed 
 one hundred and eighty-four pounds and after he 
 had been at home again for three months and had 
 already gained considerable in health he weighed 
 but one hundred and sixteen. Our subject was a 
 close conn)an ion of his brother-in-law S. 1{. Curliss. 
 They were paroled and went to Annapolis, Md., 
 where they were given a furlough. He remained 
 at home for ninety days and then returned to 
 Annapolis. He was sent to City Point, Va., to 
 rejoin his regiment before Petersburgh, Va. He 
 remained for a while at City Point with Capt. 
 
 B. F. Rockafellow who was Quartermaster of his 
 cavalry corps until the brig.ade was finally ordered 
 to cross the plains to Ft. Leavenworth. He went 
 to Washington, D. C, and was there several days, 
 then on to Cincinnati where he stayed one week; 
 was detained two weeks at St. Louis and arrived at 
 Leavenworth, Kan., the last of July and remained 
 there until OctoI)er 10, 1864, when they were dis- 
 missed from service .-ifter being in the army three 
 years. 
 
 The subject of this sketch returned home and 
 bought eighty acres of land where he now lives. 
 He was married May .5, 1866, to Delia Hubbard, a 
 daughter of Mr. Hubbard of Ohio. She was born 
 .June 23, 1841. in Ohio, and died November, 1867, 
 leaving one child, who has since died. His second 
 marriage took place March 10, 1870. He married 
 Amie R. Bliss, a daughter of Solomon K. and Mary 
 L. (Gaines) Bliss. Her father was a native of Ver- 
 mont and belonged to an old Scotch family, while 
 her mother was a Connecticut woman. They were 
 married in P'arniingtou, Ohio. Mi. Bliss was a 
 farmer and died in June, 1874. Mrs. Bliss still 
 lives in this township at the advanced age of 
 seventy-six years. She is a member of the Chris- 
 tian Church. They were the parents of eight chil- 
 dren, five of whom arc now living: Mrs. Barnard's 
 father w.os a Republican and a member of the 
 Methodist K|)iscopal Church. He was a man greatly 
 interested in school affairs. 
 
 Mrs. Barnard was born February 10, 1844, in 
 Ohio. She received a good common-school edu- 
 cation. She and her husband are the parents of 
 five children, all living: Delhi A., born November 
 14, 1872; Myrtie I., December 20, 1873; Levi J., 
 Jr., January 18, 1877; Karl W., August 29, 1881; 
 Ktliel M„ December 16, 1882. Mrs. Barnard and 
 her two eldest daughters are members of the Meth- 
 odist E[)iscopal Church aniJ take an active interest 
 in Sunday-school. These two young ladies are 
 both students in the Ionia City schools and are 
 proficient in instrumental music. Mr; Barnard was 
 a charter member of the Lyons Post, G. A. K. and 
 at pre.'ient belongs to the Kmia Post. He is Treas- 
 urer of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry Association; 
 also a member of the Association of ex-Prisoners 
 of War iu Michigan. He was elected to the post- 
 
612 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lion of President in tliis association but declined to 
 act. He is, however, Vice-President of tiie same. 
 He is Treasurer of tlie Ionia County Battalion 
 Association, and Master of the local Grange for 
 nine years; he is also a member of the State and 
 National Grange. Tlie Rev. Daniel Bliss, an uncle 
 of Mrs. Barnard is a missionary in Beyroot, Syria, 
 in Asia. 
 
 Mr. Barnard has filled many offices of public 
 trust in the community in whicli he lives. He has 
 been for twelve years Director of the local schools, 
 and has been Supervisor and Scliool Inspector. He 
 lias always been a straight Republican. He is a 
 constant sufferer from rlieumatism, which is a re- 
 minder of liis patriotic efforts to serve his country, 
 for he has never had any health since his army 
 experience. In 1886 lie was named as a candidate 
 for the State Legislature. He protested strongly 
 against tliis, as he did not feol able to serve, but his 
 party was so entliusi.istic in its advocacy of his 
 claims that he was obliged to make the canvass, 
 notwithstanding his objections. He has to liire 
 help all the year round for the cultivation of liis 
 land. One hundred and seventy acres of his two 
 hundred and twenty are under cultivation. Six- 
 teen years ago he built a residence and eleven 
 years ago built another across the way from the 
 first. In one of these he keeps the family whom 
 he employs upon the farm. This house cost 11,000, 
 his own residence costing *2,500. He carries on 
 mixed farming successfully. 
 
 PAVID B. MASON, a prominent farmer liv- 
 ing on section 11, Eureka Township, Mont- 
 calm County, was born in Tompkins County, 
 N. Y., December 2, 1820. His father, Hiram Mason, 
 a native of New York, was born in 1789. He 
 was the son of Benjamin Mason, who was born in 
 Massachusetts in 1738. It is said that the Mason 
 family in this country originated with three 
 brothers, who came across the seas in Colonial 
 times. Two of them settled in Massachusetts and 
 one at Jamestown, Va. One of the Northern set- 
 tlers was the great-gruml father of our subject. The 
 
 grandfather was a Quaker and in consequence of 
 religious scruples refrained from serving in the 
 Revolutionary War. He was a tanner and shoe- 
 maker, and emigrated when a young man to Al- 
 bany, N. Y". During his later days he removed to 
 Tompkins Count}', and died thereat the advanced 
 age of eight3'-four years. 
 
 The father of our subject followed the business 
 of a carpenter and joiner all his life. He removed 
 to Potter County. Pa., in 1833, and in 1837 came 
 AVest. He made the journey to Detroit by boat, 
 and from there took team and wagon. He resided 
 in Livingston County upon a small farm, but 
 before his death, which occurred February 11, 
 1877, he came to reside with his sons in Genesee 
 County. He belonged to the Baptist Church and 
 was the oldest member of the Masonic order liv- 
 ing in Genesee County at the time of his death. 
 In his early days he was a Democrat, but joined 
 the Republican party upon its organization. 
 
 The mother of our subject was Sena Garrison, 
 a native of Schodack Township, Albany County, 
 N. Y. She was born in 179G, and died at the hge 
 of sixty-six years, having been the mother of six 
 children, all of whom grew to maturity. She was 
 a true-blue Presbyterian of the old school. Her fam- 
 ily had been New York farmers for several gener- 
 ations and had large estates in Albany County. 
 
 David B. Mason early learned the trades of the 
 carpenter and millwright, and from that it was an 
 easy step to learning the milling business, which 
 he has followed much of his life. He has been the 
 proprietor of a mill eight different times. At 
 eighteen years of age he began teaching, although 
 he made his home with his father until he reached 
 the age of twenty-five years. For nine years he 
 farmed and worked at the carpenter's trade in the 
 summers and taught in the winters. His first teacli- 
 ing in Michigan in 1838 was in the old-fashioned 
 schoolhouse, elegantly furnished with slab benches 
 set upon pin legs, and ventilated and heated by a 
 system of open fireplaces and stick chimneys. Game 
 was plentiful in those da^'s and our subject h.id 
 man}' an adventure with deer, bear, wolf and fox, 
 and has even shot a panther. He says he has 
 seen twent3'-five and thirty deer in one day. 
 
 In 18G4 this young man removed to Genesee 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 613 
 
 County, Midi., and engaged in tlie milling busi- 
 ness. He used lo ship nine hundred barrels of 
 Hour e:ich week, besides supplying the local trade. 
 When he first visited Montcalm County on a tour 
 of ins[)ection June 15, 1838, ho traveled by loam 
 and partly on foot. There was not then a settle- 
 ment within miles of what is now his present farm, 
 but as it happened he ate his dinner on that very 
 spot and in a thoughtless moment choi)pcd his in- 
 itials on a tree. A few years ago in chopping down 
 trees he came upon that very one and discovered 
 his initials in the bark. He bought this farm only 
 sixteen years ago. How little he dreamed when he 
 cut his initials in the tree that he was marking 
 his future property! 
 
 The California fever struck Mr. Mason in 1852, 
 and he crossed the plains and engaged in mining and 
 merchandising. He accumulated some property, and 
 two years after his going there returned, having 
 cleared ij;l,000. He removed to Montcalm County 
 in the fall of 18Gt and bought one hundred and 
 sixty acres, wbich he now owns, on the outskirts 
 of the city of Greenville. The farm is now all 
 finely improved and his handsome brick residence 
 is a credit to the neighborhood. It was erected at 
 an ixpeiiso of ^7,000. He raises grain and stock. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Mason, December (>, 184(5, 
 to Mary .1. VanCamp was an event of great im|)ort- 
 aiice in his life and oiiened up a long vista of do- 
 mestic happiness. His good wife, who is still with 
 him, was born in Ulysses Township, Tompkins 
 County, N. Y., October 16, 182'.). Ilcr parents, John 
 A. and Catherine (Cole) VanCamp, were of (icrnian 
 and Kiiglish descent respectively. Mr. VanCamp is 
 a blacksmith by trade and ie now eighty-four 
 years old. His good wife, who reached the same 
 ri|)e age, was called to her eternal rest September 
 14, 18'J0. He was one of the early settlers of Liv- 
 ingston County, Mich., and from 183.3 until old 
 age compelled him to retire from active life he 
 kept a blacksmith shop in that county. The chil- 
 dren of our subject are four in number. Two 
 only of Ihem have grown to maturity, namely: 
 Kmma(Mrs. Hamper), and Amy (Mrs. Demorcst.) 
 
 Mr. Mason has held many township otlices and 
 is always wide-awake in regard to matters of public 
 interest. He is radical in politics and an earnest 
 
 believer in the principles of the Democratic party. 
 His good wife is a devoted and earnest Christian 
 and her church connections are with the l{a|)tist 
 denomination. Mr. M.ason is connected with the 
 Masonic Fraternity. The home of this worthy 
 couple is ever open to the poor and homeless. 
 They reared from boyhood the young man who 
 became the husband of their eldest daughter. Mr. 
 Mason is a man of unusual intelligence and pos- 
 sesses many good and original ideas which have 
 conduced to his own prosperity and to that of the 
 community in which he resides. 
 
 -35«e-« — 
 
 o-^Sr^ -: 
 
 EUGENK F. COLWELL, a leading hardware 
 merchant of Lake Odessa, Ionia County, is 
 a striking example of the reinforcement to 
 character and success, given to a young man 
 through a long and honorable ancestry. A boy 
 whose early life was one of struggles with poverty 
 and hard work, has grown into niaidiood and has 
 successfully met the world. He was born in Ham- 
 ilton, Madison County, N. Y., May 26, 1828, and 
 was the son of Ji^seph and Laura (Smith) Colwell. 
 The father was a native of Rhode Island, of Eng- 
 lish descent. The great-grandfather of Joseph was 
 one of the first settlers of Rhode Island and was 
 connected with Roger Williams. 
 
 The connection of our subject with Roger Will- 
 iams, the founder of Rlioda Island is as follows: 
 Roger Williams had a daughter Mercy, who mar- 
 ried Samuel Winsor. They left a son Ssmiuel, who 
 married Mercy Harding. Their daughter, Martha 
 Winsor, married Robert Colwell. His youngest son 
 Henjamin, marrietl Deborah Brown. Their eldest 
 soJi, Joseph Colwell, was the father of E. F. Col- 
 well. The father of Deljorah Brown was the foun- 
 der of Brown's University, at Providence, R. I. 
 
 The mother of Eugene Colwell was born in 
 Oneida County, N. Y., of English descent. Her 
 husband was a merchant and one of the first set- 
 tlers of Hamilton, haying the first store in that 
 town. Being an active and intelligent member of 
 the Baptist Church atnl on nofi. nnt of ancestral ten-. 
 
614 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 dencies naturally interested in providing educa- 
 tional facilities in his home, he became one of the 
 founders of Madison University, which is situated 
 at Hamilton. 
 
 About 1839 lie removed from his old home to 
 Michigan, settling in Hillsdale County, for about 
 five years. He then returned to New York and re- 
 mained in Oswego until his death, in 185L His 
 good wife had preceded him to the other world 
 before his departure for Michigan. Six of their 
 nine children survive tliera, namely : Dr. Justin B., 
 resides in Pontiac, Mich.; Albert G., an iron man- 
 ufacturer of Cleveland, Ohio; Laura S., Mrs. Lemuel 
 Long, resides at Flint, Mich.; Edwin B., a fruit- 
 grower of California; Charles B., a druggist in 
 Jackson; and Eugene F., of whom we write. 
 
 Theearl^' education of our subject was obtained 
 in the primary schools of Matlison County, N. Y. 
 He was only nine years old when he came to Micii- 
 igan and having lost his mother by death and his 
 sister by marriage, the family was broken up about 
 a year after coming West, and the little boy was 
 brought up by different members of the family. He 
 spent some time in Michigan and again in New 
 York; he was in school for awhile. 
 
 At the age of eighteen he clerked in a drug store 
 at Oswego, and there prepared himself to embark 
 independently in this business. After being in 
 business in Oswego for about four years, he went 
 to Madison, Wis., and for four or Bve j'ears was in 
 company with his brother Charles in a drugstore 
 there. After that he removed to Janesville, Wis., 
 and engaged in the same business until 1867, when 
 he removed to Detroit, Mich. After fourteen j'ears 
 in thatcity he removed to Ionia County, Mich. In 
 1883 he turned his attention to the haidware busi- 
 ness, and coming to Lake Odessa built a fine iron- 
 clad building and opened up a hardware store 
 where he still carries on business, having one of 
 the largest stocks of hardware in the county. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Louisa M. 
 Smith in 1800, was blessed with three children, one 
 child now living — Clayton M.,who is associated with 
 his father in business. This wife died in 1872. His 
 second marriage, in October 1873, was contracted 
 with Alice M. Cornell. They have one child, Ray, 
 who resides at home. The standing of Mr. and Mrs. 
 
 Colwell in the community in which they live is 
 very high. All respect a man who has by his own 
 efforts gained aflluence, while at the same time he 
 is ever ready to do his share in promoting the in- 
 terests of the people among whom he lives. He is 
 a stanch Republican and has always supported the 
 principles of that party. In early life he was of 
 the Whig party. He has been a member of the 
 Board of Trustees where he now resides and is at 
 present on the School Board. 
 
 : -i-^f=^<^=>^^^• ■- 
 
 <^|^LIZABETH PARKER. The rural districts 
 fe of Ionia County are dotted with attractive 
 /IL^' homes, which in architectural design, neat 
 and tasteful surroundings, and thrifty management 
 are models of comfort and homelikeness. One of 
 these is located on section 11 , Easton Township, 
 anil is represented by a view on another page. It 
 is the property of Mrs. Parker, who possesses the 
 housewifely skill and prudence that insures to the 
 inmates all the comforts of life in a true home. A 
 woman of merit, in the community where she re- 
 sides she is esteemed by all. She has traveled ex- 
 tensively, having crossed the ocean from cor.tinent 
 to continent, and resided in several different States. 
 Through this means, her knowledge of the world 
 has been broadened, and in all her dealing with her 
 neighbors she has ever been honorable and straight- 
 forward. 
 
 A native of Lincolnshire, England, Mrs. Parker 
 was born December 19, 1843, and is the daughter 
 of Edward and Dina (Nichols) Raby, natives of 
 England. Mr. Raby, who is now (1891) in his 
 seventy-sixth j'car is residing in Ionia County, 
 while Mrs. Raby passed away in 1871, in Clinton 
 County, Mich. They had a family of three chil- 
 dren, of whom Mrs. Parker is the onlj- survivor. 
 In the spring of 1850, when in her seventh year, 
 with her parents and one brother she emigrated to 
 America, taking passage on a sailing vessel called 
 ''The Ross," and after an ocean voyage of five 
 weeks and four daj's of f.air weather with the excep- 
 tion of a severe thunder storm, she landed in New 
 York City. 
 
RE51DENCE0F MRS. ELIZABETH PARKER, STAUNTON J U NOTION .. ION lA CO.,MICH. 
 
 RESIDENCE Qf LUTHER E. H AL L,SEC. 3G. RLEAN5 TP., IONIA CO., MICH. 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOCRAPHlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 617 
 
 In tliixt city and also in Cleveland, Ohio, tlie 
 family live(l a short lime and then went to St. 
 Louis, Mo., reniaininj!; there for a few years. They 
 then returned to Ohio, and sojourned a short time 
 in Lorain Count}'; subsequently removing to I)e 
 Kalb County, Ind., and remaining about eight- 
 teen months. Afterward they settled in Ontario, 
 Canada, for a short time. Tlie brother of our sub- 
 ject died in Lorain County, Ohio, iu February, 
 1854. In the spring of 1858, our subject with her 
 father came to Ionia County, Mich. The father 
 was employed by a railroad company on a gravel 
 train, which was ballasting a bed for the Detroit, 
 Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railroad. This com- 
 |)an3' em[iloyed Mr. Raby for a number of years 
 and the family were constantly obliged to move 
 about from place to place as best suited his con- 
 venience, and in 1859 they settled in Clinton 
 County. Mr. Raby was in the Army of the Cum- 
 berland three years and seven months and draws a 
 pension of §8 per month. 
 
 Mrs. Parker received a common-school educa- 
 tion, acquiring it mostly iu Ohio and the schools 
 of St. Louis, Mo. She was first married October 
 12, 1869, to John Elston, who died December 26, 
 1870. He was born in Devonshire, Kngland, and 
 was a Vilacksniitli by trade. She was a second time 
 married, November 1, 1871, to Henry Parker, who 
 was born in Oxfordshire, England, November 5, 
 1831. When a mere youth Mr. Parker with his 
 parents emigrated to America in 1812, landing at 
 Ontario, Canada, and when in his seventeenth year 
 he left home and became a sailor. He visited Cape 
 Town, Africa and Australia, where he worked in 
 the gold mines and came back to the United States 
 by the wa^- of South America, having been gone 
 three years. Mr. Parker married for his first wife 
 Jane Field, and b^- that union three children were 
 born and the only one living is residing in Keene 
 Township, this county. Of this union with our 
 subject five children were born, four of whom arc 
 living. Edward R., Samuel II., Cora E., Alfred; 
 Mary L., is deceased. 
 
 After this marriage took place Mr. Parker set- 
 tled to agricultural pursuits in Clinton County, 
 Mich., where he remained, following farming until 
 1869. In 1871 became to Ionia County, and here 
 
 he resided until his death which occurred July 15, 
 1886. He was a Democrat in [jolilics, was capable 
 and enterprising, n man of fine business abilities 
 and good education, having practically cducateil 
 himself. He was a kind father, loving husband and 
 though of a reserved disposition he yet inatle many 
 warm friends. He was successful in business life, 
 and at his death left a valuable estate. His widow 
 lives on the homestead and owns eighty acres of 
 land and valuable properly in Ionia City. She and 
 her children are valued members of the Episcopal 
 Church, active in socictj', and have a large circle 
 of warm friemls. 
 
 I'TIII'MJ [■]. HALL. Among the native-born 
 citizens of Ionia County who are now mak- 
 ing it the scene of their labors, is Mr. Hall. 
 a farmer on section 36, Orleans Township. He is 
 a sou of Joshua S. and Sarah (Ilaight) Hall, of 
 whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. He 
 was born in Ionia Township in 1846 and was an 
 inmate of the parental home until he was of age. 
 His education was obtained in the common schools 
 and the Schwenesburg & Robbiiis Commercial Col- 
 lege at Grand Rai)ids. After attaining to his ma- 
 jority he farmed on his father's lar.d two years, 
 then went to Illinois and put forth his efforts there 
 six years, leasing a farm. 
 
 From Illinois Mr. Hall returned to the place of 
 his birth and in a short time was settled on the farm 
 he yet occupies, and a view of which, with its com- 
 modious buildings, appears on another page. His 
 properly here consists of eighty acres, u[)on which 
 he has put good buildings and made other improve- 
 ments. In addition to the ordinary work of an 
 agriculturist he breeds Percheron horses and Jer- 
 sey cattle. Mr. Hall is the owner of a good farm 
 in Ionia Township, consisting also of fifty-three 
 acres. He understands farming as well as any man 
 of his years in the county and ilemonstrates his 
 ability to make a good maintenance. 
 
 In Otisco Township Mr. Hall w.is marrietl to 
 Miss Eva Rickey, who brightened his home but 
 eighteen months and died childless. She was a 
 
618 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 dauslitcr of Orrin anci Marcy (Webster) Rickey, 
 natives respectively of Vermont and Ohio. August 
 25, 1872, Mr. Hall made a second marriage, the 
 scene of the interesting event being Iroquois 
 County, 111. Tlie bride on this occasion was 
 Maria, daugliter of Robert and Elizabeth (Aikman) 
 Allen, who were born in Indiana, and whose fam- 
 ily consisted of Heber, Maria, Bell, Frank, Lida, 
 Norah, Eva and Nettie. The present union of 
 Mr. Hall has been blest by the birth of the follow- 
 ing cliildren: Alma, Louie A., Frank E. and Elea- 
 nor A. 
 
 Mr. Hall is and always has been a Republican. 
 He has served as Highway Conimi.ssioner in Or- 
 leans Townsliip and is a member of tlie Board of 
 Review. He belongs to the Farmers' Alliance and 
 the Royal Arcanum. He has traveled some in the 
 South and East, going to New Orleans at the time 
 of the International Cotton Exposition and as far 
 east as Connecticut, enjoying the view of Niagara 
 Falls on the way to New England. Intelligent and 
 observing, his trips have added to his social quali- 
 ties by broadening his outlook and increasing his 
 stock of knowledge. 
 
 ■ > • ^^ ' -^^— 
 
 xICHOLAS NOLAN. This well to-do citi- 
 zen of Montcalm Countj' is proprietor of 
 the Nolan House, the oldest hotel in P^dmore. 
 He has been the pro])rietor of this establishment 
 almost since the town was founded and still 
 occupies a building which was one of the first 
 erected here. He has other property also in the 
 village, and a farm of one luindred and sixty acres 
 on section 18, Home Township, which he superin- 
 tends, carrying on general farming and stock-rais- 
 ing. He has under the plow one hundred acres 
 and every necessary building has been put up, so 
 that his -work is prospering. In addition to these 
 resources Mr. Nolan is a shareholder and director 
 in the Robinson Oi)era House, of which he was one 
 of the originators. 
 
 As his surname indicates, Mr. Nolan belongs to 
 tlie Irish nationality. His paternal grandfather 
 for whom lie is nHiiied, was the owner of a large 
 
 tract of land in County Wexford, Ireland, and 
 James Nolan, father of our subject, also followed 
 farming, his property being situated in the Parish 
 of Blackwater. The latler lived to the age of 
 seventy years. The maternal ancestors of Mr. 
 Nolan were likewise agriculturists, and his mother, 
 Martha Dimsay, was borp. on a farm in the parish 
 of Mononarich. Mr. and Mrs. James Nolan were 
 Catholics and their seven children were taken into 
 the fold of the mother church. 
 
 The natal day of Nicholas Nolan was in March, 
 1838, and his birthplace the town of Tiibrlimino, 
 Parish of Blackwater, County Wexford. He had 
 the advantages of the national schools of Ireland 
 until his sixteenth year, and made his home on the 
 parental farm. He was then apprenticed to the 
 carpenter's trade, but his master being of a mean 
 disposition he remained with him but two years. 
 When nineteen years old he went to Liverpool, 
 England, where for four and a half years he was 
 employed in chemical works and l)ecame somewhat 
 initiated into the science of chemistry. The work 
 he had to perform was verj' hard and he heard so 
 much of America that he determined to come 
 hitlier. He therefore engaged as fireman on the 
 ''Great Eastern" in 1865, made the trij) to New 
 York and than gave up his position. 
 
 Mr. Nolan worked on a railroad in New Jersey 
 a short time, then found employment in a blast 
 furnace in Buffalo, N. Y. Thence he went to Phil- 
 adelphia and worked in a brick jard, then to Sagi- 
 naw, this State, to resume railroad work. His next 
 location was Lansing, where he spent the summer 
 heli)ing in masonry, and then entered the en^iloy 
 of the Detroit, Lansing <fe Northern Railroad. He 
 helped to laj- the first rail of the road and worked 
 for the company about twelve years, laboring on 
 the route from the capital to Big Rapids. During 
 a part of the time his financial resources were in- 
 creased from a boarding house which was manageil 
 b3' his wife. He came to Edmore, May 14, 1878, 
 and the same summer built the Nolan House, which 
 he has since conducted. During a part of the time 
 he has also carried on a saloon. 
 
 Tlie marriage of Mr. Nolan and Miss Bridget 
 Ryan was solemnized in Ionia in 1872. The britle 
 was born in County Kilkennj', Ireland. The family 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOGRArillCAL ALBUM. 
 
 619 
 
 of our subject and his wife cousisls of two daugh- 
 ters ami a son who are still with tlicir parents and 
 whose names are Maitlia, Mary and Nicholas, .Ir. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Nolan arc communicants of the 
 Catholic Church, but seldom attend, as there is no 
 orijanizution convenient of access for them. 
 
 ,,.m LMON TUTTLK. Among the foremost 
 I \ f''*'i'ilics of Ionia County is that of Nelson 
 (/ l*i Tuttlc, a large circle who are inllueiitial 
 and respected as patriotic citizens, elllcient 
 and conscientious church members and useful citi- 
 zens in every walk in life. The daughters of the 
 family are well known as the wives of prominent 
 men, as William Adgate, Stewart Townsend, and 
 Lewis II. Ferguson, whose sketches appear in these 
 pages. The parents of this interesting family are 
 Nelson and So[)hia (I'angborn) Tuttle. lie was 
 born in Connecticut in 1800, and she in the Mo- 
 hawk Valley, N. Y., in 1805, and when she was a 
 small girl her jieople moved to Deerfield, Ohio. 
 They were married about 1825 in Portage County, 
 Ohio, and came to Michigan in the spring of 18-16, 
 bringing with them the aged grandmother, Lydia 
 Pangborn, who died in the fall of that year. 
 
 The Pangborn family were of Mohawk Dutch 
 descent. Nelson Tuttlc had by his marriage with 
 Sophia Pangliorn, twelve children. Of his five 
 boys, two served faithfully and elliciently in the 
 Civil War. Emory was a member of Company K, 
 Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, and was killed July 
 2, 1863, at Gettysburg. He was buried upon the 
 field, but later his remains were brought home and 
 they now lie in the family cemetery. The father 
 of this numerous family was twice married, but 
 had no children by his second wife who was, pre- 
 vious to her union with him the widow of Eunice 
 K. Talcott. She survives him and lives in the old 
 homestead at the age of seventy-one years. He 
 was a power in the church and a great worker. He 
 made a public profession of religion in 1818, and 
 was always a consistent member until his death, 
 August 18, 1890. He was Cla-ss-Leader for fifty-two 
 years and occupied also the responsible positions 
 
 of Steward and Trustee. He had the happiness of 
 seeing all his children unite wiih the church before 
 his death. The first Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in Ionia Townshi|i outside of the city was built by 
 him and paid for out of his private purse. 
 
 The natal day of Almon Tuttle was November 
 1 , 1 835. He first saw the light in Palmyra, Portage 
 County, Ohio, and came to Michigan with his par- 
 ents in his twelfth year. His common-school edu- 
 cation in Ohio was sui)plemented by attendance at 
 the log schoolhouse in Micliigan. At nineteen years 
 of age he began work for himself. He married 
 into a family who were early pioneers in Lenawee 
 County, being united September 5, 1854, with 
 Khoda J. Coi)ley. a daughter of Samuel N. and 
 Sallie C. (Smith) Copley. Mr. Copley was born in 
 the Empire State about 1807, and his wife in tlie 
 same State in 1815. This worthy couple removed 
 to Micliigan in 1836, following in the footsteps of 
 Mrs. Copley's father, Silas P. Smith, who had [ire- 
 ceded them to this county in 1833. The Copleys 
 did not however remain long in the new West, and 
 sfler a residence here of two years returnetl to New 
 York State, where they took up their residence until 
 Mr. Copley's death, in April, 1841. Mr. Smith 
 went at once to his widowe<l daughter and brought 
 her and her family to his own home. Sometime 
 later Mrs. Copley married Frederick Delano. They 
 are still living in Muskegon County on a farm. IJy 
 this marriage she wjis the mother of four children. 
 Her marriage with Mr. Copley was blessed with 
 three children: Lydia, Mrs. 1). Blank, who was 
 killed by a runaway team, leaving one son; Harriet, 
 Mrs. Judson McClure, died in 1882 leaving one 
 sou. Mrs. Tuttle is the second daughter and was 
 born August 'J, 1834, in Chenango County', N. Y., 
 where she received a common-school education. 
 
 When Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle started in life together 
 they had one hundred and si.xty acres of land, five 
 of which hail been cleared of trees. In this clearing 
 stood a log house, 16x20 feet in dimensions, with 
 one window and one door, and a half window in 
 the loft. Rough boards formed a floor and a fire- 
 place served for heating, cooking and ventilation. 
 A yoke of untrained steers, a heifer and an ox-sled, 
 for both summer and winter use, formed their out- 
 of-door possessions. A little later they became 
 
620 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 prosperous enough to purchase a cart for summer 
 use. Tlic nearest water was one and a half miles 
 distant from the house. 
 
 Here on section 35, Ionia Township, the young 
 couple lived for six years. Mr. Tuttle cleared and 
 fenced forty acres and npou this raised crops. His 
 first crop was eight acres of wheat wiiich was nipi)ed 
 by the frost in June. He, however, raised thirty- 
 five bushels from this planting. He used to haul 
 wood and black salts to Ionia. In 1860 tbey re- 
 moved to tiie old Tuttle homestead where they 
 lived until they built their present residence on 
 section 33. He traded liis farm to his father for 
 one hundred acres of land and gave in addition a 
 mortgage of 1800 jiayable one year after the 
 father's death. The father afterward gave tliis son 
 ten acres of land adjoining liis farm on the west. 
 Alraon Tuttle iiad cleared fifty acres, re-fenced his 
 farm and builta house and barn. His fine orcliard 
 contains one hundred and sixty apple trees, lliirty- 
 threc pear trees and a large quantity of small fruit, 
 quinces and cherries. His barn has a stable base- 
 ment sufficient for the accommodation of all his 
 stock. His tile drainage three-fourths of a mile 
 long cost over $400. A fine maple grove of seven 
 liundred trees furnishes asupi)l3' of delicious sugar. 
 He carries on mixed farming, raising both grain 
 and stock and takes groat pride in his Jerse}- cattle, 
 and fine wool sheep, of the Spanisli-Merino breed. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Alnion Tuttle are the parents of 
 four children: Albert died in infancy; Lois and 
 Lewis (twins) were born August 9, 1858 — Lois died 
 November 13, 1875: Nelson S., born March 23, 
 1860; Dr. Lewis N. married Clara West and is 
 practicing medicine at Belding. He is a graduate 
 of Ann Arbor State University' in the medical 
 department, having taken his diploma in the class 
 of 1885; he is the fatlier of two children. Nelson 
 S., is married to Maud E. Willis with whom he 
 lives at Grand Rapids. He was a graduate of Ionia 
 High School and took a high rank when attending 
 the State Agricultural College. He received a first 
 grade certificate and taught in Mackinaw City and 
 other schools. The excellent parents of these fine 
 young men have great reason to be proud of their 
 standing in their chosen professions, and in their 
 personal character which is uo doubt largely the 
 
 result of the judicious training and inherited qual- 
 ities received from a wise father and a judicious 
 loving mother. Mrs. Tuttle is now in declining 
 health. The subject of this sketch was a soldier 
 in the Civil War, enlisting August 9, 1862, in Com- 
 [)any A, Twenty-first Michigan Infantr}'. He look 
 part in the battle of Perryville, Ky., and was dis- 
 charged April 21, 1863, on a surgeon's certificate 
 of physical disability. He is active in both the 
 spiritual and temporal affairs of the Methodist 
 Ejiiscopal Church, having been both teacher and 
 Superintendent of the Sunday-school and giving 
 practical help in the building of the church. He 
 is a member of the Masonic order of Ionia and of 
 the Grand Army Post. He is intelligent in politi- 
 cal matters and votes the Republican ticket. He 
 and his sons have always been strictly temperate in 
 their habits and their intelligence and probity give 
 them the confidence of all who know them. He 
 has one of the best libraries in the neighborhood, 
 including Johnson's Encyclopedia. 
 
 'ASPAR FEUERSTEIN. Among the pros- 
 perous and intelligent American citizens 
 of Ionia County who have been selected 
 for representation in this Album is the 
 worthy subject of this sketch. He was a soldier 
 of the Civil War, and resides on section 4, K(!ene 
 Township, Ionia County. He was born in Ger- 
 many September 15, ISIl, and is a son of John 
 and Apalona (Kenipf ) Feuerstein. When but a few 
 months old his parents brought him to this coun- 
 try and made their home in Dearborn County, 
 Ind. There the mother still resides, having been 
 bereaved of her husband April 7, 1868. 
 
 Our subject was reared to manhood on the home 
 farm and has pursued farming all his life, ex- 
 cept during the period when he served his adopted 
 country in the field of war. He enlisted August 
 16, 1862, in Company H, Eighty-third Indiana 
 Infantrj', which formed a part of Gen. Sherman's 
 army, in the Second Brigade, Second Division of 
 the Fifteenth Army Corps. He was in the battle 
 in tlie rear of Vicksburg, before the siege, in the 
 
 J 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 621 
 
 one at Arkansas Post, and in another in the rear 
 of Vicksburg, and he participated in the entire 
 siege of A'icksbiirg. He also saw the smoke of 
 liattie at Jackson, Miss., at Missionary Ridge. Kene- 
 saw Mountain, and at Marietta, Ga. He partici- 
 pated in the siege .at Atlanta and was one of the 
 hoys in blue who took the grand march to the sea 
 with Sherman, an<l he was in tiie last battle of the 
 war near Goldsboro, N. C. He was also present at 
 Johnston's surrender and at the Grand Review at 
 Wasliington, May 24, 18G5. His honorable dis- 
 charge was granted in June, ISG.'j. 
 
 In the fall of 1805 Mr. Fcuerslein remover! from 
 Iniliana to Ionia County, this State, and after a 
 short time went on to Montcalm County, but re- 
 turned to Ionia County in 1872, where he purchased 
 a farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres and lias 
 here made his home to the present date. His mar- 
 riage took |)lace in 1868. His wife was Catherine 
 Hi'uninger, who became the mother of eight chil- 
 dren, seven of whom are living, namely : Magtle- 
 line, Apolona, John P., Mar}', George, Michael 
 and Elizabeth. The family is strictly trained in 
 the doctrines and rites of the Catholic (Jhurch. 
 
 Mr. Feuerstein's political aflilialioiis an; with 
 the Democratic part}'. He has served on the 
 School Board of his district and is ever interested 
 in the upbuilding of educational institutions. That 
 he has been true to the land of his adoption his 
 brave and valued service in the Civil War abund- 
 antly attests. He is to-day one of the foremost 
 (iennaii-American citizens of Ionia County, and is 
 universally esteemed for his industry, thrift and 
 good management which are the key notes to suc- 
 cess. He and his intelligent wife ami their chil- 
 dren are all respected members of society, and his 
 record, both military and civil, is creditable to a 
 higli degree, and is indeed worthy the emulation 
 and imitation of his po-iterity. 
 
 --^ .^>^ '^ 
 
 ■4^^ HO.MAS CONNKU. Among the representa 
 it' ^ \ tive and venerable pioneers of Ionia County 
 'V_y and the now far famed Grand River \'alley, 
 we are pleased to represent the worthy and honored 
 
 subject of this sketch, who resides on section 17, 
 Easton Township. He was born in Ontario. Canada, 
 February 8, 1821, and is the son of Cornelius and 
 Hannah (Vaneavery) Conner. His parents were 
 natives of Pennsylvania. His paternal ancestors 
 were Irish, his Grandfather Conner having been a 
 native of Ireland and a soldier in the British army 
 in the War of 1812. 
 
 'i'he parents of our subject had seven children, 
 four of whom survive, namely: Isaac, Thomas, 
 William and Benjamin. After a boyhood spent on 
 the farm, our subject learned the trade of a car- 
 penter. His school advantages were exceedingly 
 limited, but lie has been a reader all his life and has 
 kept well informed in regard to matters of public 
 interest. His marriage took place in Canada in 
 1843. His wife was Ellen, daughter of William 
 and Ann Horshurg. She was born in Scotland, 
 whence she emigrated, when ten years old with her 
 parents to Can.ada. By his marriage Mr. Conner 
 became the father of nine children, namely: Ann, 
 Mrs. Virgil B. Conner; Eliza, Mrs. Harden Kellogg; 
 Emily; Belle, wife of Osman DeGraw; William ; 
 .Sarah, Mrs. Frank Gordan; Levi S. ; Ada, wife of 
 Orson Snell and Mary, Mrs. Harvey Russ. 
 
 In 18.5G our subject with his family emigrated 
 to Ionia County, Mich., and settled on land which 
 now forms his fine farm in Easton Township, which 
 he has by his own efforts brought to its present 
 high slate of cultivation. He is a public-spirited 
 man and helps forward all movements for the ele- 
 vation of societ}'. He is Republican in his politi- 
 cal convictions, although he is not in any sense an 
 oOice seeker, yet he works earnestly to the success 
 of his party. He has done his full share of pio- 
 neer work for he is one of the oldest settlers in the 
 vicinity, and had practically no means to begin 
 with. 
 
 Mrs. Conner who was in all things a devoted 
 hel|)mate and wise counselor, departed this life 
 April 17, 1881), leaving behind her a wealth of love 
 and affection. Not only her own family but all 
 her friends an<l neighbors mt)urn her hiss. In her 
 death her family lost a devoted mother and wife 
 and the county one of its representative pioneer 
 women. Our subject is now prepared to spend the 
 remaining vears of his life in comfort and pros- 
 
622 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 perity, and enjoys the fruits of a life spent in use- 
 ful labor. He is surrounded by his children and 
 fiieuds. He lias been an eye-witness of many stir- 
 ring and interesting events in the past days of 
 Ionia County and he can vividly recall the times 
 of self-denial and hardship. He is known far and 
 wide for his sterling integrity and his word is con- 
 sidered as good as his bond. One only needs to 
 meet and converse with Mr. Conner to be con- 
 vinced that he is a manly representative of the 
 typical Miciiigan pioneer. 
 
 ■ ^ . >K . < ■ 
 
 MON OTIS is ex-County Treasurer of Ionia 
 ( @yL.ll i County. His farm is situated on section 
 Ifc 9, of Berlin Township. lie is a son of 
 Amos Otis, a native of New York, who 
 was born in 1820, and througii life pursued the 
 business of a farmer. He was a very early settler 
 of Michigan, coming to this State with his parents 
 when but nine years of age. The father of Amos 
 Otis took up Government land in 1828, within six 
 miles of tiie present city hall at Detroit. This land 
 has been in the family ever since and is still owned 
 bj' the father of our subject. Amos Otis' wife 
 Phila (Harwood) Otis, was also a native of New 
 York, being born there in 1822. They were mar- 
 ried in Berlin Township, Ionia County, Februar3' 
 17, 1841, and then went back to the farm near De- 
 troit where they have resided ever since. On Feb- 
 ruary 17, 1891, they celebrated their golden wed- 
 ding at the old homestead. The father of Mrs. Amos 
 Otis came to this township in a very early day. 
 She and her husband are the parents of twelve 
 children, seven of whom arc now living. They 
 were formerly members of the Baptist Church but 
 for some time have belonged to the Methodist 
 Church in the affairs of which they take an active 
 interest. 
 
 Asa H. Otis, the grandfather of our subject, was 
 a member of the Michigan State Legislature in 
 1850, also of the Michigan State Constitutional 
 Convention in 1835. For four 3'ears he was under- 
 Sheriff at Detroit. He also for many years held 
 the office of Supervisor and was Justice of the 
 
 Peace in his township. During those early days 
 and in<)eed throughout his life he was a prominent 
 politician, being a Jacksonian Democrat and car- 
 rying great weight with the followers of his party. 
 He came to Michigan a |)oor man and bought eighty 
 acres of wild land. When he had purchased for 
 home consumption, one barrel of pork, one barrel 
 of flour and a jug of molasses, and had brought his 
 family to the new home he had sifS left. At his death 
 at the age of fifty-eight years, he owned five hun- 
 dred acres of land near Detroit, ihree hundred and 
 twenty acres at Grand Rapids, and a large tract in 
 Lapeer County. He was in other ways besides 
 that of farming a prominent business man, being a 
 great trader, undertaking large transactions. He 
 constructed tlie ])lank road from Plymouih to De- 
 troit. 
 
 Amon Otis was the eldest child of his parents, 
 being born October 30, 1842, in the old homestead 
 in Wayne County, Mich. He availed himself of 
 the best education which could be obtained in the 
 district schools of that region, until at seventeen 
 years of age he went to the State Normal School 
 at Ypsilanti,of which institution he was a member 
 for two terms. He began teaching school at nine- 
 teen years of age in Ionia County, anil for live win- 
 ters the district schools of Berlin Township knew 
 him as one of their most capable and earnest teach- 
 ers. Except this experience in the schoolroom he 
 has ailhered to his business as a farmer. 
 
 Our subject was married March 24, 1866, to 
 Cynthia Harwood, a daughter of Isaac Harwood, of 
 Berlin Township (sec sketch of father). This lady 
 was born July 25, 1847, in Orleans Townshi|i, 
 Ionia County. She had been prepared in the com- 
 mon schools for the profession of a teacher, and 
 taught until her marriage. After this event our 
 subject worked a farm upon the shares for two 
 years until 1867, when he settled upon the farm 
 which he now occupies. It comprised eighty acres 
 of perfectly wild, raw land and heavy timber. At 
 the same time that he was occupied in clearing off 
 this land, breaking and cultivating it, he worked 
 the land of others upon shares. A log house made 
 tlieir home until fourteen years ago, when he built 
 his present residence at a cost of $1,500. The barns, 
 outbuildings and fences upon this farm have been 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBLTM. 
 
 623 
 
 |)iit up by him. He carries on mixeil fariuiiiji;, aiul 
 lias a line orchard and small fruit in cultivation. 
 This couple were the parents of live children. Their 
 eldest daughter, Sarah P., has but a year more to 
 complete a full course at the State Normal School. 
 She is now teaching at Sand Boacli, Huron County, 
 Mich. Nora is a student ;it the Ionia High School. 
 Tlie third daughter, Myrtie, is deceased. The re- 
 maining children arc Lee and Burt. 
 
 ]Mr. Otis is a member of the Masonic order at 
 Ionia, is also a Granger in which organization he 
 has been for many years a Master and is so at pres- 
 ent. His intelligence and ability cause him to 
 stand well in the estimation of his neighbors. This 
 has been shown by his being [jlaced for years upon 
 the School Board, also by his election in 1870 to 
 th(> ollioe of Supervisor of Berlin Townsliip in 
 wiiich oflicc he served for three years, and was 
 at another time returned to the same [wsilion. In 
 1S74 he w!»s elected County Treasurer. This olHce 
 he held two years. He has also been Clerk of Ber- 
 lin Township. His political convictions arc witii 
 the Democratic party anil he has always taken a 
 lively interest in politics. 
 
 Ml BRAM HUNT. Among the old-timers in 
 %M Orange Township, Ionia County, we find 
 (fi the subject of this sketch. He is indeed 
 the last survivor of all those who were 
 playmates together here nearly sixty years ago. He 
 is the son of William Hunt who was born in Rens- 
 selaer County, N. Y. He was a hatter by trade 
 but later in life took up the business of farming. 
 'l"he family on the paternal side are (Quakers. The 
 mother of our subject bore the maiden name of 
 Mary Shaddock. She was unitcil in marriage to 
 William Hunt in New York State, and resided there 
 until 1828, when he came to Michigan and settlc<l 
 as a pioneer in Washleuaw Count}'. Three years 
 later, in 18.31, he came to Ionia County and located 
 at Lyons, where he carried on a business of trading 
 with the Indians for scveial years. 
 
 In May, 1834 the father of our subject brought 
 his family and located in Lyons, three years later 
 
 settling on a farm in Ionia Township on ."section 24, 
 on unbroken land. In Lyons Township at that 
 lime the only settlers were Franklin Chubb, Na- 
 than Benjamin, and another family named Moore. 
 In Ionia Township there were the McCalvey family, 
 who came here three days earlier than Mr. Hunt, 
 and Henry B. Leibhardt. There was then no one 
 residing in Orange Township and only a small set- 
 tlement at Ionia. Mr. Hunt built a log house for 
 his family and began to clear off his land, eighty 
 acres being all timber. Wild animals and Iiulians 
 abounded. He improved thirty' acres of his farm 
 during his eighteen years of residence there, and 
 then sold it, and went up Grand River about three 
 miles into Lyons Township. There he bought 
 eighty acres of new land, built a frame house and 
 improved about thirty acres of that farm. He died 
 in 1857, his wife following him in 18() t. Of their 
 six children five are now living: Louisa, Mrs. 
 Stephen Bunker; our subject; Ruth S.; Mrs. Benjamin 
 Thompson; Cynthia, Mrs. Densmore, deceased; 
 William W., and Sarah M., Mrs. Mieajah Sherman. 
 Mrs. William Hunt was by faith a Universalist. 
 Her husband was active in matters of public inter- 
 est, helping to organize Lyons Township, and being 
 one of the first Road Commissioners of the town- 
 ship. He also helped organize the first lodge of 
 the Masonic order in Ionia County. It was located 
 at Portland. 
 
 Abram Hunt was born December 11, 1822, in 
 Ontario County, N. Y., and hence was twelve 
 years of age when he made his first appearance in 
 Michigan. It w.as before the d.ays of schools and 
 he had great fun running wild with the Indian 
 boys. He, however, attended the first scliool or- 
 ganized in Lyons Township and had for his teacher 
 Miss Susan Moore, afterward Mrs. Boyer. Until 
 he was twenty-two years of age he staid at home 
 and helped his father, after which he went West, 
 spending two years in Iowa, working out by the 
 month. He returned home and bought a farm of 
 eighty acres on section 6, in Portland Township. 
 .Settling ui)on it he began to improve this raw land 
 anil built a small frame house upon it, in which he 
 kept ''bachelor's hall" for three years. 
 
 In 18.53 the subject of this sketch married 
 Frances A. Hoyt, a daughter of Lewis and Betsey 
 
624 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Hoyt, of New York, then living in Jackson County, 
 Mich., and early settlers of that county. The par- 
 ents of Mrs. Hunt had each a child by a previous 
 marriage, and three children by this union. Mrs. 
 Hunt was born in 1832, and died in 1859. Mr. 
 Hunt's second marriage was with Miss Mary Jane 
 Bugby in 1864. She was born in Seneca County, 
 Ohio, her parents having come there from New 
 York. They had emigrated to Michigan about 1854. 
 By this secorid marriage Abram Hunt had one 
 child, Frank A., whose moliier died December U, 
 1890, at the age of fifty years. Mr. Hunt moved 
 on his present farm on section 1, in the fall of 
 1856, and at once proceeded to clear it of the 
 heavy timber which was growing thereon. He has 
 eighty acres, a residence, barns and all other neces- 
 sary buildings. He also has sixty acres cleared off 
 and cultivated, all by his own labor, although when 
 he began he had nothing. At the breaking out of 
 the Civil War in 1861 he enlisted in Company D, 
 Ninth Michigan Infantry and served as a private 
 eleven months until honorably discharged on ac- 
 count of sickness. 
 
 The subject of this sketch has been the Treasurer 
 of the School Board in Portland Township, also 
 Road Overseer a number of times. His first vote 
 was cast for James K. Polk and he has always taken 
 an interest in politics, belonging to the Democratic 
 party, although voting for Lincoln at his first elec- 
 tion. He still actively carries on his farm himself. 
 He is the last one of those who were in this neigh- 
 borhood at the time of his settlement here. 
 
 -^- g - ^ I' t - g- 
 
 ,,... RTHUR N. HALL, son of one of the ear- 
 (@!Oi liest settlers of Ionia Township and Ionia 
 County, owns and occupies a small but 
 valuable farm on section 7. His estate 
 includes forty acres of well-developed land, about 
 half of which was cleared by himself. To his ef- 
 forts are due its present improvements, including 
 the well-made fences, ample outbuildings, and the 
 tasteful residence which was built at a cost of about 
 12,500. The thriving orchard was set out by Mr. 
 Hall, and he derives a good income from the sale 
 
 of mixed crops which he raises upon his own land 
 and forty acres adjoining, together with a thirty 
 elsewhere that he rents. Having learned the trade 
 of carpentry he frequently works at it, when his 
 farm work will allow. 
 
 Joshua S. Hall, father of our subject, settled here 
 more than half a century ago, but is now a resident 
 of Easton Township and one of its wealthiest men. 
 He is a member of the Pioneer Society of Ionia 
 'County and is well known among the old s^ttlers_ 
 His wife, formerly Sarah A. Haight, is still living 
 and is now about threescore and ten years old. 
 Their family comprises seven sons and ^daughters, 
 of whom our subject is the third in order of birth. 
 Ilis natal day was February 22, 1848, and his birth- 
 place the township of which he is still a resident. 
 He received a district-school education and further 
 prepareil himself for the affairs of life by attending 
 a business college at Grand Rapids. He has al- 
 waj's been a farmer, and being obliged to show his 
 ability by doing for himself, he rented a farm 
 when twenty-one years old and carried it on for a 
 year. He then bought forty acres in Orleans 
 Township — an improved tract — and lived upon it 
 four years. At the expiration of that time he 
 sold out, and bought and removed to his present 
 estate. 
 
 The wife of Mr. Hall bore the maiden name of 
 Tilla Jlarlin and is a daughter of Andrew and 
 Leonora (Martin) Martin, natives of C'an.ada and 
 New York respectively. Mr. Martin was a soldier 
 in his young days, belonging to a Canadian regi- 
 ment, and upon leaving the army he turned his 
 attention to farming. He was married in Canada, 
 whence he came to this State in 1864, settling in 
 Otisco Township, Ionia County. A few 3'ears later 
 he removed to Easton Township, which was his 
 permanent place of abode. He was born in August 
 1808, and died May 24, 1882. His widow stdl 
 occupies the homestead; she is now seventy-six 
 years old. Of her children, seven in number, four 
 arc now living. 
 
 Mrs. Hall was born near Pelham, Canatia, No- 
 vember 15, 1853, and received a common-school 
 education in this State. She became the wife of 
 our subject February 22, 1872, and to them have 
 been born three children, whose record is as fol- 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lows: Cora E., born in Orleans Township, February 
 6, 1873; Roj- A., in the same township, June 4. 
 1875; Ilerbeit C, in Ionia Townsiiip, October 8, 
 18cSl. All are bright and quick of com prehension 
 ami tln' sons are doing good work in the district 
 school. The daugliter lias been a student in the 
 Ionia Iligli School and has taught in tlie county 
 for a 3-ear. She is a ver^- good performer upon 
 the organ and has given music lessons. Both Cora 
 and Roy belong to tiie Patrons of Industry :ind 
 Roy is Sentinel in the lodge. There is a literary 
 society connected with the organization, and the 
 entire family take part in its exercises, even little 
 Herbert bearing a part. 
 
 At convcntit)ns of the Repulilican p.irty IMr. 
 Hall has frequently .acted as a delegate and he is 
 sure to be at the polls when the ballot box is open, 
 lie has been Drain-ige Commissioner of the town- 
 ship and is now serving his second term; he was 
 Sui)ervisor of Orleans Township three years, and 
 thirteen in Ionia Township, and he has been Di- 
 rector of the local School Hoard and in Orleans 
 Townshii) he filled a similar position four years. 
 lie has taken an active part in the work of the 
 (i range and is now identified with the Patrons of 
 Industry and has been President of the lodge for 
 a year past. Mrs. Hall is Treasurer of the same 
 l)ody. P.otli ui)hold temperance principles, and liy 
 e.\ample and [irecept endeavor to stand on the side 
 of right and justice. Mrs. Hall and Cora and 
 Roy belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Hall is 
 now President of the Ionia County Bee Association 
 and is also President of the County Alliance. 
 
 -S^^* 
 
 YDNKY CROPF. Among the many prom- 
 inent families in Ionia County none are 
 more worth}' of representation in this 
 Ai.BUJi than the Groflfs, whose hea<l was 
 removed from the scenes of earth but a short lime 
 since, leaving a void not easil}' (illed. Mr. (irolT 
 w.as one of the best of citizens, esteemed fur his 
 honesty and sterling integrity in business, for his 
 public spirit and enterprise, and for the private 
 virtues that made him a goo<I friend and neighbor. 
 
 He possessed a goocl degree of business ability, as 
 was evidenced by the fact that he began as a poor 
 youth anil left an estate valued at about ^9,000. A 
 pari of this was a farm on section 13, Kaston Town- 
 ship, where his widow still makes her home. 
 
 Mr. Groff's paternal grandfather was a German, 
 who upon emigrating to America eslablisheil a 
 home in Warren County, N. J. There the family 
 has remained generation after generation. 'I'lu' 
 maternal ancestors of Mr. GrofT are said to have 
 been Irish. In the ncighl)orhood that has been the 
 home of the family for manj', many years, Sydney 
 GrotT was born .lune 2'2, 1814. Under the care of 
 his good parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Clawson) 
 tiroff, he grew to a sturdy manhood, adding to his 
 common-school education considerable knowledge 
 gained by reading and close observation of busi- 
 ness methods. For several years after his marriage 
 his home wjis in Niagara County, N. Y., and from 
 there he remove<l to Aslitnhula County, Ohio, in 
 1810. 
 
 After living in the Buckeye State a ([uarter of a 
 century Mr. and Mrs. Groff came to Ionia County, 
 and in Kaston Township our subject spent the 
 gicater part of his time until his decease. During 
 his later ^-ears he was engaged in money-loaning, 
 but much of his earlier life had been devoted to 
 to farming. He pa.ssed away December 1, 1889. 
 He had been connected wiih the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, and was a member of an Odd Fellows 
 lodge in It)nia and had been from its organization. 
 His political alliliations were with the Demociatic 
 parly. 
 
 Mrs. Maria ( iroff, widow of our suliject, is a native 
 of Dutchess County, N. Y., having been born in 
 the city of Pouuhkeepsie, A|uil 14, 1818. She is a 
 daughter of Nehemiah and Elizabeth (Reynus) 
 Tompkins ami is the only survivor of their twelve 
 sons and daughters. She had several brothers in 
 the ^Var of 181 2. .She lost her mother when she 
 was but fourteen months olil, but her father sur- 
 vived until she was seventeen. Her education was 
 obtained in the district schools. \Vhon si.xteen 
 years olil she went to live wilh an uncle, John \V. 
 .Stone of Niagara Countj', and in his family she 
 remained until her marriage to Mr. (irofT. which 
 interesting event took place March '.), 1837. Mrs. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Groff is of English lineage ou her fatiiei's side and 
 traces the maternal line to Holland. During the 
 years of her wedded life she was a faithful coun- 
 selor and an efficient helpmate, and rendered her 
 husband valuable aid in all the affairs of life. She 
 is still occupying the residence near the city of 
 Ionia where they spent many happy days together, 
 and around which her circle of acquaintance extends 
 for many miles, while iier friends are counted by 
 scores. 
 
 A lithographic portrait of the late Mr. Groff ap- 
 pears on another i)age of the Album. 
 
 ARQUIS L. McCRUMB. The homo of 
 this worthy farmer and good citizen is on 
 section 3G, Dauby Township, and is one of 
 the well-improved farms of Ionia County. 
 It was bought by him when scarcely any improve- 
 ments had been made u|)on it and he has placed it 
 in its present condition. Crops of various kinds 
 are raised, chief attention being given to the 
 cereals adapted to the climate of this region, 
 and a strict attention is given by the owner 
 to tlie management of the estate. Mr. McCrumb 
 is a veteran of the Civil War and enjoys the dis- 
 tinction of being one of those who first entered the 
 service in August, 1861. His record as a soldier 
 is one of valor and true patriotism, such as might 
 well be expected from one in whose veins the blood 
 of loyal ancestors runs. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject be- 
 longed to the Colonial army in Revolutionary 
 times and the father fought in the War of 1812, 
 serving under Gen. Brown in Canada and being 
 present at the famous battle of Lundy's Lane. The 
 lineage is traced back to Scotland and that of our 
 subject's mother to Ireland. William and Mary 
 (Stewart) McCrumb, the parents of him of whom 
 we write, were living in Lorain County, Ohio, when 
 their sou Marquis was born, December 19, 1837. 
 The lad was small when they removed to Clinton 
 County, this State, where the father died in 1846. 
 The mother survived until 1858, when she too 
 passed away. A son George carried on the home- 
 
 stead, upon which Marquis remained until he was 
 of age. In 1860 he went to Missouri, remaining 
 a year, then returning to Michigan and soon en- 
 rolling himself under the three months' call. He 
 went to Grand Rapids where he was stationed two 
 months, after which he returned to his home. 
 
 In August, 1861, Mr. McCrumb again enlisted, 
 on this occasion becoming a member of Company 
 E, Eighth Michigan Infantry, and going into camp 
 at Washington. For two months he endured the 
 routine of camp life and constant drilling, and then 
 via Fortress INIonroe went to South Carolina, land- 
 ing at Hilton Head and going on to Beaufort 
 Island. A slight skirmish took place there and the 
 regiment made that their headquarters for nearly a 
 year and were then sent to Ft. Pulaski and there 
 took part in a heavy engagement. At Wilmington 
 Island there was a hard fight, April 16, 1862, and 
 at James Island another June 16, half of the regi- 
 ment being killed or wounded in the latter engage- 
 ment. The list of battles in which Mr. McCrumb 
 participated includes Bull Run, August 29,1862; 
 Chantilly, September 1 ; South Mountain, Septem- 
 ber 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, 
 December 12, 13 and 14; siege of Vicksburg, June 
 22 to July 4, 1863; Jackson, Miss., July 11 to 18; 
 Blue Springs, October 10; Loudon; Lenore Sta- 
 tion, November 15; Campbell Station, Novem- 
 ber 16. 
 
 At Campbell Station Mr. McCrumb was less for- 
 tunate than he had been ou other battlefields and 
 was struck by a ball near the left eye. He was 
 carried off the field and did not return to conscious- 
 ness for several hours. The next day the ball was 
 extracted from the back of the head and the doc- 
 tors inserted a piece of silver to support his eye- 
 ball. In consequence of the wound Mr. McCrumb 
 has lost the sight of one e3'e, and suffers intensely 
 from the effects of the wound. He spent some time 
 in the hospital at Knoxville, and soon after his re- 
 turn to his regiment veteranized with his comrades 
 and came home on a furlough. The first action 
 after his return to the South was the Wilderness, 
 Maj' 5, 6 and 7, 1864, and this was followed by 
 Spottsylvania,Ma3- 10, 11 and 12; North Anna, May 
 24 and 25; Bethesda Church, June 2 and 3; Cold 
 Harbor, June 7; Petersburg, June 17 and 18; and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 629 
 
 the Crater, July 30. At the last-named battlefield 
 Mr. McCrunib was wounded tiy a niinie ball from 
 a sharp shooter's rifle. lie was struck on the top 
 of the head toward the left side and was again 
 borne from the field. He was given a short leave 
 of absence while recovering, but was with the 
 command in the tight at Weldon Railroad, August 
 1 9 to 2 1 . 
 
 The following battles are added to llie listaheady 
 given, in whicii Mr. RlcCrurab acted the part of a 
 brace sohlier: Ream's Station, August 25, 1864; 
 Poi)lar Spring Cluirch, September 30; Pegram 
 Kami, October 2; Bo^'uton Road, October 8; 
 Hatchie's Run, October 27 and 28; Ft. Stcadman, 
 March 25, 1865; and Ft. Mahon, April 2. His 
 service was ended by participation in the siege of 
 Petersburg, during which his ani<le was injured by 
 a I>iece of shell, leaving an ugly scar. Those who 
 are familiar with the horrors of war will understand 
 that there was much hazardous work taking place 
 between the battles mentioned, and that a good 
 soldier is deserving of credit for the manner in 
 wliich he conducts himself during camp life and 
 on the march. Mr. McCrumb was so unfortunate 
 as to receive a bayonet wound in the right arm 
 while on a foraging expedition, the rebels having 
 made a charge on the Union wagon-train. 
 
 At the close of the war .Mr. McCrumb returned 
 to his former home and in a short time was located 
 in Ionia County. He was the owner of seventy 
 acres of land which he had bought while in the 
 army, and this he sold, buying instead one hundred 
 and sixty acres in I>anby Townshi|), which he set 
 to work to innprove. He subsequently sohl that 
 tract and bought one hundred and forty acres on 
 section 25, and this in turn was disposed of and 
 an eighty on section 36, purchased. No further 
 change has been made in Mr. McCrumb's base of 
 operations, but his energy has been expended on 
 bringing about tlie best results from his farm and 
 making his home comfortable. 
 
 The date of the marriage of Mr. McCrumb mid 
 Miss Rebecca Thunia was December 31, 1865. The 
 bride's parents. Christian and Mary Thuma, were 
 natives of Pennsylvania and from that State re- 
 moved to Richland County. Ohio, in 1835. There 
 their daughter Rebecca was born in March, 1838. 
 
 She is one of eight children reared by her parents, 
 and had two brothers in the Union army. David 
 returned home after three years of army life, but 
 Joshua laid down his life in defense of the old flag. 
 He enlisted in the Fourteenth Michigan Infantry 
 February 5, 1802, and died near Corinth, Miss., 
 June 19 following. Mrs. McCrumli traces her de- 
 scent from a Revolutionary soldier who was lior 
 paternal great-grandfather. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. MeCrunib six children have 
 come, three of whom are living: Fidelia, Holland 
 and Calista. The eldest of these is the wife of W. 
 J. Somers, who enjoys the distinction of being one 
 of the youngest enlisted soldiers of the Civil War. 
 He was born in Geauga County, Ohio, July 21, 
 1853, and enlisted October 2, 1862, when but nine 
 years and three months old. He first served as 
 teamster in the Twenty-first Ohio Battery, Light 
 Artillery, and afterward became lanyard, his duty 
 being to fire the gun. He was honorably dis- 
 charged on his twelfth birthday, July 21, 1865, 
 after having served two years, nine nmnths and 
 nineteen daj's. 
 
 .Mr. McCrumb is a believer in Republican prin- 
 ciples and has always voted the ticket of that party, 
 lie is a quiet, un.assuming citizen, who takes no 
 pail in public affairs other than to express his opin- 
 ion in the proper way and discharge the duties that 
 lie before him in connection with his neighbors and 
 family. 
 
 5^^- ■ 
 
 AMIKL A. GIBBS, the eldest son of John 
 M. and .\lmira (Clark) (Jibbs, lives in 
 Orange Township, Ionia County. His 
 father is still living in Portland, but the 
 mother is deceased. Six of their children are now 
 living. Our subject was born August 7, 1833, in 
 Massachusetts and came to Ohio niili his parents 
 when five years old. He lived in Portage County 
 until 1854 when he came to Michigan. He received 
 a district school education while in Ohio aixl 
 through his youth and early manhood remained at 
 home, giving his time and strength to the family 
 interests. They all worked together for the com- 
 mon welfare, and there was no separation until after 
 
630 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 they came to Michigan. They settled on section 
 19, Portland Township, on one hundred and fifty 
 acres, which was a little improved but had no build- 
 ings except an old log house. The residence was 
 built in 1854, and was the third frame house in this 
 neighborliood. The next year they built a barn. 
 There were about twenty-five acres in cultivation, 
 but it is now all under the plow. 
 
 Our subject was married in March, 1854, to Miss 
 Mary E. Savage, a daughter of Portus and Clarissa 
 (Raymond) Savage, botii natives of Vermont. Mr. 
 Savage's two wives were sisters. He was a farmer 
 and merchant in Portage County, Ohio, of which 
 he was a pioneer. He afterward sold out and went 
 to Indiana and settled upon a farm in the southern 
 part of the State. Both be and his wife died there. 
 By his first marriage he had one child, Mrs. Gibbs, 
 and by the second three sons, all now living. He 
 was an active member of the Congregational 
 Church. During the Morgan raid in Indiana he 
 had quite a serious experience, having three horses 
 stolen and being himself chased, captured and shot 
 at, by the men of the Morgan band. The ball cut 
 bis hat, barely grazing his head. Mrs. Gibbs was 
 born July 5, 1832, in Portage County, Ohio, where 
 she received a good education and taught school 
 before her marriage. 
 
 Mr.and Mrs. Gibbs are the parents of two children : 
 Frank H., is foreman in a hardware store in West 
 Bay City, Mich.; he has a good business education 
 and at one time kept books in the office of Sage & 
 Co., at Bay City. Lena E. is a student in the Bus- 
 iness College at Bay City. In 1855 Mr. and Mrs. 
 Gibbs bought eigiity .acres on section 13, where 
 they now live. The .site of their residence was the 
 first land in the neighborhood to be improved. 
 There was a log house upon it when our subject went 
 there to live, lie has cleared all the eighty acres and 
 added to it so that he now has one hundred and 
 twenty acres, one hundred of wiiich are under the 
 plow. He built his present residence twenty years 
 ago at a cost of $2,000. His farm is in excellent 
 condition and he has taken an .active interest in 
 every improvement put upon it, having set out a 
 fine orchard which is in good bearing condition. 
 He carries on mixed farming and for about four- 
 teen years has been interested in cheese-making. 
 
 For two years past he has made cheese upon his 
 own farm, and for awhile he carried on a meat 
 market at Portland. 
 
 Mr. Gibbs' first wife died July 1, 1882. She 
 was an earnest and active member of the Baptist 
 Church. His second union was with Mrs. Lucinda 
 (Dennison) Williams, in March, 1883. She was 
 born in Portage County, Ohio, fifty years ago, 
 and received a good schooling. By her former 
 marriage she had three children, one of whom is 
 how living. She is a member of the Methodist 
 Episco|)al Church. Mr. Gibbs belongs to the 
 Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is active 
 in the Patrons of Industry, having been Treasurer 
 of the same. He has also been Treasurer of Orange 
 Township for four years, and Highway Commis- 
 sioner for one year. He has taken an active inter- 
 est in politics and votes the Republican ticket. His 
 neighbors have frequently made him delegate to 
 county and district conventions. At the dis- 
 trict Fair he has taken both first and second pre- 
 miums on cheese. 
 
 AMUEL O. HOSFORD. Such legal matters 
 as require tlie counsel and advice of a law- 
 yer at Lake Odessa, Ionia County, are gen- 
 erally given to Mr. Hosford for settlement. 
 He is carrying on the real-estate and insurance bus- 
 iness, together with that of collecting. He is one 
 of those who seem able to turn their attention to 
 several occupations, and as the following paragraphs 
 will show he has diverted his energy into divers 
 lines with a greater or less degree of success. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Roswell and 
 Sarah (Stillwell) Hosford; the father was born in 
 Connecticut and of English ancestry, and tiie mother 
 a native of New York and of Dutch stock. During 
 his youth Mr. Hosford worked at the cooper's trade 
 but when he grew older turned his attention to 
 farming and carried it on in Livingston County, N. 
 Y., until 1845. He then removed to Hillsdale Coun- 
 ty, this Stale, carried on agricultural work there 
 until 1852 and then came to Ionia County. His 
 first home here was on a farm in North Plains Town- 
 ship, and in 1 8G7 he removed to Odessa Township, 
 
PORTRAIT AM) BIOGRAPHICAL ALRUM. 
 
 631 
 
 buying farm laud in connection with his son. 
 There he remained until called from time to eter- 
 nity in 1881. He was bereft of his wife in 1872. 
 Both beIons>:od to the Baptist Churcli. They iiad 
 two children, tlie elder of wliorn is Minerva A., now 
 the widow of John A. Fuller and living in Onialiu. 
 Neb. 
 
 The subject of this biographical sketch was born 
 in Livingston County, N. Y. March 7, 1833, anil 
 remained there until he was twelve j'cars old. In 
 the naeantime he had been pursuing the studies 
 taught in tiie district sciiool, and after the removal 
 of the family to this State he continued his studies 
 in Hillsdale County until he was seventeen 3'ears old. 
 
 He then secured a position as clerk in a store at 
 .lonesville, where he staid about three years, then 
 clerked in Hillsdale for twelve months. The gold 
 fever attacked him and going to New York he took 
 l)assage for California, via the Isthmus. On his 
 arrival amid the gold fields ho engaged in mining 
 and followeil that pursuit industriously about four 
 years, after which he took up the profession of teach- 
 ing. For two years he taught, and the remaining 
 time until October, 18(54, he devoted to farming. 
 At that time he returned to New York by the water 
 route and came to his parents' home. 
 
 The following spring Mr. Hosford bought prop- 
 erty in North Plains Township, Ionia Count}', which 
 after farming three years he exchanged for a tract 
 in Odessa Township. He operated the second es- 
 tate until 1872, then he engaged in mercantile busi- 
 ness at Bonanza and divided his attention between 
 the two occupations. I'pon giving up his store he 
 gave his time entirely to his farm until the fall of 
 1876, when lie was elected County Clerk, which 
 position he filled until January 1, 1879. At the 
 close of his odicial life he returned to the farm and 
 occupied it until 1888, when he moved to Lake 
 Odessa and gave his attention to business in lines 
 before mentioned. The fall after his removal to 
 town he sold his farm. 
 
 The wife of Mr. Hosford, with whom he was uni- 
 ted April 23, 18G8, bore the maiden nanieof Anuis 
 A. Tupper. She was born in Odessa Township and 
 was the Grst white girl to open her eyes to the 
 light within its bounds. Her father, Myron Tupper, 
 ft native of Monroe County, N. V., came to this 
 
 State to look for land in 1839 and learning that 
 there was Government land to be had in Ionia 
 County, he came here at once and entered a tract 
 in Odessa Township. It was on section 27, and 
 through it (lowed a small stream while a lake, now 
 known as Tuppcr's Lake, mirrored the trees upon 
 its bosom. Mr. Tu])per w.is the first settler in the 
 township, and had the ambition and nerve to make 
 his way through the trackless timbers to seek a home. 
 He suffered all the trials incident to jdoneer life 
 but survived them, and lived to see prosperity and 
 high civilization in the once wild expanse. He 
 (lied March 3, 1880, about twenty years after his 
 wife had passed away, the date of her demise being 
 December 24, 1860. 
 
 Mr. Hosford has been School Inspector and 
 Highway Commissioner and at present is Secretary 
 of the .School Board. In discharging the duties of 
 office he is careful and conscientious, an! anxious 
 to push forward the affairs which are in his charge 
 to the best results possible. He has been a member 
 of the Masonic order about eighteen years. He is a 
 man of much public spirit, and toward the advance- 
 ment and improvement of the vicinity in which he 
 lives he has done all that lay in his power. He and 
 his wife are well known, not only in the township 
 in which they have so long lived, but in the country 
 round about, and both are respected by their 
 acquaintances. • Mrs. Hosford is a member of the 
 Baptist and Mr. Hosford is connected with the 
 Christian Church. 
 
 fl^ij{ ARCUS J. FISK, well known in Lyons .ind 
 Muir, Ionia County, is engaged in the 
 liverj' business at those places and also 
 runs a line of busses. He is a native ot 
 Niagara County, N. Y., the ilate of his birth being 
 November 1, 18.04, and his parents Marcus R. ami 
 Mary (Perrine) Fisk. They were boni in Catta- 
 raugus and Allegan}' Counties respectively, and 
 the father was an extensive farmer. They removed 
 to Illinois in 185.J, settling near Belviderc and 
 remaining there two vears. Thence tbev went 
 
632 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to Benton County, Iowa, making that locality 
 their home nine years, the husband still carrying 
 on farm work. Their next removal was to Ionia 
 County, tliis State, and in Lyons Township they 
 permanently remained. The wife died in April, 
 1884, and tlie husband December 30, 1888. 
 
 The Fisk family is of Welsh stock, but James 
 Fisk, grandfather of our subject, was a native of 
 New York. In the same -State the maternal grand- 
 father, James Perrine, was also born, he being of 
 French ancestry. While living in Iowa, the father 
 of Marcus J. Fisk was a Supervisor, and in his later 
 home he was well known and foremost in good 
 deeds, never turning a needy one from las door 
 unaided. He was a member of the Grange and of 
 the Democratic part}'. The members of his family 
 are Mrs. Francis Hill, Mrs. Emily Hartman, Mrs. 
 May Wood, and he whose life is our topic. 
 
 Our subject was reared amid the usual surround- 
 ings of rural life, early taking up his share of 
 the farm labors and becoming conversant with all 
 that pertains to the management of an estate. For 
 some years prior to leaving the homestead he had 
 charge of the same and in 1883 he became its 
 purchaser and returned to it for a year's residence. 
 He then rented it until 1886. at which time lie sold 
 out. The education of Mr. Fisk was gained in 
 Lyons, and he has a fair supply of book knowledge 
 and much practical wisdom. He first left home in 
 1878, and when he rented the farm a few years 
 later he again took up the cares of business life in 
 town, coming to Lyons whicii has since been his 
 home. 
 
 In 1887 Mr. Fisk bought tiie livery stable and 
 bus line, and he includes botli the Detroit, Lansing 
 & Nortlicrn, and Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwau- 
 kee Railroads in his stations. In Lj'ons he has a 
 stable 40xG0 feet, with a shed and a storage build- 
 ino- 20x60 feet, and he keeps twelve or fourteen 
 iiorses and two busses. At Muir lie has one barn 
 3.5x60 feet and another 20x35 with a lean-to, and 
 keeps such a supply of teams and equipages is the 
 business in the place demands. He employes three 
 or four men in each village, and has the handling 
 of the mails and the express business. He has 
 made a good living, some provision for future 
 needs and has purchased three dwellings in Lyons 
 
 from the rental of two of which he adds to his in- 
 come. 
 
 In 1878 Mr. Fisk won an estimable wife, Miss 
 Nettie Buck, of Lyons, daughter of Jacob and 
 Clarissa (May) Buck, and a capable, true-hearted 
 woman, with good education and social qualities. 
 The family circle includes two children — EduaC. 
 and Don M. Mr. Fisk is connected with the Ma- 
 sonic order and votes the Democratic ticket. He is 
 a member of the Village Board and is one who dis- 
 plays the public spirit that aids in the progress of 
 the town. He has a pleasing personalit}- and many 
 are the friends he can claim. 
 
 AMUFL II. BAIRD, a man of Scottish 
 descent and of patriotic lineage, resides 
 on section 27, Home Township, Montcalm 
 County. He has been one of the most 
 extensive manufactures of shingles and lumber in 
 the county or State and owns a fine farm of two 
 hundred and five acres. He is the son of William 
 B., the son of Jonathan, who came when a small 
 child from Glasgow, Scotland, with his parents. 
 Young Jonathan made a matrimonial alliance 
 with a lady of wealth and family. Miss Lucy Bell, 
 a daughter of the Hon. Judge Bell, a Revolution- 
 ary hero and an intimate friend of Washington's. 
 This family are intense lovers of the horse and 
 Jonathan had the family characteristic. Through 
 the War of 1812 he rode a horse named "Curley" 
 of almost human intelligence, who saved his 
 master's life over and over again. U[ion one occa- 
 sion when Jonathan was taken prisoner and confined 
 in Canada the Canadian General's favorite horse was 
 very sick and no one could treat it. Capt. Baird's 
 knowledge of the horse and his diseases enabled 
 him to save this valuable animal, and the liberty 
 given him as a reward gave him opportunity to 
 to escape. He fled on horseback and swam the 
 river to the New York shore. After this war he 
 kept a liverj' and sale stable in Buffalo. His fam- 
 ily were wealth}- and made their home at Erie, 
 Pa., where he died. 
 The father of our subject was reared in Erie, 
 
PORTRAIT AND RIOGRAIMHCAL ALBUM. 
 
 633 
 
 Pa., and was early apprenticed as a carpenter and 
 millwright, and became a fine meclianic. lie was 
 eng.iged in biiililing mills and factorit's tliroiigli- 
 uul lliat region. In 1848 lie removed with his 
 family to Oliio in carrriages. .Stopping to visit 
 his brother at Willoughby, Lake County, he found 
 him in distress, as a freshet had washed out his 
 mill. The millwright brother repaired and jjut it 
 in working order, and by that time liked the 
 country well enough to remain. In 1851 he came 
 to Michigan and located on his farm in Grattan 
 Townshi]), Kent County. In accordance with the 
 family love for the horse he had studied as a veter- 
 inary surgeon. 
 
 In 18C-2 William 1). Baird enlisted in a Michi- 
 gan Cavalry regiment, and soon received thi! 
 appointment a? Veterinary Surgeon of the Third 
 Division. He served in this position until lie was 
 seriously injured while making his escape from the 
 enemy. His horse fell upon him and for days he 
 was insensible. He received an honorable discharge 
 and a |)ension of ^72 per month as his licallh had 
 not only been ruineil, but his eyesight destroye<l, 
 in consequence of his experience on the baltle- 
 ficld. He now makes his home with his children. 
 His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary 
 Pease, was born in Massachusetts September 21, 
 1811. Her girlhood home was near Dunkirk, 
 N. Y., where she was well educated and early showed 
 signs of unusual intellectual and literary ability. 
 She taught school when only thirteen years of 
 age and continued in this profession until her 
 marriage. She was poetically inclined and was a 
 tine writer as well as reader. She died at the 
 home of our subject in the fall of 1872. Iler 
 funeral sermon was preached from the text se- 
 lected by herself "I have fought a good fight; I 
 have finishctl the faith." 
 
 Of the seven children of this interesting and 
 8ui)crior couple, onl3' three survive: Our subject, 
 William H. and Lucy M., now Mrs. Beck. The 
 second son, William, followed the patriotic instincts 
 of the family and when only nineteen years of 
 age enlisted at the first ta() of the drum to help 
 fill Presi<lent Lincoln's first call for three months' 
 men. He belonged to the Third Michigan Volun- 
 tfers, T'ley wefe discharged f^l the end of their 
 
 term and he promptly re-enlisted id the same regi- 
 mental company and served until the close of the 
 war. He enterol the army a robust boy, bu 
 during his term of service lost his health and now 
 never sees a well day. He is residing near Lake 
 View, in this county. The thinl son, James, met 
 his death at Cedar Springs, June 16, 1863, by 
 being scalded through the carelessness of an en- 
 gineer. 
 
 The subject of this sketch w.as born in Krie, 
 I'a., December 'J, 1836. During his residence in 
 Ohio he helped to draw stone to the piers of the 
 Michigan Southern Railroad and worked at team- 
 ing and in a sawmill. He became a practical saw- 
 yer while still very young. When the f.imily 
 remove<i in 18ol to Grattan Township, Kent 
 County, ihis State, he went right into the milling 
 business and had numerous engagements and busi- 
 ness connections with the proprietors of the best 
 sawmills in that part of the country. He was 
 eagerly sought for as head sawyer. During this 
 time he met with a serious misfortune in the loss 
 of his right eye through a blow received from a 
 sharp stick. He w.as foreman in the Whitney mill 
 until 1863, when his brother's sad death so unset- 
 tled him as to lead him to change his business 
 connection. 
 
 In 1861 our subject volunteei-cd into the army, 
 but was refused on account of his blind eye. In 
 186."^ he bought one-half interest in Kidd's mill 
 and after remaining there two years filleil various 
 engagements with |>roprietorsof sawmills in numer- 
 ous places. He engaged in the manufacture of 
 shingles at Crystal Lake, in this county, and with 
 a partner, Gilbert Stover, built a gristmill. They 
 had a large business, so large that they were 
 obliged to put in steam. an<l were making a great 
 success of it when an enemy of his partner set fire 
 to the mill and it bui-ned down. This left our 
 young man badly incumbered with debt. Again 
 at Pine Lake he was burned out, ancl then was 
 118,000 in debt. 
 
 The confidence of one's friends in one's inteij- 
 rity and ability is sometimes like cash in the pocket, 
 and it was so in this case. Nothing daunted, Mr. 
 Baird bought a tract of land valued nt <i23,000. 
 He set up a double-shingle mill with the latest im- 
 
634 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 provements and backed by moneyed friends went 
 to work. Here he obtained the reputation of hav- 
 ing the best mill in the State, and was able to 
 manufacture shingles at the nominal cost of sixty- 
 five cents a thousand. A Big Rapids firm, Foster 
 Blaekman & Co. gladly went into partnership with 
 him and they built a lumber manufactory and 
 l)uslied a large business, but the flame of the de- 
 stroyer again pursued him. The whole camp, 
 mills and all were burned down. Mr. Baird has 
 probably lost a fortune of 1100,000 by fires exclu- 
 sive of insurance. 
 
 The firm rebuilt the mills and continued work 
 there until all the pine was manufactured. In 1885 
 he went to Big Rapids and there contracted with 
 Wyraan &. Rumsey to cut over thirty million feet 
 of lumber. This occupied him for more than two 
 years. After this he went to Rheinlands, Wis., and 
 built a large shingle, lumber and lath mill. Here 
 he did a large business, cutting over ninety- 
 seven thousand feet of lumber, forty-five thou- 
 sand shingles and thirty thousand feet of lath a 
 day. He then sold his mill and invested the 
 money in North Carolina pine lands and removed 
 to the old place in Michigan, where his old mill 
 stood. This land he has improved and it is now 
 a splendid farm. He has always been in general 
 merchandise along with his lumber manufacturing. 
 
 Mr. Baird has always found his recreation in the 
 cultivation of fine stock. His hobby is horses, of 
 which he is a good judge. He raises the Percheron 
 and Clydesdale strains and has some fine grades of 
 Short-horn and Cialloway cattle. Poland-China hogs 
 also engage his attention. He is looking forward 
 to building this spring a beautiful and commodious 
 home about half a mile from Edmore. His first 
 marriage took place near Sand Lake in 1863. His 
 wife, who.so maiden name was Julia A. Clark, died 
 in 1874, leaving no children. The lady who now 
 prcsiiles over his home became Mrs. Baird March 
 12, 1882. She was Roxie A., daughter of Henry 
 Wilson. Her parents now live at Cedar Spring. 
 
 Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Baird, three of whom, Henry G., Harry W. and S. 
 Luvern, arc now living. This gentleman has been 
 the most extensive hnnber manufacturer in the 
 township. He operated mills for himself twenty 
 
 years and for others even longer than that. He 
 is a stanch Republican and a liberal and open- 
 hearted citizen. He is ever public-spirited and 
 solicitous for the welfare of the community. 
 
 ^^^1 
 
 <S^^LI A. COLEMAN. A representative of the 
 IW) good old siock of New England, Mr. Cole- 
 i t' — -^ man is the eldest son of Beckett Coleman, 
 who was born September 29, 1801, in Connecticut. 
 When a young man the father was an operative in 
 a woolen mill but afterward became a farmer. Our 
 subject's mother bore the maiden name of Harriet 
 Strattou, and was born in New York May 10, 1806. 
 Her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, 
 serving through seven years of hardship and con- 
 flict. She was married to Beckett Coleman in New 
 York about 1825. After residing therefor some 
 years they removed to Huron County, Ohio, where 
 they remained until they came to Michigan in 
 1844, and settled on section 26, Orange Townshii), 
 Ionia County, where our subject now lives. Beck- 
 ett Coleman took up eighty acres of timber land 
 directly from the United States (iovernraent. Af- 
 ter paying for this purchase he vvas empty-handed, 
 but with courage and independence he went ahead 
 to subdue the wilderness. He built a log house, 
 cleared about fifty acres of timber land and be- 
 came closely identified with the progress of this 
 section. 
 
 Beckett Coleman and his good wife were mem- 
 bers of the Free Will Baptist Church, the local 
 branch of which be helped to organize. In politics 
 he was first a Democrat but later became a Repub- 
 lican. A man of temperate habits, through his 
 long residence of thirty-four years in the State he 
 was an example of manly and upright living. He 
 and his wife became the parents of nine children of 
 whom four are now living: Our subject was the 
 eldest; the others are David E ; Louisa, Mrs. 
 Douglas; and Esther, Mrs. John Wells. The 
 mother died June 11. 1858, but the father sur- 
 vived until May, 1878. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born September 
 20, 1827, in Jefferson County, N. Y. He received 
 
RETSIQENCE OF ELI A . C LEM AN ,5EC.26. HAi -i u l. iH.,iOuiA CO,,M.L,n 
 
 RESIDESJC!: OF LUTHER H AN DY , SEC. S. D AY T P., M NT C ALM CO.MICH. 
 
 RES I DEN 
 
 /VIS H. FERGUSON ,5LC. 21. ORANGE TR, IONIA CO.,MICH. 
 
1 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 637 
 
 a common scliool education in Ohio, which has 
 
 been largely supplemented by his studious habits, 
 inainlainod throughout manhood. He was nearly 
 eighteen years old when his parents ciime to Micli- 
 igan and he staid with them until he reached his 
 niajoritj'. then leaving home he went to Ottawa 
 County and worked in a lumber camp by the month 
 for three years. His industry and frugality eii- 
 able(J him when he returned to Ionia County to buy 
 forty acres of laud, a part of his present farm on 
 section 26. It was all wild land, but he has im- 
 proved and added to it and has cleared off two hun- 
 dred acres for himself. He married December 2, 
 1S55, Hannah Jane Smith, a daughter of Eben- 
 ezer and Nancy (Merrifielil) Smith, who came to 
 Michigan in Territorial days about 1835 and set- 
 tled in Oakland County. Afterward they removed 
 to Ionia County iu 1813 and made their home in 
 Orange Townshii). IMr. Smith lived until 1858, 
 his wife surviving him until 1867. They were the 
 parents of live sons and three daughters. Their 
 daughter, Mrs. Colcmau, was born .lune'25, 1827. 
 
 Kli A. Coleman and his first wife were the par- 
 ents of two children — Ella S., born November 6, 
 1861, married Edmund Harwood. They live in 
 Orange Township and have three children. Ida A., 
 who was born July 16, 1863, died January 26, 
 18G4. Three of his wife's brotliers, Ebenczer, Milam 
 and Ozem Smith served in the civil war. The first 
 was an Orderly-Sergeant in the Ninth Jlichigan 
 Infantry. Being taken sick he was sent homo on a 
 furlough and did not live to return. Milam was 
 in the First Kansas Batter}' and was severely hurt 
 by an accident. Ozem 3lso served in the Ninth 
 Michigan Infantry and now lives in this town- 
 ship. 
 
 Mr. Coleman is one of the heroes of the civil 
 war, enlisting December 24, 1863, in Companj* K, 
 Eirst Michigan Engineers. He was a private and 
 was promoted to the rank of Corjioral, serving 
 twenty-three months. He participated in the Ten- 
 nessee campaign, marching with Sherman to the sea, 
 and was present at the surrender of t!en. .lohnstou. 
 He took part in the Grand Review at Washington 
 in 1865, his regiment being tlie first in the Grand 
 March. He was honorably discharged at Jackson, 
 Mich., Sc[)tember 30, 1865, and joyfully returned 
 
 to his home and took up work on the farm. Hia 
 wife died January 21, 1886. She was an earnest 
 and conscientious member of tlie Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. 
 
 Mr. Coleman w.is a second time married August 
 It), 1886, when Macy Lyda, a daughter of Benjamin 
 and Mary (Rozcll) Lyda, became his wife. Her 
 father was born in Maryland in 1826 and her 
 mother in New Jersey in 1828. They were mar- 
 ried in Ohio and coming to Michigan in 1865, set- 
 tled in Ionia County, in Danby Township, but later 
 removed to Portland where they still live. Their 
 four children are all living — Frank, Anna, (Mrs. 
 Ilolliday), Mrs. Coleman and Jennie. 
 
 The present wife of our subject was born 
 December 4, 1862, in Henry County, Ohio. She 
 attended school at Portland, and taught for five 
 years in this count)', during the last two years in 
 the village of Portland. She is the mother of two 
 children — Grace H., born July 28, 1887, and Kitty 
 Belle July 20, 1889. Both Mr. and Mrs. Coleman 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 which he is a Trustee. For fifteen years he has 
 been a meud)er of the School Board. 
 
 As the result of unremitting industry, Mr. Cole- 
 man now has two hundred and forty acres of land, 
 over two hundred of which are under the plow. He 
 has given to his daughter Ella eighty acres of im- 
 proved land. His present fine residence, a view of 
 which is shown on another page, was erected some 
 ten years ago at a cost of ^2,000. Mr. Coleman 
 has set out orchards, built substaulial farm build- 
 ings and owns fine stock. He carries on mi.xed 
 farming and his corn and oats arc all consumed by 
 his numerous stock. He is a member of John 
 .Mctic.rrah Post, No. 132, G. A. R.. at Portland, 
 also of the Patrons of Industry. He has been both 
 Drainage Commissioner and Constable of Orange 
 Township. Always taking an interest iu politics 
 he formerly voted the Repidjlican ticket, but is 
 now independent in regard to casting his ballot, 
 lie has always been a man of strictly temperate 
 habits. His brother Hiram, was also a soldier, en- 
 listing at the age of eighteen years and serving in 
 a cavalry regiment in the .Slate of Illinois being 
 captured by the rebels at Cumberland Gap, he was 
 imprisoned at Andcrsonville and died there, Mr, 
 
638 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Coleman is not content to enjoy bis prosperity 
 alone, but is a generous supporter of all good 
 movements. He is a friend of all cliurcbes and is 
 one to whom a building committee always go 
 with confidence of help when there is a new church 
 to be built. 
 
 '• « ^- 
 
 kITTHJ;R HANDY, an old settler of Michigan 
 and a homesteader of Montcalm County, 
 finds himself prosperous and respected, and 
 comfortably prepared to enjoy the years which re- 
 main to him in life. He is descended from an old 
 Connecticut family, his grandfather being a Revo- 
 lutionary soldier, and in business a tanner and far- 
 mer. He settled in Bioomfield, Ontario County, 
 N. Y., wlien his son Russell, our subject's father, 
 was only fourteen years old. In later years he re- 
 moved to Elmira, N. Y., where he passed the re- 
 mainder of his days. 
 
 The father, following in the steps of the grand- 
 father of our subject, obeyed the call of his country 
 and entered the army in the War of 1812. He w,is 
 a Lieutenant in rank, and was raised to the posi- 
 tion of Captain. He was offered a promotion to a 
 Colonelcy, but this he declined saj-ing he could not 
 afford to be a Colonel because he had to treat the 
 company too often. However, as they did not ac- 
 cept his resignation, to be rid of this onerous honor 
 he removed to Allegany and bought a farm, whce 
 he remained until his death at the age of sixty 
 j'ears. He was always known as Captain Handy. 
 He was a l'resb3tcrian in religion, and a Whig in 
 politics. The wife of Capt. Handy bore the maiden 
 name of Eunice Houghton. Her father was in 
 early life a New Hampshire farmer and stockman, 
 and removed to Allegany Ccunty, N. Y., at an early 
 day. His wife died in Warsaw, Wyoming County, 
 N. Y. They were by faith and church connections 
 Presbyterians, and became the parents of eight chil- 
 dren, four sons and four daughters. 
 
 The subject of this biographical sketch was born 
 in Bioomfield, Ontario County, N. Y., April 15, 
 1822. He took advantage of what education he 
 pould acquire in tb? djstfict schools which were in 
 
 a crude condition, and remained at home until af- 
 ter he had reached his majority. His first coming 
 to Miciiigan was in 1843, when he traveled as far 
 as he could by boat and came on foot the rest of 
 the way to Ionia County, stopping a day here and 
 there as was necessary, to get a day's work and eain 
 something to support him. He reached Orleans 
 Township empty handed, and engaged to work for 
 Daniel Hoyt on the farm, then an unbroken wild- 
 erness. He helped to clear the trees and had many 
 adventures with wild game and Indians. In 1840 
 he decided to go to Wisconsin, and traveling on 
 foot to Grand Haven took a boat to Kenosha, and 
 then on foot again to the vicinity of Geneva, where 
 he found an opportunity to help about the harvest- 
 ing. He wandered about getting work as he could 
 in one place and another, and in some places find- 
 ing his expenses running quite ahead of the money 
 paid him in wages. He finall3^ returned to Jonia 
 County- in 1847, where he met his mother and sis- 
 ter and went back to New York .State with them. 
 His father having died he remained at homo four 
 3'ears working the farm. 
 
 Until the year 18.58 the subject of this sketch 
 remained in the East, carrying on farming in dif- 
 ferent localities. In the fall of that year he was 
 again taken with the JNIichigan fever, and coming 
 West located in Ionia County. Buj'ing forty acres 
 in Orleans Township, he improved and farmed it 
 for three }'ears. His health then failed and he was 
 assured by physicians that he would never be able 
 to do any hard work, so he sold his farm and took 
 the rest of the season to rest and recuperate. In 
 the fall of 1860 he went to Wisconsin; the rest and 
 the change of climate seemed to affect his health 
 favorably, and he was able to do some work at 
 plowing before his return home. He went back to 
 New York .State and remained there for five j'ears 
 engaging in farming. In 1861 he volunteered his 
 services in the Union armj', but was refused on ac- 
 count of his health. 
 
 In 1862 Mr. Handy became the husband of Mrs. 
 Maria (Clark) Houghton, daughter of Daniel and 
 Betsey Clark, and sister of George F. Clai'k, whose 
 sketch appears in this book. In 1867 Mr. Handj' 
 and his wife came to Michigan and bought a home- 
 stead of ot^e hundred and sixty acres. Five years 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 639 
 
 later they proved up and secured this property. 
 They began life in a log cabin which w.is blown 
 down, and they had to build again. He has been 
 liberal with his family, and given his wife forty 
 acres in her own name and forty acres to his stei)- 
 son. The latter inherited from his father some 
 means which were used to improve the farm, and 
 the tract of land was given to him later in return 
 for the same. Mr. Handy now has eighty acres of 
 finely- improved land with barns and necessary out- 
 buildings. L'pon this he carries on general farm- 
 ing and stock-raising, keeping Short-horns and good 
 grades of sheep, and two teams of excellent draft 
 horses for working the farm. His chief crop is in 
 potatoes, and in the culture of this crop both he 
 and his step-son, Ole J. Houghton, are engaged. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Handy are tlie parents of one son, 
 Orville, who died at tlie age of nineteen years, and 
 for whom the family greatly mourn. 
 
 Mr. Handy is an earnest anil useful member of 
 the Congregational Church, and active worker in 
 the Suml.i^'-school, helping to organize new schools, 
 and serving as .Superintendent and teacher. He is 
 a Republican in politics, and is a temperance man. 
 He has been a member of tlie School Hoard, having 
 served as its Moderator, and his interest in educa- 
 tion and religion has induced him to be very help- 
 ful in building churches and sclioolhouscs. A view 
 of his pleasant home is presented on another page. 
 
 jl? EWIS II. FERGU.SON. In a county that 
 il (® contains so man}' linelj-imi)roved farms 
 jIL^ and beautiful rural dwellings, it is hard to 
 claim pre-eminence for any, but certainl}' any 
 traveler through Orange Township, Ionia County, 
 would at first glance decide that the estate of the 
 subject of this sketch held a cons[>icuous place. 
 It comprises a large acreage on section 21, under 
 careful tillage and supplied with excellent improve- 
 ments. The fine residence, with its attractive rural 
 surroundings, is represented by a view on another 
 page. It is furnished with all the modern conve- 
 niences, and gives evidence in its adornment and 
 air of conifort that its interior is presided over by 
 
 a capable and tasteful housewife. Mr. Ferguson is 
 the son of the Rev. Levi Ferguson, who was born 
 in Vermont in 1808 and enjoyed an enviable 
 reputation among his neighbors .as an intelligent 
 farmer and local preacher. 
 
 The maternal grandfather of our subject, Mr. 
 Austin, W.1S a substantial citizen of Oswego Count}-, 
 N. Y., and was a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church. Among the large family of daughters 
 whom he reared was Ursulla, who was born in New 
 York. The father of our subject passed through 
 many trials and adversities in his early life. When 
 only fourteen years of age he walked a distance of 
 two hundred miles looking for work, which he 
 found in Oswego County, N. Y., with Mr. Austin, 
 who afterward became his fatber-in-law. For one 
 year he worked at the trade of a blacksmith, and 
 remained in that vitinity until he was twenty-five 
 years old. He was for some time captain of a 
 canal p.acket on the Erie Canal. One day a little 
 girl fell overboard, and although he could not 
 swim he jumped into the water and saved the child. 
 She belonged to a family who were moving to 
 Michigan and in later days he met the same family 
 in their Western home. He w.as also a captain in 
 the New York State militia. 
 
 Levi Ferguson was married to Irsulla Austin 
 in Oswego County, and coming West in 1838 set- 
 tled at Maple Corners in L3"ons Township. His 
 brother-in-law, J. H. I{owe, who came with him 
 and settled in the same locality, was also a very 
 [)Opular man and w-as Postmaster and hotel-keeper 
 for many years at Maple Corners. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Presbyterian Church, in which his father 
 was a Deacon. About twent^'-seven years ago Mr. 
 Howe removed from this community to Hillsdale 
 Count}', where he died a few 3'cars later. 
 
 The father of our subject was in real poverty 
 when he settled at Maple Corners on an unbroken 
 farm. He cut down trees to build a log house, 
 cleared his eighty-acre farm and b}' hard work and 
 strict economy finally acquired two hundred acres. 
 He was a man of sterling sense and good natural 
 ability, but with little learning. He was one of 
 the pioneer preachers of this scctiim, beginning this 
 work when about thirty years of age and being 
 ordained as a mini.ster in the >{ethodist Episcopal 
 
640 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALEUM. 
 
 Church. He used to travel about fifteen miles in 
 every direction from his home, meeting preaching 
 appointments. He once sent Lewis, tlien a boy, 
 ten miles to tell a congregation that he could not 
 be there, and for theic to go on and hold prayer- 
 meeting. He preached about forty years, and was 
 finally called to his heavenly home in 1885. His 
 good wife had gone before him in 1862. They 
 were the parents of two children, the brother of 
 our subject being Larmon Pilcher Ferguson, who 
 is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 residing in Miami County, Kan. 
 
 The gentleman whose name heads this sketch 
 first saw the light of day in Oswego County, N. Y., 
 December 1, 1834. He was but three and a half 
 years old when he came to Michigan, traveling 
 from Detroit to the new home on a prairie schooner. 
 After taking a common-school education he entered 
 Olivet College for one term and took two terms in 
 Albion College. When he reached his majority he 
 hired out to his father and workeil for him for four 
 years, being thus enabled to purchase forty acres 
 of land, partly improved. He then married in 
 April, 1857, Mary, one of the daughters of Nelson 
 and Sophia (Pangborn) Tuttle. (See sketches of 
 William Adgate, Almon Tuttle and Stewart Town- 
 send which will be found elsewhere in this vol- 
 ume.) Mrs. Ferguson was born October 22, 1840, 
 in Palmyra, Ohio, and is a lady of refinement and 
 culture. 
 
 Mr. Ferguson improved and added to his farm 
 until he had one hundred and sixty broad and pro- 
 ductive acres. In 1870 he took the western fever 
 and going to Kansas rented a farm in Johnson 
 County' and remained there two years, but his fam- 
 ily connections and happy remembrances of early 
 life drew him back to Michigan, and returning he 
 took an unimproved farm, nearly all timber, with 
 only five acres under the plow. Here he has car- 
 ried on mixed farming, erected a fine home and 
 first-class farm buildings, increasing his acreage 
 largely and is about to retire from active service. 
 To him and his good wife have been born fire chil- 
 dren, namely: Sophia, Mrs. C. I. Goodwin, the 
 mother of three children, lives on section 16; Otis 
 L., who married Mary Carbaugh, is the father of 
 one phild and resjdgs jq Orange Township; Emery 
 
 T. is operating the home farm and remains under 
 the parental roof; William married Allie Ritten- 
 burgh and lives on the home farm with their two 
 children; and Elton L., now eight years of age. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Fergu- 
 son has been a Steward. Socially he is a member 
 of the Patrons of Industry and is in all respects a 
 public-spirited man. He is a member of the School 
 Board and deeply interested in politics, voting the 
 Republican ticket. He is a very strong temper- 
 ance man and leans to prohibition. Mr. Ferguson's 
 ability to break and train young horses is some- 
 thing remarkable and he is daily proving that the 
 lower animals are directly amenable to education, 
 lie has nineteen head of horses and breeds the 
 Hambletonian stock. At the head of his stud 
 stands a splendid six-j'ear-old dapple-bay stallion, 
 "Medon Goodrich,'' by "Chauncy Goodrich" by 
 "Marshall Chief." This young horse is one of the 
 finest in the West, in style, build and disposition, 
 and a better broken horse can nowhere be found. 
 Mr. Ferguson has traineil horses for over thirty 
 years and is eminently successful in this line of 
 work. 
 
 \¥'OIIN D. HARRINGTON is the oldest settler 
 in Day Township, Montcalm County. He 
 first came here in 1862, and has for more 
 Ij^j// than thirty years occupied a prominent place 
 in the community. Both his father William and 
 his grandfather Richard were natives of Rutland, 
 Vt., of English descent. The grandfather who was 
 born in 1756, was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
 army, and fought all through the war. After that 
 he removed to Portage, now in Summit County, 
 Ohio, and opened a large farm of two hundred anil 
 sixty acres. He was a famous hunter and fisher in 
 his day. The father of our subject, although only 
 a boy of twenty-one when he went to Ohio, had 
 seen service like a veteran, being one of the Green 
 Mountain boys in the War of 1812. He bought a 
 farm in Ohio and improved it. In 1853 he came 
 to this State and settled in Woodbridgc Township, 
 Hillsdale County, on a farm of tvyo hundred and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 G4I 
 
 forty acres. Here he resirled, workinsir ami improv- 
 ing the f.irm until August 24, 18C2. 
 
 The mother of our subject was Mary, daughter 
 of David Crawford. She was born in Rutland, Vt., 
 and was of Scotch-Irish descent. Her father was a 
 farmer who came to Summit County, Ohio, many 
 years ago, and died in Portage County, tlie same 
 Slate. Her motiier's last days were spent in tiie 
 same county, an<l she passed from earth in Feb- 
 ruary, 1848. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice was born 
 in Talmage, Ohio, in 1823, Decern Iter 10 being his 
 natal day. Here he spent his youth, helping to clear 
 the land and improve the farm. When eighteen 
 years old he apprenticed himself in a woolen manu- 
 facturing establishment at Middleburj'. He was 
 here eighteen months and began at coloring and 
 worked his way up to the finer grades of work. 
 Tlien he went to Monroe Falls, and after that to 
 Chagrin Falls. Then he went to the factories in 
 Akron, and remained until the year 1802, when he 
 engaged in shipping coal to Cleveland. In 1853 he 
 came to Michigan bringing his goods by team to 
 Hillsdale County. He was accompanied by his 
 brother with another team, and the balance of the 
 family came by boat and rail. 
 
 Mr. Harrington bought a farm of forty acres in 
 Wooilbridge Township, which he proceeded to im- 
 prove. He also purchased a threshing machine, but 
 he did not remain here long. In the fall of 18C4 
 he sold out his property and removed to Montcalm 
 County. He was agrcat huntsman, and oncekilletl 
 a bear in Douglas Townsliip. In 186.") he settled 
 in Day Township, where he bought eighty acres 
 of land, covered by pine and hardwood. There 
 were no sawmills there, and very poor roads. He 
 had to cut his wa^- into the timber, and haul out 
 the logs. After awhile he added eighty acres more 
 of adjacent land, but has now disposed of all but 
 •forty-five acres, which border on llemmcnway Lake. 
 When he settled here the Chippewa Inilinns were 
 all about them. 
 
 Mr. Harrington has a fine farm, raising good 
 grades of stock, and liaving all improvements and 
 out-buildings in first-class condition. He makes a 
 specialty also of bee culture. He has spent a good 
 deal of time in the logging business, and has run 
 
 an engine at Weston. The wife of his youth was 
 Miss Kllen Sickler. of Akron, Ohio. Their mar- 
 riage took place in 1848, and she died while they 
 were living in Hillsdale County, leaving three chil- 
 dren: William; Kdwin, who has since died; and 
 KImer 15. His second wife, Hosetla Robb, was born 
 in Pennsylvania, and died in Hillsdale County, Au- 
 gust, 1865, only two years after their marriage. 
 The present Mrs. Harrington was before her mar- 
 riage with our subject, Mrs. Martha Duel. She was 
 a daughter of Lloyd F. Smith, a native of Massa- 
 chusetts, who came to New York when a l)oy. 
 There he engaged in farming and coopering, and in 
 1855 came to.Iackson. Mich., where he wasemploye<l 
 in the cooper's trade. He resided in different towns 
 in Michigan, and sjient some time in Kansas and 
 Arkansas. Of his nine children, the eldest was the 
 wife of our subject. Hy her first marriage she was 
 the mother of one child. Her second marriage gave 
 her four ciiildren, all of whom are at home, except 
 the eldest daughter, who is deceased. 
 
 The subject of this sketch has held many posi- 
 tions of trust in the community where he lives. He 
 has long been Justice of the Peace, Highw.ay Com- 
 missioner and School Trustee. He helped to build 
 the first schoolhouse in the district. Since the pres- 
 ent re-districting of the township, he has been Treas- 
 urer of the new district. He is a true blue Repub- 
 lican, and quite frequently serves his party as dele- 
 gate to county and State conventions. He is the 
 oldest remaining settler in Day Township, and is 
 universally respected for his ability and character. 
 
 ^l^xAUL GALK. A traveler throughout Ionia 
 County will see many beautiful farms, any 
 one of whicii might be taken as an ideal 
 rural liome. Amoig those of Portland 
 Township that of the gentleman above named is 
 conspicuous for its commodious resilience, accom- 
 (laiiying outbuildings and orderly arrangement. 
 The estate consists of one hundred and twenty acres 
 which has been transformed into a beautiful tract 
 by years of toil and careful oversight. The natural 
 
 IL 
 
642 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 fertility of the soil has been retained bj' a proper 
 rotation of crops and tiie use of such fertilizing 
 agents and means of drainage as its situation and 
 surface required. 
 
 Orange County, N. Y., claims Paul Gale as one 
 of her sons, -he having been born there July 19, 
 1829. He is a son of vSamuel E. and Martha (Locli- 
 wood) Gale and iiis father was a farmer and a 
 soldier of 1812. When he was nine years old our 
 subject went to live with an elder brother, who was 
 a farmer and merchant, owning three hundred acres 
 of land and a store stocked with general merchan- 
 dise. The lad was emploj^ed in the store in the 
 capacity of a clerk until he was seventeen j'ears 
 old, when he went to learn the trade of a carpenter 
 and joiner. He worked at this handicraft fourteen 
 years. In 1856 he came to this State to visit a 
 sister and his first work here was for A. F. More- 
 house, lie subsequently formed a partnership with 
 Joel Colbj' and put up a machine for cutting staves, 
 which was the first of its kind in Portland. The 
 firm carried on a cooper shop in which ten hands 
 were employed and made about ten tliousand bar- 
 rels per year. 
 
 The connection continued about two years, when 
 the sickness of Mr. Gale caused him to abandon 
 the work, and he sold out to his partner, who con- 
 tinued the business for a number of j'ears. For 
 two years Mr. Gale clerked in Portland, but, his 
 health continuing poor, he returned to his native 
 State with a view to recruiting his strength. There 
 he worked at his trade — carpentry — during the 
 summer and at canalboat-Ijuilding in the winter. 
 At the expiration of a twelvemonth he had so im- 
 proved in health that he returned to this State. 
 He bought eighty acres adjoining a forty he al- 
 ready owned, and here he has remained, devoting 
 bis attention to the cultivation and improvement 
 of his property, to the jo\'s of domestic and social 
 life, and the duties that devolve upon all good 
 citizens. 
 
 In 1878 the present dwelling of Mr. Gale was 
 erected, but the wife, partner of his joys and sor- 
 rows for so many years, was destined to preside 
 over it but a short time. The j'ear after its erec- 
 tion she was smitten by death's relentless hand, 
 leaving her husband to bear his lot alone. Mrs. 
 
 Gale was a daughter of Joel Colby and became 
 tlie wife of our subject in September, 1858. Their 
 marriage was blest by the birth of three children : 
 Delia, wife of L. L. Smith, whose home is in the 
 town of Portland; Hattie, wife of Asa Newman of 
 the same place; and Chelsa, who died in childhood. 
 Mr. Gale is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church and for a score of years he and his wife 
 worshipped together in the church at Portland. 
 Mrs. Gale was a member of the congregation and 
 was as earnest a believei and faithful a disciple as 
 her husband. 
 
 ^^^^»" 
 
 (fSAAC EMERSON THACHER, who is a well- 
 11 known resident of Ionia, Ionia County, was 
 /li born in North Wrentham, Mass., October 10, 
 1833, and comes of excellent parentage. It was 
 characteristic of the dwellers in New England to 
 make mental acquirements prominent, and even 
 those who had but limited school privileges were 
 well grounded in practical branches, and all were 
 instructed in high principles of living and imbibed 
 the love of libert}' and justice with the air of their 
 native hills and valleys. He of whom we write 
 was given a good education prior to his seventeenth 
 year, when he began his apprenticeship at his trade 
 in Virgil, Cortland County, N. Y. 
 
 Mr. Thacher came to Michigan in 1855, but 
 soon after went to Henry County, 111., where he 
 sojourned two and a half years. He then returned 
 to Ionia and was married, October 2, 1860, to 
 Miss Harriet Yeomans, daughter of Judge Eras- 
 tus Yeomans, then a prominent resident of this 
 county and now deceased. After his marriage 
 Mr. Tliaciier turned his attention to fanning and 
 for five years carried on the farm of his father-in- 
 law, and with that exception has given his attention 
 to his trade. He is a man who has been true to 
 every obligation in life, and earnest and faithful 
 in religious work, being a member of the Presby- 
 terian Church and a Deacon in the congregation 
 since 1870. He votes the Republican ticket; he 
 belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
 and is now Master Workman in that order. The 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 643 
 
 cliildren born of tlie above union were four in num- 
 ber anil were named respectively: Henrietta. Ilar- 
 land Erastus; Morris, who died in infancy-; and 
 Mary Myrtie. Tbe first-born died in December, 
 187;{; llarland is a machinist in the Detroit, Lan- 
 sing & Northern Railroad shops in Ionia, and 
 Mar^' is at present engaged in teaching. Mrs. 
 Thacher is also a meml)er of the Presliyterian 
 Churcli, as is also their daughter Mary. 
 
 The Tliaciicrs are a family of preachers, there 
 not only being fouj' in the direct line of ancestors 
 of our subject, but others of the same name and 
 nearly related being ministers .is well. His early 
 ancestor in America came to tliis country' from 
 Salisburj-. England, and was the first pastor of the 
 Old South Church, Boston. Peter Thacher, son of 
 that gentleman, was also a minister and left nine 
 children, the eldest of whom bore his father's name' 
 and followed the same calling. In the family of 
 this second Peter Tluicher was a son, Obadiah, 
 whose natal day was July 31, 1757, and whose 
 family has the following record: Elizabeth, born 
 Miiy 7, 178i; Peter June 21, 1785; Stephen llicli- 
 ardson, July II, 1787; Thomas, December 31, 
 1789; Sarah Fisher (an adopted daughter) May 28, 
 1790; Moses, November 11, 1795; Hannah, July 
 31, 1799; Tyler, September 11, 1801; and Philena, 
 August 30, 1803. 
 
 'I'he birthplace of Jloses Thacher, whose natal d.iy 
 is given above, was Princeton, Mass., but when he 
 was eight years old his father removed to Penn- 
 sylvania. There, during a revival, he m.ade a 
 public proftssion of religion. Anxious to obtain a 
 liberal education with a view to entering the min- 
 istry, in April, 1814, he left his father's house with 
 his pack upon his back and traveled on fool three 
 hundred miles to Providence, R. I., arriving there 
 with only lifly cents in his pocket. He sought 
 employment and found it at ^12 per month, and 
 subseiiuently went to work in one of the factories 
 of the place. At the same time he entered upon a 
 preparatory course of study with the Uev. N. Hol- 
 man, and finally entered Brown rniversity, from 
 which he w.as graduated in 1821. 
 
 With the Rev. Otis Thompson, of Heliobotli. 
 R. I., Mr. Thacher studied theology, and in 1823 
 be was licensed to prcacli. The following year he 
 
 was ordained to the ministr}' and installed as pas- 
 tor of the Congregational Church of North Wrent- 
 ham, M.1SS., and the relation continued until 1832, 
 when he became pastor of a new society organized 
 there. Four years later he left New England for 
 Pennsylvania, and in Susquehanna and Bradford 
 he had charge of Presbyterian churches several 
 years. Thence he went to New York and in that 
 State he ministered to various churches until 18C6, 
 when he fallowed a son to Illinois. He organized 
 a church at Munson, in Henry County, III., and 
 supplied its pulpit two years, and this pastorate 
 closed his active labors in the ministerial field. 
 
 The active work of the Rev. Mr. Thacher ex- 
 tended over a period of fort3'-six years and much 
 of it was extremely laborious. His work was 
 richly owned of God and many stars of rejoicing 
 will be his on the last great day, when the verdict 
 will be pronounced and the "well done" sound in 
 the ears of the faithful Christians. While at North 
 Wrentham. Mass., the Rev. Mr. Thacher edited a 
 religious and anti-Masonic paper called the Boston 
 Telegraph. He was an early anti-slavery man, 
 and he was one of the twelve "good men and 
 true" — the number including William Lloyd Garri- 
 son, Oliver Johnson and others — who on January 
 6, 1832, in the African schoolroom on "Nigger 
 Hill" in the city of Boston, formed the New Eng- 
 land Anti-Slavery Society. The first official a<l- 
 dress of the organization to the public w.os from 
 the pen of Mr. Thacher, and it was pronounced by 
 Mr. Johnson to be "a striking and powerful docu- 
 ment." His home was one of tiie stations of the 
 "underground railroad." 
 
 In August, 1868, the Rev. Mr. Thacher suffered 
 a sunstroke, from the effects of which he never 
 recovered, mentally or physicall3'. The remainder 
 of his life was spent peacefully and quietly, 'uit his 
 usefulness did not cease, his time being divided 
 between his son in Illinois and his daughter in 
 Ionia, Mich. He breathed his last in Cambridge, 
 III., July 21, 1878. Of "Father" Thacher, as he 
 was lovingly called in his later years, it may well 
 be said, "Blessed are the dend who die in the Lord ; 
 yea, for they rest from their labors and their works 
 do follow them." 
 
 The year that saw him licensed to preach was 
 
644 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 that during which the Rev. Mr. Tliaclier took a 
 wife. On September 22, 1823, he was married to 
 Miss Henrietta Willmarth, of Attleboro, Mass., 
 and the happy wedded life extended over a period 
 of forty-five years. The husband was called to 
 part with his beloved companion in September, 
 1868. To them had been born five children, the 
 youngest of whom is the subject of this biographi- 
 cal sketch and a worthy representative of the fam- 
 ily name. The others were: Moses Willmarth, who 
 died in Illinois November 3, 1882, while keeping 
 an hotel, although he had formerly been a farmer; 
 Stephen Richardson, an insurance agent now living 
 in tiie State of Iowa; Martha, wife of N. E. Smith, 
 and mentioned at length on another page of this 
 volume. She died October 9, 1889. Slie was also 
 a memljer of the Presbyterian Church. Thomas 
 Henry is a resident of Lincoln, Neb. 
 
 We clip the following from an article published 
 January 18, 1870, in one of the papers in Sacra- 
 mento, Cal., on the occasion of the death of the 
 Rev. Tyler Thacher December 4, 1869, by the 
 Rev. I. E. Dwinell, D. D. In speaking of him he 
 refers to him as one of the eminent clergj-men of 
 the State. We append the following in regard to 
 his family history: 
 
 "Tyler Thacher was born in Princeton, Mass. 
 September 11, 1801; graduated at Brown Univer- 
 sity in 1824, studied theology with the Rev. Otis 
 Thompson, was licensed by the Mendon Associa- 
 tion April 26, 1825, ordained as an Evangelist by 
 the same association at North Wrentham. December 
 4, 1827, installed pastor of the church in Hawley, 
 Mass., May 14, 1834, as colleague with the Rev. 
 Jonathan Grant, and was dismissed January 31, 
 1843. Subsequent to his dismissal he preached as 
 a stated supply at North Wrentham. 
 
 "On the 20th of September, 1851, after a vo}- 
 age of ten and a half months, he arrived with his 
 fnmily in California, where he has remained ever 
 since, teaching a portion of llie time and preaching 
 to feeble churches or in neighborhoods where there 
 were no churches. For the last six or eight years 
 he has given his exclusive attention to the ministry. 
 "Such a mind as 'Father' Thacher's works mainly 
 interiorly, and gives few of its results to the public. 
 Yet during his long sea voj'age he discovered 'a 
 
 new method of determining the longitude at sea 
 without recourse to the chronometer," and at 
 different times he published articles of great vigor 
 on issues then occupying the attention of the relig- 
 ious world: as, 'Taylorism Examined,' 'Arminian- 
 ism Examined,' 'Perfectionism Examined,' 'Chris- 
 tianity and Infidelity." 
 
 In the 'History of Churches and Ministers in 
 Franklin County, Mass.,' by the Rev. T. Packard, 
 from which several of the preceding facts are de- 
 rived, there arc certain statements concerning the 
 ministerial element in Mr. Thacher's ancestry, 
 which I will transcribe as of great interest. "His 
 paternal grandfather was the Rev. Peter Thacher, 
 of East Attleboro,' who was the son of the Rev. 
 Peter Thacher, of Middleboro,' who was the grand- 
 son of the Rev. Peter Thacher, of Milton, who was 
 the great-grandson of the Rev. Thomas Thacher, 
 of Boston, who was the great-great-grandson of the 
 Rev. Peter Thaclier, of Salisbury, England, and the 
 last-named Peter Thacher's ancestors in England 
 are said to have been ministers for nine or ten suc- 
 cessive generations.' The Rev. T. Thacher leaves 
 one brother, who is a minister, the Rev. Moses 
 Thacher." 
 
 ^|/ACOB G. SUMMERS, an enterprising cili- 
 I zen of Sheridan, Montcalm County, is in his 
 
 j life an exemplification of the oft-repeated 
 
 (^^// proverb that "there is no royal road to suc- 
 cess," but it is also evident that in America pov- 
 erty in boyhood is no bar to prosperity in maturer 
 years. Our subject was born in Oakland County, 
 Mich., on July 19, 1842. He is the son of William 
 and Elizabeth (Young) Summers, both of New 
 Jersey. Our subject resided at home with his 
 father on the farm until he was twenty-one years 
 of age, having but scanty advantages for obtaining 
 an education as the country schools of that day 
 were very poor and he was never able to go away 
 from liome to school. 
 
 At twenty-one years of age Jacob G. Summers 
 rented a farm and began for himself, remaining on 
 that farm until seventeen years ago, when in the 
 
^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOURAPHIOAL ALBUM. 
 
 647 
 
 spring of 1874 lie icmoved to Montcalm County- 
 and estal)lislic(l himself in the village of Sheridan. 
 He began speculating in lands. When the village 
 was incoipoiatcd he was elected Street Commis- 
 sioner; this was in 187G. From 1880 to 1881 he 
 served as United Slates Deputy- Marshal of this 
 district under the appointment of Marstial James 
 Monroe. About this time he was jnit forward for 
 the oflice of County Sheriff and was elected by an 
 overwhelming majority'. Other candidates on the 
 same ticket were elected by about one hundred 
 majority, while this young man received thirteen 
 iinndred majority. lie filled the oHice for two 
 terms after which he would have been re-elected 
 again, had it not been that the law forbids a third 
 term in that office, lie resided at Stanton during 
 those four years. 
 
 After he returned to .Sheridan, Mr. Summers be- 
 gan farming and milling, ile has a hamlsome farm 
 of eighty acres, just outside the limits of Sheridan, 
 which is in a high state of cultivation and upon 
 which he has an elegant farm house and commodious 
 barns and outbuildings. He is the owner and oper- 
 ator of the Sheridan Roller Mills which have a 
 capacity of sixty barrels per day. .Some years ago 
 he was himself an employe of this very mill, doing 
 a common laborer's work. 
 
 The marriage of Jacob Summers. June 2S, IKOl, 
 to Mary Hartum, daughter of William Ilarlum, of 
 Oakland County, was an event of great interest to 
 all the friends. To them have been born two chil- 
 ilren: S. Clay, born March 9, 18G3; .May, April I), 
 \S6i). Tlis son has been married to Kdith Willit, 
 of Montcalm County and the daughter is the wife 
 of Lewis C. Welch, of Detroit. Our subject is a 1 
 strong adherent of Republican principles, and be- ' 
 longs to the Masonic order; he is a member of 
 Stanton Chapter, No. 1 10, R. A. M. 
 
 •^^E 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 EDWIN R. BKRRY. The portrait presented 
 on the opposite page, will be recognized by 
 • many of our readers as that of a gentleman 
 
 who is extensively engaged in raising horses and 
 sheep, giving special attention to Clydesilale horses. 
 
 He has lived in Michigan since he was eleven years 
 old, and for a number of years his interests have 
 been in Ionia County. In 1882 be bought ninety 
 acres of land on section 8, Otisco Township, where 
 he is now pursuing the labors of life, surrounded 
 by manifestations of good judgment aTid prosperity. 
 He W!is born in Bradford County, Pa., January 26, 
 183'J, but is descendeii from old New York and 
 Vermont families. 
 
 The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
 John and Elizabeth (Klliott) Berr^-, natives of \'er- 
 monl and New York. His father was Joseph, who 
 was born in New York, but in his early life went 
 to Pennsylvania, and was marrie<l in Bradford 
 County-, February 8, 1838, to Caroline Galusha. In 
 1850 that couple came to this Slate and bought a 
 Gfty-acre farm, but sold it in a short time, buying 
 instead one hundred and twenty acres in Eureka, 
 and one hundred and sixty in Oaklield Township, 
 Kent County. On the latter they made their per- 
 manent home. Notwithstanding his advanced years 
 Mr. Berry entered the Cnion army, enlisting in 
 18(;4 in Compan}- B, Twenty-fifth Michigan In- 
 fantry, and died while in the service, December 1st 
 of that year. 
 
 The wife of Joseph Bcrr}' was a daughter of Oli- 
 ver and -Vbigail ^^Curtis) Galusha, natives of New 
 York. They came to this State in 1805, and Mr. 
 Galusha died in Kent County in 1873, and .Mrs. 
 Galusha in 1880. Their home was on a farm, agri- 
 culture being the lifework of the husband. He was 
 a solilier in the War of 181^. To Joseph Berry 
 and his wife the following children were born: 
 Edwin R., Betsey, Harriet, John, Nancy, George 
 and Charles. Harriet and Nancy now live in Beld- 
 ing; John and (ieorge arc farmers in Kent County; 
 Charles is night watchman in a silk mill in Beld- 
 ing; and Betsey is deceased. 
 
 The gentleman wiili whose name we iiitrodncc 
 these paragra[)lis w.as a lad of eleven years when he 
 aecomi)anieil bis parents to this .State, anil he re- 
 mained with them until he was of age. He then 
 followed farming for a year, after which he laid 
 aside the implements of his peaceful occupation, 
 doiineil the army blue and went forth to battle for 
 his country. He enlisted August 8, 1,SG2, and was 
 discharged June 25, 1805. As a member of Com- 
 
648 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 pany B, Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry, he did 
 gallant service during the Atlanta campaign and 
 elsewhere, among the prominent battles in which he 
 fought being Kingston, Resaca, Nashville, Kenesaw 
 Mountain, Atlanta and Altoona. 
 
 When Mr. Berry went to Southern battlefields 
 he left behind him a young bride, formerly Miss 
 Frances Tower. Their marriage rites were solemn- 
 ized August 30, 18C2, in Otisco Township. Mrs. 
 Berry is a daughter of Josejjh and Philura (Bald- 
 win) Tower, natives of New York who came to 
 Michigan at an early day and located in Oakland 
 County. The widowed mother is now liying in 
 Belding and has reached a ripe old age, being in 
 her seventy-ninth year. 'J"he father died in 1875. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Berrj' have two children, Lena and 
 Joe, both at home. Joe, a youth of eighteen years, 
 w.as graduated from the Belding High School in the 
 Class of 91. 
 
 As would naturally be supposed Mr. Berry be- 
 longs to the Grand Arm^' of the Republic, his Post 
 being Dan S. Root, No. 126. He is also a member 
 of the Patrons of Industry, and belongs to Beld- 
 ing Lodge, No. 32, A. O. U. W. In politics he is 
 an uncompromising Republican. He has been 
 Higiiway Commissioner two years, and has done 
 much iu improving the facilities for travel. 
 
 — ^— ^^— ^— 
 
 AVID E. COLEMAN, whose home farm 
 ** is on section 29, Orange Township, Ionia 
 County, is the son of Beckett Coleman, a 
 woolen manufacturer and farmer, who was 
 born in Connecticut about 1805, and of Harriet 
 (Stratton) Coleman, born in 1817, in New York. 
 The parents of our subject were married in New 
 York State and resi<ied there until 1837, when they 
 removed to Huron C^ounty, Ohio, and in 1844 came 
 to Michigan and settled on section 26, of Orange 
 Township. This farm when taken from the Gov- 
 ernment was all raw land, and the settlers had plontj' 
 of neighbors of a certain kind — bears, wolves and 
 deer, with Indians for variety. 
 
 Mr. Coleman and his two sons built a log house 
 with iHincheon floor, and cleared their eighty acres 
 
 of trees. They struggled successfully with the 
 discouragements and trials of a pioneer life, and 
 from their deep poverty have arisen to a comfort- 
 able competency and the possession of a pleasant 
 home. Mr. Coleman lost his wife in 1859, and 
 afterward married Phrebe (Stratten) Coulson, dying 
 in 1875. His second wife lived until 1878. There 
 were no children V>y"the second marriage. The first 
 Mrs. Coleman was the mother of Eli A., David E., 
 Louisa. Mrs. Douglas; and Esther R., Mrs. John 
 Wells, who are all living. George, William, Hiram 
 J., Lucy and Ruth are deceased. Hiram J. enlisted 
 in the Ninth Michigan Infantry, and after a year's 
 service in the late war was taken prisoner and 
 paroled. Returning home he went to Illinois and 
 enlisted in the Sixth Illinois Cavalry. He was 
 again taken prisoner and died in Andersonville. 
 The parents of our subject were Free Will Baptists, 
 and the father was a Republican for years before 
 his death. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born October 7, 
 1829, in Jefferson County, N. Y., where he received 
 a common-school education, and at fifteen j-ears of 
 age came to Michigan with his parents and helped 
 his father on the farm until he reached his majority. 
 He then began work for himself, but staid at home 
 until after his mother's death. He first bought 
 forty acres of raw land on section 26, but after- 
 ward purchased eighty acres on section 27, and 
 traded off his original forty acres. He built a log 
 house and began clearing off the land, and had 
 about forty acres cleared at the time of his mar- 
 ri.age. This important event took place December 
 23, 1860. His wife bore the maiden name of Phi- 
 lena N. Smith, and was a daughter of Ebenezer F. 
 and Nancy (Merrifield) Smith, both of New York 
 State. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had emigrated to 
 Michigan in 1828, and were pioneers of Oakland 
 County. 
 
 When the Smith family first came to Michigan 
 they settled upon what appeared to be an aban- 
 doned sugar camp of the Indians. In the spring 
 they were startled by finding themselves sur- 
 rounded with the Indians, but they were able to 
 compromise the matter and had no trouble with 
 their savage neighbors. In 1844 they came to 
 Ionia County, where they made their permanent 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 649 
 
 home. Mr. Smith was an officer in the Toledo 
 War. lie dicil iu June, 1862, at the age of fifly- 
 eiglit years. His wife died in 18G6, in iier lifty- 
 ninlli year. They were tlie parents of eijjht ciiildrcn : 
 Klionezer F., Jr., and William T., defeased; George 
 J.; Milam G.; Hannah J., deceased; Philena N., 
 Mrs. Coleman; Ozera M.; and Mary K., Mrs. S. W. 
 Rillenburgh. Three of these sons, Ebenezer F., 
 Milam G. and Ozem M., were soldiers in the Civil 
 War. Elienezer F. served for nine months in the 
 Ninth Michigan Infantry', and coming iionie sick 
 died in 1862. The parents of lliese ciiildren were 
 members of the liaptis'- Church, and they took an 
 an active part in church and .Sunday-scliool. 
 
 Mrs. Coleman was born July 9, 1839, in Oakland 
 County, Mich. After marriage she settled with her 
 husband upon a farm on section 27, where tliey 
 resideil until 1887, when they removed to their 
 present home. He had cleared off one hundred 
 acres on the old farm, and now has forty acres of 
 improved land on Ids new place. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Coleman were the parents of two children: Fda, 
 horn June 21, 1869, is the wife of John A. Sullen- 
 brirger; they live with our subject and are tlie 
 parents of three children — Emma I.. Carrie a>)d 
 Orman. The second child, Archie, born October 
 7, 1874, died February 1, 1882. Mrs. Coleman is 
 a member of the Free Will Baptist Church. Her 
 liusband takes an interest in politics and votes the 
 Hcpublican ticket, and is a member of the Patrons 
 of Industry. Mr. Coleman has had excellent 
 health and prospcritj', except that in March, 1850, 
 he broke his right thigh and w-is laid up for four 
 months. 
 
 li^^l^B^K 
 
 ^^^EORGE F. CLARK is one of the mos 
 ll ,— . prominent young business men of Wrstvilh 
 '^\^j| Montcalm County. Although he lias nc 
 
 one of the most 
 
 ,-ille, 
 
 :iot 
 
 long been a resident of the village he is thoroughly 
 liked and .admired by all, and on account of his 
 ollicial work in the post-ollice he is known by 
 every one. He is an ardent Republican and will 
 probably i)e a strong factor in local politics. He 
 
 fine farm of forty acres adjoining the village. 
 Upon this farm is a handsome residence and excel- 
 lent outbuildings. His fatlier, Daniel Clark, was 
 born in New York; his grandfather, Reuben was 
 a solflier in the War of 1812, wliile his grand- 
 father on his mother's side was an eaily settler in 
 Livingston County, N. Y., and later of Allegany 
 County, N. Y. He was a cooper and farmer and 
 was the son of Thomas Bennett, who was the owner 
 of the Housatonic bridge. This old-timer kept an 
 hotel in Connecticut and entertained La Fayette 
 and other Revolutionary heroes many a time. The 
 family is of English descent. The mother of our 
 subject remendjers the Seneca Indians very well 
 and could talk with them in their own language. 
 She now resides with her son in Westville and is 
 an earnest and efficient member of the Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is one of eleven chil- 
 dren of the parental family; there were six girls 
 and five boys. The girls were all teachers, having 
 graduated at the High School. Alma taught thirty- 
 three terms, and the record of the six daughters 
 together counted upsixty seven terms. The daugh- 
 ters were by name Matilda, Emily, Alma, Maria, 
 Adell and Helen. The live sons were Stephen, 
 Arthur, Daniel, Henry and George. Our subject 
 w.is born in Granger, Allegany County, N. Y., 
 January 29, 1852. and had the common-school 
 advantages. When he was twenty-one he took the 
 home farm in partnership witli his father, but the 
 next year he went to Nebraska and bought a farm 
 of one hundred and si.xly acres in Saunders County, 
 but he was not contented there and sold his farm 
 at the first opportunity and going to Iowa lor'ated 
 near Indian Creek and remained there for some 
 lime. Three years from the time he left home 
 ho returned, and again took charge of his father's 
 farm, which he carried on until July, 1887. In 
 the meantime his father had been called away from 
 this life, lie then came to Day Township. Mont- 
 calm County, and bought the farm and residence 
 where he now lives and also some lols in the vil- 
 lage of Westville. In the spring of 18S9 he was 
 elected Justice of the Peace and in December, 
 1890, took his position in the post-olfice. He is 
 
 fills the position of Justice of the Peace and has a i active and earnest in whatever he undertakes and 
 
650 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tbere are no half-way measures with hitii. Daniel 
 O. Clark, brother of our subject, was a member of 
 Company H, One hundred and Thirty-sixth New 
 York Regiment, in the late war and served three 
 years, until the close of the war, winning an hon- 
 orable record as a soldier, and is now a farmer in 
 Allegany County, N. Y. 
 
 APT. E. M. ALLEN is a gentleman of 
 marked military talents of no mean order, 
 and in the late Civil War he had an oppor- 
 tunity' of developing this disposition. His farailj' 
 were of long standing and high renown and as we 
 trace back their history we find them full of pa- 
 triotism, struggling for the freedom of their coun- 
 try in the Revolutionary War. At successive 
 periods they are always found loyal to their coun- 
 try. Their devoted ambition to home and native 
 land as ^matter of course descended to the son, 
 and we naturally Find him acting with great single- 
 ness of purpose and zeal in his various positions 
 as an officer in the Civil War. 
 
 Capt. Allen was the only son of Peter and Jane 
 (Maynard) Allen and was born in Williamson, 
 Wayne County, N. Y., November 18, 1840. The 
 home of the father of_Capt. Allen was during slav- 
 ery days a depot for the underground railroad and 
 when the Captain was a boy he carried fugitives 
 to Pultneyville, a little port on Lake Ontario from 
 which they sailed to Canada. His ancestors were 
 from Dutchess County, where they were loyal and 
 liberal supporters of the American cause in the 
 Revolution. The paternal great-grandfather of 
 Capt. Allen during the Revolution loaned the Gov- 
 ernment money toaid in sustaining it, which was 
 never paid hack to him, while his maternal grand- 
 father was a soldier in the War of 1812. 
 
 E. M. Allen was reared on a farm but was more 
 anxious to secure an education than to do the 
 drudgery of farm labor, hence took an active inter- 
 est in his studies. At seventeen years of age he 
 became a teacher in a district school in Ingham 
 County, Mich., but after the first winter returned 
 to New York, where he attended the Marion Colle- 
 
 giate Institute. He was here a pupil and teacher 
 in all more than four 3'ears, alternating attendance 
 with teaching to enable him to meet expenses. He 
 was engaged in this school as teacher when the war 
 broke out. While pursuing his studies in the 
 Sophomore Class, at his country's call he bade good- 
 bye to his school and in October, 1861, enlisted in 
 Company I, Ninety-eighth New York Infantr3^ 
 He served through the war and was discharged 
 with the rank of Captain of the same company in 
 which he enlisted. 
 
 At the organization of the company he was 
 elected Second, then First Lieutenant and subse- 
 quently promoted to the Captaincy. He was with 
 his company with McClellan in the Peninsular 
 campaign and after this was ended was sent to 
 North and South Carolina, where he served until 
 1864, when they were sent to the Department of the 
 James. He marched with the Eighteenth Corps to 
 meet Grant at Cold Harbor, and was engaged in 
 the siege of Petersburg, participated in the fight at 
 the mine and crossed the James with Butler to 
 attack the defences on the north side of the river; 
 was wounded in the charge upon and capture of 
 Ft. Harrison. His was one of the very first regi- 
 ments to enter Richmond and it was Adjutant J. 
 K. R. Oakley of his regiment who first raised the 
 Stars and Stripes over the State House in Virginia, 
 and although history gives the honor elsewhere, the 
 truth is, his regimental flag was taken down and 
 replaced by another — after the order of Americus 
 Vespucius' usurpation of the name of Columbia. 
 
 At the close of the war, like Cincinnatus,Capt. Al- 
 len returned to the plow and was engaged in farm- 
 ing when he was elected Superintendent of Schools 
 for one half of Wayne County, N.Y., having charge 
 of one hundred and four districts, a position which 
 he held for six years. In 1874 he came to Port- 
 land, Mich., where in connection with Mr. May- 
 nard he commenced the banking business under the 
 firm name of Maynard & Allen, which business 
 still continues. 
 
 While at home on a furlough, November 29, 
 1863, Mr. Allen was married to Miss Annie C, 
 daughter of Robert and Electa Smith, of Will- 
 iamson, Wayne County, N. Y. This union has 
 been blessed bv the birth of three children — Wini- 
 
PORTRAIT AND 15I0GRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 651 
 
 fied, now wife of A. V. Bell, of Seatile, Wash.; 
 Gertnule and Clifton. 
 
 Capt. Allen is a Hoyal Arch Mason, of Porlliind 
 Lodge, No. 32, and a member of .John Mcgerrali 
 Post, G. A. II. of which he has been Comin.andcr 
 and in wl.ich he takes great interest. His wife and 
 himself are members of the Methodist Ciiurcb. 
 Politically he is a stanch as well as active Roi)uh- 
 lican. Nearly every campaign finds him on the 
 "stump" in the interests of his party. Me has 
 always and uniformly refused offlce of any kind 
 since coming to Michigan, and is of a jovial and 
 hospitable nature. His estimable wife vies with 
 her husband in making their home a pleasant place. 
 
 AVID KILBORN',a farmer on section 27^ 
 Calo Township, Montcalm County, was born 
 in Oxford County, Canada, May 17, 182G- 
 He is a son of Whiting and Mary (Wood) Kilborn, 
 both of whom were natives of Brockville, Canada. 
 After marriage they took up their residence in Ox- 
 ford County. Canada, where they both spent the 
 remainder of their lives. They were lifelong mem- 
 bers of the Weslcyan Methodist Cliurch and very 
 active in cliurch work. They had eight children, 
 namely: Laura, Jared, Hannah, Mary, William, 
 David, Jane and Wilbur. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared ui)on his 
 father's farm in Canada, receiving a common-school 
 educatitm and spending his early manhood also 
 upon a farm. For eight years prior to his coming 
 to the Slates be was engage<l in the mercantile 
 business. In 18G1 he came to Michigan aiul made 
 his home where he now lives in Cato Township on 
 eighty acres of land then all heavily limbered. 
 Here he built him a log house and, bringing on his 
 family made his home within its rude walls. This 
 old home is still standing and sheltered the house- 
 hold until quite recently, when the present hand- 
 some two-story frame residence was erected. His 
 farm is now one of the finest in the township, lie 
 has turned it over to his son Oscar who is manag- 
 ing it and the father is now living a retired life, 
 
 David Kilborn became connected with the church 
 early in life and upon coming to Michigan he waa 
 impressed with the great need of religious instruc- 
 tion and Christian ministry in the new country. 
 He began preaching and has. from that lime to this, 
 given constantly more or less of his lime to the 
 ministry as a local preacher. He is a man who 
 enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow- 
 men, and is well informed. His political convic- 
 tions are with the Uepublican party. 
 
 In 1851 he chose .as his partner in life, Lavania 
 Bowers, of Waterloo Connly, Canada, who was 
 born there May 3, 1832, a daughter of Samuel and 
 Lydia (Sowers) Bowers. Their marriage took place 
 May 21, 1851. Six children have been born to 
 this union namely: Oscar, Frank, Julie, Elsie, 
 Mary and Walton. Oscar farms the home farm ; 
 his wife was Miss Agnes Aldrich of this county, 
 and she is the mother of four children — Ethel; 
 Vernie, Fernie, twins; and Leon. Frank is a pho- 
 tograi)her in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He married 
 Mary Carty of Lancaster, Ohio, and has one child, 
 Kllcn. .iLdic is the wife of (George C. Youngman, 
 a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this 
 volume. Elsie is the wife of Augustus K. Varney 
 a merchant tailor at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mary is 
 a photographer in Cedar Rapids, and Walton pur- 
 sues the same business in Nevada, Iowa. 
 
 HARLES W. .lOSLIN is one of the business 
 men of Smyrna, Ionia County, his occupa- 
 /' tion being that of a merchant. He carries 
 a stock worth from $3,000 to*5,000, which includes 
 the many articles that are classed under the head of 
 general merchandise. His home is on section 21, 
 Olisco Townsliip, where he was born April 25, 
 1845. His father, .lohn .1. Joslin, had come this 
 State from New York in the '30s, and had made his 
 home in Macomb County. Thence he removed to 
 Oakland County and later to Ionia County, where 
 be permanently remainetl. In Macomb County he 
 was married to HeUey M. Wales, a daughter of 
 Solomon and Urania (Wright) Wales. Her par- 
 ents, natives of Vermont, came to this Suite in 1820, 
 
652 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and she herself is believed to be the oldest contia- 
 uous resident of the coinmonwealth. Mr. Joslin en- 
 tered into rest in 1886 mourned by six cliildren — 
 Blin 1)., Americ M., John T., Martha U., Charles 
 W. and George 8. 
 
 Tiie jfentleman who is the subject of this brief 
 life history, had no unusual experiences in his boy- 
 hood and youth, save that at the age of seventeen 
 l>e took up the profession of teaching, wiiich he fol- 
 lowed during the winter season six or seven years. 
 When twenty-one years old he learned the carpen- 
 ter's trade, at which he worked about a decade. 
 From that time until 1881 he was variously occu- 
 pied, and he then entered upon his successful career 
 as a merchant. In connection with that business he 
 does considerable as an api)le-dryer. 
 
 At the liead of the pleasant home in which Mr. 
 Joslin finds rest from his business cares, is the wife 
 to whom he was married in 1871. She was known 
 in her maidenhood as Miss Adelaide Campbell, and 
 is a daughter of Henry M. and Anna (Smith) 
 Campbell, natives of Massachusetts. A bright 
 group clusters around the fireside, being made up 
 of the following sons and daughters: Blanche, Cora, 
 George, Frank, Marion, Jiin and Elva. 
 
 Mr. Joslin has never aspired to public office, but 
 is a faithful adherent of the Republican party, to 
 which he gives the full weight of his influence. He 
 is one of the originators of Smyrna Temperance 
 Lodge No. 1, and fills the chair of President. In 
 carrying on his business he displays good judgment 
 and an honorable consideration for the rights of 
 otliers, and all who deal with him are assured of 
 courteous treatment. 
 
 ON. SANFORD A. YKOMANS. The 
 name of Sanford Yeomans is well known to 
 the citizens of Ionia County as tliat of one 
 of its earliest pioneers, as well as a man of 
 l)rominence in various relations of life. His many 
 friends will be pleased to read this account of his 
 life, even though time and space forbid a more 
 detailed recital of his experiences and labors. He 
 is now President of the First National Bank of 
 
 Ionia and is one of the large landowners of the 
 county, his home farm being in Easton Township. 
 It consists of four hundred and fifty acres, well 
 developed and well improved, and other tracts add 
 many acres to his landed estate. His stock in the 
 aforesaid l)ank is rated at #12,700 and he has 
 *2,000 in tlie Fifth National Bank at Grand Rap- 
 ids. The influence that comes from abundant 
 means belongs to Mr. Yeomans, and coupled with 
 it is that stronger power exerted by mind and 
 character. 
 
 The parents of the Hon. Mr. Yeomans wore 
 Erastus and Pliebe (Arnold) Yeomans, natives of 
 Connecticut and Rhode Island respectively, and 
 the mother a daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. 
 The father fought in the War of 1812 and became 
 a pensioner of the Government on account of his 
 services. The parental home was in Herkimer 
 County, N. Y., where our subject was born No- 
 vember 29, 1816, and there they continued to re- 
 side until the child had reached his seventeenth 
 year. They then, in the spring of 1833, made a 
 removal to Ionia County and located in Easton 
 Township on section 24. They were practically 
 in the woods, although the old homestead where his 
 father settled is now included in the corporate 
 limits of Ionia. Erastus Yeomans was the first 
 Postmaster of this i)lace, was County Superintend- 
 ent of the Poor and Associate Count}- Judge. He 
 occupied his original estate here until his decease 
 in 1883, at the age of nearly ninety-two years. 
 The venerable man was a well-known figure in the 
 cit}' and was valued as one of the best of citizens 
 and the most useful of the old pioneers. 
 
 As the eldest son in the parental family Sanford 
 Yeomans necessarily bore an active part in improv- 
 ing the homestead, and early in life developed a 
 strengtli of character and vigor of bod\' that seems 
 to liave been characteristic of the members of the 
 pioneer families. His education was well advanced 
 in the district schools of his native State, and was 
 added to after coming West whenever opportunity 
 offered. As the curriculum of that day was not 
 extended, he is self-educated in many branches. 
 He made his home under the parental roof until he 
 was twenty-four years old, when he started out to 
 enter upon his personal career. In 1840 he settled 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 653 
 
 upon liis i)resent farm, whieli was partially timber 
 and partly level plain, and was in the primitive 
 condition of a country whose only inhabitants had 
 been Indians. 
 
 Mr. Ycomans first put up a small frame house, 
 which he occupied a number of years but which 
 was finally replaced by a more ample and commo- 
 dious residence. lie developed the farm and added 
 to the forty acres which had been given him by his 
 father until he brought the home place up to its 
 present acreaji;e. Among the other tracts now 
 owned by liim is a part of his father's homestead. 
 
 In January, 1841, Mr. Yeomans was married to 
 Miss Abigail Thompson, a native of Vermont, who 
 shared his fortunes until 1818, when she closed her 
 eyes in death. To the union there came four chil- 
 dren, three of whom are livini; — Eraslus, Olive and 
 Walter. The daughter is now tlic wife of William 
 J. Just. Mr. Yeomans won for bis second wife 
 Miss Marietta A. Stebbins, who was born in Franklin 
 Count}-, Mass., March 6, 1829, and is a daujjiiler of 
 Chancey M. and .Sophia Stebbins. .She .accompa- 
 nied her parents to Ionia County in 183G, and is 
 therefore nearly as well acquainted with the pio- 
 neer history- of the county as her husband. Her 
 surviving brothers and sisters are: .Sej'mourM.; 
 Cteorgc and Albert, living in Kaston Township; 
 Armanella, wife of Hiram Moss, in Clinton County; 
 Chester, in Montcalm County; and Julia, wife of 
 Anilrew Ross, in Easton Township. By his second 
 marriage Mr. Ycomans became the father of seven 
 children, three of whom are living, their names 
 being Willard S., Frank H. and Edwin. 
 
 Like his father before him Mr. Yeomans is a 
 stanch Republican ami a man of undeniable [)ublic 
 spirit. For twenty years he litis served as County 
 Superintendent of the Poor and he has been Clerk 
 of Easton Township for many years. He served 
 two terms in the Lower House of the Michigan 
 Legislature, the one in 1877 and tlic other in 187'J. 
 In 1807 he was a delegate to the Michigan StJite 
 Constitutional Convention, representing the west 
 half of Ionia County. In the archives of the State 
 may l)e found his legislative record and in the 
 memory of his constituents it is also engraved. 
 That Mr. Yeomans possesses more than ordinary 
 financial ability is attested by his broa<l acres and 
 
 other evidences of wealth. That he is well versed 
 on general topics and is thoughtful in his consider- 
 ation of the issues of the day is Soon learned in 
 conversation with him. The hospitality of him- 
 self and wife is almost unboundeil, and the con- 
 fidence and esteem in which they are held testify 
 to their excellent characters. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^EORGE I. STRACHAN is a prosperous 
 [if sf farmer residing on section 24, Ronald Town- 
 ^^l ship, Ionia County. He was born in North 
 Plains Townshi|) in this county, February 20, 1860. 
 His father, James, was a native of Ireland, where 
 he was born in 1820. He came to Can.-ida at the 
 age of eighteen years, is one of a family of 
 tw?lve children, and received his schooling in the 
 old country. Aft^r he came to Canada he served 
 five years and six months in the British array. 
 Afler his discharge from the aray he came to the 
 United States. 
 
 In 1849 the father of our subject took to himself 
 a wife in the person of Mary Delzell, a native of 
 the Emerald Isle. Their marriage took place in 
 Wayne County, N. Y., but in 1855 they came to 
 Michigan and located in North Plains Township, 
 on an unim|)roved farm. Their log house was mi- 
 nus doors and windows, but it was not minus the 
 happy home spirit. They made their home there 
 until 1883, improving not only the house but the 
 farm. They then came to Ronald Township. Mrs. 
 James Slrachan was called away from earth in 
 January 25, 1890. The father of our subject still 
 resides with him and is a prominent citizen of the 
 township. He has been Highway Commissioner 
 and Pathmaster of the township. He is a Repub- 
 lican in politics, and with his son enjoys the com- 
 munion of the Christian Church. A strong l)ond 
 of union exists between the father and the youngest 
 son of the family. 
 
 October 12, 1881 saw the happy mariiagc of 
 George I. Slrachan and Lcona Allen. This lady 
 was born in Pennsylvania, August 4, 1800, and 
 came with her parents to Michigan when a little 
 child of five years. The first home of this youiij; 
 
6.54 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 couple was in North Plains Townsliip, but the fol- 
 lowing year they removed to their present resi- 
 dence, on the farm which is owned by the father. 
 One little son has blessed their home, J. Lee. 
 
 General fanning and stock-raising occupy our 
 subject, his specialty being a fine grade of hogs. 
 lie began liuying graded hogs in 1885, and each 
 year has increased his stock from the best sources. 
 He makes a specialty of breeding and shipping, and 
 takes first premium almost every fall at the fair. 
 He has taken more money in this way at the fairs 
 than any one else in the business in Ihe county. Of 
 his one hundred and forty acres of land, one hun- 
 dred and ten are in cultivation, and the rest in tim- 
 ber. He has filled positions of trust in the town- 
 ship, having been Highway Commissioner and 
 Drainage Commissioner. For four years past he 
 has been a Trustee in the Union Church. 
 
 ASS T. WRIGHT, of the firm of F. N. 
 Wright & Co., Greenville, Montcalm Coun- 
 ty, is one of the most influential business 
 men of the place. The firm of which he is a mem- 
 ber deals in iron and steel plows, undressed lum- 
 ber, lath, shingles, and all kinds of dressed lumber. 
 They are also engaged in buying and selling pine 
 linds, and altogether are carrying on an extensive 
 business. They bought the Greenville Plow Works 
 in 1890, and employ a number of hands in the 
 manufacture of plows, and they are also making 
 brick and flour, in the milling business being 
 engaged with the Wright Bros. The mill was built 
 in 1881, is fitted up with a first-class roller system, 
 and has a capacity of one hundred and fift3' barrels 
 per day. 
 
 Mr. Wriglit is a native of Brown County, Wis., 
 and a son of Lucien B. and Marryette (Thompson) 
 Wright, both of whom were born in Lake County, 
 Ohio. The father had been engaged in the lumber 
 trade, and moving to Wisconsin in 1833 he con- 
 tinued that occupation and also engaged In farm- 
 ing. In 1866 he came to Greenville, and here lie 
 carried on the sale of lumber until his death, two 
 years after his reraoval. He was an active member 
 
 of the Methodist Ejjiscopal Church, and his widow 
 who still lives in Greenville, is a worker in the 
 same denomination. Mr. Wright was a Democrat 
 In his younger days, but in the beginning of the 
 war he joined the Republican ranks. In Wiscon- 
 sin he held the position of County Clerk, and 
 served in township offices also. The i>arental fam- 
 ily, numbering nine children, is now represented by 
 Cass T. ; Annie, wife of O. W. Green; Lucien H., 
 E<lwin R. ; and Ida, wife of C. J. Abbott. 
 
 The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
 Hoel and Aurilla (Cleveland) Wright, who were 
 natives of Vermont and who died In Wisconsin in 
 1876 and 1886 respectively. Grandfather Wright 
 went to Ohio in an early day, and in 1833 came to 
 Brown County, Vi'ia. He was a surveyor, l)ut after 
 he went to Wisconsin he added lumbering to his 
 professional work. In 1866 he came to Greenville, 
 which was his home four years, and he then 
 returned to Wisconsin and located in Winnebago 
 County. He had a family of eighteen children. 
 His parents were Samuel and Rebecca Wright, who 
 were born in A'ermont and spent their last years in 
 Brown County, Wis., whither they went about 
 1836-37. Their children were six in number. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice opened 
 his eyes to the Hglit June 30, 1846. He was nearly 
 of age when he came to Greenville, and the years 
 l)rlor to that time were spent on the home farm and 
 In pursuing practical studies which fitted him for 
 business life and usefulness. After his parents 
 came to this State he learned something of the 
 business in which he Is now engaged, and at the 
 death of his father he went into the establishment 
 with his uncle, F. N. Wright. In addition to the 
 extensive enterprises before mentioned in which 
 the firm of F. N. Wright & Co. is interested, our 
 subject is a shareholder in the starch factory of 
 Greenville, which is the only establishment of its 
 kind in the United States. lis capacity is two 
 thousand bushels per twenty-four hours, and forty 
 hands are employed. Mr. Wright established the 
 electric light system in Greenville in 1888. He has 
 thirty arc lights and two hundred and fifty Incan- 
 descent lights In the city. 
 
 The wife who presides with gracious dignity in 
 the residence of Mr, Wright was known in her 
 
RESIDENCE OF LEWIS Ti. BET-I EDICT, SLC'S . 22 &. 23. ORAMGE T P. IONIA CO MICH 
 
 RESIDE! 
 
 , GREENVILLE, MICHIGAN. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 6.1; 
 
 inaidenbood as Miss Helen Fuller. She is an edu- 
 cated, refined lady, whose former home w.ns Mid- 
 dleville, Barry County, where she wns married in 
 1868. She is the iiiotlier of six cliiidren, named 
 respectively, Lucien W., Eliiel, Jess, Fairchiliis N., 
 Karl and llngh. Mr. Wright has made a stiuly of 
 political questions, and keeps himself well informed 
 regarding the issues that are before the peoi)lc 
 from year to j-ear. He costs his vote wilii the 
 Rcpuhlicans. He was at one time the occupant of 
 the Mayor's chair, and did good work in his offi- 
 cial capacity, but his wide Ijusiness interests pre- 
 vent his taking any great part in public affairs, 
 except in so far as his duty as a citizen lies. His 
 reputation as a financier and the manager of exten- 
 sive interests has s|)read over the country, and in 
 business circles his name is prominent. 
 
 One of the most attractive homes in Greenville 
 is that of Mr. AVright, and we are pleased to pre- 
 sent to bis friends and acquaintances a view of his 
 elegant residence. Mr. Wright also has about as 
 fine a stock farm as is to be found in Michigan, 
 with a substantial stock barn, and about tiiirty-five 
 head of the finest strains of Hamblelonian and 
 Wilkes registered horses in this Slate. 
 
 I^I^C^Sl^^' 
 
 KWIS N. BENP:DICT. One of the most 
 attractive locations in Ionia County is occu- 
 pied by tlie farm of the gentleman above 
 named. The mistaken townsman who believes that 
 country life is devoid of attraction will fin<l con- 
 clusive proof to the contrary on this estate, which 
 is beautiful to behold, the source of a fine income, 
 and the scene of a happy liome life. A view of 
 this pleasant homestead appears on another page. 
 It bears every mark of careful and intelligent till- 
 age, is divided into convenient fields by good 
 fencing and is supplied with a full set of farm 
 buildings. 
 
 Mr. Benedict is the son of Hiram Benedict, a 
 New York farmer, and Anna (Hungerford) Bene- 
 dict, a native of the same Slate. There thej were 
 married and always afterward resiiled. Hiram 
 
 Benedict was born March 24, 1797, and died March 
 29, 1876. His wife was born April 13, 1806, and 
 is still living at the ailvanced age of eighty-five 
 years. They were the parents of six children, who 
 grew to maturity and all but one are now living. 
 Our subject was born March 10, 1827, in Oswego 
 County, N. Y. When nineteen years of age he 
 went to Jefferson County and served three years as 
 apprentice to the trade of carpenter and joiner. 
 In that apprenticeship he received in cash the first 
 year 14 jier montli; tlic next year ^6, and the third 
 year $10. Afterwards as journeyman he was paid 
 ^l per day. He worked there until 1865 when he 
 came to Michigan and settled at Ionia, continuing 
 to work at his trade. In 1852 he married Pamelia 
 Cliase, of Watertown, N. Y., and the}' v.-ere llie 
 [larents of two children — Ella, the wife of J. W. 
 Bandfield, who lives at Orange Township with her 
 husband and two children; William F. has married 
 Carrie Nickerson and lives in Ionia Township — he 
 has two cliildren; The subject of this sketch lost 
 his wife November 17, 1882. 
 
 Mr. Benedict married for his second wife Adeline 
 (Bariett) Hall, widow of A. K. Hall. Her fatlier 
 was a Connecticut farmer and her mother, Dalmatia 
 (Crosby) Barrett, was a native of Vermont, and 
 they were married in Volney, Oswego County, N. Y. 
 Mr. Barrett died in 1827, when only twenty-five 
 years of age. His widow in her second marriage 
 was united with David Hall and resided for several 
 years in New York until 1840, when they came to 
 Michigan and settled on a raw farm in Montcalm. 
 Their first home was in an old sugar shanty until 
 they built a log house. Tliej' were surrounded by 
 Indians and wild animals. David Hall dieil in 
 1872 and his wife in November. 1882, at the age 
 of seventy-seven years. Mrs. Benedict was the 
 only diild of tlie first marri.age. By the second 
 marriage there were six children, three of whom 
 are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett were mem- 
 bers of the Melhoilist P^piscopal Church, taking an 
 active i)art in church matters and giving special 
 assistance in the line of music. 
 
 Mrs. Benedict was born January 15, 1H28, in 
 Oswego County, N. Y.;she left home when eleven 
 vears old and came to Michigan when thirteen 
 years of age. She received a good district school 
 
653 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 education, and worthily fills her sphere in life. 
 FebriTary 5, 1843, she married Alexander K. Hall, 
 son of Daniel and Jerusha (King) Hall of New 
 York. They early settled near Oswego where they 
 died upon their farm. They were the parents of 
 eight children. Alexander Hall was born in May, 
 1815, and in 1838 came to Michigan and settled 
 upon a raw farm of eighty acres, which he cleared 
 and embellished witli all its present improvements. 
 During his early settlement here bears, wolves, deer 
 and other wild animals abounded, while Indians 
 were numerous. At one time Mr. Hall learned 
 there was a letter for him in the post-office at Port- 
 land. He put a bushel of wheat in a sack and 
 carried it on his shoulder to that village expecting 
 to sell it, but when he arrived there, a distance of 
 six miles, he could not sell it for enough to pay the 
 postage on the letter which was twenty-five cents. 
 Fortunately an acquaintance there took the wheat 
 and gave him twenty-five cents with which he got 
 his letter out of the office. 
 
 After a busy and useful life, Mr. Hall passed 
 from the busy scenes of earth in August, 1878. 
 His funeral services were the first held in tlie Meth- 
 odist Fipiscopal Church known as the Hall Cliurch, 
 of which he was Trustee, and to which he had 
 given an acre of land. He and his wife were the 
 parents of five children, as follows: Daniel A., who 
 married Martha Zacliarius, lives in Orange Town- 
 ship, with Ills wife and seven children; Jerusha, 
 Mrs. Hazel Bartlett died, leaving a family of two 
 children; Lydia L., Mrs. William Miner, lives in 
 Orange Township and has three children; Charles 
 O., who married Belle Decker, lives in Eaton Ra|)ids 
 and has two children; Alice I. is the wife of Will- 
 iam Welman and lives on the home farm. 
 
 A. K. Hall was a member of the Methodist Kpis- 
 copal Church and in every way was a substantial 
 Christian character. He was strictly temperate in 
 his habits, and in all these good qualities his chil- 
 dren follow in their father's footsteps. He was at 
 various times School Inspector, Justice of the Peace, 
 Road Overseer, Road Commissioner, and for five 
 years Supervisor of Orange Township, being the 
 first one after the organization of the towusbii). 
 He kept himself fully informed in regard to the 
 political situation and on national matters voted 
 
 the Democratic, but in local elections he always 
 voted for the best men. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Benedict are members of the 
 Methodist fclpiscopal Church, in which he has been 
 a Steward; he has been chorister for many years, 
 and for about forty years has served as Class- 
 Leader. Both have taken an active part in the 
 Sunday-school in which Mrs. Benedict is a teacher 
 and he for a long time has been both Superintend- 
 ent and teacher. He made his public profession of 
 Christianity in 1842. He is temperate and while 
 he votes the Republican ticket in general elections 
 casts a Prohibition vote when opportunity allows. 
 He has been a member of the Sons of Temperance 
 and also of the Union League, and is now a mem- 
 ber of the Patrons of Industr}'. They carry on 
 mixed farmmg, raising grain and stock, and are 
 very successful in raising houseplants for the adorn- 
 ment of their home. 
 
 \il^AOLNEY C. VAN LIEW, M. D., is a prom- 
 ^m' inent physician and a prosperous druggist 
 ^ in the northeastern part of Montcalm 
 County. He has a large practice in Richland and 
 other townships, is exceedingly successful in his 
 profession and a verj' popular man as a friend and 
 nrighbor. He is descended from an old and well- 
 known family of New York Stale, who were pio- 
 neers in Kent County, Mich., settling near Cortland 
 Center. 
 
 The parents of our subject, Cornelius and Lucy 
 (Smith) Van Liew, began life together in their 
 native State, New York, and coming to Michigan 
 bought a farm which they proceeded to improve, 
 but the happy family life was soon interrupted, 
 ft.)r in 1862 Cornelius enlisted in Company F, 
 Sixth Michigan Cavalry. He was captured at 
 Brandy Station and sent to Libby prison. Thence 
 he was transferred to Belle Isle and from there to 
 Andersonville, where he died after a terrible im- 
 prisonment of eleven months. This brave man 
 enlisted as a private and when captured had been 
 promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He 
 was a highly intelligent man, a strong' Abolitionist 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 659 
 
 and an ardent Republican, a member of the Melli- 
 odist Episcopal Church in which he had long been 
 Class-Leader, and a valued and honored mcuiberof 
 society-. 
 
 The widowed mother of our subject faithfully 
 reared the children whose training now devolved 
 upon iier alone, and brought up to manhood and 
 womanhood, not only her own five little ones, but 
 also two children of her husband by a previous 
 marriage. Later in life she married Mr. Nickerson. 
 .Shedied in Nelson Township, Kent Count}', in 1885. 
 
 Young Volney was born in Oakfield Township, 
 Kent County, March 31, 1858; was reared in Cort- 
 land until he was ten ^-ears of age when the family 
 removed to Sand Lake. When onl^' eleven years 
 old he began to work out during the summers in a 
 shingle factory. When eighteen years of age he 
 had worked his way up and was a shingle sawyer. 
 His winters were spent in study. After completing 
 his course at the district schools he attended the 
 High Sciiool at Rockford and then went to liatlle 
 Creek College for three j-ears. After teaching one 
 year he made an engagement as clerk in a store and 
 at the same time studieil medicine at Ravenna 
 under Henry Hull, a prominent physician there. 
 After remaining with him one year he entered tlie 
 old Detroit Medical College in the fall of 1880. 
 After his one year of stud}- here the young man 
 began practice at Croton, Muskegon Count}', where 
 he remained for three years. Keeling, however, that 
 his course of study had not been sufli'jient to enable 
 him to achieve success in the profession he entered 
 the Michigan Medical College at Detroit, in the 
 fall of 1883, and the following S|)ring received the 
 degree of Doctor of Medicine. 
 
 The young Doctor located at Newaygo for one 
 year and then removed to Coral in this county, 
 where he practiced until 188(5, after which he re- 
 moved to Vestaburgh, where he has built up a 
 large and lucrative practice, and where he soon 
 started in the drug business. His success is due to 
 thorough preparation, hard work, close application 
 and devotion to duty. 
 
 The happy home life of our subject and tin- com- 
 forts of his home have aided largely in sustaining 
 him in the arduous labors of his profession. Mrs. 
 Van Liew bore the maiden name of Nettie Routaon. 
 
 She was born in Ohio and was educated at Muske- 
 gon, completing her schooling in the High School 
 there, and was for four years a teacher, previous to 
 her marriage in 1882. 
 
 Dr. Van Liew is filling the position of Health 
 Officer in his town, and in the Knights of the Mac- 
 cabees to which he belongs he is the official physi- 
 cian, and examining physician for several insurance 
 companies. He is a member of the Michigan State 
 Pharmaceutical .Society. In his political affiliations 
 he marches with the Republican party and has often 
 been made a delegate to county and other conven- 
 tions. 
 
 ARTIN .1. MINKR. This enterpri^ng citi- 
 «i zen of Montcalm County is one whose life 
 affords an exam[)le of that whicii m.-i}- be 
 accom])lished bj' a man of determined 
 spirit, good habits and persistence. He began his 
 career in life as a poor man, and has acquired a 
 good property, coiisisting of a fine farm in Bloomer 
 Township, and has business interests in Carson City 
 that have been potent in the upbuilding of that 
 place. Ilis farm consists of two hundred and forty 
 acres of fine land, under careful and intelligent cul- 
 tivation, and well-stocked with domestic animals 
 and farm machinery. The barn is of more than 
 average value, and the house is attractive in de- 
 sign, convenient in arrangement, and well fur- 
 nished. Mr. Miner keeps good horses, but cares lit- 
 tle for stock-raising, although the animals he has 
 are of good breeds and well cared for. 
 
 In the village of Natural Bridge in Jefferson 
 County, N. V., Mr. Miller was born March 18, 1830. 
 His |)arents were Anderson and Delilah (Arm- 
 stroLg) Miner, both of whom were born in Nor- 
 wich, Vt. The father was a blacksmith and the son 
 learned the tra<le, working for his father until he 
 was of age, and afterward giving eight or ten years 
 to similar work for his own advantage. He had 
 but meager school privileges, as the benefit of the 
 summer terms was not his, and the education he 
 obtained was limited to a fair knowledge of the 
 common branches. By the means that are open 
 
660 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to all who desire information, he has added to his 
 store of learning, and is now a well-informed man. 
 
 In 1844 the father of our subject came to this 
 State and located in Palmyra, Lenawee County. 
 Thence he went to Libert^-, Jackson County, and 
 after sojourning tliere about three years, lie settled 
 in Montcalm County, December, 1851. In 18.52 ho 
 gave every man a dinner in the town of Bloomer 
 one town meeting day, and the ballot box was 
 Mother Miner's knife box. He was one of the ear- 
 liest to establisii a home in this section, and he was 
 seventeen days in cutting trees to open up a road 
 to the farm now operated by the son. Clearing 
 was begun, and a blacksmith shop was opened, and 
 as time passed the property became valuable and 
 pleasant to behold. The father died in 1879. He 
 was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his father 
 in turn fought in the Revolution. A sister of our 
 subject taught the first school in Carson City. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Miner and Lucinda Hawley 
 solemnized at the bride's home in Ionia County, 
 August 23, 1852. Mrs. Miner is a daughter of 
 Alpheus Hawley, whose n.ame will be recognized 
 by man}' of our readers. There came to brighten 
 the home of Mr. and Mrs. Miner, two children: 
 George H., born November 28, 1854; and Lucena 
 A., born August 11, 1856. Both are happily mar- 
 ried and living in homes of their own in Montcalm 
 County. George married Nettie Yates; and Lu- 
 cena is the wife of Theodore Freshoucr. 
 
 In the year 1878 Mr. Miner erected a large brick 
 building now occupied by the State Bank of Car- 
 son City. The previous spring he and others had 
 united in building the east side elevator, and he 
 had the active management of it until the last year, 
 when it became his personal property. He and Mr. 
 Webber owned and platted the forty acres between 
 the business part of the town and the elevators, and 
 put it on the market. Mr. Miner was also con- 
 nected with the Savings Bank of Carson City, the 
 business of which the stockholders are now closing 
 out, and he was Vice-President of the corporation 
 all the time. Notwithstanding tliese interests he 
 did not neglect his farm, but improved the land 
 and put up the buildings that stamp it as the home 
 of a man of good judgment. 
 
 Jn looking bayk oyer the years he has spent in 
 
 this State, Mr. Miner speaks of a time in I8&4 when 
 he and his family lived eight days without bread, 
 and when starvation stared them in the face on 
 more than one occasion. He and his wife have sur- 
 vived their trials and (Mscomforts, and are now en- 
 joying the fruits of their honest industry and the 
 many comforts that make farm life so pleasant in 
 well-settled districts. Mrs. Miner is interested in 
 curiosities and has the space over the windows in 
 her home adorned with various articles, and has a 
 table composed of curiosities of all possible kinds, 
 rising in pyramidal form in the center. 
 
 HARLES MILLARD, for half a century a 
 resident in Ionia County, has been making 
 his home in the county-seat since October, 
 1889. Some j'ears before he was obliged to give 
 up farming, which had been his life work, on ac- 
 count of his wife being crip[)led by an accidental 
 fall and he removed to Pewamf), where he lived 
 from 1 877 to the year above mentioned. He was 
 born in Berkshire Count3', Mass., March 13, 1819, 
 and comes of old Puritan stock. The Millard fam- 
 ily was established in this country by tvvcj brotliers, 
 Robert and Nathaniel, who came from England 
 about the middle of the seventeenth centuiy, hav- 
 ing been driven from their home by persecution, 
 the^' lieing Baptists. The parents of our subject 
 were Doctor and Alvira (Atwood) Millard, who 
 were born in Massachusetts and Connecticut re- 
 spectively. The given name of the father was occa- 
 sioned by his being the seventh son of his parents. 
 Our subject was eight years old when his father 
 removed to Yates County, N. Y., and there he 
 remained with his parents until he was twenty years 
 old. He then established his own home, being 
 married January 9, 1839, to Catherine, daughter 
 of Ira and Margaret (Thompson) Eisher, natives 
 of the Empire State, and the father a shoemaker. 
 In the fall of 1840 Mr. and Mrs. Mill.ard came to 
 this State, making their memorable trip from De- 
 troit with an ox-team. They stopped in Clinton 
 Count}', hut before a jear had passed they came to 
 Lyons Township, Ionia County, and bought a tract 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 661 
 
 of land near the present site of Pewamo. The sit- 
 uation of affairs at that time is best told by Mrs. 
 Millard herself. 
 
 '•All the coiintri' east of this place was an un- 
 broken wilderness, the only inhabitants roving 
 bands of Indians and wild animals. St. John's, 
 Fowler and P«wamo were not even thought of. 
 There were few settlers on and around East Plain, 
 but north of IMapIc River but two white men had 
 located land and were clearing up farms as homes 
 for themselves and families. Nathaniel Sessions 
 lived one mile west of where Matherton now lives, 
 which was then only an Indian planting ground, 
 and Mr. Tabor lived one mile north on the road 
 now leading to Ilubbardston. One other man 
 named Glass had ventured farther north, but prev- 
 ious to 1810 the family were murdered and the 
 house burned. The act was attributed to the Ind- 
 ians who stoutly denied the accusation, yet the 
 white settlers became greatly alarmed and held a 
 meeting to fix upon some plan of defense in the 
 event of any further disturbance. A site for a 
 fort was selected on the highlands this side of Ly- 
 ons, the intention being to provide a place to which 
 tho^- could remove their families if danger threat- 
 ened. But as the Indians remained friendly the 
 fort was never built and subsequent events gave 
 rise to the suspicion that Mr. Glass had murdered 
 his wife and children, burned the house to hide llie 
 crime and then fled the country. 
 
 "At that lime and for many years after, merchan- 
 dise and provisions not raised on the ground were 
 brought from Detroit to Lyons witii teams, requir- 
 ing about four d.ays each w,ay if horse teams were 
 used and if oxen much longer. .Some enterprising 
 persons at last placed a small steamboat on Grand 
 River, which ran up as far as Lyons and greatly 
 f.acilllated transportation. Man^' a load of wheat 
 was drawn to Lyons with ox-tearas and sold for 
 three shillings and sixpence per bushel, half cash 
 and the balance in store tr.ade, ^l.oO per pound 
 being the price of tea, twenty-five cents per yard 
 ihe cheapest calico and other, goods in proportion. 
 Letter postage was twenty -five cents and could not 
 be |)repaid and it may well be supposed that in ti.eir 
 isolation from friends the settlers carefully hoarded 
 their twenty -five cent pieces so that they might get 
 
 the precious news from the old home. It was rarely 
 that a man could get cash for work and if he did 
 it was but fifty cents." 
 
 Mrs. Millard is almost always called u|)()n in 
 gatherings of the old settlers to read an essay or 
 recite some old-time experience, and from her pen 
 comes the following. After staling that no whites 
 ill this vicinity were ever known to have been 
 killed by the Indians and speaking of the drunken 
 son of a chief who was soundly flogged by his fa- 
 ther for firing at a white man, she goes on to say: 
 '•I assure you it did make the blood quicken in our 
 veins and the heart beat a little faster to hear the 
 latch slyly lifted and see, sometimes, a dozen or more 
 stalwart Indians file into the room — husband out in 
 the woods chopping and wife and child alone. 
 However, we soon got used to such visits and spent 
 many an hour talking .as best we could with the 
 squaws, telling them the names of articles about the 
 room and learning what they called the same. In 
 this way we learned to converse and tr.ade with 
 tliem, and after a time all fear of our dusky frien<ls 
 left us and we felt not quite so lonely when their 
 camps were near. This was often the case, espec- 
 ially during the sugar-making season. In this work 
 thej- were extremely filthy, as thej- were in every- 
 thing. We have been iu the sugar camps on a 
 bright, sunshiny d.ay, have seen long troughs hold- 
 ing several barrels filled with maple sap and per- 
 haps half a dozen nude pai)pooses paddling about 
 therein, ducking themselves and having a grand 
 time. The same sap was afterward boiled into 
 'sinsebouquet' and sold to white settlers, but I was 
 not among the purchasers. They would also throw 
 meat or corn into the boiling syrup, skimming it 
 out when cooked, while the process of reducing the 
 liquid to sugar still went on. 
 
 "They seldom offered any other article of food 
 for trade but it was generally baskets or bits of 
 "pnckawaon" (calico) left of the squaws' short 
 gowns, or tobacco, but never their ornaments of 
 which the^' were extremely fond. The squaws 
 sometimes wore ten or a dozen strings of beads 
 about their necks, with silver brooches from the 
 size of a twenty-five cent piece to thatjof a small 
 tea saucer. I liaveseen their upper dress, or short 
 gown, literally covered with these silver ornaments 
 
662 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and the fine work on their leggins would shame the 
 most proficient builder of crazy work in these days. 
 But very rarely during the early 3ears could such 
 articles be bought of them. 
 
 "In the summer of 1841 it was thought best to 
 hold a celebration on the 4tii of July, for you see 
 we had lost none of our patriotism by coming to a 
 new country. There was no hall in which to spread 
 a repast and no modern appliances to make beauti- 
 ful the surroundings, but nature provided the gar- 
 niture. The spot selected was literally a garden of 
 beautiful flowers, as all the i)lain lands were before 
 disturbed by the plow. AVe must needs have a flag 
 or our patriotism would lack the pi'oper stimulus. 
 We were too poor to buy and there was none at 
 hand. So, taking some strips of blue calico, red 
 flannel and white sheeting I manufactured a flag 
 that at an altitude of about sixty feet was quite 
 presentable although, I remember, the orator, Mr. 
 Libhart, referred to it as quite a common affair. 
 Still it was the stars and stripes, semblance of the 
 dear old flag. After the oration all sat down to a 
 free dinner. About one hundred Indians had come 
 to join in the festivities, in their best gala dress, 
 the squaws ablaze in beads and silver brooches and 
 the Indians resplendent with feathers, tiny bells 
 and bright colors. They were served with dinner 
 the same as ourselves, and so ended the first na- 
 tional celebration in this section of county and, I 
 think, the first in the township outside the village 
 of Lyons. 
 
 "In 1842 there was a scarcity of bread stuffs, the 
 great influx of settlers having created a demand 
 far beyond the supply, and before harvest we lived 
 for three days on nothing but a few half-grown 
 flat turnips with a cup of lea, and man^' other 
 fared .as badly; but ere long there was an abun- 
 dance to live upon, and as the resources of the 
 country were developed there was plenty for all. 
 Yet we missed the privileges of the more thickly 
 settled States and when, after about twenty years, 
 we learned that we were to be united to the outer 
 world by iron rail, there was gladness among the 
 people. We well remember the first excursion 
 given by the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad. Flat 
 cars were used on which boards were arranged for 
 seats, but no happier party ever took their first ride 
 
 on the cars than enjoyed that day's excursion." 
 Mr. and Mrs. Millard are consistent members 
 of the Baptist Church and are interested in the Odd 
 Fellows fraternity, Mr. Millard having taken all 
 the degrees and his wife belonging to the Rebecca 
 lodge. He is a firm supporter of the Republican 
 party. The record of their family is as follows: 
 Fidelia E., born Februarj- 20, 1841, is now the wife 
 of Henry J. Sturtevant; Alvira M., born June 27, 
 1843, wife of John Dickson; Charles Leroy, born 
 March 9, 1851, now a resident of Texas; Lucy V., 
 born October 23, 1853, died April 15, 1865, at the 
 age of twelve j'ears; Ira D., born November 9, 
 1855, died May 9, 1857. 
 
 AVID GATES is the son of Harry P. 
 Gates, a native of Madison County, N. Y., 
 born in 1813, and a grandson of Zepha- 
 niah Gates, a native of Connecticut, born 
 in 1769. The grandfather was deeply interested 
 iu the War of 1812, and raised a company for 
 the contest to which he was chosen Captain, 
 but finally remained at home. His wife was 
 Abigail (Griffith) Gates, a native of New York, 
 in which State they lived on a farm until their re- 
 moval in 1838 to Indiana where they died, he in 
 1841 and she in 1843. Of their twelve children, 
 three are now living. David Gates' mother, w.as Sal- 
 lie (Stevens) Gates, a native of Cheshire County, 
 N. H., born in 1815, adaughter of Roswell Stevens, 
 a Connecticut farmer, and of Lydia (Phillips) 
 Stevens, a native of Rhode Island. After their 
 marriage in New Hampshire they removed to Niag- 
 ara Count}', N. Y., thence to Pennsylvania and 
 in 1845 came to Michigan and settled on section 5, 
 Berlin Township, Ionia County, where they com- 
 pleted their lives, he dying in 1853 and she follow- 
 ing him in 1869. Thej' were the parents of nine 
 children, four of whom are now living. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married in 1835, 
 in Pennsylvania, where they resided for a few 
 years before removing in 1843 to Indiana. They 
 came on to Michigan in 1845, and settled on sec- 
 tion 5, Berlin Township. It was all new land so 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 663 
 
 tbat lie bad to clioii out and blaze his own road to 
 Saranac. In the log bouse whicli he built there 
 was but one single board, which be found in a 
 creek and made a door of. Their most numerous 
 neighbors were Indians and wild animals, among 
 wbieb might be named bear, deer, wild lurkcj's and 
 wolves, lie liad little or nothing in bis possession 
 upon reaching Michigan, and afler settling upon 
 sixtj' acres and paying for the land bis means were 
 eiHirely uscil up, but be was a hardy man and 
 cheerfully undertook all hardships. His indus- 
 trious wife willingly turned her hand to any means 
 of helping the family along. At one time she 
 made a coat for a neighbor and received in pay- 
 ment sixteen bushels of potatoes. Some time later 
 he added eighty acres to his farm, which addition 
 he afterward gave to his sons. He has cleared 
 altogether over one hundred and twenty acres of 
 land. His first vote was cast for Martin Van IJu- 
 ren and he has ever since been a stanch Democrat 
 in politics, and in religion a Baiitist, being a Dea- 
 con in that denomination. They were the parents 
 of four children: Lydia, born August 20, 1836, 
 wife of Wiliard Bisbrow; they live in Osceola 
 County, and have seven children. Zepbaniah, born 
 May 22, 1838, married Laura Granger, and lives 
 in Montcalm County, with his wife and five ehil- 
 <lren. Clinton, born December 18, 1840, married 
 Elizabeth Vibber — they live on section 5; he has 
 seven children by a former marriage with Jennie 
 Andrews (deceased). 
 
 David Gates was born March 26, 1850, and was 
 the youngest of his father's family. He attended 
 his first school on his father's farm. Upon reach- 
 ing his majority he took charge of the home place, 
 and has always continued in that line of work. He 
 now owns the old homestead and has ad<led seven- 
 ty-five acres to it, having now one hundred and 
 thirty acres, one hun<lred of which are under the 
 plow. He carries on mixed farming and keeps 
 registered Poland-China hogs. 
 
 The subject of this sketch married December 23, 
 1871, Miss Charlotte Andrews, a daughter of Sam- 
 uel T. and Rebecca (Hunt) Andrews, the former a 
 native of New Yorkan<l the latter of Rhode Island. 
 After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Andrews in 
 New York they came to Michigan in 1858, settling 
 
 in Kalamazoo County on a farm, but later remov- 
 ing to Decatur Township, in Van Buren County 
 where they died, he in 187'J and she ten years 
 later. Of their five children three now survive: 
 Burritt lives on the old homestead in Van Buren 
 County; Marilla, Mrs. Kmery Tuller, lives on sec- 
 tion 31, of Berlin Township, and has two children. 
 Mrs. Gates was born July I, 1850, at Penn Van, 
 N. Y., and was educated at Albion, N. Y., and in 
 Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Gales have been blessed 
 with two children: Bertha, born ftlarch 7, 1875, 
 aiirl Charles, February 2, 1880. They are both 
 attending the district school. Mrs. Gates is an ac- 
 tive member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Gales 
 has been useful to the community as Director of 
 Schools for nine years. He is a member of the 
 Grange where be has been Overseer, and now be- 
 longs to the Patrons of Industry. His political 
 atlilialions are with the Democratic party and he 
 has alw.ays taken an active interest in politics. In 
 1885 he held the office of Township Treasurer of 
 Berlin, and in 1886 he was elected Supervisor of 
 Berlin Township, which office he has held continu- 
 ously ever since. He was a candidate for the State 
 Legislature in the fall of 1890 on the Democratic 
 ticket, and has been frequently appointed a dele- 
 gate to the countj', congressional and State con- 
 ventions. When the celebrated Watkins trial was 
 going on in October, 1889, he was one of the jurors 
 in the United States District Court. 
 
 "if? OSHUA S. GUNN. For more than a quar- 
 ter of a century this gentleman has been a 
 potent factor in the financial progress of Se- 
 bewa Township, Ionia County, where h« has 
 carrietl on agricultural work and saw-milling, add- 
 ing to the value of land here and increasing the cir- 
 culation of the medium of exchange. He now 
 devotes his attention entirely to agriculture, rais- 
 ing both crops and stock, and feeding all the pro- 
 ducts of his farm except the wheat. He does not 
 invest in fancy stock but kee|)S reliable grades and 
 is successful as a stockman. His farm consists of 
 two hundred and eighty' acres of good land, upon 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 which are substantial buildings and the other im- 
 provements that belong to a well-regulated estate. 
 The barn was remodeled and added to by him and 
 the dwelling is wholly his work. The latter was 
 put up in 1880 from the best of material, mostly 
 sawed in Mr. Gunn's mill, and the cash outlay for 
 the edifice was about $2,000. 
 
 Jacob Gunn, father of our subject, was born in 
 Pennsylvania but was quite young when his par- 
 ents removed to Sussex County, N. J. There he 
 lived until long after his marriage to Mary Ogden, 
 who was a native of New Jersey and whose father 
 was a Drum Major in the Revolutionary Army. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Gunn the following 
 children came, named respectively: Experience, 
 Williara, Elizabeth, Susan; Isaac, Jacob E.,Ephraim, 
 Sarah, Samuel, Uannaii, Theodore, Mary Ann, 
 Joshua S. and Phcbe. After tlie birth of all their 
 children Mr. and Mrs. Gunn removeil to Susque- 
 bannah Countj-, Pa., where the wife died in 1858, 
 and the husliand two years later; both belonged to 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born April ;>, 1835, 
 and was five years old when his parents left New 
 Jersey for the Keystone State. His educational 
 privileges were not good, generally confined to 
 three months in the winter, and after he was old 
 enough to know the value of learning, averaging 
 less than two months per year. His education 
 therefore was mainly acquired at his own fireside 
 and by practical self-effort. He has been a constant 
 reader and his reading has covered a wide ground 
 and given him a fund of miscellaneous informa- 
 tion. Mr. Gunn did not begin his personal career 
 until he was of age and iiis first work then was as a 
 renter of his father's farm. After operating it 
 thus two years he bought it and continued to work 
 upon it five years longer, then sold and came to 
 this State. 
 
 After spending one summer in Lenawee County, 
 Mr. Gunn located in Ionia County in 1865. He 
 and his brother Samuel bought two hundred acres 
 of partially improved land, p.nying $18 per acre. 
 The tract was divided beween them, our subject 
 taking one hundred and twenty acres of the least 
 improved part, but for two years the brothers 
 farmed together. At the expiration of that time 
 
 Joshua Gunn and three other men bought a sawmill 
 and placed it on section 23, where the firm of E. 
 Shaj' & Co., operated for two years. Mr. Gunn 
 then traded his interest for eighty acres of land and 
 that in turn for a tract adjoining his original pur- 
 chase here. The next four years were devoted to 
 farming and he then, with his brother Theodore, 
 built a mill near their home, which was run six 
 years under the style of Gunn Bros. The invest- 
 ment proved a good one, but our subject finally 
 decided to give his attention exclusively to agri- 
 culture, and he sold out to his brother who re- 
 moved the mill to the big woods on Pine Lake. 
 
 September 19, 1869, was the daj' on which the 
 marriage of Mr. Gunn and Miss Rachel Rider took 
 place. The parents of the bride were Stephen and 
 Elsie Ann (Sisson) Rider, natives of New York, 
 who came to Washtenaw County, this State, in 
 1839. There their daughter Rachel was born No- 
 vember 23, 1840, she being one of seven children, 
 the others named Henr}' E., Betsej' A., John C, 
 Stephen V., David and Daniel. Mr. Rider devoted 
 the greater part of his life to carpenter's work, he 
 having learned the trade with his father, but dur- 
 ing his latter years he carried on a farm. P'rom 
 Washtenaw County he came to Ionia County' and 
 established his home on section 29, Sebewa Town- 
 ship. There Mrs. Rider died M.ay 22, 1855. Her 
 husband survived her a quarter of a century, pass- 
 ing away February 5, 1880. Both had good stand- 
 ing in the Baptist Church. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gunn are the parents of three 
 children, the youngest of whom, Sherba, died in 
 childhood. The survivors are Rosetta and Fred J., 
 and Mr. and Mrs. Gunn have taken into their 
 family a little girl — Bessie May — who came to 
 them at the age of fourteen months and knows no 
 other parents save those who are so lovingly car- 
 ing for her now. The schools of the district are 
 good and the children of Mr. Gunn have had the 
 advantages of them to the fullest extent. Miss 
 Rosetta has also studied music and has made fair 
 progress in that art. 
 
 In the affairs of the township Mr. Gunn has 
 been fairly active and is now serving his fourth 
 term as Treasurer. He has frequently been a 
 school officer and is now serving as School Asses- 
 
(>;^, ^>&^i^^A>L^''^i^ 
 

 \ M 
 
 ■-^^ 
 
 
 ■i 
 
 
 8. l^a^^iJjiOi 
 
 Oi/n-o 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 669 
 
 sor for tliG third time. In mfillers connected witli 
 school he li!is been energetic and crticient, .ind in 
 any public station to whicli he is called he is relia- 
 ble and painstaking. lie is allied with the Demo- 
 cratic parly, which he has served as a dulej^ale, but 
 is not particularly active in politics. The entire 
 family belongs to the I'atrons of Industry at Sebewa 
 Center and Mr. Gnnn l;as on several occasions rep- 
 resented their lodge as a delegate. Mr. (Uinn is a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Chiircli, while 
 Mrs. (iunn and her daughter llosetla belong to the 
 Haptist Church in Sebewa. The family liave high 
 standing in the coninuinily and number their 
 frien<ls among theljest people of the county. 
 
 (^LMON HOSKKRANS. Few of the aged 
 ((sOI men i'l Ionia County are more widely 
 
 I Ift known than Jlr. Rosekrans, whose portrait 
 (Q/J with that of his wife appears on the oppo- 
 
 site page and who has been identilied with the 
 progress of Lyons Township for half a century. 
 He came here when tlie country was but sparsely 
 settled and Indians were much more numerous than 
 white men, and like other pioneers he endured 
 many hardships and privations. During the secon<l 
 year of his residence he hauled grain to Detroit, as 
 he could get no money for wheat in the county', 
 and his milling was done at I'ontiac, one hundred 
 miles distant. While working by the month for 
 the means of subsistence, he began clearing off a 
 tract of land he h.id secured, and when he had a 
 patch ready for planting he had only o.xen with 
 which to continue its cultivation. Today the one 
 hundred and forty .acres of highh'-cultivated land 
 he possesses is stocked with horses and other ani- 
 mals of good grades, and tilled by means of im- 
 proved farm machinery, such as was unknown when 
 he came here. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Warren and 
 Margaret (Ilindman) Rosekrans, who were born in 
 New York and married in that .State January 30, 
 1812, when nineteen and seventeen years old re- 
 s))eclively. They located in what was calleil the 
 Holland Purchase, in Niagarat'ounty, and remained 
 
 there as long as they lived. Mr. Rosekrans died 
 .September 30, 1822. They were the parents of 
 eight children, the eldest of whom was about thir- 
 teen j'cars old when left an orphan. All are now 
 ileceasetl except our subject. He w.as born May 3, 
 1817, and was thrown on the world when but seven 
 years old. He was reared by Rosekrans Holmes, 
 remaining in his native |)lacc until 1825 and re- 
 ceiving his fundamental education there. He then 
 came with Mr. Holmes to this State and lived with 
 hira in Tlymouth, Wayne County, until nineteen 
 years old. He then worked by the month until he 
 had earned *100, which he gave to his guardian for 
 his time, thus becoming a free man. 
 
 Mr. Rosekrans had nothing but his strong hands, 
 willing heart and active brain with which to make 
 his way in the world. He came to Ionia County 
 and worked by the month for a Mr. C. Reynolds 
 about two years, his wages being 112.50 per month. 
 Prudent and economical, he saved means with 
 which to bnj' a piece of lanfl in Clinton County, 
 but soon disposed of it and purchtised that on 
 which he is now living. Continuing his work by 
 the month he gave every moment he could find to 
 work on his own land, and built a log house in 
 which he established his home soon after his mar- 
 riage. Encouraged b^' his goo<I wife and aided Uy 
 her prudent management, he continued to develop 
 the land, and year by year made liis home more 
 comfortable and the property more valual)le. 
 
 The lady who on April 2G, 1840, united her for- 
 tunes to those of Mr. Rosekrans was Miss Caroline 
 Hrown, a native of the Empire State, born in Sen- 
 eca County September 28, 1822. She was the elder 
 of the two (laughters making up the family of her 
 parents and i)y her early training had become com- 
 petent to take charge of a home. Mr. and .Mis. 
 Rosekrans have had eight children, all of whom 
 were reared on the homestead except one, whom 
 they buried in its infanc}'. All have left the shelter 
 of the parental roof for homes of their own, but 
 several are living (piite near the parents. Arthur 
 resides in Bengal Township, Clinton County; Ern- 
 est E. in Hay County ; Orson I', in Clinton- 
 County, just over the line; .ludson T. in Grntiot 
 County; Lorinda S. is the wife of Howard Wright 
 and lives in Lyons Township; Leslie W. has a home 
 
670 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 in Clinton County; Margaret, wife of Harry Wood- 
 
 wortlj, lives in Lyons Township. 
 
 Orson Roseki-ans now operates his father's farm 
 as well as his own. He was married in 1887 to 
 Miss Susan Mclnnis, who was born in Canada but 
 reared in Michigan. They have a little daughter, 
 Rena. She is one of twenty-three grand -children 
 of our subject and his good wife and the eldest of 
 the number is nineteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Rosekrans of this notice celebrated their golden 
 wedding on the place which has been their home 
 since November 26, 1840. They look back with 
 strange feelings to the days when they sold wheat 
 for forty-one cents per bushel and occupied the 
 little log house around which wolves howled and 
 deer frequently passed, and rejoice greatly in the 
 wonderful changes their eyes have seen. They 
 have a source of gratitude in the fact that notwith- 
 standing their early poverty there was never a 
 mortgage on their land and that they never con- 
 tracted an obligation until they saw their way to 
 an immediate payment. Mr. Rosekrans has always 
 been a Republican until the last general election 
 when his vote was cast for Prohibition candidates. 
 
 ^i7 BANDER MILLARD is one of the most 
 I jJg) prominent men in Ionia County. He owns 
 jlL\v large tracts of land and is well known and 
 highly respected. He is strictly temperate in his 
 habits and has been all his life. His strict integrity 
 in money matters is proverbial. He never sued 
 any one and never was sued in his life, neither 
 does any man ever have to ask him for the payment 
 of a debt or a note, as he pa^^s them promptly the 
 dav they are due without giving opportunity for 
 a dun. His fine farm is situated on section 14, 
 of Ronald Township. 
 
 The subject of tliis notice was born in ISLassa- 
 chusetls, March 21, 1824. He is a son of Dr. Mil- 
 lard of Massachusetts and grandson of Joshua 
 Millard, a native of Ireland and a soldier in the 
 War of 1812. The mother of our subject was born 
 and reared in Massachusetts. Her maiden name 
 was Alviua Atwood. After the marriage of Dr. 
 
 and Mrs. Millard they remained for several 3'ears 
 in Massachusetts and then removed to Starkey, 
 Yates County, N. Y., where for several j^ears they 
 made their home on a farm. In 1841 they removed 
 to Michigan, coming by team from Detroit to 
 Lyons Township, Ionia County. Here on a farm 
 they established a happy home and spent the re- 
 mainder of their days. The Doctor passed from 
 earth in 1880, having been bereaved of his wife in 
 1861. He had been all his lifea man of wide inter- 
 ests. He was a Republican in politics and while in 
 New York was captain of a rifle company. His 
 military qualifications were noteworthy and were 
 appreciated b}' his comrades; he was promoted to 
 the position of Colonel. He was ever active in 
 political affairs and worked hard at times of elec- 
 tion. He and his sons were all vigorous supporters 
 of William Henry Harrison in 1840. He was a 
 member of the Baptist Church and helped to build 
 the church in his home in Yates County, N. Y., 
 and to procure a pastor for it. He was an officer 
 in this church and with his wife warmly supported 
 its work. All their ten children are now living 
 exce))t the oldest son John. The survivors are 
 Malinda, Betsey, Charles, Bolton Y., Leander, 
 Nancy, Gordan J., Lydia and Matilda. 
 
 Leander Millard was brought hy his [larcnts to 
 Yates County, N. Y., when an infant of one year. 
 Here he was reared and received his early educa- 
 tion. When his parents came to Michigan he 
 accompanied them. When he reached his majority 
 he took up a farm in the woods, five miles from 
 any white man on Majjle River. Here he bought 
 a place and lived alone, doing his own cooking 
 while he cleared the land. For two years he lived 
 here and then went b.ack to his father's and worked 
 for him about two years. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was in December. 
 1846, united in marriage with Sarah Van Yleck, who 
 was born in Ulster County, N. Y., April 22, 1822, 
 Her early training and education were conducted 
 in Delaware County, N. Y., whence she had removed 
 with her parents when an infant of one year. Her 
 parents were Mathew and Deborah (North) Van- 
 Vleck. The father's father was a Hollander. 
 
 Although Mr. Millard's farm was in Montcalm 
 County', he did not like to take his bride there 
 
PORTRAIT A.ND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 671 
 
 because llie country was in sucli a wild coi)(lilk)ii 
 and liiey were so far removed from white neigiibors. 
 .So be bouglit one acre of improved lan<) in Ronald 
 Townsliip, Ionia County, and built a house of 
 hewed logs. He improved this i>lacc and lived 
 upon it for eight years. The family then removed 
 to the village of Palo, which place was laid out on 
 INIr. Millard's farm. Here they did double duty, 
 keeping an hotel and running the farm. In 180,5 
 they removed to sections 11 and 12, a partiall}' 
 improved piece of land. Here our su1)ject pro- 
 ceeded to improve the properly. In 1884 he 
 bouglit the |)lace where he now resides. Here he 
 is engaged in farming and fish-raising and has a 
 line lisli [)ond on his place. 
 
 Four sons and one daughter have blessed this 
 home, namely: Mathew, Sesmour, Frank, Van Vleck 
 .•iiid Vena I). Mr. and Mrs. Millard have three 
 hundred and eighty acres of land mostly under 
 cultivation. He is a Republican in politics and in 
 his religious belief is a Baptist, although not now 
 ciinnected witli any local church. At one time he 
 handled a great deal of fine stock. He bought the 
 (ii-st fine sheep that were ever brought into the 
 county. He paid !f50 apiece for them and paid 
 *100 for one little ewe lamb. He w.as a great 
 huntsman in the early days of the country and had 
 frequent opportunities to prove his reputation as a 
 good shot. His farm boasts of one of the liiiost 
 springs in the country and he has utilized it by 
 attaching a watermill which does the churning and 
 keeps the current of water stirring through his fish 
 poud. Winter and summer this spring never 
 ceases to flow, furnishing water in abundance for 
 house and farm. His home is located in a. beauti- 
 ful grove in one of the garden S|)0ts of Michigan. 
 
 • I I g -^^cS^-sH-S— 
 
 ,|r> RADLKY li. CRAWFORD is a stock-raiser 
 |L>C of considerable note in Ionia County and 
 l(^yjl the country round about. He is a breeder 
 ^^' of Xorman horses. Merino sheep and Dur- 
 ham cattle, the horses found upon his estate being 
 especially fine. The place which he now owns and 
 occupies consists of one hundred and sixty acres on 
 
 section 4, Otisco Township, and bears a set of good 
 buihiings, including every necessary and conveni- 
 ent arrangement for the carrying on of the work in 
 which he is engaged. He does not give his entire 
 attention to the stock business, but successfully' 
 cultivates much of his land, marketing a share of 
 the croi)S harvested thereon. 
 
 Mr. Crawford has Revolutionary bloocl in Ids 
 veins, his grandfather, Robert Crawford, a native 
 of Nova Scotia, having fought in the struggle for 
 independence and afterward received a pension for 
 his services. The i)arent3 of our subject were 
 Anson and Electa (ColT) Crawford, wfio were mar- 
 ried in New York, the father being a native of Sar- 
 atoga County. The mother was a daughter of 
 Roswell Coff and was born in the old Bay State. 
 In 1835 Mr. and Mrs. Crawford came to this State 
 and for forty years they were numbered among the 
 residents of Shelby, Macomb Count}'. They then 
 remove<l to Lansing, where Mr. Crawford died in 
 187;», and Mrs. Ciawford in 1881. They had two 
 sons and five daughters named res|)cctivel3', Brsid- 
 loy B., Milburn L., Angeline, Laura, Caroline, 
 Fatima and Fidelia. Mr. Crawford was a farmer 
 anil owned one hundred and twenty acres of land 
 in Macomb Count}'. He was .lustiee of the Peace 
 two terms. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice w.as born 
 in Livingston County, N. Y., July 6, 182G, and 
 was a lad nine 3'ears old when he accompanied tlie 
 other members of the family to this State. He re- 
 m;iined with his parents until he was twenty-three 
 years old. after which he left their roof to make a 
 home for himself. He settled in Montcalm County 
 and remained there until 1880, when he came to 
 his present location. He was married January I, 
 18.)1, to Mary J. Dickon, daughter of John and 
 Jemima (Cass) Dickcn, natives of England and 
 New York respectively. Her brothers and sisters 
 are John, Andrew, William, Lewis. Nelson and 
 Lottie. Her own children are Charles, Ja}-, Nora, 
 John, William, Belle, Emmet and Lottie. 
 
 The intelligence, honor and good judgment of 
 Mr. Crawford have been recognized by his associ- 
 ates and he has served them in several capacities. 
 In Montcalm County he was Supervisor of Fair- 
 plains Township, Township Clerk fourteen y<ars 
 
672 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and Justice of the Peace sixteen j-ears. In the 
 same county he was Superintenclent of the Poor 
 eighteen years. lie is and always has been a Re- 
 l)ublican. He is a member of the Patrons of In- 
 dustry, now President of the Otisco Union Associ- 
 ation aud Vice President of the Montcalm County 
 Association. He is Master of Montcalm Grange 
 and Secretary of the County Grange, and has been 
 for twenty years. He belongs to Eureka Lodge, 
 No. 91, I. 0. O. F., at Greenville. Mrs. Crawford 
 is a member of the Congregational Church; she is 
 a well-informed and kindly woman, earnest in her 
 efforts to do her duty to her family aud those in 
 whose midst her lot is cast. 
 
 I RAM SACKETT. This veteran of the 
 Civil War was one of those who enlisted at 
 tlie first tap of the drum, entering the ser- 
 vice at an age that made it necessary for 
 him to have the written consent of his parents. He 
 is now agent for the American Express Company in 
 Edmore, Montcalm County, and also carries on a 
 grocery store and superintends a farm in Home 
 Township. It will readily be understood that he is 
 a busy man and abundantly supplied with energy 
 and "push." His store is the seat of a thriving 
 trade, as it is well supplied with the articles that 
 are in demand for family use, and is managed in 
 accordance with good business principles. 
 
 Mr. Sackett was born in Carlton, Orleans County 
 N. Y., April 22, 1843, and reared on a farm. He 
 was the third in a family of eleven and the eldest 
 son that lived to maturity. Much work, therefore, 
 rested on his shoulders, and at an early period in 
 his existence he began the labors by which he helpe<l 
 to suppl3' the wants of the other members of the 
 family. His school privileges were very limited and 
 his entire attendance at institutions of learning 
 amounted to less than three terms. He was not 
 able to write when he entered the army, but 
 whenever the duties of camp life would allow he 
 practiced the art that he desired to learn. His in- 
 structor was an Englishman, George E. Ashby by 
 
 name, to whom he gave a watch in payment, and 
 
 whose life was afterward saved by the time-keeper 
 tliat prevented a bullet from piercing his body. 
 
 During his youth j'oung Sackelt worked out as a 
 farm hand, his earnings going to his parents. When 
 the war began he was anxious to enter the service 
 and his parents consented to his enlistment. May 
 31, 1861, he was mustered in at Elmira, N. Y., his 
 name being attached to the muster roll of Com- 
 pany K, Twenty-seventh New York Infantry. He 
 was one of those who took part in the first battle 
 at Bull Run, and he afterward fought at Center- 
 ville, Cat Lick Station, West Point and Mechanics- 
 ville. Being taken with typhoid fever he was sent 
 to the hospital at Washington and lay there from 
 July to November, 1862, and was reported dead. 
 When convalescent he was put on detailed service 
 in Virginia until able to rejoin his regiment, which 
 was in March of the following year. After the 
 battle of Frederieksburg, his time having expired, 
 he was honorably discharged May 30, 1863. 
 
 After a few months spent in the North Mr. 
 Sackett again entered the service, enlisting Septem- 
 ber 15, 1863, in Company L, Second New York 
 Mounted Rifles. He was mustered in at Buffalo 
 as Corpoial and early in the following March went 
 South. The regiment had not been able to get 
 mounts and so took muskets and went to the front 
 as did the infantry men. Mr. Sackett was in the 
 second battle of the Wilderness, North Anna and 
 Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersbui'g aud the fight 
 at Pegram Farm, before the regiment was equipped 
 and mounted as a part of Gregg's Cavalry. This 
 was in December, 1864, and the boys participated 
 in Belfield raid. In the battle at Stony Creek March 
 31, 1865, Mr. Sackett received a gunshot wound 
 through the right shoulder blade and was laid up 
 until September. He was sent to a hosjiital at 
 Washington and during his period of suffering had 
 twenty-seven pieces of bone removed from his 
 shoulder. He was honorably discharged at Elmira, 
 N. Y., September 16, and for three or four years 
 was able to do but little, owing to the effect of his 
 wound and his long confineinent. 
 
 In 1866 Mr. Sackett came to this State and for 
 two j'cars he was engaged in farming in Penfield 
 Township, Calhoun County'. The next year was 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 673 
 
 spent in similar work near Lowell, Ionia Countj'. 
 In 1873 he removed to Union City and for two 
 years lie was incapacitated for worii by an abscess in 
 Ills sliouldcr. He then busied liiniself at various 
 occupations and acted ns Constable and Marshal. 
 He was Deputy Sheriff of Branch County six years. 
 In September, 1882, he came to Eilmore and the 
 following spring became the American Kx press 
 agent. A big business was done by the company 
 when Mr. Sackelt first took tlie agency, and his 
 earnings while working for it during the first years 
 gave him his financial start. Two years after he 
 came to Kdmore he began buying butter and eggs 
 for both wholesale and retail trade, and from this 
 he drifted into the grocer3' business. His farm land 
 consists of eighty-five acres on section 26, with 
 good buildings and other improvements and an- 
 other im|)roved tract of forty acres on the same 
 section. lie has also real estate in Edmore. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Hiram Sackett, a native of Pennsylvania, and an 
 early settler of this State, to which he came in the 
 fall of 1844. He located in Hillsdale County and 
 improved a farm near Moscow. He was of Welsh 
 descent. The father of our subject was Luther 
 Sackett, who was born in Pennsylvania in Decem- 
 ber, 1816, but reared in Orleans County, N. Y. He 
 farmed there until 18C5, then located in Calhoun 
 County this State, not far from Battle Creek. He 
 subse({uently removed to that city and died there 
 in January, 1887. Politically speaking he was a 
 Hepublican. He married Sallic Strickland, who 
 was born in New York near Argyle, Washington 
 Count}-, in September, 1816. She is an earnest, 
 humble Christian, and has been a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church since she entered I'.er 
 teens. She is now living in Battle Creek. Her father, 
 Jesse Strickland, was a native of Vermont, but 
 lived in New York during the greater part of his 
 life. His occupation was fanning. 
 
 In Ionia February 21, 1867, the ceremony was 
 performed that made Miss Persenia L. Beach the 
 wife of our subject. The bride, who is a daughter 
 of Harlon D. and Amy Beach of theEnipire State, 
 was born in Orleans Count}', N. Y., and was engaged 
 in school-teaching prior to her marriage. It has 
 been her aim to keep up with the limes in her 
 
 knowledge of events that are transpiring, and to do 
 her part in aiding the wheels of progress in the 
 community of which she forms a part. 
 
 Mr. Sackett is a Mason, belonging to Edmore 
 Lodge and Council, and the ChajUer at Stanton. 
 He is also connected with the Knights of the Macca- 
 bees in Edmore. As might well be supposed, he 
 belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and 
 for four years he has been Commander of J. T. 
 Borrell Post, No. 130, at Edmore. He often attends 
 State and National encampments and he is now 
 Deputy Department Inspector of the organization. 
 He is also a charter member in the Independent 
 Order of Good Templars and has held all the otlices. 
 In his polilScal views, as in other opinions, Mr. 
 Sackett knows where he stands and is stanch in his 
 support of that in which he believes. He is a 
 Republican and during the campaigns is active in 
 his efforts to advance the affairs of the party. 
 
 ANIEL STOIDT, a prosi)erous and re- 
 spected farmer of section 26, Noith Plains 
 (®^ Township, Ionia County, came uji to his 
 present happy condition from deepest 
 l)over1y. He commenced to work out by the month 
 on farms as soon as he was old enough, for his 
 father was very poor, and having a large family 
 found himself unal)le to support them all, so this 
 little boy lived in one pl.ace and another away from 
 home from the time he was seven years old, and 
 all the schooling that was given him was what he 
 could gain in the winter terms of the district 
 school. 
 
 This representative of American push and prog- 
 ress w.as born in Summit County, Ohio, M.ay 4, 
 1838. His father, John Stoudt, was a native of 
 Pennsylvania and a school-teacher. The mother 
 bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Dick. This 
 worthy but unfortunate couple were married in 
 Ohio and died there. They struggled hard l<i 
 bring up their ten children to become honest and 
 honored men and women. The marriage of our 
 subject with Tryphena Huffman, a native of Ohio, 
 took pl.ace ^in that State in 1859. By this union 
 
674 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIC \L ALBUM. 
 
 tliere were eleven children born, seven daughters 
 and four sons, namely, Edward; Nora, Mrs. Barker; 
 VVnlter; Sarah, Mrs. Ilaight; Ada, Mrs. Goodwin; 
 Eli, C.iddic, Daniel, Jessie, Minnie and Grace. 
 The mother of these children was called from earth 
 March 29, 1884. Mr. Stoudt chose as his second 
 wife P:mmranca AVillard, a native of North Plains 
 Townsiiip. She was born in 1858 and the eldest 
 chiht of Harvey and Maranda (Baker) Willard. 
 This m.arriage took place in 1885 and two children, 
 Edna and Ora were born, both being taken away 
 in infancy. 
 
 AVhcn Mr. Stoudt first removed to Michigan 
 from Ohio in 1863 he came to Ionia County and 
 located where he now resides, buying eighty acres 
 of unimproved land, five acres only of it being 
 partially broken. In a log house 18x24 feet which 
 he erected here he made his home and proceeded 
 to clear the trees from the land. His present line 
 farm of two hundred and sixty-one acres is a mon- 
 ument to the tremendous amount of work which 
 he has accomplished by his own hands. Only 
 twenty-five acres have been cleared by any one else. 
 His fine square two-story brick house cost over 
 *3,000. His good barn and many outbuildings 
 mark a first-class farm. 
 
 The specialty on this farm is fine wool sheep, of 
 which this enterprising farmer has over one hundred 
 and twenty-five head. He was a poor man when he 
 came to this State and had to borrow money to 
 start with. He belongs to the Democratic party 
 and is a member of the Patrons of Industry. lie 
 is a conscientious member and earnest worker in the 
 United Brethren Church in wiiich he holds the oflite 
 of Steward. 
 
 'TTILIA G. WILSON, a Deacon in the 
 (S^/ZJII Baptist Church, is a valued man in the 
 community. He has gained his prosperity 
 through much hard work, and has seen the 
 depths of poverty. In his early life he was so 
 hard beset with debts at one time, as to offer to 
 give his property to any one who would pay the 
 debt on it, but fortunately for him no one came 
 forward to accept this i)roposition, and he managed 
 
 at last to clear himself, and is now living in com- 
 fort in his handsome two-story frame house on sec- 
 tion 14, Ronald Townshijj. He was born in New 
 York, November 4, 1829. His father, John, was 
 also a native of New York, and of Irish descent. 
 His wife's maiden name was Amy Coon; she is a 
 native of New Y'ork, where siie was brought up. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were married in New York 
 and coming West they located at Detroit, Mich., in 
 1836, and then came on to Adrian by team, making 
 their new home some three miles west of Adrian, 
 where he undertook to run a sawmill. Here he 
 lived for four 3'ears and bought some land in Lena- 
 wee Count}', in the township of Hudson. Then he 
 sold out and removed to Hudson, where he re- 
 mained eight years and returned again to farm life. 
 His father was called away from earth in 1882, and 
 his mother followed liim in 1888. They were the 
 parents of eight children, four of whom are now 
 now living, namely: Marcus D. L., who resides in 
 Niles, Mich.; Mary, Mrs. Ladd, of Hudson; Char- 
 lotte; and the subject of this sketch. 
 
 This last named son was five years old when he 
 came with his parents to reside in Michigan. He 
 received his schooling in a log schoolhouse, and 
 when he readied his majority he borrowed $b and 
 started out for himself. He went to Grand Haven. 
 There he sawed slabs two weeks for his board, and 
 secured work in the sawmill at $16 a month with 
 board. This work he followed until in August, 1840, 
 when he was taken sick. His sickness cost him all 
 that he had gained and he returned home and re- 
 mained with his father a year. He llien went to 
 work again bj' the month on a farm at $11 per 
 month. In 1855 he bought the place where lie 
 now lives. 
 
 On October 1, 185G he took to himself a wife, 
 Mary J. Heath, a native of Pennsylvania, born Au- 
 gust 30, 1835. She came to Michigan with her par- 
 ents when quite young. Here she was reared anil 
 received her education in the district schools. The 
 first home of the young married couple was a log 
 house 14x16 feet. There was plenty of wild game 
 all about. On one occasion Ihey saw seven deer in 
 their enclosure. They became the parents of four 
 children, two sons and two daughters. Two of 
 these survive: John D., who resides in Port Huron, 
 
 i 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 075 
 
 and teaclies in the business college there: and Ida, 
 who is still a schoolgirl. Mr. Wilson has one hun- 
 dred and thirty acres of land, all under line culti- 
 vation except thirty-five acres, which he keeps in 
 tiiiiliui. His home is in a two-story frame house, 
 whicli he erected at an expense of about :5!2,00(). 
 Here he resides and carries on general farming and 
 stock-raising. He is a Republican in politics, and 
 often has the offer of nominations to office wiiich 
 be never accepts. 
 
 |I[__^ ON. ABIKL S. .STANNARD. Some of the 
 ijj] early settlers in Ionia County are still liv- 
 
 JV^^ ing and rejoicing in the prosperity to 
 (^) which they have contributed and whose 
 gradual growth they have witnessed. One of this 
 number is Mr. Stannard, a fanner and stock-raiser 
 on section 29, Boston Township. He came hither 
 with his parents about the time he entered his 
 teens and at once set to work to aid his father to 
 clear a large tract of land. At that lime there was 
 but little clearc^J land in what is now Boston Town- 
 shi|) and settlers were few and remote fiora each 
 other. Indians were numerous but peaceable, and 
 often invited the settlers to their dances. Wild 
 animals of course were numerous, railroads un- 
 known, and travel from house to house was done 
 over a trail or an almost invisible wagon track. 
 When the Stannards arrived hei'e there were Init 
 four families in the township, and these occupied 
 three log houses. 
 
 The parents of our suliject were of Knglish de- 
 scent and both were born in Newport, N. H. The 
 father, whose given name was Jeremiah, carried on 
 a farm in his native State until 1824, when be re- 
 moved to Hardwitk, Vt. In the spring of 1837 
 he brought his family to Ionia County, traveling 
 principally by water to Detroit and there buying 
 teams, by means of which lie continue<l the journey. 
 He had come to this State in the fall of 183() and 
 bought two hundred and eighty acres of land where 
 our subject now lives, and after making some prep- 
 arations for his future work he returned to the 
 East for bis family. They lived with Mr. White 
 
 about three weeks, while a bark shanty was being 
 built for their occupancy, and they then took pos- 
 session of the rude structure, occupying it six 
 weeks and doing their cooking out of doors. Dur- 
 ing that time Mr. Stannard built a log cabin into 
 which the family removed. 
 
 No doors were hung in the ru.Ie cabin, but 
 blankets were used over the openings. Furniture 
 was limited and rudely made, though much of it 
 was very substantial. Our subject now has in his 
 possession a chair made by his father in 1838, the 
 frame of which is of hickory and the bottom of 
 ash splints. The sound of the woodman's ax 
 scarcely ceased from morning until night lono- 
 after the family had come to their Western home. 
 When a small clearing was made it was jilaced 
 under cultivation and as rapidly as po.ssible the 
 work of improvement was carried on. Trading was 
 done at Kalamazoo, sixty miles distant, and the 
 trip to and fro was made with ox-teams. I'he Stan- 
 nard farm was transferred from a wilderness into a 
 fertile tract, upon which comfortable buildings 
 stood, and around it similar improvements were 
 made by others and schools and churches finally 
 sprang up in the vicinity. The original owner of 
 the tract lived upon it until November 2.i, 1H8G, 
 when he entered into rest. His capable wife, whose 
 maiden name was Sophia Call, hail preceded him 
 to the silent land, breathing her last March 22, 
 1876. They were earnest Christians and discharged 
 every duty .as far as they were able. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice was born 
 in Newport, N. H., December 28, 1823, and was 
 
 the first-born of bis parents. He has two sisters 
 
 Eunice S., widow of Becket Chapman, and Persis, 
 wife of J. E. English, both living in Boston Town- 
 ship. His early education was obtained in the 
 Oreen Mountain State and he h.ad little opportunity 
 for schooling after he came West. He, however, 
 gainecl a wide fund of knowledge, principally by- 
 reading, and is well versed in all topics of the dav. 
 He not only takes papers which keeps him iu'touch 
 with the world at large, but has a large library <if 
 well-selected volumes and devotes much lime to 
 their perusal. 
 
 Mr. Slannnrd assisted his father until he was of 
 age, and afterward continued lo live on the home- 
 
676 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 stead, of which he took charge in 1847. He has 
 continued successfully the work begun so many 
 years ago, and has the entire tract under good cul- 
 tivation, furnished with a complete set of substan- 
 tial farm buildings and stocked with good domestic 
 animals and modern machinery. The original 
 acreage was two hundred and forty, but this has 
 been reduced to two hundred acres. This is a tract 
 capable of supplying the wants of the family and 
 leaving a surplus from which to draw in time of 
 need and aid those who are less fortunate, or to join 
 in public enterprises. 
 
 Mr. Stannard was fortunate in winning for his 
 wife Miss Hannah E. Fletcher, with whom he was 
 united in marriage December 18, 1853. She is a 
 daughter of John G. and Eunice (Baxter) Fletcher, 
 well known iu Ionia County, to which they came 
 in the spring of 1845. Mr. P^letcher was born in 
 Rutland County, Vt., and was a carpenter and 
 joiner by trade. For some time he carried on his 
 work in St. Lawrence County, N. Y. IMrs. Fletcher 
 was born on Baxter Island, in the St. Lawrence 
 River, and is of Irish ancestry. She is still living 
 on the Fletcher homestead, in Boston Township, 
 with her son Asa. Mr. Fletcher died in 1885. He 
 was a member of the Baptist Church and his widow 
 is identified with that religious body. Mr. and Airs. 
 Stannard have two cliihlren, named Jay D. and Gates 
 L. The elder is a surveyor in Weld County, Col., 
 and the 'ounger is farming on part of the home- 
 stead. Ja3' D. married Miss Frances Buell and 
 they have two children, Glyn and Carlos Abiel. 
 (iates married Jessie Story, and they have two 
 children, Ethel and Carl Harold. 
 
 In exercising the right of suffrage Mr. Stannard 
 uses a Republican ballot as his faitii in the future 
 of that i)arty is strong. He has served the people 
 of this section in local offices and in the Legislative 
 halls, and to whatever position he has been called 
 he has brought an earnest desire to act well his 
 part and advance tlieir best interests. He has been 
 School Trustee, was Supervisor four terms and in 
 1867-69 was a member of the Legislature. He 
 was quite an active member of the Grange for ten 
 or twelve years. He helped to organized the 
 Lowell National Bank and was a Director and 
 stock-holder in the corporation as long it was in 
 
 existence. Liberality in supporting all public enter- 
 prises and earnest work for the upbuilding of the 
 community have characterized Mr. Stannard as a 
 citizen, and industry and forethought have marked 
 him as a man. 
 
 EORGE W. STANTON, a resident of Sid- 
 ney Township, Montcalm County, and sou 
 of James and Martha (Niles) Stanton, both 
 of New York, was born in Greene County, N. Y., 
 and reared on the Hudson River about one huntlrcd 
 miles from New Y'ork City. His educational ad- 
 vantages were mostly confined to the country 
 schools, as he spent his early life on the farm, yet 
 he attended two terms of school at Renssalaerville, 
 Albany County. He began life for himself at the 
 age of twenty-one years, when he engaged in farm- 
 ing and speculation. Iu his twenty-eighth year he 
 removed to the western part of the State, where he 
 engaged in lumbering and farming on the Genesee 
 River. He sold clear lumber for $8 per tiiousand. 
 Two years later he made anew home in Winnebago 
 County, 111., on the Rock River, one hundred miles 
 from Chicago. He bought a half-section and im- 
 proved it, farming and speculating in livestock for 
 twelve years, buying and selling slock of all kinds 
 in Chicago. From there he came to Sheridan, Mich., 
 where he arrived July, 1869, in company with his 
 brother, a resident now of Ionia, whose biography 
 also a|)[)ears on another page in this Aluum. 
 
 Mr. Stanton was married in Illinois September 
 16, 1856, to Nellie Bry, of Delaware County, 
 N. Y., and they have become the parents of 
 the following children: M. A., deceased ; Milton 
 B., Henry N. and George L. After coming to 
 Michigan he engaged in the lumber business, clear- 
 ing off timber and milling at Sheridan, on Pearl 
 Lake. He continued in this Imsiness about sixteen 
 years, hauling all the products of the mill to Ionia, 
 a distance of sixteen miles for the first five years. 
 He helped to plat the town, and when the railroad 
 company was negotiating with the city, they gave 
 $4,000 to insure the coming of the road through 
 that place. He has always been active in promo- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 677 
 
 S^ 
 
 ling the interests of the town and erected its first 
 store buihling, where he engaged in tlie mercantile 
 husint'ss while carrying on lumbering. 
 
 He is a Republican in politics, and is actively in- 
 teresleil in ])olitical questions. He has long been 
 Supervisor and also President of the village as well 
 as Treasurer for a number of terms. He is an ac- 
 tive promoter of ail educational movements, and 
 generously assisted in putting up a !^3,000 school- 
 house. He has a nice farm of one hundred and 
 sixty acres, and built a beautiful residence in the 
 city about nine jears ago. His two sons are pro- 
 gressive young business men; one is engaged in 
 the drug business in this place, and the other is 
 superintending the lumbering Ijusiness in Cataract. 
 
 "JJ^AMKS M. CHASE is one of the pioneer 
 breeders of Ued-l'olled cattle in the State, 
 and on his farm in Ionia County has some 
 fine specimens. In his herd there are seven 
 head of thorougli-brcds and a large number of 
 high-grade. Mr. Chase also takes a deep interest 
 in Poland- China hogs and has a number of regis- 
 tered animals. The property which is the seat of 
 his stock-raising and upon which he also cultivates 
 various grains, is located on section 2, Ioni:\ Town- 
 ship, and consists of one hundred and thirty-two 
 acres of land, over one hundred of which is im- 
 proved. 
 
 Mr. Ch.ise is of Knglish lineage and traces the 
 family from the mother country to New England 
 and thence to New York. His grandfather, George 
 Chase, was a native-born Yankee, but went to 
 New York and there reared his son .Fohn B., father 
 of our subject. John I!. Chase married .Sarah A. 
 Stone who was born in Livingston County, N. Y., 
 May 10, 1828. She came to this State in 184C and 
 made her iiome with her brother Darius until her 
 marriage in 1849. Her parents were Orrin and 
 Betsey (Cowell) Stone, natives of Connecticut antl 
 New York respectively, who die<l in tlie latter 
 State in 1842 and 1815. After their marriage Mr. 
 and Mrs. John B. Chase settled upon the land that 
 is now the home of their son, our subject, it being 
 
 at that time in almost a primitive condition. They 
 settled in one of the first frame houses in the town- 
 ship and placed the land under thorough tillage. 
 Mr. Chase died here March 9, 1890, and his wiclow 
 still stirvives. He was a member of the School 
 Board, belonging to the social order of the (irange 
 and was a Republican in politics. For nearly forty 
 years he belonged to the Christian Church and his 
 wife too was a member. 
 
 The family of which our subject was a member 
 consists of five children, three living and two de- 
 ceased. The other survivors are George W., whose 
 wife was formerly Rela A. Cam|)field and who has 
 six children, and Zach C, who married Mary Jane 
 McDunnel and has three children lives in Muir. In 
 the farmhouse that he still occupies .lames M. Chase 
 was born, November 16, 1851. His father having 
 lost a leg by the bite of a dog in 18G1, the lad was 
 obliged to remain at home and therefore lost much 
 schooling. After arriving at man's estate he still 
 sojourned under the parental roof a few years, then 
 married and settled one-half mile south of his old 
 home. He remained there six 3-ears, then returned 
 to the homestead and gave his attention to its 
 further development and to the raising of fine 
 stock. 
 
 The marriage of our subject to Miss Hattie Fea 
 was solemnized Juue 15, 1876. The bride is a 
 daughter of Charles and Mary Ann (Strouts) Fea, 
 natives of England who came to this State at an 
 early day. They returned to their Jiativc land but 
 came again to America and after living for a time in 
 New York located in Jackson, Mich., in 1856. 
 They came to Ronald Township, Ionia County, in 
 1865. They have had ten children, nine of whom 
 are now living. Mrs. Chase was born in New York 
 State August 27, 1853. She obtained a common- 
 school education and other useful knowledge, in- 
 cluding the Christian principles that animate her 
 life. Two children have been born to her — John 
 B., now aged eleven j'cars, and Myrta A., aged 
 nine. 
 
 Mr. Chase is a straight Republican and lakes 
 suflicient interest in politics to understand the is- 
 sues of the day and visit the polls at the proper 
 time. He has been a member of the Grange and is 
 identified with the Patrons of Industry. He is a 
 
678 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 man of strict temperance principles and he and his 
 wife belong to the Christian Church. He is a 
 Deacon of what is known as the Union Church in 
 Norlh Plains Township and lie and his wife aid in 
 Sunday-school work. Intelligent, hospitable and 
 l)ublic-spirited, Mr., and Mrs. Chase are well re- 
 garded by their neighbors. 
 
 AMUEL J. YOUNGMAN, a farmer and 
 lumberman residing on section 29, Cato 
 Township, Montcalm County, was born in 
 Oxford, Oakland County, Mich., February 
 21, 1848. He is the son of Samuel P. and Sarah 
 J. (Dowse) Youngman. The father was born in 
 Tioga County, Pa., in April, 1811. There he was 
 brought up and lived until he was a }0ung man, 
 when he came to Michigan early in the '40s, and 
 worked on a canal in Macomb County, then in 
 course of construction. A little later he went to 
 London, Canada, and kept an hotel when the (Chi- 
 cago <fe Grand Trunk Railroad was being built. 
 Later, when the McKenzie Rebellion broke out, 
 he found himself in an unpleasant position, as his 
 sympathies were with the United States, so he re- 
 turned to Michigan and made his home at Oxford, 
 Oakland County, until November, 1855, when he 
 settled on a farm in Monti-alm Count}-, where his 
 son now resides. He died April 10, 1890, aged 
 eighty years. He took the land under the Govern- 
 ment land laws of that dale. 
 
 The whole countrj- was heavily timbered and 
 from Langston to the point where Mr. Youugman 
 made his home the}' were compelled to go ahead 
 with their teams and cut the roads; a compass was 
 necessary to get the direction. He went to work 
 on his one hundred and sixl}' acres of wild land, 
 which is now in a high state of cultivation under 
 the management of our subject and his bi'Other. 
 The nearest railroad station at that time was fifty 
 miles away at Ionia. The nearest market was 
 Greenville, eighteen miles away. Indians and wild 
 game were abundant. The first house erected by 
 Mr. Youngman was built of logs, 12x24 feet in 
 dimensions, with a single roof. Here this cour- 
 
 ageous and contented family lived for several 
 years. At that time there was not a clearing of 
 ten acres within twelve miles of them. This 
 brave pioneer has followed farming all his life. He 
 was a Republican and has hehl some minor offices 
 in his town. The family is of German extraction. 
 He was a member of the Church of the United 
 Brethren. He was twice married, first to Mercy 
 Bentley in Pennsylvania. Her two children, John 
 B. and Mar}' A. (Mrs. George Churchill), have 
 both passed away from earth. His second wife 
 was born in Little, Mass., in 1827, and died in the 
 home in Michigan in 1868. Of her five children 
 only two have lived to ages of maturity, our sub- 
 ject and his brother George C. 
 
 Samuel J. Youngman was but eight years old 
 when he came in 1855 with his parents to the farm 
 in Cato Township. His education was received 
 in the old schoolhouse in Cato Township. The 
 logs were covered with bark, the floor was of punch- 
 eon and the seats were of slabs. His education 
 was supplemented by attendance upon the com- 
 mon schools at Greenville. When he was about 
 twenty years of age he purchased of Gov. Crapo 
 forty acres of land on section 28, at 15 per acre. 
 He has since added to this, and now has a splendid 
 farm of four hundred and eighty acres, all in one 
 body, with about three hundred acres of it well 
 improved and in a high state of cultivation. His 
 barns are the largest and finest in the township 
 and his farm carries the highest tax of any in 
 Cato, wbile bis residence is a credit to the section 
 in which he lives. 
 
 The subject of this sketch carries on extensive 
 farming interests and deals largely in stock. He 
 is i-aising thoroughbred Durham cattle. His large 
 barn is 44x88 feet with basement and eighteen- 
 foot posts. His root cellar in connection with it 
 is 20x40 feet. For many years he has been deal- 
 ing in logs and lumber, handling several thousand 
 dollars worth of logs each winter and owning con- 
 siderable timbered land in different parts of the 
 State. He has made all that he has by his own 
 exertions, starting out on his own account when 
 he was twenty-one years old. 
 
 Mr. Youngman is a Republican in politics and 
 has held some of the responsible offices in the gov- 
 
roUTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 679 
 
 eminent of the town. He is also a Royal Arch 
 M.nsoii. On February 22, 18G9, he was in.arrie(l to 
 Miss Maria Welniore, of Cato. !Shc was Ijorn in 
 Ingliara Count}' in 1852, and was a daugliter of 
 Ambrose and Jane Wctuiorc. Mrs. Yoiingnian 
 (lied in 1870, a year after licr marriage. Mr. 
 Youngman's second marriage united him, August 
 'J, 1871, witli Miss Elizabeth Newsome, of Milford, 
 Oakland Count}', where she was born February 1 1, 
 1842. Siie is a daugliter of Jerrod and Mary 
 Newsome, of Oakland County. 
 
 'ii — 7 RED ORTH. Among the many men who 
 %^^Q\ have done well, financially speaking, by 
 _!') ' tilling the soil in Ionia County, is Fred Ortli, 
 who is located on section 26, Ronald Township. 
 He has a fine farm consisting of two hundred acres 
 of land, all under eullivation except thirty-five 
 acres of timber. The farm is supplied with sub- 
 stantial barns and other outbuildings, incluiling 
 ever3'thing that is necessary in order to slan)p it a 
 first-class estate. The dwelling is a pleasant one 
 and neatness an-J order prevail in and about it. 
 When Mr. Orth settled on this place in 1867, the 
 hind he now owns was largely undeveloped. Ninety 
 acres had'becn partially improved, but it was still 
 better developed and the rest reclaimed by his own 
 good man.agement and much personal labor. 
 
 The father of our subject was Mathias Orth, who 
 was born in France and emigrated to America when 
 of age. He established himself in l'liiladeli)hia, 
 I'a., engaging in the business of a baker, and there 
 he married Miss Caroline Guyer, a native of (jer- 
 many who had crossed the Atlantic when young. 
 In 1861 Mr. and Mrs. Orth came to this Slate, 
 traveling with a team from Detroit to Eaton Count}- 
 and locating on land near the home of their son. 
 After some years they removed to Ionia in order 
 to enjoy greater ease, abandoning farm life and 
 hard work. There Mr. Orth died in 1878 and his 
 widow still lives. They had eleven children, and 
 four daughters and four sons grew to mature years. 
 Of tliese Magdalene is now deceased; Fred will be 
 mentioned below; Caroline lives in Ionia; Jacob G. 
 
 is R resident of Ronald Township; Elizabeth lives 
 in Ionia; Lewis V. is a resident of Travers City; 
 Susan makes her home in Ionia; and Charles M. 
 lives in Virginia. 
 
 The birthplace of Fred Orth was in Pennsylvania, 
 seven niiies from Philadelphia, and his natal day 
 November 28, 1835. He was but a year old when 
 his parents removed to Summit County, Ohio, and 
 there he received his first schooling. He remained 
 with his father until he was twenty-four years old, 
 and then began working on the Ohio Canal, an 
 occupation in which he continued five years. He 
 next took up the business of saw-milling in Summit 
 County and after eight years of work there moved 
 to Saginaw, Midi., where he carried on the business 
 three years. He next came to his present location 
 in 1867 and turned his attention to agricultural 
 work, in which he has continued to exercise his 
 skill. It needs but a glance over his farm to show 
 that he is a capable agriculturist. 
 
 In Summit County. Oiiio, March 24, 1864, Mr. 
 Orth was united in marriage with Miss Sarah C. 
 Baxter. This amiable and eflicieiit lady was born 
 in the Buckeye State and was the third of four 
 children comprising the family of Rinaldo and 
 Elvira (Swan) Baxter. .She is the only one of the 
 number nov living and her parents are likewise 
 deceased. Her father was a native of New York 
 and hi>r mother of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Orth are the parents of nine children, named re- 
 spectively: William II. married March 11, 1891, to 
 Miss Addie Boltz; Kllie E., Alma R., Inez Irene, 
 Fanny C, Charles W., Esther Estelle, Sarah C. and 
 Ola Olive. All are at home except two married 
 daughters — Eflie, whose home is in Grand Rapids, 
 she being the wife of .loliii Boltz, and Alma, now 
 Mrs. William Hunter, who lives on a farm near 
 Muir. 
 
 In his religious views Mr. Orth inclines to the 
 Lutheran Church and in politics he is a Democrat. 
 He is a prominent member of one of the best- 
 known social orders, and has been a Mason for 
 twenty-six years. His name is on the roster of 
 Palo Lodge, No. 203, in which he has filled every 
 chair' and was Master for a period of four years; 
 he is now Senior Deacon. He is also connected 
 with the Chai)lcr at Lyons. Mr, Orth was Presi- 
 
680 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 dent of the Patrons of Industry two terms and 
 Secretar3' two years. Notwithstanding his busy 
 life as a farmer and stofk-raiser he takes an active 
 part in all the affairs that are conducted by his 
 lodge, and joins in all worthy enterprises that are 
 promulgated for the general good. 
 
 ^t^USON P. GIFFORD. This veteran of the 
 |IW| Civil War has been Postmaster at Saranac, 
 I' — ;^' Ionia County, since June, 1889, and is num- 
 bered among the most prominent business men of 
 that thriving town. He is engaged in the sale of 
 general merchandise, carrying one of the largest 
 stocks to be seen in the place, and finding a room 
 30x80 feet none too large for his use. The build- 
 ing that he occupies is a substantial brick put up 
 by him in 1884, and at that time fitted up for the 
 purpose which it now serves. Mr. Gifford has not 
 always been a merchant, but in otiier lines of man's 
 work has borne an honorable part, ever manifesting 
 the sturdy qualities that win respect from his 
 associates. 
 
 Mr. Gifford was boin in Oswego County, N. Y., 
 August 6, 1832, and is a sou of Thomas and Julia 
 (Ricii) Gifford. His father was born in the Empire 
 State and was of English and German descent and 
 his mother was a native of Connecticut. In his 
 earlier j'enrs Thomas Gifford followed the trade of 
 a mason, but he gave up that work for millwright- 
 ing, at which he was engaged until his decease, 
 which occurred in Madison County, N. Y., about 
 1859. He had been bereft of his wife some years 
 before, her eyes having closed to earthly things in 
 1848. She was a member of the Methodist Churcli. 
 
 He of whom we write spent the first twelve years 
 of his life in the village of Fulton, then accompan- 
 ied his parents to Otsego Count}', where he con- 
 tinued his early education. When fifteen years 
 old he began to learn the millwright's trade with 
 his father, but after the family removed to Madi- 
 son County he again took up his books and at- 
 tended the academj-. He had, however, prior 
 to this time, had some experience in teaching. 
 Upon leaving the academy he turned his attention 
 
 to the work of a millwright, and when he was 
 twenty-two years old went to Ottawa, III., and put 
 in machinery. He worked at various occupations 
 in that State about three years, then came to Micli- 
 ignn and put in machinery for mills in Kent County 
 along Mill Creek. About 1857 he bought eighty 
 acres of land there, which he began to clear and 
 improve. 
 
 In the fall of 1861 Mr. Gifford entered the army 
 and was enrolled in Company U, First Miciiigan 
 lingineers. About the first of December the regi- 
 ment was ordered to Kentucky, where our subject 
 was engaged in such duties as fell to the lot of an 
 engineer corps until the following fall. He was then 
 detailed for recruiting service and spent about two 
 years in this State, raising troops, and during that 
 time he was promoted from thirst Dut}- Sergeant to 
 be Senior First Lieutenant of Company L, and four 
 months later to be Captain of Company M. After 
 rising to the rank of Captain he was stationed in 
 Alabama anil when Sherman started on his march 
 to the sea Capt. Gifford had charge of a battalion. 
 He moved around in Alabama and Tennessee, as 
 the ])lan of the commanding Generals made neces- 
 sary, and at length came home on a ninety days' 
 furlough. He rejoined his command at Goldsboro, 
 N. C, and followed Johnston until he surrendered, 
 then marched with Sherman's army to Washington. 
 Thence he was ordered back to Nashville, 
 where he remained until September, 1865, when 
 his command was mustered out and coming to 
 Jackson was paid off and discharged. 
 
 About a month after his return to his home Mr. 
 Gifford went to Nashville, Tenn, and built a grist 
 and sawmill on the Cumberland river. He oper- 
 ated them about eighteen months, when they were 
 destroyed by an incendiary fire caused by the 
 antagonistic feeling toward him as a Northerner. 
 Realizing that life in that vicinity was not likely 
 to be pleasant, he returned to this Stale and until 
 December, 1868, busied himself as a millwright. 
 He then came to Ionia County and bought eighty 
 acres of land in Campbell Township, on which 
 there was a sawmill. He carried on the farm and 
 mill until 1881, when he sold them and moved into 
 Saranac in order to take personal charge of a store 
 he had bought some time before. While on the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 681 
 
 farm be liad added to its extent and when he dis- 
 posed of llie place it included four iiundred acres. 
 
 In September, 1853, Mr. Gifford was united in 
 marriage with Miss Martha A. Manchester of Mad- 
 ison Count}', N. Y. Politically lie is and always 
 has been a Republican. For four years he was 
 Supervisor of Campbell Township and for an equal 
 length of time he was County Sheriff. He has also 
 been Supervisor of Boston Township and for four 
 years has held the station of Village Trustee. He 
 is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows 
 lodges and of the Grand Army I'ostin Saranac and 
 was the organizer of the last named. During his 
 army life he conducted himself as became a loyal 
 citizen, whose valor could not be questioned and 
 whose enthusiasm on the side of right never flagged. 
 
 \t7 S. CROTSER. M. D. The spirit of enter- 
 l| (^ prise and laudable ambition is finel}- excni- 
 jj "--^\ plified in the career of Dr. Crotser, a popular 
 and successful physician and surgeon of Edmore, 
 Montcalm County. He made his way through col- 
 lege, won his diploma from one of the best medical 
 schools in the countrj', and in a few short years 
 built up a wide and lucrative practice — all accom- 
 jilished by indomitable will, tliat made the most of 
 his natural talent, and excellent judgment, both 
 native and acquired. Dr. Crotser came to Edmore 
 when there were already eight doctors here, and has 
 outstaid all of them, gaining followers each year 
 as his professional skill became more widely known. 
 He is proprietor of the City Drug Store where first 
 class drugs are compounded and dispensed. 
 
 The grandfather of Dr. Crotser, Jacob by name, 
 was born in Bucks County, Pa., and was a farmer. 
 He went from that section to Medina County. Ohio, 
 itibout 1837, and passed the remnant of his days in 
 the Buckeye State, dying in 18.58. His son C. C, 
 father of our subject, was a native of Bucks County 
 also, and was sixteen years old when the family 
 went to Ohio, traveling by team. He remained on 
 the homestead until he w.as twenty two years old, 
 tlien engaged in mercantile pursuits at Harrisville. 
 In 1864 he removed to this State and made settle- 
 
 ment in Kalamazoo County, at Wakeshma. He 
 bought a farm and mill and combined the occupa- 
 tions of a farmer and miller, and later engaged in 
 the sale of agricultural implements. He is a suc- 
 cessful business man, and hfis a good property, 
 consisting of two hundred and forty .acres of land. 
 He has been Township Treasurer for years, votes 
 the Democratic ticket and is an active member of 
 the German Reformed Church. His wife, mother of 
 our subject, was a native of Bucks County, Pa., 
 was known as Barbara Kulp and was a daughter of 
 Samuel Kulp, an earl}' settler in Ohio and a Penn- 
 sylvanian by birth. She breathed her last in Jan- 
 uary, 1878, leaving two sons — A. F., now living at 
 the old home and L. S., the subject of this record. 
 
 Dr. Crotser was born in Meilina County, ()hii>, 
 .lunc 8, 1 858, and was si.x years old when he accom- 
 panied his parents to this State. He grew toward 
 manhood on a farm and was early set to work at 
 such t.asks .as ail farmers' sons learn, and pursued 
 his studies in the district school until he had entered 
 his teens. He then became a pu[)il in the Union 
 City school and attended there nearly three years, 
 after which h* gave the winter months to teaching 
 for five years. He began his professional career 
 when but sixteen years old, but young as he wjis, 
 succeeded well and took pains to increase his effl- 
 cienc}' by careful -thought and continued study. 
 At the .age of seventeen he took up the Normal 
 Teachers' Course in Ypsilanti, and was grfiduatcd 
 in 1879, after having paid most of his own ex- 
 penses in college. 
 
 In the fill! of 1880 Dr. Crotser enterol the medi- 
 cal department of the State University at Ann 
 Arbor and was graduated in the first three-years 
 class that receivfd diplomas in 1883. The class 
 numbered one hitndred and seventeen members and 
 our subject was among the ten of highest standing. 
 He at once located in Kdmore and set himself to 
 make a reputable name and win subsistence in the 
 line of life he hail chosen. His skill was soon de- 
 monstrated and his deep sympathy in the sufferings 
 of those to whom he was called to minister, to- 
 gether with his evident interest in the advancement 
 of the section in all true growth, added to his rep- 
 utation, and the passing years brought him a prac- 
 tice that grew lucrative an<l extended. Dr. Crotser 
 
682 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was ii 1,000 in debt when he located for jji-actice, 
 but he was economical and prudent and ere long 
 was relieved of the incubus and felt free to make 
 other uses of his savings. In 1885 he bouglit the 
 drug stock of D. O. Long and has continued the 
 business. 
 
 The jjleasant home of Dr. Crotser is presided 
 over by a capable housewife, educated, refined and 
 noble. The lady who possesses these qualities was 
 known in her maidenhood as Miss Delia Bunu. She 
 was born in Athens, Callioun County, and is a 
 daughter of George and Hannah (Fear) Bunn, who 
 are identified with the agricultural cla.sstliere. She 
 was educated in the town school and taught willi 
 success five years. Dr. and Mrs. Crotser liave an 
 adopted daughter — Marguerite. 
 
 The Doctor has been Village Trustee and is now 
 Clerk of Home Township. He always casts a 
 Republican l)allot, having a firm trust in the prin- 
 ciples of tlie party. His social nature leads him to 
 take much interest in the prominent orders and he 
 is connected with the following lodges: Edmore, 
 I. O. O. F.; Wakeshma, No. 254, F. & A. M.; Stan- 
 ton, R. A. M. ; Edmore Council and Edmore, K. 
 O. T. M. He has passed the chairs in the first 
 named and is Examiner in the last. He is e.xamin- 
 ing physician for various insurance companies and 
 is Health Officer of Edmore. He belongs to the 
 State Medical Society and the Northern Michigan 
 Medical Association. His nature is essentially lib- 
 eral and openhearted, and he is read^- to aid in 
 every good work and give support to that which 
 will elevate iiumanity. He is universally liked as 
 a man and citizen. 
 
 i^«f-»«tfW:^ 
 
 «-3S5»«-;s;^ 
 
 "f¥)ESSE S. HOLCOMB, a veteran of the War 
 of the Rebellion, was born in Macouib 
 County, Mich., December 25, 1844, and has 
 (^/j always retained his residence in the Wol- 
 verine State. He is the son of Benoni and Lucy 
 Ann (Wedge) Holcomb, both living in Ionia 
 County, while he makes his home in Sidney Town- 
 ship, Montcalm County. When our subject was 
 three years old, his father removed to Ionia County. 
 
 Here the boy remained until he reached the age of 
 eighteen years, when he gained the consent of his 
 parents to join the army, and enlisted in Com- 
 pany D, Twenty first l\Iichigan Infantry. He was 
 sent to Kentucky and was attached to Gen. Grant's 
 army under Col. Stevens, of Saranac, Mich. His 
 principal engagements were at Perry ville, Ky., Lu- 
 vcrne, Tenn., Steward Creek, Stone River, Tulla- 
 homa, Tenn., Elk River, Chickaroauga, Chancel- 
 lorsville, Brown's Ferry, Mission Ridge, Savannah, 
 Ga., and Averysboro and Bentonville, N. C. 
 
 Our young soldier was mustered out of the ser- 
 viceat Detroit, June 8, 1865, and at once returned 
 to Ionia County where he engaged in farming, 
 but four years later he decided to sell out his prop- 
 erty there, and removed to Montcalm County, 
 where he has made his permanent home. He set- 
 tled first at Stanton, and entered the grocery busi 
 ness, but he did not like this indoor life, and be- 
 gan teaming. He served for awhile as police 
 officer, and ;it different times was in the ice busi- 
 ness, and had charge of the city sprinkler, sprink- 
 ling the streets of the town. 
 
 But farming at last claimed the services of Mr. 
 Holcomb, and in 1883 he purchased one hundred 
 and sixty acres of choice land within one mile of 
 Stanton, and undertook its cultivation. The spring 
 after he returned from the war he took to himself a 
 wife, Mary Ann Clifford, of Ionia Count3', to whom 
 he was united Maj' 27, 186G. Their three children 
 are as follows: Benoni, born March 27, 1867; Sam- 
 uel O. W., July 12, 1868; William H., April 16, 
 1870. These sons are all living, and are doing 
 well, the two eldest having engaged in business for 
 themselves. 
 
 In politics our subject is a Republican. He has 
 acted as Constable several times, and is Alderman 
 in one of the wards of Stanton. His advantages 
 for an education were very poor, and realizing this 
 be with commendable foresight attended scliool the 
 season after his return from tlie war. He has given 
 to his children what he missed in his own bo3'- 
 hood, good advantages for education. 
 
 About four years ago J\Ir. Holcomb came near 
 meeting bis death by the attack of a ferocious bull. 
 His chest was crushed and many bones broken, and 
 he was confined to his bed for four months, but 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 683 
 
 slninge to relate be recovered, and lias gained his 
 former good bealtli. His well-improved farm near 
 the city, and the houses and lots which he owns in 
 Stanton, attest his industry and enterprise. He is a 
 member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and is 
 Past Sir Knight of the order. 
 
 --*> "•^-*^* "^ — 
 
 <« felLLIAM S. WHITTLKSEY, Clerk of Mont- 
 \ij\J// calm Count3% was born in Livingston 
 Wi County, N. Y., July C, 184C. He is a son 
 of William and Clarissa (Sanford) Whittlesey wlio 
 were likewise natives of the Empire Stale; the fa- 
 ther is a farmer. The son obtained a thorough 
 common school education, and coming to Michigan 
 entered upon a course of legal study and was grad- 
 uate<l from the law department of the University 
 of Micliigan in 18G9. Two years later he estab- 
 lished himself in Hig Rapids and began the i)ractice 
 of his profession. After six years of residence 
 there he removed to Lowell, Kent Count}-, and in 
 liS78 established himself in Edmore, Montcalm 
 County. 
 
 Mr. Whittlesey rapidly made friends and ere long 
 was elected President of Edmore Village, and he 
 also served as Supervisor three years. In 188G 
 the Republicans nominated him by acclamation 
 for the odiec of County Clerk and in November 
 fuilowing he was elected. With such fidelity did 
 he serve that he was again nominated h}' acclama- 
 tion in 1890 and re-elected. He is not only careful 
 and cHicicnt in keeping his records and looking 
 after his official duties, but he is genial in his inter- 
 course with all who have occasion to visit the 
 office as well as witii those whom he meets in a 
 social way. 
 
 In 18C9 Mr. Whittlesej' was united in marriage 
 with Miss Sarah (!. Tidd, a native of New York 
 Stale. The marriage has been blesseil by the birth 
 of two children — Stephen T. and William S., Jr. 
 The latter, who is now sixteen years old, is pursu- 
 ing his studies in the High School at .Stanton. The 
 parents met with a sad allliction in the death of 
 their first-born, wiio was drowned in Nevins I>ake, 
 July 4, 1890. The family were not alone in their 
 
 sorrow, as the young man w.as a general favorite 
 with both old and young, those of mature years 
 recognizing the worth cf iiis character and the 
 promise of his future. 
 
 Stephen Whittlesey was born December 8, 1873, 
 and possesseil those qualities which lead to the 
 highest success — singleness and definiteness of aim 
 and the capacity and susceptibility to receive ai<l 
 from without and above. He showed that individ- 
 uality of character, self-reliance and ambition to 
 excel which gave promise of a noble, useful life, 
 an<l his actions were in harmony with all the good 
 forces and powers about him. The close compan- 
 ion and friend of his father, he was at the same 
 time an active and generous participant in the 
 pleasures of his young associates. As a member of 
 the High School class of '91 and President of the 
 Christian Endeavor .Society of the Congregational 
 Church, he inspired the young to better deeds and 
 to greater efforts for advancement. 
 
 Mr. Whittlesey is identified with the Odd Fel- 
 lows order, and the Re|)uli!ican party has no stanciicr 
 adherent than he. He and his wife belong to the 
 Congregational Church and have excellent stand- 
 ing among its mcml)ers and the genuine resi)ect of 
 those who know their character. 
 
 •Wla^W"" 
 
 I EWIS NEY OLMSTED is one of 
 
 II ^ men who, being natives of Mich 
 11^^ been familiar from their earlies 
 
 \f EWIS NEY OLMSTED is one of the young 
 
 ligan, have 
 est recollec- 
 tions with the history of their State, and whose 
 social and material development has progressed 
 siile by side with that of their native county. Mr. 
 Olmsted who resides on section 1, Ionia Township, 
 Ionia County was born in North Plains Township, 
 January 12, 1852. His parents, Jay and Anstrus 
 (Case) Olmsted, were both natives of New York 
 State where they were married and whence they 
 came to Michigan in 1836. Our subject was the 
 youngest of their four children and his first and 
 only schooling was received in the district schools 
 of his native place. 
 
 Jay Olmsted died when Lewis was but twelve 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 years old and the boy started out for himself at 
 the early age of sixteen 3'ears. He then com- 
 menced to build and to cultivate on the land where 
 he now resides. He chose for his partner in life 
 Lizzie Hayes, a native of Michigan. The3' were 
 married October 10, 1871. She is the eldest 
 daughter of George and Frances (Stone) Hayes 
 and was born in Ionia County, October W, 1855. 
 Mr. Olmsted had made many improvements on 
 his farm before he took his bride there to live, so 
 that he was able to settle there without undergoing 
 so many hardsliips as some had to encounter. Three 
 children were sent to this home: George Ney, and 
 Ernest P., deceased, and Emanuel M. Two hundred 
 and eighty acres of well-improved land formed the 
 liome farm, and Mr. Olmsted owns two hundred 
 and eight3'-flve acres more in Lyons Township. He 
 makes a specialty of Short-horn cattle. He has 
 altout fift^' head of cattle on the farm, one hundred 
 head of sheep and a corresponding number of 
 other stock. A handsome two-story frame house 
 forms the home, and first-cl.ass barns show indica- 
 tions of a careful hand and a wise farmer. He was 
 at one time a candid ite on the Democratic ticket 
 for State Representative. He is a Mason and was 
 formerly a member of the Independent Order of 
 Odd Fellows. 
 
 ^Bi' ■• 
 
 ^ AMES E. COOLEY is recognized as one of 
 the foremost farmers of Odessa Township, 
 Ionia County. Although he has not lived 
 in the county as long as many of its citi- 
 zens, yet his farm will compare favorably with 
 those of men who have been here for forty years. 
 The tilled land is carefully handled and its pro- 
 ductiveness retained to the highest degree, and 
 every necessary building has been put up on the 
 farm, to which a fine orcliard adds further beauty 
 and desirableness. The dwelling now occupied by 
 the family was built in 1890 and is large and com- 
 modious and furnished with an eye to the comfort 
 of its inmates. Among the outbuildings the barn 
 is conspicuous as first class in design and construct- 
 ion. A view of the residence and pleasant rural 
 
 surroundings appears on another page of this vol- 
 ume. 
 
 The parents of our subject, William and Ann 
 Maria (Dove) Coole3', were born in Maryland and 
 were ilescended from English ancestors. The father 
 served his countrj' in the War of 1812, after which 
 he w.as engaged in farming in his native State 
 until 1832, when he was called from time to eter- 
 nity. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church and his widow is identified with the 
 same religious bodj-. She has now reached the ven- 
 erable age of eight3--seven years and retains her 
 faculties in an unusual degree. She has five chil- 
 dren, named respectivel3'; William T., .John, Ben- 
 jamin, Mar3' Ann and James E. 
 
 The birth of James E. Coole3' took place in 
 Maryland, January 8, 1832, five days after his 
 father had departed this life. The child was two 
 years old when the mother removed to Ohio and 
 there he remained with her until he was seven. He 
 then went to live with a man with whom he re- 
 mained eleven years, during which time he received 
 a common-school education in a district school. He 
 accompanied Mr. Owens to Noble Count3', Ind., 
 when he was sixteen, and two 3'ears later left him 
 and returned to Ohio ^nd worked out in Williams 
 County three 3-ears. 
 
 In 1854 Mr. Coole3' came to Ionia Count3' and 
 bought land where he is now living. His purchase 
 was of two hundred acres of heavily timbered 
 land upon which no attempts at cultivation had 
 been made. He secured board near bj' and for two 
 years busied himself in chopping and clearing and 
 then, being taken sick, returned to his Ohio home. 
 He remained in the Bucke3'e State about eleven 
 years, devoting his time to farming as sonn as he 
 recovered from his illness. He then sold out his 
 interests there and went to Color.ado, where he was 
 engaged in mining al>out two 3'ears. Returning to 
 the Buckeye State he pursued agriculture there 
 five years, and then in 1872 made a permanent 
 settlement on his Michigan land. 
 
 Mr. Coole3" put up a log house, in wiiicli he lived 
 while carrying on the work of improvement, each 
 3-ear seeing a larger extent of cleared land and bet- 
 teF crops. Some time after purchasing tlie prop- 
 erty he sold eighty acres, so that the estate now 
 
 4 
 
'■'T!rT?T!TS??TTr?T'''r!'9r 
 
 .I.J.\,J., l^^J.H* 
 
 RESIDENCE OF J. C. E NGLISH , SEC . 31. BOSTON TR IONIA CO. MICH. 
 
 RESIDENCE OF J. E. COO L EY, 5EC.20 ODESSA TP. t ON I A CO. M I CH. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 687 
 
 consists of but one liundrcil nnd tvvenl3\ He lias 
 ninet\- acres under excellent tillage, and taken as a 
 whole, the estate is one of which he may well be 
 proud, particularly as its posscssi<jn is due entirely 
 to his own exertions and good management. 
 
 For a number of years Mr. C'ooley lias had the 
 aid and encouragement of a capable wife, who in 
 her own department of their affairs has shown wis- 
 dom and ability. She bore the maiden name of 
 Klizabelh Shock and became Mrs. Code}' Novem- 
 ber 29, 1859. She has had five children, but two 
 only are now living — Orris H. and George B. She 
 is well known throughout the community and like 
 her husband is held in high esteem by their 
 acquaintances. Mr. Cooley has been a lifelong 
 sup|)orter of the Democratic party. His religious 
 nH'inbcrslii|i is in the Free Will Baptist Clitirch. 
 
 >.^50Cr-.- 
 
 ir 
 
 ■Sf] UDE C. EN(;LISII. Many changes have 
 taken i)lace in Ionia County since this gen- 
 lleman came hither and the retrospect of the 
 '(^}) years that have passed affords him much 
 pleasure, together with sad thoughts of the sorrows 
 lie has felt and the losses he has suffered. The old 
 ccjmrados do not now gather as they once did, as 
 many of them have gone to another world, leaving 
 their jjlaces to be filled by their tlescendants, or a 
 new influx of emigrants. Mr. English looks back 
 to the time when there were but twentj'-four voters 
 in Campbell and Boston Townships, two houses in 
 .Saranac, and Ionia was but a hamlet. Indians 
 could be seen any day, and all kinds of wild fowl 
 and much larger game liaunterl the forests. It was 
 the custom of the settlers to assemble in the fall 
 for a big boar hunt. 
 
 The birthjilnce of Mr. English was Tunbriiige. 
 Orange County, Vt., and his natal day March 20, 
 1833. His parents, Edson and Abigail (Willard) 
 English, were born in the (ireen Mountain Stale 
 and both were of Scotch blood. The father was a 
 farmer and followed his calling in his native State 
 until 1810. when he came hither and located on 
 
 section 21, Boston Township. Here he continucil 
 his work as long as his strength would permit. He 
 died May 20, 1883, at the age of eighty-three years. 
 His wife survived a few j'cars, reaching the venera- 
 ble age of ninety -one and passing away December 
 31, 1890. Both belonged to the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. Their family included seven chil- 
 dren, the survivors being Elizabeth, widow of 
 Herman Hunt who died in the array; James F., 
 whose home is on section 28, Boston Township; 
 Annette, wife of Reuben H. .Smith whose home is 
 in Grand Rapids; our subject; and David H., who 
 occupies the homestead. 
 
 It will be seen that Mr. English was but seven 
 years old when he came to Ionia County. His 
 early education was received in the district school 
 and he spent one term at Albion College. In I8,")4 
 he bought eighty acres of land on section 31, Bos- 
 ton Township, and four years later he took posses- 
 sion of the property. He had previously been 
 working on the place in the summer months and 
 spending the winters in teaching. When he gave 
 his entire attention to his farm he h.a<l removed 
 much of the timber and underbrush which origin- 
 all\' covered it, as be had gone to work with a will, 
 and understood what he was doing, having helped 
 his father in similar work. A hard-working man, 
 prudent in management and thrift}' in his habits, 
 he has steadily worked his way, adding to his orig- 
 inal purchase and clearing and improving all. 
 
 During the Border Ruffi.in War of Kansas in 
 185G, a movement was set on foot to raise money 
 in each school district to aid in making Kansas a 
 free-soil State, and our subject took fpiitc an in- 
 terest in the matter. He succeeded in raising over 
 ^17, the largest amount secured in his township. 
 Anything that could be converted into cash was 
 taken, such as corn, oats, etc., and our subject lakes 
 just pride in the fact that his mite helped in the 
 good cause. 
 
 The land of Mr. English has been broiighl to a 
 high slate of develo|)mcnt, is well-improved and 
 stocked with good grades of horses, cattle, sheep 
 and hogs. Mr. English now occupies a farm of 
 one hundred and fifty-live acres, on which he built 
 a large two-story brick dwelling in 1H80. He also 
 put up an ample barn. He then decdeil the orig- 
 
688 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 inal homestead to his son, Charles S., who married 
 Mary Roger. Mr. English used to trap a good 
 deal, selling fox and mink hides. What he has 
 accomplished in the way of building up a home 
 and securing a competence has been due to his own 
 efforts and those of his wife, who was faithful over 
 the interests committed to her care and ever en- 
 couraged him by her cheerfulness and love. Look- 
 ing back over the rough roa<l they have traveled 
 together, they rejoice in the fact that they have 
 succeeded in a higli sense, winning esteem as well 
 as lillliy lucre. 
 
 Mr. English helped to organize the Grange in 
 1873 and has been an active promoter of its suc- 
 cess. He has been Purchasing Agent since the 
 organization was perfected. He has served as 
 School Trustee, but has no inclination for any other 
 position of public responsil)ility. Politically, he 
 is a true'Reimblican. His means are freely ex- 
 pended for the building up of Boston Township 
 and the advancement of Ionia County. His wife 
 bore the maiden name of Persis A. Stannard which 
 she changed for that she now bears April 28, 1858. 
 Thev have had two children but the son before 
 mentioned is the only one living. Ernest died 
 wlien a child of three and a half years. 
 
 OLIVER HOOVER. To one who is keenly 
 observant of the agricultural districts of 
 Ionia County it would seem that Keene 
 Township lias an unusual number of German- 
 American citizens. Many of her most prominent 
 farmers were born and reared in the Fatherland, 
 and there acquired the good principles and indus- 
 trious and thrifty habits that have made them snc- 
 cessful in ihe home they chose after growing to 
 manhood. Beginning their career in America with 
 little or no cash capital, they have worked their 
 way to positions of comfort and competence by 
 the exercise of their natural abilities and the ster- 
 lin"' ways to which they wore reared. One of this 
 class was Oliver Hoover, whose home is on section 
 
 32, and whose life and character are the subject 
 of the following paragraphs. 
 
 The parents of the gentleman above named were 
 Lawrence and Mary Hoover, whose birthplace w.is 
 the Grand Duchy of Baden, where his eyes were 
 also opened to the light June 24, 1825. He was 
 fairly educated under the school system that in- 
 sures a practical education to the sons of the Father- 
 land, and since he came to the United States has 
 become quite well acquainted with English. He 
 crossed the Atlantic in 1854, leaving Havre on a 
 sailing-vessel and being foity-six days on the 
 ocean. After landing in New York he went to the 
 Province of Ontario, Canada, where he remained 
 until 1857. That year he came to this State, and 
 choosing Ionia County as the scene of his labors, 
 settled on section 18, Campbell Township. He 
 operated on a farm there until the spring of 1858, 
 and then took possession of that on which he is 
 now living. His first dwelling here was a log 
 shantj", but after a few years it was supplanted 
 by a better house, and in 1877 a fine brick resi- 
 dence was put up. A few acres of the land had 
 been been partially cleared, but the major portion 
 of the work necessary to bring the estate to its 
 present condition was performed by Mr. Hoover 
 himself. His farm consists of one hundred and 
 twenty acres and is tlie source of an excellent 
 income. 
 
 For thirty years the jo^'s and sorrows, the labors 
 and successes of Mr. Hoover have been shared in 
 by a good wife, with whom he was united May 
 11, 18G1. She was born in Bavaria, Germany, 
 October 26, 1840, and bore the maiden name of 
 Catharine Schoppey, being a daughter of Henry and 
 Elizabeth Schoppe}^ Mrs. Hoover came to Amer- 
 ica in 1854. Her mairiage has been blessed with 
 the birth of nine children, but only four are 
 spared to brighten the parental home. These are 
 Caroline, Frank, John and OUie. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hoover take an active part in the 
 social affairs of their neighborhood and are con- 
 nected with the Roman Catholic Cliurch at Lowell. 
 Mr. Hoover gives his political allegiance to the 
 Democratic parly and never fails to deposit his 
 vote in behalf of its candidates. The entire fam- 
 ily are respected by their associates and display an 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 689 
 
 interest in American iustitntions, particularly in 
 the seliouls, and are ever ready, wlierever it is 
 posslMe, to advance the interests of the comimi- 
 nit3' by tlieir participation in tlie projects wiiich 
 promise that result. 
 
 On another page of the Alhim tlie readers will 
 notice a view of the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hoover. 
 
 ^^"^^ a^" 
 
 j)ILLIAM S. STORY, an old settler of Ionia 
 County, resides on section 19, Boston 
 Township, and carries on general farming 
 and stock-raising. He was horn in Lester, Living- 
 ston County, N. Y.,.Ianuary 18, 1819. He is a son 
 of Urii>s and Lucrctia (Smith) Story. The father 
 was a native of New Hampshire and of Scotch de- 
 scent. The mother was horn in Connecticut. They 
 followed farming most of their lives and came 
 West with their son, and resided with him until 
 their death. The father died in April, 1861, his 
 wife having prcce<led him to the other world in 
 August, 1859. Both of them were members t)f the 
 Congregational Church, and were conscientious and 
 useful in their church relations. They were the 
 parents of nine children, seven of whom are now 
 living, namely: Lyman, Belsey, Caroline M., Will- 
 iam S., Sarah C. George 1)., Arniinda A. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born and reared 
 on a farm in Livingston County, N. Y., where he 
 received his education in the district schools. He 
 continued to reside with his parents until 1848 
 when he came to Michigan and located in Boston 
 Township, Ionia County', taking charge of one hun- 
 dred and twenty acres of land where he now re- 
 sides, which had been purchased b^' William P. 
 Brown in 1838. Renting a farm near his own 
 land he worked that for two j'ears and in the mean- 
 while built a log house on his own place. In the 
 spring of 1850 he moved onto his own farm, which 
 was in a wild state and went to work chopping tim- 
 ber and clearing brush. Year by year he cleared 
 more and cultivated what he had free from trees, 
 and now has it all under a good state of cultiva- 
 tion and well improved. He has always carried a 
 
 good grade of stock of various kinds, making a 
 specialty of Merino and Sliroi)shlre sheep. 
 
 Mr. Story has been an interested observer of and 
 helper in all the changes that have taken pl.ace in 
 the county from its Grst beginnings. He has ever 
 been a public-spirited man, contributing liberally, 
 according to his ability, to all enterprises looking 
 to the welfare of the community in which he re- 
 sides. He has hunted deer on land that is now in 
 a high state of cultivation, and has seen the Indian 
 and his wigwam supplanted by prosperous villages 
 and white people of intelligence and culture. He 
 is in politics a Republican. He has held the office 
 of Supervisor one term, also that of Road Com- 
 missioner, and is a charter member of the (i range. 
 
 The sul)ject of this sketch was united in mar- 
 riage with Harriet Harris, of New Haven, \'t., in 
 October, 1844. They have two children living: 
 Catherine H., wife of Levi Fletcher, who resides 
 on the homestead; Jessie E., wife of (iates L. .Stan- 
 nard, who resides in Boston Township. The good 
 mother of these children was called to her final rest 
 December 15, 1884. Mr. Story still resides with 
 his daughter Catherine on the homestead, where be 
 hopes to spend the remainder of his days. 
 
 tp^ANIKL .?. M.\TTI.SON. Among the owners 
 I )]j of large farms in Ionia County none are bet- 
 \f^ ter deserving of mention in a volume of this 
 nature than .Mr. Mattison, whose enterprise in car- 
 rying on his work and good citizenship and charac- 
 ter entitle him to respect. His residence is on sec- 
 tion 35, Ronald Township, and his estate consists 
 of three hundred acres, all under cultivation. Flocks 
 and herds of goodly size an<l first-class breeds roam 
 over the pastures, among them being one hundred 
 and si.xty head of sheep. Kvery where on the place 
 one can see the evidences of prosperity and it is 
 manifest that the owner of this properly makes «f 
 his occupation both an art and a science. 
 
 Mr. Mattison is the youngest son of Allen .(.and 
 Lucy ('I'homas) Mattison, of whom more extended 
 notice is given in the biography of William H. 
 Mattison on another [lage. He was born in Reus- 
 
690 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 selaer County, N. Y., February 12, 1841, and re- 
 eeirecl his education in tlie district schools near his 
 home. He continued to reside in liis native State 
 until 1870 when he came to Michigan and located 
 where he is now living. He had been married some 
 three years before, but with liis wife had a place in 
 the parental household, and upon coming West he 
 was accompanied ]>y his father and mother. His 
 mother, who has been a widow for several years, is 
 still with him on the homestead and is now of ven- 
 erable age. Since he came to this State Mr. Mat- 
 tison has worked on the homestea<1. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Mattison and Miss Carrie 
 S. Cranston was solemnized at the bride's home in 
 New York, November 21, 1866. Mrs. Mattison 
 was born in Stephentown Township, Rensselaer 
 County, November 10, 1846, and received her 
 early training and education there. She is the 
 fourth of nine children born to Henry R. and 
 Pha^be (Mattison) Cranston, who were likewise 
 natives of the Empire State. She belongs to the 
 Baptist Church and is an earnest, conscientious 
 Christian, whose constant aim it is to discharge 
 every duly which lies before her. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Mattison have two sens — Harry A., born in 1869 
 and Charles H. in 188.3. The elder is now attend- 
 ing school in Ann Arbor. 
 
 Mr. Mattison is a supporter of Republican princi- 
 ples. Before his removal to this State he served as 
 Township Assessor at his old home. He occupies 
 a place in the front rank of farmers of Ronald 
 Township and has an acquaintance which includes 
 a large number of sincere friends. 
 
 
 \fACOB J. HATINGER is one of the most 
 active business men of Montcalm County. 
 He is a manufacturer of shingles and lum- 
 (^// ber, having a fine mill located on section 2, 
 Jielvidere Township, although he makes his home 
 in Day Township, where he has a tine farm of two 
 hundred and eighty acres on section 2. His father, 
 John, was a farmer in Wurlemburg, Germany, 
 whence he emigrate'! soon after his marriage to 
 Catherine Eitelbuss, a sister of J. J. Eitelbuss in 
 
 whose biographical sketch her ancestry will be 
 found. When in about 1853 Mr. John Hatinger 
 first came to America he located in Northfield 
 Township, Washtenaw County, this State, on a farm 
 and remained there until his death at the age of 
 fortj^-five years. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the second child 
 of his parents and was boin December 27, 1855, at 
 Northfield, Washtenaw County. Here he grew up 
 on a farm and after his father's death, at eight 
 years of age was greatly depended upon by his 
 mother in the management of the farm. When 
 fourteen years old he came to Montcalm County. 
 He engaged in lumbering in the winterand worked 
 on the farm in summer until he was twenty-one 
 years of age, and his time and wages during this 
 time went for the benefit of the family and he 
 finally drifted into the manufacture of shingles in 
 Ferris and Day Townships. He successfully ran a 
 mill on Fish Creek, Ferris Township, then in Ever- 
 green Township. In January, 1890, he started the 
 present mill in Belvidere Township with a capacity 
 of forty-five thousand shingles per day. Here he is 
 doing a fine business. His farm is in a si)lendidly-cul- 
 tivated condition and his handsome residence, large 
 and commodious outbuildings and the general 
 appearance of the farm are creditable in the ex- 
 treme. He engages in general farming and stock- 
 raising and feeds for market about one carload of 
 cattle each year. He makes a specialty of graded 
 Short-Horn cattle, and keeps excellent stock in hogs 
 and sheep. His greatest interest upon the farm 
 however, is in raising fine horses. He owns the 
 fastest pacer in the State of Michigan, ''Benson H." 
 sired by Lewis Napoleon, record 2:25^. He has 
 paced the one quarter mile in thirty-one seconds 
 which is at the rate of 2:04 gait. He also owns 
 "Nettie H.," sired by ''Sweei)Stakes." She has a 
 record of 2:40 as a trotter. 
 
 Mr. Hatinger began in 1878 with an eventful 
 celeliration, that of his marriage to Agnes, daugh- 
 ter of Thomas Morse. This lady was born in Ann 
 Arbor of one of the early families in that county. 
 Her father was a farmer from New York and her 
 mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Sabin, 
 was born in Germany. In 1855 the Morse family 
 located in Portland Township, Ionia County, this 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 691 
 
 State, wheie they cleared and irainoved a farm and 
 resided until the death of Mr. Morse. His wife, 
 who survives him, resides at the old place. Mrs. 
 Ilalinger is one of six surviving children. Much 
 of her childhood and school days were spent in 
 Ionia County, although her older girlhood she 
 passed in Ann Arbor. She is the mother of four 
 children, one of whom, .lesse, died in infancy. The 
 surviving children arc Krnest, Earl and Leon. 
 Mr. Hatinger is a prominent Republican and votes 
 the straight ticket on all occasions. 
 
 *7r LBERT B. GRANT, M. D. The medical 
 profession is well represented in Ionia 
 lii and liy men who in theoretical knowledge 
 practical skill and professional zeal wou'd 
 stand on a par with those in any of our cities. 
 Among this number is Dr. Grant, who has a large 
 and constantly-increasing practice. lie does not 
 look ujion his profession as a book that, being 
 read, is to be laid aside but as something of the 
 nature of natural science, needing constant watch- 
 fulness and continued investigation in order that 
 no phenomena m.iy escape notice and no possible 
 good result be missed, lie continues to study both 
 books and men and is watchful of the welfare of 
 his patients. 
 
 The fimily from which Dr. Grant traces his 
 descent is prominent in Germany and is entitled 
 to a coatof-arms. The foreign spelling of the 
 patronymic is Krauntz and was changed during 
 Colonial times, when Marks Krauntz, grandfather 
 of our subject, entered the Colonial army. That 
 gentleman had emigrated from Germany a short 
 time before the struggle for independence and lo- 
 cated in the Mohawk V'alle}'. By some misunder- 
 standing his name was entered on the eidislment 
 and pa^' rolls of the Revolutionary army as Grants 
 and he adopted that cognomen, which is retained 
 by his descendants in the East. Grandfather 
 Marks Grants came from Germany when be was 
 seven years old and died May 17, 1841, aged 
 seventy-nine years. Catherine, his wife, died Sep- 
 
 tember l.*?, 1857, aged eighty-three years ami six 
 months. Alarks Grants received from Gen. Wash- 
 ington a medal for bravery during the Revolu- 
 tionary War. The medal is still preserved by his 
 relatives. His son David, who came to this .State 
 in 1853, dropped the final "s". 
 
 D.Hvid Grant was married in his native State to 
 Miss Phiana P. Wilcox March 24, 1831, who was 
 also born in New York, and who was a descend- 
 ant of John Rogers, the martyr. She was a 
 daughter of Heman and Naomi (Rogers) Wilcox. 
 Upon their removal hither Mr. and Mrs. Grant 
 located in .Tackson County, where the husband 
 died March 7, 1873. Mrs. Grant survived until 
 October 4, 1889, and breathed her last at Lowell. 
 Their family included seven children, five of whom 
 are living and the subject of our sketch is the 
 youngest. 
 
 Dr. Grant was born in Columbia, Herkimer 
 Ccmnt^', N. Y.', June 15, 1849, and was therefore 
 but a child when he obtained his first knowledge 
 of this State. He received a common-school edu- 
 cation which was sufliciently thorough to fit him 
 for teaching, and he took charge of schools in 
 Jackson County. Having determined to make 
 medicine his calling, he did some preliminary re.id- 
 ing and then entered a college at Cleveland, Ohio, 
 and later the Detroit (Mich.) Homeopathic Col- 
 lege, and holds a certificate from the Chicigo Poli- 
 clinic Abdominal and Pelvic Surgery-, and is also 
 a member of the American Obstretrical Asso- 
 ciation anJ American Association of OriHcial Sur- 
 geons. His favorite study is surgerj' and elec- 
 tricity in nervous and chronic diseases. From 
 the Detroit College he was graduated in 1875, 
 and he at once located for practice at Muir and 
 Lyons, Ionia County. He remained there until 
 October, 1878, when he succeeded Dr. Amos 
 Walker at Lowell. While in Lowell he held the 
 offices of Health Ollicer and President of the 
 School Hoard. In 1885 he removed to Ionia, to 
 which place his reputation had preceded him. 
 
 The lady who presides over the household af- 
 fairs in the elegant residence of Dr. Grant bore 
 the maiden name of Ada C. Fellows and became 
 his wife November 19, 1873. Her parents were 
 John A. and Jeanette L. (Emory) Fellows, natives 
 
692 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of New Yoik and Vermont respectively, and early 
 settlers in Jackson County, this State. Mr. Fellows 
 was of Welsli extraction and came of a long-lived 
 faraily,and he himself re.iched the age of four score. 
 The date of liis decease was March 13, 1890. One 
 of the ancestors of Mrs. Grant was the Rer. Adiel 
 fSherwood. Dr. and Mrs. Grant have two sons — 
 Burdette F. and Hcraan Emory, who are receiving 
 every possible opportunity to improve their minds 
 and prepare themselves for future duties. 
 
 Dr. Grant is much interested in tiie social orders 
 and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having 
 attained to the rank of Sir Knight; the Odd Fel- 
 lows, Knights of Pythias and Grange lodge?. He 
 was Corresponding Secretary of the llomceopathic 
 Medical Society four years and in 1885-86 was its 
 President. He was a member of the Board of Ex- 
 aminers for Pensions during President Arthur's 
 administration, was deposed for offensive i)artisan- 
 ship by President Cleveland, but was reinstated 
 by President Harrison, and now presides over that 
 body. It will be understood from the, above that 
 he is a Republican and that none are long in doubt 
 as to his opinions on political questions. He and 
 his wife belong to the Congregational Church. 
 Dr. Grant is possessed of the manners of a true 
 gentleman, and at the gatherings of the best circles 
 his presence and that of his wife is sought. 
 
 ^,E ELBERT A. REYNOLDS. Among the 
 ))) pushing, energetic, successful business men 
 
 -r of Lyons, Ionia County, is the subject of 
 this biographical notice. Mr. Reynolds came to 
 Lyons with his family in 1881 on account of its 
 excellent railroad facilities, be being at that time 
 en^awed as a traveling salesman in Michigan. In 
 the summer of 1882, the Grand River J5^c7to, pub- 
 lished at Lyons, suspended publication, and in Sep- 
 tember, of the same year, the Muir Vidette met a 
 like fate. Mr. Reynolds, in company with W. D. 
 Pennington, Jr., bought the two plants, put in a 
 quantity of new material and the necessary energy, 
 launching the Lyons Herald in October, of the 
 same year. From that time the business has con- 
 
 tinued to grow until at this writing Mr. Reynolds 
 is sole owner of one of the best newspapers and 
 job printing offices in Central Michigan, from 
 which is issued the Pati-ons' Guide. The current 
 issue of this paper is a little over ninety-three thous- 
 and copies, while it carries a pay-roll of over 
 twenty men and women. 
 
 Personally Mr. Reynolds is conservative, prudent 
 and sagacious; editorially he is fearless, non-parti- 
 san, and the terror of tricksters, political or social 
 rings. Born in Isabella County in 1854, he mod- 
 estly claims the distinction of being the lirst child 
 born of white parents in that then Indian reserva- 
 tion, and his education was such as could be ob- 
 tained among the Aborigines. Young Reynolds 
 spent his time in driving the cows to pasture and 
 watching the hopper in his father's gristmill; nat- 
 turally inclined to literary pursuits he also devoted 
 considerable attention to the study of history, books 
 of travel and current newspaper literature. Upon 
 the death of his father in 1870, he went to Maple 
 Rapids, where he finished his trade as a miller, but 
 was soon taken with a protracted illness that kept 
 his lungs in a very delicate condition and almost 
 undermined his entire constitution. 
 
 Turning his attention to the classics Mr. Rc}'- 
 nolds soon fitted himself for teaching, which voca- 
 tion he followed for eight winters, devoting his 
 time during the summer months to the subduing of 
 a small farm in Clinton County, and incidentally 
 becoming strong and healthy. During the years 
 spent on the farm he gave to the literary world 
 some very choice productions, which have won for 
 him a reputation as a writer, in which his friends 
 take a ver^' commendable pride. The last eight 
 j-ears of his life have found his leisure hours em- 
 j)loyed in securing the data for what will be the 
 crowning effort of his literary career. 
 
 Mr. Reynolds is the only son of John and Catiie- 
 rine Reynolds, of old Puritan stock; the former 
 died in 1870, and the wife survived but two years. 
 The other members of the family are: Mrs. Delia 
 Davis, Mrs. Harriet Mullins and Mrs. Katie Helm. 
 Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage in 1874 with 
 Miss Seruah Vincent, and two sons — Egbert A. 
 and Loyal W., have come to bless the union. 
 
 Since the above sketch was written Mr. Rey- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 693 
 
 nolds Una removed his printing business to the 
 State Capital, Lansing, where in addition to his 
 oihcr business he lias launched the Michigan Staffs- 
 man in tlie interest of the now [)olitical party 
 known as tiie Peoples' party. His residence, ollice 
 building and other property interests he still 
 retains in Lyons. 
 
 ?RANK R. CHASK, a dealer in real estate 
 K) and a farmer on section 21, Otisco Town- 
 ship, made his first entry into Ionia County 
 in 1844 when a child five years old. He was born 
 in Napoleon, Jackson County, Jlich., August 12, 
 1839, but with the excei)tion of a few years his life 
 has been spent in the county with whose interests 
 he is now idertified. He gave his time and strength 
 to the I'nion cause from August 10, 1862, until 
 Se|)tetnber, 1868, and for a sliort time was engaged 
 in mercantile pursuits in Illinois. He owns a tract 
 of land comprising some five hundred acres and 
 carries on quite extensive farming operations. 
 
 The grandfather of our subject was Elisha Cli.ase, 
 a native of Vermont, who came to this State in 
 18,50 to make his home with his son, Norman G. 
 He was a Sheriff in his native State, and during the 
 Black Hawk War was a soldier. The son mentioned 
 was born in the Green Mountain .State, whence he 
 removed to Connecticut, thercc to New York and 
 thence to Miciiigan and finally located in Smyrna 
 in 1844, which was his permanent residence. He 
 was a minister of the Gospel but in his new home 
 he engaged in mercantile pursuits, beginning with a 
 capital of "fliiO. He followed the business until 
 186.3, anil was so successful in that and other work 
 that he left a property valued at about iJC.OOO, after 
 having given 140.000 to benevolent purposes. His 
 death occurred in 1884 at the age of eighty-two 
 years, anil his estate was willed to benevolent insti- 
 tutions. He was Postmaster in Smyrna for many 
 years, having been the first to hold that office. He 
 was Townshii> Clerk and was a school officer dur- 
 ing a long term of years. 
 
 Norman Chase was married in New York to Lu- 
 cinda Carroll, who was born in Connecticut and 
 
 whose parents were John and Hannah (Th.-iyer) 
 Carroll, also natives of that State. John Carroll 
 was a cousin of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one 
 of the signers of the Declaration of Inilei)eudence. 
 Our subject is distantly related in the paternal line 
 to another signer, Samuel Ch:ise. The children of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Norman G. Chase were four in num- 
 ber, three of whom died in infancy. The mother 
 entered into rest in 1868. 
 
 Mr. Chase, the subject of this notice, received his 
 fundamental education in the common schools and 
 increased his store of knowledge by attending 
 school in Lansing and Kalamazoo each one j'ear. 
 He also took a commercial course in the latter citv. 
 When a young man of (eighteen years he began 
 teaching, but followed that work only two terms. 
 When of age he was taken into partnership with his 
 father, with whom he continued in business until 
 his enlistment in Company H, Twenty-fifth Mich- 
 igan Infantry, with which he went to the Held as 
 First Lieutenant. He served with his company and 
 regiment until September, 1863 when, being dis- 
 abled, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve 
 Corps and appoint<»d Adjutant of the Eighteenth 
 Regiment. 
 
 Lieut. Chase was sent East and participated in 
 Grant's campaign of 1864 from P'redericksburg to 
 City Point, .and then joined the forces against Gen. 
 Early, who was making his famous raid on Wash- 
 ington and the Baltimore & Ohio Railway. From 
 December, 1863, Mr. Chase was on staff duly, 
 serving as Adjutant of his regiment, Adjutant- 
 General of the brigade in the field, and doing 
 duty on the staff of Gens. Haird, Gregg. Mower, 
 Sheridan, V.'ood and Buchanan respectively. After 
 the cessation of hostilities he was ordered to New Or- 
 leans, where he remained on duty until his resigna- 
 tion, when ho came home with the rank of Major. 
 Re-eng.aging in business .-is a merchant Mr. Chase 
 remained in Michigan until 1870, then went to War- 
 saw, III., which was his home for the ensuing two 
 years. He returned to Smyrna in 1873 and here he 
 continues to reside. 
 
 Mr. Chase was married in Warsaw, III., in 1870. 
 to Ilattie E. Flood, uneducated and refined young 
 lady who stands side by side with him in the es 
 teem of their acipiaintances. She is the danghier 
 
694 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of Gen. Martin Flood, wlio was born in Massaclni 
 setts, but for years resided in Wisconsin and went 
 into tlie army in 1861 willi the Third Wisconsin 
 Infantry. He was a member of the Legislature of 
 that State. His death tooii place in Warsaw, 111., 
 in July, 1873. His wife, a native of New York, 
 bore the maiden name of I'ludence Darling. Their 
 family included Capt. R. E. Flood, Hattie E., Mar- 
 tin A., ALary A. and Edward E. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Chase have two living children — Dora and Carroll, 
 both at home; and they have lost a daughter. 
 Bertha L., who died at the age of two years. 
 
 In politics Mr. Chase is a stanch Republican, but 
 he has never aspired to public honors, being satis- 
 fied to do his duty as a private citizen and aid his 
 party in quiet ways. He is high in the Masonic 
 order, having taken the thirtieth degree. He takes 
 an active part in the workings of the Belding 
 Lodge, No. 355, and in the Consistory in which he 
 is enrolled. He is Commander of Dan S. Root Post, 
 No. 126, G. A. R., in Belding. He and his wife 
 belong to the Baptist Church and have high stand- 
 ing in that society. 
 
 iEV. DAVID E. MILLARD started out in 
 life under the fostering care of a brilliant, 
 cultured and literary ancestor. His father 
 I having traveled extensively in the old 
 Continent and possessing a prominent professor- 
 ship in one of the leading Theological Seminaries 
 of the country, also with merited success acquiring 
 the fame of an author, could by these influencts 
 place his son upon a brilliant pedestal which he has 
 utilized as a stepping-stone to his present promi- 
 n(!nt position. 
 
 Two brothers by the names of Robert and Na- 
 thaniel Millard came from England to Rehobeth, 
 Mass., about the middle of the seventeenth cen- 
 tury. They were Baptists and fled to this country 
 on account of religious persecutions. Robert was 
 a minister of the Gospel and both lived to be 
 aged and died and were buried in Rehobeth. The 
 Rev. Robert Millard had a son Robert, and the 
 latter also bad a son who bore the same name and 
 
 like his ancestor was a Baptist minister. The third 
 Robert lived to an advanced age and was highly 
 respected. He was twice married, and the father 
 of a large family. Among the children of his sec- 
 ond wife, whose maiden name was King, was 
 Eleazar Millard, who removed from Rehobeth, 
 Mass., into Dutchess County, N. Y., and subse- 
 quently to Stillwater, Saratoga Count}', where 
 Nathaniel Millard, grandfather of our subject was 
 born December 13, 1764. The Millard homestead 
 was near the battle ground of Burgoyne's defeat. 
 
 Nathaniel, when not quite sixteen years old, en- 
 listed as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. At 
 the surrender of Ft. Ann, he was taken prisoner 
 and for several months was held in captivity among 
 the Indians in Canada. In this place he was re- 
 taken bj' the English and with others placed in the 
 prison at (Quebec, where by sickness and starva- 
 tion he nearly ended his days. He was taken to 
 England where he was held in confinement sev- 
 eral months, and after a series of hardships he was 
 at length given his freedom and restored to his 
 native land. In 1787 he found a most estimable 
 wife in Mary Hunter, who was born in Antrim, 
 Irclanfl, August 27, 1767, and who with her family 
 emigrated to this country- and settled in »Ballston, 
 N. Y'., in 1774. The fruits of this marriage were 
 eleven children. Nathaniel Millard was killed 
 August 7, 1829, by falling from a load of hay. He 
 was a good man and died a Christian. His wife 
 survived him a number of years, her death occur- 
 ring in Rochester, N. Y'., Jul}' 8, 1850, aged eis^hty- 
 three years. 
 
 David Millard, the father of our subject, was 
 born at Glenville, Schenectady County, N. Y., 
 November 24, 1794. He began to attend school 
 at the early age of four years, but after he was 
 able to perform any kind of farm labor his school 
 days never exceeded three months in each year. 
 Before he was quite seventeen years of age he began 
 to teach school near his childhood's home, in which 
 avocation he was very successful. He was con- 
 verted to Christ under the preaching of a lad}', 
 Nancy G. Cram, whose ministry in Boston and 
 elsewhere was remarkably successful. In 1814 he 
 entered the ministry and preached his first sermon 
 in Amsterdam, N. Y., July 16, 1815, and in March 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 695 
 
 I81C left his home toenj^ago in the service of God. 
 He promptly took a prominent position as a minis- 
 ter anioni; the able men with whom lie associated 
 nn(1 labored. 
 
 On June 17, 1819, Mr. Millard married t'elia 
 Hicks of Taunton, Mass., and having organized a 
 Christian Church in West Bloomlield, N. Y., was 
 for iliirl3'-six years the faithful and prosperous 
 pastor of the church which he had founded. Here 
 he [)ublished the 1 ntc Mcssialt and for three 3-ears, 
 from 182;") to 1828, a montldy periodical known as 
 the Gospel Luminary. Subsequently Mr. Millard 
 traveled extensively in many States, preaching as 
 lie went and was greatly blessed in his labors. In 
 1841-42 he visited Malta, Egypt, Palestine, the 
 peninsula of Sin-ii and Arabia Petra. He also spent 
 several weeks in a lazeretto in Smyrna. On his 
 return he published his book of travels which liad 
 an extensive sale and received many flattering 
 notices through the press. 
 
 In 1814 Mr. Millard was elected Professor of 
 Sacred Geography and Biblical anticjuities in the 
 Meadville, Pa., Theological School which he held 
 over twentj- years, spending one month each j'ear 
 in lecturing on the above subject. In 1868 David 
 Millard removed to Jackson, Mich., where the sub- 
 ject of this sketch was serving as pastor of a Chris- 
 tian Church. In that place he died, August 7, 
 1873, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. His 
 was an honorable and faithful life and he left be- 
 him a noble record. He was twice married, his 
 first wife Cclia Hicks, dying July 24, 1843. April 
 24, 1844 he married Elmina L. Belote, who died 
 May 7, 1885, at Lyndon, N. Y., in the seventy- 
 fifth year of her age. Her only son, Channing 
 Millard, lives in Chicago. 
 
 David E. Millard w-as born in West Bloomfield. 
 N. Y., March IG, 1829. His school advantages 
 were of fine order and while at the seminary in 
 1849 he was deeply impressed with the idea that it 
 was his duty to become a minister, and in the 
 autumn of that year he entered the Theological 
 Seminary at Jleadsville. Pa., as a student of the 
 ministry. In 1852 he grailuated and commenced 
 l)reaching at once (as supply) in the pulpit of the 
 Ernnklin Street Church, Fall Biver, Mass., where 
 he w.as ordained December 9. His first sermon 
 
 was <Ielivered at Springboro, Pa., when a student. 
 The a|)pointment w.as made without his knowledge, 
 and in vain he tried to beg off. The effort was 
 declared by those who heard it to have been a 
 brilliant one. 
 
 Our subject was married April 24, 18.")4 in Port- 
 land, Mich., to Esther E. Andrews, who has proven 
 an excellent and most faithful co-laborer. After 
 serving as pastor of the North Christian Church 
 in New Bedford, Mass., and afterward at West 
 Bloomfield, N. Y., he removed to Michigan Decem- 
 ber 25, 1857. In this State the labors of both him- 
 self and wife have been earnestly and successfully 
 devoted to the Christian cause, as the work at 
 Marshall, Jackson and Bclding shows. In 1865 he 
 and his wife filled by appointment of Gov. Crapo 
 and to his entire satisfaction, the odice of military 
 agents at Washington, D. C. They have taken the 
 village of Portland, Mich., for their adopted home 
 and here Mr. Millard emploj's his pen in writing 
 for several papers, religious and secular, and often 
 supplies, to acceptance, the different pulpits of the 
 place. It is most presumable that peace and hap. 
 piness will flow gently into their remaining years, 
 rounding them out and filling them with the bless- 
 ings of life. 
 
 IMEON RECTOK. Among those who, 
 during the dark days of the Civil War, 
 offered their services for the defense of 
 the Union and served our country faith- 
 fully is Mr. Rector, who is also a pioneer of this 
 State. He came to Michigan in its earliest years 
 and bought land, which he has redeemed from its 
 primitive condition and made to blossom with 
 harvests. Respected by all and prominent in Ionia 
 County, we are pleased to present to our readers a 
 brief outline of his life. 
 
 Simeon Rector is a farmer residing on section 
 1 1, Eastoii Township, Ionia Count}', and is a na- 
 tive of New York. He was born August 30, 1822, 
 and is a son of Teal and Lena Rector, who are 
 said to have been natives of New York. Mr. 
 Rector was reared to manhood in Yates County, 
 
696 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 N. Y., and from his early boyhood has been en- 
 gaofed in farming pursuits. He received but the 
 rudiments of an education in his early school days, 
 as at that lime the present school advantages 
 were not available. It was his aim, however, to 
 improve his mind and store it with all possible 
 knowledge, and in this way he mainly educated 
 himself. 
 
 Mr. Rector was married January 1, 1844, to 
 Hannah Polder, who w\as born in Orange County, 
 N. Y., April 15, 1820, and is the daughter of John 
 and Penelope (Reynolds) Folder. Her parents were 
 r.atives of New York and her paternal grandfather 
 was a Revolutionary soldier. AVhen about thir- 
 teen years of age Mrs. Rector, with her family, re- 
 moved to Yates County, and was there reared to 
 maturity and married. Mr. and Mrs. Rector are 
 the parents of two children — George H. and Oscar 
 D. In the spring of 1848, with his family, our 
 subject emigrated to Michigan, coming by the 
 way of tlie lakes to Detroit, and settled in Oak- 
 land County, Mich., where he resided for several 
 years. About the year 1855 he came to Ionia 
 County and settled on a farm, where he now lives, 
 and has been practically a resident here ever since 
 with the exception of the lime si>ent in the service 
 of his country. 
 
 Purchasing eighty acres of heavily timbered 
 land, Mr. Rector felled the first trees, and then 
 erected a small rude log cabin, probably about 
 14x16 feet in size. In this he lived a few years 
 and later on in life built the fine residence where 
 he now resides. When he first came to this county 
 there were no accessible roads, and for six years 
 he was obliged to travel in and out to his farm 
 as best suited his convenience. He and his wife 
 necessarily were obliged to endure the usual hard- 
 ships subject to pioneer life. He now owns seventy- 
 seven acres of land, and in the accumulation of 
 this property has been ably assisted by his wife, 
 who has been his helpmate and counselor for 
 years. 
 
 December 22, 1863, Mr. Rector enlisted in Com- 
 pany E, First Michigan Engineer Corps. His 
 duties in this company were principally to build 
 corduroy and other bridges, tear up railroad tracks 
 and build block houses, He was discharged Sep- 
 
 tember 22, 1865. His son George was also in the 
 First Michigan Engineer Corps and served nine 
 months, after which he returned to Ionia County, 
 where he has since remained. Mr. Rector and 
 his estimable wife are esteemed members of the 
 .Alethodisl Church and are among the representa- 
 tive pioneer people of Ionia County, and now on 
 the declining side of life they are enjoying the 
 fruits of their early toil. None arc more deserv- 
 ing of a place in this record than this worthy 
 famil}'. It is, therefore, with pleasure that we 
 present the biograph)'- of this typical man and his 
 good wife with those of many who have by their 
 hard labor brought Ionia County from its wild 
 stale into its present improved condition. 
 
 jIIOMAS a. STEADMAN. a pleasantly 
 located and well-developed farm on section 
 21, Lyons Township, is the home of Mr. 
 Steadman, who is thoroughly at one with the inter- 
 ests of Ionia County. He gives his attention to 
 general farming, operating seventy-three and a 
 fourth acres of good land, and derives from his 
 estate an income sufficient for his wants. His resi- 
 dence is comfortable and homelike and around it 
 are the various farm buildings, such as every en- 
 terprising farmer puts up, and the orchard and 
 garden plats which every well-regulated farm has. 
 Thomas Steadman, the originator of the family 
 in America, is believed to have crossed the Atlan- 
 tic on the ''M.a^- flower" and is known to have come 
 from England during a very early period in the 
 history of the Colonies. The same given name 
 has been held by five men in the direct line and 
 Rhode Island was the native State of three of them. 
 The first was a sea captain, the second a farmer 
 and the third a tanner by trade and a Baptist min- 
 ister by profession. The fourtli Thomas Steadman, 
 counting from the English ancestor, was born in 
 Massachusetts but reared in New York, and was a 
 carpenter and joiner by trade. In Orleans County, 
 N. Y., he was married to Sarah Hollenbeck, a na- 
 tive of the Empire State, and there the^' lived until 
 1857-58. They came to this State and made their 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 697 
 
 home ill Hloomingdale Tonnship, ^'an Huron 
 County. The husband died there in 1861. The 
 widow survived until 1890 and breathed her last 
 when seventy seven j'ears olil. The family born 
 to this good couple consisted of the followinjf 
 children, Thomas A. being the first-born. His 
 brothers anil sisters are Sarah M.. John ,1.. Herbert 
 L., Alvira, Mary A., Alice and Ellen. John gave 
 his life for his country', being killed during the late 
 war and Herbert also took up arms in defense of 
 the flag. 
 
 Thomas A. Stead man was born in Orleans 
 County N.Y., January 13, I83"2. His first school- 
 ing was obtained in the home district and he fin- 
 ished his education in the acadcm}' at llolley. He 
 then learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, which 
 he followed industriously until the breaking out of 
 the Civil War aroused hira from his peaceful occu- 
 pation and made him anxious to fight for his coun- 
 try. In 18G1 he enlisted in the One Hundred and 
 Fifth New York Infantry and was sworn in as a 
 private in Company C, but was promoted to a 
 Captaincy-, October 13, 1862. The chief battles in 
 which he participated were Cedar Mountain, the 
 second Bull Run, South Mountain, and Rajipalian- 
 nock Station. But these were not the only occa- 
 sions on wliicli he led his men into datigcr or en- 
 couraged them to valorous deeds. At Belle Plain 
 where the command went into camp, the regiment 
 was consolidated wtth another and the senior offi- 
 cers were retained. Capt. Steadman, who was the 
 youngest Captain in the regiment, was honorably 
 discharged March 17, 1863, and returned to his 
 former home in New York. 
 
 For a time Mr. Steadman was employed in the 
 reaper works at Albion, N. Y., but in September, 
 1863, he dctermimed to make a home in Michigan 
 and coming to this State he selected a location on 
 which he now lives. While carrying on his farm 
 work with sufficient zeal to make it profitable he 
 has found time to act as public servant in official 
 capacities to which he has been elected, to show 
 considerable activity in social organizations, and 
 make out crop reports for papers for which he 
 corresponds. He has been Justice of the Peace and 
 School Director, and has discharged the duties of 
 the offices in a creditable manner. He was Presi- 
 
 dent of the Farmer's Protective Society, and is now 
 President of the New York Soldiers' and Sailors' 
 Association of Central Michigan, and for two years 
 has been its officer of the day. 
 
 Mr. Steadman is past Commander of the Orand 
 Army Post in Lyons and has held all the offices in 
 Lyons Lodge, No. 7, A. F. & A. M. He was Presi- 
 dent of the Patrons of Industry lodge and is now 
 the presiding officer of township organization. In 
 politics he is quite prominent, is a strong tariff man 
 and votes with the Republican part}'. His reputa- 
 tion is good and his friends are numerous. In tlie 
 Kmpire State, July 4, 18.52, Mr. Steadman was 
 mariied to Miss Marie Pierce who was born in 
 Orleans County, April 27, 1832; she is the fourth 
 of six children who made the family of Aurelius 
 and Matilda (Steadman) Pierce. Her father was 
 born in Veimont and her mother in Massachusetts 
 and both died in Orleans County, N. Y. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Steadman have liad four children, two of whom 
 died in infani'}' — Eugene and Louisa. The sur- 
 vivors are Thomas P., a banker in Elsie, this State, 
 and George H., who makes his home with his par- 
 ents and is teaching school. 
 
 ifJSAAC 15. HAYNOR. In the history of Ionia 
 County the gentleman whose name introduces 
 \ this record takes one of the most prominent po- 
 sitions in the list of pioneers. Many men in order 
 to make from the rugged wilds of nature a home 
 and competence for themselves are willing to for- 
 sake the beaten and more comfortable paths trod- 
 den by their forefathers. These traits of character 
 are very commendable ami this is one of the many 
 reasons whj* the citizens of Ionia County justly 
 take pride in such representative men .-is Mr. Ilay- 
 norwho is a pioneer of Ionia Count}', residing on sec- 
 tion 11, Easton Township. A native of New York, 
 he was born Februarj'6, 1832. in. Saratoga Count}', 
 and is a son of Henry II. and Roxy (Clements) 
 H.iynor, natives of New York. About 1838 our 
 subject accompanied b}- his parents emigrated to 
 Michigan, by the w.iy of the Eric Canal and the 
 
698 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lakes; for a sbbrt time tliey sojourned in Washte- 
 naw Count}', and then came to Ionia County, where 
 for a brief i)eriod they resided in Ionia City. 
 
 Henry II. Haynor. tlie father of our subject, set- 
 tled on heavily timbered land in Easton Township, 
 about five miles northwest of Ionia and became one 
 of the early pioneers. He was the father of six 
 children, five of whom are living: Tobias C, re- 
 siding in Oceana County, Mich.; Isaac B.; Cathe- 
 rine J., wife of Charles 'lillison, living in Easton 
 Township; Charles II., residing in California, and 
 Roxy, wife of John Blougli, living in Clinton 
 County, Mich. He served as Highway Commis- 
 sioner, was public spirited and a valued member of 
 the Methodist Elpiscopal Church. He died August 
 7, 1890, aged about ninety-seven 3'ears. 
 
 Our subject was reared to manhood in Ionia 
 County amid scenes of frontier life and has conse- 
 quently done much work in tlie pioneer line. He 
 was educated in the early schools which at that 
 time were poor, but being fond of study he derived 
 much knowledge from text books, which he read, 
 and thus educated himself. He was married April 
 3, 1859, to Nancy Botdton, who was born in Lena- 
 wee County, Mich., November 4, 1835. She is a 
 daughter of William J. and Nancy (Kelly) Boulton, 
 her mother being a native of Vermont and her 
 father of England. Her parents came to Lenawee 
 County, Mich., in 1835, and were early settlers. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Boulton bad a large family of chil 
 dren, five of whom are living: Charlotte, wife of 
 George Newton, residing in Easton Township; 
 Mary L., wife of John Wells, living in Indiana; 
 George, residing in Lenawee County, this State, 
 Mrs. Haynor, and Lucius J., who lives in Easton 
 Township. 
 
 To our subject and wife have been born four 
 children — Albert C, Elmore, Leroy J. and Blanche. 
 Mr. Haynor settled on his present farm about the 
 j'ear 1862, and hero he has since remained. He 
 owns one hundred acres of land, which he has 
 improved, and some other property' which by 
 energy and perseverance he and his estimable wife 
 have accumulated. Mr. Haynor is now serving as 
 School Moderator of his district, and for nine years 
 was School Director when the school was flrs^oi'- 
 ganized. He was elected Treasurer of Easton 
 
 Township one year, and served as Justice of the 
 Peace one term of four ^-ears. His aim has always 
 been to advocate improvement in his county and 
 in society generally. He saw the country' when it 
 was a wilderness and now sees its fields teeming 
 with golden grain and ricli harvests. 
 
 Mr. Haynor advocates an independent line of 
 politics, voting rather for the man than the 
 party. In the positions of trust with which he has 
 been honored by the people of Easton Township, it 
 is a well-known fact that he has discharged his 
 duties with fidelitv and intelligence and he has 
 always sought the best interests of the people whom 
 he rei)resented. We take pleasure in assigning him 
 one of the best places among the many enterprising 
 and intelligent citizens of Ionia County. These 
 pioneers whose memory will ever be sacred, are 
 very deserving, for to them we owe the develop- 
 ment of the great Wolverine State. Our subject is 
 wcll-krtown for his sterling integrity in business, 
 and commands not only the esteem but the confi- 
 dence of the business community. His wife and 
 children also have a large acquaintance and are es- 
 Icemed members of society. 
 
 ?RANK E. DOREMUS did not begin life 
 with great capital or influence, for his pos- 
 sessions consisted chiefly of perseverance 
 and a well balanced mind. Equipped with these 
 talents he entered the arena of life and has won for 
 himself fame and a competency which he now 
 enjoys with a loving family in a pleasant home. 
 He was born in Venango County, Pa., August 3!, 
 1865, and is the son of Sylvester and Sarah (Peake) 
 Doremus, natives of New York. The Doremus 
 family traces back to Holland descent. Sylvester 
 Doremus is now in the lumber business in the 
 northern part of Michigan. He moved with his 
 family to Michigan in 1866, and had lived there 
 prior to going back to Pennsylvania. 
 
 The father of the subject of this sketch located 
 at Ovid, Clinton County, Mich., in 1866, and from 
 there he went to Portland in 1872. To him and 
 his wife two children were born — Addie and Frank. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 699 
 
 In 1889 Mr. Dorcinus went to Lake City, Missau- | 
 kee County, wliere ho is now engaged in tlie lum- 
 ber business. Frank Dorenius was educated in the 
 l)ublic sciiools of Portland and entered the otliee 
 of the Obsprvcr as an apprentice in 1882, where lie 
 remained six months. He then took cliargc of the 
 Pewamo Plain Dealer, remaining there two years. 
 In 1885 lie established the Portland Review, and 
 has continued with it since. 
 
 Mr. Doremus was elected Township Clerk in 
 1888, re-elected in 1889 and was Democratic nomi- 
 nee for Register of Deeds in 1888. He was de- 
 feated but was nominated by the Democrats for 
 the Legislature in 1890, and was elected by a 
 majority of one hundred and sixty votes over ex- 
 Sheriff W. H. Matliison. He was married June 
 •2G, 1890, to Miss Libbic Ilatley of St. Johns, 
 Mich., a daughter of Thomas Ilatley. Mr. Dore- 
 mus is entitled to great credit for what he has 
 accomplished in life. His native ability has been 
 his capital, and he is eminently a self-made man. 
 He is well thought of by all and is affable and 
 kind in his ways, of graceful manners and great 
 conversational powers. 
 
 '"I^ANIKL B. GRKKX, a farmer of Olisco 
 I M I'ownship, has lived in Ionia County since 
 ^f^ his twent\'-first year. He was born at Pitts- 
 town, Rensselaer County, N. Y., June 15, 
 1831, and received the educational advantages that 
 that were common in that section during the years 
 of his early life. His arrival in this Slate was in 
 the year 1850, and here he has pursued with steadi- 
 ness the occupation of farming, to which he decided 
 to give his attention. His home is on section 14, 
 and Ihe soil that he tills is productive and well cul- 
 tivated. By a proper rotation of crops and the use 
 of such fertilizing agencies as are necessary, he se- 
 cures good crops from year to year, and surrounds 
 himself with the many comforts of modern farm 
 life. 
 
 Mr. Oreen is a son of George Green, who was 
 born in Providence, R. L, and removed from his 
 natiTe State to New York when a young man. lie 
 
 remained in that State until the middle of the nine- 
 teenth century, when he came West to spend his 
 remaining years in Michigan. His death occurred 
 October 10, 18G3, on tiie one hundred-acre farm 
 which he had taken from the Government imme- 
 diately after his arrival. He was a currier and fol- 
 lowed his trade until he came to this State, after 
 which he retired from active life. He was married 
 in New York to Margaret Bert, daughter of Daniel 
 Bert, a tailor. After the death of her husband, 
 Mrs. Green returned to the FIrapire State, and there 
 she breathed her last in March, 1888. She was the 
 niotb?r of eiglit children, named respectively: 
 George, Hiram, Alonzo, Eunice, Polly A., Sellick, 
 Daniel B. and Esther T. Mr. Green was a devout 
 member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 The subject of these brief paragraphs won for 
 his wife Miss Harriet E. Luce, to whom he was 
 married in Otisco Township, September 18, 1858. 
 She was the olilest child of George A. and Cynthia 
 A. (Wright) Luce, who were natives of New York, 
 and whose family also included I'linoline, James II. 
 and Charles W. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Green 
 was blest by the birth of three children — Sellick 
 W., James H. and Orley B. Every effort has been 
 made by the parents to lit them for usefulness ami 
 honor. Mrs. Green was called from time to eter- 
 nity June 24, 1884, leavinga large circle of friends 
 to mourn her departure. 
 
 Mr. Green is a member of the Ancient Order of 
 United Workmen. After having given a due con- 
 sideration to the questions at issue between the par- 
 ties, he became a Democrat, and he has never swerved 
 in his allegiance to the organization wilh whicli he 
 deposited his first ballot. 
 
 -^ 
 
 UCIUS H. GIBBS. This young man is a 
 member of the firm of J. H. Gibbs A' Son, 
 i^ proprietors of the Hope Roller Mills, of 
 Edmore, Montcalm County, and is the manager of 
 of that flourishing establishment. Although he is 
 young in years he is mature in his understanding 
 of business affairs and displ.iys as much energy in 
 Ihe pursuit of his various interests as many a man 
 
700 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 much older than he. His experience has been such 
 as to develop his natural ability and natural tact, 
 and he is already one of the prominent business 
 men of the place. The reader is referred to the 
 biographical sketch of J. H. Gibbs, on another page, 
 for the ancestry of the family. 
 
 The birthplace of Mr. Gibbs was Burlington, 
 Vt'., and his natal day August 16, 1859. He came 
 to this State with his parents in 1862 and grew to 
 maturity in Kent County in the townships of Grat- 
 tan and Oakfield. When he was eleven years old 
 the family became residents in the city of Green- 
 ville and the lad had the opportunity of attending 
 the High School in that town. They next went to 
 Cedar Springs and there the youth learned the 
 manufacture of sliingies. He had spent much time 
 about the shingle mill from his tenth year and it 
 seemed second nature for him to become proficient 
 in the business. It was not long ere he had become 
 his father's right-hand man in the work the elder 
 Mr. Gibbs was tlien carrying on. 
 
 In the fall of 1882 the Gibbs family established 
 themselves in Home Township. Here our subject 
 acted as foreman of the shingle mill until it was 
 closed in February, 1889, on account of there be- 
 ing a scarcity of lumber in this section. The next 
 year Mr. Gibbs located in the village of Edraore, 
 buying a pleasant residence with commodious 
 grounds. He then formed a partnership with his 
 father in the flouring-raill and has since been man- 
 aging it. Not long since there was an explosion 
 in the establishment which caused a damage of 
 nearly 15,000 and necessitated the closing of the 
 place for repairs. He was one of the original share- 
 holders in the Robinson Oi>era House and is now a 
 Director in the company. 
 
 In 1878 Mr. Gibbs received a Christmas present 
 in the shape of a wife, formerly' Miss Julia Hons- 
 comb. This lady was born in the Pine Tree State 
 and came to Kent County, Mich., with her parents 
 when quite small. She was reared and educated in 
 Nelson Township and grew to womanhood in the 
 l)08session of estimable qualities of mind and heart. 
 Her union with our subject has been blessed to 
 them by the birth of two children, wiio are named 
 Grace and Jay. 
 
 The political affiliation of Mr. Gibbs is with the 
 
 Republican party and he is identified with the so- 
 cial orders of Odd Fellows and Masons. In the 
 former orders his lodge membership is at Edraore 
 and in the latter he belongs to a Chapter in Stan- 
 ton and a Commandery in Big Rapids, while his 
 Blue Lodge and Council are in the town in which 
 he lives. Mr. Gibbs is essentially good natured and 
 and jolly is a believer in the old adage "All work 
 and no play makes Jack a dull boy."' He spends some 
 time each year in hunting and fishing, and even 
 during the months that he devotes to earnest care 
 of his business he finds pleasure in social gather- 
 ings and in the domestic circle where he is enter- 
 taining and kind. 
 
 \f|OIIN S. BENNETT. The biographical 
 record of this gentleman is one of interest, 
 and although he did not start out in life 
 under the beneficial influences of illustrious 
 ancestors, he now has the satisfaction offered by 
 being trusted and beloved by his fellow-associates 
 and is a splendid example of a self-made man. In 
 tlicse days of rapid progress when a youth on 
 account of existing circumstances must place him- 
 self at a very early age at the helm of life, he must 
 if he would succeed be guided with a steady hand. 
 .Should he be successful as Mr. Bennett has been 
 we will invariably find him to be a man of rare 
 executive ability and a well balanced mind. 
 
 Mr. Bennett was born in Tioga County, N. Y., 
 Julj' 24, 1833, and is a son of the Rev. Ralph and 
 Mary (Casler) Bennett, natives of the Empire 
 State. The Rev. Mr. Bennett was a Methodist 
 minister, and his father, Joseph Bennett, was from 
 Vermont. The Bennetts are of English descent 
 and the Caslers are of German descent. Mrs. Ben- 
 nett's father, Richard Casler, came from Germany 
 to this country. The Rev. Ralph Bennett died in 
 1879 in Ontario County, N. Y., and had preached 
 twenty-five years in that State. To himself and 
 wife were born four children, two of whom are 
 living- — Elvira, widow of Henry Bush, of Ontario 
 Count}', N. Y., and our subject. 
 
 John S. Bennett was reared to agricultural pur- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 701 
 
 suits and remained at home until twenty-three years 
 of age. In 1856 lie came to Ionia County, and 
 entered upon farm life in Orange Township. After 
 getting farm arrangements in readiness lie returned 
 to his native .State for a wife, and soon came back 
 to farm life with his bride. Two children have 
 been born in tliis family — Edgar L., who died at 
 the .age of sixteen years and at the time was in the 
 Ionia High School, and Florence J., wife of Edwin 
 W. Humphrey, a dentist residing in Ionia. In the 
 fall of 1862 Mr. Bennett was elected County Clerk 
 of Ionia and moved to that place, where he held 
 tlie otiice four years. Immediately thereafter he 
 commenced the practice of law in Ionia, having 
 been admitted to the bar May 19, 1866, as a suc- 
 cessful candidate. In 1885 he came to Portland, 
 for the practice of his chosen profession. He h.as 
 been elected Justice of the Peace and was City 
 Attorney of Ionia two years and City Attorney in 
 Portland two years. 
 
 Mr. Bennett is a member of the Masonic order 
 in which he takes great interest. He has been 
 Master of a lodge three times, twice while living 
 in Ionia and once in Portland. He is a Democrat in 
 politics, his first vote however being cast for Abra- 
 ham Lincoln. In tiie pleasant city of Portland he 
 lives cumfortably with his family, enjoying the 
 prosperity wiiich his labors have gained for liiin. 
 
 W 
 
 OLNEY S. HEATH, Manager of tiie George 
 S. Hyde's manufacturing and wholesale 
 lumber business, is one of the most [lopular 
 men of McBride, or indeed of Day Township, 
 Montcalm County. His father, L. D. Heath, liorn 
 in Oswego County, N. Y., in 1827, was left an 
 orphan when only six years of age by the death of 
 his father, who was of English descent and who 
 had been a valiant soldier in the War of 1812. 
 This child so early thrown upon his own re- 
 sources bravely worked his own way up to man- 
 hood. He remained in New York until 1848, 
 when he came to Michigan aud began work iu the 
 
 woods as a common hand in a sawmill. In time he 
 became manager and operated mills of his own. 
 
 In 1856 L. I). Heath married Susan, daughter 
 of .Samuel (iross, who was born near Harrisburg, 
 Pa. Her father, belonging to a family of (Jerman 
 descent, was a stonemason and was the second 
 settler in the township where he lived in Kent 
 County. He worked at his tr.idc of a stonemason 
 and improved one hundred acres into a fine farm. 
 He useii to go on foot to mill to Ionia. He jiassed 
 from earth at the age of sixty- two years, and his 
 widow still lives at Kockford, Mich. When the 
 father of our subject removed, duriug the 3-ear of 
 his marriage, to Rockford, Winnebago Count}', III., 
 he located on a farm near the Rock River. In 
 1860 he came back to Michigan and settled on a 
 farm near Middleville, and afterward on one near 
 Rockford, Mich. He worked the farm in summer 
 and was in the lumber business in the winters. 
 
 In 1865 the father of our subject went to Spring 
 Lake, where he became foreman in a mill. For 
 two years he was connected with W. H. Bell & Co., 
 then sold iiis interest in this firm and entered the 
 employ of the Grand Haven Lumber Company. 
 Later he bought til 5,000 worth of stock and be- 
 came its Vice-President and Manager in Central 
 Michigan. In 1887 he sold out his interest in that 
 business and retired to Spring Lake, where he en- 
 gages in the real-estate business and owns some five 
 or six thousand acres of land in various parts of 
 Michigan and a farm of three hundred acres in 
 Alabama. He has alw.nys been a Republican in his 
 convictions and casts his vote for the nominees of 
 that parly. His wife has brought up her children 
 in the faith of the Baptist Church. Four of their 
 five chililren are living;. Our subject is the second 
 child and only son and was born in Middleville, 
 Thornapple Township, Barry County, Mich., Sep- 
 tember 10, 1861. He made with his parents the 
 various removals which have been related of the 
 family while still very young, going to Rockford, 
 Mich., at the age of three years, and to Spring 
 Lake, Mich., two years later. Here he had good 
 school advantages, which he imjiroved with so 
 much ambititm and ability as to be graduated at 
 the High School at the age of fourteen years. 
 After working with his father, wlio was then lum- 
 
702 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ber inspector, he went the following year into the 
 employ of the Grand Haven Lumber Company. He 
 was sent to Montcalm County by them as timber 
 buyer and inspector, and although so very young the 
 company considered his judgment as good as any 
 body's. In their interest he traveled all over this 
 part of the State, and when about nineteen years 
 old he was placed in charge of the Fish Creek log 
 drive. During the last two years that he was era- 
 ployed by this company he was their book-keeper, 
 purchasing agent and attended to their pay roll, 
 and in a word was their most trusted employe. 
 They discontinued operations here in 1876. 
 
 Mr. Heath formed a partnership with two others 
 and in 1884 they bought fourteen hundred and 
 forty acres of stump land at $3 i)er acre in Day 
 Township. The firm name was Heath, Shires & 
 Sherman. Here our subject located and began 
 improving ami farming on the land. They have 
 now three hundred and twenty acres under the 
 plow and the rest in grazing land. Stock-raising 
 has been made a specialty, especially the handling 
 of graded Short-horn and Durham cattle, draft 
 horses and good grades of sheep. Four teams are 
 used upon the farm. 
 
 In the spring of 1890 the firm placed a tenant 
 upon tiiis big farm and Mr. Healii came to Mc- 
 Bride to live. He became manager for George S. 
 Hyde and carries on this business most successfully. 
 He is in a responsible and confidential position, 
 as Mr. Uyde is continually on the road. Mr. 
 Heath was married in Hubbardston, Ionia County, 
 in September, 1883, to Miss May Fink, daugliter of 
 George Fink, a retired contractor and builder. Mr. 
 Heath has filled s.alisfactorily many township and 
 social offices. In 1889 he w;is the youngest super- 
 visor on the board, serving for Day Township, and 
 his terra was most satisfactory. He has been a 
 member of the School Board a number of times 
 and is Vice-President of the Farmers' Alliance. 
 His wife is an active member of the Congregational 
 Church. He is a true-blue Republican and has 
 served as delegate frequently in countj^ and State 
 conventions. He is Chairman of the Republican 
 Township Central Committee and a member of the 
 Advisory Board of the county. He is liked by 
 everj'body and has the reputation of being every 
 
 inch a gentleman, liberal and public-spirited, hon- 
 est and straightforward, and in a business way has 
 the record of being the best accountant and book- 
 keeper in that part of the county. 
 
 eHARLES M. DURKEE. The traveler in 
 going past the Durkee homestead invariably 
 turns for a second glance, as there is an air 
 of comfort and plenty about it that is exceedingly 
 pleasant to the eye. He at once singles it out as 
 the result of more than ordinary enterprise and in- 
 dustry, a home whose proprietor possesses all the 
 attributes of a good citizen, one who has first 
 looked after the interest of his family, and who 
 next, as a member of the community, presents an 
 example to tliose around him which is well worthy 
 of imitation. Mr. Durkee is well-to-do finan- 
 cially, and is widely and favorably known as one of 
 thele.ading men of Berlin Township, Ionia County. 
 
 Mr. Durkee belongs to substantial New Eng- 
 land stock; his father, Martin Durkee, was a native 
 of Massachusetts and a soldier in the War of 1812. 
 His mother, Sallie (Perry) Durkee, was related to 
 Commodore Oliver H. Perry, of historic fame, and 
 she also resided in Massachusetts. After their mar- 
 riage the parents of our subject remained in the 
 old Bay State until their removal to Geauga 
 County, Ohio, where they did pioneer work in the 
 early days. There thcj- passed the remainder of 
 their lives upon a farm which they had improved; 
 he died in 1873 leaving his widow to mourn his 
 loss until she too was called away in 1885. By a 
 previous mirriage he had become the father of . 
 four children, and of the second union six children 
 were born, all of whom with the exception of one 
 now survive. In his religious faith Martin Durkee 
 leaned to the doctrines of Univcrsalism. Politically' 
 he was a stanch Democrat, filling offices of trust 
 for his fellow citizens when called upon, and at 
 one time serving as Trustee of the township. 
 
 The gentleman whose name initiates this notice 
 was born in Massachusetts September 5, 1829, and 
 grew to manhood in Ohio, receiving a district 
 school education there, and beginning farm work 
 
RESIDENCE OF JACOB WHORLEY, SEC 10. EASTON TR, IONIA CO.,MCIH, 
 
 tSF'-^-^yaiftteto^ii^a^ 
 
 [n r r rat rii n iiir'aTn>i ii iii(i ''''-'"'«»^<"'«'**'" 
 
 i^MMHaaMMiii 
 
 RESIDENCE OF C.M.DURKEE, SEC. 27. BERLIN TP.JONIA C0,M1CH. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 705 
 
 I 
 
 for liiuiself wlien he rencheil his majority. His 
 father had jjassed through the struggles of pioneer 
 life, and as a result of his incUistr}' w.as established 
 in a good home and welUto-ilo. Our subject, trust- 
 ing to his strong right arm for pros|)erit3' worked 
 out by the month and for three years was in the 
 South finding employment there. In 1852 he went 
 Iwfk to Ohio to find him a wife, and was married 
 on Kebruar}- 22, to Miss .1. K. Hubbard, a daugh- 
 ter of Henry and Loadicca (Sanger) Hubbard, 
 Massachusetts people. Mr. Hubbard was in early 
 life a mechanic but later took up the work of farm- 
 ing. Having married in Massachusetts he removed 
 to the Buckeye .State in 1835 settling in Geauga 
 County on a farm. He died in 1869 leaving his 
 widow to mourn his loss. Six of their seventeen 
 children are now living. 
 
 Mrs. Durkee, the fifth child of her parents, was 
 born November 23, 1834, in Massachusetts and re- 
 ceived an excellent education in Ohio. After mar- 
 riage the 3'oung couple worked the home Larni on 
 shares for two years. They then came to AUchi- 
 gan in 1854 and settled upon llie farm which they 
 now occupy. Mr. Durkee took up one hundred 
 and sixt^' acres of raw land upon which there were 
 no roads and no improvements. He built a log 
 house and began clearing olT tha laud. In(lustr3-, 
 frugality and enteriirise led to prosperity, and he 
 has from time to time added to his possessions and 
 now has two hundred acres in the home farm and 
 one hundred and iwent^^ acres in Odessa Town- 
 ship besides a farm of one hundred and sixty .acres 
 which he has divided between his sons. He has 
 (chopped down and cleared on the home place with 
 his own hands over one hundred acres. 
 
 Of his two hundred acres Mr. Durkee has one 
 hundred and eighty luider cultivation. His pres- 
 ent residence w;us built some tweniy-two years ago 
 at a cost of ^2,000. He is interested in the culture 
 of fruit and set out a fine orchard. He carricson 
 mixed farming, raising both grain and stock. Mr. 
 D'.irkee and his intelligent wife are the happy par- 
 ents of five children: Lafayette H. married Lot 
 tie Chatman, and lives on section 4, Odessa 
 Township; he has four children. C. Fremont mar- 
 ried Lizzie Brown, and resides in Berlin Township. 
 Lester M. married M:ir\ N an Huuten, and lives on 
 
 section 4, Odessa Township; he is the father of two 
 children. Don I), and Ellis \Y. are unmarried and 
 reside at home. They have all been given the ad- 
 vantages of a good education and Laf.ayette was 
 a student at the Ionia and Sarauac schools. Ellis 
 is attending the I'oucher Business College in Ionia. 
 
 Mr. Durkee is in principle a strong Democrat 
 and takes an intelligent Interest in political affairs. 
 The whole famil)' are wide-awake to all matters of 
 literary interest and education. Mr. Durkee has 
 been for some years Director of the school. They 
 are also active in the society of the Patrons of In- 
 dustry', the father having been for two terras Pres- 
 ident of the local society and his son Don being 
 President at the present time. 
 
 A view of the ple.asant homestead of Mr. Durkee 
 appears on another page. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^ACOB WIIORLEV. The enterprising Ger- 
 man is to be found in Ionia County, as in 
 other parts of the country, pushing his way 
 ahead, uniformly' industrious and eventually 
 well-to-do. The subject of this sketch, a true sou 
 of the Fatherland, h.as secured a good farm on sec- 
 tion 10, Easton Township, where he carries on the 
 work of farming and stock-raising. The one hnn- 
 dreii and twenty .acres of land to which he holds 
 the title has been brought to its present state of 
 improvement by his own efforts and good mannge- 
 ment, as when he took (wssession but three acres 
 h<ad been cleared. Like most of the land in the 
 county it was covered by a heavy growth of lim- 
 ber, and it required long and arduous labor to 
 bring it under cultivation. Mr. Wborley also owns 
 eighty acres of fine land in Sebewa Township. The 
 deprivations which accompany life in a sparsely 
 settled district were not borne by Mi. Whorley 
 alone, but were shared by a wise and capable wife, 
 who in her own department of their affairs did as 
 much as he to build up their fortunes and increase 
 their comfort. 
 
 The kingdom of Wurlembuig, Germany, is the 
 place of the nativity of Mr. Whorley, and his birth 
 occurred .January 28, 1831. His parents were Peter 
 
706 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and Rebecca Whorley, the former of whom was a 
 master weaver. In accordance with the custom of 
 the countiy our subject was placed in scliool dur- 
 in" his childhood aud pursued his studies until he 
 was fourteen years old, thus gaining a good knowl- 
 ed<re of practical iiranches. Since he came to 
 America he has acquired a sufficient knowledge of 
 the English language to transact business affairs 
 and enjoy the companionship of the English-speak- 
 in<T people about him. When he left school he 
 began an apprenticeship with iiis father, and at the 
 cxi>iration of three years took up the work of a 
 journeyman weaver, which lie followed some two 
 years. For the same lengtii of time he was engaged 
 in cotton spinning. 
 
 Having been lefl to believe that the broad lands 
 of America anil its free institutions made it desir- 
 able for residence, Mr. Whorley took passage at 
 Havre, France, during the year 18.52, and after 
 thirty-nine days landed in New York City. He 
 went to Monroe County, where he worked as a farm 
 hand more than six years. For the first year's 
 lal)or he received J112 and board, and for the sec- 
 ond and third 8144 and board. He then married, 
 aud in lieu of his board had his wages raised to 
 $250 per year. His services were so highly valued 
 that he was given some valuable farm privileges, 
 including bouse rent. He aud his wife were pru- 
 dent and economical, and having determined if 
 possible to secure a good home, they came to this 
 State wliere land was cheaper than in the East, and 
 where their little capital could be profitably 
 expended. They bought the property which they 
 now own, and by industry and perseverance 
 increased its value year by year. 
 
 The lady who became the wife of Mr. Whorley 
 in the Empire State, August 12, 1856, was Mrs. 
 Anna (Lapp) Caswell. Slie was born in the prov- 
 ince of Ontario, Canada, October 22, 1828, and 
 while living there was married to James Cas- 
 well, and they became the parents of three children, 
 two of whom are living — Sarah Elizabeth and 
 Oscar C. When in her twenty-seventh year Mrs. 
 Caswell went to Monroe County, N. Y., and there 
 was united in marriage with our subject. Her par- 
 ents were Jeremiah and Sarali Lapp, the former of 
 whom was born in England, and the latter in Can- 
 
 ada but of English parentage. The mother died 
 when the daughter was but eight years old, and the 
 father January 7, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Whorley 
 had four sons, whose names are: George, Henr3', 
 Mathew and Willis. 
 
 The only office Mr. Whorley has held was that 
 of Treasurer of his school district, but in that 
 which goes to make up good citizenship he is not 
 found wanting. Politically he is a Democrat, and 
 is identified with the Patrons of Industr}-, as well 
 as being interested in other movements that prom- 
 ise well for the neighborhood. He is a man of 
 much intelligence, retains the enterprising spirit 
 which has brought him worldly prosperity, and 
 has a leading place among the German-American 
 citizens of the county. 
 
 We invite the reader's attention to a view of the 
 fine estate of Mr. AVhorley which is presented in 
 connection with this biographical notice. 
 
 =^^^ 
 
 jENJAMIN F. WOODMAN. It is always 
 .» jileasant to know that honest industry is 
 rewarded, and to find those who have 
 labored industriously, securing a compe 
 fence that enables them to lay aside the burdens of 
 life as the}' grow old, and enjoy the recreations 
 suited to their years and the pleasure that comes of 
 aiding others to a station of usefulness and honor. 
 The subject of this notice is one of the well-known 
 residents of Saranac, Ionia County, and one who is 
 enjoying the fruits of his industry in earlier years. 
 He has lived in this county long enough to note 
 the growth of Ionia from a mere hamlet, to witness 
 the introduction of railroads, and see the wild 
 lands transformed into fertile farms and comfort- 
 able homes. Indian wigwams were a common 
 sight when he came to this count}', and he became 
 so familiar with the savages that he could converse 
 intelligibly in their language, and sometimes 
 attended tlieir war dances. 
 
 In the paternal line Mr. Woodman is of English 
 lineage, while on his mother's side he traces his 
 genealogy back to Germany. His father, Joseph 
 Woodman, was born in Vermont and was a physi- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 707 
 
 cinn and surg;eon. He enlisted in the War of 1812, 
 served in Col. Mill's regiment, and was stationed at 
 Sackett's Harbor, N. Y. Wiieii peace was declared 
 he remained in the Empire Slate, practicing his 
 |)rofession until 18."57, when he removed to Oakland 
 ("onnty, Mich. He opened an office in the village 
 of Novi, where he carried on professional work 
 until his death, which occurred in 1839. Politically 
 he was a Democrat. His good wife, whose maiden 
 name was Sarah Wright, survived him some years. 
 Neither belonged to the church at the time of their 
 de.'itli, but both bad formerly been members of the 
 Universalist Church. 
 
 The birthplace of our subject was .lefferson 
 County, N. Y., and his natal day December 13, 
 1822. He pursued liis studies in llie common school 
 there prior to the age of sixteen years, when he 
 accompanied his parents to this State. After the 
 death of his fathei he went back lo work by the 
 month on a farm anil continued his labors until 
 1844. He then came lo Ionia County and before 
 long bought eighty acres of land in Keene Town- 
 sliip. Tiie trad was heavily limbered, and in fact 
 llic entire township was covered wiih large trees 
 and underbrush. Mr. Woodman found a boarding 
 |)l!ice as near his land as possible, which was two 
 anil a half miles, and cverj' day for two winters he 
 went back anil forth night and morning, spending 
 the day in choi)ping. During the summer he would 
 go to the eastern part of the State and work for 
 money with which to carry him through the win- 
 ter. Thus he succeeded in preparing his land for 
 cultivation, or least such a part of it as justified 
 him in making his home upon it. During the win- 
 ter of 1847 he taught in Easton Townsiiip, and he 
 then turneil his attention exclusively to the devel- 
 opment of his propert}'. 
 
 In May, 1848, Mr. Woodman was married to 
 Miss Rhoda H. Lee. and building a log cabin 
 18x24 feet, he and his bride set up housekeeping. 
 At that time wild animals — deer, wolves, etc. — 
 were still numerous in the locality, and Mr. Wood- 
 man always kept a good gun in the house, by 
 means of which to supply his table with game. He 
 worked industriously to clear and improve the rest 
 of the land, and during the ensuing ten years cut 
 down eighty acres of timber and added forty acres 
 
 to the property. He and his wife often recall inci- 
 dents connected with their life in the little log 
 cabin, where they started out lo make their fortune 
 by the sweat of their brows. Their life was toil- 
 some and marked with many jirivations, but each 
 year saw some improvement in the situation of 
 affairs, and they were buoyed up by hope and 
 mutual affection. 
 
 After living on the property ten years Mr. 
 Woodman sold it for ^4.000 and removed to Kent 
 County, near Grand Uapids. There he bought 
 one hundred and twenty acres of land, eighty of 
 which was improved, and had upon it a good house 
 and barn and a bearing orchard. For this prop- 
 erty Mr. Woodman paid the amount which he ha<l 
 received for his former farm. He made it his 
 home about twenty-five years, and owned it about 
 thirty years. He had it under good cultivation 
 and well improved and supplied with a good grade 
 of stock, and during his ownership he added to the 
 estate one -hundred and twenty acres .adjoining. In 
 1882, having sold the farm a short time before, he 
 removed to Saranac, where the only business in 
 which he is engaged is that of loaning money. 
 
 The family of Mr. and Mrs. Woodman consists 
 of a son and three daughters, whose names are: 
 Lewis C, Sarah A., Era L. and Carrie A. The 
 son now lives on part of the estate formerly owned 
 by his father in Kent County. Mr. Woodman has 
 held every township office except Constable and 
 Justice of the Peace, and during middle life was in 
 otlice almost continually. He is a charter member 
 of the Masonic lodge of Saranac. He and his wife 
 arc well known in thi.s and Kent Counties, and 
 their friends are numbered by the score. 
 
 €i^s>i ^ a ^ ^c^air •• 
 
 GlEOKGEW. WHITE. Among the pioneers 
 ; of Keene Township, Ionia County, Mr. 
 j White is deserving of mention. He and 
 
 his faiihful wife came hither in 1841 and eslab- 
 lished their home on a tract of. land purchased 
 from the Government at *I.2.5 per acre. Mr. White 
 found it necessary to fell trees in order to make 
 room for his dwelling, which was a log cabin about 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 18x20 feet. After some years that primitive resi- 
 dence was replaced by a more modern and com- 
 modious structure, and otlier imin-ovements rose 
 from time to lime as tlie forest growtli was removed 
 and tlie ground fitted for cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Wliite had tlieir share of the hardships incidental 
 to life in new fields, but they bore them cheerfully 
 buoyed up l)y their mutual affection and the hope 
 of securing a good home. 
 
 Mr. White was born June 27, 1817, in ''Merrie 
 England," and is a son of George K. and Elizabeth 
 (Warrant) White. When he was a child of three 
 years his parents crossed the broad Atlantic and 
 located in Monroe Count}', N. Y. There they so- 
 journed until the son was seventeen years old, when 
 they removed to Seneca Count}', Ohio. The school- 
 ing of our subject was obtained in the common 
 schools of the localities in which his boyhood and 
 youth were passed anil he is to a large degree self- 
 educated, as the opportunities afforded him in the 
 schoolroom were not sufficient to give Bim a wide 
 range of knowledge. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. AVliite w.is solemnized a 
 half a century since, on April 27, 1841. The bride 
 was born in Baden, Germany, October 12, 1820, 
 and her parents were George and Mary (Smith) 
 Joseph. She was about nine years old when they 
 emigrated to America and made a settlement in 
 Seneca County, Ohio. There she grew to woman- 
 hood, learning those domestic arts which are con- 
 sidered a part of the education of every German 
 maiden, and gaining knowledge of other things 
 which fitted her to fill a useful walk in life. Of the 
 eight children barn to her parents seven survived, 
 the others being Isaac, John J., Mrs. Mary Monks, 
 Mrs. Sarah Nichols, Mrs. Lena Lemon, and Mrs. 
 Christina Wagner. 
 
 The children born to Mr. and Mrs. White are 
 eight in number and are named i-cspectively, 
 Charles M., Elizabeth, Arthur, Louisa, George, 
 Emma, Albert and Ida. Elizabeth is the wife of 
 Daniel Monk; Louisa married Myron Fish; Emma 
 is the wife of L. Walter. The Land on which Mr. 
 and Mrs. AVhite-established themselves soon after 
 their marriage, was a tract of eighty acres. The 
 estate has been increased and now contains one 
 hundred acres, which are highly developed, and the 
 
 possession of which proves the ability and industry 
 of the owner. Mr. White attended and voted at 
 the first town meeting held in Keene Township, 
 and has been a potent factor in the progress of the 
 locality toward prosperity and advanced civiliza- 
 tion. 
 
 As Highway Commissioner Mr. White has done 
 good service for the traveling pul)lic and as School 
 Director he has aided in advancing the cause of 
 education. In whatever movement the jiublic is 
 generally interested he is found ready to participate, 
 and he and his wife, to whose counsel and encour- 
 agement he owes much, rejoice greatly in the im- 
 provements their eyes have seen. Mr. White votes 
 the Republican ticket. Honesty is one of his chief 
 virtues, and other reliable traits which have made 
 of Great Britain one of the most powerful nations 
 of the world have been displayed throughout his 
 life. It is needless to say that he and his wife have 
 many warm friends and are generally respected. 
 
 -^ 
 
 EWTON R. DANIELS, a very successful 
 farmer of Ionia County, owns and operates 
 a well-developed farm on section 21, Easton 
 Township. He took possession of this tract when it 
 was in a wild state and much of it was covered 
 with forest. By dint of energy and hard work he 
 brought it to its present condition, placing the 
 ninety-five acres under thorough cultivation, and 
 building such structures as the comfort of his fam- 
 ily and the extent of his work made wise. He has 
 shown himself to be possessed of financial ability 
 and perseverance, and his present circumstances 
 attest to his success in worldly affairs. 
 
 Mr. Daniels was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., 
 August 12, 1844, and is one of five ciiildren mak- 
 ing up the family of Levi and Parmelia (Bacon) 
 Daniels. He is the youngest of those who survived, 
 the others being Louisa and Charles H., the former 
 the wife of Joseph Burgdurf now living in Mecosta 
 County. His own early life was spent in his native 
 State and while receiving a common-school educa- 
 tion he was reared to farm pursuits which he has 
 continued to follow. He lost his mother when he 
 
PORTRAIT A.ND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 709 
 
 was about twelve years old and the home being 
 broken up he was thrown upon his own resources. 
 Upon tiifi foundation laid in tlie school room he has 
 built a su|)crstructure of knowledge of general 
 topics sutlicioiit to entitle biin to rank among tlie 
 well informed members of the community. 
 
 In the spring of ISC') Mr. Daniels came to Ionia 
 County and during the following season he worked 
 1)3' the month as a farm hand. He tiien established 
 his home, taking for his helpmate and companion 
 Miss Rosina V. Potter. This eflicient woman was 
 a daughter of F'rancis and Keziah I'otter. She was 
 called from earth .September 20, 188!), leaving a void 
 in tlie lionie and in tlie hearts of many friends who 
 had known and loved her. She was a member of 
 the l{aptist Church, with which Jlr. Daniels is 
 identi(i('(l. Their children arc May, Frank, Rosa, 
 William and George. The elder daughter is a 
 teacher of music and all are active in society. 
 
 The [jolitical allegiance of Mr. Daniels is given 
 to the principles of Democracy and he aims to 
 assist in bringing up the status of the county soci- 
 ally and financially. He enjoys the confidence of 
 business men, is an intelligent and law-abiding citi- 
 zen and a good neighbor, securing the respect of 
 his acquaintances. 
 
 ^P^S^fe 
 
 KNRY LOUKS. This gentleman has been 
 1^1 a resident of this State since he was eight- 
 een j-ears old, and from 1877 has been 
 occupying a farm in Bloomer Township, 
 Montcalm County. His property iiere consists of 
 two hundred and forty acres so developed and cul- 
 tivated as to be verj' valuable and remunerative. 
 The residence now occupied by the family was built 
 in 1889, and is a beautiful two-story brick, with 
 nine rooms, an excellent cellar, and large veran- 
 das. It is finished in oak and ash, and cost about 
 ^3,500. The cellar is divided into four rooms, 
 which are lalhe<l and plastered, and can be kept as 
 clean and fresh as any living room in the house. 
 About twelve acres of land is set out with fruit 
 trees so arranged as to form three distinct orchards. 
 The barns and other out-houses are adequate for 
 
 every purpose, and in them a fine lot of horses, cat- 
 tle and sheep are housed. The wool-bearing animals 
 arc Lincolnshires and Shropshires. 
 
 The parents of our subject were William II. and 
 Julia Ann (Hurger) Louks, who were born in Ver- 
 mont and Canada respectively. For some years 
 their home was in Connecticut, and in Washington 
 Count}', that State, our subject was born June 23, 
 1843. He was his father's assistant in carrying on 
 a farm, even in his early years, and had but meager 
 opportunities for obtaining an education. When 
 the family- came to this State, the^' chose Montcalm 
 County as their future place of abode, and the fa- 
 tiier took up forty acres of land, on which he built 
 a log cabin that was the home of the family for 
 some time. The sou aided in developing the place 
 and made it his home until he was twenty-six years 
 old. The parents sojourned there until the father 
 was calle<l hence November 18, 1886. The mother 
 survived until March 18, 1887, when she too passed 
 away. 
 
 The subject of this notice enlisted in Company 
 K, Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, and after being 
 inuslered in, was sent to Cincinnati, and thence to 
 Nashville. He was in the service about nine 
 months, and was sick nearly all the time, suffering 
 from an ailment common in the camps, and that 
 had become chronic. He was present at but one 
 engagement, the battle of Crab Orchard, and from 
 the convalescent camp was <lischarged in Decem- 
 ber, 1862. The colonel under whose command he 
 served was A. A. Stevens, of Saranac, of this State. 
 Upon receiving his discharge, Mr. Louks returned 
 to his father's roof and remained there about four 
 years. He then married and established a home of 
 his own, and six years later took possession of the 
 property he now operates. He has cleared eighty 
 acres of the land. 
 
 The lady who presides over the household affiurs 
 on Mr. Louks' farm, became his wife in March, 
 1871. .She was born in Ohio, and was ten years 
 old when her father removed from Trumbull to 
 Hancock County, and in 1 8G 1 she came to this Stale. 
 Her home was in Montcalm County, at the time of 
 her marriage, and the name she then bora w.as Lo- 
 doske Smith. Having no children, she has the 
 more time to give to neighborly deeds, and she is 
 
710 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 valued iu the community for her kindness in times 
 of sorrow or distress. Mr. Louks is a Republican, 
 but is not a politician or offlce seeker. He was 
 elected Constable in the spring of 1891, but has 
 has not qualified for tiie office. As a citizen he is 
 steady and reliable, and as a farmer he is classed 
 among the best and most progressive in Bloomer 
 Township. 
 
 RICHARD G. LYON. A visit to the farm 
 of this gentleman would repay any one who 
 t enjoys seeing a well-regulated rural home 
 ^ and well-kept stock.as Mr. Lyon is the owner 
 of domestic animals of good breeds and grades, and 
 operates his farm according to approved methods. 
 His estate is pleasantly situated in Crystal Town- 
 ship, Montcalm County, and consists of one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres, eighty of which are cleared 
 and sixty-five under the plow. The farmhouse is 
 one of the best in the township, is large and con- 
 venient, and of quite modern design, having been 
 built six years ago. It is two stories high and 
 contains eleven rooms. The outbuildings include 
 everything that is necessary and all are well 
 built, especially the barns, that were put up eight 
 years since. 
 
 The natal day of Mr. Lyon was April 29, 1825, 
 his birthplace P^ssex, N. Y., and his parents Ger- 
 sliom and Lucrctia (Buckmister) Lyon. The par- 
 ents were natives of Vermont and New Hamp- 
 shire respectively, and the father was a farmer. 
 The early years of the son were spent in the coun- 
 try and he had but limited school advantages, 
 having to walk two miles in order to get what in- 
 struction the country school afforded. When but 
 fifteen years old he left his home and went to 
 Lake Champlain, where he found eniplo3'ment and 
 remained between thirty and tliirt3'-flve years. 
 During a part of the time he was a steamboat pilot 
 and a part of the time captain of a sailing-vessel. 
 
 In July, 1861, Mr. Lyon was married to Jlrs. 
 Mary F. Holly, nee French. That estimable lady 
 was a native of Williston, "\'t., and possessed the 
 energy and thrift characteristic of the natives of 
 
 New England. In 1830 she bought from the Gov- 
 ernment a tract of Michigan land, on which she 
 and her husband located in March, 1868. There 
 were no improvements on tlie land and Mr. Lyon 
 cut down the trees, removed the brush and logs 
 and prepared the soil foi' crops. Mrs. Lyon lived 
 to see the propertj' placed under improvement and 
 to enjoy all the comforts that advanced civiliza- 
 tion has brought to the residents of Montcalm 
 Countj% She died at her home here May 17, 
 1886. 
 
 One of the adornments of Mr. Lyon's farm is a 
 thrifty orchard, where fine varieties of fruits are 
 raised. He has about fifteen head of fine Jersey 
 cattle, and his milch cows yield many quarts of 
 rich lacteal fluid. Mr. Lyon is a law-abiding and 
 reliable citizen, a good farmer and an excellent 
 neighbor. He is not a politician, but generally 
 de[)osits a Republican ballot. 
 
 E^^ 
 
 /p^EORGE A. REED, one of the prominent 
 ||| g— men of Lake View, Montcalm County, was 
 Vi;J^l born in Elhridge, Onondaga County, N. Y., 
 March 2.5, 183.5. He is the son of Aaron T. Reed, 
 a native of New York .State who was a fanner and 
 livery man and who ran a stage line in that part of 
 the country. He died in (Jnondaga County, N. Y., 
 when our subject was only ten years old. As this 
 little boy had lost his mother at the age of three 
 years, he was now doubly orphaned and the three 
 children, Elizabeth A., William H., and George 
 were scattered among friends. 
 
 From the time when our subject lost his father 
 until he was twenty-one years old he worked out 
 on a farm by the month earning his board and 
 clothes. He received a common-school education 
 but had no further advantages in that line. Upon 
 reaching his majority he went to Preble, Cortland 
 County, N. Y'., and learned the trade of a black- 
 smith. He then went to Manlius, Onondaga 
 County, and worked at his trade until November, 
 1861, when he answered the call of his nation in 
 its hour of need and entered the army. He enlisted 
 as a private in the First New York Independent 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 711 
 
 Batterj' and served for tliree years with that coin- 
 uiand in the arm}' of tlic Potomac. That battery 
 was connected with the Sixtii Army Corps, and 
 participated in many hard fought battles. Allo- 
 <j;eliier our young iicro was in thirty-four cngafj;e- 
 nients including the battle of Gettysburg. Wonder- 
 ful as it may seem lie has not a scar to show iiis 
 war record, for he was never wounded. He also 
 escaped being taken prisoner, but he suffered seri- 
 ously in his health, as he had both the measles and 
 typhoid fever in the service from which he has 
 never fully recovered. 
 
 At the close of the war the young soldier located 
 at Greenville, Mich., where he worked at his trade 
 until August, 1868, at which time he came to I-ake 
 \'iew, built a shop and began blacksmilhing, which 
 he has continued to the present time. lie is the 
 pioneer blacksmith of Lake N'iew. He has given 
 all his time and attenti(.)n to his work and has 
 built up an excellent business, having the best of 
 reputations for thoroughness and attention to busi- 
 ness. He started in the world a poor orphan bo)-, 
 with none to depend upon, and has made for him- 
 self a good record and a good home. He has one 
 of the nicest residences in Lake Mew, finished and 
 furnished with taste and elegance. He is a Demo- 
 crat in his political views and has held some respon- 
 sible oflices and is now Town Clerk. He belongs 
 to the Independent Oriler of Odd Fellows, and of 
 the Free and Accepted Masons of the Royal Arch 
 Degree. Also the Ancient Order of United AVork- 
 men. 
 
 The cultured and accom|)lished ladj' who pre- 
 sides over his home was united with him in mar- 
 riage (October 13, 18C5. She was Bettie A. Matteson, 
 of Greenville, Mich., and was born in Warsaw, 
 Wyoming County, N. Y. Her parents Thomas 
 and Lavancia (Coats) Matteson, were natives of 
 New England and both died in Warsaw. Two 
 beautiful children bless this union: Fred the eldest 
 died in infancy ; Myrtia grew up in Lake View an<l 
 was a decided favorite with all who knew her. She 
 was beautiful and accomplished, and highly edu- 
 cated having graduated from the Alma Michigan 
 Normal College. For three j'ears she taught in 
 the graded schools of Lake View. In the summer 
 of 1890 she was visiting at Port Huron, Mich., and 
 
 went out with a party of young people in a row 
 boat upon the St. Clair River, on the evening of 
 August G. A ferry boat ran into the little skiff 
 and cut it in two. This lovely girl was the only 
 one drowned. Her body was not recovered for 
 several da3 sand was then found fifteen miles below 
 Port Huron. For many months her death cast a 
 gloom over the whole town as she was deeply be- 
 loved by all who knew her. 
 
 -^ PENCEK L. SHAW. The late Spencer L. 
 Shaw became a resident of Ionia County 
 several decades since, and was one of the 
 potent factors in the progress of the town 
 of Saranac. He was engaged in the mercantile busi- 
 ness there for several years and owned a large i)or- 
 tion of the land on which the eastern part of the 
 village now stands. On going out of mercantile 
 life, Mr. Shaw devoted his attention to buying and 
 selling real estate and loaning money, and accumu- 
 lated a handsome ecmpetcncy. He held several 
 oflices of public trust and responsibility, and was 
 always found read}' to take under consideration 
 any project which promised to elevate the stan(lar<l 
 of social, moral, or financial matters in this section 
 of the State. 
 
 Mr. Shaw was born in Oneida County, N. Y., 
 August 22, 18U, and reared on a farm in Flovd 
 Township, his father being a farmer. The parents, 
 Stillman and Elizabeth (Perry) Shaw, came to this 
 State and spent the later years of their lives in Sara- 
 nac. The family consisted of four sons and two 
 daughters, named resi)ectively — Orrin, Mary Jane, 
 Helen, Solomon. Spencer L. and Stephen. Orrin, 
 Mary and Solomon are now decease(L Spencer L. 
 remained in his native State during his boyhood 
 and youth, gaining information from books and 
 the world aroun<I him, and preparing for his future 
 career. 
 
 In his early manhood Mr. Shaw visited Lapicr 
 Count}', this State, and for some years that was his 
 home. Among the acquaintances he made there, 
 was Miss Lucrelia Gardner, who, on tlic 1 5th of 
 September, 1812, united her fortunes with his antl 
 
712 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 walked the pathway of life by his side until he was 
 called to his last rest. She is now living in Saranac 
 on the old place where many happy years were 
 spent, find where siie expects to end her days. She 
 has had seven children, but three have crossed to 
 the other shore. The living are Alice, widow of 
 Dr. A. P. Jones, a resident of Chicago; Mary, wife 
 of Henry Frace, of Saranac; Carrie residing in Chi- 
 cago; and Maud, who is with the mother. They 
 have been c^irefully reared, given good educational 
 advantages and are doing credit to their oppor- 
 tunities. 
 
 Mrs. Shaw is the daughter of William and Clar- 
 issa (Vosburgh) Gardner, who were born in New 
 York, and both of whom had Dutch blood in their 
 veins. Mrs. Gardner also had Scotch ancestors. 
 They were earnest Christians and held membership 
 in tiie Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gardner spent 
 the earlier part of his life in merchandising in New 
 York, and in Lapeer County, this State, but later 
 turned his attention to farming. His death occur- 
 red in 1874, ten years after his wife had entered 
 into rest. Their family consisted of eight children. 
 Those now living are Catherine, wife of James 
 Gray, at Lapeer; Aurelia, wife of John B. Sutton, 
 at Lapeer; Elmira, wife of Peter Randall, living at 
 Flint; Emma, who married David Henderson, and 
 lives in Attica; Lucretia, wife of our subject; and 
 William, whose home is in Lapeer. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Shaw removed from Lapeer County 
 to Saranac in 1854, driving through in the early 
 s|)riiig and experiencing several hardships in mak- 
 ing the journey to the then uncultivated country. 
 Prior to their removal they had improved a farm, 
 but soon after the change was made Mr. Shaw en- 
 tered upon a mercantile career. His store was 
 on Main Street for several years, and after going 
 out of business there he turned his attention to 
 the pursuits before mentioned. One of his later 
 investments was the purchase of one hundred acres 
 of land on Pine Lake, eight miles from Lansing, 
 which he platted into vilLsge lots, many of which 
 have been sold and have had neat residences erected 
 upon them. 
 
 The religious views of Mr. Shaw, those of Spir- 
 itualism, were firmly fi.xed, and he wasalwaj's ready 
 to support them by argument, and yet willing to 
 
 accord to others the right he asked for himself — 
 that of liberty of religious thought and action. It 
 was his design to make the delightful s|)ot he plat- 
 ted near Lansing, a resort for those of the S])! rit- 
 ualist belief, andto build there a liberal institution 
 of learning, a medical college, a mediums' home and 
 an old ladies' home. Although he was not permit- 
 ted to live to see his ambitions realized, it is be- 
 lieved that all will ultimate!}' be accomplished, and 
 tiiat Nemoka will become all that he wished. 
 
 Personally Mr. Shaw was genial and friendly, 
 and always ready to accommodate one who was 
 worthy of consideration. His business transactions 
 were conducted in an honorable manner, and he 
 was liberal with his means for the su|)port of puli- 
 lic enterprises and the upbuilding of the town in 
 which he lived. He was at one time a Mason, and 
 in politics he was a Democrat. The date of his 
 decease was January 29, 1887, the cause thereof 
 was paralysis of the heart, and his age seventy-two 
 years. A suitable epitaph for him is given in tiie 
 simple words, "a pleasant neighbor, a kind fatiicr 
 and a faithful companion." 
 
 m 
 
 OHN DICK. In this biographical record 
 we have given us the life of a self-made 
 man, and a soldier in the Civil War. Mr. 
 / Dick came to this country in the d.ays of liis 
 cliildhoo<l without fortune or friends, save tiiose of 
 his own hearthstone, and by his perseverance and 
 honesty of purpose has gained for himself warm 
 friends and a comfortable competency. A promi- 
 nent farmer and stock-raiser in Ionia Count}', Mich., 
 he has always faitiifuUy performed the duties of a 
 citizen and to his chosen ijolitical line has been a 
 firm adherent. He was born Ma}' 10, 1839, in Ba- 
 varia, Germany, and is the son of Jacob and Eliza- 
 beth Dick. His parents are natives of Bavaria, 
 Germany, where they yet reside and are past eighty 
 years of age. 
 
 Mr. Dick was reared in Germany until he was 
 fifteen years of age, at which time he emigrated to 
 America, taking pnss.age at Liverpool on a sailing 
 vessel and after an ocean voyage of fifty-four days 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 713 
 
 landeil at New York City, and I'uninincd there for 
 about nine months. He then came to this county 
 and for some eight years was employed on a farm 
 I)}' William Kittson, who resided at that lime on 
 section 3, Easton Townshi]!. 
 
 For the lirst year Mr. Dicic received fi') a montli 
 and the last year averaged about ^13 per month. 
 He enlisted Angnst 21, 18G2, in the Twenty-lirst 
 Michigan Infantry, Company K, and became a part 
 of the army under Gen. Buell, the Arm}' of the 
 Cumberland. Here he fought in the battle of Per- 
 ryville, and others of minor importance and was 
 honorably discharged March 12, 18(53. He reen- 
 listed December Mi, 18C3, in Company E, First 
 Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, his duties in 
 this regiment being to build bridges, tear up rail- 
 road tracks and various other duties connected with 
 this department. He was with Sherman on his 
 march to the sea and was present at the surrender 
 of .Savannah, and also at the surrender of John- 
 ston's army. 
 
 He participated in the (irand Kcview at Wash- 
 ington and was honorably discharged .'September 
 22, 180.J. After this war experience he came to 
 Ionia County, where he has since remained. He 
 receives a pension of $12 per month, having con- 
 tracted an iidirmity while in the service of his 
 country. 
 
 O'lr subject was married November 1, 18C6, to 
 Susan Robertson, who w:is born in Inverncsshire, 
 Scotland, January 15, 1843. She is a daughter of 
 William and IJarbara (Grant) Robertson, natives 
 of Scotland, and when fourteen years of age she 
 was left motherless. When sixteen years old she 
 came with her father and sister to America, taking 
 uassage on a steamer at Glasgow, and after an 
 ocean voyage of twelve days they landed in (Quebec 
 and came to Michigan, selecting Ionia County as 
 their destination and here became identified with 
 the early pioneers. Mrs. Dick has two brothers 
 and four sisters living in the State of Michigan: 
 Eliza, wife of Henry Dyers, in Osceola County; 
 David; Ann, in Easton Township; Duncan, in 
 Ionia Township; Barbara, wife of Samuel Lemmucl 
 in Ronald Township; and Jean M., who is a resi- 
 dent of Scotland. 
 
 Our subject in ISCG settled on his present farm 
 
 where he has since resided. When he first came to 
 this county it was in a wild and unsettled condition 
 and like most of the pioneers of that time he was 
 obliged to endure some hardships. He owns 
 seventy-si.-c acres of valuable land where in 1880 
 he built his present fine residence. He is self-edu- 
 cated and with the assistance of his wife has 
 made their home what it now is — one among the 
 best in Easton Township. 
 
 In Germany Mr. Dick received a good common- 
 school education and in this countr}' has acquired 
 a fair knowledge of tlie English language in which 
 he is able to transact business in its various 
 branches. He is identified with the Grand Army 
 of the Republic and is politically a Republican. He 
 is an advocate for improvements of all kinds and 
 in his efforts for these he is very earnest and to 
 him in a great measure Ionia County is indebted 
 for some of its fine slock. He makes a specialty 
 of stock-raising, always reacliingoul for all improve- 
 ments in this line. Mr. Dick and wife are active 
 and esteemed members of the coaimunity where 
 they reside. 
 
 WILLIA.M F. HEVDLALFF is a native of 
 Michigan, having been born in Freedom 
 Township, Washtenaw County, October 
 28, 1835. He resides now on section 36, Ronald 
 Township, Ionia County. His father, Christian F., 
 was born in Wurtemberg, Ciermany, and his grand- 
 father, Martin, was in the employ of King William. 
 The mother of our subject was also a native of 
 Germany, Anna M. Wagnen b}' name and was born 
 in .Stuttgart. The parents of \Viliiam were mar- 
 ried in Wurtemberg in 1830 and in the same year 
 they came to America and located in Detroit. Four 
 3'ears later they removed to a farm in Washtenaw 
 County. The father, who was a land sjieculator, 
 died April 23, 1875, aged seventy-two years. The 
 mother is still living having completed her four- 
 score years. These parents were among the early 
 settlers of Ionia County. They were the parents 
 of eight children, five sons and three daughters, 
 namely : John, William F., Lewis H., Jacob, (dc- 
 
714 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ceased); Frank C. (deceased); Mary B.; Christian 
 and Elizabelli (deceased). 
 
 AVilliam HeydlaiitT was nine years uld wlien he 
 came to Ionia County with liis parents. His first 
 and only experience in a public school was in 
 Washtenaw County, his native iiome. He received 
 his education mostly from his father and mother, 
 they being well educated and deeply interesteii in 
 the development of their children. When sixteen 
 years old he left home and went to California by 
 water, taking the steamer "Illinois" at New York 
 City and going by the way of the Isthmus of Pan- 
 ama. He landed in San Francisco and remained in 
 California eighteen years during which time he en- 
 gaged in mining and mercantile business. He 
 traveled a great deal all over that part of the 
 country and reUuucd home on a visit in 1859. He 
 reiieated tiiis visit in 1869 and returned West, but 
 tlie following year he decided to come to Michigan 
 to make his home. He now resides on the old 
 homestead where his father lived and owns eighty 
 acres of well-improved landi^wherc he carries on 
 general farming and stock-raising. He is a man of 
 decided political vicws_an(l votes the Republican 
 ticket. 
 
 - — -^m — - ■ 
 
 ,^ , MOS R. MATHER, Cashier of the hank at 
 'i(M Lake View, an(i one of the most prominent 
 It citizens of Montcalm Count3', was born in 
 Geneseo, Livingston County, N. Y., July 
 27, 1838. He is the son of John C. and Betsey E. 
 (Kellogg) Mather, natives of New York State. 
 They were married at Geneseo, where the father 
 died December 1, 1877, having com[)leled his 
 three-score and ten years, as he was born April 
 9, 1807. His wife, who was born in 1811, still 
 survives. He was a farmer all his life and a man 
 in comfortable circumstances. He was a Whig in 
 the early days, and afterward very naturally a Re- 
 publican. He was very active and efficient in 
 township and educational interests, and he and his 
 good wife were members of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church from early life. The first members of 
 the family came to America in Colonial days and 
 
 settled in Massachusetts. Our subject's Grand- 
 father Kellogg was a soldier in the War of 1812. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. John C. Mather were parents of 
 the following children : Mary, Sidnej' W., Julia and 
 Eliza (twins), Amos R., Norman W., Sarah A., 
 Augustus E. and Fannie J. Augustus and Sidney 
 are deceased. 
 
 After attending the district schools our subject 
 pursued his studies in the Genesee Wesley an Sem- 
 inary, at Lima, N. Y., and also took a thorough 
 course in the Business College. He remained with 
 his father until he was twenty-four ^ears of age, 
 when he married and the following spring, 18C4, 
 came to Lyons, Ionia County, and bought a farm. 
 In 1867 he sold this farm and removed to Muir, 
 engaging in the lumber business and buying and 
 selling logs. Three years later he removed to 
 Howard City, Mich., which was then being built, 
 and he had the agency of the village plat pro[)erty 
 for eleven years. He was elected Supervisor in 
 1871, and held that office five years. Between 
 1875 and 1880 he carried on a drug and stationery 
 business, and was Postmaster at the same time. In 
 the fall of 1880 he came to Lake View and engaged 
 in the banking business, but sold out his interest 
 in the bank in the fall of 1886, since which time 
 he has been employed as Cashier. He is a thor- 
 ough business man and a good financier, and is well 
 esteemed by his neighbors. 
 
 Mr. Mather is an ardent Republican, a Knight 
 Templar and a member of Pilgrim Commandeiy No. 
 23, at Big Rapids. He also belongs to the Ancient 
 Order of United Workmen and to the Knights of 
 the Maccabees. The lady who presides with so 
 much dignity and grace over his beautiful home 
 became his wife June 21, 1863. Her maiden name 
 was p]mma J. Macomber. Her home was in Three 
 Rivers, Mich., and she was born in Alabama, N. Y., 
 November 21, 1842, a daughter of Charles and 
 Mary A. (Burt) Macomber. At the death of her 
 father he left her by wnll a goodly fortune. Her 
 l)arents came to Michigan in 1845 and settled in 
 St. Joseph County. Mr. Macomber died in Three 
 Rivers, Mich., October 31, 1874, in the seventy- 
 fifth year of his age, and his good wife is still liv- 
 ing at the very advanced age of eighty-nine years. 
 Four children have been granted to Mr. and Mrs. 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAl'HlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 Mather, nainelj': Charles C, now Assistant Cash- 
 ier ill the hank at Lake View; Mary M., Fannie 
 .1. and Daisy M. The youngest ilaughter died in 
 infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Mather are members of tiie 
 Melliodist Kpiseopal Cliurcii, and are earnest work- 
 ers in the npbuiUling uf Christianity. 
 
 DSON I'lCKELL. Many veterans of the 
 Union army reside in Montcalm County, 
 and Sidney Township has its full share of 
 tliese brave men who look back with pleasure and 
 honest pride u[)on the service which they ren- 
 dered their country in the hour of need. Tliey 
 greatly enjoy a chat together of the old days when 
 they went campaigning and their recitals of their 
 experiences are inspiring to the generations who 
 have grown np since the days of llie war. 
 
 Among these old soldiers is Edson Pickell, wiio 
 was born in Pennsylvania, Januar}- 21, 1842, the 
 son of Isaac and iMary (Williams) Pickell. His 
 father w.as a blacksmith by occui)ation and found 
 abundiuit demand for his services when he re- 
 moved to Michigan in 1813, with his little house- 
 hold. Two brothers of our subject reside in 
 Michigan, both successful farmers. Chauncy livis 
 in Crystal Township, this conntj', and Frank K., 
 resides in Hanover, Jackson County. The sister, 
 Sirs. Margaret IJader, makes her home in Liberty, 
 Jackson County. The father's first home in Miciii- 
 gan w.as in Leoni. lie did not find opportunity of 
 giving his son other education than that which 
 could be found in the village schools, but he 
 allowed him to begin work at the age of eigliteen 
 years. 
 
 Young Pickell although barely having reached 
 his majority at the time of the Civil War, decided 
 to enter the army, and enlisted in Company D, 
 First Michigan Infantry. This notable regiment 
 was joined to the army of the Potomac under (ien. 
 Grant, and saw hard fighting and man\' conflicts. 
 Our young hero served nearly- four years. He was 
 in the batlles of Meehanicsville, Malvern Hill, 
 Gaines' Mill, Anleitaui, t<hei)ard's Ford, Peters- 
 
 burg, Fredericksburg, and Cold Harbor. He was 
 under the splendid generalship of Grant all 
 through the war and was with him at the time 
 when he received Gen. Lee's sword in the sur- 
 render. He was mustered out of service at Jef- 
 ferson ville, Ind., in the fall of 18G.5, and returned 
 to Jackson County, Mich. Mr. Pickell has been 
 twice married. The first time to Cornelia Helcher, 
 of Lenawee County. This union took place Sep- 
 tember 22, 18G5, and resulted in the birth of three 
 chihlrcn, namely: Charles, born October 1, 1800; 
 Frederick, December 23, l868;Seth, April 1, 1871. 
 The mother of these children passed from cartii 
 August 22, 1872. His second marriage which took 
 place July 5, 1873, united him with Rosa Belle 
 Mesler. of Sidney Township. This marriage has re- 
 mained childless. When he removed in November, 
 1872, to his present home he found it a wilderness. 
 He has cleared this place of eighty acres and built 
 upon it houses and barns. He has lately added to 
 his industries a store, carr3'ing a stock of gro<^eries 
 and harness. In politics he is a Republican. He is 
 at present Justice of the Peace and has been School 
 Director and School .Moderator,being always active 
 in affairs of education. Our subject is a member 
 of Ausmer F. Cole Post, No. 21.5, G. A. R., and 
 also belongs to the Patrons of industry. 
 
 y ALTER II. PRICE. This gentleman holds 
 a reputable place among the business men 
 ,, „ of Lyons, Ionia County, and for so young 
 a man is ailvancing rapidly in his career. He deals 
 in dry -goods and groceries, shoes and general mer- 
 chandise, his establishment being located on IMain 
 Street with well filled shelves and goods suited to 
 the wants of the people. :Mr. Price has had quite 
 a varie<l exi)erience for one of his years and in 
 business transactions has gained the knowledge 
 of affairs that fits him for conducting an estab- 
 lishment of his own. His mental qualifications 
 are e.Kcellent, he having been given a liberal school- 
 ing that included a commercial course of training. 
 The immediate progenitors of our subject were 
 born in the Empire State, their names being 
 
716 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Truman S. and Anna R. (Gleason) Price. The 
 fatlier was a locomotive engineer and followed his 
 trade until 1804, when ho enlisted in Company I, 
 One Hundred and Eighty-si.xth New York Infan- 
 try, and battled for his country about a year. He 
 received a gunshot wound over his right ej'e and 
 after some time in the lios|)ital was sufHcienlly re- 
 covered from its effects to be sent home. He then 
 ran a stationary engine in his native State until 
 1870, when he remove<l to Michigan. He settled 
 in Saginaw, but after a sojourn of a year removed 
 to Hersey, Osceola County, and from that point 
 to Ionia County. After this change of residence 
 he abandoned his former occupation and gave his 
 attention to farming. He finally retired to Big 
 Rapids and remained until his demise in 1890. His 
 widow still lives in ti:at citj\ Mr. Price was a 
 Ri'pubtican and a member of the Grand Army of 
 the Republic. His family comjjrised seven chil- 
 dren — Waller H., Mrs. Anna Higginson, Edward 
 T., Frank M., Sarah E., George W. and Herbert. 
 
 The birth of Walter Price occurred at Oswego, 
 N. V,, in 18G2, and he attended school at Pierre- 
 pont Manor when he was of pro[)er age. After 
 the removal to this State he continued his studies 
 in Saginaw, Hersey and Ionia, and later took a 
 business course in Big Rapids, receiving a di- 
 ploma in 1888. Mr. Price started out in life 
 by obtaining work on a farm near Ionia and next 
 went to Big Rapids and followed engineering for 
 a time. After being engaged in various stores in 
 Big Rapids lie then accepted the position of man- 
 ager of a store for the West Michigan Lumber 
 Company at Pavk City, and thence returned to ]5ig 
 lvai)i<ls, and from that jwint went to Orleans and 
 entered into partnership with Andrew J. Hale for 
 the sale of general merciiandise. The connection 
 lasted about fourteen months and Mr. Price tlien 
 established his present business in Lyons. 
 
 During the year 1881 Mr. Price was united in 
 marriage with Miss Etta C. Wandel, daughter of 
 George and Caroline Wandel, who live on a farm 
 in Easton Township, Ionia County. Mr. Wandel 
 was born in New York and his wife is a native of 
 this State. Their daugliter was carefully reared and 
 has developed into an intelligent Christian woman. 
 To her have been born thice yliildren — Yemon J., 
 
 Maud R. and Ethel. Mr. and Mrs. Price belong to 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is Superin- 
 tendent of the Sunday-sciiool. He is devoted to 
 the interests of religion, earnestly endeavors to mold 
 his every action after the perfect model, and works 
 zealously in church enterprises. Mr. Price has city 
 property in Big Rapids ami is fairly started on the 
 high road to competence and wealth. In politics 
 he is a stanch Prohibitionist. 
 
 -S^i^J- 
 
 IDNEY GARDNER. Among the well- 
 legulated farms of Otisco Township is that 
 of the gentleman above named, who has 
 been one of the factors in the progress of 
 Ionia County since he was a j'outh of seventeen 
 3' ears. The farm which he now owns and occupies 
 is pleasantly located on section 30, and consists of 
 sixty acres of fertile land, upon which will be 
 seen a complete line of farm buildings, substantial 
 and sufficiently commodious to answer every pur- 
 pose. Mr. Gardner has done much of the work of 
 the pioneer, having cleared a large acreage of land 
 and prepared it for cultivation and habitation. 
 
 Bofore giving the facts in the history of Mr. 
 Gardner it will not be amiss to make some mention 
 of his parents. His father, William Gardner, was 
 bo.'n in the Empire State, whence he removed to 
 Canada. After making his home in the Dominion 
 for a number of J ears he returned to the States 
 in 1844, settling in the township that is now the 
 home of his son. Here he died in 1863. He was a 
 wheelwright, but after coming to this State located 
 upon a farm, having bought one hundred and sixty 
 acres. He was Fligh Sheriff for a number of j-ears 
 in Canada. Originally a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Cliurch, he was connected with the Ad- 
 vent Churcli when he died. In Canada he married 
 Lena Muma, daughter of John Muma, a native of 
 Germany. This lady was a devout member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Sidney Gardner was born in Canada, February 
 29, 1828, and spent his early years in no unusual 
 manner. He obtained a practical education and 
 considerable knowledge of business, and until he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 T17 
 
 was of age he aided his father. After the removal 
 to this Stale he was on the farm until he took up 
 the lal)ors of life for himself. A few years later he 
 married Miss Catherine .lane l5ockwitli, tlie cere- 
 mony being performed at the home of the bride, 
 November 19, 1853. The union has been blessed 
 by the birth of four children, namel^', Warren, 
 Deed, Helen and Adoniram J. Mrs. Gardner is a 
 (laughter of Philander and Melinda (Melntyre) 
 Heekwilh, who were natives of New Haniiishire 
 and New York, respectively. 
 
 Although never aspiring to public honors Mr. 
 Gardner accepted the position of Highway Com- 
 missioner and worked for the good of the traveling 
 (uiblic during his term of ollicc. He gives his po- 
 litical allegiance to the Republican party and his 
 support to the Patrons of Industry, in which helms 
 been enrolled for some time. Mrs. Gardner is 
 a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and 
 conscientious in her life. 
 
 '|^_ ENRY G. TING LEY is one of the enter- 
 lf)ji prising, public-spirited and intelligent ngri- 
 sS-yf^ culturisls of Ionia County, ami one who is 
 (^) meeting with decided success as a farmer 
 and stock-raiser. He is located on section 12, 
 Easlon Township, on a tract of land comprising 
 seventy acres which has been improved in such a 
 manner as is customary to men of zeal and interest 
 in their calling. He was born in Erie County, N. 
 Y., March 1, 18,50, and has been doing for himself 
 since he entered his teens. His parents, Josepli and 
 Lydia (Groff) Tingle}-, were of English ancestry, 
 and his father was born in New England, while his 
 mother is a native of New .Jersey. The father is 
 deceased, but the mother lives in Ionia County. 
 .Slie is now more than fourscore years old. 
 
 The parental family consisted of ten children, 
 eight of whom are living and scattered in several 
 Slates. Henry came to Michigan when thirteen years 
 old and for some time lived in Jackson County, 
 where he worked as a farm hand, receiving about 
 *1.5 per montli forhis services. In his native State 
 he had obtained the rudiments of an education in 
 
 the district school, and after coming West he spent 
 two vrinters in stud}-. From .lackson he went to 
 Montcalm Count}', where he worked in various 
 capacities connected with tlie business of sawmill- 
 ing. In 1876 he took up his abode in Ionia County, 
 where he h.'xs remained, giving his attention to agri- 
 cultural work almost exclusively. He lived in Palo 
 nearly three years and located on his present farm 
 in the spring of 1879. 
 
 The marriage rites between Mi'. Tinglej- and 
 Miss Azelia P. Shaw were .solemnized October 17, 
 1877, in Fulton County, Ohio. The bride was born 
 in Medina County. Ohio, December 2, 1847, and 
 was a daughter of .lames and Minerva (Hall) Sliaw. 
 Her father was born in Massachusetts, and her 
 mother in Virginia. The former is believed to have 
 been of English descent, and the mother came of 
 the Scotch-Irish race. Grandfather Hall was a sol- 
 dier in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Tingley 
 have five children, whose record is as follows: 
 Harry A., born September 4, 1878; Cora A., .lan- 
 uary 5, 1881; Fanny E., May 15, 1882; Delia M., 
 January 16, 1887; Annie, July 11, 1889. 
 
 Mr. Tingley is Overseer of Highwa^-s in district 
 No. 2, and he h.as served as School Director. His 
 vote is cast with the Democrats, and he believes 
 that bis part}' is far superior to any other. As he 
 is still a comparatively young man lie is likely to 
 rank among the most substantial men of the county 
 ere many years. Mrs. Tingley is one who as wife, 
 neighbor and friend gains commendation, and both 
 are popular in the socictj- of their neighborhood. 
 
 •-^ ^-*-^ ^• 
 
 <| ftlLLIAM M. ANDREWS. The mature 
 \/\ll J'^*'"'* of this gentleman have been spent 
 ^^p in this State and for well-nigh forty years 
 he h.as been closely connected with the agricultural 
 interests of Ionia County. His residence is on sec- 
 tion .'H, Keenc Township, and his estate there con- 
 sists of one hundred and eighteen and a half acres 
 of well-developed land. He located on his present 
 farm in 1866 and found it necessary to do much 
 hard work before it was in the condition that he 
 considere<l proper. A full line of farm buildings, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 substantial and well- arranged, affords shelter for 
 stock and such crops as the owner desires to keep 
 from month to month, while a pleasant dwelling 
 siielters the happy family — the whole affording 
 evidence of the industry, perseverance and pru- 
 dence of our subject and his faithful companion. 
 
 Mr. Andrews was born in Ontario Count5% N. Y., 
 July 3, 1823. His jiarents, Ebenezer and Eliza- 
 beth (Sperry) Andrews were natives of Massachu- 
 setts and his maternal grandfather, Sperry, was a 
 Captain in the Revolutionary army". In his native 
 county ho of whom we write grew to maturity, re- 
 ceiving a limited education in the schools of the 
 neighborhood, and being early given a part in the 
 farm work. In the fall of 1843 he removed to 
 Kent County, this State, where for fire 3'ears he 
 worked as a farm iiand. He remained there until 
 1854, then came to Ionia Count}-, and twelve j'ears 
 later located on the tract he has since made so 
 beautiful and remunerative. 
 
 The marriage of our subject to Miss Sarah J. 
 Andrews, daughter of Lewis and Eliza (Godfrey) 
 Andrews, occurred October 8, 1848. The bride 
 was born in Ontario, Canada, February 11, 1830, 
 but her parents were natives of New York. Tliey 
 had seven children and three grew to maturity: 
 Mrs. Andrews, Joel and Phebe. When she was 
 six years old they removed to Noble County, Ind., 
 where the husband and father died. The daughter 
 was in her tenth year when her widowed mother 
 removed to Kent County, this State, and a couple 
 of j'ears later to Ionia Count}'. In Keene Town- 
 ship Mrs. William Andrews grew to maturity and 
 became a wife. Her mother is now living in Sara- 
 nac; she married for her second husband Samuel 
 Wells, but is again a widow. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Andrews of this notice have two 
 daughters — Marietta, wife of M. Sayles, and Harriet 
 Ida, wife of Albert B. Smith, both living in Lowell. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Sayles have three children — Ada, 
 Pheba and Elva — and Mrs. Smith has two children, 
 Emery and Gertrude. Ada Sayles married D. C. 
 Miller and has a son, Merrit, so that our subject 
 and his wife are great -grand parents, and Mrs. An- 
 drews' mother makes five generations now living. 
 Husband and wife belong to the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church and Mr. Andrews is serving as Steward 
 
 and Trustee. He is identified with the Grange and 
 is a Republican in [wlilics. Mr. Andrews' reputa- 
 tion in business circles is that of a man who always 
 does as he agrees and whose word is as binding as 
 the bond of many. He and his wife, with other 
 noble men and women by whose efforts the Grand 
 River Valley has been converted from its primitive 
 wildness into the splendid condition of to-day, are 
 entitled to and receive the genuine respect of those 
 who enjoy their personal acquaintance or know of 
 the labors they have performed. 
 
 <S^ DMOND HOOPLE, a native of Canada, re- 
 lU] sides on section 13, Ronald Township, Ionia 
 /*' — '-^ County. He was born in Stormont County, 
 Ontario, Canada, March 18, 1849. He is a l)rother 
 of Alvin Iloople, whose biographical sketch will be 
 found in this book. The first fourteen years of 
 our subject's life were spent in his native place. 
 Here he received his early education. He then was 
 sent to New York State to make his home with an 
 uncle, so that he might receive better school ad- 
 vantages. He attended school and academy three 
 years, and then engaged as clerk in the leather busi- 
 ness with his uncle and brother. After remaining 
 with them four or five years, he went to New York 
 City and kept books in a drug-store. Here he re- 
 mained about two years and then went back to the 
 leather trade for a short time. 
 
 In 1880, young Iloople came to Michigan and 
 located on the farm where he now resides. This 
 farm of one hundred and thirty-three and one-third 
 acres of well improved land, he bought of Mr. 
 Peter Whitmore. It had already on it good build- 
 ings and barns. The lady who is the presiding 
 genius of his home, was born in Brookland, N. Y.. 
 July Ifi, 1849. Here she was reared and educated. 
 Her parents. Henry and Jane (Latham) Radford, 
 were also natives of New York. Their daughter 
 Sarah became Mrs. Iloople, December 8, IS?."). 
 
 Six children have come to this happy home, five 
 sons and one daughter, named as follows: Ward, 
 born Se[)tember 9, 1876; Albert H., October 22,. 
 1878; Joseph, May 3, 1880; Herman, November 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 719 
 
 22, 1881; Ella H., May 27, 1885; Edmond, Au 
 gust 14, 1887. Mr. Hoople is ever interested in 
 matters of public affairs, and es[)eeially in educa- 
 tional movements. He is a Republican in politics, 
 and holds the position of School Director. 
 
 AVID ESCIILIMAN is a descendant of an 
 old Swiss family' who came from their an- 
 cestral home some two hundred and fifty 
 years ago, to seek freedom from religious 
 persecution in America. They belong to that class 
 of Christians known Mennonitcs, and in I'ennsyl- 
 vania they found that relioious freedom for which 
 they sought. David is the son of Abraham Eschli- 
 mau, who was a farmer in Lancaster County, Pa., 
 and the son has found his home on sections 1, 0, 
 and 10, Ferris I'ownship, Montcalm County. 
 
 The father of our subject came from Pennsyl- 
 vania to Stark County, Ohio, about 1837, and tak- 
 ing up a farm in the forest, cleared and improved 
 it, making a home near Massillon. Here he became 
 a prominent man, and was often selected for posi- 
 tions of trust, being many times chosen to admin- 
 ister estates, and act as guardian to orphan chil- 
 dren. He had a keen intellect and was possessed 
 of good judgment. These qualities united with in- 
 tegrity and a disinterested regard for the rights of 
 the needy, gave him the confidence of all. lie died 
 in Ohio at the age of seventy-two years. His wife 
 whose maiden name was Elizabeth Hurst, was born 
 in his native county, and was descended from Hol- 
 land ancestors who were also Mennonite refugees 
 from religious persecution. Her paternal forefa- 
 ther was a man of large fortune, which he left be- 
 hind him, bringing only enough money to purchase 
 seventeen hundred acres of land, which he bought 
 of William Penn at the rate of an English shilling 
 per acre. 
 
 From such ancestry it is but natural that our sub- 
 ject should have proved the success in life which 
 he has done. He is a man of clear intellectual per- 
 ceptions, and especially brilliant in the line of 
 mathematics. His children inherit this talent from 
 him, and have proved adept scholars in this line 
 
 of study. The resolution and courage which marked 
 his ancestors on both sides in those early days of 
 trial, have stood him in good stead in the conflict 
 of life, and have given him the ability to gain a 
 beautiful home where he lives in prosperity and 
 contentment. He was born in Lancaster, Pa., May 
 17, 1830. From there he came with his parents to 
 Ohio, when only six years old, traveling b}- team 
 and wagon with a colony of thirty-two teams. 
 Clearing land and hauling logs occupied his youth 
 much more than atten;lance at school, and some 
 jears he did not have more than twenty-two days 
 in a year at his studies in the old schoolhouse 
 where slabs took the place of benches. When twen- 
 ty-one j'ears old he took up the carpenter's trade, 
 which he worked at for nine years, during the last 
 live j'ears of which he was foreman for a large con- 
 tractor. 
 
 He first came to Michigan in 18i)3, and entered 
 one hundred and sixty acres of Government land 
 on sections 4 and i), Ferris. Township, but he went 
 back again to Ohio and worked at his trade until 
 1800, after which for seven years he worked a 
 rented farm in Ohio. During the war he saw some- 
 thing of the border warfare as be was at Canton, 
 Ohio, at the time of the John Morgan raid. In 
 18G7 he again came to Michigan, and located in 
 Easton Township, Ionia County, until the fall of 
 18G8 when he came to Ferris Township, this county, 
 and located his home where it now stands. In those 
 early days he founil in hunting and fishing a recrea- 
 tion which relieved the monotony of clearing and 
 hauling logs. 
 
 The home farm of our subject on section 10, 
 covers one hundred and eighty acres, over one 
 hundred of which he has improved. He also owns 
 one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, and near 
 one hundred on section 4, all nicely- im|)roved with 
 the nccessar}' farm buildings placed upon them. 
 His residence is located on a fin* natural elevation, 
 and he has one of the most splendid stock-farms in 
 the county, or even in the State. He owns a saw- 
 mill at which he manufactures hard wood lumber. 
 He carries a variet3' of stock, all of good grades. 
 
 The mother of Mr. Esclilimaii's children, whose 
 loss he was calleil to mourn in November. 1886, 
 was born in (.Ihio, where he married her in 18C0. 
 
720 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 She bore the maiden name of Harriet Rowland. 
 Six of her eight children are now living, namely: 
 Alia, a teacher in the schools at home; Emma, also 
 engaged in teaching; Cora is attending the Edmore 
 High School; John is residing in the Upper Penin- 
 sula; and Clara and Mary are at home. 
 
 The subject of this sketch fills many positions of 
 public trust. He has been Commissioner of High- 
 ways, and was Township Clerk for four years, and 
 School Director for si.K. When the new school - 
 house was built in his district, he gave half an acre 
 of land as a site for it. He is a demitted member 
 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in 
 politics is a strong Republican, being considered a 
 representative man in his party, and being often 
 made a delegate to county and State conventions. 
 In his church connection he is active and zealous, 
 being a member of the Cliurch of the Disciples, and 
 a Trustee of the same. When this'church was build- 
 ing a new edifice, he furnished all the timber and 
 lumber, and gave ^100 in money to aid in its erec- 
 tion. 
 
 bHOMAS GARDNER, now a resident of 
 Lowell, has been a potent factor in tlie de- 
 velopment of the famous Grand River Val- 
 ley. He has risen to a position of pronunenee among 
 the agriculturists of Ionia County, and may be con- 
 sidered a representative citizen. Financially 
 speaking he is a self-made man, having begun his 
 labors in life without any one to give him material 
 aid and, in fact, having had but $17 in money 
 when he located in Keene Township in 1840. He 
 now has two hundred and eighty acres of as fine 
 land as can be found in the township, and has the 
 place in excellent condition. The most conspicu- 
 ous feature about it is a peacii orchard of forty 
 acres and an apple orchard of eight acres, the trees 
 in which were planted bj' himself. 
 
 Mr. Gardner is an Englishman by birth, but an 
 American by education, as he came to the New 
 World when ten years old. He was born in Lon- 
 don March 22, 1821, and is the eldest child of .Tohn 
 and Ann (Turner) Gardner. His brothers and 
 sisters now living are Joseph, Mrs. Mary A. Kin- 
 
 ney and George. When his parents decided to 
 emigrate they took passage on a sailing vessel and 
 after an ocean voyage of eight weeks landed at 
 Quebec, Canada. Thence they went direct to 
 Brantfordf in tiie Province of Ontario, and there 
 the father was engaged in the butchering business 
 for several years, and subsequently kept an hotel 
 for a time. Still later he farmed in County Brant, 
 and there he and his wife breathed their last. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice began his 
 labors in life when young and has endeavored to 
 supply the deficiencies in his early education by 
 extensive reading in later years. He has been en- 
 gaged in farming chiefly and has become skilled in 
 his occupation and well-informed on matters con- 
 nected therewith. When he settled on section 31, 
 Keene Township, his dwelling was a log house and 
 it was several j'ears before he took possession of a 
 better dwelling. He lived upon the farm over 
 forty years and in the fall of 1887 moved into 
 Lowell. The energy and perseverance of liis na- 
 ture .and his thrift and industrious habits are well 
 demonstrated by his possession of a fine estate and 
 a pleasant home in town. 
 
 For more than thirty years Mr. Gardner had the 
 counsel and aid of a devoted wife whose self-denial 
 and courage during their pioneer life are gratefully 
 remembered as instrumentalities in his success. 
 She bore the maiden name of Maria Churchill and 
 became his wife in the Province of Ontario, Feb- 
 ruary 17, 1842. She was born in New Brunswick 
 and died in Ionia County December 17, 1879. She 
 was a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church and many friends mourned her loss and 
 s^'nipathized with her bereaved family when she 
 was called from time to eternitj-. To her there had 
 been born eight children, of whom we note the fol- 
 lowing: Richard, John and Wellington live in 
 California and are engaged in the real-estate busi- 
 ness and the sale of musical instruments; Eliza, 
 the eldest of the family, now Mrs. W. P. Hard, 
 resides in Boise City, Idaho; Julia is the wife of 
 Prof. A. H. Smith, of Grand Rapids; Martha mar- 
 ried B. R. Wheeler, and lives in California; Anna 
 May, wife of A. L. Moon, lives in California; 
 Dora is the wife of Edwin Smith, and their home 
 is in Minneapolis, Minn. The others are deceased. 
 
RESID EIJCL OF J Ut-.n f. i/l 1 L LE R^ 5EC. 18. B ER L 1 N TR.IOrilA C0.,I\/1ICH. 
 
 
 FARM PROPERTY OF THOMAS CARD N ER , SEC Jl. KELN E TP.,ION 1 A CO.,MICH. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 723 
 
 After having lived a widower until in October, 
 1883, Mr. Gardner contracted a second matrimonial 
 alliance, wedding Mrs. Lydia .1. Long. Husband 
 and wife belong to the Methodist Episco[)al Church. 
 Mr. Gardner is a supporter of Republican princi- 
 ples, and is found taking a part in various projects 
 which promise to increase the prosperity and hap- 
 piness of the community of wliich he makes one. 
 It affords us pleasure to present to his friends and 
 acquaintances this sketch of a life that has been 
 spent in an honoraljle pursuit, and that has resulted 
 in worldly success and a reputation second to that 
 of none in Lowell or vicinity. It also affords us 
 pleasure to present to his friends a view of his fine 
 estate, which ranks among the best in the commu- 
 nity. 
 
 - OOP 
 
 |OHN F. MILLER. A boy wlio has in him 
 the right spirit, who is inanl^- and straight- 
 forward, courageous and enterprising, has 
 *Kyy opportunities to make a success in life, not- 
 withstanding he maj- have had unfortunate sur- 
 roundings in childhood and have been called to 
 |i.Tss through numberless discouragements in youth. 
 '1 lie subject of this sketch can remember nothing 
 bright about liis childhoocL lie knows that his 
 father and mother were natives of England, and 
 that his mother's maiden name was Forster. There 
 were four ciiildren, two of whom are now living, 
 lie also knows the date of his own birth, March 14, 
 182C, and that London, England, w.as the place of 
 his nativity. 15ut he can remember no happy home 
 lireside, no fond, endearing words and caresses. 
 His first recollection is of being kicked and cuffed 
 about from one place to another, lie iiever hail 
 a home, for there are no homes in the slums of 
 London. 
 
 'I'he first effort Mr. Miller made to work for 
 wages was in 1834, when he entered the service of 
 a baker and confectioner at Gravesend, England. 
 Here he was treated worse than a dog. During his 
 three years' life with them he never knew what it 
 was to sit down to the table to eat a meal, but his 
 poor food was brought to him in the bakery and he 
 ate it as he could. In the afternoons he had to 
 
 deliver bread around the cit^-, and had a certain 
 portion of work to do before 1 o'clock, P. M. The 
 eldest daughter attended the shop and gave him a 
 larger task than he could possibly accomplish, but 
 when he failed to be ready in time for his round 
 of delivery be was unmercifully beaten and kicked 
 about. He was then sent iip-stairs to get his loaf 
 of bread, and here he would find the lame daugh- 
 ter of the baker, who alone gave him kind w(>rds 
 and encouragement. Seeing that he had been cr^'- 
 ing she would pat him on the back and say, "Never 
 mind Johnny, you will be a man by and by." 
 
 At the end of three years the lad left his tyranni- 
 cal master and tried to get another .situation, but 
 could not because he had no recommendation. He 
 then went aboard a fishing smack, where he had to 
 bind himself as an ajjprentice to the owners for 
 seven years. He hoped that upon the water he 
 would have more freedom, but found that he 
 jumped from "the frying pan into the fire." He 
 could not have met anywhere with more cruel and 
 brutal treatment, for not a day passed that he was 
 not felled to the deck by blows. He had, however, 
 one friend here, the mate of the vessel, Jones by 
 name, who took his jjart, but he could not endure 
 the life he was obliged to lead. He finally' ran 
 away and went to Sheerness, a government naval 
 station in England. 
 
 Our subject shipped on board a twelve gun 
 brig, "Espicglc," for the cruise as a second-class 
 boy. The destination of the brig was China in 
 1844. He left Sheerness, touched at Ascension 
 Island, thence to St. Helena, to Cape Good Hope, 
 to Singapore, East Indies to Horneo Island, and 
 Hong Kong, China. His vessel engaged with others 
 in forcing the forts on either side of HogaTigi-ess 
 and barriers along another river, up to the city of 
 Canton. It took a week to clear the way to the 
 moorings and let hundreds of inhabited junks and 
 sam[>ans lloat down the river, thus opening a way 
 to Canton. The seamen were thus employed dur- 
 ing tlie day, and at night went ashore with tlie 
 sappers and mineis undermining the walls of Canton. 
 On a certain day all was ready for the bombard- 
 ment of the city. Then the English Commodore 
 sent word that if the gales of the city were not 
 opened by noon he would fire upon the city. At 
 
f24 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 11 o'clock the Mandarins came down and nego- 
 tiated a truce. 
 
 John Miller was at Nankeen, up the Yang-tse 
 Kiang Rirer and all about those parts. He re- 
 mained upon the brig for five years and in the 
 meanwhile was promoted through all the grades to 
 able seaman. Upon his discharge at Sheerness, 
 England, he was second-class petty officer. He 
 then shipped in the merchant service as able sea- 
 man and made a trip to Batavia, Java Island, upon 
 the ship "Richard Thornton," making two voyages 
 to that port from London, England. Tnen be 
 shipped on a coaster along the Irish coast for a 
 short time. He left this vessel at Waterford, Ire- 
 land, and came to Liverpool on a packet, or pas- 
 seni^er vessel, paying three pence for transportation, 
 lodging and meals. He shipped on a six-hundred- 
 ton brig loaded with coal for Acapulco, South 
 America. They were twenty-eight days lying off 
 Cape Horn, and each man was allowed only a pint 
 and a half of water per day, no cooking being done 
 for two weeks. They then bore away for the 
 Island Juan Fernandez, whore they expected to 
 Ond no inhabitants. Tiiey reached shore at dark 
 and anchored until morning, when they went 
 ashore. They found tliere very unexpectedly two 
 men, sailors, who had run away from a whaling 
 vessel on account of the hard service, and hav- 
 ing been unable to find food were nearly starved. 
 
 Not long after this favorable winds arose and 
 the brig was able to make its destined port. The 
 subject of this sketch had shipped to go to Aca- 
 pulco and back, and was to receive for his wages 
 $10 per month. At Acapulco he went ashore and 
 by chance met a young American sailor, who had 
 come tliere upon a condemned passenger vessel. 
 This new friend advised him to leave the Britisher 
 and ship to California at IllO per month. He 
 stole away, and mingling with the passengers on 
 the American barque, the "Talma of Salem," for 
 two weeks kept very quiet and made himself 
 known to no one. One day be was standing in 
 the fore part of the ship when a man accosted him, 
 saying, "Young man would you climb up and get 
 those socks for me on the rigging." He promptly 
 assented and did the service for the stranger. This 
 man was Mr. Richard Vosper. They entered into 
 
 conyersation and he confided bis case to Mr. Vos- 
 per. It proved that he was one of the thirty gen- 
 tlemen who had bought the vessel and were going 
 to Panama. Our subject engaged to ship with him 
 at $100 per month. The law of Acapulco was 
 that all hands upon American vessels must go to 
 the American Consulate and register. This our 
 fugitive dare not do, so Mr. Vosper, of Saranac, 
 shipped as the sailor and John Miller's name was 
 registered as passenger. 
 
 The captain of this barque was a poor navigator. 
 The crew consisted of captain, mate and two 
 sailors, our subject and a Dutchman. The Ameri- 
 can Consul refused to give the captain leave to 
 sail unless he would take with him two Spaniards 
 to a place called Rio Leo, between Acapulco and 
 Panama. There was no discii)line enforced on the 
 vessel, and all on board were shareholders except 
 John Miller and the little Dutchman. Having 
 been out about two months, they liad been for a 
 week lying on and off the coast, looking for Rio 
 Leo that they might land the Spaniards. About 
 sundown they saw a vessel close into the shore. 
 They concluded that she was also bound for Rio 
 Leo and that they might safely follow her, and as 
 in a short time she was lost to sight thought that 
 she had gone into port. In the morning they had 
 imperceptibly- drifted away, but they went sailing 
 nine miles an hour in the direction which they 
 ignorantly supposed was the right one. 
 
 When within four miles of shore they saw a 
 channel, and our subject suggested that thej^ were 
 not wliere they thought they were, but as they all 
 voted to continue in that direction they went ahead 
 at a brisk rate and ran into a sand bar. No dam- 
 age was done, l)ut they did not dare to go farther 
 in that direction. A boat was fitted out with six 
 men to carry the Spaniards to land, and John 
 Miller was one of the six. They left the ship at 
 daylight, had a good breeze and in the afternoon 
 found themselves at the mouth of the river. They 
 saw a shantj' on the bank and two Mexicans. 
 They entered the river and going up four miles 
 found themselves actually at Rio Leo, anew shant3' 
 settlement. A landing was made, and our sailors 
 went on shore with the agreement to return to 
 their boat at 7 o'clock next morning. When that 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1-2t 
 
 time arrivc'fl they could uot find the little Dutch- 
 man, and after hunting for him in vain were 
 finally obliged to leave without him. They re- 
 turned to the ship, reaching it that night at 9 
 o'clock. The next morning at dajlighl the^' put 
 to sea and made sail for Panama. When twent}' 
 miles olT from land tlie man from the mast head 
 called out, "A boat ofif the weather bow ! " Ch.-xng- 
 iiig the course of the ship they cume up to the 
 boat in an hour and a half, and to the astonishment 
 of all found in it the little Dutciiman. 
 
 At last they reached Panama in safety, and Mr. 
 Vosper decided to take .loiin Miller with him to 
 Michigan. They crossed the Isthmus on foot to 
 (iogonia, thence to Chagres in little boats and on 
 board the New York Mail Packet to Havana. 
 From there they set sail to New Orleans, and made 
 their way to Cincinnati. Going on to Cleveland, 
 our hero sailed out of that city on the lakes and 
 m.ade that bis business during that year. In the 
 fall of 1851 he came to Saranac and lived with Mr. 
 Vosper. In the spring he i)addlcd in a canoe from 
 Saranac to Grand Haven, and all that season sailed 
 on the lumber vessel "Lizzie Throop." He re- 
 turned to Mr. A'osper again in the winter, and on 
 Christmas Day he married Marilla Brant, a daugh- 
 ter of Mason and Almira (Tobias) Brant, bolii 
 natives of New York, who came to Michigan in 
 184 4 and settled on a raw farm in Boston Town- 
 ship. They cleared this off and sold it, and then 
 moved to another part of the townsliip. In 1850 
 Mr. Brant became smitten with the gold fever and 
 went overland to California and entered the gold 
 mines. He started to come home and died at San 
 Francisco. His wife is still living at the age of 
 seventy-six years. They were the parents of seven 
 children, five of whom are now living. Mrs. Miller 
 was born August 30, 1836, in New York .State. 
 
 John Miller now cstablishe<l his first home, buy- 
 ing a house at Grand Haven, but pursuing still the 
 life of a sailor, he continued to sail on the lakes 
 for thirteen years. The last seven years he was 
 captain of a vessel. He has spent altogether thirty- 
 one years on the water. He lived at Grand Haven 
 for two years and then bought his present farm, 
 where his wife lived while he was ujion the lakes. 
 In 18(32 lie enlisted in the navy of the United 
 
 Slates, and was ui)on the gunboat "Argosy," which 
 operated upon the Mississippi and Red Rivers. At 
 one time he h.ad charge of a mortar boat. He took 
 part in the lionibardment of Vicksburg and of Ft. 
 Dalrusie on the Red River, and of many masked 
 batteries all along the river. He served until the 
 close of the war, then came home and sailed one 
 year on the lakes, after which he gave up the sea- 
 faring life and since then h.as remained on his 
 farm. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Miller arc the parents of six chil- 
 dren: Mary, wife of Thom.as Branson, lives in 
 Berlin Township and has three children ; Mason, 
 who married Kate Buche and lives in Wisconsin, 
 has one child; John married Lizzie Buche and 
 lives in Muskegon; they have one child; Talbot is 
 single and lives in Oregon; James E. married Ida 
 Hull and lives in Wisconsin; Kirby is single. Mr. 
 Miller is a member of the Grand Army of the 
 Republic at Saranac, and his wife belongs to the 
 Patrons of Industry. He is a stanch Democrat in 
 politics. For many years he has been a director of 
 the school district. He raises grain and stock and 
 is .actively engaged in farm work, having one hun- 
 dred acres all improved. In connection with this 
 sketch appears a view of his residence, which he 
 built some ten years ago at a cost of i!!3,000, while 
 the barn cost 1400. He has triumphed over the 
 hardships of his early lot and in his home life has 
 made for his children the happy surroundings 
 which he lacked in his youth. 
 
 — — > • >!< ' < ■ ■-". ■ 
 
 IVILLIAM .MILLIGAN is a well-known con- 
 
 M tractor and builder of Ionia, Ionia County, 
 ^ „ this having been his home for many years, 
 and there being many examples of his skill and 
 reliability among its edifices. As a result of his 
 well-directed and conscientious labors, he has 
 acquired u good property, and what is better than 
 .silver or gold, he is everywhere well spoken of. 
 He is an excellent citizen, always lending his inllu- 
 encc on the side of right and justice, anil ready to 
 take a part in any project which promises to enhance 
 the public weal, whether it be material or moral. 
 
726 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM- 
 
 As the name denotes, the Milligans trace their 
 genealog}' back to the Emerald Isle, but the ances- 
 tors of our subject haye long been residents of 
 this country. His parents, William B. and Eliza- 
 beth (Stout) Milligan, were born in the Empire 
 State, and his father was a peddlor of Yankee 
 notions in Cayuga County. The parental family 
 comprised six sons and daughters, but two only 
 are now living —Sarah and William. The former 
 is the wife of Burr C. Andrews and their home is 
 in Kirksville,Mo. 
 
 William Milligan was born in Livingston County, 
 N. Y"., December 1, 1828, and at the age of seven 
 years went to live with his grandmother on a farm. 
 Two years later he went to work for S. M. Jeuks 
 in Tioga Count}^ and continued to follow- agricul- 
 tural pursuits until he had reached his twenty-third 
 year. He then learneil the carpenter's trade with 
 Caleb B. Olney, and having come to Michigan in 
 1856, he worked at his trade here until after the 
 Civil War began. 
 
 Having decided tiiat his country needed his ser- 
 vices in the South Mr. Milligan enlisted September 
 15, 1862, in Com()any E, First Michigan Engineers 
 and Mechanics. He was enrolled as a private, 
 became Corporal, then Sergeant, and at Atlanta was 
 promoted to the rank of Orderly Sergeant. The 
 regiment, in command of Col. Innes, left Marshall, 
 the place of rendezvous, with one thousand and 
 thirty-two men December 17, 1861. They were 
 under orders to report to Gen. Buell and during the 
 winter were engaged in building railroad bridges 
 at Franklin, Columbia, Murfreesboro and other 
 points, with headquarters at Nashville. During 
 the succeeding campaign they had arduous work to 
 accomplish, many bridges having to be built, forti- 
 fications erected, and repairs made along the line. 
 At Lavergne, Tenn., in 1862, three hundred and 
 fifteen of the number, among them our subject, 
 withstood the enemy for five hours, or until dark- 
 ness compelled the Confederates to retire. Surren- 
 der had been demanded but the reply of Col. Innes 
 was, "I can't see it so long as my ammunition holds 
 out." The loss of the regiment was one killed and 
 six wounded, while tliat of the enemj' was more 
 than a hundred. 
 
 The regiment was officially commanded by Gen. 
 
 Rosecrans, who stated that they held in check a 
 force of ten times their own number. From '-An- 
 nals of the Army of the Cumberland," a work pub- 
 lished since the war, we rjuote the following: 
 
 "\yhile the battle was raging before Murfrees- 
 boro, a niost brilliant and decisive affair occurred 
 at Lavergne. The First Michigan Engineers and 
 Mechanics had been left at that place to protect 
 communication and had taken position on an ele- 
 vated piece of ground in the rear of the village, 
 surrounding themselves with a barricade of brush 
 much in the nature of a common brush fence. The 
 command numbered three hundred and ninety-one. 
 About 2 o'clock in the afternoon Gen. Wheeler, 
 who had been busying himself in destroying trains 
 upon the road, suddenl}' appeared before Col. 
 Innes' improvised fort with a force of about three 
 thousand men and two pieces of artillery, demand- 
 ing an immediate surrender. This was refused and 
 a charge was made upon the garrison, but the 
 rebels were spiritedly repulsed and driven into the 
 neighboring thickets. Seven times the enemy 
 attempted to carry the flimsy work and seven times 
 they were driven back with heavy loss." 
 
 Mr. Milligan was in the fight at Chattanooga 
 October 6, 1863; siege of Atlanta July 22, to Sep- 
 tember 2, 1864; Savannah November 11 and 21; 
 Bentonville March 19, 1865. His recollections of 
 tearing up track in places, twisting rails into cork- 
 screws, and at others of laying track and repairing 
 bridges, are vivid, as the regiment had much such 
 work to do. He was in the service almost three 
 years, his discharge bearing the date of July, 1865. 
 After the war he returned to Ionia and resumed 
 the arts of peace and since that time he has given 
 his attention to contracting and building here. 
 
 In 1858 Mr. Milligan was married to Miss Louisa 
 Kenney, who died of typhoid fever after a wedded 
 life of a little less than two }'ears. His present 
 wife was known in her maidenhood as Miss Minerva 
 Murray. This union has been blessed by the birth 
 of four children, but the parents have lost two by 
 the hand of death. The living are happily mar- 
 ried — Bertha E. being the wife of L. P. Brock, and 
 Edith L. the wife of George Tunison. 
 
 The first vote cast by Mr. Milligan was for Gen. 
 Winfield Scott and this was followed by a ballot 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 727 
 
 for Gen. Fremont. Ho h.ss continued to adhere to 
 tlic Republican part}', and without beinjr a politi- 
 cian in the ordinary usage of that word, he is well 
 posted and ably sn])[iorts tlio part}-. He is a mem- 
 ber of the (Irand Army of the Republic and of the 
 Church of Clirist, and does with his might what- 
 ever his hands find to do, whether it be work con- 
 nected with the social society or the church. He 
 is e(iually earnest in business affairs, and in any 
 other matter in which he takes an interest. 
 
 I^USSELL M. KKLLCKtO. The "Rushue Fruit 
 l^V I'sn'iii" of which tliis gentleman is propric 
 o!i fli tor, is located on the bluffs of I'rairie Creek, 
 Ionia Countj', three-fourths of a mile north- 
 east of Ionia City limits. Mr. Kellogg is not onl^- 
 the largest small fruit grower in Central Michigan 
 but an enthusiastic horticulturist and a recognized 
 authority in all matters |)ertaining to the business. 
 The reputation of his farm has extended over 
 nearly the entire State and orders are often re- 
 ceived from distant points to send choice fruits for 
 some special occasion, while regular supplies 
 are shipped to private families in Bay City, 
 Saginaw and Detroit, an<l other cities. Probably 
 no small fruit farm in the State contains so great 
 a variety of fruits, and no expense is spared 
 in its cultivation. For several years Mr. Kellogg 
 has been engaged in improving leading varieties 
 of plants by a system of selection until now he 
 believes he can nearly double the crop on the 
 same soil and cultivation. Ever}' farmer and fruit- 
 grower should send for his new book on fruit 
 culture, which gives a full description of his method 
 of cultivation and propagation of pedigree plants. 
 Price fifteen cents. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice was born 
 at Boston, Ohio. May 19, 1843, and left home at 
 the early age of eight years to begin work on a 
 farm. For a decade he was thus employed, attend- 
 ing school in the winter months, and so obtaining 
 a good common-school education. He entered the 
 service as First Sergeant in Company C, Eighth 
 Michigan Cavalrj-, October 10, 1862, and served 
 
 with the regiment until August, 18G3. An injury 
 received from a vicious horse caused his transfer- 
 ance to Company H, Eighteenth Veteran Reserves. 
 He was given command of the veteran company 
 until .Alarch 23, 18G4, when he was made Sergeanl- 
 Major. He was discharged December 12, 1865. 
 In June, 1864, he had received a partial sunstroke, 
 and after his discharge his eyes were affected 
 thereby and he still suffers. 
 
 After his discharge from the army Mr. Kellogg 
 traveled for five years, giving illustrated lectures 
 upon the war and also iqwn geology. In 1874 
 he went to IJattlo Creek and with his brother, 
 Frank J., established the Battle Creek Cutlery 
 Works. He sold out his interest a year and a half 
 after entering the business and took up the study 
 of law, s|)cnding two years in the law department 
 of Michigan I'niversity at Ann Arbor. He i)rae- 
 ticeil at Grand Rapids a year, then went on the 
 road as a commercial traveler, and was thus era- 
 ployed until 1883. He then settled at Detroit, 
 intending to resume the practice of his profes- 
 sion, but as his health was not good he changed 
 his purpose and in 1884 bought his present farm. 
 
 December 24, 1869, Mr. Kellogg was n)arried to 
 Miss Orrilla C, daughter of Rodolphus S. and 
 Orrilla ( llolman) Richards. Both were born in Con- 
 necticut, but the father was only a child when his 
 parents removed to Vermont. Mrs. Kellogg was 
 born at Portage, Ohio, March 8, 1844, and during 
 that year her parents joined the (jioneers of this 
 State. As she grew up she turned her attention 
 to teaching, which she followed in this State twelve 
 years. She is a prominent worker in the Woman's 
 Christian Temperance Union, has been President 
 of the Local Union, has also held the office of 
 County President five years and is District Super- 
 intendent of Franchise. She has lectured through- 
 out all the counties of this, the Fifth Congres- 
 sional District, upon woman suffrage and the 
 work of the Union, and has made many other 
 addresses, notably those in the House of Correc- 
 tion at Ionia. By the State Suffrage Society she 
 was invited to address the joint committee of the 
 Seiuite and H(nise of Representatives on elections 
 and judiciary, and subsequently to address a joint 
 session of the two Houses of State Legislature. 
 
728 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 She is a woman of strong intellect, and having no 
 children to need her constant care — her only child, 
 Burton Stanley, having lived only from March 6, 
 1873, to December 15, 1876— she has time to de- 
 vote to public work. 
 
 Since 1884 Mr. Kellogg has been a Prohi- 
 bitionist and he continues to talse an active part 
 in politics as he did in his old party. He was a 
 candidate for Prosecuting Attorney in 1886 and 
 1890 for Circuit Court Commissioner in 1884 and 
 1888, and for Regent of the State University in 
 1886. He has taken a very prominent part in the 
 workings of the Patrons of Industry and in its 
 interest has made numerous public addresses and 
 frequently been a delegate to county and State con- 
 ventions. 
 
 i"^* 
 
 ^ 5k|uA»Xk^- 
 
 ^ILLIAM R. JONKS, the genial proprietor 
 of the Hotel Jones in Edmore, Montcalm 
 County, is as widely known as any resi- 
 dent of the place, and without doubt has as many 
 friends. Connected with the interests of the town 
 in several ways, he is manifesting a degree of zeal 
 and ambition in prosecuting liis work that makes 
 him an example to the young and leads to a suc- 
 cessful issue, schemes that in other hands would 
 fail. As a hotel-keeper he has had but a limited 
 e.vperience, but his desire to please and his knowl- 
 edge of the needs of the traveling public have 
 started him on the high road to success. He opened 
 the Hotel Jones in August, 1890, and already has 
 a large commercial patronage, and is called the 
 most popular host on the line. Of his other inter- 
 ests we will speak below. 
 
 The birthplace of our subject is the cit3' of Jack- 
 son, at that time a much less populous one than at 
 present. His natal day was February 26, 1842, and 
 his childhood was spent in his native place, whence 
 he was taken to Kent Countj' in 1850. There he 
 attended the district school and aided his father to 
 develop a farm and there, too, he killed deer, bear 
 and wolves, before the country was cleared and 
 Will settled. In breaking the soil of the raw land 
 
 he used six yoke of oxen and altogether he helped 
 to break over a thousand acres. When twenty 
 years old he began working out as a farm hand, 
 and after two or three years felt justified in pur- 
 chasing a farm in Oakfield Township, on the Mont- 
 calm County line. With his own hands Mr. Jones 
 put up a board shanty in which to live while begin- 
 ning the work before him. He had one hundred 
 and twenty acres that he improved from the timber 
 and on which he remained eight years, and until 
 failing health compelled him to give up farm work. 
 
 Renjoving to Greenville, Montcalm County, he 
 began the study of veterinary surgery under Dr. 
 Gerls, and two 3'ears later went to Big Rapids and 
 opened an office. He was the only "vet" within a 
 radius of seventy-five or a hundred miles, and had 
 to travel almost night and day to answer the calls 
 that soon poured in upon him. In addition to that 
 work he dealt in stock and he still carries on both 
 occupations to some extent. In 1887 Mr. Jones 
 came to Edmore and built a fine barn, 65x135 feet, 
 with all conveniences, and put in a livery stock. 
 He has as well kept an establishment as the county 
 affords and does a flourishing business. "Doctor" 
 Jones, as he is commonly called, is a lover of horses 
 and a first-class judge of their qualities, as well as 
 a practically skilled veterinary surgeon. ile is 
 now raising standard bred equines and has some 
 fine stable horses, among them "Doc Jones," a b.ay 
 Hambletonian with a record of 2:30. He also 
 raises full blooded Jersey cattle and every year 
 carries off the blue ribbons from fairs. He owns 
 and has improved a farm of fifty acres in Home 
 Township, which he superintends, and he has real 
 estate in Edmore beside the stable and hotel. 
 
 Mr. Jones is of English descent in the paternal 
 line, anil comes of an old Hertfordshire famil3-. 
 His grandfather, Thomas Jones, was a man of 
 means, extensively engaged in the stock business 
 and also a butcher. A second Thomas Jones be- 
 came a carpenter and emigrated to America when 
 about twenty years old. He spent a short time in 
 Buffalo and Toledo, then joined the tide of empire 
 that was setting to Michigan and about 1838 made 
 his home in Jackson. He was foreman of the force 
 that built the first prison — made of tamarack poles 
 — and worked at his trade until after his marriage 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 729 
 
 wlien lie bought land and turned his attention to 
 farming:. He operated a tract of one hundred and 
 sixty acres in Liberty Townsliip, Ave miles from 
 the city, and in 1850 removed to Kent County. 
 In Oalitield Township he improved three hundred 
 and twenty acres and on that farm he made his 
 liome until dealii. lie passed away at the age of 
 seventy-one years, having vficlded a strong influ- 
 ence for good over his associates and gained the 
 good-will of every one who knew him. He was an 
 old line Whig in politics and a Baptist in religious 
 faith. Various township odices were held by him 
 and he was an ardent worker in the Sunda3'-school. 
 
 The wife of Thomas Jones and mother of our 
 subject was known in her girlhood as Miss Sarah 
 A. Potter. She was born in Onondaga County, N. 
 Y., and died in Kent County, this State, in 1881. 
 Her father, Benjamin Potter, was a native of the 
 same county as herself and wiis a farmer b)' occu- 
 pation. He was an earlj- settler in Jackson Count}', 
 this State, and during the 'lOs changed his resi- 
 dence to Kent Country, where he died at the age of 
 four-score j-ears, after having improved a tract of 
 land there. He was a soldier in the AVar of 1812. 
 
 Jn Oakfield Township, Kent County, April 1, 
 1862, Dr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss 
 Maggie B. Mallory, a capable and estimable Penn- 
 sylvania lady. The surviving children Itorii of this 
 union are Jlyrtie E., who married A. C. Morehcad 
 of Edmorc, and Minnie A., who is yet with her 
 parents. Both were given good opportunities to 
 develop their minds and cultivate the graces of 
 manner and of heart, and they fill places of useful- 
 ness in their circles. 
 
 Mr. Jones was the prime mover in getting a 
 driving park in Edmore. He called a meeting of 
 the citizens, presided as chairman, and saw that a 
 stock company was formed, known as the Edmore 
 Driving Park Association. With the exception of 
 one year he his been President since the organiza- 
 tion in 1885. The grounds are tweiit}- acres in 
 extent, and the track is as good as any in the 
 country. It is a half-mile circuit. There were 
 over five hundred stumps on the tract when it was 
 laid out antl Mr. Jones helped pull out every one. 
 He is agent for the Chamberlain Stump Machine. 
 In 1888 he was appointed by N. A. Porter, Deputy 
 
 Sheriff, and his duties are faithfully performed, he 
 being fearless and courageous wlien there is call 
 for his services. He has been Village Trustee and was 
 Highway Commissioner two years. Politically he 
 is a fervent Kepublican and he wields a strong 
 influence in [larty circles. 
 
 — > . ^JCJ C. w^ 
 
 W^ILLL^M DeGRAW, an old pioneer and 
 respected citizen of Eureka Township, 
 Montcalm County, was born in Seneca 
 County, Lodi Township, N. Y., February 11, 1811. 
 He belonged to a highly respected family which is 
 notable for the long lives of its members. His 
 father, Isaac DeGraw was a son of John who was 
 born in France. Like many another young French- 
 man, he symjjathized with America in the Revo- 
 lutionary War and after his removal to this country 
 served in Wasiiington's army through the entire 
 period of warfare. His wife Leo Debrish was a 
 native of Holland. She reared seven sons and 
 lived to see one hundred and six years of life, and 
 was hale and hearty in her old age. 
 
 The father of our subject was brought up in 
 Seneca County, N Y., and i)ursued the vocation of 
 a farmer. He was drafted into the army near the 
 close of the War of 1812, but was not called into 
 active service. His religious belief was with the 
 Methodist Church and his political convictions 
 with the Democratic party. His wife, who bore 
 the maiden name of Mehitable Miller, reared a 
 family of ten children. She died at the age of 
 seventy years, but he reached tiie limit of four- 
 score years and ten. 
 
 In his early manhood the subject of this sketch 
 followed the trade of a carpenter. He came to 
 Michigan in 1838, and settled in Washtenaw 
 County, buying fifty acres of land. Somewhat 
 later he ad<Ied to iiis acreage until he attained pos- 
 session of eighty acres. His first journey from 
 Detroit to Washtenaw County, was made on foot. 
 He traveled through dense woods and amono- the 
 Indians. In the spring of 1853, having sold his 
 place, he came to Montcalm County and bought the 
 farm where he now resides. Upon it was a small 
 
730 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 clearing and a little log bouse. Here he has one 
 liundred and sixty acres, one hundred of which arc 
 improved. In 1854 he built a good frame barn, 
 and his present comfortable home in 1862. He has 
 carried on general farming and paid some attention 
 to stock-raising and grain. 
 
 The good lady who presided with such grace and 
 dignity over this rural home became Mrs. DeGraw 
 September 24, 1834. Her name was Lorena Loomis. 
 She was boru in Yates County, N. Y., February 
 3, 1815. Her good parents were Thomas- and 
 Irena (Chub) Loomis, both natives of New York. 
 The three children of our subject and his excellent 
 wife are living and are the heads of families. Their 
 names are: Evaline (Mrs. Smith), John and Earn- 
 est G. The Free Methodist Church is the religious 
 home of tliis family and in its work and service 
 they are active and useful. Mr. DeGraw lives a 
 retired life and his farm is in the hands of a tenant. 
 
 He has been an earnest and hard-working pio- 
 neer and deserves great credit for his services in 
 iielping to develop the resources of the county. It 
 is a delight to see the beautiful old age of this ex- 
 cellent couple who have lived in harmony for fifty- 
 six jears. 
 
 NDUEW LITTLE. Among the farmers 
 of Ionia County who have been carrying 
 on their work within its bounds several 
 decades, may be mentioned Mr. Little, 
 whose home is on section 8, Ronald Township. He 
 has there one hundred and sixty acres of well-im- 
 proved land which he devotes to the purposes of 
 general farming and from which he derives a good 
 income. The land is carefully tilled, so that its 
 fertility is kept up to par and whatever constitu- 
 ents are drawn from the soil are replaced by proper 
 rotation of crops or the use of some good fertiliz- 
 ing agent. A good set of outbuildings is to be 
 seen on the estate and a farmhouse that looks home- 
 like and hospitable. 
 
 The jjarents of our subject were John and Cath- 
 erine (Smith) Little, natives of Pennsylvania, in 
 
 which State they became husband and wife. They 
 removed thence to Waj'nc County, Ohio, and from 
 that locality came to Michigan in 1855. They 
 made a permanent location in Ionia County and 
 when they were called hence they were laid to rest 
 side by side in the Woodard Lake Cemetery. The 
 mother died in 1885 and the father in 1889. They 
 had ten children, four daughters and six sons, and 
 of this number three daughters and four sons are 
 yet living. Andrew, who is the third child and 
 eldest son, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, De- 
 cember 6, 1835, and remained in his native State 
 until he was nineteen 3'ears old. His first schooling 
 was in the home district and he continued his stud- 
 ies iu the common school, giving the intervals of 
 study to home duties until he had reached the age 
 mentioned. He then worked by the month on a 
 farm for two years and in 1855 came to this State. 
 His journey was made in the spring before his par- 
 ents came, and he bought eighty acres of unim- 
 proved swamp land on which he worked two 
 summers. 
 
 At the expiration of that period Mr. Little went 
 to work for his father, in order to help pay for the 
 land his parent had bought. In the fall of 1861 
 he determined to enter the Union army, and en- 
 listed November 6, becoming a member of Com- 
 pany F, Thirteenth Michigan Infantry. The regi- 
 ment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland 
 and as an integral part of that great body Mr. 
 Little fulfilled the duties belonging to a loyal 
 soldier, from a private to a commissioned officer, 
 for nearly two years. He was only absent from 
 the command six weeks, when in the convalescent 
 camp at Nashville, Teun., and at the end of two 
 years he re-enlisted iu the same company and 
 served until the close of the war. The noted bat- 
 tles in which he took part were Shiloh, Corinth, 
 Stephenson, Ala., Mumfordsville, Perryville, Mill 
 Creek, Stone River, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Mis- 
 sion Ridge, Chattanooga, Savannah, Averjsboro, 
 Bentonville, Goldsboro and Raleigh. At Corinth, 
 Chattanooga and Savannah he was present during 
 the sieges. He was one of the fortunate few to 
 pass through all the dangerous experiences of camp 
 and campaign life without receiving a scratch. 
 
 After being discharged Mr. Little returned to 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 r3i 
 
 his former home ami the same fail was united in 
 marriage to Miss Amelia Dixon. She was born in 
 the Buckeye State November 3, 1842, and died 
 Apiil 23, 1875, after a wedded life of ten j-ears. 
 To the union there came five children: Mar}- C, 
 who died June 3, 1869; Flora, who died Jul}' 14, 
 18G9; Lora D., who breathed his last December 14, 
 18'J0; James E., who is attending business college 
 in Ionia; and Forrest, who is with his father. A 
 second matrimonial alliance was contracted by Mr. 
 Little December 24, 1877, when he married Amanda 
 Swift. She was born in Ohio January 13, 1838, 
 and died May 27, 1881. Again Mr. Little entered 
 into the marriage relation, wedding Mrs. NinaM.ay 
 AVorden in 188G. The present Mrs. Little is a. na- 
 tive of Ionia Count}', born in Otisco Township 
 April 4, 1858, and reared in her native place. She 
 is the j'oungcst of five children comprising the 
 family of Clark L. and Sally A. (Thompson) 
 Deniorest. Her ]iarents were born in New York 
 and made an early settlement in this SUite and 
 still live in Otisco Township. 
 
 Mr. Little has borne his part in carrying on the 
 civic affairs of the township. He was at one time 
 a member of the Good Temi)lar'8 Order and is still 
 such in belief. His political adherence is to the 
 Kei)ul)lican party. He and his wife belong to the 
 Church of Christ and he fills the ollice of a 
 Deacon. 
 
 ■^^ 
 
 -i- 
 
 ILAS FINCH. The acquaintance of this 
 gentleman with the affairs of Ionia County 
 l)egan in his boyhood and during the '30s 
 and he has passed through all the exper- 
 iences that attended the development of this sec- 
 tion. The far-famed Grand River Valley has been 
 transformed from a region of wilderness, with here 
 and there a cultivated tract, into beautiful farms 
 and town lots, and in labor that has l)een necessary 
 to accomplish this result l\Ir. Finch has borne a part 
 as boy and man. The farm he now occupies on 
 section 28, Easton Township, was taken jjossession 
 of by his father when the family came hither in the 
 fall of 1839. Tliere a log cabin was built and the 
 work of clearing begun, the young son aiding his 
 
 father as best he could and doing more each year 
 toward the perfect development of the property. 
 Many of the most prominent citizens of this locality 
 belong to old New York families and were them- 
 selves born in the Empire Slate. This is the case 
 with Silas Finch, who opened his eyes to the light 
 in (ienesee County, July 22, 1832. His parents 
 were Isaac and Almedia (Kellogg) Finch, natives 
 of New York and Connecticut respectively, and 
 his father was a soldier in the War of 1812. The 
 parental family was a large one, but our subject 
 and Mrs. J. N. Hodge of the same township are the 
 only surviving members. The father breathed his 
 last on the farm he had worked so hard to develop, 
 November 4, 1874. He was in early days an old- 
 line Whig and later in life became a Democrat. He 
 was a good citizen and an honest man. The 
 mother of our subject died a few years after the 
 family came West. 
 
 The subject of this biographical notice obtained 
 the rudiments of an education in the schools char- 
 acteristic of the days of his boyhood, and bad not 
 the privilege of a higher education. The deficien- 
 cies in his early training have been largely counter- 
 balanced by his ambition to keep posted ami the 
 use he has made of pai)ers and books. He devoted 
 himself energetically to farm work and rose to a 
 [)rouiinent place among the landowners of the 
 township. He has now two hundred and twenty 
 acres mostly under cultivation, where such farm 
 buildings as are usually put up by a man of good 
 judgment are to be seen, and such home surround- 
 ings as betoken the taste of his wife and family. 
 
 Mr. Finch was married to Miss Laura L. Mason 
 November 12, 1861. The bride was born in Mar- 
 shall, Calhoun County, November 12, 1842, but 
 has lived in Ionia County since her childhood. Her 
 l)arents, Louis and Sarah (Metcalf) Mason, were 
 n.-itives of \'ermont and came to Michigan in an 
 early day. Their last home was in EastoTi 
 Township, Ionia County. They had a large fam- 
 ily and six besides Mrs. Finch are now living. 
 These are Alpbonso, whose home is in Lake View; 
 Iloxy A., wife of John Day, living near Topeka, 
 Kan.; Elisha living near Grand Rapids; Henry 
 and Burdetle, who live in Ionia County, and Alan- 
 gon, now of Osceola County. The family of Mr. 
 
732 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and Mrs. Finch consists of two sons and a daughter 
 who are named respectively, Isaac J., Harriet J. 
 and George 8. 
 
 That Mr, Finch has been successful in worldl3- 
 affairs his broad acres and comfortable home at- 
 test. He is a man of social, agreeable disposition, 
 and his large fund of historical lore pertaining to 
 Ionia County makes his society especially attrac- 
 tive to those who enjoy pioneer reminiscences. His 
 wife is a lady of much intelligence, and the entire 
 family take an interest in their own progress and 
 that of those about them. Mr. Finch is a Demo- 
 crat in politics. He is now serving as School As- 
 sessor. 
 
 ^^KORGE A.NEWTON. Among the early 
 III (_, settlers of Ionia County who richi}' deserve 
 ^\^Jj tiie esteem of their community, is the gen- 
 tleman whose name introduces these paragraplis. 
 He does not crave tlie exciting stimulants of polit- 
 ical life, nor does he seek to gratify his ambition 
 by reaching after high positions, but is rather one 
 who enjoys the tranquil pursuits of agricultural 
 and domestic life. He is farming extensively in 
 this county, and iiis unremitting industry has 
 crowned his labors with success. 
 
 George A. Newton is a prominent citizen resid- 
 ing on section 13, Easton Township, and is a na- 
 tive of Niagara Countj', N. Y., born April 22, 
 1831. He was a son of Ezra and Ann (Torrey) 
 Newton, the father a native of Connecticut, and 
 the mother of Massachusetts. His paternal ances- 
 tors were of English descent. When six months 
 old our subject w.as brought by his parents to Michi- 
 gan where, in Lenawee County, the family settled 
 and endured the hardships of pioneer life; both are 
 now deceased. The parents of our subject had a 
 family of three children, who are living: David T., 
 residing in Hudson, Mich.; George A.; and Cath- 
 erine E., now Mrs. Carpenter, a widow, residing in 
 Lenawee County. 
 
 Mr. Newton was reared to manhood in Lenawee 
 County, this State, amid scenes of frontier life, and 
 consequently did much pioneer work. He received 
 the rudiments of his education in the early log 
 
 cabin schoolhouse, which was a representative of 
 the schools of that county. The cabin was con- 
 structed of logs, with a puncheon floor and rude 
 seats and desks, so as we may imagine school 
 advantages at that time were not what they are 
 now. 
 
 Mr. Newton was united in the holy bonds of 
 wedlock with Charlotte M. Boulton, February 16, 
 1857. Mrs. Newton was born in Orleans County, 
 N. Y., October 13, 1828, and is the daughter of 
 William J. and Nancy (Kelley) Boulton, her father 
 being a native of England, and came to America 
 in 1812. He was impressed by the British into the 
 naval service, on board of a man-of-war, but learn- 
 ing that he was to fight against people who were 
 battling for liberty he deserted the Biitish service. 
 At this time he was in his early manhood, and he 
 was afterwards made Captain of the militia of 
 I^enawee County, Mich., and was familiarly known 
 as Capt. Boulton; he died in 1885. The parents 
 of Mrs. Boulton had a large family, and five chil- 
 dren are now living: Mrs. Newton; Mary L., Mrs. 
 Wells, now a widow, of Claypool, Ind. ; George, re- 
 siding in Palmyra, Mich.; Mrs. Haynor and Lucius 
 J., living in Easton Township. The union of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Newton has been blessed by the birth of 
 two children: Owen E., residing on section 10, 
 Easton Township, on a farm which is owned by 
 his father; and Ella E., who is deceased, was born 
 October 13, 1861, and died September 30, 1862. 
 
 In 1857 our subject came to Ionia County and 
 settled on section 10, Easton Township, in heavily 
 timbered lands, and here he was the first one to 
 fell a forest tree. He took up and cleared eighty 
 acres of land, where he has since remained. After 
 the marriage of his son he presented the latter with 
 forty acres of land, leaving himself with forty acres 
 also, which he has splendidly improved. This farm 
 is a standing monument of his industry and fine 
 management. He is a self-made man, and in the 
 .accumulation of his property has been ably assisted 
 by his devoted wife, who has been his counselor 
 for years. They are representative pioneers of the 
 county and have a warm circle of friends. 
 
 In politics Mr. Newton is a Democrat and has 
 often been solicited to take offices of trust, but 
 these he did not accept, preferring rather the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 733 
 
 quieliule of other lines of life. As early settlers 
 this good family necessarily endured the hanlships 
 incident to a, frontier life, but now they are enjoy- 
 ing; the fruits earned by their hard labors. They 
 are highly resjiected and are among the most 
 worthy residents of Ionia County. 
 
 IIARLKS O. JKNISON, M. D. The life 
 of this well-known ph^-sician of Greenville, 
 Montcalm County, has not been without 
 varied incidents and experiences that were not as 
 pleasant to pass through as they are interesting in 
 the recital. He \Yas left fatherless at a very early 
 age, and felt the necessity of aiding his mother, as 
 she ha<l been left without means. The history of 
 his earl}' life is that of a plucky, enterprising lad, 
 who was determined to make the best of his sur 
 roundings and rise from an obscure position. lie 
 came of good families and had an excellent mother 
 to encourage him in his aspirations, while the tra- 
 ditions of his childhood were an added incentive 
 to him. Little by little he pushed his way forward 
 until he was in a position to acquire a professional 
 education and finally to enter upon the work to 
 which his tastes led him. 
 
 Charles H. .Jeidson, father <»f our subject, was 
 the son of Henry .lenisaw, a Spaniard who was 
 driven from his native land and had his properly 
 conliscated on account of his political career. 
 Coming to the United States he had located near 
 Hoston and changeil his name to the form now used 
 by his descendants. Charles H. Jenison was born 
 in the old Ba}' State and became a prominent 
 dealer in merchandise, carrying on his business 
 some twenty years. Losses by fire and poor debts 
 made him a bankrupt, and when he died in 1841>, 
 his widow and two sons had a hard struggle. His 
 wife bore the maiden name of Martha Fales, and 
 waa a daughter of Joel and Ruth (Partridge) 
 Fales, of Wal pole, Mass. Her father was a manu- 
 facturer of iron, having a foundry and ro.ichine 
 shops. He had a large family, fifteen iu number, 
 and six are still living, Mrs. Jenison being one of 
 
 these. Her paternal grandfather came to this 
 country from Norway. 
 
 Our subject was horn in Boston in 1813 and was 
 six years old when bereft of his father, while his 
 brother was two years younger. He entered ui)on 
 his career by selling papers and blacking boots in 
 the streets of his native city and staid with his 
 mother until he was twelve years old. He s|)ent 
 the next three years in attending school, picking 
 up odd jobs where he could find them ami acting 
 ss errand boy in a store, thus making his attend- 
 ance in the institution of learning somewhat 
 irregular. He began doing chores for Dr. Bowdish 
 when fourteen years old and worked for that gen- 
 tleman two years. He continued to earn his living 
 by doing any work which came in his way until he 
 was fourteen years old, when he secured a position 
 as chainman for a surveying party that went out 
 from the Hub, and ko|>t the [ilace until the war 
 began. 
 
 The surveying party was at Manchester, N. H., 
 doing work which was to settle a land quarrel in 
 court, when they iieard that Ft. Sumter had been 
 fired on. The second day of the firing on that re- 
 nowned fort, young Jenison, then eighteen years 
 old, enlisted in Company C, First New Hampshire 
 Infantry. Three days later he was on guard at a 
 gate leading to the soldiers' quarters and his orders 
 were to let no one enter without special permission. 
 Many were trying to get into the camp and finally 
 the Governor of the State drove up and ordered 
 the gate to be opened. Mr. Jenison replied that he 
 had been given his orders to let no one pass. The 
 Governor, who was accompaniedby Minister Hoag, 
 said, ''You don't know who I am ; I'm llie Governor 
 of New Hampshire." The reply of Mr. Jenison 
 was to the effect that not even an embassador from 
 heaven would have the gate opened to him without 
 the authority of the superior ofllcers. He was 
 asked to call the Colonel — Mason W. Tappan, 
 t'nited Slates Senator at the time — and did so. The 
 Colonel rather roughly inquired what Jenison wa.s 
 doing and why be did not let the Governor in. He 
 said, "I am obeying orders." The Governor was 
 admitte<l and as his retinue passed he turned to the 
 guard and said, 'T will sec you later." 
 
 The next morning young Jenison was relieved 
 
734 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 from duty and sent to the Company's quarters by 
 order of the Colonel. He went with fear and 
 trembling to be asked, "Did you not know that you 
 committed a breach of etiquette and that you must 
 be punished.''" Mr. Jenison responded that if in 
 olieying orders he had committed a breach of mili- 
 tary discipline he was willing to receive punish- 
 ment. He was ordered to take off his coat and vest 
 and told that lie was to be measured for a strait- 
 jacket. His measure was taken, the figures noted 
 and he ordered to report to the Captain. At dress 
 parade two days later the Adjutant ordered him to 
 the front and center. The Governor was present 
 and made an address to the regiment, at the con- 
 clusion of which ho turned to our subject, and 
 staling that he was to receive punishment for his 
 action at the gate, handed him a Second Lieuten- 
 ant's commission. The Governor's v.'ife stepped 
 forward and presented him with his strait-jacket in 
 the shai)e of two suits of clothes, and Minister 
 Hoag gave him his sash, belt and sword. 
 
 When the regiment broke camp Lieut. Jenison 
 had command of the rear guard. As they passed 
 up Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington in review 
 before two gentlemen, the Colonel cried out to 
 him, "why don't you salute.'" "Whom.''" ''The 
 President and Gen. Scott." The young Lieutenant 
 at once hailed his command, presented arms and 
 saluted, then stepped forward and asked the Pres- 
 ident and General to excuse him as he had not 
 known them. President Lincoln placed his hand 
 on the young officer's head, asking him if he had a 
 mother living and then if he had a father living. 
 Receiving his replies, the President then said, ''You 
 must go home. You are too young to meet the in- 
 cidents of war." The young man begged permis- 
 sion to remain and the Colonel spoke for him, by 
 sa^'ing there was no fear of his disobeying orders. 
 The President spoke of seeing him again, and after 
 tlie troops went into camp on Kalomarina Heights, 
 he had the pleasure of meeting President and Mrs. 
 Lincoln, Secretaries Stanton and Seward and their 
 families, and of being lionized to a considerable 
 extent. 
 
 Lieut. Jenison took part in tlie disastrous battle 
 of Bull Run and received a scalp wound from one 
 of Lee's Black Horse Cavalry. After four month's 
 
 service he returned home, but the same fall re- 
 enlisted, entering upon his duties as Adjutant of 
 tlie Fourth New Hampshire Infantry. He took part 
 in the battles of Port Royal, Beaufort, Fernandina, 
 Jacksonville, Palatka, St. Augustine and James 
 Island. At the last named, while acting as aid-de- 
 camp for Gen. H. G. Wright, he was wounded in 
 the left arm above the elbow. He was then sent 
 North dispatches from Gen. Hunter and transferred 
 to the Third Massachusetts Cavalry. In 1864 he 
 reported for duty at New Orleans and was in the 
 city six months, acting under orders from Gen. 
 Banks as Commissary of Subsistence at the cavalry 
 rendezvous at the head of Capitola Street. He 
 then went on Bank's expedition up the Red River, 
 during which he participated in the fight at Sabine 
 Crossroads. He received an injury to his left hip, 
 was sent to New Orleans and thence to Jefferson 
 Barracks, near St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 When he was able to travel Lieut. Jenison re- 
 ceived a furlough and the day he started East a 
 young man named C. O. Denison died. The report 
 was made of the death of C. O. Jenison, and that 
 name was put on the stone that marked the resting 
 place of the deceased soldier. A paper containing 
 a notice of the death of C. O. Jenison reached the 
 hands of our subject's mother, who was acting as 
 an army nurse. He was soon able to dispel her 
 grief, but after the war he was twenty-two years in 
 proving to the Government that he was alive and 
 not dead, and that the one letter which constituted 
 tiie difference in the names of himself and the other 
 soldier had made all the trouble. Dr. Jenison's 
 brother, Henry J., also served his country, acting 
 as paymaster in the navy. The Doctor was obliged 
 to use crutches a j'ear after the war closed on ac- 
 count of the injury to his hip. He was mustered 
 out after Lee's surrender and returned East to fit 
 himself for man's work in civil life. 
 
 The study of medicine was undertaken by Dr. 
 Jenison under Dr. O. F. Seavey of Boston, but 
 after a year's reading his eyes troubled him so that 
 he was obliged to abandon it. He tlien became an 
 attache of the Boston Theatre, one and a half years, 
 after which he w.as able to resume his studies. He 
 attended lectures at the Bennett Medical College in 
 Chicago, 111., and graduated at the end of a three 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 73S 
 
 years' course in 1877, and upon leaving that insti- 
 tution began practice in Milwaukee, Wis. There 
 lie remained until 1882, when he sold out his prac- 
 tice on account of the health of his family and 
 came to Greenville, and since his arrival hero has 
 taken a course in the College of PliysicMans and 
 Surgeons at Chicago, III. He has built up an ex- 
 cellent reputation as a practitioner and has pros- 
 pered in his jvorldl}' aflairs, while he has taken a 
 great interest in various social orders and matters 
 which pertain to the advancement of the com- 
 mutiity. 
 
 While living in Milwaukee Dr. Jenison was Com- 
 manderof Robert Shive Post, No. 2, G. A. 11., and 
 surgeon of the First Regiment of the Wisconsin 
 Militia. Since he located in Greenville he has been 
 chief mustering officer for the Grand Army oue 
 year and he is now surgeon of the Union Veteran 
 Union and Colonel of G. H. Thomas Command of 
 the same. He is also Captain of the Uniformed 
 Rank, Division No. 10, K. of P., and belongs to the 
 Odd Fellow's Lodge and the Royal Arcanum and 
 the Foresters. In politics he is a Republican. Dr. 
 Jenison is now Health Commissioner of Greenville, 
 and is a strong advocate of temperance, having 
 never drank a gl.ass of liquor. He was married 
 in the year 18C7 to Miss Helen L. Trow, a resi- 
 dent of Nashua, N. II., and daughter of John and 
 Dolly R. (Alden) Trow, natives of New Hampshire 
 and Knglanil respectively. They have two chil- 
 dren — Walter S. and Cbarlcs II. Roth husband 
 and wife have good standing among the members 
 of the Methodist Episcoiial Church. They have a 
 beautiful home and Dr. Jenison's brother is a pros- 
 perous farmer in Massachusetts. 
 
 WALLACE LOVE WELL. One of the best- 
 improved farms in Campbell Township, 
 Ionia County, is that owned and occupied 
 by the gentleman above named. It is situated on 
 section 24, and consists of one hundred and twenty 
 acres, which has been reclaimed from the heavy 
 timber mainly by the personal efforts of its present 
 ow^ner. One of its attractive features i s a. thrifty 
 
 orchard, and others are the good buildings — in- 
 cluding a large and pleasant frame house and a sub- 
 stantial barn, and the well-graded stock which 
 grazes over the pastures. Mr. Lovewell divides his 
 attention betiveen the cultivation of crops and the 
 raising of stock in such proportion as is most com- 
 mon, and succeeds well in both branches of his 
 work. 
 
 The [laternal grandfather of our subject came to 
 America from the mother country during the Revo- 
 lutionary period. He made his home in Ontario 
 County, N. Y., where Neheuiiah Lovewell, father 
 of Wallace, was born and reared to farm life. In 
 1831 that gentleman came to this State antl located 
 in CarroUton Townshij), i>arry County. There he 
 resided six years, after which he went to Jackson 
 County, where he sojourned a few years. He had 
 lost his first wife and in the last-named county he 
 was married to Maria Iloyt, who was born in Penn- 
 sylvania, and was of German descent. The last 
 abiding place of Mr. Lovewell was Woodland Town- 
 ship, Harry C'ountj', where he farmed until his 
 death, December 24, 1864, at the age of sixty-four 
 j'ears and eleven months. He w.as member of the 
 Universalist Church. His good wife still survives, 
 her home being in the village of Woodland Center. 
 She has reached the ripe age of seventy-one years, 
 but is still quite smart and active. 
 
 Wallace Lovewell was the first-born of his 
 mother, whose other children are Jane, wife of 
 Robert McMillan, living in Calhoun County; Seth, 
 a farmer in Cheboygan Count3'; Orson, deceased; 
 and Henry, whose home is in Grand Rapids. Our 
 subject was born in Mi<lland Township, Barrj- 
 County, February 5, 1841, and reared on a farm 
 there. He obtained a good common-school educa- 
 tion in the home district and continued to assist his 
 parents until he was of age. He then started out 
 in life for himself at the foot of the ladder, and for 
 four months worked as a farm hand. The war hav- 
 ing broken out, he responded to a call for troops 
 August 8, 18(52, becoming a private in Company 
 A, Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, under com- 
 mand of F. P. Minear. 
 
 The Twenty-first was sent at once to the front 
 and reached the scenes of conflict in time to take 
 part in the bloody battle of Perryville. The boj's 
 
?3B 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 also fought at Stone River, soon after wliich, while 
 on tliitv, Mr. Lovewell met with an accident which 
 dislocated his hip and laid him up for a short time. 
 After his recovery from the injury, he reported for 
 duty and continued to discharge his soldierly work 
 until Ihrougli exposure, he was afflicted with pleu- 
 risy which was followed by sciatica rlieuraatism in 
 one of his limbs. He was unfitted for duty, and for 
 several months was compelled to use crutches. He 
 was discliarged March 30, 18G3, and until the 1st 
 of December was able to do little work. 
 
 When able to re-engage in hard work, Mr. Love- 
 well came to Ionia County and bought eighty acres 
 of his present farm. It was in a wild state, with 
 tlie exception of four acres which had been cleared 
 and upon which a small log house and barn had 
 been put up. Establishing himself in the cabin he 
 began the work of clearing and improving, year by 
 year extending the cleared ground a little, and 
 finally placing it all under good cultivation. He 
 added forty acres to the original tract, and l)y de- 
 grees brought the property to a fine state as to its 
 appearance and productiveness. Mr. Lovewell is 
 looked upon as one of the most substantial farmers 
 of the township and his course is noted as one 
 worthy of emulation by others. 
 
 In his eflforls to build up a good home and rise 
 to a position of financial ease, Mr. Lovewell has 
 been ably assisted by a good wife. Her maiden 
 names as Fliebe J. Crapo, and their marriage was 
 solemnized August 10, 1862. They have six chil- 
 dren, three of whom have left the shelter of the 
 home roof, leaving Blanche, Cora and Orson to 
 still brighten their parents' fireside. The first-born. 
 Alma E., lives in Tuscola County, siie having mar- 
 ried Weller Root; George W. is now in Idaho; 
 Eva is the wife of Simon Sears, and lives in Camp- 
 bell Township. 
 
 Mrs. Lovewell is a daugliter of David and iMarcia 
 (Soule) Crapo. Her father was born in Dartmoutii, 
 Mass., and was of French lineage. Her mother 
 was also a native of the Bay State. Mr. Crapo 
 lived in Ohio for some years and came from that 
 State to Michigan in 1854. He located in Odessa 
 Township, Ionia County, and continued his life- 
 work, farming, there until death. He passed away 
 December 31, 1878, and his widow survived until 
 
 August, 1885. There were ten children born to 
 Mr. and Mrs. Crapo, and seven are living, namely: 
 Sophia, Hannaii, Pliebe J., Egara, Thomas II., Alma 
 and Maltie. 
 
 Mail}' clianges have been witnessed liy Mr. and 
 Mrs. Lovewell in the county to which they came in 
 the early years of their wedded life. The greater 
 portion of Campbell Township has been cleared and 
 improved, villages liave si)rung up, railroads jiave 
 been introduced, and the county has become well 
 populated. Tliey liave an extended acquaintance, 
 and are held in high esteem bj' all. Mr, Lovewell 
 has supported the principles of Democracy since 
 the days of Abraham Lincoln. He is Treasurer of 
 Odessa Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and belongs to the 
 Grand Army of the Republic, and has been Quar- 
 termaster in his post. 
 
 Augustus r. weekes. Among the 
 
 venerable and re|iresenlative pioneers of 
 t& the Grand River Valley and of Ionia 
 County, who have Ijeen selected for a place 
 in this Album, none is more worthy of esteem than 
 tiie time honored subject of this sketch. He is a 
 typical representative of the noble class of men 
 now rapidly passing away, who, when in their 
 prime, settled in tlie wihls of Michigan and hewed 
 down the dense forest, broke the virgin soil and 
 by unremitting toil turned tlie forest into [nosper- 
 ous Iiomes and populous towns. 
 
 Augustus R. Weekes is a stock-raiser and farmer, 
 residing on section 18, Kecne Township. He is a 
 native of Dutchess County, N. Y., where he was 
 born March 4, 1816. He is a son of James and 
 Amy (Ostram) Weekes, both New Yorkers. His 
 father was a surgeon in the American ami}- during 
 the War of 1812, and was at one time stationed at 
 Ft. Niagara. 
 
 Tlie subject of this sketch lost his father wlien 
 very j-oung, probably about the age of four years. 
 Wlien seven years old he removed with his mother 
 and step-father to Erie County, N. Y., and at nine 
 j'ears of age was thrown entirely upon his own re- 
 sources. He went to Ontario, Canada, and resided 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 797 
 
 near London for several j'ears. lie received a ru- 
 dimentary education in the primitive schools of 
 that I'egion and has had to trust to his readinp; of 
 later years to mal<e him the intelligent man which 
 he is to-day. 
 
 The first wife of Mr. \Veekes was Alvira Barnes, 
 who hore him ten children, of whom five survive, 
 namely: Augustus W.; Frank, Alvira, Mrs. is. Van 
 Duzen; Harriet, Mrs. L.Alger. His second wife, 
 Jane Williams was the mother of five children, two 
 of whom are now living — Marion and Lettie, who 
 is the wife of E. B. Tripp. Mr. Weekcs emigrated 
 to Ionia County in the spring of 1847, and made 
 his home, on what is now his present farm. He 
 found an unbroken forest and built a log cabin 
 lGx20 feet in which they made their home for 
 several years. He owns ninety-seven acres of land 
 and he has seen the wonderful i)rogress of Michi- 
 gan and its deveIoi)ment from a primeval forest to 
 a land of homes and cities. 
 
 Our subject has always espoused the principles 
 of the Republican party and he is a wide-awake, 
 public-spirited citizen. He has served in the 
 School Board for many years and commands the 
 respect of the entire business community, which 
 rates at a high mark his honesty and sterling integ- 
 rity'. Both he and his noble wife are happy and 
 contented in their declining years and they arc 
 considered as among the most highly respected 
 meml)ers of society. He loves to recount the 
 struggles of the early days, for he can recall many 
 a scene of pioneer life, and tell how he used to cut 
 and split two hundred fence rails a day. Long 
 after his manly form shall be seen no more, will 
 his memory be green in Ihc hearts of those who 
 knew him. 
 
 J ^ AMES E. NEWMAN is a worthy repre- 
 sentative of a family long known and highly' 
 honored in Ionia County, and one whose 
 ' members have been connected with the 
 business affairs of this section in a high degree. 
 Three generations have labored here and in each 
 the same characteristics — push, energy and persist- 
 
 ence, have been manifested. Milling has been car- 
 ried on by them, and our subject follows the 
 ancestral occupation, being one of the firm of New- 
 man it Rice at I'orlland. Their mill is capable of 
 turning out one hundred and seventy-Bve barrels 
 of flour i)er day, besides custom work, and the 
 product is excellent. 
 
 So much depends upon heredity and early associ- 
 ations that a clear understanding of the character 
 of our subject will perhaps best be gained by 
 perusing some facts in the family- history. His 
 grandfather, Elisha Newman, came from the Elmpire 
 State to the Territory of Michigan in 1833 accom- 
 panied by two sons — James and Almeron. They 
 located land the patent for which bears the date 
 November t, 1834. It was where Portland now 
 stands, their first cabin having been erected on 
 ground now covered by Kent Street. Hither 
 Grandfather Newman brought his familj' in 183C 
 and here he died in 1849. The year of their re- 
 moval, the Newmans put up a mill on the Looking 
 Glass River, across which they built a dam. They 
 had a millstone when they left their former home 
 but it was lost in Lake Michigan during the transit 
 and was rei)laced by another that is yet in the mill, 
 allhough it has not been in use since 1870. The 
 usual hardships were the fate of the family, but all 
 dangers, toils, privations, were cheerfully endured 
 and they were buoyed up bj' the hope of better 
 days for their progeny, if not for themselves. 
 
 James Newman, father of our subject, married 
 Miss Rebecca Hixson, a native of New Jersej-, 
 while he was born in New York, and to them came 
 seven children. They were Hiram, who died in 
 1817; Mary, wife of N. B. Rice; Phebe, widow of 
 Wilberl Smith; James E., (vf whom further men- 
 tion is made below; William, who died in 1853; 
 Isaac Newton, a pharmaceutical chemist in Detroit; 
 and Alinon, who lives in the same city. The mother 
 breathed her last March 25, 1 862, and Mr. New- 
 man died April 2, 1877. 
 
 The subject of this brief record was born in the 
 place he still calls home, March 11, 1844, and here 
 he grew to manhoo<l and received his etUication. 
 During his youth he alternated work in the mill 
 with farm labor, but from 1866 gave his attention 
 entirely to the milling. With the spirit that ani- 
 
f88 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Dialed his ancestors he has prosecuted his nfifairs, 
 and reaped a due reward for his industry and per- 
 severance. He has a good home, where comfort 
 of .mind and body is found by the inmates and all 
 who cross its portal. It is presided over by the 
 wife of Mr. Newman, former!}' Miss Agnes Baker, 
 to whom he was married December 4, 1862. 
 
 In exercising the right of suffrage Mr. Newman 
 votes a Rei)ublican ticket. In religion he is a 
 Universalist, and is identified with the social 
 body — Ancient Order of United AVorkmen. The 
 village in which he dwells has a special interest for 
 him as the home of his family for years, and the 
 scene of their pioneer labors, and as his own birth- 
 place, and he is eager to see it advance in the rank 
 of towns and put on the improvements of modern 
 civilization. To this end he works, joining his 
 fellows in projects that tend to that result. 
 
 ^OHN G. NEWMAN is a representative of 
 a pioneer family of Ionia County and a na- 
 tive-born citizen, his birthi)lace having been 
 Portland Township, and his natal day July 
 15, 1845. The country in which his father's farm 
 was located was still in its infancy when he was born 
 and like sons of other families he, even in boyhood, 
 aided considerably in developing its resources. 
 The district school which stood in the front rank 
 among similar institutions afforded ample oppor- 
 tunity for acquiring a good common-school edu- 
 cation and its advantages were well improved. In 
 the intervals of study the lad worked on the farm 
 and when it was proper for him to choose a calling 
 he decided to continue that in which he had been 
 aiding his father. He has a goodly tract of land 
 of one hundred and sixtj' acres in his native town- 
 ship, where he raises a variety of crops and domestic 
 animals. He has been quite largely engaged in 
 ship|)ing cattle and feeds from two to three hun- 
 dred head of lambs per annum for Buffalo markets. 
 The family of Mr. Newman includes a wife and 
 three children and the home circle is still intact. 
 Mrs. Newman bore the maiden name of Clarissa E. 
 Palmer, which she exchanged for that she now 
 
 bears February 7, 1866. Her parents, Amasa and 
 Rebecca (Lester) Palmer, were natives of the 
 Empire State but came West in an early da}'. She 
 is a woman of much intelligence, domestic skill 
 and kindness of heart and faithfully discharges her 
 duties as wife, mother and neighbor. The children 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Newman bear the names of Mary 
 A., Clarence A., and Henrj- A. The daughter was 
 graduated from Portland High School in the cl.iss 
 of 1887, since which time she has been engaged in 
 teaching. She taught a year and a half in one 
 district and then entered the Portland public school 
 where she is meeting with the best of success, her 
 time and talents being particularly devoted to kin- 
 dergarten work. 
 
 Mr. Newman is a believer in the principles laid 
 down in the Republican platform and always voles 
 a straight ticket. In carrying on his business affairs 
 he shows a commendable desire for progress and 
 the energy that belongs to the better class of West- 
 erners. He keeps himself well informed regarding 
 topics of general interest and the issues of the day 
 at home and abroad and adds to the credit of the 
 name he bears by his upright life. His family be- 
 long to the Universalist Church at Portland. 
 
 ^^ERT HAYES. The legal jirofession is well 
 represented in Stanton, Montcalm County, 
 as in other towns of similar size, by men 
 ■^ of keen intellect, sound knowledge of the 
 law and good ability as counselors and pleaders. 
 Among the j'oung men who are found in this pro- 
 fession here is the one above named, who is gener- 
 ally understood to be a studious and safe lawyer. 
 He has been located in Stanton only since 1890, 
 and in November of that j'ear was elected Circuit 
 Court Commissioner and entered upon the dis- 
 charge of the duties of that office January 1, 1891. 
 The profession which he chose is not only bringing 
 Mr. Hayes into good repute in professional circles, 
 but has been the source of a fair income during the 
 few years in which he has been practicing. 
 
 The birthplace of Mr. Hayes was Weymouth, 
 Medina County, Ohio, and the date of the inter- 
 
/<2^t-^*><2>>^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 741 
 
 esting event Ma^- 18, 1857. His parents are Alex- 
 ander and Harriet (Watson) Hayes, who came to 
 Allegan County, tills State, some years since. The 
 father li.id previously been engaged at the trade of 
 a blacksniitli, hut after his removal he turned his 
 attention to farming. He of whom we write is the 
 3'oungest of three children and during his early 
 \'ears was given good opi)ortunities to acquire 
 knowledge and build up a strong character. At the 
 age of seventeen years he left school and entered 
 upon the work of teaching. 
 
 After a few 3'ears devoted to the profession of a 
 pedagogue, young Hayes, at the age of twenty- 
 tliree years, began the study of law in Gratiot 
 County, and in 1886 was admitted to the bar and 
 began active work in his new profession. In March, 
 1883, he was married to Miss Adella Ul.ackford, a 
 native of Kansas and a daugliter of a Methodist 
 Episcopal minister who came to this State in pio- 
 neer times. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes have three chil- 
 dren. Mr. Hayes belongs to the Masonic order 
 and gives his political allegiance to the Republi- 
 can party. 
 
 ^^^RLANDO V. SHOWKRMAX. The reool- 
 ll )l 'cc'''""* of Mr. Showerman do not go back 
 ^^^f' beyond scenes in Ionia County, to which he 
 was brought when an infant nine months old. It 
 was in the pioneer times when traveling in the 
 Mississippi Valley was almost entirely accomplished 
 with ox-teams, and when much of tlie territor}- of 
 Michigan was but a wilderness covered with dense 
 forests which were the haunts of wild beasts. 
 Our subject's father and Hesor Brown, who came 
 West together, had to cut the brush from the .Se- 
 bewa line to their locations. In a few da^s a shanty 
 was erected in which the Showerman family lived 
 for several )'ears. Wolves were numerous and 
 quite bold, somelimes even killing the young slock 
 near the settlers' dwellings. The Showerman 
 family, like others, suffered from bodily ills, and 
 at one lime the father gave his last cow but one to 
 pay the balance due on a doctor's bill. 
 
 The subject of lliis biographical notice was born 
 
 in Genesee County, Is'. Y., November 5, 1838, and 
 was the seventh in a family of eight children. Those 
 who grew to maturity were Lucius, Cyrenius, Eu- 
 genia E., Deborah J. and Orlando. Eugenia is tiie 
 wife of William Benschoter, of Nebraska, and Deb- 
 orah, who has long been deceased, was the wife of 
 Benjamin Trobasco. The history of his parents 
 is given in the sketch of his brother Lucius on 
 another page. The schooling of our subject was 
 necessarily limited and his attendance in the log 
 schoolhouse covered a period of less than three 
 months per year. The last term, in order to study 
 under Allen Kimball, who was one of the best 
 teachers of the day, he had to go three miles 
 through the woods, but he considers the time well 
 spent. He remembers when the howling of the 
 wolves would make his blood run cold, and recalls 
 with interest the return of his father from a Fourth 
 of .luly celebration with the astonishing news that 
 there were people there that da}' whom he did not 
 know. 
 
 From the age of fourteen years young Shower- 
 man was quite a hunter and soon became an expert 
 rifleman. The first day he went out alone he suc- 
 ceeded in killing a deer, and there was but one man 
 in the vicinity who made a better record in the 
 next few years than he. October 5, 1862, Mr. 
 Showerman left his home and a young wife, to 
 whom he had been married but a short time, but 
 who bade him God-spce(J in his country's cause. 
 He became a private in Comi)any E, Sixth Michi- 
 gan Cavalry, and being mustered in at Grand 
 Rapids, October 1 1. went at once to the front. He 
 served under (Jens. Kilpatrick, Custer and Sheridan, 
 at various times and took part in over forty of the 
 sixty engagements in which his regiment partici- 
 pated. He was absent from the command at one 
 time more than three months, [wssing tlirough a 
 hosi)ital experience that was very irksome to him. 
 Among the better known liattles in which he fought 
 are Fredericksburg, Snicker's Gap, Dinwiddle 
 Courthouse, Spottsylvnnia, the Wilderness, (Jeltys- 
 burg an(l Appomattox. 
 
 After the surrender of Gen. Lee Mr. Showerman 
 supposed that his mission was ende(L but instead 
 of being sent home, the regiment went to the Black 
 Hills to light Indians, under the leadership t)f Gen 
 
742 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Custer. They were kept there three months after 
 their term of service had expired, owing to the un- 
 settled state of affairs on the frontier, but were 
 finally discharged at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., No- 
 vember 24, 1865. Mr. Showerman left the army 
 as First Corporal, having served as a non-commis- 
 sioned ofHcer for two years. He never received a 
 wound but incurred disabilities for which he now 
 draws a pension of §10 per month. Patriotism may 
 be called a family trait among the Showermans, as 
 the father of our subject, when more than sixty 
 years old, served a year and a half as a member of 
 the Twenty seventh Michigan Infantry. 
 
 At the early age of twenty-two years Mr. Show- 
 erman was married to Miss Emily Jewell, daughter 
 of Witliam D. and Sarah (Childs) Jewell, of Se- 
 bewa, formerly of New Hampshire, whence they 
 came to Michigan in 1850. It was this faithful 
 wife and true-hearted woman who gave her con- 
 sent to her young husband's absence, and with an 
 encouraging smile which belied her aching heart, 
 sent him to the battlehelds where danger and per- 
 haps death awaited him. She shared his fortunes 
 for a number of years, but bade him a final farewell 
 December 2, 1883, when she exchanged time for 
 eternity. She was a member of the Metliodist 
 Episcopal Church at Sebewa and was a conscien- 
 tious and humble Christian. To her there had 
 been born six children, four of whom are living, 
 and two — Ernest O. and Myrtle D. — still at home. 
 Ellen is tlie wife of Fred Collier, a farmer in Eaton 
 Countj', and Elmer J. has recently gone to Mon- 
 tana. 
 
 August 3, 1884, Mr. Showerman was married to 
 Susan McConnell, of Wacousta, who died March 
 27, 1885. She was a member of the Congrega- 
 tional Church at her former home. Mr. Shower- 
 man was again married, wedding Helen Merrifield, 
 March 7, 1887. This lady is a daughter of Wilson 
 and Rosanna (Howland) Merrifield, and has lived 
 in Sebewa Township for years. Of this union there 
 has been born a daughter Edna Rose, whose natal 
 day was April 12, 1888. The present Mrs. Shower- 
 man belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
 Sebewa, and her husband is a member of the same 
 congregation. She has a thorough understanding 
 of domestic arts and a |)leasing disposition. 
 
 In the affairs of the township Mr. Showerman 
 has been quite prominent, always manifesting an 
 an interest in that which would promote the wel- 
 fare of the citizens. He has served Ave terms as 
 Treasurer. Although a Democrat, he is not ultra in 
 his political views; he voted for Abraham Lincoln 
 and has never regretted that step and he favors pro- 
 hibition and anti-mono|)Oly. For the share which 
 he has had in the development of the country, for 
 the interest he has taken in the general good, and 
 for his upright life, he is respected by all who enjoy 
 his acquaintance. 
 
 A lithographic portrait of Mr. Showerman ap- 
 pears on another page. 
 
 //ill UGUSTUS T. CALL, Postmaster, express 
 jOl agent and attorney at Lake View, Mont- 
 is calm County, was born at Andover, Alle- 
 gany County, N. Y., August 23, 1848. He 
 is a son of the Rev. Orlando B. and Caroline C. 
 (Crandall) Call, natives of Massachusetts and 
 Rhode Island. They were married in New York 
 State where Mr. Call was a Baptist minister. In 
 1860 he came to Michigan and locating in Ingham 
 County bought a farm iu Alaedon Township, and 
 settling his family there pursued the double voca- 
 tion of farming and preaching. For forty-five 
 years he was actively engaged in the ministry. He 
 died in Ingham County in 1872 at the age of sixty- 
 four }'eurs and his good wife followed him in 1882. 
 These parents had eleven children, namely, John, 
 Jesse, Sarah A., Jane, Henry, Harrison, Caroline, 
 Augustus, Clay, Esther and Lorenzo. 
 
 The subject of this notice was twelve years old 
 when he came with his parents from his native 
 town to Michigan. Here he remained on his fa- 
 ther's farm until July 8, 1863, when he ran awa3' 
 from home and enlisted in the army as a private 
 in Company H, First Michigan Sharp Shooters. 
 He served with the Army of the Potomac until the 
 close of the war. He was mustered out and re- 
 ceived his honorable discharge at Jackson, Mich., 
 in August, 1865. He was in all the campaigns 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 743 
 
 with the Army of the Potomac after the battle of 
 Spottsylvania and was wounded b}- a gunshot on 
 llie North Anna River, Va., at (laincs' Mill; tliis 
 put him in the iiospital from June until September, 
 1864. He went ink) the service before he was four- 
 teen years old and was never taken prisoner. 
 
 After the war young Call retnrne<l to Ingliam 
 County and remained there until 1876 when he 
 came to Lake A'iew and began pr.iclicing law. He 
 had been reading law with Huntingdon ife Hen- 
 derson, of Mason City, Ingham County, and was 
 admitted to the bar June 29, 1875, at Mason Cit^-. 
 He practiced law in Lake View about six years and 
 then engaged in the mercantile business at the same 
 place until 1882 when he was made ex[)ress agent. 
 Ho was in the collecting business .as well .as BUing 
 the office of Justice of the Peace. He has held the 
 position of Postm.aster since July, 1888. He was 
 \'illage I'resident twice, is a Ueiuiblican in politics 
 and belongs to Andrew Macomber Post, G. A. K. 
 He is a nienii)er of the Inilci)endcnt Order of Odd 
 Fellows and a Knight Templar. 
 
 <¥/ KWI.S F. CUTCin':ON, whose biographical 
 ll (® record we have given us, lives an indus- 
 ilL^. Irious and useful life and seeks to [)erform 
 faithfully whatever duties fall to his lot. During 
 his career he has won and maintains the confldenee 
 of his associates, and in the M.asonic order of 
 \vhich he is a member, he is considered faithful 
 an<l is much esteemed. 
 
 Our subject was born in Detroit, Mich., July 0, 
 1856, and is the son of Franklin M. ami Mary Stone 
 Cutcheon, natives of New IIam|)shire and SLassa- 
 chu.setts, respectively. Franklin, his father, wiis a 
 shoemaker in Lynn, JIass., and followed this busi- 
 ness during the greater portion of his life. In 
 18.55 he carae to Detroit, where he remained but a 
 short time, returning to Massachusetts. Hecoming 
 dissatisfied there lie again came lo Michigan in 1 868, 
 locating in Portland, where he has since lived. 
 Under Arthur's administration he w.as appointed 
 Postmaster at this place, and has been in no regular 
 business since. To himself and wife were born six 
 
 children: James Clarence, a machinist, who lives 
 in Lynn, Mass.; Lewis F.; Anna, wife of F. R. 
 Savage, a resident of Lansing, Mich.; Ilattie, who 
 is at home; Nora, wife of Kdward La.Salle, a farmer 
 in Houald Township, this county; and Josephine 
 attending the State Normal School at Ypsilanti. 
 Lewis F. lived in Massachusetts until thirteen 
 years of age. He then came West with his par- 
 ents. He came to Portland where he attended 
 school until he was seventeen years of age, when 
 he entered the olfice he now owns .as an apprentice. 
 J. W. Bailey at that time was owner of a paper 
 called the Ohstenier. In this otlice he worked for 
 Bailey five years. He then went to Detroit, where 
 he worked on the daily Trifjuni' and in Scripps' 
 job oflicc three years. He then returned to Port- 
 land. From there he went to lidding where he 
 aided in getting out the second issue of the Uelding 
 li'liyram. Thence to Manistee, where he was in 
 the postollice two years. 
 
 In 1881 Mr. Cutcheon edited and published the 
 Montcalm County /tr/nihlicaii, remaining hei-e a 
 year and a half. Again he returned to Manistee 
 as assistant Postmaster four years. In 1886 he 
 again carae to Portland and bought the ollice of 
 the Ohscriwr, which he h.as since edited. He was 
 married to Miss Carrie Cromwell, of Amsterdam, 
 N. v., November 4, 1885. .His wife was the 
 daughter of S. J. and M. E. Cromwell. He is a 
 nieuil)er of the Masonic order both of the Blue 
 Lodge and Chapter, and also belongs to the Ancient 
 Order of [Inited Workmen. 
 
 KV'l A. BOICK, a prominent young man 
 ,@ of McBride, Montcalm County, is a mem- 
 ^ bcr of the firm of Boicc A' Lewis, who carry 
 on general merchandise and operate a shingle mill, 
 in Day Township, two miles west of McBride. He 
 is also Township Clerk. His father was .ludson A. 
 Boicc, born in Massachusetts of F'rench descent. 
 The name was formerly DuHoice, but the family, 
 like many other families of refugees from France 
 dropped the aristocratic title when they found their 
 homes in tliis free Democracy. The family is de- 
 
744 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 scended from the traditional three brothers who 
 came together from across the sea. 
 
 After the father of our subject had emigrated 
 from Massachusetts to Ohio, he learned the trade 
 of a harnessmaker and carried on that business 
 there. lu 1857 he came to Michigan and located 
 in Jamestown, Ottawa County, where he bought 
 land in the timber, built a log house and proceeded 
 to clear the trees from his eight3' acres. He was a 
 great huntsman and shot many a fine deer. In 
 1868 he sold out here and located in Hastings, 
 Barry County, where he bought a farm and resided 
 until his death in 1880 at the age of fifty-five 
 years. His wife, Mary A., daughter of William 
 O'Dell, was born in Ohio. Her grandfather was a 
 soldier in the War of 1812 and her great-grand- 
 father fought in the War of the Revolution. 
 
 The parents of our subject had a family' of five 
 children: Ila, (deceased); Edgar, Clinton S., our 
 subject and William. Their son Levi was born 
 near Jamestown, Ottawa County, Mich., December 
 5, 1862. In 1868 the family removed to Barry 
 County, where the boy grew up on the farm and 
 after studying in the district school attended the 
 Hastings High School. When eighteen years old 
 he engaged in teaching, first at Grand Rapids and 
 then two terms near the home district. In 1882 
 he entered the commercial college at Grand Rapids. 
 Completing the course, he took a position as book- 
 keeper in the lumber business at Gowan. In 1885 
 he became bookkeeper in the lumber office of Mr. 
 Crosby at McBride. Here he remained until 1889 
 when he bought out the stock of general merchan- 
 dise, owned by C. H. LaFlanboy and went into 
 partnership with J. McLennan, under the firm 
 name of Boice & McLennan. This partnership 
 lasted only one year and then Mr. Boice ran the 
 business alone until Januarj' 1, 1891, when he went 
 into partnership with Mr. Lewis. Besides a line of 
 dry goods and groceries they carry an excellent 
 stock of boots and shoes and deal in flour, feed 
 and hay. They also own a shingleraill, situated on 
 sixty acres of land two miles west of the town. 
 
 Mr. Boice was happily united in marriage Octo- 
 ber 20, 1888, with Miss Hattie E. Coats, who was 
 born in Jamestown, Mich., and is a daughter of 
 George W. Coats, an early settler of Ottawa 
 
 County. Mrs. Boice is a graduate of the Grand 
 Rapids Commercial College. They are earnest 
 and devoted members of the Adrentists Church. 
 In 1889 our subject was elected Township Clerk 
 for a second term and he also fills the office of Vil- 
 lage Clerk. As a Democrat he is a frequent dele- 
 gate to county and State conventions. He has 
 already made his mark in the community and is 
 popular with every class. 
 
 >HOMAS TAYLOR, an old settler of Easton 
 Township, Ionia County, is a native of Lan- 
 cashire, England, where he was born Octo- 
 ber 3, 1827. He is a son of Thomas and Hannah 
 (Wright) Taj'lor, both natives of England. His 
 father died when he was a babe of three months, 
 and he lost his mother when seventeen years of age. 
 In consequence of these deprivations he received 
 but a limited education, but like many another 
 poor boy, improved his scanty opportunities and 
 attended night schools and Sunday-school, and 
 gained much in this way. 
 
 The young man emigrated to America in 1847, 
 taking passage at Liverpool on a sailing vessel ; and 
 after a voyage of seven weeks and three days, he 
 landed in New York City. He resided in New 
 York State several years, being employed on a farm 
 and in other labor. In the fall of 1855 he came to 
 Ionia County, Mich., and settled on the place where 
 he now resides in Easton Township. He and his 
 good wife, Mary, daughter of Orrin and Cynthia 
 (Lee) Jordan, have been the parents of ten chil- 
 dren, namelj-: Cynthia, wife of Frank Weber; 
 Thomas; Eva, wife of Jeremiah Conner; Ida M., 
 George, Benjamin and Ella. The children who 
 are deceased were as follows: Lee, Hannah and 
 William. Before his marriage Mr. Taylor kept 
 bachelor's hall in the woods along with his friend, 
 Isaac Strong. The splendid condition of his farm 
 is a standing memorial to his industry and efforts 
 as a pioneer. 
 
 Mr. Tajior is a Democrat in politics, and a wide- 
 awake and public-spirited citizen, being strongly in 
 favor of all measures which will elevate the com- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 745 
 
 munity. His home farm comprises one hundred 
 and twenty acres of land, and he has in all over 
 three hundred and twenty acres. He possesses 
 man}' of the virtues and sterling characteristics of 
 his sturdy British ancestry, among which are pluck, 
 industry, and a determination to success in life. 
 He is a man of broad views on social and political 
 topics, and is considered well-informed. He and 
 his interesting family are highl}' respected mem- 
 bers of society. His unflinching integrity com- 
 mands the confidence of the business community, 
 and we take pleasure in representing Jlr. Taylor 
 among the leading British-American citizens of 
 Ionia County. He is a true type of the best char- 
 acteristics brought from that sturdy old isle, the 
 cradle of modern liberty and the world's only great 
 and successfid colonizer. 
 
 -^ 
 
 -4-- 
 
 \If , KNliV .1. HALL. The farm of this gentk- 
 
 WjJ man is one of the most attractive in Ionia 
 ilV,^ Count}', not on account of its size but on 
 (^J) account of the pains that have been taken 
 to cater to the comfort of those who occupy and 
 operate it. It lies on section 3G, Orleans Township, 
 and consists of one hundred and five acres, ninety 
 of which are improved. The dwelling is well- 
 built, of pleasing design and of home-like appear- 
 ance, and the barn is commodious and substantial, 
 while minor buiMings complete a scene in keeping 
 with the background of trees and cultivated fields. 
 
 The direct progenitors of Mr. Hall are Joshua 
 S. and Sarah A. (llaight) Hall, of whom further 
 mention is made elsewhere in this volume. His 
 birth occurred in Ionia Township August 28, 1843, 
 and he lived at home until he was of age, then 
 worked by the month for some time. His first 
 purchase of real estate was ninety-eight acres of 
 his present farm, and to this he subsequently added 
 forty, but later reduced it by selling a small tract. 
 He not only does general farming but is a breeder 
 of Short-horn cattle and Merino sheep, and to his 
 work he brings energy and skill. 
 
 The efndcnt and amiable woman with whom Mr. 
 Hall was united in marriage in Orleans Township, 
 
 April 12, 1863, bore the maiden name of Cordelia 
 M. Higbee. She is a daughter of Benjamin F. and 
 Laura M. (Goodwin) Higbee, who were born in 
 New York and came to this State about 1837. They 
 are members of the Baptist Church in Ionia, and 
 Air. Higbee belongs to the Grange. Besides Mrs. 
 Hall their children are Sarah F., Laura L., Chan- 
 cellor E., Chancy E.. Charles G. and Antoinette. 
 To Mr. and Mrs Hall two sons have been born — 
 Guj' A. and Ray E., but only the elder is with 
 them, as Ray died when seven years old. 
 
 Mr. Hall has been a member of the Patrons of 
 Husban(by for twelve years and is one of the char- 
 ter members of the subordinate Grange, of which 
 he was the first Master. He has also been its Sec- 
 retary, Treasurer and Lecturer, as well as Master 
 of the county Grange. At present he holds the 
 position of Overseer in the township Grange and 
 Lecturer in the county association, and has been 
 the purchasing agent for five years. He is one of 
 the Board of Directors of the Ionia District Agri- 
 cultural Society, is Township Trejisurer and for 
 eight j'carsJias been Justice of the Peace, and also 
 served as Drainage Commissioner during one terra. 
 From his first vote Mr. Hall has been an unfalter- 
 ing lve|iu!>lican. He and his wife belong to the 
 Christian Church at Wooilard Lake, Ronald Town- 
 ship. In 1881 Mr. Hall took a trip to New Or- 
 leans to visit the International Cotton Exposition, 
 and in 1888-89 he and his wife visited friends in 
 California and Kansas. 
 
 ^a^EORGE S. Ct)OPER, of Ionia, was born in 
 Ij g^ Paris, Oxford County, Me., January 27, 
 ^^H 1830. His mother was a Maine woman and 
 bore the maiden name of Rebecca Mathews. His 
 father, John Cooper, was a native of Plymouth, 
 Mass. For three generations the Coopers had been 
 residents of that State, and were of English ex- 
 traction. The father of our subject was a tiller of 
 the soil. To him and his wife were born eleven 
 children, nine of whom are still living, as follows: 
 Olive, wife of Cyrus H. Ripley, of Maine, who is 
 connected with the custom house at Portland ; Eliza, 
 
746 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the wife of Isaac H. Thayer, a stock-raiser in "Wyo- 
 ming; Sarah, the widow of Milo Pierce, of Ionia; 
 our subject; Roxanua, wife of Sergeant Daniels, of 
 Boston, Mass.; William K. is living in Battle 
 Creek, and carries on a business in boots and shoes; 
 Jeaunette, wife of Dr. W. Belding, of Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, a member of the Belding Bro's. silk firm; 
 Jarvis C, of Ionia is a painter; and Arabella is the 
 wife of George Jacksou, of Ionia, who follows the 
 same business. One child died in infancy, and an- 
 other a son John, at the age of twenty-eight years. 
 The Coopers came to the West just at the close of 
 the Civil War. Mr. Cooper died in Ionia, in Jan- 
 uary, 1881. Ilis widow celebrated upon Washing- 
 ton's birthday this year, the completion of her nine- 
 tieth year. 
 
 The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, 
 early took hold of the work of the farm and con- 
 tinued on it until eighteen years of age. He at- 
 tended school at the South Paris Academy until he 
 reached his majority, taking the regular course of 
 study prescribed in the curriculum of that institu- 
 tion. He then went to Boston and engaged for 
 two or three years in tlie mercantile business, which 
 lie followed after coming West, being engaged in 
 that occupation in Dartford, Wis., after going 
 there in 1854. He remained tiiere until I860, 
 when he came to Ionia, and opened a store, 
 known as the New England store, where he still 
 continues in business, corner of Main and Second 
 Street. He took for his wife a daughter of his na- 
 tive State, Ploriuda Royal, a daughter of Solon 
 Royal, a Baptist minister. The marriage took place 
 October 25, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have not 
 been blessed with children of their own, but feeling 
 unwilling to pass by tlic claims of liomeless child- 
 hood, adopted and brought up a son and a daugh- 
 ter. The son is now at Big Rapids, Mich., a con- 
 ductor on the Detroit, Lansing it Northern Railroad. 
 The daughter became the wife of Charles H. Put- 
 ney, and died May 14, 1890. The family are mem- 
 ers of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Cooper is 
 a Knight Templar in the Masonic order. In poli- 
 tics he was formerly a Democrat, and voted this 
 ticket until the tariff question became prominent in 
 1886, when he joined tiie Rei)ublican party, as he 
 believes strongly in protection. He has also been 
 
 a member of the Democratic State Central Com- 
 mittee for two terms. Notwithstanding his Dem- 
 ocratic tendencies, he cast his vote for Abraham 
 Lincoln as President in both the National Cam- 
 paigns which resulted in the election of Mr. 
 Lincoln. Mr. Cooper is a |)rosperous man and a 
 public-spirited citizen. His store is fine in all its 
 appointments and he does an excellent business. 
 His affable, courteous manner makes bira many 
 friends, and his character and reputation for judg- 
 ment entitle him to the respect of the community, 
 which he has received in a large measure. This 
 lias been shown by the positions to which he has 
 been elevated. He was the President of tiie vil- 
 lage of Ionia in its days of village organization. 
 He was Mayor of that city in 1884, Aklermaa for 
 eight or ten years, member of the School Board for 
 ten J- ears, and member of the Board of Public 
 Works from 1886 Xo 1889. 
 
 ^^ ARIUS MULIIOLLAND, a prosperous 
 farmer of Montcalm Count\-, encountered 
 many hardships while making a start in 
 life and in subduing the wilderness. When 
 he took his homestead in 1884 it was eighty 
 acres of timbered land with a rude log cabin 
 upon it and forty acres partly' cleared. It is now 
 beautifully improved and the land in a iiigh state 
 of cultivation. All this has been accomplished by 
 his strenuous exertions joined to the strictest econ- 
 omy and a sterling integrity which have given to 
 him the confidence of his neighbors. He was born 
 in AVentworth County-, Canada, April 15, 1840. 
 His parents, John and Rachael (Shaver) Mulhol- 
 land, carried on farming in Canada and this boy 
 learned from earliest childhood the practical arts of 
 agriculture. He was early inured to the hardships 
 and hard work and cheerfully undertook all that 
 came to his hand. His educational advantages 
 were limited to the rudiment* which could be ob- 
 tained in a country school. In 1859 he chose as 
 his wife Rachael Blasdell who is also a native of 
 Wentworth County. Their union has been a happy 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 747 
 
 one and three children have come to brighten their 
 home and to be their support in the coming years 
 of their oUl age. Tiiey are, namely: Minnie A. liorn 
 April 21, 1861 ; Harvey, Ijuru June 13, 1803, who 
 married Letitia Rice, and lives on the home farm, 
 and Daniel W., born January 14, 1865. 
 
 This wortliy family suffered a terrible aflliclion 
 in the death, by accident, of the youngest son — 
 Daniel W. He met his death in a gristmill in Bur- 
 ford Township, Wentworth County, Canada, by 
 being caught in tlie machinery. The daughter be- 
 came the wife of J. 15. Clement and resides in this 
 county. The family home of the Mulhollands is a 
 beautiful house of twelve rooms and on the well- 
 cultivated farm are placed two large barns. It is 
 all neatly fenced and a good orchard supplies 
 plentiful fruit. Mr. MullioUand is entirely free 
 from debt and manages his afifairs with prudence 
 and success. In point of politics he is a stanch 
 Republican and takes great interest in the prosper- 
 ity of the part}'. Both he and his good wife have 
 for many years joined their interests with that of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they 
 have made themselves beloved and respected. 
 
 j<-r-> 
 
 -^[j DDISOX W. STRONG. Success generally 
 marks the efforts of the man who, in earlj^ 
 life acquires the habits of imhistry, per- 
 severance and self control. We find man}' 
 a youth equipped with the possession only of these 
 traits of character. Later on in life in the matur- 
 ity of manhood we find this youth often successful 
 and wealthy. Our subject passed through these 
 vicissitudes, and is now a prominent manufacturer 
 of Ionia County. Mr. Strong is a dealer in cider, 
 vinegar, and cider jelly, and is a native of Calhoun 
 County, Mich., and was born March 11, 1847. He 
 is a son of Nelson and Caroline Strong, who were 
 both natives of New York, and probably some time 
 in the '408 his parents emigrated to Calhoun County, 
 this State. Here they settled and remained until 
 the time of their death. 
 
 Of seven children born to the parents of our sub- 
 ject, five survive and are living in this State: Rich- 
 
 ard 15., residing in Belding; Harrison F. living in 
 Jackson; Addison \V.; Caroline, wife of Charles 
 Cooper, residing in Jackson; and Lucinda, wife of 
 George Clothier, living in Burlington, Mich. The 
 father of our subject served as Township Treasurer 
 of Burlington Township, Calhoun County, and in 
 politics was a Rei)ublican. Like most of the pio- 
 neers of Michigan, he was obliged to endure some 
 hardships. 
 
 The boyhood days of Mr. Strong were spent in 
 his native State, and amid the scenes of frontier 
 life. His youth was spent on a farm. He received 
 a good education in the district and select schools 
 of Calhoun County, and being a great reader, he in- 
 formed himself upon the general topics of the day. 
 In 1876 Mr. Strong came to Ionia County, and for 
 a number of years was engaged in farming in Or- 
 leans Township, and also ran a cider mill in con- 
 nection with his farming pursuits. In the spring 
 of 1885 he located at his present [)laceof residence, 
 where he is now engaged in making cider vinegar 
 and jelly, and also in buying and shipping apples. 
 
 Our subject was united in marriage Ajjril 19, 
 1875, with Miss Mary N. Iligbee, whose birthjilace 
 w!is in Orleans Township, and her natal day being 
 June 2, 1848. Mrs. Strong is a daughter of John 
 and Esther Higbee. Her [larents were among the 
 first settlers of Orleans Township, coining to this 
 county in 1838, and her father built the second 
 frame house in this vicinity. In politics her father 
 is a Democrat. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Strong liad a family of nine 
 children, seven of whom are living: Helen M., wife 
 of V. J. Martin, a resident of Lake View, this State; 
 Mrs. Strong; Julius A., living in Buffalo County, 
 Neb.; Flora JI., wife of D. J. Penny, living in Isa- 
 bella County; Edward, residing in Orleans Town- 
 ship; and Frederick J. living in this county. 
 
 There have been born to our subject and his 
 worthy wife five children, only three of whom are 
 living — Maud S., Claud and Hany E. The de- 
 ceased arc Mabel and Hubert. Mr. Strong isi<len- 
 tified with the Church of the Disciples. His chosen 
 line in politics is Democratic, and he has servccl as 
 Justice of the Peace. He is capable and enterpris- 
 ing, and is meeting with great success. Mr. Strong 
 is one of the leading business men of Easlon Town- 
 
748 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ■yy 
 
 ship, and bis fine abilities are securing for him 
 great rewards in the financial line. Mrs. Strong is 
 a daughter of an old time-honored pioneer of Ionia 
 County, and is a lady of intelligence and great hos- 
 pitality'. We takes pleasure in representing this 
 esteemed family in this work. 
 
 'OSEPII GARDNER. The results of unflag- 
 ging perseverance, prudent economy, and 
 good habits, probably find no better expo- 
 nent in Ionia County, than in the above- 
 named gentleman, who is a representative citizen 
 of Keene Township. He is the owner and occu- 
 pant of a fertile estate, upon which are to be seen 
 the usual farm buildings, but of better construction 
 than many, while the appearance of fences and fields 
 give the impression that Mr. Gardner understands 
 tilling the soil and caring for the |)roduce of his 
 farm. In a quiet and unassuming manner Mr. Gard- 
 ner has pursued his way in life, conscientiously dis- 
 charging the duties which lay in his pathway, ac- 
 cumulating a comfortable share of this world's 
 goods, and gaining the esteem of all who know 
 him. 
 
 A native of London, England, Mr. Gardner was 
 born September 12, 1828. He is a son of John and 
 Mary (Turner) Gardner, who emigrated when this 
 child was about four years, old to Upper Canada, 
 where they settled in Brant County, Ontario. There 
 the parents died, leaving alarge family of children, 
 of wiiom the following survive: Thomas; Marj', 
 now the widow Kinney; Joseph, George H. and 
 Robert. Our subject grew to manhood amid the 
 pioneer scenes of Canada, and has been a life-long 
 farmer. He received his rudimentary education in 
 Canada and had few advantages in the line of edu- 
 cation. 
 
 An important event in the life of our subject 
 took place June 1, 1853, when he was united in 
 marriage with Ellen Durant. She became the 
 mother of nine children, seven of whom are living, 
 and they were named as follows: Mary A., deceased; 
 Joseph A., John, James, Emily, (Mrs. John Cron- 
 
 inger), Matilda, wife of William Foster, Mary A., 
 wife of Alfred Bowen, Louisa and Thomas (de- 
 ceased). 
 
 In 1859 with his famil}- our subject migrated to 
 Michigan, and coming to Keene Township, Ionia 
 County, settled on section 8, where he lived for a 
 number of years. He then took the farm where he 
 now resides on section 5, of the same township. 
 When he took tlie farm it was pr.ictically in the 
 woods, and he built it up to its present highly cul- 
 tivated condition. He has one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land under excellent cultivation, and en- 
 dured the usual hardships incident to pioneer liffi. 
 
 Mr. Gardner is a stanch Republican in politics, 
 and is in all ways a public-spirited citizen, willing 
 ever to promote the best interests of the countv 
 and the neighborhood. He and his good wife are 
 now enjoying the fruits of a life well-spent and are 
 prepared to spend the winter of their days in com- 
 fort surrounded bj- children and friends. Our sub- 
 ject possesses prominently many of the characteris- 
 tic virtues transmitted to him by his Anglo-Saxon 
 ancestors, characteristics which have made the sturdy 
 and unyielding Britain the world's great colonizer. 
 He is loyal in heart to his adopted country, and 
 rejoices that he has been able to establish so fair a 
 home in Uncle Sam's domains under the fair ban- 
 ner of the stars and stripes. lie is well-known for 
 his sterling integrity and his fine farm attests to his 
 success in life. A lithographic view of Mr. Gard- 
 ner's beautiful residence is shown on another page 
 of this Album. 
 
 ^@iS!E 
 
 RRY WATERBIRY. This name is not only 
 familiar to the residents of Ionia, iu which 
 '/' city he who bears it resides, but is equally 
 familiar in several other places where prominent 
 buildings have been put up under the supervision of 
 its wearer. Mr. Waterbury is a practical mechanic, 
 good architect, and as contractor and builder has not 
 only done well for himself financially, but has been 
 instrumental in adorning the streets of this and 
 other cities with attr.active and substantial buildings. 
 His own elegant home, a view of which is shown on 
 

 RE5IDEMCF,0F MRS. ELIZABETH PARKER, STAUiiijN j U NOTION .JON I A CO, MICH. 
 
 RESIDENCE QF LUTHER E. HALL, SEC. 3G. ORLEANS TP..10N1AC0 
 
I 
 
PORTRAIT A.ND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 751 
 
 anotlier page, is on Kast LaFavettc Slreot anrl is one 
 whose (lesifjn and suiroundings al once draw tlie 
 attention of a passer-by. 
 
 Tiic birtli place of Mr. Watcrbiny was Rensselaer 
 Count}', N. Y., and liis natal day November 25, 
 1838. His parents are Barton and Mary J. (Peas- 
 ley) Watorbur}', who were boru in the Empire State, 
 in which their respective ancestors for several gene- 
 rations had resided. The Waterbiir3's were of 
 English origin and the Peasleys German. The work 
 to wliich Barton Waterbury has given his attention 
 during a long and useful life is farming, a work 
 which he still continues at the age of seventy-nine 
 years. Ilis family includes three children besides 
 our snl)ject, viz: Stephen, a farmer in Western New 
 York; Angcline, who lives with her parents in 
 Orleans County, that State; and Daniel, a painter 
 whose home is in Ionia, Mich. 
 
 When our subject was but a lad his father re- 
 morcd to Orleans County, N. Y., where he attended 
 the common school and acquired the greater part of 
 his education. He spent one winter in attendance 
 at an institute of learning in the eastern part of the 
 State. He was reared to farming until nineteen years 
 old, and tiien began to study the carpenter's trade, 
 with which he in due time became thoroughly ac- 
 quainted. He came to Ionia in 18G4, and has 
 followed contracting here until a few years past, 
 when he devoted himself to architectural work ex- 
 clusively. For several years he carried on a sash 
 and blind factory, but it was destroyed by fire in 
 1H78 and he did not resume the business. Many 
 of the best residences here and in Beltling have been 
 designed by him, and several fine properties in 
 Lansing, St. Louis and elsewhere were buil* by hira. 
 The asylum, pooriiouse and other public buildings 
 are monuments of his skill, anil he has recently 
 completed two life-saving stations at Marquette for 
 the Government. 
 
 At the head of the household affairs at Mr. 
 Walerbury's home is a lady wlio was known in her 
 maidenhood as Miss ALiry Lucina Hart, wiiich name 
 she exchanged for tiie one she now bears, November 
 2G, 18G2. Mrs. Waterbury is the daughter of 
 Ivcscom Hart, a carpenter and millwright, who in 
 addition to working at liis trade carries on a farm. 
 She is an intelligent, cai)able woman, who under- 
 
 stands how to make her lujine attractive to the 
 members of the family and their numerous friends. 
 She is the mother of four children, named respec- 
 tively; Delia June, Alice !May, Raymond B. and 
 Orry, Jr. The elder daughter is now in New York 
 and the younger is happily married to Herbert T. 
 Powell. 
 
 Mr. A\'aterl)ury is a well read man and one who 
 is numbered among the reliable members of society, 
 interested in the progress of the community and 
 kindly in his associations with those about him. 
 He is Trustee and Deacon in the Baptist Church 
 and wears his religion as an every-day garment. 
 
 EBENKZKR P. KELSEY is the son of Levi 
 Woodbury Kelsey, born in 1805, in Che- 
 ' nango Count}', N. Y. He was a farmer and 
 
 very prominent in the |)olitics of the Western part 
 of the State, being a member of the State Legisla- 
 ture. He was the son of Dr. Alexander Kelsej', a 
 native of New York, but of tlic best Scotch de- 
 scent. The town of Kelso, in Scotlantl, was the 
 ancient home of the family and received its name 
 from them. The ruins of Kelso Abbey are the 
 most interesting sight to tourists who visit the an- 
 cient home of the Kelsey family. The Abbey was 
 demolished September 5, 1515, by order of King 
 Henry VIII. of England. At that time a part of 
 the family were executed by the royal order and 
 others made their escape to Ireland. Their grand- 
 father Alexander was killed by the falling of a 
 tree in 1824. The ancestors of pur subject were 
 very early emigrants to America, settling in New 
 Hampshire in the first part of the seventeenth cen- 
 turj-. There was a long line of ph3-sicians in the 
 family. The mother of Ebenczer was Asenath 
 Laura (Hoj't) Kelsc}', born in 180G, in Montgomery 
 County, N. Y., and still surviving, a resident of 
 Orange Townshi[). She was a daughter of Ebene- 
 zer and Rebecca (Pinckney) Hoyt, a descendant of 
 the Pinckney family of Revolutionary fame. Grand- 
 father Ilo^'t died during the War of 1812. The 
 Hoyt side of the family is of mixed blood, Scotch 
 
752 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and Dutch. Ebenezer Hoyt was a son of John 
 and Eunice (Preston) Hoyt. Rebecca Pinckney 
 was a daugliter of Joseph and Mary (Latimer) 
 Pinckney. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married in Rusli, 
 Monroe County, N. Y., in July, 1 824. There they 
 resided until 1857 when they came to Michigan and 
 settled upon this farm on section 29, Ionia Town- 
 ship. They took this farm when it was already 
 partially improved, a small log house being their 
 home in which they remained, continuing improve- 
 ments until 18C3, when they removed to Berlin 
 Township and made their home there until the 
 death of Levi Kelsey in 1867. He was always 
 active in politics, like many other old time Whigs 
 becoming a Republican on the formation of that 
 party, and being afterwards elected to the oflice of 
 Supervisor. During liis residence in New York he 
 was for twenty years Justice of the Peace and in 
 1848 served in the State Legislature. His wife was 
 a useful and conscientious member for more than 
 sixty years of the Methodist Church. They were 
 the parents of seven children: Mary Jane, Mrs. 
 Grove P. Barber, deceased, February 7, 1891; Al- 
 exander Frink; Ebenezer P., our subject; Robert 
 Treat, deceased ; Helen Lovisa, Mrs. William B. 
 Taylor, deceased November, 1873; Levi Martin, 
 deceased October 23, 1886; and Hann.ah Gertrude, 
 Mrs. William B. Taylor. 
 
 Vj. p. Kelsey was the third child of his parents 
 and was born February 5, 1830, at Rush, Monroe 
 County, N. Y". After completing his studies in 
 the common schools he entered Genesee Wesleyan 
 Seminary and 'was also for a season at Genesee 
 College at Lima, N. Y'. His intention was to study 
 for a physician, which seemed to be his hereditarj^ 
 profession but he did not begin the study of medi- 
 cine proper, for at twenty- one years of age be felt 
 it his duty to begin work for himself, that he miglit 
 be able to pay back to his father the expenses of 
 his education. He worked at 114 per month for 
 two seasons and during the winters taught school 
 and tiius settled his obligation. He continued 
 teaching, completing eighteen terms in district 
 and union schools, being one year at Fowlerville, 
 and two years at Caledonia. He then engaged as 
 a bookkeeper iu the railroad office of the Elmira, 
 
 Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Railway and bought 
 grain on commission for J. F. Brown & Co. His 
 next move was to keep books and travel for a mer- 
 cantile house in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1857. He 
 tlicn removed to his present farm on section 29, 
 and spent the year 1858 here, when he next re- 
 turned to New Y'ork, to marry and bring home 
 "the girl he left behind him." 
 
 The subject of this sketch married March 30, 
 1859, Miss Theresa Ermina Loomis, a daughter of 
 John and Anna (Winship) Loomis. Her father 
 was a native of Ancram, Columbia County, N. Y., 
 born there March 5, 1781. He was a son of Tim- 
 othy and Lueretia (VonFreidenburgh) Loomis, 
 and grandson of Thomas Loomis, also of Ancram, 
 N. Y. He in turn was a son of Josiah, who mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Kelsey and lived in Windsor, Conn., 
 and grandson of Uaniel and Mary (Elswortli) 
 Loomis of the same town. Daniel was the son of 
 Deacon John Loomis, of the same place, who mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Scott, of Hartford, in 1648. The 
 father of Deacon John Loomis was Joseph Loomis 
 born in Braintree, Essex County, England. He 
 came to America in the ship "Susan and Ellen," 
 arriving at Boston Jul}' 17, 1638, and settling in 
 1640 in Windsor, Conn., where he had large landed 
 possessions. The estate is iu possession of de- 
 scendants of the family and always has been. He 
 died there November 25, 1658. The ancient an- 
 cestors of Mrs. Kelsey on the Loomis side are 
 largely college prc)fessors. The late Prof. Ellas 
 Loomis, of Yale College, was a member of the 
 same family. He left the second largest endow- 
 ment to Yale College, the amount being $300,000. 
 Her immediate ancestors were all scholarly men. 
 The coat of arms of the Loomis family is as fol- 
 lows: Greyhound Courant; Grejhound Rampant; 
 three Escalops, Ermine. Motto, "3Ior8 Christi 
 Vila Mihi." 
 
 Mrs. Kelsey's mother was a daughter of Nehe- 
 miahaud Catherine (Westfall) Winship, whosettled 
 in Dutchess County, N. Y. Ho was a blacksmith 
 by trade. The family is an old New England one. 
 Her parents married in Clinton Township, Dutchess 
 County, N. Y'., in 1807, and settled in that town- 
 ship, making their home tliere for many years. 
 Here twelve of their children were born. Later 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 753 
 
 they mored to Livingston County, N. Y., where 
 lie died May 21, 1841, she surviving him until 
 August 15, 1871. Thej' were the piirenls of thir- 
 teen cliildren, five of whom are now living: 
 Chauncey lives in Ionia; Catherine, Mrs. E. H. 
 Dnvis, lives in Avon, N. Y.; .lane, Mrs. Samuel A. 
 Sihley, in Grand IJIanc, Mich.; James W., lives in 
 Berlin Township, and Mrs. Kelse^' is the youngest 
 of the surviving cliildren. 
 
 Mrs. Kelscy was born December I'J, 18;j:i, in 
 I^ivingston County, N. Y. After attending the 
 district school she went to the academy at Avon; 
 afterward to Le Roy Female Seminary and com- 
 pleted her course at the (lonesce Wcsleyan .Sem- 
 inary. 
 
 After they left New York in 1850 the family 
 oame to Slichigan, where the father and his son 
 Ebenezer purchased one hundred and twenty acres, 
 which comprises a part of the present homestead. 
 It was on that farm that the father continued to 
 reside until his removal to Hcrlin Townshii). After 
 the father went to IJerlin Township, our subject 
 rented his ftthcr's part of this farm. He has since 
 (tarried it on adding to it, so that he now owns 
 live hundred and twenty-live acres of land, all but 
 thirty of which are well im[)rovcd. lie has never 
 received assistance from anyone, being a thorough 
 business man as well as a first-class farmer and all 
 that he has, his splendid farm and beautiful resi- 
 dence, has been gained 'by his own efforts supple- 
 mented by those of his faithful wife. His fine 
 house built in 1876 cost !fi7,000. The main barn 
 is 40x110 feel, on a basement wall nine feet high, 
 with a straw barn attached 4U.y70 feet in dimen- 
 .'iions. Three more barns me.isure one 00x90 feet, 
 another 20x70, and the third 40.\5O feet, having a 
 b.asement. These barns were erected at a cost of 
 over ^5,000. Corn houses, tool houses, etc., milk 
 houses and shops, help to complete the fine appoint- 
 ments of this fine farm. A well two hundred feet 
 deep has pipes connecting it with every part of the 
 farm. 
 
 Mr. Kelsey carries on mixed farming and pays 
 consitlerable attention to fattening stock, feeding 
 large quantities at all times. This spring he sold 
 seventy-five thousand pounds of meat. lie has 
 one hundred acres in wheat and seventy in corn, 
 
 and cut last year one hundred tons of hay. lie 
 has made a specialt}' of blooded stock. In 1857 
 he brought with him some full-blooded Short-horn 
 stock, which he had bought from Gen. Wadsworth, 
 of Western New York, lie keeps Shropshire sheep, 
 also Percherou horses of which he is a great ad- 
 mirer. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey are the parents of 
 three children: Lillian, born September G, 1860, 
 is the wife of Edwin I'ennell, now Sheriff of Clin- 
 ton County, Mich., and residing at St. .lohns; they 
 have no children. Ada Loouiis, born June 21, 1868; 
 Levi William, born January 28, 1876, died Feb- 
 ruary 3, 1876. The best education has been given 
 to these children. Miss Ada's schooling has been 
 at home conducted entirely by her mother. She is 
 proficient in literature, music, painting and em- 
 broidery, having had special teachers in the last 
 three. The whole family are members of the Pres- 
 byterian Church of Ionia, of which they are liberal 
 supporters, except the youngest daughter who be- 
 longs to the Episcopal Church. 
 
 Ebenezer Kelsey is a member of the Masonic 
 order. Blue Lodge. He has taken great interest in 
 local school matters for a time :is a member of the 
 School Board. He has also been active in politics, 
 is a stanch Republican and has frequently been a 
 delegate to district and State [Mjlttical conventions. 
 He has been School Commissioner, Supervisor of 
 Ionia Township, and also County Drainage Com- 
 missioner. He is a man of [wwer in his party and 
 was at one time nominated for Representative but 
 declined. During the first six wiuters of his resi- 
 dence in the State he was in the schoolroom as a 
 teacher. He was among the early founders of the 
 County Agricultural Society, serving successively 
 as Secretary, Director and twice as President, hold- 
 ing continuous ollice for eighteen years, lie was 
 also for eight years one of the Directors of the 
 Central Michigan Agricultural Society. jMI public 
 improvements, as railroads, wagon works, and 
 whatever pertained to the welfare of the city of 
 Ionia has found an earnest and practical promoter 
 in him. 
 
 Levi Martin Kelsey, one of the brothers of our 
 subject, was born February 18, 1841, at Rush, 
 Monroe County, N. Y. He received a common- 
 school education and when he came to Michigan 
 
754 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 with bis parents, identiCed himself with the others 
 in efforts for the farailj' welfare. At his death 
 October 23, 1886, he had one hundred and sixty- 
 five acres of improved land, a good residence with 
 all first-class appointments. lie was married De- 
 cember 15, 1864, to Alice Adella Murdock, who 
 was born in November 1842, in Medina, Orleans 
 County, N. Y. She was the daughter of Zimri 
 Murdock, who married Nancy Pennell. She was 
 the daughter of Dr. John Pennell and Sarah J. 
 Winslow. Dr. John Pennell was the son of Cap- 
 tain Ebenezer Pennell and Nancy Smith, lie was 
 of Scotch descent and au officer in the Colonial 
 army in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Kelsey taught 
 school previous to her marriage, and preceded her 
 husband to the other world June 9, 1879. They 
 were the parents of one child — Agues Estella — born 
 December 29, 1865; she is the wife of JohnThwing 
 Loomis, a nepliew of Mrs. E. P. Kelsey; they live 
 in Ionia. Levi Kelsey was beloved by all who 
 knew him as an honest, noble, generous and manly 
 man. lie and his daughter were members of the 
 Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a Repub- 
 lican. The Agricultural Society engaged much of 
 his attention, as lie was an active worker therein 
 and at the time of ids death was a member of tlie 
 County Board. He was also Vice-President of tlic 
 Ionia County Wool Growers Association, the last 
 years of his life. This generous, kind hearted man 
 iiad a remarkablj' strong hold upon the affections 
 of the coninuinity in which he lived. 
 
 JOHN J. EITELBMSS. The accounts of the 
 freedom to be found in America and the 
 wonderful resources of this country have 
 drawn hither many a native of foreign lands, 
 and throughout our broad land they are to be 
 found working their way from povertj' to com- 
 petence and proving their attachment to the land 
 of their adoption by their interest in her progress 
 and various institutions. This class is represented 
 in Montcalm Count}' as elsewhere throughout the 
 State, and it is our purpose to give a brief outline 
 of the life of one who has been a resident of Home 
 
 Township for several years past. Mr. Eitelbuss 
 has four hundred and seven acres of land on sec- 
 tions 30 and 31, two hundred and twenty of wliich 
 are under the plow. 
 
 Tlie ancestors of our subject lived in Wurtcm- 
 burg, Germany, and his grandfather, Johanes 
 Eitelbuss, owned a farm near Herrenberg. He was 
 a farmer and teamster and followed the latter call 
 ing during the War of 1815. His son J.George 
 was reared on the farm and was eighteen j'ears old 
 when he was drafted into the armj' for the war 
 before mentioned. He received a sabre cut across 
 the face. He died in his native land in 1839 
 cheered by the consolation of the Lutheran faith. 
 His wife was Anna Marie Remp, daughter of a 
 Wurtemburg farmer — Stephen Rerap. She was the 
 mother of thirteen children, seven of whom were 
 reared to maturity. After the death of her hus- 
 band siie carried on the farm and reared the fam- 
 ilj', doing much manual labor in the fields. She 
 came to this country in 1854 and died at Palo, 
 this State, in 1870, at the ripe age of seventy-six 
 years. 
 
 The subject of this biographical sketch was 
 born in Herrenberg, Wurtemburg, Germany, Jan- 
 uary 5, 1833. In accordance with the custom of 
 his native land he attended sciiool until he was 
 fourteen years old and during the last two years 
 ranked as first scholar. . He was then confirmed, 
 and laying aside his books entered upon his work 
 as a farmer, laboring on the homestead until he was 
 seventeen years old. He then hired out for two 
 years as a farm hand, after which he did teaming 
 from Tuebingen to Stuttgart, hauling merchandise 
 vviih three spans of horses. He was an expert driver 
 and earned a reputation that extended far and 
 wide. Being liable to military service and wish- 
 ing to escape the obligation he determined to come 
 to America, where being a soldier was not com- 
 pulsory. 
 
 Mr. Eitelbuss left Havre, France, May 10, 1853, 
 on the sailer "AVilliam Tell,' and thirty-four daj'S 
 later landed in New York City. He made his way 
 to Ann Arbor, Mich., and on his arrival had three 
 shillings left to keep him over night. He sought 
 employment and hired out for $10 per month in 
 haying. Three months later he entered the em- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 755 
 
 ploy of the Michigan Central Railroad at seven 
 shillings a day. lie soon resumed farm work and 
 when his mother crossed the ocean he rented two 
 hundred acres in Washtenaw County, making a 
 home in which she was his housekeeiier. He ope- 
 rated the place three years, then in A[)ril, 1858, 
 moved to Ann Arhor and engaged in teaming and 
 soon added contracting to his job work. lie fur- 
 nished material for the stone foundation of 
 churches, did grading on the University grounds, 
 built the tunnel and underground engine house, 
 the gas tank, and furnished scaffold poles for var- 
 ious buildings. 
 
 Mr. iMtelbuss also built seven miles of the 
 Toledo ife Ann Arbor Railroad, and when tiic con- 
 tract was finished established himself at .Six Lakes, 
 where he used eight teams in lumbering until the 
 spring of 1881. Going to Detroit he helped build 
 and grade eleven side tracks, then those between 
 the depots. There he used seven teams, as he had 
 done in other places, and when he came to Mont- 
 calm County to make a permaueut location he 
 brought them here and used them in lumbering. 
 lie did a big business in lumbering near Wyman, 
 and after buying his present estate cleared quite a 
 large acreage. He first bought one hundred and 
 sixty acres on section 30, tlien one hundred and 
 sixty-seven on section 31, and still later eigiity on 
 section 30. He has made the improvements which 
 include a substantial barn and windmill. His 
 dwelling is a log house but large and comfortable. 
 He has one hundred and forty acres of hay land 
 and puts up one hundred and seventy-five tons per 
 year, besides what he uses for his own well-graded 
 stock. He harvests good crops of grain and raises 
 and feeds more cattle than any other man in the 
 VK'inity. He keeps graded Short-horns and horses 
 of well-known breeds. 
 
 In February, 1858, Mr. Kit(>lbuss was married 
 to Miss Louisa Bauer, who came to America in 
 1857 and made her home in Ann Arbor. .She was 
 born in the same province as her husband Feb- 
 ruary 25, 1 838, and W.1S reared by an uncle, her 
 parents, Conrad and Barbara (Walz) Bauer, hav- 
 ing died when she was quite small. They were 
 farmers near Reudlingen. Mr. and Mrs. Kitelbuss 
 liave seven children, those who are still at home 
 
 being William F., Lizzie, Annie L. and Carrie. 
 Jolin J., Jr., the eldcit, is a blacksmith in Edmore; 
 Frank, the second child, is teaming in the north 
 woods; Mary is tlie wife of William Simpson and 
 lives in Day Township. 
 
 Mr. Eitelbuss has served as Commissioner of 
 Ilighv/ays three years anil has shown excellent 
 judgment regarding public improvements. He 
 belongs to the Royal Templars of Temjierance at 
 Ann Arbor and is connected with the Patrons of 
 In<1ustry, in which organization he lias been Vice- 
 President. He is a firm believer in the principles 
 of the Republican party and never fails to deposit 
 his vole in behalf of that in which he has faith. 
 
 E. Cl'RTlS, of the firm of Curtis ife 
 Sawdy, is one of the most enterprising 
 business men in Edmore, Montcalm Count}'. 
 He may well be said to have an old head 
 on young shoulders, as he is doing a better busi- 
 ness and showing more tact in pushing his enter- 
 prise than is the case with many older men. He 
 carries a fine stock of groceries and the firm also 
 deals largely' in provisions, beiug, in fact, the 
 heaviest dealers in the [jlace. Mr. Curtis is asso- 
 ciated in business with his brother-in-law, Calvin 
 Sawdy, who is also a man of abundant energy, and 
 the reputation of the two for honest}' and integ- 
 rity is unexcelled. 
 
 The grandfather of Mr. Curtis w.ts Dr. John 
 M. Curtis, who was born in England and was 
 graduated from a medical college there. He came 
 to America and located near Boston, Mass., but 
 later removed to Chatham, Canada. In 1814 he 
 came to this State and established himself at 
 Woodland, Barry County, where he became very 
 prominent both as a citizen and a pioneer phj-s- 
 ician. His last years were spent there, .and he is 
 well remembered b}' the old settlers of that sec- 
 tion. The direct progenitor of our subject was 
 Jolin N. Curtis, who was born in Pennsylvania 
 and was engaged in farming in Canada several 
 years. He came to Barry County, this State, the 
 same year as his father, and buying Government 
 
756 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 land in Woodland Township, reclaimed a farm 
 and finally had one hundred and twenty acres 
 under good improvement. During the last twent}'- 
 five years of his life he was in poor health, but he 
 lived to the age of sixty -seven 3'ears. He was a 
 member of the Church of God. His wife was 
 Mary Cunningham, a native of Ireland, whose 
 parents emigrated to Canada during her childhood. 
 Her father, Patrick Cunningham, carried on a 
 farm and died in the Dominion. The family of 
 John N. Curtis and his wife consisted of nine 
 cliildren, and he of whom we write is third on 
 the family roll. 
 
 M. E. Curtis was born in Barry County, this 
 State, May 29, 1875, and reared on a farm, en- 
 joying good advantages in the common schools. 
 His labors were given to his own improvement 
 and the general welfare of the family until he was 
 of age, when he took up farm life for himself, 
 buj'ing forty acres in his native township and 
 building upon .and otherwise improving it. He 
 carried on general farming and stock-raising until 
 the fall of 1884, when he came to Edmore and 
 opened a meat-market. B'or two years he was en- 
 gaged in that business and stock-dealing, and he 
 then entered upon the sale of groceries. This he 
 has successfully continued, taking in his brother- 
 in-law as a partner in the spring of 1889. 
 
 The lady who presides over the household af- 
 fairs at the home of Mr. Curtis became his wife 
 December 24, 187G. Prior to that time she was 
 as Miss Ardella Sawdy. She was born in Wood- 
 land Township, Barry County, was carefully reared 
 and well fitted to enter upon the duties that lay 
 before her when she became a wife. She is the 
 mother of five children, named respectively : M. 
 Ruth, Omar C, Estella, Ertie and Marilla J. 
 
 The father of Mrs. Curtis was Ebenezer Sawdy, 
 who was born in Scipio, Cayuga County, N. Y., 
 March 2, 1812, and was reared in Orleans County, 
 to which his parents went when he w.as four j-ears 
 old. He was married there at the age of twenty- 
 four to Ruth Rose, who was born in that county 
 in 1820, and whose father, Benjamin Rose, was a 
 farmer. The latter spent his last years in this 
 State with his daughter and family, having retired 
 from active life. In the spring of 1842 Mr. 
 
 Sawdy came to Barry County, this State, traveling 
 from the lakes on foot. He bought fortj' acres of 
 wild land, then returned East and in the fall 
 brought his famil}' to their new home. He built 
 a rude log house and literally hewed out a farm 
 from the timber. He eventuall3' became the owner 
 of considerable landed property and was numbered 
 among the successful members of the community. 
 He was the first mail carrier between Woodland 
 and South Cass, and carried the mail tied up in 
 a handkerchief. He was Justice of the Peace for 
 years and in politics wag a Republican. His death 
 took place February 27, 1890. The Sawdys are 
 of English ancestry. 
 
 Mr. Curtis has been A'illage Trustee two years 
 and in his otFicial life displays the same zeal that 
 has characterized him as a business man. He is 
 interested in social orders and is connected with 
 the Odd Fellows, Good Templars and Knights of 
 the Maccabees, in each of which he has held otflce. 
 He is particularly active in the Good Templars' 
 work and is now Chief Templar of the Thirteenth 
 District. He exercises the right of suffr.age with 
 the Prohibitionists, being one of those who believe 
 the liquor question the all-important one at this 
 time. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, is a Trustee and has been Class- Leader, 
 and takes an active part in the religious and be- 
 nevolent work that is carried on by the congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 WW 
 
 jLi^Cs Hall is one ihat is well known in Ionia 
 /|®j II Couuty and in other parts of central Mich- 
 ^'^:=^ igan. He has been connected with various 
 interests in this section, owns considerable real es- 
 tate, and is the manager of the well-known summer 
 resort at Long Lake. His home is on section 3, 
 Orleans Township, where he is engaged in farming 
 and looking after his other interests. He was 
 born in Washtenaw County, January 12, 1843, but 
 was only a child when bis parents removed to Ionia 
 County. Here he has spent most of his time and 
 here his chief interests center. 
 
 Mr. Hall is desconcied from an old V^crmont fam- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 757 
 
 il^- and grandfalber Willard Hall, is numbered 
 among the pioneers of Washtenaw County, this 
 State. He came liilher from the Green Moun- 
 tain homo, Iielioving that a farmer could do bet- 
 ter in this country than among the hills of New 
 England. Grandfather Hall built forty-seven log 
 houses for himself and lived in many different lo- 
 calities. He linally came to Ionia Count}- to make 
 his home with his son Ilirani, and here he breathed 
 his last. 
 
 Hiram Hall, father of our subject w.as born amid 
 the hills of N'ermonl and came to this State when a 
 small boy. He lived in Washtenaw County until 
 after his marriage, and from his early life was en- 
 gaged in farming and lumbering. In 184Ghe took 
 up eighty acres of Government land in Orleans 
 Township, Ionia County, and lived upon it until 
 his death, which occurred February 3, 1883. He 
 was an extensive dealer in lumber and with I''Jder 
 K. I). Howe, built the first sawmill in the township, 
 which was run by water power. He also built a 
 steam sawmill at Long Lake, which he ran twenty 
 3'ears. He was married in Washtenaw County in 
 1830 to Julia A. Olmsted, who is still living on 
 the farm and is now seventy -six years ol<l. She is 
 the mother of six children, viz: Eliz.abetli, Frank- 
 lin, Kliza, Benjamin, Irvin and Hiram. Her father, 
 Hciijaniin J. ()linste<i, was born in Vermont and 
 was an early settler in Washtenaw County. Thence 
 he came to Ionia Count}- and in Orleans Township 
 ho died about 187(1. 
 
 Uenjamin Hall spent his early years under the 
 shelter of the (larental roof, acquiring a practical 
 education anil a knowledge of pursuits in which his 
 father was engaged. In 1867 he boughtan eighty- 
 acre farm in the township that is now his home, 
 but he subse<)ueiitly sold it and went to Kalama/.oo 
 Count}' and ke])t a lumber yard at A'icksburg a 
 year and a half. He then sold out the yard and 
 returning to Ionia County bought a half interest 
 in the mill then owned by his father and in three 
 hundred acres of pine land he possessed. He was 
 in the mill about six years and he now owns the 
 land thai belonged with it. He also owns one hun- 
 dred and twenty acres in Montcalm County. In 
 188!) he and his brother Hiram visited Washington 
 anci Oregon to look for timber land. Hiram Hall 
 
 took two claims of three hundred and twenty acres 
 in the latter State and in 1890 sold to our subject 
 a half interest in the property. At the Long Lake 
 Summer Resort people gather for recreation and re- 
 cuperation during the summer and the fame of the 
 place is quite extended. 5Ir. Hall now has twenty- 
 six row boats on the lake. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Hall was solemnized in Or- 
 leans Township August 9, 18G8. The bride. Miss 
 Mary Morton, is the youngest child of Alexander 
 and Mary (Grier) Morton, and has three brothers, 
 Alexander, .Tames A. and John W. Mr. Morton 
 was born in Scotland and his wife in Ireland. Af- 
 ter their emigration from their native lands they 
 lived in Canada and thence came to Ionia County 
 in 1851. Mr. Morton bought eighty acres of land 
 in Orleans Townshii), lived upon it a number of 
 years, then sold it and with his wife made his home 
 with their daughter. Mr. Morton died February 1."), 
 188.5, and Mrs. Morton November IG. 1886. The 
 father was eighty-two years old and the mother 
 seventy-four years old. They were members of the 
 Congregational Chnreh and in Canada Mr. Mor- 
 tf)n had been a teacher. 
 
 Our subject anti liis wife are the hajipy parents 
 of four children who bear the names of Frank J., 
 Lizzie, Morton I>. and Raymond. It has been the 
 aim of the parents to fit them for useful .and 
 honorable positions in the world by giving them 
 the best educations possible and training them in 
 the principles of right living. Mr. Hall is a Re- 
 publican in politics. 
 
 IKORGE A. PHILLU'S is one of the old 
 settlers of Otisco Township, and has an 
 extended acquaintance throughout Ionia 
 County. His labors in life have proved so success- 
 ful that he is enabled to spend bis declining years 
 without, feeling the necessity of toil, but with a 
 suflicicnt amount of wealth to furnish him with 
 every comfort and enahle him to enjoy the delights 
 of generous giving .as well. His home is at Cook's 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Corners, near whieli village his agricultural work 
 has been done. 
 
 Among the early settlers of New York was one 
 George Phillips, son of Thomas Phillips, of Rhode 
 Island, and of the old Quaker stock. That gentle- 
 man was married in the Empire State to Dolly, 
 daughter of Elkanah and Ilepsibah (Phillips) 
 Smith. To them were born the following children 
 besides our subject: Thomas H., now living in 
 Australia; Hiram, Stephen and Ilosea, deceased; 
 Charity, who died in Chicago a few years since; 
 Susan deceased : Faun}', a resident of New York; 
 and Freclove and Salma deceased. The father had 
 never ab.indoned the Quaker belief in which he 
 had been reared, and the mother was a member of 
 the Christian Church. 
 
 Tiie gentleman whose name introduces these 
 paragraphs was born January 12, 1818, in Rens- 
 selaer Count}\ N. Y., and as his father was a farmer 
 liis boyhood was spent amid rural scenes. At the 
 age of sixteen 3^ears he went to work on the neigh- 
 boring farm and iield his position there eight years. 
 His mother having died, leaving two small chil- 
 dren, he took charge of the home farm and filled, 
 as best he could, the parents' place to the little 
 ones for two years. A brother then took ids pl.ace 
 and in 1845 he turned his footsteps toward Mich- 
 igan, driving from Pittstown to Troy, thence com- 
 ing by the Erie Canal and lake to Detroit, whence 
 an ox-team brought him to the neighborhood of 
 his present home. He was accompanied in his 
 journey by a wife to whom he had been married 
 but a few j-ears, their wedding day having been 
 .lanuary 22, 1842. 
 
 Mrs. Phillips bore the maiden name of Abigail 
 Wright, and is one of the eleven childien compris- 
 ing the family of Hezckiah and Elizabeth (Claik) 
 Wright. Her parents were born in Massachusetts 
 but at the time of her marriage their home was in 
 Pittstown, N. Y. Those of her brothers and sis- 
 ters who are now living are Elihu, a resident of 
 Coral, this State; Cynthia, whose home is in Otisco; 
 Abner in Orleans Township; James, in Montcalm 
 Counl\-; and Charles in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Pliillips liave two sons, Wilson M. and Edmond W., 
 both of whom are engaged in farming, the elder in 
 Saginaw County and tiie younger In Otisco Town- 
 
 ship. The elder son served in the Tenth Michi- 
 gan Cavalry from February until in November, 
 1865. 
 
 Tiie first Presidential ballot cast by Mr. Phil- 
 lips was for William Henry Harrison and he has 
 lived to vote for a grandson of that General. Al- 
 though never an aspirant for public ofDce our sub- 
 ject has been an active worker in political circles 
 and during a residence in Otisco Township of for- 
 ty-six years, he has missed but one election and 
 one town meeting. As will be understood, he 
 is a member of the Republican party. He is a 
 member of Ionia Lodge, No. 16, County Grange 
 and Banner Grange of Orleans Township. He and 
 his wife belong to the Christian Church that was 
 organized in 1846 and they, together with Mrs. 
 Clark Demorest and Erastus S. Jinks, are the only 
 surviving charter members. 
 
 ^^ SMOND S. TOWER. The business interests 
 II jj] of this gentleman are varied and extensive. 
 ^5^7 His residence is in Ionia, Ionia County, and 
 he is Vice President of the Michigan Overall Fac- 
 loiy in that city, a stockholder in the First Na- 
 tional Bank and the owner of much rented property; 
 he is also a farmer with the oversight of consider- 
 able outlying land. He was born May 27, 1840, to 
 Osmond and Martha (Gallagher) Tower, and grew 
 to manhood in Ionia. His father passed away 
 August 4, 1886, but his mother is still living. The 
 chief incidents in their lives are given elsewhere in 
 this volume. 
 
 Our subject attended the State Normal School 
 and Seminary at Ypsilanti five years, and then 
 studied in the law department of the State Univer- 
 sity at Ann Arbor. After completing his schooling 
 he engaged in the hardware business in Ionia, un- 
 der the firm name of Tower & Todd. After a time 
 he disposed of his interest in this business, and 
 going to Edmore embarked in a similar enterprise 
 there, continuing it until the death of his father, 
 when he was called upon to take [inrt in tiie joint 
 management of a large estate. In looking after his 
 varied interests he displays an unusual amount of 
 
'[(/l^'u J^ /^^OA oC^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 761 
 
 tact, so lliat tlie affairs he has incliarge are moving 
 on satisfactoiilj'. In August, 18(!4, Mr. Tower en- 
 listed in liie Sixth Micliigan Cavalry-, which became 
 a part of Sheridan's army, going the front as Cap- 
 tain of Company K. lie took part in llie cam- 
 paigns in the Siienandoali Vallej- nud participated 
 in tiie capture of Lee and Johnson, and afterward 
 tooi< part in tlic Grand Review at Washington. 
 
 Mr. Tower was married in September, 18G2, to 
 Miss Sarah, daughter of A. M. Bartholomew, of 
 Detroit, and the union lias resulted in the birth of 
 three children: Elsie, Fred and Marion. The lat- 
 ter is now the wife of \V. B. Carpenter, of Chicago. 
 Mr. Tower is a Republican, and an active, stanch 
 and influential member of his party. He belongs to 
 the Knights of Pythias, in which his social quaili- 
 lies and kind!}- spirit are duly recognized, lie is 
 an .active and useful member of societj', and a po- 
 tent factor in extending the business interests of 
 Ionia. 
 
 --»*o"®X1^-«>*«- 
 
 ^^EORGE 11. MINARD. A book filled with 
 (|| a=i the records of the lives of good men is sug- 
 ^^Jl gestive of the most precious and important 
 truths. As was said by one famed in English lit- 
 erature, such a book is the " precious life-blood of 
 a m.aster spirit, embalmed and treasured u[p on 
 purpose to a life beyond life." They serve as po- 
 tent examples to each succeeding generation, and 
 teach them how to make life a success. As a prom- 
 inent farmer of Montcalm Counlj*, Mr. Minard 
 deserves representation in a volume designed to 
 perpetuate the names of her lending citizens. AVe 
 are pleased to invite the attention of our readers 
 to liis portrait on the opposite page, and to the 
 following brief account of the main events in liis 
 life. 
 
 Mr. Minard was bom in Allegheny County, Pa., 
 October 2, 1841, and is the son of ,Iolin and 
 Rebecca (Ililynrd) Minard, both natives of Pennsyl- 
 vania. His mother is a resident of Sidney Town- 
 ship, and his father was killed soon after the 
 removal of the famih- to Ohio, which occurred when 
 George was about six j'cars old. When he was 
 twelve years old he removed from Ohio to Noble 
 
 County, Ind., in which State he resided until at the 
 age of Iwent}' years he entered the I'nion army. 
 In September, 18G1, he enlisted in Company G, 
 Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry-. He was ordered 
 to Henderson, Ky., and thence to Bowling Green, 
 and Ft. Henry, where he fought in the battles of 
 Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson. From there he went 
 to Sliiloh and was in that battle April 6 and 7, 
 1862. He removed after this to Corinth, Miss., 
 and was present at the evacuation, which occurred 
 June 3. He was then sent to Sherman's field lios- 
 pital in the State of Tennessee, on the ground 
 gone over in the march and then to the marine 
 hospital at Evansville. October 8, 1862, he re- 
 ceived his honorable discharge at Indianapolis, 
 Ind. 
 
 After remaining at home until February, 1863, 
 this young man who was deeply interested in the 
 war, went again into the cmploj' of the Govern- 
 ment at Covington, Ky., then at Nicholasville, Ky., 
 and on to Camp Nelson. lie carried provisions 
 between Camp Nelson and Cumberland Gap, to 
 and from different divisions of the army ualil 
 about June lo, when he went home again to Indiana. 
 In February, 1865, he re-enlisted in Company C, 
 One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Infantry, 
 and was Orderly Sergeant of the companj- which 
 w.as organized at Indianapolis. He was sent to 
 Uari)er's Ferry, from there to Cliarlestown,and was 
 at Wincliesler when Lee surrendered. He enjoyed 
 greatly helping to tear down the old prison .ind 
 court house where John Brown was tried ami im- 
 prisoned. He returned to Grafton and from there 
 to I'arkersburg, on the Ohio river after the sur- 
 render of Gen. Lee. He received his honorable 
 discharge at Charlcstown, W. Va., and returned to 
 Indiana August 30, 186'). 
 
 This war veteran now decided to seek the ways 
 of peace in domestic life and was married March 
 26, 1866, to Mary T. Barns, of Noble County, Ind. 
 Thej- found their first home in Edgar County, III., 
 but remained there only a year, coming to Michi- 
 gan and settling in Allegan County in the fall of 
 1867, and making a removal to .Montcalm County 
 in the fall of 1871. The first seven years of his 
 residence in this Slate he devoted himself to engin- 
 eering, and since that time has followed the voca- 
 
762 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tion of a farmer on the place where lie now resides, 
 which has seen great improvement since he took it 
 in hand. The four children of his first wife have 
 all passed away from earth. His second marriage 
 was with Pheba Lenard. This event took place 
 May 2, 1880, and the union was of short duration 
 as the wife lived only four months. The present 
 Mrs. Minard, to whom he was married February 7, 
 1881, bore the maiden name of Arena McClow. 
 Three children have been born of this union: Mauda 
 B., born May 17, 1883; Arthur Blaine, January 5, 
 1885; and Kitty M.ay, December 7, 1889. These 
 little ones are all living to rejoice tlio hearts of 
 their parents. 
 
 Mr. Minard has held the office of Constable for 
 some time; has been School Director for eigiil 
 years and is now School Inspector and a probable 
 candidate for Treasurer. He takes an active in- 
 terest in the educational matters at his home. He 
 is a Republican in politics and in his religious con- 
 victions is connected with the Congregational 
 Church. 
 
 ellARLES G. SANDERS. The annals of the 
 biographer are the mystic link.s that bind 
 the shadowy past to the living, pulsing pres- 
 ent, and a truthful record of the lives that are 
 measured by deeds and not b}' the cycling years, is 
 a theme of surpassing grandeur. Thirty 3'ears, how 
 brief the span! and yet, in the simple record of 
 those years is a fruitful source of the proof of the 
 possibilities of young American manhood. The 
 subject of our sketch owed his origin to G. T. and 
 Mary (Fairchilds) Sanders, natives of New York, 
 which State was also the native place of Charlie. 
 The family name indicates their descent from the 
 English of Cromwell's time, and they were proba- 
 bly among the earlj' settlers of that name to colo- 
 nize New York during the Revolutionary period. 
 In his early youth Charles was brought by his 
 parents to Corunna, Shiawassee County, Mich., 
 where he gained a good education, the character of 
 which we can conjecture by the effect of his train- 
 ing on his mature mental faculties. Already strong 
 
 in the equipoise of a well-developed mind, at the 
 age of twentj'-twohe located at Stanton, Montcalm 
 County, Mich., and began the study of dentistry'. 
 In his pupilage were developed that ambition to 
 excel and unconquerable desire to succeed that can 
 only reach its fruition through patient stud}- and 
 ceaseless application. It was here that the testi- 
 mony as to his sterling traits first attracted the at- 
 tention of those who so gladly give credence to the 
 data of his life. 
 
 On completing the preliminary study of his pro- 
 fession our subject began business for himself in 
 Stanton, Montcalm County. "Honesty is the best 
 policy" was the unwritten law of his business ca- 
 reer and the talisman of his success, l' ncorrupta- 
 ble in honor, he carried the law of his life into 
 business transactions and whatever of reward he 
 gained in worldly store came as the golden guerdon 
 and legitimate result of industry and ripe judg- 
 ment; and wealth gained in such manner brings 
 peace, only, in its train. 
 
 A nature of such noliility as that of Dr. Sanders 
 turns to the prototype of heaven, a home, for its 
 full enjoyment and the woman of his choice to 
 whom he was married April 13, 1879, and whose 
 devotion to him was as beautiful as sincere, was 
 Miss .lennie Philo, a native of Michigan. The bond 
 of union was forever sealed in the parentage of two 
 children — Gladys Lillian, born Februar}' 4, 1884, 
 and Charles Garfield, May 5, 1887. In the enjoy- 
 ment of the presence of those loved ones seemed 
 his perpetual delight, and around the fireside was 
 spent ever}' hour not filled with business cares. 
 Scarcely cau we fathom the infinity of bereavement 
 caused by the relentless hand of death to her 
 who bore the holy name of wife and to the little 
 children so early deprived of a father's care. But 
 to his descendants he has left the priceless boon of 
 his example and thej' can walk in the path trod by 
 "father" with unfailing trust that leads to safet}', 
 honor and success. 
 
 In the traits of character shown in the two rela- 
 tions, in business and in the home, are to be found 
 the secrets of his strong friendships, an<l i-are in- 
 deed must be the nature that could meet so nearly 
 with universal favor. Such a character needs no 
 praise to adorn it, and these annals are only a fair 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 763 
 
 \ 
 
 expression of those wliosc relations to liiiii caused 
 liieni to know not only the outer hut the inner man. 
 .Such a life is loo [)rccious and rare to he lost. The 
 standard of manhood of this hrief life is the only 
 true one for American youth; what he did, by the 
 force of will, you can do, and it adds one more 
 leaf to the garland that crowns the brow of him of 
 whom it can be truly said ''well done." 
 
 >)ILLIAM V. MITCHELL. The father of 
 our subject, Geor-re Mitchell, was a New 
 .Jersey farmer and a soldier in the War of 
 1812. He married in Jsew York INFary Di.xon, a 
 ("onnoclicut woman. They made their home in 
 .Jefferson and Lewis Counties, N. Y., until 1829, 
 when they came to JHchigan and in October set- 
 tled on section 13, in Berlin Township (then Cass 
 Township.) He bought fortj' acres of wild land, 
 and was to chop and clear five acres for Nathaniel 
 Pierce in p.ajMiient. He died, however, before the 
 job was begun. He came by boat to Detroit, 
 thence by ox-team to Ionia. With him were five 
 of his children, whom his death in 1841 left home- 
 less and penniless. His wife survived until 1864. 
 Thej' were the parents of eleven children. Nine 
 grew to maturity and two of these are now living. 
 His mother w.is a member of the i!a|)tist Church. 
 He was in politics a .Tacksonian Democrat. 
 
 William P. Mitchell was born November 10, 
 183.5, at Hrownville, .Jefferson County, N. Y. He 
 was the youngest child of the family and was but 
 four years old when the journey was made to 
 Michigan. He attended tlie first organized school 
 in this township, which was situated where the 
 Coon schoolhouse now stands on the Hellcvueroad. 
 This temple of learning was a log shanty, having a 
 fireplace in a corner. The door had a wooden latch 
 which was lifted by the traditional latch string. 
 The first teacher was Eliza Kirkham. After the 
 death of his father the family was careil for b}- an 
 older brother, Curtis B., who was then about 
 seventeen years old. He kept tiie family together, 
 sent the younger ones to school, paid for the land 
 and fed Ihem on johnny cake. The grim disease 
 
 ' ague took hold of them and they learned early to 
 shake with him. They had to drink maple and 
 beech tree tea. William w.as put to work quite 
 young, .as soon as he could earn $5 per month. He 
 worked In the summer and attended school in the 
 winter. The example of the brave older brother 
 was not thrown away upon the younger children, 
 but had its influence in the formation of their 
 characters. 
 
 William has always been an industrious and 
 hard-working farmer. He chopped and cleared 
 about two hundred acres with his own hands. He 
 began for himself when nineteen years of age, but 
 worked very little by the month as he used to 
 chop and log land by the job. He bargained for 
 his first piece of land in the fall of 1854. It was 
 eighty acres, on the spot where he now lives on 
 section 4, of Berlin Township. He paid aboutone- 
 third of the cost and went in debt for the balance. 
 Clearing five acres of it he proceeded to build a 
 log house which he completed in the fall of 1858. 
 
 William Mitchell married, March G, 1859, 
 Louisa .S. Crane, a daughter of .John W. and Sarah 
 (.Jones) Crane. Mrs. Mitchell's father, a stone- 
 mason, was born in New Jersey, and her mother 
 w.as a n.ative of New York. They came to Michi- 
 gan in 1834 and settled in Novi Township, Oak- 
 land County, upon a raw farm which he proceeded 
 to improve and lived there until his death in 1858. 
 His wife survived him until 1877. Of theireleven 
 children seven arc now living. Mrs. Mitchell w.as 
 the tenth in order of birth and was born No- 
 vember 2, 1834, in Oakland County. After mar- 
 riage this young couple came to their homestead 
 and settled March 21, 1859, in their log house. 
 Jlr. Mitchell h.as cleared off sixty-six acres of this 
 farm and has it in a high state of cultivation, so 
 that he able to carry on successfully his mixed 
 farming operations. All improvements to be seen 
 on this farm were i)laced there by his own hands 
 and his present residence was built in 1878. He 
 came onto this section entirely empty-handed. 
 
 Of their four children two are now living: 
 Elora E., l)orn .January 25, ISfiO, died in infancy; 
 Frank C, born August 23, 18C2; .John O., born 
 •July 31, 18C4,died Decembers, 1881 ; Thomas W., 
 born July 31, 18CG. Frank C. has been a student 
 
764 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 at tlie Ionia High School and has since taught ten 
 terms in Berlin Township, four of which in succes- 
 sion were taught in his iiome district. He was 
 also School Inspector for two years. Mr. Mitchell 
 still carries on the farm with the help of his two 
 sons. He is interested in all matters of public 
 import, is a member of the Patrons of Industry and 
 of the Grange. In the latter organization he has 
 held the otiice of Overseer one year, of Master 
 two years and of Lecturer three years. He belongs 
 to the Boston Lodge, No. 146, of the Masonic 
 order at Saranac, in which he has been Junior 
 Warden. For eleven years in succession he has 
 held office on the School Board, and has been 
 Supervisor of Berlin Township and also Treasurer 
 for five years. From 1884 to 1886 he was Under 
 Sheriff. For two years he has been Director in the 
 Ionia County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance 
 Company. He has been Notary Public and for 
 seven j'ears past has acted as agent for the insur- 
 ance company. He has taken a great interest in 
 politics, voting the Democratic ticket, and has fre- 
 quently been appointed delegate to both county 
 and State conventions. 
 
 An essay read bj' Mr. Mitchell before Conviction 
 Lodge, Patrons of Industry, at Eddy Schoolhouse, 
 January IG, 1891, is given below: 
 
 My FmsT Fodrth of Juli' Celebration. 
 
 " It has been said, and perhaps trutiifully, that 
 with all human beings there are in old age some 
 bright and sunny spots upon which the retrospect- 
 ive eye can rest in looking over the dim and misty 
 past. Something that is ever fresh and green in 
 the mind, down to death's dark hour. Such is the 
 case with myself in looking back along the patlis 
 over which I once traveled. My first Fourtlu of 
 .July celebration is one spot that is still fresh in m}' 
 memory and will ever be. If I remember rightly 
 it was forty-three 3'ears ago. I was at that time 
 twelve years of age, living with my brother, C. B. 
 Mitchell, and going to school at what is now known 
 as the Coon district. In those days there were no 
 millionaires in Ionia County and school children 
 were not extravagantly dressed. My outfit for 
 school, for church, for Fourth of July and for all 
 occasions consisted of a straw hat, one pair of 
 
 pants (factory cloth), one pair of suspenders 
 (factory cloth), one shirt (factory cloth). Coat 
 and vest I had none. The pants and suspenders 
 were colored with the dye make from soft maple 
 bark; the sliirt was white. My hat was homemade 
 from rye straw braided and sewed by my mother's 
 hand. My feet were clothed in Nature's garb. 
 
 " The settlers arranged to have a celebration 
 upon the coming Fourth of July a mile and one- 
 i)alf south of Coon schoolhouse and eight miles 
 south of Ionia City. As the time drew near my 
 school did me but little good, and at least two 
 weeks prior to the great event the good time com- 
 ing was constantly in ray mind. At last the 3d of 
 July arrived and joy swelled my bosom. My 
 mother had promised to let me go home from 
 school with the boys who lived in the neighbor- 
 hood where the celebration was to be held, and at 
 an early hour I was making tracks along my two- 
 mile winding path tlirough the woods to the school- 
 house. The most interesting event of that day was 
 that school was dismissed promptly at 4 o'clock 
 P. M., as near as the teacher could guess. About 
 half past three o'clock the next morning found us 
 up and dressed and on the road to the Tamarack 
 Swamp, wading through nettles up to our armpits 
 a mile or more. When I went into that sea of 
 nettles the tops of my feet looked somewhat like 
 toad's backs, as they had not fully recovered from 
 the 'chaps' that the cool spring weather had 
 caused. But when I came out the "chaps" were 
 all gone, and my feet were covered with blood and 
 my legs seemed all on fire, but my pockets were 
 full of tamarack gum, which seemed to have a 
 soothing efi'ect on the bodily anguish I then en- 
 dured. The hours passed by and about 10 o'clock 
 the delegations came pouring in from east, north 
 and northwest until the crowd numbered probably 
 forty or forty-five souls (allowing but one soul for 
 each body). People came for nine miles with ox- 
 tcams, the men on foot swinging the whip in their 
 right hand and a large bush in their left to avoid 
 being devoured by mosquitoes. 
 
 "A short piece of a shot gun barrel was used as 
 a cannon until it burst, wounding the old man 
 Butler in the rear. The wound bled freely but 
 proved to be nothing serious. All this time the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 765 
 
 good old Irisb mothers were arranging tables in the 
 wilderness, preparing to feed the multitudes and 
 fighting mosquitoes to the best of their ability. At 
 last dinner w.ns announced. The grown folks were 
 to eat first, the table beinij too small to accommo- 
 date all. After dinner came the oration. Luke 
 llarwood w.as called upon to 'orate' and rcsi)onded 
 with some very appropriate remarks, lie w.as fol- 
 lowed by Asa Houghton. During his preliminary 
 remarks the announcement was made that there 
 was room .at the table for the children, and that is 
 all I remember about his oration. 
 
 " I seated myself at the table and had a rich 
 feast. For the first time in a long, long while I 
 had all the wheat bread I could eat, well covered 
 with leaky butter. After dinner the young people 
 favored the audience with vocal music which in 
 these days would be styled music by the Glee 
 Club. The first song was ' The Bride's Farewell,' 
 and now after the lapse of more than forty years 
 that mournful wail sounds in my ears. 
 
 ' Farewell mother 1 Tears are streaming,' 
 
 I will name a few of the songs sung: 'Cruel Bar- 
 bara Allen,' ' Bonnie Light Horseman' and ' Dog 
 and Gun.' Luke Harwood remarked that the 
 singing w;is good, and the songs were good, but he 
 thought them hardly appropriate. He volunteered 
 two. The first was ' Bold Dighton,' and the sec- 
 ond w!is an historical ballad, giving a description 
 of the naval battle between the American ' Hornet' 
 and the British ' Peacock.' The afternoon waned 
 away and our shadows leaned to the eastward. 
 
 "The ol<l peoi)le began to journey homeward, 
 while the 3'oung and middle aged repaired to the 
 house of Zophur Alderman to join in a jovial 
 dance. Arriving at the house the men pulled off 
 their stoga boots, and their socks serving as slip- 
 pers they were ready with the girls for a dance. 
 Kemember it was pioneer days and no fiddler was 
 to be had. The country was too new for that, but 
 we had one mighty singer. They formed for an 
 eight-hand reel, and the singer stood upon a log 
 lieuch and sang all night long the same tune, 
 
 ' Ri-doodle, doodle, do 
 Ri-doodle, dandy.' 
 
 ■^hen he danced he sang the same tune and same 
 
 words, except when he became a little out of 
 breath, when he would sometimes change 'Ri- 
 doodle' to ' Ri-duddle.' I would not think it possi- 
 ble to live through one night and go through what 
 he did on that great and glorious Fourth of July. 
 'Ihat was the first dance I ever attended. My eyes 
 beheld great sights, my ears heard melodious 
 sounds and my stomach had a great feast on that 
 great day. 
 
 "I cannot call to mind any celebration that af- 
 forded me as much pleasure as this, and now after 
 more than forty j'ears my mind turns back to it 
 with pleasure. Many of those friends have passed 
 the Jordan of Death and are now numbered among 
 the pale nations. Part of that host have crossed the 
 flootl and part are crossing now. The "Ri-doodle' 
 man still lingers on this side of Jordan's ware, 
 unable to perform manual labor, his lungs nearly 
 gone, a mere living skeleton. I have often 
 thought that if the wise physician of to da^' were 
 to examine his case and to learn his early habits he 
 would look wise, shake his head «nd assign as the 
 cause of his condition, too much 'doodle, do,' loo 
 much 'doodle, dandy.' " 
 
 ALLETT G. BENTLEY, a native of Steu- 
 ben County, N. Y., was born July 10, 1829. 
 His father, James Bentlej, was a native of 
 Beekman, Dutchess County, N. Y., and the 
 mother, who bore the maiden name of Esther 
 Marshall, was also born in Dutchess County. Af- 
 ter their marri.age there they removed to Steuben 
 Count}', later to Daricn, Genesee County. In 1812, 
 when our subject was about thirteen years old, ho 
 accompanied his parents to this Stale, the trip being 
 made across Lake Erie in the steamer "Robert Ful- 
 ton," and they sojourned in Farmington, Oakland 
 County, from May of 1842 until the following Feb- 
 ruary. They then commenced the journej' to Ionia 
 County, where the father had two hundred acres 
 of wild land, which none of the family had ever 
 seen. 
 
 Before leaving Farmington. Jlr. Bcnlley ex- 
 changed his horses for two yoke of oxen, and the 
 
766 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 household goods being loaded in a wagon drawn by 
 two yoke of oxen, the leaders (his brotlier AVilliam 
 driving the wheel oxen) were led by Hallett 
 by means of ropes attached to rings through 
 their noses. Numerous incidents, both amusing 
 and annoying, marked tiie progress of such an ex- 
 pedition. When they had come as far as fifteen 
 miles east of Lyons, and were going over a very 
 rough primitive road, the covered wagon, in which 
 the father, mother and sister were riding, slipped 
 off the icy road over an embankment, but fortu- 
 nately no one was hurt, a feather bed helping to 
 break their fall. The wagon landed against a fence, 
 thirty feet from tlie road ; the father was thrown 
 over the fence, but the mother and sister were un- 
 der the load, and by hurriedly tearing off the cov- 
 ering of the wagon, they were pulled out none too 
 soon to save them from suffocation. 
 
 After this accident the mother and sister walked 
 the remaining distance, fifteen miles, to Lyons, as 
 they feared they would not again escape unharmed 
 if a similar accident occurred. When within a 
 half mile (jf tlieir destination, the father noticing 
 the grubs and brush were very high and thick on 
 the old Chauncy Goodwin farm, remarked that it 
 his land looked like that he would never unload the 
 goods. However, they were all much pleased with 
 the ai)pearance of the place, as the fires had kept 
 the brush down. Tiie work of improvement com- 
 menced at once, and our subject assisted in this 
 pioneer labor until in February, 1849, when he 
 went to Indiana with his eldest brother Hezekiah, 
 By contrast to his emigrant team he found tliat a 
 coach and four had a great attraction for him, and 
 he engaged to drive a stage from Rochester to Lo- 
 gansport, Ind., for a time. This he did for tlie 
 Western Stage Company. 
 
 The great lumbering Concord coacii, the notes of 
 the liorn proclaiming its approach, the merry-mak- 
 ing passengers that often fell to its lot, are all things 
 of the past. The horses of steel have usurped the 
 place of the horses of flesh, while the rumble of the 
 cars has taken the place of the rattle of the coach 
 wheel, and the whistle of the locomotive reaches 
 farther tlian did of old, the tooting of the horn. 
 When this change carae in methods of transporta- 
 tion our stage driver gave up that occupation, and 
 
 rather than follow his coach horses to the Western 
 plains, chose to apply himself to blacksmithiug, 
 which work he took up in Ionia. He also followed 
 it in Otisco for twelve years before the war. Dur- 
 ing his sojourn in Indiana he was sick for seven 
 weeks with typhoid fever, and one hour and a 
 quarter with the Asiatic cholera. Upon his return 
 home his health very pour, but by going to work 
 he recovered health and appetite, and since then he 
 has looked upon good, honest labor as a panacea 
 for most of the ills to which humanity is heir. 
 
 Tabor Bentley, the grandfather of our subject 
 was a decided Whig in the days of that party, and 
 was a participant as a soldier in the Revolutionary 
 War. In connection with his record it is of inter- 
 est to note that his devotion to the Colonial inter- 
 ests aroused the enmity of some of his family. His 
 brother William was loyal to England, and was 
 known as a tory or as they were sometimes then 
 called a (^ueensman. The same spirit of patriotism 
 that had inspired Tabor Bentley roused his grand- 
 son to action, and in 1862, when the call for three 
 hundred thousand men was issued by the lamented 
 Lincoln, then President, he threw down his ham- 
 mer and helped to raise a company, of which he 
 enlisted fifty-one. Mr. Bentley enlisted August 8, 
 18G2, and became a member of Compan3' B, Twen- 
 ty-fifth Michigan Infantry. He was made Third 
 Sergeant in his com[)any, and served two years and 
 eleven months, enduring many hardshii)s from ex- 
 posure. He was offered a captaincy in the Sixth 
 United States Infantry, but refused on account of 
 poor health. 
 
 The regiment went through the various scenes of 
 the war not without honor or bloodshed. They 
 were in the southwestern department and accom- 
 panied Sherman in his march to the sea, but the ex- 
 posure of camp life impaired the health of our sub- 
 ject to such an extent that he was unable to do 
 field dut}', but being anxious to serve in the army 
 as long as possible, he was detailed to aid in the 
 work of recruiting for the service, in which he was 
 unusually- successful. At the close of the war he 
 was mustered out of service July 8, 18G5, and go- 
 ing to Chicago, kept a restaurant there for a time, 
 lie then returned to Ionia, where he has since lived. 
 For three or four years he kept a "tavern" as it 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 767 
 
 was called in those duj-s, but during that period he 
 was in ill-healtii, disease having faslened on him as 
 on many otiier soldier boys who endiuxvl liardships 
 in the camp and on the field. 
 
 I'ndisiuajed by his poor health and slender 
 purse, Mr. Bentley was ambitious for success and in 
 186;j bought tlie old tavern property on time. His 
 friends declared it was folly and said tiiat he could 
 not meet his obligations, but he cleared his prop- 
 erty of debt, and was prosperous in tlio pursuit of 
 his business. Two years ago a disastrous fire lev- 
 eled the building to the ground. In 1872 he re- 
 turned to blacksmithing, a business he has since 
 successfully |)rosocuted, combined with farming, as 
 he purchased land iu 1883. He has been a Repub- 
 lican ever since the party was organized, casting 
 his first vote for John C. Fremont, and never miss- 
 ing a vote for President since. He became a mem- 
 ber of the Church of Christ iu Ionia in the winter 
 of 1879. 
 
 On March 2o, 1851, Mr. IJentlcy was united in 
 marriage with Miss Eunice, the daughter of I'aul 
 P. Hewitt, an early pioneer of Olisco, and of the 
 union two sons were born: Ralph S., a farmer in 
 Ionia County; and Ja3- H., who lives in Dakota. 
 The wife and mother died in October, 1806, and 
 Mr. I5entley was again married January 3, 1870, 
 choosing as his bride Addie R. Onians, a native of 
 Onondaga County, N. Y. Their congenial wedded 
 life was blessed to them by the birth of two chil- 
 dren, one of whom, Millie M., died when eight 
 months old. The son survives, Roy L., who is now 
 a student of medicine in the Slate University at 
 Ann Arbor. As would naturall}' be supposeil, Mr. 
 Bentley is a member of the (Jrand Army of the Re- 
 (lublic, and he also belongs to the Masonic order. 
 His life has been uneventful, but not unhapp}'. He 
 has alnaj'S been cmiilo^'ed, tLercbj- escaping the 
 misfortunes attending the career of the idler. Mr. 
 Bentley has been a hard worker all his life, and 
 was an expert at horse-shoeing. He has frequently 
 shod eight span of horses in one day, taking off, 
 refitting and setting their shoes without a.ssistanee. 
 At the age of sixty-two he is still following his 
 trade, although naturally he is obliged to take 
 things a little glower. For the last twenty j-ears 
 be has adopted the pay-as-you-go system, tfking 
 
 as his motto, "owe no man anything," and finds it 
 a success. He remembers, as among the happiest 
 days of his life, the early pioneer times, when deer, 
 bears an<l turkeys fell the victims of his unerring 
 rifle, and when the family for months would have 
 no other meat excepting the venison with which he 
 kept them supplied. 
 
 5^<N^'< - 
 
 \|7 ORENTITS 15. .SOULK. This gentleman 
 jl (p belongs to the bar of Ionia, Ionia County, 
 (Jl^) and is one of the lawyers of the city who 
 are well versed in legal lore and anxious to use 
 their knowledge in such a way as to subserve the 
 interests of justice. He h.as not accumulated a large 
 property, but has the approval of his own con- 
 science and the regard of those to whom his gen- 
 erous nature has endeared him. He has ever been 
 openliearted toward those who were in need, givino- 
 way to his generous impulses, and taking a share 
 in whatever would increase the ha|)[)iness of others, 
 even to the extent of more than orilinary self- 
 sacrifice. To those who count success by dollars and 
 cents, his life might seem a failure, but when 
 looked at from the standpoint of righteousness and 
 usefulness, it is seen to be quite the opposite. 
 
 As the patronymic indicates the Soule family is 
 of French extraction. The parents of our subject 
 were Job and Phebe (St. John) Soulc, both of 
 whom were born in Saratoga Count}-, N. Y. The 
 father was a farmer and was the possessor of a good 
 property. In his family Lorentus was the sixth 
 child and his birth took place in Montgomery 
 County, N. Y., August 8, 1831. The lad attended 
 the district school and then studied in a select school 
 two years under a superior teacher — Prof. Winans. 
 He took up the study of law, alternating it with 
 teaching, his reading being done in the oflice of 
 Field A Foster. He was admitted to the bar Sep- 
 tember 11, 1852, at Cortland viile, N. Y.. and the 
 following September opened an olTice in Friend- 
 ship, Allegany County, remaining there until A|)ril, 
 1857. 
 
 In 1850 he was nominated l)y the American party 
 
768 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 for District Attorney, but was beaten in the race. 
 A year later lie bade adieu to tbe East and estab- 
 lished himself in Ionia in partnership with A. F. 
 Bell. In this city he remained until January, 1860, 
 when he opened an office in Detroit, but continued 
 there only until August, 1861. Returning to Ionia 
 he formed a partnership with W. B. Wells and the 
 connection between the gentlemen continued until 
 1864, after which ]\Ir. Soule practiced alone six 
 years. He then went to Chicago, 111., which was 
 his home until about the time of the great fire 
 when he became a resident of Grand Haven, this 
 State. In August, 1872, he returned again to Ionia 
 and here he has remained, giving earnest heed to 
 his professional work and such other affairs as his 
 character leads him to take an interest in. 
 
 Since September 14, 1853, the joys and sorrows 
 of Mr. Soule have been shared by a faithful wife, 
 whose maiden name was Martha A. Nelson and 
 whose early home was in Otsego County, N. Y. 
 Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Soule and two survive. Frank A., who was born 
 September 6, 1856, lives in Ionia, and Charlotte 
 A. is still at home. Mrs. Soule died March 14, 
 1891, after a lingering illness. She was a member 
 of the Christian Church, to which Mr. Soule and 
 his daughter also belong. In politics Mr. Soule is 
 a Republican. 
 
 ^S^ SMOND TOWER was born in Massachusetts, 
 |l I February 16, 1811, and was a genealogical 
 ^^^ descendant of John Tower, who emigrated 
 from Hingham, England, to Ilingbani, New Eng- 
 land, in 1609. Mr. Tower passed his youth in the 
 Bay State, but having resolved to locate in the 
 West came to Michigan in 1835, and was so 
 well pleased with the prospects of Ionia, Ionia 
 County, that he decided to locate here permanently. 
 Accordingly he returned to Massachusetts for his 
 family, whom he brought to this county in March, 
 1836. 
 
 Mr. Tower was married September 1, 1834, to 
 Miss Martha Gallagher, who is now residing at Uie 
 old homestead. After locating here he became 
 identified with the best interests of the county, and 
 
 was a prominent factor in its growth. He served 
 as United States Marshal of the Western District of 
 Michigan, being appointed by Abraham Lincoln, 
 and for forty j-ears was a member of the School 
 Board of Ionia. It is fitting that one so thoroughly 
 identified with the development of the State and 
 county should be represented in a volume contain- 
 ing the biographical records of the pioneers, who 
 braved dangers, encountered innumerable hard- 
 ships and overcame countless obstacles in the path 
 of progress. Too much cannot be said in their 
 praise, and the pages of history should perpetuate 
 their careers for the i^erusal of coming generations. 
 
 /^) IIARLES L. DOLPH is an intelligent young 
 (|(^1 man who is employed as manager of the F. 
 ^^^' Neff & Prestle Company, in the manufacture 
 of lumber and shingles at Harrison, Clare County, 
 Mich. He is the youngest son of L. H. and Surah 
 (Akins) Dolph, of Montcalm County, and was born 
 in New Lyme, Ohio, December 29, 1867. The next 
 year he was brought by his parents to Montcalm 
 Count}', Mich. He attended the common schools 
 and after that the High School at Stanton. 
 
 At the age of nineteen Charles entered Alma 
 College and in the course of time was graduated 
 from the business department. He then went into 
 the employ of H. P. Smith at Saginaw, and after- 
 ward entered the service as book-keeper and ste- 
 nographer of C. H. Pluramer, of Saginaw. In this 
 gentleman he found a noble-hearted and friendly 
 employer and they became stanch friends. He 
 then engaged as traveling salesman for F. Neff & 
 Prestle and later took charge of the mill which he 
 is now operating, which had been run ilown under 
 a bad system of credit. He succeeded in building 
 up here a successful business. 
 
 Although now under twenty-five years of age 
 Cbarles L. Dolph is a thorough and practical 
 manufacturer of lumber. He is a brilliant young 
 man and has a future before him of no mean 
 promise. While in attendance at Alma College he 
 became acquainted witii Miss Dora Spraguc, who 
 was born at St. Louis, Mich. In September, 1889, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BFOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 769 
 
 these younj.' people were united in marriage at 
 St. Louis, and have estahlislied a happy home at 
 Harrison. Mr. Dolph is a Republican in politics 
 and keenly alive to matters of public interest. 
 
 -S^^- 
 
 RS. MKLISSA CONVERSE, residing on 
 section 20, Keene Townsliip, Ionia Count\-, 
 is a native of Genesee County, N. Y. 
 where she was born October 28, 1832. 
 She is a daughter of Ozias and Hannah (Lamb) 
 Smith, both natives of New York. In the Revolu- 
 tionarj' days her grandfather Lamb was taken a 
 prisoner by the Indians. Mrs. Converse emigrated 
 with her parents in 1838 to Washtenaw County, 
 IMich. They came by lake to Detroit, passing 
 through that city when it was a small town. From 
 there they teamed it to Washtenaw County, where 
 they resided until the death of both her parents. 
 Four of her parents' seven children are still living 
 — John, Nancy, Mrs. Brainard; Jeanette, Mrs. 
 Cook and Mrs. Converse. 
 
 Mr. and Airs. Smith were among the representa- 
 tive pioneers of W.ishtenaw County. The mother 
 belonged to the Baptist Cliurch and the father to 
 the Christian Church. Their daughter Melissa was 
 reared to womanhood in Washtenaw County and 
 received the best education which they could give 
 her in that day. Her marriage with Adin Con- 
 verse took place February 19, 1853. Her husband 
 was born August 5, 1813, in New York State. He 
 was a son of Perrin and Phoebe Converse, both 
 New Yorkers. He received a fair common-school 
 education in his youth and was an extensive reader, 
 being largely self-educated. He was in tlie ser- 
 vice of the country during the Seminole War in 
 Florida and took part iu a number of fights. 
 
 From the union of Mr. and Mrs. Converse ten 
 children were born, seven of whom still survive: 
 (jeorge; Josei)liine, wife of Lewis Watson; Frank; 
 Carrie, wife of A. Vanderbrook; Frederick; Cora, 
 wife of Clarence Peck; and Ida. In 18.J3 Mr. and 
 Mrs. Converse removed from Washtenaw County 
 to Ionia County- and settled on the farm now occu- 
 pied by Mrs. Converse. They underwent the 
 
 usual hardships incident to the founding of a home 
 in an unbroken forest, and the wife assisted her 
 husband materially in the various duties which 
 fell ui)on him. She now owns eighty .acres of 
 excellent and well-tilled land. 
 
 Mr. Converse departed this life March 7, 1877, 
 respected by all who knew him. In his death the 
 county lost one of her most honorable citizens. He 
 was a Republican with Greenback proclivities. 
 He held various ollices in the gift of the township, 
 and was alwaj-s active in promoting the best inter- 
 ests of the community, especially in the line of 
 education. He was a member of the Free Metho- 
 dist Church, in the belief of which lie carefully and 
 affectionately trained his children, who will never 
 cease to mourn his loss. Although he has long 
 since gone to ''that bourne from which no traveler 
 returns,'' yet his memory is still cherished by those 
 who knew and revered him. Ilis neighborly kind- 
 nesses and his strict integrity made him well wor- 
 thj' of imitation not only by his posterity but by 
 all who knew him. 
 
 ^^ICHOLAS ROACH is one of the prosper- 
 ous farmers of North Plains Township, 
 Ionia County, who began life there with 
 very limited means. He has two hundred anc^ 
 eighty acres of well-improved land but when he 
 came liere his purse contained but 85. He is doing 
 a large farming business and has one hundred head 
 of sheep and other stock in proportion. He is a 
 Democrat in politics and notwithstanding the 
 changes in the administration he held the PostolUco 
 for twent3'-Cve years. This one fact shows the 
 confidence and esteem of his neighbors. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in County 
 Wexford, Ireland, in 1821. His parents, David 
 and Mary (Mylon) Roach, were born, married and 
 died at the old home in Ireland. They were the 
 parents of one daughter and one son. The subjccft 
 of this sketch received his early education in the 
 Emerald Isle and came to New York in 1851. He 
 emigrated to Michigan, and located in North Plains 
 Township. Ionia County, on section 11. Here he 
 
770 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 built a log house aud improved the place. He 
 had married in Now York before coming to Mich- 
 igan in 1851, Mary Roach, a native of Ireland. 
 They were the parents of one child, David, who 
 now resides in Colorado. The mother of David 
 died in 1853 aud she was hud to rest in the North 
 Plains oeniclery. 
 
 The second marriage of Mr. Roach took place 
 in 1857. His wife was Margaret Mylon. They 
 were the parents of six children, Maggie, deceased, 
 Mary, Staze, Nicholas, Patrick, and Thomas. Their 
 mother died in 188G and was also buried in the 
 North Plains cemetery. Mr. Roach is always inter- 
 ested in public affairs and is earnest in endeavoring 
 to build up the interests of the community. 
 
 y,.,' BE L. MOON. This gentleman has an 
 <M/ul honorable rank among the young farmers 
 of Ionia Count}', and like other native-born 
 citizens is continuing with characteristic 
 energy the development that was begun by the pio- 
 neers many decades since. He was born in Otisco 
 Township, June 6, 1865, and owns and operates a 
 farm of eighty' acres, his residence being not far 
 from his birthplace. Sixty acres of this land is 
 improved and good buildings have been erected 
 upon it, including everything that is necessaiy for 
 the furtherance of his work. 
 
 In Herkimer County, N. Y.,Geoige Moon, father 
 of our subject, was born, and thence he removed to 
 this State about 1834. In 1845 he established him- 
 self in Otisco Township, buying eighty acres of 
 land on which he remained until called hence, No- 
 vember 5, 1887. He was married in Smyrna to 
 Rachel Willetts, daughter of Amos Willetts, who 
 was a native of Niagara County, N. Y. The only 
 surviving child of Mr. and Mrs. George Moon is 
 he whose life is our topic, the others having died 
 in infancy. The father served as Justice of the 
 Peace two terms. 
 
 The educational advantages afforded by tlie 
 schools during the childhood aud youth of Abe L. 
 Moon were sufficient to give him all necessary 
 knowledge regarding the practical topics and he 
 
 made good use of his opportunities. With the 
 exception of a year spent in Dakota, his time until 
 lie was of age was spent at home. A few mouths 
 after attaining his majority he married, the riles of 
 wedlock being celebrated between him and Miss 
 Lizzie Buell, January 17, 1888. The congenial 
 union has been blest by the birth of a son, Clayton, 
 whose natal day was January 3, 1800. Mr. Moon 
 belongs to the Patrons of Industry and to the 
 Republican party. Intelligent, of manly character 
 and genial manners, he is well regarded by his asso- 
 ciates and his future promises to be prosperous. 
 
 Mrs. Moon is the daughter of T. S. and Mary 
 (Rogersou) Bueli, whose home is at Smyrna, where 
 Mr. Buell is engaged at the trade of a carpenter. 
 He is a native of Connecticut and Mrs. Buell was 
 born in England. Besides Mrs. Moon their family 
 includes three children — Martha B., George and 
 Willie. Mrs. Moon received a good education aud 
 such instruction in domestic duties and social 
 affairs as have fitted her for the place she occupies 
 at home and in societ}'. 
 
 4-H|.=^K^sf+-J— 
 
 /^ EORG E W V HSTER. This name belongs to 
 I'll ,_-, the list of energetic and intelligent men 
 
 ^^41 "'lo have made of Ionia County what it is 
 today, a thriving agricultural region, whose people 
 are contented and happy, enjoying the best things 
 of modern civilization. Mr. Wurster is located on 
 section 1, Easton Township, where be took posses- 
 sion of a good farm in 1884. His estate which con- 
 sists of seventy-seven acres, is productive and 
 thoroughly iinprovetl, among the buildings upon 
 it being a fine brick dwelling, put up by him the 
 year he came here. In connection with ordinary- 
 farming Mr. AVurster pays considerable attention 
 to raising high grade Durham cattle. His citizen- 
 ship of Ionia County dates much farther back than 
 the year mentioned and he has done much work 
 here, chiefly in Ionia Township, which was his home 
 for nearly a quarter of a century. 
 
 Mr. Wurster was born in the historic region 
 known as the Black Forest, in Wurtemburg, Ger- 
 manj", March 18, 1837. He was the eldest son in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIOAL ALBUM, 
 
 771 
 
 the family of George aud Maiy (Kern) Wursler, 
 who were of old Geriuau families. His education 
 ill his native language was quite good, anil since 
 he came to America he has become familiar with 
 English, so that he has been :'.ble to keep »[> with 
 the times in gleaning news in either tongue. He 
 took pass.'igc at Havre on the sailing vessel "Wil- 
 liam Tell" in the fall of 1852, and after a voyage 
 of little more than a month landed in New York 
 City, October 23. He came direct to this Stale, 
 making Washtenaw County his objective point, 
 and worked there by the month as a farm hand for 
 several years, receiving from 1^7 to ^15 as his 
 wages. 
 
 From that county he came to Ionia which has 
 been his permanent abode. For some time lie con- 
 tinued the work in which he had previously been 
 engaged and he also clerked in a store for a few 
 months. After his marriage which took place Jul}' 
 5, 18G2, he settled upon a farm and lived as do 
 others who are building up their (iiianues, improv- 
 ing his condition from j'ear to year and enlarging 
 his farming operations. It will be seen that he has 
 made good use of his time when we note the fact 
 that he landed in New York with twenty-five cents, 
 and an indebtedness of ^15 hanging over him. 
 Selfraade in the iinancial sense, he has won his com- 
 petence by honest industry and the exercise of 
 wise economy. While in Ionia Township he served 
 two terms as Treasurer and two as Supervisor, with 
 creilit to himself and his constituents. Since he 
 came to Kaston Township he has discharged the 
 duties of Supervisor one year. 
 
 The wife of Mr. VVurster was born in Ontario 
 County, N. Y., March 22, 1828, and is a daughter 
 of Alexander and (Jrizle (Chapman) Armstrong. 
 Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and her 
 mother of Connecticut, and the i)aternal ancestors 
 were Scotch. Her mother's father was a Revolu- 
 tionary soldier. She remained in her native State 
 until she was eight years old, when she came with 
 her parents to Washtenaw County where Mr. and 
 Mrs. Armstrong died. Mr. Armstrong had been 
 twice married and was the father of seven children 
 but two of whom are now living: Elizabeth, wife 
 of Hiram Mace, in Utah, and Emily J., wife of our 
 subject. The latter grew to maturity in this State 
 
 and in 1850 was married to M. M. Armstrong who 
 died in 1851), leaving her with four children. Her 
 sons an<l daughters by that marriage are Alice, now 
 the wife of Charles Castle, of Ionia Township; 
 Adelaide, who married Charles Hoyt and lives in 
 Detroit; Theodore, a resident of Minnesota, and 
 Malhew, whose home is in Ronald Townshii). Mrs. 
 Wurster has borne her present husband one daugh- 
 ter, Mary E., who lives in Ionia Township and iii 
 the wife of Henry Robertson. 
 
 Mr. Wurster is convinced of the worth of Repub- 
 lican principles and is their unfailing supporter. 
 He is identified with the Patrons of Industry and 
 takes a genuine interest in such movements as he 
 believes will be for the benefit of society. He con- 
 tributes to the support of religious institutions, al- 
 though ho is not a church member, but his estima- 
 ble wife belongs to the Presbyterian Society. She 
 is a lady of more than ordinary intelligence, capa- 
 ble of doing much to advance the social life of the 
 section, and with hvv husbaiul she is active and 
 esteemed. 
 
 •^^^ 
 
 \1/UDGE ALFRED M. WILLETT isoneof the 
 most favorably known of Ionia's citizens. He 
 has an excellent record as a soldier, is known 
 'f^^ to have shown business ability of a high 
 order, and in Ids connection with public affairs he 
 has advanced the interests of his constituents by 
 zealously advocating wise projects in wliicli they 
 were engaged. Ho is a native of the Empire 
 State and is descended from the old Knickerbocker 
 stock which settled in the Hudson River Valley in 
 an early day. His mother was a daughter of Will- 
 iam Willett, of New Jersey. The original name 
 of the Willett family was Smith, but by an act of 
 the Legislature of Michigan was changed to Wil- 
 lelt. The father of Judge Willett was Alfred F. 
 Smith, who was born at Hrookhaven, L. I., in 
 1801, and died in the Empire Slate in August, 
 1844. He was a tanner, currier, farmer and shoe- 
 maker. Mrs. Hannah (Smith) Willett breathed 
 her last December 28, 1874, having survived her 
 husband thirty years. The parental family con- 
 
772 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sisteil of five children, of whom those now living 
 are: Gordon A. and Alfred Milan, of Ionia; and 
 James W., a lumberman at Stanton, Montcalm 
 County. The deceased are Abram "\V., who died 
 in Wayne County, N. Y., and Jane, wife of James 
 R. Curamings, whose demise occurred at Augusta, 
 Kalamazoo County, this State. 
 
 Alfred M. AVillett was born in Oswego County, 
 N. Y., April 18, 1829, and his early home was on 
 a farm. After bis father's death he learned the 
 carpenter's trade, working at it in the summer and 
 traching in the winter. He bad become well 
 versed in the common branches and had the tact 
 and perseverance necessary to one who would be 
 an instructor of youth. In 1850 he made his way 
 to Minnesota and spent a summer at St. Anthony's 
 Falls, now East Minneapolis. In November of the 
 same year he returned to New York, where he re- 
 mained until the tlie fall of 1853. His next change 
 of residence was to this State, and from his ar- 
 rival in Ionia County until 18G0 he worked at his 
 trade in Muir. In the latter part of that year 
 he bought a farm and abandoned his trade for 
 the life of a farmer. 
 
 The war broke in upon Mr. Willett's dreams of 
 quiet, rural life, and in 1861 he recruited a com- 
 pany which, in the early months of its career, 
 was popularly known as ''Willett's Fifth Company 
 of Sharp-Sliooters." It was mustered into Col. 
 Berdan's famous regiment and did a great deal of 
 duty on outposts and as skirmishers. It was one 
 of the six companies of sharp-shooters organized 
 in Michigan and of its one hundred and eleven 
 members Ionia Countj' contributed forty-eight, 
 Montcalm thirty, AVashtenaw eleven, Eaton seven, 
 Clinton four, St. Joseph three, and Ingham, Wayne, 
 Monroe and St. Clair each one. The company 
 rendezvoused at Detroit and was mustered into 
 service March 4, 1862. Capt. Willett was in active 
 service thirteen months, when he resigned on 
 account of disability. 
 
 After his return from Southern battlefields Capt. 
 Willett made his farm one of the best in the vi- 
 cinity, rendering it popular by his great success 
 in breeding fine sheep. In 1880 he was elected a 
 member of the Legislature, and re-elected in 1882. 
 IJe has Jield various minor offices and in 1888 
 
 was elected Probate Judge. He is President of 
 the Central Fair Association and of the Mutual 
 Fire Insurance Company, is now serving liis third 
 term as a Director of the first corporation and is 
 also a Director of the County Fair Association. 
 He takes an active interest in agricultural matters 
 and the farmers find in him a wise courselor and 
 stanch friend. 
 
 At the bride's home in New York, September 8, 
 1852, Judge Willett was married to Miss Julia 
 Yager, daughter of Wandel Yager. Tlie happy 
 union has been blest by the birth of three chil- 
 dren, the youngest of whom, Allie J., is at home. 
 Eva M. is the wife of James Bamborough, of Ionia 
 Township, and Carrie H. is married to John D. 
 Strachan, a druggist in Muir. Judge and Mrs. 
 Willett are active and devoted members of the 
 Church of Christ and respond liberally to all its 
 calls upon their lime or means. The Judge is a 
 most estimable citizen, a friend of the poor, a 
 helper of the weak and a thoroughly honest and 
 conscientious man. In politics the Judge is, and 
 always has been, a stanch Republican. 
 
 kARS P. SORENSON, a merchant at Lake 
 View, was born in Denmark, near Copen- 
 hagen, February 24, 1845. He is a son of 
 Soren Nelson and Tina L. P. .Sorenson, natives of 
 Denmark, where they lived and died. Both par- 
 ents were earnest and consistent members of the 
 Lutheran Church, and brought up their seven chil- 
 dren in that faith. They trained them earnestly in 
 habits of industry and frugality and instructed 
 them according to the best opportunities furnished 
 in their country. Our subject was the first-born, 
 and now is the sole survivor of the family. 
 
 In 1868 L. P. Sorenson came to America with- 
 out money and without the ability to speak the 
 English language. He trusted alone to his honest 
 intentions to earn a livelihood, and his willingness 
 to do hard work. He had an excellent trade and 
 one that would commasd patronage in a new coun- 
 try. He caqie to GyeenvUle, Mich,, and worked at 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 773 
 
 cabinet-making for eiglit 3'enrs. He tlien removed 
 to Luke View, April 1, 1876, and engaged in the 
 mercantile liu.siness on a small scale. 
 
 Mr. Sorenson is the pioneer merchant of the vil- 
 lege, and his prosperity is the direct result of pluck 
 and perseverance, coupled with the confidence al- 
 ways granted to a man of integrity. He opened up 
 his store with less than 81,000 worth of goods, 
 which he bought on credit. His business has stc.id- 
 ily grown, and he now carries a stock of about 
 i|il5,000 of general merchandise. He ha.s now been 
 in business longer than any man in Lake View, and 
 h.as a large trade, and the general confidence of the 
 community. All that he has, he has made himself. 
 He is lookeil upon as one of the solid men of Lake 
 View, and ids elegant residence is the pride of the 
 village. He is a Republican in politics, and he has 
 been repeatedly elected to numerous town and 
 county offices, thereby receiving a proof of the 
 esteem in which he is lield by his neighbors. He 
 is a member of the Lutheran Church, and a Free 
 and Accepted Mason of the third degree. He was 
 joined for life March 2, 1872, to one of his own 
 countrywomen, Tina Uasrauson, of Greenville. To 
 them have been given five children, who all reside 
 at home: Kmnia, Harry, Charles, Line and Birdie. 
 
 ELDER JEROMI': FARGO, one of the oldest 
 residents f)f Montcalm Count}-, now resid- 
 ing on section 14, Kureka Township, is a 
 prominent and influential man. He was born in 
 Chautaucpia County, N. Y., September 26, 1824. 
 Both his father, Daniel Jesse, and his grandfather 
 Daniel were New Yorkers. Three traditional broth- 
 ers of Colonial days were the founders of the Fargo 
 family in this country. The family- is of English 
 descent. The grandfather of our subject, a Herki- 
 mer County, N. Y. farmer, died in this county 
 when upwards of eighty-seven years of age. The 
 father came to Michigan in 1837, and to this county 
 in 1847. He was a member of the Baptist Church 
 and strongi}' opposed to Masonry. His wife was 
 Margaret Devandorf, and was born .September 26. 
 1707, in licrkiuier County, N. Y., of Holland de- 
 
 scent. She bore ten children, nine of whom grew 
 to maturitj-, namely: John D., Mary C. (Mrs. Huff- 
 man), Gibson S., Jerome, Elizabeth (Mrs. Shell); 
 Dan T., Dwighl, Hiram B., Margaret M., and Ade- 
 line L. (Mrs. Gibbs). She was a devoted and lovely 
 Christian, and a member of the First ISaptist 
 Church, and died in April 7, 1862, aged sixty-four 
 years, six months and nineteen days. Daniel Far- 
 go, Jr., died December 11, 1870, aged seventy-eight 
 years and four months. 
 
 The subject of tiiis sketch was educated in the dis- 
 trict schools, and is in all respects a self-ma<le man. 
 He came to Lenawee County, Mich, with his parents 
 in 1837, but after living 'with thorn there for four 
 years, returned to Ohio and New York State, in 
 
 1841. He came again to Ionia County, Mich., in 
 
 1842, and in the fall of 1846 settled in Montcalm 
 County, spending that winter lumbering on the 
 Flatt River. In the spring of 1847 he and liis 
 brother John D. bought two hundred and forty-four 
 acres of land in Fairplains Township. This they 
 cleared up and divided between them, lumbering 
 winters while clearing up the farm. Our subject 
 lived on the farm for twcnty-fivo years and had it 
 finely improved and furnished with spacious build- 
 ings. 
 
 Mr. Fargo fared hardly during the first few 
 years of his residence in the county. His market 
 was at Grand Rai)ids or Ionia. Deer, bears and 
 Indians were here in abundance. He sold his farm 
 in 1872, and removed to his present location. His 
 fine large frame residence, which he erected in 
 1873, two miles east of Greenville, is acredit to the 
 neighborhood. He built his barn in 1872. 
 
 Mr. Fargo was married September 10, 1853, to 
 Rachel C. King, who was born in Chemung County, 
 N. Y., May 18, 1834. Their home has never been 
 blessed by the advent of children of their own. 
 To fill this vacancy they adopted an infant whom 
 they named Dora, and who is now a beautiful and 
 accomplished young lady, the comfort of her adopted 
 father, who mourns the loss of his beloved wife 
 who departed from earth August 30, 1889. 
 
 The subject of this sketch former!}' belonged to 
 the Baptist Church, but accepted the faith of 
 Seventh Day Adventists in 1860, and has been for 
 fifteen 3'car3 a preacher of the doctrines of that 
 
774 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ilenomination. He is also a Director and stock- 
 holder of the Sanitarium at Battle Creek, Mich., 
 which is under the manaj^ement of that denomina- 
 tion. He lias served for ten years as President of 
 the State Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, 
 and has been a member of the State Conference 
 Committee since 1873. He is active in Sahbath- 
 school work, and has been Superintendent of their 
 Sabbath-School for several years. 
 
 ■viJOHN C. BLANCHARD. Ionia has no citi- 
 I zen more justly entitled to be called a self- 
 made man than Mr. Blanchard, who, by 
 
 'Mj innate ability and indomitable perseverance 
 has overcome every obstacle that stood in the waj- 
 of success, and one by one crossed each impedi- 
 ment in his path. His life history presents some 
 peculiar features, and the thoughtful reader will 
 wonder that his character was not ruined by his 
 surroundings, rather than that he became a man 
 entitled to respect and wielding an unusual influ- 
 ence on the side of right living. His standing 
 among the members of the bar is high, as he has 
 many qualifications which fit him for successful 
 public life. As a criminal lawyer he is acknowl- 
 edged to he at the head of iiis i)rofessiou in Michi- 
 gan. 
 
 Mr. Blanchard is a native of the Empire State, 
 born in Mentz, Cayuga County, September 19, 
 1822. His father, Washington Z. Blanchard, was 
 born at Andover, Mass., and went from his native 
 place to Cayuga County, N. Y., where he did his 
 professional reading and was engaged in the prac- 
 tice of medicine some years. There he married 
 Hannah, eldest daughter of the Rev. Mr. Jeffries, a 
 lineal dt?scendant of the renowned Judge Jeffries 
 of England. When their sou John was a bo_v. 
 Doctor and Mrs. Blanchard removed to Nunda, a 
 village whose Indian name means hill country. 
 The lad attended (Jeneseo Academy, where ex-Gov. 
 Begole was a fellow student. He also studied for 
 a time in Cayuga Institute but he never attended 
 school after he entered his teens. 
 
 In the fall of 1836, being then fourteen j-ears 
 
 old, young Blanchard ran away from home, and 
 going to Port Byron, worked until he got SlO per 
 monti). He then took the tow-path for Chicago, 
 but on reaching Detroit was put off the boat on 
 Oliver Newbury's dock, as his money was gone. 
 He found friends in the City of the Straits and 
 cut wood for a living a short time. He then went 
 to Livingston County and secured work. There 
 he met a man who had known him at home and 
 who at once wrote to his parents who followed him 
 to this State, greatly surprising him by their arri- 
 val upon the scene. Before winter had come young 
 Blanchard had gone from Livingston to Shiawasec 
 County, where he lived with an Indian family and 
 was adopted by them, having bestowed upon him 
 the name Optupsue, which means "to drive, to 
 push, to overcome." In tiie Indian family' was a 
 son called Pewamo, and the village of that name 
 was named for him by our subject. 
 
 While living with the Shaco family young Blan- 
 chard made $53, with which he came to Ionia County' 
 the ensuing year, through a trackless wilderness, 
 and located forty acres of land, paid for it out of 
 his fund and had $3 left. He still lias the patent 
 for the tract, which is described as northeast quar- 
 ter of nortiieast quarter of section 11, township 6, 
 range 3 west. AVhile en route to and from Shia- 
 wassee County Mr. Blanchard slept in the woods. 
 In i\\\),\ 1838, he came again to Ionia County, and 
 locating at Lyons worked out until he was seven- 
 teen years old. The wages bargained for were $12 
 per month, but his employer gave him ?'20, as he 
 was found to be industrious, faithful and efficient. 
 His parents had reached this State while he was 
 living with the Indians, and he had been persuaded 
 to adopt a more civilized mode of life than w.as 
 possible with them. 
 
 December 31, 1839, was the date of the entrance 
 of young Blanchard into the law office of Roof A 
 Bell as a student, and he began to practice when he 
 was but nineteen years old, although he was not 
 admitted to the bar until the next year, when he 
 passed the requisite examination in Clinton 
 County. When he reached his majority he was 
 appointed Prosecuting Attorney by Gov. Barry 
 and held the office six years, being elected after 
 the law was changed. At the early age of twenty- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALIJUM. 
 
 775 
 
 three years lie was admiltod to practice in tlie 
 United States Conrt, liis admittance being brought 
 about by his defense of a man wiio was arrested 
 for counterfeiting Mexican dollars. This case 
 came before liic United States Court in Detroit 
 and the fact of the counterfeiting was established 
 and the plates had been produced. Hlanchard, wlio 
 was defending the criminal, siraiily cited the atten- 
 tion of the judge to the fact that United Slates 
 laws looked only to the protection of United States 
 moneys and had nothing to do with foreign coin; 
 that each (iovernment was presumed to lake care 
 of its own interests. On this teclmical plea the 
 prisoner was discharged. 
 
 In 1850 5Ir. Rlanchard located in Ionia where 
 he has continued to make his home. He is one of 
 the owners with Judge Lovell of the Ionia Stone 
 (Quarry from which beautiful building stone of 
 variegated colors is taken out. In 1856 he was 
 appointed by President lUichanan Registrar of the 
 land ofliee. He was President of Ionia village 
 board prior to its organization as a city two years, 
 School Director nine years an<l Prosecuting Attor- 
 ney five years. He is one of the Trustees of Albion 
 College, to the endowment of which he lias liber- 
 ally contributed. He has distinguished himself as 
 a speaker in the interests of the Democratic party, 
 with which he is at one in thcorj', although be is 
 somewhat independent in his use of the ballot, par- 
 ticularly in local elections. In 1872 he made a 
 good race for Lieutenant Governor on the Demo- 
 cratic ticket, but his party was left behind that 
 year. He is a member of the Masonic Order and 
 finds his religious home in the Methodist Kpiscopal 
 Church. 
 
 October 6, 1845, Mr. Rlanchard was married to 
 Miss Harriet Augusta Brewster, who is a lineal de- 
 scendant of ?>lislia IJrcwstcrof the Mayflower. Her 
 father was Frederick Brewster, of Burlington, Vt. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard have ft)ur children: Han- 
 nah Cornelia, wife of Thomas (i. Stevenson; Lucia 
 A., wife of Benjamin Vosper; Ellen Augusta, wife 
 of A. L. Todd, and John C, Jr. The son is a jew- 
 eler by trade and he and bis sisters Hannah and 
 Lucia, still live in Ionia. Mrs. Todd resides upon 
 a farm in Gratiot County. Mr. Blanchard owns 
 one thousand acres of land on Bois I'lanc Island, 
 
 where he has a home, with a small steamboat for the 
 accommo<lation of his family and friends. The 
 landed estate of the family includes twenty-four 
 hundred acres. Mr. Blanchard has tried thirty- 
 si.\ murder cases, being retained for the defendant 
 on thirty of these and never losing a case, while 
 his prosecutions nearly always resulted in convic- 
 tion. 
 
 Tbe following somewhat amusing incident occur- 
 red while Ionia County was yet a forest. Jeremiah 
 Hunt and Ann Tripp, a young couple desirous of 
 being married, were taken by Mr. Blanchard to a 
 Justice of the Peace, who was unaccustomed to the 
 duties of his olHce. He was so confused at the 
 prospect of an untried duty that he stood like one 
 confounded not knowing what to do or which way 
 to turn until Blanchard poked him in the ribs and 
 told him to go ahead. With the desperate resolve 
 of one who felt that something must be done, the 
 Squire suddenly cried out in a loud voice "Mr. 
 Jeremiah Hunt, hold up your hand. Do j'ou swear 
 by God Almighty that you take this woman for 
 your wife.''" The assent being given the Squire 
 rapidly addressed the same form of inquiry to the 
 woman, and upon being similarly answered, yelled, 
 "then I swear by God Almighty that you arc man 
 and wife, and God Almighty's curse on the one 
 that shall separate you." Having delivered him- 
 self of that remarkable and original form of joining 
 two souls, the unhapp3' .Tustice subsided, thankful 
 that he had passed through the trying ordeal. 
 
 vfjOHN W. KLOTZ. Many Americans arc 
 I now a days protesting against excessive and 
 
 m 
 
 unrestricted emigration. America has so 
 long been painted in glowing colors as an 
 El Dorado that the lazy and worthless of many 
 nations have turned their faces hither, hoping to 
 pick up gold in the streets without the alchemy of 
 character and industry. But forty years ago con- 
 ditions were difTerenl; at that period the emigrants 
 who came to us from foreign lands were largely of 
 the most worthy character. The}' brought with 
 them sturdy" princi[)les of integrity, perseverance 
 
776 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and a capacity for hard work. Among those who 
 came in that da3' from Germany were the parents 
 of our subject, both natives of Wurtemburg, Ger- 
 many, John C. Klotz born January 10, 1809, and 
 Fredericka M. (Treiber) Klotz, who was born May 
 20, 1811. 
 
 John C. Klotz was a weaver by trade while in 
 Germany but later he took up the business of 
 farming. He married his wife in their native city 
 January 24, 1836, and started for the United States 
 April 23, 1853, landing at New York. They went at 
 once to r)3'niouth, AVayne County, Mich., arriv- 
 ing there June 11, of that year. Here they 
 remained for two j'ears and then came on to Orange 
 Township, Ionia Count}', October 5, 1855. They 
 settled on section 23, where the}' still reside, all 
 alone, having brought up and launched upon the 
 world three children — Augustus F., Mrs. Alexander 
 Gibbs and our subject. 
 
 John W. Klotz was born May 30, 1842, in Wur- 
 temburg and was therefore eleven j'cars old when 
 he accompanied his parents to America. His 
 schooling was five years in Germany and nine 
 months in this country, but his education went on 
 all the time, and in the home of his honorable and 
 high-spirited parents he learned the lessons of 
 braver}' and patriotism, to both his native and 
 adopted countries. The sturdy growth of these 
 principles was helped forward by the hard work 
 which he took hold of in his early youth, as he 
 spent his early manhood with ax in hand among 
 the primeval trees of Michigan. When the Civil 
 War broke out he was nineteen years of age and 
 too young to enlist without his father's consent, 
 bnt that parent cheerfully and unfalteringly signed 
 the papers which were necessary to his legal enlist- 
 ment and sent him into the array to fight for their 
 adopted country. He entered the army September 
 5, 1861, in Company D, Ninth Michigan Infantry. 
 This first Michigan regiment to enter upon active 
 duty in the Western Department of the army was 
 organized at Ft. Wayne, Detroit, and was sent at 
 once to West Point, Ky., which he reached October 
 25, 1861. Having erected fortifications upon Mul- 
 drew's Hill they left January 4, 1862, for Eliza- 
 bethtown, Ky., but soon marched back again to 
 AVest Point. They were sent by steamer to Nash- 
 
 ville, Tenn., arriving there March 23. During the 
 month of May this intrepid regiment did much 
 hard marching in the wake of the rebel Gen. Mor- 
 gan's forces. May 28 they started on an expedition 
 under Gen. Negley to Chattanooga, Tenn., in which 
 they indulged in considerable hot skirmishing. 
 June 8 they chased the last of the rebels over the 
 Tennessee River into Chattanooga and followed 
 this up by a great deal of hard marching until the 
 latter part of August, when they were set to guard- 
 ing railroad bridges. In a chance encounter with 
 Division Two from the Eighteenth Ohio and Com- 
 pany D, of the Ninth Michigan, the three companies 
 of brave boys gave Gen. Forest all he wanted to 
 fight. Thirteen rebels were buried on the field and 
 a number were carried off for interment. 
 
 Then began the famous race with rebel Gen. 
 Bragg's army on the road to Louisville. After 
 leaving Gallatin Junction four companies of the 
 Ninth Michigan were again isolated and ran into 
 Forest's Division, losing thereby two of their best 
 officers, but they came out of that encounter with 
 flying colors. They were next with Gen. Rose- 
 craus in the battle of Stone River, ihence following 
 on to Chickamauga with the army of the Cumber- 
 land, taking part in that battle on the second day. 
 Mr. Klotz was all through the siege of Chattanooga, 
 from September 22, until November 25, and twice 
 aided a guarding a train of provisions through the 
 mountains. Having so bravely served out a term 
 of enlistment many a foreign-born citizen would 
 have thought his duty done and would gladly have 
 retired to a peaceful home, but not so our young 
 hero, although having but just reached his major- 
 ity. He re-cniisted December 7, 1863, "for three 
 years or the war,"' at Chattanooga, Tenn., coming 
 home on a thirty-days' leave of absence to gladden 
 the hearts of his parents. 
 
 Returning to Chattanooga in the latter part of 
 February, 1864, ho was detailed to act as Orderly 
 to Maj.-Gen. George H. Thomas. This personal 
 connection with the great general is a precious 
 memory to Mr. Klotz and is regarded by all his 
 friends as a just tribute to his bi'avery and devo- 
 tion to the cause. He has a number of very valuable 
 souvenirs of that period of his engagement, one of 
 which is an autograph letter very highly recom- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 779 
 
 mending liim and signed by Gen. George H.TIiom.as; 
 also one from Col. Robert 11. IJamsey. lie also has 
 in his possession a [licce of Iho flag which formed 
 the colors of (Jen. Uosccrans' headquarters, and a 
 large piece of the colors of Gen. \V. T. .Sherman's 
 headquarters. lie served as personal Orderly for 
 Gon. Thomas from May 1, 1864, until September 
 15, 1865. 
 
 Our subject served altogether four yeni'S and 
 twenty-two (bys and was in numerous hard-fought 
 battles, having never been absent from his command. 
 lie had a constitution of iron but came home with 
 health broken and has been alHicted with rheuma- 
 tism and other dilliculties ever since. He was with 
 Gen. Thomas at the battle of Nashville and fol- 
 lowed him through all his movements, being the 
 only man of his regiment who had the privilege of 
 seeing Gen. Hood's defeat. lie was brought into 
 personal relations with all the Union generals of 
 tiie western army, also with Andrew .lohnson be- 
 fore he was President. 
 
 Upon leaving the army he at once settled down 
 to farm work. He bought his present farm on sec- 
 lion 14 in 1865, it then being a swamp, wholly 
 unimproved. He promptly began cutting it and 
 and now has about half of his eighty acres in good 
 condition for agriculture, all done under his own 
 hand as he h.as given his entire attention to his 
 farm. He married, February 26, 1861, Jliss So- 
 phie E. Bromberg, a daughter of Guslav and So- 
 phie (Lute) Bromberg, both natives of Prussia 
 who emigrated to America in 1857 and coming on 
 directly to Michigan settled at first in Wayne 
 County. Two years later they went into Katon 
 County and settled there in 1860 upon a raw farm. 
 Mis. Bromberg died February 12, 18'.(1. Her hus- 
 band survives her at the age of sixty-eight years. 
 They were the i)arenls of seven children, who are 
 all living. One daughter, Marena L. Bromberg, is 
 a graduate of the Woman's Medical College of 
 Chicago, having received her degree of Doctor of 
 Medicine in 1890, and having begun practice in 
 Chicago. 
 
 Mrs. L. Klotz was born .July 19, 1851, in Prus- 
 sia. She and her linsliand arc the jiarcnts of two 
 children — Lula A., born March 15, 1872, and Flor- 
 ence B., .lune 12. 1875. The former was gradu- 
 
 ated from the Portland High .School in 1889, and 
 has taught five terms of school and intends making 
 this a profession. The second daughter is now 
 carrying on her studies in the same High School. 
 The^^ are all members of the First Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, in which Mr. Klotz is active and 
 where he occupies the office of Steward. He is a 
 member of the Grand Army of the Uepublic at 
 Portland. He has alwjjj-s taken a deep interest in 
 political affairs and votes the Hepublioan ticket; a 
 stricly temperate man he receives the universal re- 
 spect of his neighbors and has held the position of 
 Highwaj' Commissioner of Orange Township. In 
 188(1 he took the United States census but refused 
 the work in 1890. Among his treasures is an old 
 Springfield rifle which he carried through the war. 
 With this trusted weapon he shot and killed, in 
 1866, a full-grown bear in the top of a high bass- 
 wood tree near his home. Mrs. Klotz was a stu- 
 dent at the High School at Charlotte and afterward 
 taught in Eaton Count}' for two years. The}- are 
 both active in Sunday-school work. 
 
 «^'LVA W. NICHOLS, M. 1)., a highly iion- 
 (@fu l| ored physician of Greenville, Montcalm 
 
 /// (ii County, enjoj'S a wide-siiread reputation 
 ^jj profcssionall}', belonging to a professional 
 
 faniil}- who have been instructors for half a cen- 
 tury, and manj' of whom are inenibers of the med- 
 ical fraternity. He was born in Cannon Township, 
 Kent ("ounl}-, Mich., October 6, 1848, and is a son 
 of Charles M. ami Mar}' A. (Winslow) Nichols, 
 natives of Batavia and Stockholm ,N. Y. 
 
 Cliarlcs M. Nichols was a teacher and also an 
 instructor in penmanship. He was educated at Ober- 
 lin, Ohio, anil came to Michigan and settled at and 
 near Grand Kapids. For some years he was 8chool 
 Inspector and Justice of the Peace, and was iiromi- 
 nent in the Episcopal Church, and man}' years sec- 
 retary of the Plainficld parish, and held that 
 position at the time of his death which occurred in 
 18C1. He was Principal of the Grand lir.pids 
 School, also of the schools at Plainficld and Can- 
 nonsl)urg for many years while at the same time he 
 
780 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 owned and managed a farm at Cannon. His wife 
 was also a teacher at Grand Rapids and vicinity 
 for many years, and now resides in that city. Her 
 father, Dr. Jason Winslow, came West and settled 
 in Grand Rapids, and was the second practicing 
 physician in that city where he died in 1843. He 
 was highly educated and bore a fine professional 
 reputation. Of his family of two children, Maria, 
 late Mrs. H. Leonard, was the eldest. 
 
 The sisters of our subject are mostly engaged in 
 professional life. The eldest, Elmira M., now the 
 wife of Dr. W. C. Stone, of Ciiicago, is a graduate 
 of the Normal School at Ypsilanti, Mich., of the 
 class of 1876, and was for many years a Principal in 
 the schools at Grand Rapids and Chicago. Emma 
 M. is the wife of George P. Wandy, of Grand 
 Rapids, a member of the law firm of Fletcher & 
 Wandy. She is a graduate of the Women's Med- 
 ical College, Chicago, of the class of 1880, and has 
 been in active practice in Chicago and Grand Rap- 
 ids, the latter place being her present home. She 
 was associated with the late W. II. Byford in the 
 Women's Hospital of Chicago. She also taught in 
 Grand Rapids and Chicago. The next sister, Kate 
 M., is also a physician, and is the wife of George 
 S. Finney, who is interested in real estate and min- 
 eral lands in the Upper Peninsula, Mich. Harriette 
 A., Mrs. A. A. Barr, the fourth sister, resides in 
 Grand Rapids. An aunt of our subject, late Mrs. 
 H. Leonard, was for many years a teacher in Grand 
 Rapids, and for several ^ears the Principal of the 
 Union High School. 
 
 Until Dr. Nichols reached his thirteenth year he 
 attended no school but his father's. After the 
 death of that parent he attended district schools 
 until sixteen years of age, when he went to 
 Grand Rapids and attended the High School, and 
 the late Prof. Everett's select school. In the spring 
 of 1869 he came to Greenville, entering the High 
 School in the academic department, Prof. C. W. 
 Borst, Principal, and later Prof. S. S. Babcock, now 
 a member of the State Board of Education. From 
 the time our subject was thirteen j'ears of age he 
 worked on the farm and at masonry during vaca- 
 tions. In the latter work he received |3 per day, 
 which he says he scarcely thiijks he earned, how- 
 ever he became quite proficient as a lather and 
 
 l>lasterer. In the spring of 1867 he was engaged 
 in running logs for a month or more on Rogue 
 River, and in 1868 was so engaged on Fiat River. 
 Although rather young for the heavy work of 
 breaking log jams yet ho was proficient as a log 
 rider, which enabled him to keep his position. In 
 1866 he became restless in school and drove his 
 mother's team to Big Rapids through the dense 
 forests, sold out his load of corn and oats and en- 
 tered the employ of the Rust Lumber Company, 
 on the Big Muskegon River. They paid him 14 per 
 day and he remained with them two months. Dur- 
 ing the latter years of his schooling he taught 
 school about a year and a half. From early boy- 
 hood our subject went by the name of Doctor, for 
 he had early shown a liking for the profession, and 
 was always a student of his grandfather's library of 
 medical works. 
 
 In 1871 our subject was in the office mornings 
 and evenings of Drs. Mulhern and Morgan. In 
 1872-73 he attended the State University at Ann 
 Arbor, and was graduated by the Bellevue Hos- 
 pital Medical College, in New York City, in 1874. 
 In 1882 he took a special course at the New York 
 Eye and Ear Infirmary, on diseases of the eye and 
 ear, under Profs. Noycs and Mittendorf. At the 
 same time he took a special course in the outdoor 
 department of Bellevue Hospital, under Prof. 
 Frank H. Bosworth. 
 
 Greenville has been the center of Dr. Nichoi's 
 eighteen years of active practice of his profession, 
 and he enjoys a high reputation as a physician and 
 surgeon. He is President of the Northern Mich- 
 igan Agricultural Societj' and a member of the 
 American Medical Association, also of the Mich- 
 igan State Medical Society, in which he has read 
 several papers, one of which, on ''Chronic Catarrh," 
 was widely copied by the medical journals of the 
 country. He is a member of the Board of Trust- 
 ees of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a 
 man who thinks for himself on political questions, 
 was interested in the Tilden campaign of 1876, 
 but was always opposed to Wall Street financier- 
 ing. He thinks that nothing could stand before 
 the Republican party if it had continued to carry 
 out the financial policy of 1861 and 1862. In 
 1878 Dr. Nichols became a member of the Green- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 781 
 
 back party, and has made vigorous eainpainns in 
 tiie county and State. He never inisse<l a conven- 
 tion of the party in liie county, Slate or nation 
 until its death, and was Chairman of the County 
 Committee for ten j-ears and a member of tlic Slate 
 Central Committee for several years. In 1882 
 ex-(iov. Josiah W. Begole was elected, beins the 
 second Greenback Governor of the United Slates. 
 The Governor on assuming his oflico appointed our 
 subject a member of the Board of Trustees of the 
 Michigan Asylum for the Insane, of Kalamazoo, 
 which office he held for six years. For three and 
 a half j'ears he held a position as Pension Examin- 
 ing Surgeon. 
 
 In 1886 the subject of this sketch was a candi- 
 date for the State Senate on the Fusion ticket. lie 
 ran several hundred ahead of his ticket but lost the 
 election. In this campaign he was opposed b^' the 
 Hon. L. G. Palmer. He was a Presidential elector on 
 the Fusion ticket of 1888. On March 12. 1891, he 
 was elected President of the Citizen's Alliance, of 
 Michigan, and is actively interested in the new 
 Peoi)le's party. He has been Supervisor of tiie 
 Second Ward of the city of Greenville for three 
 years, the first time being elected on the Fusion or 
 I'nion ticket, but his assessment being so satisfac- 
 tory to the majority of the i)roperty holders that 
 since then he has been elected on slijis, although 
 opposed by both the old parties. 
 
 The Independent, the Republican organ of the 
 city, has this to say of him April 9, 1891, after the 
 spring election: "Dr. A. W. Nichols, the political 
 hustler, was nominated by no party, and his name 
 wiis printed on no ticket, but he "got there all the 
 same," on slips pasted nearly equally on the Re- 
 publican and Democratic tickets. lie had fourteen 
 majorit}' over both opposing candidates. For a 
 man tiius to run into oflice and re-elect himself to 
 the same otiice. su|)porled by neither political and 
 opposed by both political parlies is a jjolitical mar- 
 vel." 
 
 Dr. Nichols is the proprietor of a fine drug and 
 jewelry store in Greenville, and has landed inter- 
 ests in the nortliern sections of the Stale. He is a 
 member of the Knights of I'ytliias, Ro3-al Arcanum 
 and Knights of Honor. He received the nomina- 
 tion for County Superintendent in 1871, but the 
 
 oflice was abolished by an act of the Legislature 
 before the election. He is a man of pleasant address 
 and alw.ays re.idy to help any good cause. All 
 (Jrcenville and country around may be counted his 
 friends, and his professional skill is widely .acknowl- 
 edged. He h.as performed a large number of sur- 
 gical operations with great success, many of them 
 diflicult and some of them rare, hence his standing 
 as a surgeon in this part of Michigan is unsur- 
 [wssed. 
 
 -^ 
 
 IpTVEV. .lOHN COMPTON. On ministers of 
 IL^ the Gospel the people look with unmeas- 
 ured confidence; as a matter of fact in the 
 world's history it cannot be denied that 
 ministers have mainly controlled the opinions of 
 mankind respecting Divinity. The solemn author- 
 ity associated with their oflice, their means of gain- 
 ing informatioUf have always put in the hands of 
 the clergy the power of molding the religious 
 opinions of men. "Like priest, like people," is au 
 adage whose truth is illustrated on every pa>'e of 
 history. Among the large number of consecrated 
 ministers, who arc elevating the standard of piety 
 and inlluencing the moral characters of this age, 
 especial mention belongs to the Rev. John Comi>- 
 ton, to whom for more than sixty years has been 
 entrusted the sacred office of ministering to the 
 spiritual needs of mankind. 
 
 In his sixteenth year Mr. Complon was con- 
 verted to Christ, and since that time has liveil a 
 consistent, God-fearing life. Two years after his 
 conversion he united with the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church at Bath, Steuben County, N. Y., whither 
 he had gone to learn the trade of a tailor. Three 
 months after joining the church, he w.as appointed 
 Class-Leader and has served in this ca|)acity for 
 many years. Later he was licensed to exhort and 
 preach and given appointments to fill, and wherever 
 sent, preached witli the high aim of jilcasing God 
 and impelling Christians to lofty aspirations after 
 glory, honor and immortality. He was ordained a 
 local fleacon of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 more than thirty years ago and since that time has 
 united in marriage ninety-one couples, otliciated at 
 
782 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 a great many funerals, and preaclu'fl inniiraerahle 
 discourses. 
 
 Of those in whose association the greater part of 
 Mr. Conipton's life lias been passed, he is almost 
 the sole survivor, and is now in the eightj'-second 
 year of his age. He was born September 6, 1809, 
 in Perth Amboy, N. J., to John and Eliza (Coriell) 
 Compton. His father died when he was onl}' two 
 years old, but his mother managed to keep the 
 family together until the children had attained 
 maniiood and womanhood, and were prepared to 
 fight life's battle for themselves. Of the nine chil- 
 dren included in the family circle, our subject is 
 the only one now living. John Compton, Sr., was 
 a native of England, whence he and his brothers 
 David and William came to America at a very early 
 day and settled in New Jersey. He was a weaver 
 of fine linen in the Old Country, but did not fol- 
 low his trade in the United States. 
 
 In his personal characteristics, the father of our 
 subject was ver3' firm and detepmined; for more 
 than thirty j'ears he was a Deacon in the Baptist 
 Church, and died in the full triumphs of his faith. 
 To the last he prayed earnestly and devotedly, 
 even when unable to arise from his sick bed, and 
 passed quietly away, happy in a Savior's love. It 
 was largely due to the influence of religious par- 
 ents that our subject owes his greatest successes in 
 life, for his widowed mother early instilled into his 
 mind principles of truth, religion and honor. Tiie 
 mother, who was a native of New Jersey, died at 
 the age of »ixt3'-fivo years, and although not so 
 active in religion as the husband, was equally as 
 zealous. 
 
 When he was still quite young, our subject ac- 
 companied his mother to Steuben County, N. Y., 
 where he grew to man's estate. In Bath, that 
 county, he learned the tailor's trade, at which he 
 was employed for about fifteen years. On July 14, 
 1831, he was united in marriage with Miss Ann 
 Hull, the daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Ch:ip- 
 man) Hull and an estimable Christian woman. To 
 them were born four ciiildren, three living, namelj' : 
 Martin, who married Miss Eliza J. Rice; Elvira, the 
 widow of John Ramsey; and Jane Elizabeth, wife 
 of Sylvanus Peabodj', of MuUiken. After a happy 
 wedded life of ten jears, the devoted wife and 
 
 affectionate mother w.is called from eartli Septem- 
 ber 27, 1841. She was an ardent worker in the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she was a 
 consistent member, and died praising her Redeemer. 
 Her life adorned her sex and deatli left tlie praises 
 of an untarnished name on the lips of all who knew 
 her, while the memory of her worth is graven deep 
 in the afflicted hearts dear to her. Her children 
 are all memljcrs of the same church in which she 
 worshipped and are prominent in business and 
 social circles. 
 
 The second marriage of Mr. Compton was con- 
 sumatcd February 14, 1842, when Elizabetli Nickle 
 became his wife, and for more than a half century 
 thej' have trod life's pathway side by side. Mrs. 
 Compton was born in Lettermakenny, County 
 Donegal, Ireland, March 28, 1797, to John and 
 Margaret Nickle. Of tliis union one daughter, 
 Didama Ann, was born, but died at the age of two 
 years. Mrs. Compton, or Aunt Betsey, as slie is 
 familiarly known, is devotedly attached to home 
 and household, and a wise and affectionate mother 
 to her step children, whom she tenderly cared for 
 during their residence under the parental roof. 
 
 In township affairs Mr. Compton has alwa^'S 
 been useful and prominent. At the first election, 
 ■when the township was set apart by itself, he was 
 elected Town Clerk, and was Highway Commis- 
 sioner, School Inspector, and the first Postmaster 
 in tlie township of Danby. His son carried the 
 mail, which was then very light, and the salary 
 received in compensation for his services was even 
 lighter. Mr. Compton was for a quarter of a cen- 
 tury Notary Public, but amid all these duties 
 always found time to preach the Gospel, and never 
 omitted family worship night and morning. His 
 house was the minister's home. Through his long 
 life he has always been temperate in all things, 
 never taking a drink at the bar in his life, never 
 using tobacco in any form, and it is to these tem- 
 perate habits that he owes much of his strength in 
 his old age. In politics he was never aggressive, 
 but has usually been allied with tlie Republican 
 p»rtj' and the temperance cause. 
 
 The first missionary sermon ever preached in 
 Danby was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Moneat in 
 Mr. Compton's house in June 9, 1838, and there was 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 783 
 
 then orgnnized a class of nine members, of whom 
 our subject is llie only survivor. Toward the 
 buildiiij; of eiiurches lie has always contributed 
 largely, and was especiall}- instrumental in secur- 
 ing the erection of tiic church near his home. While 
 he has engaged in preaching manj- years, he has 
 labored not for the meat that perisheth, and has 
 receiveil little compensation in the line of monc3\ 
 but has at the same time contributed to the support 
 of other ministers. He was for several years a 
 preacher for the Indians and a teacher of their chil- 
 dren, for a short time receiving for liis services |10 
 per month. He found his little pupils quite bright 
 and in writing they were especially apt. He helped 
 to build the Indian Mission at Dauby, hauling the 
 first lumber and helping in ever}' \iay possible. 
 His preaching, although he was compelled to use 
 an interpreter much of the time, was productive of 
 much good. His Indian name was Te-kum-a-ga-zhe, 
 which meant '-wade through the river." Their only 
 complaint of him was because he couldn't be more 
 with them. It is the delight of the rising genera- 
 tion to give all honor to the worthy aged people, 
 now so rapidly passing from earth, who have been 
 instrumental in developing the conntrj' and in- 
 fluencing its progress, and as one of these the name 
 of John Compton will be held in reverence long 
 after his eyes shall have been closed in death. 
 
 •v — r"^ r 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 ^lj=^\^ENO^'I IIOLCOMB. It affords the pub- 
 L^, lishers of this Bio(;uai'uical Ai.uum pleas- 
 |XM)]i ure to present to its readers a brief outline 
 ^^fe<^ of the life of one of the honorable and self- 
 sacrificing men who have done so much toward the 
 development of Ionia Count}'. Mr. Holcomb and 
 his wife, who deserves equal credit witli him for her 
 cheerful endurance of the discomforts and toils of 
 pioneer life, came to this countj' in 1845, and lo- 
 cated in Eastoii Township, where they have since 
 resided. They hafe a good property, consisting of 
 one hundred and nine acres of land on which are 
 to be seen the many conveniences which belong to 
 modern farm life. Here thej' are spending their 
 declining years in the enjoyment of the ease of 
 
 mind which comes of well-spent lives, and the rest 
 which properly follows tiieir long years of toil. 
 
 In Washington Count}', N. Y., December 18, 
 1812, Mr. Ilolcorab opened his eyes to the light. 
 His parents were Jesse and Lucy (Webb) Holcomb, 
 natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts respec- 
 tively. A brother of his mother was an officer in 
 the Colonial array during the Revolution. When 
 Benoni was twenty 3-ear8 old the family went to 
 Genesee County, N. Y., where his father subse- 
 quently died ; the mother spent her last years in 
 Ionia County, this State. In 1836 our subject came 
 West and located in St. Clair County, where he re- 
 mained until he became a citizen of Ionia County. 
 He is therefore personally cognizant of affairs con- 
 nected with the Territorial days as well as with 
 those of later times. 
 
 Mr. Holcomb bought one hundred and ten acres 
 of land on section I, Easton Township, to which he 
 made his way through a trackless forest, and where 
 he bravel\' settled in the midst of a region of wild- 
 ness. He was accompanied by a wife, formerly 
 Miss Lucy \. Wedge, with whom he was united 
 September 24, 1843. She was born in Connecticut 
 June 29, 1823, being a daughter of Moses Kod Mary 
 A. (Draper) Wedge. She is one of a large family 
 of whom Sanford, Mrs. Mary A. McCoy, Oliver, 
 Mrs. Harriet E. Malone, Henr}-, George and Mrs. 
 Jlelissa Harter survive, also living in Ionia County. 
 Tlie widowed mother resides inthecouniy seat and 
 is now in her eighty-ninth year. Mrs. Holcomb 
 belongs to a pioneer family, and in her early life 
 was surrounded b}- influences which developed her 
 character and fitted her to be the helpmate of such 
 a man as her husband. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb are the parents of si.Y 
 children, the youngest of whom, Moses, lives near 
 his parents in Easton Township. Jesse S. and Will- 
 iam E. reside in Montcalm County; Lucy is the 
 wife of Theodore Harris, and lives in Stanton ; 
 Sanford lives in Mecosta County; Melissa M., wife 
 of Grant Cunningham, has a home in >Ioutcalin 
 County. Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb are well informed, 
 as they spend considerable time in reading and have 
 always trieil to keep up with llie progress of events. 
 Mr. Holcomb, after studying in the district schools 
 of the Empire Slate, had the pleasure of attendinor 
 
784 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the Wyoming (N. Y.) Academy two years. He is 
 a strong advocate of the public school system, and 
 takes an interest in every movement which promises 
 to elevate society. In politics he is a Republican. 
 He belongs to the Baptist, and his wife to the 
 Christian Church. 
 
 U.ILLIAM W. WILLIAMS. Among the 
 reputable business houses of Ionia, Ionia 
 ^^ County, is that of the gentleman above 
 named, which in many respects miglit be taken as 
 a model. The goods in which Mr. Williams deals, 
 and many of which he manufactures, are harness 
 and turf goods, robes, blankets, saddles, bridles, 
 etc. His place is also headquarters for trunks and 
 bags, and a well-selected assortment may alwa3's 
 be found there. Every detail of the business is 
 systematized and the proprietor of the establish- 
 ment keeps an accurate record of every trans- 
 action, no matter how small it may be, and finds 
 this thoroughness wonderfully to his advantage. 
 He has been established in business for himself 
 only a few years, but has already' secured a good 
 position among dealers and an excellent reputation 
 among the people. 
 
 Tiie parents of him of whom we write were 
 Orren and Minerva (Peacock) Williams, both born 
 in the State of New York. Mr. Williams was a 
 • shoemaker. He came to this State the year after 
 its admission to the- Union, and located at Dundee, 
 but after a residence of thi-ee years removed to 
 Battle Creek. He died in that city in August, 
 1877. His wife survived him more than a decade, 
 breathing her last in Cairo, 111., June 30, 1889. 
 To the gooil couple tliere were born three children 
 of whom our subject is the eldest. The others are 
 Homer A., who is in the employ of the Chicago 
 Varnish Company in the Queen Cit}' of the Lakes, 
 and Chailotte, wife of Willard P. June, living in 
 Cairo, 111. 
 
 Our subject was born in Dundee, this State, 
 April 20, 184G, but spent his early years iu Battle 
 Creek. He learned his trade — harness-making, of 
 
 Leonard Robinson and remained with that gentle- 
 man a year doing journey work. The ensuing two 
 years he was in the employ of Hobbs & Bliss in 
 Jackson and in 1866 he came to Ionia. Here he 
 worked at his trade with different parties, being in 
 the employ of Duncau Shepherd nine years prior 
 to opening his own establishment in 1888. Mr. 
 Williams frequently alludes to Mr. Shepherd, wlio 
 was a grand man, and says that to him he owes 
 much for his example and precepts. Indeed the 
 integrity' of character and devotion to principles 
 of right which are possessed by Mr. Williams in an 
 eminent degree are largely due to his contact with 
 his former employer. 
 
 The home of Mr. Williams is presided over by 
 a lady who became his wife May 10, 1869, prior to 
 which date she was known as Miss Nettie M. Mil- 
 lard. She is a daughter of Peter Millard, was well 
 reared and has been faithful to her obligations 
 toward her family and friends. The congenial 
 union has been blest by the birth of two sons — 
 Carleton G. and Burtie L. The younger is at home 
 and the elder is in Chicago, employed by George 
 S. Harris & Sons, lithographers and printers. Mr. 
 Williams is a Democrat but would disregard party 
 afflliations to vote for an upright man in opposi- 
 tion to a rogue. He has served two terms as 
 Alderman and in and out of office is public-spirited 
 and progressive. He is strong in his friendships, 
 honorable and straightforward in his dealings, and 
 upright in his life. He is a member of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church and Steward of the organi- 
 zation, in whose interests he is an untiring laborer. 
 
 "s^^REDERICK BLUEMLE was a typical rep- 
 
 P' resentative of the sturdy, manly and intel- 
 ligent German-American citizens, who have 
 become .ibsorbed into our body politic, and have 
 done much toward the building up of the world's 
 greatest Republic. Mr. Bluemle was a man of a 
 high order of intelligence, and sturdy integritj*. 
 These traits are characteristic of Germans and 
 have made the Fatherland not only one of the 
 strongest powers of Siurope in a military sense, but 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 785 
 
 have placed it also in the front rank in the arts, 
 sciences and discoveries for which Europe is so 
 justly famous. Mr. Uluenilc was a prominent 
 farmer residing in Ionia County, witii itie growth 
 and development of whicii he was closely identi- 
 fied. 
 
 Our subject was a native of Baden, German}-, 
 and was born March 13, 182.5. He was reared to 
 manlu)od in his native country and received a fair 
 education in his native tongue. After arriving 
 in this conntr}' he acquired a fair knowledge of the 
 English langu.ige and w.as able to transact business 
 in tliis tongue. Earl}- in the '50s he came to 
 America on a sailing vessel, and after landing pro- 
 ceeded as far West .as Indiana, where he worked 
 for a time as a common farm laborer for 16 a 
 month and hoard. 
 
 Mr. Bluemle was married in December, 18.53, to 
 Rosina Meier, who was l>orn in Baden, Germany, 
 Januar}' 31, 1838. By this union eleven children 
 have been born, who survive and are living in 
 Michigan: Carrie, wife of .Joseph Meier, residents 
 ofFenwick; Mar}', wife of Daniel Olmstead. now 
 residing at Mt. Pleasant; Sophia, vvife of Edward 
 Callow, living at Ionia; Emma, wife of Rev. John 
 Dietridi, of Orange 'I'ownsliip, this county; Minnie, 
 wife of Rev. Albert Swenk, now located at Petos- 
 key, Mich., and a prominent minister of tiie Evan- 
 gelical Church; Eugene, Frederick, Herman, Elzora, 
 Pauline and Alvin are still at home, and the sons 
 are farming his old homestead. 
 
 Mr. Bluemle came to Easton Township, Ionia 
 County, in 1863, and settled on the farm where 
 his widow and family now reside. He first pur- 
 chased ninety acres of timber land and partially 
 cleare<l twenty .acres. On this land he built a 
 house and improved a farm and made it what it is 
 at the present time. There are now one hundred 
 and ten acres in the homestead, and its fine im- 
 provements are due to the untiring exertions of 
 Mr. Bluemle. In politics be generally aimed to 
 vote for the best man irrespective of party, al- 
 though his inclinations leaned rather toward the 
 Republican party. A kind father, and a loving 
 husband, his efforts were untiring for the good of 
 his family, and he was highly esteemed by all who 
 Itnew him. He was identified witli the rierman. 
 
 Evangelical Church and was well informed. He 
 died .January 2.5, 1889, and left an estate of over 
 one hundred acres of land which he had accumu- 
 lated by native energy and perseverance and also 
 by the assistance of his wife. 
 
 In his death Ionia County has lost on« of its 
 best citizens and one who alw.ays favored imjjrove- 
 ments in the community. Mrs. Bluemle resides on 
 tlie homestead with her family and is a valued 
 and esteemed member of the German Evangelical 
 Church. Mr. Bluemle was an obliging neighbor, 
 accommodating to an unusual degree and his death 
 was an irreparable loss which his family mourn. 
 
 mimi^^i 
 
 W ABAN A. -SMITH. During the many years 
 I 101 in which Mr. Smith h.as been a resident of 
 Jr^V Ionia County he h.as not only witnessed its 
 progress from a comparatively unimportant por- 
 tion of the State to its prouil position as one of the 
 foremost counties of Michigan, but he has aided in 
 its development and liis history is closely inter- 
 woven with tiiat of the county. His life has been 
 a busy one, but he now lives retired from .active 
 labor in Portland, where he removed in 1890. 
 Realizing that the aim of iiis life is not merely to 
 '•kill lime" he rightly valued every moment given 
 him and has tiius gained a reputation for prompt- 
 ness in originating plans and dispatch in executing 
 them. He is of commanding presence and cul- 
 tured mind. His desire for knowledge caused him 
 to seek the companionship of good books, the perusal 
 of which was a constant source of gaining informa- 
 tion and storing an alre.idy well-balanced mind. 
 
 Mr. Smith is descended from renowned ancestors, 
 whose genealogy traces back many generations. 
 The first of the name whose record has been perpet- 
 uated was Thomas Smith, who lived in East Haven, 
 at that time New Haven. In that town in 1662 he 
 was united in marriage with Elizabeth Paterson, 
 and among the children born to them was .Samuel. 
 The latter chose as his wife Anna Morris, and of 
 their union, which was solemnized in 1708, a son 
 was born whom they named Daniel. In 1749 ibis 
 son married Hannah Atwaler, and year.s afterward 
 
786 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 their son Benjamin, married Lydia Gates. The 
 children born to this couple were named Desire, 
 Benjamin, Esther, Marvin, Daniel, Lydia and 
 Evely. Marvin was twice married; he was united 
 in the holy bonds of wedlock December 17, 1809, 
 with Jlartha Otis, and they became the parents of 
 three children, all of whom grew to maturity — Ben- 
 jamin, Isaac O. and Elizabeth. 
 
 On the maternal side Laban Smith traces his an- 
 cestry back to John Thompson, who signed the 
 Colony Constitution in June, 1639. The genealogy 
 is briefly as follows: to him and his wife Eleanor, 
 a son John was born, who married Priscilla Powell 
 March 29, 1666. Among their children was one 
 wiiom they named John and who first opened his 
 eyes to the light August 6, 1667. To him and his 
 wife Merc5', a son John was born October 11, 1692, 
 and upon attaining years of maturity he married 
 Sarah Pardee. Tlieir son Timothy, who was born 
 December 26, 1727, married Esther Perkins and 
 they became the parents of a son John, who was 
 born April 27, 1753. In 1783 this son was united 
 in marriage with a widow, Dorcas Andrews, and of 
 their nine children, the fourth was Lucy, the 
 mother of Laban A. Smith. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born at lloneoyc 
 Falls, Monroe County, N. Y., November 14, 1828, 
 and is the son of Marvin and Lucy (Thompson) 
 Smith, natives of East Haven, Conn. The paren- 
 tal family is of Scotch descent. When Marvin 
 Smith was twelve years old he came to New York 
 with an uncle, Daniel Gales, and located in Bloom- 
 fleld, Ontario Count}'. His father had previously 
 died and his mother, fearing that he might be 
 tempted to go to sea, as some-of his relatives who 
 had been sea captains, were lost, willingly gave 
 her consent that he could come as far West as tlie 
 Empire Stale. At the time of his location in 
 Bloorafield it was a wilderness and he experienced 
 llie usual hardships of pioneer life. He returned 
 to the New England Slates for his second wife, 
 with whom he was united in marriage April 3, 
 1826. Of the five children born to him and his 
 wife three are living, viz: Daniel G., on the old 
 homestead; Esther M. Burt, also in New York and 
 our subject. 
 
 He of whom this sketch is a life record was 
 
 reared to farming pursuits and married Hannah 
 Gillette, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth 
 (Backus) Gillette, November 17, 1852. In 1857 
 he moved to Elkhart, Ind., where he followed farm- 
 ing seven j'eaisand in 1865 he removed to White 
 Pigeon, Mich., where he lived a year. He then 
 came to Portland in 1866, and has lived in this 
 township ever since. He retired from active farm 
 life in 1890, moving to the village of Portland. To 
 himself and wife hare been born eight children, of 
 whom six are living: Leonard II., farming in 
 Portland Township; Benjamin M., on the home- 
 stead; Harriet W., wife of Charles A. Frost, resid- 
 ing in Portland Township; William G., who is 
 farming on the homestead; Daniel attending school 
 in Portland; and George also at school. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is a member of the 
 Baptist Church and is a Republican in politics. His 
 first vote was cast for Scott; later he voted for 
 Fremont and his votes since have been cast in the 
 Republican line. He was Supervisor in the town- 
 ship from 1875 to 1879, four terras in succession, 
 for a number of years Highway Commissioner, and 
 was County Superintendent of the poor from 1880 
 to 1890. Mr. Smith is a leader among men and an 
 unswerving friend of right, relentless foe of wrong, 
 (Iccided and outspoken in his views and his nature 
 knows no compromise. He has labored industri- 
 ously and faithfully for the rewards he is now reap- 
 ing. His home is one of culture and refinement, 
 and one of its most noticeable features is a library 
 of choice books, silent friends of himself and fam- 
 
 iiy- 
 
 ^Ij OHN AV. P11F;STEL is a prosperous citizen 
 I of Sheridan, Montcalm County, who has 
 I gained a large property by his own efforts, 
 1^^/ and by his enterprise in taking advantage of 
 the opportunities which have been placed in his 
 way. He was born in Ohio, on the 18th of Decem- 
 ber, 1838, and is the son of Wentlan and Cathe- 
 rine (Bodemiller) Prestel, both of German birth. 
 He had the misfortune to lose both parents while 
 still in his teens, and his education was cut short. 
 When only eighteen years old he left home, and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 787 
 
 going to Calhoun County, Mich., bcg.-in work on :i 
 farm. A little later he engaged himself as a Stew- 
 ard on a steamboat on Lake Krie, and served in 
 this capacity for three years. 
 
 Our subject then decided to learn the black- 
 smith's trade, and had been working in this way for 
 one year, when his patriotic impulses led him to en- 
 list September 10, 18G1, in Battalion U, First Ohio 
 Light Artillerj'. He entered the service at Cleve- 
 land, and was sent to Camp Denison, from wiience 
 he went to Covington, K3'. He served until Sep- 
 tember, 1865, under various leaders, but most of 
 his term of service was under Gen. Sherman in his 
 various campaigns. He was at Chickaraauga, and 
 was present when Johnston surrendered to Sher- 
 man. He also saw fight at Ferry ville, Atlanta, Shi- 
 loh, Franklin and Kuoxville, and saw the destruc- 
 tion of Hood's ami}- at Nashville. 
 
 At the close of the war he returned to Ohio and 
 spent two years in finishing his apprenticeship in 
 the blocksmith's trade. He then began this work 
 for himself at Wasson, Ohio, and afterward resided 
 in Williams County, Ohio, where he was married 
 May 23, 1878, to Caroline Dell, at Kdgerton. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. I'restel are the happy parents of 
 six sons, who are all residing with them at home: 
 Frederick L, born March 22, 1868; Lawrence G., 
 September 30, 1870: Charles A., January 30, 1873; 
 John J., April 18, 1875; Harlon H., September 15, 
 1881 : Bayard, December 6, 1883. Our sul)ject re- 
 mained in Ohio until 1870, when he removed to 
 Muir, Ionia County, Mich., and took up mercantile 
 pursuits. Two years later he and a Mr. Nefif re- 
 moved the stock to Sheridan, Mich., and began a 
 general store. In 1874 be erected a nice store 
 building, in which they continued business until 
 1882, when they bought a sawmill and then dis- 
 solve partnership. Mr. I'restel took all the prop- 
 erly in Sheridan, while his partner took that which 
 was situated in Day Township and elsewhere out- 
 side. He continued along for some time in the 
 general store at Sheridan. 
 
 Mr. I'restel owns a large amount of real estate 
 which may be listed as follows: .Si.x houses and lots 
 in Sheridan; a farm of two hundred and fort}- 
 acres on the south side of the village; a large mill 
 in St. Clair County; twelve hundreil acres of fine 
 
 timber near Grand Traverse; and an interest in 
 twelve thousand acres of choice timber land in Ar- 
 kansas. He is fitting himself up a beautiful home 
 in the suburbs of Sheridan. He says that he got 
 his start for all llii:< [)ros[)eril3' in the army at ^\li 
 per month. 
 
 -^^-^'-^NN^-^-^ 
 
 eHARLKS L. BEMIS. All who study the 
 early history of Michigan have noted with 
 pride and i)leasure that the first effort made 
 by the pioneers after clearing a little spot upon 
 which to erect a log cabin for a home, wjxs to estab- 
 lish a district school. In many cases this was 
 within log walls, and sometimes the first school was 
 started in one end of the rude home which shel- 
 tered an earnest family of pioneers. The direct 
 descentlant of the log school house appears in these 
 days as the white sclioolhouse of the country dis- 
 tricts and the splendidi}' appointed public schools 
 of the towns and cities. The interest in education 
 has never flagged but as o|)portunity has offered, 
 the work has developed on broad and sure founda- 
 tions. 
 
 The Count}' Board of School Examiners is a 
 notable feature of the county school organiza- 
 tion, and the appointment of a first-class man to 
 the position of Secretary of this board, is one of 
 the strongest elements in the prosperity of any 
 county. Ionia Count}- is unusually favored in this 
 respect. Prof. Charles L. Bemis, who holds this 
 position is worth}' of the highest praise. Under 
 his direction the schools are taking a high rank, 
 among other Michigan counties. He has excellent 
 capability in the line of organization and he is 
 a fluent and impressive speaker. His addresses 
 made before gatherings of teachers and conven- 
 tions of County Secretaries, have been listened to 
 with great interest and arc always requested for 
 publication. 
 
 Tliesubjsctof this sketch was born in Hampden 
 County, Mass., March 30, 1850. His father was 
 Marquis de LaFayette Ileinis, a native of Massa- 
 chusetts. His mother bore the maiden name of 
 Eliza J. Stafford and w.as born in ^'c^mont. The 
 
788 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 father was a cabinet-maker a».l undertaker, but now 
 lives on a farm in Ionia County. He came to 
 Michigan in 1863, and locatcdfirsl in Easton Town- 
 ship. He liad previously lived in Lorain County, 
 Ohio, where the mother of our subject died in 
 1854. By her. twocliildren were born to Mr. Bemis, 
 William Wallace and our subject. The father of 
 <nir subject married again, Helen C. Gunn being his 
 second wife. Her two children are: Arthur L. 
 and Edla R. Arthur is the editor of a paper in 
 Carson City, and the daughter is the widow of 
 William R. Henderson. 
 
 C. L. Bemis was brought up on a farm and when 
 seventeen j-ears of age worked out on a farm for 
 $16 a month, his first job being one of picking up 
 stones. He attended school during the winter 
 months and at the age of twenty years went to 
 Lansing and hired out as a teamster for a year. 
 While teaming lie kept up his studies, keeping bis 
 text book of grammar upon the seat beside him, 
 and snatching a few minutes for stud}' whenever 
 possible. The thoroughness and practicality of his 
 plan of work was made apparent by his proficiency 
 in this branch of study being so unusual as to 
 afterward elicit high compliments from his pro- 
 fessors. Working and studying, he managed to 
 earn money and saving every cent possible he en- 
 tered the Agricultural College at Lansing, from 
 which he was graduated in tlie class of 1874. He 
 never had a dollar's worth of aid extended to him 
 in the pursuit of his education. He taught school 
 for two years at Lyons, but although he had been a 
 thorough student while in college he realized that 
 he would be much benefited by a course of tech- 
 nical training. In pursuit of this he went to 
 Ypsilanti and attended the Normal school for one 
 year. 
 
 Prof. Bemis married Sarah Sprague, a daughter 
 of Silas Sprague, August 7, 1878. That season he 
 taught in Lyons but the next fall commenced teach- 
 ing in Portland, where he continued eight years, 
 and commenced teaching on the ninth, but resigned 
 at the end of six weeks to accept an appointment 
 as Secretary of the County Board of School Ex- 
 aminers. His appointment bore date October, 
 1887 and he still continues in that office. As a 
 teacher he was eminently successful and jp tU"? 
 
 office he has i)roved efficient and capable. He is 
 one of the Elders in the Church of Christ at Ionia,,|p 
 having united with that body in 1875. He is af^ 
 stanch Republican in politics, a member of iaPk' 
 Ancient Order of United Workmen, of the Masonic 
 order, in which he is Junior Warden, and a mem- 
 ber of the Knights of Pythias. To him rnnl hi- 
 wife have been born four children— Bessie Ktl , 
 Melviu S., Delia II. and Eldeu ,1. 
 
 Since the above sketch was written, Mr. Bemis, 
 without any application on his part being made 
 for the office was unanimously elected in M»'^, 
 1891, by the School Board of Ionia as Sup^.. • 
 tendent of the city schools, and will enter upoiNnd 
 duties as such in September. 
 
 — ^-^^— ^— 
 
 AMUEL W. BADGER presents in his 
 life an example of persevering industry 
 crowned with success, that is encouraging 
 to others who start as he did, with no capi- 
 tal. He came to Ionia Couutj' in 1842 and has 
 been identified with its interests from that time 
 until the present, and for a number of years was 
 associated with other well-known men in pioneer 
 labors in an undeveloped region. He is now 
 pleasantly located on section 1, Easton Township, 
 where he has a property of considerable value, so 
 arranged and managed as to afford the family every 
 comfort they can desire and enable provision to be 
 made for future needs should the^' arise. 
 
 Mr. Badger was born in Warner, N. IL, July 29, 
 1807, and comes of respectable families of the New 
 England States. His father, Stephen Badger, was 
 born in Massachusetts and was the son of Obadiah 
 Badger, of Araesbury, Mass., who followed the sea 
 for a livelihood prior to the War of the Revolution, 
 and fought during the seven 3'ears' struggle for 
 independence from the Mother Country. Stephen 
 Badger was also a soldier in the Colonial army, 
 having enlisted when but sixteen years old. He 
 was present at the capture of Burgoyne at Saratoga, 
 was also Lieutenant of a privateer, and having 
 been captured bj' an English ship, was imprisoned 
 !Vt Dartmoor, After following the sea a nurnberof 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 789 
 
 i 
 
 years he purchased land in the town of Warner, 
 N. H., and became a farmer. 
 
 The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
 of Saraii Sawyer, and was descended from the old 
 I'niitan stocii, her ancestors by liie name of llop- 
 iiins Iiaving crossed in the "Mayllower." Coming 
 of such parentage our subject could scarcely fail to 
 act well his part in life and display the sturdiness 
 of mind and the uprightness of character which 
 were among the traits of his ancestors. When he 
 was perhaps ten years old his father not finding 
 agriculture very remunerative exchanged his proj)- 
 erty for the Warner Mills, consisting of a grist- 
 mill, carding and woolen mills. Our subject re- 
 mained at home until he was about seventeen years 
 old, passing his time in such an alternation between 
 study, recreation and work suited to his years, as 
 is gencrall}' the case in families of respectabilit}'. 
 
 At the above mentioned ago Mr. Badger went to 
 Massachusetts and for two years worked in the 
 flannel mills of James Ilowarth at Andover. Not 
 liking it there he went to Brighton and served an 
 apprenticeshi|) of two years with James Green- 
 wood at the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which 
 he followed more or less from that time until 1842. 
 At the expiration of his term of apprenticeship he 
 started for what w.as then known as the far West, 
 and arrived in Buffalo in August, 1828. Koads 
 were rough even at that season of the year, and 
 the trip by stage from Albany to Buffalo required 
 five days. While there JSIr. Badger worked at his 
 trade as journeyman and cast his first Presidential 
 vote for Andrew Jackson, by whose money policy 
 the advancements and improvements of the country" 
 were seriously checked. 
 
 In the spring of 1834 Mr. Badger proceeded as 
 far west as Toledo, Ohio, and commenced business 
 for himself, erecting (hvellin,:^ houses, also building 
 liridges on the Palmyra & Jacksonburg Railroad, 
 and working at VI. Defiance on the Krie & Wabash 
 Canal. Owing to the hard times and the state of 
 the currency, he failed to receive his paj', as some 
 took advantage of the bankrupt law and left him 
 minus ^3,700. In 1838 he came to Lenawee County, 
 this State, and in 1842 to Ionia County with his 
 family. There was plenty of work to be done in 
 this new country, but money was scarce, and few 
 
 probably experienced the disadvantages that con- 
 fronted Mr. Badger when he attempted to make a 
 home for his family by building on and improving 
 his wild land in Orange Township. The following 
 circumstances will illustrate the discouragements 
 he met with: In order to procure nails with which 
 to fasten the roof to the walls of the house, he car- 
 ried some maple sugar which he had made a dis- 
 tance of eight miles to Portland, selling it for five 
 cents per pound and paying ten cents a pound for 
 the nails. 
 
 In due time the house was completed, the farm 
 cleared, and improvements added. Mr. Badger 
 built the first sawmill in the vicinity and carried it 
 on for a number of years. As one of the early pio- 
 neers of Orange Township he passed through the 
 usual experiences of the frontiersman, from the 
 time he made his home in a rude log cabin and 
 began the development of his properly to a period 
 fort}' j-ears later when it was a fair and fruitful 
 estate. Notwithstanding the losses which Mr. 
 Badger experienced, he has been able to pay his 
 debts and owes no man anything. 
 
 Mr. Badger was married October 28, 1838, to 
 Miss Mar}' J. Fleming, who was born in the North 
 of Ireland, June 16, 1822. Her parents, William 
 and Mary (Watt) Fleming, were born in the same 
 section of country as herself but both were of 
 Scotch descent. She was about ten years old when 
 they crossed the Atlantic, taking passage on a sail 
 vessel at Londonderry, and landing at Quebec, 
 Canada, after a voyage of eight weeks, during 
 which they experienced variable weather. The 
 Flemings went at once to A'erniont, where they 
 made their home three years, then removed to 
 Lenawee County, this State. They afterward came 
 to Ionia County and established themselves in 
 F^aston Township, where both parents died. The 
 family of Mr. and Mrs. Badger included five chil- 
 dren: Fallen, wife of W. N. Heed, now living in 
 Kansas; George W., in Oregon; Abigail, wife of 
 Edmund \nn Doran, in Ionia County; William and 
 Charles, in Dakota. 
 
 It was in the spring of 1886 that Mr. and Mrs. 
 Badger removed to their present home, where they 
 are enjoying the many comforts they have earned 
 by meritorious efforts for their own advancement 
 
790 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and the good of others. Both are identified with 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church and make of their 
 religion a matter of everyday experience. They 
 have been active members of society and have had 
 a deep influence over those with wiiom they have 
 come in contact. Mr. Badger is independent in 
 politics, although he is inclined toward Republican 
 principles. 
 
 
 E^^^ 
 
 <jB?^\ELSON E. SMITH, who operates a fruit 
 [[ jj] farm on section 18, Ionia Township, Ionia 
 lt>('M) County, bears out consistently in his life 
 the reputation for industry, probity and devotion 
 which is his ancestral inheritance, descended to him 
 from his Puritan forefathers. The family dates 
 back its history in America to the timps of the 
 '•Mayflower." The father of our subject, Arthur 
 Sinitii, was a native of Vermont, while his wife was 
 Mary Smith, a native of New York, where they 
 were married and resided throughout their lives, 
 being pioneers of Cayuga Count}', where they 
 opened up and improved a farm. 
 
 Arthur Smith had an interest in the invention of 
 the first cast iron plow ever made. His wife died 
 when about fifty years of age, but he survived to 
 the good old age of eighty-two years. He was by 
 preference and belief a Presbyterian, but as tiiere 
 was no church of that order in Cayuga County, he 
 joined the Bafjtist Church and served it as a Dea- 
 con. He used occasionally to fill the vacant i)ulpits 
 in Aurora. He was a Whig in politics. He was 
 married three times, our subject's mother being 
 his second wife. 
 
 The gentleman whose name heads tliis sketch was 
 ijorn Augusts, 182 7, in Cayuga Count3> N. Y. 
 When twenty years old he took a farm which he 
 ke|)t for seven j-ears. Then disposing of it he 
 started for Michigan where he arrived in 1854 and 
 settled on the farm where he now lives. It was an 
 unbroken forest and he did hard work, clearing it 
 of tiees, removing stumps and stones, building his 
 residence and barns. - He went into the fruit busi- 
 ness at an early day. His apple orchard contains 
 four hundred trees and his peach orchard the same, 
 
 while he has three acres devoted to grapes, and raises 
 pears and a great deal of small fruit. He raises 
 much fruit for the market and finds this business 
 more lucrative than other farming. His harvest 
 last fall anaounted to twenlj' eight thousand pounds 
 of grapes, five hundred bushels of apples, besides a 
 good crop of pears and small fruit. With one ex- 
 ception he is the earliest pioneer in fruit growing 
 in the count}'. He owns a farm of seventy acres in 
 Easton Township. He is consistent in his princi- 
 ples of temperance and never turns his grapes into 
 wine. 
 
 Mr. Smith's marriage in 1854 with Miss Martha 
 M. Thacher, daughter of the Rev. Moses and Hen- 
 rietta (Wilmarth) Thacher, united him with an- 
 other family of honorable record in the annals of 
 America. The father of his wife was a native of 
 Princeton, Mass., born there November 14, 1795. 
 The emigrant ancestor of the Thacher family, came 
 from Salisbury', England, and became the first pas- 
 tor of the old South Church, Boston, M.«ss. This 
 Ptuitan pastor was the father of Rev. Peter Thacher 
 who was again the father of another Rev. Peter, 
 who was the grandfather of Mrs. Smith. 
 
 When Moses Thacher was eight years of age, his 
 father removed to Northern Pennsylvania. There 
 in the year 1808, during a revival, this youth l)e- 
 came a subject of Divine grace and made a public 
 profession of religion. Anxious to obtain a liberal 
 education with a view to entering the ministery, 
 he left his father's home in April, 1814, and with 
 his pack upon his back traveled on foot three hun- 
 dred miles to Providence, R. I., where he arrived 
 with fifty cents in his i)ocket, as a fund toward his 
 education. He obtained work at |il2 per month 
 and entered upon a course of preparatory study, 
 and in due time entered Brown University, where 
 he was graduated in 1821. He studied Divinity 
 with the Rev. Otis Thompson, at Rehoboth, R. I., 
 and was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1827. On 
 September, 22, the same 3ear he was married, and 
 the following year be was ordained and installed 
 pastor of the Congregational Church at Wrentliam, 
 Mass., where he continued for several 3-ears. 
 
 In 1838 the j'oung minister went to Pennsylva- 
 nia, where he ministered to the Presbyterian 
 Churches in the counties of Susquehannah and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 791 
 
 15i:i(lf(>r<l, and in New York, in tiie counties of 
 Delaware, Chenango, Corllanil, Cayuga, Oneida 
 anil Franlvlin. Later lie went with one of his sons 
 to Illinois, and in September, 1868, lie was be- 
 reaved by the loss of his wife. In August of the 
 same year he suffered a sunstroke, from which he 
 never recovered either mentally or physically. He 
 S|)enl the remainder of his days peacefully with a 
 son in Illinois, and a daughter in Ionia, Mich. 
 Forty-six years of his life were spent in the active 
 ministry, and for man}' yoars he preached annually 
 more than two hundred and fifty sermons. 
 
 While in Massachusetts Rev. Moses Timelier 
 edited a religious and anti-Masonic paper, the Bos- 
 ton Telegraph and many of his writings have been 
 published. He was once elected to the Senate of 
 Massachusetts. He was an early anti-slavery man 
 and was one of the twelve noble and notable men 
 including William Lloyd Garrison and Oliver 
 Johnson, who on January 6, 18.32, in the African 
 schoolrooiB on "Nigger Hill," in the City of Bos- 
 ton, formed the New Kngland Anti Slavery society 
 and allixed their names to the constitution of the 
 society. The home of Father Thaclier, as he was 
 called, was one of the stations of the I'ndcrground 
 Railroad. 
 
 Mrs. Nelson E. Smith w.is born at North Wren- 
 tliam, .Mass., July G, 1829. She was a very superior 
 woman, having a wonderful memory and having 
 availed herself of good educational advantages. 
 Her intelligence was graced by the beauties of a 
 modest disposition, an amiable character, and Chris- 
 tian devotion. She was a notable Sunday-school 
 teacher and for two years was President of the 
 Women's Foreign Missionary .Society here. Her 
 death, October 9, 1889, was deeply mourned. In 
 her memory the following verses were written: 
 
 "A precious one from us has gone; 
 
 A voice we loved is still; 
 A pl.ace is vacant in our home 
 
 Which never can be filled. 
 
 "God in his wisdom, has recalled 
 The bo<jn his love had given; 
 
 And though the body slumbers here 
 The soul is safe in heaven." 
 
 Five children blessed the marriage of our sub- 
 ject and his wife, two who survive — Kmmons, 
 
 III 
 
 who assists his father; and May H., who is a kinder- 
 garten teacher in connection with the public schools. 
 The three deceased — Waller Goiliam and the 
 twins, Edie and Lottie, were snatched from their 
 parents in the short space of one week with that 
 dreail disease scarlet fever, Walter G. at the age of 
 nearly eight years and the twins aged almost two 
 years. Mr. Smith has been a member of the Pres- 
 byterian Church for forty years and a Ruling El- 
 der in that organization for thirty-six years. He 
 has done much active church work. His training 
 and associations in connection with the anti-slavery 
 interests, made him what was known as a '-lilack 
 R'»publican." 
 
 EVI C. GOODWIN, a prominent citizen 
 jj; and venerable pioneer of section 7, Easton 
 at, Townshi|), Ionia County, is a native of 
 Monroe County, N. Y., where he was born March 
 18, 1814. He is a son of Ezekiel and Hannah 
 (Colby) Goodwin, who were natives of New Hamp- 
 shire. His father served for a short time in the 
 War of 1812, and was an early settler in Monroe 
 County, N. Y. Of the five children of his parents, 
 two now survive, our subject and Rozilla. now 
 Mrs. Swift, a widow, residing in Ontario County, 
 N. Y. The family is of English descent. 
 
 Our subject was brought up on the farm in his 
 native State and was early trained in the |)ractical 
 work of agriculture. For a short time when a 
 young man he boated on the Erie Canal. In the 
 fall of 1850, he emigrated with his family to Ionia 
 County, Mich., to which he had paid a visit some 
 eight years previous. At that lime it seemed to 
 him too much of a wilderness for a family resi- 
 dence, but later, he found it more to his mind. 
 His marriage in New Y'ork Slate in January, 1838 
 bad unit«d him witli Ann Barlow, with whom he 
 lived more than a half century in domestic happi- 
 ness. To them were granted four children, Amanda, 
 (ileeeased), Burdette, Maicelliis, Frances, (Mrs. 
 Peter M. Sh.iybaugli.) 
 
 The family of our subject found their first home 
 
792 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 in the southeastern part of Keene Township, and 
 after a few j'ears residence there came to Easton 
 Township and settled on a farm of one Iiundred 
 and thirty-six acres where they now reside. Eighty- 
 acres of this was then partially improved and a few 
 rude buildings were already erected. He had much 
 l)ioneer work to do, and has virtually made this 
 splendid farm what it now is. His present fine resi- 
 dence was put up in 1881, and he has assisted his 
 children in getting well started in life by giving 
 each of tijem a farm of eighty acres. The golden 
 wedding of this estimable and happy pair was cele- 
 brated in January, 1888, and March 28, 1889, Mrs. 
 Goodwin was called to her heavenly home, leaving 
 behind her a void which can never be filled. The 
 whole community still mourn her loss and feel that 
 a mother indeed has been taken from their midst. 
 
 Mr. Goodwin's son Burdetle E., who was born 
 December 3, 1843, in Monroe County, N. Y., and 
 who resides on section 4, Easton Township, is a 
 prominent citizen also of this county. AVith the 
 exception of one and one-half }-cars spent in the 
 mercantile business in Belding, Mich., he has en- 
 gaged all his life in agricultural pursuits. He was 
 married October 18, 1866, to Olive Kellogg, a 
 daughter of the Hon. Shiverick Kellogg, formerly 
 representative from Ionia County in the Slate 
 Legislature. She is a native of St. Lawrence 
 County, N. Y., where she was born December 15, 
 1847. The Hon. Shiverick Kellogg came to Ionia 
 County in 184'J, and settled in Easton Township on 
 the farm now owned by widow Cook. He after- 
 ward removed to what is now known all over that 
 section as the old Kellogg farm in Easton Town- 
 ship. At that time there were no roads in that part 
 of the county and here this progressive pioneer 
 remained until 1881, when he died on November 
 14. For two terms he represented Ionia County 
 in the Lower House of the State Legislature, where 
 he was marked as a stanch Kopublican. He was a 
 l)ublic-spirited man and an influential member of 
 the Congregational Church. He was for some time 
 Supervisor of Easton Township. His wife fol- 
 lowed him to the better land, April 15, 1883,' 
 rcs|)ected by all who knew her. 
 
 The subject of this sketch has seen the county 
 grow up from an uncultivated to a finely culti- 
 
 vated and prosperous condition. His education in 
 the rudiments of learning was gained in the early 
 schools of his native State. He has ever sedulously 
 improved what advantages were granted him and 
 is fully abreast of the times in matters of intelli- 
 gence. Being a stanch Democrat he has watched 
 with interest the growth of the county and recol- 
 lects when there were but seven Democrats in the 
 township. He is a public-spirited citizen and de- 
 lights to promote with his means and influence all 
 movements for the upbuilding of the society. He 
 is one of the successful pioneers of Ionia County, 
 and now in his declining years he is enjoying the 
 fruits of a life well spent surrounded by children 
 and friends. His son-in-law, Peter M. Shaybaugh 
 served two years as Treasurer of P^aston Township 
 and is one of the prominent j'oung Democratic 
 farmers of that township. 
 
 ^p^EORGE MORRIS. The county seat of 
 (|| g— Ionia County is the home of this gentie- 
 ^^4! man and his business is that of a stenog- 
 rapher, reporting that which trans[)ires in the 
 courtroom and in interviews between lawyer and 
 client. He is of Irish descent and was born in New 
 York, March 27, 1853. His parents were Arthur 
 and Fannie (Fitzgerald) Morris, who removed from 
 tlie Empire State to Canada, and later to Detroit, 
 Mich. The father died at Detroit and the mother 
 still resides there. Our subject attended the pub- 
 lic schools and in the metropolis of the State con- 
 tinued his stu<lies in the High School. He began 
 his active life as a clerk and tlien took up short- 
 hand under private instruction. 
 
 In 1877 Mr. Morris was employed in reporting 
 legal matters and his entire experience as a stenog- 
 rapher has been in connection with law. In 1886 he 
 was appointed by Gov. Alger stenograhie reporter 
 of the Circuit Court of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, 
 at that time consisting of Ionia, Clinton and Mont- 
 calm Counties. He is still reporting in the Eighth 
 District, now comprising the counties of Ionia and 
 Montcalm. Mr. Morris is an expert, very accurate 
 and rapid. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 798 
 
 III 1877 Mr. Morris was married to Miss Hattie 
 ICc'iulnll, a native of Penns)'lvaiiia, who possesses 
 mental culture and an estimable character. Mr. 
 and Mrs. ftforris have one son — Fred, who was 
 horn in 1882. Both husbauil and wife belong to 
 the Presbyterian Church, have good stan<ling in 
 the religious socict}-, and are popular in the com- 
 niunity. Politically he is a Republican. 
 
 ^|"/ OSKPII LOTT. It being the purpose of the 
 I publishers of this Ai.hum to present to its 
 ^j^ I readers sketches of the lives of the promi- 
 ^^// ncnt citizens of Ionia and Montcalm Coun- 
 nies, they would fail were the^- to omit that of 
 Joseph Lott, who is one of the energetic and suc- 
 cessful farmers of Kcene Township. He was born 
 in the Province of Ontario, Canada, in 1839, and 
 was bereft of his mother when but eighteen months 
 old. His father, William Lott, was a native of 
 New York and fought in the American army in the 
 War of 1812. He went from his native State to 
 Canada and thence came to Ionia County about 
 1838. He made liis home in the woods on section 
 30, Keene Township, building a log cabin which he 
 covered with dirt and which was one of the. land- 
 marks of that vicinity for several years. He en- 
 dured the usual self-denials and [irivations of early 
 settlers but lived to see a great improvement in the 
 country. Ho passed away in 1878, leaving several 
 cliiUlren, the present survivors being S;uah R., Jo- 
 seph, Leonard and Ilciiry. 
 
 The gentleman whose name introduces tliese 
 paragraphs arrived at man's estate in Keene Town- 
 ship, growing up amid scenes of pioneer life and 
 obtaining a common-school education, mostly dur- 
 ing tlie winter sesson, as the summers were sjient 
 in farm work. He has been an extensive reader 
 and by this means has supplied the deficiencies in 
 liis early education. In 1864 he settled on section 
 28, where he has since made his home, pursuing 
 an industrious and ujiright course in life. His 
 well-developed farm consists of eighty acres on 
 which lie has made the usual improvements. He 
 liad practically no means with which to begin work 
 
 when he was ready to take a man's place in the 
 worhl and it was by dint of indiistrv, self-denial 
 and the exercise of good judgment tliat he built 
 up his comfortable home. 
 
 In his labois in life Mr. Lott has been ably sec- 
 onded by the l.ady who became his wife November 
 24, 18C1, wiiose maiden name was Susan A. Pinck- 
 ney. She was born in Clinton County, this Slate, 
 and is one of eight cliildrcii, ni.iking up the family 
 of Ira and Vienna Pinckne}-. Her surviving broth- 
 ers and sisters are tleorge, Henry, Caroline and 
 Harriet. Her parents came to Keene Township 
 about 1840 and lier mother is still living here. To 
 Mr. and Mrs. Lott there has come one danghier, 
 A'ienna, now the wife of William Hickctt. 
 
 Mr. Lott is a believer in and supporter of the 
 principles of Democracy and favors whatever will 
 elevate the status of society and add to the pros- 
 perity of the section which he seen grow to a thriv- 
 ing and populous territory. Intelligent, law-abiding 
 and .agreeable, Mr. Lott is numbered among the 
 highly-respected members of the community and 
 enjoys the confidence of all with whom he h.is bus- 
 ness relations. His wife stands side by side with 
 him in sharing the kindly feeling of their acquaint- 
 ances. 
 
 ANNII5AL G. COlilKN. Among the good 
 hotels of Howard City, Montcalm County, 
 is Coburn's Exchange, which was sueccss- 
 'l§)) fully conducted by our subject for fourteen 
 years. During that time lie became well known to the 
 traveling pulilic and deservedly popular as a host. 
 His hotel was a well-onlered, neatly-kept and finely- 
 appointed house, with an unrivalled service and 
 cuisine, leaving nothing to be desired by those 
 who patronized it. Tliis superior hostelry has re- 
 cently been leased b3- Mr. Cobiirn to a son who was 
 formerly one of the clerks and who is continuing 
 its affairs on the liberal scale and sound basis to 
 which it W.1S brought by his father. 
 
 Mr. Coburn was born in Sumner, Mo., June 3, 
 1828, and in tiie same State his parents, Peter and 
 Pollj' (Howe) Coburn opened their eyes to the 
 light. The Coburns came originally from .Scot- 
 
794 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 land, three of the name, with three Varnums, cross- 
 ing the ocean together in early Colonial da3'S. Tlie 
 parental family comprised six children and our 
 subject is the third born. The other survivors are 
 Henry C, now living in Dakota; Benjamin F., an 
 hotelkeeper in South Molunkus, Me.; Freeland J., 
 a resident of Mattawamkeag, Me. ; Olive, wife of 
 James Warren, living in Bowlder, Col. The other 
 member of the family, Granville, died in Aroostook 
 County, Me. 
 
 The father of Hannibal G. Coburn was a farmer 
 and our subject was reared to the same pursuit. 
 His opportunities for acquiring a thorough edu- 
 cation were somewhat limited but he attended 
 Lees Normal Academy two terms. March 23, 1851, 
 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Enoch 
 Stone, and at once leased the Mansion House, in 
 Lincoln, Me., and entered upon a long career as an 
 hotelkeeper. After being in the business about a 
 twelvemonth, he abandoned it for a time and gave 
 his attention to farming and carrying on a livery 
 and express business. In 1854 he bought the 
 Lincoln House, which he carried on until the 
 breaking out of the Rebellion, when he was drafted 
 and exempted from service. 
 
 Mr. Coburn at once went to work to aid in rais- 
 ing the Seventh Maine Infantry-, expecting to be- 
 come its sutler, but instead he was appointed 
 sutler of the Twentieth, which was commanded by 
 Col. Ames. He accompanied the troops to Wash- 
 ington and after camping for a time at Arlington 
 Heights, followed their destinies three and a half 
 years, when he sold out to A. K. Matthews and re- 
 turned to his native Slate. During his connection 
 with the Twentieth his stores were never raided by 
 the boys, as they held him in high esteem on ac- 
 count of his kind treatment and the attention he 
 paid to tlieir sick. 
 
 Soon after his return home Mr. Coburn was tele- 
 graphed to return to Washington with all haste, 
 bringing all the money he could command, as there 
 was a good thing in store for him. He took a 
 private conveyance to Bangor and thence went on 
 to Wasliington, taking with him between $8,000 
 and $9,000. He bought a half interest in a ship 
 load of sutler's supplies ready for shipment to 
 City Point, and took a pass made out for Matthews, 
 
 while Matthews took one made out for Knox. At 
 City Point he was arrested, placed in what was 
 called the "bull pen," and the next day taken back 
 to Washington, where he was tried before Judge 
 Doubleda^'. He was fined ^200 and committed to 
 any prison he might select until it was paid, which 
 was done in less than an hour. In the meantime a 
 guard had been placed over the goods, and as soon 
 as it was learned that everything was straight with 
 the exception of the attempt to reach the front 
 under a false pass, the supplies were sold out to 
 the credit of Coburn & Matthews, although they 
 did not realize as much as they would had they 
 managed for themselves. 
 
 For six months longer Mr. Coburn continued in 
 the sutler's business and when ordered out col- 
 lected $1,500 of the paymaster. He was appointed 
 Custom House officer at Lincoln, Me., and held tlie 
 position three years. As the Government gave 
 one-half to the Collector on all seizures and these 
 more than met the expenses, it lost nothing. Mr. 
 Coburn was appointed United States Marshal in 
 1868, but held the position only a few months and 
 then engaged in the sale of farm implements. In 
 that branch of trade he continued until May, 1873, 
 when he came to Michigan and before the year had 
 closed h.id bought the hotel that he lias carried on 
 most of the time since. Prior to September, 1890 
 he had it in charge except for three years, when it 
 was leased. He has also been interested in the 
 lumber business to some extent, but not with any 
 marked success. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Coburn have six children, of whom 
 we note the following: Flora E. lives in Detroit 
 and is the wife of T. H. Anderson, a conductor on 
 the Detroit, Lansing i& Northern Railroad; Mary 
 I. is the wife of M. H. Stetson, who keeps a hotel 
 and livery in Howard City; Fred AY. is an hotel- 
 keeper in Bangor, Me., being proprietor of the 
 Penobscot Exchange; Hart D. is now carrying on 
 Coburn's Exchange in Howard Citj-; Lilley is the 
 wife of Gain Robinson, a lumber dealer in Spring- 
 field, Mass. ; Hannibal G., Jr., is a young lawyer 
 who was graduated from the law department of the 
 State University in Ann Arbor and is located at 
 West Superior, Wis. 
 
 The political faith of Mr. Coburn is [ironounced 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 795 
 
 and lie always bears an active part in campaign 
 work, aiding liie Democratic parly to power. He 
 was Postmaster of Howard City under President 
 Cleveland. He has been a member of tlie Council 
 two terms and was elected President of tlic Vil- 
 lage Board in 1890. He has also been a school 
 ofTiccr. He is a charter member of Howard City 
 Lodge, F. ife A. RI. In religious sentiment he is an 
 inGdel ami has entertained those views for over 
 forty 3cars. 
 
 iJlIOMAS K. ALLKN, M. D. By nature and 
 /igs\\ education Dr. Allen has been well qualified 
 -<^^' for his professional work, his marked abil- 
 ity is recognized throughout the city of Ionia 
 and his reputation extends over a wide circuit of 
 country. He was born in Franklin County, N. Y., 
 Soi)tember 13, 1841, but acconipa:iied his parents to 
 Canada when about seven j-ears old. His father, 
 .John Allen, a native of New York, was a farmer 
 and drover, and the son learned the details of 
 farming and the stock business when quite young. 
 The niotherof oursubject was Lucinda (Hussell) 
 Allen, who was born in Vermont and died in Huron 
 County, this State, in August, 18'JO. The parental 
 family included Delana, widow of Nelson Tibbitts; 
 Azuban, now deceased, who married Jc>siah Donald- 
 son; Maroah, wife of Aaron Steel, living in Huron 
 County; Huldah, formerly wife of E. BuUard and 
 now deceased; Thora.as K., of this notice; George, 
 deceased; KlizaJ., wife of Mitchell Dibb, of Huron 
 County; and Lucelta, wife of [<ouis Cooper, living 
 in Canada. 
 
 The fundamental education of Dr. Allen was 
 obtained in the common schools and in the gram- 
 mar school at London, Ontario. Having deter- 
 mined to adopt the medical profession as his work 
 in life he entered the Homa-opathic College at 
 Cleveland, from which he was graduated in 1865. 
 Not content with this preparation he went to New 
 York City and entered upon a supplemental course, 
 but was obliged to ahandon it on account of being 
 Uiken sick. When his health was sullicientlv re- 
 
 stored to enable him to begin practice, he opened 
 an office in Detroit where he carried on bis profes- 
 sional work three years. Again illness interfered 
 with his plans and for two years he was not able to 
 carry on his work. He came to Ionia Juno IC, 
 1871, and as soon as his health would permit he 
 began professional work here and has continued it 
 to the present time. 
 
 Dr. Allen inherits a taste for fine stock and takes 
 especial pride in horses, of whicii he has some ex- 
 cellent specimens. He may frequently be seen 
 behind a good trotter and driving affords him 
 needed recreation. He is of a social disposition 
 and greatly enjoys the good comradeship found in 
 lodges of the Masonic order. Odd Fellows, Knights 
 of Pytliias and Foresters, with each of which he 
 is identifie<l. He was a member of the Pension 
 Board during theadministration of President Ar- 
 thur, but was set aside b3' Cleveland; he was re- 
 appointed by Harrison and is still serving. In 
 politics he is an ardent Republican. Notwithstanil- 
 ing the demand? upon his time, he manages to keep 
 abreast of his fellow-physicians, as he is devoted 
 to his profession and ambitious to succeed in the 
 highest sense. 
 
 Dr. Allen was married Se|)tember 20, 1870, to 
 Miss Elizabeth Finch, a native of Canada, who 
 shared his fortunes only a decade. She died in 
 1880 leaving one daughter, Mamie. After having 
 lived a widower until March 12, 1888, the Doctor 
 contracted a second matrimonial alliance, bringing 
 to his home .as his bride Mrs. Henrietta Wilson, 
 foriuerlv of England. 
 
 "''— f — ^"Z- 
 
 E&^ 
 
 TKI'IIKN ,1. WILBFR, a prcniirunt :m<\ 
 highly reputed resilient of Keene Town- 
 sliip, Ionia Ctuinty, is a native of St. Law- 
 rence County, N. Y,, where he was born 
 May 12, 182S. His parents, Sylvanus and Sabra 
 (Blodgctt) Wilbur, were both natives of X'crmont. 
 His fallu-r was born on an island in Lake Cham- 
 plain, six miles from Platlsbiirg. N. V., and when 
 a boy witnessed the battle at that point. Our 
 subject was reared to manhood in his native county 
 
796 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and lias been a life-long farmer. He received a 
 rudimentary education in tlie earl^- schools of St. 
 Lawrence County, N. Y., where his father had set- 
 tled when that was a wilderness. The school 
 building was of logs and had a fireplace in one end 
 and a door in the other. The educational advan- 
 tages were extremely scanty, but owing to a life- 
 long habit of reading he lias acquired a high degree 
 of intelligence. He remembers vividly the pioneer 
 scenes of his early life, especially an incident when 
 one day a wolf came up to his father's house, 
 seized a lamb and rushed with it into the woods. 
 
 Mr. Wilbur's first marriage occurred in 1850, 
 August 25, when he was united with Harriet Cross, 
 who bore him one daughter — Harriet, wife of An- 
 drew Town, of Orleans Township, this county. 
 In the spring of 1851 he emigrated with bis wife 
 to Ottawa County, Mich., and resided about ten 
 miles from Grand Rapids until the fall of 1854, 
 when be came to Ionia County. He finally lo- 
 cated on his present farm in Kcene Township in 
 1856. His wife died June 11, 1852. 
 
 The second Mrs. Wilbur was Harriet E., daugh- 
 ter of George W. D. and Hannah (Veile) Gern- 
 sey. This lady was born in Cayuga County, 
 N. Y., April 20, 1838. Her father was a native of 
 New York State. One of her great-grandfathers 
 was a Revolutionar}' soldier and her father's 
 mother was within four miles of the Wyoming 
 Massacre and could see the light of the burning 
 buildings as they were set on fire by the Indians, 
 and could hear the screams of some of the unfor- 
 tunates as they were massacred by the savages. 
 
 AVhen four years old Mrs. Wilbur emigrated 
 with her parents to Oakland County, Mich. After 
 residing there two years the family emigrated to 
 Ionia County and became early settlers in Easton 
 Township in 1846. Six children blessed the sec- 
 ond marriage of our subject, three of whom are 
 living — DeWitt; Ann, wife of Edwin Baldwin, and 
 George. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur settled in the woods and 
 had to out down trees to make a road to their 
 home and to clear a place for erecting a small log 
 shanty. In this humble home, measuring 14x26 
 feet, they lived for years, and later on built a 
 better house. He purchased eighty acres of land 
 
 and has improved the farm and made it what it is 
 to-day. The ancestors of our subject were Quakers. 
 Mrs. Wilbur is (connected with the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. Mr. Wilbur is a Prohibitionist 
 ill politics. This worthy coufile have always led 
 consistent and honorable lives, and it would not 
 be too much to say that their noble example is 
 well worthy of the imitation and emulation of 
 future generations. Their hospitality is known 
 throughout the county. Mr. Wilbur 1i,hs always 
 borne a spotless reputation for sterling integrity. 
 He is well informed on general topics and is 
 public spirited and liberal toward enterprises hav- 
 ing for their object the welfare of society. Long 
 after he and his devoted wife shall have been 
 called to '-that bourne from which no traveler re- 
 turns" will their memory be green in the hearts 
 of those who love and honor them. 
 
 j-ALLACE W. BEMIS, B. S. When one has 
 had the advantages of the common schools 
 and colleges and also the benefits resulting 
 from a portion of his life being spent in halls of 
 learning acquiring useful knowledge, we naturally 
 expect something more than ordinary from such a 
 person. Prof. AVallace Bemis does not disappoint 
 us in this expectation, for he is unusually prominent 
 as a literary man and has occupied high positions 
 in the schools of Ionia County. He is a native of 
 Hampden County, Mass., and was born February 20, 
 1852. He is the second son of M. D. L. and Eliza 
 Bemis, natives of New England, and when a mere 
 child accompanied his parents to Lorain County, 
 Ohio, and there lost his mother by death. The 
 familj- remained in that place until 1863 and after- 
 ward emigrated to Ionia County, Mich., where they 
 settled on section 22, Easton Township. There the 
 father still resides and is now (1891) in his sixt}'- 
 eighth year. 
 
 Prof. Wallace Bemis began his school days in 
 El3'ria, Ohio, attending school in that place from 
 his sixth to his eleventh year. He subsequently 
 attended a public school of Easton Township, and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 797 
 
 aflerwaid alteiuled for a time the Ionia High 
 School. In 1873 lie entered the Michigan State 
 Agricullinal College at Lansing anil taking the full 
 course was graduated with the degree of Bachelor 
 of Science. His coninienoement day occurred in 
 November, 187G. Previous to this he had taught 
 school some four months before he entered the 
 agricultural college. lie has been engaged in 
 teaching school for fifteoi winters, almost success- 
 ively, and has been pre-eminently successful in this 
 line of work. 
 
 Prof. Bemis was uniied in marriage October '.), 
 1878, with Luella Curtis. The bride was born in 
 liranch County, Mich., and is a daughter of Joseph 
 and Susian Curtis, who are residing in Easton 
 Township. The parents of Mrs. Beniis were early 
 settlers of this part of the country. By the mar- 
 riage of Mr. and Mrs. Bemis four cliildren have 
 been born: Lynn, March 8, 1883;Kdith L., Sep- 
 tember 28, 1884; Ernest, January 23, 1886, and 
 l{ay, November 19, 1888. 
 
 The subject of this sketch located in 1885 at his 
 present home. lie has chosen the Heiiublican party 
 for his own and is a progressive man in all his 
 ideas. He and Ins wife are identified with the 
 Christian Church of Ionia and are active and con- 
 sistent members. lie has served as Township Su- 
 perintendent of Schools one year each in the 
 townships of Ionia and Easton, is identified with 
 the Grange society, and is now serving as Treas- 
 urer of the Banner (I range, No. 640, in Orleans 
 Township. As an educator Prof. Beniis has been 
 especially successful in that most dillicult feat for 
 many teachers to accomplish — the grading of rural 
 district schools, and was among the first to experi- 
 ment in th'itline in Ionia County. 
 
 The writer finds Prof. Bemis to be a thoroughly 
 educated gentleman and well deserving the degree 
 of Bachelor of Science which his Alma Mater has 
 conferred upon him. As an instructor his increas- 
 ing and unwearied labor is the key to his gn-at 
 success. Courteous to a marked degree he com- 
 mands the confidence of all his acquaintances. He 
 and his family reside near Stanton Junction in 
 l-°.aston Township where during a portion of the 
 year he is successfully engaged in conducting a 
 fruit farm, for the cultivation of which his term of 
 
 school spent in the agricultural college has fitted 
 him. Prof. Bemis is a brother of the present able 
 Superintendent of Public Instruction of Ionia 
 County. 
 
 f^lLJ!. of the productive farms of Ionia Countv. 
 I, , * 
 i> the tract consisting of one hundred and 
 
 seventy-five acres on section 4, Otisco 
 Township. Mr. Shaw was born in Washtenaw 
 County, to which his father removed from the 
 Empire State about 1830. That gentleman, John 
 Shaw, was a native of England and had emigrated 
 to New York when quite young. He was engaged 
 in farming in that State and after coming to Mich- 
 igan ho continued the same occupation. In 1838 
 became to Ionia County and purchased three hun- 
 dred licres of Government land, on a partof which 
 his son now lives. This was his (inal home and 
 here he died in 1880. He had married in Washte- 
 naw County Miss Jane Belding, daughter of Aslier 
 Melding, who was a native of Mass-icluisetts. The 
 
 union was blest by the birth of four children 
 
 William and Sylvia, twins, and two sons who were 
 cJirisiened by the same name, the first having died 
 in infancy. William is living in Minnesota. Mr. 
 Jt)lin Shaw was for many years a Deacon in the 
 Maptist Church. His father, for whom he was named 
 si)ent the last years of his life in Washtenaw 
 County, this State. 
 
 Asher Shaw remiiined with his parents uiilil he 
 was of age and then took up the occupation of 
 farming for himself on a part of the homestead. 
 In 1887 he left the farm and went to Missouri 
 where he spent a year, and then returning to this 
 State he made his home in Lansing until January, 
 I81i0. At that time he retmned to his farm and is 
 again giving his attention to its management and 
 cultivation. He has an estate that is sufficiently 
 priiductive to afford him all the con)forts of life 
 and allow him to make provision for his future 
 needs should he live to old age. 
 
 The date of the marriage of Ashcr C. Sh.iw and 
 Elizabeth AVright was May .'5. isi;:!. The bride 
 
798 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was the third child of Abner and Ruth (Fallman) 
 Wright, the others being Charles C, John A., 
 George A., Geary P. and Ruth A. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Wright were born in New York, whence they came 
 to this State in 1843. Mr. Wright is still living 
 but his wife died in 1861. He is a farmer and 
 cooper, and is well known in Otisco Township, 
 which has been his home so many "years. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Siiaw are the parents of one son, Alvin W., 
 who was born March 5, 1864. 
 
 Mr. Shaw has a social nature, as is shown in iiis 
 affiliation with some of the well known orders. 
 Ife is a Master Mason, belonging to Belding Lodge, 
 No. 355, and is identified with Belding Lodge, No. 
 32, A. O. U. W. His political affiliation is with the 
 Democrats and he is quite sure to be seen depositing 
 a straight ticket when the ballot box is open. 
 
 i EN J AM IN IIARTKR. One by one the 
 early settlers of Ionia County are passing 
 f5J))||j away, leaving to posterity the lesson of 
 their sturdy manliness, their courageous 
 pursuit of life's duties, and their hopefulness under 
 trying circumstances. Among those who were 
 long and favorably known in and near tlie county 
 seat, and indeed over a wide circuit of territorj- 
 hereabouts, may be numbered the gentleman with 
 whose cognomen we introduce these paragraphs. 
 As farmer and merchant he was equally energetic, 
 straightforward and progressive in his ideas, and all 
 his dealings were honest and business-like. The 
 guerdon of financial prosperity was won by the 
 exercise of these qualities combined with frugality 
 and tact in investing liis means, and to his famil\- he 
 left a good property, including a beautiful home in 
 which his widow still resides. 
 
 The Harters were originally from Germany, and 
 the grandfather of our subject was one of eight 
 brothers who settled in Herkimer County, N. Y. 
 There Michael Harler, father of Benjamin, was 
 born and reared, and there lie married Abigail 
 Harter. To them came tiiivleen children, of whom 
 Benjamin was the third. The date of his birth was 
 April 18, 1813, and amid the usual surroundings 
 
 of farm life he grew toward manhood, attending 
 the common school, even at tiiattime quite good in 
 Herkimer Count}', and learning every particular of 
 his father's vocation. He aided in the farm work 
 until he was fifteen years old, when he became 
 clerk in a grocery store at Utica a few months. 
 He was employed in a dry-goods store at Little 
 Falls for several years, having the privilege of at- 
 tending school during the winter montlis. His 
 wages were given to his father until he was of age, 
 when the accumulation from three years of his 
 labors enabled him to come to Jlichigan. 
 
 The removal of Mr. Harter to this State took 
 place in 1839. and four miles from Ionia he bought 
 one hundred and sixty acres of land, in the culti- 
 vation of which he laid the foundation of a com- 
 petency. The country was sparsely settled when 
 he located here and much of the territory was an 
 unbroken wilderness, still the haunt of timorous 
 animals and savage beasts, but no discouraging 
 appearances were able to undermine the determina- 
 tion of Mr. Harter to win fortune's favors. He 
 saw in the lands about him the elements of agri- 
 cultural growth, and was assured in his own mind 
 that tiie climate and other physical advantages of 
 the region would in lime make it the home of a 
 prosperous people; and he lived to see his prophecy 
 fulfilled and wealth and high civilization abounding 
 in the once wild waste. 
 
 Mr. Harter remained on his farm until 1845, 
 when he became clerk for James M. Kidd, a rela- 
 tion he sustained two years, after which he estab- 
 lished himself in the di-y-goods business. For 
 twenty years he carried on a trade that grew to 
 such proportions as to demand many hands to 
 carry it on and an active brain during long hours 
 of thought to manage its details and plan for its 
 furtherance. Having won a competence Mr. Harter 
 retired from the arduous pursuit in which he was 
 engaged and gave his attention solely to looking 
 after his investments, his lands and stocks, and the 
 duties of a Director in the First National Bank of 
 Ionia. He built a fine residence, and furnished it 
 in a manner befitting his abundant means and the 
 tastes of the occupants, and under its roof be and 
 his family enjoyed the society of their numerous 
 friends and the recreations open to people of wealth. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 799 
 
 In politics Mr. Harter was a staiu-li Republican ; 
 in disposition lie was socinl and frank, and in char- 
 acter above reproach. lie was a incrabcr of tiie 
 Ciuirch of Christ, a faithful and earnest worker 
 and a liberal giver to further the cause of Chris- 
 tianity, and for a number of years he was a Deacon. 
 His death occurred November 11, 1890. 
 
 "Tossed no more on life's rough billow, 
 lie has crossed the cliillini;; stream, 
 
 He has safely passed death's Jordan, 
 For a land of living green. 
 
 ''Tossed no more on life's roujjh billow, 
 lie has found his clay-cold bed, 
 
 lie from it shall rise immortal. 
 As his gloriou.s Leader did. 
 
 "Tossed no more on life's rough billow, 
 Sorrows, pains and anguish past. 
 
 Oh, the pain, the bliss of dying. 
 Finding rest in heaven at last." 
 
 The companion of Mr. Harter in bis toils and 
 pleasures, the one in whom be found bis chief 
 sympathizer and most encouraging counselor, was 
 known in former years as Miss Sarah Yates, and 
 was a native of Skaneateles, N. Y. She is a daugh- 
 ter of Samuel and Hannah (Lockwood) Y.ites, ami 
 WHS united in marriage to Mr. Harter August i), 
 1841. The union was blessed by the birth of four 
 children but two only are now living — Mrs. L. U. 
 Avery, of Ionia, and Mrs. U. 15. Rogers, of Grand 
 Rapids. Mrs. H.-irter is a fervent Christian who 
 delights in doing good and in dispensing hospital- 
 itj-, and is a willing worker in all charitable csuscs. 
 She is the fortunate possessor of excellent tastes 
 and sound judgment, and is a delightful com- 
 panion, as numerous friends are ready to testify. 
 
 '^g^AHVEY IIARTKR. Among the well rc- 
 !)■ membered citizens of Ionia County the 
 
 gentleman above-named deserves mention. 
 
 He came hither in 1819 and for several 
 years was engaged In the sale of merchandise in 
 the county seat and he was one of the organizers 
 of the First National Bank there. He was a 
 
 heavy stockholder in that institution and for twelve 
 j'cars was its Assistant Cashier. After giving up 
 the dry-goods business he devoted much time to 
 the details of his extensive farming operations, 
 having invested his previous gains chiefly in farm 
 lands and having a landed estate of six hundred 
 acres. Olficial station had no charms for him, 
 although he was thought by his fellow-citizens to 
 be peculiarly adai)tcd to serve them. His business 
 absorbed his time and his family- life made his chief 
 enjoyment. 
 
 Mr. Harter was the seventh in a family of thir- 
 teen children born to Michael and Abigail Harter. 
 His parents were old settlers in the Mohawk Val- 
 ley, and in fact the Ilarters located there during 
 the Revolution. The natal day of Mr. Harter was 
 November 22, 1821, and his birthplace Herkimer 
 County. He worked upon the old homestead and 
 attended school until he was sixteen years old, and 
 upon completing his .studies entered at once upon 
 a business career as' clerk in a store at Little Falls. 
 After three years spent in that cai)acity he accepted 
 the stewardship of a packet plying on the canal be- 
 tween Schenectady ,Utica and Rochester. After two 
 years as Steward he became Captain, a position he 
 held five years. During the winter months, when 
 navigation was closed he was employed as a clerk 
 or telegraph operator. 
 
 Through his brother Benjamin, who had made 
 some investments in this State for him, Mr. Har- 
 ter was led to come hither and immediately after 
 his arrival in Ionia the firm of Harter Bros., opened 
 a store on Main street. They carried it on success- 
 fully seven years and at the same time were engaged 
 in the manufacture of saleratus and potash, which 
 found a ready market in Chicago. As a business 
 man our subject was energetic and keen and in 
 making investments he showed prudence and fore- 
 thought. When called hence he left a fine property, 
 and the widow still occupies the delightful old 
 homestead, surrounded by every comfort heart can 
 wish. She bore the maiden name of Elizabeth M. 
 Babcock and entered upon the duties of married 
 life October 29, 1850. 
 
 The father of Mrs. Harter was William Babcock, 
 who came to Ionia Count}- in 183G,and with Philo 
 T. Bates, located two thousand acres of land two 
 
800 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and a half miles west of Ionia. The next year he 
 brought his faniil}' and they were nine days in 
 making the distance from Detroit to Ionia. Mrs. 
 Hartcr's reminiscences of this trip are very inter- 
 esting. One Sunday they had to be pulled through 
 a swamp. The first Indians the family saw were 
 after they had crossed this swamp, and an older 
 sister came near fainting at the sight as the sav- 
 ages were skinning a deer, which the girls thought 
 to be a person. The sons in the Babcook family 
 drove through Canada bringing the stock with 
 them. George, the eldest, was a prominent lawyer 
 in Buffalo, M. Y., and gained his education by per- 
 sonal effort, studying while caring for stock and 
 attending to other farm duties. This son did not 
 come to Miciiigan with the family, but was one of 
 five who remained in the East. 
 
 The first winter in Michigan was a hard one, by 
 reason of sickness and the fact that all their sup- 
 plies except those coming in the one wagon were 
 frozen in at Grand Haven. Tbeir oxen suffered 
 for lack of proper shelter and sufficient food, and 
 the six cows died. Mr. Babcock, who was a man 
 of great activity and perseverance, lived to see the 
 country prosperous, giving to each of his sons a 
 farm and leaving a handsome property. He died 
 December 7, 1871, at the age of eighty-nine years. 
 His wife, formerly .Tulia Reed, died in April, 1815. 
 Among the old settlers she is well remembered, and 
 gratefully too, for her care of the sick. The first 
 Fourth of July celebration in Ionia County was held 
 on the Babcock farm soon after the arrival of the 
 family, in 1837. 
 
 The children of Mr. and Mrs. Babcock num- 
 bered fifteen but ten only came to Michigan. One 
 of these, a married daughter, located in Washte- 
 naw Count}'. Five of tlie family are still living, 
 Dolly, widow of G. C. Overhiser, living in 
 Greenville; Herman, whose home is near Petoskey ; 
 Olivia, widow of Edward O. Clark, of Lansing; 
 Marcus, who resides in Dakota; and Mrs. Ilarter. 
 The last named bore her husband eight children, of 
 whom the deceased are: Fanny, Carrie, Lula and 
 Benjamin. The living are William, Frank, .Julia and 
 Fred. William is Cashier of the First National 
 Bank in Ionia; having been employed in the bank 
 since 1873. Frank is a grocery dealer and Fred is 
 
 living in Omaha, Neb.; Julia, is the wife of C. H. 
 Gillett, of Ionia. The death of Mr. Harvey Bar- 
 ter occurred October 20, 1890. Both Mr. and 
 Mrs. Ilarter belonged to the Presbyterian Church. 
 In politics he was a Republican. 
 
 Frank H. Harter, second child of Harvey and 
 Elizabeth Harter, was born in Ionia, November 29, 
 1 852. He was graduated from the High School of 
 the town, after which he began clerking for Hall 
 Bros., and followed this by becoming an employe 
 of Cooper & Thayer, dry goods dealers. In 1880 
 he entered into the grocery business for himself, 
 the firm being Harter Bros. After a time Fred M. 
 removed to Omaha, leaving W. B. and Frank to 
 carr}' on the business. The firm became Harter 
 & Co., on New Year's day, 1882. Mr. Harter belongs 
 to the Knights of the Maccabees, is a Republican 
 in politics, and a Presbyterian in religion. He was 
 married January 25, 1882, to Alice, daughter of 
 Dr. Hammond. 
 
 eAPT. ROBERT W. HOY was in his youth 
 one of those courageous boys who being de- 
 prived of parental care undertook the sup- 
 port and protection of liie family at an age when 
 the}- should liave been attending school. This resi- 
 dent of Buslinell Township, Montcalm County, 
 Mich., was born at Canton, Stark Couuty, Oiiio, 
 February 2G, 1824. He was the youngest son of 
 Robert and Alice (Tarlton) Hoy, both former resi- 
 dents of Hagerstovvn, Md.. His father was both a 
 teacher and an agriculturist and our subject's early 
 life was spent on a farm. His early advantages 
 for education were good and had his father lived 
 he would have pursued his stndies in the higher 
 grades. 
 
 When Robert was five years old the family 
 removed from Stark County, Ohio, to Richland 
 County and settled on a farm of one hundred and 
 sixty acres in Plymouth Township, and in 1834, 
 when Robert was only ten years old his father died 
 leaving him the care of the farm together with the 
 care and support of an aged mother and two sis. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 801 
 
 tcrs. He contiimed on the farm until 1852, but in 
 the meantime married Elizabeth Wilson, daughter 
 of Richard and Elizabeth Wilson, of Plj-mouth, 
 Richland Counlj', Ohio, January' 30, 1844. In 
 1852 Mr. Hoy disposed of the old farm and be- 
 came a resident of Lisbon, Noble County, Ind., 
 where for three years he engaged in mercantile pur- 
 suits and also filled the position of Justice of the 
 Peace and Postmaster. 
 
 In consequence of failing health and the death of 
 his wife which occurred on May 4, 1857, he disposed 
 of his mercantile interests and devoted his time to 
 odicial business and to the care of his family, which 
 consisted of Elizabeth A., born December 29, 1845; 
 George W., October 29, 1847; John Wilson, Jan- 
 uary 29, 1850; Robert F. P., January 2, 1853; 
 Eliza Jane, February 5, 1855 and AValler L. F., 
 April 21, 1857. 
 
 On the 22d of April, 1858, Mr. Hoy again en- 
 tered the relations of marriage with Jane R. Wil- 
 son, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Wilson, of 
 Plymouth, Ohio, and to them was born one daugh- 
 ter, Emma Electa, February 2, 1859. Mr. Hoy 
 was again called on to mourn the loss of his com- 
 panion, she dying at Lisbon, Ind., September G, 
 18G(). Mr. Hoy, after making suitable arrange- 
 ments for the care of his family of little children, 
 which he kept together until early in the war, felt 
 calle<l upon to respond to the call in defense of the 
 
 and from there went to Beaufort, Newbern and 
 Goldsborough, N. C, where they met Gen. Sher- 
 man. Previous to reaching Goldsborough and 
 while at Kingston, N. C, the One Hundred and 
 Twenty-Nintii participated in their last fight. Gen. 
 Lee soon aftcrv/ard surrendered his army and the 
 One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth, with other regi- 
 ments, was ordered to Charlotte, N. C, for duty, 
 and there remained until August 29, 1865, when 
 they were mustered out. 
 
 At the close of the war the subject of this sketch 
 returned to Lisbon, Ind., and on the 26th of Oc- 
 tober, 1865, was again united in marriage with 
 Mary L. Grace, daughter of Bennett and Mary 
 Grace, of Mill brook, Mercer County, Pa., and 
 again resumed house keeping and the care of his 
 children. In November, 186G, Mr. Hoy disposed 
 of his property and moved to Wood Corners, Ionia 
 County, Mich., and there remained until July 13, 
 1867, when he purchased the home where he now 
 resides, in Hushnell, Montcalm County, Mich. But 
 fate decreed that his sorrow and alHictions were not 
 to end for on the Gth of September, 1867, he was 
 called to mourn the loss of liis third companion, 
 but by the assistance of his eldest daughter, Eliza- 
 beth, he was enal)led to continue in the care and 
 society of his children. Feeling the necessity of 
 more competent assistance than he was able to de- 
 vole to the care of his children lie was again mar- 
 
 old flag. He organized a company and was chosen as I ried to Mrs. Sarah A. Lang, daughter of Bennett 
 
 its Captain which position he held until the close of 
 the war, refusing |)romotion, preferring to remain 
 with his men that he had enlisted and associated 
 with, many of them companions and neighbors in 
 his younger days. His company was lettered Com- 
 ])any I, One hundred and Twenty-Ninth Indiana 
 Infantry', and was attached to the Twent3--Tbird 
 Army Corps. During their service they partici- 
 pated in the battles of Resaca, then Kenesaw Moun- 
 tain, Decatur, Ga., Columbia, Tenn., Atlanta, Ga., 
 Lovejoy Station, Ga., Columbia. Tenn., Novem- 
 ber 5, Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864 and 
 Nashville, Tenn., December 15-16, 1864. After 
 Hood's defeat at Nashville, the Twenty-Third and 
 a part of the Fourth Army Corps under Gen. 
 Thomas were transferred to Washington, D. C, and 
 from there went to Ft. Fisher and Ft. Anderson, 
 
 and Mary Grace of INIillbrook, Pa. This union 
 added four more daughters to Mr. Hoy's family, 
 
 the children of his wife bj' a former marriage 
 
 Gertrude E., Emily M. Mary A., and Sarah A. 
 Lang. 
 
 In 18G9 Mr. Hoy was elected Justice of the 
 Peace which ofllce he has held continuously to the 
 present time, and also the office of Sujiervisor of his 
 township during his residence there of seventeen 
 years. While residing in Ohio he was in the 
 Sheriff's office four years, and in 1874 he took an ac- 
 tive part in the organization of the Grange and was 
 Secretary in the Bushnell Grange for ten years. In 
 politics Mr. Hoy is a Democrat, but although his 
 township is strongly Hepublican, giving from tifiv 
 to seventy-five Republican majority, yet lliex' have 
 never succeeded in defeating him for any office. Mr, 
 
802 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Hoy's children are all living, excepting George 
 W., who died October 29, 1847, and are all mar- 
 ried and happily settled around him, together with 
 tlie children of his present wife by her former iiiis- 
 band. 
 
 WrILLlAM .STEELE. P^roni the New Eng- 
 land States many men have conio to swell 
 the population of Ionia County, and to 
 their sturdy habits and enterprising spirit is due to 
 a considerable extent her present condition and 
 standing among the counties of the State. One 
 of the New England farmers who is carrying on 
 his work in Lyons Township, is Mr. Steele, whose 
 beautiful farm consists of one hundred and twenty, 
 five acres on section 21. When he took possession 
 of the place there was but forty acres broken and 
 he has made the improvements which it now bears. 
 Everything about the estate stamps it as the home 
 of a man of industrious habits, good judgment and 
 orderl}' ways, and every passing stranger looks upon 
 it with admiration. Tiie farm house is a two-story 
 dwelling of good architectural design in a setting 
 of trees and fertile fields that add to its beauty. 
 
 Mr. Steele was born in the Green Mountain State 
 September 26, 1826, and is the eighth child born to 
 Osgood and Eunice (Nelson) Steele. Both parents 
 were born in the Green Mountain State and there 
 their wedded life began. After some years Mr. 
 Steele laid aside the implements of his trade — that 
 of a stonemason, and bought a farm in Orleans 
 County, N. Y., upon which he lived until 1841. 
 He then came to this Stale, established his home in 
 Jackson County and spent the rest of his years on 
 a farm there. He and his wife had twelve children 
 — four daughters and eight sons. 
 
 Our subject was a child four years old when he 
 accompanied his parents to New York, in which 
 State he grew to manhood. Prior to his fifteenth 
 year lie pursued the usual course of study, alter- 
 nating his attendance at school with various home 
 duties suited to his years and strength. He then 
 tdok up the battle of life for himself and until he 
 was twenty-four years old, he worked by the month 
 as a farm hand. He then learned the mason's trade, 
 
 at which be was eraploj-ed in New York until 1863, 
 when he came West and located where he now 
 lives. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Steele and Miss Poll}' 
 Woods was solemnized at the bride's home in 
 Orleans County, N. Y., May 28, 1848. She was 
 born in that county', June 30, 1828, and was the 
 third of the eight children making up the family 
 of Jeptha and Eliza (Beckman) Woods. Her fa- 
 ther was born in New York and lier mother in 
 Vermont. The former breathed his last in his 
 native State, but the latter departed this life at 
 Muir, this State. Mr. and Mrs. Steele have had 
 two sons — William Fred, who died in 1884, and 
 Frank W., who married Elva Lorless, a native of 
 Canada, and lives at homo with his parents. 
 
 Although neither had the opportunity for a 
 liberal education in youth, Mr. and Mrs. Steele 
 take an interest in that which is improving to the 
 mind and are well versed in topics of general 
 interest. They believe in using the means which 
 the}' have, for reasonable pleasures and benefits, 
 and they have made several trips to California, 
 one in December, 1880, when they visited San 
 Francisco, Sacramento and other well-known cities. 
 They have many pleasant recollections of their 
 journeys and of the acquaintances they made, and 
 their memories are filled with pictures of beautiful 
 scener}'. Mr. Steele was at one time a Democrat, 
 but now votes for the best man regardless of 
 political affiliation. 
 
 S^^ORMAN J. DOLl'lI, manager of the shin- 
 I ]// §'^ niills nt Gladwin, Mich., was born at 
 jlsM) Cherry Valley, Ohio, November 26, 1865. 
 He is a son of L. H. and Sarah (Akins) Dolph, and 
 came with them when three years old to Montcalm 
 Count}'. Here he attended the Pierson school.s, 
 and later pursued liis studies in the Cedar Lake 
 and Stanton High Schools. He had to suspend his 
 studies on account of ill-health, and as he had from 
 a child displayed a natural love for mechanics he 
 soon entered into lumber manufacturing. He also 
 took charge of his father's store at Dolph's Mills. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 803 
 
 In 1886 this young man, being then only 
 twenty-one years ohl, obtained of iiis father the 
 use for a yeart)f his mills, and in that one year he 
 niaile ^2,000. He then entered into a partnership 
 with Hyde Bros. He bought one of his father's 
 mills and removed it to Gladwin. Here he bought 
 a tract of land and engaged in the manufacture of 
 shingles and lumber under the firm name of X. J. 
 Dolph ife Co. He had the mill in nice running 
 order and three mouths later sold his share for 
 .i<5,0()0 to F. Js'eff, of MclJride. He now became 
 the manager of the establishment, which place he 
 still holds at a salary of $1,200. He has been a 
 successful dealer in pine lan<ls and real estate, and 
 is a member of a syndicate that owns some twenty- 
 four hundred acres of pine land north of Uuhitli, 
 Minn. He intends moving there this spring to 
 take charge of the manufacture of lumber and 
 shingles. 
 
 In August, 1888, the subject of this brief sketch 
 was married at McHride to Luelia Neff, daughter 
 of Louis and Lena Neff, of McBride. She is a 
 native of Ionia County. Mr. Dolph has been 
 Township Treasurer of Gladwin for two terms. 
 He is connected with the Independent Order of 
 Odd Fellows at Gladwin, .and lilie all his family is 
 a stanch Republican. 
 
 --f4l 
 
 li^^HOMAS J. BANDFIELl). Untiring energy 
 fff^^ and great executive ability must necessarily 
 ^<^' be the endowments of one who would suc- 
 cessfully manage a large business, and we find these 
 are the qualifications of Mr. Bandfield,wlio is a man- 
 ufacturer residing in Forllaiid, Ionia County. Suc- 
 cess seems to mark his every effort and from the gulf 
 to the seas, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, his wares 
 may be found. His samples ma^- be seen at No. 
 .■i02-30l Wabash Avenue, and he also has men in 
 the field representing him. He makes a specialty 
 of the manufacture of library and extension tables, 
 which are sent in car-load lots all over the United 
 StAtes. 
 
 Mr. Bandfield is of English descent, and traces 
 
 his ancestry back to substantial and aristocratic 
 families. He was born in Somerset, England, No- 
 vember ao, 184;'), and is the son of Charles and 
 Jane (IJugg) Bandlield, natives of England. Charles 
 Bandfield was a grocer in the town of Chard, Eng- 
 land. He followed this business a number of years, 
 and had been a steward of the I'itt estate. (The 
 history of this family is traceable to the time of 
 William the Conqueror.) To the i)arents of our 
 subject were born several children, who were named 
 as follows: Elizabeth E., living in England ; Thomas 
 J., our subject; Edith E., who died at the age of 
 thirt3-three years at Chard, England; and John, 
 the last tidings from whom were from Behrings 
 Sea. The last named son was emiiloyed by the 
 Western Fur Compan\' of San Francisco, who 
 wrote about ten years ago to his parents that he 
 had returned in safety to that city. The letter 
 spoke highly of his services and said that they 
 wishetl to employ him continuously. 
 
 Thomas J. Bandlield was reared to his present 
 trade, that of a cabinet-maker, and was apprenticed 
 at the age of fourteen 3'ears to William Warren for 
 seven years. I'pon attaining his majority he went 
 to London where he followed his trade until May, 
 1870, when he came to America, locating in Port- 
 land, Mich. A half-brother, George Bandfield had 
 preceded him thither, and located, inducing his 
 brother to stop for a visit. The destination of 
 our subject was Oregon. He, however, stopped 
 here for a time and went to work for D. M. New- 
 land. 
 
 At this time overtures were made to him to lo- 
 cate in Grand Hapids, but he was on the other 
 hafid persuatled by his relative to open a stock of 
 goods in Portland. Six months afterwards he was 
 burned out, losing about half of his possessions. 
 With a wonderful fund of perseverance, not being 
 discouraged, be bought a lot and erected a build- 
 ing, where he has since continued to transact 
 business. 
 
 In 1887 oui- subject bought the old wt)olen mill 
 
 pro|)erty and converted it into a furniture factor3s 
 
 where he makes a specialty' of the manufacturing 
 
 I of library and extension tables. He made between 
 
 I three thousand five hundred and four thousand 
 
 I tables during 1890, and his trade is growing ex- 
 
804 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tensivel}', as his goods advertise tliemselves as 
 rapidly as lliey are exiiibited. His trade is among 
 tlie best liouscs in tlie country; this has been alto- 
 getiier owing to liis own perseverance and intimate 
 linowledge of the business in which he is engaged. 
 His designs are elegant and original. 
 
 Mr. T. J. Bandfield married Annis While, .Sep- 
 tember 23, 1873, at Albion, Mich. She is a 
 daughter of Reuben White, of Jackson, Mich. 
 Four children: Edna J., Harrold Gillespie, Arthur 
 W. and Edith L., have been born and all are living 
 at home. Our subject performs earnestly what- 
 ever comes before him and is much interested in 
 any society to which he may belong. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Free and Accepted Masons, and takes 
 an active interest in tlie Ancient Order of United 
 Workmen. He is a conscientious Christian and a 
 member of the Episcopal Church, and in politics 
 he is a Republican. Being energetic and devoted 
 to his business he is successful, and his is one of 
 the leading industries of Portland. He was the 
 prime mover in organizing the Portland Electric 
 Light and Power Company, of which he is tlie 
 President. 
 
 f^^ ENRY HOLLAND, a well-to-do farmer of 
 Ferris Township, Montcalm County, and 
 his good wife are both from Merrie England, 
 which was their ancestral home. He has a 
 beautiful home upon his farm of one hundred acres 
 situated on section 12, and feels that in this new 
 country he has met with success which he never 
 could have found across the sea. Both his father 
 and mother were natives of Kent County, England, 
 where our subject was also born and lived until he 
 was six years of age. AVhen his mother's father 
 first came to America he located on a farm in 
 Geauga County, Ohio. From there the mother 
 brought the family to Walworth Count}', Wis., 
 where she married a second time and fro-ii which 
 home she was called to the other world. The 
 ten children of whom our subject was one of the 
 youngest all grew up to manhood and womanhood. 
 This boy was born October 21, 1839. The family 
 galled from Soutbliampton, England in a sailing 
 
 vessel, upon which they were over six weeks on 
 the ocean. They landed in Quebec and came right 
 on to Ohio, where the children were brought upon 
 the farm, getting their education in log school- 
 houses and writing their lessons upon slab desks. 
 
 In 1854 this youth went to Fond du Lac County, 
 Wis. and worked out on a farm and in the woods, 
 until 1857, when he returned to Ohio for the girl 
 whom he loved. He was married in Chardon, 
 .September 10, 1858, to an English girl, Cornelia 
 Dines, whose father also belonged to one of the 
 families of Kent County, t^ngland, and who came 
 to New York State in the early days, engaging in 
 work and earning money to send for his wife and 
 child. His wife bore the maiden name of Amy 
 Way field; she died April 23, 1891, in Chagrin 
 Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Dines were the parents of seven 
 children, their daughter Mrs. Holland being born 
 in Fulton, Oswego County, N. Y., January 23, 1840. 
 Her early life was passed, and her education ob- 
 tained mostly In Ohio. 
 
 IMr. Holland bought a small farm in 1861, but 
 he sold it and came to Michigan, where he bought 
 forty acres. He came with only $3 in his pocket. 
 Locating a spot for the home, he built a log shake, 
 and put in a puncheon floor, an<l proceeded to clear 
 the farm. He had to go to lunia and Muir to mar- 
 ket; either of those towns being a three days' 
 trip with an ox-team. He has been very successful 
 in farming and has from time to time added to his 
 acreage until he now has one hundred aei'es, all im- 
 proved, although he has given forty acres to his 
 son. In 1880 he had a great misfortune in the loss 
 b}' fire of his barn and granary, at a sacrifice of 
 $1,500. He immediately rebuilt, erecting at the 
 same time also a new residence. His windmill, 
 orchards, good fences and substantial barns, bis 
 dairy and bees all attest a prosperous and well- 
 appointed farm. He raises large amounts of grain 
 and hay, keeps from ten to fifteen cows, mostly of 
 Jersey grade, and his hogs are of the McGee breed. 
 His three sons reside in this township — William 
 and John having farms of their own, which their 
 father assisted them in gaining, and Morris still 
 remaining at home with his father. They brought 
 u[> a girl who has been to them as a daughter — 
 Cora Loveland, now Mrs. Vance, who resides near 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 805 
 
 them. For j-ears Mr. Holland has been a School 
 Director and also Drainage Commissioner. He 
 belongs to the Patrons of liiilustry, is an ardent 
 Republican and has been so almost from the organ- 
 ization of that party. His lirst vole was cast for 
 Abraham Lincoln. He li.as often been a delegate 
 to county conventions. 
 
 — - > ■ >^iN< - ^ — — 
 
 V i ^r - T RANK L. MOON, one of the younger far- 
 |r±i^ mers of Olisco Township, Ionia Count}', 
 (1^ was born on section 17, where be has since 
 
 resided, the date of that event being March 12, 
 1850. He is a son of .lames Moon, who was born 
 in New York and came thence to Jackson County, 
 this State, wiien a lad some fourteen years old. 
 Some years later he came to Ionia County where 
 he has continued to make his home. In Lapeer 
 County, in 1847, he married Lydia M. Russell, 
 daughter of Josiah and Betsey (Hastings) Russell, 
 who wore natives of the Empire State. Their chil- 
 dren are Adclbert, who lives in Los Angeles, Cal.; 
 D.iyton T., who is farming in North Dakota; Alton 
 .1., who lives on the farm with bis father; and 
 Frank L., whose further history is given below. 
 
 The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
 James and Susanab Moon, botli of whom were born 
 in the Empire State. In 1837 the}' came to Ionia 
 County and located on State land in Otisco Town- 
 ship, living on their eighty-acre farm duriirg the 
 balance of their lives. Mr. Moon died in 1869 and 
 his widow in 1871. 
 
 The early years of Frank Moon were spent in 
 the manner customary to farniers' son.s, in an alter- 
 ation of study, play and work, and when grown to 
 manhood he ])ossesse<l a fund of practical knowl- 
 edge backed by habits of industry and thrift. His 
 early training and his taste led him to follow in bis 
 father's footsteps as a tiller of tiie soil, and he is 
 now operating eighty acres of land which be pur- 
 chased in 1882. His property is productive, and 
 has been furnished with suitable buiblings and the 
 minor improvements belonging to a well-regulated 
 home. 
 
 Mr. Moon won for his wife Miss Sarah L. Rich- 
 
 mond, whose parents, James C. and .Susan L. ( Lucas) 
 Richmond, came to Michigan in an early day and 
 took up land in Keene Townsiiip, Ionia County. 
 They reared a family of nine children, namely: 
 Orson D., Fred J., Sarah L., Frank P., Abiier L., 
 Melvin E., Emerson B., Robert I), and Mary E. 
 The oldest daughter was married to Mr. Moon 
 April 17, 1872. To her have been born two chil- 
 dren, a son who died in very early infancy, and 
 Circle J., who lived to be but eight months old. 
 
 The office of Supervisor of Otisco Township is 
 held by Mr. Moon, who is doing good work in his 
 official capacity. He is a believer in and a sup- 
 porter of the principles of the Republican party. 
 He is a Master Mason and is also a member of 
 Grattan Lodge, No. 89, F. & A. M., in which he 
 has been Senior Warden. 
 
 ^^EORGE C. YOUNGMAN, Supervisor of 
 i| (=t Caton Township, Montcalm Count}', and a 
 ^^^ farmer on section 29, was born on the farm 
 where he now resides, June 8, 185G, the first white 
 child to 1)C born in this township. He is a son of 
 Samuel P. and Sarah J. (Dowse) Youngman. For 
 a sketch of their lives see the biography of their 
 other son Samuel J. Our subject was the youngest 
 child of the family. He now owns a farm of two 
 hundred and forty acres all in a high stiite of cid- 
 tivation, and be has acquired bis property by hard 
 work and unaideil effort. He has a good frame 
 house and the best of improvements upon bis farm, 
 including well-built and commodious barns. He 
 has followed farming all his life, although with his 
 brother somewhat engaged in the lumbering anil 
 logging business. He has held various township 
 and school otflccs and has been Supervisor for the 
 last two years. He is a Mason, having taken the 
 third degree. 
 
 Mr. Youngman is a believer in Christianity .•nnl 
 a regular attendant upon the Methodist Episco[)al 
 Church, to which he freely gives of bis means, 
 although he is not a member. His marriage, Octo- 
 ber 21, 1874, united him with Julia H. Kilborn, of 
 Cato. She was born in Plattsville, Canada, June 
 
806 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 21, 1858, and is a daughter of David and Lavinia 
 (Bowers') Kilborn, natives of Canada now residing 
 in Cato. For Mis. Youngman's ancestry tlie reader 
 may consult tlie sl^etch of her father, Mr. Kilborn, 
 which appears in tliis volume. Mr. an<l Mrs. 
 Youngman are the parents of four children — Frank- 
 lin L., Sarah L., Bennie and Bessie. The third 
 child in order of liirth died in infancy. 
 
 _^ **o>@^;;>^^-o*o- -,— . 
 
 <l|7 EVl F. BURDICK. In the death of the 
 I (^ late Mr. Burdick, Ionia County lost a worthy 
 jll—v^ citizen, and the agricultural community an 
 enterprising member. During his residence in the 
 county he reclaimed a large tract of land from an 
 almost primitive condition, brought it under thor- 
 ough cultivation, and supplied it with such im- 
 provements that it is now one of the most comfort- 
 able homes in Ionia Township. It consists of one 
 hundred and ninety -seven acres on section 1, where 
 one hundred and sixty acres are under the plow. 
 The present residence of the widow is a substantial 
 brick dwelling built by Mr. Burdick about 1880, 
 and costing $3,000. It is the third house that has 
 stood upon the place and the second that was built 
 by our subject. Not only is the residence well de- 
 signed for the comfort of its inmates, but it is fur- 
 nished in good taste, and is surrounded by every 
 needful farm building, and the orchards, gardens 
 and lawn that make a proper background for a 
 farmhouse. 
 
 Mr. Burdick was a son of Robison and Esther 
 (Fox) Burdick, natives of New York, and occu- 
 l)anls of a small farm in Livingston County, His 
 birthplace was Seneca County, and his natal day 
 March 22, 1814. He was one in a family of four- 
 teen children, six of whom survive. His education 
 was but limited, but au abundant supply of good 
 common sense and a proper use of the products of 
 the press made him an intelligent men. He began 
 his llfework, farming, empty-handed as to cash, 
 and during his entire life vfas a hard-working and 
 persevering man. After his marriage be rented two 
 hundred and sixty-five acres in Livingston County, 
 N. y., for five years, then bought sixty acres which 
 
 he soon sold, determined to seek his fortune in the 
 West. 
 
 In May. 1847, Mr. and Mrs. Burdick arrived in 
 this State, and were soon settled upon a partly-im- 
 proved tract of land, whereon a log house stood, 
 and a fine barn for those days. The trees were 
 girdled and plowing had been done, and from this 
 beginning the fine farm of to-da3' has grown. In 
 his efforts to build up a good home, Mr. Burdick 
 was aided in every way possible by a faithful wife, 
 who had united her fortunes with his December 7, 
 1840. As 3ears passed, the home was brightened 
 by the birth of five children, four of whom survive 
 to cheer their mother by their love and devotion. 
 These are Frances E., whose home is in North 
 Plains Township, she having married Ge6rge M. 
 Brown; M. Josephine, wife of A. W. Case, and 
 mother of three children, living in Ionia City; Nellie 
 M., wife of Hiram M. Brown, who has one child, and 
 lives in North Plains Township; Medora B., who 
 lives on the homestead where the wishes of her 
 mother are carried out by her husband, C. F. 
 Kirby. Mr. Kirby is a young man of excellent 
 qualities and a good understanding of agricultural 
 work. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Burdick are 
 well educated, and three of them have been school 
 teachers. Their father sent thera to schools he 
 thought better than those of the home neighbor- 
 hood, Mrs. Brown having attended at Kalamazoo, 
 and Mrs. Kirby spending five^ears at Ionia and one 
 at Lansing. 
 
 Mrs. Burdick bore the maiden name of Polly 
 Stone, and belongs to a family well known and 
 highly reputed in the county. She was born in 
 Livingston County, N. Y., October 3, 1820, to Or- 
 rin and Betsey (Cowell) Stone, and is the second 
 child of the second marriage. Her father and her 
 grandfather were natives of Guilford, Conn., and 
 her mother was born in Albanj', N. Y. Mr. Stone 
 was a liberal supporter of church work and careful 
 and conscientious in his habits. He agreed with 
 tlie Presbyterians in his belief, but never united 
 with the church. His wife, mother of Mrs. Bur- 
 dick, was a Baptist. They lived u()on a farm in the 
 Empire State, from the time it was a raw Govern- 
 ment claim until it became a well-tilled and valu- 
 able piece of property. Mr. Stone left two hun- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 807 
 
 (Ireii acres of land, large herds of cattle and other 
 stock, and ^1,700 in the bank. He was twice mar- 
 ried, his wives being sisters. By the first union 
 there were two children, Darins and Clarissa, both 
 now deceased. The second marriage was blest with 
 four children: Hetsej- (now deceased), Mrs. Bur- 
 dick. John and Mrs. Chase. The father died on 
 October 17, 184.i, and the mother May 15, 1842. 
 Upon the tombstone of Grandfather Stone in Al- 
 bany County, N. Y., is inscribed, ''The law of kind- 
 ness was written on his heart" — a sentence that 
 characterizes his life. 
 
 Mr. Burdick was a life-long Republican. He 
 never used either tobacco or liquor, and was a man 
 of most exeniplary habits, charitable in his deeds, 
 and friendly in disposition. He had a strong tem- 
 per, but learned to control it, and few of those who 
 met him during the last years of his life would have 
 believed that in his youth it was almost ungovern- 
 able. He was a member of the Christian Church, 
 a Deacon in the organization, and took a great in- 
 terest in religious matters. His death took place 
 .January 15, 1888, when he was sevenly-four years 
 old, and he was laid to rest in North Plains ceme- 
 tery. His widow is a conscientious Christian, and 
 has long been identified with the religious bod}' of 
 which her husband was a member. Although quite 
 advanced in years, she enjoys excellent health and 
 superintends her fine estate. Like other members 
 of her father's family, she is highly esteemed for 
 her good qualities of mind and heart, and her use- 
 fulness in the community. 
 
 ^^, HARLES xNORTHWAY. Among the repre- 
 (l(^L sentativc farmers of the (Jrand River Valley 
 ^1^' who have been deemed worthy of a place 
 in this Ai.HUM is Mr. North way, whose home is in 
 Keene Township, Ionia County. He has long been 
 living on section 4, and now has a fine farm of over 
 one hundred acres, which has been reclaimed from 
 the forest by himself and is a standing monument 
 to the industry and thrift of his nature. He plowed 
 the first furrow and split the first rail on his farm, 
 and while making the initial improvements endured 
 
 the usual hardships of those who undertake pioneer 
 work. When he had crops to sell he drew wheat 
 to Grand Rapids with ox-teams and receiving from 
 forty to fifty -six cents per bushel often took half 
 of the amount in store trade, as money was not 
 freely circulated. 
 
 Mr. Norlhway is a native of Delaware County, 
 N. v., is a son of Augustus and Margaret (Hough- 
 taling) Northwa^', and was born September 4, 1824. 
 His father was a soldier in the War of 1812. In 
 the spring of 1831 the family went to Trumbull 
 County, Ohio, where they were early settlers an<l 
 where our subject grew to manhood. He li.as been 
 a life-long farmer and thoroughly understands his 
 calling. His educational advantages wore limited, 
 but he has made such use of the opportunities that 
 were afforded him in school and out as to have 
 become quite well informed on all topics of general 
 interest. In the spring of 1848 he made his way 
 to Ionia Countjf and for a number of years he re- 
 sided in Otisco Township. He removed to his 
 present location in the spring of 1857, when the 
 country was much less populous than at present 
 and he was considered quite a pioneer. Various 
 improvements were from time to time made upon 
 the property and in 1S7() a well-built and attract- 
 ive residence was put up. 
 
 The parental family was a large one and its surviv- 
 ing members are: Rufus lives in Missouri; Charles; 
 Pliilira, wife of Calvin Smith, is living in Otisco 
 Township; Hiram, who resides in Fremont Center, 
 Newaygo County; Candace.wife of the Rev. Kdwin 
 Wright, of the Baptist Church; Drusilla, wife of 
 Dr. Chester Ford, of Cedar Springs; Albert, a res- 
 ident of Otisco Township; Clara, wife of Albert 
 S|)encer, of Minneapolis, Minn.; John, whose home 
 is in Otisco Township. 
 
 Charles Northway and Mary A. Hutchinson 
 were united in marriage January 24, 1856. To 
 them was born a son — George. Mr. Northway 
 made a second marriage December 12, 18Gl,liis 
 bride being Mrs. KlixaV)eth Hayes, widow of Hugh 
 Hayes, formerly of Ionia Citj*. She had one daugh- 
 ter, Jenny, now the wife of Kliud Knapp. Her 
 union with Mr. Norlhway has been blessed by the 
 birth of three children, daughters, named Mary A., 
 Bernice and Fannv. The eldest is the wife of Lewis 
 
808 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Tuttle and the second married George Daniels. 
 The present Mrs. Northway is a daughter of Rob- 
 ert and Agnes Allen, formerly of Ionia County. 
 She is an intelligent lady, is an excellent house- 
 keeper and takes an active part in social affairs of 
 the neighborhood. 
 
 Mr. Northway is a Republican but takes no part 
 in political affairs other than to keep posted regard- 
 ing the issues before tiie people and deposit his 
 ballot ill the interest of what he considers true 
 principles of Government. He served as School 
 Treasurer but has spent his time chiefly in attend- 
 ing to his personal affairs and joining with his 
 neighbors in the social movements for the general 
 good. He is a supporter of church and schools 
 and is a man of honesty and moral habits. Sturdy 
 and enterprising lie does well what he has do, and 
 his fine rural home in which hospitality is liis- 
 pensed with a lavish hand by his good wife, indi- 
 cates their desire for culture and genuine comfort. 
 
 if]RA N. WORCESTER, a prominent agricul- 
 I turlst, residing on section 17, Easton Town- 
 til, ship, Ionia Count}', is a native of Otisco Town- 
 ship, this county. He was born January 17, 1852, 
 and is a son of Daniel N. and Nancy (Taylor) 
 Worcester. His father was a native of England, 
 and his mother of Ontario, Canada. The Worces- 
 ter family trace their ancestry back to the •'May- 
 flower" and the Plymouth Rock. 
 
 Daniel N. Worcester, the father of our subject, 
 emigrated to Ionia Count}' and settled in Otisco 
 Townsiiip, in the woods. Here he cleared up a 
 farm, and became one of the pioneers of the town- 
 ship. His good wife passed away in May, 1856, 
 and he followed her in August of the same year. 
 Of their tiiree children, our subject alone survives. 
 Being thus left an orphan at four years of age, he 
 was taken with liis sister Emma N., by his aunt and 
 uncle Wilber, to Monroe County, N. Y., where he 
 was reared and educated in the common schools of 
 that county. In 1872 he returned to Michigan, 
 and remained a short time. He was married Octo- 
 ber 3, 1872, to Anna M. Stone, a native of Ontario, 
 
 Canada, who was born February 19, 1848. Her 
 parents Charles and Jane (Workman) Stone, were 
 natives of Canada of English descent. Her father 
 is deceased, and her mother now resides in Lake 
 County, Mich., with her eldest daughter, Mrs. 
 Norma Sam is. Mrs. Worcester came to Michigan 
 with her parents when only twelve 3'cars of age, and 
 after five j'ears' residence in St. Clair County, she 
 came to Otisco Township, Ionia County, and lived 
 there many years. Mrs. Stone and her good lius- 
 band had eight children, of whom seven are living: 
 Minerva, Catherine, George, Charles, Anna M., 
 John and Richard. Mary died when two years of 
 age. The family were brought up in the Baptist 
 Church, in which Mr. Stone was a Deacon. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Worcester have been born two 
 children: Lewis F., born May 28, 1874; and Flor- 
 ence M., August 21, 187G. Tiiey came West about 
 a year after marriage, and settled on the farm where 
 they now reside, and where they own eighty acres 
 of fine, arable land. He is a Democrat in politics, 
 and is public-spirited and enterprising. That he 
 has prospered is abundantly attested by his good 
 farm and comfortable home. He believes in keep- 
 ing abreast with the advancement of the age, and 
 favors all forward movements. In business circles 
 he enjoys the fullest confidence, and among the 
 many prominent families of Ionia County, none are 
 more worth}' than the Worcesters to be placed in 
 this volume. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 ORSON J. ELDRED, a prominent merchant of 
 Clarksville, was boun in Steuben County, N. 
 Y., April 5, 1856, and came with his parents 
 to Michigan when a little lad of eight years. He 
 resideil with his parents on the farm until he was 
 twenty-two years of age. His parents were Ebeiie- 
 zer and Hannah (Spears) Eldred. The father a 
 native of Vermont, is a farmer and is now carrying 
 on a farm in Barry County, Mich., to which he came 
 about 1864, and where he has since resided. His 
 wife was a native of New York. To this worthy 
 couple were born three children, two of whom are 
 are now living— our subject and Florence, wife of 
 Lansing Smith who resides in Barry Count}', Mich. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 809 
 
 The subject of this sketch soon after reacliinjj liis 
 inajorit}' looked about for a liel|)iiiate to join lianils 
 Willi liiin in tiie work of life. His choice fell upon 
 Carrie C. Dosler, of Prairieville, Harry County. 
 Mich., and the wedding day was January 31, 1878. 
 He engaged' in work on a neighbor's farm for one 
 season, after which he began work for himself on 
 shares for a Mrs. Oilkey but his natural bent of 
 mind was not in the line of farming. He chose 
 mercantile pursuits, and in 188G he entered into 
 business at Dowling, Harry County. Here he re- 
 mained for three years', in partnership with his 
 brother-in-law. At the eml of this time he sold 
 out his interest to his partner and in March, 1889, 
 he came to Clarksvillc and opene<l up a stock of 
 general merchandise, a part of which he purchased 
 from N. K. Jepson, who had been doing business 
 at that stand. Ho carries one of the largest stocks 
 of general merchandise in Clarksville. He is a 
 prominent Democrat and an influential man among 
 his neighbors. He and his good wife arc univer- 
 sally respected and their prosperity is a matter of 
 interest to all their neighbors. They arc the pa- 
 rents of one child — Roy J. 
 
 EDWARD MURRAY who resides on the 
 northern part of section 34, Berlin Town- 
 ship, Ionia County, is the son of Kleazer 
 Murray, born March 12, 1809, at Pompey, N. Y. He 
 came to Michigan in 1825, establishing himself in 
 Farmington Townshi|), Oakland County. He was 
 the son of Reuben Murray, a farmer and merchant 
 of New York State. The mother of our subject, 
 .lulia Ann (Doty) Murray, was born in 1809 in 
 Troy, N. Y., the daughter of Elislia and Rachael 
 (Allen) Doty. Mrs. Doty's father, .James Allen, was 
 a revolutionary soldier and was taken prisoner by 
 the British in the last battle of that war anil was 
 not released until seveu years later. 
 
 The mother of our subject came to Michigan in 
 182C with her parents and married .Mr. Murray, 
 July 17, 1831. The young couple settled upon a 
 new farm on section 16, of Farmington Township, 
 Oakland County, where for five years they lived 
 
 working hard clearing and cultivating the land. 
 They then sold and moved into Bloomfleld 
 Township where they resided for two years. In 
 NoTeraber, 184.5, they came to Ionia County, 
 and settled on section 34, of Berlin Township. 
 I'pon this raw farm they proceeded to build a log 
 shanty. The nails used in its construction weiglicd 
 altogether one pound and it was topped off with 
 poles. The heavy timber on this farm was cleared 
 off anil improvements put in. Through poverty 
 and hard times incidental to a pioneer's life, this 
 hard working couple brought up their large family 
 of little ones. The father of our subject died May 
 23, 1880, and his wife survives him although now 
 past her four-score years, is active and bright, and 
 she makes her home with her son, Kd ward, our sub- 
 ject. She was the mother of six children all of them 
 DOW living and was with her husband a member of 
 the Baptist Church. He was a strong Re|)ul)lican 
 in politics. 
 
 The gentleman whose name heads this biograi)h- 
 ical sketch was born March 6, 1832, in Oakland 
 County, this State. He received but a scanty edu- 
 cation at the district schools, for from the time he 
 was twelve years old, when he came to Ionia County, 
 he was sorely needed by his father as a help on the 
 farm. When eleven years of age he helped about 
 the plowing and was active in clearing off the timber 
 and logging the home farm. He also woiked out 
 for others by the month, doing the same kind of 
 work. He remained at home with his parents 
 turning his labor in for their benefit. Edward 
 Murray married, February 1.'), 1869, Emily P.Aus- 
 tin, a daughter of Mrs. Maria Crawford by a former 
 marriage. This Mrs. Murray was born March 4, 
 1852 in Ohio and after marriage came with her 
 husband to the farm. They had no chililren. Our 
 subject remained a widower for twenty-two years, 
 taking care of his parents and the farm, and putting 
 on most of the present improvements. He again 
 married .March 8, 1888. In this union ho was joined 
 with Kli/.a Ann (Dibble) Patterson, who was born 
 in Steuben County, N. Y. October 18, 1835. This 
 was her sccoml marriage, and she has five children 
 by her former marriage, two of thrm now living. 
 Mr. and Mrs. .Murr.ay have no children of their own. 
 Three different times during the war the subject of 
 
810 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 our sketch volunteered into the army, but on ac- 
 count of bis health was not accepted. His sisters 
 are: Emily P. now Mrs. Josepti Morrison; Minerva 
 A., now Mrs. "William Milligan ; Julia Ann, now 
 Mrs. L. Tanner; Susan, Mrs. Conklin:and Alma A. 
 Mr. Murray is a Republican in politics but on ac- 
 count of failing healtli is not active outside of his 
 own home and farm. He raises grain and stock, 
 trading considerably in the latter. 
 
 
 ^8=^ - 
 
 ^p^RANT M. MORSE. In the career of this 
 III j_, honorable man we read a useful life, and 
 ^^Jl although in his boyhood days he quietly 
 perfortnfid the duties of farm life to which he was 
 reared he was also surely laying the foundation of 
 a substantial and efficient character. In his busi- 
 ness transactions he is affable and kind and by 
 strict integrity and faithfulness has won and holds 
 the esteem of all with whom he associates. 
 
 The birthplace of Grant M. Morse is Portland, 
 Ionia County, November 18, 18.54. He was the only 
 son of Darius and Betsey M. (Perry) Morse, natives 
 of Michigan. The Morse's came to this State from 
 Ontario County, N. Y., in about 1824. Thomas J., 
 grandfather of our subject, was then an early set- 
 tler of Washtenaw County and located on what is 
 called Morse's Plains. His father, I^eonard, in turn 
 came a year earlier than his son. The family orig- 
 inally were of Holland descent, although tiie}' came 
 directlj' from England to America. They are all 
 pursuing the avocation of a farmer. The Perry's 
 were also early settlers, coming to Michigan in 
 182G. Darius J. came to Ionia County in 1853 and 
 bought a farm five miles north of Portland on sec- 
 tion 8. On this farm he lived until 1875 when he 
 engaged in the mercantile business at Collins. His 
 wife died May 1, 1871. In 1884 became to Port- 
 land where he lived with his son until the time of 
 his death, in October, 1890. 
 
 Mr. Morse was reaied to farm life until nineteen 
 years of age and attended school in the district and 
 also in the agricidtural college at Lansing. He was 
 with his father in the mercantile business at Col- 
 lins five years, then came to Portland where he en- 
 
 gaged in the general grocery business with C. S. 
 ■\Yoleott as partner two years. He soon bought his 
 partner's interest and continued in business six 
 years. In 1888 he sold out and since that time has 
 been engaged in his present business, that of life 
 and fire insurance. He was elected Justice of the 
 Peace in 1890 and performed the duties faithfully 
 and conscientiously. 
 
 July 9, 1879, Mr. Morse was married to Sarah 
 E. Perry, of Washtenaw County, this State, daugh- 
 ter of Joseph H. Perry. One child, Leon G., blessed 
 this union. He is a member of the Masonic order 
 and has been Master of the lodge; he is now High 
 Priest of Portland Chapter No. 39, and is also 
 connected with the Ancient Order of United Work- 
 men of Portland and is now their Grand Lodge 
 Representative. He is a Republican in politics 
 and was Township Superintendent of Schools three 
 terms, was Treasurer of Portland in 1888-89, is a 
 member of the Board of Trustees of the village of 
 Portland. He is active in politics and attends 
 county and State conventions, takes part in all their 
 deliberations and is much esteemed as an efficient 
 member of their associations. 
 
 R. GREEN. Ionia, Ionia County, is the 
 home of this gentleman, who is doublj' en- 
 titled to rank among the professional men 
 of the city, as he has studied both law and 
 medicine and has been duly certificated in each. 
 He was born in Monroe County, N. Y., in 1831, 
 and spent his youth on a farm, attending the pub- 
 lic schools. His parents were Christian and Sarah 
 (Martin) Green, the former from Penns3ivania 
 and the latter from Maryland. The father died in 
 the Empire Stale in 1864, some years after the 
 mother passed away, she having died during the 
 infancy of our subject. 
 
 In what was known as Genesee College and which 
 afterwiird developed into the S3-racuse University, 
 young Green pursued the higher branches of study 
 and having decided to turn his attention to medi- 
 cine, he took up therapeutics in institutions in Ann 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 811 
 
 Arbor, tliis State, and Buflfalo, N. Y. In due time 
 lie was honored with ilie degree of Doctor of Med- 
 icine and began tiie practice of the science in Ionia. 
 During the war he became surgeon of the Twenty- 
 first Regiment, but on account of ill-health was 
 compelled to resign and was afterward appointed 
 United States Marshal by President Johnson. 
 While discharging the duties of that oflice he stud- 
 ied law and was admitted in 1870 to the bar. 
 From that time until within a few j'ears past he 
 practiced law. 
 
 In 1861 Mr. Green was married to Miss Cor- 
 delia Norton, a native of Livingston Count\-, N. Y., 
 and to them have been born two children — Cath- 
 erine and Frederick 15. Mr. and Mrs. Green be- 
 long to the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Green 
 is a Knight Templar and for a long time was com- 
 mander of a Grand Array Post. lie has been a 
 member of the .School Board. 
 
 ENRY TREMAYNE, M. I). As a private 
 citizen, the excellent education of Dr. 
 Tremayne, his gentlemanly manners and 
 the interest he takes in all matters of prog- 
 ress, together with a character that is honorable 
 and upright, give him prominence. As a physician 
 he has been very successful, being ever on the alert 
 to add to his already fine store of professional 
 learning, and to increase his skill by careful studj* 
 of symptoms and equally careful attention to cer- 
 tain lines of remedial work. Ilis career as a phy- 
 sician in Ionia County has been marked by 
 professional zeal and popularity. He stands well 
 with other members of the profession in the 
 county and is the tiusted family physician in many 
 of the best homes in his community. 
 
 Dr. Tremayne was born in the county of Leeds, 
 Canada, August 16, 183U. He is the scjn of the 
 Rev. Francis and Elizabeth (Treraain) Tremayne, 
 natives of England, whence they came first to New 
 York Stale and afterwards to Canada. The Kev. 
 Francis Trcm.aync w.-is a clergyman of the Episc(j- 
 pal Church, and for many years fulfilled the ollices 
 of the ministry, lie died in Canada, February 27, 
 
 ISC."?, at the age of seventj'-six years, and his be- 
 reaved wife followed him four days later to the 
 spirit land at the age of sevent3--eight years. 
 
 Our subject was reared to the pursuit of farming 
 and when young serveil as clerk in a general store 
 in Canada, also managed a store independently for 
 awhile. He was a student of the Medical Depart- 
 ment of the University at Toronto where be grad- 
 uated in 1865. He then came directly to Ionia 
 County, and settled in what is now known as Tre- 
 mayne Corners, which was named for hira. Later 
 hu spent two years at Porllaml, and settled in Ionia 
 in 1876. In June of 1862 he was united in wed- 
 lock with Jane Johnson, and their marriage has 
 been blessed by the birth of two children, namely: 
 Emma, who is the "wife of Amos Welch, and Harry 
 IL, a traveling salesman who makes his headquar- 
 ters in New York. Dr. Trema^'ue is a member of 
 the Knights of the Maccabees, and also of the 
 Masonic Order having attained the council degrees. 
 He is a consistent member of the E[)iscopal Church 
 and in politics votes with the Democracy. 
 
 The medical profession in Ionia is represented 
 by a number of men of widely extended knowl- 
 edge of tiie principles of therapeutics, skill in their 
 use and practical application, and a reputation for 
 success in their chosen field of labor. Dr. Tre- 
 mayne is very prominent among these and the 
 reputation which he enjoys has come to him de- 
 servedly as the reward of a lifetime of patient and 
 intelligent effort. As a successful practitioner he 
 is widely known, and while succeeding in allevia- 
 ting suffering and prolonging life, he has also 
 received the merited reward of this world's goods. 
 
 Tp\ ENONI HOLCOMB, one of the represents- 
 jU^ tive pioneers of Ionia County, is with his 
 i'(f^!l estimable wife enjoying the comforts of life 
 '"^^fe^' on their fine farm on section 1, Easton 
 Township. By the exercise of the sterling quali- 
 ties of character and habits of usefulness and 
 industry, Mr. Holcomb ha.s accumulated a good 
 property and in securing it he recognizes that his 
 com[>anion was an ellicicnt helper. The estate on 
 
812 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 which they live consists of one hundred and nine 
 acres of land and is well improved and well stocked, 
 thus fitted to be the abiding place of people of 
 good taste and desire for comfort. 
 
 Mr. Holcomb was born in Washington County. 
 N. Y., December 18, 1812, and was in his twentieth 
 year when with his parents he went lo Genesee 
 County. Ilis father, Jesse Holcomb, was a native 
 of Connecticut, and his mother, Lucy (Webb) 
 Holcomb, was born in Massachusetts. A brother 
 of his mother was an officer in the RcTolutionary 
 army. Tiie father died in New York and the 
 mother in this State, to which she followed her son. 
 Our subject remained in the Empire State until 
 1836 then came to what was at that time the Ter- 
 ritory of Michigan, and for several years made his 
 home in St. Clair County. About 1845 he removed 
 to Ionia County and took up his residence on his 
 present farm, which was covered with timber and 
 in a wild region where no roads had been opened. 
 Husband and wife liore with fortitude and uncom- 
 plaining cheerfulness the trials and hardships of 
 pioneer life and won the regard of their neighbors 
 by their kindness, hospitality and genuine merit. 
 
 Mrs. Holcomb, whose wedding day was Sejitem- 
 ber 24, 1843, bore the maiden name of Lucy A. 
 Wedge and was born in Connecticut, June 29, 
 1823. She is a daughter of Moses and Mary A. 
 (Draper) Wedge, the former deceased and the latter 
 living in Ionia County and now in her eighty-ninth 
 year. Mrs. Holcomb is one of a large family includ- 
 ing ajso the following living sons and daughters: 
 Sanford, Mrs. Mary A. McCoy, Oliver, Mrs. Har- 
 rit E. Malone, Henry, George, and Mrs. Melissa 
 Harter, all in the same county. Our subject and 
 his wife have six children : Jessie I. and William 
 E. living in Montcalm County; Lucy A., wife of 
 Theodore Harris, whose home is in Stanton; San- 
 ford, living in Mecosta County ; Melissa M., wife 
 of Grant Cunningham, in Montcalm County, and 
 Moses who resides in Easton Township, Ionia 
 County. 
 
 In past years Mr. Holcomb was an active, sj'm- 
 pathizing friend of the schools and every pro- 
 ject that promised to be for the public good. It 
 has been his aim to keep posted on matters of gen- 
 eral interest and to understand what was going on 
 
 in political, social and religious circles. He is a 
 Republican in politics and a member of the Baptist 
 Chuich. Mrs. Holcomb belongs to the Christian 
 Church. Their friends will be pleased to see this 
 record of their lives, brief though it is, and many 
 will be able to supply the finishing touches to the 
 picture that is here drawn in outline. Honorable, 
 self-sacrificing and earnest in their lives, their ex- 
 ample may well be taken as a model and guide for 
 the rising: generation. 
 
 z>:^EORGE KING. For nearly a quarter of a 
 III (s=^ century Mr. King has been a conspicuous 
 ^^^^ijl member of the farming community of Ionia 
 County and particularly of that class which belongs 
 to Easton Township. In the spring of the year 
 1867 he settled on land he still occupies on section 
 1. The fine residence he now dwells in was put up 
 in 1870 and is a dwelling in which good cheer for 
 mind and bodj- abounds. Around it stretch fortj' 
 well-tilled acres which constitute the farm of Mr. 
 King and have been the scene of his labors for 
 many years. 
 
 Mr. King is the son of Anthony and Martha 
 (Holmes) King, the former a native of Rhode 
 Island and the latter of New York. They made 
 their home in the latter State until 1828, when 
 they came to the then Territory of Michigan and 
 settled in Macomb County. Their sun George was 
 then a youth of eighteen 3'ears, he having been 
 born in Chenango County, N. Y., December 15, 
 1810. He had received a rudimentary education 
 in the district schools of his native State, his atten- 
 dance being confined principally to the winter 
 months. He has been engaged in various occupa- 
 tions but in his later years has given his attention 
 entirely to farming. 
 
 In 1850 Mr. King crossed the plains to Califor- 
 nia on foot, taking one hundred days for the trip. 
 He reached Nevada City and at once went into the 
 gold-fields where for three j'ears he followed min- 
 ing with a fair degree of success. He then returned 
 to this State via Central America and New York 
 City. In 1859 he again crossed the plains, and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 8l3 
 
 about eighty days after learing home came out on 
 the Feather River, where for a year he wielded llie 
 miner's i)ick and siiovel. He tiien went to Nevada 
 and for two years followed the stonemason's trade 
 there. In 1867 he had settled on his present farm, 
 coming hither from Kent County where he had 
 been for several years. 
 
 In 1838 Mr. King was married to Miss Mary A. 
 Lester. They had one daughter — Elizabetli who is 
 now (Jeccased. In 184.5 Mr. King was married a 
 second time, his bride being Phebe A. Fuller who 
 was born in Ontario Count}', N. Y., August 4, 
 1822. She is a daughter of Daniel and Anna 
 )Anies) Fuller, who were natives of Connecticut, 
 and her father was a soldier in the War of 1812. 
 Her brotliers and sisters now living arc: Sewell, in 
 Grand Kapids; Brazilla, Mark and George L. in 
 Ottawa Count}'; Caroline, now Mrs. Wannaraaker, 
 in Canada. By his second marriage Mr. King has 
 has a son — Brayton D., who is a civil engineer and 
 lives in Chicago, 111. 
 
 'I'he principles of the Republican party find a 
 firm supporter in Mr. King. Mrs. King w.ns formerly 
 identified with the Daughters of Temperance and 
 has always taken an active interest in temperance 
 work. Both he and liiswife are chissed among the 
 lionored residents of the vicinity. 
 
 lEORGK S. HYDF>, manufacturer and whole- 
 saler of lumber and shingles, is a i)oi)u- 
 lar business man in McBride. He has trav- 
 eled a great deal and has thns become well informed 
 in regard to many parts of the country. He is at 
 once affable, genial and entertaining, making 
 friends wherever he goes anil is at the same lime a 
 thorough gentkunan and a man of strict honor. Ho 
 is a man of fine physique being well built, erect, 
 and his very handshake is that of friendship. His 
 homeisa large and commodious dwelling, furn- 
 nishcd in a style agreeable to his taste and charm- 
 ingly arianged by Mrs. Hyde, who is a lady of 
 nn)re than ordinary culture and refinement. 
 
 The father of our subject was Luman C. Hyde, 
 born in Middlebury, \'l. His grandfather, Joshua, 
 
 •Jr., went to that State from Connecticut when a 
 young lad. The groat-grandfather, the Hon. Joshua 
 Hyde, a native of Connecticut, was one of the 
 early settlers of Middlebury, Vt., where he entered 
 Government land and improved a farm from the 
 wilderness, becoming a well-to-do and respected 
 citizen. He was a Selectman of Middlebury and 
 was the first Representative from Vermont to the 
 Stale Legislature at Montpelier. The family is of 
 Knglish descent as the parents of that gentleman 
 came from England. 
 
 The father of our subject became the possessor 
 of the old homestead which his father and grand- 
 father had improved on the old Burlington and 
 Rutland Stage Road, and there he engaged in gen- 
 eral farminj;. In 1878 he sold his property and 
 came to Michigan and resided with his sons at Mc- 
 Bride until his death in 1883, at the age of sixty 
 four years. He was a Universalist in his religious 
 belief and a man of sterling worth and responsibil- 
 ity, liberal, open-hearted and public spirited. In 
 politics he was first a Whig, then an Abolitionist 
 and finally a Republican. 
 
 The mother of our subject, .Marana Severance, a 
 native of Middlcburg, Vt., was a daughter of Moses 
 .Severance. Her father was born in Massachusetts, 
 and went to Vermont with his parents when quite 
 young. He was engaged in farming, but in latter 
 years removed toAndover, Ohio, where he carried 
 on bee culture and spent the remainder of his days. 
 His daughter, the mother of our subject, is a lady 
 of culture and education and was a teacher before 
 her marriage. She is of a poetical turn and has 
 written much that has been published in our lead- 
 ing journals. She resides with our subject and Is 
 now sixty-nine years of age. She is the mother of 
 four children, three sons and one daughter. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Middle- 
 bury, Vt.,July 16, 1851. Up to the time when he 
 fourteen ye.irs old he divided his time between the 
 district and graded schools and the work on the 
 farm. During the next four years he went to 
 school during the winter only. December 17. 
 1870, he left home to come to Michigan and went 
 to work in the lumber woods. He worked for four 
 months at Sheridan, receiving i>26 per month. He 
 was then employee! in a steam saw-mill, sortiu" 
 
814 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lumber for three years. He and his brother, F. D., 
 used to do as large a daj-'s work as any man there, 
 as they sometime piled twenty-eiajht thousand >feet 
 a day. He worked for two years in the mill of W. 
 B. Stone, and in 1877 returned East, where he en- 
 gaged in a nursery business on Long Island. But 
 he was disappointed in his expectations and two 
 years later returned to Michigan, coming to Mc- 
 Bridc which was then just starting. 
 
 Mr. Hyde iiad now obtained a practical knowl- 
 edge of the lumber business and for eigliteen months 
 he acted as inspector at the Windsor, McBride and 
 Howes mills. He then took cliarge of the Hurd- 
 man, Corey & Co., yard, one mile north of Edmore, 
 and was Inspector for tiiree years, handling during 
 that time over nineteen million feet of lumber. He 
 now built a pleasant home in Edmore and made his 
 residence there, serving Just Bros., for eighteen 
 months as Inspector. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was now prepared to 
 go into business for himself, and in March, 1884, 
 he formed a partnership with his brother, F. D., as 
 Hyde Bros., and started the wholesale manufac- 
 turing of lumber and shingles at McBride, in which 
 tliey have been very successful. After two years 
 he removed to McBride and has himself attended 
 to the business on the road, doing the traveling for 
 the firm. In March, 1890, tlie brothers dissolved 
 partnersiiip and our subject carries it on alone, de- 
 voting himself largely to wholesaling the lumber 
 from other mills, and handles the cut of from ten 
 to fifteen mills. He has an interest in the mills at 
 Gladwyn and Millbrook, and owns property in 
 both Osceola and Isabella Counties. He is also a 
 partner in the general merchandise fli'm of Carpen- 
 ter, Toole & Co., at McBride. He owns real estate 
 both here and at Edmore and Sheridan, and is a 
 shareholder in the Robson Opera House at Edmore. 
 
 Mr. Hyde was married in Stanton, November 19, 
 1888, to Mrs. Minnie Covel, a daughter of John 
 Roop, of Ohio. Her first husband Capt. J. F. Covel, 
 was a gallant soldier and a fine shot, commanding 
 Company I, First United States Sharpshooters. A 
 wound received during the war hastened the close 
 of his life, which ended in March, 188.3. He was a 
 man of liberal education, a graduate of the State 
 Agricultural College at Lansing, a leading lawyer 
 
 of the county, residing at Stanton, and for a num- 
 ber of 3-ears filled the office of County Superinten- 
 dent of Schools. Mrs. Hyde is a graduate of the 
 the Ladies' Seminarj' at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and fol- 
 lowed for some j'ears the profession of teaching. 
 She is a Congregationalist in her church connec- 
 tions. Mr. Hyde is liberal in his religious views 
 and a stanch Republican in politics. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Knights of the Grip and also of the 
 Union Association of Retail Lumber Dealers of 
 Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. 
 
 — ^— ^— ^— 
 
 f/_^ARVEY LEE VAN BENSCHOTEN. Some 
 ^ time during the middle of the sixteenth 
 century, when Philip II. was endeavoring 
 to establish the Spanish Inquisition in the 
 Netherlands, backed by the army of Spain under 
 the command of the terrible Duke of Alva, and 
 supported in every way by the Roman Catholic 
 Hierarchy, two Holland noblemen by the name of 
 A'^an Benschoten, renounced their allegiance to the 
 ruling sovereign and entered the service of Will- 
 iam, of Orange, known to history as William, the 
 Silent. For thus espousing the sacred cause of 
 political and religious liberty and patriotically re- 
 sisting the machinations of this despotism, they 
 incurred the displeasure of the Pope, and as a 
 result were excommunicated. Their property was 
 decreed confiscated and an order was issued thut 
 they should be banished from the realm. 
 
 As this event occurred previous to the time 
 when William of Orange had made a success of 
 his efforts, the sentence was easy of execution. 
 Consequentl}' these two noblemen hastily converted 
 their property into gold and secretly took passage 
 for the New AVorld. On their way to this coun- 
 try the ship on which they sailed foundered and 
 all on board perished save a few, among whom 
 were the two noblemen. They floated on some tim- 
 bers and drifted to an island near by, whence they 
 were soon rescued by a Dutch trading-vessel and 
 carried to a small trading-station that has been 
 successively known as Manhattan, New Amster- 
 dam and New York City. Their gold went down 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 815 
 
 in the vessel, but they soon regained their fortunes 
 by enjraging extensively in the fur trade. One 
 of the ancestors of this family, Nicholas ^■an IJen- 
 scbotcn, of Amsterdam, invented the thimble. 
 
 During the time of the Dutch Governor, Peter 
 Stuyvestant, the Van Henschoten family was one 
 of the most prominent Knickerbocker families in 
 New York. Washington Irving in his humorous 
 book "The Knickerbocker History of Nev^ York," 
 in describing the gathering of the old Dutch fam- 
 ilies to give battle to the Swedes, thus speaks of 
 them : "Then came the Van Benschotens, of Nyack 
 and Kakiat, who were the first that did ever kick 
 with the left foot; they were gallant bushwackers 
 and hunters of coons by moonlight." 
 
 From one of these families sprang Harvey Lee 
 Van Henschoten, the subject of this sketch. His 
 great-grandfather, Aaron, was born in New York 
 City before the Revolutionary War, and removed 
 into Sullivan County, that State, where he raised 
 a large famil}', among whom was Cornelius, the 
 grandfather of Harvey. Cornelius was a tanner 
 and currier by trade and acquired a great reputa- 
 tion in that line. The family removed to Ohio 
 in the fall of 1816, and among the large family of 
 Cornelius was the son, George D., the f.ither of 
 Harvey, who was a farmer, and who is still liv- 
 ing and resides in the township of Sebewa, Ionia 
 County, Mich. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in the town- 
 ship just named, January 27, 1863. He spent the 
 first fourteen years of his life in this township, 
 attending a country school and helping in the 
 farm work. He then spent six years in the Port- 
 land public schools and one year in the Michigan 
 Agricultural College, and was graduated from the 
 Portland High School in the summer of 1883. In 
 the fall of the same year be entered the Normal 
 College at Valparaiso, Ind., where he remained one 
 year, taking a special course. He then returned 
 home and taught school for two years, gaining an 
 enviable reputation as a teacher. 
 
 The young man now commenced the study of 
 law in the offlce of Clarence Cole at Portland, 
 and after three months there entered the depart- 
 raant of law at Michigan University, from which 
 he was graduated with a degree of Bachelor of 
 
 Laws in June, 1888. At this time he wits admitted 
 to practice in the Washtenaw County Bar. lie 
 formed a partnership, which lasted for a few 
 months, with Charles W. Thomson, of Port San- 
 ilac, Mich., and after this entered into a partner- 
 ship with Mr. Bennett, which lasted until May, 
 1890, since which time Mr. ^'an Henschoten has 
 been practicing alone. 
 
 At the commencement exercises of the I'nion 
 Christian College he was awarded the degree of 
 M. S. on a Thesis on the subject of "Our Coun- 
 try's Duty to Humanity." He was married Novem- 
 ber 15, 1«88, to Mary (Collins) Staley, of Collins, 
 Mich., a descendant of two old and prominent 
 New York families. A son was born February 
 17, 1890, and bears the name of Maurice Thomp- 
 son, being named after the popular novelist and 
 poet. Our subject has been prominently identified 
 with the history of the Democratic party in the 
 Fifth District of Michigan for the past four years, 
 but has never aspired to an}' olfice but once, when 
 he was elected School Inspector of Sebewa bj' a 
 large majority. 
 
 •^^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 m 
 
 <iY^AMES .MILNE, one of the old residents of 
 Portland, Ionia County, was born in London, 
 England, November 4, 1820. He is a son 
 of John and Hannah (Collins) Milne, n.t- 
 tives of Scotland and England respectively. John, 
 when a lad, was taken to London, England where 
 he grew to manhood and followed the trade of a 
 baker. In 1833 he came to America, being ship- 
 wrecked on the coast of Newfoundland and losing 
 many things of value which they were bringing 
 with them to their new home. 
 
 Mr. Milne and his son John finally reached Ionia 
 County, Mich., which was then a wilderness, making 
 their journc}' part of the way by Indian trail. The 
 Milne tract joins the corporation of Portland on 
 the north. They bad to visit the land office at 
 White Pigeon in order to enter their land, and 
 afterward returned to Detroit, to purchase teams, 
 tools, etc. 
 
 The party which set out from Detroit for the 
 
816 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 laud which tliey had pre-empted was composed of 
 Mr. Milne and his son John, Mr. King, Mr. Shep- 
 aril, Mr. Friend, Mr. Inksman and Selah Arms. 
 Mr. Inksraan died from exposure, as they were 
 overtaken by winter while on their way, and was 
 buried without ceremony and without a collin. 
 Recently his bones have been exhumed and caused 
 considerable excitement, until Mr. Milne's expla- 
 nation made the matter clear to the community. 
 They reached their destination in mid-winter and 
 pitched their tent on the banks of the Looking 
 Glass River. Here they remained until spring, 
 completely worn out. Mr. Milne and son having 
 come direct from the metropolis of the world and 
 being unused to the hardships and labors of pio- 
 neer life, suffered much from exposure and the 
 difficulties of the way. 
 
 The party finally obtained the help of some 
 Indians in erecting a house which was the second 
 cabin ever constructed in Ionia County. They 
 cleared about ten acres on whicii they raised pota- 
 toes and corn so they were prepared for the next 
 winter. In the fall of 1834 the wife and seven 
 children of Mr. Milne joined him in the new home. 
 (Jn the canal boat while making their journey to 
 Buffalo, one of the children was attacked with the 
 smallpox and the mother and oldest daughter 
 remained behind with him while the other children 
 were sent on in care of a friend. Those left behind 
 followed about three weeks later. Here the family 
 lived about fifteen j-ears in this log house and then 
 removed somewhat reluctantly into a more comfort- 
 able and commodious frame building which they 
 iiad erected. Only thrte of that familj' survive — 
 our subject, Mrs. Boyne and one who is living in 
 London. 
 
 To the father of this f.Tmily belongs the credit 
 of being the second settler of what is now Ionia 
 Count}'. He had to go to Detroit for all supplies 
 and even to send or receive a letter, and traveling 
 was done with ox-tearas, two weeks being a short 
 lime in whicli to make the trip. The first crop of 
 wheat raised by them was trodden out by oxen and 
 takop to Ionia to be ground, going by the Grand 
 River in Indian canoes, a trip of one week. 
 
 Our subject was married to Helen Merchant in 
 1854 and she died five years later. His present 
 
 wife, Mary Morn became Mrs. Milne May 24, 1864. 
 To them was born one son, John Milne, who 
 was born in Colorado. Mr. Milne has been a Re- 
 publican ever since the organization of that party 
 and from that time to this has voted for every 
 Presidential candidate nominated by the party. He 
 has in his possession the original deed signed by 
 Andrew Jackson, bearing date of 1833. 
 
 ARVEY W. DODGE, who is now engaged 
 in the grocery business in Saranac, has lived 
 in Ionia County since 1850, when, a youth 
 of sixteen years, he accompanied his parents 
 hither. He has seen many changes in this region 
 and has done ijiuch for the advancement and im- 
 provement thereof, especially of the town in which 
 he is now living. This was a village containing 
 but eight or nine houses when he first set eyes upon 
 it, and all but two of the brick stores that now 
 adorn its streets were built under contracts he 
 made. 
 
 Mr. Dodge was born in Wyoming County, N. Y., 
 July 24, 1840, and is a son of William R. and Mary 
 S. (Noble) Dodge. His parents were born in New 
 York, the one being of German and the other of 
 English descent. The father was a mason and fol- 
 lowed his trade the greater part of his life, but is 
 now living in retirement in Saranac. He is now 
 seventy-seven and his wife seventy-two j'ears old ; 
 both belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Our subject was reared in Wyoming County, N. 
 Y., and received a common school education there. 
 When he accompanied his parents to this State he 
 found emploj'ment on a farm and continued to 
 labor as a farm hand two years. He then began 
 work at the mason's trade, which he thoroughly 
 mastered and at which he worked summers until 
 1888. During the winter months he worked in a 
 sawmill. At the date mentioned he went to Lake 
 Odessa and for ten months ran a hotel there, then 
 returned to Saranac and remodeled a hotel here 
 and carried it on about five months. The building 
 was then destroyed by fire and in the fall of 1890 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 817 
 
 he embarked in the grocery trade and still carries 
 it on with good results. 
 
 Mr. Dodge was married to Miss Mary J. Camp- 
 bell of Lowell, November 6, 1860, and two chil- 
 dren have bfen born of the union. Carrie, the first- 
 born, is deceased, but Melvin still gladdens the 
 the home by his love. Mrs. Dodge is a consistent 
 member of the Methodist Flpiscopal Church. Mr. 
 Dodge is a member of the Masonic Hlue Lodge in 
 i^aranac and of the society of the Ancient Order of 
 United Workmen. His political connection is with 
 the Prohibition party. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dodge 
 command the respect of their associates and num- 
 ber many sincere friends among them. 
 
 ^OSKPII M. HATHAWAY, M. D., a well- 
 known dentist of lunia, was born in ()ak- 
 land County, Mich., March 26, 1840. He 
 is the son of George W. and Sarah (Voor- 
 hies) Hathaway, natives of New York, where they 
 pursued farnyiig. The father died iu Oakland 
 County in 186'J. leaving his widow who still sur- 
 vives. Eight children were born to them, six of 
 whom are living, namely: Joseph M.. .lames B., 
 of Orion, Mich.; Adelaide, wife of George Bird, of 
 Pontiac; Frances, wife of William Corey, of Ma- 
 son; Ella J., wife of Henry G. Corey, of Ionia; 
 Madden, a dental surgeon at Orion. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was brought up to the 
 pursuit of agriculture, but when the war l)roke out 
 during the year he gained his majority, he left the 
 farm for the field of battle, enlisting .as a private in 
 August, 1801. in Company G. F'irst Michigan Cav- 
 alry. He was in service for three j-ears and was 
 largely engaged in scouting, receiving his honorable 
 discharge in .September, 1864. 
 
 The young soldier came to Ionia in that year 
 and commenced the practice of dentistry with a 
 brother. In 1866 he" went to Flint, Mich., but af- 
 ter a year being taken sick, sold out his business 
 there and retired to the farm. In 1871, he re- 
 sumed the practice of dentistry in .Shelbina, Mo., 
 but being urged by his brother to return to Ionia, 
 he did so in 1872. and has since practiced in this 
 
 city. His marriage took place here on Christmas 
 Day, 1869, and his briile was Miss Minnie Phillips. 
 Two children have come to brighten this home,, 
 Nellie May and Claude, both of whom are at home. 
 He is a member of the (irand Army of the Repub- 
 lic and of the Royal Arcanum, and in politics is a 
 Republican. His wife is an active member of the 
 Discii>les Church. 
 
 =1^ 
 
 fjL^ON. WILLARD HAWLEY'. The public 
 iTji'- services and private life of this recently de- 
 i^^^ parted member of the Michigan Legisla- 
 (^) ture, entitle him to honorable mention in 
 this Albim. He was born in Grantford. OuUirio, 
 December 28, 1832, and was one of a family of six- 
 teen children. His early life w.as spent in the vi- 
 cinity of his birthplace, but in 1S.'>4 he came to 
 Michigan with his father and the rest of the family. 
 They settled in Keene Township. Ionia County, 
 where he had retained his residence up to the time of 
 his death, which occurred at Lansing April 7, 1891, 
 and resulted from erysipelas and heart disease, su- 
 perinduced by an attack of the grippe. 
 
 The marriage of Willard Hawlcy with Miss Caro- 
 line Marble, of Keene Townsbii), occurred in No- 
 vember, 18.'>5. His bereaved widow with six 
 children are left to mourn his loss. The newly 
 married couple settled on a farm in Keene Town- 
 ship, which they made their permanent home, and 
 changed it from merely a wild state to one of the 
 |)leasantest homes in the county. Togetlier they 
 worked for the upbuilding of church and society 
 and for the cause of humanity-, and now when one 
 has put aside the life work, the home is indeed 
 desolate. In the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 which he had been a member /or many years, 
 Mr. Hawley was highly valued. His heart and 
 purse went together, and it was largely by his aid 
 that a class had been supported in Keene Town- 
 ship. He W.1S very deeply interested in all matters 
 which pertained to the welfare of his neighbors and 
 their moral, religious and social prosperity. 
 
 In politics Mr. Hawley was a Republican of the 
 most pronounced kind. When that party was or- 
 
818 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ganized under the oaks of Jackson, Mich., its prin- 
 ciples gained liis allegiance and in 1856 he cast his 
 vole for Fremont. He has held various positions 
 of honor and trust in the gift of the people. He 
 was three times elected Supervisor, had been 
 Justice of the Peace and twice elected to the Leg- 
 islature. In ail these he was ever faithful to his 
 trust and in the Legislature bis acts were always 
 conscientious and party issues were lost sight of 
 when the interest of the people was involved. 
 
 The business houses of Saranac, where the Hon. 
 Mr. Ilawley's funeral was held, were draped ' in 
 mourning, as was also the Baptist Church where 
 the obsequies were attended. The Rev. A. P. 
 Moors, an old friend of the deceased, had charge of 
 the ceremonies, in which he was assisted by the 
 Rev. J. W. Arney, of Saranac and the Rev. Mr. 
 Townsend, of Keene. About forty members of 
 the Legislature, Judge Morse, of the State Supreme 
 Court, and Attorney-General Ellis were present. 
 As the prosession wended its way in from the 
 home it was met at the bridge by a delegation of 
 the business men of the village, and at the railroad 
 by the members of the Legislature, who followed 
 the remains to the chtirch. On the return these 
 gentlemen stood with opened ranks and uncovered 
 heads as the mournful cortege passed, thus giving 
 the last farewell to a colleague whom they had all 
 learned to respect. 
 
 PE LOSS GIBSON, a representative farmer of 
 Keene Township, residing on section 11, is a 
 native of Genesee County, N. Y., and was 
 born July 24, 1804. He is a son of Archibald K. 
 and Sylvia (Gibbs) Gibson. When about two 
 years old he removed with his parents to Otsego 
 County, N. Y., and was there reared to manhood 
 and has been a lifelong farmer. He was married 
 November 1, 1827, to Louisa Adkins, a native of 
 Otsego County, N. Y. 
 
 Five children have been sent to bless the home 
 of this worthy couple, nanoely: Mary J., who be- 
 came Mrs. Henry, and is now a wi<low; Ruth A., 
 the wife of S. M. Stebbins; Celesta, the wife of 
 
 Jabez Hull; and William W. In 18.39 he emi- 
 grated with his family to Michigan and located for 
 a'short time in Eaton County and came to Ionia 
 County in 1841, making his residence in Keene 
 Township. He has served his township faithfully, 
 both as Treasurer and Highway Commissioner and 
 is a man who is truly respected by all who know 
 him. 
 
 , ^^^ 1^ V ^^(< ? '*'l «. cl' 
 
 jENJAMIN FRANKLIN HART, one of 
 
 ^, the oldest business men of Vestaburgh, 
 Montcalm County, is a prominent and pros- 
 perous citizen who is universally respected 
 and esteemed for his liberal open-hearted disposi- 
 tion and upright character. He was born near 
 Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, March 4, 1845. He 
 owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine arable 
 land, upon section 33, Richland Township, adjoin- 
 ing Vestaburgh, and one hundred and sixty acres 
 in Ferris Township, and has been for some time 
 engaged in manufacturing and wholesaling shingles 
 as well as in general merchandise in Vestaburgh. 
 His father, Isaac, was born in Preble County, Ohio, 
 where his grandfather, John, a native of Pennsyl- 
 vania was one of the pioneers. lie was a promi- 
 nent man in all social matters and a minister in 
 the Dunkard Church. Later, this grandfather, who 
 was of German descent, removed to Wabash 
 Countj-, Ind., where he resided until his death. 
 
 The father of our subject was a farmer in Ohio, 
 and removed about the year 1848 to the vicinity 
 of Ligonier, Noble County, Ind., where he eng.iged 
 in farming and coopering, and remained thereuntil 
 1852 when he went to Elkhart County, the same 
 State, and carried on his business there until 1874 
 when he retired and made his home in Sturgis, 
 Mich., until his death at the age of seventy-four. 
 He was a Unirersalist in his religious belief. The 
 mother of our subject, Elizabeth Bower, was born 
 in Preble County, Ohio, and she also died in 
 Sturgis. She had eleven children as follows: Jos- 
 eph, who was in the Thirtieth Indiana Infantry and 
 was killed at the battle of Shiloh; Sarah (Mrs. 
 Beam) residing at Three Oaks this State; Phoibe 
 and Isaac who both died at Sturgis ; James A. who 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 819 
 
 resides in tliat city; Lizzie, (Mrs. Wood), of 
 Toledo; our subject and Il.irvcy E. of Vestaburgli; 
 Maria. (Mrs. Creager), of .Sturgis; Dulciiia, (Mrs. 
 Tinley) of lirinton; and W. H. who lives in Wis- 
 consin. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was three years old 
 when he traveled with his parents by team and 
 wagon to Indiana, making his home in Noble 
 County. He removed with them in 1852 to Klk- 
 hart Count}', and spent his boyhood on the farm 
 and in the district schools. He was early set to 
 work on the farm and in the cooper shop, and could 
 hoop a barrel when twelve years old. He remained 
 at home until he was thirty-six years old, but when 
 twenty-one began working in sawmills, beginning 
 at the bottom and working his way up as head 
 sawyer. In 1871 ho went to Duluth, Minn., in the 
 employ of the Mauger & Gray Lumber Company as 
 night watchman and after a year there found his 
 way back to Indiana and in 1873 he came to Mich- 
 igan and entered the employ of a firm at Blooming- 
 dale, Van Buren County, and after two years there 
 went to South Haven and worked at Ludwig'sPier 
 and at Black Lakes, in all three of these places act- 
 ing as head man. 
 
 In 1877 Mr. Hart was employed as lieail sawyer 
 at Stanton and in the spring of the following year 
 he took a farm on the Grand River, but in the fall 
 came to A'estaburgh and operated W. G. Pratt's 
 mill until the following spring. During the sum- 
 mer he clerked for Starkweather the merchant and 
 in October, 1879, he leased a shingle mill and began 
 manufacturing on contract for I'reston & Merriman 
 of Ionia. He also started in the merchandise busi- 
 ness at about the same date buying out Mr. Daniel 
 McCreaand going into (lartnership with his brother 
 W. H. Hart. In 1885 he took entire charge of the 
 business. 
 
 Mr. Hart has always paid strict attention to the 
 lumber business. He moved his mill to F^erris 
 Township on to a tiact of land owned by Mr. Pres- 
 ton. After manufacturing fur him for three years 
 the mill burned down, after which be bought that 
 gentleman's land, rebuilt the mill and began the 
 manufacture of shingles. He paid ^110,000 for the 
 mill and the land and had no fluancial backing but 
 he cleared it all. In 1890 he had used up the pine 
 
 upon this land and was obliged to stop operations 
 although he had been very successful. 
 
 Besides the one hundred and sixty aci'es, from 
 which he has cut the trees for his mill, he has an 
 improve<l farm of equal size which he superin- 
 tends, paying especial attention to hay raising and 
 to full bloo<lcd registeroil .lersej' cattle and regis- 
 tered Poland-China hogs. He also raises .some 
 $tan<lard bred Il.-imbletonian and draft horses. His 
 village property is valuable, his store being well 
 located and doing a good business. 
 
 The marriage of our subject took place in 
 Coopersville. Mich., in 1878. His bride was Miss 
 Lillian Livingston, a native of New York Slate. 
 They have had three children, Winnie, Earl and 
 Flossie. Mr. Hart was Town.ship Treasurer for two 
 years and is now School Assessor. He belongs to 
 the Free and Accepted Masons at Stanton and to 
 the Knights of the Maccabees .at N'estaburgh, and 
 is a true blue Republican. His wife is a member 
 of the Advent Church. 
 
 ^^OHDAN A. WILLKTT, a well-known cili- 
 lll ^f, z«^n of Ionia, was born August 23, 1835, in 
 ^ijjl Onondaga County, N. Y. His parents were 
 Alfred F. and Hannah Smith Willett. For further 
 detail in regard to this family of worth and social 
 standing see the sketch of .1. Milan Willett in this 
 volume. Our subject left home after the death of 
 his father and lived with Robert Karl, the senior 
 member of the firm of Earl, Clark it Co., of Ves- 
 per, Onon<laga County, N. Y. He remained with 
 him for seven years and while there was allowed 
 to attend school about half of the time, alternating 
 this with work in the store. Later he spent a year 
 with Henry A. Shaw, a merchant in Otisco, N. Y.. 
 serving him as clerk. 
 
 The young man came to Michigan in isr>:') an<l 
 first settled at Ionia, where he spent a year with 
 the firm of Lake, Wilson ife Kenneily. After that 
 he wrote for some time in the Register's office. In 
 1857 he purchased a half interest in the Gothic 
 mills at Lyons, which he sold out in 1858. He 
 then engaged as agent for Soule. Robinson A Co., 
 
820 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 in the sale of real estate. His marriage with Mary 
 Elizabelli Yates, January 16, 1862, was an event 
 of great importance in liis life. This lady is the 
 (laughter of Job L. and Jane (Sessions) Yates, old 
 settlers who had come to Ionia County in 1835. 
 
 After marriage Mr. Wlllett aided in the recruit- 
 ing service and in April, 1862, he went to Wash- 
 ington, in expectation of being appointed Quarter- 
 master of Berdan's Sharp Shooters. He was, 
 however, disappointed in tl\is plan, owing to some 
 changes wliich were necessarily made in the organ- 
 ization of the regiment. He was however engaged 
 in the employ of the Sanitary Commission as Exe- 
 cutive or Administrative Agent. For a time he 
 was in charge of their supplies on the store ship, 
 and afterward on the siiip "Elm City," which was 
 engaged in carrying sick and wounded soldiers from 
 the battlefields and camp liospitals to hospitals in 
 the cities. He was subsequently transferred to the 
 ocean steamer "S. li. Spaulding" and continued 
 thus until the demands for ships in the transporta- 
 tion of troops was so great as to necessitate the 
 employment of every one in that service, thus 
 crippling the Sanitary Commission. In 18G3 64 
 Mr. Willett resided in Washington City. 
 
 In 1865 our subject went to the oil fields of 
 Ohio and leased oil lands from which he has never 
 had any income, but still holds his leases on this 
 unproductive properly. After becoming discour- 
 aged there he returned to Michigan where he in- 
 dulged in stock speculation. In 1867 he formed a 
 partnership with his father-in-law, J. S. Yates, and 
 bought a stock of farming implements, hardware, 
 field seeds, etc., and engaged in this line of trade, 
 continuing in it for ten years, after which Mr. 
 Willett took the business alone and carried it on 
 until a paralytic stroke in 1885 compelled cessation 
 of business. This paralysis was the result of an 
 injury as Mr. Willett had been thrown from his 
 buggy upon the railroad track and severely injured 
 upon the head. 
 
 Since Mr. Willett's failure in health he has not 
 engaged in any regular business but has been very 
 active in behalf of college and church work. A 
 part of the time he has been employed as Secretary 
 of the State Missionary Society of the Church of 
 Christ and has been very successful in raising 
 
 money for church and kindred purposes. Since 
 March, 1860, he has been a zealous and faithful 
 member of that church and in all church work is 
 unusually efficient and helpful. Previous to his 
 conversion he was for two years a radical infidel, 
 and for a time would not even attend church. But 
 through it all and since then he has been strictly 
 conscientious in regard to various matters, which he 
 considers worldly and dangerous, such as card 
 playing, dancing and partaking of intoxicating 
 liquors. He is a Republican in politics but is not 
 a politician in the sense of desiring office, as he has 
 consistently and persistently refused to accept any 
 position. He is a pronounced Prohibitionist in 
 principle and is always earnest and active in op- 
 posing the liquor traffic. To him and his good 
 wife have been born four sons: Herbert L. now 
 pastor of the Church of Christ at Dayton, Ohio, a 
 young man of good promise; Arthur F., a store 
 keeper at the .-isylum; Lesiie G. a student, and Enos 
 Hnle, who died October 10. 1884, while in infancy. 
 
 * ." I ^di 
 
 ;ILLIAM H. GARDNER. Within the past 
 decade this gentleman has been counted 
 ^■^J among the best financiers in the town of 
 Edmore, Montcalm County, and has made hosts of 
 friends here by his genial, kindly ways and his 
 mental and moral stamina. He has now retired 
 from the business he formerly followed — banking, 
 and gives his attention wholly to the duties of his 
 official position which includes collections, as he is 
 Township Treasurer, and to an oversight of his 
 investments. He occupies a tasteful residence, set 
 in pleasant grounils and in a good neighborhood, 
 where the family are often visited by their many 
 friends. 
 
 The father of our subject was a native of the 
 Empire State and his name was the same as that of 
 his son. He owned a farm in Medina County, 
 Ohio, and dealt in musical instruments, being him- 
 self a musician. He died when the son of whom 
 we write was but two years old, leaving his widow 
 with four small children to care for and guide. 
 She was the daughter of Levi Branch, 5 farmer, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 821 
 
 and was able to carry on her farm and keep her 
 boys with her until tliey were nearly grown. Her 
 business tact was equal to that of any man in the 
 locality, as was shown by her success in controlling 
 her affairs. She never niarricil again but after the 
 Civil War came to this State and made her home 
 in Pentwater, where she is now living. She is a 
 devout member of tlie Congregational Church, of 
 which her husband was a member. 
 
 When Mr. Gardner died none of his sons was 
 yet ten years old, and as time passed on they did 
 the work on the farm under the guidance of the 
 mother. When the first call was made for volun- 
 teers after the firing upon Ft. Sumter, Clark en- 
 listed in the P^iglitli Ohio Infantry and served as a 
 member of the Brigade Band until the close of the 
 war. lie is now in the jewelry business in Manis- 
 tee, this State. Frank enlisted in August, 18(jl, in 
 the Tenth Ohio Cavalry, and served during the 
 war, being promoted to the rank of Seccmd Lieu- 
 tenant. He is now a lumber dealer in Pentwater. 
 Darwin also entered the army but not until I8fi4, 
 and then he was but fourteen years old. He went 
 into a hundrerl day's regiment and when the term 
 had expired enlisted in the One Hundred Third 
 Ohio Infantry and (continued his soldier's career 
 until the close of the war, from which he came 
 home broken down in health. His present resi- 
 dence is in Pentwater. 
 
 The fourth son was born in Medina County, 
 Ohio, November 20, 1852, and was early set to 
 work on the farm and whenever he could do so 
 went to the ''little old red schoolhouse"' where the 
 district school was in session. When his brothers 
 went to the war he remained in charge of the 
 homestead and on it he stayed until 186 7, wUen he 
 sold, in order to come to this State, whither his 
 brothers had come after their army life was over. 
 He left Cleveland on the "Messenger," the first 
 boat that went through the Straits that season, and 
 having secured the position of cabin-boy spent the 
 rest of tlie summer, and the next also, on board. 
 He spent the winters in Pentwater, aiding his 
 brothers, with whom he made bis home until he 
 was twenty years of age. Prior to that time he had 
 taught some and he then went to Oberlin, Ohio, 
 and devoted two years to diligent studj' in the 
 
 college there, paying his own expenses, and teach- 
 ing two terms in the Slate after he left school. 
 
 In 187fi Mr. Gardner came to Stanton, Montcalm 
 Count}', and became bookkeeper for D. M. Gard- 
 ner, a merchant in whose employ he spent three 
 years. The spring of 1881 saw him located in 
 Edmore and opening a bank, in partnership with 
 A. D. F. Gardner, under the style of Gardner <fe 
 Gardner. The gentlemen made a success of their 
 enterprise after three or four others had tried and 
 failed, and continued it until 1888, combining with 
 itan insurance business. They then dissolved and 
 until .September, 1889, our subject carried on the 
 Kdmore Exchange Bank. That month he sold out 
 to Wisner & Co., and bought the stock of dry- 
 goods in the establishment known as the "Bee 
 Hive," which had been carried on by Frank Dreese, 
 and ran it until 1890. Since that time he has been 
 attending only to his official duties and such mat- 
 ters as requite his management in the disposition of 
 his funds. During his active business life he did an 
 extensive wholesale lumber trade, particularly in 
 shingles, handling over ten million per year. 
 
 While living in Stanton Mr. Gardner was mar- 
 ried in I87'J to Miss Louisa Manville, a native of 
 Mi.ssouri and the ward of Miss Augusta Chapin 
 who is now pastor of a church in Oak Park, Chi- 
 cago. Mrs. Gardner is a lady of unusual refine- 
 ment, and accomplished, particularly in music, of 
 which she made a specialty for year.'s, completing 
 her studies in Detroit and becoming a vocal artist. 
 She has a very fine voice, which is now delighting 
 the music lovers who attend the performances of 
 the McCaull Opera Company, and she already has 
 an engagement made for next season with the 
 Emma Juch Opera Company. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Gardner have three children, named respectively 
 Morris, William H., Jr.. and Florence. 
 
 Mr. Gardner w.as a charter member and one of 
 the organizers of the Home Building Association, 
 and Treasurer during his entire membership. He 
 was Village Trustee for years, and is now Presi- 
 dent of the Village Board and a member of the 
 School Board and serving his third appointment as 
 Notary Public, besides attending to the duties be- 
 longing to Township Treasurer. During one year 
 he held the office of Township Sui>ervisor, Polili. 
 
822 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 cally he is an active and stanch Republican, and he 
 has constantlj^ been a delegate to county and State 
 conventions for3'eais past and is also a member of 
 the County Central Committee. He wields a de- 
 cided influence in the coraraunitj- and displays an 
 unusual amount of energ}' in whatever he takes in 
 hand. Having been successful in securing a fair 
 share of worldly goods, lie is able to gratify his 
 tastes, to bestow good advantages upon liis ciiil- 
 dren, and engage in every project in which his 
 judgment concurs as liltely to be of bencflt. Mrs. 
 Gardner is a member in good standing of the Con- 
 gregational Churcli. 
 
 yARREN HOPKINS, a resident of Portland, 
 Ionia County, has had an interesting and 
 somewliat eventful liistor3f. His paternal 
 ancestors were of Scotch and his maternal of En- 
 glish origin, and several generations of tlie Hoj)- 
 kins family lived in Rliode Island, wlience tlieir 
 descendants have scattered to various States, being 
 largeli' represented in those of the lake region. 
 Tliey were among tiie earliest colonists in North 
 America, and two of the direct progenitors of our 
 subject belonged to tlie Revolutionary forces, the 
 one as an officer and his son as a private. Jonah 
 Hopkins, grandfather of liim of whom we write, 
 married Mary Tucker, and about the beginning of 
 the nineteeth century removed to Otsego County, 
 N. Y., where he reared seven cliiklren. He was a 
 man of steady, in<Uistrious habits, and became well- 
 to-do, owning six hundred acres of good land. In 
 his old age by endorsing notes he lost iiis property. 
 He was a member of tlie Baptist Church. 
 
 William Hutchins, of Vermont, maternal grand- 
 father of Warren Hopkins, was in his teens when 
 the Revolution began, but he entered the service 
 as waiter to his father, wlio was an officer in tlie 
 Patriot army. He soon entered the ranks as a sol- 
 dier, and fought from the age of fourteen until the 
 close of the war. He married Miss Lucena Allen, 
 a relative of Gen. Ethan Allen, and they reared 
 seven children. One of his sons having come West 
 
 was a delegate to the convention that formed the first 
 constitution of Michigan, and afterward was elected 
 to the State Senate. Grandfather Hutchins re- 
 moved to New York not long after his marriage, and 
 died in Ohio at the age of hundred and one years. 
 He was a man of pure and temperate habits, was 
 energetic and industrious, and cleared up with his 
 own iiands three new farms. His courage and firm- 
 ness were unquestioned, j'ct lie was peaceable and 
 gentle. 
 
 Alvason Hopkins, father of our subject, was born 
 in Foster, Providence County, H. I., January 28, 
 1791, and was a lad some nine years old when his 
 parents removed to Otsego County, N. Y. He re- 
 mained at home working on his father's farm after 
 he was of age, with the understanding that he 
 should receive due recompense for his lime and 
 labor, but no part of the farm was deeded to him, 
 and when the crash came and the father lost his 
 property, Alvason was left penniless. His spirit 
 was so broken by this calamity, coming as it did 
 when he had a young family to support, that he lost 
 courage and ambition and never thereafter made 
 any determined effort to retrieve his fortunes. Al- 
 though possessed of good natural ability, and with 
 no bad habits, but steady, temperate and honest, 
 he was content to make a bare living, and remained 
 poor the rest of his lifetime. After several changes 
 of residence in New York he came to this State in 
 1839, and Ionia County was his home until he 
 was called hence in 1872. 
 
 The marriage of Alvason Hopkins, Sr., and Pru- 
 dence Hutchins took place in the spring of 1812. 
 The bride was born in Otsego Count}-, N. Y., 
 March 13, 1797, and was the daughter of William 
 Hutchins, who has already been mentioned. She 
 was a woman of superior intelligence and possessed 
 great energy and force of character, but was withal 
 a model of womanliness, gentle, kind, loving, gen- 
 erous and true. She never lost her hope or cour- 
 age, but as long as she w.as able struggled hard to 
 better the condition of the family and educate her 
 children. She made a public profession of relig- 
 ion when eleven years old, uniting with the Jleth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, but after coming to 
 Michigan she united with the Free Will Baptists. 
 She entered into rest October 16, 1861. She was 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 823 
 
 tlie niotlier of seven children : Otreii, Allen. Alva- 
 son, Sarali A., William B., Natluiniel and Wanen, 
 Orren and Nathaniel are deceased, the latter hav- 
 ing died in Andersonviile prison, July 12, 1864. 
 
 Warren Hopkins was born in Wayne County, 
 N. Y., Feliruary 20, 182',). During tlie summer of 
 IS'.V.i he attended school a few weeks, learning his 
 letters and how to read easy lessons. From that 
 lime until 1 839 his schooling did not exceed ten 
 months, hut when the family came West he could 
 read well and write fairly. He had no further op- 
 portunity to attenil school until the winter of 
 1840-41, when by walking nearly two miles 
 through snow knee deep in an uutraveled road, he 
 studied in the district school eight weeks. Near the 
 middle of tlie session he began the study of Arith- 
 metic, and by the close had learned the fundamen- 
 tal rules, mastered reduction and common fractions. 
 After that he attended school some six or eight 
 months, making his entire school life no more than 
 twenty months at a district school. 
 
 When but nine or ten years old Mr. Hopkins 
 determined, if possible, to gel an education, and so 
 went to school whenever he could, and when he 
 could not studied at home. As he grew older he 
 frequcntl}" took a book with him to his work in the 
 fields, and by extra efforts made time in which to 
 study them there. While in California, from 1852 
 to 1859, he spent r.niny days and evenings in con- 
 ning works on algebra, natural philosophy, astron- 
 omy, geology, physiology' and chemistry, and 
 although he did not gain a thorough knowledge of 
 those sciences he did learn much of them. His 
 main object in going AVe.st was to try and obtain 
 means with which to care for his parents, and at 
 the same time pay his way through school. His 
 disappointment at his failure has to some extent 
 saddened his life, yet he does not regret the choice 
 he made when his parents' comfort lay in one scale 
 and a liberal education in the other. By the con- 
 stant reading of books, newspapers and m.agazines 
 he has stored his mind with much useful and gen- 
 eral information. 
 
 Fron) the time Mr. Hopkins was seven years old 
 he was requirctl to take a part in any work that 
 was suitable for him to perform, but he was never 
 required to do that wliich was too hard for one of 
 
 his age, or to undidy tax his strength by an unrea- 
 sonal)le amount. Though small for his age he was 
 strong and active, took great pleasure in physical 
 sports, and to these facts and his strictly' temperate 
 habits he attributes his extreme good health and 
 strength even to the age of threescore years. He 
 has never been too sick to take care of himself, and 
 has never had a doctor called for him on account 
 of sickness. 
 
 After working at farming more or less Mr. Hop- 
 kins, in the winter of 1851-52, took a school, but 
 after teaching a few weeks gave it up an<l started 
 for California. He w.as accompanied by his brother- 
 in-law, William W. Fitch; and Patrick Lawless, an 
 old pioneer of Portland Township. They hired a 
 conveyance to Detroit, crossed the river and trav- 
 eled by stage to Niagara Falls. Canada was 
 sparsely settled but there was a grog shop ever}- 
 two or three miles along the stage road, and at 
 nearly every one the drivers would stop, going in 
 ostensibly to warm themselves .is the weather was 
 very cold. They would remain inside until the 
 passengers would leave the coaches and go in for 
 a drink, when they would immediately start <jn 
 again, thus giving ground for the belief that they 
 had maile arrangements with the saloonkeepers to 
 bring them as much custom as possible and share 
 in the profit.s. Mr. Hopkins, though not a total 
 abstainer was opposed to tippling, and being con- 
 stitutionally stubborn and .sufliciently warm blooded 
 to stand the cold, absolutcl}' refused to leave the 
 coach or drink. 
 
 Owing to the delay occasioned by these many 
 stoppages, though the party traveled night and day, 
 they were one week going from Detroit to Niagara 
 Falls. When they reached New York they found 
 that through tickets on the steamship line had been 
 bought up for three months ahead, so great was 
 the rush to the Coast. They must take tickets 
 to the isthmus and take their cha)ices of getting on 
 from there, or take passage on a sailing vessel 
 around Cape Horn. The "Greyhound," a clipjier- 
 built ship, was about to sail, and Mr. Hopkins 
 favored securing passage in her but was overruled 
 by his comrades. The party en)l)arke<I for Pan- 
 ama, and waited there three weeks for a boat to 
 .San Francisco, then taking passage on the "Cor- 
 
824 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 nelia," a poor and slow craft manned by Holland- 
 ers, who were such timorous sailors that with the 
 most favorable winds they made but four or five 
 miles an hour. It was soon found that neither 
 provisions nor water would last until Aeapulco was 
 reached, and the passengers took charge of the 
 affairs, with the exception of the sailing and raan- 
 awement of the vessel itself, and placed those on 
 board on one-third rations of provisions and a pint 
 of water per day. 
 
 At. Aeapulco our subject and Mr. Fitch went on 
 shore and managed to pass the guard and secrete 
 themselves on board a Pacific mail steamer en route 
 for San Francisco. They had not the money to 
 pay their passage even had the boat not already' 
 been crowded, but after port was left far behind 
 they sought the captain and offered him what funds 
 they had — some 130 and the watch of Mr. Hopkins 
 — and expressed their willingness to work for the 
 balance due. Their frankness secured them immu- 
 nity from tiie fate of the forty others who were 
 found in hiding when the boat was searched, and 
 who did the work of the regular hands the rest of 
 voyage. Upon reaching their port Mr. Hopkins 
 and his comrade had $5.25 between them, wliile 
 their funds had they sailed on the "Greyhound" 
 would have been $125 each, and tliey were ciia- 
 grined to see that vessel enter the harbor but twelve 
 hours behind tiiem. They worked their way to Sac 
 ramento and started on foot for the mines at Plug- 
 town, in Eldorado County. There they found 
 John and Robert Toan, of Portland, who had gone 
 West by the overland route in 1850. 
 
 Mr. Hopkins could have found work at good 
 wages, or have pre-empted a quarter section of 
 choice land within two miles of Sacramento, and 
 he was convinced tiiat by the latter course he 
 would be sure of a fortune in the course of years, 
 but it would then be too late to return and attend 
 the university. He therefore determined to lake 
 iiis chances at mining, and for seven years he 
 worked as hard as ever man did. All seemed 
 without avail to win a fortune, although he did not 
 drink, gamble, or spend money foolishly. Once or 
 twice he came very near striking a rich gold lead, 
 and sometimes made money for a lime, oidy to 
 lose it in another venture. He could always get good 
 
 wages, and was even importuned by one man for 
 whom he had worked more than for any other, to 
 take a position as teamster at $25 per month more 
 than he gave others. He said he could well afford 
 this as Mr. Hopkins took such good care of a team 
 that he would leave it in better condition at the end 
 of the season than at the beginning, and yet get a 
 fifth more work from it than the other teams gave. 
 
 Mr. Hopkins occasionally sent home a moderate 
 amount of money, and finally learning that his be- 
 loved mother was rapidly failing in health he 
 returned to Michigan, reaching home February 21, 
 1859, the day after the thirtieth anniversary of his 
 birth. He found his mother very ill with inflama- 
 tion of the lungs, but she recovered and survived 
 for a few years. He brought home a moderate 
 amount of money, sufficient to have given him a 
 little chance here, but finding his parents and also 
 his sister and her family in much more destitute 
 circumstances than he had supposed, he used it to 
 make them more comfortable. The mother owned 
 a small farm of twenty-five acres and on this he 
 went to work, and succeeded in making a living 
 for them all. 
 
 June 10, 1860, Mr. Hopkins was married to Miss 
 Mary A. Green, daughter of Samuel and Belinda 
 Green, of Portland Township. She was born in 
 Lyons Township, January 17, 1839, and was one 
 in a family of twelve children, all of whom lived 
 to maturity. The first child born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hopkins was Otis Bingham, whose natal day was 
 April 21,1862; and the second, Mary Alice, was 
 born January 19, 1865. The wife and mother died 
 January 29, of the latter year, and was laid to rest 
 by the side of the mother-in-law, to whom she had 
 been a daughter in affection and devotion. Mrs. 
 Mary Hopkins was a noble woman, who acted well 
 her part in every relationship in life, and faithfully 
 performed every duty that devolved upon her. 
 Although never identified with any church her life 
 was a prayerful and exemplar}' one. The son was 
 stricken with malignant scarletina, and died Jan- 
 uary 23, 1866. Though less than four years of 
 age he had won the admiring love of all who knew 
 him for his brave, generous and manly spirit. 
 Without being in the least precocious he was active, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 825 
 
 intelligent and courageous, and is still s|)oken of 
 in terms of praise. 
 
 Mr. Hopkins followed pliotograpliy a few months 
 but tiie work did not agree with him and he again 
 returned to farming, but in the spring of 1870, 
 coming to the conclusion that the labor was too hard 
 for a man with but one leg — he had lost one during 
 war — he looked about for another occupation. 
 Gen. Humphrey, then Auditor General of the Stale, 
 offered him a clerkship for three months at a sal- 
 ary of i|.10 per month, and ho gladly accepted. His 
 services were retained from Jlay 1 until October, 
 wlien he was told that he would be jiermanently en- 
 gaged if the people of his old neighborhood desired. 
 Making this fact known to a few friends Mr. Hop- 
 kins received testimonials amply suflicient to secure 
 the position, although they were not used, as prior 
 to their arrival at Lansing the Auditor General 
 looked over his work and decided in his favor from 
 that alone. He remained in the oflice \intil Novem- 
 ber 20, 1882, and ere long was in receipt of 
 ^1,000 per annum, the largest salary the Auditor 
 General was then allowed to pay. Mr. Hopkins 
 did considerable outside business, buying and selling 
 land, conveyancing, locating Government land for 
 settlers, and acting as Claim Agent. 
 
 Mr. Hopkins traded Lis Ionia County land for 
 properly in Lansing, but lost considerable, as city 
 property soon fell from forty to fifty per cent. In 
 the spring of 1882 his health beginning to fail he 
 decidcfJ to leave the ollice, and finding one hun- 
 dred and thirty acres of (ioverment land vacant in 
 an old settled part of the .State — the southern part 
 of St. Clair County — he took it as a homestead, 
 and resigning his clerkship moved to the tract in 
 December. He retained the property until April, 
 1890, when it was sold. When he left Lansing he 
 had a house and lot there which he deeiled to his 
 daughter after lier marri.age. She had been united 
 to Frank Campbell, of St. Clair County, November 
 11, 1885. In the spring of 181)0 she traded her 
 Lansing property for a beautiful home of six acres 
 in the village of Jonesville, Hillsdale County, where 
 she now lives. She has one living child, a son, 
 born September 14, 1K89. After selling his St. 
 Clair property Mr. Hopkins spent the summer with 
 
 his daughter, and in the fall located in the village 
 of Portland. 
 
 After the breaking out of the Civil War Mr. 
 Hopkins felt it his duty to help to defend the free 
 institutions bequeathed to him and his countrymen 
 by the soldiers of the Revolution, among whom bad 
 been his own forefathers, both paternal and mater- 
 nal. He enlisted September 20, 1862, as private in 
 Company E, Sixth Michigan Cavalry. The regi- 
 ment left the State early in December, and on 
 reaching Washington went into camp near that city 
 to be trained in military tactics and the manual of 
 arms. Almost the first news Uiey heard was of 
 Burnside's defeat at P'redericksburg, which for a 
 time lowered their spirits. Mr. Hopkins, who had 
 known manj- Southern men, appreciated their brav- 
 ery and intrepidity, and realizing also the un- 
 daunted courage of the people of the North, felt 
 that the struggle would be a severe one, although 
 he never doubted that the right would prevail. 
 
 In the spring of 1863 the regiment was sent to 
 do picket duty along Difficult Creek, in Virginia, 
 and thence took part in the Gettysburg campaign. 
 A few days before the noted batlle Gen. Custer 
 was given command of the brigade which consisted 
 of the First, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Michigan 
 Cavalry. The Sixth first met the enemy at Han- 
 over, Pa., the day before the battle of Gcttysl)urg 
 began. Just after noon when marching from Lit- 
 tlestown it had turned from the road and was 
 passing in column of fours through a wheatfield 
 when it came upon Fitz Hugh Lee's brigade with a 
 section of artillery in position. The artillery at 
 once opened on the head of the column with shell, 
 and as it would have been more than foolish for a 
 raw regiment to engage a brigade of veterans. Col. 
 Gray ordered a halt and tlien gave the command 
 '•fours right about." 
 
 Mr. Hopkins had seriously distrusted his own 
 courage, and feared that he would instinctively 
 seek his own safet3' when the regiment went into 
 action, but he was greatly surprised to find that he 
 was not frightened out of his wits, but understood 
 and was ready to obey the word of command. He 
 saw that many of the men wheeled their horses 
 square about, and having a hot temper he was 
 much provoked and lost confidence in his com- 
 
826 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 rades. Before the day ended, however, he learned 
 that they were as brave men as ever drew sabres 
 in their country's cause. Retiring before the en- 
 emy they reached Hanover and were ordered to 
 dismount and fight on foot with their Spencer rifles. 
 Mr. Hopifins did not i^now whether they were do- 
 ing well or ill until nightfall, when a major from a 
 veteran New York regiment rode in front of the 
 line, and halting in front of the company said: 
 '•You Western men make the best soldiers in the 
 world. You are a new regiment and this is j-our 
 first engagement, yet there has never been better 
 lighting done since the war began than you have 
 done to-day." 
 
 The brigade did good service in the battle of 
 Gettysburg and followed Lee to the Potomac, 
 having many engagements with detachments of his 
 army, capturing many prisoners, and otherwise 
 doing the enemy great damage. September 14, 
 1863, the brigade was engaged at Culpeper Court 
 House and followed the enemy to and drove them 
 across the Rapidan. On the 16th a small body of 
 the enemy succeeded in re crossing the river a lit- 
 tle above Somerville Ford, and in a skirmish with 
 them Mr. Hopkins was severely wounded in the 
 left foot and leg and ISken prisoner. The rebels 
 being driven back through the ford, two stalwart 
 soldiers picked our subject up and carried him. 
 Being unable to take him to the hospital without 
 coming under the guns of the Union sharpshooters 
 they kept him with them until after dark. Mr. 
 Hopkins was treated with extreme kindness by his 
 captors, some even risking their lives in going to a 
 spring to get fresh water for him to drink and to 
 bathe his painful wound. With several of the men 
 Mr. Hopkins has since corresponded, and to them 
 he has become warmly attached. After dark he 
 was taken back two miles to a field hospital, and 
 the ensuing morning the leg was amputated at the 
 knee joint by Surgeon Hardy, of the Sixth North 
 Carolina Infantry. When put into an ambulance 
 to be taken to a Confederate hospital. Surgeon 
 Hardy seeing that he had no blanket gave him a 
 new Confederate one of fine quality. 
 
 During the five days in which Mr. Hopkins lay 
 in the hospital at Orange Court House he fared 
 fully as well as any Confederate soldier there, and 
 
 was treated with the utmost kindness and respect. 
 September 22 he was taken in an ambulance car to 
 Richmond and placed in the Libby Prison Hospital, 
 where he remained seven days and had no cause to 
 complain of his treatment. The Confederate sur- 
 geon carefully dressed his wound and he was given 
 enough to eat, and as good as he had had while in 
 the Confederate hospital at Orange Court House. 
 September 29 he was paroled, taken to City Point 
 and put on board the flag-of-truce boat, "City of 
 New York." 
 
 Mr. Hopkins was taken to Annapolis and placed 
 in the Naval School Hospital, and the kindness he 
 received at the hands of the ladies on board the 
 boat, and those connected with the hospital, leads 
 him to say: "God bless women always, for we 
 poor devils of men would be but a sorry lot were 
 it not for the saving influence of their presence 
 among us." He was transferred to St. Mary's 
 Hospital at Detroit, and applying for a discharge 
 received it April 4, 1864. The next day he went 
 home and received a joyous welcome from his wife 
 and chidren and aged father. His little son when 
 told that this was his papa, would look sharply at 
 him and then at the picture hanging on the wall as 
 though puzzled to understand how it could be. He 
 seemed at once to comprehend his father's disabled 
 condition and seemed anxious to help and wait 
 upon him whenever he could. Mr. Hopkins farmed 
 during the season, finding that lie could plant and 
 hoe in the garden and do some farm work by using 
 only one crutch. He would plow with a steady 
 team, hopping behind the plow in the furrow, but 
 ere long he left the place to enter upon a life which 
 has been already spoken of. 
 
 The second marriage of Mr. Hojjkins took place 
 November 18, 1866, his bride being Miss Amelia 
 A. Safford, daughter of Hiram V. and Minerva 
 Safford, who had settled in Portland Township in 
 1842. There Mr. Safford died May 17, 1888. The 
 family consisted of seven children. Mrs. Hopkins 
 being the eldest. She became the mother of three 
 children, but all died in infancy. 
 
 Soon after his discharge from the army Mr. 
 Hopkins began writing for newspapers, and he has 
 continued this work to the present time, not en- 
 gaged as a regular correspondent but sending occa- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 827 
 
 sional articles to a dozen or more papers and 
 journals piiMisiicd in this and other States. He has 
 written considenilile on tcniper.anoe, political and 
 other questions of the daj', aiway.s advocating tem- 
 perance [irinciples and a prohil)itory law. lie be- 
 came a teetotaler in 1872, when he joined the order 
 of Good Templars with which he is still identified. 
 In politics he is a Republican, but holds country 
 before party and advocates no policy simply be- 
 cause it is that of the Republican party. Knowing 
 the Southern people to be brave, ami believing 
 thera to be conscientious and honorable, and at the 
 present time loyal, he has labored and written to 
 help bring about genuine peace, friendship and 
 goodwill between the two sections of the country. 
 The religious belief of Mr. Hopkins is best ex- 
 pressed in his own words: ''I was brought up by 
 a Christian mother, who taught me to believe the 
 Bible to be the word of God written by divinely 
 inspired men. Up to the time I was nineteen or 
 twenty years old I believed whatever my mother 
 taught me, but after that thought it my dut^' and 
 privilege to think for myself, and am now a Deist. 
 I do not believe in Revelation, but believe in one 
 God, eteriiiil in duration, infinite in all his attributes 
 — among which are wisdom, power, love, mercy, 
 truth and justice — and who is the author of man's 
 being. I do not believe God is a cruel, vindictive 
 tyrant, but a merciful, loving Heavenly Father. I 
 believe in the immortality of the human soul. Be- 
 lieving God to be intinite in love, wisdom and 
 power, and that love to be infinite must necessarily 
 embrace all mankind, and that it is repugnant to 
 reason to suppose that a being of infinite love 
 would will that any being loved should suffer 
 through all eternit}-, or a being possessed of infi- 
 nite wisdom an<l power would suffer his own will 
 to be thwarted, I believe (Joii will in His own 
 good time and in His own w.ay lead all souls to sec 
 the right way, and follow it to perfect peace and 
 happiness. I believe it to be the duty and the 
 highest privilege of man to love and worship his 
 Creator, and to yield cheerful obedience to His 
 laws so far as he can know and under-^tand them. 
 That in serving mankind, in faithfully performing 
 one's dut}' in every position in which one may be 
 placed — as son, brother, fricn<I, husband, father, I 
 
 citizen and member of society — in striving to bet- 
 ter the condition of man and to elevate him mor- 
 ally, intellectually and physically ; in being kind, 
 not only to his fellow-men but to the lower animals 
 (all l)eing God's creatures), and at the same time 
 loving God, acknowledging His authority, and 
 feeling grateful to Him for His blessings, consti- 
 tutes the whole duty of man, and is serving Tiod in 
 the only way acceptable to Him. That cruelty or 
 unmercifulness to man or heast is notonly low and 
 savage, but is a crime that degrades one almost to 
 a leve! with the vilest brute. That an act of kind- 
 ness to man or even to a beast, if prompted by- 
 love, kindness of heart and a merciful disposition, 
 brings one nearer to his God than does all the 
 so-called religious ceremonies one could perform in 
 a lifetime." 
 
 PAVID .1. BROWN, proprietor of the Lake 
 View Mills, Montcalm County, was born 
 in Spring Township, Crawford County, 
 Pa., November 27, 18:37. He is a son of Joseph 
 and Polly (Haggard) Brown, natives of New York, 
 the former born May 1, 1801, and the latter April 
 10, 180G. The father died at the old home in 
 Pennsylvania and hi.s wife still resides there. He 
 was a farmer all his life and had a beautiful farm 
 and was comfortably and ple.isantly situated. He 
 was a Republican in politics. 
 
 The subject of this sketch w.os the fourth child 
 of his parents. He had his early training and edu- 
 cation on his father's farm in Pennsylvania, and 
 when seventeen years t>ld began doing for him- 
 self in Erie County, Pa. There he married and 
 worked on a farm and at the carpenter's trade 
 until 187;?, when he came to Lake View, Mich., 
 and followed carpentering and the trade of a mill- 
 wright for three years. After this he went to 
 Langston, Montcalm County, and built a gristmill, 
 which he carried on for three years. After this 
 he came back to Lake View and bought his pres- 
 ent nouring-mill which he still operates. Ilcowns 
 some farming lands, but gives most of his atten- 
 tion to milling. He starti'd in life ciiipty-lianded. 
 
828 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 He married before he was seventeen j'ears old, 
 and after settling with the parson he found him- 
 self the possessor of a hlooming bride and $1.25. 
 
 Mr. Brown is a strong Republican and was an 
 earnest supporter of the administration during the 
 war. In October, 1861, he joined the army as a 
 private in Company C, One Hundred and Eleventli 
 Pennsylvania Infantry. He served about two years 
 in the Array of the Potomac when he was dis- 
 charged, owing to physical disability. After re- 
 gaining his health he re-entered the service as a 
 private in Company M, Two Hundred and Second 
 Pennsylvania Infantry, and served with the Army 
 of the Potomac until the close of the war. He 
 served in many Imrd-fonght battles and was never 
 wounded or taken prisoner, but has had poor 
 heallli ever since coming from the army. He was 
 fin.ally mustered out of service at Washington, 
 D. C, and received his final discharge at Pitts- 
 burg, Pa., in June, 1865. He belongs to the 
 Knights of the Maccabees. 
 
 Our subject's marriage took place October 29, 
 1854. He was then united with Miss Sarah J. 
 Eddy, of Erie County, Pa., a native of New York 
 State, where she was born October 26, 1840, and 
 a daughter of Elizur and Sophia Eddy. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Brown are the parents of two children — 
 George A., of Lake View, who married Stella 
 Perry, of this village, and who is the father of 
 three children — Roy, Ray and Vivian. Ida, the 
 j'oungest born, is the wife of 6. W. Burr, of Sag- 
 inaw, Mich., who is doing a large business on the 
 instalment plan. 
 
 HARLES P. SOMERS. A prominent place 
 among the business men of Ionia County is 
 that occupied by the gentleman above- 
 named, who is a dealer in agricultural implements 
 and hardware in the village of Pewamo. He is a 
 member of the firm of Klee & Co., which is doing 
 a fine trade and is a potent factor in the financial 
 life of the place. Mr. Somers lias met with some 
 misfortune but his undaunted spirit was not quelled, 
 and he was soon re-established and pursuing his 
 
 course with renewed energy. His chief character- 
 istics are a straightforward zeal and persistence 
 that carry to a finish his business enterprises and 
 gain the commendation of his associates. 
 
 Mr. Somers is a native of Dutchess County, 
 N. Y., the date of his birth being October 16, 
 1844. His parents were Frederic and Roba (Marcy) 
 Somers, and his father was a general laborer and 
 farmer. He came to this State in 1876, and spent 
 the remainder of his days with his son, dying in 
 1887. The mother had passed away in 1876. She 
 was of English descent and Mr. Somers was of 
 German lineage. The}' had a family of seven 
 children, all yet living except one — Peter, a brake- 
 man on the New York & Harlem Railroad, who 
 stepped from his train to speak to a friend and 
 stumbled over some gi'avel that he did not see (it 
 being in the evening), and was thrown under the 
 cars and killed. The survivors are: George, of 
 New York; Lois, a resident of Pewamo; Mrs. 
 Caroline Marcy, of New York; Andrew J., who 
 lives in Kearney, Neb.; Mrs. Lenora Vosburg, of 
 Lime Rock, Conn.; and our subject. 
 
 Mr. Somers, of whom we write, received his 
 education in the district schools and prepared 
 himself for life still further by taking a commer- 
 cial course of study in Albion, this State. He had 
 come West when a young man of twenty-one and 
 located at I'ewamo. Here he engaged as clerk in 
 the general store of S. W. Webber, in whose em- 
 ploy he remained some time, and continued his 
 clerical labors for different firms five 3'ears. He 
 tlien bought out the first hardware store in the 
 place and embarked in business for himself. In 
 1885 Mr. Somers lost his store and part of iiis 
 stock by fire, the loss being about i!l,000, but as 
 soon as suitable arrangements could be made he 
 opened up in another location. The establishment 
 in which he is interested is the only one of the 
 kind in the town. 
 
 Prosperity has crowned Mr. Somers' efforts and 
 he has a fine home in tlie village and a small farm 
 within the corporation. His home is presided 
 over by a lady of intelligence and capability who 
 was known in her maidenhood as Miss Alma Bis- 
 sell, and at the time of her marriage, in' 1869, was 
 residing in Pewamo. The congenial home has been 
 
POUTKAIT AM) lUOCUAlMIlt'AL ALBUM. 
 
 829 
 
 m 
 
 blessed by the birth of six ciiildreii, nnincd respeel- 
 ivel^': Nellie, who died Mnit-li 21, 1891, ageil 
 eighteen years, six months, twenty -one days; Cora, 
 Louie, .Tay, Bessie and Maud. Mr. Soraers is a 
 Republican, and has bern honored by election tt) 
 the oIKce of Township Treasurer three terms. He 
 is identified with the Ancient Order of United 
 Workmen. 
 
 A. DkIIAKT. one of the wcll-knovvii citi- 
 zens of Huslinell Township, Montcalm 
 County, was born in Uichniond, N. Y., 
 November 12, 1841. lie was a son of Nathaniel 
 and Maria (Simonson) Dellart, both of New York, 
 lie spent his carl_v life at home with his parents 
 until he reached his twentieth year. His father 
 was by occupation a skiff builder. At the age of 
 thirteen, the boy having attended, the common 
 schools in New York, came to Michigan in 1855, 
 and after this he again attended scliool for a few 
 months. 
 
 Our subject reached Montcalm County in 185'i, 
 and made his first home, which has proved to be 
 his permanent one, in Bushnell Townslii|). He 
 began farming and cleared a place upon which to 
 plant a crop and continued in this work until 
 1864, when he entered the army, enlisting Septem- 
 ber 3 in Company C, Thirteenth Michigan In- 
 fantry. He was in the Army of the Cumberland 
 and was under Sherman during all his long march 
 to the sea. He took part in the engagement at 
 Averysboro, March IG, 18G5, and at licntonville, 
 in the same State, on the lOlli of the same month. 
 He was with the Reserve at Black River, and after- 
 ward at Raleigh. After this he went to Richmond 
 and was present at Washington at the (I rami Re- 
 view. He received his <lischargc .lunc 8, 1805, 
 and was mustercil out at Detroit, and ictnrned to 
 Bushnell Township and again eny;aged in farming. 
 The subject of this sketch was united in mar- 
 riage December 24, 18C3, with Margery C. .lenks, 
 of Montcalm County. Seven children have blessed 
 tliis union, namely: Horace W., Cilbert F., Mil- 
 ton A., Ora Vernon, Raymond C, Klva and Ann. 
 
 His wife died February 28, 1879. He was again 
 married on the 29th of June, 1879. The lady who 
 now united her fortunes with our subject bore 
 the maiden name of Mary M. McComb, and was 
 a resident of Evergreen Township. She has two 
 children — Harvey S., born January 19, 1882; and 
 Hassle K., July 19, 1883. Both children are living 
 and in health. 
 
 Mr. Dellart followed farming until 1875, when 
 he wag appointed Postmaster of Vickeryvillc, and 
 then entered into a store of general merchandise 
 at the same place, where he continued for twelve 
 years, after which he sold out his interest. His 
 son, Milton A., conducts the business at present, 
 as his father now devotes himself entirely to farm- 
 ing. Mr. Dellart is a thorough Rei)ublican and 
 takes a lively interest in political questions, hav- 
 ing canvassed the town on several occasions in the 
 interest of the party. Although offered various 
 township oflices he has persistently refused them, 
 as he does not wish to hold ollice. He has been 
 particularly active in a literary society which was 
 organized here, and is a popular speaker on vari- 
 ous subjects which arc open for discussion. 
 
 1?_, ON. J. U". KOIUNSON is carrying on a 
 ll J large business in ^'eslaburg, Montcalm 
 ^^^ County. He is engaged not only in mer- 
 (^) chandising and manufacturing, but also has 
 a wholesale business in lumber and shingles, and 
 devotes some attention to llie sale of real-estate. 
 His father and grandfather Watson and Thomas 
 Robinson were both natives of Yorkshire, England, 
 the grandfather being a manufacturer of wof)lens 
 in the city of Leeds. He aflerwanl came to Can- 
 ada and eng.iged in farming near IVterboro, where 
 he died. 
 
 The father of our subject was seven years old 
 when he accompanied his parents to America. He 
 received a good eilucation and became a minister 
 in the Wesleyan .Methodist Church, ami during the 
 Canadian Rebellion he acted as an ollicer. He re- 
 moved to Wooilstock and early in the '50s came to 
 the United States and settled in KansfLS. He was 
 
830 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 a strong anti-slarery man and very outspoken. He 
 found it prudent to come East again in order to es- 
 cape the lynching, which the outlaw.shad promised. 
 He settled in Sanilac County, Mich., on a farm, and 
 later went to Bad Axe, Huron County, where he 
 owns a nicely improved farm, and where he has 
 filled the offices of Supervisor and Justice of the 
 Peace. 
 
 The mother of our subject, whose maiden name 
 was Elizabeth Livick, was born in Cumberland, En- 
 gland. Her father, John Livick was a soldier in 
 the Finglish army, who came to America upon his 
 retirement from the service when she was a child. 
 Our subject is the youngest child of these worth}' 
 parents, and was born September 11, 1854. When 
 he was seven years old he went to live with his sis- 
 ter at East Saginaw, here he attended public school 
 and High School, until he was fourteen years of 
 age when tliey removed to the country near Mer- 
 rill. When eighteen years old he began working 
 in a sawmill, and soon learned to Qle and saw. 
 Upon reaching his majority our subject began 
 teaching school. He was in the Jonesficld school 
 for three years, and at the same time was Town- 
 ship Clerk, Supervisor and Township Superinten- 
 dent of Schools. This latter position he held for 
 three years. During this time he had bought land. 
 In 1879 he sold one of his farms, coming to Vesta- 
 burg, and investing the monej' in a store here. He 
 bought out William A. Starkweather, and has since 
 that time been in general merchandise. He is the 
 oldest merchant liere, and one of the most success- 
 ful. At the same time he began dealing in shingles, 
 and two years later he entered upon the manufac- 
 ture of shingles at Fish Creek in Ferris Township. 
 Since then he has owned and operated different 
 mills, dealing largely in shingles and lumber. He 
 also deals in timber land, and owns a tract near 
 Aberdeen, AVash., where he has a fine residence. He 
 owns over fourteen hundred and ninety acres of 
 land in Montcalm and Isabella Counties, having two 
 hundred and ninety acres adjacent to Vestaburg, 
 one hundred of which are finely improved and on 
 which general farming is carried on. 
 
 On October 26, 1878, Mr. Robinson entered into 
 a life union, which has proved in every way con- 
 genial and harmonious with Anna Bryant, who was 
 
 born in Canada, of Scotch parentage. Her father, 
 Capt. George Bryant, was a sea and lake captain. 
 This lad}' is well educated, and for a number of 
 years was a teacher. Three children have been born 
 to them — AVatson B., John L. and Willan. Mr. 
 Robinson was Supervisor of Richland for four 
 years, his term beginning in 1880. In 1877 he was 
 elected to the State Legislature on the Democratic 
 ticket. In this campaign he ran largely ahead of 
 his ticket, overcoming a majority on the other side 
 of over three hundred. During his term of service 
 in the Legislature, he served on various important 
 committees. He is independent in politics. 
 
 DWIN A. MURPHY, the subject of this 
 brief sketch, is one of Ionia County's bright- 
 est and most highly respected young citi- 
 zens. Ills birth was celebrated at the village of 
 Lj'ons, Mich., as the second son of Edward and 
 Mary Murphy, when the guns of Ft. Sumter were 
 rousing the nation to war. Born of honest and 
 hard-working parents, who early moved with their 
 sons to a forest home, young Murphj- was sur- 
 rounded b}' all the influences that pave the way to a 
 thoughtful and successful life. At the age of eight 
 years, he with ax in hand assisted his father in 
 clearing away the forest of a one hundred and 
 twenty-acre farm. During the winter months he 
 attended the district school until 1877, when he en- 
 tered the State Normal School to prepare himself 
 for teaching, and in 1878 began a course in the 
 Agricultural College, from which institution he 
 was graduated with honors in 1882, receiving the 
 degree of Bachelor of Science. Since that time ho 
 has been actively engaged in school work, and iias 
 become one of the leading educators in the county. 
 He now holds the position of Superintendent of the 
 Muir public schools, and Chairman of the County 
 Board of School Examiners, to which position he 
 has once been appointed and three times elected, 
 and has recently been elected as the County 
 Superintendent of Schools. His work in the school 
 room is of the highest order, and his active and 
 genial disposition inspires teachers and pupils where- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BrOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 831 
 
 ever he goes. He is pleasant and sociable to his 
 fellow-citizens without distinction, and is always 
 free to furllicr their best interests. As a speaker 
 lie is lliient .-ind forcible, and has shown himself to 
 be a talented writer. He is a prominent member 
 of the Masonic and Knights of Pythius fraterni- 
 ties. 
 
 Mr. Murphy is much interested in agricultural 
 pursuits, and is an admirer of fine live stock, and 
 during the summer vacation finds recreation from 
 his school labors upon his picturesque Riverside 
 stock farm. 
 
 eHARLES NORTHWAY is numbered among 
 the progressive and prosperous pioneers of 
 the Grand River A'alley and is thoroughly 
 deserving of a pl.ice in this Ai.uum. He is now re- 
 siding on section 4, Keene Township, where he has 
 made his home since the spring of 18C7, although 
 for a longer period a resident of Ionia County. He 
 was born in Delaware Count}', N. Y.. September 4i 
 1824, his parents being Augustus and Margaret 
 (Houghtaling) Northway. His father was a sol- 
 dier in the War of 1812. The parental family was 
 large and the following survive: Rufus, Charles, 
 Mrs. Calvin Smith, Mrs. Candace Wright, Mrs. 
 Chester Ford, Albert, Mrs. Albert Spencer and 
 John. They are variously located in this .State, 
 Missouri and Minnesota, and are carrying on useful 
 careers. 
 
 In 1831 our subject with his parents removed to 
 Trumbull County, Ohio, where they were early- 
 settlers, and where Mr. Northway attained to 
 man's estate. From his early years he has been 
 engaged in farming, and has borne a part in the 
 wearisome work necessary to clear and develop 
 unbroken land, as well as the lighter labor of car- 
 rying on an improved tract. His educational priv- 
 ileges were limited, but he is practically well 
 informed and has a good understanding of the 
 important branches. He came to Ionia County in 
 the spring of 1848, and made his home in Otisco 
 Township until l^e took possession of his present 
 farm. He had practically no means and the land 
 was in its primitive condition, not a furrow hav- 
 
 ing been turned thereon, nor n stick of timber 
 removed. He split the first rail, and indeed made 
 nearly' every one now used in his farm fences. He 
 has over one hundtcd acres cleared and developed 
 and supiilied with good buildings, including a 
 modern farm house put up in 187G. 
 
 Among the early experiences of Mr. Northway 
 ni.iy be mentioned hauling wheat to Grand Rapids 
 with an ox-team and receiving from forty to sixty 
 cents per bushel for his load, half being given in 
 cash and half traded out. He probably did as 
 much hard work as any man in the township, an<l 
 his estate is a standing monument to his industry 
 and sturdy enterprise. While promoting his per- 
 sonal interests h? did not forget that others were 
 to be considered, but was ever ready to take a part 
 in enterprises that would improve the condition of 
 the people whether in the line of their menial, 
 moral or material advancement. A man of ster- 
 ling integrity his woni has long been considered as 
 good as his bond. He has served as .School Treas- 
 urer of his district, and while not a church mem- 
 ber lias given financial supi)ort and countenance to 
 religious societies. 
 
 .lanuary 24, 18o(i, Mr. Northway was married to 
 Miss Mary A. Hutchinson, who bore him one son, 
 George. His second marriage took place Decem- 
 ber 12, 1859, and his bride on this occasion was 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Hayes, widow of Hugh Hayes, 
 formerly of the city of Ionia. This union has 
 been blessed by the birth of three children: Mary 
 A., wife of Lewis Tuttle; Berenice, wife of George 
 Daniels; and Fanny. Mrs. Northway had one 
 child by her first husband — Jenny, now the wife of 
 Eliud Knapp. Mrs. Northway is a daughter of 
 Robert and Agnes Allen, and is an intelligent, hos- 
 pitable and kindly woman who finds great enjoy- 
 ment in bestowing upon others a share in the 
 comforts which crown her days. 
 
 •^ AMES H. RUEL. Although this gentleman 
 is not yet thirty years old he has climbecl 
 to an enviable position on the financial 
 ladder and bears a prominent part in the 
 affairs of Pewamo. Ionia County, and the country 
 
832 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 roundabout. He is Cashier and Manager of the 
 Webber & Riiel Bank, a flourishing institution that 
 stands on a solid basis and lias the confidence of 
 the people as being controlled by men of honor 
 and substance. Mr. Ruol has a bright mind, a 
 good education, and considerable experience in 
 business life in various lines, and shows acumen 
 and tact as a financier. 
 
 Mr. Ruel tr.ices his lineage to Scotland, whence 
 Ills father, George Ruel, came when twenty years 
 of age. He was born on a farm near Glasgow, 
 on the 16th of June, 1827, and after he had crossed 
 the Atlantic located in Canada. At Gault he mar- 
 ried Miss Helen Biggar, who was likewise a native 
 of "Auld Scotia," and to them came six sons and 
 daughters, all living, as is the mother, her home 
 being in Fowlerville, Mich. The children are: 
 Jeannette, wife of Mark Palmer, a train conductor, 
 living in Waukesha, Wis.; Annie, wife of the Rev. 
 G. E. Paddock, in Minneapolis, 'Minn.; previous to 
 her marriage she was a missionary to Utah. George 
 W., a resident of Seattle, Wash.; Mattie, wife of 
 the Rev. W. H. Prentice, whose home is in Crom- 
 well, Ind.; and Nellie, now Mrs. S. D. Williams, 
 of Ann Arbor, who was formerly Superintendent 
 of Public Instruction in Livingston County, and 
 is a competent lav/yer. 
 
 George Ruel served an apprenticeship of five 
 years at the merchant tailor's business in Edin- 
 burgh, Scotland, and was a successful prosecutor 
 of the same. He remained in Canada six years, 
 during h'df of that period holding an important 
 offlce under the Government. In 1855 he left 
 the Dominion and came to this State, settling in 
 Washtenaw County. He had a fine clothing store 
 and employed several men, actively carrying on 
 business fourteen years. From Ann Arbor he re- 
 moved to Chelsea, where he kept a similar estab- 
 tablishment three and one-half years, and whence 
 he went to Fowlerville, Livingston Countj', there 
 to remain permanently. He did business there 
 thirteen years, then left his family and went to 
 Aberdeen, S. Dak., and established a merchant 
 tailoring store and took up three hundred and 
 twenty acres of land here. He made some im- 
 provements during the three years of his sojourn. 
 He was a self-made man, whose strength of mind 
 
 and character gave him prominence in the commu- 
 nity. He was one of the first to enlist in the 
 Civil War and he spent four years in the service 
 of tlie country-, and received a wound in the left 
 leg, from which he suffered somewhat until death. 
 He held various positions of trust and was an 
 active and official member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, of which his widow is a devoted 
 member. He died August 25, 1885. 
 
 The subject of these paragraphs wras born in 
 Washtenaw County, June 22, 1862, and having 
 good advantages acquired a thorough business 
 education. He worked on a farm about a year, 
 receiving $8 per month, and then started to learn 
 the printer's trade, and for the labors of a twelve- 
 month he got his board and 150. He next entered 
 the employ of D. R. Glenn & Co., general mer- 
 chants at Fowlerville, and from them went to 
 E. D. Drew, another general dealer, working for 
 each firm about a year. In 1882 Mr. Ruel learned 
 telegraphy, and until 1886 he was employed by 
 the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railroad as Sta- 
 tion Agent and operator at Fowlerville and 
 Brighton Beach. Following this he was at Lyons 
 and other points, and then bought the interest of 
 L. L. Trask in the banking-house of Webber & 
 Trask, in Pewamo, and located here. 
 
 Mr. Ruel has been President of the village two 
 terms, and is now Township Treasurer. As a 
 public servant he is capable and painstaking, and 
 his honesty is not called in question. Beside his 
 bank stock he has a comfortable dwelling and 
 one hundred acres of laud, and an interest in 
 other out-lying propert}'. His home is under the 
 care of a competent housekeeper and pleasant 
 companion, who became his wife in 1885. Prior 
 to that time she w.as known as Miss Alice J. Ams- 
 den, she being a daughter of Capt. A. A. Amsden, 
 a gentleman most highl3' esteemed by all who 
 know him, residing in Lyons, Ionia County. Mrs. 
 Ruel is not only fully capable of the man.ageuient 
 of her home, but is also a sweet singer, an excel- 
 lent pianist, and is of marked ability as an elo- 
 cutionist, being a devoted lover of these arts. She 
 has since her marriage continued her study of 
 them, believing in one's making use of such 
 talents as they may possess, and that the wife 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUJL 
 
 833 
 
 should not, when possible, allow the duties of 
 home, and never those of society, to so infringe 
 upon her time, but that some attention may be 
 givcd to the cultivation of the mind, thereby en- 
 abling her more to assist the one nlio Ims chosen 
 her for his companion. Mr. Ruel is a Mason and 
 Odd Fellow and casts his vote with the Democratic 
 party. 
 
 ',frjy)ENJAMIN F. SCMULTZ. Tiio father of 
 |Li^> the subject of this sketch lias large manu- 
 I^V) ill facturing interests, and no one can scan the 
 ^^^ pages of liis life without at once determin- 
 ing the fact that he must be a man of wonderful 
 executive abilities. This gentleman manages the 
 extensive luilling business of liis father. This 
 necessarily calls into action all the industry, per- 
 severance and ingenuity with which the Creator 
 has endowed hira. 
 
 Our subject was born at Ann Arl)or, Mich., 
 November 15, 1861, and is the son of J. F. and 
 Christina (Shafer) Schultz, who are natives of 
 German^'. J. F. Schultz, the father of our subject, 
 came with his parents from Germany at tlie early 
 age of seven years. In 1839 they located at Ann 
 Arbor, where his father followed the trade of 
 coopering. Mrs. J. F. Schultz came to Michi- 
 gan with her parents when she was fourteen years 
 of age. The family settled at IIowcll. To the 
 parents of our subject twelve children were born, 
 nine of whom are living. Mr. Schultz is engaged 
 in the manufacture of barrels and staves at Lansing. 
 Our subject lived in Ann Arbor until six years of 
 age, when his parents removed to Belleville, and 
 two years later to Lansing. Here he attended a 
 school which was called Bartlett's Business Col- 
 lege, where he took a thorough course of educa- 
 tion. He then engaged with his father in carrying 
 on a general store at Coral, Montcalm County, 
 this Stale, where his father once owned a n)i!l and 
 Store. The son soon bought out this store and 
 managed it two years, remaining there seven years. 
 He afterward engaged in the stave business, which 
 |ie still continues, and also has interests at Vesta- 
 
 burg, Montcalm County. In this place he man- 
 ages two mills although he resides at Portland, to 
 which he came in 1887. Mr. Schultz, the father 
 of our subject, owns a mill and some lands at this 
 place and his son is the purchasing agent of five 
 mills, which are located respectively at Belding, 
 Middlcton, Vestaburg and Portland. 
 
 The subject of this sketch took for his wife Eva 
 M. Hopkins. She is a daughter of Marcus D. 
 Hoiikins, of Detroit, Mich. The marriage took 
 place at the home of the bride December 24, 1881. 
 One child, Elsie Gertrude, blessed this happy 
 union. Mr. Schultz is a member of the Masonic 
 Order, Chapter Degree, Royal Arcanum. He is a 
 Republican in politics and is earnest in his polit- 
 ical preferences. His father was Mayor of Lansing 
 and has been prominent in the politics of this 
 place. Although Mr. .Schultz may not have gained 
 high places in political ranks he has probably 
 served his country elTlciently by attending strictly 
 to his large business details with energy and fidelity. 
 
 ■^|M1!R()SE G. SMITH, a first-class farmer, 
 has one of the well-improved and well- 
 regulated estates of Ionia County. His 
 property consists of two hundred and 
 eighty acres on section 19, Ronald Township, which 
 includes the homestead on which his father located 
 during the 'oOs. The buildings on the land include 
 a substantial, two-story farm house, good barns, 
 granaries and sheds, and Mr. Smith is carrying on 
 general farming in such a way as to secure a good 
 income. He is descendefl from old New York 
 families and was born in Cayuga County, that 
 Stale, June 21, 18U. His parents were Daniel G. 
 and Lucetta (Sperry) Smith, both of whom were 
 born in the same county as the son. Very soon 
 after their marriage they came to this State, and 
 for some eight years made their home in Clinton 
 County. They then carae to the farm now owned 
 by their son .Vmbrose. They had five children, our 
 subject being the eldest. 
 
 The subject of this biograjjbical notice was an 
 infant about twelve months old when brought to 
 
834 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 this State, and at the age of eight years he re- 
 liiineil to New York, wliere he spent four years at 
 school. lie tlien came hacli to his homo and toolc 
 up iiis work with his father on tlie homestead he is 
 now operating. He did not establish a home of his 
 own until after he was of age, but in 1869 was 
 married to Evangelia Dixou, who was born in 
 Detroit August 31, 1848. She was bereft of her 
 mother's love and care when but an infant, and for 
 a time was eared for by her mother's sister. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Smith have five children, whose 
 respective names are: Herbert L., Bertlia L., Ma- 
 llei, Carrie and Lucetta. The eldest daughter is 
 now Mrs. Grover. The younger daughters are at 
 home, and the son is pursuing his studies in Ionia. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Smith are among the highl3--respected 
 members of the community, both being earnest, 
 humble Christians and excellent neighbors. Thej' 
 hold membership in the Christian Church, and Mr. 
 Smith holds the oflice of Deacon. 
 
 |EV. HENRY MARSH, pastor of the Con- 
 gregational Ciiurch in Edmore, is the pio- 
 !i \\\ neer minister of that denomination here. 
 ^^Hc came in May, 1880, the year after a class 
 was organized with five members, and during the 
 decade that has passed has built up a good con- 
 gregation, organized a society at Six Lakes, and at 
 the same time prosecuted the work that has re- 
 sulted in securing to Edmore a good house of wor- 
 ship. During the first year of his residence here 
 he also had oversight of the Millbrook charge, and 
 the second j'ear had Lake View. Since that time 
 Edmore and the vicinity has been under his care, 
 but as this neighborhood has increased in popula- 
 tion his work has been confined within a smaller 
 circuit. 
 
 Mr. Marsh was born in Eckford, Calhoun County, 
 September 17, 1842, and w.as reared on a farm 
 there. He attended the district schools and when 
 eighteen years old began a preparatory course, con- 
 tinuing his studies at odd times until 1865, when 
 he entered the senior preparatory class, and com- 
 pleted his preparation for college. The next year 
 
 he began his work in the classical course, and after 
 four years of study was graduated with the degree 
 of Bachelor of Arts. He then spent one year in 
 New Haven, Conn., studying theology in the Yale 
 Seminar}'. Prior to this he had given a short time 
 to teaching, and he now took up the work of in- 
 struction at Olivet, this State, making Latin, mathe- 
 matics and the natural sciences a specialty. 
 
 After teaching a year Mr. Marsh became a stu- 
 dent in the school of Theolog}' at OI)erlin, Ohio, 
 and in 1873 was honored with the degree of Bache- 
 lor of Theology. The same year that of Master of 
 Arts was conferred upon him by Olivet College. 
 He next took a post-graduate course at Andover 
 Theological Seminary, after which, in December, 
 1874, he was chosen pastor of a church in Somer- 
 set, Hillsdale Count}', this State. He was ordained 
 there April 23, 1875, and remained until the spring 
 of 1877, when he went to Kalamo, remaining with 
 the charge there three years. At the termination 
 of that period he located in Edmore, being the first 
 Congregational minister that had made a perman- 
 ent settlement here. The little band of believers 
 had no place in which to worship that they could 
 call their own, and Mr. Marsh at once began to 
 solicit subscriptions for a church. Ere long a house 
 of worship was put up and the society felt that it 
 had a name and a place in the world. 
 
 Mr. Marsh is of English ancestry. His father 
 was Joel B. l\Iarsh, a native of Ontario County, N. 
 Y., and his grandfather, Isaac Marsh, was born in 
 Connecticut. The father came to Marshall, Mich , 
 about 1836, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. 
 He subsequently bought Government land four 
 miles from the cit}', built a log house and improved 
 three hundred and sixteen acres. He died in 1850, 
 at the early age of forty-three 3'ears, his death re- 
 sulting from injuries occasioned by falling from a 
 barn he was building. He was a member of the 
 Presbyterian Church. The mother of our subject 
 bore the maiden name of Eliza Ingersoll and was 
 the daughter of a miller living in Ontario County, 
 N. Y. She made a second marriage, becoming the 
 wife of Charles M. Bord well, a native of New York 
 and a pioneer of Eckford, and they remained on 
 the farm there until his death, in September, 1864. 
 Some months later the widow sold the farm and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALIJUM. 
 
 885 
 
 removed to Olivet in order to give her children 
 better cdiicalional opportunities. In 1889 slie 
 went to California and is now living in Los An- 
 geles with a son; she is soventy-throe jonrs uf age. 
 Her religious nienibersliip is in tin- Congregational 
 Church at Olivet. 
 
 At the bride's home in Vernidutville, Kalou 
 County, September 17, 1S7-1, the Kev. Mr. .Marsh 
 was married to Miss Anna M. Benedict, daughter 
 of the Rev. N. W. Benedict. This lady was born 
 May 1, 1844, and completed her educational train-, 
 ing at Olivet College, from which she was gradu- 
 ated in 1865. Few indeed have had better oppor- 
 tunities than she or have broader culture. She is 
 not only thoroughly educated, but she possesses 
 a fluency of speech that enables her to use her 
 knowledge as many cannot. She was a teacher in 
 her Alma Mater for six years, and has ever taken 
 great interest in school work. In the field of labor 
 of her husband she has been of great assistance to 
 him, organizing tlie Ladies' Societj' and acting as 
 Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and by her 
 sympathy and tact doing much to hold the congre- 
 gation together in bonds of love and attracting to 
 it people from all circles. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh 
 have two daughters, named respectivelj', Mary and 
 Kdna. These misses are being carefully guided 
 and thoroughly schooled in that which will develop 
 their better natures and mental [lowers. 
 
 The father of Mrs. Marsh was born in Connecti- 
 cut and was graduated from Williams College in 
 Massachusetts, and Auburn Theological Seminary. 
 He entered the ministry of the Presbyterian 
 Church, but in 1843, having come to Vermontville, 
 this State, he took charge of a Congregational 
 society, over which he was pastor seven years. 
 For ten years he carried on the Vermontville 
 Academy and he organized the Presbyterian 
 Churches at t)neida and SunfiehL He removed to 
 Olivet in onler to give his children better e<liica- 
 lional facilities, and for six years was Secretary 
 and Treasurer of the college. He then returned 
 to Vermontville, which he made his permanent 
 home, dying there in October, 187.5, aged sixty- 
 eight years. For years prior to that gad event he 
 acted as home missionary and in the annals of the 
 church his work is recorded as that of one of its 
 
 most cfflcicnt members. He owned a farm of one 
 
 hundred and sixty acres, upon which he employed 
 students who wished to make their own waj', thus 
 furnishing them means by which to pay their col- 
 lege cxpen.ses. His wife w.as Almira Bennett, a 
 native of Massachusetts and a woman of rare quali- 
 ties of mind and heart. She lived to a good old 
 age, dying in 18110. Her father was Mason Ben- 
 nett, who was born in the Bay State, lived for a 
 few years in Batavia, N. V.. and then removed to 
 Janesville, Wis., where he was a merchant until 
 his death. 
 
 Mr. Marsh has always manifested a deep interest 
 in the educational advancement of the people and 
 for six years he has been School Trustee. A man 
 of broad ami liberal mind, thorough schooling, 
 and studious, thoughtful nature, he is well versed 
 in matters of general interest, as well as more 
 scholarly. In manners he is pleasant and affable, 
 while his character is above reproach. For years 
 he was identified wllh the Re|)ublican party, with 
 the [)vinciple8 of which he is still in sympathy, al- 
 though he has recently identified himself with the 
 Prohibition element, believing that thus he can 
 make his temperance work most effectual. 
 
 ARION L. SMITH, a well-known horse- 
 breeder of Ionia County, makes his home 
 in the county seat, where he has other bus- 
 iness interests besides that of his stables. 
 He has a love for horses ami a natural aptitude for 
 knowledge concerning them, which le<l him after 
 many years spent in other work, to give his atten- 
 tion largely' to handling them. The horse that has 
 made his stable prominent among other similar 
 places is "Pilot Montgomery," one of the most 
 noted sires in the country. Mr. Smith owns a 
 number of other horses of the famous strain. He 
 has earned the name of a square-dealing horseman 
 and one who has thorougii knowledge of the charac- 
 teristics of equines and the peculiarities that dis- 
 tinguish the breeds. 
 
 Mr. Smith was born in Pennsylvania in 1844 
 anil is a son of the late Lewis D. Smitli, who died 
 
836 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 in Ionia in 1888. The father was a prominent 
 citizen, who held many offices of trust and always 
 to his credit. The widowed mother of our subject 
 is still living. The son was reared on a farm and 
 at an early age entered a banking house in Ionia, 
 where he remained until, on the retirement of his 
 father, who had been Postmaster eight years, he was 
 appointed to the position. He was in charge of 
 the ollice four years, then his brother founded the 
 tiim of Smith & Smith, booksellers and stationers, 
 which is still carrying on business and is one of 
 the most flourishinij in central Michigan. 
 
 Our subject next turned his special attention to 
 the duties of a landlord and for several years ran a 
 liotel. The bent of his nature was at last followed 
 and he entered upon his present occupation. Mr. 
 Smith has been twice married, first in 1873 and for 
 the second time in 1876. He has three children, 
 named respectively, Burt M., Ada F. and Blanche. 
 In politics Mr. Smith is a stalwart Republican. 
 
 \1^)EV. ALFRED CORNELL, for many years 
 IHT pastor of the Baptist Churcli at Ionia, was 
 !E\ born in Madison County, N. Y., July 7, 
 *' 1813. He is a son of Alfred and Nancy 
 (Caldwell) Cornell, natives of Rhode Island, whence 
 they came to Oneida County, N. Y., and journeyed 
 to Michigan 1833, a few months after tiie Dexter 
 settlement was made. The Dexters arrived here 
 the last of May and Mr. Cornell, a cousin of Mr. 
 Dexter, reached here November 9, of the same year. 
 Tliere were no near neighbors and not a house in 
 louia excejjt the four occupied by Samuel Dexter, 
 Erastus Yeomans, Darius AVindsor and Edwin 
 Giles; and on the other side was one house occu- 
 pied by Oliver Arnold. 
 
 Alfred was twenty years of age at the time of 
 his first coming to Michigan, and the next year 
 went to Grand Rapids, finding but two houses on 
 the way tliere, and those occupied by traders. 
 While at the Rapids he found but one family, that 
 of Joel Guild. In getting to and from trading 
 points Mr. Cornell encountered many ditficullies. 
 At the age of tweqty-three he married Amanda, 
 
 daughter of Judge Yoemans, the wedding taking 
 place in December, 1836. She became the mother 
 of six children, all of whom have passed away and 
 she herself died in Ohio, February' 20, 1862. 
 
 In 1841 Mr. Cornell went to Colby Universit.3', 
 at Hannlton,*N. Y., to study for the ministry and 
 remained there for three 3ears. He graduated in 
 1844 and was settled as pastor over the church at 
 Macedon, Wayne Count}', N. Y. After remaining 
 there for two years the Ionia people pleaded that 
 Ije should become the pastor of the Baptist Church 
 here, to which he consented. After seventeen 
 years' service in Ionia lie responded to a call to a 
 church in Norwalk, Ohio, and went there in Janu- 
 ary, 1861, remaining there for three years. After 
 going to Norwalk he was tendered the Chaplaincy 
 of the Twenty-First Michigan Infantr}'. 
 
 Mr. Cornell returned to Ionia County in April, 
 1866, and preached here for two years. After this 
 he resigned and went to Smyrna, this county, 
 where he was stationed for three years, and then 
 went to Portland for five and one-half years. He 
 was elected Chaplain of the Michigan House of 
 Correction in 1877, and held this position for four 
 years until his health failed, on account of which 
 he resigned. He spent some two years in Polo and 
 some time in Carson Cit}' after which lie returned 
 to Ionia and has since lived a retired life. His sec- 
 ond marriage was with Katie Mason and occurred 
 January 23, 1863, in Ripley, N. Y. 
 
 . > .- :>o ^-t 
 
 r^ 
 
 -»-rt^' 
 
 j^ RS. ANN E. WHITE. For thirty years 
 this lady has been living in Ionia County, 
 and she and her family have been and are 
 connected in various waj'S with the affairs 
 of this part of the commonwealth. She is carrying 
 on a farm on section 35, Lyons Township, and is 
 successfully operating a valuable piece of propert}-. 
 She has one hundred acres of land so well improved 
 as to command a good price, and stocked with 
 first-class machinery, good flocks and herds, and 
 with its barns and granaries holding a gOodly sup- 
 plv of grain and fodder. Her residence is a square. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 337 
 
 two-story frame house, well furnished and abound- 
 ing in >{wocl ciieer for mind and body. Mrs. Wliite 
 is !i well-iuad lady, who has added to her original 
 education, and ke|it herself well informed regnrd- 
 ing general topics and matters of common interest. 
 Slie |iossesses good business ability and pleasant, 
 agreeable manners, with a character of genuine 
 worth. 
 
 Mrs. White was born in Tompkins County, 
 N. Y., July 21, 1827. Her father, Eldad Jackson, 
 was born in Delaware County, N. Y., in March, 
 1790, and reared in Meredith Township. He mar- 
 ried Olive Lawrence, who was a native of the same 
 neighborhood as himself, and whose good qualities 
 were thoroughly known to him. Their last years 
 were spent in Newfield, N. Y., where the wife died 
 in 1835, and the father in 18(J.'S, the latter being 
 seventy-three years old. He was a Colonel in the 
 War of 1812, and two of his brothers were oflicers 
 during the same conflict. Of the eleven children 
 born to her parents Mrs. White and three brothers 
 are the only survivors. She was reared in lier 
 native place and acquired her schooling there. 
 
 The flrst marriage of our sul)ject was solemnized 
 April 4, 18C1, when she was wed to Henry Rartow. 
 This genlleman was born and reared in the Empire 
 State, and acquired a liberal education. His name 
 is well known in Ionia Count}', of wliich he was 
 Probate Judge, and from which he was sent to the 
 Legislature, serving during the time of the revision 
 of the .State Constitution. He came West in 183G, 
 and wa* therefore one of the earliest settlers in 
 Ionia County. He was ever a liberal contributor 
 to laudable enterprises and was active in church 
 work, being a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church. 
 He died December 25, 18(i2, leaving a niemory that 
 is held in honor by all who knew him. His political 
 allegiance was given to the Republican party. The 
 result of his union with our subject was the birth 
 of a daughter, Carrie, who makes her home with 
 her mother. She was born January 18, 1862. Mr. 
 IJartow by a previous marriage was the father of 
 a son, Benjamin H., who is a well-known lawyer in 
 Porllanil, this Stale. 
 
 The gentleman who became the second husband 
 of our subject was John L. White, who was born 
 in Steuben County, N. Y., in 1832, but was reared 
 
 in this State, to which he was brought when but 
 four years old. During the Civil War he was in 
 the service of his country four years. He first 
 eidistcd in Company F, Thirteenth Michigan In- 
 fantry, and at the expiration of a three years' term 
 he signed the muster roll of Company A, Kighth 
 Michigan Infantry. He was discharged after the 
 war closed, receiving his papers at the city of At- 
 lanta, (ia. Hardship and exposure had affected his 
 health, and he was never again as strong as he had 
 been before entering the army. He was identified 
 with the Grand Army Post at Portland. The date 
 of his decease was April 1, 1885. Mrs. White has 
 an adopted son, Martin L., who is now in his twen- 
 tieth year. He was taken b^- his foster mother when 
 three weeks old, and has been the object of tenfler 
 care. Although a German by birth and parentage 
 he is not able to speak his mother tongue, but 
 knows only the language of his foster mother. He 
 is still with her and renders her much aid in carry- 
 ing on her business. 
 
 -J^^ 
 
 OHN O. WILLIAMS belongs to a family of 
 honorable and patriotic record, both the 
 father and grandfather having served their 
 country in the army, anil his brother, the 
 Hon. K. R. Williams, being one of the most influen- 
 tial mpn in Ionia County. The sul)ject of this 
 sketch, who so worthily represents this fine family 
 has a good farm on section IG, North Plains Town- 
 »hip, Ionia County. He is the son of John A. and 
 Patience (Jenks) Williams, and was born in Ashta- 
 bula County, Ohio, March 1C>, 182'j. Further 
 notice of the ancestry and family history of Mr. 
 Williams will be found in the sketch of his brother, 
 the Hon. E. R. Williams, in another part of this 
 volume. 
 
 John O. is the eldest child of his falliur's family, 
 and was only two years of age when he came to 
 Michigan. His first schooling was in Oakland 
 County, Bloomfield Township. When he reached 
 his majority he began work for himself. His mar- 
 riage took place in New York Slate in 1857. His 
 bride was Marian Abbey, born in New York, Au- 
 
838 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 gust 23, 1830. Her parents, Reuben and Marian 
 (Iloag) Abbey, spent their lives in New York 
 State. Mr. and Mrs. Williams made their first 
 home where they now reside, but this home was 
 witliin log walls and covered by a roof only 20x28 
 feet. This humble edifice still remains upon the 
 place, a pleasant reminder of the happy days of 
 early married life. An ox-te.im and a plow con- 
 stituted his outfit. His farm was thickly cov- 
 ered with heavy timber. He has now two hundred 
 and twelve acres of well-improved land, and a fine 
 brick house which he built in 1882 at a cost of 
 $3,400. To this beautiful residence the friends of 
 this pleasant household are cordially welcomed, 
 and in their family circle their neighbors are often 
 ga;thered for social greeting. Their three sons all 
 reside in the county: Charles E., Frank O. and 
 Albert J. Mr. Williams first vote was cast in 1840. 
 He is a Democrat in his principles, and has always 
 voted that ticket. Although he does not seek 
 public honors he has willingly filled several posi- 
 tions of responsibility. For twenty years lie has 
 been on the Township School Board, and has been 
 Highway Commissioner for some time. 
 
 MLLIAM ALDEKMAN. Michig.-wi owes 
 much to those men who, after fighting their 
 way through the hardships of pioneer life, 
 and putting themselves and their families in com- 
 fortable circumstances have used their means to 
 erect buildings which are a credit to their county. 
 Those who have thus wisely placed improvements 
 and buildings either [jublic and private on the 
 farms or in the growing villages, have largely for- 
 warded the interests of tlieir locality, and have thus 
 attracted thither settlers of enterprise and wealth. 
 Among those who have thus aided in the upbuild- 
 ings of Ionia County, is the subject of this sketch. 
 He first built up his own place, his present residence, 
 a fine two-story house, costing $3,500 and he 
 has spent altogether in buildings npon his farm 
 gqmg |5,000. He has built almost as tpany houses 
 
 and barns as any man in the county. He has also 
 done much for Gratiot County, having expended 
 within the last two years over 12,000 in buildings 
 on his land in that county. 
 
 The subject of this life history, who resides on 
 section 5, Lyons Township, Ionia County, was born 
 in Ancastor, Canada, November 13, 1825. His fa- 
 ther, Bucklin Alderman, a mason by trade, was born 
 in Connecticut in August, 1799. He was reared 
 and received hi? education in New York. His wife 
 was in girlhood Marj' Sterling, of New York, born 
 in Onondaga County, in November, 1801. Their 
 marriage took place in that county in 1818, after 
 which they went to Canada. Here Iilr. Alderman 
 engaged in the mercantile business and afterward 
 pursued the same line of work in Detroit, Mich., 
 where he emigrated in 1836. His death took place 
 in Detroit, May 27, 1838, and his good wife sur- 
 vived him, and in 1883 com|)leted her four-score 
 years and one. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bucklin Alderman were the worthy 
 parents of nine children, most of whom have passed 
 away from earth. Their sou, William, was twelve 
 j-ears old when he came to Michigan. His first 
 schooling was in Canada, and he had good advan- 
 tages in Detroit. After the death of his father the 
 family removed to Highland, Oakland County. 
 Here the boy took charge of the farm and remained 
 with bis mother, although he worked for awhile in 
 a store in Milford. One year and a half was spent 
 in Rochester, N. Y., clerking in a store. He then 
 returned to Highland, and took charge of his moth 
 er's farm. Later he entered the general merchan- 
 dise business at Milford, in which he continued for 
 thiee years. The first marriage of William Alder- 
 man took place on the 27th of January, 1851. 
 His bride was Emily Green, a native of New York. 
 They went at once to live on the old homestead, 
 and remained there for one j'ear. He then traded 
 eighty of his one hundred and sixty acres for a car- 
 riage factory at Milford, and ran that business in 
 connection with his farm work. He did well in 
 this business and after about six months was able 
 to buy back the land he had sold and somewhat 
 later he sold out the carriage factory. 
 
 Mr. Alderman traded his farm in 1860 for a 
 •I stock of goods in Lyons, whither he removed and 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGUAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 839 
 
 carried on mercantile business until 1864. He then 
 exchanged a half- interest in the store for a farm on 
 section ;?6, I.yons Township. After this he made 
 a sale of the other half of the store, and went to re- 
 side on ft fariii in North Plains Township, where 
 he had bought cighty-ihrce acres. He owned at 
 one lime two hundred acres of land in North Plains 
 Township. He sold out this land and bought in 
 Danby Township; be then bought eighty-seven 
 acres in North Plains Townshii), and finally located 
 where he now resides. 
 
 The second matrimonial union of our subject 
 w.as celebrated .luly 9, 1865. Me was then united 
 to Mrs. Emily U. Ilinsdell, widow of Moses 15. 
 Plinsdell. She was born in Lafayette Township, 
 Onond.aga County, N. Y., April 1, 1826, and was 
 the only daughter of Isaac and Eunice (Rust) Kee- 
 ler. The first marriage of lAIr. Alderman gave him 
 two daughters: Ella G., Mrs. Frank E. Ward; and 
 Emily, Mrs. Giles Craindall. The subject of this 
 sketch at one time owned nine hundred and eighty 
 acres in Michigan, but he has disposed of much of 
 this and now has only four hundred and eighteen 
 and one-half acres. He built his present two-story 
 residence some few years ago, and it is considered 
 one of the best farmhouses in the county. He is a 
 Republican in politics, and belongs to the Masonic 
 lodge. No. 37, at Lyons. At one time he engaged 
 in the lumber business in the pine lands in Mont- 
 calm County, and in five weeks' time made ^7,.")00 
 on one transaction. 
 
 '^|OHN M. BREINING, a retired farmer and 
 old settler of Michigan, now resides on 
 twelve acres of finely improved land with- 
 in the city limits of PMmore, Montcalm 
 County. His parents, .Tacob and Barbara (Reide- 
 miller) Breining, both natives of Wurteniberg, (Ger- 
 many, came to America in 1836 and located in 
 Freedom Townshii), Washtenaw County, Mich. 
 The father was a cooper by trade, and followed that 
 line of work in the old country, but here he took a 
 farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the forest 
 and proceeded to clear it of timber. Both parents 
 
 resided on this farm, living honest, conscientious 
 lives, and being members of the Lutheran Church 
 until they were called from earth. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the eldest of eight 
 children, and was born in Geilsten. Wurteraberg, 
 Germany, in 1829. He was seven years old wlien 
 they left the old homo, and undertook the passage 
 from Havre to New York. They were upon the 
 ocean thirty-three days. In 18.54 be began to work 
 for himself and bought sixty acres in Lodi Town- 
 ship, Washtenaw County. Having cultivated this 
 land for a few years, he sold it and removed to 
 Adrian, where he farmed until 1865, when he went 
 to Douglas County, III. In the year 1868 he 
 removed to Omaha, Neb., working on a farm and 
 in a gristmill until 1877. In February of that year 
 he carae to Ingiiam County, this Slate, and worked 
 near Okemos, and then bought an improved ten 
 acres adjoining the Agricultural College, and liid 
 teaming for the college. In 1887 he look a con- 
 tract to carry the mail for four years between the 
 college and Lansing, but sold out this contract in 
 1890, and iu October 15th of that year came to Ed- 
 more and bought the Whittlesey place, a well im- 
 I)roved place having good buildings upon it. Here 
 lie carries on general farming on a small scale. 
 
 Mr. Breining's first wife was also a native of 
 Wurtemberg. They were married in October, 1859, 
 iu Washtenaw County, where Mrs. Breining dijd 
 after having become the mother of three children 
 — .lacob, James and Mary. The present Mrs. Brein- 
 ing is the daughter of Jacob Koch, who was a farmer 
 of Wurtemberg, German^', whence be came to 
 America in 1854 an<l located in Frcdonia, N. Y. 
 Here, as above stated, his daughter Regina, was 
 united to the subject of this sketch. Mr. Koch died 
 in Lodi Township -at a very advanced age. His 
 wife died in Freedom Township. They were mem- 
 bers of the Lutheran Church, and were the parents 
 of six children, of whom the wife of our subject 
 was the fourth in order of birth. She was born in 
 Kirkentellinsfurth, (Jermany, January 20, 1837. 
 After her emigration with her parents to this coun- 
 try, she supported herself in New York City. She 
 is the mother of nine children, six of whom are liv- 
 ing: Lena, Frederick, Katie, Ella, Minnie and 
 George. They are devout members of the Luth- 
 
840 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 eran Church, and Mr. Breining is a Democrat in 
 principle, and casts his vote with the party. He 
 is universally respected for his integrity, and for- 
 wards any movement that will enhance the pros- 
 perity of the township. 
 
 j^ AVID KELLEY, M. D., is a well-known 
 '•' physician and surgeon located at Lyons, 
 Ionia County, and closely connected with 
 all that goes to aid in its development and 
 the elevation of its residents. He is a native of 
 Tompkins County, N. Y., where he was born in 
 1816, and is the only child of John and Nancy 
 (Baile^') Kelley, who were born in Wales and New 
 York respectively. The father was a ship carpen- 
 ter and caulker, which occupation he followed 
 some thirty years. In 1840 he removed to Michi- 
 gan and made Adri.an his home, and there he pur- 
 sued his trade until smitten by the illness which 
 caused his death in 1852. 
 
 The boyhood of Dr. Kelley was spent in his na- 
 tive county at the town of Newfield, and there he 
 began the study of medicine, for which he had a 
 decided predilection. He took his first course of 
 lectures at Geneva (N. Y.) College, and afterward 
 went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was granted a 
 diploma after the season of 1844-45. He at once 
 opened an office in La Porte, Ohio, and from there 
 went to Adrian, Mich., coming to Lyons from the 
 latter. He brought a stock of goods with him and 
 opened a drug-store, managing it while carrying on 
 professional work until 1861 when he sold out, 
 feeling that other duties called him. 
 
 The attempts upon the life of the nation roused 
 Dr. Kelley to a fervor of patriotism that led him 
 to join others in raising a full regiment, eleven 
 hundred men, in Will County, 111., and he went 
 South as Captain of a company. During his army 
 experience he was in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia 
 and Louisiana. The first heavy engagement in 
 which he participated was Stone River, where for 
 three days he was under fire. He then rode after 
 Bragg eight hundred miles and altogether saw much 
 
 of the varied phases of a campaign. After thirty 
 months of service he resigned his commission on 
 account of a disease that afflicted him. He wag 
 cared for in the camp and for a time given up to 
 die by his attending physician, but he recovered, 
 although never fully, but is subject to recurrences 
 of the attack to this day. 
 
 Upon his return to the North Dr. Kelley re- 
 sumed his practice and the drug business in Lyons, 
 and here he has remained, adding to his reputation 
 and extending his possessions. He has one of the 
 finest business buildings in the place, a brick struct- 
 ure 24x86 feet with two stories and cellar. In this 
 building he now carries a stock of groceries, no- 
 tions and wall paper, as well as drugs. He has also 
 built the handsomest residence in town, the material 
 being variegated sandstone, and the grounds sur- 
 rounded by an iron fence; it occupies a command- 
 ing situation, whence a fine view of the surrounding 
 country is had. Dr. Kelley has owned considerable 
 land and several houses in the village, and at Carson 
 City he has a third interest in a block that contains 
 two stores and a bank. One of the stores is run 
 by him and his son-in-law, George W. Cadwell, they 
 having purchased the stock of drugs and general 
 goods in 1889. The establishment is under the 
 personal oversight of Mr. Cadwell. 
 
 In 1837 Dr. Kelley was united in marriage with 
 Miss Elizabeth Horton,who departed this life June 
 11, 1890. She was a daughter of Joseph Horton 
 and was of English lineage. She belonged to the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church and was universally 
 respected by her acquaintances for her fine charac- 
 ter, kind-heartedness and womanly acquirements. 
 She was the mother of two children — John A. and 
 Frances E., wife of G. W. Cadwell. The son was 
 formerly engaged in the drug business with his 
 father, and as a Union soldier he served from the 
 beginning of the war until the close. He was in 
 twenty-seven battles and was wounded four times, 
 the last occasion being at Stone River, when a ball 
 entered the shoulder and passed through the lung 
 and down to the middle of the back. It was re- 
 moved by his father. The young man was a Lieu- 
 tenant and then a Captain. He died in Lyons in 
 1877, leaving a widow, formerly ISIiss Margaret S. 
 Henderson, daughter of Judge Henderson, of Illi- 
 
I'OKTRAIT AND 1!I()(; KAl'HICAL ALHUM. 
 
 84 1 
 
 nois, and three children — Hugh D., Bessie M. and 
 
 Nellie J. 
 
 Mr. Cadwell, son-in-inw of Dr. Ki'lley, is .1 na- 
 tive of New York and carae West when twelve 
 years old. Me has been engaged in mercantile 
 pursuits most of liis mature years, and for nine 
 years was thus occupied in Portland. Ionia County. 
 He went to Carson City in 1888 as csishier of the 
 Carson City Bank, but ere many months had 
 joined Dr. Kelle^' in their present enterprise. He 
 is a man of good business qualifications and excel- 
 lent character. 
 
 The professional reputation of Dr. Kelley is an 
 enviable one, and his skill and knowledge are held 
 at their proi)er valuation. A student from his early 
 years, he has not lieen content with the wisdom 
 that won him his di|)loma, but h.as read and inves- 
 tigated from lime to time and increased his store 
 of technical knowledge and ability to di.agnose and 
 treat diseases. He is known far and near, respected 
 and loved, and numbered among the most worthj' 
 citizens, who are active in promoting the prosper- 
 ity of the town and elevating the status of its peo- 
 ple. He belongs to tbc Masonic order and the Sons 
 of Temperance, and always votes the Republican 
 ticket. 
 
 r>)ILLIAM BELL. M. D. The village of 
 Smyrna, Ionia County, is the home of no 
 more intelligent man than Dr. Bell, who is 
 carrying on a ver}' successful practice here. The 
 profession in which he is engaged is one that taxes 
 the energies of man to their utmost capacity and 
 calls for a display of judgment uniiaralleled in any 
 other pursuit. Whatever mistakes may be made 
 in other professions can be rectified, but In this an 
 error is so likely to be fatal that moiccarc Is needed 
 ill coming to a decision than would otherwise be 
 the case. The mftn who can carry on me<llcal work 
 successfully during a term of 3'cars is certainly de- 
 serving of that which he receives — the grateful 
 love of his patients and their friends. 
 
 Dr. Bell is a direct descendant of the distin- 
 guished Bell family of .Scotland, and his grand- 
 father was William Bell, a civil engineer of con- 
 
 siderable note in that country. The father of the 
 doctor was John Bell, who came to the United 
 States at the age of twenty-one and entered the 
 employ of Hoiiry Howard in Canandaigua. N. Y. 
 There he married Amna T. Taylor, subsequently 
 removing to Gorham, but later returning to Can- 
 andaigua and settling on the beautiful lake of that 
 name, at a place subsetpiently known as Bell's 
 Point. There he and his wife remained until death, 
 she passing away in 1878 and he two years later. 
 Their family consisted of six children, named re- 
 spectively, Isabella, William. .Fosepli. .Fennie. .John 
 and Mar^'. 
 
 William Bell was born May 1. 1844, in the town- 
 ship of Gortiam, Ontario County-, N. Y., but s|)ent 
 his boyhood on the shores of Lake Canandaigua, 
 going to school and working on the farm. Being 
 desirious of obtaining a higher education, he hired 
 out when fourteen years old and earned monev with 
 which to pay his expenses at school. He entered 
 the renowned Canandaigua Academj', then under 
 charge of Prof. N. T. Clark, Ph. D., an.l finally 
 jolne(l the teacher's cl.iss and was graduated at the 
 age of eighteen years, after wliich he began teach- 
 ing for the purpose of replenishing his funds to the 
 end that he might defray his expenses through 
 a medical college. 
 
 Dr. Bell was quite young when the Civil War 
 began and did not enter the army for some time, 
 but in December, 1863, he enlisted in Company H, 
 Fourth New York Artillery, for three years or dur- 
 ing the war. He went through the campaign led 
 by Gen. Grant under the cry of '^011 to Ulchmond" 
 and bore the flag of his regiment through Re.im's 
 Station. Shortly afterward he wa.s taken sick and 
 sent to the hospital; upon convalescence he was ap- 
 pointed to a position In a hospital near Washing- 
 ton, 1). C, where he remained until the close of 
 the war. He then resumed his medical studies un- 
 der Dr. J. A. Hawley of Canandaigua, N. Y., grad- 
 u.ating in the spring of 1867. 
 
 For sixteen years Dr. Bi-ll carried on a success- 
 ful practice in Ills native .State, being located at 
 Seneca Castle from 1871 to 1883. During the 
 year 1880 he attended medical lectures in New 
 York City and again received the degree of Doc- 
 tor of Medicine. He came to Smyrna, this .Stale, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 upon leaving Seneca in '83 and spent the follow- 
 ing winter in attendance upon a post-graduate 
 course of lectures in Cliicago, 111. He was a mem- 
 ber of the various medical societies in his native 
 State and elsewhere, and he is a medical writer of 
 considerable ability, contributing to some of the 
 important journals of tlie counlr}'. As his health 
 is not rugged he has felt obliged to decline import- 
 ant positions which he has thrice been urged to ac- 
 cept and to confine liiraself to private practice and 
 study. At Detroit June 19, 1878, he was elected 
 to permanent membership in the National Eclectic 
 Medical Association. At a meeting of the Michi- 
 gan State Eclectic Medical and Surgical Society 
 held in Jackson May 18, 1887, he was elected Pres- 
 ident and was re-elected for a second terra. 
 
 Tiie wife of Dr. Bell was known in her maiden- 
 hood as Miss Mary E. Hoppough and their mar- 
 riage rites were solemnized in Smyrna June 29, 
 1870. She sympat'iizes with him in his intellec- 
 tual pursuits, looks carefully after his comfort, and 
 has the kindly nature that is manifested in charit- 
 able deeds wherever woman's hand is needed. Dr. 
 Bell is and .ilways has been a Repul)lican in poli- 
 tics. In Ills religious views he goes back to the 
 pure and simple faith incalculated by the Divine 
 Master himself, disregarding many of tlie dogmas 
 formulated by the tlieologians. Intelligent and 
 well-read, his conversation is wise and full of wit, 
 while his manners are agreeable. Ids temper admir- 
 able and liis appearance that of a true gentleman. 
 
 ,EV. NORMAN L. OTIS. Few, if any of 
 the residents of Montcalm County arc more 
 widely known and none more favorably 
 than the subject of this biographical no- 
 tice. For more than a score and a half of years 
 liis home has been on a tract in the western part of 
 Bloomer Township, although when he became a 
 farmer he did not abandon tlie ministry, in which 
 he had been successfully laboring. He was in the 
 Methodist itineracy for a number of years, and 
 traveled the Bloomer and other circuits carrying 
 
 the gospel me.ssage over the sparsely settled dis- 
 tricts. For four years he was pastor of the Con- 
 gregational Church at Ithica, Gratiot County, and 
 for ten years was pastor of the Congregational 
 Church at Crystal, and during all this period lie 
 was improving and cultivating his farm in Bloomer. 
 He chopped down the first tree on his land and has 
 cleared one hundred and forty acres. The prop- 
 erty is laid off into fields of convenient size, and he 
 has substantial barns, granaries and sheds ample to 
 accommodate all his stock, machinery and crops. 
 Besides his own residence there are two houses for 
 bis help. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of Mr. Otis was a 
 Revolutionary soldier and was wounded while 
 fighting his country's battles. He cast his first vote 
 for AVashington. His maternal grandfather was 
 the Rev. Abner Wright, a prominent Scotch Pres- 
 bj'terian minister in Canada. His parents were 
 Chester and Phebe (Wright) Otis, the former of 
 whom was a farmer. They were living in Niagara 
 County, N. Y., when the son was born April 12, 
 1834. When he was five years of age the family 
 came to this State and located in Washtenaw 
 County, but after a residence of four years removed 
 to Calhoun County, near Albion. There a small 
 farm was cleared and there he attended school in 
 winter and worked on the farm summers. 
 
 Mr. Otis took an academical course at Albion 
 College and then a theological course preparatory' 
 to engaging in the ministry. He was oidained at 
 the age of twenty-five years and gave his attention 
 exclusively to tlie work which he chose until he was 
 some thirty-four years old, when he took possession 
 of his present farm and divided his time between 
 tilling the soil and preaching the gospel. During 
 the Civil War he was Chaplain of the Elgiith 
 Michigan Cavalry about one year and did much 
 as a recruiting oflicer previous to being commis- 
 sioned Chaplain. He has been the means of doing 
 great good in this part of the country, not only in 
 preaching and teaching, but presenting a living 
 example of brotherly love, generous-hearted charity 
 and Christian faith. He has helped to build 
 churches and parsonages, has worked arduously 
 for the cause of education, and l)een a stanch ad- 
 vocate of temperance. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 843 
 
 In April, 1855, tUe Rey. Mr. Otis was married to 
 Klizabuth C Morgan, a native of Al)ertleen, Scot- 
 land. Wlicn she canie to America she founii her 
 first home in Ashland County, Ohio, and sul)se- 
 qiiently came to tiiis State and was living in Hast- 
 ings at the time of her raarriago. She died in 
 July, 1863. She had borne three children — Clark 
 C, Frank and Frederick B., the second of whom 
 died in infancy. Clark was born March 6, 1856, 
 and is now pastor of the First Congregational 
 Church of Springfield, III. Frederick was born 
 January 7, 1863, was graduated from Olivet Col- 
 lege, and was taking the theological course at Yale 
 when he wsis called from time to eternity. He dic<l 
 in November, 1889, of hemorrhnge of the lungs. 
 He had already preached two summers with marked 
 success and gave promise of much usefulness. A 
 second marriage was made by the Kev. Mr. Otis in 
 the winter of 1864, his bride being Miss .\nn M. 
 Copp, of Portville, N. Y.,and daughter of Dr. .1. M. 
 Copp. This union has been blessed by a daughter, 
 (Jrace, whose natal d.iy was July 12, 1866. She was 
 graduated from the State Normal School at Vpsi- 
 lanti after completing a literary and scientific 
 course of study, and is now teaching in the public 
 schools of St. Louis, Gratiot County. 
 • Elder Otis is a stanch Republican and has been 
 actively engaged in the local work of the part}-, 
 usually attending the county conventions as a dele- 
 gate, and sometimes going to the State conventions 
 in a similar capacity. He has been urged to take a 
 nomination for tlie legislature but so far lias de- 
 clined. He is an ardent advocate of mental cul- 
 ture, combined with physical training, and a strong 
 supporter of manual labor and industrial colleges 
 for the poor, and is identiTied with every project 
 which is instituted for the public good. He is a 
 close student and omnivorous reader, taking one 
 daily and eight weekly newspapers, and corresponds 
 for several of those sheets. In the advancement 
 of the cause of education he has been especially in- 
 terested, as has been shown by his having helped 
 all his own children through colleges havinga high 
 standing. Among his personal characteristics is 
 the social nature that makes him a happy host, and 
 the benevolent spirit that causes him to help those 
 who are in need, and his natural kindness of heart 
 
 is deepened by his high moral principles and the 
 desire for the salvation of mankind that led liira in 
 in early life to enter the christian ministry. His 
 friends are scattered far an<l wide, and many are 
 Ihey who wish for Heaven's richest blessings upon 
 "the farmer clergyman of West Bloomer," as he is 
 familiarly known. 
 
 E&^ 
 
 M5KRT Ml'^AI), a farmer of Ionia County, 
 owns and occupies a tract of land on sec- 
 tion T.Orleans Township, where various 
 arrangements have been m.ide for the com- 
 fort of the residents. He was born in Cairo, N. Y., 
 June 17, 18-18. and is a son of William and Sar.ih 
 (Post) Mead. His father was born in Connecticut 
 and his mother in or near Cairo. N. Y.. and in the 
 latter place their marriage took place in 1847. Mrs. 
 Mead w.as a daughter of Samuel H. an<l Selica ( Van- 
 tleel) Post. The union was blest by the birth of 
 eight children, named respectively, William, Albert, 
 Kli/nbctli, Mary, Alice, Kdward, Wealthy and 
 Charlie. Wdliam Meail accompanied his parents 
 to New York when quite 3'oung and in that .State 
 he made his home until 1857, when he came to 
 .Michigan. He bought one hundred and ten acres 
 of land in Orleans Township, Ionia Count}', but 
 afterward disposed of ten acres. He was a cabi- 
 net-maker by trade, but gave his attention largely 
 to farming. He died .Vugust 4, 1890. His widow 
 still occupies the homestead. 
 
 Albert Mead remained with his parents, pursu- 
 ing his studies and taking a greater part in the cul- 
 tivation of the farm until he was twenty-two years 
 of age. Ho then went into the lun)bcr woods, where 
 for thirteen years he pursued the arduous life of 
 the workers there. In Palo, Montcalm County, in 
 1871, he was married to Wealthy Palmer, daughter 
 of Joel and Lucy (Wing) Palmer, natives of New 
 York. Their wedded life was brief, Mrs. Mead 
 being called hence in 1873. .She left a son John, 
 who is with his father. 
 
 In Newaygo County the second marriage of Mr. 
 Mead was celebrated, his bride being Miss Sarah J. 
 Parker. The parents of this estimable lady are 
 
844 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 William and Jane (Everington) Parker, natives of 
 England, who took up their residence in Newaygo 
 County in 1862 and still reside there. Mr. Parker 
 has been engaged in farming. His children are 
 Sarah J„ William, Mary A., Joseph, George, Lucy 
 and Annie. Mr. Mead votes the Democratic ticket. 
 He pursues his course in life quietly, takinjf no 
 part in public affairs, but giving his attention solely 
 to his own interests and the simple duties of a good 
 citizen. 
 
 -^ ^ J— 
 
 ICAJAH DOUGLASS, the oldest res- 
 ident of Ferris Township, Montcalm 
 County, and proprietor of one of the finest 
 farms in the county, resides on his place 
 of three hundred and ninety acres, which is situ- 
 ated on sections II, 12, 13 and 14. His father, 
 Orlin Douglass, and his grandfather Asa, were 
 both natives of Vermont, the latter being a mill- 
 wright who removed to Pennsylvania and after- 
 ward to New York, living in both Steuben and 
 Monroe Counties. He began the practice of medi- 
 cine and was one of the best botanical doctors in 
 the State, and finally died in Livingston County. 
 His father was a Quaker from Scotland. 
 
 The father of our subject was married in Mon- 
 roe County, N. Y., and there engaged in cooper- 
 ing and farming in Rush Township, but later 
 removed to Ontario County. In 1855 be located in 
 Virgin Township, Kent County, Mich., where he 
 continued farming until he retired from active work 
 and died at FalLisburgh at the age of seventy j-ears. 
 He was a devoted Quaker, a strong Abolitionist 
 and Republican. His wife, Mary Hunt, daughter 
 of Nathan, a Massachusetts man and an early set- 
 tler in Rensselaer County, N. Y., was born in that 
 county and was also of Quaker training and British 
 descent. She lived to be almost eighty years old 
 and ended her days with her daughter in this 
 county. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born September 
 24, 1828, in Rush Township, Monroe Countj', N. Y. 
 After he was eight 3'cars old he was denied the 
 privilege of school except in winter. Upon reach- 
 ing his majority he hired out upon a farm for two 
 
 years and then bouglit a sawmill which he oper- 
 ated for two and one-half years after which he 
 worked out until the fall of 1854 and coming to 
 Michigan entered three hundred and twenty acres 
 of Government land in Ferris Township under the 
 Graduation Act at sevent\'-five cents an acre. The 
 township was one vast forest and not a settler in 
 it. He located the second piece of land within its 
 bounds and then went back to Fallasburgh and 
 worked in the woods during the winter, hoping to 
 undertake the subduing of his land in the spring, 
 but he was taken sick with the fever and it was not 
 until the fall of 1855 that he erected a rude log 
 house with a "shake roof upon his land. 
 
 On March 22, 1856, our subject moved into this 
 humble home and began clearing his farm. He 
 had to go to Ionia with an ox-team when he needed 
 flour and provisions. He was considered the best 
 shot in the vicinity, and as game was abundant, 
 especially deer, he was easily sup|)lied with venison. 
 He was active in all matters to promote the growth 
 of the township and was one of the petitioners for 
 its first township meeting. He has now a spacious 
 and commodious dwelling, several barns and other 
 large outbuildings for stock, being better supplied 
 with outbuildings and wind -mills than any other 
 farmer in the township. He breeds standard and 
 Hambletonian horses and owns "Mazeppa Chief" a 
 horse of fine proportions and well known, having 
 taken first money and premiums at fairs. He 
 also breeds graded Jerseys and Shropshires and 
 full-blooded Poland-China hogs. 
 
 Our subject was married on Christmas Day, 1855, 
 to Louisa, daughter of Ebenezer Sherman, who 
 was born in Fairport, N. Y.. and died here, leav- 
 ing five children. Her eldest, Lydia J., Mrs. F. J. 
 Blair, lives at Elm Hall, and was the first white 
 child born in Ferris Township; Flora I., Mrs. 
 Stephens, of Ferris Township; Nellie A., Mrs. 
 James Elliott, died at Elm Hall; Alona M. resides 
 at home and Mary died when young. 
 
 Mr. Douglass' second marriage took place in 
 Bloomer, March 3, 1872. He was then united with 
 Mrs. Melviua Aldrich,a daughter of Royal Jacobs, 
 a Vermont merchant and farmer who resided for a 
 long while at Dryden, N. Y., and later removed to 
 Fulton, 111., and afterward to Savannah and later to 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 845 
 
 Morrison. Aftci being a successful merclmnt in 
 Illinois he removed to Denver, C'ol., wliere he en- 
 gaged in milling and spent his last days. Mrs. 
 Douglass' mother. Delight Jacobs, was a native of 
 Miissncliusetts an<l died in St. Louis, Mich. Mrs. 
 Douglass was born November 24, 183.1, in Dryden, 
 Tompkins County. N. Y., and when three years 
 old removed to Illinois where she received her 
 education and married Amasa Aldrich. By that 
 marriage she has throe children — Solon, Amasa and 
 Emma D. 
 
 Mr. Douglass was chosen Justice of the I'eace 
 and Highw.iy Commissioner at the first election 
 following the organization of the township and 
 he united in marriage the first couple who were 
 ever joined in the township. Two years later 
 he became iSupervisor and has held that office 
 for about ten years, besides being Township 
 Clerk two years and Township Treasurer for sev- 
 eral years. He is also Chairman of the School 
 Board. He is a Free and Accepted Mason, of the 
 Royal Arch Masons, and of the Patrons of Indus 
 try and is a demitted member of the Independent 
 Order of Odd Fellows. His wife is a member of 
 the Woman's Relief Corps and Eastern Star Lodge, 
 and both are active members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church at Elm Hall. He is a stanch 
 Roi)ublican in his politics and repeatedly a delegate 
 to county and State conventions and is Chairman 
 of the Township Republican Committee. 
 
 \f]AMES F. HAMMELL, a popular citizen of 
 Ionia, Ionia County, was born in Brighton, 
 Livingston County, 5Iich., August 13, 1859, 
 and is the son of James and Mary (O'Hcarn) 
 Ilammell, natives of Ireland and New York respec- 
 tively. The O'Hearn family were of Irish extrac- 
 tion also. In 183C James Hammell came to 
 America, and proceeded directly to Michigan, 
 where he still resides. His wife |)assed from earth 
 March 2, 1871. 
 
 The paren'al family includeil seven children 
 whose record is as follows: IVlcr, a farmer of 
 Livingston County; Patrick .1., the partner of our 
 
 subject in the tobacco business; William, a farmer 
 in Livingston County; Anna, the wife of Edward 
 C. Ryan, of Jackson, Mich.; Katie, who married J. 
 S. Dunn and resides in Lapeer; James F., our sub- 
 ject; and Edward, at home. In his youth our sub- 
 ject rceeived a fair education in the common- 
 schools, and this he later utilized in teaching, 
 whicli profession he followed four terms in Wash- 
 tenaw and Livingston Counties. 
 
 In 1881 Mr. Hammell engaged in the grocery 
 business in Williamson and was thus employed 
 three j'ears, after which he gold goods for the 
 wholesale grocers, Beatty, Fitzsimons <t Co., of De- 
 troit, for two years. We next find him employed 
 as n traveling salesman for the Globe Tobacco' 
 Com|>any for three years, and in 1888 he embarked 
 in the tobacco business in Ionia. He is still en- 
 gaged in this business, in which he has met with 
 more than ordinary succsss. In 1890 he put out 
 five hundred thousand cigars, of which the princi- 
 pal brands are the 'Slim Hammell" and "Hammell's 
 Little Drummer." On January 1, 1891, after suc- 
 cessfully carrying on the business alone, he formed 
 a partnershii) with his brother for the purpose of 
 incre.asing the business and expects to keep fifty 
 hands busv. 
 
 Mr. Hammell was married August 13, 1883, to 
 Miss Eleanor Williams, and to them have been 
 born two children, James F., Jr., and George L. 
 Mr. Hammell is a Democrat in politics, and is a 
 member of various social orders. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 =1^ 
 
 )>; L. BARNES. M. 1)., w.as born in Ionia, 
 n/l/ Ionia County, September 3, 1802. and is 
 '')f^ the son of Dr. H. B. and Marietta (Lin- 
 coln) Barnes. He received a fair education in the 
 common schools, and was graduated fiom the Ionia 
 High School in 1880. Later he entered the Uni- 
 versity' of Kentucky, and from the medical depart- 
 ment of that institution was graduated with the 
 class of 1884. Returning to his native place he im- 
 meiliately opened an office for the practice of his 
 profession, and has since continued in the success- 
 ful prosecution of the same. 
 
846 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 On November 24, 1885, Dr. Barnes was united 
 in marriage witli Nellie Hackett, the daughter of 
 Peter Hackett, and tliey liave a pleasant home in 
 Ionia. The Doctor is a Democrat in polities and 
 lias been Health Officer of the city since 1884. He 
 IS identified with the Masonic fraternity, is a 
 Knight Templar, belongs to the Independent Or- 
 der of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. 
 Religiously he is a member of the First Baptist 
 Church. He makes a specialty of the eye, being 
 especially skilled in its treatment. He is a member 
 of the Michigan State Medical Society, and of the 
 Union Medical Society of Northern Michigan. 
 
 Dr. H. B. Barnes, father of our subject, was born 
 ■in Geauga County, Ohio, August 15, 1834, and is 
 the son of the Rev. Silas and Abby Barnes, natives 
 of New York. The Rev. Silas Barnes was a minis- 
 ter in the Baptist Church and removed to Ohio in 
 1832, locating first in Jefferson and later in Char- 
 don. In 1839 he came to Michigan, whence after 
 preaching for ten years in Shiawassee, he returned 
 to Ohio. After conscientiously and successfully 
 
 discharging the duties of several charges there he 
 died in Ashtabula County in 1877, having followed 
 the ministry about fifty years. Mrs. Barnes died 
 in 1886, aged eighty -six j-ears, her death also oc- 
 curring in Ashtabula County, Ohio. 
 
 Three of the eight children born to the Rev. Silas 
 Barnes and his wife are living, viz.: C. P. and J. 
 B., who are engaged in the jewelry business in 
 Louisville, Ky. ; and Dr. H. B. The latter at the 
 age of nineteen years went to Lake Superior, where 
 he worked for a mining company three years. Re- 
 turning to Ohio he commenced the study of medi- 
 cine with McHenry & Barnes, in Napoleon. He 
 studied in Ann Arbor and Louisville, and was 
 graduated by the University in the latter city, in 
 the medical department, in 1859. After residing 
 in Saginaw County, this State, two years he lo- 
 cated in Ionia, which he has since made his home. 
 He married Marrietta Lincoln, July 18, 1861, aud 
 three children were born to them, as follows: W. 
 L., of this sketch; O. T., who is studying law in 
 Ann Arbor; and Silas H., at home. 
 

 (.^g^it^- i: ; 
 
 Abbpy, Edwin 398 
 
 Adanis, John JS 
 
 Adains, John Q SO 
 
 Adgate, William 413 
 
 Alderman. William avs 
 
 Aldrich, J. A 40B 
 
 Alger, Russell A 173 
 
 Allen, Capt. E. M 6M 
 
 Allen, M.J S13 
 
 Allen, Thomas J 51 1 
 
 Allen, T. R 7(1.1 
 
 Allured. G.H 20B 
 
 Alvord, M. W 457 
 
 Anderson. H.N 387 
 
 Anderson, Lewis 212 
 
 Andrews. William M 717 
 
 Arms, Oeorge W 417 
 
 Arnold, William D fiO» 
 
 Arthur, Chester A 99 
 
 Aufst, W.S 301 
 
 Badger, Samuel W 788 
 
 Boerd. Robert 473 
 
 Bagley, John J 157 
 
 Bailey. Herbert :t9!> 
 
 Baird, S. H fi32 
 
 Baldwin, Henry P 153 
 
 Bancroft, H. W 306 
 
 Bandfleld, T. J 803 
 
 Banton,E. R 524 
 
 Barber, Austin 538 
 
 Barlow.IraW 544 
 
 Barnard, Edward 514 
 
 Barnard, L.J 610 
 
 Barnard, W.8 367 
 
 B»roes,B 602 
 
 Bame«,W. L 845 
 
 Barry, John 8 113 
 
 Bates, William 8 357 
 
 Beach, H.J 412 
 
 Beadle, George E 549 
 
 Begole, Josiah W KW 
 
 Belding, Edward 457 
 
 Bell, Hon. A. F 2V> 
 
 Bell, William, M. I) 8(1 
 
 Bellamy, E. S 597 
 
 Bemis, C". L 787 
 
 Bemis, Prof. W. W 7!l<i 
 
 Beuedict.Hon. J. M 295 
 
 Benodiot, L. N 6.57 
 
 Benedict, O. M 478 
 
 Bonnolt, Johns 7<K) 
 
 Benlley, H. O 7(» 
 
 Berry, K. R 647 
 
 Billinger, Mathias :Kil 
 
 Bingham. Kinsley 8 137 
 
 Bippley, John 328 
 
 Bishop, Noah 322 
 
 Blair, Austin 145 
 
 Blanehard. J.C 77t 
 
 Biucm Ic , Frederick 784 
 
 Blumberg. C. W 4.18 
 
 Blumberg. W. H 544 
 
 Boice, Levi A 743 
 
 Boltc, Rev. Charles (1 315 
 
 Bower. H. L., M. D 489 
 
 Bowser, William R 469 
 
 Braman. Oeorge 408 
 
 Breining. John M 839 
 
 Briggs.A. J 247 
 
 Broas,Levi 508 
 
 Brooks, William 619 
 
 Brower. Francis S 348 
 
 Brown. C. E 402 
 
 Brown, DavidJ 827 
 
 Brown, Eno^'h 567 
 
 Bn>wn. Hiram N 297 
 
 Brown. John M 483 
 
 Brown, William 388 
 
 Buchanan, James 76 
 
 Bunlielt, L. K 806 
 
 Burhans, W. V 470 
 
 Butler, Betsey P 372 
 
 Buttolph, Judson 554 
 
 Call. A. T 
 
 Carbough, William. 
 
 Case, Chnunccy 195 
 
 Chase, Frank R, 693 
 
 Chasc.J.M 677 
 
 Cheney, Ellsha T 282 
 
 Cheney, H. J 368 
 
 Clark. Frank W 600 
 
 Clark. George F 6(9 
 
 Clark, H.C 604 
 
 Clark, J. H 44i 
 
 Clark, J. H 289 
 
 Clark. Norman 541 
 
 Cleveland, .S. Grover 10:1 
 
 Clizbe, W.D 432 
 
 Coburn.H. 793 
 
 Coe, William H 592 
 
 Coleman. D. E 648 
 
 Coleman , Eli A 631 
 
 ColwelI.E. F 613 
 
 Comden,Rev. A.J 251 
 
 Complon. Rev. John 781 
 
 Conner, J. 0.,M. D 386 
 
 Ctmncr.Thom.'us 621 
 
 Conner, Virgi 1 O 380 
 
 Coimer, William J 468 
 
 Conry . James M 200 
 
 Converse, Mrs. M 769 
 
 Coo ley, J. E 684 
 
 Cooper, Oeorge S 745 
 
 Cornell, Key, A 830 
 
 Courier. J. Watson 234 
 
 Cowan, William .S 440 
 
 Cowles, Charles S 346 
 
 Crane, A. A 405 
 
 Crapo, Henry H 149 
 
 Crawford. B. B 671 
 
 Croswell. Chark» M 1(>1 
 
 Crotser, L. 8., M. D 681 
 
 Currie, Washington 517 
 
 Curtis, M.E 765 
 
 Curtiss, Sheldon R 427 
 
 Cuteheon, L. F 743 
 
 Daniels, N. R 706 
 
 Daniels, Thomas 361 
 
 Da.«er. Josophus .179 
 
 Pavcnport.O. W 461 
 
 Davis, Samuel 420 
 
 Ve Oraw, William 729 
 
 DeHart, W. A 829 
 
 He Lcmg, James B 668 
 
 IhMiiorest . C. L 231 
 
 Densinore. C. E 492 
 
 Dick. John 712 
 
 Dickason, Isaac 34K 
 
 Dikline, Daniel Ml 
 
 Dinsmore, (ieorge 669 
 
 Dodge, H. W 816 
 
 Dotlson. Philip 229 
 
 Dodge, P.S 508 
 
 Diilph, Charles L 768 
 
 Dolph.L. H 491 
 
 Dolph. N. J 802 
 
 Dorenuis, Frank E 898 
 
 Dougliuss, (Kfirge 194 
 
 llouKla-ss. M 844 
 
 Drake, James B 479 
 
 Diirkee, CM 702 
 
 Dutt, Philip 596 
 
 Eschliman. David 719 
 
 Eildy , Peleg 40S 
 
 Eitclbiiss. J. J 764 
 
 Eldrc<t. O. J 8118 
 
 Ellison, Jonathan 266 
 
 Ellsworth, 8. L. 540. 
 
 English, David H 601 
 
 English, Jude C 687 
 
 Er»lman,F. W 196 
 
 Fargo, Jerome 773 
 
 Faude, G. F 442 
 
 Fclch, Alpheus 117 
 
 Fellows. P. J 447 
 
 Ferguson. Lewis H 639 
 
 Feucrstein, Kaspar 620 
 
 Fillmore, Millard 67 
 
 Finch. Si las 731 
 
 Flsk, Frank 410 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Fisk, M. J (53J 
 
 Ford.C.H ;.'"573 
 
 Fortune. John W 232 
 
 Foster, John J j(5 
 
 F.Hilks, Mrs. Jane 'J37 
 
 F"X,I>.B 5,K, 
 
 Fox. Anthony ; . . . 397 
 
 Fo.\, Matthew H 325 
 
 I- "race, Henry -2.^0 
 
 French, A. S 3,^0 
 
 Fiirney, Moses 067 
 
 (HO 
 
 . Am 
 
 ^■■■^ie.lhi»l SJI 
 
 Oamber, W. P. , M . D 477 
 
 (lardner, Joseph 748 
 
 Oardner, yidney 7)1; 
 
 Gardner, Thomas 7-20 
 
 Gardner, William H 820 
 
 Garfield, James A 9,15 
 
 Gates, Uavid gn-j 
 
 Gates, Elias 432 
 
 Gates, Z 339 
 
 G.-.sler, A. E., M. D 310 
 
 Gibbs, J. H 311; 
 
 Oibbs, L. H '....ma 
 
 Gibbs, Samuel A 6''9 
 
 ""«"".!> '.sis 
 
 Gillord, E.P 
 
 Gilloo.C.C .'.'.'.' „„., 
 
 Oillmore, N. H 290 
 
 Goble, ElielT -29^ 
 
 Gooilwin, Levi (J 79I 
 
 Goolthritc, Osear 3fi2 
 
 • iould, Nathan F 307 
 
 Gould, Keuben .3(51 
 
 (irabill, E. F 37,; 
 
 (Jranl, A,B.,M. D P91 
 
 Grant, Ulysses S 87 
 
 ^Xe'-'n.D.H '..'fag 
 
 Green, H. R jjO 
 
 Greenhoe, A. J 37I 
 
 Greenly, William L 121 
 
 •■•ri.ir, Sidney (,27 
 
 Gunn, I.saae B .377 
 
 Gunn, J.S (j(;3 
 
 Hai-kett. Uernaril 5r,| 
 
 Ilai^-ht.S.. .. ' •«■• 
 
 "•^'•-.A.J 'IZ'.'.'.'.'}i7t 
 
 i fa le, ( 'harlcs \V 28(1 
 
 Gall, Abner 380 
 
 Hair, Arthur N. !....!...'.".!.. a'.i 
 Hall, Benjanun. .. 75(3 
 
 Hall, Henry J '.'.''.'.'.[.[m 
 
 Hall, Joshua S 4-2^ 
 
 Hall.L. E ..!.617 
 
 Hall, Thomas 347 
 
 Hallett, John W ..'099 
 
 Hanunell, J. P jlj 
 
 Handy, LuUier \\-L 
 
 Hanks, W.H 
 
 Harding, William.. 
 Harrinjiton. J. X).... 
 Harrison, Benjamin 
 
 Harrison, William Henry 6) 
 
 Hart.B. F sij 
 
 Harter, Benjamin 798 
 
 Harter, Harvey 799 
 
 Hart well, U. e" ^o 
 
 HartweII,Mrs. J. E 4.'i9 
 
 Hartwell, Thomas O 588 
 
 Harwood. Isaac 5t;o 
 
 Hathaway, Dr. J. M 817 
 
 Hatinger, J. J g9o 
 
 Hawley, Hon. W 817 
 
 Hayes, Bert 7:53 
 
 Ha.yes, N. B 275 
 
 Hayes, Rutherford B 91 
 
 Haynor, Isaac B g97 
 
 Hazelitt,J. M 4no 
 
 Heath, V. S 701 
 
 Hendee.O.P 530 
 
 Hess, B. E. , M. D 286 
 
 Heydlauir, W. F .....713 
 
 Hodge, John N .340 
 
 Holeomb, A. J 457 
 
 Holcomb, Benoni 783 
 
 Holeomb, J. S 'i.'esli 
 
 Holland, Charles H 281 
 
 Holland, George 573 
 
 Holland, Henry 804 
 
 Holmes, L. L 493 
 
 Hoople, Alvin .501 
 
 Hoople. E 7J8 
 
 Hoover, Oliver fisti 
 
 Hopkins, N. P 487 
 
 Hopkins, Warren 822 
 
 Hoppough, Frank 591 
 
 Hoppough, George 199 
 
 Hosford, George 471 
 
 Host'ord, S. O 030 
 
 Iloasemau, C. L 277 
 
 Howard, William H 372 
 
 Hoy.R. w „(„■; 
 
 Hoyt, D. T 
 
 Hull, H. F 
 
 Hull, William E .317 
 
 Humphrey, R. J., M. D 531 
 
 Hunt, Abram (J23 
 
 Hunter, Q. H .228 
 
 Hutchins, Dewitt C 24D 
 
 Hutchinson, Gen. F. S 435 
 
 Hyde, Georges 308 
 
 . ...491 
 
 Jackson, Andrew 43 
 
 Jackson, Thomas E 209 
 
 Jacobus, Joseph S .178 
 
 Jefferson,' Thomas 27 
 
 Jenison, C. O., M. D 733 
 
 Jepson, Charles 399 
 
 Jerome, David H 105 
 
 Jewell, Rev. David A .305 
 
 Johosou, Andrew gj 
 
 Johnson, Thomas 2O8 
 
 Jones, William B T>^ 
 
 Joslin,C.W '.[['.'.'.['..eil 
 
 Jourdan, James 246 
 
 Just, J. E •)•« 
 
 Keefer, William 512 
 
 Keller, John 271 
 
 Kelley, D., M. D. .840 
 
 Kellogg,R.M ...!.. ....'727 
 
 Kelsey,E.P 75; 
 
 Kidd, Gen. J. H ' [335 
 
 Kilborn, David im 
 
 Kimball, SH 390 
 
 Kimberly, Clayton 569 
 
 King, George 812 
 
 Kirtland,"John, W., M. D 367 
 
 Klotz, John W 775 
 
 Knapp, O. J 532 
 
 Knapp, Thomas D 412 
 
 Knapp, Z. B 488 
 
 Koutz,Noah D 589 
 
 Lampkin, William 4,';7 
 
 Lee, Chadwick A .379 
 
 Lee, Hiram N 341 
 
 Lepard, Daniel 20I 
 
 Le Valley, Eri 419 
 
 Le Valley, In F 551 
 
 Lincoln, Abraham 79 
 
 Little, Andrew 730 
 
 Locke, W'. H 509 
 
 Long, P. 691 
 
 Loomis, Samuel 257 
 
 Lott, Joseph 793 
 
 Louks, Henry 799 
 
 Loveland, Levi W 249 
 
 Lovell, Hon. Louis S 452 
 
 Lovewell, Wallace 735 
 
 Lowrey,B.J 482 
 
 Luce, Cyrus Gray 177 
 
 Lung, C. W 571 
 
 Luz, Christian 32s 
 
 Lyon, R. G 710 
 
 M 
 
 Mackay,R. E 479 
 
 Macomber, Allen 472 
 
 Madison, James 31 
 
 Marsh, Henry 8.34 
 
 Martin, A. M., M. D .,329 
 
 Mason, D.B "gjj 
 
 Mason, Stephen T ..'.'.'.' '.jo', 
 
 Mather, Amos R 714 
 
 Mather, N. w iti 
 
 Mathews, William ' . .302 
 
 Mathison, George 512 
 
 Mattison, D. J ,jgj, 
 
 Mattison.W. H 236 
 
 Mayes, Walter '.' '. ' " '^ 
 
 Maynard, A. W [[ ...Z'iS 
 
 Maynard, John J ..4.'>o 
 
 McClelland, Robert 129 
 
 McClelland, W. H .280 
 
 McCormick, Alva 270 
 
 McCrumb, M. L .' ' ,328 
 
 Mcintosh, H. J ..267 
 
 MeKendry, Robert .444 
 
 McKune, William W . . 528 
 
 McQuillin, John '..'.' ''207 
 
 Mead, Albert 843 
 
 Millard, Charles. .'(jfio 
 
 Millard, Lcander '..(j7o 
 
 Millard, Rev. D. E ...rm 
 
 Miller, Abraham "274 
 
 Miller, B.G .....292 
 
 Miller, John F 7'>3 
 
 Milligan, William .'. .7.^5 
 
 Milne, James .xi.^ 
 
 Minard, George H ..7(ii 
 
 Miuard, S. T .490 
 
 Miner, Horace F 331 
 
 Miner, M.J ' OV) 
 
 Mitchell, W. p ' . 7i;3 
 
 Mouroe, James 35 
 
 Moon, Abe L 770 
 
 Moon, Frank L .H05 
 
 Moon, W. H i9'> 
 
 Moreheai], D. B 4i;s 
 
 Morehouse, A. F ;,-,-; 
 
 Morris, George 792 
 
 Morrison , John E 5,52 
 
 Mor.se, A. B ofiS 
 
 Mor.se, Grant M 810 
 
 Mor.se, J. D 4;,7 
 
 Mosher, L. J 527 
 
 Mulholl.and, D 74,; 
 
 Murphy, Edward .5,37 
 
 Murphy, E. A '.'.8.30 
 
 Murray, Edward s09 
 
 Musselmaii, John K 4,s4 
 
 Myers, D. W .5-1, 
 
 Nichols, A. W., M. D. . . : 779 
 
 Nelson, Judge Francis 406 
 
 Newman, Almeron 29J 
 
 Newman, James E. .■ 737 
 
 Newman, ,Iohn 6 7.38 
 
 Newton. George A 732 
 
 Noah, William "3^5 
 
 Noble, J. C 577 
 
 Nolan , Nicholas (jig 
 
 Nolty, William ''\.>f: 
 
INDEX. 
 
 North, E.W ^87 
 
 Nort h way , Cliarles 807 
 
 Nuiniiier, George C 278 
 
 ol.iistea.l, M. V .wi 
 
 Dlnistcd, L. N B»3 
 
 Orlli, Fnil (;;<) 
 
 Otis, Anion 022 
 
 Valnier, Oeorge W n^ 
 
 Parker, Mrs. Elizabeth 611 
 
 Parsons, Andrew 133 
 
 Patrick , Frederick 202 
 
 Patterson, William !>7S 
 
 Pcake, J. W 533 
 
 Pcnnin;;ton, W. D 211 
 
 Peoples, John 38,5 
 
 Percival, \V. J 2fil 
 
 Pettcrson, C. C 500 
 
 Pettit, George 2,'i'l 
 
 Phelps, G. F .SS3 
 
 Phillips, G. A 757 
 
 Phillips, Mrs. S 811 
 
 Fii-kell, Edson 715 
 
 Pierce, Franklin 71 
 
 Place, William D 593 
 
 Polk,JaniesK 5!( 
 
 Porter, Edwin 400 
 
 Porter, N. A 262 
 
 Pott*, Ge<irge A 2flfi 
 
 Powell, E. R (lot 
 
 Powell, Joseph P SOB 
 
 Pratt. Aaron B 320 
 
 Pratt, Elijah '. 647 
 
 I'lvstel. John W 7s« 
 
 Prc-ston, B. II -Ill 
 
 Preston , t', A . . . 226 
 
 Price, W. H 715 
 
 Pnibawco, Benjaiiihi 330 * 
 
 Punly, John R 312 
 
 Kanisey, John 507 
 
 Ransom, Epapliroilitii-s 125 
 
 Kathbuii, Ransom 197 
 
 Kei-tor, Simeon <i9r> 
 
 Reed, George A 710 
 
 Regis, Tliomas 391! 
 
 Itomington, William M 299 
 
 Ren wick, John T 298 
 
 Reynolds, D. A 692 
 
 Rice, Corydon 272 
 
 Rice, N. B .V20 
 
 Rich, Abijah 520 
 
 Rich. H.,11. Hampton 2-15 
 
 Richards, E. A 237 
 
 Ring, Arnion J 375 
 
 Roach, N 74y» 
 
 Roiusch, .lowph 550 
 
 Robb,C.H 381 
 
 Robbins, J. J 198 
 
 Robertson , Duncan 480 
 
 Robinson, Flon. J. W 829 
 
 Roell,L..S 521 
 
 Rosokrans, A 6<i9 
 
 Ross, Jay 518 
 
 Ruel, J. H 831 
 
 Runisey, C. J am 
 
 Saekctt , Hiram 672 
 
 Sage, JaiiH's A 455 
 
 Sage, William W 529 
 
 Sagendorf , Jerome 531 
 
 Sampson, B. B 510 
 
 Samain William L 502 
 
 Sanders, C. G 762 
 
 Satterlee, O. S 456 
 
 Sawdy , Calvin 608 
 
 Scoville, L. A 217 
 
 Schultz, B. F 833 
 
 Searing, C. A 241 
 
 Shaw,AsherC 7!)7 
 
 Shaw, Spencer L 711 
 
 Shires, Alford 523 
 
 Shotwell, Levi 392 
 
 Showerman, L. E 219 
 
 Showerni.an, O. V 741 
 
 SInnker, Myron 279 
 
 Slcmons, James 3;|8 
 
 Smith, A, a 833 
 
 Smith, Chester, M. V 431 
 
 Smith, L. A 785 
 
 Smith, M. 1 835 
 
 Smith, N. E 790 
 
 Smith, Thimias E ,570 
 
 Smith , Hon. V. H 225 
 
 Smith, William P .337 
 
 Sncathcn, I". D 222 
 
 Slid I. George A 608 
 
 Snell, Jacob 397 
 
 Snyder, George W., M. D. . . .385 
 
 Somers, Charles P 828 
 
 Sorenson, L. P 772 
 
 Soule, H 514) 
 
 Soulc, L. B 7(j7 
 
 Spragne, Alexander 336 
 
 Sprague. Austin 269 
 
 Spencer, W. E 289 
 
 Staley, W. A ..2911 
 
 Stanbro, Ransom 483 
 
 St.innanl, Hon. A. 8 675 
 
 SUnton, G. W 676 
 
 Slondnian, Thomas A 696 
 
 SIchbiiis, ( irren 260 
 
 Stebbins, S. M .312 
 
 Steele, William 802 
 
 Storm. John 282 
 
 Story, W.S 689 
 
 Stoudt, Daniel 673 
 
 Stowell, Samuel 259 
 
 Strachan , George 1 653 
 
 Strong, A. W 747 
 
 Strong, E. F 321 
 
 Summers, J. G 644 
 
 Tafi, Frank 2|n 
 
 Taylor, J. C 602 
 
 Taylor. P. H 445 
 
 Tay lor, Thomas 744 
 
 Tay lor, Zaehary 63 
 
 Tcbbel, W. R 503 
 
 Thacher, I. E 612 
 
 Thomas. Thomas 351 
 
 Thoni|>son, CO 285 
 
 Thom|>son, D. L 400 
 
 Tibbits, J 415 
 
 Tingley, Henry G 717 
 
 Totlen, Dr. James 217 
 
 Tower, O. S 758 
 
 Tower, Cismond 768 
 
 Tower,R.J 230 
 
 Town, M. E 420 
 
 Town, Simon 462 
 
 Towiisend, Joseph .Too 
 
 Townsend, O. C 3J0 
 
 Townacnd, S. M 268 
 
 Townsend, Stewanl 579 
 
 Tntlenick, James 449 
 
 Trema.vnc, H 811 
 
 Tucker, George W 355 
 
 Turubull. Adam S 578 
 
 Tutlle, Almon 619 
 
 Tyler, Isaac E S6S> 
 
 Tyler, .lohn 55 
 
 Van Bens<-holi-n, H. I,. 
 Van Kurcn,Uartin 
 
 Vance, Emerson 426 
 
 Van Uew, V. C., M. D 658 
 
 Van Vl,-,k r,-ter ... '>20 
 
 \\ 
 
 Waelw, P. A .jio 
 
 Wallington, Riclmnl 227 
 
 Washington, George 19 
 
 Watcrbury , Orry . . 748 
 
 Waters, Levi 238 
 
 Watt, S. A 448 
 
 Webber, Gi-orgo W ]9i 
 
 Weekes, Augustus R Tjg 
 
 Welch. S.K 218 
 
 Welch, Thomas 474 
 
 Weinp, W. M.,M. D .599 
 
 White, Edwin 539 
 
 While, George W 707 
 
 While. Mrs. A. E 8:16 
 
 White, William 319 
 
 Whitmore, Peter 473 
 
 Whittlesey, W. S. Qta 
 
 Whorley, Jacob 706. 
 
 Wickes, A. C sn 
 
 Wickes. George P 3|g 
 
 Wickes, James L 210 
 
 Wilbur. S. J 7<.6 
 
 Wilco.\, A. R 327 
 
 Willett, Hon. A. M 7n 
 
 Willett.G. A 819 
 
 Williams, Hon. Albert 216 
 
 Williams. Hon. E. R 2(15 
 
 Williams, J. O 837 
 
 Willi.ims, W. W 784 
 
 Wilson, A. O 674 
 
 Wils<»n, J. S .Ma 
 
 Wilson, Rev. William J 561 
 
 Winaiis, Etiwin B 181 
 
 Wisner, Mo.ses 141 
 
 Woodbridge, William 109 
 
 Woodman, B. F 706 
 
 WoiKlman. I). W x» 
 
 Won'cster. Im N , 808 
 
 Wright. CassT (JM 
 
 Wright , Charles C 276 
 
 Wright. Elienczer 297 
 
 Wright. G.J tm 
 
 Wurster. George 770 
 
 Veonians, Hon. S. A 652 
 
 Voungman. (Jeorge C 806 
 
 VounL-inanS. J C7« 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ■-^-+^^&^=4-M-^- 
 
 A.dams, John -^ 
 
 Adams. John Q ^ 
 
 Alger, Kussell A 1''^ 
 
 Arthur, Chester A 98 
 
 Bagley.John J 15« 
 
 Baldwin, Henry V 152 
 
 Barry, John S. H* 
 
 Begole, Josiah W 1«« 
 
 Bell,A.F 254 
 
 Bellamy, E.S B» 
 
 Benedict, J. M "•'9* 
 
 Berry, E.R "^1 
 
 Bingham, Kinsley S 13t> 
 
 Blair, Austin I*'' 
 
 Bolte, Kev. Charles 3H 
 
 Brown Enoch ^tjfi 
 
 Buchanan, James 74 
 
 Cleveland, S. Grover 10-2 
 
 Crapo, Henry H MS 
 
 Crane, A. A 404 
 
 Croswell, Charles M Ififl 
 
 Felch, Alpheus 1 1 H 
 
 Fillmore, Millard IX 
 
 Foster, John J 344 
 
 Fox, Mathew 344 
 
 Gamber, W. P 476 
 
 GarDeld, J. A 94 
 
 Grant, U.S 86 
 
 Greenly, William L 120 
 
 Groff , Sydney .'.... fi26 
 
 Hall, Joshua S 422 
 
 Hall, Mrs. J. S 423 
 
 Hanks, Wilhani H I'flfi 
 
 Hayes, R.B 90 
 
 Harrison, Benjamin lOCi 
 
 Harrison, W. H BO 
 
 Holcomb, A. J 4(54 
 
 Holcomb, Mrs. A.J 465 
 
 Hopkins, N. P 486 
 
 Hutchinson, Gen. F. S 4:U 
 
 Jackson, Andrew 42 
 
 Jefferson, Thomas 2ii 
 
 Jerome, David H 1C4 
 
 Johnson, Andrew 82 
 
 Jewell, Rev. D. A :)04 
 
 Just, Josiah E 234 
 
 Kidd, James H 334 
 
 Lincoln, Abraham 78 
 
 Luce, Cyrus Gray 1 76 
 
 Madison, James 30 
 
 Mason, Stephen 104 
 
 McClelland, Robert 128 
 
 Minard, George H 760 
 
 Monroe, James 34 
 
 Morehouse, A. F 556 
 
 Morse, Allen B 201 
 
 Morse, J.D 496 
 
 Mosher, L. J. B26 
 
 Nichols, A. W 778 
 
 Noah, William 364 
 
 Noble, J. C 576 
 
 Parsons, Andrew 132 
 
 Pierce, Franklin 70 
 
 Polk. J. K 58 
 
 Powell, Joseph P 394 
 
 Pratt. Elijah 546 
 
 Ramsey, John 506 
 
 Ransom , Epaphroditas 124 
 
 Rich, Hampton 244 
 
 Bosekrans. A 666 
 
 Rosekrans, Mrs. A 667 
 
 Sage, James A 4&4 
 
 Showerman, O. V 740 
 
 Smith, Vernon H 221 
 
 Snyder, George W 384 
 
 Taylor.P.H 4« 
 
 Taylor, 2^chaiy 62 
 
 Thompson, CO... 284 
 
 Tucker, George W 354 
 
 Tyler, John &4 
 
 Van Buren, Martin 46 
 
 Washington, George IS 
 
 Webber, George W 190 
 
 Williams, Albert 214 
 
 Williams, E. R 264 
 
 Winans, Edwin B 180 
 
 Wisner, Moses 140 
 
 Woodbridge, William 108 
 
 Barnard, Edward 515 
 
 Benedict, L.N 655 
 
 Carbough, William 585 
 
 Coleman, Eli A 635 
 
 Cooley, J. E 685 
 
 Currie, Washington 515 
 
 Durkee.C. M 703 
 
 English, J. C 685 
 
 Ferguson, Lewis H tX> 
 
 Gardner, Joseph 749 
 
 Gardner, Thomas 721 
 
 Hall, L. E 615 
 
 Handy, Luther 635 
 
 Hoover, Oliver 685 
 
 Howard, W.H 373 
 
 Miller, John F 721 
 
 Murphy, E 535 
 
 North, E. W 585 
 
 Parker, Elizabeth 615 
 
 Ring, A. J 373 
 
 Waterbury , Orry 749 
 
 Whorley, Jacob 703 
 
 Wright, Cass T 655 
 
I